On Wednesday, September 7, at 11:00am, ten residents of the City of Portland with mobility disabilities will announce the initiation of a federal class action lawsuit on behalf of all City residents with disabilities against the City of Portland for failure to comply with the Federal Americans With Disabilities Act and the Federal Rehabilitation Act. The plaintiffs allege that the City has been in violation of those federal statutes by allowing tent encampments and associated debris to block City sidewalks for over three years. Plaintiffs believe it is clear that city sidewalks are services and activities of the City within the meaning of these federal statutes and that the City is responsible under federal law to keep them clear of obstructions so as not to discriminate against people with disabilities.
The plaintiffs will ask the Federal Court, among other things, for:
1. A declaration that the City is in violation of the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act
2. A mandatory injunction requiring the City to remove tent encampments and debris from all of the City sidewalks, and
3. A mandatory injunction requiring the City to construct, purchase or otherwise make available sufficient shelter space for those persons who are displaced from the sidewalks.
Copies of the complaint were made available at the press conference and several of the plaintiffs spoke about the challenges they face while attempting to navigate the sidewalks to perform basic day to day activities
*If you or someone you love has a disability and is impacted by the continued lack of access, please let Portland City Hall know.