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Language

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

English Only Ordinance Sparks Tensions

Residents speak their mind on a controversial ordinance in Carroll County.

At a public hearing to discuss an ordinance to make English the official language of Carroll County government, order was maintained but tensions ran high as speakers both applauded and demonized the Board of Commissioners for its proposal. “Everyone in this room has been inoculated against polio by law,” said Mike Stewart, “I didn’t like it then, but it was a proactive move. We didn’t have to wait to see what would happen.” Stewart said that other states spent tens of millions on translations and printing ballots in other languages. “I can’t really control what happens in California or DC, but I can start things here in my backyard …Just because we don’t have a problem now doesn’t mean we need to wait around for one. We need to be …

In this Article:

County Commissioners Implement Prayer at Meetings, Offend Some Constituents and Carroll County Government Leaders Sign Resolution Favoring Heterosexual Marriage

Comment_arrow

Buck Harmon

7:38 pm on Saturday, December 15, 2012

If the funds can improve the quality of life for human beings...spend them, far better than many other ways tax dollars are wasted by elected officials...   more ›

Monday, February 13, 2012

English Only? More Counties Say it in Spanish, Other Languages

Nearly 16 percent of Maryland residents speak a language other than English at home. One town in Carroll County made English its official language in 2006.

As Anne Arundel County considers a bill to make English its official language, more and more counties are moving towards communicating with residents in multiple languages. Councilman Jerry Walker, who is proposing the legislation, told Patch that illegal immigration was a hot topic among his constituents. The bill he presented to the council this week was in part the realization of a campaign promise, he said. “There was overwhelmingly positive response [to that], so I turned it into a campaign commitment,” Walker said. In Carroll County, officials said they are unaware of any county publications printed in any language but English. Carroll County officials moved recently to take down two federal emergency preparedness billboards that …

In this Article:

Bill Proposes English as Official Language in County (in Broadneck Patch), Hurricane Irene Litters Columbia With Debris (in Columbia Patch), and Ellicott City Man Dead In Suspected Generator-related Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (in Ellicott City Patch)

WatchingInMtAiry

7:43 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Susan - have you tried to learn a new language in 3-4 months. Hell - it took me 6 months to find a good grocery store when I moved to Carroll County back in 1996. Maybe if more people were accepting of non-English speaking folks, they'd be more willing to try to use English. I can only imagine if someone with broken English walked up to you or steve to ask for help, you'd probably call La Migra …   more ›

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