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This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, October 12th, 2022.
Later in the program, WFHB Correspondent Abe Shapiro continues his conversation with Attorney Jeremiah Frei-Pearson about a lawsuit against the ride-share company Lyft over its alleged lack of wheelchair accessible vehicles, or WAVs. This is the latest edition of an ongoing series on the WFHB Local News.
Also coming up in the next half hour, we have Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. More following today’s feature. But first, your local headlines:
Bloomington City Council
The Bloomington City Council discussed the redistricting maps at their meeting held on October 6th.
Council Member Steve Volan asked the council to ask the Redistricting Advisory Committee to continue to work on the district maps.
Volan also said that the commission’s focus on compactness scores was at the expense of keeping neighborhoods with common interests together.
Volan’s third argument was that the maps did not focus on the Indiana University population when the city is, meanwhile, a college town. Volan shared that according to the census data over the years, the student population is large enough to be considered for its own district. He urged the other council members to ask the commission to take this into consideration.
Council member Sue Sgambelluri said that while she believes students should have every right to participate in the civic process without any obstacles, she didn’t understand why the redistricting maps should address the issue.
Volan responded.
The council voted to approve the new district maps with a close vote of 5 – 4 with council members Sandberg, Sgambelluri, Sims, Smith, and Rollo voting in favor of maps and Flaherty, Piedmont-Smith, Rosenbarger, Volan voting in opposition.
The next Bloomington City Council meeting will be held on October 12th.
Ellettsville Plan Commission
On October 6th President of the Ellettsville Plan Commission David Drake started the meeting by holding a moment of silence for Terry Baker who passed away on September 8th.
Commission Member Dan Swafford asked how long Baker had been on the commission. Drake said he had been a part of it for about 20 years.
Commission Member Sandra Hash said he had been there as long as she has. Swafford said he will be missed.
Next the commission heard from Planning Director Denise Line about the voluntary annexation of Cook Incorporated property into the town of Ellettsville.
Line said that planning staff recommend the approval of the annexation to the town council.
Vice-President of Marketing Communications for Cook and Envision Ellettsville Co-Chair Christa Curtis spoke on behalf of the petition and her work to get Cook.
Swafford commented that the annexation was a long time coming.
Drake said there is no downside of Cook being annexed into the town, and explained that the town already has provided its services due to their close proximity.
The commission voted unanimously to send a positive recommendation to the Ellettsville Town Council to approve the voluntary annexation.
The next Ellettsville Plan Commission meeting will be held on November 3rd.
Feature Report:
In today’s Disabulletin, WFHB Correspondent Abe Shapiro speaks with Attorney Jeremiah Frei-Pearson about a lawsuit against the ride-share company Lyft over its alleged lack of wheelchair accessible vehicles, or WAVs. Lyft officials cited limited supply of wheelchair accessible vehicles and driver availability as reasons why WAVs are only available to Lyft riders in nine cities across the entire U.S. To provide more insight on the issue, we turn to the latest edition of an interview with Attorney Jeremiah Frei-Pearson of the disability rights group Westchester Disabled on Move Incorporated.
Up next, A Dilly and A Celebrity on Better Beware – your weekly consumer-watchdog segment on WFHB. We turn to host and producer Richard Fish for more.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Kade Young and Noelle Herhusky-Schneider, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Abe Shapriro.
Better Beware is produced by Richard Fish.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
