[NFBSF] Fwd: Inequitable Berkeley rides program

[Daveed Mandell]

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Begin forwarded message:

From: Daveed Mandell <daveedmandell at gmail.com>
Date: April 14, 2025 at 6:53:27 PM PDT
To: Jinny Kim <jkim at dredf.org>
Cc: nbohn at dredf.org
Subject: Fwd: Inequitable Berkeley rides program

One thing I forgot to add in this note is that the city of Berkeley could charge, say, two dollars per ride.I think that would be fair. No one asked for a free service. No other city provides a free service. I think Berkeley is just looking for  a bunch of excuses, so they don’t have to assist people with disabilities. They are so lax in so many areas with regard to people with disabilities. Oh yes, I think it’s time for a litigation.
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Begin forwarded message:

From: Daveed Mandell <daveedmandell at gmail.com>
Date: April 1, 2025 at 6:24:41 AM PDT
To: vpineda at thecil.org, Emma Martin <emartin at thecil.org>
Subject: Fwd: Inequitable Berkeley rides program


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Begin forwarded message:

From: Daveed Mandell <daveedmandell at gmail.com>
Date: March 31, 2025 at 1:35:30 PM PDT
To: council at berkeleyca.gov
Subject: Fwd: Inequitable Berkeley rides program


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Begin forwarded message:

From: Daveed Mandell <daveedmandell at gmail.com>
Date: March 31, 2025 at 9:54:52 AM PDT
To: Mary Triston <MTriston at berkeleyca.gov>
Cc: Igor Tregub <ITregub at berkeleyca.gov>
Subject: Inequitable Berkeley rides program

Hello, Mary and Councilmember Tregub:

I would like to know what we are going to do to make the Berkeley rides program, fully equitable. The fact is that many people in Berkeley, and in other jurisdictions, cannot actively participate in the community, because we can’t get rides When we need them. A program that does not provide adequate rides, or rides when they are required, is absolutely not equitable and does not achieve its purpose.

I do not want taxi scrip, because taxis just don’t work for me. Many of my required rides are in the evenings or on weekends. Taxis in Berkeley that are affiliated with this program are not available. An equitable program needs to make sure that people with disabilities and seniors can get rides when we need them. This isn’t what is happening right now.

As I have said earlier, ADA paratransit is totally ineffective, unpredictable and unreliable,, because one cannot obtain same-day rides, there is no freedom of movement or spontaneity, reservations must be made in advance, And, when having to pay for these rides, one must pay twice as much as an able-bodied bus rider, which is absolutely unfair!

I do not want taxi scrip. Rather, I have asked for, and will continue to ask for, 100 Berkeley Partnership credits with go-go per month, and I want these credits to roll over when not used. That is what I want, that is what I deserve,and that is what I am asking the city to provide.

Other people have other issues. Their issues need to be taken seriously. For some people. This program is not useful at all. Not only can they not get decent taxi rides, but some cannot get decent ride shares Either, because it takes them quite a while to go outside, and drivers won’t wait. They don’t have the training with regard to paratransit issues, they don’t know how to deal with people with disabilities, and something has to be done for these people. They have no program at all!

So, what are we going to do about this issue? It needs to be dealt with now!

Regards,

Daveed Mandell
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