Philly Officials Eye EateryÂ’s English-Only Sign (City To File Complaint)

MSNBC ^ | 6/12/06 | MSNBC

[Dallas59]

PHILADELPHIA - City officials are expected to file a complaint Monday against an English-only ordering policy at Geno’s Steaks, one of Philadelphia’s best-known cheesesteak joints that has entered the national immigration debate.
Situated in a South Philadelphia immigrant neighborhood, Geno’s has posted small signs telling customers, “This Is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING ‘SPEAK ENGLISH.’” “We’re alleging that the sign itself is enough of an unwelcoming message that it may violate the Fair Practices Act,” Rachel Lawton, acting executive director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Owner Joseph Vento, 66, whose grandparents struggled to learn English after immigrating from Sicily in the 1920s, said he posted the sign about six months ago amid concerns over immigration reform and the increasing number of customers who could not order in English when they wanted Philly’s gooey, greasy specialty — fried steak, sliced or chopped, in a long roll, with cheese and fried onions.
“They don’t know how lucky they are. All we’re asking them to do is learn the English language,” said Vento. “We’re out to help these people, but they’ve got to help themselves, too.”

[Sir Gawain]

Boy the city doesn't have a clue about which way the political winds are blowing, do they?

[Procyon]

So if no one on your staff speaks a language other than English, you can't post a sign that says only English is spoken?

Are we at a point like the Voting Rights Act that will require all businesses to have a workfoce that can do business in a dozen or so languages? This is getting bizzarre.

[yobid]

This isn't about feelings. It's about the government intervening into private business to impose it's will on the owner in order to pander to the Hispanic vote. Where are the french speaking Americans? Are they not offended?

Now the Philly Dems can say, "SEE, WE helped YOU. We made that bad man do as YOU WISH. We are your friends and servants and that bad man is probably a republican."

[Rutles4Ever]

I'm not sure why he has to put up a sign. Why can't he just shrug and say, "I don't understand" (and not serve)? No one should be compelled to learn Spanish. But someone who speaks Spanish can be compelled to learn English if we give them incentives (such as, if I can't understand you, I can't give you what you want) instead of creating a firestorm. If Philly comes down on this guy, then it backfired terribly.

I used to work in a delicatessan when I was in high school, and we always had Spanish-speaking workers coming in and ordering sandwiches, but they always did their best to order in English (or at least have it written down). We didn't start talking Spanish but we helped them enough that they could be functional and come back the next time and order in English - which they did.

[longtermmemmory]

HOW MANY STATES HAVE ENGLISH LAWS?

Florida has a constitutional amendment making english the official language of the state.

How many other states have similar laws?

[Rutles4Ever]

I agree, the Philly gov't has no place getting involved. I'm sure there's a Better Business Bureau in PA if someone wants recourse.

[yobid]

If you've been in Philly lately, you'll understand how it got where it is today.

Hint: it's not private business owner's fault.

[longtermmemmory]

map showing the states with english laws and constitutional amendments.

[Gabz]

I tend bar at the local Moose Lodge. We rent out our bingo hall for private parties, we had one Saturday night and the vast majority of guests did not speak English, or refused to.......I solved my problem of answering the inevitiable Habla espanol question, by responding I do not speak spanish - in FRENCH.

[mewzilla]

Note to Philly's Chamber of Commerce: This is soooo not a good idea....

[mewzilla]

I'm sure there's a Better Business Bureau in PA if someone wants recourse.

Yeah, but recourse for what? Patrons who don't speak English still get served.

[RobbyS]

Why don't they take the orders of Spanish only -speakers and bring them the wrong dishes?

[doodad]

Do what I do and choose Spanish and insist that they speak English. It is all the same guys in the call center trust me.

[fish hawk]

Next to go: We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.

[papertyger]

He should post it in Spanish too. That would REALLY tick them off.

What he aught to do is post a sign in spanish refusing to accept any orders EXCEPT those given in spanish...then simply ignore those ordering in spanish.

[geezerwheezer]

Rachel Lawton is one of Philly's city officials saying he might be cited for his sign. Rachel Lawson should be FIRED for being really stupid and really bossy. What a waste of city dollars to have a dork like her telling business owners what they can and can't do in the discourse of their business. Maybe they could hire a trained monkey to replace her as the monkey is probably a hell of a lot smarter than she appears to be.

[george wythe]

The sign might be rude, but not illegal. Unless, Philadelphia has turned into a Soviet republic.

My favorite restaurants are Italian. I love the fact that the waiters usually speak little or no English, and I have to order by either pointing or butchering the beautiful Italian language.

This Joe obviously thinks that ordering in English has something to do with being a good American. BS. There is nothing wrong with ordering food in Italian, Spanish, French, English or whatever language the server understands.

At my first date with my wife, we ended up eating at a French restaurant. I ordered my food in French. It was part of the show to impress her, and I guess it worked. She still remembers every single detail of that first date.

[Old Professer]

Looks like they're in good company:

"The Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights
1211 Chestnut St., Suite 605
Philadelphia, Pa 19107
215.731.1544
www.center4civilrights.org
Provides FREE legal services to LGBT community. Trans-specific services include assistance with name changes (and name change kits); and legal aid for discrimination cases, custody disputes, hate crimes, and other issues. The Center also advocates for civil rights legislation and policies, and was instrumental in getting the gender identity ordinance added to the City's Fair Practices Act."

[Alas Babylon!]

Alabama does.

[Labyrinthos]

I'm not sure why he has to put up a sign. Why can't he just shrug and say, "I don't understand" (and not serve)?

I recently met with the chairperson of the committee on special education for my local public school dsitrict. The person is Hispanic, and while I do not doubt her ability to read and write in the English language, her spoken English is incomprensible. After 15 minutes, I finally said, "I have no idea what you are talking about." So she starts explaining again. I stopped her and said, "Let me rephase what I just said: I cannot understand you because of your accent so let's not waste any more of each other's time. Send me a written report and I'll respond in writing."