Video about "Everyone Wins" up at NNN

Posted by John Kelly

Neighborhood Network News has produced a follow-up story on the "Everyone Wins!" rally from October 5, 2007. It ran on Wednesday evening, and is now available at the Neighborhood Network News website, www.nnnonline.org/ . I had a little trouble accessing the video, which has the strange address of mms://205.178.152.122/1200893/access.wmv . I used Windows media player to run it. Let me know if you have any trouble.

Check it out!

Kelly letter to AAB regarding Huntington bricks

Posted by John Kelly

I sent this letter to Thomas Hopkins, the director of the Architectural Access Board on October 7, 2007.

Dear Mr. Hopkins:

Thank you and the Access Board for enforcing the access regulations of the Commonwealth. Your steadfastness over the last three years regarding the unsafe conditions on Huntington Avenue has brought the City of Boston a momentous opportunity: It can choose to protect public safety, honor civil rights, and save limited funds by restoring Huntington Avenue with smooth, accessible concrete; or, it can stiff the public with a dangerous, oppressive, and expensive all-brick sidewalk for decades to come.

Your fine levied on the City since November, 2005, has now climbed over $340,000. As the principal complaintant, I request that you allow the city of Boston, in consultation with residents with disabilities, the MBTA, and the state of Massachusetts (both of whom supported the introduction of the bricks), to put that money towards the concrete restoration of the Avenue. Rehabilitation will cost an estimated $384,000. The Boston Center for Independent Living, which cosigned the original complaint in August 2004, supports my proposal. We believe that the three parties can find the necessary additional funds to both serve the people and -- in the long run -- save their money. It is an outcome in which everyone wins.

It is impossible to describe the feeling of anticipation among people with disabilities who live, work, and visit in the area. We hopefully await the opportunity to travel along Huntington Avenue once again, free of pain and danger caused by the rough, vibratory bricks. No more head, neck, back and stomach-aches. No more bloody falls from canes or feet caught by protruding bricks. No more car sickness, impaired vision, or spasms. No more loss of control, whether of our wheelchairs or bladders. As resident Billie Tyler has said, the prospect of smooth sidewalks "would be like living in another world." We could actually go where we want!

The Access Board's role in bringing back Huntington Avenue to universal use would admirably fulfill its founding purpose "to provide persons with disabilities full, free and safe use of all buildings and facilities so that all such persons may have the educational, living and recreational opportunities necessary to be as self-sufficient as possible and to assume full responsibilities as citizens."

Thank you very much,

John Kelly

"Everyone Wins!" A Big Success

Posted by John Kelly

The rally on Huntington Avenue was a great success on Friday, thanks to everyone who came or wished they could have come, like Liz Casey and Karen Schneiderman and Jeff Thompson.

Lots of storyboards on the bricks went up (and more are going to get made soon). Bill Henning emceed, lots of people spoke, the weather was great, and hundreds of flyers got handed out. More than 40 people came, including city counselors Felix Arroyo and Chuck Turner, and Sam Yoon's assistant Erin Leonard. Cambridge Commissioner for disabilities Michael Muehe came (he got to see the curb cut at Symphony Hall finally fixed after complaining about it five years ago), and WalkBoston's Ann Hershfang came, too..

The media made a good showing too, with Neighborhood Network News, the Fenway News, the Boston Courant, the Boston Herald, and Boston Globe videographer Chona Camomot covering the story.

We collected 53 signatures on our petition. Thanks to Gary Devino, who only had one person refuse. Thanks also to NAG assistants Lidia Alvarado and Rob DuBuske, and Pam Beeler for lending her wheelchair.

The Herald had a short piece on Saturday, with photos of Eileen Brewster and Larry Braman.

I went on Neighborhood Network News on Friday, and cameraman Rich Rosenthal told me that there would be a follow-up story on Wednesday, October 10 -- Boston Comcast Channel 9, at 5:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., or 11 p.m..

There was a letter in the city weekly section yesterday about the Globewatch column from last Sunday on the Morville House sidewalk being dug up with no access.

In other stories, Sunday's Globe Magazine had follow-up letters on Geoff Edger's Perspective piece from September 16.

Cambridge's Larry Braman has a site with additional photographs. Some great pictures.

Felix Arroyo gave a great speech and committed to holding hearings on contractors not maintaining access around their construction sites. Chuck Turner was the first to sign our petition.

And if you are available, please come next Friday, October 12, at 2 p.m. to share your experience of going over brick at Symphony Hall with city counselors. Michael Flaherty and Michael Ross are confirmed.

Neighborhood Access Group's monthly meeting will be Saturday, October 13, from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. at 334 Massachusetts Ave. Hopefully, it will be in Basement Level A.

Details to follow.