Arecibo initiates plan to comply with Disabilities Act provisions

Arecibo Mayor Carlos Ramírez Irizarry (Israel Morales)

By The Star Staff

Arecibo Mayor Carlos “Tito” Ramírez Irizarry announced on Monday that his administration is fully aware of a lawsuit filed by the father of two children with disabilities against the northern municipality, the Puerto Rico government, and 16 commercial establishments, documenting systematic violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

“The lawsuit requests symbolic nominal damages of $1.00, emphasizing that the objective is not personal enrichment but systemic change,” the mayor said. “We have examined the claim through our legal team, and certainly, for too many years, there have been architectural limitations that were not addressed in the past. We will work together to resolve this situation. This is the right thing to do and what is appropriate.”

The mayor said work will begin immediately in a room on the ground floor of City Hall to comply with all ADA and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) access measures and regulations.

“People, directors, or service personnel seeking transportation to the office will be received there,” Ramírez Irizarry said. “An inspection of the sidewalks and ramps on the main streets (Diego and Francisco Marín) is also being conducted. Work will gradually begin on other offices or departments located outside the city center.”

Meanwhile, instructions have already been given to the Municipal Public Works Department to require all improvement projects at courts or other municipal structures to take into account access regulations.

The legal case was filed by a father living in Arecibo whose two children suffer from spinal muscular atrophy, a condition that requires them to use specialized mobility devices.

The lawsuit alleges that numerous businesses also obtained use permits by falsely certifying compliance with the ADA, maintaining barriers that profoundly affect the daily lives of people with disabilities.

“As the important district capital city in northern Puerto Rico, Arecibo will approach this reality responsibly, based on the principles of accessibility and inclusion,” said the mayor, who pledged to report on the progress of efforts to promote greater physical accessibility for all Arecibo residents.