Posted on 08/11/2005 8:59:08 AM PDT by SpinyNorman
SPRINGFIELD - Every morning since she began working at Springfield Gulf, day manager Debra A. Correggio has started her shift by displaying nine American flags on the grassy strip in front of the Congress Street gas station.
But Tuesday, an agent from the city's Office of Code Enforcement told her to take the down the flags and several advertising signs and leave them down or face a $100 fine.
"He told me to take down the flags. They can't be out there," Correggio said. "I never heard of such a thing."
Neither has the Office of Code Enforcement.
"We have no issue with the American flag," said Stephen T. Desilets, code enforcement commissioner.
The order to remove the flags was given in error, and the gas station was allowed to restore them yesterday. The signs touting cigarettes, lottery tickets and other items at the convenience store had to stay down.
The removal order was part of the city's stepped up enforcement of zoning regulations regarding excessive advertising.
Depending on the zoning, the city can limit the number and size of signs a business may display, he said.
"There are some places that have 14, 20 or even 30 signs that are illegal," he said.
The closest bylaws the city has regarding the American flag limit the number of stringed, multi-colored pennants a car dealership may display, Desilets said.
The inspector, who Desilets did not name, is relatively new and apparently misinterpreted the ordinances when he ordered the flags be removed, he said.
Correggio said the flag error was discovered only yesterday morning when the wife of the station owner called City Hall to complain.
A short time later, Code Enforcement called to apologize and gave the go-ahead for the flags to fly again, but not the commercial signs.
Correggio said she was pleased the matter was resolved, but angry the order was given in the first place.
"They said it was cluttering the city. It wasn't that bad," she said. "It doesn't matter if it was city property or not - it's still an American flag."
I think this is one of the only markets where anyone actually listens to the Err America charity rapists.
Not all of Western Mass. is that way. Umass/Northampton are worlds apart from the Springfield suburbs, but true, there are still a lot of liberal scum there.
Area news ping.
"They said it was cluttering the city..."
That's a hoot. No amount of fluttering flags can make that place look any worse. Springfield is a cesspool.
Although, to be fair, the actual cesspools (sewage treatment) are just across the river in West Springfield and Holyoke. They smell de-lish this time of year.
The U.N. flag flies over the Northhampton city hall.
Thanks, I about gagged on my pretzels there.
You know, there's a facility in Holyoke that *reaks*. I take 391 alot and pick it up on Main St there. The ramp goes up and sort of around the huge pools brimming with... effluvia.
I dunno about Northampton town hall, but it's definnitely in front of Amherst town hall. There's a US flag there too, but I can't imagine why it hasn't been burned.
I saw this story in the "Republican"
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