THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 Page 3 Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net ALL OR NOTHING: he Colombian flag, among other national flags as raised outside city hall in honor of the countr s independenc during a ceremony in July dvocate file photo) City Hall flag raising ordinance doesn’t fly with everyone By Barbara Taormina A new ordinance meant to regulate which fl ags can fl y on the city’s fl agpoles is proving more complicated than city offi cials may have originally thought. The ordinance was developed by the city’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Department in response to a lawsuit against Boston from a Christian group whose fl ag was not allowed to be raised at Boston City Hall. In Shurtleff v. City of Boston, the Supreme Court found the city had violated Harold Shurtleff ’s First Amendment rights by rejecting the fl ag. According to the Supreme Court, Boston did not have a policy that would limit flag displays to speech by the city. The Revere DEI office proposed a policy that states Revere’s fl agpoles are not for personal expression but rather for city expressions of the city’s public sentiment. The proposal included special cut outs for the LBGTQ Pride Flag and the Juneteenth fl ags. But Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto proposed an amendment that the flags raised at City Hall be limited to the American, state, city and military fl ags. “My aim is to eliminate everything,” said Zambuto. “That’s the fairest way I could make this work.” But Revere’s DEI Director, Steven Morabito, said the amended ordinance is missing diversity, the city’s greatest strength. “We’re not just flying fabric, we’re fl ying fl ags in respect of everybody,” said Morabito, who urged the council to approve the original version of the ordinance. But residents who spoke during a public hearing on the ordinance agreed with Zambuto’s all or nothing approach. “If we can’t hang all fl ags, we shouldn’t hang any fl ags,” said Wayne Rose. Stephanie Desisto did not feel it should be up to city officials or boards to decide which fl ags express city sentiment and are acceptable. Desisto said city fl agpoles should be spaces of institutional neutrality.” Zambuto’s amendment “makes sense and is a risk management policy that protects the city against controversy and lawsuits.” And as a resident and taxpayer, she said, she does not want to foot the bill for another lawsuit against the city. Several councillors stressed that the new ordinance did not come from the City Council, but was from the Mayor’s Offi ce through the DEI offi ce. The council referred the ordinance to the Legislative Affairs Subcommittee for more review. * Restorative Dentistry * Cosmetic Dentistry * Implant Restoration * Zoom Whitening * Teeth in a Day - All on 6 * Invisalign * CEREC Crowns (Single Visit Crowns) * Root Canal Treatment * Sedation Dentistry ~ Full Mouth Rehabilitation ~ Before After Dr. Priti Amlani Dr. Bhavisha Patel ALL OR NOTHING: The Colombian flag, among other national flags, was raised outside city hall in honor of the country’s independence during a ceremony in July. (Advocate file photo) Eastern Bank Building on Rte. 1S 605 Broadway, #301 * Saugus (781) 233-6844 www.bostonnorthdental.com Monogram D4 Double siding Cedar impression half rounds Harvey Vinyl 66 Replacement Windows Custom Aluminum Trim work Windows & Doors Top quality Vinyl Siding! •Vinyl Siding •Carpentry Work •Decks •Roofing •Free Estimates •Replacement Windows •Fully Licensed •Fully Insured
4 Publizr Home