Colorado man ordered to remove American flag from apartment balcony because it's "clutter" - Polidicks

[QUOTE=Aetna;50623550]You've made it painfully obvious that you either don't know how leasing agreements work or you've never signed a lease before. They're extremely long, filled with tons of fine print and cover almost every aspect of the property you could possibly think of. I'm kicking myself right now for not having a PDF copy of my leasing agreement just to show you how inane half the shit in there is. Most of the time there's a clause toward the end that pretty much says, "Oh yeah we can change this on the fly, notify you and there's nothing you can do about it and btw this is open to our interpretation of how we worded it".[/QUOTE] I know how it works. I've read the lease for my apartment many times. There are no such clauses, only clauses that are within the law. Can they add in things whenever they want? SURE! But you are legally free to leave, since implementing changes mid-lease is a breach of contract. His flag is within the terms of his lease, and they haven't made an official change, so he can keep it up, and when they notify him that they are implementing a "no flags" clause, he is free to leave. [editline]30th June 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=Protocol7;50623623]...but we don't have the original lease documents to review, and as a current renter I am operating on the mindset that there is likely a provision that prevents that. Apartment complexes don't let you do shit with the exterior of their buildings, period. I could be wrong, of course, but my gut feeling does say that the tenant is in the wrong. We'll never know for sure unless we get to review the signed documents.[/QUOTE] I could be wrong too, but if there were a clause for it, there's no reason they would not have put it in the letter, because it would be an open and shut case.

It's almost the 4th of July. Who cares if the flag is on there for a week and a half or less? As long as it doesn't become a standard. Also, this is just me speaking, but I honestly think apartment balconies look so fucking boring and bland. Give it some personality, it brightens up the place a little.

[QUOTE=Silence I Kill You;50623679]I could be wrong too, but if there were a clause for it, there's no reason they would not have put it in the letter, because it would be an open and shut case.[/QUOTE] Just playing devil's advocate because I deal with it every day, but you can't be too sure about that - apartment management can sometimes be really stupid.

This whole discussion is fairly ridiculous, I think we all agree the dude should be able to hang his damn flag if he wants to, but unfortunately that's just not how it works when you rent an apartment. I'm not saying the landlord is right, or the tenant is wrong, it just is what it is. Leasing sucks and it's really, and I mean REALLY difficult to fight against an apartment complex, especially if they're owned by a corporation (like mine).

[QUOTE=Protocol7;50623864]Just playing devil's advocate because I deal with it every day, but you can't be too sure about that - apartment management can sometimes be really stupid.[/QUOTE] Everyone can be stupid at times. If the clause was in there to begin with, then there isn't anything to talk about. I personally doubt it's in there because they've always used the same approach and it's always worked. But I could be wrong, and I'm willing to accept it if I am. [QUOTE=Aetna;50623869]This whole discussion is fairly ridiculous, I think we all agree the dude should be able to hang his damn flag if he wants to, but unfortunately that's just not how it works when you rent an apartment. I'm not saying the landlord is right, or the tenant is wrong, it just is what it is. Leasing sucks and it's really, and I mean REALLY difficult to fight against an apartment complex, especially if they're owned by a corporation (like mine).[/QUOTE] It's SH, most discussions are ridiculous and based on incomplete data. It's why discussions in here are so cancerous, yet so fun. I'm just making an argument based on available information. At the end of the day, this can only end one of 3 ways: 1)There actually is a clause prohibiting flags and he has to take it down. 2)There isn't a clause, they add one, giving the 30 day notice to all residents, and he either takes it down and stays or decides to leave. If a landlord adds terms after you've signed the lease, the tenant can legally leave without having to pay anything for leaving early since the landlord is the party breaching the contract. 3)There isn't a clause, but the apartment complex tries to enforce it, they end up in court, and from what I can see now, the apartment complex would lose. But if this was the first post, there wouldn't be much to talk about.

[QUOTE=Strike 86;50619292]I've always found it baffling - they hang it everywhere for no good reason, as if people regularly forget what country they're in or something and need reminding whenever they hit up the grocery store. I can understand it outside government buildings and in coastal areas like ports, but is it really necessary for people to have a clanging flag pole erected on their front lawn in central Kansas?[/QUOTE] It's called Patriotism dude. I'd have thought a Briton would understand that, given that y'all just voted to ruin your country in the name of British Patriotism. [editline]1st July 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=Paramud;50619390]Excuse me but it says right here in the quote you posted [quote]Retain from having dead plants, boxes or [B]garbage[/B] on balcony/patios at any time[/quote] They are completely within their rights to disallow any political displays on their building, any national flag being exactly that.[/QUOTE] Calling the American Flag 'garbage' is incredibly disrespectful. Take your political garbage elsewhere. Also it's not a "political display". A political display would be the Gadsden flag or the Confederate flag. He's displaying the flag of the country he currently resides in during the holiday week where we celebrate our independence from the British. [editline]1st July 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=bdd458;50619446]I don't have any special reverance for the flag, but yeah dude that's a hostile shitpost to get a rise out of people Like I could care less if someone burned the flag, or hangs it upside down, wears it as underwear, or changing it to suit their profession (ie Blue Line in it for cops, chicken heads instead of stars for a chiken farmer) but like your post comes off as very hostile[/QUOTE] Honestly you really shouldn't do any of those things, dude. If you're gonna be upset that he called our flag garbage, be upset when someone violates the US Flag Code. It should never be hoisted upside down except during times of extreme distress/crisis. It should never be worn as clothing, or amended/altered in any way. Burning is only acceptable to dispose of a flag which is no longer fit for display. When it has become irreparably damaged or soiled. [editline]1st July 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=Dr. Ethan Asia;50619581]"Please do not clutter with personal belongings" seems to be the one they'll be using. Dunno, seems petty but the rules be the rules. It is, after all, just a flag[/QUOTE] "verb (used with object) 1. to fill or litter with things in a disorderly manner" Looks pretty orderly to me.

No doubt, it's a reasonable argument. Like I said, I question that they will seek after this any further in any case. They will, notwithstanding, likely make another expansion to that statement for future inhabitants with respect to banners, signs, improvements, and flags. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Dumb bump." - Pascall))[/highlight]

[QUOTE=Protocol7;50623623]...but we don't have the original lease documents to review, and as a current renter I am operating on the mindset that there is likely a provision that prevents that. Apartment complexes don't let you do shit with the exterior of their buildings, period. I could be wrong, of course, but my gut feeling does say that the tenant is in the wrong. We'll never know for sure unless we get to review the signed documents.[/QUOTE] The last apartment complex I lived in had a whitelist of things you were allowed to put on your patio. * Chairs * Grill * Houseplants * a table and I'm pretty sure houseplants only got added because of my mother, because there weren't any before we moved in. Landlords are assholes.

[QUOTE=Josephmandy;50884325]No doubt, it's a reasonable argument. Like I said, I question that they will seek after this any further in any case. They will, notwithstanding, likely make another expansion to that statement for future inhabitants with respect to banners, signs, improvements, and flags.[/QUOTE] Why in gods name did you bump a thread from a month and a half ago

[QUOTE=Josephmandy;50884325]No doubt, it's a reasonable argument. Like I said, I question that they will seek after this any further in any case. They will, notwithstanding, likely make another expansion to that statement for future inhabitants with respect to banners, signs, improvements, and flags.[/QUOTE] nice first post friend

[quote]Sterling Heights seeks to be fair to residents by limiting displays as there could be signs, flags or decorations that may be offensive and disruptive to the community.[/quote] I've always held the opinion that if you are offended by the country's flag, you should not live in that country.

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;50885010]I've always held the opinion that if you are offended by the country's flag, you should not live in that country.[/QUOTE] Flags and their symbolism are so weird sometimes. It's an issue that's been going on in Ireland for a bit and could be a barrier to a future United Ireland, since some unionists in Northern Ireland see the Republic of Ireland's flag as a pure Republican (and therefore violent) symbol. However, the original symbolism of the flag was that it represents peace between Catholic Gaelic Nationalists and Protestant Orange Unionists. Part of the issue is of course is that the flag is of one country and is not really 'neutral.' Nationalists currently in Northern Ireland have difficulty with the Union Jack being the official Northern Ireland flag. My point being is that you should respect a real nation's flag no matter what it symbolises to you. 'Cept the IS flag, 'course.