Missed it. Busy with other projects. Hopefully they'll replay it this weekend.
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.
Do they deliver....to the west side?
Wish I could.
"he 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."
Ah, I understand now. That's the city's cue for some schiesty lawyer to produce an immigrant "client" who 'claims' he/she was refused service or was humiliated at Geno's because he/she couldn't speak English.
Missed it. Busy with other projects. Hopefully they'll replay it this weekend.
Have you considered emigrating to the United States. I'd offer to sponsor you, but I live in Michiganistan.
The funny part is that "English" is barely used in an order at Geno's.
"Cheesesteak, Whiz, wit" is an order for a Cheez Whiz cheesesteak with onions.
Got that right. I was threatened, jostled, and pelted with trash at the Spectrum back in the 80s. The hostile crowd didn't have much patience for my attempt to find my seat during the show....that is...if you call the soundcheck a show.
Yes I did. The one on the left was cute and wrong. The one on the right was A**hole and wrong. LOL
Are they NOT allowed to pass through the costs to the patient?
Heck, I'd mark it up 120%. And insist the patient signed an agreement that if they canceled an appointment within 72 hours of the appointed date/time, they would still have to pay that fee.
Probably because for some people it is nearly impossible to grasp a new language during adulthood. I have seen this a lot growing up in Toronto; before the days of government agencies bending over backwards to accommodate them the kids would act as translators. As a general rule it worked out well for everyone involved.
As for this whole "order in English" the controversy is silly. I'm sure the proprietor deals with non-English speakers the way all restauranteurs do, which usually involves pointing at the menu and assorted hand gestures.
(I would not want to alienate potential spanish speaking customers, thus no sign in my restaurant)
Well, good news on that front, the publicity has finally pushed Geno's even with the filthy, disgusting, illegal alien hiring Pats.
We pass both of them most of the time we leave the neighborhood and my brood of little Owls boo Pat's from the car and cheer Geno's and their customers (USA!!! USA!!! USA!!!)
God Bless Joe Vento, truly a great American.
Owl_Eagle
If what I just wrote made you sad or angry,
it was probably just a joke.
Same here although it was 2 months ago. Best I've ever had. Made me almost want to move to Philly.
Just like Chicago style pizza is only good in Chicago real Philly cheesesteak has to be gotten in Philly.
Years ago I dated a German boy. His father trained pilots for the Air Force. My boyfriend, sister, and father all spoke English fluently. His mother could not speak English fluently, but she would try and what she did not understand the family would help translate.
This is America. One can be dumb if he wants too. That's why there are so many liberals speaking out. Even you have done something dumb in your life. Come on now, tell us what it was. (maybe your post?)
I agree. Everyone in Toronto knows that in Chinatown, the Chinese menus are more extensive than the English version. This is because too many non-Chinese patrons would order stuff that they ended up not liking. So if you're an adventurous eater, learn to read Chinese :-p
I work with a group of Cuban Americans in the Chicago suburbs.
They were born here to people who came here as young adults. Their parents all speak English at least passingly but one of my friend's said that in the community learning English is considered giving in to the americans.
When my friends were children some of the schools they went to offered ESL to the parents of kids. Their parents took advantage of it.
They all grew up here. There is a Cuban population here.
I was waiting for that. ;-)
Since this business owner is not hiring people, renting hotel rooms or an apartment - how is he breaking the law?
Since he is not refusing to sell because of race, ethnicity or sexual orientation - he is DOUBLY not breaking the law.
A local municipality that has such an entity is awash in too much cash and has too much time on its hands. Of course, "human relations commission" is government-speak for a bunch of busy-body thought police running around trying to make sure different colors and ethnicities all play nicey nice with each other.
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