Caller urges commission to require public input before landmarking Harvey Milk Plaza flagpole

Michael Petrelis, calling into the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission on May 1, urged commissioners to consider public involvement before landmarking the rainbow flagpole at Harvey Milk Plaza. "It's my understanding that later this month, new commissioners will be presented with a resolution from Rafael Mandelmann to landmark the large metal pole, the rainbow fabric that slides from it, and the cement base," Petrelis said. He added that the pole has changed over decades and is "a controversial structure on city property."

Petrelis told the commission the Castro Merchants Group currently controls what flies on that pole and that "the general public has not had access to what flies on that pole," a condition he said should weigh on any landmarking decision. He also criticized a local elected official’s prior stance on the Castro Theater interior, saying that official "pretended he was neutral" during earlier hearings and expressed concern about similar timing and process in the proposed landmarking effort.

No formal action on the flagpole was taken during the meeting; Petrelis's remarks were made during the general public-comment period. The commission did not debate the substance of Petrelis's allegations on the record at this meeting, and staff did not announce a date for any landmark hearing specific to the flagpole during the session. The commission may receive formal landmark nominations or resolutions in later agenda cycles, when public-notice and comment rules will apply.