Results tagged “frankortiz”

Looks like the end of the road for Friendswood's attempt to make English the city's official language: Last night, the City Council voted 5-2 not to include the measure on the May 12 municipal ballot. The idea, you'll remember, came about in November when a Friendswood resident tried (unsuccessfully) to communicate with a Spanish-speaking crew trimming trees near his house — that prompted the City Council to consider a measure requiring all city employees to speak English, but councilmembers later swapped that out for a proposed city charter amendment that would make English the city's official language. City Councilman Chris Peden, who insists that the measure was never an issue of "English only," asked that the amendment be placed on the ballot and said he wasn't upset that it didn't make it: "[The other councilmembers] voted their conscience," he told the Chronicle. "They did what they felt was right. I don't have a problem with that, honestly."

Remember late last year, when Friendswood officials started discussing an ordinance that would make English the city's official language? Well, the discussion's still going on: A group of Friendswood residents showed up at a city council hearing yesterday to voice their opinions on the idea — both for and against it.

The English vs. Every Other Language debate got a little more heated last night in Friendswood as local officials and residents debated the merits of making English the city's official language. You may remember when the issue came up last week after resident William Hilburn complained to the city that he couldn't communicate with city employees trimming trees near his house.