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As reported by the Kane County Chronicle, Batavia City Council unanimously approved a new flag policy to clarify the city's stance on flag displays and mitigate potential legal risks.
Key points of the new policy include:
City flagpoles are not intended as a forum for public expression.
All flags flown are considered government speech, chosen solely by City Council.
The city must acquire ownership of all flags it flies.
The policy was drafted in response to a resident's request to fly a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag. This came shortly after the city raised the Unity flag for Pride Month, sparking debate about which flags should be displayed on city property.
Mayor Schielke noted that allowing public requests could lead to an endless stream of flag proposals.
While some residents expressed concerns about limiting public input, others supported the move to fly only government flags on city property. The policy aims to strike a balance between representation and avoiding potential legal challenges.
Here’s a detailed article about the new policy. Here’s the original City Council memo.
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