NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - English Only Amendment Unclear

English Only Amendment Unclear

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - After waves of legal battles, petition drives and intense debates, Davidson County residents will decide if English will become the official language of Metro government.

Early voting for the English-only charter amendment started Jan. 2, but it's still unclear to many how the passage could impact the community.

If adopted, the initiative would ban the use of foreign languages in the city's official communications and publications. No one would have the right to receive any government services in any other language, unless it was related to health or public safety.

"We see a lot of immigrants," said Brian Todd, spokesman for the Metro Public Health Department.

The proposal said all official government communication must be made only in English, and this could be a problem at the health department.

"To provide those services we must be able to communicate in any language that they understand," Todd said.

While exceptions can be made for public health and safety, the amendment doesn't include any specifics.

"Does that mean we are allowed to speak in other languages if a child is coming in for an immunization, or is that not allowed?" Todd said.

If it passes, the health department may not remain eligible to receive federal grant money because the amendment violates grant requirements.

"So we are at risk of losing $30 million dollars in services," Todd said.

The Metro Police Department said they were also concerned about the impact of the amendment.

"The charter amendment says that the Metro Council can make exceptions for public health and safety, but no exceptions have been made yet," said Don Aaron, Metro police spokesman.

While much police work would count as public safety, what about outreach initiatives such as the El Protector program, which reaches out to the Hispanic community using Spanish.

"The El Protector program, for example, we believe, is having a significant impact in enhancing the safety of our community," Aaron said. "To do away with the El Protector program would be a major setback."

The voters will decide if the amendment passes, but how those five sentences would be interpreted is perhaps the real question.

"How all that will shake out with the amendment remains to be seen," Aaron said.

Some Metro departments indicated that English only wouldn't affect them such as parks and recreation, which said that their English and Spanish signs will probably stay up no matter what.

But if the amendment passes the busiest department will probably be Metro legal because every other agency will be asking them what they'll have to change.

The special election takes place on Jan. 22. Early voting at the Davidson County Election Commission ends Saturday, Jan. 17. The election commission office is located at 800 Second Ave. South next to the Howard Office Building. Early voting takes places 9 a.m. to noon Saturday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Jan. 9; 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 10; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 12-16; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 17.

To see a sample ballot for the referendum election of proposed charter amendments including the English-only measure.