VEGANS BLOCK ADA-ACCESSIBLE BATHROOMS FOR VEGAN FEST… CITY APPARENTLY APPROVES…
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher | Host, South Florida’s First News On NewsRadio 610 WIOD.
BROWARD COUNTY, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A bunch of vegans blocked handicapped accessible public bathrooms in a portion of Fort Lauderdale Saturday, raising questions about the City of Fort Lauderdale’s commitment to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The vegans, who had a permit and presumably were led to believe that they could block bathrooms, were unwavering as the elderly, infirm, and even parents with young children attempted to use the public bathrooms in the area of the Discovery and Science Center, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, and Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk. The vegan leaders aggressively told those hoping to use the public restrooms that they couldn’t, and directed people to bathrooms in private restaurants — something that restaurants prohibit. Leaders of the event — when questioned by a reporter — attempted to intimidate the reporter by following him with cellphone cameras and threatening to “blast out” the images. Ironically, the organizers were asked about their understanding of their permit. They were not accused of wrongdoing. Perhaps they were hangry.
Emails to Riverwalk COO Patrick Harris, Park Coordinator Joann Smith, and Administrative Manager Jeremy Collette were not answered after several hours on Saturday. An email to Fort Lauderdale City Manager Greg Chavarria also yielded no response.
While municipalities across South Florida rent out parks for private functions, it is seemingly unprecedented that public, handicapped-accessible bathrooms would be blocked from public use. We will update if the City of Fort Lauderdale decides to respond to our requests for information. We will also have the very latest between 6-10 a.m. on South Florida’s First News Monday morning on NewsRadio 610 WIOD, simulcast on 105.9HD2, on all smart speakers, and streaming in the iHeart Radio app.
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