Search
 

Freedom Of Speech For Your Tenants

landlords should not have to worry about their tenants personal views when negotiating a lease

By Joel Ross | Updated on August 05, 2012

You thought leasing retail space was hard before. Now you have to worry about the religious affiliation of your tenants, and the political views of the local government. While there have been internet motivated attempted boycotts of various stores in the past, I don’t recall anything like what we see with the Chic Fil A attacks from senior government officials in a totally unconstitutional attempt to control what people think and say. As you may be aware, in New York City, the lesbian chairman of the City Council demanded on writing that NYU break the lease with Chic Fil A for their outlet in the campus food court. So here we have a government official demanding the destruction by lease breach of a shop because that official is against the religion and beliefs of the CEO, owner. Do you recall Crystal Nacht. The Nazis destroyed Jewish stores because they objected to the religious beliefs of the store owners. There is no difference other than the destruction proposed in New York is by illegal breach of a lease and constitutionally illegal attacking freedom of speech and religion instead of physically destroying it as the Nazis did, but there is no real difference in result and intent. The mayors of Boston, Philadelphia and Boston were little better but only because there are no outlets yet in those cities.

It is pretty safe to assume that now freedom of speech by retailers is shut down. Target got hit because they donated perfectly legally to some organization that then gave money to someone who was against gay marriage. I am sure no retail CEO is now going to speak freely.

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free ALM Digital Reader.

Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:

  • Unlimited access to GlobeSt and other free ALM publications
  • Access to 15 years of GlobeSt archives
  • Your choice of GlobeSt digital newsletters and over 70 others from popular sister publications
  • 1 free article* every 30 days across the ALM subscription network
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM events and publications

*May exclude premium content
Already have an account?

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

GlobeSt

Join GlobeSt

Don't miss crucial news and insights you need to make informed commercial real estate decisions. Join GlobeSt.com now!

  • Free unlimited access to GlobeSt.com's trusted and independent team of experts who provide commercial real estate owners, investors, developers, brokers and finance professionals with comprehensive coverage, analysis and best practices necessary to innovate and build business.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM and GlobeSt events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com.

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join GlobeSt

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.