NAG's Second Letter to Mayor Menino

Posted by John B. Kelly

This letter was hand-delivered to Mayor Menino's office last Friday, June 9.

June 6, 2006

Mayor Thomas M. Menino
1 City Hall Plaza
Boston, MA 02201

Dear Mayor Menino:

Once again, we local residents with disabilities ask to meet with you. Your administration's policies regarding sidewalks and crosswalks continue to rob our neighborhoods of access. We need to remind you that "we live here too" and deserve the same respect due every citizen of Boston.

We have been trying -- and trying -- to get our voices heard about the irregular and dangerous bricks on Huntington Avenue since installation began in 2003. The bricks endanger everyone who uses a wheelchair, scooter, cane, or walker for mobility, as well as visually impaired and elderly people. Yet your administration has ignored our message in meetings, hearings, protests, a petition, and our recent letter of May 1, which also requested a meeting with you.

Two years ago, NAG and the Boston Center for Independent Living filed an access complaint about Huntington Avenue before the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board. Unfortunately, your administration has not taken the AAB's process or rulings seriously: over the last 18 months, the city has missed two compliance deadlines, and is now being fined $500 per day retroactive to last November 30, pending compliance by July 1, 2006. Members of the board expressed their concern that the city's inaction constituted "willful noncompliance."

We do not understand why your Department of Public Works continues to insist on wasting city money to lay and re-lay these terrible bricks, which force us into the street, put us in physical danger, and often prevent us from using Huntington Avenue altogether. Please take this opportunity to do the right thing by installing a smooth concrete path of travel along Huntington Avenue, with bricks serving only as a decorative accent strip.

Last August 10 when you announced the Symphony Area Streetscape Project, you interrupted your speech to address a group of us holding signs against the brick:

"You're gonna be part of this planning process, though, as we move forward. We understand your issues about bricks and sidewalks, so we're gonna work with you. Vineet from the transportation department -- our planner -- is committed to it."

But in spite of our strongest objections, your Transportation Department plans to surround Symphony Hall with Duratherm™ plastic-imprint crosswalks, the same ones installed last summer along Huntington Avenue without consulting the elderly and disabled residents who would be impacted. These Duratherm crosswalks function like turnpike rumble strips in how they vibrate people using wheelchairs and scooters. We are told that many people like how the Duratherm looks, but given your oft-stated commitment to "public safety," we question how some people's expensive tastes can possibly outweigh our physical safety. Are we not part of the "public"?

We repeat our urgent request to meet with you.

Please do not ignore us any more. Let's work together to repair the damage done on Huntington Avenue, and to fashion a Symphony Area Streetscape design that includes access for everyone.

We expect to hear from you within two weeks.

Sincerely,

Pam Beeler, Symphony Plaza

Eileen Brewster, Ruggles

Maureen Cancemi, Symphony Plaza

Gary Devino, Fenway

Jeannette Ector, Fenway

Jack Grieco, Symphony Plaza

John Healy, Fenway

Galeen Jones, Fenway

John B. Kelly, Fenway

Tim Kunzier, Brookline

James Magee, Huntington Avenue

Richard Nurt, Symphony Plaza

Karen Nurt, Symphony Plaza

Alyson Perry, Brookline

Karen Schneiderman, Symphony Plaza

Jamie Simpson, Back Bay

Billie Tyler, Symphony Plaza

Janice Ward, South End