[nfbmi-talk] Fw: [NFBAffiliatePresidents] How can they take credit for S.841?

Sun Dec 19 18:18:34 UTC 2010

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "NFB Affiliate Presidents List" <nfbaffiliatepresidents at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2010 1:13 PM
Subject: Re: [NFBAffiliatePresidents] How can they take credit for S.841?

Steve:

I don't blame you for becoming angry.  However, it's wasted emotion.  First,
taking credit as an organization for every accomplishment of alliances or
coalitions of which it is a member is a standard practice for ACB even if
all it did was to join the alliance or coalition and took no further action.
I'd say such behavior is a clear reflection of the moral and ethical
standards of at least some ACB leaders.

Second, in fairness to ACB, we (NFB) seldom mention ACB in connection with
our legislative or other accomplishments even if ACB did assist (as it did
monetarily in some recent lawsuits).  Why should we give ACB tratuitous
publicity?  By the same token, why should ACB give *us* free publicity
except that it would have been more honest to simply stay silent in the
present instance, tacitly acknowledging that we (NFB) did most of the work
and had the original idea.

Mike Freeman, President
NFB of Washington

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steven M. Sawczyn" <steve at sawczyn.com>
To: "NFB Affiliate Presidents List" <nfbaffiliatepresidents at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2010 9:59 AM
Subject: [NFBAffiliatePresidents] How can they take credit for S.841?

I recently received the following from an ACB member I'm trying to get to
defect to our affiliate.  Ironically, we were just having a discussion about
the types of activities in which both groups have engaged in order to create
equality for the blind -- he forwarded me the below as part of this debate.
As someone who has worked very hard over the past year to try and make S.841
a reality, I can't help, but be angry about ACB's press release and the
absolute lack of any credit it gives the NFB.

Steve

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Eric Bridges, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
American Council of the Blind
(202) 467-5081
ebridges at acb.org<mailto:ebridges at acb.org>

Critical Pedestrian Safety Legislation Moves to White House for President’s
Signature

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2010 -- Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed
S. 841, The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act, legislation that will provide
blind, visually impaired, and other pedestrians greater security when
traveling in close proximity to hybrid or electric vehicles.

“The passage of this legislation is momentous and marks over two years of
vigorous advocacy by ACB membership that has resulted in consensus by the
blind community, auto industry, and Congress,” stated Mitch Pomerantz,
President of the American Council of the Blind.

“The silent nature of hybrid and electric vehicles, coupled with their
growing popularity, presents a dilemma. How do we protect individuals
dependent on sound for their safety, such as unsuspecting pedestrians and
the blind?”  said Representative Edolphus Towns, the sponsor of the
Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act, who spent many years teaching travel with
a white cane to the blind. “The solution lies in the Pedestrian Safety
Enhancement Act. I am proud to have supported this important piece of
legislation.”

“The visually impaired rely on audio cues to detect nearby traffic and these
quiet vehicles pose a special risk to them and to other pedestrians,” stated
Rep. Cliff Stearns, who joined in offering the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement
Act. “This measure enjoys the support of all of the interested parties and
it is budget neutral, and I look forward to the President quickly signing
this bill.”

The legislation will require the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin
writing standards that would set requirements for an alert sound that allows
blind and other pedestrians to reasonably detect a nearby electric or hybrid
vehicle. It also requires that those rules be finalized within three years.

ACB wishes to express its sincere appreciation to Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.)
along with Reps. Ed Towns (D-N.Y.) and Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) for their
staunch leadership over the past two years regarding this very important
safety issue. The National Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and
Association of International Automobile Manufacturers have also worked
collaboratively with the blind community to insure that the legislation
could effectively resolve the current and growing unintended safety problems
that hybrid and electric vehicles present to the public when traveling at
low speeds.

About the American Council of the Blind

The American Council of the Blind is the largest consumer-based organization
of blind and visually impaired Americans advocating for the rights of blind
Americans. Comprised of more than 70 affiliates across the United States,
the organization is dedicated to making it possible for blind and visually
impaired Americans to participate fully in all aspects of American society.
For more information, visit www.acb.org; write to American Council of the
Blind, 2200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 650, Arlington, VA22201; phone (202)
467-5081; or fax (703) 465-5085.

Eric Bridges
Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
American Council of the Blind
2200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 650
Arlington, VA 22201
ebridges at acb.org<mailto:ebridges at acb.org>
www.acb.org<http://www.acb.org>

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