I live in the area. When this story broke it was reported as "a religious leader". Everyone I came into contact with around my small town was disgusted, and assumed this leader to be some Islamic blowhard. I know I was shocked to hear it was a Rabbi.
The line has been drawn over this Christmas business. Once the trees came down
he began to see who else he was being lumped with. No wonder he started to change his story.
Count me as one who agreed with removing the trees. It called the bluff on this rabid rabbi. The incident went nationwide, and the country let him know he made a BIG mistake. He was "devastated" that his threat of a lawsuit backfired on him. As the old expression goes, he was forced to "eat crow". Good. I hope it made him sick.
See my post at #39...I only really saw one source before I entered this thread. My first impressions were in line with a columnist who interviewed him...so my impressions could certainly be wrong. Many on here seem to know this guy and his past actions.