The Region - News from Nov. 14, 1985

The Monterey Park City Council voted 4 to 1 to place on next April’s ballot a measure declaring that a proposed initiative to establish English as the city’s official language would threaten constitutional rights. The English-only initiative will also be on the ballot if at least 2,266 of the 3,000 signatures submitted to the city clerk by supporters are deemed valid. If both the initiative and the contradictory measure are approved by voters, the one receiving the highest number of votes will prevail, officials said. Proponents contend that the initiative, which is symbolic and would not forbid anyone from using a foreign language, is necessary to encourage immigrants to learn and speak English and to discourage the use of business signs in foreign languages.