Legal Threats Force Town to Rescind English-Only Ordinance, Sponsor Says

By Elizabeth Llorente

Published June 01, 2011

This button, worn by some delegates at the GOP National Convention in 2008, captures a popular sentiment across the country that also inspired an ordinance in Jackson Township, New York calling for English to be recognized as the official language. Jackson's ordinance requires that only English be the spoken and written language used during government business.

The sponsor of an English-only ordinance in a small New York town is bracing for the measure to be overturned by his fellow council members Wednesday.

Councilman Roger Meyer said the threat of legal action by the state Attorney General, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union, leaves Jackson Township little choice but to back off its determination to have the English-only law.

“I’m sure it will be voted down at the next meeting,â€