ECTACO Info | S. Florida City Wants Spanish As Official Second Language

by http://miami.cbslocal.com/

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – ¿Qué pasa Doral?

City officials would like to see Spanish made the official second language in hopes of attracting more foreign businesses.

On Wednesday, the city’s council will put the matter up for a vote, according to CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald.

If it passes, it will not impact the way business is conducted in Doral, and business owners will not be required to change their practices.
Nearly 63 percent of all businesses in the city, which is due West of Miami, are owned by Hispanics, according to the 2007 census. The city is also home to several Latin American companies.
“The idea is to bring more businesses to the city,” Mayor Luigi Boria told the paper. “I am trying to encourage people to invest and feel comfortable – even though they don’t speak English.”

Boria said when he came to the U.S. he had limited English language skills. He said he drafted the resolution based on his experiences.

“A long time ago, I was ashamed because I didn’t use English very good,” Boria said. “I know many people who feel the same way, because they feel that if they don’t speak very good English they won’t be accepted.”

Doral was ranked 51st in Top 100 places to live and launch a business in the U.S. by CNNMoney.com. The city is home to Spanish language media giant Univision, Goya Foods, Dole Flowers and Carnival Cruise Lines.

The issue of Spanish as a second language in South Florida, specifically Miami-Dade County, is not new.

In 1973, the county passed an ordinance making it bilingual and bicultural. Seven years later, voters approved a referendum which made the county English only. In 1993, the county’s commission overturned that ordinance.
In 1988, roughly 84 percent of Florida voters chose to make English the official language of the state – a law that remains on the books today.

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