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- This Saturday: hearing of Mayor's Task force on Ethics
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- ABC debuts "Homeland Security USA"
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English Only = Discrimination. Philadelphia's Future = Immigration, or else . . .
Submitted by Gaetano P. on Thu, 02/08/2007 - 7:24pm.
Guess what!
I was right. Joe Vento's (of Geno's Steaks fame) sign requiring one to order in English ONLY was, in fact, discriminatory.
That's right, the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations found that his precious sign was discriminatory (and that yours truly was correct). Surely, there is a further administrative process, but I just have to wonder--gee, who would have thought a sign requiring the ordering of food in English ONLY would have discriminated against anyone. Well, I know who--most of the people on this sight. You can read the article on the Commission's decision here.
Now, this leads me to a very important and related subject. When are the mayoral candidates going to start talking about new Philadelphians. I do not mean retaining college students from elsewhere, I mean immigrants. People to repopulate our neighborhoods, which if memory serves me correct are needed! We have had a huge population loss in the last 50 years, and we keep loosing people (yes, Philadelphia does exist outside of Center City where we are gaining). Who better than new Americans!
I have to give credit to Councilman Kenney on both issues above. Of our leadership related to immigration, he has been on the forefront. Please, read the plan hyperlinked above. I remember when he announced this plan that he was beat-up pretty badly in the neighborhoods.
Despite other agendas, Philadelphians must must realize, however, that part of Philadelphia's problem is that we have a diminishing amount of people to pay for a lot of programs, from police, to schools, to social workers. I do not even want to think about the costs of pensions related to the current generation of public sector employees.
Population gain must be on the agenda for any mayoral administration and being a haven for new immigrant communities is a part of that agenda.
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I Knew I Was Too Much Of A Law Student When
I made a cost/benefit analysis not to patronize Geno's when they raised the coffee price to 75 cents.
Now, a cost/benefit analysis based solely on taste might have turned that way before the old price of 50 cents. But they're open 24 hours, it was half a block away, and it's usually laziness that is the decisive factor when I am weighing anything.
Somehow cheap and convenient outweighed that bigoted sign. And the freedom fries (way after the other assholes stopped). And the tshirts that said mumia should be executed, on the back, in couplet form.
It bummed me out that it took the extra 25 cents to decide it wasn't worth it.
PS what was the deal with the reaction to Kenney's plan? "Beat-up pretty badly in the neighborhoods"? Was there any traction?
Jennifer
Geno's Must Have Made Money Off Controversy
I am sure Geno's made money off the controversy that he generated, just like Lester Maddox did in Georgia in the 1960's when he used his restaurant's advertisements to oppose civil rights.
But it is very good that the city's Human Relations Commission has ruled against him because of the message that it sends: Philadelphia in the 21st Century is not a new version of the pre-civil rights racist South.
tech note
your link to the commission gives a Page Not Found error...
acm
Learn English...
So they don't want non-English speaking persons in their business... GOOD FOR THEM!!!! Let these hispanics learn english or go back to Mexico...
"I am the dawg, the big bad dawg.."
Ah, so simple, but so complex.
Supporting Michael Nutter in 2007!
Just checking
You're one of those Brady supporters, one of the people talking him as a "uniter, not a divider" right? Just want to make sure.
I read this, and I just
I read this, and I just can't stop lauging. Good one.
Supporting Michael Nutter in 2007!
Learn history - a little geography wouldn't hurt either
My grandfather was from a place in the US where Spanish is the first language - Puerto Rico. And let's see Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California - used to be - Mexico! Maybe we moved the border over them as much as they're coming here were in the first place.
You know, the "Spanish Dollar" was used as the standard currency in the original colonies and right up to 1857. The money this guy is refusing because someone is trying to order in another language derives it's very name from that language. To be consistent - he can't ask for payment either.
But hey - outside of that - Philadelphia makes a hell of a lot of money on tourism. Should we just tell our guests to STFU & go home? And how cruel is someone who won't try and help a hungry person get something to eat - one who's even willing to pay for it?
Good for them? Screw em.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_dollar
Yo, Brady
These are your online supporters? Really?
By the looks of it
I'm guess that the other candidates have pooled their resources to hire Trogan horses to post as racist, homophobic Brady supporters. Well, you know, they have to find some way to "level the playing field."
Ignorance
is no excuse. The sign is rude and, I believe, it is the antithesis of what this nation stands for. Be that is it may, let us stop giving giving this person and his business the undeserved notoriety it gets.
Plus I like Jim's Steaks
Plus I like Jim's Steaks better. ;)
A New Yorkers Transplants insight
I grew up in NY and moved to Philadelphia 21 years ago. New York City also has middle class flight to the suburbs but New York continues to be a thriving city because it attracts immigrants from all over the world who revitalize neighborhoods that would otherwise be abandoned. Studies show that immigrants tend to have much greater entrepreneurial initiative then native born.
Think of how Philadelphia's abandoned and blighted neighborhoods could be revitalized if we attracted the same people? You see a sample of the revitalization in parts of South Philly where Asian and Mexican immigrants now live.
Ironically, it is the presence of these very people that probably lead to the Geno sign. That sign symbolism was terrible publicity for the city particularly when the right wing radio xenophobic talking heads gave it national publicity. It basically told immigrants they were not welcome. It also hurt Philadelphia's need to compete for the very people who could help our revitalization.
Councilman Kenney has been the victim of potshots in our local South Philly Review. Nevertheless, he has long shown courage and foresight on this issue and I thank him for continuing to do so. Leadership is taking on unpopular issues and Councilman Kenney has always been willing to do that- That’s what leadership is about.
Cost analysis went into the offensive sign
Which went up only after La Lupe, the great cheap Mexican place on the same block, started to really attract customers.
As we blithefully carnivore 9th Street types (sorry Jennifer) know:
1 Geno's steak (whiz with) = $7.00
1 La Lupe's chicken/jalapeno tamale + 1 spicy pork meat taco + 1 steak taco = $6.00
One meat vs. three = no contest!
Fresh tortillas, fresh condiments (garlic-y guacamole), and those surprising cucumbers and radishes!
Grease and fried onions just don't stand a chance next to such a varied and wonderful assault on our takeout food taste buds!
No wonder neanderthal Vento got all anti-Hispanic. In my culinary opinion, he is being outmoded.
I just wish La Lupe was 24 hours.
Supporting Damon K. Roberts, Marc Stier, Maria Quinones-Sanchez, Irv Ackelsberg, and Vern Anastasio (should he decide to run) for City Council. Supporting Michael Nutter for Mayor. Running out of room on the bumper for more stickers.
When you walk into La Lupe,
When you walk into La Lupe, do they know what kind of tamale you want automatically, Sam. Impressive Hop Devil Skills.
Supporting Michael Nutter in 2007!
Sam, its amazing how many posts
have to deal with food in some way, shape or form. Is it the italian in us or are we just hungry all the time? Famous words "yea, i can eat".
I likes my tamales and I likes my beer
And my Philly neighborhood (Italian Market) is the greatest for cheap food in the country; places like Tritone make us a great bar town too. So, you know, it's all about civic appreciation!
And you're right Larry: if you're Italian, food keeps you forever in a love affair with this city, no matter where and from what culture the food comes from.
Supporting Damon K. Roberts, Marc Stier, Maria Quinones-Sanchez, Irv Ackelsberg, and Vern Anastasio (should he decide to run) for City Council. Supporting Michael Nutter for Mayor. Running out of room on the bumper for more stickers.