May 8, 2004

Ms. Connie Paggao
Supervisor of Parking System Dept
City of Evanston
2100 Ridge Ave.
Evanston, IL. 60201-2716

Dear Ms. Paggao:

This is the second letter written to the City of Evanston in behalf of Brenda DeVance. Ms. DeVance has asked that a handicap parking sign be placed in front of her home.

Ms. Karen Underwood sent an e-mail for Ms. DeVance for the handicap parking signs.

The Unified Voice for Disabled Americans went to Ms. DeVance's home to see why she can't get the handicap parking sign put in front of her home for her 92 yr. old aunt.

You based your decision on the fact that she has a two-car garage. Her Alderman said she couldn't get it because her two-car garage was rented. That was a LIE.

The Unified Voice for Disabled Americans took pictures. We saw a gravel alley. This alley was blocked at one end. We asked if this alley is plowed in the winter when it snows. It is not plowed when it snows. Ms. DeVance has been stuck in the snow several times and had to get help. We watched the front a while and it was always parked up with an assortment of vehicles. It also noted that when one vehicle pulled out another one pulled in.

Ms. DeVance takes her aunt out when the weather is good. She takes her out when she needs to go to the doctor's for her check up. Her aunt does have a pacemaker. The aunt's medical appointment should be changed because of weather. You do plow the City of Evanston streets but do not plow out the gravel alleys. We did not check out how many gravel alleys the City of Evanston has.

Ms. Paggao, why is it when it comes to helping persons with problems such as handicap parking spaces and now a ninety-two yr. old woman with a pacemaker the City of Evanston has problems helping out. The Unified Voice for Disabled Americans has filed a complaint against Northwestern Medical Building Graham Garage in court. They are now hiring an architect to settle the handicap parking spaces. You can see the complaint against them on our web site. We approached Mayor Morton with the problem and we were told that the City of Evanston couldn't go on private property. We guess the City of Evanston does not go on private property to check out building permits. We do hope all buildings in Evanston are equipped for persons with disabilities according to the ADA Law. You do check out the private property when it comes to yearly vehicle stickers. You do go on private property when a crime is committed.

The ADA Accessibility Law was put into effect by the federal government and it means everyone has to comply even the City of Evanston. We wonder how many other violations the City of Evanston is committing against the ADA Law.

Please check out our web site. It is www.bonewits.net/UVDA-0.htm. The 0 is #0. Little Company of Mary Hospital didn't take us serious either. Please let us hear from you. We value senior citizens lives especially when they have a physical disability. What are the values of the City of Evanston when it comes to persons with disabilities no matter what age?


UNIFIED VOICE FOR DISABLED AMERICANS


Rosemarie A. Botthof
cc: Mayor Lorraine Morton
     Brenda DeVance