Today's Post has discovered the latest way to point out just how tightly all of our purse strings are being pulled by tugging at our heart strings and highlighting the latest group to feel the burn of the tanking economy: holiday Santas. The paper talks to a number of Santas who are not surprisingly seeing a downturn in the Santa presence being used this year by malls and holiday hot spots around town like FAO Schwartz and Tavern on the Green--even Volunteers for America are taking them off the sidewalks. One Kris Kringle tells the paper that the $30,000 he made two years ago will likely be $3,000 this season. The situation is so grave that recently it was recently reported that the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas, which represents 700 Santas, held a series of meetings to discuss their economic survival. Where will Santas turn with all this time on their hands?





Every year I have to talk some shabby, desperate Santa off a ledge. But not this year. Never again. You're on your own Santa, and no, I don't have any money for "gas".
Hold the phone. A Santa could make 30K in a single season? That's news to me.
^ Yeah, if they run off with the kettle!
Can't help but think of Dan Akroyd pulling a smoked salmon out of his coat.
30k? Sign me up!