ADA subject of Gettysburg meeting

>>"I think it's also very, very important for people to understand that accessibility is a civil right," she said."<<

Show me in the U.S. Constitution where it says this...

I wonder if this is the same person the filed a complaint against west manheim township municipal building when they were on fairview drive. My understanding is while driving by on a sunday they noticed the building was not ADA compliant and filed a complaint. No reason to enter the building just thought they would file the complaint.

I wonder how many of these complaint's are just complaints.

Gettysburg Implants.

Hey wrote:

I wonder if this is the same person the filed a complaint against west manheim township municipal building when they were on fairview drive. My understanding is while driving by on a sunday they noticed the building was not ADA compliant and filed a complaint. No reason to enter the building just thought they would file the complaint.
I wonder how many of these complaint's are just complaints.

Yes, unfortunately the one and the same. She went to the old township building just prior to their moving to the new building.

>>The meeting is being organized by Eligius Wachter, a Gettysburg newcomer who calls himself a "concerned citizen" and "community organizer."<<

Newcomer Wachter here is about to get a quick education about how Dr. Wheels has abused the ADA and tried to drive Gettysburg's businesses into the ground just because she can with her frivolous complaints and lawsuits.

Hey wrote:

I wonder if this is the same person the filed a complaint against west manheim township municipal building when they were on fairview drive. My understanding is while driving by on a sunday they noticed the building was not ADA compliant and filed a complaint. No reason to enter the building just thought they would file the complaint.
I wonder how many of these complaint's are just complaints.

Yep, Dr. Wheels is responsible for about 95% of the complaints lodged against Gettysburg businesses. And she doesn't even live or shop here--she and her lackey husband just go around with their tape measure and look for businesses to sue. She's a serial complainer, and that the Borough is caving is remarkably stupid, based upon her record and history in the matter.

FROM THE TEXT: For example, Wachter said he noticed that sidewalk space on Chambersburg Street had been reduced to a width of only four feet after a business there installed a concrete ramp to meet ADA accessibility regulations - "making it impossible for groups of people to pass by comfortably."

Hmmmm. Are the Rockettes coming to town?

Casey wrote:

FROM THE TEXT: For example, Wachter said he noticed that sidewalk space on Chambersburg Street had been reduced to a width of only four feet after a business there installed a concrete ramp to meet ADA accessibility regulations - "making it impossible for groups of people to pass by comfortably."
Hmmmm. Are the Rockettes coming to town?

She will now complain that the sidewalk is not wide enough for her to
wheel through.....Another lawsuit against the borough or PennDot?

Blah Blah Blah wrote:

<quoted text>
She will now complain that the sidewalk is not wide enough for her to
wheel through.....Another lawsuit against the borough or PennDot?

Yes unfortunately I think that you are right.

Hey wrote:

I wonder if this is the same person the filed a complaint against west manheim township municipal building when they were on fairview drive. My understanding is while driving by on a sunday they noticed the building was not ADA compliant and filed a complaint. No reason to enter the building just thought they would file the complaint.
I wonder how many of these complaint's are just complaints.

This is one of her routines....she and hubby do drive-by's and file lawsuits against businesses she has no intention of ever patronizing!!

The time for discussion has long since passed. It's time for businesses and governments to start working on a plan for compliance. Historic Philadelphia wasted many years and dollars trying to avoid the inevitable. You must obey the law. Your history is no excuse for further delay. How would you feel if you couldn't walk?

What about people who cannot see? Every business should have a braille sign for the blind to know what kind of store it is.

I hope by making this comment, I do not incite a new round of lawsuits.

Jeff Spangler wrote:

How would you feel if you couldn't walk?

I'd feel like having a really good time in my wheel chair.

Jeff Spangler wrote:

You must obey the law.

Jah vohl, mein Fuhrer!

Those places that present difficulties are obstacles but they are not barricades. The disabled have been getting by for years with a little extra effort.

I think compliance with the law should be the goal but a little understanding of the problems involved would be kinda be nice.

Eligius is a young man who became aware of the Phillips situation in Gettysburg, just shortly after arriving here.

I don't know what triggered his interest, but it must have been enough of an influence to cause him to go into action. He is self-motivated in his quest, and through his many discussions with affected business owners, he eventually found me.

After we discussed MJP for quite a while, he wondered why nobody would confront this. I explained to him, that although the Borough is protecting its assets, they have left the general public to fend for themselves. They have effectively circled the wagons, and left us outside.

Gettysburg Borough has had THEIR OWN secret, closed meetings about ADA, with representatives of PennDOT, PHRC, their own lawyers, and ohter major players.
They will NOT allow the public to attend, and when I asked them (in a public meeting on Monday) to try to send a representative to Eligius's meeting, they declined - citing that they are involved in litigation with MJP... blah, blah, blah.

Phillips at one time also came after me, and tried to prevent us from talking about her on my website, BoroughVENT.com . Maybe WE should have stopped trying to remedy this situation at that point, and bury OUR heads in the sand, as the Borough has!?
If anybody tries to speak openly about the subject, they are intimidated by her. She is a protected entity, and "nobody wants to be seen as a cripple-basher".

It's not about that.
It's not a personal attack against MJP.
It's not an attack on ANY disabled Person.
It's not about trying to avoid litigation or modification.
And it's DEFINITELY not about denying accommodation to mobility-challenged individuals.

The meeting IS about achieving a TOTAL understanding of the ADA Law, not Marilynn's interpretation of it.
It IS about finding a solution that will benefit ALL, but not at the expense of losing the historic integrity of the FEDERALLY PROTECTED Gettysburg Historic District. One of the basic attractions of the Borough is the quaint, eclectic mix of interesting storefronts - many pre-dating the Civil War Era and many following. If we lose that ambiance, we then cripple the Historic Commercial District in Gettysburg.

If this Thursday's meeting is the catalyst that finally opens a dialogue, then it will accomplish a lot. If it eventually leads to a central repository of information, or a SINGLE Representative or Ombudsman that works for the PEOPLE of the Borough concerning ALL things ADA, then that is all I ask.

Jeff Spangler wrote:

The time for discussion has long since passed. It's time for businesses and governments to start working on a plan for compliance. Historic Philadelphia wasted many years and dollars trying to avoid the inevitable. You must obey the law. Your history is no excuse for further delay. How would you feel if you couldn't walk?

Mr Spangler,
If you know a way of protecting the Historical Fascia of these buildings, the charming entryways, the granite steps, the unfortunately narrow stores, the three-step porches, etc., without destroying the charm in the process, then please consider attending the meeting.

"YOUR HISTORY"???
I believe it is YOUR history also, and even MJP's.
But in order to enjoy that history, if the process of making it accessible also destroys that which you are attempting to preserve, then what sense does that make?

MsPhD may also wish to visit the Battlefield.
When do we provide elevator access to the many Viewing Towers?
How doe we get her to the top of the Pennsylvania Monument?
The hill from/to Little Round Top is steeper than 1:12, some of the Monuments are a trek into the grass or woods, she can't truly appreciate Devil's Den.
What do YOU think we should do about OUR History then?

You say, "You must obey the law."
Spangler, we ARE obeying the Law. The Dept of the Interior has a Federal Law the mandates the protection and Preservation of this town. THAT law is a lot more important to me than a manufactured, feel-good 1990 Law, that is unfortunately, improperly enacted and often misinterpreted by misguided activists.

Properly state Gene. Your problem and anyone else related to this issue is not about ADA. It is about this person and nothing else. She cares not about other disabled individuals or you. It is the battle within herself that matters.
Ms. Phillips is a sick individual who happens to be physically disabled. Until the courts toss her out your only relief is her going away.

Jonah Hex wrote:

<quoted text>
Yep, Dr. Wheels is responsible for about 95% of the complaints lodged against Gettysburg businesses. And she doesn't even live or shop here--she and her lackey husband just go around with their tape measure and look for businesses to sue. She's a serial complainer, and that the Borough is caving is remarkably stupid, based upon her record and history in the matter.

Sorry, but I don't think it's fair to point the finger at Phillips on this. ADA laws have been on the books for 18 years. Why didn't the boro start working at helping business/building owners become compliant 18 years ago? Why didn't they apply for grant money to help? They got grant money to buy a lie detector machine and train someone to use it, but that was wasted money, it got canned. And they had money spent on the truck scales, but that's been a waste too. They could have focused on 1-2 businesses at a time over the years, but everyone sat on their keesters and ignored THE LAW and now they're in a snit because someone has chosen to exercise her rights to be able to shop like the rest of us instead of being denied. She also pays taxes and should expect to be able to benefit from them. And not all the buildings in the boro are historical buildings. You can bet if I had an old house in the Boro and didn't have it painted the right color or put thermal window replacements in, the boro would be on my case in no time. I don't blame Ms. Phillips for holding people accountable for obeying the law.

Big Brother wrote:

<quoted text>
THE LAW and now they're in a snit because someone has chosen to exercise her rights to be able to shop like the rest of us instead of being denied. She also pays taxes and should expect to be able to benefit from them.

The problem with your response is two-fold...

1) You do not live in Gettysburg and do not have a full understanding of the true backstory behind Phillips's sorry relationship with the Borough.

2) Phillips does not live here (she lives in Maryland), nor do her taxes support anything in Adams County except the Battlefield, nor does she actually shop at or patronize any of the businesses she targets. Nor has she ever been denied access to any business establishment, except after she became belligerent and threatening, so much so that last summer a deputy had to accompany her and husband around town while they methodically measured the door ways of every business around the town square.

In short, it is fair to take her to task on this issue because she is a serial complainer with her own agenda, based on abusing ADA, and is solely responsible for nearly all of the complaints, And just so you know, other disabled individuals patronize Gettysburg businesses regularly and are accommodated weith open arms, as Mr. Golden will attest.