Speak English Only, Small NY Towns Decree

Some small towns in New York have thrust themselves into a big dispute centered around the racially charged issue of "English-only" ordinances.

The community of Easton is expected to pass a law next month requiring all town business to be conducted in English, joining the towns of Argyle and Jackson, which recently passed similar laws.

"For too long, the federal government has shirked its duty by not passing English as the official language of the United States," the man who proposed the Jackson law, Town Councilor Robert Meyer, told The New York Times.

The moves come as Arizona faces boycotts for passing legislation cracking down on illegal immigrants.

The response to Jackson's new law from the New York Civil Liberties Union was immediate. The organization said the measure, adopted in March after a 3-1 vote by the municipal board, violates state and federal law, and it is threatening to sue on the grounds that it infringes on local people's rights.

"The English language is not under attack in Jackson or anywhere else in the state or country," said Melanie Trimble, director of the ACLU's regional chapter.

In a letter to the board, the civil liberties group said the law would prevent a town official from saying "mazel tov," the Jewish toast, at a wedding ceremony, London's Daily Telegraph reported today.

Jackson, which is near the Vermont line, has a population of about 1,700, including a few Hispanic farm workers.

Meyer denied that the measure was prejudicial, but added that when people move to another country to improve their lives, they should adapt. "We shouldn't be adapting ourselves to your ways," he said.

The town supervisor, Alan Brown, who voted against the measure, said, "The law would play to some people's prejudices, and I don't think that's a good thing."

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