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More than 30 years after the ADA, Seattle still struggles with disability access

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More than 30 years after the ADA, Seattle still struggles with disability access


Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios

March is Incapacity Consciousness Month, however full entry in Seattle for folks with mobility and different challenges stays an ongoing challenge.

Driving the information: Greater than 30 years after the Individuals with Disabilities Act grew to become federal regulation, incapacity entry stays amongst Seattle’s least championed civil rights, advocates say.

Why it issues: If entry just isn’t addressed for folks with mobility, imaginative and prescient, listening to and different impairments, folks with disabilities cannot be full members of their communities, Kimberly Meck, govt director at Incapacity Empowerment Middle, informed Axios.

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The massive image: Between 20 to 25% of Seattle-area residents are estimated to expertise some form of impairment, Meck stated, and people numbers will develop as folks age.

What they’re saying: “There is a distinction between (organizations) writing down what they suppose they should say and taking motion,” she stated. “And that is the place folks with disabilities are getting the brief shaft.”

Zoom in: Entry is healthier in Seattle and King County than a lot of Washington, in accordance with Anna Zivarts, the director of Incapacity Rights Washington’s mobility initiative program. However, she stated, there stay well-documented and long-standing boundaries to mobility.

A 2017 Seattle evaluation of two,300 miles of metropolis sidewalks documented 20,000 obstructions and 93,000 peak variations or tripping hazards.

  • Lacking or inaccessible sidewalks, insufficient or absent curb ramps and the dearth of accessible pedestrian alerts proceed to be among the many most frequently reported points, Zivarts stated.
  • Blocked entry in development zones and damaged elevators and escalators obstructing public transit entries are different continual points.

For Hugh Boyd, a member of the Harborview Amputee Assist Group who works, drives and lives in Seattle, the dearth of ADA parking — together with at house complexes with minimal or no parking, ADA or in any other case —is one other fixed thorn.

Zoom out: As a result of there is no such thing as a enforcement physique particularly tasked with making certain ADA compliance, it usually takes lawsuits or investigations to floor issues and immediate change, Christina Fogg, former civil rights program coordinator for the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Western District of Washington, informed Axios.

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  • After being sued over inaccessible curb ramps in 2015, town agreed in 2017 to construct or repair 1,250 ramps annually for 18 years.

Sure, however: The funding required to restore and keep 34,000 blocks of sidewalk value $5 billion is far higher than the out there funds, town stated in its sidewalk report.

Of be aware: Town is addressing the problem and made a collection of enhancements final yr, stated Ethan Bergerson of the Seattle Division of Transportation, together with 17,000 sidewalk repairs masking roughly 56,000 sq. toes of sidewalk.

  • Moreover, 20 blocks of recent sidewalks had been added on streets that didn’t have them earlier than and 1,500 new curb ramps had been put in round Seattle.

What’s subsequent: Income constituted of tickets issued by computerized cameras to folks violating bus lane and intersection legal guidelines will likely be used to put in extra accessible stroll alerts, stated Bergerson.

  • These alerts, which vibrate and make noise, assist folks with imaginative and prescient and listening to impairments to cross safely.



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Seattle, WA

Henderson's 14 lead UIC over Seattle U 79-68

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Henderson's 14 lead UIC over Seattle U 79-68


SEATTLE — – Ahmad Henderson II had 14 points in UIC’s 79-68 victory against Seattle U on Friday night.

Henderson also contributed five rebounds, nine assists, and four steals for the Flames (8-4). Modestas Kancleris added 12 points while going 3 of 5 and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line while he also had seven rebounds. Javon Jackson had 12 points and shot 3 of 6 from the field and 5 for 6 from the line.

The Redhawks (4-8) were led by Brayden Maldonado, who posted 22 points and three steals. John Christofilis added 11 points for Seattle U. Maleek Arington also had 10 points, five assists, three steals and two blocks.

UIC took the lead with 40 seconds to go in the first half and never looked back. The score was 34-32 at halftime, with Jackson racking up seven points. UIC outscored Seattle U in the second half by nine points, with Henderson scoring a team-high nine points after halftime.

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UIC next plays Sunday against Illinois State on the road, and Seattle U will visit Washington on Monday.

——

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.br/]

Copyright © 2024 ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.

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Seattle, WA

Uber sues the City of Seattle

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Uber sues the City of Seattle


Uber is taking Seattle to court. The Seattle Times reported Uber is suing to block a law that would regulate when it can deactivate a driver.

The lawsuit claims that the city is infringing on the company’s rights by limiting its ability to manage drivers based on performance and safety concerns.

“Uber believes that ensuring consumers receive reliable, efficient and, above all, safe deliveries is more important than allowing couriers with consistently low consumer ratings — a sign of serious performance and/or safety issues — to keep disappointing consumers. The city does not,” the suit read.

The Seattle City Council passed the law in 2023, with strong support from then-council member Theresa Mosqueda.

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MyNorthwest News: WA Uber, Lyft drivers getting paid family, medical leave benefits

“To deactivate a driver or to cut someone off to have their ability to have an income with no warning and no recourse is just wrong,” she said at the time.

The law, set to take effect on New Year’s Day, aims to provide more transparency and fairness in the deactivation process. It requires companies like Uber to establish a “reasonable” policy for deactivations, give drivers advance notice and conduct fair investigations.

Uber argues that the law will hinder its ability to quickly address issues related to driver performance and safety, potentially leading to poorer service for customers. The company also contends that the law violates its constitutional rights by forcing it to associate with problematic drivers and disclose confidential business information.

Crime blotter: Uber passenger recovering after being shot on way to Bellevue

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The law is part of a broader effort by Seattle lawmakers and labor advocates to protect gig workers, who often lack the ability to unionize. It includes provisions to prevent deactivations based on insufficient driving hours, low customer ratings, or declined ride offers, except in extreme cases.

Additionally, companies must provide drivers with records justifying their deactivation and allow them to contest the decision. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, who signed the bill into law, emphasized the importance of protecting app-based workers from sudden deactivations that could threaten their livelihoods. However, Uber maintains that its existing policies are sufficient to ensure safety and reliability for consumers.

Contributing: Frank Lenzi, KIRO Newsradio

Bill Kaczaraba is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here. Follow Bill on X, formerly known as Twitter, here and email him here. 

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Seattle, WA

Seattle Metro bus murder suspect arrested last year for stabbing, killing roommate

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Seattle Metro bus murder suspect arrested last year for stabbing, killing roommate


The man who is wanted for the murder of a Seattle Metro bus driver was arrested a year ago for the murder of his roommate, but released due to a lack of evidence, according to the prosecutor’s office.

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Seattle Police say 53-year-old Richard Sitzlack murdered 59-year-old Shawn Yim early Wednesday morning.

Yim, a King County Metro driver, only had two passengers on the bus when he was killed: the accused murderer and a witness, who FOX 13 Seattle spoke to on Thursday morning. 

Seattle Police released a photo of the accused killer more than 30 hours after the murder.

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Police identify 53-year-old Richard Sitzlack in deadly Seattle bus driver stabbing. (Seattle Police Department)

However, police tell FOX 13 Seattle someone reportedly saw Sitzlack downtown around 8 p.m. Wednesday. That is about five miles from where the attack happened in the University District, and 15 hours after the attack.

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Seattle police would not provide any more details on the sighting of Sitzlack.

“We are seeking the public’s help in finding this person,” said Detective Eric Muñoz with SPD. “The Metro coach drivers all have his photograph, every police officer in the city has his photograph and information.”

A year ago, Sitizlack was behind bars for a similar incident.

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Officials from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s office said Sitzlack was arrested for murder in connection with the death of his roommate. 

However, no charges were filed, and Sitzlack was released.

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“Both police and prosecutors looked at the admissible evidence and thought we can’t disprove the claim of self-defense,” said Casey McNerthney with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

According to the prosecutor’s office, Sitzlack claimed his roommate tried to kill him with a machete. He fought back and stabbed his roommate to death, then called the police, according to the report. 

“If King County prosecutors had the evidence to charge him with murder, we would have charged him with murder,” said McNerthney.

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The transit union is offering a $10k reward to the person who helps find the murderer. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the Seattle Police Department’s Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000

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