City of Rochester Mayoral Candidates’
2005 Election
Disability Issues Survey
The following issues and questions reflect a small sample of the issues of concern to people with disabilities in the City of Rochester. Complete the survey and return by September 1, 2005. You may use additional space or attach additional information as you feel necessary. Please return surveys to:
Center for Disability Rights
Attn: Chris Hilderbrant
412 State Street
Rochester, NY 14608
Surveys can be faxed to: (585) 546-5643
Your responses, and those of your opponents, will be circulated within the disability community and published at: www.rochestercdr.org .
Thank you for your
participation in this voter education effort!
Note: Of the
five candidates running for Rochester’s Office of the Mayor, only Robert Duffy,
Tim
Mains, Chris Maj and Wade Norwood responded. No response was received from
John
Parrinello.
1. Rochester is currently involved in implementation planning of several large community development projects. The Disability Community is concerned that without a formal process to ensure that access is done correctly, these large projects will have barriers, which exclude people with disabilities, as we have seen with the Fast Ferry. In the past, Rochester and Monroe County had an advisory council of people with disabilities to review such projects. This council has not met or been consulted in several years.
Would you advocate for revitalization of the City/County Council of People with Disabilities?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
Duffy: [X] Yes [ ] No
Mains: [X] Yes [ ] No
Maj: [X] Yes [ ] No
Norwood: [X] Yes [ ] No
Would you develop and support legislation that would require all projects receiving City funding to be reviewed by the City/County Council of People with Disabilities for its approval of the access aspects of the project?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
Duffy: [X]
Yes [ ] No (Within a maximum agreed-upon
deadline.)
Mains: [X] Yes [
] No
Maj: [X] Yes [ ] No
Norwood: [ ] Yes [ ] No (No response to this part, but see below.)
projects.
Such an additional layer of bureaucracy could only add time
and money.
2. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance within the City of Rochester is inconsistent and uncoordinated. When people with disabilities or their advocates need answers, there is no dedicated staff person on disability issues within City Government. Monroe County has addressed this concern by having a full-time ADA Compliance Officer who is involved in ensuring that all County projects and programs are accessible and meet the requirements of the ADA. Additionally, the County’s ADA Compliance Officer is a person with a disability who understands personally how important these issues are.
Would you create a full-time paid position within City government for a devoted ADA Compliance Officer?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
Duffy: [ ] Yes [ ] No (No response to this part, but see below.)
Mains: [ ] Yes
[ ] No (No response to this part, but see
below.)
Maj: [X] Yes [ ] No
Norwood: [ ] Yes [ ] No (No response to this part, but see below.)
How would you shape this position and what qualifications would you expect the person to have?
Duffy: Throughout this campaign, I have resisted making promises regarding
staffing a City Hall under a Duffy administration. I believe it would be
irresponsible to make such judgments until I am briefed as “Mayor
Elect” on budget and staffing issues. I am committed to appointing a
City staffer whose duties will at least include the role of ADA
Compliance Officer.
Mains: This person would be fully versed in the codes that detail ADA
compliance, but also with all city and state housing and building codes.
This individual would serve as a consultant for all city departments on
city projects and on private projects that receive public dollars.
Maj: I believe that all city employees should be
city residents. I would hire
based on merit alone. I am not
taking any cash contributions, so I
don’t owe a lot of people favors (or
jobs) once I get elected.
Norwood: I would consider such a
position, but given the fiscal realities, I cannot
promise that it would be
possible. If it is possible, I would
want someone
who is fully versed in ADA
regulations, construction issues, and who has
a record of
sensitivity to issues involving the disabled.
3. Despite years of advocacy by the disability community
for better services and despite rulings by Federal Judge Larimer and the Second
Circuit Court of Appeals, difficulties and complaints regarding
Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority’s Lift Line service
continue and have grown in recent months.
Will you work with the disability community and City Council to appoint a Lift Line user who is a strong advocate for persons with disabilities to the R-GRTA board to ensure that our community’s input is heard and that we have a vote in the future of R-GRTA services?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
Duffy: [X] Yes [ ] No
Mains: [X] Yes [ ] No
Maj: [X] Yes [ ] No
Norwood: [ ] Yes [ ] No (No response to this part, but see below.)
What other solutions do you propose for improving the accessibility of public transit and paratransit services?
Duffy: I am a firm believer in benchmarking best practices from other
communities and would rely on the Center for Disability Rights, Al Sigl
agencies, Golisano Foundation and others to keep me apprised of what
we must do to maximize accessibility. For example, RGRTA must have
an adequate number of schedules during peak hours, and must deploy
an adequate number of equipped vehicles, to meet
demand.
Mains: I can’t promise that one of our 3 appointees
will necessarily be a disabled
person, but I can promise that all appointees will be coached about
policy issues that are critical to city residents, including
accessibility
issues. All three will be
up-to-date on the challenges Lift Line has
presented to us.
Maj: Instead of building a
massive boondoggle like Renaissance Square,
I think we should recognize that people wait for the bus all over town.
For a fraction of the cost of the underground bus terminal, we could
waiting
for a bus more convenient and accessible.
Norwood: The
City has three seats on the Board of RGRTA; currently, all are
filled. The nomination and
appointment process is the responsibility of
City Council. As Mayor, I would
be loath to intrude on their “turf”.
I would, however, continue to work vigorously with my colleagues at
RGRTA to improve both public transit and paratransit services in the
community.
4. Single family homes and townhouses are currently not covered by any accessibility regulations. Many municipalities in the US have adopted Visitability codes or rules as a means of assuring basic access (one no-step entrance, a first floor bathroom, and 32- inch clearance in internal doorways) to all homes funded by public money or developed for speculative buyers. The lack of accessible housing is a critical issue, especially in the city, as most new development has been townhouses or single-family homes, which are not accessible. A Visitability ordinance would allow people with disabilities to make use of a home, whether they own it, or just visit friends or family. Visitability also allows seniors to age in place because there is at least one entrance with NO stairs.
Would you initiate development and support passage of a Visitability Ordinance in the City of Rochester requiring that all publicly funded, newly constructed, single-family homes and townhouses have one no-step entrance, a first floor bathroom, and 32-inch clearance in internal doorways?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
Duffy: [ ] Yes [ ] No (No response to this part, but see below.)
Mains: [X] Yes [ ] No
Maj: [X] Yes [ ] No
Norwood: [ ] Yes [ ] No (No response to this part, but see below.)
What additional measures will you propose in order to address the lack of accessible, affordable housing?
Duffy: The future viability of the City depends on our ability to compete for
investment dollars to help us better afford services for all our residents.
I am therefore wary of a one-size-fits-all mandate on the City only, that
might hamper development. I would be supportive if such an ordinance
would apply countywide. Developers should recognize that these
enhancements will actually increase the marketability of these properties
over time.
Mains: Prior discussions on this issue has shown great reluctance from builders
who claim that added costs would hinder development. The first task is
to educate the housing development community. I will engage in that
advocacy.
immediate influx of newer and more accessible housing.
Norwood: I
would definitely add some requirements regarding visitability within
the project constraints. As you know, some projects are developed in
areas that do not permit a no-step entrance because of topography,
etc. I
would, however, be willing to work on the issue within the limits of the
possible.
Regarding the lack of accessible affordable housing, I would
recommend
a set-aside in the annual CDBG program for adaptation of existing units
to meet the need.
5. For wheelchair
users and people with sensory disabilities, finding apartments that meet their
needs is one of the most difficult struggles in life. To meet this challenge, Massachusetts has been successful with a
program called MASS Access. Under MASS
Access, developers and landlords are required to publish the availability of a
wheelchair accessible apartment or home through the MASS Access Internet site
as well as Independent Living Centers.
New York State is beginning to make initial efforts at a voluntary list,
but we are concerned that it, like most voluntary accessibility programs, will
not be successful.
Would you initiate development and support passage of legislation creating and maintaining a mandatory Monroe County Accessible Housing List? Such legislation would require landlords and developers to report the availability of accessible apartments and homes to this list.
[ ] Yes [ ] No
Duffy: [X] Yes [ ] No
Mains: [X] Yes [
] No
Maj: [X] Yes [ ] No
Norwood: [ ] Yes [ ] No (No response to this part, but see below.)
Norwood: I would be pleased to work with CDR to develop legislation to amass
information on accessible apartments. I would hope it would not be
restricted to the City but would also include
suburban apartments.
6. Rochester has one of the nation’s highest concentrations of people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. However, in recent years there have been many problems with the captioning of City sponsored Public Service Announcements (PSAs). The City published many ads without any captioning.
Will you actively enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act and ensure that 100% of all City funded PSAs will be captioned for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
Duffy: [X] Yes [ ] No
Mains: [X] Yes [
] No
Maj: [X] Yes [ ] No
Norwood: [ ] Yes [ ] No (No response to this part, but see below.)
Norwood: I will enforce all provision of the ADA that are the City’s responsibility,
including closed captioning.
7. Each winter,
Rochester is blanketed by snow. While
this is an inconvenience for all, the effects are particularly damaging for people
with disabilities that affect their mobility.
City sidewalks are frequently not cleared for weeks following a
storm. Our people are forced to choose
between staying isolated at home or traveling dangerously in the roads, which
are better cleared than the sidewalks.
Will you introduce and support passage of an ordinance to require that all City sidewalks be cleared so people with disabilities and seniors can safely travel during the winter?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
Duffy: [X] Yes [ ] No
Mains: [ ] Yes [ X ] No
Maj: [X] Yes [ ] No
Norwood: [ ] Yes [ ] No (No response to this part, but see below.)
Maj: (There already is an
ordinance.) You have to shovel it yourself over a
few inches.
Yes, so all people can travel safely on the sidewalks.
What steps would you take to ensure that sidewalks are clear and accessible to people with disabilities in the winter months?
Duffy: The ordinance must state that the first responsibility for sidewalk
clearance rests with the property owner. I pledge to provide sufficient
enforcement to ensure compliance.
Mains: This does not
require a new law, it requires people to abide by existing
laws.
Maj: For every military
recruiter in our high schools, I propose we have a
Pease Corps or Ameri Corps recruiter.
In addition to that, Ameri Corps
or Rent-A-Kid recruits could help assist in snow removal and other
public works projects.
Norwood: The City Code already requires that the
owners of property (or the
ground floor tenants in
case of rentals) keep the sidewalks clear.
As you
know, the City also has sidewalk plows under contract in
recognition of
the fact that people do
not generally comply with the law. I
will
continue to work on the
problem, but there is not magic solution for it.
Many of our units are
occupied by people who are not capable of
shoveling snow (seniors,
or persons with disabilities, for instance), and it
is not possible for the
government to fully take on that responsibility. I
will make it a priority to
have cleaner sidewalks, especially in areas with
concentration of heavy
pedestrian traffic.
8. In recent years, the Rochester community has seen desperate struggles over school budgets. Many of these struggles are also in the shadow of national debates and disagreements over how schools should be funded and how children should be educated. Children with disabilities are among the first targeted when budget cuts are proposed. The accommodations and programming needed to ensure that every child with a disability has a chance to be successful is vulnerable to budget cuts.
Will you
pledge not to approve budget cuts which damage special education?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
Duffy: [X] Yes [
] No
Duffy:
I will work with RCSD Superintendent to ensure that any budget cuts
he feels he must make are
as far removed from students as possible.
Mains: [X] Yes [ ] No
Maj: [X] Yes [ ] No
Norwood: [
] Yes [ ] No
(No response to this part, but see below.)
What is your view on mainstreaming children with disabilities into the everyday classroom?
Duffy: I am a staunch advocate for maximum possible mainstreaming for
every child, consistent with the recommendation of his/her Committee
on Special Education.
Mains: As a professional public educator with 35 years experience in schools, I
am a strong advocate for “Inclusive” programs that integrate special
needs children in with all other children in school.
Maj: If we want adults that work
together, then we should start young.
Exposing children to a myriad of cultures and communities will
help move Rochester forward as an international city that
cooperates across all types of borders in the
future.
Norwood: I under stand that mainstreaming is the law
and should be accomplished
as fully as possible and as
is appropriate for each child as desired by the
children’s parent/guardian.
As the parent of a
profoundly disabled child, I am firmly committed to
both the letter and the
spirit of the Federal IDEA. I have,
during each
year’s budget review, paid
particular attention to the Rochester City
School District’s Special
Education Program. What is unfortunate
is the
fact that I do not have any
control over how the Board of Education
spends their money. I cannot even pledge to keep their
allocation at the
current level of $119.1
million given that I do not know what the future
holds for City finances,
but I would strongly encourage the Board to
maintain their support of
the needs of disabled children.
9. Please use the following section to highlight aspects of your platform and experience which would be of interest to Rochester’s Disability Community and were not addressed in the above questions.
Duffy:
Please read my Impact Rochester position paper related to housing and
community
development, which you can find on my website
duffyformayor.com.
I will be committed as your Mayor to ensuring that all persons with
disabilities
are able to live and receive services in the least restrictive,
most
integrated setting possible. I am proud
of my record as Police
Chief of
collaborating with the disability community to allow the RPD to
deliver its
services in ways that meet your needs, and will do the same on
a broader scale as your Mayor. I will work to make the City a
welcoming
environment for your community-based services.
Mains:
In part because I have experience living “out of the mainstream” and in
part because I was raised to value social
justice, I have always had a
special
sensitivity to people with disabilities.
That is why I demanded
and got
compliance issues addressed on the Hyatt Hotel project. (In
fact, my
familiarity with UFAS codes allowed me to show them how to
eliminate a
lift in the restaurant and replace it with a ramp.); That is
why I proposed
and passed legislation to insure that the city check to
insure
recipients of city dollars for economic development projects are
complying with
ADA; That is why I’ve been an advocate to encourage
RGRTA to
improve their operation of Lift Line and to improve their
operation of
disabled riders on regular routes as well.
The omnibus civil
rights statute
I drafted, co-sponsored and passed provides a right of
action to
disabled persons who have experienced blatant discrimination
in housing,
employment, or public accommodations.
This law provides
an alternative
to waiting years for a complaint filed with the Division of
Human Rights
to be resolved.
Maj: My friend - Rochester City
Council Candidate Harry Davis - and I
are campaigning this fall under the Red White and Blue Party.
Harry and I agree on many issues, like the War on Drugs being
a failure and the bus terminal at Main and Clinton being a bad idea.
We want to focus on creating jobs through a renewable energy
infrastructure and increasing research on biotechnology. We met at
the Public Market over the summer, and since we agreed on so many
issues we decided to campaign together.
Although Harry Davis is
disabled
and walks with a cane after his feet were amputated due to
meningitis, it does not stop us from having better ideas to move the
city
forward.
Norwood: I am
committed to bringing people together, to generating greater
mutual understanding of each other’s problems and strengths, issues and
solutions. I will pledge to work
every day to make this the best possible
place for ALL of our people to live.
#