Two bits on businesses

Local Philadelphia restaurant chain Marathon Grill apparently isn't a great citizen, to judge from the fines they're required to pay for misuse of illegal immigrants and other employees.

"We've seen a pattern of them cheating employees out of their last paychecks - nickel and diming their way to higher profits," said Nadia Hewka, the Community Legal Services lawyer who filed the EEOC complaint. Her nonprofit agency represents low-income clients.

Meantime, city technology czar Diahnah Neff gets some props in an Inquirer editorial for withstanding criticism from all sides and working out a good deal for citywide WiFi.

Last week, Wireless Philadelphia responded to critics and doubters alike. It not only selected a solid corporate partner, Atlanta-based Earthlink, to build the city's wireless network; the nonprofit group headed by Neff also secured an offer from Earthlink to finance the construction.

Less risk to taxpayers, more expertise in the pot, and money to subsidize computer access for all. Good for the city's economic fairness and its national profile at once.