Two City Council Members Back Bill Requiring English Store Signs
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - New York may be a melting pot, but two city council members reportedly want to make sure that English is front and center.
Peter Koo and Dan Halloran are sponsoring a measure that would require store names and addresses be written in English.
They say they're concerned about the proliferation of shops and stores that have store names written in other languages. They say that creates a safety hazard, making it more difficult for first responders to identify the business in event of emergency.
1010 WINS' Stan Brooks reports: Councilman Says Signs In English Is More Than A Matter Of Public Safety
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Additionally, it would make it easier for customers to file complaints against the merchants with the city.
WCBS 880's Marla Diamond: It's A Decades-Old Culture Clash
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The New York Post reports the law would give merchants who already have non-English signs and awnings four years to change them.
As for new signs, 60 percent of the words on them would have to be in English.
What do you think of the proposal? Common sense or un-American? Sound off in our comments section.
