He Did Say Please

The question of the day was whether Geno's Steaks owner Joey Vento discriminated against non-English speaking patrons by posting an 'Speak English' sign at his South Philadelphia shop. See, e.g., earlier posts on this never-ending saga, It's a No-No, Ge-no and No Cheese Wid for me.

And of course it was only fitting that the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations hearing on the issue was held at the Arch Street Meeting House, which was given to the Philadelphia Quakers by William Penn in 1693 -- considered to be a symbol of "tolerance, equality and peace."

As University of Pennsylvania professor Camille Charles explained, Penn prof: “Speak English” sign like Jim Crow era:

Charles, a professor of sociology, said the number of foreign-born residents living in the South Philadelphia neighborhood near Geno's grew more than 200 percent between 1980 and 2000.

When shown historical signs from the Jim Crow era in the South that read 'Whites Only,' Charles said Vento's 'Speak English' sign had the same impact on patrons.

You think I'm stupid? was the essence of Vento's defense to the charge that he was being discriminatory. That is, why would he do something that would turn away business? Of course, unstated by him is the fact that Vento's business has been "phenomenal" since the controversy erupted last year. Vento steaks his claim: Sign isn't discriminatory. There are a lot of bigots out there who have come to his support. In fact, Rudy Giuliani even did a campaign stop at Geno's, to show his anti-immigrant credentials. See What's With My Paisans?.

Testimony at the hearing was a reiteration of his stance since the controversy first arose, Pa. Shop Owner Backs English-Only Policy:

A small sign that asked customers to order in English at a famous cheesesteak shop was never meant to be offensive, the shop's owner testified Friday at a hearing to decide whether the policy was discriminatory.

Joe Vento, the owner of Geno's Steaks, defended his policy before the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, which filed the discrimination complaint.

'This country is a melting pot, but what makes it work is the English language,' Vento told the commission. 'I'm not stupid. I would never put a sign out to hurt my business.'

Vento posted two small signs in October 2005 at his shop in a diverse South Philadelphia neighborhood, telling customers, 'This is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING PLEASE 'SPEAK ENGLISH.''

He said Friday that he posted the sign because of concerns over the debate on immigration reform and the increasing number of people from the area who could not order in English.

But he said he also wanted to keep the line moving at his busy store.

Really. This is all just much ado about nothing. Despite his Confederate flag tattoo (and related flag paraphernalia scattered about the store), The Flag Flies, Vento isn't a bigot. Really. Although he's not a Southern boy, his affinity for the Rebel flag doesn't mean he's at all racist. Really.

So that this story that never ends, never ends, we'll have to stay tuned for the answer to the question of the meaning of "The Sign" and other questions. As noted in Vento steaks his claim: Sign isn't discriminatory:

But is there anything wrong with "The Sign"? Specifically, does it violate the city's Fair Practices Ordinance by discriminating against immigrants and non-English speakers who frequent Vento's business?

That question wasn't answered yesterday at the Arch Street Meeting House, where a three-person panel heard more than six hours of testimony from witnesses for the HRC, which wants the sign removed, and Vento, who refuses to comply.

A ruling won't come for at least a couple of months, said Joseph Centeno, who chaired yesterday's hearing panel. The panel will make a recommendation to the full commission, but the parties have about 60 days to file post-hearing briefs.

An interesting footnote to this case relates to Vento's legal team. As noted in Vento: No barrier, just a view on English:

Vento is represented by the Southeastern Legal Foundation, a public-interest law firm in Atlanta.

* * * *

Leading Vento's legal team was Shannon Goessling of the Southeastern Legal Foundation.

While some people might be offended by Vento's signs, she contended, they aren't illegal. "Do you want the freedom from being offended?" she asked the three-member panel hearing the case. "Or the freedom of speech? You can't have both."

This legal team of 1st Amendment proponents is slightly more than your run of the mill ACLU wannabes. As is described in detail in this handbook on conservative foundations by Lee Cokorinos, The Assault on Diversity, Phawker also looks into the Atlanta legal foundation representing Vento, JOEY VENTO IN BED WITH SOUTHERN AGENTS OF INTOLERANCE & INDECENCY? OH MY!, finding there's a bit more to it than a "public interest law firm":

A cursory glance at the Southeastern Legal Foundation’s web site reveals a different picture. If anything, Southeastern Legal Foundation appears to be the Bizarro Universe version of progressive constitutional watchdogs like the Southern Poverty Center. They parrot all the usual suspect Karl Rove/FOX NEWS memes: Gay People Are A Lesser Species, No Mercy For Stinkin’ Wetbacks, It’s All Bill Clinton’s Fault. In fact, SLF was started in 1994 to put an end to Affirmative Action in Atlanta AND get Bill Clinton disbarred. (To date, they have received $285,000 from the Castle Rock Foundation, right-wing welfare arm of Adolph Coors Foundation, named after the Coors family patriarch and founder of the Coors brand. Adolph Coors committed suicide in 1929 when he jumped out of the window of the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach, Virginia.)

The Foundation has also received substantial donations from Pennsylvania's own Richard Mellon Scaife, who has spent millions going after Bill Clinton and other right wing causes. See Mr. Mellonhead.

It's interesting what's left out of some of these news pieces. Like the non-mention of the Southeastern Legal Foundation's ties in the Inquirer, Philadelphia Magazine did an in-depth article on Vento in its November issue, Lost in Translation, but neglected to mention his fondness for the confederate flag. Really.