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Donald trump fined for his Patriotism

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 2:08 pm
by JKDubb
I know this a little offtopic but I don't know what to think about this.

Since when is displaying an American flag a problem?

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/11/01/trump ... topstories

PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) -- Donald Trump's display of patriotism is apparently too flamboyant for this chic oceanside town.

Palm Beach officials cited Trump for hoisting a large American flag atop an 80-foot pole at his lavish Mar-a-Lago estate and club.

Town officials said the real estate mogul has violated zoning codes with a flagpole taller than 42 feet and for erecting it without a building permit and permission from the landmarks board.

Trump has until November 27 to apply for approvals or face a December 21 code enforcement hearing that could result in $250-a-day fines.

"You don't need a permit to put up the American flag," Trump said Tuesday. "The day you need a permit to put up the American flag, that will be a sad day for this country."

Lee Hanley, vice chairman of the town's landmarks commission, previously said the 15-by-25-foot flag makes the town look like "we have an Okeechobee car dealer," referring to a strip of auto dealerships along Okeechobee Boulevard in West Palm Beach.

Trump responded in a letter last week saying that "anyone who objects should not, in my opinion, hold a public office of any kind -- at least not in this country."

The flag first appeared outside the estate October 3.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Re: Donald trump fined for his Patriotism

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 2:20 pm
by KinnyLee
JKDubb wrote:"You don't need a permit to put up the American flag," Trump said Tuesday. "The day you need a permit to put up the American flag, that will be a sad day for this country."
He's right. :sad:

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 2:51 pm
by cyphur
Go Trump!

You da man!

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 3:14 pm
by kanders
Apparently you DO need a permit to put up an American flag on a pole taller than 42 feet there. I don't see anything wrong or "unpatriotic" about the zoning ordinance. Just my 0.02.

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 3:15 pm
by Kalrog
I forget what the exact wording of the (now) law is, but earlier this year the Feds made it illegal to enforce bans on displaying the American flag. It might have been directly aimed at HOAs though... not so much at municipalities.

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:31 pm
by stevie_d_64
$250 a day...

I think he can wrap around that...

And if the association thinks it looks like an Okeechobie whatever whatchamacallit...So what...Sounds to me like they have personal problems...

When did flying a great big American flag at a car dealership look tacky???

Mr. Trump, I think you have quite a few people backing you on this one...

Tell 'em to go pound sand!

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:01 pm
by phddan
I'm kinda on the fence on this one.

On one hand, you ought to be able to fly the stars and stripes however/whenever you dang well please. As long as it conforms to the U.S. Flag Code.

On the other hand, if he dont like the zoning code, surely he could afford to get it changed, along with getting the permit and permission.

I mean come on, a 42' pole is plenty tall, unless other people can't see it.

Dan ( no vexillologist )

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:48 pm
by Venus Pax
I can understand if the flag pole doesn't go with their zoning, but I don't think anyone needs to fine him over the flag itself.
Do other nations have this problem? Are there freaks in other countries that have made flying their national flag illegal?

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:09 pm
by phddan
V Pax

Didnt sound to me like the problem was the flag itself, just the flag pole.

Dan

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:28 pm
by flintknapper
I will gladly contribute $10.00 a day toward the fine. All we need are another 24 people to do the same. I'm sure somewhere in the U.S. we could find.....oh I don't know....maybe, 4-5 million other patriots willing to do the same.

Should be able to fly "Old Glory" a long time on that kinda money!



Good on ya Mr. Trump!

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:49 pm
by KRM45
I enjoy the sight of an American Flag flying as much as most.

The thing that I have a difficult time with is the excess this represents. Think about it, a typical flag is 3'x5' on a 25'-30' pole. His flag pole is 3 times the size of a normal one, and his flag is 5 times bigger than normal.

I don't think this stems from an abundance of patriotism as much as an over inflated ego.

That having been said, I don't really like government telling us what we can and can not do on our own property.

Just my opinion...

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:06 pm
by spud
100% with Trump. I doubt it is tacky or bothering anything. Just news.

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:38 pm
by nitrogen
As someone who'se been on the wrong side of a HOA over a flag display, I salute the man. I did not have the time, money, or inclination to fight; I'm glad he does and will.

Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 8:40 am
by Mithras61
Let me get this straight...




Donald Trump is being fined because his pole is too long? :rolll

I don't think I can make anything more funny out of this than what it is!

Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:05 am
by stevie_d_64
Mithras61 wrote:Let me get this straight...




Donald Trump is being fined because his pole is too long? :rolll

I don't think I can make anything more funny out of this than what it is!
Now that's tacky! :smilelol5: