The community is showing that slimy little conservative mexican that he must stand with his latino brothers and sisters or he will hurt.

Keep the boycott going until we ruin his business, then he'll learn his lesson.

What gives with the "protest"? I was there from 6pm to 7pm to attend the thing, but nobody else was. So I left.

Whoever called for this non-event should be lampooned!

my parents were in town this weekend and we went to breakfast at b&o. they seemed particularly busy, even by sunday morning standards, and i couldn't help but wonder if they were getting some of the business that regularly would've been at septieme...

7th Heaven: are you Latino? Because if you're not, who are you to tell "that slimy little conservative mexican" who to stand with?

Are ANY Latinos involved in this boycott?

Actually....

I found just the opposite.

My family and some friends had dinner there on Friday night and the restaurant was doing just fine. While not every table was filled, I'd say 80% of the table were.

What I did notice was that people that were there were actually having meals. Not the typical, I'll sit and have coffee and split a piece of cake with my 6 friends crowd.

The two table beside us began to talk and what we discovered was that all of us were there to support this decision.

I'd be interested to see how many of the Sloggers talking boycott, protest and "I was a regular" were actually the deadnbeats that come into places like this, take up a curbside table for 2 hours and spend $15.

Firing an insubordinate manager may have been the best thing Victor Santiago could have done for his business.

This news story has awakened the locals ( and by that I mean the people who actually own property in this area ) and gave them a reason to come back to a business on Broadway - a strip that most of us tend to keep away from, due to pan handlers, street kids, junkies, etc....

Why don't you feel sorry for Victor's Latino workers instead, ECB, given they're the ones who get fucked over the most by Septieme's slowdown? This is just water off of Victor's back.

BTW, ECB...

You seem to be trying to instigate this boycott as opposed to reporting on it.

When you are going into the restaurant, please tell me you are at least patronizing the business?

This whole issue is a mess. I'm all for immigrants' rights, but Santiago, himself a hard working immigrant, is being punished for trying to keep his business afloat. He was within his rights as an employer to expect scheduled employees to meet their obligations. Restaurants have razor-thin profit margins, and unexpected closures can be devastating.

Will boycotters be happy when Septieme closes, leaving an ugly gap to ultimately be filled by another chain store while Septieme's staff go jobless?

As a Cap Hill resident, I'm ashamed of all the anger being misdirected toward Santiago. There are larger problems at issue here, and boycotting Santiago's business is not going to address them.

DJFIts...

It sounds like you've not been to the B&O before.

The B&O is famous for this type of service.

It's a great pace to go to sit at a table for 45 minutes before a waiter comes to your table.

no, i've been there quite a bit since moving to the neighborhood, and they seemed busy, even by (their own) sunday morning standards.

I hate to say it, but Someguy is right - about one thing.

The Sloggers now seem like a bunch of armchair activists: quick to use a sharp tongue but too lazy to brandish a blade. However, the newly motivated patrons spoke with their keyboards and their wallets.

Unfortunately for Septieme's staff and Santiago, the one-day activist clientele won't make up for the permanent absence of regular customers.

The regular patrons were Capitol Hill folks - working-class people who believe in supporting the proletariate. That crowd, which comprises a major piece of the restaurant's business, is far more turned off than a few activist diners are turned on.

Broadway's businesses are built on regulars, and without them, Septieme's books will begin to look its walls: red.

Street Smart: Yes, it really "supports the proletariate" when they don't make their tips and end up losing their jobs.

I didn't eat there, but I did buy a drink & left a 100%+ tip.

And reporting on what's going on at a neighborhood restaurant where I used to be a regular is hardly "trying to instigate" a boycott.

Matt from Denver: Yes, it does. I'm glad you have forsight.

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
- Benjamin Franklin

ECB,

No offense, but I disagree.... you've done everything you can to make into a Boycott, even dropped hints that that was the buzz was on My space.

I'd go back and read your leading posts from late last week.

At ay rate, It's good to see that your readership ponied up the cost of their contribution to The Stranger... After all it is a free publication and the number of picketts spotted on Saturday = Zero.

Unfortunately, it's Advertisers that pay your way. Hopefully Victor Santiago will remember your feeble attampts at ruining his business when your Advertising Sales people come knocking.

Actually, The buessiness of Broadway should start their own Boycott of the Stranger

Street Smart: Somehow I doubt that Septieme's employees feel like their money is temporary safety, or that they're giving up essential liberty by working there. But hey, maybe an actual employee can chime in and shed some light on this. Anyone?

Capitol Hill residents are working class? Could've fooled me.

I'm boycotting them during the Film Fest - that's five weeks when I usually stop by say 3 or 4 times a week for coffee, salad, soup, maybe dinner.

I'm taking my business - and that of my full series pass holding friends - elsewhere.

Sorry, I was too busy for your little protest, but my wallet is closed to them.

How's that?

Too bad, I like them.

someguy is never right, so ignore him.

Will in Seattle,

I have to say, knowing you are one of the KLOWNS that goes to the Seattle film festival is icing on the cake.

Ever notive the problem with the film festival? All the movies SUCK and you have to stand in line with Freaks.

With that in mind, I think everyone at Septieme will miss out on the grand total $25 you'll spend this year will certainly be missed.

Someguy,

Your cat is now out of the bag.

By decrying our city's flagship cinematic event and its patrons, it's clear that you live off of Capitol Hill, you couldn't possibly be a Septieme patron, and you are out-of-touch with urban politics.

Your opinions are meaningless, wherever you are...

Pacho Villa and Zapatista would be very angry with all you people trying to bring Santiagos business down. As far as I'm concerned it was Santiago who gave his people work, and therefore was the one who gave them the day off to participate in the immigration rally. His manager was fired because he was the one trying to make decisions that weren't his to give. Pancho Villa would have fired him too if Wolfe was trying to run his revolution. Gomez and Someguy and Ivan are completely right and i'll say it again capitol hill....where were you all when the Rally went down.

Street Smart: The whole point of the boycott is to support immigrants' rights. Last I heard, that was a national issue, not one that affected only the ivory tower that is Capitol Hill.

MFD, you're not very good at following a thread. I was writing to Someguy and his comments about Capitol Hill Residents and Septieme. In case you're not from here - oops, you're not - Septieme is a Hill hang out.

For what it's worth, the regulars of whom we speak spend considerably more than $25 a year. I estimate that I spend about $2,400 a year at Septieme. A quick poll of friends shows that their yearly tabs are greater. So, assuming that only 30 regulars dine elsewhere, that's a gross annual loss of over $70,000.

Streetsmart.....

I am out of touch with Urban Politics? Or you are a sheep?

what's that sound I hear?

Baaaaaa, baaaaaa

As for SIFF, you could not drag me to one of those ridiculous events.

Regarding the Subject at hand, that being your Septieme protest.

Where were you on Saturday during the "picket"? or were you the one lone "klown" who came to that little dance.

For that matter, where were on Friday while I was dinning at Septieme?

The only cat out of the bag is that you are some self important renter who feels some sense of entitlement as a local because for the past 8 months you've been ble to occupy a studio ap[artment without being evicted. I'd guess somewhere in the nasty slum section of Capitol Hill between Broadway and I-5 and E. Roy and East Olive.

As for my living on the Hil, there are plenty of times I wish I could have said that I didn't live on Capitol Hill, especially during WTO, and every protest since then, which are far too numerous to name. Or every spring when a new crop of homeless kids shows up and every fall when the steal everything they can get their hands on so they can leave......

Street Smart....

I know soo that you were the lone idiot who showed up.

That's Hilarious.

BTW, here's my prediction. Your protest will be over by the end of next week.

Street Smart, I may not be from Seattle but I've lived here for 8 1/2 years. I think I know something about the issue at hand. I also know how to read the blog, so thanks for your lesson but I'm well past the need for it.

What I was responding to, was your assertion that this is some Capitol Hill only subject. It's much much bigger than that. I don't live on the Hill but I have spent a dollar or 1,000 at many Hill restaurants. I haven't heard of Septieme before all this but the smarminess of nearly all the pro-boycott bloggers (and not whether Santiago was right or wrong) means I'll seek it out the next time I go that way.

Steertsmart...

I think you need a name change.

How about something more fitting? Streetkid? Boycotttool? Lone protestor? Gotaquarter?

How about an educational meeting with this guy rather then ruining his business and his life?

Geewhiz: That's too sensible. The boycotters made up their minds the instant they heard the news. The dictatorship of the proletariat has spoken!

What I want to know is why isn't anybody boycotting the Broadway Grill? I heard that they hired some illegals, had them work for two weeks, discovered that they were illegal at that point, and then refused to pay them for the work they did.

Any truth to that story?

Geewiz...

You are taking what the protestors on this board say too seriously.

They have zero if no effect on this man's business and the people who have started to patronize septiem are a much better cleintelly for Mr. Santiago.

You know, people with jobs other than barrista's and cashiers. Loosley translated as people that can actually affpord to pick up a check.

On the suject of Protestors. As I was writing earlier a couple of I anonymous columns came to mind. These were originally posted in the The Stranger two weeks following the WTO protests way back in Dec of '99 but I think they truly stand the test of time and if you replace wto and the City with Immigration march and septieme, it seems quite appropriate:

Dec. 19, 1999
I DON'T LIKE PROTESTERS
I, ANONYMOUS
This is to all you people who protested the WTO: While you have the right to your opinion, what makes you think you have the right to disrupt the entire city? I saw you on TV with your crappy signs and chants. I was hoping the police -- who, by the way, did an OUTSTANDING job -- would use real bullets on all you fucksticks. Ninety percent of you didn't even know what the hell you were supposed to be protesting! And after you assholes got tear-gassed, you looked like little pussies trying to rub shampoo out of your eyes.

And what nerve! You get arrested, and then not only demand to be released, but demand an apology? Here's your apology: FUCK YOU! The police should've clubbed you like baby seals. Give the cops a break. These are the same police you rely on when somebody breaks into your shitty VW bus, and rips off your stereo. I'd like to pin some of you down with my boot at your throat, and drop a cinder block on your fucking head.

You think you got your "message" across? What message? Nobody gives a shit about you people or your views. You think all the evil powers of the world that were in Seattle were scared by a bunch of granola-eating, tree-hugging fags? Your performance made me want to punch myself in the face, then vomit.

Dec 23. 1999

THE WORLD HAS HAD ENOUGH
To the scraggly-assed hippie in the second row at the city council hearing on police brutality: Do us all a favor next time AND SIT IN THE BACK ROW! Remember this, mon petit infected anal butt-hair, when you pick at your stringy beard while the guy from the ILU is talking, THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING! When the lady from Mothers Against Police Harassment is speaking and you go diving for earwax with your dirty little finger, THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING! And when you dribble yogurt down your beard because you're eating with your mouth open, THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING!
Another thing to remember is don't chew gum on television; it's revolting even when beautiful people are doing it. AND DON'T EVER, EVER PLAY MOUTH POCKET POOL WITH YOUR DENTURES, OKAY? Because (as stated earlier) THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING!

Anti-WTO organizers, progressives everywhere, puh-leeze: It's a cruel, looks-ist world on TV, where youth, beauty, and anorexia dominate -- so try to keep the flakes off-screen, okay? And to our city council: How about setting up two cameras next time? It's unbearable to watch some scraggy-assed intestinal polyp endlessly pushing up his Section 8 glasses when he isn't picking his nose, digging in his ear, or dribbling yogurt down his stringy little beard. Important topics are being discussed! It makes our concerns, your office, and the whole democratic process a joke.

Pablo
"Pacho Villa and Zapatista"

I assume you meant Pancho Villa and Zapata as in Emiliano Zapata, the military leader of the Mexican revolution. Zapatista refers to the rebels from Chiapas who fought under Marcos and are now engaged in some civic form of rebellion.

Now, Pancho Villa never claimed, and could never be accused of being a revolutionary. He basically was an opportunist who joined the revolution for his own purposes. Ricardo Flores Magon, considered by many the architect of the Mexican revolution, was always critical of him and called him some of the foulest name in the Castillian Language. So if you are trying to say Pancho Villa as a revolutionary or a rep of the Mexican people would have fired, than you are at best, ill informed or historically challanged. Considering that you said Zapatista instead of Zapata, I would choose historically challanged.

Now if you meant the Zapatistas, I can assure you that as the anti nafta lefties that they are, they would not have fired the manager.

Now Pablo(ito), if you are going to reference names ( or name drop) please get it right, if not, you come off as, I dont know, ignorant?

Everyone continues to ignore the plight of the workers at Septieme, who are losing their income and their jobs with each day of slowed down business. A petty tip on a drink order isn't gonna cover their wages, especially if things get so slow that they get sent home early. These workers have families and expenses that are going to be harder to pay with each day that you (mostly-caucasian) self-righteous, misguided idealists insist on boycotting this cafe just to stick it to an owner for firing his manager for insubordination that cost him a whole day of business revenue.

What about the workers whose families and lives you are fucking over? All to prove a point to some guy who has relatively little to lose, a point that ironically is meant to defend some of the very people whose lives you're ruining?

Stupid misguided assholes.

Someguy wrote:

Steertsmart...

I think you need a name change.

How about something more fitting? Streetkid? Boycotttool? Lone protestor? Gotaquarter?

Street Smart replies:

I'm sorry you're confused, this must be very frustrating for you.

We started by debating the merits of a Septieme boycott because its patrons didn't like the owner's decisions. Now, for no apparent reason, your official rebuttal is that you want me to have a new screen name that suggests I'm homeless.

If I comply with your (weird-ass) request, will you make sense?

C'mon,ECB.
You do come across as very much trying to promote a boycott.

ECB is not "promoting" a boycott. She was assigned to write about the situation at Septieme in the Stranger and on the Slog. The situation at Septieme includes calls for a boycott. She'd be derelict if she failed to write about that.

Uh...Josh.
I know how to read.
ECB is promoting a boycott.
And if it is at your behest, then YOU are promoting a boycott.

Unless you go back and purge your files and the Slog archives, too, it will be pretty obvious to anyone who reads through the them that you have been egging on your readers to boycott a particular business because you disagree with the owner's actions. That's the way I read it, anyway. You are throwing your weight around. And I wonder if it is even political. It's not about the Mexicans -- it's about the Stranger showing merchants how much power you have.

What people have to remember about The Stranger is that before it is a cool feel-good let's-fuck-all-night-long community, it is a business devoted to making money through advertising.

Power = advertising.
Advertising = profit.

I'm not ready to buy that the Stranger or ECB have it in for Septieme, but the tone of her blogs betrays that she is, or was, on the boycotter's side. If she wasn't, why is she starting to feel a little sorry for Septieme?

I'm going to throw it down (though I doubt anyone will read this): How is boycotting this business, owned by a one-time illegal immigrant who (on the surface at least) is the embodiment of the american dream, going to help the pro-immigrant cause?

Street smart is wrong when he says it's just about what Septieme regulars who live on Capitol Hill think. If that were so it warrant mention in the Stranger or the P-I. It's rooted in the immigration "reform" battle which is a national issue. (I'm practically giddy about it because the republicans really stuck their hands in a wasp's nest this time.)

If you were a regular and you really like the old manager, that's one thing. But when you say this boycott is for social justice, I say -- prove it.

Street Smart, you've been the most, eh, "vocal" boycott proponent on this blog so far. Care to give it a shot? Remember, I'm looking for a case for the boycott based on how it supports the immigrants.

Um, if folk were really "progressive" maybe they would talk with Victor and see if maybe he would donate some funds or food to an immigrant rights organization or the next march to "redeem" himself. It's like folks went from zero to boycott in 2 seconds, losing sight of the issue(?) helping immigrants. There are other options available to assist rather than shutting down. It may not look as flashy, but the intention is the same.

To me there are still some missing pieces from the Vance firing story. I mean do they have a history of not getting along? Didn't it seem like Victor was like, hey I'm going to fire anyone who doesn't show up and Vance stepped up into the line of fire, and well got fired. I mean was Victor kidding or something? Was there surprise? I'd be interested to know if Vance was surprised that he got fired.
Seemed as a business owner Victor's bluff was called and he exercised a defensive option -I'm going to fire your ass. Diplomacy 101, negotiation, hell, being able to understand people's egos says back someone in corner, they will chew through you to get out, even it hurts them in the process.

Also, was every other restaurant business on B'way closed? Are the "Latino-owned" establishments they only restaurants we think have immigrants working for them, regardless of status or was it a timing issues since septieme seems to be open practically all day.

And yes, I'll supply my "Septieme cred", I was a fairly regular eater at Septieme during the Kurt owner days and not so much during the current Victor adminstration. The neon thing just bugged me, I guess

Go back to the first post on Septieme. There's something funny going in here. I'm not saying that the Stranger is directly trying to extort money from Septieme for advertising. It's never that direct and they are too smart to do something so dumb.

But it does look to me like they are trying to show Cap Hill merchants that the Stranger is powerful and that it can cause you trouble -- or be a "good friend."

But just remember -- The Stranger is a business aiming to make money and you have to read its stories in that light. How many of you know how much Dan Savage makes? How much ownership he has in the Stranger? The guy is a capitalist and while there is nothing wrong with that you have to read the paper and its stories in the context of making money.

cool, Stranger as Mafia... I can dig it.

THE BOYCOTT CONTINUES THROUGH MAY.

That is the OFFICIAL WORD ON THE STREET.

All of us feel sorry for staff members. But let's be clear, it's the waiters (who are not Latino), not the kitchen workers (who are Latino) who are taking the monetary hit. Kitchen workers are on salary, waiters depend more on tips.

20 MORE DAYS.

If you're feeling guilty or "bad" regarding your favorite waiters, stop in and have a tea or beer and slip him or her a $20. Do not honor Victor in any way.

Didnt Victor offer him his job back and this Vance lad said no? It would seem that he tried to correct his mistake or his previous decission. If thats the case, than why boycott him? Of course, some of the customers could feel that it is the principle, but if a reason for a boycott is to correct a wrong than he tried to correct it, therefore, what is the purpose of continuing it? Victor is not a bad guy, Im sure he struggled with this decission, and he tried to correct it.

As far as the boycott hurting his workers, I think that the workers who walk out, always take a chance, and they know the consequences of those actions and take them. Workers arent children, they know what they are doing. They are courageous and knew very well that their jobs could have been lost, but they felt strongly about the issue and took the chance. More power to them.

This one is tough, specially if it is true that he tried to offer the job back. I think there are lessons to be learned here, and maybe a drink with Victor and his customers could be the better route. Or not.

Raw Data,

Calm down. And learn the difference between writers and ad salespeople.

Erica "Capitalist" Barnett

You're retarded, "Mayboycott". Kitchen staff isn't on "salary", they are paid by the hour. And they get sent home when things are slow. That's a loss of income for every day that business is slow.

ECB

While raw data has gone a bit overboard on his Mafia analogy, he does bring a great point to light.

Erica, you mention the differences between writers in Ad Sales.

The Stranger has a long history of irrespsonsible journalism affecting it's Adevrtising as well as it's distribution. I seem to recall Starbucks telling to get your publication out of all their stores a few years back. The Amount of Advertisers who have pulled their accounts due to writers spouting off at the mouth are too numerous to list (ask Ben for some examples, he'll tell you all you need to know).

At any rate, the division of editorial integrity and sales is one that the Stranger (as well as any publication) struggles with.... in the case of the stranger where you don't have circulation sales, nor promotional items, Advertising is your primary means of financial support.

As you are a local publication, your tactic of attempting to create a boycott (which you clearly are) on a local business is, quite frankly, economic suicide and ultimately, your bias against this business is the heighth of stupidity.

As a clarification: you use as an example the separation of Editorial and Advertising as a justification on why econmic sanctions should not be held against the Stranger for, quite frankly, your mix of ego, opinions on socialism and a bit stupidity. In a nutshell, you want a job and want to make social disctinction and hold opinions which are contrary to the economic well being of the Stranger,

Should that same excuse not apply to the owner of cafe Septieme? Do they not have the right to make business decisions which may or may not be viewed as socially acceptable, without the risk of having some crackpot want to ruin them financially?

ECB,
Dea!

And maybe you could learn the difference between reporting the news and creating it?

btw, & for the record, you notice that ECB doesn't deny my allegations but simply tries to change the subject. She doesn't deny that her posts are a grasp for power on the part of the Stranger.

Are there ECB posts that have been deleted from this thread? Some of the comments seem to refer to an ECB posting that I don't see?