Chick-fil-A will remain blocked from doing business in the San Antonio International Airport, for now. The San Antonio City Council, which had already voted against having the fast-food restaurant in the city-run airport, brought its previous decision back to the agenda on Thursday, where it was once again voted down.
Council member Greg Brockhouse, a candidate for San Antonio mayor, spearheaded the motion to put Chick-fil-A back on the agenda, saying just last week "The removal of Chick-fil-A has embarrassed us."
And when Brockhouse introduced the proposal, he said, "I consider this opportunity today to be a defining moment for this council," the councilman said in the San Antonio Express-News.
The council voted 6-4 vote in late March to keep the chicken restaurant out of the airport. Amid a backlash from some lawmakers in the state, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent the city a letter, saying his office was investigating the matter. Paxton also called on U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to look into any potential violations of federal laws or regulations.
The members who voted against Chick-fil-A's placement in Terminal A of the San Antonio airport cited the restaurant's record on issues within the LGBTQ community, according to USA Today.
Thursday's vote was 6-5, with councilmember Art Hall claiming he wouldn't change his mind from the March vote because he felt a council shouldn't change their minds after a vote, the Express-News reported.
Brockhouse said Thursday could have been a step toward righting a wrong, and not rejecting a company's religious freedom.
"We had a chance to fix that today and follow the will of our City, who have spoken clearly that the removal of Chick-fil-A was a mistake," Brockhouse said. "This Council again rejected religious freedom and voted against people of faith."
A similar issue happened last month at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. After Chick-fil-A was originally approved a location inside BNIA, a state assemblyman slammed the decision makers on Twitter, and it was ultimately reversed by the concession company that oversees the airport's food vendors. Chick-fil-A is still not on the list to get into the Buffalo airport.
"I strongly urge the NFTA to reverse this decision," assemblyman Sean Ryan wrote on Twitter. "I don't believe the leadership of the NFTA intends to help spread hate and discrimination, but allowing a corporation like Chick-fil-A to do business at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport will help to fund continued divisive anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. New York is a welcoming state that celebrates diversity."
And last week, the San Jose, California, city council voted to fly rainbow flags in support of the LGBTQ community near the Chick-fil-A inside its airport. The city will fly those same flags at the airport's entrance.
Uncommon Knowledge
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