mark handler
SAWHORSE
City disrespects disabled
POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2013
Mike Hunnel
Yakima Herald Republic | Saturday Soapbox: City disrespects disabled
When I was allowed to speak at Yakima City Council meetings, the council informed me they aren’t being rude, disrespectful or discriminating against our community’s disabled people.
If this is true, why are there intersections with curb cuts projecting pedestrians into the center of the intersections?
Why have there been curb cuts that are definitely 10 years old or older that haven’t gotten totally refurbished during their reconstruction as required by law?
Why are there so many curb cuts that don’t comply with state ADA codes?
Why are there brand-new buildings that don’t have disabled parking on the “shortest accessible route of travel” as required by law?
Why are there brand-new buildings/structures, additions to existing buildings/structures, and parking lots that have been resurfaced utilizing the universal van parking code instead of the standard code, access aisles on the driver side instead of the passenger side including one-way traffic, or each disabled parking space that doesn’t have an access aisle adjacent to the disabled parking spaces as required by law?
Why are there brand-new buildings/structures and existing buildings/structures that surface and resurface their parking lots that have more than one entrance to a building/structure with one entity within the building/structure that don’t have adequate disabled parking at all entrances as required by law?
Why are there want-to-be disabled parking spaces that don’t have disabled parking signs in front of the want-to-be disabled parking space to validate the disabled parking space as required by law?
Why are there four street disabled parking spaces within the Revitalization of Yakima Avenue and the North Front Street Historical District that are either obstructed by trees, sign poles and lacking the safety for the disabled to get to the sidewalk safely as required by law?
Why are there brand-new buildings/structures that have multiple levels and/or multiple buildings/structures per site that don’t have an “accessible route of travel” to either level and/or building as required by law other than the vehicular way?
Why are there schools that have been rebuilt that have disabled parking spaces and handicap accessible doors that don’t comply with the state codes as required by law?
Since there are two sides to the ticketing process regarding disabled accessibility violations, why hasn’t the city collected the millions of dollars from businesses that are in violation of state codes?
Why is it that the most stringent standard available is not being utilized whenever possible as required by law?
Apparently the March 15, 2006, study session was a total waste of time for everyone involved, especially when some of those who attended are still on council and/or are part of the hired help.
With all of the evidence of all the noncompliance with state ADA codes, who are the city officials trying to convince besides themselves that they are not being rude, disrespectful or discriminating against disabled people?
Come election time, with this kind of neglect, I will remember and encourage Yakima voters to remember this when voting.
POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2013
Mike Hunnel
Yakima Herald Republic | Saturday Soapbox: City disrespects disabled
When I was allowed to speak at Yakima City Council meetings, the council informed me they aren’t being rude, disrespectful or discriminating against our community’s disabled people.
If this is true, why are there intersections with curb cuts projecting pedestrians into the center of the intersections?
Why have there been curb cuts that are definitely 10 years old or older that haven’t gotten totally refurbished during their reconstruction as required by law?
Why are there so many curb cuts that don’t comply with state ADA codes?
Why are there brand-new buildings that don’t have disabled parking on the “shortest accessible route of travel” as required by law?
Why are there brand-new buildings/structures, additions to existing buildings/structures, and parking lots that have been resurfaced utilizing the universal van parking code instead of the standard code, access aisles on the driver side instead of the passenger side including one-way traffic, or each disabled parking space that doesn’t have an access aisle adjacent to the disabled parking spaces as required by law?
Why are there brand-new buildings/structures and existing buildings/structures that surface and resurface their parking lots that have more than one entrance to a building/structure with one entity within the building/structure that don’t have adequate disabled parking at all entrances as required by law?
Why are there want-to-be disabled parking spaces that don’t have disabled parking signs in front of the want-to-be disabled parking space to validate the disabled parking space as required by law?
Why are there four street disabled parking spaces within the Revitalization of Yakima Avenue and the North Front Street Historical District that are either obstructed by trees, sign poles and lacking the safety for the disabled to get to the sidewalk safely as required by law?
Why are there brand-new buildings/structures that have multiple levels and/or multiple buildings/structures per site that don’t have an “accessible route of travel” to either level and/or building as required by law other than the vehicular way?
Why are there schools that have been rebuilt that have disabled parking spaces and handicap accessible doors that don’t comply with the state codes as required by law?
Since there are two sides to the ticketing process regarding disabled accessibility violations, why hasn’t the city collected the millions of dollars from businesses that are in violation of state codes?
Why is it that the most stringent standard available is not being utilized whenever possible as required by law?
Apparently the March 15, 2006, study session was a total waste of time for everyone involved, especially when some of those who attended are still on council and/or are part of the hired help.
With all of the evidence of all the noncompliance with state ADA codes, who are the city officials trying to convince besides themselves that they are not being rude, disrespectful or discriminating against disabled people?
Come election time, with this kind of neglect, I will remember and encourage Yakima voters to remember this when voting.