City blames local media for flag controversy
The city of Cape Coral has issued a statement lambasting local media outlets for unfavorable comments received nationwide after it was reported a city code enforcement officer asked a hardware store employee to move half a dozen small flags from the public right of way onto private property last week.
The two officials state that the code enforcement conversation was never about the American flag but placement within the right-of-way, which is prohibited by city ordinance for safety reasons. The mayor and the city’s top administrator state news outlets decided to “‘make’ this benign exchange (between the employee and code enforcement officer) a news story. In doing so, they failed to report all relevant facts or do any additional research. With the advent of social media, this story went viral.”
In the wake of the controversy, a number of residents, other downtown businesses and the RE/MAX Realty office on Del Prado Boulevard planted flags of their own.
Mayor Marni Sawicki and City Manager John Szerlag’s statement reads:
City of Cape Coral
1015 Cultural Park Boulevard
Cape Coral, FL 33990
Date: October 17, 2014
Subject: Statement from Mayor Marni Sawicki / City Manager John Szerlag re: Flags
The City of Cape Coral has been depicted in the national spotlight in a very unflattering manner. This has resulted in hateful phone calls and emails from people across the country who make statements such as Cape Coral is an “un-American” city. We are offended by these comments and believe it is important for our citizens to know what happened.
Contrary to what they may have heard, this was not about the American flag. The City of Cape Coral would never disrespect “The Stars and Stripes.” Our city loves and supports our servicemen and women, past and present, and our beautiful Veterans Memorial Area at the entryway to Cape Coral is an example of that support. This always was about our public right of way.
Please know most cities, counties and states in the United States regulate what can and cannot be placed in the public right of way. Our ordinances addressing the public right of way mirror ordinances of other municipalities, which also restrict signs, flags and banners in their rights of way. These communities do not give free reign to the public to put any flags or objects in their rights of way. The restrictions are in place for public safety reasons.
Why all of the negative attention then on Cape Coral? What was the appalling action taken by the City that warranted all this negative press? We responded to a complaint about flags in the right of way. We explained the ordinance and politely asked the employee of the hardware store to move the flags a few feet out of the right of way and onto their private property. We left and took no further action.
The employee called the local media, which initiated the chain of negative media attention. Our local media decided to “make” this benign exchange a news story. In doing so, they failed to report all relevant facts or do any additional research. With the advent of social media, this story went viral.
When a news outlet was asked why this was a story, the response was because “we have people talking about it now.” Of course, people were talking about it because the media turned our brief contact with the employee into a story. When another outlet was asked to please compare our ordinance regulating rights of way with surrounding cities to see that we are not unique, the media outlet said “no.” This “yellow journalism” approach to reporting used to be taboo in the news industry.
We know there are times when a City takes an action or makes a decision where criticism is warranted. We do not back away from those times. This, however, is not one of those times. To say it is unfortunate our local media and some residents have no qualms about diminishing the image of our city to other people is an understatement. Cape Coral is a wonderful American city with equally wonderful citizens, and our community does not deserve this negative attention. All we can do now is hope for better in the future.
Thank you.
Marni L. Sawicki
John Szerlag