After translation gaffe, Long Beach says it will work to ensure resident voices are heard correctly
Spanish-language services were so poor that a translator was replaced mid-meeting at a recent hearing for the redistricting commission.
From environmental impacts to parking notices, group says lack of translation excludes Spanish speakers
Long Beach has a language-access policy to improve access for residents who don’t speak English. In practice, however, that doesn’t mean everything’s translated.
After demands by advocates, public meetings will again be translated for non-English speakers
Community organizers in recent weeks called councilmembers and the mayor’s office, demanding that translation services be provided. The city offered the service for the first time during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
City to host first-ever multilingual community budget meeting on Thursday
While some council members provide interpretation services during their own district budget meetings, this event will be the most language accessible of its kind citywide.
June 1 Declared “Dual Immersion Day” by City of Long Beach
The Long Beach City Council and Mayor Robert Garcia have proclaimed June 1 “Dual Immersion Day” in Long Beach, in honor of Patrick Henry Elementary’s groundbreaking “Two Way Immersion Program,” the Patrick Henry Foundation announced today.
Los Angeles County Launches New Website
Los Angeles County has improved its website, allowing easy access on multiple platforms, including various web browsers and mobile browsers.
OP-ED: A Year after Implementation, the Need for Language Access Is Essential
The slow pace of the Language Access Policy’s implementation has serious consequences not only for our diverse immigrant community but also for the health and safety of our community as a whole.
Long Beach Community Leaders Gather to Help Further Language Access
A consortium of local advocacy groups gathered in front of City Hall yesterday shortly before the council meeting in order to further address the need for language access throughout the city.
Comprehensive Language Access Policy Passes Council
Amidst both praise and criticism from language accessibility advocates, Long Beach City Council moved forward Tuesday in adopting a language access policy (LAP) that will cost the City some $524,000 per year in order to provide governnmental access to native Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog speakers who have limited English proficiency.
OP-ED: City’s Long Awaited Comprehensive Language Policy Falls Short
By Martha Beatriz Cota | Although the City is moving forward with drafting a language access policy, I was extremely disappointed when I saw the exaggerated cost in comparison to other cities and the layers of red tape on what materials are being deemed to be necessary to be translated. I feel strongly about language access because I, myself, am a Limited English Proficiency speaker.