Posted on 03/18/2008 8:16:45 AM PDT by SmithL
As much as you've heard about the fuss over building a wheelchair ramp to the president's podium in the Board of Supervisors' chamber, there's one point that hasn't been made. This isn't about the project's $1 million cost, nor the construction, nor the principle of the matter.
This is another case of those bickering supes. Because if the six supervisors who voted against building the wheelchair ramp wanted to stop it, they had ample time months ago. And they didn't say peep.
"I went around to each of the supervisors' offices and asked 'Do you want to weigh in on this?' " said Susan Mizner, director of the Mayor's Office on Disability. "And with a couple of exceptions they said, 'whatever.' And then I went to their aides right before this vote and asked if they wanted more information. And most of them didn't want anything. So to say now that they'd like more discussion is a little disingenuous."
For Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, it's more than disingenuous. She calls it hypocritical and insulting. Alioto-Pier, who was paralyzed in a ski accident when she was a teen, uses a self-powered wheelchair. She says her opponents on the board are tickled that she's getting politically hammered for defending the "million-dollar ramp," even though the plans have been in the works for years.
In fact, until the project's cost hit the newspaper, it doesn't seem as if anyone was giving the matter much thought.
"A friend of my husband's said the other day, 'Tom, it's a million dollars,' " Alioto-Pier said. "It is not a million dollar ramp!"
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
OK, So it’s a $333,333.33 Dollar Ramp.
That’s much cheaper.
Actually my house cost less than that to build.
Frigging Assclowns.
I suspect the podium could have been detached, a hydraulic lift not unlike those in garages installed, the podium put on the lift and raised with the speaker in it. It would probably look exactly as it historically has looked, meet ADA requirements, and cost a tenth of what they propose to spend on a ramp (so that skateboarders can play, I suppose). The ADA doesn’t require a ramp anyway, it requires accessibility, and even if they lifted the disabled person in and out of it with a “cherry picker” they could be in compliance. I think St.Upidity is the actual patron saint of the city by the bay.
They could save a lot of money if they bought a fork lift, kept it parked in the Board of Supervisor’s chamber, and paid some politician’s nephew an annual salary to come in on meeting days and operate it.
Then Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier could just run her wheelchair up onto a specially built palette, lock her brakes, and get wheeled over and lifted onto the podium. They could paint the fork lift a dignified color, dark green, and maybe put Mexican and American flags on it, so everything would all be done with due and proper dignity.
And of course it would have to be a GREEN forklift in two senses, with an electric motor charged by solar panels on the roof.
You could still do all that for considerably less than a million dollars, without compromising the historical nature of the SF Supervisors’ chamber.
In fact, in order to demonstrate that there was nothing demeaning to a handicapped person in this procedure, ALL of the Supervisors could be forklifted onto the podium.
There. I’ve solved their problem. Now pay me my fee.
I have a question about ramps. Who came up with the current rise to run ratio? Why is it so flat? It takes a lot of material and square footage to build these ramps. Our elementary school, an over 100 year old stone building has a beautiful facade that has been ruined by a zig zaggy wooden ramp that covers the whole front yard. Marbles wouldn’t roll down it, it is so flat. Why wouldn’t a slightly steeper ramp work in some instances where space is an issue?
how about just breaking the legs of all them, so they have to equally crawl up to the podium?
What else to expect from a city that makes emails like this to employees at an office building necessary?
Dear Tenant:
XXXXXXXXXXX has received information that a group which calls themselves “Direct Action to Stop the War” has organized a “day of decentralized, multiple-target direct action against government and war profiteers in downtown San Francisco.” Their goal is, “no business as usual until all U.S. troops are withdrawn from Iraq!”
According to the information we have received, Market and Sansome Streets will be the starting point at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 19th. Suggestions from this group call for actions like blockading or occupying various pre-designated
locations throughout the city. The group is also organizing a 5:00 p.m. march and rally starting at Polk and Grove Streets (Civic Center).
Please be aware that XXXXXXXXXX will be working closely with the San Francisco Police Department to help ensure a safe, disturbance-free environment for all of our tenants.
As always, you may call our emergency hotline to obtain updated information regarding the XXXXXXXXX at 1-800-XXX-XXXX.
Sincerely,
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