Chicago Chick-fil-A owner wants to talk with Emanuel

[Swede]

The owner of the city's only Chick-fil-A restaurant today asked Mayor Rahm Emanuel to meet with her after Emanuel said the anti-gay views of the fast-food chain's president don't mesh with Chicago values.

Lauren Silich, who owns a Chick-fil-A franchise just off the Magnificent Mile that opened last year, wrote in a press release that she is dedicated to "serving all of our guests with honor, dignity and respect. ... We alone created 97 jobs this past year and our passion is building leaders for future generations, regardless of sexual orientation or beliefs."

She invited Emanuel to meet her, her husband and management staff at her restaurant. The mayor's office had no immediate response.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-chicago-chickfila-owner-wants-to-talk-with-emanuel-20120726,0,7136734.story

[alcibiades_mystery]

1. It is right and proper to put pressure on the franchisees

Even and especially those who don't agree with corporate/ownership on this issue. People at Chik-fil-a need to see the damage their stupidity and bigotry is doing to their brand and bottom line. that comes from the franchisees and frontline level managers. Make them sweat.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

6. To be fair....

A franchise is an investment opportunity. And I seriously doubt that in determining whether or not to invest in Chick-Fil-A, the franchise owner spent a lot of time pondering the political and social views of the corporate owner. That's the sort of thing that only serious politcs nerds (like most of us on DU) would think about. Now the franchisee probably has north of $250,000 tied up in this business. It's too late to back out, so the best he can do is damage control. Based on the article, the owners seem like decent enough people.

[arely staircase]

7. i would ponder any controversy attached to a business before i dropped 1/4 million on it

not that i could do that anyway.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

11. You and I would...

but normal people don't pay attention the way we do around here. I'm sure the overwhelming majority of people had no idea about Chick-Fil-A until a week or two ago.

I don't mind, of course, because there aren't many around these parts, but what pisses me off is that the owners of White Castle are funding right-wing attack ads, as well.

Where in the hell am I supposed to go when I'm drunk? Home?

[arely staircase]

14. we don't have white castle here

except frozen at the grocery store. i had it a few times in new jersey and frankly don't know how it stays in business. chick-fil-a does, despite its hateful owners, make good sandwiches.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

20. I've never had Chick-Fil-A

and I've rarely had sliders while sober. Fact is, they are pretty disgusting if you're not....um....well-lubricated at the time.

[LanternWaste]

16. many of those same people do raise their heads and look around when it's a civil rights issue...

Many people do not pay attention to politics, but many of those same people do raise their heads and look around when it's a civil rights issue rather than (or even in addition to) a political issue.

[Not Me]

23. You don't have to go much further than their website

to see that they have 'biblical' views. And I am sure during the franchisee selection process, there are a number of documents that the owner/operators have to sign stating that they understand corporate policy.

They may not agree with Cathy's ideas, but I am certain that they know full well what they are when they plop down their cash.

[snooper2]

2. They need 97 people to run one Chick-la-shit

What are they doing giving everybody 5 hours a week (don't answer that)

[CherokeeDem]

8. I will answer....

because while it sounds ridiculous...that is exactly what the fast food industry is doing.

I am in HR and work for a non-profit that assists people with barriers to employment, as well as the general population. Every day I see applicants that work for a fast food restaurant (insert any name) and find that the reason the applicant is looking is that they are only getting 10 or 15 (or less) hours a week. Unfortunately...not a joke.

[snooper2]

15. My first job was at McDonalds, 17 and junior in high school...

I was getting between 35-45 hours a week easy...

Worked to close at least five days a week with our small little core crew of 6-7 of us...

Sex in the walk-ins, trash olympics, covering extra shifts for people, working every holiday possible for double-time...

I guess those were the days for fast food LOL, and that was only 20 years ago-

[Ian David]

21. I worked for a pizza place, and *I* never got to have sex in the walk-in!

It's not fair, man! I missed out!

[mikeytherat]

22. Closing on New Year's: Two bottles of vodka + that huge yellow tub of orange drink, and

mop bucket races (stand inside, propel self with mop). Good times (25 years ago).

mikey_the_rat

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

19. They aren't "good" jobs

If you're a high school or college student and need some walking around money, they're fine for a while. But only the managers and assistant manager can make a living (and even that's questionable).

[Egalitarian Thug]

3. Another conscienceless exploiter that is now afraid of the consequences of her

decision to either support, or at best disregard, the malicious motivations behind the company she chose to associate herself with.

And on a side note; A franchisee may be a small business owner, but they are not in any way entrepreneurs.

[RadiationTherapy]

4. This company openly admits funding anti-civil rights groups which has been green-lighted by the USSC

We have a responsibility now to attend more closely to where and how our money is spent.

[Major Nikon]

5. It doesn't matter what the franchise owner's views are

A very significant portion of their gross sales goes back to the parent company. If you patronize any franchise you are giving money to bigots who will use that money to undermine civil rights.

But if you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait

[stevenleser]

9. That's the key.

The franchise owner's should not have invested in a company whose parent corp funds bigotry.

[Aerows]

10. Instead of talking to Rahm Emanuel

She needs to be talking to Mr. Cathy, and telling him that he needs to retract his statements. Otherwise, may Chick-Fil-A, no matter how delicious their sandwiches are, perish in the wilderness of right wing nuttery.

I love Chick-Fil-A, but I haven't eaten there in years due to this. Now that I found out Waffle House, another of my favorites, is heavy into Republican donations, I won't eat there anymore, either. You get political, you face the consequences of people opposed to your political opinions declining to do business with you. And screw Domino's. Pizza Hut is sitting a block away from them, and certainly provides good pizza, too.

I don't need to do business with a company that is founded on being bigotry, and wants nothing more than to further Republican politics. It's called voting with my dollars.

Cue Republicans whining that "liberal bigots" are calling for the silencing of their 1st Amendment rights. Fuck no, my 1st Amendment rights say I can call them stupid, and that I can choose to do business elsewhere, so they can get off the soapbox of the "free market" if they don't like "free market" consequences when people disagree with them, say so, and explain to others why they don't support such companies.

[sadbear]

12. +1

[surrealAmerican]

13. 97 jobs?

How many of those pay more than a poverty-level wage? Does she really want to be bragging about that?

[33Greeper]

17. Somebody should start up a chain called....

Rainbow Chicken and Waffle Fries.

[Fire Walk With Me]

18. Says the Goldman Sachs lackey who bloodied Occupiers.

"Photo op". Disgusting. The Boston Mayor just told off Chick Fil A so I don't see Rahm as being anything more than a copycat opportunist.