Flushing Assemblywoman Grace Meng is putting together an advisory board to encourage local business owners to display signs in English, not Chinese or Korean, as is common in the neighborhood. Meng says that the foreign signs often scare away potential customers, hurting business for the area. She told the Daily News, "I represent many constituents...who are not comfortable with not being able to fully understand signage outside of stores and inside stores."
Meng not only points to the problem of fewer customers, but the dangers the signs pose for fire and police squads in case of an emergency. She says business owners are putting themselves and their neighbors at risk by not clearly spelling out their names and addresses in English, so police can find them easily. Though it may seem like a simple fix, changing store awnings could cost big bucks for small businesses. New awnings can cost thousands of dollars, which is why Meng created the advisory board to find affordable solutions. "This store is not for Chinese or Korean people. This is for everyone," said one Flushing business owner.
Meng also wants to make sure everyone is comfortable with the results. "I'm also Asian-American. I have many relatives who are small-business owners. I want their businesses to succeed, and I want them to feel that they are not being discriminated," she said. Contrary to popular belief, English is not the United States' official language; the United States still has no official language at the federal level.
