Photograph by George Sakkestad
Iranian-American business owner Kayvan Navai says he has felt no discrimination from the city.
By KATHERINE PETERSEN
The city has hired outside legal counsel to represent former mayor Frances Rowe and Director of Public Safety Regan Williams in a lawsuit filed by a local bar alleging harassment and intimidation.
Cheers, a nightclub on El Camino Real, filed the lawsuit in March, claiming the two public officials were conspiring to run Iranian businesses out of town.
But many of Sunnyvale's Iranian business owners said they have felt no prejudice from the city.
Kayvan Navai, owner of Precitiv Investigations and the Village restaurant, said he is an Iranian-American who has operated his businesses here for five years and has never experienced any bad treatment from the city.
"The government of this city has made us feel comfortable and welcome. I operate my businesses according to the city's rules and regulations," he said.
Navai added that many of his friends who are Iranian-American business owners have flourishing businesses and have not felt the discrimination alleged in the nightclub's lawsuit.
"We have had nothing but good service from the city," he said.
Navai, who used to own the Brave Bull in San Jose, said he knows many people in the bar business who sometimes place blame for their problems on others.
"I like these guys and have nothing against them, but this kind of statement is not good for anybody," he said.
Bobby Sadri, who is also an Iranian business owner, said he has operated his Murphy Avenue restaurant for four years without any bad feelings.
"I've always been treated just like anyone else," said the owner of Gumba's.
The city hired Joe Howard of Branson, FitzGerald, Howard of Redwood City to serve as Williams' legal counsel. After commissioning an outside analysis, the city decided to retain the same firm to represent Rowe. There had been some question on whether Rowe was a council member while the alleged acts cited in the lawsuit occurred.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, May 1, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.