Would You Buy a Hot Dog from an ex-con?

[EmeraldCityGrl]

Sure you would. This is such a great idea it makes me want to do it in my area.

"Would you buy a hot dog from an ex-con?

That's a question Chicagoans are facing with the opening of a new Chicago-style stand near the city's West Loop. Jim Andrews, the owner, says he created the restaurant to give criminals who've served their time a second chance at becoming a productive member of society.

But not everyone's in love with Felony Franks.

A local city councilman has said he thinks the name of the restaurant is closer to criminal.

"For a restaurant theme, it's a poor choice," Alderman Robert Fioretti told WBBM-TV, the CBS affiliate in Chicago."


http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/22/felony-franks-causing-a-red-hot-controversy-in-chicago/

[SleeplessInAlabama]

1. Yes. I would hope he's not in any hurry to go back to jail,

and therefore would keep the food pretty darn safe. I don't see an issue - afterall he has to make a living outside somehow.

[angstlessk]

2. it depends..if they were in prison for random poisoning...NO WAY

on the other hand....ANYONE selling hot dogs is committing a felony!

[theoldman]

5. A murderer would be OK but not someone who poisoned his mother.

[ThomWV]

27. A Mother-poisoner would be OK with me, just no Innocent-bystander poisoners.

Not too wild about the guys with a history of random shooting sprees either.

[slackmaster]

3. A friend of mine is the only employee of a meat-packing company who is not a convicted felon

Even the owner is a con - He served time for buying a load of meat from a hijacked truck. There aren't a lot of industries where ex-cons can get jobs.

[panader0]

8. How about construction?

I know many in the trades who have done time.

[Arkansas Granny]

19. I work for a general contractor and I work with convicted felons every day.

We employ a total of 20 employees. Of those 20, I know at least 6 who are currently employed have done time for various offences. They were all up front when they applied for the job and the owner decided to hire them, regardless. They have been with the company from 1 - 8 years. We joke about being a rehab center, but, seriously, some of these guys would probably have been back inside if they hadn't been given a second chance.

[slackmaster]

24. That's another big one, so is driving taxis

And delivering pizzas.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

4. One reason the recidivism rate is so high

is that felons face once brick wall after the other trying to seek employment and housing when they get out.

This is one way to get this country out of the business of running prisons for profit.

[Vickers]

6. Sure, why not?

And that city councilman sounds like a real uptight douchebag.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

11. There's always one trying to screw up a good thing.

I wonder if he's a Democrat.

[MineralMan]

7. I'd probably go out of my way to buy a hot dog there.

Ex-cons have a tough go of it.

[ecstatic]

9. Do they accept credit cards?

:hide:

[Laelth]

10. No question. I would buy those hot dogs.

I think all felons ought to be guaranteed jobs upon release from prison (and I mean good, government jobs with benefits).

They deserve a chance to become productive members of society, no matter what they have done. Our only other option is to continue paying for their miserable existence in inhumane conditions.

:dem:

-Laelth

[baldguy]

12. They should be put to work as Wall Street brokers or bank executives.

They're experience would be an extra incentive to follow the law.

[Missy Vixen]

13. How about some bread?

We eat Dave's Killer Bread, which is baked by an ex-con. It's not cheap, but it's the best bread I've ever eaten in my life. Plus, he employs others.

If you'd like to read more about Dave's Killer Bread (and request that your local grocery store carry it!), here's a link. http://www.daveskillerbread.com/

[EmeraldCityGrl]

16. Thanx...I'll do that.

:toast:

[Occulus]

28. Oh MY.

That bread looks good.

[Jkid]

14. Would I Buy a Hot Dog from an ex-con?

Yes, if a job keeps him out of prison.

[jimmyflint]

15. Yes I would.

I believe that that once their time is served that their debt to society is paid in full. And all rights should be restored to them.

[Orsino]

17. I'm not much for hot dogs...

...but anyone victimized by our cruel, phony "justice" system, and working legit afterward, deserves any bone I can throw him/her. I would go out of my way to patronize this business.

[KittyWampus]

18. Great idea, thanks for posting. That councilman is a grandstanding, close-minded fool.

[BlooInBloo]

20. I would imagine I already have.

[seemunkee]

21. At least he didn't name it Sweeney Todds

Are they good hot dogs? Then, yeah I would.

[petronius]

22. Only if it's a good hot dog (which is also my criterion for buying from non-ex-cons)...

[-..__...]

23. As long as none of them were sex offenders.

No telling what goes on in the kitchen and where those wieners might been.

[Odin2005]

25. +1

[libnnc]

26. one of the best bosses I ever had was an ex-con

he was the kitchen manager at a local bar and grill and gave me a job as a dishwasher. In two months I was working the sandwich line. He taught me not just how to cook, but how to WORK in a kitchen. Awesome guy all around.

[Ikonoklast]

29. As long as they only put a nice brown mustard on it, and NEVER any ketchup.

That would be criminal.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

30. Thank you for responding so positively to this thread...

my son is in prison on a drug charge. He will never be able to go back to the career he had before his arrest.
Our biggest fear over the last year has been how he will provide for himself and a family if he ever has one.
It's the one thing he worries about constantly.

It is very hopeful to think with some creative ideas about starting a small business, people will be willing to accept him
and let him move on. The statistics are frightening.

[DainBramaged]

31. I will remember you if I win the lottery, you are a good Mom.

:hug:

[Touchdown]

32. Only if they have brown mustard and fresh onions.

If they served their time, then they are worthy of being a citizen again. No question I would buy a hot dog from them.