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GREENBURGH, N.Y. – Angela Raso said she has had plenty of difficulty getting her motorized scooter and specially designed van around Greenburgh.
Narrow handicap parking spaces, stores without ramps and dangerous crosswalks have made things that many take for granted – stopping by the drug store or dropping off a letter at the post office –nearly impossible tasks for the Hartsdale woman.
“I can’t even dream of going to the post office without someone with me,” said Raso, who has been disabled since birth. “It can be frustrating.”
But now, with the help of Supervisor Paul Feiner, Raso will have a say on the shortcomings of the town’s handicap access as she leads the newly formed Greenburgh Disabled Advisory Committee.
“I want to get this project going for a more accessible Greenburg,” she said.
Born with a heart condition and other anomalies, Raso grew up in a wheelchair. But last year, at age 29, Raso decided to get her driver’s license, hoping a car would bring her some new-found freedom. Instead, it opened her eyes to a whole new set of problems.
“It was supposed to give me some freedom to get around but when I started going to some places, I found it was very difficult to actually complete what I went out to do,” Raso said.
Frustrated, Raso reached out to Feiner. On her suggestion, Feiner has agreed to create the disabled advisory committee – a group of volunteers, which Raso will chair, tasked with the responsibility of recommending improvements to Greenburgh’s problem areas for handicap access.
From storefront access to a bump in the sidewalk, Feiner said all suggestions are welcome from Raso and her committee.
“I have no doubt it will beneficial,” Feiner said Wednesday.
Less than 24 hours after receiving the word that she would lead Greenburgh’s newest committee, Raso was already brainstorming ideas, including wider parking spaces at several businesses throughout the town.
“I guess we’ll see where this takes us,” she said. “Hopefully it gets things going.”
Comments (2)
Sensitive subject matter but since it is Feiner already exploiting this to the fullest, I take the plunge.
The photo appears posed, in official surroundings, but not taken during the Town Board Meeting at which the young woman was persuaded to make a presentation.
Those with functioning memories will remember similar human interest endeavors on the part of Feiner. A year ago the parents of a young woman in need of a transplant held court. On that occasion, the effort was to find her an organ donor. Feiner, our latter day Warren Hull of "Heartline" milked the opportunity to its fullest. Lo and behold after "Feiner's efforts" a donor stepped forward --- a close relative of the child.
A few years further back, Feiner introduced another wheelchair bound woman and gave her, her 15 minutes (twice). At that time, Metro North was "reconstructing" the overhead passage over the Hartsdale Station stop train tracks. She, rightfully, sought an elevator. Feiner went through his usual bag of trickery and promised his commitment to obtain such. He regaled residents with his concerns and his efforts i.e. being "in touch" with "the offices" of various public officials and Metro North executives.
Nada.
So back to today and Feiner's newest committee waiting in the delivery room. Need I say that immediately after the Town Board meeting last night, Feiner had his press release out to all media and blog sites.
So what is now needed is a committee to recommend to the Town various ways and improvements to make Town jurisdictional locations more accessible to the handicapped or those with disabilities. Existing national, state and local laws notwithstanding, here's such an example tendered by me to Feiner BEFORE his committee started up, BEFORE Ms. Raso's appearance. A recommendation that Feiner IGNORED despite my reminders over the course of two years. You gotta "love" a guy who wears his heart on his press release keyboard being born lacking the "shame" gene.
To wit: The Greenburgh Library's lower parking level includes two crosswalks at either end of the driveway to and from Tarrytown Road. These crosswalks connect the sidewalks located behind the parking spaces. To get from one sidewalk to the other side's sidewalk (sidewalks being the safety zone from the parking spaces to and from the library entrance) is the purpose of the crosswalk. However, there is no "dropped edge" (small ramp) on these sidewalks which due to its absence creates a seven inch drop from the sidewalk to the pavement. Seven inches straight down in denial of existing handicapped crossing requirements at a now four year old library. Seven inches which poses a PROBLEM for those in WHEELCHAIRS and those pushing child STOLLERS. Seven inches which Feiner, the great sympathizer (on camera) continues to ignore.
And the opportunity to mitigate the problem recently surfaced and was again ignored. The Town JUST COMPLETED repaving all the sidewalks around the perimeter of the library. This job done at taxpayer expense to redo the four year old new sidewalks paved at taxpayer expense during the library expansion project. With the heavy equipment and personnel (outside contractors) already onsite (thus a savings in place), what better opportunity to correct a mistake that is a burden to the handicapped and parents alike.
Where were Feiner's crocodile tears just TWO WEEKS AGO when he had the opportunity to do something when the recommendation was on his desk pre Ms Raso's appearance to yield another committee.
Feiner, as always, responds only to that which yields the photo-op and media story. I bestow upon him yet another certificate of depreciation.
Hal Samis
The Broadview Civic Association commends Supervisor Feiner for promoting the rights of disabled Greenburgh individuals. Broadview recommends that Supervisor Feiner and the entire Greenburgh Town Board take whatever steps are necessary to insure that an ADA compliant sidewalk is installed at the 295 Knollwood Road site of the Greenburgh Health Center before it opens for business. Currently it is doubtful that a pedestrian sidewalk will be installed in the public right of way to the 295 Knollwood road site.
SIDEWALK ISSUE
• The majority of health center clients will reach the MVNHC via public transportation.
• The New York State Department of Transportation (NYS DOT) has announced that NYS DOT will not fund or construct a sidewalk from Route 119 to the 295 Knollwood Road site of the MVNHC.
• Lack of a sidewalk from public transportation facilities on Route 119 presents serious safety risks to both clinic clients and motor vehicle operators on Knollwood Road.
• The Town of Greenburgh could incur significant municipal liability for anyone injured due to lack of safe pedestrian access to the health center site.
• Lack of safe pedestrian access to the site could be a serious problem to solve even if eminent domain is used by the Town of Greenburgh.
• The proposed multi modal pedestrian facility is a very unsafe alternate solution, and will not be approved by NYS DOT due to the recent enactment of the “Safe Streets” law.
• The MVNHC has not filed for and obtained a NYS DOT highway work permit for the proposed multi-modal pedestrian facility ? Why has the Town issued a building permit without requiring the MVNHC to obtain a NYS highway work permit ?
• Shuttle ambulet buses are not an economically viable alternative.
• The Town needs to take whatever actions are necessary to insure safe pedestrian access before it allows the MVNHC to open its doors to patients.
• The Town cannot grant the MVNHC a permanent certificate of occupancy if the MVNHC does not actually construct an ADA compliant sidewalk from Route 119 to the southern boundary of 295 Knollwood Rd. before the facility opens for business ?
Robert F. Reninger, Chairman
Broadview Civic Association