An Official Language for Fort Smith
By: Carley Gordon
Updated: February 29, 2008
The Fort Smith Board of Directors was supposed to vote on an English-Only resolution, and an English-Only ordinance. Instead, the Board voted 4-3 to put the issue off until later.
If it had passed, Fort Smith would be the first city in Arkansas to have such a rule. Several people spoke passionately in favor of the ordinance. They say a resolution wouldn’t send a strong enough message.
One citizen said, "The English language must be an expectation for anyone who comes to our country. Reading and writing English is a requirement, to gain citizenship to this great nation."
The Board members who voted to table the issue say it sends a bad message to foreigners, and there’s no point in having a rule like this.
They say they will address the issue again later this month when they plan to discuss illegal immigration.
