City removes metal cross from beach

The large metal cross that appeared suddenly at Monterey’s Del Monte Beach is gone.

City crews removed the cross around 10 a.m. Tuesday. In a press release, the city said they removed it for “potential violation of the State Constitution’s ‘no preference’ clause.”

The clause says a government body can’t prefer one religion over another.

More from the city’s press release: “Displaying a cross on city property would indicate a preference for Christianity by the City.”

The city said the act is also a violation of city code in which private individuals can’t place stationary objects on city property.

The city will store the cross. The owner has 90 days to claim it.