'Speak English' signs allowed at Philly shop

AP ^ | 3/19/08 | AP

[RU88]

PHILADELPHIA - The owner of a famous cheesesteak shop did not discriminate when he posted signs asking customers to speak English, a city panel ruled Wednesday.

In a 2-1 vote, a Commission on Human Relations panel found that two signs at Geno's Steaks telling customers, "This is America: WHEN ORDERING 'PLEASE SPEAK ENGLISH,'" do not violate the city's Fair Practices Ordinance.

Shop owner Joe Vento has said he posted the signs in October 2005 because of concerns over immigration reform and an increasing number of people in the area who could not order in English.

Vento has said he never refused service to anyone because they couldn't speak English. But critics argued that the signs discourage customers of certain backgrounds from eating at the shop.

Commissioners Roxanne E. Covington and Burt Siegel voted to dismiss the complaint, finding that the sign does not communicate that business will be "refused, withheld or denied."

In a dissenting opinion, Commissioner Joseph J. Centeno said he thought the signs did discourage some customers.

"The sign appeared immediately above another sign that had the following words: 'Management Reserves the Right to Refuse Service,'" Centeno wrote.

[RU88]

Well, at least they'll still be able to vote next month in whatever language they like. (sarc)

[nyyankeefan]

‘Speak English’ signs allowed at Philly shop ....

this should be the rule of the land ~ not just in a cheesesteak shop!!!!

[Manic_Episode]

[doodad]

Oh thank you Human Rights Commission for your beneficence. Private property and free speech are to reviewed apparently. I did not know it was a human right to eat a cheesesteak.

[Thrownatbirth]

Management Reserves the Right to Refuse Service

You never see those signs anymore; they used to be in every retail establishment. I guess they went away like Burma Shave billboards.

[Sloth]

Commissioners Roxanne E. Covington and Burt Siegel voted to dismiss the complaint, finding that the sign does not communicate that business will be "refused, withheld or denied."

And why would it be any of their business even if it were?

[RU88]

The irony of all of this is that it’s o.k. to tell someone to order food in English but it’s not o.k. to expect that same person to vote in English despite the fact that they are required by law to be proficient in the English language in order to obtain citizenship.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

[doodad]

You want ironic? I get to hang the signs in the front lobby today stating that we use everify(!!!) for our job propects. Posting is a federal requirement. It is in Spanish.

[Anticommie]

'Speak English' signs allowed at Philly shop

About fr***en time.

[moonman]

GO GENO’S!

[Izzy Dunne]

critics argued that the signs discourage customers of certain backgrounds from eating at the shop.

So what if they do?

[bert]

.....So what if they do? .....

If they have no cheesesteaks, let them eat nachos.

One can only wonder if eubonics qualifies as non english. if so, let them eat collards.

[RepoGirl]

Good for Geno's! My brother and S-i-L took me there this past fall, had a 'steak wit' wit'," as they say.

Thoroughly artery-clogging, thigh-destroying food that I could have eaten all day! Great stuff, and a fun place to go. You sit outside, and can hear Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" blasting from the sound system.

Right on the edge of the Italian Market in Philly -- interesting place to go.

[dljordan]

I couldn’t help but wonder from where the Commission on Human Relations derives it’s power.