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Public criticizes half-staff flags; council agrees to review Calistogacriteria for lowering flags
Summary
A public commenter said lowering flags for a recently assassinated figure was hurtful to diverse residents; councilmember Eisenberg asked for a future agenda item to review the city's criteria for lowering flags at half-staff.
A public commenter told the Calistoga City Council on Sept. 23 that lowering flags to half-staff after the killing of a nationally known podcaster felt offensive to many town residents and asked the city to reconsider its local policy for flag lowering.
Jesse Lopez said the decision to lower flags forced the town to "mourn this man" despite his comments that Lopez described as racist, misogynistic and Islamophobic. "How could this town mourn someone who was constantly racist, misogynistic, Islamophobic," Lopez said, adding that many in the town felt the action overlooked other victims of gun violence.
Nut graf: The comment prompted council discussion of whether the cityshould clarify or revise its criteria for lowering flags. Councilmember Eisenberg asked that the council consider a future agenda item to review the city's policy and criteria for participating in half-staff proclamations.
At a later point in the meeting, Eisenberg said: "As a future agenda item, perhaps review our criteria for flag lowering." The mayor and other council members indicated support for placing the issue on a future agenda for discussion, without taking immediate action at the Sept. 23 meeting.
Ending: The council did not change city practice that night but asked staff to bring the item back for council consideration at a future meeting.
