<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Hello,<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'>Friday afternoon I had a telephone call with Assistant City Attorney Rick Tast which I initiated to follow up on a couple of questions related to his letter. Specifically I sought clarification regarding whether Animal Control’s refusal to assist Brent Heyen resulted from a policy, a common practice, or an impromptu decision by those on duty at the time. Mr. Tast informed me that because he is representing the interests of Animal Control and because I suggested Animal Control is violating Title II of the ADA, he is unable to comment on the facts of the case at this time. Because he made it clear that he was not willing to discuss the details of the case, I did not follow up with questions about whether they had reviewed a recording of the phone call between Brett and Animal Control or other factual questions about the case. Mr. Tast said that he has reached out to an attorney who has expertise in the ADA to review the case. Mr. Tast said that he or somebody else will get back to me when they have completed their review, but he was not able to give any indication of how long this will take.<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'>In a best case scenario, this could be good news given that an attorney with ADA experience is being brought in to review the case. However, if the strategy of the city attorney’s office is to continue a practice of defensive law in which they are stubbornly resistant to acknowledging that anything a city department does is wrong, then the consulting attorney could be involved simply to provide expertise in creating doubt about the ADA’s relevance to this situation. Either way, I am inclined to wait until after state convention to take any further steps.<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'>Following convention, we may have a resolution in hand to demonstrate that the NFB Nebraska Affiliate takes civil rights violations against the blind seriously. I believe that following convention, we should broaden our efforts beyond dealing with the city attorney’s office. City departments exist to serve the public and elected officials are elected to lead. When city departments and elected officials convince themselves that they need to take a back seat to a junior part-time city attorney on issues of making policy, they are not understanding their jobs or the limited role of the city attorney’s office. We have no guidance on how long the city attorney’s office will take in getting back to us. Without some outside pressure, there is no telling whether they will get back to us at all or provide a response that is substantive and cogent.<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'>Feel free to share any thoughts or suggestions. <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'>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Mark Coleman<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>NFB of Nebraska Lincoln Chapter VP<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>