Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is
I am slammed with work this week but wanted to share a letter I found time to write. Anyone who knows me knows that I think food is political—as well as being a lot of other wonderful things. Today, for me, it's particularly political. If you share my sentiments, feel free to copy or adapt the letter for your own use.
Roland Spongberg, CEO
WKS Restaurant Corp
2735 Carson Street, Suite 200
Lakewood, CA 90712
November 10, 2008
Dear Mr. Spongberg,
It recently came to my attention that you were a large contributor to the California ballot measure Proposition 8, which sought to amend our state constitution by eliminating equal rights for those who enter into marriage with a partner of the same sex. I believe you contributed $6,000.00.
I couldn’t care less what your personal beliefs are regarding same sex marriage, but I do know that it is wrong to discriminate against any one group of people. America was founded on the idea of equality for all; you are now spending large amounts of money trying to exclude certain people from those rights.
I can’t tell you what to do with your money, but I can decide what to do with mine.
I will never again step foot in any of your restaurants (Pollo Loco, Denny's and Corner Bakery), and I will advise those I know of your politics so that they may make an informed decision as well. Many of us do not want to support discrimination.
Disappointedly,
Tara Weaver
For the cyber-inclined, the very nice receptionist at WKS did say that email for Mr. Spongberg should be sent to jill@wkscorp.biz, subject line: For Mr. Spongberg.
(Sorry, Jill!).
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45 comments:
Pro 8 is such a puzzling rejection of civic or social rights. It is nice to know there are people doing their best to express their disappointment and disbelief. Thank you for sending in this letter.
I am going to follow your lead here and send my own letter. Well done to you.
Wonderful letter, you're right food is political and so is the way we spend our money. Not spending it on people who support discrimination sounds like a good plan to me!
I will be sending an email.
BRAVO!
Good for you. The whole prop. 8 debacle makes me sick to my stomach--I'm so glad you wrote this. You're an inspiration!
Your blog is super. So are your photographies. They make me hungry. I have spent a nice moment when seeing them. Thanks a lot.
Good for you! I just sent an email to Jill. What will I do with all the money I was planning to spend at Denny's?
I am not a huge fan of the chain due to the quality of the food but now that there's a stale quality of thought to match, I'm not going. Ever. Thanks for calling it out and sharing.
Hi There. Well said. I will be sending my letter off today to him and in the coming days the major religious organizations that backed prop 8 too. I would love to see if you get a response. keep us posted!
Mind you, I have never eaten in an El Pollo Loco or Corner Bakery, and haven't set foot in a Denny's in well over a decade, but I think I'll send the same message. PS -- you have gorgeous penmanship. Mine sucks.
Sean said what I was going to say! You have gorgeous penmanship.
Thanks for the penning.
I commend you for that!
(clapping, cheering)
Good for you. Thank you for taking the time to be proactive...so many people complain about things but they don't make it a priority to do anything!
yea, you! and how sad that someone would spend $6,000...for what?
yeah you.
um, Denny's *looks* like it's owned by an idiot.
however, i'll pretend i eat there all the time and he'll be losing my money and all my circle of influences too.
RIGHT ON. And I am going to NOT put my money into Polly Loco, Denny's and Corner Bakery. I don't think I've been to a Denny's or Corner Bakery in decades. But my husband I will give up the Polly Loco!
I'm forwarding this to all of my California friends, and know they will join you in deciding to spend their money elsewhere. Thanks, Tea.
Thank you for writing that letter. As someone who fervently opposed Prop 8 for personal and political reasons, I was devastated when it passed. It's heartwarming to know that there are others out there that feel the same way and take the time out of their schedules to make their position known.
Awesome. Thanks for melding food with civil rights.
Good for you!
P.S. Love your blog!
Greetings from Oregon!
Thanks for this great letter and commitment to equal rights and justice for all! I am a So-Cal transplant in Beaverton OR, I will pass this out to my friends here. El Pollo Loco is beginning to open stores here too!
John P, Beaverton OR
Greetings from Oregon! El Pollo Loco is just beginning to open stores in Portland Metro Area, I will forward to my friends here too! I am a So-Cal transplant so know these places well!
John P, Beaverton OR
Couldn't have said it better. Very admirable.
Who eats at Denny's???
You know after reading your post last night and have had some time to roll it around a bit in my mind I have come away very thankful. Thankful that we live in a free society where you can voice, post, write, or email your opinion without worry of some sort of arrest. (my daughter lives in such a country)
so I'm all up for you voicing your opinion.
I'm all up for Mr. Spongberg voicing his convictions.
This is the beautiful thing about democracy.
Thank you very much for informing me that this guy owns Corner Bakery. I too will never go there ever again.
we have a denny's here which may or may not be related...still I'm sending an email. thanks tea!
Thanks, Tea.
I boycotted a fancy party I was invited to b/c I knew the host had voted yes on 8. She's a friend who I actually like, so I left a message saying I wasn't coming "because I am sick to my stomach over 8 passing."
Change is coming, I know. We're 54 years from Brown V. Topeka Board of Ed. and only 32 from Stonewall, and look how far we've come already.
However, I am coming out to everyone I know from now on.
PS Huzzleban says "Denny's is gone, Denny's is dead to us." It's a much bigger deal for him to give up Denny's than probably anyone else who's posted a comment so far (or will).
You really influence us.
I especially like the Liberty Bell stamp, Tea. Well done!
i just came across your blog and i noticed that picture.. i have to say that your handwriting is really amazing! no seriously.. its like a computer font of some sort. nice nice.. :P
Copy, paste, send. Not too hard to agree not to spend my money at Denny's.
I was just about to write my own letter to Mr.Spongberg when I came across yours. Thank you for taking the time to stand up for what is right, I plan to do the same. His sons went to my high school, which is why I even noticed his name on the list of people who have donated to support 'Prop H8'. I won't miss Denny's, Corner Bakery, and El Pollo Loco anyhow. Good work Tara!
Tea, damn right!
Thanks, it is very sad that people are so close minded.
YES! bravo, succinct and well written.
Thanks for the info. I sometimes break down and go to a Denny's when I crave diner food. I think that I'll write a letter to Mr. Spongberg and tell him that, from now on, every time I find myself craving Denny's, I'll take the 10 bucks or so I would have spent there and donate it to the HRC or another organization fighting for equal marriage rights :)
Absolutely wonderful. Great job. Words can't describe how much it saddens me that we would deny a basic right under our Constitution to a group of people for no apparent reason whatsoever. It's just so wrong. We all need to speak out and make our voices heard.
Well done, Tea. I was unaware of the company's role. Now I can be more cautious with my money!
I've been trying to do my part in Zion -- marched with the protestors in front of the Mormon/LDS temple square and church office buildings. i can't tell if they were shocked or disgusted.
Long time no talk, my dear. The blog looks healthy and splendid. Hope you are, too!
Just the fact that such a proposition exists makes me sick to my stomach. Good for your for sending this letter! You said it all perfectly!
i have just read your blog and am horrified that a restaurant chain that relies on income from so many diverse populations would work actively to reject some of them. i had no idea. i have just sent off my letter to assure them that i will boycott all of their businesses.
thank you for your alertness, for your social consciousness, and for your caring and sharing it with others.
nice post
did you hear back?
In response to your note, we would like to clarify that all 31 of our Corner Bakery Cafe locations in California are company-owned and operated by CBC Restaurant Corp. CBC Restaurant Corp. has not taken a position in the Proposition 8 legislation. To further clarify, WKS is a franchisee of Corner Bakery Cafe and does not have any open cafes to date. Per their development agreement, WKS will not be opening or operating any stores in California. I appreciate your reaching out to us directly and allowing us the opportunity to correct any misinformation about our California locations. Thank you.
Diana Hovey, SVP Marketing
Corner Bakery Cafe
dhovey@cornerbakerycafe.com
Sweet.
WOOOW
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