WOODCLIFF LAKE—The Borough Council on Nov. 8 tabled a proposed ordinance that would have restricted flag-flying on public property to the U.S. flag and certain governmental flags, prohibiting other flags including the Pride flag, which the borough has flown for the past two years.
The council directed borough attorney John Schettino to research other town and governmental policies and ordinances that permit flying the Pride flag on public property and report back at the Dec. 6 meeting.
At its introduction, Ordinance 21-15 that restricts flags permitted on public property, was narrowly approved, 3–2.
It was opposed by councilman Craig Marson and council president Angela Hayes, though neither publicly noted objections at the meeting. Hayes was absent Nov. 8.
Councilwoman Jospehine Higgins said Nov. 8 that she had also received requests to fly flags, including the Right-To-Life flag.
On Nov. 8, newly reelected incumbent Democrat councilwoman Jacqueline Galdaleta said she “always supported” raising the Pride flag on municipal flag poles and urged the flag ordinance to be tabled.
Gadaleta and her running mate, Jennifer Margolis, won Nov. 2’s council election over Republican challengers Michael Casale and Dianna Cereijo.
Gadaleta said she had spoken to Schettino and Bergen County Commissioner Tracey Zur for possible options to permit the display of a Pride flag on public property. It was unclear what other flags might be permitted, though no council person said that they wished to include other specific causes or organizations.
Gadaleta said, “We do need to limit other flags that could be considered controversial or cause a legal situation or cause a legal situation if we chose not to raise them.”
She asked Schettino to research Fair Lawn’s flag-flying ordinance, which she said mirrors the U.S. House of Representatives’ policy for flying the Pride flag.
Marson said he favored raising the Pride flag on public property, which the borough has done for the last two years.
Two years ago, Mayor Carlos Rendo stood with LGBTQ+ advocates in June and raised the Pride flag for the first time on the borough’s Centennial Causeway.
Support for Pride flag
Other members appeared to support raising the Pride flag though some, including councilman Steven Falanga, voiced concern that flying it could create legal issues and pressure the borough to fly flags that it would prefer not to.
Former councilwoman Nancy Gross read a statement from an LGBTQ+ individual that said raising the Pride flag “really touched” her but noted that raising the flag can show needed support to LGBTQ+ individuals, and especially adolescents, struggling with their identities.
Resident Rebecca Bellin said she was “really relieved and grateful when the town decided to raise the Pride flag” and noted what the Pride flag flying meant to her. She said she has flown a Pride flag and urged the borough to not “[give] into the demands of a bully” and “take this opportunity to do what is right.”
Cheryl Dispoto said the Pride flag was “a symbol of civil rights” and said she was “very disappointed” that the council chose to introduce such a flag-flying ordinance.
She said the White House, and nearby towns including Ridgewood, Teaneck, and Wyckoff fly the Pride flag every June during Pride Month.
Sara La Motta said “That the council would even consider doing this was horrible, absolutely horrible” and criticized the way the ordinance was introduced. She said she was “so grateful” the council decided to table the ordinance and look at other flag-flying policies.
“Do right by our community and our youth who really are our future,” she said.
Resident Liz Baxter said she supports finding an alternative so the Pride flag can be flown and is “hopeful that you can resolve this in an inclusive fashion.”