Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Man Tries to Order Priciest Starbucks Drink Ever Total cost: $23.60 »

Hotel Owner Forces Latino Employees to Change Names

NM innkeeper forbids speaking Spanish

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 26, 2009 2:31 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – A hotel owner who demands that Latino workers change their names to Anglicized versions and not speak Spanish in his presence is causing a stir in New Mexico. Larry Whitten laid down the law: Martín (mahr-teen) and Marcos are now just Martin and Mark, and employees he considered insubordinate were fired. That didn't fly in liberal Taos, which has a large Hispanic population. "I do feel he's a racist," says a protester, "but he's a racist out of ignorance"

Whitten has turned around more than 20 failing hotels, and he apparently figured Taos’ Paragon Inn would be no different. But he failed to gauge the town’s cultural sensitivity: After he fired several employees hostile to his management style, local groups picketed the newly renamed Whitten Inn. "I came into this landmine of Anglos versus Spanish versus Mexicans versus Indians versus everybody up here. I'm just doing what I've always done," Whitten told the AP.

An Oct. 1, 2009 photo shows the Whitten Inn on Paseo del Pueblo in Taos, N.M.
An Oct. 1, 2009 photo shows the Whitten Inn on Paseo del Pueblo in Taos, N.M.   (AP photo/Melanie Dabovich)
Hotel owner Larry Whitten is seen at his attorney's office in Taos, N.M. on Oct. 1, 2009.
Hotel owner Larry Whitten is seen at his attorney's office in Taos, N.M. on Oct. 1, 2009.   (AP photo/Melanie Dabovich)
This Oct. 1, 2009 photo shows hotel owner Larry Whitten standing in front of the sign for his hotel in Taos, N.M.
This Oct. 1, 2009 photo shows hotel owner Larry Whitten standing in front of the sign for his hotel in Taos, N.M.   (AP photo/Melanie Dabovich)
An Oct. 1, 2009 photo shows protesters lined up in front of the Whitten Inn on Paseo del Pueblo street in Taos, N.M.
An Oct. 1, 2009 photo shows protesters lined up in front of the Whitten Inn on Paseo del Pueblo street in Taos, N.M.   (AP photo/Melanie Dabovich)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 49 comments
Cprizzle
Oct 27, 2009 12:56 PM CDT
MedicOni, your ignorance is astonishing.
youngblood
Oct 27, 2009 11:51 AM CDT
Timinator2K just to feel you in, a lot of the people commenting against the U.S.A are not even from the U.S.A but from Australia and whatever, but want to put their 2 cents in on how the U.S.A. should handle issues. And I agree if you live in the U.S.A, learn to speak our Language!
youngblood
Oct 27, 2009 8:45 AM CDT
Hey DarkFrancis but from now on I'm going to be calling you buy your new handle, The Newser Grammar Police, how do you like your new handle? Dude you don't live in the U.S.A. so butt out of what's going on here and stick your 2 cents into what's going on in Australia where you say you live.
Money • US

 
Iraq • New Mexico • racism • Latinos • Spanish • Hispanic • cultural heritage

More Newser Stories

Miami Needs to Study Spanish

Poll Sees Texas Dead Heat, Slight Clinton Lead in Ohio

Sheriff Joe Fires Back at Feds' Allegations

Telenovela Sexes Up Census Participation

Sotomayor the First Latino on Supreme Court? Not Exactly
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne