Metro Council Could Play Pivotal Role in English-only Legislation

If the charter amendment requiring all Metro government communications to be in English passes, the responsibility falls on the Metro Council to determine what government services can be conducted in other languages.

The proposed charter amendment allows exemptions for government services related to health and safety, beyond what’s required by state and federal law. According to the proposed amendment, the Metro Council has the ability to determine what will be exempt.

Metro Law Director Sue Cain says that’s a huge responsibility.

 

“There could be areas that the council missed that are health and safety related. So it’s putting an unfair burden on Council to start with, to have to go back and identify all these areas, but it’s not certain the Council will be able to do that.”

Councilman Mike Jameson agrees. But he says since the majority of his colleagues oppose the English-only proposal to begin with, they’ll likely water it down.

“Assuming that is passes and assuming that it survives a constitutional challenge, which I think is not likely, then it’s going to come to the Council and it’s a Council that I think is already predisposed to look with lenience on those who need exceptions to any sort of charter amendment.”

In August, 25 of the 40 Council members condemned the English-only amendment with a symbolic resolution.