For every string of lights surrounding the Christmas tree in downtown Reading, there's also a string of complaints.

"I've never seen a tree look so horrible in all my life," said Loretta Cabellero. "That tree is atrocious."

The 50-foot Norway spruce, located at 5th and Penn streets, is sparking controversy among city residents and officials.

Some have called the tree "embarrassing" and even "pitiful."

Among those unhappy is council President Francis Acosta, who said he plans to replace the spruce after the city's annual holiday parade on Saturday.

"Everybody's talking about the vision we have for downtown. Everybody's talking about a more beautiful downtown. The tree doesn't help, and that's why we want to change it," he said.

Acosta told 69 News he is also working to form a committee that will solicit funds to buy decorations. Local designer Marlen Encarnacion, of Marlen's Decorations, has agreed to oversee the decorating for free, he said.

"It's a good idea," said Richard Haas, of Reading.

"They should try to get a new one, a fuller one, one worth looking at," said Caballero.

But others feel that replacing the tree would be a waste of time. Although the tree was chopped down for free at Egelman Park, a city's public works crew has already spent hours putting it up.  

"I think it looks good. I think they did a relatively good job on it," said Chris Schittler. "[City officials] definitely have other things to worry about with their time and effort."

"There's a lot of things more important to worry about," said Jose Arendes.

In response, Mayor Vaughn Spencer said "you're always gonna hear that, and obviously you can't make everybody happy."

And according to Acosta, the tree is part of a bigger mission for revamping downtown Reading.

"We all complain about all the stuff that we need to do in the city, but we also have to build morale of our city, and I think that celebrating Christmas the right way will build it," he said. "I want to give the city a beautiful Christmas."