Help Olivia become the 1st State Senator with a disability elected in FL!

Accessibility Sacrificed at UTC Shopping Center for Beautification Project

Candidates and Activists Explain Accessibility is a Right not a Convenience

Sarasota, FL- On Wednesday July 11, concerned community members and political candidates showed up at the location of two former van accessible parking locations in the UTC West District, just outside of Blaze Pizza and Jpan Sushi and Grill. These spaces were torn out in May, leaving no disabled parking spaces in proximity to any of the business entrances at this end of the plaza. The reason behind their destruction and current lack of access to patrons with disabilities? These accessible spaces were taken out to put in a decorative fountain.

ADA guidelines require accessible parking spaces to be located on the shortest accessible route of travel to an accessible facility entrance. The 2018 Florida Statutes, Title XXXIII

REGULATION OF TRADE, COMMERCE, INVESTMENTS, AND SOLICITATIONS

Chapter 553 -BUILDING CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS, 553.5041 Parking spaces for persons who have disabilities.— 3. (e)1. states “The facility may not reduce the required number or dimensions of those spaces or unreasonably increase the length of the accessible route from a parking space to the facility.” 

The removal of these spaces is a clear violation of both federal and state disability law, so how was the developer able to acquire approval to remove them? They didn’t. Only after Sarasota County was contacted regarding the removal of the spaces and then reached out to the developer, Benderson Development, was a plan to relocate the spaces submitted to the County’s engineering staff for review and approval. This was a process that was required to be done before the original parking spaces were ever removed and if the county had not been contacted would Benderson have replaced these spaces at all?

“The fact that local developers feel that they are above the law and are in fact literally bulldozing over other people’s rights to get their way is concerning,” said Olivia Babis, Democratic Candidate for FL Senate District 23 and who has a disability herself. “Even more disturbing is the amount of money they are dumping into campaigns to try to elect public officials who would let them get away with these types of activities and permit them to put profits over people. They are sending a message that people with disabilities, disabled veterans, and the elderly are not wanted at their businesses; that our money isn’t as good as that of everyone else,” added Babis.

Liv Coleman, Democratic candidate for State House district 73, was also appalled by Benderson’s actions, stating, “We need to create a society without barriers to public accommodation, including for people with disabilities.  It should be our utmost priority to ensure that the ADA is upheld, and rightful public accommodations are made.  To build an inclusive community for everyone, we need private business owners to do their part and follow the law.  We need to make this right, and to ensure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again." 

Ruta Jouniari, Democratic County Commission, district 2, candidate expressed her concerns as well. “Developers is Sarasota county apparently feel they are above the law.  Even at the expense of citizens with disabilities, shame on them," she said. 

Wesley Beggs, affirmed other’s concerns declaring, "I am appalled that a decorative fountain was prioritized above accessibility for our elderly and disabled citizens. This is just one example of local developers abusing the process and disregarding the needs of our community. We will not stand idle as the development community bends rules as they please when our safety and quality of life is at risk."

Help elect a candidate that will stand up for the rights of ALL citizens and will never put profits over people. Please support my campaign today and bring representation back to representational government!