By KATHERINE SNOW SMITH
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
ST. PETERSBURG — Freedom Bank isn't free to display the American flag on its digital sign. In fact, it got in trouble with the city for doing that very thing.
Freedom's main office at 1200 Fourth St. N is one of about 35 businesses the city has listed as violating its sign code in the last 20 months.
"We put the flag up in September in remembrance of 9/11," said Andy Williams, president and CEO of the St. Petersburg-based bank. "I think it's ridiculous that the American flag cannot be displayed on an electric sign."
Most businesses violated the city's sign code by flashing messages for fewer than the required six seconds. But Freedom was told it violated the ordinance by airing a picture instead of words.
"Whereas graphics on a static (non-digital) sign are permitted, the code ...