Is It OK? Signs Encourage Redmond Residents to Say 'Merry Christmas'

If you've driven on Education Hill recently, you might have noticed a scattering of green signs proclaiming "It's OK to Say Merry Christmas."

The signs, which include the slogan and a lengthy Bible passage, appear near the roadway at churches, including First Baptist and Faith Lutheran, and schools, including Redmond High School and Horace Mann Elementary. One is also posted along the entryway to Redmond City Hall.

No one—Mayor John Marchione included—seems to know where they came from. But Marchione said the city intends to leave the signs up because they qualify as political speech.

"It's public speech. It's like a campaign sign," he said.

If the signs become a source of clutter or are not taken down within a few days after Christmas, the city might remove them, Marchione added.

Lake Washington School District spokeswoman Kathryn Reith said the district has a policy that prohibits "outside signs" from being posted on school property. But it's possible the Christmas signs are close enough to the sidewalk that they are actually posted on the city's easement, she said.

Have you noticed the signs? Do you agree with their message? Tell us in the comments section.