Flag Flap : Resident Questions Oxnard’s Support for Troops

After three unsuccessful attempts at getting the city to fly U.S. flags in support of the war effort in the Persian Gulf, Oxnard resident Bob Baker said he is beginning to doubt his city’s commitment to the troops in the Middle East.

For the past three weeks Baker has spoken before the City Council, asking that the city put out American flags throughout downtown--as Oxnard normally does on the Fourth of July. He was told each time that a decision would be made the following week.

Tuesday, Baker lost his patience. “I don’t know what we’re waiting for,” Baker told the council. “At this pace, the war will be over before a decision is reached. We have the flags, we know where to put them. The only money that would be spent is on staff time to put the flags up, and if that’s a problem I’ll do it myself. How long is this thing going to drag on?”

When Baker approached the city with his request, the council seemed receptive to the idea. Mayor Nao Takasugi instructed City Manager Vern Hazen on Jan. 29 to come back the following week with a report outlining the feasibility of putting out the flags, along with a list of alternatives.

But at the Feb. 2 meeting, Hazen told Baker that the report had been delayed. Hazen said then that his office was loaded with work, and that the report would be forthcoming the following week.

When Baker learned that the flag issue was not on the agenda this week, he asked the city manager when the city would get around to preparing the report with the alternatives.

“Next week,” Hazen responded, as the audience broke into laughter.

“We’ve been very busy with the budget reduction sessions and we haven’t had time to get around to it,” Hazen said. “Our staff is working 12-hour days to get its work done, and we haven’t been able to finish the report. Putting out the flags is not as easy as it seems. We have to figure out how long we can leave them out before they become tattered.”

Baker was not satisfied with Hazen’s response.

“I don’t know what your department is doing that’s more important than showing support for our troops,” he said, promising to return next Tuesday.

Councilman Michael Plisky then said: “I hope people don’t get the impression that the council somehow does not support our troops. I have a flag and it’s been flying in front of my house since the war started, and I know other council members feel the same way.”

Councilwoman Dorothy Maron added that she too had hung a flag in front of her house but that it was stolen Monday night. “I don’t know what the message there is,” she said. “But I doubt that anybody stole my flag because I’m a councilwoman.”

Oxnard is not the only city in the county discussing how to show support for U.S. troops. Last week the Moorpark City Council appropriated $2,000 to decorate 1,500 light poles with flags and yellow ribbons in support of American forces. Moorpark Mayor Paul Lawrason has also been honoring the troops with a moment of silence before each City Council meeting.

The Simi Valley City Council became recently the first city in the county to provide financial compensation for city employees called to duty in the war. The council voted two weeks ago to supplement the pay that reservists receive from the military so it equals their regular city salary. Two city employees have been called to duty and six others could be called at any time.

“We’re doing everything we can to try and help people out,” Simi Valley Mayor Greg Stratton said.

Stratton, however, said he believes that it is more meaningful for residents to put up flags to show support for troops than the city.

“I think it’s important that it comes from the people,” he said. “I don’t think that the government should be organizing events. If you want government-organized events, you can see them on CNN in Iraq.”

Thousand Oaks City Councilman Alex Fiore also said that the City Council has urged residents to display flags at their residences to show support for the troops. He said, however, that the city does not have any plans to put up flags for this purpose.

He said city officials plan to send a letter to residents who are serving in the war wishing their safe return. In the western half of the county, the city of Ventura has flags flying on Main Street from San Buenaventura Mission to one block west of Ash Street. Flags are also being flown on California Street, running two blocks north and two blocks south of Main Street, an American Legion representative said.

The city is allowing the American Legion to keep the flags up until Memorial Day, and members of the organization are making sure that the 60 flags are maintained on a daily basis, Smokey Adams, past commander of Post 339, said.

The city of Ojai does not have any plans to place flags on Ojai Avenue, the city’s main street, City Clerk Cyndi Reynolds said.

“That’s because the city does not own any flags,” Reynolds said, “not because we don’t support the troops.”

In Fillmore, flags were placed in the business district three weeks ago by order of the city manager. A city official said the flags will stay up until the soldiers from Operation Desert Storm return.

Flags are flying on Main Street in Santa Paula. They were placed there by directive of the City Council two weeks ago and will remain up until the end of the Persian Gulf War, a city official said.

Yellow bows have been placed on about 20 trees in front of City Hall in Port Hueneme by members of the City Council and their wives as a gesture of support for American troops. Nothing official, however, has been done by the city in recognition of the troops.

Times staff writer Carlos V. Lozano and correspondent Gerry Brailo Spencer contributed to this report.