More flag drama at Fresno City Hall? Proposed rule changes already facing criticism
Denizens of Fresno may experience a case of déjà vu this week.
After last year’s Pride flag controversy at Fresno City Hall, a new policy proposal on flag raising and lighting ceremonies already is getting pushback.
This time, it has less to do with any particular flag. But, the debate sounds all too familiar.
The mayor and city manager’s proposal on this week’s Fresno City Council agenda would establish a list of 15 flag raising or lighting ceremonies for 2022 at City Hall and the process in which to get approval for annual ceremonies. The list includes: Martin Luther King Jr./Black History Month; Veterans Day; Greek independence; Armenian genocide remembrance; Indian independence; Mexican independence; Hmong Americans Day; Pride; Juneteenth; breast cancer awareness; domestic violence awareness; Earth Day; Sister cities; Police Officer Memorial Week; and National Day of Prayer.
The proposal would return to the city manager the authority to determine which flags will be raised at City Hall and in Eaton Plaza. The new proposal calls for the mayor’s Office of Community Affairs to review ceremony requests. The proposal would eliminate additional requests for ceremonies at City Hall once the annual event list is approved by the city council. However, events could be added to Eaton Plaza. The city council would vote on event approvals and denials.
Last year, the Pride flag was raised at Fresno City Hall for the first time in history after a week-long, high-profile debate between Mayor Jerry Dyer, the city council, community leaders and residents. The debate was sparked by a resolution at the time to allow the city’s elected officials to raise an honorary flag. Then-City Manager Thomas Esqueda said the authority to decide which flag to raise created many free speech questions for him. The resolution passed, but Dyer quietly vetoed it, even though the resolution received the five votes necessary to override a veto.
With this week’s new proposal, those same questions already have come up.
Councilmember Miguel Arias said he plans to table Thursday’s resolution.
“There are significant First Amendment considerations the draft language presents,” Arias said. “I will be requesting the item be tabled in order to give legal counsel sufficient time to analyze the draft policy.”
City Manager Georgeanne White said the proposal is time sensitive because of an Armenian genocide remembrance event in April, of which Arias wasn’t aware.
Arias agreed to offer suggestions that would address the First Amendment concerns.
“I am hopeful that we can have productive discussions on Thursday that will ultimately allow the April event to move forward,” White said.
Councilmember Garry Bredefeld’s stance on the issue remains unchanged from last year’s debate.
“Only the flags of the United States, California, and city of Fresno should fly outside City Hall and any other flag should be flown at Eaton Plaza, just as we did with the Ukraine flag,” Bredefeld said. “I fully support that but with a majority of very leftist, radical politicians on the council, this policy will now allow them to fly ANY flag outside City Hall even when large numbers of people in the community find it offensive. This is why most municipalities don’t fly flags of political organizations or those trying to make political statements. It only divides a community which we don’t need.”
This story was originally published March 22, 2022 at 8:00 AM.