2:32 pm Aug. 13, 2012
Amid the debate last week about whether City Council Speaker Christine Quinn should allow a vote on the controversial Paid Sick legislation, a restaurant owner in Park Slope was quoted saying the bill, if it became law, would "hurt" his business and "prohibit us from creating jobs."
The restaurant owner, Farid Ali Lancheros of Bogota Latin Bistro, was among 177 who signed a letter to Quinn urging her not to pass the bill, according to the report.
"Every penny counts in a food business," Lancheros also said, and, "That money that's left behind needs to be invested wisely to grow the business."
Lancheros' own business record makes him a suboptimal spokesman for the cause, though.
A supporter of the bill brought to my attention a 2009 report from the state labor department based on surprise inspections of a 25 restaurants in the "Upscale Park Slope" area. It found all but two of them underpaying employees. Lancheros' restaurant was among those cited.
"Even our very nicest neighborhoods sometimes have sweatshops on their main streets," said state labor commissioner Patricia Smith.
Lancheros did not immediately return a call for comment.
