Joey Vento’s Day In Court

December 15, 2007 joe 38 comments

He represents the cause every one of us should be supporting.

Undoubtedly, you’ve heard about Joey Vento, owner of the Geno’s Steaks restaurant in Philadelphia.

Mr. Vento made the news by requiring customers to order in English. Today, he was brought before a hearing of the city Human Relations Commission, where he was told by one commission member:

“It is the commission’s belief, that the sign constitutes discrimination, on the basis of national origin, in violation of the Fair Housing Practices Act.”

Stay tuned to this blog for further updates on the assault on Geno’s Steaks.

immigration English, Joey Vento

Comments

Written by kevin about 5 years ago.

Why would it matter what language anything anywhere was ordered in as long as the intention was conveyed clearly enough that the one ordering was happy with what they received? This is one of those “issues” that is a non-issue. I don’t think there can be any doubt that Mr. Vento is an asshole.
Written by jacob about 5 years ago.

kevin,
I’ve read a couple of articles bout the guy. Crazy as a fox, not a*sh*le. Do you have any idea how much free advertising this guy is getting?

I knew plenty of guys like him growing up. Didn’t care were you’re from but, “speak american, bozo!” was a common refrain. Didn’t have to speak well, but you had to try.
Written by zimzo about 5 years ago.

Yes, every one of us should do all we can to support the right of this man to berate tourists who are unable to look up the word “Cheesesteak” in their phrasebooks fast enough for his liking. And then I hope you’ll devote your considerable resources, Joe, to defending the poor misunderstood Soup Nazi. Certainly, these are the worthiest causes in the world today.
Written by Lovisa aka Nitpicker about 5 years ago.

Wonder how they say “cheesesteak” in Spanish that makes it difficult for Joe to understand?
Tried to look it up in my native language dictionary. No such word.
Written by kevin about 5 years ago.

I think if I was traveling in France and tried to order anything off a menu and was refused for not knowing the language I would think the French restaurateur was a real jerk. Even more so if the sign on the front window basically said “No French, No Service”. Would they have the right to? Sure. Would they be jerks to do so?

I love the line “Speak American, bozo!”. Heh heh. Oh boy.
Written by Loudoun Conservative about 5 years ago.

So here’s the deal. If you think he’s a bozo, you don’t have to eat there. But he has the right to refuse you service if you don’t speak his language. Maybe it’s inhospitable. Maybe he’s a jerk. But even if he is, he has that right. What is it with some people?

By the way, an awful lot of Europeans resent Americans who come to their countries and insist on speaking English without even making an effort to learn German or French or Dutch. And I’ll bet people from other nations feel the same way. They think it’s arrogant for you to come to their country and expect them to accomodate you. Don’t you agree?

You think Mr. Vento is a jerk? What do you think of the people who come here and demand that you try to speak their language? I do try to learn a few words of the languages of people I know who come here from other countries — it’s not easy for me but I try because I think it’s kind. But if I were going to Italy, I’d try to learn a little Italian and I don’t think it’s to much for Mr. Vento to ask the same courtesy of his guests.
Written by kevin about 5 years ago.

“What do you think of the people who come here and demand that you try to speak their language?”

Give a specific example of when this has happened to you, in 200 words or less.

Myself, I can’t think of a single instance when I was in this country and told “Espanol, m-fer, Espanol! Or you ain’t gettin’ your __________”

No, I can’t think of a single time someone has come here and DEMANDED I speak a language other than English. I have had a couple experiences where I felt that my knowledge of Spanish augmented my sales capital when I worked in retail though, that’s for sure.

I guess it’s all in how you look at it, half empty or half full. I tend to think that it can only benefit me to be as well versed in other languages. Think about how versatile I could be, all the other opportunities that open up, simply because I have that fruit of knowledge. I’m getting excited just thinking about it!
Written by joe about 5 years ago.

I can do you one better: I was in Palm Springs in October and needed to tell the housekeeping staff not to clean our room because we had a bunch of work papers spread around.

I caught her in the hallway and said “Excuse me, we don’t want you to clean room 1031″ and explained we just wanted new towels.

She understood me perfectly but would not conduct the conversation until I had repeated everything I needed in Spanish. She’d state each phrase in Spanish, and wait for me to repeat it.
Written by joe about 5 years ago.

PS I actually found that experience humorous and interesting, because I am trying to improve my Spanish, but it just goes to show in some parts of the US English is already the second language. I can imagine someone less adventurous than myself might have found the experience extremely annoying.
Written by Had Enough about 5 years ago.

Asians in California are learning Spanish, not English. Wonder Why?

Mr. Vento is NOT refusing service to anyone and never has.
Written by Had Enough about 5 years ago.

The complainant in this case, The Reverend James Allen.

What does that tell you? A man on a misguided mission.
Written by kevin about 5 years ago.

HE,

“Mr. Vento is NOT refusing service to anyone and never has.” Really? So is that part of his schtick, to just RESERVE THE RIGHT but not even follow through with it? This farce is getting even better!

Joe, I know you travel a lot more than I do so maybe I just don’t get out enough. That story strikes me as a little odd. I can’t say anything other than “huh!”. What, pray tell, do you believe her intentions were with that little exercise?
Written by kevin about 5 years ago.

Who’s James Allen, Rev.?
Written by Brian Withnell about 5 years ago.

This is crazy. Go to France and don’t at least try to speak in French, Germany and attempt German, a lot of people the world over will take your money, sure, but there are people that will walk away from it.

If a person wants to walk away from business for whatever reason, he should be able to do so. While I might think the owner is crazy, I might not like his position, neither I nor any government has the legitimate authority to tell him that he may not restrict his business dealings. The man owns his store, he owns the materials he uses in making the products, he pays for the labor. Saying he must dispose of them any way other than as he sees fit is theft.

Does that mean I agree with him? No. I don’t. Personally, I think he is an idiot. But I certainly would defend his right to be an idiot just like I defend the right of liberals to give their own money to save moths from extinction.
Written by zimzo about 5 years ago.

I sympathize with you, Joe, having to deal with the arrogant help trying to force you to speak Spanish instead of just trying really hard to understand what you are saying and hoping they don’t get fired if they get it wrong. I find the best way to deal with the help when they refuse to speak perfect English is to just say everything louder.

LC and Brian, I’m afraid Mr. Vento no longer has the right to refuse to serve people he doesn’t like under current law. You can blame Martin Luther King for that. Boy, that guy sure ruined things for a lot of people.
Written by Loudoun Conservative about 5 years ago.

The law says that he can’t refuse service based on religion, race, gender or national origin, I believe, zimzo. Last I checked, establishing an “English only” policy isn’t on the prohibited list.
Written by Lovisa aka Nitpicker about 5 years ago.

Oh, yes, raising your voice really makes “them people” understand:)
Written by Joe Budzinski about 5 years ago.

As far as I could tell all she was trying to prove is you have to speak to her in Spanish if you want her to do something. She wasn’t smiling.
Written by Joe Budzinski about 5 years ago.

Zimzo, she knew exactly what I was saying because she translated it for me so I could repeat it.
Written by Laura V about 5 years ago.

Oh Joe- that was my third cousin on my mom’s side. I called her ahead to let her know you would be staying there and told her to mess with your head a little. ha. ha. ha.
Written by Brian Withnell about 5 years ago.

Zimzo,

I understand it isn’t legal, but it is done without legitimate authority. No government can have that authority — it isn’t the place of government to do so, even if it has the might, and the power to do so. It is wrong. Even with me saying that, I still believe what I said — that someone that withholds serve for such reasons is stupid, possibly arrogant and possibly a bigot. Should such a person be able to not serve cheese-steak subs to anyone they don’t like as an inalienable right? Yes. Does that make them right in doing so? No. As much as they are wrong for withholding serve to someone, the government is twice as wrong for forcing the issue.
Written by Joe Budzinski about 5 years ago.

Laura, you’ll never convince me there is anything but sweetness and light from the women in your family.
Written by Rich in NJ about 5 years ago.

When I’m in Philly, I always make it a point to stop at Genos and order correctly. Joey Vento offers a great cheesesteak and great service too. He is also a great contributor to the community. I support him and his sign. My grandfather emigrated here with his parents from Italy about 100 years ago through Ellis Island. I remember his stories when I was a kid, about how when he was a kid growing up in Hells Kichen in NY, what he endured. Even though he was an assimilating Italian American, the Irish Cops would still think nothing of hitting you upside your head with their night stick and saying “Hey WOP, this is America speak english” A true bias crime by todays standards. Even the school he attended reversed his 1st and middle names, legally without his parents consent, because there were too many Anthony’s in his class. Today we are at the other extreme where lazy immigrants don’t have to learn english because bleeding heart politicians will defend their rights to be lazy. We need a middle ground, and Joey Vento is right. Go to Quebec and order in english…see how you’re treated there.
Written by Lovisa about 5 years ago.

Stories about through- Ellis Island immigrants in New York City get better and better with age.
Written by G. Stone about 5 years ago.

The real story here is not so much Mr Vento’s position but the reaction from local government.

It is as predictable as it is wrong. Not only wrong but dangerous in that wrongful application
of the law leads to further misguided interference from government(s) at all levels. One only has to look at the federal governments misuse of the commerce clause over the last 100 years or so.

The governments position is that this is discrimination based on national origin. That is wrong in that the sign refers only to speech. The sign is a statement that english is the language of commerce in this establishment. Like it or not, good or bad, good business practice or not, that is all that the sign says.
Further, the government is relying on a statute that like the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution is rarely germane to the issue at hand. Its use is yet another misapplication of the law in order to achieve a political end. Misuse of Federal, State and local law by social engineers is nothing new.

The Cities Human Relations Commission is on pretty shaky ground here. They are attempting to use a statute that was enacted in order to keep landlords, property owners and those selling real estate from discrimination on the basis of color, race, sex or national origin. The use of this statute in an attempt to regulate speech in the marketplace under the guise of protecting those of differing national origins is wrong. Although as I said before, predictable.
Written by Had Enough about 5 years ago.

“The attorneys for Vento charged that the proceedings were unfair for two reasons and asked that the case be thrown out. First, the attorneys said, the allegations were brought by the Rev. James S. Allen Sr., chairperson of Commission on Human Relations, the city agency adjudicating the case.”

So….the chairperson of Commission on Human Relations goes out and finds the cases he wants to personally make a complaint against, then testifies, then participates in the decision.

There were no complaints from the public because Geno’s never refused anyone, anything.
Written by Had Enough about 5 years ago.

We were able to totally eliminate many diseases from this country and keep many shady people out when Ellis Island was functional.

If you so much as had pink eye or were pregnant you were turned around and sent back.

They had to be literate and able to contribute.

Now we have terrible diseases, some that had never been found in this country before and some that we had wiped out, criminals, and we are not even sure who they say they are. The 1986 Amnesty proved that.

The dumbing down of America. It was never meant to allow anybody and everybody in.
Written by Marjorie about 5 years ago.

HELLO EVERYONE:
YES I HAVE TO AGREE THAT MR.VENTO IS NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG. ALL HE IS ASKING FOR IS THE ORDER SPOKEN IN ENGLISH. IT IS NO DIFFERENT THAN SHOES AND SHIRTS REQUIRED OR WE REFUSE TO SERVICE AT OUR DESCRETION.

WHEN ONE TRAVELS TO ANOTHER COUNTRY IT IS EXPECTED THAT WE SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE. HERE IN AMERICA, I FEEL WE HAVE CARTERED TO THE FOREIGNER AND NOT STOOD OUR GROUND AS AMERICANS. WE SPEAK ENGLISH HERE, AND ENGLISH ONLY. I TRAVEL ABOUT 200 TO 250 DAYS A YEAR ON THE ROAD AND I TOO HAVE ENCOUNTERED MAID SERVICE THAT CANNOT SPEAK ENGLISH, MANAGERS IN RETAIL WHO CANNOT SPEAK ENGLISH AND SO FORTH. I FEEL WE MUST PUT AN END TO THIS AND EMPLOYERS HIRE ENGLISH SPEAKING AMERICANS.

WE AMERICANS HAVE RISEN TO EXPECT WELL PAYING JOBS. SINCE WHEN HAS IT BEEN DEMEANING TO CLEAN ROOMS, CARE FOR THE ELDERLY AND GENERALLY NOT DO THE JOBS THAT ILLEGALS ARE DOING. I HAVE DONE ALL THOSE JOBS. AS LONG AS IT PUTS FOOD ON THE TABLE, CLOTHING ON YOUR BACK AND YOUR KIDS BACK NO JOB IS DEMEANING AS LONG AS YOU DO THE JOB WITH SELF RESPECT AND DIGNITY.

WITH ALL THE ILLEGALS IN THIS COUNRTY, WE NOW FACE AS A RISE IN DISEASES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME, THEY ARE BROUGHT INTO OUR COUNTRY UNKNOWN AND SPREAD TO OUR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL, THROUGH THE WORK PLACE, RESTURANTS. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE RIGHTS OF AMERICANS? WE ARE LOOSING THOSE RIGHTS WITH GROUPS LIKE THE ACLU AND LAWYERS. ILLEGALS HAVE NO RIGHTS HERE, WHEN ARE AMERICANS GOING TO UNDERSTAND THIS.
Written by Lovisa about 5 years ago.

“When one travels to another country it’s expected that we speak their language.” Wow, welcome to Japan, Thailand, Russia, etc. etc.! Go on safari and converse in Swahili or Bantu!

I don’t know where you’ve been overseas. You might know the main European languages but how would you make out in Serbo-Croatian, Polish, Finnish … Most Americans traveling overseas expect to be understood in English. If they are NOT, they just speak louder. (They also want American breakfast)
Written by Brian Withnell about 5 years ago.

Lovisa,

If I go to another country, and they say they only take orders in their native language in some store, I do not object that they should accept English orders — nor do I think of it as discrimination on the basis of national origin. I think of it as their right. I’ve been in French Canada, and there are plenty of stores that do exactly that. If you attempt to order in French, and do not speak it properly, they generally will attempt to help you, but they do not have to, nor should I think they should.

If I ever go to a country that has a main language other than the one I speak I will attempt to know enough about that country to either know where I can order things (even if that is at a premium). Otherwise I would be arrogant, ignorant, and totally without respect of that country (plus a little stupid). I might choose not to go to a country if I find the language pervasive and without at least a minimal amount of English spoken. I would not demand English be spoken.
Written by Had Enough about 5 years ago.

I know someone who was stationed in Japan for several years. Sometime after he came back to the states he was on a bus and there were two young Asian woman also on the bus, they were chatting away, whispering and laughing in Japanese.

When it was his stop to get off he turned to them and said in Japanese “Thank you very much ladies, have a pleasant day!” He said they turned blood red and just about fell off their seats along with everyone else sitting there.

They were talking about him the entire time on the bus and they had no idea in the world that he spoke fluent Japanese.

I always thought of that story as a lesson. You never know who is listening. I believe that when we all speak the same common language we have nothing to hide or be embarrassed about.
Written by Jack about 5 years ago.

When I learned I was to be working for the Japanese Defense Ministry (Agency back then), the first thing I did was sign up for a Conversational Japanese class at NVCC.

It did not get me very far, but I could order food in Japanese, ask for directions and the time, and say a few other things. The Japanese were most appreciative of the effort to learn their language.
Written by MARJORIE about 5 years ago.

ZIMZO,

IF YOU ARE SO FIRED UP ABOUT THE THE ILLEGALS BEING HERE IN AMERICA WHY DON’T YOU GO LIVE IN THEIR COUNTRY. YOU SEEM TO SUPPORT THEIR CAUSE WITHOUT THOUGHT TO THE AMERICANS WHO LIVE HERE. WHY, DO YOU WISH TO GIVE UP YOUR AMERICAN RIGHTS SO THAT THEY MAY BRING THIER LIFESTYLE INTO OUR COUNTRY AND DESTROY WHAT OUR FORE FATHERS FOUGHT SO HARD TO ESTABLISH. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: SO PLEASE: SUPPORT IT OR BE QUIET.
Written by Christopher about 5 years ago.

The “Ugly American” stereotype refers to one who goes abroad and expects others to speak English and accept Western customs for his/her convenience. I understand that… it’s rude.

At home in the U.S. now we’re being told that we should accommodate others who demand that we understand their foreign languages. I worked as a credit counselor at an agency where all materials were in English, and I got many angry reactions from people who were upset that we didn’t have Spanish speakers and Spanish materials available for them at all times. The sense of entitlement among people who were asking for help in a country they had come to without learning the language was incredible.

If I am ever in Philadelphia, I will go to Geno’s for a steak sandwich, “wit” cheese.
Written by MARJORIE about 5 years ago.

CHRISTOPHER,

YOU DO HAVE THE RIGHT WORD FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS, THAT WORD BEING:”ENTITLEMENT”.

THEY HAVE NO “ENTITLEMENT” HERE IN AMERICA. THEY COME ACROSS OUR BORDERS WITHOUT PROPER PAPERS AND DOCUMENTS AND EXPECT “ENTITLEMENT” FOR DOING SO.

AS AN FYI: READ THIS AND THINK OF ENTITLMENT:
FOR YOU ZIMZO:

Found this to be most interesting Thought you would
too. HARSH, YOU SAY ??? BUT, IT’S THE LAW !!

1. There will be NO special bilingual programs in the schools, NO special ballots for elections, and all government business will be conducted in our language.

2. Foreigners will NOT have the right to vote, no matter how long they are here.

3. Foreigners will NEVER be able to hold political office.

4. Foreigners will NOT be a burden to the taxpayers. No welfare, NO food stamps, NO health care, nor any other government assistance programs.

5. Foreigners can invest in this country, but it
must be an amount equal to 40,000 times the
daily minimum wage.

6. If foreigners do come and want to buy land that will be okay, BUT options will be restricted. You are NOT allowed to own waterfront property. That property is reserved for citizens naturally born into
this country.

7. Foreigners may NOT protest; NO demonstrations, NO waving a foreign flag, NO political organizing, NO ‘bad-mouthing’ our president or his policies. If you do you will be sent home.

8. If you do come to this country illegally, you will be hunted down and sent straight to jail.

Harsh, you say? ?

The above laws happen to be the immigration laws of MEXICO!! “
Written by Joe Budzinski about 5 years ago.

Well put, Christopher and Marjorie, thank you.
Written by Skye about 5 years ago.

We all have an opinion on this story. Why don’t we listen to Joey’s point of view:

Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP-xxiID0u0

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx6A9Jq78A8
Written by Josh about 5 years ago.

have any of you actually BEEN to Geno’s???? I have many times. It’s been busy every time, all hours. The reason is so that you get your order in quick and it’s given to you quick so you don’t hold up the line. People from all over the world go to Geno’s (and Pat’s, right across the street from Geno’s). The quicker the turnaround for your order, the happier everyone is.
And why can’t people just let things roll off their back? So what if he has that sign. It’s not derogatory in any sense.