¡Qué barbaridad!
There is much to admire about the leadership of our neighbor to the south, the Borough of Bogota. Mayor Steve Lonegan (pictured), a prominent figure statewide, runs a tight fiscal ship and could teach Teaneck a lesson or two about maintaining a useful municipal website. While his political views oftentimes fall far from the mainstream, his principled adherence to sometimes unpopular positions is a breath of fresh air among all the flip-flopping and pandering that plagues New Jersey politics.In the latest instance, however, one might wish he'd abandon his stubborn commitment to his positions. The Record reports that Mayor Lonegan and other borough officials are protesting the placement of a Spanish-language billboard advertising McDonald's iced coffee in Bogota. The supposed reason for their opposition is that they find the billboard offensive, because it "sends the wrong message" and "doesn't help people who live in this country and need to learn English." They claim they would protest just as loudly if the billboard were in Italian, German, or any other language other than English.
This is preposterous. Commercial billboards promoting beverages carry no didactic message. It is pretty darn obvious that Mayor Lonegan and his supporters on this issue don't want Bogota to project the image of an immigrant enclave that is home to poor Spanish speakers. And for that, shame on them.
posted by Teaneck Blog @ 2:21 PM
14 Comments:
While his political views oftentimes fall far from the mainstream, his principled adherence to sometimes unpopular positions is a breath of fresh air among all the flip-flopping and pandering that plagues New Jersey politics.
He just panders to a different audience, which is not entirely in Bogota. While it may be "pretty darn obvious that Mayor Lonegan and his supporters on this issue don't want Bogota to project the image of an immigrant enclave that his home to poor Spanish speakers," it should also be obvious that he's towing the anti-immigration line of rightwing Republican members of the U.S. Congress, who among other things, posture about how essential it is to make English our Official Language. (Think this little stunt won't make Fox News?)
And when he goes down to Maplewood (or whereever) to stage a Christmas carol sing-in, he's pandering to the "War on Christmas" histrions.
Granted, staking out the far right wing of New Jersey may not seem like a route to higher office in this state, but at least it's another balliwick besides Bogota. And who's to say that the national wingnuts won't take him under their, uh, wings. Contrary to your opening paragraph, there is very little about this guy that's redeeming.
P.S. Is that a Bogota website or a Lonegan website? From the size of the picture you've got to wonder. Not exactly the model I want for my municipal website.
Fair points all.
Say what you will about Lonegan, he does keep the trains running on time (to idle in Teaneck instead of Bogota).
We should ask the Teaneck Peace and Justice Coalition to start a weekly informational meeting along the lines of the "Wednesday at the Teaneck Armory" show.
Say what you will about Lonegan, he does keep the trains running on time (to idle in Teaneck instead of Bogota).
And this is as good a time as any to acknowledge that you do have a funny sense of humor. :-)))
I have commented on my blog on this matter as well. Lonegan's stance on this is completely contrary to conservative principles and free market ideology which most Republicans embrace.
Say what you will about Lonegan, he does keep the trains running on time (to idle in Teaneck instead of Bogota).
That has nothing to do with the topic, and for your information, the trains can't idle in Bogota because of the at-grade crossings, which Teaneck doesn't have.
As for his objection to the billboard, this is definitely not a Bogota issue entirely, although he may be appealing to some old-timers in Bogota who don't like the change in the town's ethnic makeup in the past 10 years since more minorities have moved in. (You can hear them commenting on that at the Bogota Swim Club, on Main St., at the post office, etc.) Nevertheless, it's sad...
I have no problem with legal immigrants moving in anywhere. The problem I have is their refusal in many cases to learn our language -English..As they say, when in Rome...
My grandparents came to this country speaking no English - aside from not being able to get a job because of it, did anyone put up signs in Italian to accomodate them? I think not...
I resent having to explain myself 3 or 4 times to a clerk who has no idea what it is I want. Or giving driver tests in other languages! Please...
If you want to live in this country then you should be expected to learn English.
There's always a transition period for immigrant families while they get accustomed to their new country.
Seventy years ago, my grandparents spoke Yiddish and German at home to their children and among their friends.
While my parents grew up in bilingual homes it didn't prevent them from being fluent in English.
Alas, I am monolingual.
Spanish speaking immigrants in Bogota are no different than my family. Their children will probably grow up bilingual and their grandchildren will undoubtedly be monolinqual.
What's next for Lanegan? A campaign to rid Bogota of flag burning, marriage-minded lesbians?
Hooray for Swurgle's comments -- may I add my own? My mesage to Lonegan, plain and simple, is this: PICK YOUR BATTLES. This should not be a major concern of Bogota, and you have more significant things to worry about than a sign that generates revenue and brings in wider business.
I have one more message for Mayor Lonegan: GET A LIFE!
I have no problem with legal immigrants moving in anywhere. The problem I have is their refusal in many cases to learn our language -English
The question isn't whether you have a problem with it, it's whether the government should step in. As a Liberal I think we should be very, very careful before we take such a step.
I seem to recall that until a few years ago the Daily Forward was published in Yiddish -- should we have banned that? What about the stores on Cedar Lane with Hebrew signs in their windows?
I can't think of a store with Italian signage but that's just because we as a country have assimilated the Italian immigrants so well -- largely through the public school system, I might add. However, I have a neighbor whose Italian father (who came here with nothing but his strong muscles and now owns at least one apartment building) speaks almost no English and can't even carry on a conversation with me. But my neighbor (the son) is an English speaking, tax paying American who would nevertheless instantly identify himself as Italian. This is what makes America so unique.
I understand what you are saying as far as Italians and others not speasking English but their children being fluent. My problem is service oriented people who do not speak English being put before the public to "assist" them. Frankly, if someone calls my home or office to sell me something or if I call somewhere and the person on the other line can not speak English and has no idea what I am saying, I hang up. Maybe its wrong, but this is how I feel. If I moved to another country I would be forced to learn their language in order to communicate. Why must we pander to those who refuse to learn English?
My Grandfather spoke broken English. But he understood it 100%. He worked hard to learn and his children all spoke English before Italian. But when he came here no one gave him tests in Italian, put up special signs in Italian. Like I stated, he could not get a job unless he at least understood English.
I believe everyone should embrace their culture and heritage. But do not ask your new country to cater to you because you can't be bothered to learn the language of the country you chose to move to.
I have a friend who 30 years ago moved to Mexico from England. He spoke not a word of Spanish and no one spoke to him in English. He was forced to learn the language of his new country. He claims he is better for it. He is now Bi-lingual and his children learned English before Spanish, even living in Mexico.
My problem is service oriented people who do not speak English being put before the public to "assist" them
Maybe we both misunderstand each other, because I agree with you when you make the above statement. However, I don't think we need any laws about whether private signs can be in Spanish or not.
Along the same lines, PSP, the government doesn't have, and shouldn't have, any control over how a business staffs its service-oriented phone lines. It seems to me that if a business puts the wrong person in place, then the business is to blame, not the poor person who's stuck in a situation trying to communicate with the likes of Anonymous. And if that person nevertheless makes an effort to communicate, is he or she "refusing" to learn English? Or is the likes of Anonymous refusing to extend a bit of human understanding, working with that person and helping her learn rather than seeing it as "pandering"?
Hey what a great site keep up the work its excellent.
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