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I won't be going to Route 66 this year.......
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Posted by: The OLE MAN

Car buffs enter flag flap
Clubs plan to protest keeping large Old Glory wrapped
Megan Blaney and Kelly Rayburn, Staff Writers

SAN BERNARDINO - If the city continues to hide away its largest flag, local car buffs say they may also go into hiding - just in time for the annual Stater Bros. Route 66 Rendezvous.
At a Flag Day rally today at City Hall, event organizer Lyman Stucky and members of car clubs and other groups intend to protest a City Council decision against draping a giant American flag off the side of City Hall on patriotic holidays and on Sept. 11.
"The idea is that your average car buff is a red-blooded American," Stucky said. "Our flag is Old Glory, and we want that displayed proudly."
The car buffs will bring their cars to demonstrate "how important San Bernardino's patriotism is to continued participation of area car clubs in the annual Route 66 Rendezvous," according to a news release issued by Stucky.
If the council does not reconsider, Stucky said, the protesters will consider a boycott of the Rendezvous.
The debate started in March when 5th Ward Councilman Chas Kelley asked city staff to drape the 30-foot-by-22-foot flag in response to demonstrators waving Mexican flags in front of City Hall. City staff rejected Kelley's request, citing logistical difficulties and the possibility of exacerbating the protesters.
At a May 1 meeting, council members voted against a subsequent proposal from Kelley to drape the flag every Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Sept. 11 and Veterans Day.
The measure failed on a tie, with Neil Derry and Dennis Baxter supporting Kelley. Council members Esther Estrada, Gordon McGinnis and Rikke Van Johnson voted against the proposal. Councilwoman Wendy McCammack was absent.
Mayor Pat Morris opted against breaking the tie.
City Manager Fred Wilson said it would have cost between $3,000 and $5,000 a year to drape the flag.
Kelley brought the matter back at a May 15 meeting. McCammack supported him then, but Baxter voted "no" and the proposal failed 4-3.
"I realized between the first vote and the second vote that it was basically becoming a political football," Baxter said Tuesday.
He said he thought Kelley was grandstanding and that the planners of today's demonstration were ill-informed about the facts.
He noted that two American flags already fly at City Hall. What's more, Baxter said, is that he is accepting, on behalf of the city, a new American flag from the Native Sons of the Golden West today that will also likely fly at City Hall.
Vintage car buff Gary Ewing, who works as an announcer at hundreds of car shows every year as DJ Gary, said the fact that other American flags are already displayed at City Hall doesn't matter because the council is backing away from displaying the larger flag.
"Some (veterans) gave their lives for us," Ewing said. "The least we can do is display the American flag and not be ashamed to do it."
For his part, Kelley said he'd like his colleagues to consider the matter again.
"I'd be happy to revisit it because I think it's the right thing to do," he said.
He dismissed the suggestion that he was grandstanding.
"It's the right thing to do, period," he said. "It's the right thing to do on those particular days."
Morris' son and chief of staff, Jim Morris, said Tuesday that the mayor was focused on what he considers the city's more important priorities.
"The mayor is focused like a laser on the issues that are troubling our city . . . safety on our streets and the economy for our residents," Jim Morris said.

The OLE MAN

ps, none of my buddies are going either.........

Posted by: John

They tried some BS like that out here at a local meet. The admission price to show your vehicle was that you had to bring a toy for the Toys For Tots campaign. The U.S. Marines were collecting the toys. I forget what the local business was but they backed out of supporting the Marines at the last second and told them they couldn't stage the collection point on thier property. They also backed out of donating a bunch of toys. So a local shipping company stepped up and parked 2 trailers on the show grounds and gave the Marines a free-standing portable pavillion and generators to run right on the grounds. At the end of the day, they sent two trucks over to pick up the trailers and haul them where ever they wanted.

To make up for the loss in the huge donation, a few car clubs got together and collected toys and cash. We filled 11 Lightnings and rolled right up the to Marines booth and filled a trailer with toys. They wanted names to thank for the effort but no one would give them a real name. They just said "Semper Fi, fellas!" and went and parked for the show. I do know that the business that snubbed the Marines was not in business very long after that. There was a huge town boycott and the owner lost so much that the site went up for sherif's sale in just over a year.

I agree with you. If they are so afraid of offending people or the cost of displaying the flag then I'd be willing to give them 3 grand of my own money to do it and I'll proudly stand infront of it flipping off any sack of shit that might be offended by it!

Posted by: No Rice Allowed

I Thought it was because of the ice???

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