<p>A small businessman, trying to overcome government over-regulation. .....from today's Chicago Trib.</p>
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<p>yar</p>
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<p>The owner of the West Side hot dog stand Felony Franks was finally able to hang a sign on his business today, but his beef with the city isn’t over.<br><br>
Jim Andrews had been trying to get the city’s permission to install the sign since he opened the business — which employs ex-convicts and sells items such as the “cell mate dog” and “pardon Polish” sausage — more than two years ago.<br><br>
But Ald. Robert Fioretti, 2nd, refused to sign off on the request, saying the stand’s name glorifies crime and harms the reputation of its Near West Side neighborhood.<br><br>
Andrews forced a City Council committee hearing on the issue in May, but a tie vote left the matter in limbo. The next day, he filed a federal lawsuit accusing the city of denying his free-speech rights.<br><br>
The committee voted again on the issue in June and recommended approving the sign. A few days later, the full council approved the permit for the sign.<br><br>
The yellow sign was hung above the shop at 229 S. Western Ave. this morning, showing a smiling hot dog wearing a black-and-white striped shirt standing in front of a jail cell. The sign advertises “food so good it’s criminal.” <br><br>
It also proclaims the shop as the “home of the misdemeanor weiner,” using that spelling for wiener on both its sign and menu.<br><br>
“I’m really happy with the sign,” Andrews said. “It came out beautiful.”<br><br>
He’s not so happy with the city. His lawsuit seeking $293,000 in damages is still pending.<br><br>
Fioretti, a defendant in the lawsuit, said today that he supports businesses that hire ex-convicts but that Felony Franks’ name sends the wrong message.<br><br>
“We’re trying to create a positive image for our communities, and when you glorify crime, it doesn’t do that,” he said.<br><br>
Either way, Andrews is celebrating his new sign — misdemeanor wieners are only $1.50 today and tomorrow, down from their usual price of $2.35.<br><br><a href="mailto:
[email protected]" target="_self"><span style="color:#0066CC;">
[email protected]</span></a></p>
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