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New York Lawmakers Introduce Bill That Would Force Chick-fil-A to Stay Open on Sundays
Red State ^ | 12/19/2023 | Jeff Charles

Posted on 12/19/2023 9:28:31 PM PST by SeekAndFind

Chick-fil-A, a popular fast-food restaurant known for its chicken sandwiches and world-class customer service, might be forced to violate one of its most cherished principles due to a New York bill being considered in the state legislature.

New York state lawmakers have introduced a measure that would require restaurants operating at state Thruway service plazas to remain open seven days per week. Chick-fil-A, which was founded by Christians, has traditionally closed on Sundays in observance of the Sabbath.

However, the new bill would put this to an end. The proposal would amend an already existing law and require restaurants to provide services “every day of the week.”

The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 390 to read as follows: 

Contracts for food service. Any contracts entered into for the operation of food services or food concessions at public  transportation facilities owned or operated by the authority shall require that such services be provided every day of the week. For the purposes of this section the term "public transportation facilities" shall mean and include thruway rest areas, service areas and welcome centers. The provisions of this section shall not apply to temporary concessions or events including farmers' markets, flea markets or local vendors licensed or permitted to operate by the authority.

Those supporting the bill argue that it would maximize the use of public service areas and provide consistent service to travelers each day. In the text of the bill, the lawmakers make the following argument:

While there is nothing objectionable about a fast food restaurant closing on a particular day of the week, service areas dedicated to travelers is an inappropriate location for such a restaurant. Publicly owned service areas should use their space to maximally benefit the public. Allowing for retail space to go unused one seventh of the week or more is a disservice and unnecessary inconvenience to travelers who rely on these service areas.

Nevertheless, this type of measure reeks of government overreach. The notion that the state should possess the authority to dictate when a business chooses to conduct its operations is absurd. Chick-fil-A’s decision to remain closed on Sundays is a reflection of the company’s foundational values. Mandating this type of operational change is not only an infringement on business autonomy, it could also be an encroachment on cultural and possibly religious expressions of a private entity.

Moreover, there are plenty of other restaurants in the area where people can grab a quick meal. This bill is just another way for the state to assert control over the populace.

Of course, we would be remiss to ignore the greed factor. If Chick-fil-A is open an extra day of the week, that means it is serving more customers who are paying taxes each time they buy a chicken sandwich and waffle fries. The only one who truly benefits from such a move is the state government, which is likely the primary reason why these lawmakers are making this proposal in the first place.



TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Society
KEYWORDS: chickfila; ny; sunday
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To: BenLurkin

Not sure why the fit.

The article implies this only refers to Thru-way concessions, which the State has inherent control of. What is the point of granting a concession to someone who doesn’t provide services during busy periods?


41 posted on 12/20/2023 12:32:10 AM PST by lepton ("It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into"--Jonathan Swift)
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To: SeekAndFind

There are no limits to tyranny...
There is no end in sight!

So, as their primary response to our communist masters, the American serfs continue to:
Bow down!... Obey!... Snitch!...


42 posted on 12/20/2023 12:40:58 AM PST by SuperLuminal (Where is the next Sam Adams when we so desperately need him)
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To: lepton

So do you think NYC didn’t realize this when they allowed CFA to operate there? Seriously?!?


43 posted on 12/20/2023 12:46:17 AM PST by Treeless Branch
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To: SeekAndFind

Denver had the same hissy-fit when Chik Fil A went into the Denver Airport.

As a frequent observer, it is a study of efficiency. On a normal weekday the CFA line is the longest. The other concessions have lines but the lines are there only because the service is slower.

For giggles one day I noted two people who got in lines at the same time. It was easy to track because they were coincidentally both wearing florescent green sneakers. The one at CFA had about twice as many people ahead of him than did the McD person.

CFA dude walked away with a bag of food shortly before McD dude. CFA brings in way more revenue in 6 days than the others do in 7.

CFA doesn’t need NYS Thruway customers though they do need to make the state abide by current contracts. They could also place billboard ads along the thruway advertising exits which have a nearby CFA, ala, Buc-ees or South of the Border.

People have a choice other than the thruway gruel buckets.

EC


44 posted on 12/20/2023 1:23:51 AM PST by Ex-Con777
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To: All

This bill is in regards to restaurants that operate on the Thruway (NY Turnpike). While I completely agree with Chick Fil-A’s business practice, they may have a hard road ahead on this one as the Thruway has a lot of say-so over businesses that operate on it.


45 posted on 12/20/2023 1:25:49 AM PST by Spacetrucker (George Washington didn't use his freedom of speech to defeat the British - HE SHOT THEM .. WITH GUNS)
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To: SeekAndFind; All
Arrogant bastards.

Chick may want to pull out of the state all together. Just look at California. Companies are leaving CA in droves due horrible business conditions.

46 posted on 12/20/2023 1:51:11 AM PST by Cobra64 (Common sense isn’t common anymore)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

How many locations does Chik-fil-A have on the toll road?

Seriously there are plenty of options available. This law is an attack on Christianity.

https://www.thruway.ny.gov/travelers/travelplazas/index.cgi


47 posted on 12/20/2023 2:10:21 AM PST by EBH (America Blackmailed, The True Story of the World War...Coming Soon (1/21-))
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To: Political Junkie Too

My expectation is that CFA’s current lease agreements on the Thruway would remain in force until they end, and then any new state law would apply to lease renewals.


48 posted on 12/20/2023 2:11:16 AM PST by Alberta's Child (If something in government doesn’t make sense, you can be sure it makes dollars.)
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To: SeekAndFind

This is disgusting.


49 posted on 12/20/2023 2:19:43 AM PST by Maris Crane
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To: DesertRhino

Yes, I avoid them since then. So....what you said.

I liked their sandwiches but I enjoy Popeye’s and even the McDonald’s has a decent enough sandwich for the price.

I really liked their grilled one - the price was driving me off.

The things you listed took care of the rest of it.

I remember how much I spent for dinner for 2 plus a small to go order in early 2020.


50 posted on 12/20/2023 2:51:53 AM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: SeekAndFind

The Government should require all the opposite. To Close on Sundays. The Ten Commandments is clear.....remember the Sabbath to keep it holy. We need a return to the 10 commandments. The moral fabric of the country is falling apart because we have forgotten God’s law.

Close it up on the Sabbath.....which of course is Sunday. And to hell with the Seventh day Adventists. Put them in jail if they don’t go along with the program. It’s time to return to God’s law. We are a nation founded on God’s law and principes. Amen?


51 posted on 12/20/2023 2:55:35 AM PST by vespa300
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To: SeekAndFind

I am old enough to remember when most businesses were closed on Sunday.


52 posted on 12/20/2023 2:58:51 AM PST by CIB-173RDABN (I am not an expert in anything, and my opinion is just that, an opinion. I may be wrong.)
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To: CIB-173RDABN

“I am old enough to remember when most businesses were closed on Sunday.”

Definitely. Even suggesting that you might want to get something in a store on Sunday marked you as a heathen.

Everyone had the home phone number of the town’s druggist (saying “pharmacist” was too highfalutin’) taped to the phone, just in case.

Our pastor in CA recently died. The wouldn’t so on Sundays for any reason.


53 posted on 12/20/2023 3:06:19 AM PST by MayflowerMadam ("A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once.")
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To: SeekAndFind

Bill of Attainder and ex post facto. Isn’t that special?


54 posted on 12/20/2023 3:17:24 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (The worst thing about censorship is █████ ██ ████ ████████ █ ███████ ████. FJB.)
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To: peggybac

That’s exactly what they want.


55 posted on 12/20/2023 3:20:31 AM PST by griswold3 (Truth, Beauty and Goodness. )
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To: SeekAndFind

Great idea!

Then those government employees can also work on Sundays.

People are far more inconvenienced by not having access to needed services than not getting a chicken sandwich on Sundays.


56 posted on 12/20/2023 3:29:23 AM PST by Cowgirl of Justice
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To: metmom

And God. The left also hates God.

Rush said it best:

Liberals hate the Ten Commandments posted anywhere because it reminds them of all they are doing wrong.


57 posted on 12/20/2023 3:30:43 AM PST by Cowgirl of Justice
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To: noiseman

Or serve food during the day during Ramadan.


58 posted on 12/20/2023 3:33:08 AM PST by Daveinyork
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To: vespa300

Right. And the government should close all the roads down on Sundays, too … because nobody should be traveling on the Sabbath anyway. :-P


59 posted on 12/20/2023 3:45:04 AM PST by Alberta's Child (If something in government doesn’t make sense, you can be sure it makes dollars.)
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To: Bullish
OMG, how F’d up can they get? NY is now run by a bunch of morons who think like immature children.

Are you sure they are even capable of thinking?

60 posted on 12/20/2023 3:53:18 AM PST by Mark17 (Retired USAF air traffic controller. Father of USAF Captain & pilot. Both bitten by the aviation bug)
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