Open Letter to Menino and Patrick Requesting Access for Holiday Party

December 20, 2007

Governor Deval Patrick
Massachusetts State House
Room 360
Boston, MA 02133

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

Dear Mayor Menino and Governor Patrick,

Neighborhood Access Group is a Fenway-based disability rights organization working for safe access to the sidewalks of the city for everyone.

We have planned a holiday party for the afternoon of Saturday, December 22, at Symphony Plaza East (334 Massachusetts Ave.), a housing complex for elderly and disabled people.

Unfortunately, the new snow removal ordinance passed in the city of Boston this fall has not resulted in an increased ability of our members to leave our houses.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation, despite complaints to its Storm Center, its director of community relations, and to the office of the governor itself, has not cleared its sidewalks and crosswalks in the Fenway.

City agencies such as the Boston Housing Authority and the Department of Public Works have not cleared sidewalks and curb cuts under their responsibility.

Many property owners in our neighborhood, including large institutions like Northeastern University and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, have ignored their legal responsibility to clear sidewalks and curb cuts.

Some of these violations are documented at flickr.com/photos/neighborhood_access_group and discussed at www.neighborhoodaccess.org . The beginnings of a public discussion are at www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/exhibitionist/2007/12/not_clearing_si.html .

Would you please clear the sidewalks and curb cuts under your responsibility, and enforce the removal of snow and ice from sidewalks and curb cuts in your jurisdiction -- by sunset on Friday?

We would very much appreciate being allowed to attend our holiday party.

Thank you for your consideration,

Eileen Brewster	John Kelly
Alice Heyward Taylor Apartments	DCR service road south of Boston Fire Alarm
290 Ruggles St. W. #2014R	66 The Fenway #22
Roxbury, MA 02120	Boston, MA 02115
617-541-9695	617-536-5140
Brewster.e@gmail.com	John.B.Kelly@Verizon.net
	www.neighborhoodaccess.org