Following is a simple and urgent action that will make a powerful statement to Ken Ford and the NAHB, by exposing their lobbying efforts, while actually strengthening a valuable political alliance we1re building with disability rights groups.
Various disability rights groups have helped the free Pacifica movement by joining our NAHB national days of action. Let1s return the favor and give energy to a sister movement that could use support. It will help us as well.
The time is short - deadline is August 30th - but we strongly encourage you to act on this. It is worth it. An explanation follows the action description.
ACTION:
Call Governor Pataki at both of his offices: Manhattan: 212-681-4580 Albany: 518-486-3292
Call, email and fax Ronald Piester: Department of State Division of Code Enforcement and Administration Tel: 518-474-4073 Fax: 518-486-4487 Email: rpiester at dos.state.ny.us
Also, contact your state senate representative. To find him or her, call 212-788-7100.
Sample Statement:
Do not change New York state's accessibility codes, as established in 1984. I protest Pataki1s decision to not include accessibility protections as promised, with his introduction of the International Building Code (IBC). Therefore I oppose the IBC.
I am part of the listener movement of the Pacifica Radio Network regarding WBAI 99.5 FM. We are an organization of over 5,000 people in New York State who oppose the dismantling of the Pacifica Network. One of the offending parties we oppose is Pacifica National board member Ken Ford, Washington DC-based Emergency Response Chair of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
The struggle to prevent the dismantling of the Pacifica Radio network and New York State1s accessibility codes are linked. A significant number of Pacifica Radio1s listener-sponsors are disabled. We also understand that an injury to one is an injury to all.
We believe that the decisions of the State Fire and Building Code Council reflect the interests of the NAHB and the building industry and we challenge the judgment and humanity of this action, as we challenge the dismantling of our community radio network by an employee of the NAHB.
Background:
New York State has demonstrated some of the best accessibility requirements in the nation since the implementation of our current building code in 1984. Under these accessibility requirements, when a new apartment building or complex is constructed, 100% of the dwelling units must be accessible to disabled people, if the building has an elevator. If the building does not have an elevator, 100% of the ground floor dwelling units must be accessible.
Now, based on a unilateral decision by Gov. Pataki, New York State is planning to adopt the International Building Code (IBC), a generic building code that was developed by private firm, this January. It requires that only 2% of newly constructed apartments provide the accessibility that people with disabilities have enjoyed for the past 17 years. In addition, the IBC would only require livable apartments to be provided when there are more than 20 dwelling units.
The state is receiving feedback on these code changes until August 30th. Protesting this dismantling of the accessibility codes sends a very direct message to the NAHB that we object to having on our board the manager of a group against lobbying human rights.
On August 20th Concerned Friends of WBAI - Westchester branch and Disabled In Action gave testimony against the codes in a video-conference public hearing that occurred simultaneously at seven locations around New York State. Statements were delivered by Ursula Ruedenberg and Freida Zames, Vice Chair of Disabled in Action, former LAB member, and litigant in the LAB Pacifica lawsuit.
For more information:
http://www.disabledinaction.org/
Pacifica Campaign 800-797-6229
-- Marta Russell author, Los Angeles, CA http://disweb.org/ Beyond Ramps: Disability at the End of the Social Contract http://www.commoncouragepress.com/russell_ramps.html