Access At Tom Lee Park

 

D O W N T O W N N E I G H B O R H O O D A S S O C I A T I O N 

Jerred Price 

President – Downtown Neighborhood Association 

648 Poplar Ave 

Memphis, TN 38105 

1/28/2021 

Mayor Jim Strickland & 

Memphis City Council 

125 N Main St, Memphis, TN 38103 

RE: Riverside Drive & Tom Lee Park Parking Lot 

Dear Mayor & City Council, 

I am writing you today to express concerns over the weekend closure of Riverside Drive as  well as the closure of the parking lot at Tom Lee Park. 

In February 2020, our city faced an unknown, unforeseen enemy that would end up taking the lives of many of our fellow Memphians. Thankfully, the city took quick, decisive action to  try to mitigate the spread. In the “Safer at Home” order, the city advised Memphians to stay  indoors and social distance. Unfortunately, some did not do their part and gathered in large  groups in parks throughout the city. The city then took decisive action to close off vehicular  access to city parks to prevent large gatherings. I fully support this decision considering the  circumstances. 

Additionally, our association and several downtowners have learned that the city granted  permission for the closure of Riverside Drive during the early months of the pandemic to add  “a new park experience” to Tom Lee Park by allowing the thoroughfare to be used for  skating, scootering, and other activities. 

Unfortunately, the closure of this street had several adverse effects that were not considered  by the city. Soon after its closure, several disabled neighbors from downtown as well as from  neighboring areas reached out to us to express complications with access to the park. The  city & Memphis River Parks Partnership closed the street which is the only access to the lot  where the only ADA parking spaces are available for Tom Lee Park. After hearing from  several dozen disabled neighbors, the Memphis Center of Independent Living (who also sent 

a letter to the Mayor and Council on this subject), and others, we reached out to the city to  ask them to meet with us via Zoom to discuss.  

Chief McGowan and city engineers graciously met with us and agreed to open Riverside  Drive Monday through Friday. However, the parking lot at the park remained closed 7 days  a week. Additionally, they committed to a “fix” for the disabled parking when it would be  closed on weekends. Their solution was to create a “designed parking area” for the  disabled at the end of Beale @ Riverside Drive. However, this solution is still far from equitable  for these disabled neighbors. If our disabled neighbors park there (some with walking  disabilities, some with breathing disabilities, etc.), it is nearly ¾ mile from there to the  centerpiece of the park, the Tom Lee Statue. Comparatively, it is only .10 mile from the  designated handicap parking in the parking lot to the same destination.  

Furthermore, DNA has been contacted by several business in the downtown area, including  one of Memphis’ oldest business: Memphis River Boats. These businesses expressed concerns  with accessibility from their customers and complaints that have come to the forefront.  People visiting Memphis or coming to shop/eat/dine downtown complained to them about  how this street closure limits access to the core of downtown when utilizing I-40 & I-55 to get  downtown. Furthermore, neighboring associations such as French Fort, Founders Point, and  Mud Island also reached out and said that this street closure, even on weekends, is very  problematic for access to the park and to the core of downtown. For those that use the  street often, commute times have increased by forcing them to use the streets in the heart of  downtown. Those who live to the South & North of the street have seen increased  emergency response times as traffic and routes to their location become more crowded and limited due to the streets closure. 

Another concern we have been contacted about several times is the increased traffic flow  into residential neighborhoods that lie on Georgia St & Front Streets. Steve Phillips, President  of Waterford tower, has seen increased cruising, traffic, and parking lot activity in front and  

around his tower at the base of Beale & Riverside. Glen Murtha, President of River Tower,  also met with DNA to express his frustration with the streets closure deeming it takes him  much longer to get to dining/entertainment/work by forcing him to go into the core of the  city rather than utilizing Riverside to access the core. 

Safety concerns are prominent with this street and have been for years. Action is being  taken to address these concerns from several aspects. DNA and several other association  presidents that sit on the “Neighborhoods for Memphis” committee are working closely with  city engineering to create solutions that will slow own the concerns we all share with  speeding and loitering in the lot. City engineering is currently reviewing the possibility of  installing rumble strips proposed by DNA that will serve as a speeding deterrent as well as  bring attention to the speed limit signs placed near them. Additionally, they will be placed  strategically before crosswalks to slow down traffic and bring awareness to pedestrians crossing the thoroughfare.  

In conclusion, this road closure, even on weekends, in addition to the parking lot closure is  very problematic. Precedent for a street closure, even when it’s a small side street in East  Memphis (Mimosa Drive), involves in depth traffic studies (requiring the requesting party to  pay for them) and community/public feedback meetings. Based on all the above examples of several different entities who represent thousands of voters, this closure is not supported by  the majority our neighbors. Equally important is the grave concern from our disabled  neighbors and the organizations that stand for their equity. 

I, with the concerns of those mentioned above and several more (as I have been CC’d on  several letters going to the city), am asking that the city reopen this public, taxpayer paid for,  major thoroughfare & public parking lot. This unique drive in our city has distinct national  recognition of being one of “Americas Byways” and was deemed “the multimillion-dollar drive” when it was built. Let’s restore its intended use and allow for equitable access for all. 

Thank you for your time, 

/Signed/

Jerred Price 

President – Downtown Neighborhood Association 

CC: Neighborhoods for Memphis Committee, Memphis Center of Independent Living,  Brooks Law Firm, DNA Board of Directors

Check on your Stimulus Check

Clift Notes

Christina Clift

For the past year, the Coronavirus has ravaged our country killing more than 400,000 people, causing hundreds of businesses to close, millions of people to lose their jobs, long lines for families needing food and countless families facing eviction from their homes.  Wearing masks, social distancing, virtual learning, and working from home have become our new normal.  

In April 2020 Congress authorized the Cares Act which provided economic impact payments, often referred to as stimulus checks in the amount of $1,200.00 to most Americans.  Unfortunately for many individuals this was not enough help as the pandemic continued to worsen.  

Eight months have passed since the Cares Act was passed and now Congress has authorized a second round of help.  While Congress continues debating whether to increase the stimulus payments from $600.00 to $2,000.00 here is what you need to know.

Eligible individuals who did not receive an Economic Impact Payment this year – either the first or the second payment – will be able to claim it when they file their 2020 taxes in 2021. 

The IRS urges taxpayers who did not receive a payment this year to review the eligibility criteria when they file their 2020 taxes; many people, including recent college graduates, may be eligible to claim it. People will see the Economic Impact Payments (EIP) referred to as the Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC) on Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR since the EIPs are an advance payment of the RRC.

During the first round of Economic Impact Payment there were a number of issues involving people not receiving their payments:

• As with the first round of payments under the CARES Act, most recipients will receive these payments by direct deposit. For Social Security and other beneficiaries who received the first round of payments via Direct Express, they will receive this second payment the same way.  Anyone who received the first round of payments earlier this year but does not receive a payment via direct deposit will generally receive a check or, in some instances, a debit card. For those in this category, the payments will conclude in January.

 

• Check your payment status on the IRS website's "Get My Payment" portal. Be sure to also update your address and bank account details.  The IRS is supposed to have all stimulus checks sent out by Jan. 15, and if they do not, you will likely have to claim your money when you file your federal tax returns later this year.

• If you did not use a tax preparer service and still have not received your stimulus payment there could be other reason such as, you had a change in your banking institution or account  information  in the last year after the first stimulus check.
  
  

• If you did not receive the full amount of stimulus money you were entitled to you can claim the recovery rebate credit for the difference in the amount of your 2020 tax return based on Notice1444 received from the IRS, which was shared with you by the IRS after payment was made.

President Biden has said that there will be a third round of stimulus payments.  When that happens  our consumers won't have to spend a bunch of time and energy wondering when and where that third stimulus check will arrive.  If you have any further questions or issues regarding the Economic Impact Payment you can visit the Internal Revenue Service website at www.irs.gov.  If you work with MCIL and you do not have internet access an Independent Living Specialist may assist you with navigating the IRS website.  Our contact information is 901-726-6404.

Disability Identification in Tennessee

 Disability ID does not aid First Responders

Allison Donald

People with disabilities are entitled to the same level of protection in an emergency as everyone else—no more, no less. The “reasonable accommodations” mandated in the ADA are intended to provide the same level of safety and utility for people with disabilities as for everyone else.  As an advocate and a person with a disability it should not be a requirement for people to carry an identification card with information about their disability on it.  

Some people in Tennessee have proposed a disability category on the state Identification Card or Driver’s License to help first responders to know how to deal with some people with disabilities. 

There is no advantage to having this, because it would not require first responders to maintain training standards in the interactions with people living with disabilities. There are already manuals that detail how first responders are to be trained when they encounter individuals who have disabilities.  

The major concern I have as an advocate stems from what will happen when an interaction does not go according to plan. Is that identification going to help the first responder with knowing the proper steps to take when they encounter a person with complex disabilities?  Is that identification going to prevent an otherwise harmless situation from escalating due to a miscommunication?  As we have seen events like these involving people with disabilities often end badly and those involved are left with more questions than answers.

Those who support the idea of identification for persons with disabilities laud the added safety it provides.  However, it also becomes a crutch to some in the disability community who may expect first responders to know what the needs of people with disabilities are simply because they have been “trained” to do so.  If you are living with a disability knowing your rights and responsibilities and having a disaster preparedness plan should be a part of your personal life plan.

“There is training as to how to approach people with disabilities under different circumstances, said Jonathan Morrison of the Memphis Fire Department, “the gap is the shortage in resources at times and the lack of knowledge about what help can be provided to people with disabilities in this city.”

The issue of identifying people with disabilities will remain polarizing because it may take away our choice of who we would like to disclose our status of disability to.  It is our job as advocates to ensure equity for our community, not special treatment.

From the CDC About COVID-19

 

Things to Know When You Have COVID-19

Updated Jan. 8, 2021

Print

Stay Home When You Have COVID-19

Stay away from crowds.
Stay away from inside places with lots of people.
Avoid buses when you can.
Avoid trains when you can.
Avoid taxis when you can.

Watch for Ways COVID-19 Can Make You Feel Sick

Get help if you are worried about how sick you feel.
Call your doctor if you are worried about how you feel.

Get Lots of Rest When You Have COVID-19

Drink lots of water or juice when you have COVID-19.

Stay Away from Other People When You Have COVID-19

Stay in your own room when you can.
Use your own bathroom when you can.
Wear a mask when you must be around other people.

Wash Your Hands Often

Wash your hands with soap and water.
Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
Sing the happy birthday song twice while washing your hands.
Use hand sanitizer if that is all you have.
Rub the hand sanitizer all over your hands.
Rub your hands until they feel dry.
Washing hands with soap and water is best.

Always Cover Coughs and Sneezes

Cover your mouth when you cough.
Cover your nose when you sneeze.
Cover with the inside of your elbow.
Cover with a tissue.
Put used tissues in the trash.
Wash your hands if you cough or sneeze.

Avoid Sharing Things When You Have COVID-19

Avoid sharing food when you have COVID-19.
Avoid sharing drinks when you have COVID-19.
Avoid sharing dishes when you have COVID-19.
Avoid sharing towels when you have COVID-19.

Clean and Disinfect Often

Clean to help slow down COVID-19.
Clean to remove dirt and germs.
Clean things that are dirty.
Clean things that are touched often.
Disinfect to help slow down COVID-19.
Disinfect to kill germs.
Disinfect things that are touched often.

Call Before You Go to the Doctor

Tell the doctor if you have COVID-19.
Tell the doctor if you think you have COVID-19.

Call 9-1-1 Or the Emergency Department If You Need Help

Tell the operator that you need help.
Tell the operator you need help with COVID-19.

Original Guidance: 10 things you can do to manage your COVID-19 symptoms at home pdf icon[449 KB, 1 page]

Download and Print: Things to Know When You Have COVID-19 pdf icon[86 KB, 10 pages]