Aurora mayor reverses flag order after heated public debate; council extends public-comment period

Mayor John Lash said Sept. 12 that he had directed city staff to return municipal flags to full staff after they had been lowered Sept. 11, and told the Committee of the Whole on Sept. 16 he will pursue a consistent local policy on flag displays. The mayor's statement followed conflicting federal and state directives and an internal legal review about which authorities govern flag orders.

Why it matters: Flag displays are a symbolic civic act that city officials say require clear, consistent direction. The dispute prompted extended public comment at the Sept. 16 meeting and sharp back-and-forth among dozens of residents — including calls both to keep flags up and to lower them in remembrance — that underscored political divisions in Aurora.

Lash told the council that his staff checked with the city law department and determined that “the president's flag directive applies to federal buildings. The governor's flag directive applies to state buildings, and the mayor of Aurora has ultimate jurisdiction of our flags flown at City Of Aurora buildings.” He added, “As mayor, I'll apply a consistent policy to flag displays at city buildings.” Lash said he had lowered flags September 11 and then directed staff to return them to full staff on September 12.

Public comment that followed was sharply divided. Helen Ratzlow, who identified herself as a 14-year resident of the Third Ward, said the mayor “brought the flags up. He rejected bigotry and stood up for the multiracial, multicultural, and multilingual city that we live in.” Other speakers urged the opposite. A presenter who registered as Sandy Schmidt told the council, “I believe we should keep the flag up,” and student Jack Pye said, “Lowering the flag is not a partisan act. It's a civic act.”

Some commenters framed the mayor's decision as political. Daniel Sorey, who said he is chairman of a local Republican committee, told the mayor, “We're coming for your seat,” and several speakers used the public-comment period to criticize or defend Lash's decision and wider political positions. Dr. Moe, who identified as Palestinian American during his remarks, thanked the mayor directly: “I just wanted to thank you for not lowering our flag.”

Council procedure: The council first allotted 30 minutes for public comment under the Open Meetings Act rules but, after hearing more than the allotted speakers, Aldlewoman Smith moved to suspend that time limit for the night; the motion was seconded by Alderman Franco and carried on a roll-call vote of 12–0. The clerk read the names of two additional registered speakers who were then allowed to address the council.

What the council did and did not do: Councilmembers did not adopt a new formal flag policy during the meeting. Lash framed his intent to adopt consistent local guidance and said staff had consulted the law department; no ordinance or formal resolution on flag displays was proposed or voted on at this session.

Next steps: The mayor said he will apply a consistent policy to how city flags are displayed and the law department review that was described may shape any formal policy the city later proposes. The council will receive follow-up as appropriate.