Editor's Column
by
Tim Benjamin
Summer’s half over already
and I have not even made it to the beach once. That’s a bit
of a joke, really: the beach is not a place where I usually spend
my time in the summer or any other season. I much more enjoy walking
around the neighborhood with my wife and my dogs. But I have not
made the time to do much getting around the neighborhood either.
It is either too hot or there’s something else on the agenda
to keep me busy Do you find yourself busy, too, in the supposedly
relaxed “good old summertime”?
Now that the state legislative
session is over and the precinct caucuses and endorsement processes
are behind us, the primary and general election are ahead of us.
We need to make sure we’re
informed! As we do in all state and federal elections, Access Press
has put out a questionnaire to all the candidates for governor and
for US senate. We will be encouraging the candidates to answer our
questions this month so that we can print their platforms in the
August edition. When you are talking to the candidates ask them to
take some time and respond to Access Press survey.
Also in preparation
for the elections, the Minnesota Consortium for People with Disabilities
has put together a number of Medicaid/Medical
Assistance Forums to update everyone on the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA). These forums
will be a great place to acquaint yourself with the cuts that are
looming because of the DRA. Knowing how the DRA will affect you
will be great information to have when you question the candidates
on their platforms. Over and over we’ve got
to ask them directly, “How are you intending to support the
disability and aging community?” We need to let all the candidates
know that we are informed and will be voting and will be influencing
our family and friends on how to vote.
If candidates are not
responding with committed pledges to the disability community,
I think we should not only withhold our vote, but we can tell politicians
that we’ll do like Sam Sullivan did and run
for office ourselves. See our profile of Vancouver’s
mayor who is disabled. I know that there are plenty of people in
the Minnesota disability community that are well equipped to join
Mayor Sullivan as visible political leaders replacing some of our
current elected officials.
Once we are informed
and ready to vote, there’s increasingly
good news about the technology to support us as voters. We have an
article on the new voting
machines. On the front
page we also have a list of locations for you to go try out and experiment
with the new machines so you will be more comfortable using them
on Election Day, November 7, 2006.
The Americans with Disabilities
Act is celebrating its 16th
anniversary on July 26th. Cindy Tarshish,
executive director of ADA Minnesota, has put together an outstanding
and fun agenda for this year’s
celebration. On July 26, plan to attend the free ADA birthday event
at Radisson University Hotel, 615 Washington Avenue, SE, Minneapolis
to hear Berry Taylor, an Illinois attorney who has worked ADA cases
for many years. I look forward to hearing his insights on the future
of ADA. In addition, anyone who has seen actor and storyteller Kevin
Kling knows that a free opportunity to hear Minnesota’s (and
National Public Radio’s) own funnyman is an opportunity not
to pass up. Michael “The Hook” Deutsch is also quite
a talent, and if you get a chance to speak with him, you will quickly
recognize his passion for the music. See the bios of each of the
entertainers. This will be a night to remember. Hope to
see you there!
