Regarding an incident that occurred at a local restaurant last week, I am furious over how the issue has been handled and am encouraging my readers, if so moved to action as I was, to share your thoughts and responses with the restaurant in question.
Here is the e-mail I sent, which will fill you in on the particulars of the evening and how it was handled (or not handled) by the staff.
--
Dear Management,
I wanted to discuss an incident that occurred last night at your
establishment, one that was handled with an exceptional lack of concern
on the part of your staff.
My friend was dining politely and quietly with a group of friends when a
drunken guest at the table next to him started to repeatedly call him a
"Paki." Onlookers did nothing. Your restaurant staff did nothing.
And when the issue was brought to the attention of management, the
response my friend received was "Sorry, but there's nothing we can do
about it."
As someone who's spent more than 10 years working in restaurants, I assure
you there's plenty more you could have done. You cut off a belligerent
patron and refuse to serve them alcohol. You tell them that their
behavior is unacceptable. You kick them out of the restaurant as a sign
of respect and coherence with the standard of decency of intolerance
towards racism, especially in a city as diverse as Los Angeles.
I am incensed. And as someone who frequents that strip and has a blog
that receives several thousand unique hits per day, I will be spreading
the word about your establishment, how poorly this was handled, and how
you allowed racism to win with such passive aggressive cowardice. How
dare you tell someone that "there's nothing you can do" when there's so
much that could have been done.
Most of all, I am simultaneously furious and saddened about the message
you've sent to my friend, that this display of vitriol and ignorance is
acceptable and that those who suffer at its hands must simply sit there
and take it.
I hope in the future your staff will develop a backbone and stand up for what is morally, socially, and humanly right.
Most sincerely,
***** ******
Los Angeles, CA
--
To date, I have received no response whatsoever.
In the five+ years I have written this blog, I have never called upon my readers to become involved in an issue that's personal to me, nor would I ever implore any of you to do something outside your comfort zone.
But if this incident reasonates with you as it did me, I encourage you to send a polite, thoughtful e-mail telling the restaurant that this is an unacceptable way to handle an incident of racism, especially in this day and age in a city as diverse as Los Angeles.
You may e-mail the establishment at [email protected].
Thank you.
UPDATE:
Thanks to reader Nikki, another option for voicing your opinion would be to write a review on the following page:
That's absolutely unacceptable!!! They should've kicked that guy out immediately and made sure your friend knew they not only won't tolerate that behavior in their establishment but they don't agree with it and ask your friend to accept their apologies.
Another reason to boycott them. A friend and I used to do brunch there fairly often. He paid on his card and I tipped (generously in cash)...I've been a server for years so I know how to tip well.
And I'm not sure why my friend was looking through his bank records but he called me to tell me that our waiter (same guy every Sunday brunch) had been pocketing my cash and also writing in a handsome tip for himself courtesy of my friend. Apparently he noticed one descrepency so he checked all the charges and was livid. I am still floored, knowing that I would never do something like that to a patron of a restaurant I work at just based on ethics, however, nothing even happened to that guy. Last time I was walking by there with my dogs I saw him serving drinks from behind the bar.
The owner needs to get a spine and stop tolerating bigots & thieves.
Posted by: Tatiana | January 23, 2013 at 09:22 AM
UNBELIEVABLE!! I too have been in the service industry for many many years. Just the other night there was a middle aged white lady sitting at one of the black jack tables who said, "you're nothin but a n*****!" to a gentleman sitting next to her who didn't play the game like she thought he should. We not only kicked her ass out, but banned her for life!!!
Posted by: mare | September 21, 2012 at 05:41 PM
@Liz - Thanks for that translation, I used it in my polite email. ;)
Posted by: Gina | September 21, 2012 at 06:47 AM
I put up a nastygram on yelp, but... I didn't see it show up. But I tried, because I read your blog and I love it and fuck those guys.
Posted by: Colleen | September 18, 2012 at 01:56 PM
Looks like they have their own support team posting 5 star reviews about how great and accepting they are. Lame.
Posted by: Sarah | September 14, 2012 at 09:11 AM
Just a funny observation, La Poubelle actually means garbage can in French (seriously!).
Posted by: Liz | September 13, 2012 at 03:32 AM
I made my mark! I'm very glad, BW, to see you once again (justifiably) writing indignant, outraged letters to cads and bums. You're a rare soul!
Posted by: Jet | September 12, 2012 at 04:30 PM
Here's another forum to "connect" with if anyone is interested.
http://www.latimes.com/about/mediagroup/la-email-newstips,0,5830751.customform
Posted by: KM | September 11, 2012 at 11:16 AM
I was happy to point out in my Yelp comment that they're following up their cowardice in the initial incident with more cowardice in refusing to acknowledge their error.
Posted by: KD | September 10, 2012 at 08:06 PM
A friend of mine was recently fired from said restaurant for pointing out unlawful practices. I hope they are forced to shut their doors soon.
Posted by: lara | September 10, 2012 at 03:49 PM
Chase, thank you for this Call to Action! It means so much that there are people out there who give a damn! I wrote a review on Yelp, as I was also there and witnessed it. Thank you Nikki for the tip. Best to all of you!!
Posted by: Jamil Damji | September 10, 2012 at 12:29 PM
I. am. LIVID!
I will be yelping, e-mailing, tweeting and Facebooking this! Thank you for taking a stand!!
Posted by: Naughty Waitress | September 10, 2012 at 11:51 AM
you might have more success being vocal on social media where they can't ignore emails...like their yelp or facebook page
Posted by: nikki | September 10, 2012 at 11:30 AM
This makes me so, so, so sad :(
I'll e-mail them, and I'm so glad you've asked people to remain polite. They won't listen to us if we're flying off the handle.
Posted by: anna | September 10, 2012 at 11:12 AM
I was once asked to leave a restaurant in Arkansas because I am a lesbian and was taunted by a rednecks. I am happy to contact this restaurant and give them a piece of my mind. Thank you for bringing light to this.
Posted by: Monica S. | September 10, 2012 at 11:08 AM
cowards, plain and simple. TO THE EMAILMOBILE!
Posted by: fart bomb | September 10, 2012 at 11:04 AM
OH HELL NO!!
Yeah they'll be getting an earful from me, too.
Posted by: Asa | September 10, 2012 at 11:00 AM
unacceptable, in deed! they will be hearing from me.
Posted by: chris | September 10, 2012 at 10:50 AM