Guess Whats Coming With Dinner?
In the opposing camp are the firebrands like Ron Smith who earned their stripes in battles with stevedores. They believe that newspaper stories and prosecution go along way in the cause of deterring future violations. Smith is an educator up to a point, but in the case of recalcitrant repeater violators, he firmly believes in seeing that the public, whom he is charged with protecting, is given an eye for an eye.
The gung-ho enforcers would like to see a plan like the one that exists in New York where radio stations and newspapers carry lists of sanitary code violators as a matter of public service. The real militants privately scorn the whole educational approach and actively work for quicker, stiffer penalties.
But even Ron Smith, who only employs tough-guy tactics as a last resort, explains that, "Nothing would make some of these slobs clean up faster than a little bad publicity."
When the Health Department does lower the punishment is painfully slow:
First, an inspector visits a store or restaurant or processor and, if he finds any violations, they are pointed out to the proprietor in writing and corrective measures are suggested. A re-inspection is made at some designated time and if the problems still persist, an "administrative hearing" is called for at department headquarters.
Almost 600 of these hearings were held last year and they resulted in the revocation of 200 licenses. All places can continue to operate even after their license has been revoked. The Municipal Court can’t close them and the public keeps patronizing them because the Health Department does not publicize offenders.
If the inspections and hearings fail to frighten a sloppy owner, then he can be taken to Municipal Court where he might be fined as much as $300. Last year 500 cases reached the bench but most of the fines were in the $50-$100 range.
These procedures can take as long as three months while it’s business-as-usual at the unsanitary store or restaurant. As a final move, the Health Department will take a violator to Common Pleas Court where compliance measures can be ordered by the judge, or where an injunction can be obtained to cease and desist operations. Twenty-four such injunctions were granted during 1970-1971.
So far this year the Department of Public Health has scheduled equity actions against 95 restaurants, food stores and processors for long-standing violations of the same sanitary codes. Some prominent names are among them:
• The Penn Fruit at 19th and Market Sts. (now closed)
• The A&P on 12th Street in center city
• Chances Are at 1409 Lombard St. (now closed)
• Brandi’s Wharf on Delaware Avenue (now closed)
• Stanley Green’s at 1617 Chestnut Street
• Sansom House at 1300 Sansom Street
• Tally Ann Bakery at 2014-18 South 11th Street
• Woolworth’s at 2318 N. Front Street
• Day’s Delicatessen at 18th and Spruce Streets
• Old Forge Inn at 8515 Germantown Avenue
• Oteri’s Bakery at 1632 South Broad Street
• The Philadelphian Coffee Shop at 2401 Pennsylvania Avenue
• The Parkway House Restaurant at 2201 Spring Garden Street
All of these establishments, plus 80 more throughout the city, have already cleaned up or are now in the process of cleaning up their sanitation violations in order to avoid appearances in court. They can still legally deal in food and dairy products and avoid future confrontations with the Department of Health by complying with the court orders.
