Q&A
Challenges in enforcing language access law due to vague language
1:10:30
·
75 sec
Dan Steinberg from the Mayor's Office of Operations explains the challenges in enforcing the language access law due to vague language in the legislation. Council Member Alexa Avilés questions the lack of clear enforcement responsibility.
- The law contains phrases like 'to the extent practicable' and 'reasonable efforts,' making straightforward enforcement difficult
- Neither MOIA nor the Mayor's Office of Operations has explicit enforcement authority
- The discussion highlights the need for clearer language and defined enforcement mechanisms in the law
Dan Steinberg
1:10:30
Dan Steinberg.
1:10:31
I think it is a trick question to be frank, but I'm not an attorney and and and and, you know, but when I look at the the letter of the law, there's a lot of language around to be extent practicable and and reasonable efforts toward.
1:10:43
And and that does you know, it is a not necessarily a very straightforward environment to enforce anything.
1:10:51
But but but I do wanna clarify that we also don't have enforcement authority Obviously, we have a a program there.
Alexa Avilés
1:10:58
I'm I'm asking, I guess, US practitioners, right, who who are charged with with meeting this law and are charged with engaging with agencies.
1:11:08
And what we see is, obviously, growth and we see real challenges to meet it.
1:11:14
And everyone says, well, it I'm not an enforcement agency.
1:11:18
I can't be held accountable here.
1:11:20
And it's I am asking as a practitioner where should enforcement live?
1:11:28
Obviously, it could change depending on the context.
1:11:31
But as practitioners have seen the implementation and development of this infrastructure, where should enforcement live to ensure that we meet the mandate of the law.
1:11:41
So we don't hear over and over again.
1:11:43
I'm not the enforcement and either No.
Dan Steinberg
1:11:45
I I understand that, and I think it's a fair premise.
