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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Hello all:</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
<br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">The Saint Louis Board of Aldermen is finalizing a redistricting map for the</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">wards in Saint Louis City and will present a second draft map at its meeting</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">on November 9, 2021. The period of public comment runs until November 16,</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">2021.</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
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</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Many observers have raised concerns that information regarding the draft</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">maps and the public comment procedures are not accessible for people with</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">disabilities. Specifically:</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">1) It is unclear whether text descriptions of maps are available on the</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Board's website</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">(</span><a href="https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/aldermen/redistricting/in" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#4285F4;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/aldermen/redistricting/in</span></a><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">dex.cfm);</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">2) There are questions regarding the accessibility of the website's public</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">comment portal and participation in the Board's electronic webinar meetings;</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">and</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">3) The limited time frame provided for public comment presents a barrier to</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">the full participation of people with disabilities in the redistricting</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">process.</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
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</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Does National Federation of the Blind of Missouri or Missouri Council of the</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Blind have any members residing in Saint Louis City that would be interested</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">in getting involved to assess and, if necessary, correct the above-noted</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">concerns? Any direction you can provide would be greatly appreciated.</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
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</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Please feel free to contact me at (314) 256-9591 with any questions</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">regarding the above.</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
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</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Sincerely,</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
<br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Vincent K. Heitholt</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Staff Attorney II</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Missouri Protection & Advocacy Services</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#D4D4D5"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"HelveticaNeue",serif;color:#313131;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">(314) 256-9591</span><span style="color:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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