Making Cities Accessible to All, Including Active Wheelchair Users

I often write about sidewalks in my posts, making places pedestrian-friendly. Along those same lines I’ve mentioned accessibility, making it feasible for someone in a wheelchair to get from place to place without a car. Some readers and much of the public seem to have the notion this is not a worthy goal, that those in wheelchairs are too frail to wheel six blocks to the grocery store. Today’s reality is that many wheelchair users are anything but frail and are quite capable of living independent & active lives.

Colt Wynn was planning to be a Navy Seal when he suffered an injury, while in high school, that left him paralyzed from the waste down. Today he is a champion body builder. Wheeling down to the store is likely no big deal to someone like him, provided he was able to remain on sidewalks and not have to risk further injury by placing himself in the path of cars. Many active wheelchair users compete in the Paralympics, play tennis, basketball or other sports. I read about one athlete that has the use of his legs but after a surgery for a brain tumor he is unable to maintain his balance and therefore spends most of his time in a wheelchair. These people are active and fit adults seeking fulfilling lives. It is human nature to seek to be independent, this is no different for those in a wheelchair.

Here is the description of a book entitled Life on Wheels: For the Active Wheelchair User:

Over 1.5 million Americans use wheelchairs for a variety of causes: a congenital condition, traumatic injury, or disease. People who depend upon wheelchairs for mobility are in varied situations. They might live independently or need attendant care; live alone or with family; be employed full-time or no longer working. Despite differences, people dependent on wheelchairs face some similar medical issues and a need to cope with changed circumstances. Life on Wheels: For the Active Wheelchair User is for people who want to take charge of their own life experience while using a wheelchair. Author Gary Karp, ergonomics consultant and long-time chair user, describes:
• Medical issues (paralysis, circulation, rehab experience, choosing the optimal wheelchair, scientific progress toward a cure)
• Day-to-day living (keeping fit, skin care, bowel and bladder care, sexuality, home access, maintaining a wheelchair, wheeling technique, insurance)
• Psychological and social issues (grieving loss, self-image, adjustment to life change, friends, family, asking for and being helped, cultural attitudes, history of disability, and activism)

Granted, relative to the total population of the U.S. the total number of wheelchair users is virtually invisible. For the rest of us we can simply go about our lives and not really be worried about such a small percentage of the population. Until that is, we become one of the few, even if only temporarily. So while you may not be in a wheelchair or even walk to the grocery store some people do, either by choice or out of necessity through lack of a car. Still others see the folly in driving two blocks to get a few things easily carried. An accessible city and region is a small step we can take to ensure our population is able to have independent lives.

For more on the federally mandated Americans With Disabilities Act click here.

Al Franken: God Spoke, Opening in St. Louis October 27th at the Chase

If I’ve never said it before, I’m a big fan of Al Franken. He tells is like he sees it and is not afraid to call a liar a liar. I met Franken many years ago at a book reading and signing at the former Library Ltd in Clayton. What a funny guy. I really enjoyed the bits he did on the Comedy channel during a couple of campaigns where he and Arianna Huffington were in a bed together doing election commentary. Classic stuff! Somehow I missed Arianna Huffington switching from being conservative to more moderate/liberal, see HuffingtonPost.com.

But, back to Al Franken…

He has a new grassroots movie out and because I was offered a couple of free tickets to the opening on the 27th, I agreed to pass along information about the film. Yes, for Al Franken I can be bought off with two movie passes. Here is the press release:

AL FRANKEN: GOD SPOKE opening in St Louis on Oct. 27th at the Chase Park Plaza Cinemas. <www.chase.stlouiscinemas.com>
“Hilarious!” Salon.com ** “Smartly Satirical.” Variety ** “Fair and Balanced!” Minneapolis Star Tribune **

The makers of “The War Room” have made a hilarious new documentary “Al Franken: God Spoke.” From his USO tour in Iraq, to the studios of liberal radio network Air America and on the campaign trail, filmmakers Nick Doob and Chris Hegedus are granted entre to one of the most effective political satirists of our time. Franken fearlessly confronts pundits and politicians, blurring the boundaries between political satire and impassioned citizenry. Featuring a host of beltway big mouths including Ann Coulter, Michael Moore, Al Gore, John Kerry, Robert Kennedy Jr., Sean Hannity, William Safire, Karen Hughes and Henry Kissinger, the film is a look behind the front lines of the media wars during the most contentious election in recent history. But ultimately, the film is a personal drama of transformation, as Al Franken leaves his comedy days behind and moves from his seat in the sidelines to become a contender inside the political ring.

FOR MORE ON THE FILM AND A COMPLETE LIST OF CITIES: www.godspokefilm.com

The showtime is not yet set for next Friday. Check the Chase website for the exact time.

Copia’s Valet vs. St. Louis Fire Department

Sometimes I have really good timing. Tonight was one of those times. However, I didn’t have my camera with me to capture the event. It just so happened I was walking back to my car (at 14th & Washington) after having dinner at 10th Street Italian (between Washington & St. Charles). Anyway, I was walking along cursing myself for not having my camera with me. I pass by Copia and see two cars running, lights on and not a person in sight. No valet, no customer. Just a Lexus and Saab running. I keep walking, debating if my camera phone is worthwhile but I decide to let it go. As I get to the corner at Tucker I look back and see a Fire Department SUV has pulled up in front of Copia. After crossing the Tucker I see it has it’s lights on.

Curious and heading to City Grocers anyway, I drove past Copia to see if I could figure out the problem. First, a bit of background. In the last couple of weeks, since my popular video has been out, Copia’s valets have been parking cars on the street rather than leaving all the space empty. It is a start. While I’d prefer to have most of the spaces open for the public I’d rather see them park cars there than leave the space looking desolate. But it looks as though they parked one vehicle where they should not — directly in a no-parking zone in front of a fire hydrant, directly in front of the restaurant. I was able to go around the block and come back on Washington as the valet finally got the keys for the vehicle (an SUV of course) as he moved it from the spot. For a good 5-10 minutes Copia had a fire vehicle in front of their place with the lights flashing, I’m sure the patrons were wondering what was going on. Just another day with Copia and valet parking….

Reed Amends January 2006 Campaign Finance Report

It seems the Reed campaign received $525 less in the fourth calendar quarter of 2005 than previously reported, they filed an amended report on 9/6/2006 (see PDF) with the Missouri Ethics Commission. However, subsequent reports from April and July have not yet been amended to reflect the change in totals for receipts and cash on hand. Reed’s July report indicated a cash on hand balance of only $356.71 but if we adjust the numbers to reflect the reduced receipts, that would make a deficit of -$168.29. This is after a $5,000 loan to the campaign treasury.

In comparing the original and amended reports the difference is relative to three contributors:

• Goodco, LLC located at 1915 Park was originally reported to have given $100 but it was amended to $25.

• L. James Willmore, MD of 2327 Albion Place was originally reported to have given $300 but it was amended to $25.

• SAG Properties, LLC of 4515 Maryland Ave was originally reported to have given $300 but it was amended to $125.

The differences total the $525 adjustment to the January 2006 quarterly report which covered the forth quarter of 2005. Campaigns do make mistakes and thus require amendments now and then. But, subsequent reports have not yet been amended to reflect the adjustments to the total receipts for the campaign to date and cash on hand.

Urban Economic Development: A Mid-Term Review

As many of you know, I returned to college this semester — working toward a Masters in Urban Planning and Real Estate Development at Saint Louis University. Wednesday I have my first mid-term exam in over 15 years. Needless to say I was concerned about studying and such. But in the last two years I have found I learn well as I research and write posts for Urban Review. Seeing as how that was a winning strategy, I decided to write up my study notes as a blog post. The notes follow the order of in-class topics and of the mid-term outline issued by our instructor, Allen Tomey.

The initial part of the class focused on some introduction to urban economics and then progressed to the first seven chapters of Approaches to Economic Development: Readings from Economic Development Quarterly, edited by John P. Blair and Laura A. Reese (hereafter referred to as Blair & Reese). I’m guessing many of you don’t subscribe to Economic Development Quarterly and I can’t say that I blame you. Some authors did a nice job getting to their point and others belabored statistics and such to the point you didn’t get their point until you’ve read the chapter 3 times and then took good notes in class.

This review is in no way a substitute for actually taking the class. I hope review this may prompt some of you to consider joining the program at SLU, if only for a class or two. I’ve been working on this for days and the test is this afternoon. Note: some chapters and areas get more attention because those were stressed more heavily than others.

UPDATE 10/18/06 @2:15pm. I’ve pulled the bulk of this post because I am not sure if presenting such notes presents any sort of ethical problem. Students are encouraged to form study groups and share information prior to the test. I’m not sure if the university policy has considered technology and the sharing of detailed notes via the web and the implications for future students. I will confer with my professor, department chair and the SLU handbook to verify. If I can, I will repost this information as soon as possible.