HUNTINGTON PARK — Because of an expected deficit budget, the City Council passed on the El Grito celebration and rejected a request to financially aid the Taste of Mexico street festival earlier this month. But a council majority Monday night said they could not deny Christmas.

“I’m not a Grinch,” said Mayor Mario Gomez, referring to the Dr. Suess character who hated the holiday. He called for a city allocation of some $60,000 to help the Greater Huntington Park Area Chamber of Commerce put on their 59th annual Huntington Park Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. Nov. 21 along Pacific Boulevard.

Gomez got support from V ice Mayor Juan Noguez and Councilman Andy Molina. Councilwomen Ofelia Hernandez and Elba Guerrero dissented, saying that while they supported the parade, they were hesitant to spend tax dollars while asking residents to support Measure M, a two percent utility tax increase, on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Gomez disagreed, saying it was a good expenditure of city funds as many residents who may not be able to give gifts this year because of the poor economy can give their children the parade.

“We can only cut so much without hitting the bone,” Gomez said. “Our children deserve the parade. It’s a family affair. We have a tradition of celebrating Christmas.

“Also it allows the police department to interact with residents. It creates good will. People look forward to the parade,”

He noted that $25,000 is already budgeted for advertisement and publicity and can’t be used elsewhere. The remaining $35,000 is an estimate of police and public works services which will be waived.

Gomez pointed out that the city spent more than that on a consultant to advise the city on how to promote itself. The consultant said the Christmas parade is one of the city’s biggest attractions, he said.

“The $25,000 is for advertising the community. We owe it to the city. It’s money well spent,” Noguez said.

“We owe it to the merchants and residents. People look forward to the parade,” Molina said.

“I love Christmas and I love the parade. But I’m not sure we are using taxpayer funds wisely,” Hernandez said.

Speaking to a reporter, Guerrero said she had similar concerns but wanted the spending made public and then let the people decide.

Dante D’Eramo, executive director of the chamber, said last year’s parade cost $73,826 and ended up $22,000 in the red, which had to be made up from the chamber’s general funds.

He said the parade has been scaled back to cut costs. There will be fewer units from outside the city and the parade will go from Randolph Street south to Saturn Avenue, where it will disband.

In the past it has gone to Florence Avenue, which is in unincorporated county area and involved expenses for security with the Sheriff’s Department.

Also, it will not be aired on regional television, which costs money. Instead the chamber will use the city’s cable television channel or possibly the Los Angeles Unified School District’s channel, D’Earmo said.

He said the parade will offer floats, marching bands, antique carriages, celebrities, costumed characters, dance troupes and clowns. It will probably have more local units, whose participation is free and open to all.

The only cost is for advertising, he noted. That advertising consists of banners in front of a unit noting a sponsoring merchant or business. That could cost from $800 for a small marching band to $3,000 to advertise with a professional float plus a $250 entry fee, D’Earmo said.

In a related action Monday night, the City Council delayed action on a proposed agreement with the chamber concerning paying the city for police and public works services during the street fair Oct. 2-4.

“I find this agreement very difficult,” Noguez said.

“It’s very awkward,” Molina added.

“The City Council agreed to this [deferred payment plan],” Guerrero said.