Citizens Fourm - An Open Discussion on Immigration in America

Join The BigTalker 1210AM's Dom Giordano as he hosts The Citizen's Forum on Immigration on Saturday, September 22nd from 1pm-4pm at Geno's Steaks in South Philadelphia. After more than a year of controversy surrounding Joey Vento and "the Speak English Sign" Immigration is still a HOT issue. Joey Vento has decided to bring to light the issues that have had him in the Hot Seat for so long by sponsoring a series of debates. The Joey Vento debates will cover topics from English as our national language to The Immigration Reform.

Joey Vento-Owner of Geno’s Steaks
A sign that was up for six months gained press notoriety in 2006, during the immigration controversy. The sign reads: "This IS AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING PLEASE 'SPEAK ENGLISH.'" The Philadelphia's Commission on Human Relations filed a discrimination complaint, arguing that Geno's violated the city's Fair Practices Ordinance, which prohibits discrimination in public accommodation. Joey Vento stated that he does not turn away any customer, and therefore does not discriminate. He also vowed to keep his sign displayed no matter how much pressure he receives. He knows that as a the 3rd-generation American of Italian descent, his parents had to learn English when they came to the U.S. He says that if his customers order in any other language, he'll give them Cheez Whiz on bread.

Join us at Geno's Steaks, listen on your radio, listen online, and call in to be a part of history in the making.

Citizens Fourm Recap June 21st 2007


	The First of A Four Part Debate Series featuring Joey Vento aired on Thursday June 21st from 10p-Midnight. The debate featured Joey Vento, Owner of Geno’s Steaks and Judith Bernstein-Baker, Executive Director of HIAS and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia. CLICK HERE to lisen to the debate Judith Bernstein-Baker, Esq., MSW Judith Bernstein-Baker is the Executive Director of HIAS and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia. She received her B.A. from Binghamton University, her M.S.W. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work and her J.D., cum laude, from Temple University School of Law. HIAS and Council provides representation to immigrants from over 60 countries. Prior to becoming Executive Director of HIAS and Council, Ms. Bernstein-Baker ran the Public Service Program at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and was named Honorary Fellow of Penn Law School in 1998. Ms. Bernstein-Baker has published several articles on immigration issues and public interest law. She is an active member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association, currently serving as liaison to the local office of CIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services-successor organization to INS).

Citizens Fourm Recap July 21st 2007


	The Second of A Five Part Debate Series featuring Joey Vento aired on Saturday July 22nd from 1pm-4pm. The debate featured Joey Vento, Owner of Geno’s Steaks and Ricardo Diaz Soto-Independent Research Consultant. Ricardo Diaz Soto-Independent Research Consultant Ricardo Diaz Soto focuses on the Latino community both in his professional life and as a volunteer. As project manager for Penn's National Center for Adult Literacy, he has helped to develop online ESL instruction for Mexican immigrants and has worked with Bridges to the Future, an international project designed to improve technological literacy among disadvantaged populations. As a volunteer, he has worked with Comunidad Hispana, LDS church, Mexicanos Juntos, and La Casa Latina, all in Philadelphia and at the University of North Ghana in Africa. Mr. Soto is a native of Mexico and the father of 4 children, his off duty work in Philadelphia was noted with the Martin Luther King Community Service Award in 2004; and in 2007 he was recognized by Univision’s Orgullo Hispano, WFMZ-TV Latino Heritage, Impacto’s 50 most influential Latinos, and in Al Dia’s newsmakers.

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