Posted on 04/12/2006 5:41:50 PM PDT by radar101
Hello all,
This past Friday night I was privileged to visit Fran O'Brien's steakhouse in the Capitol Hilton, Washington, DC. Every Friday night, Hal Koster, the restaurant manager and Vietnam Vet, invites our wounded soldiers convalescing at nearby Walter Reed Army Center to a free steak dinner and drinks. It was supposedly a "slow" night for our heroes as many were on a ski trip in Colorado. But I walked into an absolutely packed room of wounded soldiers and their families enjoying a minor but well-deserved recognition for their service to our country.
I've also discovered since then that the Hilton Corporation will not be renewing the lease. Apparently, there are too many "liability issues" in accommodating American heroes in wheelchairs. In fact , the lease (and therefore the dinners) will expire in a few short weeks. If America had responded as we would in the past, this would be inconsequential really. Obviously we have not and it is a tragic commentary on today's PC-ness.
Please read the attached e-mail with more of the details.
Best, Buzz
Buzz Patterson Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (Retired)
In other words, businesses in older buildings did not have to rip out narrow doorways, stepped floors, and tiny bathrooms until or unless they renovated.
I could be wrong, but since the ADA was a federal law, requirements for compliance are probably the same in all states.
I would think Paris Hilton would be a bigger liability then these brave men and women.
FYI - The ADA they are referring to is the Americans with Disabilities Act, not the American Dental Association.
"FYI - The ADA they are referring to is the Americans with Disabilities Act, not the American Dental Association."
Yep but you go and get them there dentists riled up and they can be a hand full.
Hampton Inn has seen me for the last time.
If you feel like this,I suggest that you PUNCH OUT the next"Slip and Fall Liar For Hire"you come across!If certain people would stop substituting frivolous lawsuits for earning a living(and if Tort Reform legislation was advanced)the "Bean Counters"would be all out of BEANS!!!
Someone at Hilton isn't to bright.
This certainly does not make for good publicity.
The answer, "We're in negotiations" twice is very telling.
He's not saying anything to jeopardize the negotiations.
What does that tell us?
That Hilton, if inundated with emails and phone calls etc, will be affected and the Restaurant's lease can be extended.
Several people have said they want this confirmed.
Having met Buzz Patterson (it's his words in the article) and knowing his character, I believe him.
Paris? LOL
" The answer, "We're in negotiations" twice is very telling.
He's not saying anything to jeopardize the negotiations.
What does that tell us?
That Hilton, if inundated with emails and phone calls etc, will be affected and the Restaurant's lease can be extended."
That was exactly my read, also.
Just make sure you don't walk away quietly. Raise hell and make sure they know why.
And burn all the Hilton points you've got just to cost them something as well.
In this case you can blame the litigating class.
Accountants count. CEOs and COO's decide.
Thank you, Admin!
From the little that I know of the ADA, ALL public places, especially restaurants and hotels are supposed to have wheelchair access, allow working animals in and in general make sure that the handicapped are provided for and treated like everyone else.
But you know what they say "money talks and sh*t walks" or just grease the right palm and you can do anything you want.
People don't want handicapped people around, sad but true, now matter what kind of disability it is. They don't want to hire them because it cost money to implement the necessary changes or their insurance might go up.
Just because we have the ADA, doesn't mean that the disabled will be hire or accomadations made for them in public places, there is always an excuse...
I just got off of the phone with the manager at Fran O'Briens in DC. Yes, I called them long distance.
The email that is going around is false.
Their lease has come up for renewal, which lease's have a habit of doing. That is all.
I will never go to another Hilton again.
I don't know much about the ADA, but I do know that a restaurant here in my city was forced to close for 2-3 weeks to renovate a bathroom to make it handicapped, challenged, special person, whatever, accessible. The story I heard, which I believe, is that certain people go around to check the status of businesses compliance. Not an official, nor a handicapped patron, just some busy body(s) who demands changes even if no complaints have been made.
Him: We don't know yet. We're in negotiations.
It looks like now, while there are negotiations going on, that we should help Fran O'Brien's by making those calls to Hilton. Show Hilton that there are others concerned.
[Mr] T
"I just got off of the phone with the manager at Fran O'Briens in DC. Yes, I called them long distance.
The email that is going around is false.
Their lease has come up for renewal, which lease's have a habit of doing. That is all."
Did you see the conversation I reported in post #120? Does your conversation conflict with that?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.