Dear Commons Community,

On Friday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he would not support a ban against the beleaguered fast-food chain Chick-fil-A, whose owner, Dan Cathy, has drawn controversy by vocally opposing same-sex marriage. Mr. Bloomberg said he firmly believed in a business’s right to sell fried chicken to the masses, regardless of its owners’ beliefs.    Chick-fil-A has been criticized by several prominent mayors including Thomas M. Menino of Boston and Rahm Emanuel of Chicago, who have been “incensed” by Chick-fil-A’s donations to groups that fight same-sex marriage.

“It’s inappropriate for a city government, or a state government, or the federal government to look at somebody’s political views and decide whether or not they can live in the city, or operate a business in the city, or work for somebody in the city,” the mayor said on his Friday morning radio show. Mr. Bloomberg’s comments put him on the same side of the debate as many evangelical Christians and the American Civil Liberties Union. “I don’t agree with the A.C.L.U. on a lot of things, but in this case they happen to be right,” the mayor said.

The mayor said that if Chick-fil-A wanted to open a New York City store, “they got to find a space, and clear it with the Buildings Department, the health department, get a grade for their food — you know, ‘A,’ hopefully — and put it up.”

I would have to say that Mayor Bloomberg is amazingly consistent in his support of corporate and business interests.

Tony