Lawmakers in Frederick, Maryland, want to roll back legislation that three years ago made English the official language of the county, saying it discourages diversity and promotes intolerance.
A Frederick County Council member who introduced the legislation says the 2012 adoption of the English language ordinance had little practical effect on the county, other than to garner negative attention.
“This ordinance accomplished nothing of material substance,” council member Jessica Fitzwater told the Frederick News-Post. “It has, however, had a profound impact on how Frederick County is perceived by those around us, including local and national media as well as the broader business community.”
The ordinance required all county business and documents to be in English. However, federal and state laws led to some exemptions to the ordinance, including translation of documents in instances it was necessary to “protect the public health, sanitation, and public safety,” and to protect the rights of criminal defendants and victims of crime.
Since going into effect, the ordinance has created a perception that “constitutes a barrier to good business and impedes the growth and development of business and commercial endeavors in Frederick County,” the proposed legislation states.
The most recent statistics available from the U.S. Census indicate that 9.6 percent of Frederick County residents are foreign-born and 12.3 percent speak a language other than English at home.
A public hearing on the proposal to repeal the law is scheduled for July 21 at 7 p.m.
• Andrea Noble can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.
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