A pride flag went up Monday at the Office of Education building in Downey, despite the city’s neutral flag policy that only allows the display of United States, state, city and POW flags on city-owned and operated property to maintain.
Supervisor Janice Hahn led the lifting, as the building is on Los Angeles County property. The supervisor raised the pride flag on eight county-owned properties in the area to celebrate Pride Month.
“For the past three years the pride flag has flown over your beautiful city, but a few weeks ago the City Council voted narrowly, but still by a majority, to end this practice,” Hahn said.
The supervisor points to a revised ordinance from May in which the Downey City Council voted 3-2 to limit which flags can be displayed on city property, creating a “neutral flag policy.” This change came about three years after the city first flew the pride flag at City Hall.
Downey Mayor Trujillo and Councilman Ortiz voted against the May review, and Hahn addressed the two at Monday’s ceremony.
“All dark clouds have a silver lining, right. When one door closes, a hundred more open. I’m here today because I wanted to make sure Mayor Trujillo and your colleague Horatio Ortiz know that we appreciate them working on the the right side of the world.” history,” said Hahn.
The City of Downey released an official statement during the ceremony on Monday. “Supervisor Janice Hahn’s Pride Flag Ceremony at the Los Angeles County Office of Education is sponsored by Los Angeles County at a County facility and therefore does not fall under the jurisdiction of the City of Downey.”
