Councilman Eric Crafton Attempts To Implement An “English First” Resolution For Nashville Lawmakers

Councilman Eric Crafton of Nashville, Tennessee is trying to push a resolution making it necessary for Nashville lawmakers speak only in English when conducting official business. His resolution, called “English First” (critics are referring to it as “English Only”), would allow for exception when it comes to matters of public health and safety. Explains Crafton:

“I happened to see a state legislature meeting in California where several of the state representatives had interpreters at their desk because they couldn’t speak English,” Mr. Crafton said. “That’s not the vision I have for Nashville.”

Many groups are taking issue with Crafton’s proposal, including the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce:

“Economics is global, and to be competitive you cannot drive away immigrants and the businesses that rely on them,” said Ralph J. Schulz, the chamber president. “Businesses from outside Nashville have been calling and saying, ‘Is Nashville a xenophobic place?’”

Mr. Crafton counters this by saying his city government currently spends around $100,000 annually on translation. Implementing his “English First” resolution, he argues, would help cut down on that cost by having those who require them pay for these themselves, as well as acting to encourage immigrants to assimilate faster through by having to learn English.

The number of immigrants in Nashville has tripled since the 90s. Experts claim that there hadn’t been much negativity towards the community’s immigrant population until the economy started to take a turn for the worse. Explains Daniel B. Cornfield, sociology professor at Vanderbilt University:

“While the immigrant population burgeoned, there was very little organized anti-immigrant attitude. But the anti-immigrant sentiment seemed to mobilize as the economy slowed down.”

And, critics say, this anti-immigrant sentiment might be fueling Crafton’s resolution more than a desire for unity and communication. Says David Morales, a Nashville resident who happens to be an immigrant and translator:

“It’s part of a larger problem of people not understanding immigrants: their habits, their languages, their barbecues in the front yard. It’s more than just fear about jobs. It’s fear about a whole way of life.”

What do you think about the proposal? Will it help immigrants have a stronger voice in local politics, or bolster xenophobic sentiments against non-English speakers… Or a bit of both?

In Nashville, a Ballot Measure That May Quiet All but English [NY Times]