Access Services…Behind the Scenes
Volume 6, Issue 7: October 26, 2012
Executive Report
Over the last couple of days I have been fortunate to participate in one of our most important civic duties – jury service. Whether it is a misdemeanor, felony, or civil case, the opportunity to be part of this process has always fascinated me and I feel honored to be selected as a jury member.
This civic duty segues into something equally important that we all can do in less than two weeks – exercise your right to vote. There are a number of important ballot measures, local and state races, as well as the Presidential Race, that I encourage staff and our stakeholders to weigh in on Tuesday November 6th. To quote Alexander Hamilton – “A share in the sovereignty of the state, which is exercised by the citizens at large, in voting at elections is one of the most important rights of the subject, and in a republic ought to stand foremost in the estimation of the law.”
Shelly Verrinder, Executive Director
Board Approves Fare Change
On October 22nd, the Access Services Board of Directors approved a two-step fare adjustment and tabled a staff proposal to reduce the Agency’s reservations window.
Fare adjustment
The Board approved the following new fare schedule:
L.A. Basin / Current / January 1, 2013 / July 1, 20140 - 20 Miles / $2.25 / $2.50 / $2.75
Over 20 Miles / $3.00 / $3.25 / $3.50
It’s important to note that transfer and North County fares will remain the same.
Member Agency Meeting
This proposal must now be ratified at a Special Member Agency Meeting which is being held on November 19th at the California Endowment, 1000 North Alameda Street in downtown Los Angeles from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The meeting calls together the three “classes” of the Agency: the Board of Directors, the municipal transit operators and the local transit operators to consider the new fare schedule. If the proposal is ratified, staff will amend the Agency’s paratransit plan and submit it to the Federal Transit Administration.
Reservations window
While the Board approved the new fare schedule, it tabled a staff proposal to reduce the reservations window from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Board asked that staff provide some additional information about the proposal. Staff will take the Board’s questions and comments into consideration and will consider bringing this proposal back to the Board sometime next year.
Andre Colaiace, Deputy Executive Director, Planning and Governmental Affairs
Independent Living Center Dinner
On Saturday Oct. 13, Access staff Mark Maloney, Linda Ross, Rogelio Gomez, Geoffrey Okamoto, Matthew Avancena and I, represented Access at the Third Annual Awards Ceremonies for the Services Center for Independent Living in Claremont. The event was attended by local dignitaries and many local/ regional agencies honoring those dedicated in support and service to the mission of the Services Center for Independent Living. Many certificates were offered by the SCIL, validating what an individual or small group of people can achieve or improve upon with focused dedication.
Their Mission:
Services Center for Independent Living (SCIL) has worked with people who are disabled of all ages in 22 cities in south east Los Angeles County - The East San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys - since 1980. Services include: self-advocacy training, assistive technology, housing information, independent living skills training, peer counseling, and personal care assistance, as well as information and referral about a variety of timely topics with most services provided at no cost to our consumers.
Richard Rodriguez, Sr. Project Manager
71st Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind
Celebrating their 71st annual convention in El Segundo, California, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) are also hosting a nationwide public awareness campaign ‘Meet the Blind Month’. Demonstrating the capacity of blind people across America and sharing the many resources available through the NFB, members make presentations to school-age students and seniors facing vision loss, host literature tables at local fairs and festivals, and participate in various community service events.
With more than 50,000 members, the NFB is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. In promoting valuable themes of self-confidence, self-determination and self-awareness Access Mobility Management staff was invited as featured speakers on the subject of Service Animals and the Access Customer.
The mission of both Access staff and the NFB is to achieve a better understanding and acceptance of the difficulties customers traveling with service animals can experience in cramped vehicles or with customers who have never encountered travel time with guide dogs and/or service animals. The misconceptions and the lack of information which exist can be resolved by education and sharing information. Access and the National Federation of the Blind can achieve this together by bringing imaginative solutions in educating customers about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Access Rider’s Guide.
Erik Washington, Mobility Management Counselor
Driver Incentives Awarded at CTI
Access strives to provide safe and efficient service to each customer. Drivers that represent these qualities are recognized through the Driver Incentive Program, and the beginning of October proved to be an exciting time for CTI drivers. On October 5th, many CTI drivers were recognized for driving accident and incident free and were awarded prizes such as jackets, watches and iPods. Executive Director Shelly Verrinder and Chief Operations Officer Mark Maloney were among several Access representatives that came to celebrate the drivers’ accomplishments.
The biggest winner of the day was Antonio Gonzalez who was awarded a 37’’ HDTV and a four pack of Disneyland tickets for reaching over 100,000 safe miles. Antonio Gonzalez does an excellent job representing Access and was truly happy to receive these prizes. All of the drivers showed their excitement to be a part of a program that encourages them to keep up the hard work!
Jessica Thompson, OperationsSupervisor
Mark Ridley-Thomas Luncheon
Shelly Verrinder and I attended a luncheon sponsored by the Los Angeles Current Affairs Forum last week that featured County Supervisor and Metro Boardmember Mark Ridley-Thomas. The Supervisor provided some interesting insights into his work on various transportation issues and projects, including Metro ExpressLanes; the effort to pass Measure J; and the Crenshaw/LAX Light Rail Project.
Andre Colaiace, Deputy Executive Director, Planning and Governmental Affairs
LA County Commission Award Luncheon
I attend the monthly meeting of the Los Angeles County Commission on Disability, located in Downtown Los Angeles. Each year, they have their Access Awards Luncheon. This year Access was represented by our very own Brian Selwyn, Louis Burns, Director Dolores Nason and Executive Director Shelly Verrinder. This year’s theme was titled “Disabled Does Not Mean Unable.” Each year the Commission identifies individuals with a disability from each of the five County Supervisorial Districts to receive this illustrious Scholarship Award. Each of these recipients have finished high school and are now at the college level.
The County Commission has provided $75,000 in scholarships to those recipients who have demonstrated a will to overcome hardships from emotional, mental illness, and physical disabilities. On hand to present these awards were representatives from each of the five County Supervisors, Supervisor Michael Antonovich presented his recipients award in person. The Pledge of Allegiance was played by the Fire Department’s Honor Guard.
Louis Burns, Customer Support Administrator
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