[Dixielandjazz] Letter to the Editor

[JBruno868 at aol.com]

This has really got too me now. Here is my response to  one of the Director's 
response to my letter sent to them by Don at the American  Rag. Who, BTW, 
refused to publish my original Letter to the Editor for two  reasons. One, that I 
am not a subscriber to the paper and two, he just didn't  know the 
regulations and what was correct or not.
 
In sending this letter to Connie Baker, one of the  Festival Directors, I am 
giving them one more chance to make changes before I  file a complaint. I 
don't wish to file a complaint but will do so if not assured  that changes will be 
made.
 
Jazz hugs
 
Judie
 
----  
 
Dear Connie:
 
In bringing up this situation, as I did to you  personally if you remember at 
the Festival and you told me and others, that it  was for "Fire Laws" that 
the Handicapped Section was put in the back of the room  and of course you know 
that is not true, and after talking to an ADA  Representative today, I need to 
know if this is the Official  stand of the Festival at this time for future 
Handicapped Seating.  Referring to your letter of August 14, 2006, attached. 
 
I am referring to the most  important Regulation broken which is that any 
grouping of 300 or more,  must have Dispersed Handicapped Seating in all price 
ranges. Title 111 of  the ADA Regulations. That included's Patron's Seating and 
seating in the  General areas. Dispersed Seating, too define it for you, means 
 not all grouped into the very back but spread out to all seating and having 
room  for a wheelchair and companion seat NEXT to the handicapped seating. 
 
Had you only responded with a "let's look into it  further because we just 
don't know" attitude which was all I was  looking for and too inform you and 
other Festival Directors of the law and the  rights of Disabled Fans attending 
festivals but it's your defending what you  don't know and your response to my 
letter that has forced me to take this  further. I can only pray that for the 
Festival's sake, next year you look  into this problem, follow the ADA 
Regulations and do the correct thing instead  of your response regarding this years 
violations. If you wish, I would be happy  to help you with this.
 
A correct response from you now, would put a stop to  any further steps I 
feel, I would have to take.
 
Thank you 
 
Judie Bruno
 
------
 
Dear  Editor: 

Thank  you for sharing Ms. Judie Bruno’s letter in reference to her 
experience at the  2006 Orange County Classic Jazz  Festival. 
As  Festival Directors, our concerns are always the quality of the music, the 
 comfort and safety of the attendees, and the “seamless” style that we run 
the  festival.  We have hundreds of festival surveys from this year  
complimenting us on the quality of our festival and how well it is run.   One of the 
elements of a smoothly run event is that every set begins and ends  on time; we 
do this by encouraging everyone to sit down promptly and requiring  that the 
musicians’/bands’ changeovers are  quick. 
We  are not directly concerned with access issues at the festival as it is 
held in  a hotel, that is, a public venue which meets ADA requirements.  We are 
directly  concerned with egress issues in the event of fire, earthquake or 
other  calamity that might occur during the actual performances.  We must have  
all aisles clear of chairs or any other obstructions at all times.   
Consequently, we do not allow anyone to move or remove chairs to accommodate  their own 
needs or preferences.  We keep certain clearances in front of  the front row 
and in each aisle so that in the event of an incident, everyone  in the room 
can leave easily and safely.  We also make certain that when  the fire marshal 
makes the usual unscheduled visits, we easily pass  muster. 
In  this effort, for several years, we have removed 20 chairs from the back 
row  center of the three large venues and 10 chairs in the back row of the one  
small venue and put signs on the backs of the chairs immediately in front of  
these removed rows to indicate this is a handicapped area.  This creates  an 
opportunity for the handicapped person’s partner to sit in front of the  
person in the wheelchair while giving individuals in wheelchairs or electric  carts 
ample space to park in a good area with easy access.  Apparently,  Ms. Bruno 
did not realize the missing rows.  This is a solution we  learned from the San 
 Diego festival some years  ago. 
The  reason we use the back rows is because all of our venues are entered 
from the  back.  We do not choose to put this designated area anywhere else FOR 
THE  CONVENIENCE OF THE HANDICAPPED PERSONS WHO CHOOSE TO USE IT.  We do not  
require people in wheelchairs to locate there; we simply make it easy for them  
to do so.  In fact, we had two different people speak to us, one to me  and 
one to my partner, Larry Baker, thanking us for the easy access this  year.  
There is a fifth venue at our festival, the Lobby Bar, which has  ramp access 
directly to the front of the seating area and right at the  bandstand.  
Individuals requiring handicapped access in this venue  automatically take a position 
at the front of the seating area by virtue of  the accessibility. 
Ms  Bruno is welcome to sit wherever she wants, however, neither she nor 
anyone  else who attends our festival is allowed to block an aisle or move chairs. 
 We would have chaos if we allowed this to happen at an event with nearly  
3000 attendees per day. 
As  for Ms. Bruno being told by my partner, John Dieball, to move the 
wheelchair,  it was his opinion that she was blocking the aisle and therefore, he 
told her  to move.  As Festival Directors, we make decisions on the spot and 
stand  by them for the benefit of the majority and the smooth operation of the  
festival. 
Apparently,  Ms. Bruno enjoyed the festival since she plans to attend next 
year.   We’re planning another terrific show and hope to see her and all of our 
jazz  fans in August, 2007, enjoying another great three and one-half days of  
outstanding classic jazz 
Sincerely, 
Connie  Baker 
Festival  Co-Director