By Jessica Easthope
Joe Maffia calls himself a proud patriot, and this is how he expresses himself.
American flags aren’t uncommon on his Gerritsen Beach block, but on Jan. 19, Maffia was the only person asked to take his down.
The New York City Buildings Department showed up and called his “Let’s Go Brandon” flag, a popular flag flown by Trump supporters, and his American flag illegal signs in a residential district.
Maffia refused to remove them, deciding instead to evoke his First Amendment rights and fight for his freedom of speech.
“I told them I’d remove the bottom flag, no problem,” Maffia said. “They said no, both flags, or you’re going to get a summons for $500. I said, ‘Give me the summons; people died for that flag.’ “
It was all captured on the Resurrection parishioner’s doorbell camera — the inspectors were following up after getting a 311 call from a neighbor. Maffia doesn’t know who it was.
“Thank God for the Ring doorbell that caught it because I don’t think anyone would believe what I was saying,” Maffia said. “I’m a simple person; I don’t want the spotlight on me, but it’s not right what the city is doing.”
After Currents News reached out to the Department of Buildings to investigate, the city withdrew the violation, saying it was issued ‘in error’; they even left Joe a voicemail.
“How can you tell somebody you have to take down an American flag?” Maffia said. “Even the other flag, freedom of speech. It’s like they’re trying to take everything away from people, and it’s insane, take a little bit and a little bit and see what they can get.”
But what’s disturbing Maffia and his neighbors is that a city agency would act on a civilian complaint without following protocol.
“I think it’s a disgrace, it’s America, and we should be allowed to have our American flags,” neighbor Bernadette McNally said. “That’s the government now; we have no rights anymore. It’s like a communist country.”
“We’ve wanted speed bumps on the street and to make the street a one-way for years now, but the flag situation’s getting taken care of pretty quickly,” said Frank Lobasso, another neighbor.
Joe’s waiting for the official notice that the violation has been withdrawn and his court hearing has been canceled.
“And I just want to thank Currents News for bringing this to everyone’s attention and getting this somewhat resolved,” Maffia said. “It’s not in writing yet, but hopefully, it is on the way.”
Maffia said this is a clear example of government overreach and though he’s happy his case is getting resolved he, unfortunately, thinks it will happen again to someone else.
You can read more about this story online at TheTablet.Org.