Read it and weep, folks...
(*SIGH*)
Owners and managers of swimming pools at hotels, city
recreation centers and public parks are scrambling to install mechanical chair
lifts to comply with new federal requirements that all public pools be
accessible to disabled swimmers.
* RIDICULOUS! EXISTING POOLS SHOULD BE GRANDFATHERED IN!
THIS IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF GOVERNMENT RUN AMOK. NO ONE WAS PREVIOUSLY
STOPPING HANDICAPPED PEOPLE FROM USING THE POOLS...!!!
Some hotels fear the cost of the equipment or fines for
noncompliance could put them out of business, and an industry lobbyist says
others may close their pools this summer if they can't upgrade in time, though
the government can offer more time to those having trouble paying for it.
* DO OBAMA/DEMOCRAT CONTRIBUTORS GO TO THE HEAD OF THAT
LINE AS THEY DID WITH OBAMACARE WAIVERS...???
(*SMIRK*)
Adding to the problem is a backlog of orders created by
the rush to meet a May deadline. Harry Spirides ordered lifts last month for
the hotel he owns on Georgia's largest public beach and was told they should
arrive in late April. He expects to pay $12,000 for the lifts at the Ocean
Plaza Beach Resort on Tybee Island. "Our supplier is backed up with
orders," said Spirides. "Everybody's rushing to comply; everybody
wants to comply. But when you have tens of thousands of swimming pools that
have to be retrofitted with these lifts, it takes time."
It's a massive and expensive undertaking. The Association
of Pool and Spa Professionals says its research shows that between 235,000 and
310,000 pools require the upgrade. Manufacturers estimate the lifts run $3,500
to $6,500, and installation can double those costs. Altogether, owners could
face combined costs exceeding $1 billion.
* INSANITY. ABSOLUTE INSANITY. AGAIN, IT'S ONE THING TO
CREATE NEW STANDARDS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, BUT IT'S QUITE ANOTHER TO ORDER
EXPENSIVE RETROFITTING ABSENT CLEAR AND DEEP-SEATED SAFETY CONCERNS.
Once the requirements take effect, the Justice Department
will investigate complaints and can fine businesses up to $55,000 for the first
offense and double that for further violations.
* SEE WHAT I'M SAYING...?!?! IT'S NOT EVEN DEBATEABLE
THAT SUCH FINES ARE INSANE! INDEED, I'D HAZARD A GUESS THAT A STRONG CASE COULD
BE MADE THAT SUCH FINES ARE SO BEYOND THE PALE AS TO QUALIFY AS "CRUEL AND
UNUSUAL" UNDER THE U.S. CONSTITUTION!
Pools operated by local governments don't face monetary
penalties...
(*SMIRK*)
* FOLKS... IN ALL SERIOUSNESS... IT'S NOT FUNNY. AGAIN
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOVERNMENT "ABOVE THE LAW."
The Justice Department now says chair lifts must be
bolted down. That declaration came as most hotels were buying portable lifts
that don't require expensive installation and can be wheeled into storage until
a guest needs them, said Kevin Maher of the American Hotels and Lodging
Association.
* AND BY WHAT FRIGG'N AUTHORITY DOES THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT MAKE SUCH A DECISION...?!?! THIS IS INSANE! THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS
OUT OF CONTROL...!!!
The group argues that fixed chair lifts pose a risk to
children who are tempted to play on them. Maher, the association's vice
president for government relations, said hoteliers fear their insurance rates
could increase.
The association is urging the Justice Department to
reconsider portable lifts and extend the deadline. Without more time, Maher
said, some hotels may close their pools this summer rather than risk lawsuits
or fines.
* SERIOUSLY, PEOPLE... IS THIS YOUR AMERICA...? IT'S
CERTAINLY NOT MINE!
In Desert Hot Springs, Calif., the requirements have
created an uproar among owners of boutique inns built around mineral hot
springs. Some retreats have only six or 10 rooms, but have multiple pools at
varying temperatures to give guests a sampling of the waters. "If you have
three pools that's $18,000 plus tax" to attach a chair lift to each, said
Bruce Abney, owner of the 12-room El Morocco Inn & Spa. "That's just
huge for us and would put some of us under, I'm afraid."
"I've never had a request for a pool lift in eight
and a half years. It seems excessive," said Bowman, who has nine rooms and
six condos.
* "SEEMS EXCESSIVE...?!?!" IT'S FRIGG'N
INSANE...!!!
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