By Nathan Duke
The bill, known as the Education Equity Act was introduced by Councilman Hiram Monserrate (D-Corona) and was passed in the Council by a 35-11 vote on Dec. 21, with one abstention. Bloomberg has until Jan. 20 to veto the bill.The controversial bill would require the DOE to translate all forms handed out to parents in a quantity over 1,000 to be printed in nine languages, including English. The other eight languages are Russian, Korean, Urdu, Spanish, Cantonese, Haitian/Creole, Mandarin and Bengali. Though a number of Council members support the bill and say that it would better allow immigrant parents to communicate with their children, several councilman have opposed it.Councilman Dennis Gallagher (R-Middle Village) said he is against the bill because DOE money should be spent on books, paraprofessionals or teachers' salaries rather than translating documents into different languages. He said the bill would cost the DOE an estimated $20 million per year and might open the door for translating other languages.Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) said he also opposes the bill and that he expects the mayor to veto it soon.”I hope he vetoes it,” he said. “Our language should unite us, not divide us. Anyone who is sending the message to parents and students that they should not learn English is doing them a disservice.”Vallone said the Council recently spent $10 million on an immigrant initiative that could provide translation services, rather than spend DOE money.A group of Council members and immigrant group advocates gathered last Thursday on the steps of City Hall to ask Bloomberg not to veto the bill. The veto would be the first of the mayor's second term. To override a mayoral veto, 34 votes in the Council are needed. Reach reporter Nathan Duke by email at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
