GARDEN GROVE : Session to Examine City Sign Ordinance

The city Planning Commission has set a work session for Dec. 12 on a proposed sign ordinance that would require some English on all business signs in the city.

Thursday night the commission held a “scoping hearing” at which eight persons spoke about the bilingual provisions of the ordinance, which would require that commercial signs include some English lettering or translation large enough to be visible from the street or parking lot to emergency vehicles.

Garden Grove has two large and growing Asian business districts: one primarily Korean along Garden Grove Boulevard, and the other Vietnamese businesses primarily along Westminster Avenue, as well as on Bolsa Avenue.

Among the speakers was Kathyrn K. Imahara of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, who argued that the ordinance was unconstitutional. Several Korean businessmen also spoke, asking why the city was considering such a law when--in their opinion--most businesses would comply voluntarily.

Eunice Steele, who submitted a written statement, but did not speak before the commission, commented that “Korean language only on signs is reverse discrimination. I do not speak or read Korean. It means English-speaking persons are not welcome by these businesses.”

The Planning Commission originally approved the ordinance Aug. 24, but the City Council, faced with some opposition from the Korean business community and the threat of a lawsuit by the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, referred the matter back to the planners.