Thread: English only returns to spotlight in Carpentersville

http://link.toolbot.com/chicagotribune.com/79530
English-only law returns to spotlight
Heated issue back in Carpentersville
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By George Houde and Jeff Long, Chicago Tribune. George Houde is a freelance reporter; Jeff Long is a Tribune staff reporter

May 16, 2007

Fierce opposition to a proposed English-only ordinance in Carpentersville continued Tuesday night as residents voiced concerns that it would cause legal problems and force businesses out of town.

Reviving part of a debate that saw 3,000 protesters turn out last year, village trustees planned to deliberate on the proposed ordinance, which would make English the village's official language.

The proposal, more restrictive than an English-only resolution passed last month in far northwest suburban Hampshire, says making English the official language will "establish a linguistic unity that brings a critically needed cohesion to a village as diverse, multiracial and multiethnic as Carpentersville."

Hampshire officials say their ordinance applies only to what is spoken at Village Board meetings, written in correspondence or posted on the village Web site. The Carpentersville ordinance would not be as limited and spells out that only English will be used in meetings, proceedings, forms, documents, publications -- even signs.

Late Tuesday, trustees had yet to take up the issue at their meeting, but many residents made their feelings clear during a public comment session.

Mireya Aguilera said the ordinance would divide the community. "I am disgusted," Aguilera said in the packed board room. "Are we going to let hatred do this?"

Another resident, Adam Ruiz, told the board that the village needs diversity and that the ordinance would not promote that. "Why are certain trustees on an issue that is insignificant?" Ruiz said. "Our village needs to recognize that diversity is the key to success."

Trustee Paul Humpfer, who supports the proposal, said he wanted one that was stronger than Hampshire's. "We're looking to put more teeth in our ordinance," he said.

Before the meeting, Village President Bill Sarto, calling the proposal racist, said it would do more harm than good in a town where 40 percent of the population is Latino.

"I find it offensive," he said. "I think it smacks of racism. It smacks of discrimination."

Making English the only language used for such things as the village newsletter would cause problems because many residents wouldn't know about new policies, Sarto said.

For example, a recent notice that uniform garbage receptacles were being distributed was in English and Spanish in the newsletter. And a Spanish translator helped officials explain to a mostly Spanish-speaking crowd that grants were available to fix up their homes.

"We wouldn't have been able to hold that meeting," Sarto said.

The ordinance also would mean that several bilingual village employees couldn't speak Spanish with residents who come to Village Hall for help.

"It's counterproductive to us doing our village business effectively," he said.

Trustee Judy Sigwalt, who proposed the ordinance, denied that the measure would prevent the use of Spanish interpreters and insisted that Spanish could still be spoken in Village Hall to help residents.

She also said the village would retain Spanish-speaking employees to help residents and denied that racism played a role in proposing the English-only law.

"Illinois has designated English as the official language of the state," she said Tuesday before the meeting. "We are reaffirming that resolution. It is a starting point for people to assimilate into the English language."

The English-only requirement was part of the so-called Illegal Alien Immigration Relief Act, a wider-ranging proposal tabled in October. The proposal also would have denied a business permit to any employer found to have knowingly hired undocumented workers and would have fined landlords $1,000 if they rented apartments to illegal immigrants.

Sigwalt, Humpfer Keith Hinz, a newcomer to the board, had run in the April election with promises to crack down on illegal immigration. After the election, Sigwalt said they, and Trustee Kay Teeter, who has supported efforts to crack down on illegal immigration, had the majority needed on the seven-member board to reopen the debate.

They vowed to revive discussion of their proposal. It measure was postponed after several thousand protesters turned out for an October meeting. The board tabled it indefinitely to see how court challenges to a similar law in Hazleton, Pa., played out. Those challenges could take years.

The ordinance was needed, supporters said, to deal with overcrowded housing and unpaid ambulance bills, problems they attributed to residents who are in the country unlawfully.

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jjlong@tribune.com
Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune

Thanks Crazybird for this article,

But I must say:

Darn, I'm confused again!

Does this mean that SPEAKING ENGLISH is actually an Act of HATE?

Mireya Aguilera said the ordinance would divide the community. "I am disgusted," Aguilera said in the packed board room. "Are we going to let hatred do this?"

Another resident, Adam Ruiz, told the board that the village needs diversity and that the ordinance would not promote that.

Why do we need "diversity"? We've managed for over 225 years without Adam Ruiz's diversity (a code word implying we should allow all of mexico and south america to overrun the USA).

According to this they are having another meeting tonight.
Btw many interesting comments being left at the link.
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Carpentersville eyes English-only bill

May 16, 2007
By KATHY GRESEY - kgresey@nwnewsgroup.com
Comments (25 comment(s))
CARPENTERSVILLE – On the heels of Hampshire’s decision to adopt English as its official language, Carpentersville is expected to resume talks about a similar measure tonight.

Trustee Judy Sigwalt requested earlier this month that an official-language discussion item be put on an upcoming Carpentersville meeting agenda.

She and Trustee Paul Humpfer said they would approve making English the official language of the village.

“It’s on the agenda to discuss,â€

Carpentersville Can't Commit
May 16, 2007

A northwestern suburb is still grappling with a proposal to make English its official language.

Carpentersville was slated to vote on an English-only ordinance last night.

But the board put off the vote, amid questions about whether the ordinance’s language would hold up in court.

Village President Bill Sarto says board members will meet with lawyers next week.

SARTO: What I’m trying to do is get some expert opinion on this subject, you know, before we make any other moves at all.

Sarto says other towns that have passed similar ordinances have faced lawsuits and high legal fees.

The ordinance would require all official communications from the village to be in English only.

http://chicagopublicradio.org/CityRoom_ ... ryID=10802