I’m all for transit-friendly literature bringing the masses together by crossing over language barriers, but naming the Metro Gold Line’s Eastside Extension as “La Linea de Oro” (literal Spanish translation of “Gold Line”) in Metro’s Spanish language literature isn’t really the answer. (See LA Times Blog: MTA Approves Spanish Translation of Gold Line)
I do like Gloria Molina and I understand her reasoning that a majority of users in the Eastside Extension are Spanish speakers, but here’s the thing about naming conventions: you want to brand with familiarity.
There are many different cultures and languages throughout Los Angeles and if we replicate this translation in those other texts, the brand of “Metro Gold Line” is going to get diluted. As a public transit user, people ask questions all the time from other passengers of where to go and what direction. What if the person looking for “La Linea de Oro” can’t tell a non-Spanish speaker “Metro Gold Line”? My Spanish language skills are not that great, but I know what “La Linea de Oro” means. However, if someone were to come up to me and ask which one was “La Linea de Oro”, it’d take me awhile to realize they meant.
Not to mention I don’t think the “color branding” is fully utilized enough. While I LOVE the monitors that tell you the time the subway is arriving (I honestly don’t know how we did without them for so long), they don’t say the colors of the lines – it’s “North Hollywood” and “Wilshire/Western” and “Union Station”. Perhaps how we phrase things in any language woudn’t matter that much if we had colored boxes and color indications on trains?
Why do Political Representatives believe they know what the community wants, when they are so disconnected? Gloria Molina and/or Huizar had not business thinking the community wanted the change. Why was the RAC not informed? Again, a community commission that is not respected and are not included in decisions such as this. Do you wonder why we have community input commissions?
In addition, Gloria Molina had no business changing Brooklyn to Cesar Chavez without the community’s input. Cesar Chavez a leader and ICON for Hispanics rights deserves much more respect, and not just tagging a street well known and historical, Brooklyn, not only to the Jewish community, but also to Hispanics and Japanese, Russians, and very much part of Hispanic settlers like the Lopez Family Ranch, in the Boyle Heights area. Maybe we should have asked the Lopez –Cummings family. If Molina want to change the names to Spanish, why not also change Edward Roybal to Spanish, Eduardo R. Roybal (accent on the” a”).
Recommend to Councilmen Huizar and Gloria Molina to listen to the community in general. Hispanic immigrants continue to be labeled as unable to learn the English Language and not to be able or want to embrace the USA. Allowing Hispanics to become bi-lingo, would give them liberty and justice, freedom and success at their jobs or careers. As if Cesar Chavez said SI SE PUEDE, yes we can be bi-lingo, with Spanish and English and more. Gloria you need have more confidence in the ability of Hispanics…
Opposing the change of name from GOLD LINE to Linia de Oro. United States is also our Country, Hispanic are American Citizens too and proud of being Mexican-American, Americans, Chicanos, Mexicanos, Latinos and capable of speaking both languages, why is it, that Gloria Molina, thinks that all Mexican’s do not embrace the United States and proud of being Americans. When will people allow Hispanics to be Americans like all other nationalities that come to USA for the American Dream?
Councilmen Huizar the Boyle Heights community has been asking for a community forum with you to discuss several issues that we face. We want to also know how the Clart Fund has been spend.
I do not want it call La Linea de Oro ,,,,,they need to think of what it mean’s,,think about it! realy hard ,,,,,,NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! leave it the GOLD LINE to The East Side!!!!!!!!!! that is final !!!!!!!
Do we not live in the United States where English is the primary language? Stop keeping our people down – YES WE CAN learn english.
C. Willard – I don’t think the language argument is very constructive. Given the number of people in America where English is not the first language (myself and my family included), the argument really lies in the branding. I appreciate the diversity of America – including the languages – but I don’t think it’s about whether or not people can “learn a language”.