World / statues Mayor Declares War on Garden Gnomes Italian city council set to ban lawn statues By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff Posted May 14, 2010 4:40 PM CDT Copied Hundreds of garden gnomes are seen in Germany's Garden Gnome Park in Trusetal, central Germany, on Tuesday, March 30, 2010. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) The mayor of Furore, Italy, wants garden gnomes out of his city—immediately. The reason? "They cause an alteration of the natural environment," he says. An ordinance banning the lawn statues is before the city council, and sources tell the ANSA news service the gnomes "could be on their way out any minute." But the people of Furore aren't so keen on the idea: "I'm against it," one resident says. "The next thing you know they'll have us asking permission to plant a flower." (More statues stories.) Report an error