The "English only" movement has sadly reared its anti-immigrant head in Minnesota. As this edition went to press, the Lino Lakes City Council was considering an ordinance that makes English the only language used in city materials.
That's a shortsighted, impractical approach that sends a negative, unwelcoming message to immigrants. More enlightened officials recognize that it's in the best interest of government for all residents to understand policies and services.
Proposed by Council Member Dave Roeser, the ordinance would make English the "official" language of Lino Lakes. It would bar the use of tax dollars to translate information into other languages, with exceptions including health, public safety and education. Any other city actions or communication would be released only in English.
The exceptions obviously reflect the importance of getting crucial information out in a way all residents can understand. Why not treat other city information the same way? Well -informed people are better equipped to be contributing citizens. Immigrants deserve to have access to materials about parks and recreation and property regulations just like any other resident.
Roeser says his plan is all about "economics" and "forward thinking." He believes banning other languages could save the city thousands of dollars in the future, citing the potential cost of translating printed material or information online. He's concerned about cost, even though to date the city has never spent a dime for translation.
No other Minnesota cities have required English as an official language, according to the League of Minnesota Cities. In fact, a number of them see the issue quite differently.
Willmar, for example, publishes information in English, Spanish and Somali to make it easier for its new American residents to navigate city systems and services. In that western Minnesota town of nearly 20,000, about 15 to 20 percent of its residents speak a language other than English.
The city has a partnership with its school district and the West Central Integration Collaborative for help with translation, diversity and other multicultural matters. WCIC has a similar arrangement with eight school districts, four counties and 16 other towns in the region; all of those branches of local government wisely understand the value of communicating with immigrant communities. In fact, WCIC Director Charly Leuze says translating information saves money because printed and online material is cheaper than the telephone, door-to-door, or other types of labor-intensive outreach.
