Decor Discord Brings Holiday Controversy To Holland Tunnel

TRIBECA, NY — Talk about "O Christmas Tree." An awkwardly placed fir and wreath decoration on the Holland Tunnel has kicked off a holiday controversy – one that's resulted in heated debate and bad poetry.

Workers donned the Jersey-side tunnel with a festive tree over the letter "N" in Holland and put a wreath over the "U" turning the passage into a "Tonnel."

But the tree would have been more symmetrically positioned over the "A," said one commuter – who launched a petition protesting the festive failure that has gathered more than 1,300 signatures demanding transit officials rearrange the disastrous decor.

Now the Port Authority is asking commuters to weigh in on whether the agency should redecorate the sign. The Port Authority summarized the controversy and requested feedback in poetry form.

Here's the poem in its full glory:

"'Twas two weeks before Christmas, when all through the Holland,

A debate over décor left commuters chagrined.

For years, two wreaths and a tree sat evenly spaced above lanes

But it made a man cringe, and he began to complain.

He wanted the tree to fit snug over the “A,”

And launched a petition to try to make hay.

Then from the media arose such a clatter, that the only solution would be to settle the matter

…By asking the public, “What do you think?”

If we’re going to move trees, we should all be in sync!

And thus to our wondering eyes does appear:

A short simple poll to gauge holiday cheer.

The results shall be honored; we’re delighted to note:

Commuters everywhere are encouraged to vote!"

The Port Authority has launched a five-day poll – starting Wednesday – asking commuters to weigh in on what the transit agency has dubbed "the great Holland Tunnel decoration debate."

In the online poll, commuters can pick one of four options: Leave the decorations as they are, move the tree to hang over the "A" in Holland, move the tree to hang over the "A" and remove the second wreath that's over the "U" in Tunnel, or add a tree to hang over the "A" but keep and adjust the existing tree to make the decorations symmetrical.

Travelers have until Sunday, Dec. 16 at 5 p.m. to give their two cents on the holiday travesty, which has adorned the entrance every winter for decades.

An employee at the Port Authority even took time out of their day to create a mock up of what each alternative would look like.

(Image courtesy of the Port Authority)

The man behind the petition to change the sign said the out-of-place decorations are causing problems for those with obsessive compulsive disorder, commonly referred to as OCD.

"Every Holiday Season it is decorated with 2 wreaths and a holiday tree. But for some reason the tree is over the letter N in the word Holland instead of the letter A where it would fit perfectly," wrote Cory Windelspecht, a resident of Tribeca.

"This one small thing triggers anyone with the slightest hint of OCD every time they enter the city. On top of that, it’s just unsightly and ruins the holiday festivities for people to enjoy on such a great piece of architecture."

The Port Authority will publicly release the poll's results and said it was the holiday spirit that moved authorities to engage the public on rearranging the disappointing decor.

“This season is no time for discourse and debate, but for festive holiday cheer,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton in a statement.

“So without further delay, we’ll listen to what [customers] have to say and their opinions will guide how we proceed.”

Photo courtesy of Marko Georgiev/Getty Images