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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Mayor Expands City's Language Services
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
2/2/2007 10:30:00 AM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Haddis Tadesse, 684-8119
Alex Fryer (206) 684-8358
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Mayor Expands City’s Language Services
SEATTLE - This week Mayor Greg Nickels signed an Executive Order adopting
a new citywide translation and interpretation policy that will help immigrants,
refugees and others with limited-English access city services.
The policy improves the city’s translation and interpretation services.
For example, it calls for translating vital documents, such as an explanation
of city services, consent and complaint forms, notices of rights, and notices
of free language assistance into Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Mandarin,
Somali, Tagalog and Korean. These are the primary languages spoken by a substantial
number of Seattle residents.
The new policy will strengthen the city’s delivery of services to people
with limited English proficiency.
“Seattle is a place of inclusion that welcomes residents from around
the world,” Nickels said. “I’m committed to providing quality
customer service to all of Seattle’s residents. By bridging language
differences, we can dismantle many of the barriers to a building a better life
for thousands of people.”
In addition, the mayor’s new initiative increases the number of available
translation and interpretation services. The translation and interpretation
services the city provides will be free of charge for Seattle residents.
Drawn to freedom and opportunity in the United States, tens of thousands of
immigrants and refugees from around the world have made Seattle home. According
to the 2000 U.S. Census, Seattle is home to nearly 100,000 foreign-born individuals
from a host of different countries. If the population trends continue, there
could be as many as 120,000 foreign-born individuals in Seattle by 2010, potentially
20 percent of Seattle’s 2010 total population projection. Recognizing
the need for a comprehensive strategy to better serve Seattle residents with
limited English proficiency, Nickels developed a far-reaching translation and
interpretation policy.
Get the mayor’s inside view on initiatives to promote transportation,
public safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for
The Nickels Newsletter at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm.
Read
the Executive Order - Acrobat PDF
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Office of the Mayor
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