Posted on 02/08/2007 7:47:54 AM PST by Pyro7480
English-only cheesesteak fight continues
By PATRICK WALTERS
Associated Pres
The battle over an English-only ordering policy at one of Philadelphia's signature cheesesteak joints is apparently far from over.
The city's human relations commission found evidence that the owner of Geno's Steaks may have discriminated against immigrants by posting a sign telling customers, "This is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING 'PLEASE SPEAK ENGLISH,' " according to a letter sent to owner Joe Vento last week.
Vento's attorneys had hoped the matter would be dropped, but the commission said in the Jan. 31 letter that it found probable cause that discrimination occurred and was moving forward with the case. The commission also suggested that the matter could be resolved through mediation.
Vento's legal team would not rule out some sort of mediation, but they said Vento, the fiery grandson of Italian immigrants, would not take the sign down.
"Any effort to save the resources of taxpayer-funded government is a good idea, but not at the cost of free speech," said Todd Young, policy director for Atlanta-based Southeastern Legal Foundation, a public interest law firm that has joined the case.
After extensive publicity over the sign in June, the commission began investigating whether Vento was violating the city's Fair Practices Ordinance. That law prohibits discrimination in employment, public accommodation and housing on the basis of race, ethnicity or sexual orientation.
Vento and his attorneys maintain that no one has ever been turned away at the South Philadelphia shop. Geno's, along with bitter cross-street rival Pat's King of Steaks, forms the epicenter of an area often described as ground zero for cheesesteaks.
"They could have found out in one day that nobody has ever been refused service," Vento said Wednesday.
Albert Weiss, Vento's Philadelphia attorney, said he was shocked that the city was not dropping the case because he hadn't heard from anyone in weeks.
"I felt they were just letting it die a quiet death," Weiss said.
A message left with the human relations commission was not immediately returned Wednesday.
Philly is a quagmire!
We need to redeploy all government agencies outside the combat zone!
Was in Philly a month ago. Made a point of getting a cheesesteak at Geno's for just this reason.
IOW, "My family immigrated and assimilated, and you should too." Good for him!
I say let them order in any language they want...just make sure you keep getting the order wrong.
Now the liberty bell isn't just cracked, it's bleeding.
Business strategy aside (I would not want to alienate potential spanish speaking customers, thus no sign in my restaurant) this issue gets me fired up for some reason...the gubmint should let this guy do what he needs to do...
This is what "human relations commissions" do for us.
It's nearing lunchtime where I am. Guess I'll be having a cheesesteak. I'm such a sucker for subliminal suggestion...
Oops, I meant to add that is what happens to me at McDonald's here in Austin when I order in English anyway.
My sentiments exactly! My maternal grandmother and my father's entire family (with the exception of some cousins and an aunt and uncle) immigrated legally and they assimilated.
im making it a point to head down and grab a genos cheesesteak this weekend.
This country is going to hell.
This city must be a virtual utopia for the city "officials" to be so bored they are wasting time and money on this.
The sign says "PLEASE" doesn't it.
That's a request not an order.
So being polite is an offense in Philly?
Here's the "Commission's" website:
http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/
Did you see the battle O'Reilly had last night with two black women over the use of "articulate" as an insult to blacks? It's getting nuts.
*After extensive publicity over the sign in June, the commission began investigating whether Vento was violating the city's Fair Practices Ordinance. That law prohibits discrimination in employment, public accommodation and housing on the basis of race, ethnicity or sexual orientation.*
There's no foodservice included in the law? No you say? Then shut up
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