GARDEN GROVE : Bid to Use English on All Signs Dropped

The Planning Commission has dropped plans to require English on all new commercial signs in the city after civil rights groups complained that the measure discriminates against Asian businesses.

This week, the commission directed the city’s planning staff to prepare a sign ordinance that would make the use of English voluntary. The ordinance will be considered by the commission in February.

In August, the commissioners cited public safety reasons in passing a measure that would require some English on new signs. Garden Grove’s large and growing Asian business districts, primarily Korean and Vietnamese, would have been affected by the ordinance.

But in October, the City Council asked the commission to reconsider the proposal after civil rights groups protested that the English requirement would be unconstitutional, and aimed at Asian firms. A representative of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center threatened to sue over the issue.

City officials said they did not cave in under the threat of a lawsuit.

“The commission felt that it would be better to work with the business community than place restrictions on them,” said Jerry L. Blum, the city’s planning services manager.

“There are probably now only 10 or 12 signs in the city that have no English,” Blum said. “We’ve been very successful in convincing businessmen to use English in their signs when they come in to take out their building permits.”