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I thought it might be a good idea to update you all on the “progress” that’s been made towards convincing Club One to stop making a mockery of our nation’s symbol.

If you read my last post, you know that the flag pictured here is flying not-so-high above Club One, a gambling casino in downtown Fresno, right across the street from another symbol of what makes America great: our Court House. The one symbol reminds us of the glory of our nation; the other reminds us that that glory is founded upon the rule of law.

Club One’s presentation of the American flag, however, reminds us of something else: corporations too busy to do anything that doesn’t contribute to their bottom line, even if all it would take is a man on a step-ladder to resolve the problem.

The other day, Bob Marcotte and I both contacted City Hall. I wrote to Mayor Autry; Bob contacted Councilwoman Sterling, in whose district Club One is located.

The Mayor essentially told me how glad he was that I wrote to him and would I now please go away. Well, okay, his exact words were:

Thanks for taking the time to write to me on issues of importance to you. Your comments are appreciated and help me better understand your needs and
concerns.

Sincerely,

Mayor Alan Autry

Whoa! Don’t I feel like he actually read my email…not. Hard to believe I actually used to have friendly conversations with him!

Bob’s luck was actually not much better than mine…

As Bob noted in a comment posted to Really Old Glory,

Councilwoman Sterling’s office called back. Here’s the issue as they described it to me.

1 – Club One occupies the first floor of an otherwise vacant hotel.

2 – Club One admits to owning the flags but cannot get access to change them (via the vacant hotel).

3 – Sterling’s assistant is trying to determine the owner of the hotel and will request that they allow access for Club One to change the flag. BTW, Club One (via Sterling’s assistant) claims to have new flags ready and waiting once they get access.

Now, one thing I neglected to mention the other day is this: Approximately 40 to 50 feet away from those flags hanging above Club One’s door, on the balcony area, are two large flagpoles. A couple of days ago, they contained one flag of the United States and one flag of California in pretty good condition. From the base of the flagpoles on which those flags hung, I imagine it takes less than 5 seconds to walk to the flags that hang over Club One’s door. And guess what?

Today, those two flags are gone.

I suppose it’s possible that they were so ashamed to be in such proximity to the tattered rags that they just got down off the poles and walked off by themselves.

But I doubt it.

It looks like someone was able to get up there and take down the two good flags. So why couldn’t they at least take down the ragged shreds of what used to be flags from above Club One’s door?

Or is it the case that these rags really do signify how Club One — and all the silent Fresnans who aren’t concerned enough to try to do anything about it — thinks the flag of the United States of America should be treated?

Maybe Fresno’s Mayor really is so powerless that he is limited to performing mock marriages on the steps of City Hall and praying that someone else will take care of things. But I’ll bet if enough of you called (559) 621-8000 and told his office how you felt about this, he’d make a try at asking the owners of Club One to do something about those flags. The Mayor’s email is mayor@fresno.gov. You could also make a try at contacting Club One directly at (559) 497-3000. Councilwoman Sterling’s phone number is also (559) 621-8000 and her email is District3@fresno.gov.

Here’s hoping that enough people actually still care about and respect the United States flag enough to make those phone calls, send those emails and do something about this disgrace!