General Discussion

grantcart

(53,061 posts)

18. I am actually living in an area that is served by Yuma TV at the time

Wed Feb 8, 2012, 12:48 PM

Feb 2012

Her English is terrible and she could not participate in City Council meetings.

The mayor and all of the other council people are against her serving as she could not participate in council discussions.

English is the language of the city council.

I actually work in that area about 2 days a week.

She didn't challenge the basic facts of the case that she couldn't participate in council meetings, her solution was that the council should hire an interpreter and everything be translated.

I lived in a country where I had to use a second language 90% of the time. My wife and children speak English as a second language.

This woman's English isn't low for an American Hispanic, or someone living in a border community, it is low for a Mexican who lives in the interrior of the country. She never really tried to learn English and it is painfully obvious.

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Court says woman with limited English can be kept off ballot [View all] Snake Alchemist Feb 2012 OP

Yet Republicans keep running. DCKit Feb 2012 #1

Don't fprget the Governator. Lunacee2012 Feb 2012 #6

I did not realize that she went to an american high school. pennylane100 Feb 2012 #2

...just say'n. SoapBox Feb 2012 #3

Easily ProgressiveProfessor Feb 2012 #4

One word - "Staffers" NashvilleLefty Feb 2012 #5

The problem is having a Latina on the city council. DCKit Feb 2012 #7

The suit was brought by the town's Latino mayor Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2012 #15

"The would-be candidate unsuccessfully tried to have the mayor recalled." Ouch!! amandabeech Feb 2012 #58

Staffers are ALWAYS key, but to correct your point on modern legal drafting, amandabeech Feb 2012 #59

Thought Palin wasn't running anyway? LeftishBrit Feb 2012 #8

I'm glad I'm not the only one JustAnotherGen Feb 2012 #13

Entonces? Que Tienes? me b zola Feb 2012 #9

She was mostly raised in Mexico and graduated from a school that allows Bilingual classes grantcart Feb 2012 #10

You listened for her proficiency, but you may have missed important facts of the story me b zola Feb 2012 #14

I am actually living in an area that is served by Yuma TV at the time grantcart Feb 2012 #18

Would the council hire an interpreter if a council member were deaf? morningfog Feb 2012 #22

not quite the same analogy grantcart Feb 2012 #23

The American with Disabilities Act does not classify ESOL as a disibility Freddie Stubbs Feb 2012 #28

What's wrong with using a translator? Vattel Feb 2012 #49

Her "limited English skills" would be an issue. Her position on issues would be even more important. pampango Feb 2012 #11

Why do they hate democracy? rucky Feb 2012 #12

Fuck Arizona's racism and bigotry. Vattel Feb 2012 #16

What if the law was that all English teachers must be able to speak English? nt Snake Alchemist Feb 2012 #17

That law would make sense. morningfog Feb 2012 #19

Strawman. English proficiency would be a job requirement for an English teacher..... marmar Feb 2012 #20

Does not meet the definition of a strawman. Snake Alchemist Feb 2012 #29

Based on what though? treestar Feb 2012 #21

I'm sorry, but I don't think the court is wrong on this one. Beacool Feb 2012 #24

The town is more than 80% Latino. She is proficient in the language. ETA EFerrari Feb 2012 #26

If she was running for state senate, would your argument be that 75% of the state is caucasian? Snake Alchemist Feb 2012 #30

She isn't running for the state senate. EFerrari Feb 2012 #32

But you didn't answer my question? Snake Alchemist Feb 2012 #33

I did. Your question is based on a faulty comparison. EFerrari Feb 2012 #34

So I can assume that you would argue that she should speak English in that case? Snake Alchemist Feb 2012 #35

I don't think English should be a requirement. EFerrari Feb 2012 #37

I would think so. Snake Alchemist Feb 2012 #38

Except we don't know what language is used in the council, on contracts or on legal docs. EFerrari Feb 2012 #41

Very true. Snake Alchemist Feb 2012 #65

As a point of comparison, here on the east side of San Jose EFerrari Feb 2012 #66

Check out Grantcart's post #18, above. amandabeech Feb 2012 #52

No, thank you. EFerrari Feb 2012 #54

So a large minority of the constituency won't be able to understand her? Honeycombe8 Feb 2012 #67

There is no question to my mind that being bilingual is preferable. EFerrari Feb 2012 #68

Ahhh...I didn't know that AZ had an official language. So that's it. Honeycombe8 Feb 2012 #78

It should be challenged on a number of grounds EFerrari Feb 2012 #79

I can't believe that hasn't been challenged. But you know, I can sort of understand... Honeycombe8 Feb 2012 #82

Immigrants have a lower crime rate than the general population. EFerrari Feb 2012 #83

The issue is not whether she would lack of the skills necessary to do a good job. Vattel Feb 2012 #47

Does every city council candidate in Yuma county have to pass an English test to get on the ballot? varelse Feb 2012 #25

Probably only the ones who try to get the mayor recalled. EFerrari Feb 2012 #27

Hmm that would explain a lot varelse Feb 2012 #42

Even if all candidates were required to "pass a test" it may or may not be constitutional fujiyama Feb 2012 #81

a toy poodle should be able to get on a ballot is it gets enough signiture dembotoz Feb 2012 #31

+1 Blue_Tires Feb 2012 #36

The problem is the challenge by the mayor is based on a state law RZM Feb 2012 #39

The problem is that she does not meet all of the requirements Freddie Stubbs Feb 2012 #40

A law that should be challenged because it is unconstitutional EFerrari Feb 2012 #43

What provision of the Constitution does it violate? Freddie Stubbs Feb 2012 #46

Equal protection, ya think? EFerrari Feb 2012 #51

Not if the state can prove that proficiency in English is a bona fide occupational qualification: Freddie Stubbs Feb 2012 #56

In a town that is 89% Latino? EFerrari Feb 2012 #60

Latino does equate with an inability to speak English Freddie Stubbs Feb 2012 #69

But we weren't talking about ability or about losing Spanish proficiency as a good thing. EFerrari Feb 2012 #72

"as well as in conflict with Guadalupe Hidalgo" EX500rider Feb 2012 #73

Please use the Google. EFerrari Feb 2012 #74

Don't need "the google"... EX500rider Feb 2012 #75

You realize that law libraries exist because legal documents are not transparent, right? EFerrari Feb 2012 #76

Don't see it, sorry... EX500rider Feb 2012 #77

A fucking racist law. Vattel Feb 2012 #48

Perhaps it is racist to assume that one particular racial group is incapable of speaking English Freddie Stubbs Feb 2012 #50

classic Vattel Feb 2012 #53

Our biggest advantage over Europe & India is...the English language golfguru Feb 2012 #44

Thanks for bringing up the Canadian situation. amandabeech Feb 2012 #55

Actually, the official language of Quebec is English as well as the rest of Canada. nt Snake Alchemist Feb 2012 #57

You might check the Wiki on Canadian Bilingualism. amandabeech Feb 2012 #61

Sorry. I was thinking about something totally different. nt Snake Alchemist Feb 2012 #62

No problem. n/t amandabeech Feb 2012 #64

No, our major advantage over Europe and India is the MIC, not English. EFerrari Feb 2012 #63

A dozen years into the techno-21st century LanternWaste Feb 2012 #45

Excellent. No more George W. Bushes. sofa king Feb 2012 #70

i grew up in milwaukee--a town of germanic heritage dembotoz Feb 2012 #71

Wow that's crazy. Three years in a US HS and she couldn't answer which school she graduated from? fujiyama Feb 2012 #80