TRANSCRIPT: REALTIME CAPTIONING OF L.A. COUNTY COMMISSIONER
JANET NEAL'S DISABILITY-BASED RADIO SHOW
THE DISABILITY NETWORK ON KTYM AM 1460 LOS ANGELES, WWW.KTYM.COM
CAPTIONED BY TOTAL RECALL, WWW.YOURCAPTIONER.COM
**PLEASE SEE THE BOTTOM OF THIS TRANSCRIPT FOR ADDITIONAL INFO**
2/15/12
[MUSIC PLAYING]
JANET: OKAY. I'M GOING TO GO OVER THE AGENDA FOR THE LOS ANGELES
DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITY. THE FIRST THING IS THE APPROVAL TO PURCHASE A QUARTER PAGE AD AND TWO TICKETS TO THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY COMMISSION FOR WOMEN 2012 ANNUAL WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS LUNCHEON TO BE HELD MARCH 12TH AT THE MILLENIUM BONAVENTURE HOTEL. SECOND IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM JANUARY 18TH. 3 IS PRESENTATION BY MARLYN DENTER, MANAGER CONSUMER AFFAIRS OUTREACH FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON. 4 IS THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT. 5, REPORT BY THE EVENTS COMMITTEE. 6 IS REPORT BY CHIP HAZEN. 7 IS MONTHLY REPORT BY
LOUIS BURNS OF ACCESS SERVICES. 8 IS THE REPORT ON THE ACCESS BOARD MEETING BY KURT HAGAN. 9 IS ANNOUNCEMENTS BY COMMISSIONERS. 10, MATTERS NOT ON THE POSTED AGENDA. 11, OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON ITEMS OF INTEREST THAT ARE WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE COMMISSION. AND ITEM 12, WHICH IS EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE, IS ADJOURNMENT. OKAY. AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY GUESST. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR AND THAT HAVE HELPED ME THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES, AND HELPED ME IN MY LEARNING EXPERIENCE. NORENE VINCENT AND BETTY WILSON. PLEASE TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT YOU.
GUEST: THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR LETTING US PARTICIPATE IN YOUR SHOW. IT'S A WONDERFUL SHOW, AND GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY, IN THE COUNTY.
JANET: MY PLEASURE. I GOT SO MUCH. BECAUSE YOU SEE TODAY I HAVE ON MY
BRADLEY BUTTON.
GUEST: YES.
JANET: I LIKE FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT'S WHERE I GOT MY BACKGROUND. SOME PEOPLE QUESTION WHERE YOU GET THIS OR DID YOU GET THIS. NO QUESTION.
GUEST: SPEAKING OF TOM BRADLEY I DID START MY CAREER WITH THE CITY IN TOM BRADLEY'S OFFICE, AND I WAS ASSIGNED TO WORK ON SOME NEW PROGRAMS. AT THE TIME THE CITY HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH, SENIORS, AND FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, AND I WAS ASSIGNED TO WORK ON DISABILITY ISSUES, AND TRY TO BUILD A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY, AND CITY HALL SO PEOPLE WOULD HAVE A WAY TO IDENTIFY CONCERNS, AND IDENTIFY ISSUES AND POSE SOLUTIONS SO THE CITY COULD IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS, AND ACTIVITIES AND VARIOUS SERVICES. AND I STAYED WITH THE OFFICE FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS, AND I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL. I WAS WORKING FOR THE OFFICE, AND THEN ULTIMATELY JOINED THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHERE I AM TODAY. I'M HAPPY TO SAY I'M STILL WORKING ON DISABILITY RELATED ISSUES. ONE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES IS TO
WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT ON DISABILITY TO ADVISE THE COMMISSION ON
DISABILITY AND WORKING ON SOME ADA COMPLIANCE ISSUES. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING TODAY, AND VERY HAPPY TO STILL BE INVOLVED.
JANET: OKAY. AND WE ALSO HAVE MS. BETTY WILSON. PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELF. AND TELL US WHAT YOU DO.
GUEST: HELLO. HI, JANET. I'M BETTY WILSON AS YOU ALREADY KNOW, AND I
STARTED ALSO WITH TOM BRADLEY IN HIS ADMINISTRATION. I STARTED AS A
RESEARCH ASSISTANT AND THEN AN INFORMATION AND REFERRAL AND THE COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION CENTER.
JANET: THAT'S WHERE I MET YOU.
GUEST: THAT'S RIGHT. I WAS ACTUALLY I HAD LEWIS DOMINGUEZ ACTUALLY
FASHIONED THIS PROGRAM WHICH IS STILL IN OPERATION TODAY. WHICH WE'RE VERY, VERY PLEASED AND WE STILL HAVE COMPUTERIZED REFERRAL AND SERVICES WHERE THERE IS LIMITED CASE MANAGEMENT. WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND REQUEST ASSISTANCE IF THEY HAVE A NEED WHETHER IT BE HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, ANY ISSUE RELEVANT TO THEIR DISABILITY.
JANET: LET'S KIND OF GET TO THE MEAT HERE. LET'S PUSH THE SALAD ASIDE.
LET'S PUSH THE VEGETABLES ASIDE, AND EVERYTHING. WE'RE GOING TO GET RIGHT TO THE MEAT. I'M REALLY TIRED OF WHOEVER IT IS IN CITY HALL THAT KEEPS PICKING AT THE DEPARTMENT ON DISABILITY. I'M SICK OF IT. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GUYS FUNCTION AND CONTINUE THE WORK YOU DO WITH THE DOGS AT THE DOOR. I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND AND I'M NOT ASKING EITHER OF YOU TWO. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND EITHER WHY SOME ABLE BODIED PERSON WOULD WANT TO PICK ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHEN THERE'S MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT THEY COULD CUT. THIS IS PROVIDING A VERY VALUABLE SERVICE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. I BELIEVE IT'S POSSIBLE FOR THE CITY TO BE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT IF THEY DON'T LEAVE YOU GUYS ALONE. LET'S TALK WHAT IT WAS LIKE BACK IN THE DAY, AND THEN WE CAN SAY KIND OF WHAT IT IS TODAY, AND WHAT YOU SEE IN THE FUTURE. I SEE IT FROM GOING ALL THE BACK. I GOT INVOLVED WITH THE LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL ON DISABILITY WHICH I THINK
WAS AN EXCELLENT GROUP. THIS IS WHERE I LEARNED THE OTHER PART OF MY
ADVOCACY TRAINING. I GOT THE FIRST PART AT THE VA. AND I CAME TO THE CITY AND I LEARNED HOW TO SHARPEN MY SWORD LISTENING TO BILL ELKINS. AND I USED TO ENJOY GOING INTO HIS OFFICE TO HEAR WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. I ENJOYED THAT BECAUSE I GOT A LOT OUT OF THE CONVERSATIONS. HE TAUGHT ME A LOT OF POLITICAL MANEUVERING WHICH I'M NOT SURE EVERYBODY ON THE COUNCIL OF DISABILITY FIGURED THAT PART OF IT OUT. THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE DO. YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED OR MODIFIED OR ATTITUDE THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. WITH THE TRAINING IT'S HELPED ME WITH THIS RADIO STATION WITH EVERYBODY LISTENING. KIND OF COMMENT ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE DEPARTMENT WEL,L BEFORE IT WAS THE DEPARTMENT, IT WAS
GUEST: IT WAS AN OFFICE, A DIVISION WITHIN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
JANET: THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR THE HANDICAPPED AND DISABILITY.
GUEST: RIGHT.
JANET: WHAT WERE SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BEING AN OFFICE IN
THEMAYOR'S OFFICE, AND BEING A FULL DEPARTMENT?
GUEST: I THINK WHEN THE PROGRAM STARTED BECAUSE IT REALLY STARTED AS A PROGRAM AND THEN MOVED INTO WE CALLED IT THE OFFICE. AND IT REALLY WAS
JANET: IN CITY HALL.
GUEST: IN CITY HALL, AND IT WAS IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND AT THE TIME THE MAYOR HAD MADE A COMMITMENT THAT HE WANTED TO OPEN CITY HALL AND BUILD A BRIDGE BETWEEN CITY HALL AND THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ACCESS BEFORE. AND SO THE MAYOR DID A LOT OF OUTREACH, AND ACTUALLY FORMED A 45 MEMBER ADVISORY COUNCIL WHICH I BELIEVE YOU CHAIRED.
JANET: AT ONE POINT YES.
GUEST: YES. THAT COUNCIL HAD A NUMBER OF COMMITTEES, AND THOSE
COMMITTEES WORKED WITH US TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THE MAJOR ISSUES OUT THERE. WHAT CAN WE DO FROM EMPLOYMENT TO JOB TRAINING, BARRIERS. IT WAS AN EFFORT TO REACH THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY SO THAT WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT A CURB CUT DESIGN IT INVOLVED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO WERE BLIND AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WHO USED WHEELCHAIRS TO COME UP WITH A DESIGN THAT WOULD WORK FOR EVERYBODY.
JANET: INCLUSIVE.
GUEST: WE STARTED LOOKING AT WHAT CAN WE DO AT CITY HALL. ONE OF THE
THINGS WE FOCUSED ON WAS THE CITY PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT AND WE STARTED LOOKING WHAT ARE THE PERSONNEL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. WHAT KIND OF CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE. I REMEMBER WHEN WE STARTED THERE WAS WHAT THEY CALLED APPENDIX K WHICH BASICALLY SAID IF YOU HAD A DISABILITY YOU COULDN'T WORK AT ANYTHING OTHER THAN A VOCAL OR CHORAL ACCOMPANYIST. WE SAID, WAIT A MINUTE, THERE'S A PROBLEM HERE. WE NEED TO START MAKING SOME CHANGES. SO WE STARTED LOOKING AT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION POLICIES. MODIFIED THE TESTS AND EXAMS PROVIDING JOB AUDITING AND FORM FUNCTION. LET'S LOOK AT THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND WE'RE GOING TO BASICALLY LOOK FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO
CAN PERFORM THAT. TO THE EXTENT WE'RE GOING TO TRANSFER THOSE ASSIGNMENTS TO ANOTHER POSITION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. WE ACTUALLY HAD A VERY EXTENSIVE JOB TRAINING PLACEMENT PROGRAM. WE WENT TO VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS. WE HAD SOME FEDERAL MONEY AND WE'D LIKE YOU TO HIRE INDIVIDUALS, AND PROVIDE THEM WITH TRAINING AND WE WERE ABLE TO HIRE PEOPLE ON AN EXEMPT BASIS. THEY BASICALLY COMPETED ONLY WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN THE SAME OCCUPATIONAL CLASSIFICATION. MAJOR CHANGES HOW WE HIRED, WHAT WE DID. WE RECOGNIZED THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO BE INVOLVED IN JOB DEVELOPMENT AS WELL. AND WE WORKED WITH MAJOR EMPLOYERS TO DEVELOP TRAINING
PROGRAMS. WE DID A EXERCISED REPAIR AND TECH PROGRAM BECAUSE IT WAS A POSITION WHERE THERE WAS A DEMAND IN THE MARKET FOR IT, AND WE DID EXTENSIVE PLACEMENT AND REFERRAL INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. WE HAD A COMPUTERIZED JOB BANK WHICH WAS A BRIEF LITTLE DESCRIPTION OF THE PERSON. THEIR BACKGROUND HAD THEIR SKILLS, AND WE WOULD SEND THEM ON THAT OUT A PERIODIC BASIS. WE WOUND UP GETTING MANY, MANY PEOPLE GETTING PLACED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. AND WE WOUND UP GOING THROUGH THE CITY, AND WORKING TO PUT CURB CUTS WHERE WE COULD. MAKING CITY HALL BUILDINGS ACCESSIBLE. WE LOOKED AT WORKING WITH BUILDING AND SAFETY TO ENFORCE TITLE 24 TO MAKE WHEN BUILDING AND SAFETY WAS
SIGNING OFF ON BUILDING PERMITS, THEY COMPLIED. THERE WAS COMPLIANCE FOR TITLE 24. WE LOOKED AT.
JANET: YOU NEED TO REVISIT THAT. THEY'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB ANYMORE.
THEY'RE NOT DOING IT LIKE THEY USED TO. I CAN LIST SEVERAL PLACES. I WENT
TO A PLACE THE OTHER DAY, AND BRAND NEW BUSINESS TWO STEPS, AND THE DOOR OPENS OUT. NO HANDRAIL. NO NOTHING.
GUEST: WE USED TO HAVE A BUILDING AND ACCESS DISABILITY COMMITTEE. WORKED WITH BUILDERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUILDINGS WERE ACCESSIBLE, AND I GUESS I'M SORRY, I GOT A LITTLE BIT OFF TRACK. I THINK IT REALLY HELPED TREMENDOUSLY TO HAVE THE CLOUD OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE BEHIND US WHEN WE WERE KNOCKING ON DOORS, AND TRYING TO OPEN DOORS. OBVIOUSLY THE MAYOR'S TENURE WAS COMING TO AN END AND THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF CONCERN ABOUT WHAT THE FORWARD MOVEMENT WOULD BE, AND THERE WAS A STRONG FEELING TO MAKE IT A PART ONGOING PART OF THE CITY FAMILY IS TO HAVE A DEPARTMENT ON DISABILITY, AND ALONG WITH THAT HAVE A COMMISSION, AND SO WHAT HAPPENED MANY YEARS AGO NOW,
THERE WAS A FULL DEPARTMENT CREATED AND A COMMISSION TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND TO INTERFACE WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER CITY COMMISSIONS. AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT AT ONE POINT I THINK WE STARTED WITH AN EXECUTIVE ON LOAN FROM XEROX, AND I WAS THERE, AND THEN WE ULTIMATELY GOT A FEW MORE PEOPLE AND WE GREW TO AN OFFICE OF OVER 40 PEOPLE. AT THIS POINT THEY'RE DOWN TO 10 PEOPLE.
JANET: IT'S A SHAME. IT'S JUST REALLY A SHAME. I WAS THINKING THE OTHER
DAY ABOUT LINDA WINDBEAU. I REMEMBER HER AS HER EXECUTIVE SECRETARY AND THEN SHE CAME OVER TO THE COMMISSION, AND WAS THE COMMISSION'S FIRST SECRETARY. GOOD JOB. JUST REALLY A GOOD JOB. IT'S SAD TO ME TO SEE WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW. AND THE STRUGGLES. IT'S BAD ENOUGH TO TRY TO LIVE IN SOCIETY, AND INCLUDE YOURSELF BUT WHEN SOME OF THE ENTITIES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP YOU ARE BEING THE WINGS ARE BEING PULLED OFF THE BUTTERFLY. LEGS ARE COMING OFF THE TABLE. IT'S JUST A SKELETON COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS, AND IT JUST BOTHERS ME THAT IT FEELS LIKE THIS IS INTENTIONAL. IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE AN ACCIDENT. I KNOW AS A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL ON DISABILITY WE WERE CONCERNED THIS WAS WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN A NEW MAYOR CAME IN, AND DIDN'T SEE IT THE WAY WE DID. AND WHICH IS A FIGHT, A STRUGGLE, TO CONTINUE TO EXIST. NOW I KNOW YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING WITH THE COMMISSION NOW, AREN'T YOU.
GUEST: YES. I AM NOW A COMMISSIONER.
JANET: YEAH.
GUEST: ON THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES ON THE COMMISSION OF DISABILITY. I'M
ALSO ON THE COMMISSION ON THE STATE LEVEL. I'M A COMMISSION ON THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON DISABILITY ACCESS WHICH IS A BRAND NEW COMMISSION AND I WAS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, AND CONFIRMED BY THE STATE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE ALL OF US WERE AS COMMISSIONERS, AND WE COME FROM NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
JANET: DOES THIS COMMISSION DEAL WITH YOU SAID ACCESS?
GUEST: YES.
JANET: THEY WOULD IF THERE WAS A LOCAL BUSINESS OR SOMETHING THAT SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS LOCALLY WITH ACCESS, COULD WE GO TO THE STATE COMMISSION, AND COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT?
GUEST: YES, WE WOULD HEAR THAT COMPLAINT.
JANET: I'VE GOT AN ADDRESS BEFORE YOU LEAVE TODAY.
GUEST: WE WOULD HEAR THAT COMPLAINT, AND MAKE SOME DECISIONS, AND
INVESTIGATE, AND YOU KNOW, SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT, AND WE WOULD ALSO THEN GET THE POWERS THAT BE IN THE PARTICULAR CITY. YOU SEE, OUR FOCUS IS STATEWIDE. SO IT WOULD NOT ONLY LOS ANGELES OR ANY OTHER CITY. IT WOULD BE STATEWIDE AND OUR EFFORTS WOULD BE, OF COURSE, TO MAKE DECISIONS AND AFFECT THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
JANET: THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A WHILE WHICH IS THE FACT THAT THERE IS THIS POWER STRUGGLE GOING ON WITH GYMS, AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING THEY'RE PUSHING US OUT. THEY ARE REMODELING AND PUTTING IN ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS. THEY HAVE ONE GYM THAT HAS A WHEELCHAIR LIFT, ONE OF THE OLD ONES, THAT HAS A PNEUMATIC PUMP THAT SWINGS YOU OUT OVER THE WATER. THEY TOOK THE SEAT OFF.
GUEST: THEY TOOK THE SEAT OFF?
JANET: THEY TOOK THE SEAT OFF. THEY PUTTING WEDDING STYLE STEPS INTO THE SWIMMING POOL. AND WITH A SINGLE HANDRAIL. THERE'S NO SIGNAGE IN THE BATHROOM.
GUEST: HAS ANYONE REPORTED THAT
JANET: YES, MA'AM.
GUEST: AT THE COUNTY OR CITY LEVEL?
JANET: CITY OF LOS ANGELES BUILDING AND SAFETY. THEY SAID IT WAS RESOLVED.
GUEST: THAT THE POOL IS NOW ACCESSIBLE.
JANET: THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE CLAIMING. THEY NEVER WENT AND DID AN
INSPECTION. SOMETHING IS WRONG. SOMETHING IS WRONG, AND THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION WITHIN THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT WITH THE CITY. SOME OF THE CONFUSION, WHETHER THIS JUST FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS OR IT'S INTENTIONAL. I DON'T KNOW. I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A BIT. BUT HOW IS IT BEING A COMMISSIONER AS OPPOSED TO WITH THE DEPARTMENT? THAT SHOULD BE A NICE SHIFT FOR YOU.
GUEST: WELL, IT IS A SHIFT. AND I HAVE TO DO A LOT OF RE THINKING.
JANET: I KNOW.
GUEST: BECAUSE WE'RE GOVERNED BY DIFFERENT RULES. THE BROWN ACT IS ONE OF THEM. AND AT THE CITY LEVEL. AND OF COURSE AT THE STATE LEVEL WE HAVE ANOTHER SEVERAL ACTS THAT GOVERN OUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS. HOWEVER, WE HAVE A BROADER SCOPE, OF COURSE, BY LOOKING INTO OUR STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND TAKING ISSUES UNDER CONSIDERATION. THE ONES THAT AFFECT ING US.
JANET: I'M GLAD YOU'RE ON THE STATE. THAT'S ONE LESS THING FOR ME TO WORRY ABOUT WITH YOU BEING ON THE STATE. I WOULD GO BACK TO THE SECOND FOREBEARER FREE DESIGN SEMINAR WHICH I THINK WAS THE FIRST TIME I WORKED WITH YOU. THAT WAS THE GREATEST THING ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS TO COME OUT OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND WHAT'S NOW THE DEPARTMENT ON DISABILITY, AND THEY THREW IT AWAY. THEY HAD A HOOK UP WITH USC WHERE YOU HAD DESIGNERS. YOU HAD ARCHITECTS AND THEY DID SOMETHING CALLED WINDMILLS. IT MEANS THAT SOMEBODY
THAT MAYBE DOESN'T HAVE A DISABILITY WOULD HAVE A BLINDFOLD ON OR HAVE EARPLUGS OR WOULD USE A WHEELCHAIR FOR A PERIOD OF TIME SO THEY COULD SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE. I THINK WHEN THOSE THINGS WERE GOING ON THE ATTITUDE WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ABOUT DISABILITY.
GUEST: OF COURSE. THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE LOST BECAUSE WE'VE LOST STAFF BECAUSE OF THE CUTBACKS, AND BECAUSE WE'VE HAD PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT SUPPORTED US.
JANET: YOU'VE HAD PEOPLE THAT UNDERMINED THIS. AND SPECIFICALLY I'M NOT GOING TO MENTION ANY NAMES TODAY BUT I WILL BRING THEM UP LATER ON. I'VE MENTIONED THEIR NAMES BEFORE. THAT'S KIND OF THE REASON WHY I'M NOT THERE ANYMORE. I THINK I TALKED A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH FOR THIS PERSON. I THINK I INTIMIDATED THIS PERSON OR WHATEVER. SO I JUST THEY SHOWED ME THE DOOR. BY THE WAY I DID GET THE PICTURES. SOMEBODY SENT THE PICTURES FROM MY RETIREMENT PARTY FROM THE CITY, AND THAT WAS 1999, AND I JUST GOT THESE PICTURES ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. JUST OUT OF THE BLUE. NO RETURN ANYTHING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENVELOPE. NOTHING.
GUEST: HOW INTERESTING.
JANET: WELL, EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. SO I FIGURED I NEEDED TO
BRING ALL THIS UP. I THOUGHT I DID. BUT WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT CAN MY
AUDIENCE DO TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT ON DISABILITY BESIDES CALLING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND POUNDING ON HIM AGAIN?
GUEST: WELL, I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO COME TO OUR WELL, I
GUESS AND SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT WE ARE A CITY, AN INTERNATIONAL CITY, THAT IS BASED ON THE MODEL OF THE UNITED NATIONS. THAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE 1991 SINCE THE PASSAGE OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT.
JANET: WHO'S YOUR COMPLIANCE OFFICER?
GUEST: WE DON'T HAVE ONE.
JANET: ISN'T THAT A VIOLATION OF LAW. I'M GOING TO SAY THAT THE CITY OF
LOS ANGELES IS IN VIOLATION BY NOT HAVING A 504 ADA COMPLIANCE OFFICER. TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THIS IS LIKE US HAVING A PRESIDENT'S OFFICE TO GO TO WHEN THINGS ARE NOT RIGHT AND THEY NEED TO BE CORRECTED. I KNOW THAT THE STAFF AT THE DEPARTMENT ON DISABILITY STRUGGLES AND THEY DO THE BEST THEY CAN. BUT WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE ONE PERSON, AND YOU'VE GOT 10 JOBS, WHAT CAN YOU DO. AND SOMEBODY HAS TO ANSWER THE PHONE. SOMEBODY HAS TO DO THE PAPERWORK. SOMEBODY HAS TO DO THE WRITING AND THE RECORDING, AND SOMEBODY TO GO OUT TO THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITH THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE.
GUEST: NOT ONLY THE DEPARTMENTS. WE HAVE THE STAFF RATHER HAS TO GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
JANET: THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE. DO THEY MAKE
YOU PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR OR DO YOU GET TO USE A CITY CAR? I KNOW THAT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE JOE WHAT'S HIS NAME. GOLDSTEIN FROM CHANNEL 2. THE ONE THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT PARKING ENFORCEMENT AND DREDGED UP ALL THIS OTHER
STUFF. DAVID GOLDSTEIN.
GUEST: OUR BUDGET AT THAT TIME WE DID NOT HAVE THE BUDGET WE HAD WHAT WE REALLY USE A CITY CAR.
JANET: MAYBE NO. BUT I'M SAYING YOU COULD HAVE ACCESS TO THAT. JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE WITHIN THE CITY THAT CAN USE A CITY CAR YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE ONE TOO. DO THEY HAVE ONE WITH HAND CONTROLS. DO YOU HAVE A LIFT VAN THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE?
GUEST: WE HAD ONE. WE DID HAVE ONE.
JANET: DID THE MAYOR TAKE IT?
GUEST: IT'S STILL SITTING IN THE GARAGE.
JANET: HE'S TAKEN EVERYTHING ELSE. I FIGURED HE TOOK THE VAN TOO.
GUEST: THE VAN IS STILL SITTING THERE, AND I THINK THAT
JANET: HE WON'T LET YOU BUY GAS FOR IT.
GUEST: I DON'T THINK IT'S THE GAS. HE WON'T PAY FOR THE MAINTENANCE.
JANET: YOU NEED A MECHANIC. DO YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING HERE? I'M HAVING A LITTLE FUN WITH MY FRIENDS RIGHT NOW. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS THAT YOU NEED TO DO THE WORK YOU CAN'T DO IT.
GUEST: WELL, IT STARTS WITH NOT HAVING THE BUDGET AND NOT HAVING THE STAFF, THE BASIC THINGS.
JANET: WE GAVE THE MAYOR A SOLUTION FOR THAT. AND SANDY, ARE YOU STILL HERE. WE OFFERED TO PUT TOGETHER A FUND RAISER TO WITH ANYBODY. I HAVE ALL OF THE TOOLS. I HAVE PERFORMERS THAT ARE WILLING TO PERFORM, TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE CITY DEPARTMENT ON DISABILITY AT THE DROP OF A HAT. THEY NEVER BOTHERED TO CALL. WHICH MEANS THIS IS NOT PERCEIVED AS IMPORTANT TO SOMEBODY. SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO, PEOPLE, TO SAVE THE DEPARTMENT ON DISABILITY. BY THE WAY, IF YOU WANT TO CALL THE DEPARTMENT ON DISABILITY THAT'S 213 974 1053. AND PLEASE BE PATIENT IT MAY BE THE ONE PERSON HAD TO GET A DRINK OF WATER. LEAVE A MESSAGE. IF THEY DON'T CALL YOU BACK RIGHT AWAY. WE NEED SOME HELP. WE NEED SOME HELP. BEFORE WE GO BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF MINUTES LEFT. I
WANTED TO READ SOMETHING THAT WAS WRITTEN BY LINDA ABOUT EDS. FROM THE DAY I WAS WAS BORN I WAS FALLING APART FROM MY LEGS TO MY ARMS FROM MY FEET TO MY HEART. FOR 29 YEARS ALL DOCTORS HAVE SAID THERE'S NOTHING WRONG IT WAS ALL IN MY HEAD. THEY CALLED ME A KLUTZ. I WAS NEVER ABUSED THEY WANTED TO KNOW. I FINALLY KNOW WHY I GOT HURT SO MUCH. I CAN FINALLY DEAL WITH DISLOCATIONS AND SUCH. AND THOUGH I WILL NOT DIE LIKE PEOPLE WITH AIDS AT TIMES I HIDE AND CLOSE ALL THE SHADES. EDS MAKES ME ANGRY. WHEN I'M IN PAIN ALL THE TIME AND SO I SIT DOWN AND I PUT WORDS INTO RHYME. BUT I WILL NEVER QUIT AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU. BECAUSE THE DAY BECAUSE ONE DAY THERE MAY BE A CURE. THAT'S BY TERRY GAMSON. A LOT OF THE PEOPLE ASK ME ABOUT EHLERS DANLOS SYNDROME. WHEN THE COMMISSION DID THEIR CLIP PROGRAM WE FOUND A LITTLE GIRL THAT WENT TO JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL WHICH IS THE SAME SCHOOL THAT MY DAD WENT WITH EHLERS DANLOS SYNDROME. WE'RE OUT OF TIME. WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE TO COME BACK SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITY.
GUEST: I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO RETURN.
JANET: YOU'RE INVITED.
GUEST: I WOULD BE HAPPY TO. THANK YOU SO MUCH JANET.
JANET: SANDY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
GUEST: AND THANK YOU GAY FOR CAPTIONING.
JANET: YES, GAY, THANK YOU.
[END]
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