Old Zinnies agrees to build a ramp

At opening time 15 ADAPT demonstrators showed up at Old Zinnies on Saturday to demand that the Midtown bar build a ramp. Written demands provided by the protestors asked for a meeting with the owner, a ramp to the business and a plan to make the bathrooms accessible.

Demonstrators crowed around the doors chanting, "access is a civil right," but did not block the entrances. At 11:30 Chris Colsey and Barbara Bounds got out of their wheelchairs and crawled into the business. They sat on the floor at the end of the bar and delivered the demands to the manager.

Chris and Barbara were told that the owner of Zinnies was out of town.

Ten minutes later, Bill Baker the owner of Zinnies, showed up to talk with ADAPT. Mr. Baker was animated in his description of excuses of why it would be difficult to ramp the 4-inch step into the bar. Ultimately he signed an agreement to negotiate with ADAPT.

Mr. Baker said that he had hired Atkins Bemis Jr. Architects to consult him on how to build the ramp. He agreed to set up the meeting before October 2 and have the meeting with ADAPT before October 16, 2001.

 
- Tim Wheat