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Washroom access

Frustrated by what appeared to be a lack of empathy in city staff

Well, it's about 2:30 p.m. July 11 and I have just returned from the Vernon city council meeting.

I return very frustrated.

For the second time in six weeks, Councillor Scott Anderson, during Council Inquiries, has brought up the issue of people with wheelchair reliance being unable to access the public washrooms on 31st Avenue because there is no automatic door-opener.

I would have thought when he brought this up under similar circumstances six weeks ago that city staff would feel an urgency to rectify this denial of washroom access to these folks as soon as possible.

Judging by the response from city staff, or non-response today, that hardship being suffered by people in wheelchairs who are unable to use the public washrooms without somebody holding the door open for them didn't resonate at all.

I was sorry to see this and frustrated by what appeared to be a lack of empathy in city staff who were aware of this in May and felt no need to respond to it since then.

Dean Roosevelt, Vernon