But before we pay down the government’s debts, I wonder whether we can take the TARP money for one last spin around the block, this time a block bordering Main Street, not Wall Street.
Here’s a quick way to get a lot of people working in towns throughout the country. There are a lot of small businesses that aren’t in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, in terms of accessibility to members of the public with mobility issues. Often, the capital improvements needed for folks with disabilities to patronize restaurants and other business can be quite costly, and with commerce still in the doldrums, few small businesses can afford to make the changes needed to become accessible per ADA standards. What can be done to help the disability community get the access that they want and, by law, deserve, while giving local contractors and ADA consultants a big boost?
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An ADA loan program could immunize small-business owners who apply for the loans from civil suits and claims under the ADA if they actually use the loan money and complete the retrofits, or if they don’t receive the government loan but do the same work through private funding within a set time frame.
Looks as though I’ve fallen off the humor wagon. Sorry. There’s nothing funny about a disabled person who is frustrated and humiliated by inadequate access to public establishments, or about a shop owner who is barely staying in business, his livelihood and his employees’ jobs threatened with a shake-down ADA claim.
There’s no humor in people who break the law, to the disadvantage of those already disadvantaged in other ways. Shall we invest more administration dollars in redesign and remodeling, or more business and insurance dollars in lawyers’ fees?
I think it’s an easy question. If you agree, clip out this column and send it to someone who can make a difference. Thanks.
Write Louie Castoria at Louie@hmbreview. He promises to be funnier next week.
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