No More Kebabs - or Hard Work

[Ghianda]

According to the TimesOnline ethnic food retailers in parts of Italy will be facing harsh new curbs on their activity thanks to the continuing marvels of The Northern League. If one quote is accurate we have been granted an incredible insight into the Northern League's utter stupidity in the way it approaches serious issues. Davide Boni, a councillor in Milan for the Northern League, which also opposes the building of mosques in Italian cities, said that kebab shop owners were prepared to work long hours, which was unfair competition.

Italy bans kebabs and foreign food from cities - Times Online

[Sally Donaldson]

Oh no!!! Seriously bad news for all you homesick foreigners out there!!! However there was report recently in the UK about the high cholesterol in kebabs sold here so maybe quite a good idea to curb appetites for such "unhealthy" food.

Also the centre of Lucca is far far too pretty for the nasty cheap signage that usually accompanies these foreign food outlets.

[juliancoll]

Oh yes!! Let's keep all the nasty cheap signage out! How wonderful it will be not to have any more Pizza Hut, Pizza Express, Domino's Topo' D'oro or Spaghetti House signs cluttering up the world.

Long live the Kebab Houses - 'cus I can read Arabic!

[Gala Placidia]

I agree with comments made by readers of Times Online at the end of the article. The ban only affects a very small area of Lucca, within the ancient walls and I do agree that this type of establishments do not suit that section of the city. After all, cars are also banned in the area no matter where they are made. There are plenty of other areas within the city of Lucca where you can have all the Chinese food, Kebabs and Curries you may want to eat. I only see it as an effort to preserve the special character of a unique city.

[juliancoll]

Are you serious Gala? I respect your view, but I can not agree as I see this as the start of something far more sinister. It's Italy at the height of going bonkers and it has serious undertones of racism.

[Charles Phillips]

Originally Posted by juliancoll

It's Italy at the height of going bonkers and it has serious undertones of racism.

Well, it's all a little bit like the British Workers complaining that Italians work for less money thus shouldn't be building their oil refinery, innit?
Protectionism is also a form of 'racism' - well, clearly it's a form of racism - and equally clearly it's the way the world is heading.

Funnily enough, it is one thing which George W Bush didn't get wrong

[Ghianda]

Originally Posted by Gala Placidia

I agree with comments made by readers of Times Online at the end of the article. The ban only affects a very small area of Lucca, within the ancient walls and I do agree that this type of establishments do not suit that section of the city.

Those were only some of the comments made by readers. Others see it for the thin end of the potentially racist wedge which the announcement really is. This is the Northern League.

Walled Lucca is a lovely city and deserves to be protected with tough planning laws, but tough planning laws could achieve their aims without discrimination. Surely there would be enough civil servants and vigile to slap fines on inappropriate flashing lights - could even be a good revenue earner.

[Gala Placidia]

I do not think that there is any hidden racism in this particular decision. As far as the city of Lucca is concerned it goes in line with many restrictions regarding what you can and cannot do within the walled precinct. Granted that the Northern League is not the best example of tolerance and perhaps they may be trying to use this issue for their own hidden agenda; however, if I were the Mayor of Lucca I would also try to maintain the character of the city.... I would also remove some signage which is not particularly nice and I am not talking about foreign food outlets.
As I said before, Lucca is a large city and there are many other places where these businesses may thrive.
And Charles, I tend to disagree with you about protectionism, which is not always a sinister move. The word "discrimination" is also sometimes abused.

[katier]

I have been hearing about this on the news and I think it smacks of racism too. Milan is also considering it - I'm pretty gobsmacked by it really. As if a few "ethnic" restaurants are going to ruin Italy's cities?

[Gala Placidia]

Again, katier, we are not talking about the whole of the city, but only a small area. They are free to open up businesses wherever they want but not withing the walled precinct, which is only a small area if you compare it to the whole of the city of Lucca.