Louisiana Neighborhood Sees American Flags Taken Down

(Lafayette, Louisiana) - If there is one thing you can say about Louisiana's citizens, it is that we are a patriotic group of individuals. Everyone wants to express themselves, so when flags were removed from utility poles in one neighborhood, the discussion to keep them was fervent.

It was a very passionate night before the Lafayette City Council Tuesday night as members of the Brentwood Boulevard neighborhood asked for American flags to be displayed on Lafayette Utility System polls in the neighborhood.

When Were The Flags Removed?

For about a year, the flags have been seen hanging on the flag poles and representing the different branches of the armed forces. That all changed Monday when the flags were removed due to an ordinance not allowing signage to be hung on those polls.

In a KATC report covering the meeting, city officials mentioned they received around 400 calls to support keeping the flags in place; there were only around 15 calls to remove them.

Lafayette City-Parish attorney Pat Ottinger says an ordinance makes it illegal for signs of any kind to be placed on the polls, and violators can be charged with a misdemeanor. He added,

That ordinance is in place, and it gives no discretion. We are reviewing the ordinance, and it has much broader implications than just fixing the property.

What Happens Now?

While many people spoke at the meeting last night to support having the flags remain on the utility poles, no action was taken on Tuesday night. Several speakers asked for the ordinance to be amended to allow the flags. City officials did say, though, that the law is under review.

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