HELL YES: Boston Mayor to Chick-fil-A: "You can't have a business in the city of Boston."

[kpete]

Mayor Menino on Chick-fil-A: Stuff it

Vows to block eatery over anti-gay attitude

By Greg Turner
Friday, July 20, 2012 -

Mayor Thomas M. Menino is vowing to block Chick-fil-A from bringing its Southern-fried fast-food empire to Boston — possibly to a popular tourist spot just steps from the Freedom Trail — after the family-owned firm’s president suggested gay marriage is “inviting God’s judgment on our nation.”

“Chick-fil-A doesn’t belong in Boston. You can’t have a business in the city of Boston that discriminates against a population. We’re an open city, we’re a city that’s at the forefront of inclusion,” Menino told the Herald yesterday.

“That’s the Freedom Trail. That’s where it all started right here. And we’re not going to have a company, Chick-fil-A or whatever the hell the name is, on our Freedom Trail.”

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1061147182&srvc=home&position=emailed
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/21/1112266/-HELL-YES-Boston-Mayor-to-Chick-fil-A-You-can-t-have-a-business-in-the-city-of-Boston

[rfranklin]

1. I don't think this will fly...hasn't the head of the company said they will serve anyone?

His personal views are irrelevant...though I would personally shun his business based on knowing his views.

Isn't this somewhat along the lines of pharmacists injecting their personal beliefs into how they dispense medications?

[Gormy Cuss]

3. His personal views would be irrelevant in a publicly traded corporation

but if this is a closed, family-run business then his comments as COO or CEO are relevant to the licensing or permitting. What Menino's statement does is force the company to go on record stating that the restaurants don't discriminate and serves as a message that the company had better live up to that statement.

Chick-Fil-A is expanding into the San Francisco bay area and being met with similar opposition.

[Lex]

8. His personal views are relevant when he makes them so

by making them public. What if he were a proud member of the KKK and said so publicly?

[a2liberal]

67. So what if he did?

Do you think his business should be banned from a city if he were a member of the KKK? As long as the business doesn't discriminate, it's free speech and banning his business for his personal views is limiting his free speech.

What if a city in a heavily RW area didn't like the fact that you're an outspoken liberal? Should they be allowed to ban your business for that?

[Mimosa]

9. YES. Exactly.

Some cities won't allow Wal-Marts to open. That has something to do with the size of stores and effects on competitors.

[nxylas]

20. But this is purely to do with the CEO's personal views

I think if individuals want to boycott Chick-Fil-A, then that's fine, but a government official trying to drive them out of a city based on something the CEO said makes me uncomfortable. It seems to push at the boundaries of the First Amendment. Of course, if the company actually refuses to serve or to employ people based on their sexual orientation, then that's a different matter, since it would fall foul of anti-discrimination laws, provided that sexual orientation is a protected class in MA (it isn't in all states).

[joeybee12]

46. He's not trying to drive them out since they're not there yet...

He's letting them know they wouldn't be welcome there.

[slampoet]

48. Chick fil a has been sued at least 12 times for job discrimination.

This has nothing to do with the views but instead illegal actions that this corporation pays out of court to hush up. Also when is the last time you heard of 17 job interviews to get a job?

This corporation makes sure that only their kind of people get hired and that is UnAmerican.


http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0723/080.html

Oh and this is right-wing pro-biz FORBES magazine saying this.

[jehop61]

26. I so agree

this issue should stay out of politics. Let the consumers decide how they want to treat this cretin's fast food shop. The mayor is grandstanding. P.S. I'll never eat there again.

[alp227]

39. A-HA! Menino would have made a STRONGER argument

by also calling out how CFA uses FACTORY FARMED chicken.

[Bette Noir]

69. Name me a low-priced restaurant that doesn't.

[mzteris]

2. They may serve you

but they certainly won't hire you.

[hootinholler]

4. We need some rainbow chickens

To parade outside of chick-fil-a stores with Cows are homophobes signs.

[eppur_se_muova]

42. COWS -- rainbow cows.

Chick-fil-A uses B/W cows in their ads. Rainbow-spotted cows would connect immediately with most people.

[66 dmhlt]

74. "Would you like a side order of Homophobia with your Chick-fil-A?"

[Tsiyu]

5. The owners of Chik-Fil-A are assholes

trust me on that one.

The thing that people refuse to get is that our power rests in not giving these assholes our money. I love Chik-Fil-A sammiches, don't get me wrong, but I don't give them any of my money anymore.

Kudos to the Boston mayor, and to everyone bright enough to realize your power is in your pocketbook.

[beac]

6. Nice to see someone standing up to Chik-fil-hAte.

[findrskeep]

7. Way to go Mayor Menino!!

The openness is why this southern transplant is proud to call MA her home state!

[Bluerthanblue]

10. good for Mayor Menino

for exposing the hatred and bigotry.

I don't think he can stop them, but he's clearly outing them for what they are.

[HopeHoops]

11. Good for him.

[southernyankeebelle]

12. I have heard of this business but have never been. Now I know I will NEVER go.

Just like I will never go again to FL, AZ, AK or even TX because the leaders seem to hate liberals so much. So why would I go to a place and spend my money in those states.

[bluedigger]

13. Hear, hear!

[graywarrior]

14. Go, Mumbles!

[liberal from boston]

19. So Proud of My Mayor

Mayor Menino Rocks!!!

[loudsue]

15. Chick-fil-A is a fundie-owned joint. They're not open on Sunday....only fast food restaurant that

isn't, to my knowledge.

[Ilsa]

60. I don't mind that they aren't open

every day. I think it's fine to give employees a day off, no matter what the reason is. I just don't like them spreading their vile propaganda.

[lonestarnot]

16. And the boy sprouts?

[Lint Head]

17. Yes!!!!

I so glad to see this happen.

[Irishonly]

18. Good for Menino n/t

Last edited Sat Jul 21, 2012, 02:44 PM - Edit history (1)

Edited because I cannot read nor type

[MADem]

23. Hee hee--you sound like dear old Mumbles!

"Merino" is the wool..."Menino" is Hizzonah!!

[Irishonly]

43. LOL- can't read nor type

Guess I should edit

[lunatica]

21. Good for the Mayor!

[MADem]

22. What's not to love about Mayor Menino? They may call him "Mumbles" but we heard him loud and clear

now, didn't we?

There's only one of those outlets in MA that I know of, in a suburban mall in a food court with a limited menu. I looked it up awhile back, but never went to check it out.

What's ironic is that I've only eaten at one of those places a few times, every time way down south, and it was a gay family friend who took us there--he gave us the scoop on the place while we were eating, but he said he had a weakness for the chicken.

It certainly was an interesting experience, I must say. We went to the politically incorrect "Dwarf House" (and there was a little person behind the counter--not sure if that was just a coincidence or what) and had a large sampling from the menu. The staff were very accommodating and friendly. it was a bit of a surprise to learn about how hateful the organization was.

Their business model would be swell if they'd just get rid of all that hate and exclusion, pay their employees a bit better, and maybe open on Sundays, too.

[naturallyselected]

49. Three around Boston

There are 3 Chick-Fil-As in the Boston area - Peabody, Burlington, and Nashua, NH. I live in Maine, and as unpopular as this will make me here, I enjoy the chicken and in fact went to one just a week ago on a trip to Fenway.

I think their politics are repulsive. I thin their Sunday closing is stupid, and a political statement much more than a way to "give their employees the ability to celebrate the Sabbath".

But I am also a small business owner, and am not profitable enough to turn away customers because they don't agree with my progressive politics. So I keep my views to myself, do just as good work for the Republican pigs that buy my services as fellow Progressives. Do I really want to turn business down because of the political beliefs of customers? I guess I should have never visited my father either, when he was alive, because he was staunchly Republican.

There are gay Chick-Fil-A managers and employees, and none of the restaurants ask for a certificate of heterosexuality when you order their chicken. Everyone has the right to boycott them, and please do if you feel it's the right thing to do. But I have to ask myself two things. What corporations aren't offensive in some way? Papa John's owner holds fundraisers for Rmoney. The ownership of Country Inns and Suites are Dominionists. I'll bet a lot more businesses support the Republicans than the Democrats. The second question is: do I want to lose customers that hold different views than I do? Sorry - I'm not going to turn away their business. I don't ask their politics, I don't ask if they support marriage equality. Those folks that work at Chick Fil-A deserve to make a living - many think the beliefs of their company's owner are as abhorrent as I do.

Gays can get married in Masachusetts - I think that's great. I hope we in Maine will right a wrong in November and achieve marriage equality here. Mayor Menino can and should point out the anti-gay beliefs of Chick Fil-A's owner. But should he try and stop them from opening a restaurant when there is no legal basis to do so?

It's just not as black and white to me. A struggling tech writer like me needs anyone's business - I wouldn't like potential customers going to someone else because they found out I'm in favor of marriage equality. Sure, I can claim the moral high ground, but my kids need to eat.

[DFW]

24. This is about the one thing Republicans worship and revere more than God

And that's MONEY.

These people care what you do in your bedroom, but not at the dinner table.

If you are willing to leave them your money as you devour their artery-clogging "food," it's fine with them.

[dickthegrouch]

27. GOD is just an acronym

Gold
Oil
Drugs

Americans' obsession with god makes perfect sense when interpreted that way.

[dickthegrouch]

25. Mountain View, CA is having second thoughts too

Calling into question the environmental impact of another drive-through, since the biases of the owners aren't enough of a reason to stop them. Even if they weren't batshit stupid, the "quality" of the food would prevent me from ever going there again.

[quaker bill]

30. As an environmental scientist

I have a concern when the environment is used as a stand in for other issues. I do not know the particulars here. However, here I have watched Wal-Marts challenged by groups for environmental concerns when the Home Depot and Target just down the street are doing all the same things environmentally without a peep. This happens enough and the general public stops taking environmental concerns seriously,

I know it is tough because "due process" protections generally do not allow local gov'ts to hold a Chic-fil-a to a different standard than a McDonalds or Burger King (or whatever). But my take is that it is better for political decisions to be made on political grounds. Of course developers really don't like that a bit.

[pinto]

28. +1

[Beowulf]

29. The university where I teach has one in the student union

Some student groups have pointed out the disconnect between the student code of conduct and Chick-fil-A's corporate practices. But then the university where I teach is Penn State so moral inconsistency is common currency.

[ellenfl]

31. good for the mayor.

i boycotted them years ago when i found out they were closed on sunday because of the fundamentalism of the owners. i try to not support zealots. i've been boycotting mickie d's, coors, amway and domino's pizza for many years for much the same reasons (the first three mostly for funding nixon).

on the assumption it's at issue, these biased businesses should not get tax breaks for moving into a community.

ellen fl

[Kennah]

57. Welcome to DU. Enjoy your short stay.

[Ruby the Liberal]

58. Too late.

But that was a nice welcome.

[Kennah]

62. Darn you, Osama! Wait, I can't use that anymore, can I?

[Marooned]

32. Judging from the comments section of the Herald the mayor's stance isn't very popular

[Panasonic]

33. Who cares what a right-wing rag comment says.

If they don't get it, they never will.

[Marrah_G]

47. The Herald is a RW paper

They attract RW jerks like flies. Not representative of Boston or Massachusetts.

[Posteritatis]

51. News article comments *always* lean pretty far right. (nt)

[2ndAmForComputers]

52. Come on, don't hide behind other people's opinions. What's yours?

Oh, and welcome to DU and HAVE A NICE DAY!!!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

34. LOL @ "or whatever the hell the name is."

Perhaps the North Carolina woman who started the crusade against marriage equality will lead a boycott of Boston Markets. "We're not Massachusetts!," as one wingnut declared in a N&O LTTE.

[piratefish08]

35. Chik-Fil-A are bigoted homophobes. I didn't eat their shitty food before, certainly won't now and

hope they fail as a chain.


Suck a fart Chik FIl a.

[azurnoir]

36. Good for Mayor Merino

but watch chick-a-fil play martyr to "ultra-liberalism"

[Spitfire of ATJ]

37. Who the hell wants to eat at this place anyway?

It's processed meat.

[img][/img]

http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Food/Menu/

[Le Taz Hot]

72. I'm sorry but that just

looks nasty!

[SunSeeker]

38. K&R

[sulphurdunn]

40. No business or corporation

has any inalienable right to open a business in any community. If the mayor and city council don't want a business in the community, so be it. If the electorate think otherwise, they are free to either persuade or replace their elected officials.

[krispos42]

70. They do if they meet all applicable laws

It's a business purchasing private property and building on it. If the building and property meets zoning and fire codes and all that good stuff, then I don't see the mayor having any power over whether the business can open or not.


While it's certainly advantageous to have the mayor on your side, it's not necessary. I don't want to give Boston's mayor this kind of power, the same way I don't want the mayor of Atlanta to decide whether or not an abortion clinic or a porn shop can open.

[geckosfeet]

41. "we’re a city that’s at the forefront of inclusion"

That's why he keeps winning re-election.

Kind of an ironic thing to say when you are excluding a business though. Not that I disagree with the mayor, just a little irony.

[Flatpicker]

44. Even

If they come into the city, they aren't getting one cent from me.

[Marrah_G]

45. Thank you Mayor Menino

[GoneOffShore]

50. Lots of hate for him in the comment thread at the Boston Herald.

And it looks like the haters have it all sewn up.

Unfortunately.

Hope he manages to do it.

[appleannie1]

53. They don't have a restaurant in my area but I ate in one once when traveling. I was not impressed.

I think Wendy's makes a better chicken sandwich. If they did open around here, I would not eat there. I have read that they contribute to anti gay movements and I detest bigots.

[muntrv]

54. Not only homophobic, but the chick-fil-a-holes are talibornagain.

See the story of a Muslim employee getting discriminated against for not doing Christian prayer in article.

[MikeCanadian]

55. Fascist scumbags!

If you don't have the same political views as us you can't open a restaurant here.

[larwdem]

68. troll

troll

[Ilsa]

59. I'm doing everything possible

to keep my kids out of Chik-Fil-A. I tell them it is a bad location, too crowded, too expensive, and they won't let them get their own drinks. When they get bigger, I'll explain more about why we don't do business with them.

Decades ago I tried eating their food, but it gave me cramps and diarrhea, I suspect from being too heavy with sodium.

[Dawson Leery]

61. The Cathy family appear to be right wing "free marketers".

Yet, they are willing to discriminate against gays. Legally speaking, this will not fly. Chick-Fil-A cannot legally discriminate.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

63. Not a fan of Chik-Fil-A

And definitely not a fan of the views of the right wing owner, but how are they breaking the law? How are they legally discriminating?

It's reprehensible to hate someone because of their sexual orientation, but it isn't against the law.

[mountain grammy]

64. It's not that Chick-fil-A won't serve gays, of course they will..

It's the millions of dollars this and other companies donate to hate groups like the Family Research Center. These right wing hate groups are actively working against gay rights and companies give them the money to do it. Millions of tax free donations to the Mormon church went spread hate in California. These hate groups wouldn't exist without the massive donations of companies like Chick-fil-a. But they will take the money from anyone who comes through the door. They've never gotten a penny out of me.

[tclambert]

65. So when you get up to the counter, they ask you your sexual orientation?

If you want some chicken, do you have to prove you like the opposite sex? And will they supply the girls to demonstrate on?

[Kalidurga]

66. This business actually sounds more like a hate group than a restaurant...

It seems the only reason that they exist is to generate money for far RW groups. They are openly intolerant and I think this is probably a bad business model.

They opened one of these at the Mall of America. These kinds of stories make me glad I don't eat meat anymore. It's not the kind of place I can go to anyway.

[SunSeeker]

71. No one can do justice to Chick-fil-A like these brilliant drag queens' music video...

Last edited Sun Jul 22, 2012, 03:52 AM - Edit history (1)

[Caution: spew-coffee-on-your-keyboard funny]

[RiffRandell]

73. My husband told me this yesterday.

Another reason to move back to New England.

[Mimosa]

75. 'In Defense of Eating at Chik-Fil-A'

This commentary from The Atlantic was posted on another board. I agree with the author.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/07/in-defense-of-eating-at-chick-fil-a/260139/#

Excerpt:

Additionally, the organization gives millions of dollars each year to charitable causes -- and not just to "pro-family" groups. It funds a large foster care program, several schools of a higher learning, and a children's camp. It has provided thousands of scholarships for Chick-fil-A employees to attend college and grow past the service sector where they got their workplace start. (On Friday, the company provided free meals for Aurora, Colo., policemen.)

And the company's leaders claim to do all of this out of convictions rooted in the Christian faith. Anyone who has even a cursory knowledge of the company should know that it does not hide its commitment to biblical values. Its corporate statement of purpose since 1982 has begun, "To glorify God..."

Given this, that anyone was surprised by Cathy's statements is, well, surprising. Like many conservative Christians, he does not support gay marriage.

I'm flummoxed that so many consumers are so quick these days to call for boycotts of any company that deviates from their personal or political views. For one thing, boycotts rarely cause actual pocketbook - rather than PR -- damage. Most consumers don't care enough to drive an extra mile to get the same product from someone else. And that's especially the case for companies as large as Chick-fil-A, which has prime locations on many college campuses where there is little head-to-head competition.

But my bigger question is this: In a nation that's as divided as ours is, do we really want our commercial lives and our political lives to be so wholly intermeshed? And is this really the kind of culture we want to create? Culture war boycotts cut both ways and are much more likely to meet with success when prosecuted by large groups of people, such as Christian activists, who are more numerous than gays and lesbians and their more activist supporters.

[GoneOffShore]

76. Nicely reasoned article - But I don't agree.

No matter what Chick Fil A does to support other charitable causes does not give them a pass on their bigotry.

And they use those causes to proselytize and bring more folks into "the fold" of fundamentalist bigotry and homophobia.