[nagdu] Guide dog user has to call police to have an icecreamatMarble Slab

Wed Nov 18 18:04:38 UTC 2009

Where is the story on Facebook? 
And, if Mary's dog was licking the cones, wouldn't that earn the ice
cream shop a health code violaton as if the cones were in dog reach,
they're also within toddler reach and yucky trash reach, meaning nobody
should be eating them. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Marion & Martin
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 8:27 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dog user has to call police to have an
icecreamatMarble Slab

Albert,
    Thank you for your suggestions! The restaurant is a franchise of
Marble 
Slab located in Atlanta, GA. I have already contacted their headquarters
and 
have spoken with the franchise owner. I am expecting a return call from
him 
today. I have also spoken with the General manager of Centro Ybor, the
mall 
where the store is located, as well as the District Manager of
International 
Security Management Group (ISMG), the company that provides contract 
security for the mall. With more than 20 years of advocacy experience on

guide dog issues, I have learned the value of casting a wide net and
taking 
my concerns directly to the top and calling everyone to task for their 
employees behavior! I have even been in contact with the media! The
story is 
out on Face Book and individuals I don't even know have called the store
and 
told them how outraged they are with their treatment of guide dog users!
    The Assistant Manager is now claiming that Merry's dog "was licking
the 
cones", something that is not only ludicrous, but impossible, as the
cones 
are kept above the counter, more than five feet high! The security
officer 
may have been arrogant, but at least we believe he will tell the truth
about 
the incident. He was there when Merry walked in and the whole time the 
incident took place. We will have more of the story for everyone as it 
unfolds!

fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 7:30 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dog user has to call police to have an 
icecreamatMarble Slab

> Find out if they are a subsidiary of a larger chain, like stone cold
> creamery, I am getting a sense you could single handedly change 
> perceptions
> across state lines if this is true.  Further, see if you could get the
> security company to hire you for proper sensitivity trainings for its 
> staff
> who are obviously ignorant of federal laws governing service animals.
I
> love these mickey  mouse cops who cannot make it as peace or police 
> officers
> only to settle for security positions to assuage their own
inadequacies. 
> I
> had a similar problem with a village security guard and boy was he
eating
> crow when the real police showed up.  You have a great opportunity
here to
> effect change in a few established organizations who have not embraced
the
> 21st century and humanity over all.  If you would like to talk more on
the
> topic, I and My Blind Spot   would be all to happy to assist. Keep 
> fighting
> the good fight.
>
> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> CEO/Founder
> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> New York, New York  10004
> www.myblindspot.org
> PH: 917-553-0347
> Fax: 212-858-5759
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one
who is
> doing it."
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
> Of Marion & Martin
> Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 4:28 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dog user has to call police to have an ice
> creamatMarble Slab
>
> Tami,
>    Perhaps the word you were looking for was "rude"! (smile) Now the
> assistant manager is claiming that kappie was "licking the cones"! How
> ludicrous! Especially since the cones are about five feet off the
floor!
> There just happened to be a security officer in the store when all of
this
> happened! Of course, he was ignorant enough to tell Merry that the
store 
> was
>
> private property and could refuse access to anyone they wished. When
she
> told him of the law, he retorted that he was a former police officer,
was
> well aware of the law and that no such law existed! He changed his
tune 
> very
>
> quickly when the real cops arrived! (smile)
>    I will be speaking with the franchise owner and the security
company
> that contracts with the mall today. I will send an update when I have
> something to report!
>
> Peace!
> Marion
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog
Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 12:52 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dog user has to call police to have an ice
> creamatMarble Slab
>
>
>> Wow!  I am so sorry that Merry had to go through this.  Great job by
both
>> of
>> you, and Sunshine, to straighten things out.  I am impressed, and
thank
>> yous
>> from Oregon for dealing so effectively with access issues!  And for
your
>> follow up, which I know you are both well capable of doing well!
>>
>> Banned from the store for being rude!  Well, I never!  That is
just...
>> Words fail me.
>>
>> Keep on being rude like that!  Only I hope you don't have to again.
>>
>> Wishing Merry gallons of her favorite ice cream.
>>
>> Tami Smith-Kinney
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of Marion & Martin
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 8:38 AM
>> To: NAGDU List; NFBF List
>> Cc: blind411 at verizon.net
>> Subject: [nagdu] Guide dog user has to call police to have an ice
cream
>> atMarble Slab
>>
>>    I am sending the following message on behalf of Merry!
>>
>>
>> Hi All,
>>    Last night on my way home from school, I decided to stop at Marble

>> Slab
>> to have some ice cream, since I had time before my bus was due to
arrive.
>> I
>> walked in the door only to be told that I could not bring my dog in
the
>> store.  The assistant manager told me that she would serve me if I
stood
>> by
>> the door to place my order and then sit outside to eat it.  This all
>> happened at approximately 8:30 p.m., I arrived home at 10:43 p.m.
because
>> of
>>
>> the drama.  However, I am pleased to announce that I did get my ice
cream
>> although it took 2 police officers and 1 police Sgt.  from the Tampa
>> Police
>> Department.
>>    Please note, especially all guide dog users, that our education is
not
>> done!  Not only did we educate an Assistant Manager, a security
officer 
>> at
>> Centro Ybor, we educated the police officers as well, who at first
>> basically
>>
>> told me that I was not telling the truth.  It was only when Marion
called
>> for the Sgt. that attitudes changed.  I can tell you I was literally
>> shaking
>>
>> I was so upset, my words were assertively calm, but from the
beginning I
>> was
>>
>> not going to come out this being the bad guy.  I thank Sunshine and 
>> Marion
>> for being there for me via phone supporting me, and then Marion
hopping 
>> on
>> the bus to stand by my side.
>>    Of course, this morning more education will be done by calling the
>> corporate office of Marble Slab and Centro Ybor Security.  So, all my
>> fellow
>>
>> guide dog users please note that when I finally was able to order my
ice
>> cream, I told the officers I had just one question to ask the
woman...I
>> asked her that if 3 guide dog users walked into Marble Slab would
they be
>> served without any problems or being told to go outside.  She replied

>> that
>> they would be served; however, I am banned from the store for being
rude,
>> HAHA.  I think she's angry because I called the police, who stated
that
>> she
>> was rude not me (imagine that !).  The police officer said if she
ever
>> denies anyone with a service animal access again, he will slap the
cuffs
>> on
>> her and the owners can come and lock the doors!
>>    Education is a great thing...speaking of which two more papers to
>> write!
>> Blessings to all,
>> Merry
>>
>>
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