AVILA SPAIN HAS CREATED WHEELCHAIR ACCESS TO ITS MEDIEVAL WALLS

WHAT’S YOUR MODERN CITY’S EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO MOBILITY AND ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?

For years, the ancient city of Avila Spain has prided itself on expanding access for people with disabilities.

An accessible portion of its famous city walls can be reached by ramp and elevator.

https://www.avilaturismo.com/en/organize-your-visit/avila-is-everyone

PHOTO OPS AT WORLD CUP PARTIES ARE FUN

SAVING LIVES IS ESSENTIAL

I am begging Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins to take swift action to collaborate with Miami-Dade County to reduce unsafe conditions for pedestrians.

A Miami Herald story this week documented that greater Miami is one of the most dangerous places for pedestrians in the entire U.S.

I have supported and voted for Higgins since she ran for elected office in the County.

I attended her kickoff meeting when she successfully ran for mayor.

She has given me a proclamation for my artistic work to support historic preservation.

I now call on my fellow believer in public service and colleague to take decisive action.

A Chief Mobility Officer could save lives and increase safe mobility for all.

A city executive focused on stopping pedestrian deaths and severe injuries would be especially valuable for vulnerable residents who are disabled, elderly or very young.

More than 1/3 of Miamians cannot or do not drive.

That makes for a large constituency that would benefit from wide, unobstructed sidewalks, stiff fines for cars that park on them, longer better protected crosswalks and street redesign that slows down our dangerous drivers and protects mobility by foot, wheelchair or bike.

I suggested the Chief Mobility Officer position (full disclosure: yes, I would be interested in being the humble public servant who takes on this noble role) at the outset of 2026.

But I have yet to hear from our city's progressive mayor. 

Sorry that the Miami Herald chooses to keep this life safety story behind a subscription pay wall -- but you can get the gist from the free video at this link:

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/traffic/article316075848.html

 

 

CURB DANGEROUS AND NOISY USE OF FIREWORKS

THE CITY OF MIAMI MUST PROTECT QUALITY OF LIFE

A simple progression of warning, then confiscating explosives, then issuing tickets and ultimately arrest – would give people time to change their behavior without suffering dire consequences on the first offense.

Independence Day weekend is approaching.

I dread it, because I will get only a few hours of sleep on July 2, 3, 4, 5…

Fun can be had without detonating illegal, dangerous explosives into the wee hours.

I sincerely hope our Mayor, Commissioners, City Manager and police can tame this beast and improve our quality of life.

CURB DANGEROUS AND NOISY USE OF FIREWORKS

THE CITY OF MIAMI MUST PROTECT QUALITY OF LIFE

Many people are elderly or have a disability.

Many take medications that create noise sensitivity.

Most of us work for a living and cannot suffer with a noise from dusk till 3 a.m. for three or more nights leading up to and including July 4, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Little to no sleep, for days on end, three holiday time per year, negatively impacts health.

To restore tranquility while acknowledging some partying, I suggest a compromise.

Even though most of these dangerous explosives are illegal, have “suspend the rules” period twice per year.

From 10 pm. to 12:30 am. on July 4 and Dec. 31 – people can set off all the fireworks and noise makers they want.

The police will not intercede.

All other times outside those two “immunity” windows, the police must go to the offending homes.

 

CURB DANGEROUS AND NOISY USE OF FIREWORKS

THE CITY OF MIAMI MUST PROTECT QUALITY OF LIFE

For more than a decade, I have rescued dozens of cats by getting them trapped, neutered and released so they cannot add to the stray population.

Some live inside and others in houses that I have built for them.

The cats suffer with the noise.

Some have ran away, never to return.

Any vet or pet owner can verify that hours of loud fireworks are torture for dozens of kinds of house pets.

I understand that people stay up till midnight on New Year’s Eve.

I can put up with the sound of folks talking to each other at the backyard barbecue.

I understand that Dec. 31, I will hear music playing past bedtime.

I will tolerate it, so long as it is not thundering at South Beach nightclub level.

But night after night of noise that sounds like military artillery?

No, that is not appropriate for any place.

 

 

CURB DANGEROUS AND NOISY USE OF FIREWORKS

THE CITY OF MIAMI MUST PROTECT QUALITY OF LIFE

The fireworks noise must stop.

It is abusive.

Endless noise -- that terrorizes pets and triggers PTSD in humans -- is not essential to celebrating a holiday. 

My house is old with thick cement block for an exterior.

It has noise-insulating impact glass in all windows.

None of that holds up to be bombardment that denies sleep.

I have purchased white noise machines and turned them up to the max.

I have tried earplugs and noise canceling headphones.

None of it comes close to canceling out the terrifying artillery noises.

CURB DANGEROUS AND NOISY USE OF FIREWORKS

THE CITY OF MIAMI MUST PROTECT QUALITY OF LIFE

In most of the nation, the noise and terror for pets is limited to July 4.

Because of the warm winters, people fire them off on Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Miami.

Shenandoah is one of dozens of neighborhoods where the ear-splitting bombardment has gotten out of hand.

When I first moved here nearly a quarter of a century ago, the noise was roughly limited to about 9 p.m. till 12:30 a.m. on July 4 and Dec. 31.

Now, it takes place from a dusk till 3 a.m. on Independence Day, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

People also fire off hundreds of these noisemakers – long past midnight -- for days leading up to each holiday.