Letter to the Editor 1: Rovezzi Treated Unfairly
Dear Editor,
I find it hard to believe that Matthew L. Brown just happened upon the information leading to the story about Rovezzi's Restaurants ("Rovezzi Rings Dinner Bell For Taxman," WBJ, Feb. 4, 2008). I understand that this information is public record and therefore available to anyone, but in order to obtain it you must be looking for it or have had someone "pass" it on to you. If indeed Mr. Brown was looking for information about restaurants that were, or are, in default with their meals tax, it seems very unlikely that Rovezzi's is the only Worcester area restaurant that falls into this category.
Having worked in the food industry as both a chef and an owner, I personally find it offensive and one-sided that this story singled out one chef and one establishment. There are many restaurants that have, at one time or another, fallen behind on their meals tax and, like Mr. Rovezzi, have come to an agreement with the IRS to pay them.
Anyone who knows Christopher Rovezzi can tell you that he is an honest man who puts his heart and soul into his food and business.
Rovezzi's restaurants participate in virtually all of the local charity fundraising events, often going above and beyond what is expected by offering auction items, such as having Mr. Rovezzi cook dinner in someone's home for them and a group of friends.
Additionally Mr. Rovezzi donates his time and his knowledge serving as the chair of the advisory committee to the Tantasqua High School Culinary Arts Program. This is not a man who was trying to cheat the system or get away with something, but rather a hard working chef/owner who went through a rough time and took the appropriate actions to rectify the situation.
Had Mr. Brown's article discussed other establishments who went through similar situations or addressed the issue with respect to the industry as a whole it may have served some useful purpose. As it was written, this article was no more than smear that unnecessarily singled out one chef and one establishment. Furthermore, the fact that Mr. Brown chose to print Mr. Rovezzi's home address as part of the article was nothing less than thoughtless.
Allessia Cabbibo
Worcester
WBJ Web Partners
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