NJ firefighters carried Trump 2020 flag at parade; mayor says that's OK

[left-of-center2012]

The mayor of a small Sussex County municipality is defending the display of a Trump reelection flag by parading firefighters in full uniform, even though the department’s tax-exempt status prohibits such campaigning.

Franklin Borough Mayor Nicholas Giordano said he saw nothing wrong with the Franklin Fire Department carrying a “Trump 2020 Keep America Great” flag at the Sussex County Firemen’s Association Inspection Day and Parade on Saturday, a 99-year-old march honoring firefighters. “Do they have a right as a group to support the president of the United States? Sure they do,” Giordano, a Republican, told NJ Advance Media following a borough council meeting Tuesday night.

The Franklin Fire Department is registered as a tax-exempt, section 501(c)(3) organization, and under federal law is not allowed to support or oppose candidates for elective public office.

The flag display might have escaped wider notice, but for a weekend Facebook post by Franklin’s business administrator, Alison McHose. McHose, a Republican, posted a photo of the Franklin firefighters to Facebook, along with an approving note. “Proud of my hometown volunteer fire department for flying a Trump 2020 flag,” McHose wrote.



https://www.nj.com/sussex-county/2019/10/haters-complaining-about-trump-2020-flag-sullied-firefighter-parade-mayor-said.html

[montanacowboy]

1. How Stupid are these people

hey idiots - do you know what TAX EXEMPT means? maybe we need to tax you out of your tax exempt status.

Really NJ are you really this dumb?

[Girard442]

2. Proudly giving the finger to the law to support Trump. Very Trumpian of them.

[Kitchari]

3. This mayor

Is seriously in error

[madaboutharry]

4. This needs to be made into a big stink.

This dope of a mayor needs to apologize to the people of Franklin Borough and admit that he was wrong.

[real Cannabis calm]

5. here's a 5th recommendation

[Baitball Blogger]

6. It's exhausting, but you have to sue to remind these tax exempt organizations

when they go over the line. Enforce the law, or be ruled by division and chaos.

[Tech]

7. Same fire department had alcohol and gambling apparatus confiscated from the

Firehouse in February of this year per the New Jersey Herald. Sounds like Trumps kind of guys - rules and laws don't apply to them.

[rockfordfile]

8. tax-exempt status prohibits such campaigning. Time for that to end