[il-talk] Service Animals in Airport Ordinance

Wed Mar 14 00:58:02 UTC 2018

Done and done. 

Marilyn

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 13, 2018, at 3:31 PM, Robert Hansen via IL-Talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Sincerely
> Robert A. Hansen
> hansen.robert70 at gmail.com
> Robert A. Hansen
> 
>> On Mar 13, 2018 1:03 PM, "Robert Hansen" <hansen.robert70 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I just made my phone call. The lady that answered said I'll make a note
>> that you're from the national Federation of the blind. So she's definitely
>> getting an earful from us. I say keep it going and we're going to have the
>> interview on The Mighty wizard this Thursday at 9:30 a m. So tune in at
>> 88.3 FM and you can also find it on TuneIn and online at the website.
>> Spread the word far and wide. Once again 9:30 a.m. March 15th 2018 wzrd
>> radio 88.3 FM and the president of the National Association of guide dog
>> users will be interviewed. I can't take phone calls during the interview
>> but if anybody wants to express anything before or after the segment you
>> can call the station and express your dislike of this proposed ordinance.
>> The call-in number is 773-442-4516 thank you very much.
>> 
>> Sincerely
>> Robert A. Hansen
>> hansen.robert70 at gmail.com
>> Robert A. Hansen
>> 
>> On Mar 13, 2018 12:39 PM, "Michael Nowicki via IL-Talk" <
>> il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>>> 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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>>> 
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>> 
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