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Mayor Statement on Babatunde Folayemi
updated: Mar 29, 2012, 3:26 PM

Source: City of Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider issued the following statement upon hearing the news of the passing of former Santa Barbara City Council Member Babatunde Folayemi:

"We are all saddened by the sudden passing of former Council Member Babatunde Folayemi. Babatunde was someone I admired as a community leader who spoke eloquently and forcefully on many community issues, particularly ones that related to the well-being and safety of Santa Barbara's youth. As Mayor and on behalf of our City Council, I extend our most heartfelt condolences to his family. I have ordered that the City flag be lowered in his honor and will adjourn an upcoming meeting of the City Council in his memory."

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

ROB EGENOLF	2012-03-29 04:58 PM
I don't think a Mayor has the power to decide that the US Flag is to be flown at half-mast
COMMENT 268107	2012-03-29 05:17 PM
That's an interesting question. School administrators do it when faculty and students pass ... so do fire and police stations when they lose one of their own. Does anyone know the constitution well enough to shed some light on authority (or lack of) to make this decision?
COMMENT 268108	2012-03-29 05:18 PM
I mourn the passing of this remarkable man. He was such a wonderful influence on so many of our youth from all neighborhoods of our community. I hold his family in my heart.
COMMENT 268111P	2012-03-29 05:25 PM
It's the _city_ flag. I suspect that she has the authority.
COMMENT 268113	2012-03-29 05:47 PM
Only the President and state Governors can decide when and how long the American flag should be flown at half-staff.
COMMENT 268118P	2012-03-29 05:59 PM
Focus (and read). It's really not about flag "protocol." RIP, Babatunde, a good man.
COMMENT 268120	2012-03-29 06:07 PM
A tremendous individual and a great loss to the community. My condolences to his friends and family.
COMMENT 268124	2012-03-29 07:20 PM
Wow, let's not reduce the news about a great man's death to a snipe in Edhat.
COMMENT 268127	2012-03-29 07:35 PM
he is a great loss to the community.. :0{
COMMENT 268131P	2012-03-29 07:59 PM
Thank you, Mayor Schneider. Babatunde was a wonderful person; he did a lot for the city and it is fitting that the City flag be at half mast. (And not fitting to have the sniping above, but Baba would have just smiled and let it pass....)
COMMENT 268140	2012-03-29 08:41 PM
Wasn't he tried for embezzlement or something similar? Lets not rewrite history here, folks... he may have been a nice guy but there was more to his past and it shouldn't be whitewashed. Sorry, but its the truth.
COMMENT 268151	2012-03-30 07:31 AM
@268107 The Constitution is a short document, easily mastered. There is no mention in it of flags.
COMMENT 268181	2012-03-30 09:35 AM
I hope there is more than one person ready to step up and take his place in the community as an advocate for youth and minorities.
BUREAUCRITES	2012-03-30 09:42 AM
Babatunde was a good man and did a lot of good for youth. RIP. The laws of the United States include a flag code with guidelines for the proper display of the flag. The President directs the display of the flag at half staff on the death of federal officials. There are no penalties for violating the federal flag code. Regulation of the display of the flag is left to the states. In California, per the Government Code, the United States flag must be flown at the entrance to government buildings. The administration of each local government is responsible for regulating the display of flags. Unless the Santa Barbara city charter or ordinance provides otherwise or gives the power to the city manager, it is not illegal for the mayor to proclaim that the flag be flown at half staff.
COMMENT 268193	2012-03-30 10:04 AM
Bureaucrites. Thank you for the clarification. After reading the first comment, I wondered about all of those flags I've seen at half staff around the nation when someone dies or on Veteran's Day. I'm very proud to be an American Citizen and your research is fitting. Flying the flag at half staff is an appropriate tribute to Babatunde, one of our great fallen Americans. God Bless.
COMMENT 268207	2012-03-30 10:55 AM
It is about the loss of a caring individual from our community not about flag protocol.
COMMENT 268214	2012-03-30 11:30 AM
Babatunde was a caring man, a community activist in the finest sense of the term, especially for the youth of all of Santa Barbara. I worked with him to help at risk youth and he will be missed. Again, this about the death of a person, not a flag. However, First poster, I think you know that there is nothing in the US Constitution regarding the flag. There is a 1942 US Law (with updates) regarding the flag and then States may have laws regulating or creating a code regarding the flag. A code is not a law, it is written by an organization, just as the pledge began as a "letter to the editor" of a newspaper.
COMMENT 268218P	2012-03-30 12:11 PM
Once again, she referred to the CITY FLAG. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Santa_Barbara,_California
COMMENT 268313	2012-03-31 07:58 AM
214 - The flag code IS a federal LAW, but totally unenforceable, so sayeth the Supreme Court.
COMMENT 268450	2012-03-31 06:33 PM
This is about the death of Babatunde and his contributions to the community (not about a City flag or the US flag or any flag). My condolences to his family.

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