The flag policy adopted by the City of Mount Vernon is one that definitely found a middle ground and gave voice to many different communities, not just one.
As council member Craig Engel noted in his comments, it’s come a long way since the request asking for just the Pride flag to be flown in June to having 11 different causes and groups to be recognized by the community of Mount Vernon. Eleven different groups receiving recognition as a compromise to address some of the voiced concerns over flying just one flag makes this a better policy.
As citizen Aida Jones also noted “more equality for one group doesn’t mean less equality for you.”
Another point that is in the policy is the ability for the council, mayor and city administrator to add or change flags that are flown by future resolutions if there are other causes that should be appropriately recognized in the community. As citizen Julie Andrews noted – that malleability and explanation of who makes those decisions helps citizens know who to approach, but also removes city staff from dealing with those decisions.
Over the course of the discussion on this policy citizens have raised valid concerns both for and against this policy, and that communication and work has made a policy that gives more groups recognition in this community. Like we said when this policy was being considered, celebrating the diversity, equity and inclusive nature of this community was an important goal, and in that way, this new policy helps more marginalized communities be seen and recognized in our community. It also gives us the ability in the future to recognize other groups if they are deemed ones to be recognized.