By Paul Tuthill
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-969561.mp3
Springfield, MA – The city council in Springfield Massachusetts has passed the first language access law in the state. It seeks to assure that there are no failures to communicate when it comes to public safety. WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports..
The ordinance requires police, fire, dispatch centers and other public safety agencies in the city to come up with policies and procedures for communicating with people who have limited proficiency in English. City Council President Jose Tosado said the ordinance is further recognition of Springfield's rich diversity.
The language access ordinance, which the council passed unanimously this week, was crafted through negotiations that involved the city council, the Springfield Police, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts and the Pioneer Valley Project..a faith based organization.
Verne McArthur, of the Pioneer Valley Project, said they started working on it 18 months ago as an off shoot to the organization's work with the immigrant community in Springfield.
Pioneer Valley Project organizer Fred Rose said a third of Springfield's population does not speak English..
Beatrice Perez speaking through a translator said a language barrier can arouse suspicion..
Srgt John Delaney, an aide to Springfield Police Commissioner William Fitchet, said 9-1-1 operators, bi lingual in English and Spanish are usually scheduled round the clock. A Translation service in several languages is available to police through a statewide system. Delaney said police in the field can access the service on their cell phones..Police are trained to seek assistance from relatives or neighbors of someone they have trouble communicating with.
William Newman, the western Massachusetts Director of the ACLU said the language access ordinance enhances and enforces civil rights.
City officials estimated it would cost less than ten thousand dollars to implement the law to pay for training, written material and phone translation services. The ordinance requires an annual compliance report.