I agree - Plain Press is AWESOME - as is Lincoln West - nice to see good news about and for Cleveland public school kids.

Disrupt IT

Earlier this week, I walked inside of Lincoln West High School to assist an 18 year old homeless single mom to reenroll in school after being disenrolled by her mother last October from the 10th grade. After walking almost entirely around the building trying to gain entrance, going through metal detectors, and sitting in the office for almost 20 minutes while patiently waiting for the office staff to assist us after they mitigated walkie talkies to manage classrooms without substitutes by using security and watching them react to several issues with tardy students and parents trying to figure out where to meet teachers for special meetings, we realized that if we wanted assistance-we better get up and speak up before another person walked in front of us... I don't believe they were ignoring us-just totally reacting as steadily to every interruption at hand as steadily as they could.

Uniforms for High School students....nice touch...But the student who was redirected downtown began to outline this environment where kids were having sex in the school, where they were selling crack inside the walls and where I am aware of gang violence to be ongoing from other events... It was quite perplexing to think that my cousin is ascertaining a very excellent GPA and preparing to go off to college from this very same school where this other student goes...it was like seeing so many colors of the spectrum of achievement and how precious those big and little steps were to each student...the excitement, joy, and absolute indifference that either of them complained about regarding the negative activities that they are independently mitigating in Lincoln West...was intriguing...as it's just a way of life for them...

It amazes me when you see extraordinary students rising above these extraordinary environmental factors...and it makes you wonder about how family dynamics can empower students- like that blind student practicing with his eyesight cane walking down the hall... destined to succeed...These students are so very proud to try and get a good education and to do well, despite some very questionable issues at the school on a daily basis...

I salute all of the children, their families, and the community at large for believing in them...for giving them inspiration to overcome socio-economic issues and to offer them resources that empower them beyond words.

Best wishes to the students of LWHS... now and always...because we know that you are faced with factors that most adults would never conceive! It's nice to see you achieve!!!Moreover, thanks to the staff, instructors, and many collaborators who dedicate themselves to improving the lives of these students....for your fortitude is obviously making a difference! 

 

The May Plain Press is also chockful of REAL news on how Cleveland City Council will resolve funding Community Development Corporations; the fate of the West Side Market and sharing arrangements between the 90+ non-profit agencies located on the near west side; and an editorial from Architectural Historian Craig Bobby, clarifying his role in the designation of historic district status for a segment of Scranton Rd.

In response to the April 2010, Plain Press article.  All the information printed was from actual meetings, taped recordings and/or collected documents. 

In conducting a follow-up, I attended the Old Tremont Block Club meeting last evening where Councilman Cummins was present and it was made clear that he was pushing for the small designated area to become a Local Landmarks Historic District.  Not a single one of the homeowners in favor of making this designated area a historic district attended this meeting or the March meeting.

Members of the TWDC Board and LRP Committee Chair Tim Jenkins along with ED Committee Chair Henry Senyak offered up a solution that would enable the homeowners in this designated area to express their opinion and to sign off that they had been asked for their opinion but the Councilman was totally against the idea even though this will have to go before the TWDC LRP Committee for approval. 

Henry Senyak stood his ground in stating that most of those poor people had feeding their families on their minds and not dwelling on a historic district.  Councilman Cummins seemed to be of the opinion that he couldn't believe the families were that poor.

As far as Craig Bobby is concerned and with all due respect, I cannot say whether or not he is an expert in his field but he does sort of clarify by his own words that he is an "outsider" to this  community and in  one paragraph he states that he did not draft the legislation used to get this before the landmarks commission, however in another paragraph he states he did make the appointment.  I don't see how he can have it both ways since the appointment was based on his recommendations.  

 

Thanks Jerleen-- The questions you ask should be directed towards Brian Cummins and not Craig Bobby. It's common to focus on someone else when the intention of the activity is not well known.  Personally, I agree that the housing on Scranton is significant and should be preserved.  That a key structure was demolished without oversight is unfortunate for the neighborhood.  Councilman Brian Cummins has made very sincere efforts to preserve our local history as it is reflected in our local architecture.  It is a story that is not often told, because he seems to have such a hard time explaining his intentions to folks.  If this particular focus of his intention has an overall GOOD outcome for the neighborhood, then it should be made known. I happen to think that it is a good thing, but that the Councilman's priorities are misplaced and misinterpreted right now.  We have historic designation for the Brooklyn Centre neighborhood and imminent threat for unchecked demolitions here.

One thing to also note Jerleen--property values DO increase when there is investment in the neighborhood and historic preservation can encourage investment.  That in itself is not a bad outcome.  The bad outcome that can result and that you have seen, over and over again in TREMONT?: Those tax dollars are not put back into the same neighborhood in terms of services and protecting overall quality of life.

Also, Jerleen--your article in the April Plain Press did not present misinformation--it asked much needed questions and got a much needed response and some information for residents.  I applaud you for everything you do to hold our representatives accountable.

  I think you will find that we are on the same page--if you start attacking me those same "Rocky River businessmen" will have succeeded...

 

my opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of my employer, my spouse, my cat, my neighbors, my extended family or anyone I happen to acknowledge on the street, bus, etc.

If those who are fortunate enough to live in a historic house and are really worried and concerned about the historical value of their property, they can have their homes individually  registered in the National Registry.  

The main points of the April article was to expose how they used the low-income minorities living in the CMHA Scranton Castle and the fraudlent letter.

What seems to be puzzling is that the residents of Scranton Castle have a computer room and the on-line service was paid by a grant they received.  Well, the grant monies ran out and the internet service has been disconnected for some months.  The bill is approx. $50 or so a month and neither Cummins or TWDC can find a few dollars laying around to help get the service back in operation.  These are poor people and they cannot each afford a computer let alone the monthly bill. 

This means it would cost approx. $500-$600 per year to put these residents back in communication with the rest of the world.  Would this not be considered a humanitarian service based on today's technology and  the way of electronically communicating

 

  Why not have Kevin Kelley use his discretionary funds to put the Scranton Castle residents back on line....or Brian Cummins...

BTW, the residents do have wifi access (which they paid for) at the South Branch of the Cleveland Public Library...a mere 500 yards or so from their residence.  I know most are disabled but they do and can visit the branch.   I am not giving you a hard time Jerleen.  Nothing makes sense anymore, especially Councilman's Cummins focus on a historic designation, when there are far more pressing issues at hand.

and neither was TWDC. Since it is not in Kelly's area, and  the library is never going to be handicapped accessible as no one wants to change the historic building, these neighbors are just out of luck at this point. 

The lack of handicapped access at this library has to change. We do have good architects that should be able to figure this one out. This is a sore point in that neighborhood, discussed year after year, but it doesn't change.

How can these politicians who only visit known voters' homes during their candidacy really get to know the households who don't vote, which in this community---are the majority of residents? 

When you make over $70+k per year, live large, want for nothing, send your kids to private schools, and are in downtown meetings most of the time or spend your time dog and ponying with high paid yuppies, how can you begin to understand the people who actually live in your community? 

There's no inspiration at this point in the process for indigent residents to get proactive with a leader who is not adept to comprehend their multidimensional special needs as disabled, low income, and dynamically challenged folks with "attitudes" after years of systematic corruption that raped their spirits...but he sure does know how to hang out with the high rollers and empower them....to walk all over the rest....

Those high rollers don't need your leadership, Brian Cummins. The demographically disadvantaged need you to stop acting like your gentrification will raise them up....for most don't want to be more educated, more involved, or looked on as though they don't deserve your respect. They are proud all the same....ignorant, poor, disabled, and disadvantaged.... They may be loud, outspoken, perhaps they wear tattered clothes-but they are human beings, not quotas for you to abuse their demographics.... and that is what you are doing by steering our CDBG funds out of Ward 14, by failing to sustain open communication with EVERY RESIDENT about ongoing operations, and by neglecting to post IMPERATIVE INFORMATION about upcoming meetings on this forum where  you know that the folks who work to protect those who cannot protect themselves will work to insure that the residents get the information-even if we had to go door to door.

You are not a leader when you don't delegate and empower  your delegation to unite your ward. You are a weasel when you avoid sharing significant info with us so that we can be proactive in the democratic process. You blatantly choose to neglect us by not notifying us properly about things. You have changed things like our ward telephone number for what purpose???? Please explain...so that the dedicated citizens who would normally call in complaints can be confused? As though they didn't have enough confusion in this community... you added more.

Change could have been good with you...But once again...you are down in the well established Tremont circles with your valuable time. You deliberately choose to ignore those who challenge you for empowering the less fortunate. You only encircle yourself with the easy, yuppy, and economically advantageous groups who will make you look good....and who make you comfortable.... You are a fish out of water amidst the poor folks, the ghetto folks, and those who live hand to mouth-stressing out about how to find the money for food, utilities, or for that matter-for their next fix... You are an agency referral person who doesn't comprehend the underground life of Ward 14... You just get the political games... not the survival mode that many folks here live in quite regularly. The question is....how can YOU make the difference for that majority of the citizens in our ward??? 

They are the ones who empower you with CDBG funding. Why cannot you find ingenuitive ways to inspire them to overcome their dynamics? Instead your focus is about other things outside of "NEED".... I challenge you to get a reality check in these areas of life in Ward 14 that your are apparently IGNORANT....

Your assumption of "business as usual" games on Ward 14 as a stepping stone to your next genre of life is unacceptable. I really wanted to believe that you were worthy of sitting in your seat, but it is apparent that you are no different than the rest of your City Council counterparts.

The worst part is that you got one of the toughest seats on council to sustain as a councilperson and you have a list of proactive activists who would have valiantly supported your efforts for NOTHING...but you found it in yourself to retaliate against them for speaking up and that is priceless, unethical, and downright DIRTY....

Brian Cummins.... my salute to your best intentions to gentrify us, to derail our efforts by underhanded games, and to avoid providing us options for assistance when we call your office within our ward. You had the power to make a difference for the better...but you have started out on the wrong foot with those in this community who have lifelong roots-which is something you can never compare to. When you are done stepping on us....will you look back with pride? Will you sleep well at night when you know you have hurt already struggling families with your persistant "belief" that they are financially able to do better? 

You just don't get how touchy it is to work with these folks, do you? They were abused by corruption for years and you just don't respect their paranoia, their underground lifestyles, or their way of surviving outside of the box...which is a crazy way to live...but it's about surviving to them... Just keep stepping on them.... that appears to be your momentum. Forget empowerment, inspiration, or motivation...just keep stepping on them and hope that they will move away or rise up to a level that you can "respect" them...or ignore them because it's so much easier for you to avoid their realities....

The gut wrenching truth about this community must embarrass you.  The reality of dealing with the most denegrated community around must truly discourage your efforts to gentrify. How do you deal with crackhead moms who abuse their kids or rapists in your historical district neighborhood all over the news??? Tell me, doesn't that really eat you up...? Do you know about the houses full of prositutes in that very neighborhood, walking the walk up and down Scranton/Clark? It's a shady world out here...but you don't have to deal with those issues, do you? Sweep it under the rug... ignore it and prayerfully the police will arrest those lawbreakers who are simply feeding kids and habits....you just won't get it until it's all too late!!!

Brian Cummins, your assets of education, worldly experiences, and community development are only being used as a tool at this point. You are not sharing them with integrity to the needs of the oppressed. You are using them as a stepping stone to the higher echelons of life...

You want them to be like you. You don't accept them for who they are. You expect them to change and be more like you or you neglect them.

Therefore, how can these alleged leaders really understand the struggles of the indigent? They simply cannot...

Instead, they continue to ignore, refuse to share relevant info and they spend lots of time avoiding these realities.... while all along doing as they please while these families continue to mitigate a nightmare system in this city! 

Hey Brian, why don't you work a collaborative in W-14 with the City of Cleveland traffic court so that hundreds of indigent folks without licenses due to past due traffic violations could actually get their licenses back and be able to get to and from work or have a car in their name or so forth? Perhaps that would be something empowering.... Maybe you could offer community service within our Ward as a method of payment that really made a difference....then empower those folks to help the needy around the neighborhoods during their community service?  Wow...wouldn't that be something productive? Nope...the city needs to rape the poor and then they live defunct b/c they cannot afford to pay for things.... amazing... the scope of this community's disenfrancisement is absolutely beyond your ability to perform effectively.

God Bless you Brian Cummins..... Keep up the great work...cynicism.

Write a letter to the Library...ask them to make the accomodations...and if they don't, then file a complaint with the Dept of Justice.... There are laws that protect the disabled...and seeing as this has been an ongoing issue...I don't comprehend how the Council can keep allowing these violations to occur! They cannot keep refuting to make the place assessible as they have  obligations under federal laws.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended

The ADA recognizes and protects the civil rights of people with disabilities and is modeled after earlier landmark laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race and gender. The ADA covers a wide range of disability, from physical conditions affecting mobility, stamina, sight, hearing, and speech to conditions such as emotional illness and learning disorders. The ADA addresses access to the workplace (title I), State and local government services (title II), and places of public accommodation and commercial facilities (title III). It also requires phone companies to provide telecommunications relay services for people who have hearing or speech impairments (title IV) and miscellaneous instructions to Federal agencies that enforce the law (title V). Regulations issued under the different titles by various Federal agencies set requirements and establish enforcement procedures. To understand and comply with the ADA, it is important to follow the appropriate regulations.

Under titles II and III of the ADA, the Board develops and maintains accessibility guidelines for buildings, facilities, and transit vehicles and provides technical assistance and training on these guidelines. The ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) serve as the basis of standards issued by the departments of Justice (DOJ) and Transportation (DOT) to enforce the law. The building guidelines cover places of public accommodation, commercial facilities, and State and local government facilities. The vehicle guidelines address buses, vans, a variety of rail vehicles, trams, and other modes of public transportation. Regulations issued by DOJ and DOT contain standards based on ADAAG and also provide important information on which buildings and facilities are subject to the standards. It is important that the regulations be used along with the design standards they contain or reference.

ADA Amendments Act of 2008
Amendments to the ADA signed into law on September 25, 2008, clarify and reiterate who is covered by the law. The copy of the ADA provided below includes these amendments, which became effective January 1, 2009.

• Overview
• Text of the ADA

An Overview of the ADA

This information summarizes the provisions of the ADA and references the regulations issued by various agencies that are used to enforce them. Links are provided to these agencies. Regulations are referred to their location in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and their publication in the Federal Register (FR).

Title I - Employment
Title II - Public Services
Title III - Public Accommodations
Title IV - Telecommunications
Title V - Miscellaneous (provides instructions to Federal agencies involved in regulating and enforcing the other titles)

Title I - Employment

Accessibility Requirements:

• Employers with 15 or more employees may not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities. 29 CFR 1630.4.
• Employers must reasonably accommodate the disabilities of qualified applicants or employees, including modifying work stations and equipment, unless undue hardship would result. 29 CFR 1630.2 (o) and 1630.9.

Effective Dates:

• July 26, 1992 for employers with 25 or more employees.
• July 26, 1994 for employers with 15 to 24 employees.

Enforcing Agency: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Regulations: EEOC final rules are in 29 CFR Part 1630 (56 FR 35726, July 26, 1991).

Enforcement:

Individuals may file complaints with EEOC. Individuals may also file a private lawsuit after exhausting administrative remedies. Remedies are the same as available under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Courts may order an employer to hire or promote qualified individuals, reasonably accommodate their disabilities, and pay back wages and attorneys' fees. (The Civil Rights Act of 1991 provides a new remedy for compensatory and punitive damages in cases of intentional discrimination in employment.)

Title II - Public Services

A. State and Local Government Services

(Note: Recipients of Federal financial assistance have similar obligations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Most buildings constructed or altered with Federal funds are required to comply with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968.)

Accessibility Requirements:

• State and local governments may not discriminate on the basis of disability. 28 CFR 35.130. Effective Date: January 26, 1992, unless otherwise noted below.
• Each service, program, or activity must be operated so that, when viewed in its entirety, it is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, unless it would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of a service, program, or activity or in undue financial and administrative burdens. Structural changes to existing buildings may be required where other methods of achieving compliance are not effective. 28 CFR 35.150. Effective Dates: Structural changes to existing buildings to meet "program accessibility" requirement must be made by January 26, 1995. Public entities with 50 or more employees must develop "transition plans" for such changes by July 26, 1992. The disability community must be involved in developing the plan.
• Newly constructed State and local government buildings must be accessible. 28 CFR 35.151(a).  Effective Date: Facilities must comply if bids are invited after January 26, 1992. 56 FR 35710 (July 26, 1991).
• Alterations to existing State and local government buildings must be done in an accessible manner. 28 CFR 35.151(b). Effective Dates: Alterations commenced after January 26, 1992.
• Newly constructed and altered streets and pedestrian walkways must contain curb cuts at intersections. 28 CFR 35.151(d).

Enforcing Agency: Department of Justice (DOJ)

Regulations:

DOJ final rules on State and local government services are in 28 CFR Part 35 (56 FR 35694, July 26, 1991). DOJ final rules permit State and local governments to use ADAAG or UFAS as the accessibility standard for new construction and alterations of buildings. 28 CFR 35.151(c).

Enforcement:

Individuals may file complaints with Federal agencies designated in 28 CFR 35.190. Individuals may also file a private lawsuit. Remedies are the same as available under Section 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Courts may order public entities to make facilities accessible, provide auxiliary aids or services, modify policies, and pay attorneys' fees.

B. Transportation

(Note: Recipients of federal financial assistance have similar obligations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Most buildings constructed or altered with Federal funds are required to comply with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968.)

Accessibility Requirements:

• Newly constructed transit facilities by public entities must be accessible. 49 CFR 37.41. Effective Date: Transit facilities must comply if a "notice to proceed" is issued after January 25, 1992 (October 7, 1991 for Amtrak and commuter rail stations).
• Existing "key stations" in rapid rail, commuter rail, and light rail systems must be accessible. 49 CFR 37.47 and 37.51.  Effective Dates: By July 26, 1993. Extensions may be granted up to July 26, 2010 (commuter rail) and July 26, 2020 (rapid and light rail) for stations needing extraordinarily expensive structural changes.
• All existing Amtrak stations must be accessible. 49 CFR 37.55. Effective Date: By July 26, 2010
• Alterations to existing transit facilities by public entities must be done in an accessible manner. When alterations affect usability of or access to "primary function" areas of a transit facility, an accessible path of travel must be provided to the altered areas and the restrooms, drinking fountains, and telephones serving the altered areas must also be accessible, to the extent that the cost of making these features accessible does not exceed 20% of the planned alterations. 49 CFR 37.43. Effective Dates: Alterations for which "notice to proceed" or "work order" issued after January 25, 1992 (October 7, 1991 for Amtrak and commuter rail stations).
• New buses and rail vehicles acquired by public entities for fixed route systems must be accessible. 49 CFR 37.71, 37.79 and 37.85. Effective Dates: Vehicles must comply if closing date for submission of bids is after August 25, 1990. ADA Vehicle Guidelines are the applicable standard as of October 7, 1991. Interim standards apply before that date (56 FR 40762, October 4, 1990.)
• New vehicles acquired by public entities for demand responsive systems must be accessible unless the system provides individuals with disabilities a level of service equivalent to that provided to the general public. 49 CFR 37.77.  Effective Dates: Vehicles must comply if the closing date for submission of bids is after August 25, 1990. The ADA Vehicle Guidelines are the applicable standard as of October 7, 1991. Interim standards apply before that date (56 FR 40762, October 4, 1990).
• Public entities have certain obligations when acquiring or remanufacturing used vehicles. 49 CFR 37.73, 37.75, 37.81, 37.83, 37.87, and 37.89. Effective Date: Acquired or remanufactured after August 25, 1990.
• One car per train must be accessible. 49 CFR 37.93. Effective Date: By July 26, 1995
• Amtrak trains must have the same number of wheelchair spaces and transfer seats for wheelchair users as would be available if every single level coach car in the train were accessible to wheelchair users. No more than two of each type of space or seat may be provided on each car. 49 CFR 37.91. Effective Dates: By July 26, 2000. Half of these spaces and seats must be available by July 26, 1995.
• Public entities operating fixed route bus, and rapid rail and light rail systems must provide comparable complementary paratransit service to individuals with disabilities who meet certain eligibility criteria to the extent that an undue financial burden is not imposed. 49 CFR 37.121 to 37.155. Effective Dates: Initial plans for providing service must be submitted to DOT by January 26, 1992 and updated annually thereafter. The disability community must be involved in developing the plans. Public entities must begin implementing plans on January 26, 1992 and achieve full compliance by January 26, 1997.

Enforcing Agency: Department of Transportation (DOT)

Regulations:

DOT final rules on transportation are in 49 CFR Parts 37 and 38 (56 FR 45584, September 6, 1991). DOT final rules require public entities to use ADAAG as the accessibility standard for new construction and alterations of transit facilities and for transit vehicles. 49 CFR 37.7 and 37.9.

Enforcement:

Individuals may file complaints with DOT concerning transportation. Individuals may also file a private lawsuit. Remedies are the same as available under Section 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Courts may order public entities to make facilities accessible, provide auxiliary aids or services, modify policies, and pay attorneys' fees.

Tite III - Public Accommodations

Accessibility Requirements:

• Restaurants, hotels, theaters, shopping centers and malls, retail stores, museums, libraries, parks, private schools, day care centers, and other similar places of public accommodation may not discriminate on the basis of disability. 28 CFR 36.201. Effective Date: January 26, 1992, unless otherwise noted below.
• Physical barriers in existing places of public accommodation must be removed if readily achievable (i.e., easily accomplishable and able to be carried out without much difficulty or expense). If not, alternative methods of providing services must be offered, if those methods are readily achievable. 28 CFR 36.304 and 36.305. Effective Dates: The obligation to engage in readily achievable barrier removal is a continuing one. 56 FR 35569 (July 26, 1991).
• New construction of places of public accommodation and commercial facilities (non-residential facilities affecting commerce) must be accessible. 28 CFR 35.401. Effective Dates: Facilities designed and constructed for first occupancy after January 26, 1993. A facility is designed and constructed for first occupancy after January 26, 1993, only if: (1) the last application for a building permit or permit extension is certified to be complete by a State, county, or local government after January 26, 1992; and (2) the first certificate of occupancy is issued after January 26, 1993.
• Alterations to existing places of public accommodation and commercial facilities must be done in an accessible manner. When alterations affect usability of or access to "primary function" areas of a facility, an accessible path of travel must be provided to the altered areas and the rest rooms, telephones, and drinking fountains serving the altered areas must also be accessible, to the extent that the cost of making these features accessible does not exceed 20% of the cost of the planned alterations. 28 CFR 36.402 and 36.403. The additional accessibility requirements for alterations to "primary function" areas do not apply to measures taken solely to comply with readily achievable barrier removal. 28 CFR 36.304(d). January 26, 1992 - unless otherwise noted below. Effective Date: Alterations commenced after January 26, 1992
• Elevators are not required in newly constructed or altered buildings under three stories or with less than 3,000 square feet per floor, unless the building is a shopping center; shopping mall; professional office of a health care provider; terminal, depot, or other station used for specific public transportation; or an airport passenger terminal. 28 CFR 36.401(d) and 36.404.
• Examinations and courses related to licensing or certification for professional and trade purposes must be held in accessible buildings or alternative accessible arrangements must be made. 28 CFR 36.309(b)(1)(iii) and (c)(4).
• New buses and other vehicles (except aircraft and automobiles) acquired by private entities to provide specified public transportation must be accessible or the system in which vehicles are used must provide individuals with disabilities a level of service equivalent to that provided to the general public depending on whether the entity is primarily engaged in the business of transporting people; whether the system is fixed route or demand responsive; and vehicle seating capacity. 49 CFR 37.101 to 37.107. Effective Dates: Vehicles must comply if the closing date for submission of bids is after August 25, 1990 (February 25, 1992 for rail passenger cars and vans with a capacity of less than 8 persons when operated by a private entity primarily engaged in the business of transporting people). ADAAG is the applicable standard as of October 7, 1991. Interim standards apply before that date (56 FR 40762, October 4, 1990).
• New over-the-road buses (buses with an elevated passenger deck located over a baggage compartment) must be accessible. 49 CFR 37.169, and 49 CFR 38.151 to 38.157. Effective Dates: Structural changes in over-the-road buses to provide access to wheelchair users are not required until two years (three years for small companies) after DOT issues regulations.

Enforcing Agencies: Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Transportation (DOT)

Guy, I drafted a letter last night - hard copies will me mailed out on Monday morning.

 I will post a copy of the letter on NEO as soon as I finish with the final draft which will be sometime this evening.  I will also be forwarding a copy to the office of the ADA in Washington, D.C.

 

I cannot wait to see your letter....chew them up and spit them out...in a nice way! 

Disrupt it! Hugs! 

What if we log ticket numbers, distro to sellers, everyone takes like 100 tickets to sell, and then we all meet back in the middle with the tickets to have the raffle? I wouldn't want to interfere or step on any other places that have their own raffles for other purposes...With a 30 day timeline and multiple folks trying to sell the tickets....we could really help those folks out! We are tenacious enough to make their heads spin... What upcoming meetings on/around June 1st would be a great place/time to have the raffle is what we need to know? Then we can have that date/time/group available when we are selling the tickets and everyone knows what's up!

Good looking out, everyone!!! 

April 30, 2010

Felton Thomas, Director

Cleveland Public Library

325 Superior Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

In Re: Cleveland Public Library - South Branch

3096 Scranton Road

Cleveland, Ohio 44113

Dear Mr. Thomas:

It has come to my attention that many disabled, handicapped and wheelchair bound citizens living in the vicinity of the South Branch Cleveland Public Library, at 3096 Scranton Road, Ward 14 Tremont, have been and continue to be discriminated against due to the lack of handicap accessibility.

Specifically, this affects approximately 160 low-income and elderly minorities residing in the CMHA Complex (aka Scranton Castle) at 2000 Scranton Road, Cleveland, Ohio, 44113. Most of these residents must either rely on canes, walkers, wheelchairs or scooters as a means of managing every aspect of their daily living.

The lack of handicap accessibilities (ramps, etc.) at the South Branch location now creates even more of a burden on these individuals due to the fact that the RTA 23 bus has been discontinued. Being that most of these individuals relied on public transportation makes it even more essential that they attain access to this particular library. These tenants also were bestowed grant monies, which ran out several months ago, to pay for a shared DSL Internet Service.  Due to the lack of funds, the service was discontinued leaving these residents dis-connected from any electronic means of communication.

Although this is a historically significant building, a side or back entrance created to accomodate wheelchairs, scooters, etc., would not alter the historical value or bastardize the building to the degree that it would lose it's historical status. It is crucial to the many residents of this Ward 14 Tremont Community that this public establishment be accessible to handicapped and disabled residents. To continue discriminating against these denizens borderlines on bigotry.

Further, I was present at a Tremont West Development Corp. sponsored Community Forum, October 29, 2009, wherein both Ward 14 and Ward 3 candidates serving the Tremont neighborhood were invited to speak.

Among the congregated voters present were a number of Scranton Castle African-American Residents who, even with their physical afflictions and disabilities, managed to clamber the steep stairway to ask an all important question. "How can we get a handicap access ramp installed at the South Branch Library?" I did hear the responses to their inquiry and pledges were made by several office-seekers that they would get right on it. To date, there has been no progress made and these many residents continue to be discriminated against, disfranchised and treated as forgotten orphans.

According to the ADA passed in 1990,

"Restaurants, hotels, theaters, shopping centers and malls, retail stores, museums, libraries, parks, private schools, day care centers, and other similar places of public accommodation may not discriminate on the basis of disability. 28 CFR 36.201. Effective Date: January 26, 1992, unless otherwise noted below:"

The "Physical barriers in existing places of public accommodation must be removed if readily achievable (i.e., easily accomplishable and able to be carried out without much difficulty or expense). If not, alternative methods of providing services must be offered, if those methods are readily achievable. 28 CFR 36.304 and 36.305. Effective Dates: The obligation to engage in readily achievable barrier removal is a continuing one. 56 FR 35569 (July 26, 1991).

Due to the long on-going neglectful and discriminatory practices of the South Branch, Cleveland Public Library, we are requesting that immediate actions be taken to rectify this matter and we hope to have a positive response from you in the very near future.

I thank you for your anticipated and prompt attention in the above regard.

Respectfully,

Jerleen Justus, Resident/President

Old South Side Community Coalition

JJ

cc:

Ted Strickland, Governor

Eddie Harrell, Jr., Chairman

Ohio Civil Rights Commission,

Ms. Choi, Director

Cleveland Regional Office

Ohio Civil Rights Commission,

NAACP - Cleveland Branch,

U.S. Dept. of Justice

Civil Rights Division

Washington, D.C.,

Janice Ridgeway

Community Outreach and Public

Affairs Administrator,

Cindy Lombardo

Public Service Administrator,

Timothy R. Diamond

Special Assistant and Planning Administrator,

Myron Scruggs

Facilities Administrator,

Thomas D. Corrigan, President

Board of Directors, and

South Branch

Cleveland Public Library.

Robert Brown, Director

City Planning Commission,

Jennifer Coleman, Chair

Robert D. Keiser, Secretary

Cleveland Landmarks Commission,

Felicia Y. Hall

Director of Administration

Cleveland Restoration Society,

Brian Cummins, Councilman

Ward 14,

Chris Garland, Executive Director

Tremont West Development Corp.,

Sammy Catania, TWDC SII Development Director/Project Manager,

Frank Jackson, Mayor,

Henry Senyak, TWDC Board Member

Chair - Economic Development Committee

Now, that's progress!

God Bless You, Jerleen! It's about time that someone took a few moments to react to this matter with a very simple and concise factual letter. My prayers that the list of CC's collaborate with them to resolve this matter...

 

Glad to do it.

An electronic copy also went to:  All TWDC Board Members, Ward 14 and 18 Council Offices, Councilman Cimperman, Pagonakis - News Net 5, Tom Beres - WKYC, Dick Russ - WKYC, M. Gill - Cleveland Scene, Carl Monday - 19 Action News, C. Quinn - Plain Dealer and P.F. Morris - Plain Dealer. 

 

Upon receipt of the letter, I was contacted by Plain Dealer Reporter Margaret Bernstein about writing an article covering the South Branch Library's lack of handicap accessibility.

Yesterday she and I met at the library did a walk through and , noting that there are patio doors at the rear of the building - that are not in use, have no steps nor serve any purpose other than letting in the light.  There could easily be a ramp installed to provide wheelchair accessibility to this building without defacing the property/building at all.

She spoke to a gentleman sitting at a big desk and inquired as to whether or not there had been any request to make the building handicap accessible.  He out little information and referred her to the main library.

We then took a look around the outside of the building - and then proceeded down to the Scranton Castle Complex wherein she spent about 2 hours interviewing  8 or 9 of the residents in wheelchairs.  A photographer also came and took quite a few pics of those with disabilities.

She said that if she could reach all the parties, the story would probably come out in Thursday's paper.  Both Margaret and the photographer were super nice and really treated these individuals with respect.  The tenants seem to be pleased that someone actually ask them how they felt.

One of the things she found totally unbelievable was that the Community Forum sponsored by TWDC last fall was held at St. Michaels School - in a room at the top of some very steep stairs with absolutely NO handicap accessibilities whatsoever and that some of the Scranton Castle residents attempted to attend the meeting but were unable to participate and had to go back home because there was no way for them to get up the stairs.

These citizens are being discriminated against left and right and their world is getting smaller and smaller with each passing day.  To quote one lady, "all we're missing are the bars on the windows, this feels like jail."

 

A couple of days ago, I received a letter from Felton Thomas, Jr., Director of the Cleveland Public Library stating:

"Looking at South Branch accessibility issue in that context, it is clear that the situation requires:  1) a short-term response to the need of the seniors who live at the Castle apartments for library services; 2)  a mid-term response to create access to the building in a cost-effective way as a temporary measure; and 3) a long-term response that begins with having plans drawn up and costs estmated for the complete renovation of the building.

We have begun work on the short-term response......

.....If Castle residents cannot get to the library, the library will come to the Castle."

Also, I was contacted by Mr. Thomas and Councilman Cimperman on scheduling a date to meet and discuss how to get the ball rolling.  I should have that date by this afternoon. 

 

 

 

 

 Maybe Lena and a few Scranton Castle residents can be included in that meeting. Good to hear that Mr. Thomas is open to changing the building so that all can access the library. If the library takes services to the residents, would that include wifi?

If the mobile library is the way they plan to go.  It is a 32 ft handicap accessible bus with computers aboard.   Comes supplied with music cds, movies and much much more.

The bus already makes scheduled stops throughout the city.

 

 

"After 12 years, Mason left her post in 1999. Andrew A. Venable, Jr., who had served as deputy director under Mason for three years, became director in June of the same year. Venable remained committed to technology, making the Cleveland Public Library a national leader in web-based services. In addition to on-line resources such as KnowItNow24X7 and Seniors Connect, the institution was the first public library in the United States to offer eBooks, which are electronic books that can be downloaded on to a laptop or PDA for a set period of time. Venable also remained committed to giving people access to the printed word; in 2001, after a 15-year hiatus, the Library re-launched mobile services with a new, high-tech, handicapped accessible mobile library unit. By 2004, the Mobile Library served 43 different locations, including The City Mission, Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital for Rehabilitation, Karamu House, and the Miles Avenue YMCA after-school program."

is a stop gap measure while they make the  building accessible, right? It is a public building.

What is the deal with the gas station? It is always insanely busy when I go by (and I do daily). I looked for the commercial sex workers, but I must be there at the wrong time. That is such a prominent corner and so public that you'd think if their are drugs be sold and prostitutes selling their services, someone would have shut it down.

Yes.  In my earlier post, I quoted directly from the letter I received from Mr. Thomas, the Library Director.

A couple of days ago, I received a letter from Felton Thomas, Jr., Director of the Cleveland Public Library stating:

"Looking at South Branch accessibility issue in that context, it is clear that the situation requires:  1) a short-term response to the need of the seniors who live at the Castle apartments for library services; 2)  a mid-term response to create access to the building in a cost-effective way as a temporary measure; and 3) a long-term response that begins with having plans drawn up and costs estmated for the complete renovation of the building.

We have begun work on the short-term response......

.....If Castle residents cannot get to the library, the library will come to the Castle."

for pointing out the obvious! 

I looked again at the Carnegie West building, and the access would have to be done differently, but it sounds like you guys have come up with some good solutions. I can't tell you how nice it is to have such a positive response from Mr. Thomas. I do appreciate your posting the feedback here. It seems that here we find one problem after another, then sometimes, things do work out. Like that Kitchen on wheels going away. That is something to celebrate.

Today, Director Felton Thomas, Tim Diamond, Councilman Cummins, Councilman Cimperman and myself met at city hall to address the possibilities for short and long term solutions for providing library services to the Scranton-Castle handicap residents.

While everyone agreed that the Mobile Library would be the ideal solution, there are problems with maneuverability and parking space for the 32 ft. bus on the grounds of the CMHA property.

We also discussed the possibility of parking the bus on the street (Scranton Road) where the residents could  access the bus from the curb.  That, of course, would depend on the police dept. not ticketing the bus or driver.  Also discussed as a short term resolution was utilizing the homebound library services.

Long term resolves would include hiring an architect to draw up feasable plans that would not alter the status of the Historic Building.  Practicality and funding are also hurdles to get over. 

There is also a meeting (open to the public) scheduled for Wednesday, May 26, at 1:00 P.M., at the Scranton Castle Complex to meet with the property manager and the residents to further discuss acceptable solutions.

It was a very productive meeting and both Mr. Thomas and Mr. Diamond were not only very pleasant but more than willing to take a position on finding resolutions to these problems.

 

 

 

Thanks Laura -  but all I did was write a letter,  it was a group effort.   

While we've made some progress,  there's still a lot of work to be done.

Update - UpDaTe -

I just received work from Commander Sulzer that he will make arrangements for accomodating the Mobile Library in allowing it to park on the street next to the curb for the Scranton Castle residents.

I just love it when a plan comes together.

 

Up-date on services that WILL be provided to the residents of Scranton Castle.

Today these wonderful people came out and addressed residents of the Scranton-Castle CMHA Complex. 

Beginning immediately, these Old Tremont Block Club members/residents will have access to the public library's Home Bound Services.  This means they can call by phone and order anything they'd like by way of books, magazines, CDS, DVDS, (in Spanish and Braile).  These materials will be delivered and picked up by UPS free of charge.

The mobile library bus will begin services sometime in June and will visit twice a month. 

Commander Sulzer of the 2nd district Police Dept. has stated that he will make accomodations for the bus to park on Scranton Road in front of the building for a couple of hours each visit.

Also, Mr. Thomas stated that they have begun work on plans and designs for making the 100 year old Library handicap accessible as well as checking into installing a 24 hour book drop.

I can't say enough about This being  one of the nicest group of individuals I've had the pleasure of working with.  So polite, so focused and actually interested in providing services to the Scranton Castle Residents.

Also, the Home Bound program can be extended to Manhattan Towers on West 14th Street.

Further, the Plain Dealer will be running an article covering this project most likely tomorrow.

It's a great day in the neighborhood.

 

  

I read an article in the PP today...was that yours? Great work and prayerfully this service will be extended to ALL of the CMHA locations...not just the select few mentioned....It's about time that these folks get collaborated to make things work properly for the folks who need it most! God Bless all of your dedicated efforts to make this happen.

;-)