Page 10 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 11, 2019 Start Your Weekend at the Marina Dance Party! Back By Popular Demand! TIME & AGAIN GIRLS Saturday, October 12 at 9 PM Dance to the Hits of Yesterday and Today! DJ LOGIK Friday, October 11 at 9 PM MONDAY'S SHUCK! $1.00 Oysters SUNDAY BRUNCH BUFFET Only $19.95 / 11am-2pm Featuring Al Whitney Jazz Band BOOK YOUR NEXT FUNCTION WITH US * GIFT CARDS AMPLE FREE www.marinaatthewharf.com 543 North Shore Rd. Revere 781-629-3798 PARKING For Advertising with Results, call he A call The Advocate Newspapers cate Ne spapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net FREE AMAZING WATER VIEWS City Council resolution is lost in translation By Barbara Taormina L ast month, the City Council unanimously voted in favor of a resolution to provide real-time translation of city meetings to Malden’s Asian residents. But when members of the Citizens Engagement Committee followed up with a meeting to discuss a plan to off er translation services, they ran into technological and financial roadblocks. According to the resolution sponsored by Councillors Debbie DeMaria and David Camell, access to information is hampered by language barriers for roughly 25 to 30 percent Malden’s population who described themselves as Asian. The resolution goes on to say that the health and well-being of the city is enhanced when its government refl ects population segments, and timely access to information may increase interest, involvement and leadership of all ages, talent and socioeconomic levels. “This is very much a community-grown resolve,” said DeMaria, who wondered how Homebuyer Seminar Or Just Thinking Aloud... Whether You’re In The Market, - Learn The Process - Get Inside Tips & Info - See Financing Options It’s The INFO You Need To KNOW! Tuesday, October 15th 5:30 pm Mass Bay Credit Union 147 W. 4th Street, So. Boston PLUS: Attendees are eligible for $500 OFF closing costs* ALL ARE WELCOME! To reserve your spot, email: jhernandez@massbaycu.org or call: 617-269-2700 ext 3211. Easy! massbaycu.org (617) 269-2700 South Boston – Everett – Quincy – Seaport Federally insured by NCUA EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY *$500 off closing costs good on a Mass Bay mortgage loan closed within 1 year of the seminar date. Subject to membership eligibility qualifications. NMLS ID #615913 Chris Asian residents who are provided ballots in Chinese can cast informed votes when municipal government meetings are conducted exclusively in English. Councillors and some of the community’s most involved residents agreed and supported the resolution. Most people left the City Council meeting feeling the city had taken a major step from giving lip service to diversity to promoting authentic inclusion. But Information Technology Director Anthony Rodrigues met with the Citizens Engagement Committee a week later and explained that the goal set out in the resolution is not realistic. “Doing translations in real time would be diffi cult and very cost prohibitive,” said Rodrigues. Although the new City Hall will be equipped with all types of technology that will allow municipal meetings to be streamed and beamed wherever Malden citizens may roam, Rodrigues said the technology for simultaneous translation “isn’t quite there yet.” And apps and programs that promise translations tend to be clumsy, not entirely accurate and not suitable for offi cial government business. Rodriques said the city works with Baystate Interpreters to provide different translation services, and translators have been provided to residents who have requested them for School Committee meetings. But that service costs $135 per hour per language. Providing the type of service that the council envisioned would take a signifi cant investment. Ward 7 Councillor Neal Anderson suggested that some city employees might be willing to take on an added responsibility of providing translations for additional pay. And DeMaria mentioned that in Somerville there are three city employees who provide translation services in addition to their regular jobs. The committee agreed to continue exploring translation options. They plan to provide written notices to the Asian community explaining that Baystate Interpreters can provide real-time translations of meetings when requested. The response to those notices will help gauge the level of interest in those services. They also plan to check the budget line item for translation services and to assess the accuracy of Google’s translator app. DeMaria said she would also reach out to the Secretary of State’s offi ce to discuss the issue. DeMaria said Malden is required to provide ballots in Chinese to residents who request them. “Maybe they can help us with the cost of translations,” she said. A.B.C. CIGAR 170 REVERE ST., REVERE Gift Cards OPEN: Mon.-Sat. 8 AM - 8 PM Sun. - Holidays: 8 AM - 6 PM (781) 289-4959 Rewards Program Dan Steve OUR 48th YEAR ALL MAJOR BRANDS OF CIGARS * Desktop Humidors * Travel Humidors * Boxes of Cigars * Bundles of Cigars * Singles * Torch Lighters * Zippo Lighters * Cigar Cutters PIPES * GRINDERS * HOOKAHS * BONGS CBD Products OCTOBER SPECIAL HUMIDORS... A necessity for the serious cigar smoker as well as a functional item of furniture. This is your chance to save BIG BUCKS as you can purchase at a reduced price. While the price range on humidors varies, our A.B.C. SPECIAL is priced at $99.00. It holds 25-35 cigars and includes a cigar cutter, ash tray, hygrometer, humidifier, and a leather pocket holder. 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