Vento will hold a news conference this morning to present proposals to amend the Fair Practices ordinance under which he was charged with discrimination for his now world-famous sign: "This is America. When ordering, please speak English."

The changes Vento seeks were not available yesterday. That he's not in the mood to be rejected was apparent from the headline on the release sent to the media announcing today's event: "Change Rules or Face Lawsuit."

On March 19, a panel of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations issued a split decision that Vento's sign did not constitute discrimination, as had been alleged in a June 2006 filing by Rev. James S. Allen Sr., chairman of the commission. Joseph J. Centeno, a lawyer who headed the three-member panel, was the only one to vote against dismissing the complaint against Vento.

Vento, 68, had denied wrongdoing and has said no customers were ever turned away for failing to speak English at his sandwich stand. Since the commission's ruling, he has held out the possibility of suing for violations of his constitutional rights to free speech and due process, and to recover the cost of his legal defense.

Had the commission found that his signs discriminated, Vento could have been fined and had his business license revoked.

His news conference is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. at Geno's Steaks, 1219 S. 9th St.

Contact staff writer Michael Matza at 215-854-2541, or mmatza@phillynews.com.