Trump questions Palm Beach's patriotism in flag flap

AP:

Donald Trump is suing this oceanside town for $10 million after being cited for flying an oversized American flag over his Mar-a-Lago Club.

Attorneys for the club filed a complaint Thursday, saying that flying the flag is a constitutionally protected expression of free speech - and that the large flag is a proper match for the size of the real-estate mogul's patriotism.

"A smaller flag and pole on Mar-A-Lago's property would be lost given its massive size, look silly instead of make a statement, and most importantly would fail to appropriately express the magnitude of Donald J. Trump's and the Club's members' patriotism," the lawsuit says.

Town officials said Trump violated zoning codes when the lavish club hoisted a 15-by-25-foot flag atop an 80-foot pole on Oct. 3. The citation was for having a flagpole taller than 42 feet, for not obtaining a building permit and for not getting permission from the landmarks board.

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All damages awarded to the club would be donated to veterans of the war in Iraq, the lawsuit said.

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This is another example of how ridiculous a lot of zoning laws and regulations are. Palm Beach could learn a lesson from the most dynamic city in the country, Houston Texas, which has no zoning laws. There have been several cases on flag pole height and flag size, but none of those involve anyone with the resources that Donald Trump brings to the fight. I would like to see him win this one.