Maryland Council Passes English Only Measure

[Logan13]

Maryland Council Passes English Only Measure
WBAL NBC
Nov. 14, 2006

TANEYTOWN, Md. -- English is now the official language of this central Maryland town of 5,000, after the Taneytown City Council approved a nonbinding resolution, deciding against a charter that had drawn complaints from civil rights groups and residents.

"This issue is not, I repeat not, about giving up your native tongue," said Councilman Paul Chamberlain, Jr., the resolution's sponsor, after Tuesday's vote. "All we're asking is if you become a U.S. citizen, please speak English. There are two reasons: one, you can have greater opportunities to realize the American Dream, and two, so that we can communicate."

Chamberlain, who made the English-only issue a key part of his failed bid for the Republican nomination for a state Senate seat, denied the issue was an election-year ploy.
Although town officials have not had problems dealing with non-English speakers, Chamberlain told The Carroll County Times that he wanted to be proactive. He believes a majority of residents support making English the official language.

Mayor W. Robert Flickinger said the nonbinding English Language Unity resolution was preferable to a charter change that would have been costly to implement and probably would have prompted court challenges.

A 2002 state law requires all state agencies to provide interpreters and to translate crucial documents into any language spoken by at least 3 percent of the population. The resolution calls for all city government business to be conducted in English except where prohibited by state or federal law.

Elizabeth Alex, Baltimore manager of CASA of Maryland, an immigrants rights group, told The (Baltimore) Sun the resolution might withstand a legal challenge, but changing the town's charter to make English the official language could violate state law.

"Where it becomes tricky is when an agency has a mix of city and state funding and employees. There definitely could be some legal ramifications," said Alex, who attended the meeting.

Councilman James L. McCarron denounced the measure as unnecessary and divisive, saying in his more than 22 years on the council, no one has come forward with a comment or complaint who didn't speak English.

"I have no problem making English the official language of the state of Maryland or even America, but to make it the official language of Taneytown is simply a non-issue," McCarron said. "It's not a unity resolution. It's a disunity one."

More than 50 municipalities nationwide have at least considered a similar resolution, including Farmers Branch, Texas outside of Dallas, which voted to make English the town's official language Monday night.

The impact of the Taneytown resolution is unclear.

About 1.5 percent of Taneytown residents described themselves as Hispanic or Latino in the 2000 U.S. Census with 37 Taneytown residents saying they spoke English less than "very well."

In Hazleton, Pa., town officials passed a law in July to make English the official language and fine landlords who rent to undocumented immigrants and businesses that employ them. The Illegal Immigration Relief Act has been put on hold until February because of a court challenge, but Hispanic immigrants have already started to leave the town, said City Council President Joseph Yannuzzi.

"Just passing the ordinance has caused the illegal immigrants to leave," Yannuzzi said. "Most of the towns that surround us are passing it, too. Now, they're going to Scranton."

[Sepsis]

god do they need this shit in miami!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Shang III]

If other nations are allowed to perserve thier "heritage" that includes language, why on earth would anyone deny the USA that right, hell as far as I know the US is one of the few countries that will allow any group to to come in and maintain their "heritage" as lond as they assimalte. a problem with most immigrants now is that they want all wealth of their new country with out having to conform to its laws and social norms.

[Phreak101]

+1! Only 49 to go...

[Teabagger]

Less than 49. Arizona and I believe Ohio passed similar laws.... No Hablamos El Espanol!!!

[Phreak101]

Less than 49. Arizona and I believe Ohio passed similar laws.... No Hablamos El Espanol!!!

[humungus88]

Wow buddy, we agree on something. MD is in great need of some hardcore illegal alien laws as I believe we are not that far behind the border states as far as illegal invaders goes. But MD has always been a little BLUE pussy state.

[Logan13]

Wow buddy, we agree on something. MD is in great need of some hardcore illegal alien laws as I believe we are not that far behind the border states as far as illegal invaders goes. But MD has always been a little BLUE pussy state.

I heard last night that at least 52 other cities have adopted similar statutes.