(NAME-MCE) Mayor Bloomberg Orders Citywide Language Access

[Anselmo Villanueva]

July 24, 2008

Mayor Bloomberg Orders Citywide Language Access

http://presszoom.com/story_145341.html

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today signed the City's first Language Access
Executive Order, establishing a uniform policy and standards for translation
and interpretation services for City agencies that have direct interaction
with New Yorkers. Executive Order 120 requires every such City agency to
provide language assistance in the top six languages spoken by New
Yorkers.

(PressZoom) - Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today signed the City's first
Language Access Executive Order, establishing a uniform policy and standards
for translation and interpretation services for City agencies that have
direct interaction with New Yorkers. Executive Order 120 requires every such
City agency to provide language assistance in the top six languages spoken
by New Yorkers. To ensure that limited-English-proficient residents have
meaningful access to City programs, services and activities, the City's new
Customer Service Group, housed within the Mayor's Office of Operations, will
work closely with the Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs to facilitate the
application and oversee compliance with the executive order by each
agency.  The Mayor was joined at the signing today by City Council Speaker
Christine C. Quinn, Deputy Mayor for Legal Affairs Carol Robles-Roman,
Operations Director Jeff Kay, Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Guillermo
Linares, Counselor to the Mayor Anthony Crowell, Deputy Counselor William
Heinzen, City Legislative Affairs Director Eddie Bautista, City
Councilmember Rosie Mendez, New York Immigration Coalition Executive
Director Chung-Wha Hong and Yorelis Vidal, a Make the Road New York Member
and Senior Organizer.

"For the 1.8 million New Yorkers with limited English proficiency,
interacting with government all too often can be a challenge," said Mayor
Bloomberg. "All New Yorkers should have the same access to the same services
and the same opportunities. This Executive Order will make our city more
accessible, while helping us become the most inclusive municipal government
in the nation."

"Thanks to this Executive Order, New Yorkers will now more easily be able to
communicate and receive services at all City agencies, not just the few that
currently have language access programs," said Council Speaker Quinn.  "I
want to thank all who worked on this issue, including Deputy Mayor Carol
Robles-Roman and Council Member Rosie Mendez, for collaborating on this
Executive Order that will directly impact thousands of New Yorkers."

Nearly one-half of all New Yorkers speak a language other than English at
home, and 25 percent of City residents do not speak English as their primary
language. New York City residents who have difficulty speaking, reading,
writing or understanding English will now have better access to City
government information and services in their language.

Executive Order 120 requires that City agencies provide interpretation
services, including the use of telephonic interpretation, oral or written
translation services, and translation of essential public documents into the
most commonly spoken languages including Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Korean,
Italian and French Creole. Each agency will designate a Language Access
Coordinator who will work to develop a Language Access policy and
implementation plan.

"Today's Executive Order will make great strides in ensuring meaningful
access to City services for all New Yorkers, including those with limited
English proficiency," said Deputy Mayor Robles Roman. "Our City agencies,
many of which are already making great progress in the area of language
access, will now even better meet the needs of the countless New Yorkers
seeking city services."

"We are excited about taking on language access as part of our broader
customer service initiative," said Operations Director Kay.  "Without
holding agencies accountable for the way they serve people with limited
English proficiency, we can't accomplish our goal of improving customer
service for all New Yorkers."

"This Executive Order strengthens our City's commitment to serving immigrant
families and communities, and recognizes that language should not be a
barrier between any New Yorker and the vital services that we all need to
lead a safe and healthy life," said Commissioner Linares.

The Language Access Executive Order expands the Bloomberg administration's
commitment to accessible services for limited English proficient New
Yorkers. In 2003, the 311 Customer Service Center changed the way New
Yorkers interacted with City government providing information for callers in
170 different languages. The expanded Translation Unit in the Department of
Education currently provides parents with information in eight
languages.  Under Local Law 73 signed by Mayor Bloomberg in 2003, the
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Department of Homeless
Services, the Administration for Children's Services and the Human Resources
Administration already provide enhanced language access for
limited-English-proficient individuals seeking vital services.

"Part of making the American dream open to everyone, is about making it
possible for immigrants to access vital city services," said Council Member
Mendez.  "Without adequate language access at City agencies, we are turning
our backs on the most vulnerable members of our society.  We cannot let that
happen, not on our watch.  I want to thank the Mayor for this bold and
necessary action. Today New York City takes a giant step toward better
serving our limited-English-residents and immigrant communities."

"We applaud Mayor Bloomberg's tremendous leadership and commitment to
improving government services for millions of City residents, including our
newest New Yorkers," said Chung-Wha Hong, Executive Director of the New York
Immigration Coalition.  "By ensuring good communication with the public, the
executive order will improve the efficiency of city agencies and enhance the
safety of all New Yorkers."

"Millions of immigrant New Yorkers will now be able to go interact with City
government and get the help of an interpreter when they need it," said
Andrew Friedman, Co-Executive Director of Make the Road New York. "Never
again, will we will never have to ask our children and grandchildren to
translate complicated government forms for us."

MEDIA CONTACT:

Stu Loeser / Evelyn Erskine   (212) 788-2958

Jaime McShane (City Council)   (212) 788-7116