Since the Albany Lions Club began maintaining the Albany Hill cross on public land in the early 1970's, Albany has grown more ethnically and culturally diverse. We are now home to residents of many religions and no religion. Maintaining a highly visible, sectarian religious symbol on public land is inconsistent with the "welcoming-to-all" community that we and Lions Clubs around the world value.

We respect and are grateful for the Albany Lions Club's long history of community service but in this new era removing the cross will better serve us and the Albany Lion Club's own mission. Together, we can create a more inclusive, culturally sensitive and stronger community. Let us work together, toward an Albany that is thoughtful of all our diverse residents.

We call on the Albany Lions Club to work collaboratively with Albany's residents and City Council to remove the cross and continue to realize the club's community building, service-focused core mission.