The “City of Liberty” Flag Project

To celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of New York City in 1625, members of the 5th Prospect Park scout group’s Pathfinder Troop kicked off a campaign:

Our goal is to replace New York City’s flag with something more inspiring, more inclusive, more powerful, and more representative of our great city.

AND WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!

Why Change the Flag?

Our current tricolor flag features equal bands of Blue, White, and Orange, with the city seal in the center. It was adopted in 1915 and subtly modified once, in 1977, to change the founding date to 1625 (when the Dutch founded Fort Amsterdam) from 1665 (when England took the colony from the Dutch).

Most New Yorkers don’t know what our flag looks like. Have you ever seen one? If you visit other cities, people fly their flag everywhere, showing their love and pride for their city through the flag. This is very different from how we see the flag flown in New York City. For the most part, the city flag is only ever flown at city-owned buildings and over parks. Most New Yorkers wouldn’t even be able to describe the flag, much less choose to fly it.

A flag can be a rallying cry for the people. It can be a symbol we rally around, a sign of our pride in our home. Our flag fails at that job.

Not only is it messy and cluttered, but the flag also includes a representation of a nearly-naked Native American in a loincloth that seems distasteful at best. The president of the Seneca Nation has deemed it “outdated and racist imagery”, and at least one former mayor has considered a change to the seal, wondering if it “still makes sense in the 21st century”.

With these concerns, we do not think the seal belongs on our city flag.

Aside from being problematic, the seal isn’t even a good design. The flag is complicated, hard to draw, and unrecognizable at any distance. The seal in the center becomes one indistinct blob (which, given the imagery, might be the best thing we can say about it).

The seal isn’t even consistent. According to the City’s Administrative Code, the seal on the flag should be the same as the official seal, except “omitting the legend ‘Sigillum Civitatis Novi Eboraci’”. Yet the city’s own website shows the full seal with motto. Even the city government doesn’t know what the flag should look like.

Should the shield within the seal be blue, or white? Should the seal itself be circular or an ellipse? Should there be space between the design and the laurel border, or should they run together? You can see all kinds of variations flying over city property.

When there does not appear to be any standard design, that means the design isn’t good.

The North American Vexillological Association identifies five basic principles of good flag design:

1. Keep It Simple.  The flag should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory.

2. Use Meaningful Symbolism.  The flag's images, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes.

3. Use 2 or 3 Basic Colors.  Limit the number of colors on the flag to three which contrast well and come from the standard color set.

4. No Lettering or Seals.  Never use writing of any kind or an organization's seal.

5. Be Distinctive or Be Related.  Avoid duplicating other flags but use similarities to show connections.

Our current flag fails on #1, #2, and especially #4.

We think New York City can do better.

Designing a New Flag

We felt that the basic layout was solid. The three bars of Blue, White, and Orange are bold, distinct, and easily identifiable at a distance. Excellent traits in a flag. No need to scrap what works so well.

The only problem is the seal. We needed something better, something that says “New York City” while adhering to good design guidelines, and without the problematic baggage of the past.

We looked around for a symbol that could stand for and inspire all New Yorkers. One famous around the world, one which represents our identity as a melting pot welcoming people from all over the globe to make their homes here and become a part of our community.

We found our symbol standing in the harbor.

The Statue of Liberty is the perfect symbol for our city and our flag. She is famous around the world and stands for the values which make our city truly special. In a city where nearly 40% of the population are immigrants, it is fitting that the most famous New Yorker of all is herself an immigrant.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

These are words we desperately need today.

Since she was first dedicated in 1886, Lady Liberty has watched over our harbor, giving hope and safe passage to any who would seek it. She exemplifies what we strive to be, a guiding light for all.

Her torch shines bright on our flag, lighting the way forward. No matter where you are from, you will see this flag and know this is New York City’s.

Just as New York is a beacon of liberty and opportunity to the world, so too should our flag be.

Our proposal - “The City of Liberty Flag”

Our interpretation renders the Torch in the blue, white, and orange of the flag itself, our municipal colors.

It features five flames, one for each New York City borough: Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, the Bronx, and of course our very own Brooklyn.

We believe this is a flag all New Yorkers can be proud of.

Won’t it be Expensive to Replace the City Flag?

No! Because the change is subtle, it can be phased in; start by replacing the flags at high-profile locations like City Hall, and as the old flags need to be retired, replace them with new City of Liberty flags until they are flying in every city park and over every city building.

We also think this design can be marketed by the city on official merchandise, helping offset any initial purchasing costs. The city could sell “official” flags if residents of New York want to fly their own, as we think they will.

How Can I Help?

We need your help! Write your city council member! They have the power to make our dreams come true and adopt this flag for all New Yorkers.

You can find your council member entering your address at the New York City Council’s District Map Widget or by browsing the map.

Help us spread the word!

Write your City Council Member. Spread the word. Tell your friends about this page.

Together, we can give New York City a flag worth flying.