June 25, 2007 Roy Bercaw Speaks to Cambridge City Council

Roy Bercaw speaking as the Vice President for Governmental and Community Affairs of the Mid Cambridge Chapter of the Spending Other People's Money Society, corrects the Scrivener's error in a resolution of condolences for the 9 Firefighters in South Carolina who died fighting a fire. The Council resolution which said it was North Carolina was not corrected at the meeting even after I noted it to the Council during public comment. I revealed that the City of Cambridge has an official No Snitchin' policy. The city declared itself a sanctuary city and prohibits police from snitchin' on illegal immigrants. Nonetheless the City Council laments that young people refuse to cooperate with police in fighting crime. I questioned allowing persons with disabilities who display a disability tag on their vehicles to park overtime at meters. I asked, "What happened to the equal protection clause?" What is more troubling is that the City excludes persons with disabilities from participating in city functions discussing discrimination, but they allow them to drive cars in the city? No wonder there are so many dangerous drivers.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Cambridge
• City
• Council
• MA
• Roy
• Bercaw
• Persons
• With
• Disabilities
• discrimination
• South
• Carolina
• firefighters

[katrinkka]

he does not mean it seriously about the driving and disability

[dotmacis]

Yes, I agree that there are many dangerous drivers, but let's leave disability out of the equation. Besides, some people with disabilities have no other choice but to drive, as they have no other way to get around. It's not up to you to say that they can't drive. It's up to their doctors to determine whether or not they can do that. I suggest you put yourself in a disabled person's shoes before further commenting on this. Thank you.

[dotmacis]

Many times the person's disability does NOT impede their ability to drive. I know of quite a few people who are paralyzed and drive quite safely with the use of hand controls.

[dotmacis]

I may not be an expert on the law, but what I DO know is that it's illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities and that's exactly what you're doing. Not everyone who's disabled is incapable of driving a car safely.