On March 14, the Minnesota Council on Disabilities legislative forum met at the State Capitol to address transportation issues impacting Minnesotans with mobility issues. Also, The Shade Company, Blackduck’s largest employer, is closing at the end of April, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has detected the emerald ash borer in Aitkin County.
Transcript
HOST: You are listening to North Star Stories - voices from where we live - a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.
ANCHOR: Today, how transportation can add to the daily challenges faced by Minnesotans living with disabilities. Plus, an update on the emerald ash borer in Aitkin County and Blackduck, Minnesota's Shade Store is closing. I’m Chantel SinGs.
One hundred fifteen employees will soon be out of a job in Blackduck. The Shade Company, which manufactures blinds, announced the layoffs at the end of February. It is the largest employer in the community located in Beltrami County. The company has been a fixture in Blackduck since 1980, when it began as Anderson Fabrics. Though the community is devastated, the shade company has provided severance packages and offered workers the opportunity to work in one of its other locations. The layoffs will take effect April 30.
Next, mobility and transportation add to the daily challenges faced by people living with disabilities. Reporter Katharine DeCelle brings a follow-up from the March 14th Minnesota council on disabilities legislative forum.
Katharine DeCelle: Transportation issues can create problems in our lives that affect our employment, schooling, families and more. However, for those with disabilities, transportation problems can hinder both their mobility and independence.
Rep. Katie Jones: Not everyone in Minnesota can drive. Actually, one out of three Minnesotans can't drive for one reason or another because of age, ability, accessibility, affordability.
Katharine DeCelle: That's Minnesota representative Katie Jones from District 61A speaking at the state Capitol on March 14 at the Minnesota Council on Disabilities legislative forum.
Rep. Katie Jones: For the last eight years, I've sat on the City of Minneapolis Infrastructure Committee. We made sure to prioritize sidewalks with curb ramps. This has been going on for the last 30 years, since the ADA was passed, but we are still having to fight for that today.
Katharine DeCelle: The ADA, the Americans with Disabilities Act, says that sidewalk curb ramps must be installed at all intersections where pedestrian crossings exist, ensuring accessibility for people in wheelchairs.
Rep. Katie Jones: If we were to keep up with our current spending levels in Minneapolis to reach the current standards for 88 ramps, it was going to take us, like 200 more years to get them all in place, and that's just not acceptable.
Katharine DeCelle: Transportation barriers remain high for individuals using wheelchairs on public transportation as well.
Rep. Katie Jones: If you're getting onto a bus and there's already a stroller on and there's a wheelchair on and you're a wheelchair user, good luck. You're going to have to wait for the next bus. It feels like you're disrespected, that you haven't been seen, that you're not valued.
Katharine DeCelle: Many individuals with disabilities rely heavily on services like Metro Mobility, a door to door transportation option designed for those with disabilities. Metro Mobility user Steve Rynardi spoke at the forum on how this service often falls short of meeting his needs.
Steve Rynardi: I mainly take Metro Mobility, which has its challenges. They are state funded and are short staffed and is not always reliable.
Katharine DeCelle: Steve says the current inadequacies don't just inconvenience riders. They limit job opportunities and prevent access to essential resources.
Steve Rynardi: There have been many times when my Metro Mobility rides were very late did not come at all. I just want to get to my work in response to the growing need for accessible transportation.
Katharine DeCelle: A new bill has been proposed in Minnesota that mandates transportation companies like Uber and Lyft to ensure their vehicles are wheelchair accessible. As advocates and community members push for transportation improvements, the message remains clear, inclusive transit options are essential rights for every Minnesotan. For North Star Stories, I'm Katharine DeCelle.
ANCHOR: You are listening to North Star Stories. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is expressing new concerns about the emerald ash borer. The Department of Ag says for the first time ever the emerald ash borer has shown up in Aitkin County in north central Minnesota. The department says it also discovered new infestations in parts of Pine and St. Louis Counties. The pests are now present in 54 counties in the state. The larvae of the ash borer kill the trees by tunneling under the bark. Residents are urged to help stop the spread by limiting the movement of firewood.
HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS - Diverse Radio for Minnesota's Communities - with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at AMPERS dot ORG.