[nfbmi-talk] blind folks need to act like this too in defendingourrights

Thu Apr 21 12:25:18 UTC 2011

Hi Christy,

I didn't know you use a wheelchair. You would have really had more than a 
tough time accessing accessable parking on the nearest path of travel or 
even getting into the last MCB meeting in the Ottawa building. It is not 
accessible in accordence with the ADA in those regards and I have the 
surveys and witnesses to prove it. But, this goes to the fact the Pat 
Cannon, State of Michigan ADA Coordinator, and mightly blowhard is the 
biggest violator of the ADA and thus the greatest mass discriminator in the 
state of Michigan since he chose that site without following his own 
guidence on the issue.

Anyway my colleague we look forward to your contributions in this struggle 
for full civil rights and I'm so happy to see your involvement.

Yours in the Struggle for Equal Justice,

Joe
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <christywitte at sbcglobal.net>
To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 10:41 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] blind folks need to act like this too in 
defendingourrights

I think so too. I'm in a walker right now because I injured my foot and all
of the handicapped spots are often full. I wonder if the people who are
parked there are really handicapped. People should use their stickers with
care. If they don't really need them, they should give the spot to someone
else.
Christy
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net>
To: <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 2:40 PM
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] blind folks need to act like this too in defending
ourrights

I think we should assert our rights just like this fellow did and what about
the retaliation by this entity which was against the retaliation provisions
of the ADA. What was this Michigan Protection and Advocy Atterney thinking?
By the way Mr. Cody has fought and won some good cases.

Joe

Paraplegic man confronts man illegally parked in handicapped spot, gets his
gym membership revoked

Michigan Live

FLINT, Michigan — Jamie McGarry did what he thought was right when he
confronted a man who illegally parked in a handicapped spot at Hurley Health
and Fitness.

The gym says McGarry went too far though and revoked the 31-year-old Davison
man’s membership.

“Pretty simply, I just feel that it was flat out wrong,” said McGarry, who
has used a wheelchair since age 20 after being paralyzed during surgery. “It’s

a wrong that needs to be righted. I simply can’t let it go. It’s more than
just how it affects me. I was just sticking up for the rights of the entire

disabled community.”

McGarry had just finished his workout at the facility on Feb. 25 and was
pulling out of his parking spot when he saw the car — without a handicap
sticker

— pull into the handicap spot next to him.

According to McGarry, he told the 20-something man he wasn’t allowed to park
there but the man brushed off the concern, saying he’d only be there a
couple

minutes.

After a bit more “discussion” and after hearing a few four-letter words,
McGarry decided to take matters into his own hands.

He backed his car out of his spot and parked it behind the man’s car,
trapping the vehicle in the handicapped spot. Then, McGarry got in his
wheelchair,

left his vehicle and called security.

FLI0312Wheelchair_03CropLoose.JPGJoseph Tobianski | The Flint Journal James
McGarry of Davison sits in his Mazda RX8

Both McGarry and the other driver argued they were in the right to security
and McGarry said he ended up leaving in frustration.

He later was notified his membership to Hurley Health and Fitness had been
revoked because of the dispute.

Hurley Medical Center spokeswoman Ilene Cantor released a statement on the
incident, which said McGarry’s actions were not justified.

“The handicapped parking space was blocked by Mr. McGarry, preventing the
vehicle from being able to exit, as well as prolonging the time the public
was

prevented from using the handicapped parking spot — which made a bad
situation worse,” the statement said. “We value all of our HHFC members, and
this

unfortunate incident could have been avoided.”

Cantor said there were at least five other handicapped spots open. She also
said that Hurley does not condone people parking in handicapped spots, even

temporarily.

Flint Police Capt. Darryl Patterson said if someone witnesses a person
illegally parking in a handicapped spot should take down the car’s license
plate

number and contact security or police. Pulling your car behind the other car
is not the best idea, he said.

“You don’t want to get into a confrontation,” he said.

Mark Cody, attorney for the Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service that
takes complaints from disabled persons, said he understands McGarry’s
frustration.

“For any of our clients, it’s a great frustration when they need to go
somewhere and the parking spots designated for them aren’t available to
them,” he

said.

Cody to said the best way to resolve the situation would be to call proper
authorities.

McGarry has no intention of changing his ways.

On Tuesday, he yet again confronted a driver parking illegally in a
handicapped spot at his new gym — Planet Fitness in Burton.

Again, he pulled his car in behind the illegally parked car and alerted
employees. The police were called and the owner of the vehicle was issued a
ticket,

Burton police confirmed.

“The disparity between the two situations were like night and day,” McGarry
said.

Paraplegic man confronts man illegally parked in handicapped spot, gets his
gym membership revoked

Michigan Live