Woman escorted from Florida mall after trying to take unauthorized photo of granddaughter with Santa

[RockaFowler]

http://www.tcoasttalk.com/2010/12/20/woman-escorted-from-florida-mall-after-trying-to-take-unauthorized-photo-of-granddaughter-with-santa/

Security guards were summoned to the scene.

All because Suzie McClinton wanted to take a photo of her 9-month-old granddaughter, Alaina, with Santa Claus.

“You can’t take pictures!” she was told Thursday evening by the manager of a business that “requests” $22.99 (plus tax) for a photo with Santa at the Indian River Mall.

Yes, $22.99.

The ensuing minutes were surreal for McClinton, who was laid off from her job earlier this year. Eventually, she was escorted out of the mall by three security guards.

To deny a grandmother the opportunity to take a photo of her granddaughter with Santa Claus is downright Scrooge-like. (Yes, it’s a commercial enterprise, and I respect that, but this is beyond bad P.R.)

“Where is the real spirit of Christmas?” she said Friday. “How could you commercialize that?”