Inclusion Daily Express -- City Supervisor Has Waited Long Enough For Accessible Chamber

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City Supervisor Has Waited Long Enough For Accessible Chamber
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
March 5, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA--More than 17 years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and four years after Michela Alioto-Pier was appointed to represent San Francisco's District 2 on the city's Board of Supervisors, the podium in the chamber is still not accessible to her.

In a 6 to 5 vote on Tuesday, the board rejected the latest plans to build a wheelchair ramp to the podium, which can only be accessed by climbing a set of five stairs.

Alioto-Pier, who has used a wheelchair since her spine was injured in a ski lift accident at age 13, said she would sue the city.

"The chamber is the people's room," she said, "and if there's a place in the entire city that should be accessible to everyone, it is the chamber."

One of Alioto-Pier's colleagues said the estimated $1.1 million cost of the 10-foot ramp was "a little ridiculous", and suggested that a streamlined proposal might cost about one-half that much.

Related:
"Supervisor vows to sue over wheelchair ramp" (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/2008/red/0304a.htm
"San Francisco lawmaker addresses disability neglect" (KGO-TV)
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local&id=6001904
"City Supervisor May Have To Wait A Year For Accessible Chamber" September 29, 2004 (Inclusion Daily Express)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/archives/04/09/29/092904caaliotopier.htm

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