A new report from the New York City Public Advocate paints a stark picture of how limited-English proficient (LEP) New Yorkers are systematically denied access to critical public services from healthcare and housing to education and emergency response.
The 64-page report, titled “Let’s Talk: A Review of Language Access in NYC,” released last week, highlights deep gaps in how city agencies provide services to non-English speakers, despite city laws requiring them to do so.
Five months ago, the Trump administration signed an executive order declaring English the official language of the United States, thus rescinding federal obligations to serve LEP populations, and revoking a Bill Clinton executive order established in 2000 which aimed to improve access to services for LEPs…