Hotel owner tells Hispanic workers to change names

[R. P. McMurphy]

By MELANIE DABOVICH
Associated Press
Mon Oct 26, 3:29 am ET

TAOS, N.M. – Larry Whitten marched into this northern New Mexico town in late July on a mission: resurrect a failing hotel.

The tough-talking former Marine immediately laid down some new rules. Among them, he forbade the Hispanic workers at the run-down, Southwestern adobe-style hotel from speaking Spanish in his presence (he thought they'd be talking about him), and ordered some to Anglicize their names.

No more Martin (Mahr-TEEN). It was plain-old Martin. No more Marcos. Now it would be Mark.

Whitten's management style had worked for him as he's turned around other distressed hotels he bought in recent years across the country.

The 63-year-old Texan, however, wasn't prepared for what followed.

His rules and his firing of several Hispanic employees angered his employees and many in this liberal enclave of 5,000 residents at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, where the most alternative of lifestyles can find a home and where Spanish language, culture and traditions have a long and revered history.

see the rest of the story at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091026/ap_on_re_us/us_trouble_in_taos_3

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Wonder if this guy votes republican?

[mule_train]

1. wonder if he named any of them 'Toby'

this guy demonstated among other things, a spectacular lack of comprehension of the culture, politics and history of the taos/santa fe area

it would be wrong anywhere

but incredibly stupid, there

[Xipe Totec]

2. Trying to Whitten the staff? n/t

[marshall]

3. What difference does it make if they are talking about him in Spanish?

As long as they do their job and are polite to him and each other and guests of the motel why should he care if they are making fun of him or complaining about him or whatever?

FWIW, Huffington Post showed that he donated $500 to McCain in 2008.