A Chula Vista neighborhood, known for its annual holiday lights display, is in the spotlight after defying a request from Chula Vista officials not to hold its yearly holiday light display. The show is going on anyway and now the controversy is growing with it.

They call it Christmas City and it’s a beautiful tradition of homes being decorated with lights, but this year is a little different. The pandemic has put a damper on the annual event and the city mayor, Mary Salas, is suggesting people not to come out and see them.

Bright lights, reindeer on the lawn and Santa Claus making his way through. This wonderful display of Christmas lights has been put on by Chula Vista residents for over 60 years.

“Hundreds of thousands of people have enjoyed it, including my children and my grandchildren,” said Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas.

Thousands of people usually show up, but that can be unsafe during the pandemic.

“We know that we cannot prohibit anyone from decorating their house and if that’s what they want to do, that’s great. But what we cannot do as a city, is we cannot sponsor or sanction that,” said Salas.

Salas says she understands people not wanting to break with tradition but abiding by the county’s strict purple tier guidelines will help us all and save lives.

“We have an infection rate in Chula Vista of 11%. It would be irresponsible for me as Mayor to promote or to have the city sponsor that kind of activity,” continued Salas. “We really have been encouraging for weeks for people to be disciplined and to not gather in masses.”