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Sep. 29, 2006


'English' ordinance proposal elicits diverse reactions
MIRAGLIA'S NOISE ORDINANCE DRAFT WORRIES VALLEY ANIMAL OWNERS

By CHRISTINA EICHELKRAUT


More than 40 people packed the Pahrump Town Advisory Board meeting, largely for a chance to voice their comments and concerns in regard to two ordinances that were supposed to be read for the first time.

The first, numbered 54, was submitted by appointed board member Michael Miraglia. It would, if approved, establish English as the official language of Pahrump. This would mean that, as the ordinance draft states, "All official documents, regulations, orders, transactions, proceedings, programs, meetings, publications, or action taken and issued, which are conducted or regulated by, on or behalf of, or representing the Town of Pahrump and all its political subdivisions shall be in the English language."

The ordinance also contains provisions for the flying of the American flag and flags of other nations or organizations.

The same ordinance would establish regulations for businesses and how they should behave in regard to illegal immigrants.

The ordinance says that illegal immigrants cannot be hired by any Pahrump businesses and that "it is the responsibility of the employer to see to it that an employee is able to converse in English with customers and fellow workers ..."

In addition, the draft also states that "no person, employer, or business, such as a hotel, restaurant, or bar as an example, and not limited to those types of businesses, in the Town of Pahrump shall close in support of any foreign person(s), foreign flag, or foreign country unless requested to do so by the local, state or federal government."

Attached to the ordinance draft is a copy of a report written by Deborah Schuman-Kauflin of the Violent Crimes Institute titled, "The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration: Nearly One Million Sex Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants in the United States."

The ordinance sparked many passionate and varied comments from citizens during the meeting.

Vicky Parker said she was "appalled" at the "racist drivel" in the ordinance, saying that "the Bill of Rights applies to those who don't speak English."

Allen Lichtenstein, of the Nevada branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, faulted the ordinance on all counts, pointing out that several elements of the ordinance have all already been ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court and by other courts as well. Lichtenstein finished by stating that, if passed, the ordinance would "clearly (be) knocked out by the court, clearly not going to be enforceable, and clearly unconstitutional."

Other residents were not as opposed to the ordinance.

Art Jones pointed out that when he was younger, he used a lot of slang, but that he was also required to learn the English language formally, and when he used slang in school papers and such, he would be marked off.

"And that's still just English," said Jones. "It may not be the English you know, but it's still English. There's nothing wrong to learn English if you live in this country. You should be. If you're in America, you learn to speak the language; if you don't like it, tough titty."

Annette Fuentes, who came from a family of diverse immigrants, said, "My heart is torn because I understand both sides." Fuentes said that immigration policies need to change, not just on the local but on the federal level as well. "Instead of sitting here in a town, we should go to the government."

The other ordinance that drew vivid comments was number 55, also proposed by Miraglia, which if passed would establish a noise ordinance for Pahrump.

The summary of the ordinance states that "it shall be unlawful and a nuisance to make, continue or cause to be made or continued any loud, unreasonably loud, disturbing, unnecessary or excessive noise which unreasonably interferes with the comfort, health and safety of others and ... It shall be unlawful and a nuisance for any person to permit such noise to be made in or upon any house or premises owned or possessed by him or under his management or control."

This ordinance particularly concerned animal owners who live in more rural areas of Pahrump.

As William Gorley pointed out to the board, "The part in there about the animals is painted with a pretty broad brush. It says 'any loud or continuous noise.' Well, who judges what's loud or continuous? How long is continuous? Is it a minute, a half-minute? (The ordinance) is too vague."

Ironically, neither ordinance was read again because Miraglia himself was unable to attend the meeting.