Wednesday, April 18, 2012

This is Obama's and Holder's America, Folks


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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