April 10, 2003 Protester claims ribbon-cutting was symbolic By By THOMAS SCHULTZ The Carpinteria woman who snipped yellow ribbons with scissors as a team of residents put up the decorations said Wednesday some people don't want to see the symbols "littered all over the trees and poles." "I'm not for the war," said artist Lynda Ragsdale, 30. "It disturbs me to see other people imposing their thoughts and beliefs. . . . They were making their statement and I was making mine. Basically that's it. If I'd known they had a permit, I'd never gone and cut them off." Debate over the ribbons could heat up when the City Council tackles the topic at its regular Monday meeting. City employees have received two dozen or more calls about the decorations, put up on publicly owned trees and utility poles along Linden Avenue, Carpinteria Avenue and Casitas Pass Road this week, in what those responsible described as a show of support for U.S. troops waging war against Iraq. "We've gotten a lot of calls -- a mixed bag of reactions," City Manager Dave Durflinger said Wednesday. "Some were expressing that they thought it was appropriate sentiment. Other people expressed concern about using the public right of way for expressing any type of private sentiment." City staff members were researching the legalities and any ramifications of allowing the ribbons to remain.
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