Long Beach City Council meeting almost became an English-only function this week.
As part of the budget cuts that went into effect Oct. 1, a television Spanish simulcast of council meetings was eliminated. Spanish and other language interpreters were still to be provided on request at City Hall during the meetings. Yet, when housing advocates asked Monday to have interpreters at Tuesday's meeting, they were told that interpreters were no longer available.
City Clerk Larry Herrera said Tuesday that after his attempts to get other city departments to help pick up the cost of providing interpreters had failed, he decided to no longer offer the service. He since has changed his mind, he said.
"I thought about it overnight, and I thought the right thing to do was go ahead and step up and absorb the cost," Herrera said.
City departments face pressure to keep costs down because revenue could fall short over the next year. Adding to the pressure, Mayor Bob Foster vetoed part of the budget to cut an extra 1 percent from every city department.
Herrera said that cutting the interpreters would give his budget about $24,000 of "wiggle room." He said he's now hoping that he won't have to provide the interpreters more than once a month, keeping costs close to $12,000.
Costs are already mounting, however. Providing two pairs of state-certified court interpreters at Tuesday's meeting -- one for Spanish and the other for Khmer -- cost $2,220 for five hours, Herrera calculated Wednesday.
As part of the budget cuts that went into effect Oct. 1, a television Spanish simulcast of council meetings was eliminated. Spanish and other language interpreters were still to be provided on request at City Hall during the meetings. Yet, when housing advocates asked Monday to have interpreters at Tuesday's meeting, they were told that interpreters were no longer available.
City Clerk Larry Herrera said Tuesday that after his attempts to get other city departments to help pick up the cost of providing interpreters had failed, he decided to no longer offer the service. He since has changed his mind, he said.
"I thought about it overnight, and I thought the right thing to do was go ahead and step up and absorb the cost," Herrera said.
City departments face pressure to keep costs down because revenue could fall short over the next year. Adding to the pressure, Mayor Bob Foster vetoed part of the budget to cut an extra 1 percent from every city department.
Herrera said that cutting the interpreters would give his budget about $24,000 of "wiggle room." He said he's now hoping that he won't have to provide the interpreters more than once a month, keeping costs close to $12,000.
Costs are already mounting, however. Providing two pairs of state-certified court interpreters at Tuesday's meeting -- one for Spanish and the other for Khmer -- cost $2,220 for five hours, Herrera calculated Wednesday.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
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