Posted on 08/03/2009 4:13:21 AM PDT by Brandonmark
City Manager Bill Horne didn't think taking down Old Glory at a few city properties would be a big deal.
He was wrong.
Several weeks ago, city workers started removing American flags from city properties. In all, 13 of the city's 50 flags came down, according to Mayor Frank Hibbard.
But the cost-cutting measure has sparked outrage, especially among veterans groups, prompting city leaders to revisit the decision at a workshop this morning.
"It's a knock at our country," said John Smith, canteen manager at the Hercules VFW Post 2473. "It's the only city in the United States that has done this. It's unreal. What are kids going to think?
"You remove the flag, you are removing our freedom," said Smith, a Vietnam veteran. "That is what it comes down to."
For city leaders, the move is about money, not patriotism. Like other local governments, Clearwater is trimming expenses, amid falling property tax revenues. Flying fewer flags means the city won't have to spend as much to replace, light and maintain them.
"This is reducing the number of flags," Horne said. "This is not changing our nationality. It is not doing something unpatriotic."
The flags will keep flying at city hall, the administrative services building, city ballparks, police and fire stations, Horne said. But they have been removed from less visible locations, such as a city maintenance building and the city's nursery, which are only used by workers.
The flag is also missing from a more visible location, though: the Memorial Causeway Bridge, where a memorial pays tribute to veterans from both world wars. The city removed the flag and the flagpole after drivers complained that the light that lit the flag at night was impairing visibility. The city is looking at how to fix the lighting, Horne said.
Hibbard said he can understand removing some of the flags, but he objects to taking down the flag at the memorial. A flag will be returned there, he said.
"This is an example of the fact that we are looking at literally everything. Nothing's off the table," the mayor said. "At the same time, you can't get too zealous and perhaps change the character of your community."
Critics also question the way the decision was made to remove the flags. Despite the passions that often surround where and how the American flag is flown, city staff members made the decision without consulting city council members or asking local veterans groups for help maintaining the flags.
Now, the issue is reverberating outside Clearwater.
"It has now become a Pinellas County veterans' issue," said Scott Barber, senior vice commander of VFW Post 10094 in Indian Rocks Beach. "Everybody in the county wants to see that city overturn that decision and put the flags back up."
Taking down a few flags didn't seem controversial, though, to Horne, who said he makes controversial decisions every day.
Because this morning's meeting is a workshop, council members won't be voting on the flag issue, but they could give direction to staff, Horne said. That could mean putting back the flags, putting back some of them or backing the decision to take them down.
If the council agrees that a flag should be removed, its flagpole also will be taken down, Horne said. He didn't know how much that would cost.
Another question is how much it would cost to put back the flagpole at the Memorial Causeway memorial if council members decide to do that.
"This discussion is going to drive what happens next," Horne said.
Today's workshop is set for 9 a.m. at Clearwater City Hall, 112 S. Osceola Ave.
Must be the Scientologists.....
Follow up to original story posted Saturday
Flags ditched...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2305977/posts?q=1&;page=101
Clearwater area Freepers take note of the short notice for the workshop!
Horne needs to hit the bricks.
“This is reducing the number of flags,” Horne said. “This is not changing our nationality. It is not doing something unpatriotic.”
Oh really!
“Now, the issue is reverberating outside Clearwater.”
Thank goodness!
I’m sure they have plenty of money to buy votes with through social programs.
Ping
Clearwater the new socialist vacation spot........PLEASE tell Bill Horne he just lost my my dollars for his cities tourism industry in Clearwater.....and I so loved the annual pilgrimage to the home of hooters....sigh , snif, whimper.
Had he asked veterans groups they probably would have held fund raisers to pay for the 50 flags . Veterans are used to paying Americas debts with blood, solving Hornes inability to manage would have been childs play for vets ....... A fund raising project or using the funds from one old city or county vehicle sold at auction etc would have funded flags.
Now I suggest ya’ll replace the City Manager or cut his pay to fund the flags needed. Seems a City Manager who can’t manage needs to be dropped a pay grade or two........
We have a population of 2500 in my small town and on every patriotic holiday we place a flag on EVERY Home that requests one and also LINE main street with em ! Our city pays for and maintains them etc .......with veterans and their families and friends support.
I agree with you, aside from the fifty number. My guess is had the word been put out he likely would have had standing offers from local businesses to replace the flags for free in addition to getting scores donated.
I was going to eat in Clearwater last night and decided I would spend my sales taxes elsewhere.
Yep, good points !
....city so called manager screwed the pooch. Get’s one awww sh*t in his at’ta boy file for this fiasco !
Stay safe !
Another reason to get rid of a Politician.
I don’t know what’s more disturbing; them taking the flags down, or their continued failure to comprehend why anyone would mind. “Gee, I don’t see what the big deal is. It’s just the American flag. It’s not like it was something important, like a hot pink arch-shaped thingy funded by The Clearwater Public Art and Design Program.”
I believe that reducing the number of bureaucrats is more patriotic and cost-saving than Horne’s idea.
Why not rip down all the flags—wouldn’t that save money? How about not having any more elections—that would save cash. Close the fire departments and just use volunteers! Boy, lots of money can be saved. We could even have an all volunteer police force! Think of the savings! Or, better yet, have a volunteer city mayor and city council drawing no pay! Just think of the savings! Why not open city hall once a week for just a few hours—think of the AC costs that could be saved! We could close the schools too—the kids could get jobs and learn that way—they might even learn more or be home schooled by their own parents—think of the savings! The whole city government could be paid for with a tax on soda pop. We must think outside the box.
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