Las Vegas NowFlap Over Oversized Flag Pits Las Vegas Auto Dealer Against City

Flap Over Oversized Flag Pits Las Vegas Auto Dealer Against City

A flap over an outsized American flag on an oversize pole has Las Vegas city officials and an auto dealership dueling over patriotism, advertising and neighborhood peace.

A spokesman says the city's gotten more than 100 e-mail messages since the City Council last week ordered Towbin Hummer to take down its 100-foot flagpole within 60 days. (Read the City's response by clicking here.)

Most disagree with the council decision.

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The flap over the flag has some neighbors who live near Towbin Hummer off of Sahara believing they are the target of vandalism because of their complaints about the flag.

"My wife's car was vandalized. Somebody wrote some obscene names on the back of the truck with magic marker," said one neighbor, who is scared to show his face.

He and his wife asked the Las Vegas City Council to have the dealership lower the flag pole from 100 feet to 40 feet, which is the standard size for a business displaying a flag.

"None of us are against the flag. The flag is very important to all of us. The only problem is what they committed to and they are not willing to do what they committed to," said the neighbor.

Another neighbor, Frank Frankly, originally opposed the 100-foot height because he was concerned the flag would make a lot of noise but he has since changed his mind.

"See it's windy. You see it right now. I see no problem with it," said Frank Frankly, neighbor.

Neighbors and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman all say when Dan Towbin, the owner of Towbin Hummer, asked council members to put up a 100-foot flag pole, he agreed to add a veteran memorial.

"A year goes by and a couple of neighbors complain about the noise and they come back before us. My initial though was -- where's the memorial?" Mayor Goodman says if the dealership builds the memorial, he would be okay with keeping the flag.

Towbin says he didn't think the memorial was part of the agreement and didn't know the flag was a problem.

"I have not had one complaint. Not one comment. The flag has been up for a year," said Dan Towbin, Towbin Hummer.

Crews started building the memorial Tuesday. The dealership is trying to work with the city and end the flap. A city official says the issue could be brought back to the City Council on June 6.