THE PROBLEM: Monday's column about 10 tattered American flags above the pumps at a shuttered Mobil station in Clairemont drew an immediate and effective response from the Just Fix It Reader Action Squad, indignant over the oil industry giant's seeming indifference to the shabby display.
THE SITE: Balboa Avenue, Clairemont
|
By sunset, someone had removed all the flags.
At least three readers called the Irving, Texas, telephone number for Exxon Mobil Corp. listed in Monday's column about the station, at Balboa and Mount Abernathy avenues, which is encircled by a chain-link fence.
Angela Batiste, “patriotic instructor” for the VFW Post 5179 auxiliary, got through to someone named Scott in the customer-service office and told him about the condition of the flags. She warned him that the company, which owns the property but has closed the station to look for a new operator, could be cited under the U.S. Flag Code.
Batiste said Scott assured her that something would be done about the flags, without saying when.
Terry Thielen, a Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War who lives in Lake San Marcos, also called Texas and was told that the problem would be corrected “as soon as possible.”
Janine Keith, who drives past the station regularly, said she had phoned Exxon Mobil herself a few days before the column appeared to complain about the “deplorable condition” of the flags.
Keith wasn't happy with the oil company's response. She was hung up on twice, once after being told to “call your City Hall.” A third call – Keith believes she was transferred to an office in Canada – was similarly inconclusive.
A fourth reader said he left a phone message and e-mail with the company whose name is on the fence surrounding the station.
And a 25-year Navy veteran who served aboard the cargo ship Mobile – nice coincidence, that – said he has a large number of brand-new American flags to donate if Exxon Mobil needs the help.
STATUS: Around 4:30 p.m. Monday, calls started coming in to report a welcome change at the corner.
“The flags are removed from the station,” said Frans Vanleeuwen, who phoned in the original complaint. “Somebody took (them) down.”
“Guess what? They have disappeared,” Keith reported. “I think it was great that people felt the need to call.”
WHO FIXED IT: It's not clear who was responsible for the fast work, but Vanleeuwen says, “Thanks.” Exxon Mobil never responded to phone messages and e-mails from Just Fix It.
NEED A PROBLEM SOLVED: Is there a problem that government hasn't taken care of despite your complaints? Whether it's a missing bus bench or a misspelled street sign, Just Fix It might be able to help.
Complaint forms are at just fixit.uniontrib.com, or call (800) 820-8714.
