Re “December Nights would be gutted by mayor’s proposed budget cuts” (May 8): Ask any AI about Christmas markets, and you’ll learn that thousands of cities around the world hold them. In Central Europe alone, nearly $1 billion in economic benefit results from extra off-season hotel bookings and other local spending. December Nights has operated for nearly 50 years and only costs the city $1.5 million — an amount that could be easily absorbed by the Tourism Marketing District.
More broadly, our seasonal fair has remained at only two nights a year when other cities hold theirs for six to 10 weeks to great success. San Diego at large should reconsider the whole program and find a way to unify all such local holiday events in one big beautiful bash open to the world.
— Roger Showley, Scripps Ranch