The Daily Sparks Tribune
Tuesday April 11, 1989

Photo 1 by Ken Johnston: Man (Bill Bolte) in a wheelchair, wearing glasses, bent forward, almost lying in his lap. He is holding up a sign that is only partially readable, "Give me a lift -- Not [the shaft]."
Photo 2: A policeman in a cap and mirror sunglasses pushes a woman in a motorized wheelchair (Kim Horton) away from a glassy doorway. Kim is wearing the black ADAPT shirt with the access logo.
Caption reads: Proving a point——-Bill Bolte of Los Angeles (above photo 1) got his message across Monday at John Ascuaga’s Nugget during the second day of protests aimed at the American Public Transit Association. Bolte said he will be out protesting again today. Kimberly Horton (below, photo 2) gets taken away after her arrest by Sparks police for blocking the entrance to the Sparks casino. The ADAPT handicapped rights group vows to continue picketing until the transit association's convention ends Wednesday.

[Headline] 25 arrested on second day of demonstrations
[Subheading] Protesters straining nerves, budgets

By Faith Bremner
Tribune Staff

The handicapped protests in downtown Sparks are costing local residents time and money.

Time in the sense that police officers who would otherwise be helping local citizens are spending their time keeping the peace on B Street.

Money in the sense that the police and the court are working overtime just to keep up with the 100 or so demonstrators who are protesting the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) convention at the Nugget this week.

“ While (the Sparks Police) are out there handling these individuals and if you call 911, the response times change dramatically," Sparks Municipal Court Judge Andy Cray said.

The demonstrators come from all over the country and are members of the Denver, Colo. based American Disabled for Accessible Public Transportation (ADAPT). They are demonstrating against APTA because that organization opposes the federal government forcing public transit authorities to install wheelchair lifts on all buses purchased with federal funds. APTA represents public transit authorities around the United States and Canada.

In two days of protests, Sparks Police have arrested 72 demonstrators, mostly on charges of blocking fire access to the Nugget, obstructing police officers and assault and battery, Cray said.

Most of those arrested Sunday, the first day of the protest, were given warnings and had their fines suspended, Cray said. Those who were rearrested Monday were given three day jail terms and fines ranging from $200 to $500, he said.

The arrested were brought into court directly from B Street and checked out by two nurses, then arraigned and transported to jail via a special lift-equipped van, Cray said.

The two judges worked until midnight both nights, Cray said, just to handle the crowd. Likewise the sheriff and the police department are working their crews overtime.

The Sparks Police have canceled all days off and vacations and during the demonstrations called in all available officers Lt. Tony Zamboni said.

"Everybody's tired and we've put in some long hours but morale is still relatively high," Zamboni said.

Likewise, the Nugget is working its security guards overtime, spokesman Parley Johnson said.

“I think it's hurting us a little bit but you have to feel sorry for these people,"Johnson said. “It's a tough situation. There but for the grace of God go I.”

It has been business as usual at the Nugget, Johnson said, and few customers have been inconvenienced.

“Most of our customers didn't realize what was going on," Johnson said.

Meanwhile, ADAPT co-founder Mike Auberger complained that the Washoe County Consolidated Jail is unprepared to house the handicapped prisoners. As of this morning about 30 protesters were still in jail, Auberger said.

Auberger, a quadriplegic, was arrested Sunday and posted bail and was released late Monday night.

"There were only three people handling 30 people's medical needs and helping them to transfer from their chairs to the beds or the bathroom, the litany of what it takes for a disabled person to survive," Auberger said.

“Most of the nurses and staff at the jail clearly had never dealt with disabled people. They had no idea what you were asking for."

But Sheriff Vince Swinney denied that the jail is unprepared to handle the handicapped.

“Somebody should realize this is what these people want to do," Swinney said of the group that has staged numerous similar demonstrations around the country.

“If they were treated like royalty, they wouldn't be happy. And the media is playing it up 100 percent. I really think that we who have been here and will continue to be here deserve some credibility.“

Created on

Thursday 11 July 2013

Posted on

Wednesday 7 October 2015

Tags

ADAPT - American Disabled for Accessible Public Transportation, AIDS, APTA - American Public Transit Association, Bill Bolte, convention, demonstration, jail, Kim Horton, Mike Auberger, Nugget Casino, Reno/Sparks, Washoe County

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