(VIA ABC NEWS DOT COM) A Baldwin Borough man who put a giant illuminated cross outside his home says he will not take the structure down.
Carl Behr addressed Baldwin borough council Tuesday night, after the borough told him he had five days to take down a 24-foot cross he built at his property along Robbins Street.
The crosses aren’t coming down, they’re staying where they’re at,” said Behr. “Somebody has to make a stand against these people and I’m here to make it.”
Council listened quietly to Behr, but then chose not to respond to his speech.
Borough Manager John Barrett said Behr can apply for a permit for the cross, but it won’t likely be granted. He says the cross won’t meet several size and placement requirements.
“We’ll continue to issue citations and then ultimately it will be heard by a magistrate and then by a judge,” said Barrett.
Behr said the giant cross is an act of faith, but one neighbor claims it’s an act of revenge.
Next-door neighbor Lisa Fera said she contacted police and the borough because she felt Behr purposely built the large cross facing her home.
“I’m not looking to be a bad neighbor,” said Fera. “I believe in God. I believe in being Christian. But if you are truly Christian, then you would be supporting and respecting your neighborhood.”
Behr runs a contracting company out of his house, and Fera claims he frequently violated zoning regulations by parking construction vehicles in front of her house. Fera claims every time she went to police to complain, Behr built a new cross, each one bigger than the last.
“I’m a single mom. I’m a woman. I don’t have anyone here as a husband to support me. I feel that this a direct intimidation of me, that each time you call the police or do something, a cross goes up,” said Fera.
“I’m measuring my faith to the Lord, that’s basically all I’m doing,” said Behr. “I don’t care what anyone else thinks.”
The violation notice Behr received from the borough on Monday gave him five days to remove the cross, or face an additional penalty
His neighbor supports the borough’s decision.
“I believe it’s well overdue. The only cross I care about coming down is the one that’s illuminated that shines in my house. He can leave the little wooden cross or the one on the roof,” Fera said.
“The Lord’s signs have to be shown, and that’s what it is, and this big one over there behind is a measurement of my faith, and that’s what it stands for,” said Behr. “She is the one who turned this into what it is. This is a faith thing. I’m trying to spread the Lord’s word. She turned this into something that she created.”
Behr runs a contracting company out of his house, and Fera claims he frequently violated zoning regulations by parking construction vehicles in front of her house. Fera claims every time she went to police to complain, Behr built a new cross, each one bigger than the last.
“I’m a single mom. I’m a woman. I don’t have anyone here as a husband to support me. I feel that this a direct intimidation of me, that each time you call the police or do something, a cross goes up,” said Fera.
“I’m measuring my faith to the Lord, that’s basically all I’m doing,” said Behr. “I don’t care what anyone else thinks.”
The violation notice Behr received from the borough on Monday gave him five days to remove the cross, or face an additional penalty.
His neighbor supports the borough’s decision.
“I believe it’s well overdue. The only cross I care about coming down is the one that’s illuminated that shines in my house. He can leave the little wooden cross or the one on the roof,” Fera said.
“The Lord’s signs have to be shown, and that’s what it is, and this big one over there behind is a measurement of my faith, and that’s what it stands for,” said Behr. “She is the one who turned this into what it is. This is a faith thing. I’m trying to spread the Lord’s word. She turned this into something that she created.”
