Mayor Raises A Red Flag

A new flag featuring the blue-and-gold city seal on a bright red ground appeared recently in City Hall and was also part of Veterans' Day ceremonies on Nov. 11. But at Monday's City Council meeting, no one from the administration could explain how it came about.

"Remove it," City Council President Adrian Mapp said after officials drew a blank on why the new flag was not offered for the governing body's approval.

The mayor's well-known public predilection for the color red predates her election. In 2005, women dressed in red to show their support for her candidacy at a forum put on to counter the traditional League of Women Voters forum. She went on to win her first four-year term and took office on Jan. 1, 2006,wearing red.

In 2009, she ran for re-election and decorated the new Senior Center with red balloons for a one-day opening in late May, just before the June primary. Her supporters also wore red. She won the primary and then the November election for a second term.

She has already declared her candidacy for a third term and will have to run in 2013. Perhaps the red flag was just another campaign reminder. But creating a city flag without legislative approval is something the governing body just won't salute.

--Bernice