Monterey Park sign ordinance debate recalls '80s ethnic controversy

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The restaurant H&H in Monterey Park would be in compliance with the revised sign ordinance. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times / July 31, 2013)

(合合美食 Hé hé měishí - The sign in English approximately means "good cuisine" in English)

article by Frank Shyong, LA Times, August 4

Monterey Park officials are reliving a decades-old racial controversy as they revise a law regulating the use of English on signs.

As part of a general revision of old codes, the City Council changed a law that required some English on storefront signs because of fears that the language in the measure was unconstitutional. A proposed amendment, to be considered this week, requires the use of "modern Latin" letters on storefront signs.

It's actually a looser requirement than the old law, which called for English words, not just letters. But that was lost in translation. After unanimously giving first approval to the ordinance last week, city leaders in the majority-Asian community say they've been inundated with negative media coverage and calls from upset residents.

"It has kind of spiraled," Mayor Teresa Real Sebastian said.

Now some city leaders are beating a hasty retreat. One council member wants to avoid regulating language on signs altogether, and another said he would make a motion to delay action on the ordinance when it goes up for the second reading Wednesday.

...

Police Chief Jim Smith said no public safety incident prompted the code change. He supported it, he said, because it would help police officers do their jobs. Fire Chief Jim Birrell also supported the change in a letter to the City Council.

full: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-english-signs-20130804,0,2799652.story