Owego Mayor: Village Resident’s Sign Not Breaking Any Law

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There was question of images displayed on a residence and in the yard of a property in the village. When a complaint like this comes in it is our job as your elected officials to determine if what is in question is either against code, or breaking any laws. In this particular case the answers to those questions are no it is not. The 1st amendment protects our citizens rights to free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of press, and the right to petition the government. In this case the item in question is displaying a swastika, in the United States, this is not against the law. There was a supreme court case Texas vs. Johnson that covered this very issue.

I am in no way saying I support what is being displayed, I think as a community Owego would not support those ideas, but it is not the governments place to say what can or can not be displayed on an individual’s private property.

Michael Baratta III
Village of Owego – Mayor
[email protected]
607-972-6034

 

Michael Baratta III
Village of Owego – Mayor
[email protected]
607-972-6034