[il-talk] Service Animals in Airport Ordinance
Patti Chang
pattischang at gmail.com
Tue Mar 13 18:07:00 UTC 2018
We did designate one person but since we were not getting a meeting we are calling to show how important this issue is to our community. We just want to be heard and consulted. Nothing about us without us.
If anyone else receives the response that we should have one person, please politely indicate that we started with one but when we didn't get a meeting we wanted to show that this is important.
Thank you for making these calls. Please continue. We still need a meeting.
Patti Chang Esq.
Treasurer
National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
(773) 307-6440
www.nfbofillinois.org
Find us on twitter: “NFBI”
Search for “National Federation of the Blind of Illinois” on facebook.
-----Original Message-----
From: IL-Talk [mailto:il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael Nowicki via IL-Talk
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2018 12:37 PM
To: 'NFB of Illinois Mailing List' <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Michael Nowicki <mnowicki4 at icloud.com>
Subject: Re: [il-talk] Service Animals in Airport Ordinance
Hi Everyone,
Alderman Burke's office gave me essentially the same response Debbie received. In addition, I was advised that Alderman's Burke's office never received so many calls on one issue from the same organization, and that we should have designated a single representative to request a meeting. In response, I emphasized that this is a very important issue for the blind community, and I was then told that the Office is noting all the calls.
Despite making two attempts, I was not able to reach Alderman Zalewski's staff. I will try again tomorrow afternoon.
Best,
Michal
-----Original Message-----
From: IL-Talk <il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Wayne And Harley D via IL-Talk
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2018 9:07 AM
To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Wayne And Harley D <k9dad at k9di.org>
Subject: Re: [il-talk] Service Animals in Airport Ordinance
Ms. Chang,I asked the question so as to clear up the muddle in my own head. Thanks for clearing that up.When I call, I shall of course mention my membership in the Chicago Chapter as well as my NAGDU membership.
Have a blessed day.
Wayne And Harley D
k9dad at k9di.org
-------- Original message --------From: Mary Garber via IL-Talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> Date: 3/13/18 07:52 (GMT-06:00) To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List <il-talk at nfbnet.org> Cc: Mary Garber <megarber at wowway.com> Subject: Re: [il-talk] Service Animals in Airport Ordinance Perfect...thank you!
Mary
----- Original Message -----
From: "Patti Chang via IL-Talk" <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
To: "NFB of Illinois Mailing List" <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "Patti Chang" <pattischang at gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2018 7:46:25 AM
Subject: Re: [il-talk] Service Animals in Airport Ordinance
Actually, that is clear. The ADA covers the airport while the ACAA covers the flight. So to fly at one time or another, they both apply. Wayne, right now please keep it simple. We are seeking a meeting with Alderman Burke and/or Alderman Zalewski to discuss the issues. We will send our experts both legal and with regard to guide dogs. No one who calls should be getting into those kinds of issues. It will simply create muddy water around what we want.
Thanks for calling and asking for a meeting. Please say you are from the National Federation of the Blind.
Patti Chang Esq.
Treasurer
National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
(773) 307-6440
www.nfbofillinois.org
Find us on twitter: “NFBI”
Search for “National Federation of the Blind of Illinois” on facebook.
-----Original Message-----
From: IL-Talk [mailto:il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Wayne And Harley D via IL-Talk
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2018 7:40 PM
To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Wayne And Harley D <k9dad at k9di.org>
Subject: Re: [il-talk] Service Animals in Airport Ordinance
The pertinent question is, which law pertains, the ADA, or the ACAA?Food for thought..
Wayne And Harley D
k9dad at k9di.org
-------- Original message --------From: Leslie Hamric via IL-Talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> Date: 3/12/18 15:08 (GMT-06:00) To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List <il-talk at nfbnet.org> Cc: Leslie Hamric <lhamric930 at comcast.net> Subject: Re: [il-talk] Service Animals in Airport Ordinance sounds like this ordinance in violation of the ADALh
Sent from my iPhone
> On Mar 12, 2018, at 1:17 PM, Marion Gwizdala via IL-Talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Dear All,
>
> I am sending this message on behalf of Pam Provost. It contains information for contacting the appropriate aldermen with influence on this ordinance, as well as the text of the ordinance itself. I spoke with President Hastilis who advised me he had already sent out another draft of this information. Please note that this version has only one contact number for Alderman Burke, as I was told it is the better number to call than the 773 one listed in addition to it. I look forward to working with our Illinois affiliate to amend this ordinance and protect the rights of guide dog users and others who use service animals.
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion Gwizdala
>
> From: Pam Provost [mailto:pambraille at gmail.com]
>
> CALL TO ACTION!
>
> At Saturday’s Chicago Chapter meeting, we discussed the “Animals in Airport Ordinance” being introduced by Alderman Ed Burke of the 14th Ward. This ordinance would affect all blind persons traveling with guide dogs passing through Chicago’s O'Hare and Midway Airports.
>
> We are seeking a meeting with Alderman Ed Burke and/or Michael Zalewski to discuss this ordinance.
>
> We are asking all members to contact the offices of these Aldermen to request a face-to-face meeting with our leadership to discuss the “Animals in Airport Ordinance”. Please make these calls by Thursday March 15.
>
> When making these calls, please remember to state you are from the National Federation of the Blind. Please be polite, persistent, and say "Thank you!" at the end of your call. If the person with whom you speak asks for a contact person, please Provide the following information:
>
> Steve Hastalis, President
> National Federation of the Blind Chicago Chapter
> 773-848-5307
>
> Here are the contact numbers for the Aldermen:
>
> Alderman Michael R. Zalewski
> Aviation Committee Chairman
> 312-744-6828
>
> Alderman Ed Burke
> 312-744-3380
>
> Thanks for your help getting this done! So that you are better informed, here is the text of the ordinance being proposed by Alderman Burke.
>
> ORDINANCE
> WHEREAS, the City of Chicago is a home rule unit of government
> pursuant to the 1970 Illinois Constitution, Article VII, Section 6(a);
> and
>
> WHEREAS, pursuant to its home rule power, the City of Chicago may
> exercise any power and perform any function relating to its government
> and affairs including the power to regulate for the protection of the
> public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
>
> WHEREAS, Chicago’s Midway and O’Hare airports are a primary asset to
> the City of Chicago and make it an important component of the nation’s
> transportation system; and
>
> WHEREAS, Chicago’s airports transport millions of passengers annually,
> making safety and security within them a top priority for residents
> and visitors; and
>
> WHEREAS, consumer protection and customer satisfaction at both
> airports are central to the City’s administration of aviation
> services; and
>
> WHEREAS, supporting the use of animals to facilitate travel has
> increasingly been an aspect of these services; and
>
> WHEREAS, recently there has been an increase in passengers flying with
> “emotional support animals” who provide owners comfort, security, and
> love when suffering from a mental or emotional disability; and
>
> WHEREAS, under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), airlines are
> required to allow trained service animals and emotional support
> animals to accompany their handlers in the cabin of the aircraft; and
>
> WHEREAS, the ACAA allows free travel for “any animal” that is trained
> to assist a person with a disability or that provides emotional
> support; and
>
> WHEREAS, broad regulation interpretation is cited as a reason for an
> increase in people forging documents in an attempt to bring animals
> into the cabin free of charge and without a proper kennel or carrier,
> with dubious claims that their pet is an emotional support animal; and
>
> WHEREAS, the Investigative Unit of NBC News reported multiple accounts
> of people who openly admit to lying about their dogs being service and
> support dogs in order to take them into restaurants, markets, and
> airplanes; and
>
> WHEREAS, U.S. Department of Transportation reports on
> disability-related complaints show that those involving service
> animals quadrupled from 2012 to 2016, when more than 2,300 complaints
> were filed; and
>
> WHEREAS, additionally, there has been an increase in injuries in
> keeping with the increase in emotional support animals traveling with
> their handlers; and
>
> WHEREAS, in June 2017, a passenger was bitten by a dog aboard a Delta
> Airlines flight to San Diego; and
>
> WHEREAS, in February 2018, a six-year old girl was bitten by a dog
> aboard a Southwest Airlines flight to Phoenix; and
>
> WHEREAS, because of these occurrences, airlines are beginning to
> impose stricter regulations to keep passengers safe, requiring more
> documentation to prove the vaccination and training of service and
> support animals; and
>
> WHEREAS, Delta Airlines, for example, will implement tougher
> regulations for service and support animals after passengers have
> attempted to fly with turkeys, gliding possums, snakes, spiders and
> more under the pretense of being a service or support animal; and
>
> WHEREAS, Delta Airlines has reported an eighty-four percent (84%)
> increase in animal incidents since 2016 including urination and
> defecation, biting, and a widely reported attack upon a passenger by a
> 50-pound dog; and
>
> WHEREAS, Delta Airlines also stated that it flew 250,000 emotional
> support animals in 2017, an increase of one-hundred and fifty percent
> (150%) from 2015; and
>
> WHEREAS, in 2017, Delta Airlines employees reported increased acts of
> aggression such as barking, growling, lunging and biting, all
> behaviors not typically seen in animals that are properly trained to
> serve as service and support animals; and
>
> WHEREAS, United Airlines reported a seventy-five percent (75%)
> increase in emotional support animals from 2016 to 2017, causing a
> “significant increase in onboard incidents;” and
>
> WHEREAS, in an extreme case, in late January 2018, a woman tried to
> bring her claimed support peacock on a United flight in the Newark
> Airport in New Jersey; and
>
> WHEREAS, misrepresentation of pets as emotional support animals is a
> growing problem for flight attendants, frequent fliers, passengers on
> the plane and in the airport, as well as people with disabilities or
> conditions who have legitimately trained service animals; and
>
> WHEREAS, aggressive animals in close confinement in an airplane put
> airport and airline consumers and employees at greater risk of injury
> and decrease the level of comfort and customer satisfaction; and
>
> WHEREAS, untrained animals may display aggressive behaviors that a
> trained animal would not fight back against or engage with, therefore
> putting other people with disabilities and their service and support
> animals at risk as well; and
>
> WHEREAS, ensuring that animals in airports are accompanied by proper
> documentation and handling relative to their category and purpose serves to ensure the health and safety of all who avail themselves of our airports; now, therefore, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
>
> SECTION 1. Chapter 10-36-359 of the Municipal Code of Chicago is hereby amended by inserting Section 10-36-359 as follows:
>
> 10-36-359 Animal Requirements.
>
> (a) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms will have the following meanings:
>
> “Commissioner” means the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation.
>
> “Emotional support animal and trained service animal” shall have the
> same meaning as ascribed in the Air Carriers Access Act (ACAA) and 14 CFR Part 382.117.
>
> (b) Requirements. No person shall bring or lead any animal into an airport except as follows:
>
> (1) Trained service animals. Trained service animals are allowed if they are with a ticketed airline passenger who is a qualified individual with a disability within the meaning of the U.S. Department of Transportation Rules (Part 382) and who provides to the Chicago department of aviation in a form and manner provided by its commissioner: 1) the animal’s veterinary health form or 2) an immunization record or other proof of vaccination that is current within one year of the travel date.
>
> (2) Emotional support animals. Emotional support animals, including psychiatric and therapeutic support animals, are allowed if they are with a ticketed airline passenger who is a qualified individual with a disability within the meaning of the U.S. Department of Transportation Rules (Part 382) and who provides to the Chicago department of aviation in a form and manner provided by its commissioner: 1) documentation from a licensed medical or mental health professional stating the passenger needs the emotional support animal as an accommodation for air travel or for activity at the passenger’s destination; 2) an immunization record or other proof of vaccination that is current within one year of the travel date; 3) the passenger’s name; 4) animal type or animal breed; and 5) a signed statement confirming the animal has been trained to behave in a public setting and takes direction upon command.
>
> (i) This documentation must be sent to the person designated by the commissioner. The forms are valid for one year and must be submitted at least 48 hours prior to airport travel.
>
> (ii) Notification to the department of aviation shall be given in a form and manner provided by the commissioner of the department of aviation.
>
> (3) Law enforcement animals. Restrictions shall not apply to trained and in-training animals utilized by a law enforcement agency and assigned to a sworn peace officer as part of a canine team or unit.
>
> (4) All other animals shall be allowed only in areas designated for flight check in, transport, baggage and cargo claim, and any other such area that the commissioner identifies as necessary. These animals must be kept in their appropriate kennels or carriers while in the airport unless in a designated relief area where they shall be kept in a manner provided for by the commissioner.
>
> (c) Violation – Penalty. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to removal from the airport and shall be fined $250.
>
> (d) Rules and Regulations. The commissioner shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the requirements of this section. Such rules shall include provisions identifying required access areas, proper documentation, and notification procedures.
>
> SECTION 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect within
> ninety (90) days of passage and approval.
>
>
>
>
> ________________________
> Edward M. Burke
> Alderman, 14th Ward
>
>
>
>
>
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