← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Gabrielle
Thread ID: 18800 | Posts: 8 | Started: 2005-06-23
2005-06-23 21:31 | User Profile
U.S CONGRESSMAN EXPOSES DENVER LIBRARY DISGRACE: Dumping English Books for Spanish Language Version
June 21, 2005
The Hon. John Hickenlooper Mayor of Denver 1347 Bannock Street, Suite 350 Denver, CO 80204-2718
Dear Mayor Hickenlooper:
Several Denver residents who are affiliated with the Denver Public Library have come to me with concerns about changes underway in the Library. I hope their concerns are misplaced, and I hope you can show me they are misplaced.
I will put these concerns in the form of several questions. Each question is based on information from employees and patrons of the library. Unfortunately, these Denver citizens choose to remain anonymous because they fear for their jobs.
My questions are:
Is the Denver Public Library implementing a plan to convert very large sections of several branch libraries ââ¬â ranging from 10% to 62% of book and periodical holdings -- to Spanish language holdings?
Has the Denver City Council ever debated and approved a plan to convert one or more existing library branches to ââ¬ÅLanguage and Learning Centersââ¬Â with predominantly Spanish language books, magazines and materials?
Does the proposed new mill levy for a new library district include funds for a new branch library that will be designated a ââ¬ÅLanguage and Learning Centerââ¬Â with Spanish language materials only?
Has the Spanish-language-only concept for branch libraries ever been discussed or evaluated by the Library Commission or the City Council as a factor promoting social fragmentation, cultural balkanization, and ethnic separatism?
What is the basis for believing that current bilingual Latino patrons prefer that current English language materials be converted to Spanish-only holdings?
Since the proposed new library district is coterminous with the City of Denver, what purpose can be served besides a disguised tax increase and diminished accountability to the Mayor and the City Council?
Will the results of the public opinion polls conducted on these issues with public monies by Ciruli Associates be made public?
Have the Focus Groups run by Corona Research been designed and conducted to obtain results that support the conversion plan? Have the unvarnished results of the Focus Groups (not sanitized summaries) ever been shared with the Library Commission and the public?
Has the libraryââ¬â¢s management announced that only library employees bilingual in Spanish ââ¬â not Vietnamese, German, Korean or other languages þ will be eligible for raises? If so, is this not contrary to civil service rules and blatantly discriminatory on its face?
Is a Mexican Driverââ¬â¢s License now accepted in city libraries as valid ID for use of library facilities and services? Are driverââ¬â¢s licenses from other nations also accepted?
Are English language books being thrown out in the trash to make room for Spanish language materials? Why are books being thrown into the trash instead of being given to schools, non-profit organizations, or saved for the book sales? Has the Library Commission approved this practice?
Is DPL assisting ââ¬Åundocumentedââ¬Â (illegal) aliens in purchasing homes through sponsorship of workshops for undocumented aliens in cooperation with the Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation? Does DPL make any distinction between legal and illegal residents in providing its taxpayer-funded services?
Mr. Mayor, I sincerely hope that you can provide answers to these questions that will lay these concerns to rest.
Thank you for your attention to these questions.
Sincerely,
Tom Tancredo Member of Congress
cc: Members of the Denver Library Commission City Librarian Rick Ashton Denver City Council Denver Public Library Friends Foundation
[url]http://www.halturnershow.com/DenverLibraryDisgrace.html[/url]
2005-06-24 00:33 | User Profile
10-12% of books in Spanish is ok by me but more than that I considered to be a pesonal affront, and I do read Spanish. :smartass:
2005-06-24 01:54 | User Profile
Pandering to Latrino invaders is a disgusting phenomena in the business sector, but when taxpayers are directly ripped off like this, they should consider organizing a tax revolt; no more real estate taxes paid until this is resolved.
Instead of that flag burning amendment, Congress should have formulated an amendment to prevent other languages from usurping the official language of the USA, English.
2005-06-24 02:57 | User Profile
I didn't know that the illegals could read? BTW, where is the spanish version of this thread?:dry:
2005-06-24 03:39 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Snouter]Pandering to Latrino invaders is a disgusting phenomena in the business sector, but when taxpayers are directly ripped off like this, they should consider organizing a tax revolt; no more real estate taxes paid until this is resolved.
Instead of that flag burning amendment, Congress should have formulated an amendment to prevent other languages from usurping the official language of the USA, English.[/QUOTE] Well said. :smartass:
2005-06-25 07:58 | User Profile
All the signs at Zoo are now in English and Spanish and many public building are going the same way. Street signs in Spanish are coming soon.
2005-06-26 04:05 | User Profile
I hereby demand a Spanish-language version of OD.
2005-06-26 07:05 | User Profile
ooh oohh I vote for Chinese.