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Fort Myers, Newport Officials Agree to Provide Access for Disabled Citizens
Washington D.C. – In a shocking move, officials in Fort Myers, Fla., and Newport, R.I., have agreed to provide equal access for disabled citizens in their communities, according to a recent investigation by Grimy Times.
Under an agreement reached with the Justice Department’s Project Civic Access initiative, city officials in Fort Myers and Newport have committed to improving access to all aspects of civic life for individuals with disabilities. This move comes after a thorough investigation revealed numerous instances of accessibility violations in both cities.
As part of the agreement, city officials in Fort Myers will make physical modifications to several facilities, including the convention center, city hall, and Fort Myers Police Station, to ensure that parking, routes into the buildings, entrances, service areas, and counters are accessible to individuals with disabilities. They will also survey other city facilities and programs to identify and address any additional accessibility issues.
Additionally, Fort Myers officials have agreed to implement a comprehensive plan to improve the accessibility of the city’s sidewalks, transportation stops, and pedestrian crossings by installing accessible curb ramps. They will also ensure that buildings and outdoor facilities constructed or altered by or on behalf of the city comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act’s architectural requirements.
In a similar agreement, city officials in Newport will make physical modifications to several facilities, including City Hall, the Newport Public Library, and the Newport Police Department, to ensure that parking, routes into the buildings, entrances, service areas, and counters are accessible to individuals with disabilities. They will also survey other city facilities and programs to identify and address any additional accessibility issues.
Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division, commended city officials in Fort Myers and Newport for making a solid commitment to providing equal access for their residents and visitors with disabilities. ‘Access to local government facilities, programs, and services is an important part of everyday life in the United States, and the ADA ensures that individuals with disabilities have that access on an equal basis with their neighbors,’ Perez said.
The agreements are part of the Justice Department’s wide-ranging initiative to ensure that cities, towns, and counties throughout the country comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The department has now reached 185 agreements under the PCA initiative, improving access to civic life for more than four million individuals with disabilities nationwide.
RELATED: Jailhouse ID Theft Ring Busted in Virginia
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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