Zita Wilensky, was fired by Florida's Miami-Dade County government after 16 years of service for failing to learn Spanish in 60 days.

Wilensky's firing, which first appeared on WSVN-TV's "Help Me Howard" program, is likely to be the first of many future complaints, given the continued existence of Clinton Executive Order 13166.

"Oakland, California, has required all new government hires with public contact responsibilities to be fluent in either Spanish or Chinese. Maryland cited E.O. 13166 as justification for passing a sweeping translation mandate of its own. Pretty soon the only people ineligible for government jobs will be English-speaking American citizens," said Jim Boulet, Jr., Executive Director of English First.

English First is encouraging all concerned citizens to contact the Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Alex Penelas, to demand Zita's reinstatement.

You can can do so by e-mail at mayor@miamidade.gov or by fax at (305) 375-3618.

The Mayor's mailing address is: Office of the Mayor, Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 N.W. 1st Street, 29th Floor, Miami, Florida 33128. If you would prefer to telephone Mayor Penelas, his number is (305) 375-5071.

You might say: "Zita Wilensky was unfairly treated by her boss and unjustly fired. Please see to it that she is rehired and properly compensated."