Thread: Friendswood - LULAC seeks different English proposal

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4425137.html

Dec. 25, 2006, 1:01AM
LULAC seeks different English proposal
Group wants to promote, not make official, the language in Friendswood


By RUTH RENDON
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

RESOURCES
DEMOGRAPHICS IN FRIENDSWOOD

• Population: 29,037
• White: 26,158/90.1 percent*

• Hispanic or Latino: 2,553/8.8 percent

• Black: 783/2.7 percent

• Asian: 695/2.4 percent

*Hispanics who reported their race as white, either alone or in combination with one or more other races, are included in the numbers for whites.

Source: 2000 Census Bureau
FRIENDSWOOD — For a city founded by the Religious Society of Friends, a move to make English the city's official language strikes some as less than friendly.

City Councilman Chris Peden says ratifying English as the language of choice in this north Galveston County community is purely ceremonial and will not alter the way the city does business.

But the League of United Latin American Citizens sees a city charter amendment concerning the English language as bad policy and is instead working with the city on a resolution encouraging residents to learn English.

The Friendswood City Council has not taken action on the measure making English the official language, although a council majority is likely to favor placing the issue on the ballot in May. Voters, they say, can decide on the measure.

At a council meeting earlier this month in which tempers flared, Rick Dovalina, LULAC's Houston-area director, encouraged the city to pass a resolution, not an ordinance making English the official language in Friendswood.

Since that meeting, city officials have been working with LULAC on creating a resolution encouraging residents to learn English, instead of placing the measure on the ballot.

"We would be in agreement to a resolution promoting English. That actually goes back to the foundation of our organization," said Jose Luis Jimenez, deputy district director for LULAC's Houston district.

"One of our aims and purposes is to foster and promote the learning of the English language and at the same time maintain your native language to expand culture," he said. "Promoting English has always been one of our efforts."


Conducting business
Making English the official language, Peden said, would "make a statement that the business of the city is going to be transacted in English. Clearly, we are not going to go against any mandates."

He was referring to ballots printed in English, Spanish and any other language designated by the federal government.

The English addition to the city's charter would require that City Council meetings be conducted in English, as they are now. All newsletters would continue to be printed in English. A big change, should voters approve the measure, would be that all new city hires must be able to conduct a job interview in English. Six of the city's 180 employees do not speak English, he said.

"If they can interview with a person who speaks English, then they can be hired. I'm not saying we need to have some proficiency test. I'm not asking someone to converse with an engineer," said Peden, who has served on the council for more than a year.

"But if some guy is out digging ditches and he hits a gas line, he's got to be able to tell the citizens that live around that gas line to evacuate. 'Rapido, rapido' ('fast, fast') may not really come across to some folks. All we're trying to say is that if you can interview in English, they ought to be able to communicate. Really, it's not that big a deal."

Jimenez agrees that learning English is important, especially when it involves safety. LULAC, he said, has supported the petrochemical industry's efforts to have workers know English because of safety concerns.


City founded by Quakers
The city of Friendswood lies between Houston and Galveston, with portions of the city in southern Harris County.

The community was founded in 1895 by the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers. Francis Jacob Brown, a buffalo hunter and American Indian fighter of Quaker heritage, negotiated with J.C. League (of the now-adjacent League City) and purchased 1,500 acres, according to the Handbook of Texas Online.

The Quakers settled near Alvin but relocated because they disapproved of the local customs, which included dancing, and created Friendswood in honor of the Friends. Friendswood remained predominantly Quaker until 1958, when a local Baptist church was organized.

Today, Friendswood is mostly a bedroom community with many commuting to Houston or working in the aerospace industry associated with Johnson Space Center.


Community mostly white
Peden said Friendswood "is an extremely diverse community." But the 2000 Census shows that 90.1 percent of the city's population of 29,037 is white. Hispanics who reported their race as white, either alone or in combination with one or more other races, are included in the numbers for whites.

Other ethnic groups represented include blacks at 2.7 percent and Asian at 2.4 percent. Hispanic or Latino numbered 2,553, or 8.8 percent.

The census also shows that 10.4 percent of the city's population speaks a language other than English at home.

Thad Roher, director of accountability and elementary education for the Friendswood school district, said the 5,391-student district has 75 students for whom English is their second language. The district serves eight primary languages, he said.


'Misinformation' blamed
Although Peden brought up the issue at a recent council meeting, he said, he will not champion the cause.

"For those in the world who think this is race-baiting or we're trying to tell Hispanics we don't want them to live here, it's got nothing to do with ethnicity at all," he said. "We are ratifying the current practice with words."

Even though he has received overwhelming support on the issue, Peden said, he will not ask that it be placed on the ballot. The council, though, could still move in that direction.

"There is so much misinformation out there that I don't know of a way that I could personally put it on the ballot and it would be seen as anything other than racist," he said.

"Promoting English has always been one of our efforts."

How much of their annual budget goest towards teaching English?

Dixie

http://www.nbc5i.com/news/10609248/detail.html

Houston Suburb Pushes For English As Official City Language

POSTED: 8:31 am CST December 26, 2006
UPDATED: 8:39 am CST December 26, 2006

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FRIENDSWOOD, Texas -- Hispanic leaders in this Houston suburb are trying to convince city leaders to encourage residents to learn English rather than join a growing list of cities passing ordinances that some view as racially driven.

The League of United Latin American Citizens has asked the city's elected leaders to abandon the goal of making English the city's official language -- a move some believe would send a negative message -- and instead encourage learning of the language.

It's unclear whether the council in this town of 33,000, about 20 miles southeast of Houston, will drop its plan to put the issue to voters on a May ballot. The discussion comes in the wake of controversial anti-illegal immigration ordinances passed in November by the Dallas/Fort Worth suburb of Farmers Branch, which has already received legal challenges.


"One of our aims and purposes is to foster and promote the learning of the English language and at the same time maintain your native language to expand culture," said Jose Luis Jimenez, deputy district director of the Houston-area LULAC. "Promoting English as always been one of our efforts."

Last month, the Farmers Branch City Council unanimously passed a resolution making English the official language. Also adopted were other measures like requiring landlords to show proof of citizenship or residency for every prospective tenant, and allowing local authorities to enforce immigration laws.

The city has been served with two lawsuits since the ordinances passed. Opponents have also submitted a petition that they hope will force a public vote on the measures.

Friendswood councilman Chris Peden denies that establishing English as the city's language is "race-baiting" or "trying to tell Hispanics we don't want them to live here."

Passing the ordinance would require all city employees speak English. Currently six out of 180 do not, Peden said.

"We're ratifying the current practice with words," said Peden, referring to English being used for ballots, meetings and newsletters.

But at a city council meeting on Dec. 4, council member Laura Ewig said the change would set a bad tone for the city. She said people could take the ordinance to the extreme and wondered where the city would draw the line.

Peden said the proposal is partly about protecting the safety of the city's residents.

"If some guy is out digging ditches and he hits a gas line, he's got to be able to tell the citizens that live around that gas line to evacuate. 'Rapido, rapido' ('fast, fast') may not really come across to some folks," Peden said. "Really, it's not that big a deal."

At a council meeting earlier this month in which tempers flared, Rick Dovalina, LULAC's Houston-area director, encouraged the city to pass a resolution, not an ordinance making English the official language in Friendswood.

Since that meeting, city officials have been working with LULAC on creating a resolution encouraging residents to learn English, instead of placing the measure on the ballot.

"We would be in agreement to a resolution promoting English. That actually goes back to the foundation of our organization," said Jose Luis Jimenez, deputy district director for LULAC's Houston district.

Wow, LULAC has their finger in every pie in the nation! It disgust me to see these city officials working with LULAC on their so-called resolution agenda! Where are the concerned citizen organizations demanding a city-wide ordinance making English the city's official language? Why aren't they making "deals" with city officials? Americans need to start getting off the couch and into city hall! It's a tactic that seems to be working well for LULAC, LARAZA and other pro-illegal immigrant groups.

As a quaker (member of the religious society of friends) I applaud this move. I am planning a trip to the area this summer and hope that I will enter while this is going on.

dragons5 wrote:

As a quaker (member of the religious society of friends) I applaud this move.

Excuse me, exactly what move do you applaud? Is it that what was originally planned as an ordinance is now going to be turned into a watered down resolution?