Tuesday, December 9, 2008

THE WEEK; Making English Official Is on the Ballot in Bogota

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A00E3D7103EF934A1575BC0A9609C8B63


In 2006, Bogota (a New Jersian borough) put the issue of making English the official language on ballot. The controversy began when there was question about the use of Spanish on a McDonald's billboard. The mayor, Steve Lonegan strongly opposed the billboard saying it was "divisive". The vote was authorized by the Council on a 4-2 vote. Mayor Lonegan cited that people weren't paying their taxes and using language as an excuse, as one of the reasons. ''I think it's both practical as well as, I believe, helps to re-establish the fact that English is the official language of this country, while maybe not by law, certainly by heritage,'' Mr. Lonegan said. It was also noted that, by federal law, the question on the ballot will appear in English and Spanish.

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