No, it's not the end of the world if the Flag Code isn't followed in Stuy Town, but it is a sign of respect, however antiquated, if it is followed. I've been seeing the flags around Stuy Town up all night (not illuminated), including in inclement weather. There was a time, not that long ago, when they were taken down at sunset and raised at sunrise. What gives? The personnel aren't there any more? Money's tight? No one cares? What's the story?
This was a complex that was built, in part, for veterans, and the manager now is a former Marine. Let's pick up our game here.
http://www.usflag.org/uscode36.html
Flag Code
Time and occasions for display
- (a) Display on buildings and stationary flagstaffs in open; night display It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.
- (b) Manner of hoisting The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
- (c) Inclement weather The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed.
UPDATE 1/26: The flags are now being taken down at dusk and raised at dawn.
39 comments:
They don't honor the fire code why should we expect that they honor the Flag?
Please.
It's 9:17 p.m., and the flag is flying at the VA Hospital on 23rd Street as it does every night with no special illumination that I can see.
It might be better that they leave them up than take the flags down given the manner in which they lower the flag. In the old days, two security officers would approach the flag pole, salute and then lower and fold the flag. these days, when they take the flag down, it is almost always one security officer who rolls it into a ball and tosses it in the back seat of the security car. At times, usually late at night,I have seen two security officers take the flags out of the cars one by one, unroll each of them, drape each flag over the hood and then proceed to fold it properly.
CW and management appear to have the same level of regard for theflag as they do for the community as a whole. It is disgraceful.
cars
Not so long ago, two guards would come to take the flags down each evening. One to lower the flag ant the other to appropriately fold it and take it away. There was always a salute at the end.
No one requires these folks to fly the flag but, if they choose to do so, they should do it with respect.
STR, I'm afraid that the ceremonial respect for the flag hasn't been followed for quite some time. I remember the days when the guards would complete a proper flag ceremony, saluting the flag and raising and lowering it properly. Even folding it into the military triangle as it is supposed to be stored. Now, we're lucky if it gets crumpled into a ball and tossed into an SUV, not to mention dragged on the ground in the process. It's disgraceful, and if someone took video of the disrespect and sent it to the local media (maybe post it on YouTube as well) I betcha we could create a giant stink about it.
So glad you posted this, STR. As the widow of serviceman killed in the Gulf War, I find it horribly offensive that this two-bit Compass Rock company shows nothing but contempt for the flag.
Note to (mis) Management: In case you haven't noticed, it's WAY past Christmas now; time to take down the goddam Christmas tree on the Oval! Or are you just planning to leave it up - lights and all - until next Christmas?! You people couldn't be any more clueless if you tried!
How nice. Disrespectful, just like 80% of their tenants.
They have insufficient number of porters and insufficient number of workers fixing Sandy damage and you expect them to obey flag law?
>>It's 9:17 p.m., and the flag is flying at the VA Hospital on 23rd Street as it does every night with no special illumination that I can see.<<
My camera isn't working properly, but should be soon, so I'll check this out. The VA Hospital, btw, is closed for business due to Sandy, with a reopening in a couple months.
They have insufficient number of porters and insufficient number of workers fixing Sandy damage and you expect them to obey flag law?>>
They laid off porters and handymen before Sandy. This was part of their business plan to cut costs to the bone. We have practically no one doing routine maintenance work in the buildings - and no cleaning whatsoever. It really is time the TA stepped up to the plate and petitioned for rent reduction on the grounds of diminished services. CW/Compass Rock are running the place into the ground. As for the flag, these dolts don't know the first thing about flag protocol. They might as well be wiping their bottoms with it for the all the respect they show it.
Given the anti-american climate of the country these days, I am not surprised by the disrespect for the flag. I am disgusted by it, but not surprised.
STR, thanks for this post. Some of the tenants here are still respectful of their neighbors and this place. It doesn't matter what some people see in other places. CW's treatment of the flag is an insult to all.
Shame on you management!
stuytown's shortcomings only begin with flying flags 24/7. the lack of common sense in most matters is breathtaking. last week, it was announced that dog owners had 5 days to sign on with the successor company to aerobic dog walkers. no explanation offered and all done without even informing aerobic that they had been kicked out the door. simultaneously, they have begun ripping out beautiful new shower stalls for what must certainly be liability reasons. upon telling them that we really wanted to keep the existing stall, they entered the apartment without permission and did their work. not a good way to run a business
This is a boorish, insolent company and they need to go . We shouldn't have to put up with their abuse. Don't we have anyone here with media connections? Having said that, I realize that Bloomberg and his mafia control most of the media. But maybe not the NYt?
to 12:08::
yes I do. yes I do.
Anon at 1:42pm
To date, the TA has ignored all requests by tenants to seek a rent reduction based on diminution of services. Maybe something will be proposed on Saturday , but I wouldn't hold my breath
What about the HEAT code? It's freezing right now and there's no heat at all. I had to turn on the oven for heat. Why isn't there any heat tonight? It's 10 degrees right now!
But the Winter Wonderland (no resources diverted for Sandy repairs) and apartment renovations (hello dorm/churn apartment) must go on. It must. After all, CWC is making remarkable, simply remarkable financial strides here. And this is VERY important:
“It’s official: the color of the year for 2013 is emerald green. How will you apply the color to your home décor?”
How does emerald green coordinate with mold?
STR, this "management" has no respect for tenants and no respect for the flag. Almost everything they do and don't do (such as responding to tenants) is one big middle finger. I don't know who chose them to manage the property, but CW has a bad reputation for being a hungry, blood-sucker outfit that just about strips to the bone any property in its custody and profits. The infliction of their own management company from Colorado, Compass Rock, is a prime example of their shifty and dishonest practices. The State Attorney General should be looking into what's happening here.
Tishman Speyer were saints compared to this outfit. Remember that CW is owned by Fortress, which made a lot of its blood money by owning animal testing labs. We are no more to them than the animals they torture for profit.
If they take the flag down an unfit parent might raise a baby up there! I've already seen a Pintrest board of nursery ideas for the tops of flag poles.
Thank you, John Marsh. Thank you, Dan. Thank you, Saunders.
I just don't get the hating CW thing. I have found CW to be effective and efficient. I don't agree with all the pimping out of the Oval and the illegal commercial activities. However, I blame Dan Garodnick and the TA for approving those things not CW. After all they are in business to make money. They must feel that these activities make money. I haven't seen their books so I can't confirm or deny. However, not long ago the TA was ranting about removing the middle man in their quest to become relevant in the sale and threatened CW that they were going over CW's head. At that point I picked up the phone and called CW and I was connected to Andrew MacArthur (I think that is his name) to let him know that the TA represents a tiny fraction of the tenants here so he shouldn't take their threat seriously, and that many of us are fine with keeping the property as a rental only property. He was gracious and kind and we had a pleasant conversation. He even asked my opinion about how things were going here, since I have lived here over 50 years. I mentioned some things like laundry machines etc. he explained the reasoning behind that debacle and how they were locked into those machines for the time being and other things. He told me of some plans which I have seen in action with my own eyes, so I have no major complaints with CW. In fact, as it turned out I was the one who had to cut the conversation short. So, I guess the moral of the story is you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Try being nice and maybe you will get some results. Of course that doesn't work with the TA. Disagree with them and watch out for their venom. I'll take CW over the TA any day of the week!!!
"They have insufficient number of porters and insufficient number of workers fixing Sandy damage and you expect them to obey flag law?"
Yes.
If they can't, they shouldn't fly the flag.
I'll thank Dan Garodnick when he accomplishes something. He failed with the skating rink, he failed with the greenmarket, he failed at his motorized bike crusade, oh I'm exhausted listing all these failures!
Until he succeeds at something I'm going to hang one of Sean Sullivan's "Broken" signs on him like my intercom!
Anon at 255pm
You must have caught MacArthur on a rare good day. All I hear is that he is either "in your face" or just plain nonresponsive.
CW has clearly cut back the number of service employees. Just ask any porter and he or she will tell you (unless they fear for their jobs) . The also make a mockery of the carpeting rule and ignore noise complaints, among other issues. Sole focus is to renovate apartments ASAP (which they continue to do while they do nothing in many basements in PCV other than drying them out)and rent them to students who they know will move out in 1-2 years , at which time they can get another vacancy increase . They need to increase revenues and cut expenses so they can maximize the sales price they will get when they sell STPCV in the next few years. They have no interest in maintaining whatever semblance of community remained here by the time the Speyers were through with us. Let's hope they sell the property ASAP before STPCV is officially turned into one big dorm
Quisling @ 2:55pm
I sincerely hope you're being facetious.
Again with the "Saunders?!?"
2:55 is obviously BS. Like Andrew MacArthur would take a random call from a tenant? PUH-LEASE! lol
Like I give a shit whether you believe me or not. I called to let CW know that the majority of tenants aren't in the TA and don't support it. I didn't ask to speak with anyone in particular and was shocked when I was put through to Mr. MacArthur. He was a gentleman, which is more than I can say about many here.
I walked by the flag at 6:30am this morning, it was soaking wet and hanging limp. It was quite sad.
I walked by the flag at 6:30am this morning, it was soaking wet and hanging limp. It was quite sad.>>
Pretty much reflects the state of the property and the desultory management company that is running it into the ground.
Were the flags flown at half staff for our departed Mayor today?
No.
Of course the flags were not at half staff here. Management didn't respect the Presidential order to fly them at half staff out of respect to the innocent victims at Sandy Hook, so what do you expect? I don't think CW is even an American company. I would expect better from Sean Sullivan if he really were a former US Marine.
Still flapping in the dark, wind, and snow. I'd remove your update... CWC just told you what they thought would make you and every other complainant go away. They have apartments to convert; union contracts to ignore; people to exploit; calls to ignore. They can't be bothered to do what they'd promised as regards the flag.
Without a doubt, CW/Compost Rock has turned out to be worse than Tishman Speyer and I never thought that was even possible. Their whole M.O. is to show as much contempt as possible in every way they can.
These assholes have no idea of how to respect the flag. They are not Americans. They are carpetbaggers. What do you expect?
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