Re “Schwab to Tell Stouvenel: It Is Council’s Decision”
[img]2663|right|James Stouvenel||no_popup[/img]Without formally saying so, James Stouvenel, Palmdale activist for the disabled, especially over transportation fees, indicated this morning he is cooling on the notion of fighting City Hall in Culver City over this week’s unanimous vote not to charge blind passengers on city busses.
The mountain – convincing a resolute City Council to flip its lopsided decision to maintain the no-fee policy – may be too tall, too exhausting for Mr. Stouvenel to attempt to scale.
He does not appear to still have his former voracious appetite for a showdown at the City Hall corral.
Fair treatment for seniors and for all disabled persons is his goal, he says. Why? “It’s the law. That’s why. It is state law and federal law.”
After learning of City Atty. Carol Schwab’s stance that the fare call has been made and the case appears closed, Mr. Stouvenel sounded resigned. “My hands are tied,” he said.
He restated that he is not interested in suing the city. “I don’t want any money from the city,” Mr. Stouvenel said. “That is not my objective.”
Question: Do you have a chance of changing Culver City’s mind?
“I won’t, but I am sure a judge will,” he said.
Then Mr. Stouvenel’s once-fiery tone softened.
“I still am debating whether I want to go all the way down to Culver City from Palmdale,” he said.
Question: What if he boards a Cuver CityBus, refuses to pay and the driver ignores him?
“But that is not what I want,” said Mr. Stouvenel, perhaps feeling momentum – which has favored him in other communities – slipping through his fingers.
Before a question could be asked of him, the bus-riding devotee who has cerebral palsy said that he had just called the city of Riverside transit agency. “I asked if there was any way possible to let the blind ride for free,” Mr. Stouvenel said. “The response was, ‘That is not something we could do. It is state and federal law. All disabled persons must be treated the same.”
Sweet words for both of Mr. Stouvenel’s ears, but not sentiments he will hear in Culver City.
