Even though I have read about this flag, I don’t recall ever seeing this being flown anyplace on Staten Island. I think some people think the big hill in the background is the garbage dump. And seagulls? Not the most beautiful or noble bird in the world! Somewhat of a scavenger, I believe. Maybe it is just as well it isn’t flown anyplace!
Some history:
Flag Description
From: Staten Island Chamber of Commerce
OFFICIAL FLAG OF STATEN ISLAND:
The flag is on a white background in the center of which is the design of a seal in the shape of an oval. Within the seal appears the color blue to symbolize the skyline of the borough in which two seagulls appear colored in white.
The green outline represents the countryside of our borough with white outline denoting the residential areas of Staten Island. Below is inscribed the words Staten Island in gold. Under our borough name are five wavy lines of blue to symbolize the water surrounding us on all sides. Gold fringe outlines the flag.
Dov Gutterman, 29 October 2000
Staten Island became a Borough in 1977, when the Former Borough of Richmond changed its name. Even before that, there was interest in a Staten Island flag and a contest was held in 1971 that created the elements that were finally used in the present flag. The contest design had the emblem in a rectangular form and a sun in place of the two seagulls.
The present flag was adopted in early 2002 (I’m still looking for the exact date) and has the Borough emblem in an oval form centered on a white flag. It consists of the island and it’s buildings as seen from the Staten Island Ferry with two seagulls flying overhead, and some waves down below. In between the island and the waves is the name “STATEN ISLAND” in gold letters and the entire emblem is surrounded by a gold oval.
Dave Martucci, 24 November 2002
The flag was in official use on January 1, 1998, at the latest. I’m looking at photos of the inauguration ceremonies of that day now. The seal is more elongated, and almost pointed at the edges (think football). The water takes up a bit less than half the seal, the words resting on the center line. “Staten Island was formerly officially named the Borough of Richmond. It is still the same geographically as the County of Richmond, but it is unknown if the County (or any of the NYC Counties) has a flag.”
Nathan Lamm, 1 December 2002
On this site:
http://www.gothamgazette.com/searchlight2001/straniere.html is an interview with Assemblyman Robert Straniere in which he speaks about the Staten Island flag. I have also traced the legislation he is proposing. Here is my summary:
The flag is the result of a contest held by Borough President Connor in 1971. It has flown over the Staten Island Advance and Chamber of Commerce buildings, and is on display in City Hall and Staten Island Borough Hall. Only the Borough flags of the Bronx and Brooklyn are referred to in state law. The flags of Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island are omitted. So Assemblyman Robert Straniere has introduced a bill into the State Assembly, and his colleague State Senator John J. Marchi has introduced the same bill into the State Senate, to make the Staten Island Borough flag official in state law. Why? In Assemblyman Straniere’s own words:
“So I have a bill in to make the flag that has existed for thirty years that few people know about the official flag of Staten Island, and actually I’ve been taking every opportunity to describe the flag and present the flag. The flag also is a symbol of our borough, and the makeup of the flag tells a lot about our borough.”
Here is a link to the assembly bill, introduced in 2003; the Senate bill is identical. Note the official description is exactly the same as before, except the seal is introduced as “the seal” rather than “a seal”, implying that it is -the- official seal of Staten Island rather than just a seal on a flag, but this innovation may just be a typographic error. The bill is slowly working its way through the legislative mill and I rather expect it will eventually pass unopposed, but it has not come to a vote yet.
Richard Knipel, 27 July 2004
It appears that the Staten Island flag may not fly anywhere in the borough, at this time. It doesn’t fly above Borough Hall or the SI Chamber of Commerce (at least not above the main office on Bay St.) Today I drove by the main building of the Staten Island Advance (our local newspaper) and it doesn’t fly there, either.
Thorsten, 13 August 2004
SI Flag
NOT FLOWN ANY PLACE____
you sure a negitavie one. or just have poor humor.
I Never knew that SI had a flag
Who designed it and where can it be purchased?
The hill on the flag DOES NOT represent "the dump" !! Don't be so derogatory after all you probably contributed to "the dump' and should say sorry and thank you to all pre-dump and bridge NATIVE Staten Islanders.
Take a good look at our Island its hilly ... "area of north central Staten Island. It is well exposed along a prominent ridge that reaches an elevation of 135 meters above sea level on Todt Hill. This is the highest elevation of any natural feature in NYC, and in fact is the highest point on the US eastern seaboard south of Maine." http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/powell/NYCgeology/staten%20isl...
As far as the seagulls -- guess you don't like the sea, ocean and marine life -- gulls just go hand in hand with living on an ISLAND.
Staten Island is like an aviary with a vast variety of flying creatures, some of which are rare; if you're interested find a website to help you get to know the Island and its wild life -- call the parks department or the borough presidents office.
As far as the flag -- its a great source of pride.
maybe its time to resurrect the "flag bill" and get it passed. or produce them and fly it in front of your home. After all we're still free in America to express ourselves and there are many with Italian Irish Puerto Rican Chinese Russian Arabic Jewish Greek and other flags being displayed, so why not a Staten Island one???
Key west flies its flag.
Think I'll get on this asap
Have a nice day
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