LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION
Disability Access
Santa Cruz, CA: (Oct-06-07) Former Attorney General Bill Lockyer brought a lawsuit against Santa Cruz County, alleging that county leaders failed to adequately ensure that polling places meet federal and state requirements for disabled access. Kern County also was sued on the same grounds. The suit, filed in 2005, reached a settlement that will cost the county more than $230,000. As a result of the settlement, voting officials are already preparing to install temporary ramps and parking places on Election Day for voters with disabilities. Election staff is also reaching out to businesses and other facilities that are already accessible to customers with disabilities to see if they will host a polling place.
The suit stemmed from the 2004 elections, when a survey of 98 of Santa Cruz County's 135 polling places revealed that 72% had at least one high priority barrier that could hinder access for the disabled. Barriers included wheelchair ramps that exceeded limits on slope, improperly sized disabled parking spaces, door widths that were too narrow and ramps without handrails. As a result of the suit, the county will pay a new staff person a $50,000 salary to help implement the court order; spend about $50,000 on a consultant to help with drawings and specifications of ramps and other equipment needed to make buildings temporarily compliant on election day; pay up to $70,000 on an "access compliance specialist"; and spend almost $58,000 on temporary equipment to make sure voting sites are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act on election day. [SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL: ELECTION DAY ACCESS]
Published on Oct-8-07
The suit stemmed from the 2004 elections, when a survey of 98 of Santa Cruz County's 135 polling places revealed that 72% had at least one high priority barrier that could hinder access for the disabled. Barriers included wheelchair ramps that exceeded limits on slope, improperly sized disabled parking spaces, door widths that were too narrow and ramps without handrails. As a result of the suit, the county will pay a new staff person a $50,000 salary to help implement the court order; spend about $50,000 on a consultant to help with drawings and specifications of ramps and other equipment needed to make buildings temporarily compliant on election day; pay up to $70,000 on an "access compliance specialist"; and spend almost $58,000 on temporary equipment to make sure voting sites are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act on election day. [
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