Bus riders demand ‘disability concerns’ office

“Don’t dis our ability” summed up the message when Warriors on Wheels and supporters demanded the Detroit city government establish an Office on Disability Concerns. Michigan Welfare Rights, the Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice, the Rev. Ed Rowe, Pastor David Bullock and others joined the wheelchair basketball team, Ms. Wheelchair Michigan and other determined Warriors on Wheels activists at a Sept. 28 protest outside City Hall.

More than 20 years after the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act, deteriorating public accommodations prompted the chant, “Support us, not ignore us!” Lisa Franklin, founder and president of WOW, said improved service for people with disabilities makes life better for everyone.

Poor bus service has caused riders to lose their jobs and honor-roll students to sit in detention. At a recent City Council hearing to address the bus problems, the transportation department director admitted that half the fleet was out of service.

The city administration — which hands over millions in tax dollars to Wall Street every month in interest and debt service — has been trying to blame bus mechanics for waits of up to two and three hours at bus stops. The truth came out when mechanics’ union president Leamon Wilson took the microphone: the city administration, which is devoted to cutting the number of city workers to please the bond raters, refuses to replace retirees and fill other job vacancies. This occurs while unemployment, particularly for African-American men, is sky-high in Detroit.

— Report and photo by Cheryl LaBash