Regis Philbin
May 20th, 2007, 09:38 PM
http://www.lvrj.com/news/7571197.html
Council backs neighbors in flap, orders flag down
Hummer dealership may challenge action
By DAVID McGRATH SCHWARTZ
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Call it a show of patriotic pride. Or call it a crass red-white-and-blue marketing ploy.
Either way, the city of Las Vegas has ordered a Hummer dealership to take down an American flag that flies 100 feet above the business.
Dan Towbin, owner of Towbin Hummer, said he was in disbelief at the City Council's decision this week to require the business to take down the 30-by-60-foot Stars and Stripes that has flown since May 2006 in front of the dealership.
"It's ridiculous in today's day and age to suggest removing an American flag," he said.
Towbin must remove the flag within 60 days, though he said he was contemplating a lawsuit to challenge the council's unanimous action.
When Towbin originally got approval for his flag in May 2006, he agreed to a six-month review, contingent on complaints from neighbors of the dealership on Sahara Avenue near Lindell Road.
At Wednesday's City Council meeting, some residents showed up to complain about the noise from the flapping flag when the wind blows and the aesthetic effect of the looming flag pole.
At the meeting last year, Towbin employee Carl Marcello told the City Council that the dealership planned to build a memorial for military veterans at the base of the flag pole.
On Wednesday, council members and others questioned why Towbin had not built the memorial.
Council backs neighbors in flap, orders flag down
Hummer dealership may challenge action
By DAVID McGRATH SCHWARTZ
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Call it a show of patriotic pride. Or call it a crass red-white-and-blue marketing ploy.
Either way, the city of Las Vegas has ordered a Hummer dealership to take down an American flag that flies 100 feet above the business.
Dan Towbin, owner of Towbin Hummer, said he was in disbelief at the City Council's decision this week to require the business to take down the 30-by-60-foot Stars and Stripes that has flown since May 2006 in front of the dealership.
"It's ridiculous in today's day and age to suggest removing an American flag," he said.
Towbin must remove the flag within 60 days, though he said he was contemplating a lawsuit to challenge the council's unanimous action.
When Towbin originally got approval for his flag in May 2006, he agreed to a six-month review, contingent on complaints from neighbors of the dealership on Sahara Avenue near Lindell Road.
At Wednesday's City Council meeting, some residents showed up to complain about the noise from the flapping flag when the wind blows and the aesthetic effect of the looming flag pole.
At the meeting last year, Towbin employee Carl Marcello told the City Council that the dealership planned to build a memorial for military veterans at the base of the flag pole.
On Wednesday, council members and others questioned why Towbin had not built the memorial.