Nashville poised to become largest city to go with English only for government business

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Nashville could become the largest U.S. city to make
English the mandatory language for all government business under a measure
being put before voters Thursday, but critics say it might invite lawsuits
and even cost the city millions in federal funding.

Though similar measures have passed elsewhere, the idea has ignited an
intense debate. Proponents say using one language would unite the city, but
business leaders, academics and the city's mayor worry it could give the
city a bad reputation, because, as Gov. Phil Bredesen put it, "it's mean
spirited."

The referendum's most vocal supporter, city Councilman Eric Crafton
collected enough signatures to get the "English First" charter amendment on
the ballot because he fears government won't run smoothly if his hometown
mirrors New York City, where services are offered in Spanish, Chinese,
Russian, Korean, Italian and French Creole.

Crafton has tried to eliminate the city's language translation services
since 2006, but the mayor vetoed a similar measure in 2007.

"A community that speaks a common language is unified and efficient," said
Crafton, who is fluent in Japanese and married to a native of Japan.

Exactly how much English would be silenced if the measure passes is murky.
While it requires that all government communication and publications be
printed in English, it allows an exception for public health and safety.

If it passes, there will be uncertainty about what government services can
be translated and what can't, said health department spokesman Brian Todd.
For example, the public health exemption might allow health workers to use
translation to tell an immigrant with tuberculosis or a sexually transmitted
disease how to avoid contaminating others, he said.

The department currently provides brochures in several languages about
health issues ranging from disease prevention to the side effects of
immunizations. It also uses translation services to help enforce dog leash
laws and codes that prohibit lots with high grass and weeds.

"Are we going to be able to go out and tell someone in English only that
they've got to cut their grass?" Todd said.

Detractors have also said the English First policy may not survive a court
challenge because Title VI of the Civil Rights Act requires agencies that
receive federal dollars to provide free translation services.

Todd said the health department could lose about $25 million in federal
funds if it stopped translation services. The city's finance director,
Richard Riebeling, said if it passes, he will urge departments to continue
providing translation services so Nashville does not "risk millions of
dollars in federal grants."

Thirty states, including Tennessee, and at least a dozen cities have
declared English their official language, said K.C. McAlpin, executive
director of the Arlington, Va.-based ProEnglish.

ProEnglish has contributed at least $19,000 to support the referendum. But
proponents of the measure missed a campaign finance deadline, so the total
raised and spent isn't yet public. Opponents collected about $300,000.

The measure would affect a significant block of Nashville residents. About
10 percent of Nashville's nearly 600,000 people speak a language other than
English in their homes, according to census data, and the city's Hispanic
population boomed to 5 percent this decade. The city is home to the nation's
largest Kurdish community and is a resettlement spot for refugees from
Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Adversaries argue that the city spends little on translation services. The
only documented expenditure is for Monterey, Calif.-based Language Line
Services, which provides phone interpretations in 176 languages. Between
April 2004 and December 2008, Nashville spent $522,287 on the service - less
than 1 percent of the city's $1.5 billion annual budget. By comparison, the
referendum is costing $300,000, elections officials said.

Immigrants and advocates say it takes a long time to learn English. If the
measure passes, there won't be much time to catch up: The council would have
10 days to certify the vote, and the measure would take effect after that.

Remziya Suleyman, 24, a Kurdish refugee from Zaxo, Iraq, moved to Nashville
in 1992 with her family. It took her three years to learn English in
Nashville public schools.

Her 43-year-old mother, however, still struggles.

"She doesn't know how to read and write English even after being here for 17
years because, like many other refugees, she had to work three jobs at one
point for the family to survive," Suleyman said.