by Peace & Freedom Party Disability Committee
Tuesday, Jun. 15, 2010 at 7:00 PM bmaschi@yahoo.com
June 14, 2010
On June 10, 2010, disabled member Bob Maschi went to Representative David Dreier’s office at 510 East Foothill Boulevard, Suite 201, San Dimas, CA. 91773. Representative Dreier is a Republican and member of the House of Representatives for California's 26th Congressional District. Representative Drier’s office is located on the second floor of an office building that does not have an elevator – a stairway is the only way up.
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Maschi has lived within David Dreier’s district for almost ten years and went to speak with him about issues unrelated to disabilities. Maschi is partially disabled and uses a cane or crutches to walk. In order to get to his Representative’s office he had to painfully climb the stairs. Numerous federal laws require public accommodations to be accessible to people with disabilities. Likewise, people with disabilities must be able to access these accommodations in order to apply for work or, if hired, to work. More, were a fire or other emergency suddenly occur, the physically disabled may not be able to exit via the stairway quickly enough to prevent injury or death. Maschi is currently looking into a variety of legal options.
It is unconscionable that Representative David Dreier, an elected federal employee, would intentionally disregard the civil rights of disabled people by locating his public office, financed by our tax dollars, in an inaccessible place. Dreier should immediately apologize to his constituents and either install an elevator in this building or relocate.
