Lock Haven City Council Addresses Flag Controversy and Community Concerns

LOCK HAVEN- In a standing-room only City Council meeting Monday evening, council heard concerns regarding raising and flying of the Christian Flag in Triangle Park during the month of April, known as Faith Month by the group Concerned Women for America (CWA).

During the public comment portion of the meeting, council heard from city resident Bill Stankiewicz who recently asked council to fly the flag at Triangle Park below the United States flag during the month of April, along with asking permission to erect three crosses there for Easter.

“I appreciate the city council for voting to erect the crosses and for allowing the Christian flag to be flown at Triangle Park, I appreciate what you did,” Bill said.

Others in attendance were not very supportive of the vote of city council last week.

“Faith month was created out of hate by the group Concerned Women for America and it is a counteraction for seeing the pride flag,” said city resident and President of the local Pride Alliance Bre Reynolds.

“When this flag flies it has ill intent behind it…would you approve the Nazi flag, KKK flag, or the flag of al-Qaeda? My only agenda is to live in a world where we are not targets, because women love women and men love men, my role as president of the Pride Alliance is to advocate against hate, and the only way to stop hate is to stand up to it.”

Another resident of the city, Elsa, said she also represents the minority like Bre.

“I am a person of strong faith, I am jewish and comfortable and secure in my beliefs and am respectful of others in their beliefs,” Elsa said. “The flag policy should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and should not promote or favor political or religious views, but rather should promote inclusion and diversity.”

“Lock Haven is an area ready to serve anyone no matter where they come from,” said Woodward Township resident Betty Brendle. “You need to consider those who are already living here and those who may be visiting our area like those from the university, hunters, hikers, fishermen, aviators…let’s place a flag welcoming all to lock haven, our doors are open not just to some, but to all.”

Another viewpoint expressed how church and state should always be separate. “On public property, it can be seen as a government endorsement and the church already has their own property to display on it what they want…flying this flag shows we as a city are endorsing the group and their stance.”

Councilman Jeff Brinker presented his research on the placing of flags on city-owned property citing the time the City of Boston tried to quell a flag request by denying the permit to fly a flag within one of the plazas in the city, and they sued the city in that case. “The Supreme Court ruled that government cannot exclude private religious speech, and the city lost the lawsuit,” Brinker said. “The Supreme Court made it clear that we made the correct legal decision (last week)” when the council voted in favor of flying the flag at Triangle Park. “Boston violated rights under free speech,” Brinker said.

Mayor Long offered his two cents on why he voted in favor of flying the flag last week.

“The group out there that hijacked this original flag design that was designed in the 1800s and accepted in 1942 as an official flag, is using it for nastiness. To me, being a Christian is about loving people, loving my neighbors, and loving my enemies, and I apologize for those who took it wrong way, that was not my intent, and I have argued with so many people defending the rainbow flag…Lock Haven is a place where we don’t care who you worship, or the color of your skin, if you come here and be a good citizen you are welcome here.”

Councilwoman Masorti made a motion to contact the City Solicitor to revisit the city flag flying resolution (2023-14) to review it and possibly make the policy more clear-cut, specific, and concise, and council voted in favor of this motion.

In other news, Dave Harger presented council with more information regarding the construction of the new Veterans Park at the corner of Water and Jay Streets.

“We will be moving forward with construction when the weather breaks,” Harger said. “There was a 30% increase in costs and I am working on getting more money to help with the build, but we should be on track for a mid-summer dedication of the park” where Harger said it will basically begin and end with a veteran, by placing a display plaque to honor another SEAL veteran at the university end of the riverwalk.

“I want to move Dave Collins near the ramp up to the Corman Amphitheater, and officially call it a SEAL Walk, beginning and ending with a SEAL, and moving a flagpole to the opposite side of Jay Street,” Harger said.

Hill section city resident Bonnie Kephart spoke to council making them aware of the event that transpired there a couple weeks ago, and asking the city what can be done about dogs on the loose in the neighborhood.

“My dog was attacked when a neighbors pit bull got loose and I want to know what solution we can have for strays or when dogs get loose,” Bonnie said.

“When my dog was attacked, a neighbor started a gofundme page, my son came up from Maryland to be with me, and my daughter put all of the vet bills on her credit card,” she said. “It never should have happened and I don’t want to see someone else’s dog be attacked by this pit bull.”

Asking for the procedures to be changed on how to handle a dog attack, Bonnie recommended equipping city police vehicles with collapsible kennels and a lasso harness to capture a dog.

“I want to know if you can get a designated kennel at the SPCA for a loose dog to be placed while an owner is attempted to be located,” Bonnie said, “to see if the dog is up-to-date on its shots, and is licensed, so what can the city do for this?”

City Council also received word from PennDOT that they will be receiving $227,218.84 from the Liquid Fuels Tax Fund and $5,400 from the Road Turnback Annual Maintenance to be deposited into the Liquid Fuels Tax account.