obama is graciously letting you have one last summer

[Katzndogz]

Pool-mageddon avoided

The Justice Department on Thursday issued a 60-day stay of execution for hundreds of thousands of public pools which had been required to install ramps and wheelchair lifts by today or else face lawsuits over violating disability laws.

President Obama in 2010 dramatically expanded the rules for access under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the new regulations mean that every publicly accessible pool — from municipal facilities to hotels — must have two "accessible means of entry," at least one of which must be a ramp or wheelchair lift. Spas must also have either a lift or a transfer system to help the disabled enter them, under the new rules.

Under the law, non-compliant facilities can be sued — and some lawmakers feared a bonanza for lawyers eager to capitalize.

The impending situation was labeled "pool-mageddon" by opponents, who said there aren't even enough lifts available in the U.S. to make every pool accessible.

The trial lawyer lobby isn't going to be happy about this.

 

[Clementine]

Expect pools across the country to start closing for good. Most public pools are barely keeping their heads above water (pun intended) and the cost to use the facilities increases each year. No way will most be able to comply with this new law since the budget won't allow a reconstruction and addition of lifts. It's always nice for handicap accessible places, but it's not always practical. Common sense should prevail, but it never will. Pools will close and people will have to find some other way to beat the summer heat. Many can't afford to run A/C, so it's going to be miserable.

Another law passed without regard to the fact that more will be hurt than helped by it. Typical.