. >>> john tumey also known as santa john had been a macy's santa in union square for 20 years. he says the department store fired him on saturday after a couple complained about an inappropriate joke. tumey says it's a joke he's been telling for 20 years and he only tells it to adults. macy's would not comment. >>> and needy families will have something to eat these holidays thanks to a donation from wal-mart. the money will go toward backpacks, school and food for 2,500 children in the bay area. for more information just go to our website ktvu.com and look for a link under holiday charities. >>> san francisco supervisors want to keep hiring close to home. the action they took today to guarantee local jobs. >>> a bay area man restores the damage sculpture. the cost of vandalism in golden gate park, coming up. >>> also ahead, san francisco flips the switch on a new solar power plant. the new direction the facility is taking the energy's grid. >>> and rain drops back on the radar. we have showers to talk about. this system will impact your day tomorrow. absolutely both commutes wi

let's go in and say hello. [ coughing ] >> reporter: 68-year-old john tumey has been explaining over and over again why, after 20 years as one of the main santas, macy's fired him. >> this couple came in and sat on my knee and i asked them if they'd been good and they said "oh yes" and i said"well that's too bad. you know why santa is so happy and jolly all the time, don't you. they said no, i said well that's because santa knows where all the naughty girls and boys live." >> methot it was a cute joke for grownups, he has been egg the it for 20 years. that couple complained. when macy's called the manager and told her the gig was up. >> they told her to get rid of me right now. >> reporter: really? that's all? we wanted to get macy's side of the story but they told us they don't comment on personnel matters. >> ho ho ho. >> reporter: but santa john is still laughing. there is now a facebook page to get him rehired and 900 comments on sf gates. i met him 10 years ago when he taught me how to be a santa in the bay area santa community, he is known as one of the real pros. >> if you com

that's because tumey or santa john won't be there. he's been fired by macy's because of a complaint about a joke he told to an adult couple who sat on his lap. santa began his usual by asking them if they had been good. >> they said, oh yes, santa. and i said, oh, that's too bad. and then i said, you know why santa is so happy and jolly all the time -- and they said no. and i said, well, that's because santa knows where all the naughty girls and boys live. >> reporter: tumey says he never jokes with children and will only tell jokes to adults hoping to get a laugh. >> i've used it for over 20 years and no one has ever complained about it. they didn't complain about it to me. they went right up to management. >> reporter: some said the controversy has a strange similarity to another macy's santa claus depicted on miracle on 31st street. he was fired for claiming to be the real santa claus. macy's confirmed that tumey had been let go but would not say anything more calling it a personnel issue. many outside of macy's had this to say. >>