Powerful NYC pol says she blasted Chick-fil-A as a citizen - but she used official letterhead

FoxNews ^ | August 01, 2012 | Perry Chiaramonte

[neverdem]

A powerful New York politician claims she was just speaking as a private citizen when she tried to run Chick-fil-A out of town, but she used her official letterhead and even invoked her position as City Council speaker to apply pressure on the embattled chicken chain.

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who has mayoral aspirations, sent a letter to New York University president John Sexton on Saturday asking the school to immediately end their contract with the fast food restaurant. The Atlanta-based company's sole New York City outlet is in the school's food court.

"I write as the Speaker of the NYC Council, and on behalf of my family. NYC is a place where we celebrate diversity. We do not believe in denigrating others. We revel in the diversity of all our citizens and their families,” the letter begins.

"Let me be clear ‐‐ I do not want establishments in my city that hold such discriminatory views," Quinn, an open lesbian who recently married her longtime partner, also wrote in the letter. "We are a city that believes our diversity is our greatest strength and we will fight anything and anyone that runs counter to that."

'If we allow something like this, then the next letter might be concerning someone’s view on abortion.'

- NYC Council member Peter Vallone

“As such I urge you to sever your relationship with the Chick‐fil‐A establishment that exists on your campus,” the speaker added.

The letter has drawn the ire from others on the council.

“She can write to someone as a council member, but if she states that she is writing as the Speaker it can only be on behalf of the entire council. She has to have the majority vote of the council, and I don’t recall voting on this...,”

[Osage Orange]

It’s yours!

[N. Theknow]

NYC is a place where we celebrate diversity. We do not believe in denigrating others.

Unless they profess their Christian beliefs.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[firebrand]

"We are a city that believes our diversity is our greatest strength"

Christine needs to realize that she is the Speaker of the City Council, not the Speaker of New York City. She doesn't even have the full Council's support on this, so why presume to speak for all of us?

[windcliff]

That’s funny.

[firebrand]

Looks like we have a new possibility for mayor next time. Bye-bye, honey.

[Politicalmom]

Thanks! :)

[tacticalogic]

So, can any citizen get themselves some of that letterhead?

[justiceseeker93]

But John Beckman, a spokesman for NYU, tells FoxNews.com in a written statement that given the recent news, the matter will be revisited by school officials.

“The University Administration will ask the University Senate to take up the issue of Chick-fil-A’s status on campus again when it reconvenes this fall to make a recommendation on how to proceed,” he said.

If NYU doesn't cave into this leftist witch and kick Chick Fil-A off its campus, it would be a huge surprise. The most important values for a Manhattan university (and for colleges and universities all around the country) are political correctness and fealty to the ruling leftist political class, and to hell with freedom of speech or religion.

[firebrand]

They should find a spot right nearby—or maybe near Fordham. And also sue.

[firebrand]

They should find a spot right nearby—or maybe near Fordham. And also sue.

[Cincinna]

Thanks Neverdem for the post, and justiceseeker93 for the ping.

Queen Christine just ruined her chances, small that they were, of becoming the next mayor of NY.

She a pro-abortion, pro gay marriage (her lesbian wedding made Tge NY Times), and a Catholic. To say she has problems with Cardinal Dolan is an understatement.

NYU will have problems if it tries to ban Chick Filet-A. Free speech advicates like Alan Dershowitz of Harvard Law School have criticized Rahm and the Mayor of Boston.

[justiceseeker93]

Queen Christine just ruined her chances, small that they were, of becoming the next mayor of NY.

She a pro-abortion, pro gay marriage (her lesbian wedding made The NY Times), and a Catholic. To say she has problems with Cardinal Dolan is an understatement.

Unfortunately, this is New York City 2012. Her lesbian wedding - with Bloomberg and just about every other prominent local politician in attendance - was the social event of the year as far as all the local media, not just the New York Slimes, were concerned. Cardinal Dolan may have had his problems with it, but the lefty media probably never let him air his views on this, and we'll see if he has the courage to publicly denounce her on Chick Fil-A.

No, in NYC 2012, "tolerance" and "diversity" trumps the Constitution and organized religion. "Queen Christine" calculated intuitively that telling NYU to get rid of Chick Fil-A on campus would be a political boost for her. And regrettably, she probably is right. That's just how decadent her constituency is.

[justiceseeker93]

Christine needs to realize that she is the Speaker of the City Council, not the Speaker of New York City. She doesn't even have the full Council's support on this, so why presume to speak for all of us?

She'll never realize that because it's intrinsic to what leftist politicians do in office. They arrogate functions and powers that they don't have under the law or under custom, and will continue to do so until someone has the guts to make them pay politically for it.

[shoff]

Christine Quinn I have noted before, she admitted but never charged for sending 17.4 million to fictitious charities.

Christine Quinn’s runs for City Council are bankrolled by the city taxpayers as part of the CFB or City Campaign Finance Board voted into law by the same city council. The old excuse taking big money out of campaigns in New York City. This allows candidates to spend more time with their constitute since they don’t have to fund raise.So if you can’t raise money for your job force the taxpayers to bankroll your run

Christine Quinn who is running for mayor, not because she has a shot at the job but because she can collect 6.5 million in welfare for unelectable politicians just for the primary.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_Quinn

[Cincinna]

Good point!
Christine Quinn in hardly a shoe in for the nomination. She is viewed as a Bloomberg toady, and responsible (bought off) to chance the rules to give him a chance at a 3rd term. Bloomberg is extremely unpopular.
Quinn will have to run against Bill de Blasio, currently NYC Public Advocate, who is a far better candidate, well liked and respected, and well funded, and Bill Thompson, who lost to Bloomberg last time around.
The Catholic Church still has a strong political voice in NY, with Cardinal Dolan a powerful force intellectually, morally and personally. Huge numbers of Catholics, and others who will not vote for Quinn, a Catholic herself.