Thread: Bogota Voters to Consider Official Language

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Posted: Friday, 18 August 2006 9:51AM

Bogota Voters to Consider Official Language


BOGOTA, N.J. (NorthJersey.com) -- Voters will get their say on whether English should be the official language of this Bergen County town.

The nonbinding referendum was approved for the Nov. 6 ballot by the Bogota Borough Council in a 4-2 vote Thursday.

It was proposed by Mayor Steve Lonegan, who said approval would ensure that English would unify the town of about 8,250, The Record of Bergen County reported in Friday's newspapers.

"Ultimately, this is for our children,'' Lonegan said, adding it would help people assimilate. "It's about what we're going to do for our culture.''

Others decried the question as anti-immigrant. "This is causing racism among people who speak English and those who don't,'' resident Martha Alvarez said. "It's tearing the town apart.''

If the English-only ordinance is enacted, it would require that all borough business be conducted and written in English, unless federal or state law require otherwise. Federal law actually requires that the ballot question be printed in English and Spanish, the newspaper reported.

No New Jersey town has an official language.

Lonegan last month demanded that McDonald's change a billboard to English from Spanish. The restaurant chain refused, and an English-only ordinance would not apply to such advertisements.

The 2000 Census found that 21 percent of Bogota's residents are of Hispanic heritage, up from 10 percent in 1990. Whites, which can include Hispanics, were the largest ethnic group in 2000, accounting for 76 percent of residents.

The 2000 Census found that 21 percent of Bogota's residents are of Hispanic heritage, up from 10 percent in 1990. Whites, which can include Hispanics, were the largest ethnic group in 2000, accounting for 76 percent of res

Hispanic 21% but NOW we'll jump on the "white" bandwagon to increase your numbers to 76%. NO THANK YOU!!!!!

When did they start speaking english in New Jersey?