[Dixielandjazz] Letter to the Editor

[dingle at baldwin-net.com]

JBruno868 at aol.com wrote:

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>I am on a crusade. I have sent the following letter to  the Mississippi Rag 
>and the American Rag.
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>Letter to the Editor:
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>West Coast Jazz Festival
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>Handicapped fans are poorly treated at this  festival and I for one refuse to 
>sit all the way in the back just because I  am in a wheelchair. It's one 
>thing to put  seats in the last rows with signs attached saying "Handicapped" but 
>this  festival goes even beyond not understand the ADA Laws or how to treat 
>it's  handicapped fans and I am very upset at the way we were treated at this  
>festival. First of all, there were no empty seats in this special section and  
>those of us who wished to sit there had to remove the chairs  ourselves in 
>order to make room for our wheelchairs and scooters. 
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>Second, the reason I was given for putting the  handicapped section all the 
>way in the back? Fire Laws. Now, come on. There  is no Fire Law that states 
>those of us in wheelchair or scooters have to put way  in the back of any room. 
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>Those in charge need to read the ADA Laws concerning  this and the directors 
>could also learn from other festivals in the area. For  example the San Diego 
>Thanksgiving Festival where the Handicapped Section is in  the center of the 
>room where those of us wishing to sit there can enjoy the  music and see the 
>stage but what they need to learn most of all is that no one  in a wheelchair or 
>scooter is REQUIRED to sit in any special section. It's  very nice to have 
>those special sections for some but I for one, bring my own  chair and I am 
>allowed, by law, to sit where ever I so chose as long as I am  psychically able to 
>get my chair into an area.
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>At the very first set on Thursday evening, even before  the music began, I 
>was up in-front of the stage talking to my Mother, who had a  Patron's Badge and 
>was sitting in the front row. There were many people all  standing around and 
>just as I was starting to leave one of the Festival  Directors, John Dieball, 
>actually yelled at me saying I couldn't be there. I was  so taken back by 
>this that I didn't respond to his "You can't be here" and  just left. Many people 
>told me later how rude they thought his reaction was  and after thinking 
>about it, asking why and being told that it was a "Fire Law",  I have decided to 
>write about this injustice.
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>With the age of Jazz Fans becoming older every year I  would think that 
>anyone involved with a festival would know these laws and treat  those of us in 
>wheelchairs, scooters and walkers with a little more respect.  After all, we are 
>all getting older and the need to make room for us should be  taken very 
>seriously.
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>I have decided to buy a Patron's Badge for the  Festival next year and would 
>then have the right to sit in the front row and I  just dare anyone to tell me 
>I can't. If there is a problem with this, I always  have the Law on my side 
>and again, it would behoove the Directors of any  Jazz Festival to know the ADA 
>Laws regarding the treatment of Handicapped  Fans.
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>Jazz Hugs
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>Judie Bruno
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>I have already had a response from the Mississippi Rag  and they are very 
>interested in following up on this subject and agree with me  that with the age 
>of Jazz Fans getting older all the time, it is something that  needs to be 
>dealt with.
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Hi Judie:
You go, girl. You are a longtime supporter of OKOM and also of this 
list. Your points are well taken. I hope that directors of jazz fests 
understand that the ADA laws have big teeth for those violators and 
ignoring them could cost individuals and clubs or other supporters some 
deep pocket misery as well as some really rotten press. Perhaps those 
reading your letter will take this subject up with their board and 
membership in case they are inclined to treat those with disablilites as 
second class citizens. Judie, you have paid your groupie dues and are 
right to be upset. As for the rudeness you said you received, if that is 
true then I can only note that while everyone has one, the real a**holes 
of the world will soon make clear that having one doesn't mean you have 
to act like one.
I repeat, you go girl!
Don (who leaves notes on the windshield  people that park in the one 
handicap slot at the post office while their only real hndicap is a lack 
of consiration and disdain for laws. The notes, I had some printed up, 
are not very courteous -- but after seeing my mom get shafted  in her 
last years of driving with a legit H sticker, have to use her walker for 
a long distance just to buy a stamp or pick up a package. That lady was 
one of the last band wives alive from the Detroit Goldkette band from 
the time of Bix, and a true "jazz age  baby," living until 99 and 
driving to 95..
Usually you find most OKOM folks old enough to know about good manners. 
Apparently not, in your latest example.)