TITLE
Recommendation to acknowledge and celebrate the 31st Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and receive and file an update from the Citizen's Advisory Commission on Disabilities.
DISCUSSION
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush. The ADA is one of America's most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation, prohibiting discrimination and guarantying that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life - to enjoy employment opportunities, to purchase goods and services, and to participate in State and local government programs and services. Modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin - the ADA is an "equal opportunity" law for people with disabilities.
The Act represented, and still represents, a commitment on the part of the government to eliminating discrimination against people with disabilities and is responsible for some of the nation's biggest steps towards equality - banning discrimination against people with disabilities in hiring and in the workplace, requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, and setting standards for accessibility in places of public accommodation.
Despite this commitment, cities still have a long way to go to ensure that the concerns of people with disabilities are centered in our public policy decisions and that local government makes furthering accessibility a top priority. It was with this long road to true accessibility ahead of us that the city created the Citizen's Advisory Council on Disabilities, whose purpose is to advise the Mayor, City Council and City Manager on the concerns and issues affecting people with disabilities in the community.
CACOD consists of community members from the City of Long Beach and representatives from public and private agencies, which provide services to disabled citizens within the city. The commission is composed of a total of 9 members, all appointed by the Mayor of Long Beach and confirmed by the City Council.
The commission acts in an advisory capacity to the Mayor, City Council and City Manager, assembles information on issues affecting people with disabilities in the areas of employment, health services, housing, transportation, recreation, and other life activities; recommends ways to eradicate artificial barriers to a full and productive life for people with disabilities; facilitates coordination between existing and proposed programs for persons with disabilities; and carries out studies as assigned by the City Council.
As we approach the anniversary of the ADA, council should continue to keep the vision of a truly accessible Long Beach in its thoughts, and a presentation from CACOD will serve as the reminder we need that the city still has much further to go.
Equity Statement
The Framework for Reconciliation calls on the city to "overcome barriers to participation through language access, child watch, stipends, free or low-cost access to accessible meeting spaces, and transportation." CACOD's advisory duties help us further this goal.
Statement of Urgency
Due to the upcoming anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, urgency is requested for this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
No Financial Management review was able to be conducted due to the urgency and time sensitivity of this item.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
REX RICHARDSON
VICE MAYOR, NINTH DISTRICT
MARY ZENDEJAS
COUNCILWOMAN, FIRST DISTRICT
SUELY SARO
COUNCILWOMAN, SIXTH DISTRICT
AL AUSTIN
COUNCILMAN, EIGHTH DISTRICT