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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Hi everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Do we have any cohesive NFB policy positions on Waymo or any policy issue that was involved in the hearing? I understand that there was a hearing that related to Waymo coming to Boston. I do not know further
substance to it than that. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">This may be helpful across the country, but I\u2019m a bit out of the loop on Waymo policy issues within our organization. The main ideas that I can recall us discussing in the past were
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">(1) expanding access to transportation options,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">(2) accessibility of interfaces necessary to control a Waymo car,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">(3) ways of getting information about what is going on outside a car while a passenger is riding in it, especially if we are stopped and don\u2019t know why,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">(4) ensuring that Waymo cars can detect a blind person\u2019s cane in addition to their body,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">(5) impacts on service dog rider denials, and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">(6) urging Waymo to hire blind people to be part of their company.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Justin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Justin MH Salisbury, MEd, NOMC, NCRTB<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">English Pronouns: He/Him/His<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Email:
<a href="mailto:President@Alumni.ECU.edu">President@Alumni.ECU.edu</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">ResearchGate: <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Justin_Salisbury&source=gmail-imap&ust=1727538746000000&usg=AOvVaw3uZJqqJkT2wSVxJDa9dD7W">https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Justin_Salisbury</a></span><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-salisbury&source=gmail-imap&ust=1727538746000000&usg=AOvVaw0XtyTG9WXXQ8TWe6UeU4Nz"><span lang="EN">https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-salisbury</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">ORCID: <a href="https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1786-2786">
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1786-2786</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">\u201cUntil the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter.\u201d<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Chinua Achebe</span><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>stephen yerardi via Massachusetts-NFB<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, July 24, 2025 1:17 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org<br>
<b>Cc:</b> stephen yerardi <spyerardi@gmail.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Massachusetts-NFB] Need your help tomorrow with testimony about Waymo<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I just wanted to let everyone know I attend to hearing today virtually. And was able to give my opinions as Nfb. it was good to hear. Carl richard also disabled said what he had to say and support a Waymo, and also a representative from
Easter Seals.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> There was a lot of statements from Uber Driver\u2018s Lyft drivers and about the teamster union. I thought they would lose so many jobs. So we\u2019ll see if Waymo gets authorized to actually conduct business here in the state.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Stephen.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">On Jul 23, 2025, at 5:49\u202fPM, stephen yerardi <<a href="mailto:spyerardi@gmail.com">spyerardi@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">\ufeff<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hello shara and all.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I signed up to do virtual testimony for the hearing tomorrow on Waymo. I do agree that this is a very important thing for us to be giving testimony, when I sent the email I said I would be testifying as a member of the National Federation
Of The Blind Of Massachusetts.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I\u2019m looking forward to giving testimony for Waymo because it would be a game changer, or give us another option besides just Uber. And Lyft.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I don\u2019t think this would actually eliminate either of those Ride shares, considering we still would use them here and they\u2019re also. But that would give us a third option.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></p>
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<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">On Jul 23, 2025, at 3:08\u202fPM, Shara Winton via Massachusetts-NFB <<a href="mailto:massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org">massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">\ufeff<span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Hello NFB Advocates, </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">We need you in Boston tomorrow, Thursday, July 24. Waymo would help our lives tremendously. If you would like see Waymo come to Boston, our City leaders need to hear from us tomorrow If you can attend tomorrow
at 10AM, please let me know immediately. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Here is a note from our contact at Waymo:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Thank you for your help. </span>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">there\u2019s a hearing scheduled for Thursday, July 24 at 10:00am at Boston City Hall. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">This hearing will include a panel from Mayor Wu's office, a panel for union officials, and one for Waymo. Would Kyra (and/or additional folks from your team) be able to join us in-person that
day? We want to make sure the city officials hear about the many ways AVs will benefit people (and already are in the markets Waymo operates in), especially as the unions in attendance will express concerns about human drivers possibly losing their jobs in
the future. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">I\u2019m linking <a href="https://www.boston.gov/public-notices/16389251" target="_blank">
more details here</a>! If you join in-person, they're asking you to arrive five minutes before the call of the hearing to sign up. It\u2019s set for the Iannella Chamber (on the 5th floor) but I\u2019ll reach out if that changes. If you can only testify virtually, you\u2019d
have to email Meagan Corugedo (<a href="mailto:meagan.corugedo@boston.gov" target="_blank">meagan.corugedo@boston.gov</a>) in advance.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Let me know if you have any questions! Our Policy team would love to have you in the room with us once again to share how AVs can make Boston\u2019s transportation system safer and more accessible.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">We\u2019re so grateful for your support, Hannah</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">------------------------------------------</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">So folks, I know this is really short notice, but let\u2019s show up and show them what the NFB stand for and why we are here! We are here to fight for the rights of all blind people!
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">With Love, Hope and Determination,
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Shara Winton</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">President, National federation of the Blind of Massachusetts</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><a href="http://www.nfbma.org/">www.nfbma.org</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><a href="mailto:sharawinton@gmail.com">sharawinton@gmail.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">617-304-0347</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">_______________________________________________<br>
Massachusetts-NFB mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Massachusetts-NFB@nfbnet.org">Massachusetts-NFB@nfbnet.org</a><br>
<a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org</a><br>
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Massachusetts-NFB:<br>
<a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org/spyerardi%40gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org/spyerardi%40gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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