Pahrump Passes English Only Ordinance
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=5682621

Nov 14, 2006


It's been called racist, but the small town of Pahrump went forward with a vote to make English the official language of the town.

The proposal brought dozens out to comment tonight and officials wanted to make sure they heard from everyone before making a decision on this controversial issue.

It was emotional and it was sometimes heated. But after a lot of debate, the town board voted three to two to make English the official language of Pahrump. The meeting drew hundreds of people with just as many opinions.

Pahrump officials say the town hall meeting was unlike any other with hundreds of people. media from all over Nevada, and a strong police presence all for an ordinance that even the proposer called "token."

Town board member Michael Miraglia brought forward an ordinance that would make English the official language of Pahrump and Nye County.

Miraglia said, "We're in America. We're speaking American English. That's the way it should be. You know, if you go to Mexico, are they going to accommodate us?"


Miraglia hopes his idea gains momentum and that English is made the official language of the state, but some say that's racist.

Pahrump resident Maria Anderson commented, "I think it makes 'em look a little un-American since this country was founded by immigrants."

Before the town board voted, supporters and critics took their turns speaking out. Here are a few of the comments:

"This is America, one language please."

"Freedom of speech is freedom to speak in any language, not just English."

"If they come here, they learn English. What they speak at home is entirely different."

"I'll be damned if I have to tell my kids they can't have both cultures both English and Spanish."

The American Civil Liberties Union even threatened a constitutional lawsuit for a provision in the ordinance that would make it illegal to fly a foreign flag by itself.

Lee Rowland, with the ACLU, said, "Our freedom is based on our abilities to express ourselves as Americans, and as Americans that has a lot of meanings for a lot of people."

In the end the town board voted to narrowly pass the ordinance making Pahrump an English-first town.

Other provisions of the ordinance make it illegal to fly a foreign flag by itself and prohibits illegal immigrants from receiving any benefits from the town of Pahrump.

There is no way to really enforce this ordinance. It even states that Pahrump will not discourage the use or learning of other languages.

Town officials say this law will be implemented in about a month.

Just Monday night, a town just outside of Dallas also made English the official language.

City officials in Farmers Branch, Texas voted unanimously to pass the ordinance, which also bans landlords from leasing to undocumented immigrants and penalizes businesses that employ illegal immigrants.