Vietnamese has joined Spanish, Chinese, and Filipino as an official language of San Francisco. This inclusion mandates that the city provide translated materials and services to its Vietnamese residents.

Legislative Change and Its Implications

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted last week to lower the threshold for determining when a language becomes eligible for translation services. Previously, a language needed at least 10,000 speakers to qualify as an official language for city services. The new threshold is now 6,000 speakers.

“In San Francisco, one in three residents is an immigrant and nearly 43% of our population over the age of 5 speaks a language other than English at home,” Jorge Rivas Jr., executive director of the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs, wrote in the introduction to the 2024 language access compliance report. “Recognizing our diversity is fundamental to ensuring that public services cater to the needs of all residents.”

With 6,791 limited English proficiency Vietnamese speakers in San Francisco, Vietnamese is the fourth-largest language population in the city, according to the San Francisco language diversity data dashboard.

Scope of Services and Implementation

As a result of this change, city websites, board and commission meeting materials, and bills from the tax collector and Public Utilities Commission, among other services, will now be translated into Vietnamese. This move aims to provide residents with city information in their native languages, facilitating better access to public services and civic participation.

San Francisco has called its Language Access Ordinance “one of the strongest local language laws in the nation.” This ordinance is part of the city's efforts to accommodate its diverse population and ensure that non-English speakers have equal access to essential services and information.

Annual Compliance and Challenges

The city publishes a language access compliance report annually to assess ordinance compliance. The 2022-2023 fiscal year report revealed that only 4.91% of translated materials were in Vietnamese, whereas the percentages of translated materials for other official languages were significantly higher.

The report also highlighted a decline in bilingual staff citywide, emphasizing the need for prioritizing recruitment and retention of bilingual employees. This is crucial for the effective implementation of the ordinance and to meet the growing demand for language services.

Efforts to Enhance Language Access

In its ordinance, the city committed to “make every effort” to remove barriers to participation by increasing bilingual staffing. This includes targeted recruitment and retention strategies to ensure that the city workforce can adequately meet the needs of its linguistically diverse residents.

Conclusion

The inclusion of Vietnamese as an official language in San Francisco underscores the city's commitment to recognizing and accommodating its diverse population. By lowering the threshold for language translation services and enhancing bilingual staffing, San Francisco aims to provide equitable access to public services and information for all its residents. The city's proactive approach in updating its Language Access Ordinance and addressing compliance challenges reflects its dedication to fostering an inclusive and accessible community.

Broader Impact and Future Implications

Strengthening Community Engagement

The inclusion of Vietnamese as an official language will significantly enhance community engagement. Vietnamese-speaking residents will now have better access to important city information, enabling them to participate more actively in civic life. This move is expected to foster a greater sense of belonging and empowerment among the Vietnamese community.

Model for Other Cities

San Francisco's approach could serve as a model for other cities with diverse populations. By demonstrating the benefits of lowering the threshold for language translation services and prioritizing bilingual staffing, San Francisco sets an example of how to effectively address the needs of non-English-speaking residents.

Ongoing Commitment to Diversity

This legislative change is part of San Francisco's broader commitment to embracing and supporting its diverse population. The city's efforts to continuously improve language access and ensure equitable services for all residents highlight its dedication to creating an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of language, can thrive.

Challenges and Solutions

While the inclusion of Vietnamese as an official language is a significant step forward, challenges remain. The city must address the decline in bilingual staff and ensure that there are enough resources to meet the increased demand for translated materials and services. By implementing strategic recruitment and retention plans for bilingual employees, San Francisco can overcome these challenges and fully realize the benefits of its language access policies.