Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Did Christine Quinn Go Too Far In Demanding Chick-fil-A's Banishment?
By
John Del Signore
Published Jul 31, 2012
Modified Jul 31, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Courtesy Schnippers
By
John Del Signore
Published Jul 31, 2012
Modified Jul 31, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Over the weekend, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, NYC's first gay City Council Speaker, fired off a letter to NYU President John Sexton urging him to "sever your relationship with the Chick-fil-A establishment that exists on your campus." As you no doubt know, the popular fast food franchise donates money to anti-gay Christian groups, and the family that owns it has been very forthright about their opposition to same-sex marriage. Quinn insisted yesterday that her message to NYU was "solely my own opinion," but the letter was drafted on official City Council letterhead.
Today the NY Times and the NY Post have found themselves in agreement over Quinn's Chick-fil-Activism. "As a powerful city leader and a leading candidate for mayor, she and others in city governments should take care not to be seen muscling aside businesses whose owners don’t agree with their views," the Times opines. "That won’t work, especially in a city as big, diverse and opinionated as New York." The Post, of course, is virulent:
Once upon a time, she seemed to be the only non-runt in the wannabe-mayor litter. But Quinn has truly been on a pander tear of late — aimed principally at ingratiating herself with unions but defining her credibility way down in the process. The fact that she needs remedial instruction on something so basic as the First Amendment at this stage of the game suggests that there was little more than vapor there in the first place.
The Post also argues that Quinn's letter to NYU "could reasonably be seen as extortionate" because NYU's expansion plan needs City Council approval... but that expansion plan already secured near-unanimous Council approval. If there's anything cynical to see here, it's probably Quinn trying to distance herself a little bit from NYU to curry favor with outraged Greenwich Village residents.
Also milking the Chick-fil-A outrage teet: Schnippers Quality Kitchen. Throughout the month of August, both Schnippers locations are donating $1.00 from every purchase of a Schnipper’s Chicken Filet Sandwich to Marriage Equality USA. Owner Andrew Schnipper declares, "A truly good Chicken Filet Sandwich would always be in favor of Marriage Equality. Ours is the best you’ll ever have since its made from fresh chicken breasts and hand dipped to order in our seasoned corn flour blend and buttermilk. It’s super crispy and it’s gluten free!" Damn, that DOES look tasty. We'd support marriage equality two times with that!
Tagged
chick-fil-a
christine quinn
City Council
NYU
schnippers quality kitchen
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Oct 10, 2026
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .