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JUST CAME IN NEWSY NEWS..OF THE DAY..
December 20, 2007
On Monday, Dec 17
2007 in Ashburton Place, a hearing took place on the proposed regulations governing discrimination in places of public accomodation
in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
I attended after taping a hearing at the statehouse. I arrived around
315pm was escorted to the room behind the lunch room cafeteria on the basement level to find no one there but the committee
of two people.
I asked if it was over and was told no, and that I could submit testimony if I wanted to.
I had thought I would tape the hearing that might be winding down. I was given a sign in sheet and noticed around 10
signatures. That was all that attended in a 7 hour period. They were giving 15 minutes as a time to speak and I told
them I had nothing prepared but that I could speak off the cuff. I was recorded by audio recording. I spoke max
of 3 minutes but then those who listen to me say I can speak a lot so who knows exactly as I did not ask.
What I found really troubling is that there were so many who have testified at the statehouse that it shocked me to see
such a poor turnout.
So I exhort you, to send in written reports to the committee asap.
Reference 804
CMR 5.01-07 explanation of relevance to public space and disability ..application. mgl c 151B mgl c 272, 92A, 98 all
use terms,
handicap and disability interchangeably.
If you are an employer who does not understand the disability
requirements of accessibility this is your opportunity. If you are disabled you need to submit your statements.
Again, I was shocked this turnout was so poor. I attended another disability hearing below and the same thing happened.
What is this? I think it maybe advertising. The disabilty community did not know about this hearing. That is not
proper notice if you ask me. I am sure more would have come if they had known. Also, after the storm who could
access the sidewalks????? Maybe they should give another shot at this and hold another hearing???
If passed this
will take effect immediately and effect implementation of the non-discrimination provisions of the Public Accomodations Statute.
As I stated, funds just come in whenever, and
I want to thank the contibutor of a duplicaor to the project ..and the contibutor of office space and another duplicator that
can upload to the computer..so when that function is ready we can go to step three..
posted November 3, 2007 Jaldrich
TYPING ALL NOTES FOR TWO DAYS OF WORCESTER DISTRICT
COURT HEARING..WILL PUT UP HERE WHEN FINISHED..
BE WATCHING THIS WEEK IS LOADED WITH THINGS TO COVER..
posted 10
20 07 J Aldrich
For those who contend Independant Media
has no legal place in our life, think again. If it were not for independant Media, Mr. Cirignano would not have
won his case. And of course an excellent Atty who came up to the plate to help..thanks again for protecting a
good man..good Lawyers are hard to find..Posted 11 03 07 J Aldrich
posting sept 26, 2007
09 25 07 Commission
on discrimination had a public meeting..930am
1 Ashburton Place rm 601..
So I decide I am here early..my schedule
does not start til 11am so let's go..me and my camera.. First time to approach Ashburton.. I go in you wont believe this..
I have to unpack my bag..which takes 1 hour to pack at home..10 10 I arrive upstairs and meet the gentleman holding the
meeting??? As I ask a few questions like "if you cancel the meeting as no one shows up do you have to have another
one? No answers the man and says we have met the Fed rule to hold the meeting..no one comes we do not have to hold another
one...so I ask did you pass out any literature? He says yes come down and I will show you what we passed out..so I shlep
down and sit down and he explains the meeting adgenda..in all this time no one else shows up at all..
What was
on the adgenda was 804 CMR 11.00 PROVISION OF TRAINING SERVICES 930 to 11 30 ended when I left about 1030..and a second
mtg was planned 3-5pm in Springfield...
in summary the mandate to train would change to law not voluntary..so employers
beware..you did not show and neither did the employee's hoop la la as the hoop has been set..no show hoops in..he wins..
Actually written testimony was supposed to be in on the 23rd so guess we will see this presented ..but my oppinion
is it was not advertised or people would have come..J Aldrich, Catch of the Day
92007
For anyone who is confused on
this website with the layout. We apologize. This site was hacked in early summer. I had a lot of links to
many topics relating to Free Speech and Public Access to Public meetings. I am trying to come up with a better model
and there is not enough help to just make it happen. Please consider volunteering your help. If your a law student
and a computer genius we can use you.
If you want to download 150 public meetings and get all the stats on what
happened. Please call us. If you know anyone who would contribute that information please call us. I operate
on low funding. No grants help. Public contributions show up unnannounced. I tape give out copies and the money
floats in. Not much but enough to keep this going. So if you are a fundraiser or a person who would like to set
up a non profit with us please help.
This project will continue as a media watchdog learning site.
I am educating the public to the colloseum of justice in Massachusetts.
If you can cover a meeting and want to
work for us we will supply a camera soon. But if you have a dig 8 camera and want to help your credits will be preserved.
We are supportive of new reporters coming of age. Please join us in the Coalition to preserve the public meeting.
091707
STATE ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATORY OVERSIGHT,
WILKERSON, CABRAL CHAIRS..sorry posted as municipalities and regional gov..I get these mixed up..you tell me why??????
Attended the Hearing hoping to tape but my camera was on the fritz. I could have gone to pick up my new one but decided
to sit and take notes. Well after 7 hours and 12 pages of notes I would say you missed a good one. Senator Diane
Wilkerson and Rep Cabral laid into the Commissioner of Insurance today and demanded she come back if not today on the 25th.
That is the date of the next hearing. I wish I could have gotten this one. Really, this is why my effort to have
our State videotape and archive is so important. I am not going to go into details, call the Committee and ask what
happened. Read the news tomorrow. I will have the story up soon but this week is too busy to download those notes.
But what if I said the fear of high insruance is felt by all but the Commissioner. Kids out of College are going to
be penalized for owing school debt and their insurance should double in cost unless the debt is removed. So what do
we do about that one? Stop this legislation is what we do. That was t the recommendation of all attending except
the Commissioner. Do I need to say more. JAldrich, hamilton
091107
Taped the 830 Flag Lowering Ceremony
on the Statehouse steps today. Beautiful. Will take some time to download as my camera crimped in the Transportation
Committee. I will have to think about this one.
Taped the inside of the House Chamber and was that
ever special. A beautiful ceremony. Will have that on dvd if inerested when I can download it.
Then proceeded to Transportation where the fumes were flying over the bridges and whatever. (by the way keep you eye
on the auto insurance news and your hands on the mortgage insurance querry...rough riders in the sky..) Martha
Coakley having one of 4 public meetings today in Gardner on Mortage Regulations from 1992 on Mortgage Brokering and Lending..
South Station is having An Insurance Hearing..open meeting law ..on the proposed deregualtions..very hot totty..both 10am..today
092007 next tuesday State Admin and Reg Oversight will host meeting statehouse on auto insur dereg please attend..must
see..have your testimony ready to submit copies..this week meeting 7 hours.. Committee onPUblic Service today hosts
public meeting that will decide to combine MBTA and STATE Police Merge..yikes..plus lots of other big bills..how about a 10
hour meetins????
Tonight the 6pm Ceremony to install the beautiful statue of the firefighters memorial will be
missed by me. Watch the news. Maybe they will show some of it.
Tomorrow is an Education Hearing that
will be packed in Gardner Auditorium on Chapter 70 at 1pm.
keep checking back. We try to post the meetings.
Some are tba's but we try to catch them if we can.
taped Committee on Agriculture and Environment
yesterday..toxicity of gas fumes on highways and traffic limits near homes deeply effect air quality. Does anyone not
know this sitting in traffic? But the stats are really amazing. Group wants a study done on the effects.
One woman testified of the harrowing experience of a child with EEE ..lots of good stuff..Under 3 hours. Comflm, J Aldrich
House Broadcast Director was taping the Committee on Transportation/Insurance Hearing at the same time.
You can get a copy of that by asking him or Committee or Speakers office. Not sure of pricing.
As I was in the
next room, I can tell you it was a hot meeting from the sounds..
Please today, anyone interested in covering the
911 events can show up as early as 545AM as things will be happening. At 8AM there will be a flag lowering on
the Statehouse lawn. I am sure everyone will be there.
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