Two prominent Republicans squared off in a debate over Metro’s English-only proposal today in what may be the first public debate on the controversial charter amendment.
Attorney Jon Crisp told the audience of mostly Republicans that the English-only amendment would insure Metro Government won’t have to pay for translators when non-English speakers do business with the city.
“If you believe there’s a good reason why we use one currency in this country, that there’s a reason we use one set of laws in our court in English, then there’s a commonsensical reason we ought to have English as the primary language of Nashville.”
Blogger and young Republican attorney Nathan Moore pointed out that there’s been just one instance where someone tried to do city business in another language.
“So how urgent is the issue? Well, so far, the only person who has conducted business in Metro not in English is Councilman Crafton, who is the sponsor of this very amendment.”
When Eric Crafton addressed the council in Japanese, he was trying to make the point that no city law requires him to speak in English.
Early voting on the English-only amendment continues at the Metro Office Building through January 17th. Voting day is January 22nd.
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