Posted on 05/12/2005 5:53:30 AM PDT by cyborg
I've frequented many illegal immigration threads, yet I've never participated in any serious activism. I'm not that political but I've had enough. I was driving down a main street and noticed a quite large ad for apartment renters in SPANISH ONLY. It really bothered me because I think it's discrimination as anyone who doesn't know spanish won't be able to read the sign. I wrote to the county EOC a very brief note asking what can be done. I do believe in property rights but with the history of racial red lining on Long Island that was as bad as legal segregation was in the South, I think someone had to say something.
Was I wrong for asking? It's mostly a symbolic move since I expect whoever to write me back saying it's their right.
What the 'borg was referring to was the practice of ONLY advertising rental housing for a certain community, which is against FHA laws.
yeah you're right
Been happening in the northeast since the 1940s with the first big wave of immigrants from PR. Hell, New York has been losing "Anglo communities" to "ethnic communities" since the 1840s. Even under Dutch rule, there were about 22 languages spoken in Manhattan.
This New Yorker shrugs off such changes as no big deal. I'm sure its a much different situation in the heartland.
Quebec has "Language Police" that regulate the signs businesses put up in their windows.
Seems to me, a business owner has every right to provide services in whatever language he wants.
The only Latinos I knew when I went to school there were two kids from Argentina who were of Italian ancestry. Now, I understand there are large communities of Salvadorans and, to a lesser extent, Mexicans. They typically either live in the areas traditionally inhabited by blacks or in rental communities adjacent to affluent North Shore towns.
I'm sorry...I really should have put in the sarcasm tag.
I've been following the issue long enough to know that this Hispanic wave of immigration has made itself felt nationwide.
Your reply shows me how pervasive it is on Lawn Guyland (!), which I did not know. Also, that it has been happening over at least one generation.
Why not bilingual signs? This is America, a predominantly english speaking country. This place where I live has seen the influx of illegals baloon in the short span of ten years. If it's not illegal then I'll leave the issue alone. However, advertising in spanish only is discriminatory and there are anti-discrimination laws in this country.
A business decision, I guess.
If it's not illegal then I'll leave the issue alone.
Probably not illegal, unless the property owner refuses to rent to non-Spanish speaking whites or blacks.
However, advertising in spanish only is discriminatory and there are anti-discrimination laws in this country.
I actually can't think of any that would cover this situation.
Just annoying though. Most every government sign is in english and spanish. This is a predominantly hispanic and black area, the white people would never move here in an appreciable numbers unless they're foreigners.
That's the first Spanish billboard you've seen? Don't get to brown neighborhoods much huh? First one I saw was in 1982, for Budweiser. It's all about target marketing, if they're targeting immigrants from Mexico (and remember many of them are legal) then there's nothing wrong with a billboard in Spanish.
---We have one out at Burke Lake that's in 16 languages. Tells folks about "deep water wear a vest".---
missing was the warning in Antlantian
Hempstead is predominantly black and hispanic, well actually hispanic and black. I live here and drive past the sign every day.
Incidentally, the rich white slumlords run these apartments. They would never live in them themselves though.
Odds are the next drowning out there is going to involve someone whose language wasn't listed.
Still, they've got the major ones ~ English, Spanish, French (Creole), German, Russian, Vietnamese, Laotian, Thai, Mandarin, Shanghainaise, Malay, Tagalog, and so forth.
most people that own apartments would never live in them, that's part and parcel to having enough money to own rental property.
Riiight you know exactly what I mean. I was in the fire department and have seen some of these apartments first hand. Aside from the near condemned condition, you have two bedroom apartments turned into five bedroom apartments with dry wall. Trust me on this.
Then they're targeting a market. Most advertising is targeted to an identified demographic, theirs is apparently Spanish speakers.
It's not just a bad apartment thing, it's an apartment thing. If you've got enough money to own rental property it's a safe logical assumption you've got enough money to live someplace better than what you're renting out, whether it's a slum that should be condemned or a nice piece of property, it's just a natural result of real property capitalism.
Well we respectfull part on that view.
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