Sligo Avenue between Fenton and Woodbury.

Standard Procedure...

I took these photos tonight as I walked home down Sligo Avenue from Piney Branch Rd. They show construction equipment left overnight in the sidewalk, along with the Road Work Ahead signs. Surely there are other options that don't include blocking the sidewalk or narrowing the passage so that people with carts, strollers, or wheelchairs can continue to get through.

Put it anywhere

Here is another example of third-party actors in Montgomery County public right-of-way being allowed to park their vehicles across the sidewalk. The truck above was actually located AT the 3rd District Police station on Sligo Avenue.

My daughter and I were headed to downtown Silver Spring for lunch, through what I beleive was a Verizon project. I took these photos on the way. We had actually crossed, mid-block to get to this side, because the work was being done on the other side.

What do you get?

I got an email from Montgomery County's ADA Compliance officer today. She seemed surprised and a little upset that I did not know she existed. I did , of course, but what can I say. When you go to the County website about ADA, you will find nothing about right-of-way issues. PARKING, yes, but nothing about sidewalks.

Take a look;

Montgomery County Department of General Services

The good work

Yesterday I got a call late that a higher-up from PEPCO would be meeting with an inspector from DPS, and Jeff from MCDOT on Sligo Avenue to look at what was going on with the final steps of the utility pole project started back in 2009.

We walked from Woodbury to Ritchie, looking at all the places I posted photos of the day before. I got assurances that someone would be out to fix things this week. OK. I'll believe it when I see it.

What was more important was a chance to talk one-to-one with Dane from PEPCO, Chris from DPS, and Dave, the contractor who did the finishing work. They got an earful about why this stuff is important. I hope just a little of it sank in.

there are still a lot of questions, and I am afraid that no one is going to like the answers. But, the moral of this story is that it is better to embrace this positive change than it is to try and avoid it. Do it because it is the right thing to do, and do it well because it is important.

Sligo Nine

I can't believe it, but I am once again involved in initiating another infrastructure rehabilitation project. Yes, once again, I talk with the public utility, and they have no idea what to do about ADA. Once again, I actually put WSSC in contact with MCDOT through email. Thanks to Councilmember Ervin's office, who put me in touch with WSSC.

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The point is, there is nothing in place to ensure that new infrastructure is replaced in compliance with ADA. This in effect prolongs the discrimination another thirty years. I have lived here for 15 years, and the sidewalks have always been bad. If I am the most tenacious advocate in the County, then things must be VERY bad.

Here are the nine fire hydrants on Sligo Avenue, just to be clear where they are and what they look like. I am naming them for members of the US Supreme Court.

Kagan

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Sotomayor

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Alito

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Roberts

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Breyer

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Ginsburg

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Thomas

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Kennedy

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Scalia

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This reinforces my position that Montgomery County is not managing the public right-of-way properly, and is therefor discriminating against people with disabilities, like me. That WSSC and MCDOT have not had even a single discussion - that I am the initiator of that first discussion - means that nothing has changed since I filed a complaint two years ago this coming March 1st. The problem still exists. It has not been handled, or even addressed. It has been avoided.

I honestly think I may need to move.

Trying to make light of a situation that has me frustratyed and down - feeling like I am just wasting my time fighting city hall. Sorry for the weak humor...

3.8.12;

I missed one. I named it Curly...


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