POUGHKEEPSIE – The ongoing work at the City of Poughkeepsie’s Financial Plaza parking deck has displaced handicap parking spaces and inconvenienced many users of the garage.
The multi-story parking deck across Market Street from the Nesheiwat Convention Center, formerly the Mid-Hudson Civic Center, has been under repair for several months after years of what Mayor Robert Rolison calls “years of neglect.”
The contractors working on the facility recently roped off all but two handicap parking spaces on the first floor, forcing those with disabilities to park in the upper levels, without the benefit of an elevator to get people to the ground level and then back to their vehicles. Users of the parking deck indicated that the elevator has been out of order for almost a month as of Wednesday.
Marie Levinson, 64, a resident of Orange County, was in Poughkeepsie for business Wednesday and was disappointed that she couldn’t use the elevator. “I have a handicap placard as a result of a heart condition and a bad knee. I can’t believe that the city would risk my health because they can’t fix the elevator,” said Levinson after climbing down three flights of stairs. “I’m not sure how I’m going to get back up to my car this afternoon. Maybe someone can give me a ride up in their car,” she quipped when informed that the elevator was likely still going to be out of service when she returned.
Rolison was asked about the temporary elimination of the handicap spots as it relates to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and planned to address the issue with staff on Wednesday.
“We need to make some accommodations and maybe moving these spots, because yes – I mean if the elevator is not working, and we know it’s not, you can’t have handicap folks parking above, where they need an elevator to get down because of mobility challenges,” the mayor said Users of the parking deck have said that the elevator issues are ongoing. Mid-Hudson News has requested the service and repair records for the elevator and will follow up as soon as the DPW commissioner responds to the request.
