We have been in existence for close to 60 years, and have a vast amount of knowledge, experience, and a myriad of services to assist our members. As your president-and a member-I am also aware that there are many things we have yet to accomplish. But you are our association’s intelligence on the ground. We exist to serve you, to make your lives better. We just need to know from you how best to do that.
One thing that comes to mind is handicapped parking. I know that each one of us has our own story, or a series of stories, of the often nightmarish experience of trying to find parking in some place like the local mall. The problem is exacerbated during holidays when tempers seem to really flare. When you experience inaccessibility, you need to call us so that our trained staff can assist you in rectifying the situation. If all of our members do this, the whole environment would improve, one barrier at a time.
I had the honor recently to be invited to a breakfast hosted by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The mayor’s residence, Gracie Mansion, proved quite inaccessible to me. It has an elevator, but it hasn’t been used in some time and it malfunctioned while I was on it. I was stuck for several minutes before someone came to assist me. I related the incident to the mayor and he was shocked. I was so unnerved by my experience that I had a good mind to ask the security officers to carry me the 10 flights of stairs that were required to exit the building.
I had a similar incident at Cipriani’s on 41st Street, where I was invited to a luncheon with Governor Pataki. The place was beautiful, but inaccessible, since there are four steps to get into it.
Experiences like these are not confined to business functions. I was recently invited to a family function that was being held at a restaurant. When I showed up with my family, I found the place completely inaccessible. After seeing the steep stairway that I would have to be carried up, I had a good mind to turn around, go home and forget about it. Instead, I called Kleo King, Program Counsel, Legal Affairs, after the event. Kleo made the appropriate contacts and it took a while, but eventually the catering hall installed an elevator. Now, when someone in a wheelchair goes there, they no longer have to be carried up a steep flight of stairs.
I know that our members experience incidents like these on a daily basis. I also know that it is up to us to try to get changes made and thereby make our surroundings better. This is our world, too, and we are a significant part of it. We should not be left out because of lack of accessibility. Of course, there are national landmarks and historic sites that may not lend themselves to modification, but most other places have the means and the responsibility to accommodate all patrons.
Until next month, keep your annual physical appointments and semper fi!
Peter Addesso
President
