City Won’t Require English Business Signs

The City Council rejected a proposal Tuesday to require businesses with foreign-language signs to provide English translations.

“It might be premature,” Mayor Chris Norby said. “I think it’s not necessary at this time.”

Councilman Don Bankhead, who proposed the idea, said it would help police and firefighters responding to emergencies.

But both the police chief and the fire chief told the council that they have never had problems identifying locations.

Some residents who urged the council to require English subtitles said people who immigrate to the United States should speak English.

“We don’t owe these people anything,” said Patty Baldi, an opponent of foreign-language signs. “They have come to this country to make a new start of their lives and they’re welcome to do so, but live as an American. Be an American. Put your sign in English.”

Others complained that people who post business signs only in foreign languages are isolating themselves and being “rude” to those who cannot read them.

Resident Vic Victoria countered: “If you issue somebody a business license, it’s his business what he puts on his sign. Nobody else’s. It’s not rude, it’s just good business or bad business. . . . But we don’t have the right to tell people what to put on their signs unless we want to give up a certain right that is provided in the U.S. Constitution.”

The mayor and council members Jan M. Flory, F. Richard Jones and Julie Sa expressed similar sentiments.

“When someone opens a new business, his money is at stake, not the city’s and not the taxpayers’ money,” Sa said.