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Diner Told To Take Down Patriotic Banners or Face Fines
By Todd Starnes
The owner of a diner in Middle Township, New Jersey was forced to remove patriotic banners hanging over his parking lot after local authorities said the banners violated a township ordinance.
Linda Chambers, the manager of the Four Seasons Diner, said the township’s code officer ordered them to remove a string of red, white and blue pennants that were originally hung over the parking lot for the Fourth of July.
“He said the banners had to come down and then he left,” Chambers told Fox News Radio. “The next day he came back and said, ‘I told you I want them down and I want them down now.’”
Chambers said the owner of the diner removed the pennants and replaced them with American flags. But the code officer returned and demanded the flags be taken down, too.
Township Administrator Mark Mallett told Fox News Radio that the issue was not about the American flags – it’s about an ordinance banning pennants or banners.
“You’re allowed to have American flags,” he said. “But banners and pennants with the American flag image are not considered an American flag.”
Mallet said the issue is not about patriotism – it’s about following the rules.
“If this gentleman would like to put American flags on his building, that’s fine,” he said. “The issue is the pennants. This is something the code enforcement officer has been talking with the owner about for weeks.”
The Four Seasons Diner is owned by George Fotakis. He immigrated to the United States from Greece in 1967 and later became an American citizen.
“He loves this country and the flag,” she said, noting that even the diner’s sign is red, white and blue.
Chambers said local diners are furious – and on Friday a number of residents protested along Route 9 waving American flags and holding signs reading, “Save our Flag.”
“It’s not right,” she said. “The customers were really upset. And the veterans who came in said they didn’t like it much either.”
“My dad was in the Navy and he got shot twice for the country,” she said. “I mean, it’s not right.”
The mayor told the newspaper they are a business friendly town and would never try to hurt a business.
“But we try to have some uniformity so it aesthetically pleasing,” she told the Press of Atlantic City. “I have to believe that was the intent of the ordinance.”
And while the township backs their code officer, Chambers said she is still upset.
“I’ve lived here 30 something years and trust me — right now I’m not proud to live in Cape May County,” Chambers said. “I’d rather be in Philadelphia – and that’s pretty bad.”
“You’re allowed to have American flags,” he said. “But banners and pennants with the American flag image are not considered an American flag.”
Had the owner not removed the pennants, he would have been issued a court summons and would have faced hundreds of dollars in fines.
Todd Starnes is a Fox News Radio reporter. Follow him on twitter @toddstarnes
A Korean War Vet
July 16, 2011 at 5:39 pm
I wish I was a lawyer living in New Jersey, I would make there lives MISERABLE, and would cost them a great deal o0f Money
A VET
bob
July 16, 2011 at 10:23 pm
WHAT HAS HAPPEN TO OUR (FREEDOM) WE HAVE CARRY THE FLAG THUR WARS WE HAVE PEOPLE ALL THE WORLD WHO
DIE .HOW SOME TOWNS DONT WANT TO FLY AMERICAN FLAG.
i am the flag of the united states of america
look it up on your computer.
hezaAZsmitty
July 17, 2011 at 9:37 am
Nothing like a little "BAD PRESS" to expose the folly of those who say they represent the voters. For crying out loud, the banners were for the Independence day celebration, are these city leaders brain dead? I for one am wagering the ordinance will not be in play at next years Indepence Day festivities. I bet business will increase at the diner as a result of this fiasco.
Linda
August 9, 2011 at 1:41 am
I am outraged. What happened to symbolism? We as American citizens should be able to express our respect for our country in any way, shape or form. That code officer and his deligates should be ashamed of theirselves. I am just glad I wasn't there that day. People do die everyday for their country. Only in America.
afdsfsfd
August 18, 2011 at 12:25 am
The mayor's comment that "…we try to have some uniformity so it aesthetically pleasing" sounds like she's a fascist loon too!
"Uniformity" = commie
America has always been about individuality and individual freedoms not the rights of the Borg!
Tigereyes5644
August 18, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Let me see, It's okay to fly the American flag on the property but not pennants even if they look like American flags because it's against the township rules for everybody. Seems resonable to me. This in no way restricts the owners of the resturant from flying the American flag just those tacky pennants that fall down across the road all the time and look like trash after they have been up to long. Why do people look for a fight when there is nothing to fight about. Flag yes, pennants no, simple. Now if you have a problem with the pennant law take the steps to have the law removed from the township books until then fly a real flag.