Via the EVG inbox today…
The East Village Community Coalition with the East Village Independent Merchants Association are hosting a workshop tomorrow targeted to local business owners regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and practical solutions to increase accessibility to East Village businesses. Residents are also encouraged to attend.
We invite you to join in a conversation about access and your business. This event will be facilitated by East Village resident and wheelchair-user, Alexandra McArthur. Our discussion will explain the benefits of making simple, inexpensive changes to storefront entryways to improve access. Kleo King from the Mayor's Office of People with Disabilities and Ted Finkelstein from the Commission on Human Rights will join the discussion.
Wednesday, March 18, 10 am-11am
Cafe Mocha, 116 Second Ave. at East Seventh Street
Questions or to rsvp: email
This is a great thing.
ReplyDeleteMy husband has been calling the city to complain about the foot-high sidewalk curb without a curb cut at 7th st & Ave A (SW corner--old 7A site) for about 15 years now. When EV Grieve posted old videos from the 80s on this corner, of course we noticed there wasn't a curb cut then either. Maybe Ms. McArthur is well aware of this as a wheelchair user but if not--please add this to your list of awareness-raising subjects! How hard can it be to install a curb cut there??
So did anyone go? Anything to report?
ReplyDeleteGreat discussion! That's what this forum is meant to spark.
ReplyDeleteBut, let's be clear: this forum is intended to prevent lawsuits and support our local businesses (just think - making a business accessible can increase its potential customers by 10%!). It was a productive discussion today and we'll be continuing the discussion. If you'd like to be involved or have ideas, please email the address above. Let's make our neighborhood inviting for everyone.
Also - a curb cut has been added at 7th and A. Yay!
'Intended'. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Id be nervous if I was a business owner. Maybe these changes are 'simple' and 'inexpensive' to you. Maybe not so to a business getting squeezed by rising costs and rent and a soon to be higher minimum wage. I hope I am wrong. Last thing we need are a wave of ADA lawsuits killing off whats left of our local small businesses. Sad how the Mayors Office on Disabilities and the Human Rights people are around. Is anyone at city hall there to help small business? This is more money the city is making businesses spend. Thanks.
ReplyDelete