State committed to ensuring compliance

IN RESPONSE to "Advocates say rights of disabled trampled: Access at issue in stimulus projects" (Metro, March 6), let me assure all that the governor has not proposed any action that would minimize the state's responsibility to ensure accessibility compliance. At issue was a recommendation of the federal stimulus task forces that Governor Patrick convened to identify potential projects, possible barriers to getting those projects done, and proposed solutions to address those challenges.

The governor, former US assistant attorney general for civil rights, has made access and opportunity a top priority and will continue to do so throughout this important federal recovery process. The state Architectural Access Board is willing to consider a process that allows projects to move forward to meet federal timelines, while maintaining the obligation to undertake accessibility compliance measures.

We understand how a recommendation, absent context and additional information, signaled inaccurate information. The commitment to undertake as many projects as the federal stimulus will facilitate will not occur by abrogating the moral and legal obligations we have to all citizens.

Ronald Marlow
Assistant secretary for access and opportunity
Executive Office for Administration and Finance
Commonwealth of Massachusetts