Brooklyn Community Board Faces Accessibility Issues with Broken Wheelchair Lift

Accessibility Challenges at Community Board Meetings

• ♿ A broken wheelchair lift at an NYPD-owned community center in East New York, Brooklyn, has prevented some members from accessing community board meetings for over a year.
• 📌 Evelyn Pew, an active community board member who uses a wheelchair, has been unable to attend meetings since getting stuck on the lift last May.
• 🎯 The community board's offices and meeting spaces are located in the NYPD community center at 127 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Efforts to Repair and Community Impact

• 🗣️ Board chairwoman Alice Lman expressed frustration, emphasizing the importance of accessibility for all community members to have a voice.
• 🛠️ The NYPD stated they have been trying to repair the lift since it broke last May.
• ⏳ Obtaining necessary parts from the manufacturer has been difficult, with anticipated arrival in late May and repairs scheduled for completion in June.
• 💡 This situation highlights the ongoing need for accessibility improvements, especially following a recent $400 million wheelchair accessibility project at the nearby Broadway Junction subway hub.

Community Engagement and Reporting

• 🤝 The story was brought to light through a tip, encouraging viewers to share their own concerns.
• 📰 Hannah Cleger reported on the issue for CBS News New York, covering the Brooklyn borough.