" Metrorail officials are considering adding permanent Spanish-language signs, system maps, fare-card machines and announcements in stations after a push by immigration advocates. They say the idea has been discussed for several years within the agency's Office of Project Communications... "
office of what?
The estimated cost for the changes at least $500,000 per station in as much as $900,000 for a large multilevel stations such as Metro Center.
" Immigration advocates say riders with limited English skills might have difficulty understanding how to transfer between lines or how to use fare-card machines and schedules, and they fear rebuke from Metro staff if they seek help in broken English. "
Estimates of more than one million immigrants and illegal aliens live within the region and about 40% of them are Hispanic according to the Urban Institute.
In a 2003 report by the national capital region transportation planning board, calls for more bilingual staffers, improve foreign-language pamphlets and the incorporation of universal symbols to help the region's immigrant writers.
for tourist, universal signs may not be a bad idea... some countries already do that. However, to focus strictly on Spanish as the "other" common language is more proof of the hidden cost from the silent invasion
3 comments:
Yeah, I saw that note yesterday, and had similar thoughts. As long as our governments and businesses continue to enable border-jumpers, they're going to keep coming. There is no disincentive.
Personally, I refuse to do business with any company whose phone service tells me to "press 1 for English".
When shopping for home and garden stuff, I don't give my dollars to Lowe's. Every sign from the doors on in is printed in Spanish. Oh, sure, English too (gee, thanks).
I figure that Lowe's must want pesos, and son of a gun, I'm fresh out. They certainly aren't getting my American dollars!
I also plan to help Teddy K find his way out of Mahonia Hall in the next election.
It's a start.
Right on, speak with your dollars. Buy locally when ever possible. Pull all money out of Well Fargo and other large banks that encourage illegals to take out loans and send money back to Mexico. Put your money in local credit unions and small banks, see the good that money does in your own community. Look on large company websites and determine if they cater to Spanish speaking customers. Even if the customers are legal they should be able to speak English. Send them an email to express you displeasure.
The government is our enemy, the corporations are our enemy, the only thing left is to keep our money in our own community. Help your neighbor realize his dream of self-employment. Don't buy from Starbucks when you can buy from your neighbor. Don't help the Chinese government become stronger by buying from Walmart and Nike.
I've seen the future and it doesn't look good for America, but, we can turn it around by stepping away from the denial and getting to root of the problem.
While the government keeps telling us that we need more and more education to compete, our schools are declining at a rapid rate. Many of the poor are being screwed out of a proper education.
Don't listen to the economists tell us how many jobs have been created, look at how the once largest most powerful corporation in the world is firing 30,000 employees in one fell swoop.
With the help of the media we are being told there are jobs we won't do, borders we can't secure, invaders we can't repel and ports that we have no company to operate. I say bullshit. We didn't become the most powerful country in the world by listening to what we can't do. Can't never did anything.
Isn't this public transportation? Reminds me of our own EMX headache. I don't recall voting for such a waste of money. And I'm with Robin - office of WHAT? Project communications? Sounds like the infamous 'human relations at work' jive!
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