"Speak English" Signs OK At Philly Shop

Ruling: Signs Asking Customers To Speak English At Cheesesteak Shop Not Discriminatory

(AP)  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.

"We expected that this was not going to go our way," Weiss said.

In February 2007, the commission found probable cause against Geno's for discrimination, alleging that the policy discourages customers of certain backgrounds from eating there.

The case went to a public hearing, where an attorney for the commission argued that the sign was about intimidation, not political speech. The matter then went to the three-member panel for a ruling.

W. Nick Taliaferro, the commission's executive director, said he would not appeal.

[michellem99-2009]

I went to school here in USA and that was years ago. Teacher taught one and talked in one touge..ENGLISH..Barbara ,congress know full well our offcial touge is ENGLISH. It is the duty that english is used. I have met french people when I lived in Maine every now and again.They used english in public.. What we are talking about our touge. It is not rude to say This is America and when in the company of Americans do speak in english as that is our offcial touge. I met a germam lady and she learnt english and was nationalised..I met a blind Mexican lady in Denver on a bus and she talked in clear english . She was taught english as 2rd touge. Most do talk in english. Ye know it use it.

[barbaraf4]

If I remember correctly, everytime Congress tries to pass a law that English is our official language, it gets shot down in flames.

[michellem99-2009]

Dear Barbara,
It is true that ye can read a person''s face..I go by the voice and can''t read their face. The voice tells me more than their face. They know that I am legally blind and a white cane user. They come to america and will not talk in a manner that is understood..Their english is that bad. It leaves me upset. What I am saying yer here in America speak BLOODY english..and clearly..I can''t say it to their face. I Have told them I can''t understand ye and this is not right that I must put up with it. No Dear Lady..I pay for something it better be right. Barbara I am not after ye.

[barbaraf4]

"People Dear People.I KNOW THIS IS A SORE ISSUE. I have told people who have a accent and I just can''''t understand them." Posted by MichelleM99
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MichelleM99, I suspect part of your problems with accents is the inability to read facial expression. Communication is more than words.

I do think that even though you are legally blind, you are able to see the truth better than some of these posters.

[michellem99-2009]

People Dear People.I KNOW THIS IS A SORE ISSUE. I have told people who have a accent and I just can''t understand them. Rudy is plain rude..I am a New Englander. Growing up I heard english spoken and only english. I can''t not learn another touge. I have tryed just to end up in tears. Ye want to live in America be American well speak english the best ye and yer kin can.

[michellem99-2009]

Rudy please say it in english .I was living at a blind centre in Maine and there was a blind lady who mother touge was French. She was told to use english as she knew both. She was told it was rude to talk french when every one spoke english. I am aware ye are in yer home but ye are talking to english speaking persons. IF ye are going to write in non english please also put it in english..Ye BORN in AMERICA..? iF so ye was taught in our school system.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by MichelleM99 at 07:42 PM

Y yo te saludo en otro idioma.

[michellem99-2009]

Dear Barbara, Thank ye. Some just have not learnt that ye have yer say but the manners are missing in the young. I was taught ye speak in english in public .in yer home people ye speak yer togue . America , UK are english speaking nations. As an Irish decent American I do my best. Wait til the young hit their 50s..I am 53..This may be the melting pot but english is said ,read and written ..in this nation. It is fine to greet vistors to here and be on our brst behaviour. I greet in english . America speaks english...

[fibonacci_]

And you can put it next to your own sign.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by fibonacci_ at 12:01 PM

Yeah, put it up next to your other sign in your car: Free English Lessons - Cheap!