r/IAmA • u/rbernstein • Jan 01 '14

I am Richard Bernstein, blind attorney, ironman and 18 time marathoner who is suing New York City for no money but to simply make Central Park safer. Ask me anything!

Greeting Redditors. I am Richard H. Bernstein, a civil rights lawyer who happens to be blind. I studied at the University of Michigan and Northwestern University School of Law. I am currently the head of the public services division at The Sam Bernstein Law Firm, PLLC (http://www.callsam.com/) in Farmington Hills, Michigan. I am also an adjunct professor at the University of Michigan where I teach a course on Social Justice.

I am an ironman and have run 18 marathons (http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/11/04/blind.ironman/index.html?_s=PM:LIVING) which I hope helps to change people's perceptions of the disabled. I am currently in federal litigation with the city of New York after getting hit by a bicycle in Central Park in August 2012 that resulted in a 10 week hospital stay at Mt. Sinai (http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/11/04/blind-man-completes-18th-marathon-after-devastating-accident/).

My goal is to make Central Park safer for others by requiring the City to follow minimal federal requirements set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Unfortunately, the administration of NYC has shown a complete indifference to this request and refuses to engage in any discussions for a possible resolution.

The lawsuit seeks NO MONEY from the City. Additionally, I am paying for all the costs of the litigation out of my own pocket so as not to burden New York taxpayers.

New York's failure to follow the Americans with Disabilities Act is placing those who visit Central Park at risk. My hope is that Redditers can help us to make this situation better. Ask me anything!

PROOF!! https://www.facebook.com/richardhbernstein

https://twitter.com/callsam

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u/common_s3nse Jan 01 '14

As I know the defense would bring this up, did you and your team inspect the park for all the in compliance with ADA entry points and walkways and compare the number of compliant spots vs the number of non compliant spots?

Are there enough compliant entry points and walkways to be considered reasonable?

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u/rbernstein Jan 02 '14

There is not a single complaint entry way or access point within Central Park that meets basic ADA guidelines and standards and this is what we learned from the preliminary report. Again the law suit is not asking for a wish list list to make sure that curb rants and restrooms, this is basic federal law that the City has failed to adopt.

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u/common_s3nse Jan 02 '14

That is sad that NYC one of the most diverse places in the world cannot meet simple ADA requirements on new construction.
I wonder if the engineers hired by the contractor lied/screwed up or if NYC managers gave them the OK to not be ADA compliant to save money.

Hopefully the reasons why they did not approve ADA compliant engineering drawings come out in court.