Comments on: Il Frateli v City of Coppell http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/11/04/il-frateli-v-city-of-coppell/ SideDish is a food-related discussion among editors at D Magazine about the Dallas-Fort Worth dining scene -- everything from good meals to bad service, kitchen gossip to restaurant news, chefs’ secrets to culinary trends. Bon appetite. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:53:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: mike cole http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/11/04/il-frateli-v-city-of-coppell/comment-page-1/#comment-20607 mike cole Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:14:05 +0000 http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/?p=10259#comment-20607 The law does prohibit "portable signs" but it is not content-based; it does not specifically prohibit "commercial" messages. It is a "free speech" issue considering the real estate industry is exempted from these regulations, but the pizza business is not.It would be like a law that prohibited the posting of garage sale signs, but allowed "puppies for sale" signs. I know, because I am the criminal who was found guilty on Monday. Is this discrimination? Maybe the appellate court will tell us. I appreciate your mission Larry, and can assure you that my sign is no more a threat to motorists than the existing real estate signs and city signs that litter the roadway in Coppell. We held the sign everyday for 3 months and there was never an accident or complaint. respectfully, Mike The law does prohibit “portable signs” but it is not content-based; it does not specifically prohibit “commercial” messages.
It is a “free speech” issue considering the real estate industry is exempted from these regulations, but the pizza business is not.It would be like a law that prohibited the posting of garage sale signs, but allowed “puppies for sale” signs. I know, because I am the criminal who was found guilty on Monday. Is this discrimination? Maybe the appellate court will tell us. I appreciate your mission Larry, and can assure you that my sign is no more a threat to motorists than the existing real estate signs and city signs that litter the roadway in Coppell. We held the sign everyday for 3 months and there was never an accident or complaint. respectfully, Mike

]]> By: George Cole http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/11/04/il-frateli-v-city-of-coppell/comment-page-1/#comment-20547 George Cole Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:44:32 +0000 http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/?p=10259#comment-20547 In the city of Coppell it is illegal to have a portable sign. Does this cover hand held signs (Free Car Wash, Go Cowboys win State, Support our Troops)? Apparently it does as translated by city officials. My Brother was found guilty by jury with as reduced fine. There is precedent that this type of vague and unequal enforcement is unconstitutional, so The Cole Brothers and i Fratelli Pizza may appeal. Only the Cole Brothers were interviewed in this press release because no one else was at the dinner table at the time. The lack of facts in this press release is due to presence of wine at that dinner table. We hope to have Nancy as our guest at the next dinner table so she can get the facts on the record and can invite her own family to interview. Thanks for the support and or interest. We love Coppell...and we love the Coppell officials although very few of the city officials live in the city, The Cole brothers have spent 50 years combined living in Coppell. Go The Highlands Blazers In the city of Coppell it is illegal to have a portable sign. Does this cover hand held signs (Free Car Wash, Go Cowboys win State, Support our Troops)?
Apparently it does as translated by city officials. My Brother was found guilty by jury with as reduced fine.
There is precedent that this type of vague and unequal enforcement is unconstitutional, so The Cole Brothers and i Fratelli Pizza may appeal.
Only the Cole Brothers were interviewed in this press release because no one else was at the dinner table at the time. The lack of facts in this press release is due to presence of wine at that dinner table. We hope to have Nancy as our guest at the next dinner table so she can get the facts on the record and can invite her own family to interview.
Thanks for the support and or interest.
We love Coppell…and we love the Coppell officials although very few of the city officials live in the city, The Cole brothers have spent 50 years combined living in Coppell.
Go The Highlands Blazers

]]> By: Larry Little http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/11/04/il-frateli-v-city-of-coppell/comment-page-1/#comment-20461 Larry Little Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:44:45 +0000 http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/?p=10259#comment-20461 The article never mentioned it's illegal to hold the sign for commercial business advertising. This is not a free speech issue. The business will lose in court, because that's the law. If you don't like the laws, talk to your city counsel members. Keep in mind the hazard, that when this sign holder causes a traffic accident and someone dies, it's too late to change the laws to save that life. Thankfully, code enforcement and laws try keep all community members safe. It's nice to sell more pizzas, but please, not at my expense. The article never mentioned it’s illegal to hold the sign for commercial business advertising. This is not a free speech issue. The business will lose in court, because that’s the law. If you don’t like the laws, talk to your city counsel members. Keep in mind the hazard, that when this sign holder causes a traffic accident and someone dies, it’s too late to change the laws to save that life. Thankfully, code enforcement and laws try keep all community members safe. It’s nice to sell more pizzas, but please, not at my expense.

]]> By: barney frank is a communist http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/11/04/il-frateli-v-city-of-coppell/comment-page-1/#comment-20439 barney frank is a communist Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:18:33 +0000 http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/?p=10259#comment-20439 Does the officer have any conflicts of interest? Does the officer have any conflicts of interest?

]]> By: Nancy Nichols http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/11/04/il-frateli-v-city-of-coppell/comment-page-1/#comment-20436 Nancy Nichols Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:30:14 +0000 http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/?p=10259#comment-20436 sorry if that sounded defensive i just pointed out that I didn't write it or reported it. Press release and facts???? You never know. sorry if that sounded defensive i just pointed out that I didn’t write it or reported it. Press release and facts???? You never know.

]]> By: Darren http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/11/04/il-frateli-v-city-of-coppell/comment-page-1/#comment-20435 Darren Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:29:59 +0000 http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/?p=10259#comment-20435 @bw I think they quoted the brothers because they are the business. If you've been to one of their restaurants before, or had pizza delivered, then you would have seen their faces all over. "I fratelli" is literally translated, "the brothers". Who else would they have quoted? @bw I think they quoted the brothers because they are the business. If you’ve been to one of their restaurants before, or had pizza delivered, then you would have seen their faces all over. “I fratelli” is literally translated, “the brothers”. Who else would they have quoted?

]]> By: Randy http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/11/04/il-frateli-v-city-of-coppell/comment-page-1/#comment-20434 Randy Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:54:47 +0000 http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/?p=10259#comment-20434 No need to get defensive, Nancy. I thoroughly enjoy SideDish. I just wish the press release had presented some facts. No need to get defensive, Nancy. I thoroughly enjoy SideDish. I just wish the press release had presented some facts.

]]> By: Robin http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/11/04/il-frateli-v-city-of-coppell/comment-page-1/#comment-20433 Robin Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:39:35 +0000 http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/?p=10259#comment-20433 Unbelieveable. Unless the sign was somehow clearly offensive, Coppell is living up to its nickname (Cop hell). Unbelieveable. Unless the sign was somehow clearly offensive, Coppell is living up to its nickname (Cop hell).

]]> By: Twinwillow http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/11/04/il-frateli-v-city-of-coppell/comment-page-1/#comment-20426 Twinwillow Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:53:49 +0000 http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/?p=10259#comment-20426 I sure hope they win their case against the city of Coppell. Whose city fathers obviously have nothing better to do than harass well meaning taxpayers. I sure hope they win their case against the city of Coppell. Whose city fathers obviously have nothing better to do than harass well meaning taxpayers.

]]> By: AS http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/11/04/il-frateli-v-city-of-coppell/comment-page-1/#comment-20423 AS Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:19:12 +0000 http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/?p=10259#comment-20423 Too bad they're not a big company like Kroger, governments seem to be changing all kinds of rules for the largest of players. The smaller guys can turn around and kiss their own butts goodbye. Too bad they’re not a big company like Kroger, governments seem to be changing all kinds of rules for the largest of players. The smaller guys can turn around and kiss their own butts goodbye.

]]> By: bw http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/11/04/il-frateli-v-city-of-coppell/comment-page-1/#comment-20422 bw Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:07:27 +0000 http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/?p=10259#comment-20422 If your going to send out a press release that you want taken seriously, why would you keep quoting family members? If your going to send out a press release that you want taken seriously, why would you keep quoting family members?

]]> By: Nancy Nichols http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/11/04/il-frateli-v-city-of-coppell/comment-page-1/#comment-20420 Nancy Nichols Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:23:38 +0000 http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/?p=10259#comment-20420 I didn't report anything. I copy and pasted a press release. I didn’t report anything. I copy and pasted a press release.

]]> By: MP http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/11/04/il-frateli-v-city-of-coppell/comment-page-1/#comment-20419 MP Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:13:20 +0000 http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/?p=10259#comment-20419 I saw that sign. All it said was "Our Pizzas are Sofa King Good." Seriously. I saw that sign. All it said was “Our Pizzas are Sofa King Good.” Seriously.

]]> By: Darren http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/11/04/il-frateli-v-city-of-coppell/comment-page-1/#comment-20418 Darren Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:02:27 +0000 http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/?p=10259#comment-20418 I'm not sure about the situation in Coppell, but in Uptown, they have a guy holding a sign in front of their store and waving it around. Is it a distraction? Yes, but that's what signs and advertising are, distractions to attract your attention. But this does sound personal! I’m not sure about the situation in Coppell, but in Uptown, they have a guy holding a sign in front of their store and waving it around. Is it a distraction? Yes, but that’s what signs and advertising are, distractions to attract your attention.

But this does sound personal!

]]> By: Randy http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/11/04/il-frateli-v-city-of-coppell/comment-page-1/#comment-20417 Randy Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:57:08 +0000 http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/?p=10259#comment-20417 What did the sign say? Was it possibly causing a distraction to drivers at a busy intersection? I need more info in order to understand the situation. I've never heard the term "lain off" either. This wasn't well reported. What did the sign say? Was it possibly causing a distraction to drivers at a busy intersection? I need more info in order to understand the situation. I’ve never heard the term “lain off” either. This wasn’t well reported.

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