[Pyro7480]

The City of Philadelphia: Disagree with us and we'll prosecute!

[airborne]

Philly is a quagmire!

We need to redeploy all government agencies outside the combat zone!

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Was in Philly a month ago. Made a point of getting a cheesesteak at Geno's for just this reason.

[antiRepublicrat]

said Vento, the fiery grandson of Italian immigrants

IOW, "My family immigrated and assimilated, and you should too." Good for him!

[TXBubba]

I say let them order in any language they want...just make sure you keep getting the order wrong.

[darkwing104]

Somebody like Bill O'Reilly need to call these clowns out publicly, some good old fashion humiliation of City Officials are in order.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Now the liberty bell isn't just cracked, it's bleeding.

[Tulane]

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...

[edpc]

It's nearing lunchtime where I am. Guess I'll be having a cheesesteak. I'm such a sucker for subliminal suggestion...

[philsfan24]

im making it a point to head down and grab a genos cheesesteak this weekend.

[Sgt_Schultze]

I fail to see how non-english speakers could possibly be offended by a sign written in english that they cannot read!

[raybbr]

Well, being "articulate" is as insulting now as asking someone to speak the only language one understands.

This country is going to hell.

[Jaded]

This city must be a virtual utopia for the city "officials" to be so bored they are wasting time and money on this.

[CPOSharky]

The sign says "PLEASE" doesn't it.

That's a request not an order.

So being polite is an offense in Philly?

[khnyny]

Here's the "Commission's" website:

http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/

[wastedyears]

*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

[3AngelaD]

Wonder what would happen if Vento just told his employees to serve those customers a nice brunschwager and onion sandwich instead of a cheese steak. I think, given the PC BS in Philadelphia, a little passive-aggressive behavior would be in order. But I notice that there are no complaining customers in this story, just a bunch of bossy-pants government operatives. Perhaps the customers have managed to learn to say cheese steak in English, after all.

[Joe 6-pack]

"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."

It says nothing about language. If they serve homosexual oriental Nigerians, provided they speak English, I see no lack of compliance...and I'm pretty sure that's the guy's take on it from everything I read.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

"This is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING 'PLEASE SPEAK ENGLISH,"

I don't get it. The sign is a request, it's not a demand. Are there any documented instances where Geno's refused service to anyone who couldn't speak English?

[magslinger]

So, a business owner or his employees are expected to understand any language that a customer wants to order in? How about Esperanto? Finnish? Gibberish? Klingonese?

[freespirited]

Well, wouldn't you like to know that as long as you don't get murdered you can order a cheesesteak in the language of your choice??