Thread: Philly officials cite eatery for English-only sign

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13272368/

Philly officials cite eatery for English-only sign
But store owner says he won't back down
The Associated Press


Updated: 1:49 p.m. PT June 12, 2006
PHILADELPHIA - An English-only ordering policy at one of the city’s most famous cheesesteak joints has drawn an official discrimination complaint, but the owner said Monday he won’t back down.

The city’s Commission on Human Relations alleges that the policy at Geno’s Steaks discourages customers of certain backgrounds from eating there, said Rachel Lawton, acting executive director.

Geno’s owner Joseph Vento posted two small signs at his shop in South Philadelphia proclaiming: “This is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING ’PLEASE SPEAK ENGLISH.”’

Lawton said that violates the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance, which prohibits discrimination in employment, public accommodation and housing. “It’s discouraging patronage by non-English speaking customers because of their national origin or ancestry,” she said.

Vento, 66, whose grandparents struggled to learn English after arriving from Sicily in the 1920s, said Monday that he isn’t discriminating and has no intention of giving in.

“I would say they would have to handcuff me and take me out because I’m not taking it down,” Vento said.

He said no customer had ever been turned away because of the policy.

Vento said he posted the sign about six months ago because of concern over the debate on immigration reform and the increasing number of people in the area who can’t order in English. The historically Italian community has become more diverse as immigrants from Asia and Latin America have moved in.

Lawton said Vento could be ordered to take down the signs or face fines. The dispute could end up in court.

“Let them do what they want to,” Vento said. “When it comes, then we’ll deal with it.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer quoted Mary Catherine Roper, a spokeswoman for the American Civil Liberties Union, who said Geno’s “has a right to express its opinion, however offensive. ... But there are specific limitations on places of public accommodation, because they are supposed to be available to everyone.”

A city councilman quoted in the paper said the signs were “divisive and mean-spirited.”


Cheesesteaks and ‘freedom fries’
When a non-English speaking customer showed up at the window a short time later, a clerk patiently coached him through the process. Eventually, both said “cheesesteak.”

Vento, a short, fiery man with a ninth-grade education, arms covered in tattoos and a large diamond ring in his ear, also sells “freedom fries” to protest France’s opposition to the Iraq war. He rails against Mumia Abu-Jamal, the man who was convicted of killing police Officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981 and has become a cause celebre among some death penalty opponents. Memorials to Faulkner are posted at his shop.

Vento said he has gotten plenty of criticism and threats. One person told him they hoped one his many neon signs flames out and burns the place down, he said. But he said he plans to hold his ground.

Competitors are seizing on the controversy. Tony Luke’s issued a statement saying it welcomes all customers “whether or not they speak a ‘wit’ of English.”

And a manager at Pat’s, Kathy Smith, said of Geno’s English-only policy: “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard in my life. I’d rather listen to the Spanish than the foul language of the college students.”

“It’s discouraging patronage by non-English speaking customers because of their national origin or ancestry,” she said.

What a crock of BS! This just enrages me. What ever happened to freedom in this country??

Unless you're carrying an upside down American flag, shouting obscenities and grabbing your junk, then you don't have any rights these days. You voted already step aside!

Yeah this is HUGE.

Is this even America anymore? Seems to me we suddenly have more speech codes than the Soviet Union ever had. There is a Big Picture here, guys, that goes way beyond a sign in a pizza shop window. What the hell is going on in this nation? Since when has offending people become illegal? What thoughts are going to be illegal next?

Man if you had told my grandfather thirty years ago that this would be happening in the United States of America he would have called you insane.

Seriously--is this site going to be illegal next? Where is this thing heading?

A city councilman quoted in the paper said the signs were “divisive and mean-spirited.”

And...illegals being here and not learning ENGLISH is even more divisive.

I think that with the clowns from the city coming down on Geno's, this whole issue will become more to our advantage. Think of how many people the city are ticking off because of them trying to shake him down, Vento said he received hundreds of e-mails of support.
People are going to wake up to this whole immigration mess. Many more people will be getting on the bandwagon with us. I really think Joe Vento has done us a great service. We need something to wake up the silent majority.

Lawton said that violates the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance, which prohibits discrimination in employment, public accommodation and housing. “It’s discouraging patronage by non-English speaking customers because of their national origin or ancestry,” she said.

I read that ordinance, and her (Rachel Lawton) statement is naive at best and deceiving at worst. The definition of discriminination as defined by the ordinance DOES NOT include LANGUAGE (as in non-English speaking). She's taking an unprecedented leap in judgement to tie it to national origin and ancestry. She won't win. Because that'll open up the courts to employment discrimination cases based on the requirement to be BILINGUAL.

I repair landscape equipment and I have a sign "in spanish" stating,

NO ENGLISH

NO INTERPRETER

NO REPAIR

along with the most common
I RESERVE THE RIGHT
TO REFUSE SERVICE
TO ANYONE
I`ve been hassled about it, but my defense is that if they cannot understand me when I explain the proper use of the equipment or any personal damage or damage to the equipment that has or may occur,
Then I will not be responsible for any misuse or abuse on their part.
And this just takes up too much of my time

How about all of these Mexican businesses I see with the signs ,the announcement along with every word in, on and around the building in Spanish only?
I also see real estate and rental signs posted in spanish only.