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Ridgewood residents and council back Ramadan crescent display after public request
Summary
A Ridgewood resident asked to display a Ramadan crescent at Van Ness; council members expressed support, described plans for a simple community ceremony during Ramadan (Feb. 17–Mar. 21), and asked the resident to coordinate details with staff.
A Ridgewood resident urged the council on Feb. 4 to allow a Ramadan crescent display in Van Ness as a cultural expression during Ramadan, and council members responded with broad support.
Mahmoud Hamza, a 34-year resident speaking on behalf of Ridgewood’s Muslim community, described the crescent as a cultural marker tied to the lunar calendar and said the request was intended to share joy with the broader community. “To be clear, the crescent in this context is not a religious symbol. It has nothing to do with religion. It has to do with just the moon,” Hamza said.
Council members and attendees responded warmly. An unidentified council member told Hamza there was “no reason why we shouldn’t do a crescent for Ramadan” and volunteered to assist with installation; other council members suggested a small celebration or kickoff event. Staff and council discussed timing: Hamza said Ramadan will run from Feb. 17 to March 21 and that the group would like the crescent up for the month, with some days of setup beforehand for a public ceremony.
Mayor and council members said they welcomed the proposal and asked Hamza to coordinate logistics with staff. No formal ordinance or binding vote was recorded at the workshop; the council asked staff and the requester to follow up on timing, public-safety logistics and installation details.
