Alderman relents, will allow Chick-fil-A

A Chicago alderman who made national headlines during the summer for opposing a Chick-fil-A in his increasingly trendy Northwest Side ward has reversed course, saying he will let the fast-food chain open a store in Logan Square.

Ald. Proco "Joe" Moreno, 1st, said the restaurant has agreed to include a statement of respect for all sexual orientations in an internal document and promised that its not-for-profit arm would not contribute money to groups that oppose gay marriage.

Though Moreno said he scored a "big win," the company made nearly identical pledges in a July 19 Facebook post that went up even before Moreno took issue with Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy's opposition to gay marriage.

The statement of respect also falls short of Moreno's goal of adding language opposing discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to the company's employee handbook.

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Dr Silicon

Chick-fil-A should just stay away and leave them hungry and unemployed.
- Ken
  
  Dr. Silicon…you are right on! I would just go somewhere else and not cave in to the alderman's idiotic demands. He has not authority to demand a private company do anything he wants.
  - Taquoshi
    
    He's an elected official that supposedly represents his constituents. And he can be voted out of office. If I were a small business owner in that area, I would seriously consider the fact that this man is over reaching his authority and decide whether or not I would want him to treat my business that way before re-election.
    - Evermyrtle
      
      It appears the the more anti-GOD you are the better chance you have to get elected. Th liberals seem to come out of the woodworks and fight, to get what they want, while Christians just be quiet, sit back and say or do nothing, leaving the liberals to win.
      - Taquoshi
        
        I don't disagree. However, I often sit in on zoning meetings and have heard some really outlandish things. People can easily become petty tyrants and it's not just against the Christians.
        
        One Zoning Commissioner gave a McDonald's franchise owner a hard time because his roof was damaged in a storm, but the new requirement was for a red roof, which the Commissioner did not like. Another Commissioner gave AT&T a hard time because they were replacing a storm damaged antenna on four story building with one that was approximately 6 inches taller. She objected because she "might" be able to see it from the street, despite the fact it was set back on the roof about 6 to 8 feet. See the flat roof of a four story building from the sidewalk in front of the building? I think that would be almost impossible.
        
        I've seen business owners being required to plant trees, to redo sidewalks, to change the color they paint their buildings and occasionally required to make a "donation" to certain organizations just to get approvals. It helps if the business happens to be P.C., but even they get put through the wringer.
        
        We all need to pay attention. We are losing our freedoms faster than we know and this alderman is an excellent example of how it is happening.
      - Evermyrtle
        
        Actually I did not mean that is what we should do, sit back ad be quiet, that is what most of us are doing.I personally know many people that are like that, they are afraid that they will hurt somebody' feelings and will not take a stand. These people are partly to blame for the mess the country is in today. We just will not join together and fight these outrageous demands that are made upon us. It is so frustrating to watch these decisions that the gutless make and not be able to do anything about it.
      - just ramblin
        
        Like the alderman they are ALL OVERSTEPPING their boundaries and they have to be put in their PLACE,they SUCK OFF THE PEOPLE,they are second CLASS citizens by DEFINITION and DO NOT HAVE THE POWER THEY THINK THEY HAVE.
        VOTE THEM OUT.
        just rambling
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004047180339 John Adams
  
  Or maybe they should go there and take all of the profits from that location and send it to anti-gay organizations.
- Mex Seiko
  
  Leaving would be caving in and allowing a low government official misuse his offer in a tyrannical despotic and dictatorial manner. They should've actually sued this guy who should actually leave the job himself.
U.S. Sailor

Smart move Alderman. What took you so long?
BLESSED

IT IS SAD CHICK-FIL-A WOULD NOT STAND UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE.BOW DOWN TO THIS THEY WILL ASK FOR MORE…SHUT IT DOWN AND MOVE…….
- Jennifer Middleton
  
  It says that they had already made that statement before the Alderman "demanded" it. It is just his way of saving face as he is the one who caved…lol…..CFA hasn't changed their policy one bit. What I also noticed is that they aren't to support anyone who is against gay marriage. Is that the same as supporting a cause that is FOR traditional marriage? I don't think so. Most of these organizations don't say anything against gay "marriage," just why they support tradtional marriage. I bet they still support who they want just by being clever in their giving. God bless the USA and God bless CFA!
  - http://www.answersingenesis.org/ keyboardshark
    
    I think your analysis is spot-on, Jennifer. There has never been a single shred of evidence to suggest that CFA has ever discriminated against a gay person either in hiring or service, so this 'statement' they supposedly agreed to is nothing different than what they have always done. CFA management is simply being humble and allowing the officials to save face, as you astutely pointed out. Your post is a must-read for everyone on this thread.
yaki534

I know we are talking about Chicago so, we need to consider the source.
David

something does NOT sound right, I guess we just have to wait and see, if it is true that cathy's bowed out and except moreno force, well that means chick fil a lost MY business and respect!!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003961394056 Lauritz Heinze

The Alderman can go to hell!!!!!
- theronald
  
  Based on what I have heard about Chicago, he is already there.
Wordman

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord."
Frances Barrack

Unless the owners of Chic fil A have forked over their Second Amendment rights of free speech, this guy is clearly out of order. Chic fil A owners have every right to have beliefs with many of us share and to speak them out loud for others to hear. As I recall, that owner simply said he believed in marriage between one man and one woman, a common Biblical and religious view, and he should not have to retract his beliefs to do business in this country.
- Taquoshi
  
  He probably sees himself as being an advocate for "freedom" by doing this. What he doesn't seem to realize is that someday, he too, may be in the cross hairs of a group and required to jump through hoops.
Evermyrtle

Why don't they buy plots of land outside of town limits and build Chick-fil-A restaurants on all sides and they will get as much business ans they can handle and meet no demands of anti-christian people.
silvernotes

I would not have rebuckled in to him. It seems to me the PR Chick-fil-A was much more valuable.
agbjr

In Chicago ONE alderman can prevent or ruin a business? Obviously the days of Prohibition and gangster rule live on in the corrupt Daley Machine.
Frances Barrack

The first sentence of this site's posting policies is: "The First Amendment protects the right to freedom of expression from government interference." So I erred in saying it was the second amendment. Even so, this alderman stepped on the First Amendment rights of the Chic fil A owner in forcing him to make such a claim. If the Chic fil A owner said this on his own, so be it, but this is an elected government official, and he doesn't even know the first amendment!!!! He violated the law, himself, and he certainly made no win for democracy, only a forced, illegal statement so a business owner could do business in America. That is sooooooo wrong!!!
Doug Thorsen

Chick-fil-A should not have succumbed to the extortion attempt by this alderman. The thing of it is that most people agree with Chick-fil-A's position, it's only a small vocal minority that blast the company's right to support whatever organization it wants to. Perhaps the company should have simply located a restaurant in a more friendly district and donated money to the campaign of whoever might be opposing this little dictator! Let the idiots who support this alderman go w/o another business contributing much need employment as well as tax revenue!
- DcMansfield
  
  The company it is speaking of is, most likely, a company that owns a series of franchises. Individual restaurants are owned by franchisees and not Chick-fil-a as a corporation.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_DZMTQFCLXBCLPDYJY6VUTMT6HQ the need to read

Do not cave. the gays not eating at your establishment would probably be a good health advantage to your other patrons! stop going to places that condone or give money to gays! target, starbucks. this is anti-American we should be able to give where we see fit. If you cave Don we will not support you
TEH

You only have the right to freedom of speech, if you agree with the liberals, anything else is hate speech!
- http://www.answersingenesis.org/ keyboardshark
  
  Sadly, that is becoming more and more true with each passing day.
am2sweet

I wonder if 'Joe's' dress flew up when he had his request put in. Interesting that a person with a Spanish name is in Chicago, land of the Greeks and Italian mobsters. We don't visit Chicago as there is nothing that interesting there other than a bunch of racists running around saying the rest of the world is racist.
Esther

His community will benefit in more ways than one. For example, they make the best peach shake. I had one yesterday. Sometimes calories are not the highest priority. : )
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004047180339 John Adams

I'm sad to see the concessions Chick-fil-a has made to these God-haters.
Brendajanetorres

I think Chick-fil-a should have told them "Never mind, and considering their attitudes toward 'Freedom of Speech' no thank you to building a store there"!
mallen11

If I were a Chick-fil-A representative, I would not move there. There will be too many against them. They are walking into enemy territory and Satan will use it against them unless the Lord approves and then they will have full protection.
- Esther
  
  One could say that about earth, Mr. Allen. At least, they will still be in the USA. …Oh, but you did put the qualifier at the end. : )
Sama

When the elected officials dictate to local businesses what they must have in their handbook and who they will give charity to, it is most definitely OVER REACH of gov. This is STILL a free country. For the time being. :-(
bill

Funny how people cave.
Jerry R Wood

Ald. Moreno is a racist bigot, if I owned C-F I would not open a store there anyway, let them eat pink slime.
A.

Chick-Fil-A should stand up for the principle of Dan Cathy and tell Alderman Moreno te "stuff a sock in it.' Then, if they are denied a permit,go to court and force the issue! Bullies like Proco Moreno neeed to be dealt with severely!
Gordon

Don't go there Chick-fil-A!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Anita-Eitmann/100000450497995 Anita Eitmann

chick fil a should just tell them to go to hell and keep shooting each other. There is a high unemployment rate there so I say let it stay high.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1345810345 Carol Lynn Ward Staggers

Don't build there and cave into them. You have your beliefs so stick to them. There are many places that would welcome a Chick-Fil-A to the neighborhood. I would love one near me in Belle Vernon, PA 15012.
Paul Brown

I have to agree with most of you, I sure wouldn't want my business in this jerks district and would run from anyone telling me that I have to hire a Gay or whatever. I don't want them in my business.
Sgt York

Who does this so called Ald think he is? Anyone now who has a little stroke thinks he is area king. Is this what O'Vomit is planning,small groups with a O'vomit approved leader to keep we the people in line? Its starting to get scary folks things are slowly going away from America the Beautiful into North States of Islam. We gotta stand tall count our guns,keep our powder dry,lock and load and take sharp aim boys our country is callin its heroes of time to get ready. Now he wants a new flag? Oh hell no its Old Glory or nuttin. Remember "all this for a damned flag"? Mooshell is just another backyard Queen THEY Gotta GO
fliteking

According to the new 9.20 Chik-Fil-A has agreed to stop giving to Focus on the Family and similar groups.

Disappointing.