Apparently someone came to their senses:
http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/19009901/state-housing-authority-flag-display-ban-a-mistake
I would hav ethought thare was some kind of lease, even for public housing, and adding a rule that was not part of the original agreement might have offered some legal recourse for the tenants. It appears a few thousand calls/emails were more efficient than any legal recourse.
Nope. Just like any other cockroach, they are fleeing the light... only to return in the darkness...
Excellent!