A win for Geno’s
Geno’s 1, Political correctness, 0. Hurray for Joey Vento, who stood up to the “human relations” police and struck a blow for assimilation:
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.
Geno’s and its chief rival across the street, Pat’s King of Steaks, are two of the city’s best known cheesesteak venues. A growing number of Asian and Latin American immigrants have moved into the traditionally Italian neighborhood in recent years.
Vento had threatened to go to court if he lost. His attorney, Albert G. Weiss, said he was “pleasantly surprised” by Wednesday’s decision.
***
Previous Geno’s blogging:
“This is America. When ordering, speak English.”
See what others have said
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- The Sundries Shack
- “Speak English” Signs OK for Cheesesteak Shop : Conservative247
- Locomotive Breath 1901
- Overlawyered
- Leaning Straight Up
- Leaning Straight Up
- Recon Watch » One for the American - for a Change!
- Braden's Corner Of The Net
- Leaning Straight Up
- Michelle Malkin » Joey Vento takes on the cowards
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Geno’s 1 - PC Police 0
I am visiting in-laws in Philly as I write this. Guess what I’ll be having for lunch?
(and I don’t even like cheese!)
Geno’s won because he promised he’d close it down if he was ordered to remove the sign, thereby Philly losing precious cash. good for him.
Philadelphia Freedom!
No, no se puede!
It must have occurred to someone that if they could be discouraged by reading the sign, they could understand English, ergo, order in English……
Good for Geno. Feel good story for the day.
L
As a private business owner, isn’t it his right to risk losing business as a result of business practice? To me it would be no different than charging twice as much for a sandwich than the guy across the street. He may lose a few customers that would rather not pay his price, but that doesn’t make it discriminatory or illegal, just not necessarily good for business.
Here he’s risking losing business to non-english speaking customers. His loss, no one elses. It’s the American way.
I never, ever PRESS ONE.
I simply press ‘0′ and cost whomever I’m calling more money by having to deal with me with a real live person. If that person is not in the US, I ask for a supervisor, costing them more money.
*Cheers* A win for the good guys. I am sure if someone there would be more than happy to teach customer A who cannot speak English how to order in English.
“But critics argued that the sign discourages customers of certain backgrounds of eating at the shop.”
If the Philly Cheese Steak were made from pork, don’t you think that would discourage some or certain customers from eating there? YES!
KUDOS to this man and what he represents. THIS IS AMERICA FOLKS. WE SPEAK ENGLISH HERE. IT IS OUR NATIONAL LANGUAGE. LEARN IT OR LEAVE!
<On March 20th, 2008 at 11:00 am, theroc5156 said:
I am visiting in-laws in Philly as I write this. Guess what I’ll be having for lunch?
(and I don’t even like cheese!)
You order ‘WID’ or ‘WIDDOUT’
I wonder how the Commission on Human Relations would vote on a pastor who said something like “G-d D–n AmeriKKKa”.
Awesome, it was good to hear this on the news last night.
Seriously?
Awesome.
U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A.!
Critics argued…discourage…
I don’t think Joey cared about “certain” customers didn’t want to eat at his establishment. This is a free country. Who are these critics who “argue” that customers will be “discouraged”? And why do they care?
Busy bodies. It’s still a free country.
ABC News to retaliate by running another OMG DISCRIMINATION! YOU HORRIBLE BIGOTS! staged “news” story at Geno’s
in 3.. 2.. 1..
Thanks goodness there’s still some sanity left in America. #7 Walterrc, that was my first thought as well.
Good for Geno’s! At least some people are still sane. Think of it this way… recently arrived immigrants who don’t speak the language can use Geno’s as a way to learn the English language. What’s wrong with that?
I have one of those pocket-sized copies of the Constitution in my desk drawer. I just looked through it and I cannot find any constitutional right to cheesesteak sandwiches.
It’s his shop. If they don’t like the policy it’s just too damn bad.
While I always had my cheesesteaks at Pat’s and always will when going to Philly ( hometown), kudos to Joey Vento…. well done. I like mine Wid( onions, that is) and provolone…… thanks…. now I wanna cheesesteak. Try to find a good one in Minnesota!
“For Geno’s a jolly good fellow”
On March 20th, 2008 at 11:09 am, walterc said:
Congrats to Geno, and well said, WalterC!
If ever there was a perfect example of Speaking English and having a sovereign language as a method to dissuade illegals from coming to America, this is it.
Maybe if the whole country was like that, especially the schools, hospitals, and government offices, maybe illegals wouldn’t be so quick to swamp this country.
Just to clarify as one who was born and raised with the cheesesteak, the “WID” and “WIDOUT” refers to the presence of onions, and not cheese. “Steak WID” would be a sandwich that DOES have onions, but not cheese. “Cheese WIDOUT” would have cheese, but no onions. And, if you don’t specify your cheese, you get cheese whiz. (I prefer American, but to each his own)
The outrage here is that a “Commission on Human Relations” even held a vote, that there was even a complaint to consider.
While I don’t agree with the necessity to post a sign, I fully support and defend a business’ right to refuse service to anyone for any reason.
Fair practice laws are leftovers from a world that Rev Wright and BO’s relatives still live in. One where everyone is a victim and there are no alternatives. At best they are a silly anachronism, at worst, they are used by the nanny state to beat us into submission.
If you don’t want to serve someone because of skin color, clothing, mannerisms, hairstyle, accented speech, or maybe you just don’t like the look in their eyes, then don’t serve them. A cheese steak diner is not a public hospital ER after all.
Someone, somewhere, will serve us. The market can take better care of us than the government. (And you’d be an idiot to order food in a place where you weren’t welcome, yet the government mandated that they had to serve you.)
That refers to the onions. Cheese is provolone or wiz
Right now Pat’s steaks, the other famous steak place 10 feet away, ought to teach all their employees how to take orders in spanish
LOL I didn’t know there were so many cheesesteak fans. Now…. anybody ever have Wishniak’s Black Cherry soda with their cheesesteak, or Hire’s root beer?
In a related story, celebrity chef Todd English was told that the “Commission on Human Relations” had voted 3-0 to force him to change his last name to something more inclusive.
I bet it is safe to say when you call to place an order, you don’t have to “dial 1 for english”.
Maybe this will set a trend? NAW “Dial 1 for english” is entrenched unlike the english language.
Unfortunately that’s not true as such. As a fallout of the Civil Rights issues the concept of Public Accomodation was created and enshrined in law. You may not discriminate based on… well, you know the litany. The problem is that this has been extended to its illogical conclusion. So the PC Police find umbras and emmanations and mystical meanings that don’t exist in plain English of the law, yielding this sort of insanity.
There’s a guy in Pittsburgh who is famous for his anti-Press 1 for English rants. http://www.casadice.com
They’re priceless.
While we’re praising Mr. Vento, let’s not forget his strong anti-Mumia stance.
This is how it should be. Let’s hope more businessess catch on to this. I agree with many posts here regarding getting back to English as our language. Why can’t these people get it?
Yay! Go, Mr. Vento!
#33
I Love it!!! I sure miss being in Pa and the Pittsburgh and Philly areas!
Bravo to Geno…a true American…and we don’t find many of those in the news these days…
What’s the difference between signs that say, “No shirt, no shoes, no service” and requesting English be spoken? It’s the choice of the business owner. If customers don’t like it, they can go elsewhere. Owners do have rights too.
Also, applause for Joey Vento. Wish there were more people like him.
I can’t beat that. All now that is left to say is Grassy A$$ city panel.
What?!!? Business owners are also private citizens with the same rights to free speech and press afforded to every other citizen? My God! Where will this individual freedom and personal liberty insanity end!?!!?!!!?
But seriously, this case was actually bigger than what the sign said, and what this person’s personal political motivations are (even though I’m 100% behind him on this) - it’s yet another example of just how far leftist totalitarianism has encroached upon the free market and the personal rights of people.
Maybe if they posted signs like this along the Rio Grande, it would “discourage” some from swimming across.
Sorry - have to disagree. The outrage here is that a “Commission on Human Relations” even exists.
Even a lefty like me is happy about this verdict!
Mazeltov! Bravo! Primo! Me gusto! Viva Geno’s!
(Translation: Maybe common sense ISN’T all that uncommon?)
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.
We bring this on ourselves.
We’re all responsible for letting this PC BS get out of hand.
conservativesRus
Sorry, I didn’t see your posting, my sentiments exactly.
Buono a Vento!
#10 To be technical, we speak American English which at times can be quite different than English from England.
Way to go Geno’s!!
I am always befuddled with the “VOTE HERE” signs in Spanish. Are we providing ballots in Spanish? You have to know English to become a citizen and you have to be a citizen to vote. Makes no sense to tell people to “vote here” in Spanish. Also, what’s with the DMV tests being given in another language? The road signs aren’t written in other languages, so why give the test in other languages?
One of the reasons for the Jim Crow laws was because too many businessmen didn’t want to exclude Blacks from their customer base. Fair practice laws and commissions on human relations are unnecessary, as long as you can eliminate discriminatory laws and regulations.
If he wanted, he could only serve red-heads who stand on their hands while ordering.
It’s his business and he has the freedom to associate or disassociate with whomever he wants for whatever reason he deems appropriate.
If you don’t like it, reward some other business with you money. It really is that simple.
Now if we could stop illegals from being subcontracted out by others to do yardwork, building, etc., we may get yet another victory!
Shut up logic boy!
I wonder if Las Vegas is taking bets on how quickly these two Commissioners are replaced?
Geno, way to go! You socked political correctness right right in middle of its nasty face!
Yeah, I wondered about that myself when I took my driver’s test here in CA. How can you give a test in Spanish when all the road signs like “ONE WAY” are in English?
What’s with that?
Next we’ll be seeing bi-lingual road signs I suppose.
By the way, my sister-in-law who came here from Colombia several years ago was taking English lessons, and gearing up for becoming a US Citizen (legally). Took her many years, but she waited in line, and finally became one.
When she went to get her driver’s license in PA, she was asked if she wanted it in Spanish (she has a heavy Spanish accent). She was completely insulted. She said NO, I’ll take it in English please.
I wonder how many thousands of dollars he spent defending himself against this asinine inquisition.
When she went to get her driver’s license in PA, she was asked if she wanted it in Spanish (she has a heavy Spanish accent). She was completely insulted. She said NO, I’ll take it in English please.
Now that’s the kind of person that makes this country a better place. Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Now, if we could only get department stores to stop hanging signs in Spanish. A lot of the major ones do this, apparently unaware that they are helping to grow a linguistic wedge in the country.
Now can we get all service help to speak english and put this sign up in every business in the US.
Good for him! So sick of this political correctness crap!
If only our government felt this way regarding illegal immigrants…
It’s gotten so bad in CA that the Spanish is outdoing English these days.
I actually have to LOOK FOR stuff in English, since this state is becoming SpanishFirst.
BlameAmericaLast, that’s the type of immigrant we welcome to our country. I wish her all the best and success. We talk about businesses being private and should be able to do what they want;choose prices, people they serve, etc.. I completely agree. Unfortunately, we have this rule now, that declares business places, as “public places” and as such, they inflict a lot of regulations on them, such as disability rules, Osha, smoking and price controls. I’m proud of Geno’s and surprised that they can do that, these days. The only thing the government doesn’t regulate is when an employee can go to the bathroom, but they have lots of regulations, once he gets in there.
BlameAmericaLast - Texas (at least where I’m at) is the same way. Spanish signs with the English below them just about everywhere.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m one of those people who like vacationing in Mexico, and I have no problem with the signs all being in Spanish there. I also speak enough Spanish that when I travel down there, I try to speak it because I think it’s always a good thing to learn.
But when people are in our country, they should speak English. Even if it’s broken English, at least attempt to speak it.
Amigoneus, I don’t vacation in Mexico. They have enough American dollars as it is, being sent down there. I had a friend, last summer, tell me he and family were taking a cruise down to Mexico. I told him the same. He agreed, and changed to cruise to the Caribbean instead. Not that I wouldn’t want to go. I would love to see Maya ruins, being an historian. But, I have enough of them standing in parking lots around here, looking for day labor. I don’t need to have them all around me on vacation.
Sergeant Tim said:
More like:
PC Police → 5.78+E12
Geno’s (and regular people everywhere) → 1
Still, it is nice for the regular guy to win one for once.
The sad part is that the vote was 2-1 and not 3-0.
No more “press 2 for Spanish”!
Finally. We need much more of this type of support from our elected officials. No more PC rules made up by sneaky liberals.
And the award for most astute comment goes to Old Tanker for that brilliant observation.
Got for Geno’s, Vento, and all of those who think expecting someone to speak the native language of a country is a good and necessary thing.
Chillingly Orwellian that Joe was charged with being ‘offensive’. There are all kinds of folks, clothing, smells, etc. that I find ‘offensive’ - - should I be able to jail them too?
Bravo, Joe - - makes me proud (NOT for the first time in my adult life) to be of Italian heritage.
No shirt, no shoes, no service.
What’s the difference in this situation?
None that I can see.
Just imagine if a new-age religion emerged that required you to go barefoot! Just imagine the discrimination lawsuits then!
A few months ago a “New York Famous Pastrami” place opened near my office. Loving pastrami almost as much as I love Scotch, I went to check it out. When I walked in, not one person behind the counter was speaking English - all Spanish. I gave each one of them a good stare and then walked out without ordering anything. I won’t be going back there.
Just to play devil’s advocate: I have been to 31 countries, but only speak one langauge. It is mighty convenient to be able to get along without speaking the native language. Not that I don’t expect long-term residents to adapt and assimilate, as is the case in this particular instance.
Free speech only applies to those who align with political correctness. DUH!
Cheesesteak is a greasy, slimy, thoroughly unhealthy, and exceedingly delicious concoction.
God Bless America. Geno’s, too.
A sandwich to make all the “weight police” cring in fear… I love ‘em! That, and a traditional Reuben. Give me a real Philly cheesesteak and leave me alone. I’m in Heaven.
Since we’re on sandwiches: corned beef on rye and a bowl of matzo ball soup from Canter’s Deli in Los Angeles’ Fairfax district.
Old Tanker, you give me hope! I could have sworn logic was dead in America.
Very simple solution. If you’re one of the ones who refuse to learn English, have one of your English speaking friends teach you to say “whiz wit” in English. It’s very simple it could be learned and spoken phonetically.
Stop it - you’re making me hungry.
One other thing - a good Philly cheesesteak restaurant is needed here in my hometown. We have some fairly good imitators but the real thing would be terrific.
Hey, Joey - you interested in expanding your territory?
Joey was on Fox News this morning and said that no one was ever denied service if they didn’t speak English. He said if the person ordering didn’t speak English, he got the next sandwich that came off the grill whatever it was.
Now I have to drive 12 hours for lunch. Wonder if he delivers……
Anyone remember the Seinfeld “Soup Nazi” episode???
The one guy came in and said something in Spanish while ordering to the Soup Nazi…and he looked at him harshly and said.. “Adios Muchacho…no soup for you!!”
Suprized the Hispanic Taliban organization LA Raza didn’t raise holy hell and demand the show be edited.
I was in the Miami airport some years back, and I couldn’t order a hotdog from a vendor because they spoke only Spanish.
Needless to say, I did not buy a hot dog.
English is the language of this country. Learn to speak it.
Oops! Make that Geno’s.
Way to go, Joey!!