* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:07:03] WE'RE [00:07:03] SO USED TO NOT BEING ALLOWED AT THIS POINT. YOU KNOW, . OH, WE'RE GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE'RE ABOUT GETTING READY TO GET STARTED. HI. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITY MEETING TO ORDER FOR OCTOBER 10TH, 2024. ELENA, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE TIME ONE OH EIGHT? THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMMISSIONERS. WE WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. HI, [CALL TO ORDER] SORRY. MY NAME IS JULIE DEAN, AND I AM A CAUCASIAN WOMAN IN A MOBILITY SCOOTER WITH SHE HER PRONOUNS. I HAVE SHORT AUBURN HAIR AND GLASSES, AND I [ROLL CALL] AM WEARING A BRIGHT YELLOW DRESS. MY NAME IS COMMISSIONER JER. OH, MY NAME IS COMMISSIONER JEREMY HILL. UM, I, MY PRONOUNS ARE HE, HIM, HIS, I HAVE SHORT BLACK HAIR, UM, A SHORT TRIMMED GOATEE. I AM WEARING A BLUE AND WHITE PLAID SHIRT, AND MY MOBILITY DEVICE IS A WHITE CANE. HI, I AM GRETCHEN SWANSON. COMMISSIONER, UH, MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE HER, UH, TODAY, WELL, EVERY DAY I'M A WHITE, OLDER WHITE WOMAN WITH CURLY WHITE HAIR AND GLASSES. AND TODAY I AM WEARING A MOSS GREEN SWEATER. HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CHAKA GARBE PRONOUNS. SHE, HER. I AM AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE WEARING A RUSTY COLOR, UM, CARNEGIE, UH, SWEATER, AND A WHITE AND RUSTY COLOR TOP . AND I JUST WANNA SAY HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON. ARTHUR ROMO. UH, SENIOR MALE HISPANIC, SHORT HAIR GRAY ON THE SIDES. GRAY MUSTACHE WEARING A BLACK SHORT SLEEVE BUTTON SHIRT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. AND TODAY, I'M STEVE ADAMS. I'M PRESIDING AS THE CHAIRPERSON, BUT I AM THE VICE CHAIR. I'M STEVE ADAMS. AND ON OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, I AM THE VICE CHAIR AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND I'M AFRICAN AMERICAN. I AM WEARING A GRAY SWEAT, GRAY SUIT JACKET, AND I WEAR GLASSES AND MY HAIR IS BALD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO REPORT THE FOLLOWING. UH, COMMISSIONER MARISSA GONZALEZ IS EXCUSED. ABSENT, LIKEWISE, CHAIR KIM VONG IS ALSO ABSENT. THANK YOU. WE'RE GREAT. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION TODAY, SO WE'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND BEGIN THAT. AND IN PRESENTATION, [00:10:01] WE'RE EXCITED TO CELEBRATE THE SECOND ANNUAL, SECOND ANNUAL CAPE COD DISABILITY ADVOCACY OF THE YEAR AWARD. IT'S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL DAY, UM, ALL THE HARD WORK YOU DO. SO WE WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. ELENA? YES, VICE CHAIR. ALL RIGHT. WHEN YOU PLE, WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM. OUR FIRST HONOREE IS MR. JOHN KINDRED. [PRESENTATIONS] SO JOHN IS A PROUD FATHER, GRANDFATHER, AND GREAT-GRANDFATHER, NOW RETIRED. JOHN SPENDS MOST OF HIS TIME VOLUNTEERING WITH MANY COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROMOTE EQUITY AND INCLUSION FOR OLDER ADULTS, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. HE'S THE CO-FOUNDER OF LONG BEACH ENVIRONMENT ALLIANCE OUTREACH DIRECTOR OF THE LONG BEACH GRAY PANTHERS, AND THE CO-CHAIR OF THE COALITION FOR A SMOKE-FREE LONG BEACH. PLEASE HELP US CONGRATULATE JOHN KINDRED ON BEING AWARDED ONE OF THE CAPE COD DISABILITY ADVOCATES OF THE YEAR. AND THEN CHAIR, UH, VICE CHAIR. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME DOWN TO TAKE A QUICK PHOTO. UM, WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE AND, UM, ACTUALLY LET'S DO YOUR SPEECH FIRST AND THEN WE'LL DO A PHOTO. OKAY. UH, I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A SPEECH. I'M ACTUALLY SURPRISED THAT I WAS NOMINATED. I, IT WAS A BIG SURPRISE TO ME AND IT STILL IS , YOU KNOW, AND, UH, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS HONOR. AND, UH, I JUST BEEN TELLING MY GRANDKIDS ABOUT IT AND MY, UH, GREAT-GRANDKIDS AND THEY'RE SO PROUD. AND NOW THEY'RE LOOKING TO BE ACTIVISTS ALREADY. EVEN I HAVE A, A, A FOUR YEAR ACTIVIST NOW IN THE FAMILY NOW, AND A FEW TIMES SHE ALMOST GOT ME BEAT UP FROM, UH, BEING, UH, OUTSPOKEN TO PEOPLE. AND, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS HONOR. THANK YOU, MR. KENDRICK. APPRECIATE, I'D JUST LIKE TO SHARE MR. KENDRICK, UM, TO THE AUDIENCE THAT YOU, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS COMMISSION BOARD, UH, THIS GENTLEMAN HERE COMES TO EVERY MEETING. I MEAN, YOU DON'T MISS TOO MANY MEETINGS, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR VOICE AND APPRECIATE YOUR, THE FIGHT THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY FIGHTING FOR, WHICH IS EQUALITY AND THE A DA AND THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. YOU HAVE THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANYTHING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, SO WE'LL DO A PHOTO. UM, WE'LL HAVE THE VICE CHAIR AND EACH HONOREE TAKE A PHOTO, AND THEN WE'LL DO A LARGE GROUP PHOTO WITH ALL OF THE HONOREES AND THE COMMISSION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. I'LL PROCEED. OUR NEXT AWARDEES FIRST MET EACH OTHER WHILE ONE WAS A RESEARCH NURSE WORKING WITH SEVERELY DISABLED CHILDREN, AND THE OTHER WAS A BAKER. SHEILA AND ALAN FIRST MOVED TO LONG BEACH NINE YEARS AGO AND HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERING AT THE BENBRIDGE HOUSE FOR SIX. SHEILA JOINED LONG BEACH, UM, LONG BEACH HERITAGE AFTER THREE YEARS BECOMING VICE PRESIDENT IN CARE OF THE BENBRIDGE HOUSE. ALLEN HANDLES ALL BAKING FOR HERITAGE HOLIDAYS. THEY BOTH MANAGE THE PHYSICAL PROPERTY OF THE HOUSE. WRIGHT GRANTS AND CONDUCT SOCIAL GATHERINGS AT THE HOUSE, AND THEY HAVE A GOAL OF OPENING THE HOUSE TO ALL PEOPLE TO ENJOY THE HISTORY AND, AND BEAUTY OF THE HOUSE AND GARDEN. ALAN GREW UP WITH A DISABLED YOUNGER BROTHER WHO SUFFERED FROM POST POLIO SYNDROME. LATER. HIS FATHER USED A WHEELCHAIR FOR MOBILITY DUE TO AN ADULT ONSET OF PARALYSIS OF THE LEGS. SHEILA SUFFERS FROM AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE THAT RESULTED IN EXTREME PAIN IN LOWER LEGS AND LIVED IN A WHEELCHAIR FOR NINE MONTHS. SO THE ISSUE OF ACCESSIBILITY HITS HOME FOR BOTH OF THEM. AFTER WORKING EVENTS AT THE BENBRIDGE HOUSE, THEY BOTH REALIZED THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE HOUSE COULD BE, UM, MORE ACCESSIBLE IF A RAMP WAS AVAILABLE. LAURA AND MIKE WILEY AND THEIR FOUNDATION OFFERED A POSSIBILITY OF A GRANT TO FUND THE RAMP. AND THE TRUE SENSE OF IT TAKES A VILLAGE PARK. BIXBY TOWER FOUNDATION GRACIOUSLY GAVE THE MONEY TO COMPLETE THE RAMP. [00:15:01] RETIRED ARCHITECT VAL PIPER AT A BENBRIDGE HOUSE DOCENT DUE THE PLANS SO AS NOT TO INTERFERE WITH THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE HISTORIC HOUSE YET TO BE COM. UM, A DA COMPLIANT AND MASTER CARPENTER FLORENCIO ALVAREZ BUILT THE RAMP, THEY ALL WORKED TOGETHER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. THEY HAVE CONTINUING PLANS FOR AN A DA COMPLIANT KITCHEN GARDEN AND WIDEN GARDEN PATHS FOR EASY ACCESS. THEY BELIEVE BENBRIDGE HOUSE BELONGS TO EVERYONE. PLEASE GIVE A ROUND FOR OF APPLAUSE FOR SHEILA GIBBONS AND ALAN AMI. IT'S REALLY BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO PUT THE RAMP, UH, IN, AT THE BENBRIDGE HOUSE. UM, I REMEMBER VERY CLEARLY WHEN JULIE CAME AND TESTED IT OUT FOR US AND DID SPINNING ON IT AND EVERYTHING ELSE. YES. SO THAT IT, WE KNEW THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY, UM, ACCESSIBLE. UH, WE DO HAVE SOME TROUBLE WITH OUR, OUR PATHS IN THE GARDEN, BUT HOPEFULLY, UH, BY NEXT YEAR THAT'LL BE WORKED OUT THAT WE CAN OPEN UP THE GARDEN MORE EASILY TO PEOPLE AND MOBILITY ISSUES. AND I HAVE SOME PLANS FOR IT TO BE OPEN UP FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SITE ISSUES. ALSO, UH, WE, UM, UH, LOVE THE BEVERAGE HOUSE, THE RAMP IN PLACE. THERE IS ONE OF VERY FEW HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN LONG IN, IN CALIFORNIA THAT ARE FULLY ACCESSIBLE IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS, MAYBE YOU DO, BUT HISTORIC BUILDINGS ARE GRANDFATHERED IN. THAT MEANS THEY DON'T HAVE A DA BUT AGAIN, IF THE BUILDING BELONGS TO EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET IN AND ENJOY IT. AND THAT'S OUR FEELINGS. AMAZING. THAT'S A GREAT, GREAT TESTIMONY AND GREAT WORK, MS. SHEILA AND ALLEN. THANK YOU. GREAT. APPRECIATE YOU GUYS AND COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY COMMENTS? UH, YEAH, JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. I, IT'S AMAZING. AND, UM, YES, I DID GET TO TEST IT OUT, AND THEN I GOT TO COME TO THE GRAND OPENING OF THE RAMP WHERE THERE WERE SEVERAL OF US IN WHEELCHAIRS. UM, AND YOU LET US SPEAK AND, AND IT'S, IT'S ALL THANKS TO YOU GUYS. THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH. AND THEN I DID DO THE UGLY CRY WHEN WE OPENED UP THE HOUSE. , YOU GUYS ARE WONDERFUL, AND IT IS A GROUP EFFORT, SO I JUST, A LOT OF, A LOT OF, SOME OF THE GROUP THAT HELPED PUT IT ALL TOGETHER IS HERE TODAY. AND YOU KNOW, I I I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY GETS, UH, YOU KNOW, GETS RECOGNITION. THANK YOU. THAT'S AWESOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. OUR FINAL AWARDEE IS A TRUE TESTAMENT OF FAITH AND PERSEVERANCE. ROBERT. CHELSEA WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A, FROM CHURCH ON THE 6 0 5 IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. WHEN HIS CAR OVERHEATED, HE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY TO AWAI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. WHEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENED, A DRUNK DRIVER WITH THREE PREVIOUS DUI CONVICTIONS SLAMMED INTO HIS DISABLED CAR WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT EXPLODED ON IMPACT. IT WAS ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND THE HEROISM OF A BYSTANDER THAT HE SURVIVED THE ACCIDENT. ROBERT WAS IN A COMA FOR SIX MONTHS AND HOSPITALIZED FOR 18 MONTHS WITH SEVERE BURNS COVERING THE MAJORITY OF HIS, HIS FACE AND BODY FACIAL TISSUE, INCLUDING HIS LIPS WERE BURNED OFF IN THE ACCIDENT. SINCE THE ACCIDENT, HE HAS ENDURED MORE THAN 30 SURGERIES TO REPAIR THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO HIS BODY. ROBERT, NOW, 68 BECAME THE FIRST BLACK PATIENT, AND, OR AT 68 BECAME THE FIRST BLACK PATIENT IN THE OLDEST TO RECEIVE A FULL FACE TRANSPLANT AND A PROCEDURE AT BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL IN JULY, 2019. SINCE THEN, HE STARTED THE ROBERT CHELSEA FOUNDATION, AN ORGANIZATION THAT SPREADS AWARENESS OF FACIAL TRANSPLANTS AND THE NEED FOR MORE AFRICAN AMERICAN DONORS. ROBERT, GRATEFUL TO HAVE SURVIVED THE ORDEAL, FINDS COMFORT IN HIS FAITH, AND HE LOOKS FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN HE CAN KISS HIS HIS DAUGHTER'S CHEEK WITH HIS OWN LIPS. AGAIN, PLEASE HELP US CELEBRATE MR. ROBERT. CHELSEA. [00:20:01] WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS. I WAS JUST THINKING, LISTENING TO THE RECIPIENTS AND , IT SEEMS LIKE THE DISABLED ALWAYS HAS A DESIRE TO HELP EVERYONE. ISN'T THAT SOMETHING? THEY DON'T LEAVE IT TO JUST ONE GROUP. UH, THEIR HEART SEEMS TO OPENED UP AND THE DISABLED, YOU THINK THEY WOULD CLOSE DOWN, THEY'D BE MORE SELFISH AND, AND, AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AND YET, UH, GOD HAS A WAY OF OPENING OUR HEARTS . IT'S EXPONENTIAL. SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT YOUR HEARTS ARE, ARE, CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND OPEN UP TO GOD'S PRECIOUS WILL. HE NEEDS THE SOFT, SWEET SPIRIT OF PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF AND ALL OF THESE RECIPIENTS HERE TODAY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR CARING. THERE'S AN OLD SAYING, IT'S NOT OLD. I ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG, ABOUT A COUPLE OF YEARS OLD, I, I REALIZED THAT, UH, IF ONE SIZE DOESN'T FIT ALL, NEITHER SHOULD ONE CULTURE OR COLOR BE A BENCHMARK FOR EVERYONE. WE NEED EVERYONE ON BOARD FOR ALL THE CAPACITIES THAT'S NECESSARY. SO I'M GRATEFUL THAT THIS IS ONLY A BEGINNING. IT SOUNDS LIKE FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE RECIPIENTS, THEY'RE NOT GONNA START, NOR WOULD I. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. CHELSEA. ANY COMMISSIONERS? ANY COMMENTS? OKAY. FIRST I WANT TO JUST SAY MR. CHELSEA HAS BEEN LIKE A MENTOR AND OVER 25 YEARS PLUS 20 SOME YEARS, UH, BEING AN ACTIVIST IN THE COMMUNITY AND FIGHTING JUST FOR RIGHTEOUS AND JUST SPEAKING THE, THE GOD WORD. AND SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU AS A COMMISSION BOARD AND KEEP UP GREAT WORK AND KEEP TRAVELING AROUND SPEAKING TO ALL THE STUDENTS AND UNIVERSITIES ABOUT YOUR, YOUR EXPERIENCE. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND VALUE YOUR STORY AND EVERYTHING YOU DO. THANK YOU. YEAH, THANK YOU. SO, I KNOW THAT THE COMMISSION IS CELEBRATING THESE HONOREES, BUT I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE DO HAVE SOME DIGNITARIES REPRESENTED IN THE AUDIENCE. UM, COUNCILWOMAN AND DEJAS, IF YOU'D LIKE TO, UH, COME UP TO THE PODIUM TO SHARE ANY REMARKS. AND WHILE YOU'RE COMING UP COUNCILWOMAN SAND, I WOULD LOVE FOR OUR HONOREES TO COME BACK UP AND DO A PHOTO GROUP, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WITH THE COUNCILWOMAN. AWESOME. OKAY. OOPS. OH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I DON'T, OH, OH MY, SO WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY. I THINK IT, IT JUST NOW IT MOVES, MOVES AROUND. LET'S SEE. LIKE, SORRY, SORRY. I CAN SPEAK LOUD. IT'S OKAY. UM, IT TILTED BACK A LITTLE BIT. YEAH. SO IS IT GOING OKAY, SO LET'S PUT IT BACK. OKAY. YEAH. OKAY. SO I THINK I CAN REACH THE HERE. I THINK WE GOT, I CAN GET A, [00:25:02] I CAN YOU HEAR ME? CAN I? OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR PATIENCE. UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANNA SAY, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO K COD. YOU KNOW THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE IN MY HEART, UM, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I STARTED. I STARTED AS A K COD COMMISSIONER. UM, AND THAT'S WHERE I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE. I DID NOT WANNA LEAVE K COD. UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF HAVE TO TURN OUT AND GIVE OTHERS A OPPORTUNITY. BUT I JUST WANNA REALLY SAY THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THESE REMARKABLE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CONTINUOUSLY ADVOCATING FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND DOING IT IN THEIR OWN VERY SPECIAL WAY. UM, TO JOHN, UM, HE SAYS HE'S SURPRISED THAT HE GOT THIS RECOGNITION. I THINK ALL OF US AGREE THAT NONE OF US ARE SURPRISED THAT HE GOT THIS RECOGNITION. HE'S BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY FOR AS LONG AS I'VE KNOWN, AND IT, IT'S BEEN MAYBE OVER A DECADE. UM, BUT WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU JOHN, ALSO TO, UM, MY DEAR FRIENDS SHEILA AND ALAN. I MEAN, I AM SO THRILLED FOR THEIR COMPASSION, THEIR DESIRE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WAS ABLE TO ENJOY THE BEAUTY THAT THE RIDGE HOUSE HAS TO OFFER. AND YES, IT'S A HISTORIC, UM, BUILDING A HISTORIC HOUSE. IT'S BEAUTIFUL, BUT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THE CHANCE TO ENJOY IT. AND I REMEMBER BEING ON THAT RAMP WITH JULIE ON THAT GREAT, GREAT GRAND OPENING. AND YES, IT WAS VERY EMOTIONAL TO BE ABLE TO GO UP THAT RAMP AND RING THAT DOORBELL. AND I KNOW SHEILA CAN REMEMBER THAT DOORBELL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RING AND GO INTO THE BEN RIDGE HOUSE. SUCH A SPECIAL MOMENT. AND TO ROBERT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESILIENCE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND YOUR COMPASSION. I THINK THAT EVERYONE SHOULD LEARN FROM YOU AND KNOW THAT NO MATTER WHAT, YOU ALWAYS CAN GIVE MORE TO HELP OTHERS. UM, AND I THINK THAT'S THE THEME FOR TODAY'S ADVOCATES IS HELPING OTHERS. UM, SO WITH THAT, I WANNA RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE RECIPIENTS AND SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, IN RECOGNITION OF CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITY, UM, CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING THE DISABILITY ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR. YOUR EXTRAORDINARY DEDICATION AND FIERCE ADVOCATE, UH, ADVOCACY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY HAS LEFT A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. KEEP ADVOCATING FOR MORE INCLUSIVE WORLD FOR ALL. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. IF THE, UM, RECIPIENTS CAN COME BACK UP, WE DO HAVE, UM, A PHOTO OP WITH THE COUNCILWOMAN AND THEN, UM, A ME, A REPRESENTATIVE OF ASSEMBLY MEMBER AL'S OFFICE. [00:30:57] THANK YOU. I'M MY LAP. I'VE HAD THIS IN MY LAP FOR NO REASON. ALRIGHT, HONOREES, IF YOU CAN JUST STAY UP HERE, WE HAVE ONE MORE DIGNITARY IN THE ROOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU ALL MORE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SAM WALDOCK. I'M HERE FROM THE OFFICE OF ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOSH LOWENTHAL. I ALSO HAVE SOME CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION, AND I WOULD LOVE TO READ THEM TO THE ROOM. UH, WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE DISABILITY ADVOCATES OF THE YEAR IN RECOGNITION FOR THE IMPACT OF THEIR ADVOCACY WORK FOR THE DISABLED COMMUNITY. THEIR WORK SUPPORTING THE MISSION OF THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITY HAS MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON COUNTLESS LIVES. WE THEREFORE WOULD LIKE TO HONOR AND COMMEMORATE THEIR EFFORTS AND CONGRATULATE THEM. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING DOWN FOR THE LAST PHOTO. LET'S GET THE FULL COMMISSION IN THERE. [00:35:26] WE ARE CALLING FOR AN ITEM NUMBER ONE RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MEETING OF THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2024 IS, SO MOVE SECOND. THE ITEM HAS BEEN [1. 24-55135 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Citizens' Advisory Commission on Disabilities meeting of Thursday, September 12, 2024.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] MOVED BY COMMISSIONER SWANSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER DEAN. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT RELATING TO THIS ITEM? IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM IN PERSON, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM AND IN THE ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE, OR PRESS NINE IN CALLING IN COMMISSIONERS. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? I SEE NONE. ALANA, PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. SURE. VICE CHAIR ADAMS. COMMISSIONER GARBUTT. AYE. COMMISSIONER DEAN? AYE. COMMISSIONER HILL? AYE. COMMISSIONER ROMO? AYE. COMMISSIONER SWANSON. AYE. MOTION CARRIES. I'M SORRY, THAT WAS FOR THE MINUTES, RIGHT? YES. SORRY, I NEED TO ABSTAIN. I WAS ABSENT AT THE LAST MEETING. I'M SORRY FOR THE, FOR THE, UH, CONFUSION. SO I ABSTAIN. SORRY. IS THAT OKAY? DO I NEED TO REVOTE? OKAY, LET'S JUST FOR THE RECORD, UM, TAKE ANOTHER VOTE ON THE MINUTES. ALL RIGHT. UM, COMMISSIONER GARBAT. AYE. COMMISSIONER DEAN? AYE. COMMISSIONER HILL ABSTAIN. COMMISSIONER ROMO AYE. COMMISSIONER SWANSON. AYE. MODEM CARE MO. MOTION CARRIES. OH, CHAIR, VICE CHAIR ADAMS FOR THE MINUTES. OH, AYE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER TWO, RECOMMENDATION TO DRAFT AND SEND A LETTER TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL REGARDING THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THE LONG BEACH TRANSIT BUS STOP LOCATIONS AT WILLOW SPRINGS PARK AND LIMITED BUS SERVICE TO AND FROM THE QUEEN MARY COMMISSIONERS. CAN I GET A MOTION? IS SO MOVE. CAN I GET A SECOND? I SECOND. [2. 24-55137 Recommendation to draft and send a letter to Mayor and City Council regarding the accessibility of Long Beach Transit bus stop locations at Willow Springs Park and limited bus service to and from the Queen Mary.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] UH, FOR THE RECORD, UM, COMMISSIONER GARBAT IS RECUSING HERSELF FROM THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. CAN I GET THE MOVER AND SECONDER AGAIN? JUST CERTAINLY. UH, I, UH, MOVE TO RECOMMEND A DRAFT AND SEND A LETTER TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL REGARDING THE ACCESSIBILITY OF LONG BEACH TRANSIT BUS STOP LOCATIONS AT WILLOW SPRINGS PARK AND THE LIMITED BUS SERVICE TO AND FROM THE QUEEN MARY. OKAY. AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ROMO. I'LL YES, I SECOND THANK YOU. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT RELATED TO THIS ITEM? IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM IN PERSON, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM OR IN THE ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE OR DIAL NINE STAR NINE IF CALLING IN. OKAY. I SEE THERE'S NONE. COMMISSIONERS CHAIR IS THERE CHAIR? I'M SORRY. UH, COMMISSIONER DEAN DOES HAVE, UM, A PRESENTATION OR REMARKS TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU. HELLO. SO, UM, THIS IS COMMISSIONER JULIE DEAN. UM, THIS IS REGARDING BOTH THE QUEEN MARY, THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC, AND THEN ALSO WILLOW SPRINGS PARK. SO REGARDING THE QUEEN MARY AND AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC LONG BEACH TRANSIT HAS NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY TO THE KO MARY OR THE AQUARIUM. THE PASSPORT BUS BUS GOES TO BOTH OF THEM FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY IN THE SUMMER, LBTS AQUA BUS AND AQUA LINK GO TO THE QUEEN MARY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK ON A LIMITED SCHEDULE. HOWEVER, MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, PEOPLE STILL NEED TO GET DOWN TO THE DOCKS NEAR THE AQUARIUM FROM OCEAN BOULEVARD. THE MAPPING SYSTEMS MOVE IT IN. GOOGLE MAPS RECOMMEND PEOPLE TO CURRENT, UH, SORRY. NORMALLY MONDAY THROUGH THROUGH THURSDAY, THE MAPPING SYSTEMS RECOMMEND PEOPLE TAKE THE 1 21 BUS TO CATALINA LANDING AND THEN TRAVEL A HARROWING 31 MINUTE WALK [00:40:01] OR SCOOT ON A VERY NON WALKABLE, AUTO HEAVY, DANGEROUS PATH OVER THE QUEENSWAY BRIDGE AND ONTO QUEENS HIGHWAY TO THE, TO THE QUEEN MARY. AS THE QUEEN MARY CONTINUES TO INCREASE THEIR ONBOARD WEEKDAY PROGRAMS, THIS BECOMES A BIGGER ISSUE. THE SHIP HAS NIGHT MARKETS, KARAOKE NIGHTS, YOGA ON DECK, MOVIES UNDER THE STARS, AND SO MUCH MORE. ADDITIONALLY, LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS HAVE STARTED INVITING THEIR RESIDENTS TO AN EVENING ON THE QUEEN MARY. I WAS ABLE UNABLE TO ATTEND MINE A FEW WEEKS AGO. THIS IMPACTS ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE DEPENDENT UPON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, THOSE WITH DISABILITIES, PEOPLE WHO DON'T DRIVE FOLKS WITHOUT A CAR AND TOURISTS. THE ONLY WAY FOR TRAVELERS STAYING ON THE QUEEN MARY, OR VISITORS WHO WANT TO TOUR THE SHIP TO GET BACK AND FORTH IS VIA RIDESHARE OR TAXI. CURRENTLY, IF IT FITS THEIR BUDGET, PEOPLE IN MOTORIZED SCOOTERS OR WHEELCHAIRS DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION. THERE'S ALSO NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC. UM, SORRY, WHAT, WHICH I ALREADY MENTIONED. AND, UM, YET THE AQUAQUARIUM AND THE QUEEN MARY ARE THE TWO BIGGEST ATTRACTIONS IN LONG BEACH. LONG BEACH TRANSIT RESPONDED, UH, WHEN I WROTE THEM WITH THANKS FOR THE ESSENTIAL FEEDBACK ON LBT SERVICE TO THE QUEEN MARY. THEY ADVISED THAT UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO A SHORTAGE OF STAFFING RESOURCES, LBT IS UNABLE TO COMMIT TO INCREASING SERVICE AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER, MY CONCERNS HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH THEIR LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT AND WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR FUTURE TRANSIT PLANNING AND ADVOCACY. UM, I ADVISED WHEN I RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION THAT IT WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME AND THAT I WOULD CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THIS. UM, A VERY TEMPORARY FIX WOULD BE TO REQUEST THAT DISTRICT OFFICES HOLD THEIR EVENTS ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, SO THAT EVERYONE CAN ATTEND. A PERMANENT FIX WOULD BE TO INCREASE SERVICE BUS SERVICE TO SEVEN DAYS A WEEK TO BOTH THE QUEEN MARY AND THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC. REGARDING WILLOW SPRINGS PARK, IT IS LOCATED ON ORANGE AVENUE BETWEEN WILLOW STREET AND ON THE SOUTH AND SPRING STREET. ON THE NORTH ORANGE HAS NO SIDEWALKS IN THE VICINITY OF THE PARK. THE LB TRANSIT STOPS ARE LOCATED SOUTH OF WILLOW, WHERE THERE ARE SIDEWALKS AND SOUTH OF SPRING WHERE THERE ARE SIDEWALKS, WHICH SUDDENLY END FRIENDS OF WILLOW SPRINGS PARK CONDUCT. NA, NUMEROUS AMAZING PROGRAMS AT THE PARK, BUT ANYONE DEPENDENT UPON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. A FIX FOR THIS WOULD BE TO EITHER BUILD SIDEWALKS OR TO ADD A BUS STOP AT THE PARK. THANK YOU. OH, DO I NEED TO SAY WE HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT? COMMISSIONER? UH, YES. UH, THANK YOU. UM, HERE'S WHAT THIS MEANS. IF, IF WE DON'T REC RECTIFY IT. AND I THINK, UM, COMMISSIONER DEAN FOR A SHORT TERM FIX. UM, BECAUSE BUDGET, OF COURSE, IS IMPORTANT AND ABILITY TO HIRE A STAFF IS ALSO IMPORTANT. BUT IF WE DON'T FIX IT, IT MEANS THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IS ONLY PART OF THE TIME AND PART OF THE CITY ACCESSIBLE, AND PEOPLE HAVE TO COME IN AND GUESS WHERE THEY'RE AT. SO IF WE'RE ONLY A FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY ACCESSIBLE CITY, WE NEED TO TELL PEOPLE THAT, WHICH OF COURSE WE DON'T. SO I THINK IT REALLY BEHOOVES US TO REALLY RETHINK WHEN WE ARE, UH, DOING LIMITED SERVICES THAT OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS DON'T GO OFF AND DO BIG PARTIES IN PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN'T GO. SO I, THERE'S A BIG MESSAGE HERE AND I DON'T, AND I WANNA GET THAT OUT AND REALLY, UM, CHEER ON THIS WORK THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER DEAN HAS DONE ON OUR BEHALF. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER SWATCHMAN. COMMISSIONER DEAN ON THIS, UH, ITEM. CAN WE GET A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? WE HAVE A MOTION. I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THE VOTE. TAKE A VOTE. THANK YOU. UM, CAN I ASK ONE QUESTION? YEAH. WOULD THE NEXT STEP BE, UM, IF THIS PASSES, THEN WE WOULD CREATE AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO CREATE A LETTER? IS THAT WHAT WE WOULD DO? OR, THERE'S A FEW DIFFERENT APPROACHES YOU COULD TAKE. YOU COULD ESTABLISH AN AD HOC COMMITTEE AS PART OF THIS MOTION, SO WE WOULD NEED TO MAKE, UH, AN AMENDMENT TO IT. UM, ANOTHER WAY IS THAT, UH, WE COULD JUST APPOINT A SPECIFIC COMMISSIONER TO DRAFT THAT LETTER. EITHER WAY, THE, EITHER THAT AD HOC COMMITTEE OR THAT INDIVIDUAL WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING IT BACK, LET'S SAY AT THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, UH, TO MOVE FORWARD. OKAY. THANK YOU. GREAT RECOMMENDATION. GREAT. THANK YOU. SO DOES, SO DOES ANY, OH, SORRY. SO DOES ANYONE WANT TO, UM, ADJUST THE RECOMMENDATION TO INCLUDE AN AD HOC COMMITTEE OR TO APPOINT SOMEONE TO WRITE A [00:45:01] LETTER? I MADE THE MOTION. I'D BE HAPPY TO AMEND IT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT COMMISSIONER DEAN TO WRITE THE A LETTER AND BRING IT BACK TO THE, UM, COMMISSION AS SOON AS FEASIBLE. OKAY. OKAY. UM, I CAN COMMIT TO BRINGING IT BACK NEXT MONTH. GREAT. OKAY. OKAY. SO AS A COMMISSION BOARD, WE WILL ACCEPT THAT AND MOVE. ALRIGHT. SO THE AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION HAS BEEN, UM, MO APPROVED OR SUPPORTED BY THE MO, THE MAKER OF THE MOTION. I'LL GO AHEAD AND PROCEED WITH THE VOTE. UM, VICE CHAIR ADAMS AYE. COMMISSIONER DEAN? AYE. COMMISSIONER HILL? AYE. COMMISSIONER ROMO? AYE. AYE. COMMISSIONER SWANSON. AYE. MOTION CARRIES. CAN WE GET, UH, COMMISSIONER GARBO BACK OUT HERE? ALL RIGHT. AS SHE COMES OUT, ITEM THREE IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE REPORTS FROM CURRENT AD HOC COMMITTEES. DISCUSS ANTICIPATED AD HOC COMMITTEES FOR UPCOMING PROJECTS, AND IF APPROPRIATE, TAKE ACTION TO DISSOLVE OR CREATE AD HOC COMMITTEES. UM, ALANA, DID WE GIVE THE PUBLIC, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO RELATE TO THAT TOPIC OR DID WE MOVE FORWARD? YOU TOOK PUBLIC [3. 24-55138 Recommendation to receive and file reports from current Ad Hoc Committees; discuss anticipated Ad Hoc Committees for upcoming projects; and, if appropriate, take action to dissolve or create Ad Hoc Committees.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] COMMENT BEFORE COMMISSIONER DEAN SPOKE. OKAY. SO CAN I GET A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? MOTION? CAN I GET A SECOND? SECOND. THE ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED BY COMMISSIONER DEAN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ROMO. THANK YOU. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT RELATING TO THIS ITEM? IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC CHAIR, IF I MAY, UM, THE COMMISSIONERS SHOULD GIVE THEIR AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS FIRST. OH, OKAY. SO ANY COMMISSIONERS THAT HAVE AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS TO SHARE, PLEASE, UH, UM, TAKE THAT TIME TO, TO GIVE THAT UPDATE. SURE. WE HAVE OUR COMMISSION, UH, GERBA FROM THE AIR TRAVEL WITH DISABILITY AD HOC COMMITTEE. THE SECRETARY, THE AIR, THE AIR TRAVELERS WITH DISABILITIES FOREMAN WAS A GREAT SUCCESS. EACH DAY, 40 TO 55 GUESTS ATTENDED THE VIRTUAL EVENT. THEY HEARD FROM REPRESENTATIVES OF TSA AND DOT, UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION AND LONG BEACH AIRPORT AND A BM. SINCE THIS EVENT IS OVER, WE NEED TO DISSOLVE THIS AD HOC COMMITTEE. I THINK WE SPOKE THROUGH ALL THE REPORTS FROM THE REVIEW. WOULD YOU LIKE ALL THE REPORTS TO BE READ FIRST? OKAY. SO WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT COMMITTEE, AD HOC REPORT FROM COMMISSIONER HILL ON DISABILITY MENTOR DAY. YEAH, SO DISABILITY MENTOR DAY, UM, THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED LAST WEEK. UM, ON OCTOBER 3RD. UM, REALLY GREAT EVENT. SEVERAL OF THE COMMISSIONERS WERE THERE. UM, THAT DAY WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, UM, STUDENTS FROM LOCAL COLLEGES WHO HAVE DISABILITIES TO, UH, SHADOW A CITY, UM, STAFF PERSON FOR A DAY. UM, THERE'S ALSO A LUNCH THAT DAY, A CONVERSATION WITH CITY STAFF AND THEN ALSO A PANEL OF MIX OF CITY OFFICIALS, STAFF, UH, COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE DISABILITY, UM, JUST TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND COMMENT. UM, AGAIN, THAT WAS A REALLY GREAT EVENT. UM, THANK YOU FOR COMMISSIONS WHO ARE HERE, UM, AND OTHER STAFF WHO WERE THERE. UM, THE PLAN MOVING FORWARD WITH, UH, DISABILITY MENTOR DAY IS TO HAVE THAT EVERY OTHER YEAR. UM, AND CELEBRATION OF ENDING, SO NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH. UM, SO WE CAN EXPECT THAT NEXT ONE TO BE TO 6 24 26. SO EVERY EVEN YEAR IS THE EXPECTATION, UH, MOVING FORWARD. AND SINCE IT HAS BEEN COMPLETED, UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO ALSO DISSOLVE THIS AD HOC COMMITTEE UNTIL THE NEXT EVEN YEAR, UM, TO PICK THAT BACK UP. THANK YOU. UH, OKAY. UM, I AM, UH, COMMISSIONER SWANSON. I'M REPORTING ON THE DISABILITY DATA AND COMMUNITY SURVEY AD HOC COMMITTEE. UM, IT MEETS ON A BIWEEKLY BASIS. THE LAST TWO MEETINGS, UH, HAVE FOCUSED ON [00:50:01] THE UPCOMING LISTENING SESSIONS, WHICH WILL BE A WAY, UH, TO BRING IN INFORMATION AND ORIENT, UH, PERSPECTIVE FROM, UH, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE THE DISABILITY, UH, COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, WE'VE CREATED A SCHEDULE FOR THE WORK, UH, WHICH WILL CARRY OUT FOR YEAR ONE. IT'S A TWO YEAR PROJECT, AS SOME OF YOU MAY RECALL, IN YEAR ONE, SEMESTER ONE, WHICH IS THE TIMEFRAME WE'RE IN NOW, WE'LL BEGIN LISTENING SESSIONS. UH, THESE WILL BE GROUPS OF FIVE TO EIGHT INDIVIDUALS, UH, WHERE WE CAN GATHER THEIR PERSPECTIVE AND THEIR PRIORITIES, UM, AND BEGIN TO CREATE THE DATA SET. UH, THEN IN YEAR ONE, SEMESTER TWO, WHICH WILL BE IN THE SPRING OF 2025, UM, THIS WORK GROUP WILL COMPLETE A SURVEY INSTRUMENT AND THEN ROLL THAT OUT, UH, FOR STARTING IN SEMESTER TWO AND MOVING INTO, UH, THIS, THIS SUMMER. UM, AND THAT CONCLUDES, UM, MY REPORT. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER SWANSON. WE HAVE ANOTHER REPORT FROM OUR COMMISSIONER HILL FOR THE DISABILITY DISCLOSURE FOR YOUTH SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN. YES. SO THE DISABILITY DISCLOSURE FOR YOUTH, UM, SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN. SO, UM, THE LETTER HAS BEEN SENT TO CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR, UM, REGARDING OUR REQUEST. UM, OUR NEXT STEPS ARE GOING TO BE TO TRY TO SET UP MEETINGS WITH THREE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO FURTHER DISCUSS THIS. AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS. WITH THAT, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER HILL. ON THE NEXT, UM, THIS, DO WE NEED MOVE A MOTION? PUBLIC COMMENT. PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT RELATING TO THIS ITEM? IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM IN PERSON, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM AND OR IN THE ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND AND FEATURE. UH, STAR NINE IF CALLING IN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, IT'S MORE OF A QUESTION BECAUSE I'M NOT TOO FAMILIAR ON, UH, HOW THINGS WORK, BUT I WAS WONDERING, CAN PEOPLE OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ANY OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WORK ON, TAKE PART IN, UH, ANY OF THE, UH, UH, SUBGROUPS, UH, AND SHARE INFORMATION THEY MAY HAVE? AND THAT MAY BE VALUABLE TO THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN YOUR, IN YOUR, UH, SUBCOMMITTEES. AND IF NOT, UH, IS THERE ANY WAY TO HAVE IT, UH, PUT INTO YOUR, YOUR BYLAWS AND EVERYTHING ELSE SO THEY CAN TAKE PART IN THAT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER KENDRICK. I KNOW JUST THROUGH MY EXPERIENCE OF THE BOARD, UM, YOU WILL REACH OUT TO THE COORDINATOR AND ANY COMMENTS OR ANY INPUT YOU WOULD SPEAK WITH OUR COORDINATOR, JENNIFER. UM, AND SHE WILL DIRECT YOU TO HOW THAT WILL WORK WITH THE COMMISSION BOARD FOR THE, ANY OF THE COMMITTEES AD HOC COMMITTEES. AND THEN SHE'LL GIVE US THE, THE PROPER DIRECTION FOR THAT. SO YES, THAT, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES, YOU CAN DEFINITELY PUT YOUR INPUT. SEND A LETTER WHAT FROM OUR COMMITTEES AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE. YEAH. OKAY. I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE VOTE. VICE CHAIR ADAMS AYE. COMMISSIONER GARBA. AYE. COMMISSIONER DEAN? AYE. COMMISSIONER HILL? AYE. COMMISSIONER ROMO? AYE. COMMISSIONER SWANSON. AYE. MOTION CARRIES. MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. SO THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITY ON NON AGENDA ITEMS. UH, EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR COMMENTS UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE CHAIR. IF THERE'S ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS SI ON THIS ITEM IN PERSON, PLEASE LINE UP THE PODIUM AND IN THE ZOOM PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE OR DOW STAR NINE [PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Citizens' Advisory Commission on Disabilities on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Chair.] IF CALL IN. THANK YOU MR. KENDRICK, SIT ON ONE OF THE, UH, COMMITTEES AT LONG BEACH TRANSIT FOR THE DIS DISABLED AND, UH, FOR OVER 12 YEARS. AND I'VE, UH, ALSO TOOK PART IN, UH, MEETINGS WITH, UH, METRO LA METRO AND I HAVE BROUGHT UP OVER NINE YEARS THAT OUR BUS STOPS EITHER DON'T HAVE SHELTERS OR THE SHELTERS THEY HAVE ARE NOT WHAT THEY SHOULD BE AND DOES NOT DO THE JOB. WE JUST EXPERIENCED THE TWO YEARS IN A ROW, THE HOTTEST TEMPERATURES IN LONG BEACH AND ON A GLOBAL LEVEL, AND [00:55:01] WE'RE NOW USING OUR HEAT CENTERS MORE. BUT HOW CAN PEOPLE GO TO A HEAT CENTER WHEN THEY USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND THE BUS STOP IS 80, 90 OR A HUNDRED DEGREES AND THEY'RE PASSING OUT, AND I'VE HEARD FROM LONG BEACH TRANSIT, I'VE HEARD FROM METRO WHAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT WHAT THEY SAY AND WHAT YOU SEE IS NOT MATCHING UP. OUR BUS STOPS HAVE NOT IMPROVED IN ANY WAY, ANY FORM. AND WE'RE GONNA SEE MORE AND MORE HOTTER DAYS AND PEOPLE DIE FOR MORE HEAT DAYS THAN ANYTHING. SO WHAT IS IT GONNA TAKE FOR SOMETHING TO ACTUALLY HAPPEN? AND NOW WHEN IT RAINS, THE BUS STOPS DON'T EVEN WORK EITHER FOR THAT. AND SO WE NEED TO HAVE LONG BEACH TRANSIT AND METRO COME TO THE MEETING AND ADDRESS THIS AND EXPLAIN WHY FOR NINE TO 12 YEARS THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS, BUT NOTHING'S CHANGED. AND THEY'RE EXCUSE THAT THEY MOVE BUS STOPS BECAUSE OF THE HOMELESS. WELL, YOU MOVE THE BUS STOPS 'CAUSE OF THE HOMELESS. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND THE ELDERLY USE IT MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE. AND THE DISABLED AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISABLED CHILDREN AND NOTHING'S CHANGED. AND CLIMATE CHANGE IS ONLY GETTING WORSE. AND NOW WE HAVE THE OLYMPICS COMING UP IN THE YEAR, WHAT, 2028? YES. OKAY. SO WHAT ARE WE TELLING PEOPLE? WE WANT YOU TO STOP USING YOUR CARS BECAUSE WHAT IT EFFECT HAS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND USE MORE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. BUT, SORRY. AND I USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. I GAVE UP DRIVING THE HEALTH ENVIRONMENT, BUT NOW I'M USING IT LESS BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO IS IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE BECAUSE I AM HEAT INTOLERANT, I'M PHOTO SENSITIVE AND I HAVE A, A PROBLEM WITH MY EYES THAT IT'S SO RARE. MEDICARE AND MEDICAL DOES NOT COVER IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER IN THE ZOOM? NO. OKAY. SEE THERE'S NONE. NOW WE INTO OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS AND THE ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR ANY OF OUR COMMISSION MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO REPORT ON ANY COMMISSIONER HILL. UM, JUST WANNA LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT, UM, THE BRAILLE INSTITUTE IN LOS ANGELES IS CELEBRATING A WHITE KING AWARENESS, UH, DAY. THAT WILL BE ON OCTOBER 15TH. SO NEXT WEEK, UM, STARTING AT 10:30 AM YOU WILL NEED TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT, BUT THEY WILL BE WALKING, UM, [ANNOUNCEMENTS] AROUND FOOD BLOCKS THROUGH LACC. SO LOS ANGELES CITY COLLEGE, UH, KIND OF MARCHING, CELEBRATING THE WHITE CANE DAY AND WHITE CANE DAY AWARENESS. UM, THERE'S GONNA BE LUNCH PROVIDED AND THEN, UM, THERE WILL BE SHOWING A MOVIE ABOUT A GUIDE DOG AND SHOWING, UH, HAVING POPCORN. SO, UM, THAT EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. YOU JUST HAVE TO REGISTER. UM, YOU COULD GO ONLINE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE A REPORT OUT? UM, COMING FROM MY ORGANIZATION, WE HAVE A, WE CALL IT A BEACH WALK AND IT'S OUR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER BEACH WALK THAT WE DO HERE IN AT THE AQUA OF THE PACIFIC. THAT WOULD BE NOVEMBER 2ND. I WILL ENSURE TO FORWARD THAT BEACH WALK EVENT TO OUR COORDINATOR, JENNIFER, TO SHARE WITH THE COMMISSION BOARD. UM, THAT'S AN EVENT THAT WE'RE DOING IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. OKAY. SO AT THIS TIME, ALANA, THANK YOU FOR COVERING AND BEING IN POSITION AND WE, I THINK AT THIS POINT WE CAN ADJOURN. THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS OR ANY DECLARE MEETING TO ADJOURN THE TIME. CAN WE CALL THE TIME? TWO O'CLOCK? THANK YOU. PERFECT. . * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.