Lady Liberty Says…
Posted by eila a 1:40 pm on July 4, 2009
Posted in Accessibility, Civil and Human Rights | 2 Comments »
Accessibility 
Parking, SomerStat and Politics
Posted by Joeb a 6:50 pm on June 21, 2009
In spite of the overwhelming cupidity of the Board of Aldermen, one or more may ask why or how the Mayor connects "access" to higher tickets across the board? ... The obvious conclusion is that he cares nothing about access, and everything about money. While that may be good for his budget, it is at real cost to citizens and businesses, and, ultimately, to the management system that justifies - or rationalizes - that cost.Read More.>>
Posted in Accessibility, City Finances, Development and Zoning, Government Reform, Public Health & Safety, Transportation | 19 Comments »
Disability Reframed: A Community Film Series
Posted by eila a 6:36 pm on May 20, 2009
June 6 Disability Reframed: A Community Film Series -
Come to a FREE matinee screening, as we kickoff our new film series. We will be showing Tim Burton's "Edward Scissorhands" at MIT Stata Center, 32 Vassar St., Room 32-124
June 6, from 2 pm to 5 pm.
The film will be followed by a moderated discussion about… Read More.>>
Posted in Accessibility, Announcements, Events | No Comments »
10 Days to Go! Submit your Comments about the use of $772,044
Posted by eila a 2:29 pm on May 4, 2009
The City of Somerville, as an Entitlement Community, receives millions of Federal dollars from HUD each year from the Community Development Block Grant, Emergency Shelter Grant, and HOME programs. These monies must be spent on activities that primarily benefit low and moderate income Somerville residents in three areas:
Provide decent affordable housing;
Eliminate slums and blight;
Enhance… Read More.>>
Posted in Accessibility, City Finances, Civic Action, Civil and Human Rights, Economy & Poverty, Government Reform, Neighborhoods and Squares, Politics | 3 Comments »
Lowell Zero, Somerville 221. Mistakes, that is.
Posted by eila a 6:12 pm on April 19, 2009
On March 19, 2009, the City of Somerville was one of the 118 recipients of an “e-government Award,” from Common Cause. This citation is given for providing online access to Board of Alderman agenda and minutes, budget information, and general by-laws. But, on closer inspection, Somerville came in "number one" for the…
Read More.>>Posted in Accessibility, Civil and Human Rights, Government Reform, Media, Politics | 6 Comments »
Somerville’s Multimodal Roadways Planning
Posted by eila a 8:09 pm on April 8, 2009
Thanks to the interdependence of everything, Barry Rafkind's post Keep Big Brother ouf of Somerville has morphed into a discussion about whether or not traffic cameras can induce more folks to obey traffic laws (see comments starting from # 7). I'm saying that, with regards to the specific pedestrian safety issues that Steve Roix has worked gallently to solve, this speaks to a deeper need to create a signal timing plan… Read More.>>
Posted in Accessibility, Development and Zoning, Neighborhoods and Squares, Public Health & Safety, Transportation | 3 Comments »
Dec. 9: Civil rights advocates ramp it up for accessible communities
Posted by eila a 7:04 pm on December 5, 2008
A focus group of Civil and DisAbilities Rights advocates will join with the longest-running TV Access producers group in the country during Civil Rights Week in MA to tackle the challenges of designing equal opportunity communities.Read More.>>
Posted in Accessibility, Announcements, Arts and Culture, Economy & Poverty, Media, Politics | No Comments »
JOE THE MAYOR’S IRRESOLUTE PLEDGE
Posted by eila a 12:11 am on November 12, 2008
On Martin Luther King day, January 15, 2006, during his introduction to invited speaker (then-candidate) MA Governor Deval Patrick in front of a full house at the East Somerville Community School, Mayor Joe Curtatone pledged to search far and wide in order to hire the very best possible staff leadership to implement the civil rights of constituents with disAbilities in Somerville... But meaningful change and independent choice still seems out of reach for some voters here in the ‘Ville.Read More.>>
Posted in Accessibility, Government Reform | 1 Comment »
US Enabled Voters
Posted by eila a 8:59 pm on October 8, 2008
This week's Somerville Journal includes an Op-Ed regarding our rights as voters. Voting is a fun community activity, and no voters should be steered to vote absentee-unless they prefer it that way (or will be out of town on the 4th). Here are 2 photos showing a polling site that was entirely inaccessible (right at the entrance), for wheelchair using voters of Ward 7, Precinct 2, during the Primary, September 16, 2008:Read More.>>
Posted in Accessibility, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Progressive Voices has been BUSY!
Posted by Bill@SCAT a 1:14 pm on August 20, 2008
Either that or I am getting behind...not sure which. Fred Berman and Bill Bumpus have three more programs of interest to S'Villans. First: Disabilities with guest Eileen Feldman, 2'nd: The History and Community Importance of Community Television with guest Wendy Blom. Exec. Dir. of SCAT and 3'rd: All about Green Jobs with guests Mary Jo Connelly and Laurie Leyshon. Check out their Video Blog to watch these and other Progressive Voices Programs. Progressive Voices... Mondays at 6pm on Somerville Community Access Television. Ch.3 on both the Comcast and RCN cable systems in Somerville.Read More.>>
Posted in Accessibility, Environment and Open Space, Media | No Comments »
This day in Civil Rights history
Posted by eila a 9:39 pm on July 25, 2008
In the first week of May 2008, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone placed a "Welcome Desk" in the foyer of City Hall that utterly disregards MA Access Building Code. [snip] It seems that yesterday's design standards are as tenacious as yesterday's attitudes, even today: the 18th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.Read More.>>
Posted in Accessibility, Government Reform | 3 Comments »
Somerville’s FY09 Budget trivializes Human Rights agenda
Posted by eila a 6:44 pm on July 19, 2008
I certainly agree with Barry's post of 7/15/08 in this SomervilleVoices blog entitled, "City’s Commission Staffing Plan Hurts Human Services." Three questions seem particularly germane to this issue: 1. Are Somerville’s municipal resources distributed equally and fairly to all residents? 2. Are all residents offered equal participation within public programs, without regard to differences in age, income, birth culture, abilities, religions, race, gender, job status, or city address? 3. Do certain Somerville residents experience social and economic inequities that would support the fuller engagement and investigation of the specialized Human Rights Commissions?Read More.>>
Posted in Accessibility, Government Reform, Politics | No Comments »
Ward 7 Sidewalk Access Report, Endicott to Alewife along Broadway
Posted by eila a 8:37 pm on June 29, 2008
If a municipality's Bus stops are unreachable and inaccessible, due to badly built street facilities, then its residents are restricted from accessing public transportation systems, etc..For some individuals, the challenges created by these issues cause them to be nearly or fully housebound.
Do you think such quality of life issues should continue to be put off until "tomorrow?" ...Read More.>>
Posted in Accessibility, Government Reform, Neighborhoods and Squares, Transportation | 4 Comments »
National Council on DisAbility Seeks Your Input
Posted by eila a 11:12 pm on June 26, 2008
The National Council on Disability (NCD) is gathering public input for a study of emerging issues and trends affecting the lives of people with disabilities. Information gathered will be used in the development of NCD's next annual progress report to the President and Congress, "National Disability Policy: A Progress Report," which is required by Section 401(b) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.Read More.>>
Posted in Accessibility, Arts and Culture, Government Reform, Health Care, Housing, Politics, Schools and Youth, Sports, Transportation, Workers' Rights | No Comments »
From Davis to Teele Square, Holland Street sidewalks are inaccessible
Posted by eila a 9:10 pm on June 19, 2008
Today, 2 residents from the Community Access Project of Somerville (CAPS) took their digital levels and measuring tapes and perambulated down Holland Street. We checked both sides of the sidewalk, from Winter Street to the Traffic and Parking Building (133 Holland St.) and then went back to Davis Square via the other side
Read More.>>Posted in Accessibility, Development and Zoning, Neighborhoods and Squares | No Comments »
WARD 7 ACCESS REPORT
Posted by eila a 10:11 pm on June 10, 2008
So, you are a blind pedestrian at Weston and Broadway and you need to cross after getting off the bus. Because there is no curbcut on the bus stop side of Weston to cross to Dickson, you cross Weston to the corner pictured below. You rely on the tactile strips to guide you straight into the crosswalk and to the curbcut exactly opposite. Now, here: how many steps will it take before you’re a smashed pumpkin at rush hour?Read More.>>
Posted in Accessibility, Neighborhoods and Squares | 7 Comments »
Union Square Access Report, Pedestrian Signal
Posted by eila a 9:50 pm on
The Pedestrian Signal post at the raised island mid-crossing in Union Square, at Somerville and Washington Street is inaccessible to wheelchair-mobile pedestrians. The pedestrian-activated button is at least seven feet - 84 inches- away from the wheelchair pedestrian's hand!Read More.>>
Posted in Accessibility, Neighborhoods and Squares | 1 Comment »
Somerville Ave./ Milk Row Cemetery Access Report
Posted by eila a 9:47 pm on
The Milk Row Cemetery is a Historic Preservation Commission project, and its improvements triggered sidewalk accessibility improvements by 2005. Below is the copy of the complaint I submitted today. This is at least the third time this issue has been brought to the attention of the City ADA Coordinator in the past year.Read More.>>
Posted in Accessibility, Neighborhoods and Squares, Transportation | No Comments »
Union Square Citizen’s Bank Gaining Access!
Posted by eila a 11:01 pm on June 7, 2008
On Friday, June 6, 2008, the Union Square Citizen's Bank began breaking up the large platform front step that has been dividing this Bank and its services from people with mobility restrictions. Barack Obama won the nomination in 16 months. This access project for just one public accommodation has taken over 18 months already...Read More.>>
Posted in Accessibility, Neighborhoods and Squares | 1 Comment »
Union Square Access Report 06/03/08
Posted by eila a 7:42 pm on June 3, 2008
In the ordinary course of business, one notices accessible route problems throughout Union Square's Somerville Reconstruction Project area. During construction, it is very important for the City to maintain continuous, unobstructed, level and safe sidewalks, as well as safe curbcuts and walkways for everyone.Read More.>>
Posted in Accessibility, Development and Zoning, Neighborhoods and Squares | 2 Comments »
