Wednesday, March 09, 2016

ADA VIOLATION: Big 'Ole Mailbox Blocks Sidewalk: City, USPS Show Contempt for ADA Mobility Rights

Update: March 11, 2016: A rude, joyless USPS manager in Jacksonville, Anthony Joy, says the mailbox "will not be moved," claiming it's not on a sidewalk, but an "island." I have filed a complaint of employee misconduct with the USPS INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.

UPDATE: 7 PM, 3/10/2016:
Our City of St. Augustine deputy public works director and building official both went to our downtown Post Office this morning and met with USPS.  
Hope to have a resolution by our 3/14 St. Augustine City Commission meeting at 5 PM.
Thank you!


The only sidewalk on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd in St. Augustine, Florida between King and Bridge Street is blockaded by a triple wide mailbox. Try getting by it in a wheelchair or with a cane or a walker. Six weeks after I contacted the U.S. Postal Service and City Manager, nothing has been done. Nothing. This sidewalk-blocking mailbox is a serious continuing violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, enacted by Congress unanimously. Both the City of St. Augustine and the USPS could be sued, but moreover, their callousness and insensitivity is neatly symbolic of why Americans are so angry at governments and corporations. Enough goofy goobrishness by the City of St. Augustine, which Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called "the most lawless city in America" in his June 11, 1964 letter to Rabbi israel Dressner.







-----Original Message-----
From: easlavin
To: dbirchim ; Polly.J.Gibbs ; jregan
Sent: Wed, Jan 27, 2016 2:25 pm
Subject: Request No. 2016-22: Large USPS mailbox blocking sidewalk on MLK -- ADA and safety violation -- Please move it

Dear Ms. Gibbs and Messrs. Birchim and Regan:
1. Please e-mail me today copies of any permits, memos, complaints and documents on the large USPS mailbox that is blocking our public sidewalk on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd in St. Augustine, Florida.
2. Mr. Birchim and Mr. Regan, please join me in asking USPS to move the mailbox -- this is an imminent life safety hazard.
3. This big 'ole triple-wide mailbox blocking the sidewalk violates City code and is an ADA violation -- creating tort liability for both COSA and USPS
Thank you..
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
www.edslavin.com
904-377-4998



-----Original Message-----
From: easlavin
To: dbirchim ; jregan ; tgrant ; mgraham ; ilopez ; dmay ; dgibson

Sent: Wed, Mar 9, 2016 10:12 pm
Subject: Re: Request No. 2016-22: Large USPS mailbox blocking sidewalk on MLK -- ADA and safety violation -- Please move it. Now.

Dear David, John, Isabelle, Denise and Martha and Todd:
1. Please respond to my January 27, 2016 Open Records request and to my request to have the mailbox moved off our City sidewalk.
2. USPS says it has no documents reflecting any permits or permission to block our sidewalk. (See below).
3. The City of St. Augustine has not responded.
4, It has now been six (6) weeks.
5, This is a violation of our Florida Open Records law -- not a "reasonable" time at all.
6. Why no action?
7. Why no City or USPS response on an obvious ongoing violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted unanimously by Congress?
8. Enough delay and desuetude -- please comply with ADA. Please move the mailbox. Now.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
904-377-4998

-----Original Message-----
From: Joy, Tony R - Jacksonville, FL, FL
To: easlavin
Sent: Thu, Feb 11, 2016 5:24 pm
Subject: Ed Slavin - FOIA - 2016-FPFC-00034

RE: Freedom of Information Act Request for Records
Tracking No: 2016-FPFC-00034

Dear Mr. Slavin,

As the United States Postal Service Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act Coordinator for the Gulf Atlantic District, I am responding to your request for copies of any permits, memos, complaints and documents pertaining to the large collection mailbox located just outside the Main Post Office at 99 King Street, St Augustine, Florida 32084.

Based on your description of records sought, I was unable to locate any responsive documents.

If you consider this response to be a denial of your request, you may appeal by writing to the General Counsel, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington DC 20260, within 30 days of the date of this email. Your appeal should include statements concerning this response, the reasons why it is believed to be erroneous, and the relief sought, along with copies of the original request email, this email, and any other related correspondence.

Sincerely,

Tony Joy
Consumer and Industry Contact Manager
Gulf Atlantic District
P O Box 40005
Jacksonville, FL 32203-0005
Office: 904-359-2781
anthony.r.joy@usps.gov





-----Original Message-----
From: easlavin
To: Anthony.R.Joy
Cc: mgraham ; dmay ; nshaver ; jim.sutton ; craig.richardson ; delinda.fogel ; thomasfreynolds2 ; sheldon.gardner ; news ; gardner ; sceastman ; aschindler ; will.morris ; sheplaw ; tomcushman ; george.gabel ; suzanne.judas ; pete.mitchell ; katie.ross ; aronberg ; voakes ; wfusco ; pmccormack ; mwanchick ; dshoar ; mcline ; cmulligan ; coc ; fayeforcure ; mccormack ; jmoe01 ; NTOENSMANN ; muffitoo ; bcc1jjohns ; bcc2jsmith ; bccd3 ; bccd4 ; bccd5 ; mlundquist ; ilopez ; bjihaad ; tfilloramo ; pat.gleason ; commengland ; comugeorge ; comsgsnodgrass ; comrobrien ; comasamuels ; mroyle ; llueders ; jimwil03 ; judgelitt10 ; patricia.gleason ; Polly.J.Gibbs ; tgray9937 ; retlyn ; dbirchim ; recordsrequest ; tgrant ; jregan ; lfountain ; paulf ; hotline ; tammy.whitcomb
Sent: Fri, Mar 11, 2016 5:43 pm
Subject: Re: Request No. 2016-22: Large USPS mailbox blocking sidewalk on MLK -- ADA and safety violation -- Please move it. Now.

No response. 


-----Original Message-----
From: easlavin <easlavin@aol.com>
To: Anthony.R.Joy <Anthony.R.Joy@usps.gov>
Cc: mgraham <mgraham@citystaug.com>; dmay <dmay@citystaug.com>; nshaver <nshaver@citystaug.com>; jim.sutton <jim.sutton@staugustine.com>; craig.richardson <craig.richardson@staugustine.com>; delinda.fogel <delinda.fogel@staugustine.com>; thomasfreynolds2 <thomasfreynolds2@yahoo.com>; sheldon.gardner <sheldon.gardner@staugustine.com>; news <news@historiccity.com>; gardner <gardner@aug.com>; sceastman <sceastman@folioweekly.com>; aschindler <aschindler@firstcoastnews.com>; will.morris <will.morris@morris.com>; sheplaw <sheplaw@att.net>; tomcushman <tomcushman@bellsouth.net>; george.gabel <george.gabel@hklaw.com>; suzanne.judas <suzanne.judas@hklaw.com>; pete.mitchell <pete.mitchell@billnelson.senate.gov>; katie.ross <katie.ross@billnelson.senate.gov>; aronberg <aronberg@yahoo.com>; voakes <voakes@votesjc.com>; wfusco <wfusco@votesjc.com>; pmccormack <pmccormack@sjcfl.us>; mwanchick <mwanchick@sjcfl.us>; dshoar <dshoar@sjso.org>; mcline <mcline@sjso.org>; cmulligan <cmulligan@sjso.org>; coc <coc@sjccoc.us>; fayeforcure <fayeforcure@yahoo.com>; mccormack <mccormack@sjcfl.us>; jmoe01 <jmoe01@gmail.com>; NTOENSMANN <NTOENSMANN@YAHOO.COM>; muffitoo <muffitoo@att.net>; bcc1jjohns <bcc1jjohns@sjcfl.us>; bcc2jsmith <bcc2jsmith@sjcfl.us>; bccd3 <bccd3@sjcfl.us>; bccd4 <bccd4@sjcfl.us>; bccd5 <bccd5@sjcfl.us>; mlundquist <mlundquist@sjcfl.us>; ilopez <ilopez@citystaug.com>; bjihaad <bjihaad@sjcfl.us>; tfilloramo <tfilloramo@sjcfl.us>; pat.gleason <pat.gleason@myfloridalegal.com>; commengland <commengland@cityofsab.org>; comugeorge <comugeorge@cityofsab.org>; comsgsnodgrass <comsgsnodgrass@cityofsab.org>; comrobrien <comrobrien@cityofsab.org>; comasamuels <comasamuels@cityofsab.org>; mroyle <mroyle@cityofsab.org>; llueders <llueders@staugpd.com>; jimwil03 <jimwil03@yahoo.com>; judgelitt10 <judgelitt10@gmail.com>; patricia.gleason <patricia.gleason@myfloridalegal.gov>; Polly.J.Gibbs <Polly.J.Gibbs@usps.gov>; tgray9937 <tgray9937@hotmail.com>; retlyn <retlyn@charter.net>; dbirchim <dbirchim@citystaug.com>; recordsrequest <recordsrequest@citystaug.com>; tgrant <tgrant@citystaug.com>; jregan <jregan@citystaug.com>; lfountain <lfountain@citystaug.com>; paulf <paulf@disabilityrightsflorida.com>; hotline <hotline@uspsoig.gov>; tammy.whitcomb <tammy.whitcomb@uspsoig.gov>
Sent: Fri, Mar 11, 2016 4:27 pm
Subject: Re: Request No. 2016-22: Large USPS mailbox blocking sidewalk on MLK -- ADA and safety violation -- Please move it. Now.

Dear Mr. Joy:
1.You did not respond to this e-mail, or to two telephone messages concerning the ADA violations by USPS blocking the sidewalk.  You did not give me the contact information for your boss, for the local OIG office, or for the local ADA coordinator.  Why?  
2. Your attachments do not open.  
3. Your pretexts are unavailing: it's a sidewalk.  
4. You provided no supporting documentation today for your extremist position and refusal to provide a reasonable accommodation under ADA.
5. You provided no documents in response to the 1/27 FOIA: when was the mailbox put on the sidewalk and by whom.  Please provide work order.
6. Your lack of respect for disability rights and civil rights is notable.  "Closure?"  How deeply offensive to the cause of civil rights in Our Town.
7. Thus,  I have referred your employee misconduct to USPS OIG for civil, criminal and administrative investigation  under the Inspector General Act.
8. I await your returning my telephone calls, answering my e-mail, responding to my 1/27 FOIA fully and moving the mailbox.
Please govern yourself accordingly.  
Herein faileth not.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
904-377-4998


-----Original Message-----
From: easlavin <easlavin@aol.com>
To: Anthony.R.Joy <Anthony.R.Joy@usps.gov>
Cc: mgraham <mgraham@citystaug.com>; dmay <dmay@citystaug.com>; nshaver <nshaver@citystaug.com>; jim.sutton <jim.sutton@staugustine.com>; craig.richardson <craig.richardson@staugustine.com>; delinda.fogel <delinda.fogel@staugustine.com>; thomasfreynolds2 <thomasfreynolds2@yahoo.com>; sheldon.gardner <sheldon.gardner@staugustine.com>; news <news@historiccity.com>; gardner <gardner@aug.com>; sceastman <sceastman@folioweekly.com>; aschindler <aschindler@firstcoastnews.com>; will.morris <will.morris@morris.com>; sheplaw <sheplaw@att.net>; tomcushman <tomcushman@bellsouth.net>; george.gabel <george.gabel@hklaw.com>; suzanne.judas <suzanne.judas@hklaw.com>; pete.mitchell <pete.mitchell@billnelson.senate.gov>; katie.ross <katie.ross@billnelson.senate.gov>; aronberg <aronberg@yahoo.com>; voakes <voakes@votesjc.com>; wfusco <wfusco@votesjc.com>; pmccormack <pmccormack@sjcfl.us>; mwanchick <mwanchick@sjcfl.us>; cdshoar <cdshoar@sjso.org>; mcline <mcline@sjso.org>; cmulligan <cmulligan@sjso.org>; oc <oc@sjccoc.us>; fayeforcure <fayeforcure@yahoo.com>; mccormack <mccormack@sjcfl.us>; jmoe01 <jmoe01@gmail.com>; NTOENSMANN <NTOENSMANN@YAHOO.COM>; muffitoo <muffitoo@att.net>; bcc1jjohns <bcc1jjohns@sjcfl.us>; bcc2jsmith <bcc2jsmith@sjcfl.us>; bccd3 <bccd3@sjcfl.us>; bccd4 <bccd4@sjcfl.us>; bccd5 <bccd5@sjcfl.us>; mlundquist <mlundquist@sjcfl.us>; ilopez <ilopez@citystaug.com>; bjihaad <bjihaad@sjcfl.us>; tfilloramo <tfilloramo@sjcfl.us>; pat.gleason <pat.gleason@myfloridalegal.com>; commengland <commengland@cityofsab.org>; comugeorge <comugeorge@cityofsab.org>; comsgsnodgrass <comsgsnodgrass@cityofsab.org>; comrobrien <comrobrien@cityofsab.org>; comasamuels <comasamuels@cityofsab.org>; mroyle <mroyle@cityofsab.org>; llueders <llueders@staugpd.com>; jimwil03 <jimwil03@yahoo.com>; judgelitt10 <judgelitt10@gmail.com>; patricia.gleason <patricia.gleason@myfloridalegal.gov>; Polly.J.Gibbs <Polly.J.Gibbs@usps.gov>; tgray9937 <tgray9937@hotmail.com>; retlyn <retlyn@charter.net>; dbirchim <dbirchim@citystaug.com>; recordsrequest <recordsrequest@citystaug.com>; tgrant <tgrant@citystaug.com>; jregan <jregan@citystaug.com>; lfountain <lfountain@citystaug.com>
Sent: Fri, Mar 11, 2016 11:19 am
Subject: Re: Request No. 2016-22: Large USPS mailbox blocking sidewalk on MLK -- ADA and safety violation -- Please move it. Now.

What? There is no sidewalk on MLK between King and Bridge, other than the one that USPS is illegally blocking, without a permit.  
Please give me contact for your local USPS OIG office and ADA coordinator.  Thanks.

-----Original Message-----
From: Joy, Tony R - Jacksonville, FL, FL <Anthony.R.Joy@usps.gov>
To: easlavin <easlavin@aol.com>
Cc: mgraham <mgraham@citystaug.com>; dmay <dmay@citystaug.com>; nshaver <nshaver@citystaug.com>; jim.sutton <jim.sutton@staugustine.com>; craig.richardson <craig.richardson@staugustine.com>; delinda.fogel <delinda.fogel@staugustine.com>; thomasfreynolds2 <thomasfreynolds2@yahoo.com>; sheldon.gardner <sheldon.gardner@staugustine.com>; news <news@historiccity.com>; gardner <gardner@aug.com>; sceastman <sceastman@folioweekly.com>; aschindler <aschindler@firstcoastnews.com>; will.morris <will.morris@morris.com>; sheplaw <sheplaw@att.net>; tomcushman <tomcushman@bellsouth.net>; george.gabel <george.gabel@hklaw.com>; suzanne.judas <suzanne.judas@hklaw.com>; pete.mitchell <pete.mitchell@billnelson.senate.gov>; katie.ross <katie.ross@billnelson.senate.gov>; aronberg <aronberg@yahoo.com>; voakes <voakes@votesjc.com>; wfusco <wfusco@votesjc.com>; pmccormack <pmccormack@sjcfl.us>; mwanchick <mwanchick@sjcfl.us>; cdshoar <cdshoar@sjso.org>; mcline <mcline@sjso.org>; cmulligan <cmulligan@sjso.org>; oc <oc@sjccoc.us>; fayeforcure <fayeforcure@yahoo.com>; mccormack <mccormack@sjcfl.us>; jmoe01 <jmoe01@gmail.com>; NTOENSMANN <NTOENSMANN@YAHOO.COM>; muffitoo <muffitoo@att.net>; bcc1jjohns <bcc1jjohns@sjcfl.us>; bcc2jsmith <bcc2jsmith@sjcfl.us>; bccd3 <bccd3@sjcfl.us>; bccd4 <bccd4@sjcfl.us>; bccd5 <bccd5@sjcfl.us>; mlundquist <mlundquist@sjcfl.us>; ilopez <ilopez@citystaug.com>; bjihaad <bjihaad@sjcfl.us>; tfilloramo <tfilloramo@sjcfl.us>; pat.gleason <pat.gleason@myfloridalegal.com>; commengland <commengland@cityofsab.org>; comugeorge <comugeorge@cityofsab.org>; comsgsnodgrass <comsgsnodgrass@cityofsab.org>; comrobrien <comrobrien@cityofsab.org>; comasamuels <comasamuels@cityofsab.org>; mroyle <mroyle@cityofsab.org>; llueders <llueders@staugpd.com>; jimwil03 <jimwil03@yahoo.com>; judgelitt10 <judgelitt10@gmail.com>; patricia.gleason <patricia.gleason@myfloridalegal.gov>; Gibbs, Polly J - Dallas, TX, TX <Polly.J.Gibbs@usps.gov>; tgray9937 <tgray9937@hotmail.com>; retlyn <retlyn@charter.net>; dbirchim <dbirchim@citystaug.com>; recordsrequest <recordsrequest@citystaug.com>; tgrant <tgrant@citystaug.com>; jregan <jregan@citystaug.com>; lfountain <lfountain@citystaug.com>
Sent: Fri, Mar 11, 2016 10:51 am
Subject: RE: Request No. 2016-22: Large USPS mailbox blocking sidewalk on MLK -- ADA and safety violation -- Please move it. Now.

Dear Mr. Slavin,
 
This is in response to your emails and constitutes my promised response by noon today.  You  contend the blue collection box owned and maintained by the United States Postal Service is blocking a sidewalk on MLK, in violation of ADA, causing a safety violation and therefore must be moved – now.
 
As stated during our phone conversation earlier this morning, the box will not be moved.  After further review, we have determined the box is located on an island, not a sidewalk.  There is a sidewalk, separate from the island, as is evident from the attached photographs.    
 
I trust you find this response helpful and will be able to acknowledge closure in this matter.
 
Sincerely,
 
Tony Joy
Consumer and Industry Contact Manager
Gulf Atlantic District
Office: 904-359-2781
anthony.r.joy@usps.gov
 
Subject: Re: Request No. 2016-22: Large USPS mailbox blocking sidewalk on MLK -- ADA and safety violation -- Please move it. Now.
 
Please respond.  Thanks.
-----------


-----Original Message-----
From: easlavin
To: tammy.whitcomb ; hotline
Cc: mgraham ; dmay ; nshaver ; jim.sutton ; craig.richardson ; delinda.fogel ; thomasfreynolds2 ; sheldon.gardner ; news ; gardner ; sceastman ; aschindler ; will.morris ; sheplaw ; tomcushman ; george.gabel ; suzanne.judas ; pete.mitchell ; katie.ross ; aronberg ; voakes ; wfusco ; pmccormack ; mwanchick ; cdshoar ; mcline ; cmulligan ; oc ; fayeforcure ; mccormack ; jmoe01 ; NTOENSMANN ; muffitoo ; bcc1jjohns ; bcc2jsmith ; bccd3 ; bccd4 ; bccd5 ; mlundquist ; ilopez ; bjihaad ; tfilloramo ; pat.gleason ; commengland ; comugeorge ; comsgsnodgrass ; comrobrien ; comasamuels ; mroyle ; llueders ; jimwil03 ; judgelitt10 ; patricia.gleason ; Polly.J.Gibbs ; tgray9937 ; retlyn ; dbirchim ; recordsrequest ; tgrant ; jregan ; lfountain ; Anthony.R.Joy
Sent: Fri, Mar 11, 2016 12:26 pm
Subject: Employee misconduct investigation re: large USPS mailbox blocking sidewalk on MLK Blvd -- ADA and safety violation -- Please move it. Now.

Dear Inspector General Whitcomb:
Please initiate an employee misconduct investigation of the U.S. Postal Service Consumer and Industry Contact Manager, Anthony Joy and his violations of the Standards of Official Conduct:
1. Unresponsiveness to my request six weeks ago to move the large triple wide mailbox blocking the sidewalk on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd in St. Augustine Florida, 32085, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The blockage poses a life safety hazards to disabled people with wheelchairs and canes, and to other pedestrians.
2. Refusal today to put me in contact with his supervisor, airily stating he was the highest person at USPS to whom I could speak.
3. Failure today to respond to my e-mail requesting contact information for our local USPS OIG office and ADA coordinator.4. Rudeness and condescension in oral and written communications.
5. Misstating our telephone conversation in his e-mail (he did not state then that the box would not be moved).
6. Refusal and failure to address an ADA violation and serious life safety hazard, with people with wheelchairs forced into the street.
7. Racism  in rudely rejecting a remedy for blocking a sidewalk with a large mailbox adjoining a traditionally African-American neighborhood founded by freed slaves in 1865..
8. Facetious response claiming it's not a sidewalk, but an "island," attaching damaged electronic photos that could not be opened.
Proof of the ADA-violating blockage of the MLK sidewalk is irrefragable as is the management indifference to ADA and safety concerns. Please see photos below.
Please have a USPS OIG Special Agent contact me today to begin your investigation of maladroit USPS manager Anthony R. Joy.
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
904-377-4998


No comments: