Man sues city for lack of ADA-compliant sidewalks

Source: Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, TexasJuly 27--HARLINGEN -- Jose Gonzalez was visiting downtown Harlingen recently to take advantage of the city's Farmers Market but says the excursion was marred when he came to a street inaccessible to his wheelchair.新蒲崗迷你倉Gonzalez said he has been disabled and using an electric wheelchair for six years.On June 14, while going north on the Second Street sidewalk, he reached the intersection of East Van Buren Avenue to find a curb without a wheelchair ramp. He says he looked for several alternatives to cross the street and eventually was forced to use a driveway to leave the safety of the sidewalk and travel on the street -- just in order to cross Van Buren."If I get to a place where I can't get up with my chair, that gets frustrating because I have to look for a place and how to get to where they have another ramp," he said.Gonzalez's case is one of many filed by the South Texas Civil Rights Project, on the 23rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The nonprofit organization said it has filed lawsuits against area businesses, municipalities and the federal government in an effort to correct the sidewalks and buildings that are not accessible to individuals with mobility disabilities, as well as a failure in some cases to provide services to deaf individuals.Gonzalez's case was filed against the city of Harlingen alleging that "many of the city sidewalks are not accessible to individuals with mobility disabilities, in violation of state and federal law." His case does not involve issues concerning buildings or deaf individuals."It is a shame that, although the ADA was passed 23 years ago today, people with disabilities are still fimini storageding themselves barred from fully participating in American life," STCRP attorney Elliot Tucker said this week. "Our clients are brave for coming forward to confront the daily discriminations that keep them and people like them from being equal members of our community."Although the lawsuit has been filed, it has not yet been served on the city of Harlingen.Interim City Attorney Richard L. Bilbie said that the city has made great efforts to improve its sidewalks and make them ADA compliant. "We certainly will look into it," he said."We'll have to take a look at it," Tudor Uhlhorn, District 2 City Commissioner said. "I know there are some areas that are ADA compliant."Gonzalez said, "I think of me, and all the people that are in wheelchairs. There's a lot of places where you can't go. They don't have access for us to go in.""You get aggravated," he said.Gonzalez has gone to the Farmers Market since it started, he said."I do this every month when the market comes over. That's one thing I look forward to," he said.Gonzalez has lived in Harlingen all his life. He was in an accident six years ago. His truck rolled over, breaking his neck. He was in a coma for three months, he said, and now uses his electric wheelchair to get around."We don't see it 'til something really happens to us," he said of the difficulties for people with disabilities."Any little time I get to go out and I don't have any problems," Gonzalez said, he's happy.He wants to "enjoy life a little bit and enjoy the town a little bit," he said.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, Texas) Visit Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, Texas) at www.valleymorningstar.com Distributed by MCT Information Servicesself storage