The Red and Black

Originally posted by

thebomb.com

Rocket Salon is by far the best salon in Athens. Michelle is a genius!

Amen to that!

Originally posted by

Faida

I completely recommend Rocket, they're the only people that I feel completely comfortable cutting my hair, even without a picture. I've been to Republic, Rage and Lock Nest, all with their own merits, but the employees and outcome at Rocket are the best! I personally recommend Amber Hilton, she is FANTASTIC!!

Right on! I always look forward to going to Rocket! I am just one of Amber's horde of loyal customers. She is highly skilled with an almost scientific flair, and happens to be one of the coolest people I know. Same goes for Michelle!
Too bad they stopped doing tattoos. The artist was really good.

I think maybe you should take this up with the owner of the building--not the business itself.

Originally posted by

ann

I am in a wheelchair and tried to go to Republic Salon. Guess what? THERE'S NO WAY TO GET THERE...THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE AN ELEVATOR! I think it's disgusting that in a progressive community like Athens, we still have businesses that discriminate against people with disabilities. If you support businesses like this, you are spitting in the face of people with disabilities.

And what about Rage? They're on the second floor and I don't believe they have an elevator.

Originally posted by

ann

I am in a wheelchair and tried to go to Republic Salon. Guess what? THERE'S NO WAY TO GET THERE...THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE AN ELEVATOR! I think it's disgusting that in a progressive community like Athens, we still have businesses that discriminate against people with disabilities. If you support businesses like this, you are spitting in the face of people with disabilities.

Originally posted by

ann

I am in a wheelchair and tried to go to Republic Salon. Guess what? THERE'S NO WAY TO GET THERE...THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE AN ELEVATOR! I think it's disgusting that in a progressive community like Athens, we still have businesses that discriminate against people with disabilities. If you support businesses like this, you are spitting in the face of people with disabilities.

Ann, my mom is a T4 paraplegic and I have spent the past few summers doing work related to health-related rights under US law. And for full disclosure, no, I don't work for the landlord or any of the other businesses there, but I have been in it a few times.

I highly recommend that you read the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) FAQ (http://www.ada.gov/q%26aeng02.htm) before you start spouting information about how "businesses like this are spitting in the face of people disabilities" just because the physical location isn't accessible to you. I definitely understand that it is really hard to not be able to go where you want to go, but I highly doubt that the lack of accessibility has to do with an Athens business's lack of progressivity.

Some important Q and As to take a look at:

Q. Are there any limitations on the ADA's barrier removal requirements for existing facilities?
A. Yes. Barrier removal need be accomplished only when it is "readily achievable" to do so.

Q. What does the term "readily achievable" mean?
A. It means "easily accomplishable and able to be carried out without much difficulty or expense.

Q. What are examples of the types of modifications that would be readily achievable in most cases?
A. Examples include the simple ramping of a few steps, the installation of grab bars where only routine reinforcement of the wall is required, the lowering of telephones, and similar modest adjustments.

Q. Will businesses need to install elevators?
A. Businesses are not required to retrofit their facilities to install elevators unless such installation is readily achievable, which is unlikely in most cases.

Q. When barrier removal is not readily achievable, what kinds of alternative steps are required by the ADA?
A. Alternatives may include such measures as in-store assistance for removing articles from inaccessible shelves, home delivery of groceries, or coming to the door to receive or return dry cleaning.

Q. Must alternative steps be taken without regard to cost?
A. No, only readily achievable alternative steps must be undertaken.

Under these guidelines, the business (and landlord, since under ADA, both tenants and landlords are responsible for accessibility) hasn't done anything wrong under federal law just because it hasn't installed an elevator in a 120+-year-old building. I'm no architect, but I would imagine that there would also be significant fees involved with making sure that the entire structure of the building isn't weakened by the inclusion of an elevator shaft, and that would probably cost a pretty penny, too. There's no way the cost of something like that could be feasibly absorbed by a single small, local business that has been open for less than a year.

This idiot missed the point and wasted a bunch of time copying and pasting. The person's point was that a business that is supposed to be in the business of helping people improve their appearance (hair salon) choosing to locate on the HIGHEST FLOOR of a building with NO ELEVATOR and NO ACCESS FOR THE DISABLED is making a loud and clear statement that they don't care about people with disabilities. Another way of saying that is that the business is SPITTING IN THE FACES of people with disabilities.

I do not have a disability, but I and many others certainly will boycott this business and others that want to discriminate against those with disabilities.

Originally posted by

ann

I am in a wheelchair and tried to go to Republic Salon. Guess what? THERE'S NO WAY TO GET THERE...THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE AN ELEVATOR! I think it's disgusting that in a progressive community like Athens, we still have businesses that discriminate against people with disabilities. If you support businesses like this, you are spitting in the face of people with disabilities.

agree. being inaccessible to all is not cool.

Originally posted by

ann

I am in a wheelchair and tried to go to Republic Salon. Guess what? THERE'S NO WAY TO GET THERE...THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE AN ELEVATOR! I think it's disgusting that in a progressive community like Athens, we still have businesses that discriminate against people with disabilities. If you support businesses like this, you are spitting in the face of people with disabilities.

Buildings that are historically protected are not federally mandated to install elevators because it may compromise the historical integrity of the building. Republic Salon is in one of these buildings and every move they make has to approved by the Georgia Historical Society. While I am sorry that you cannot access Republic, your beef is with the Society, not the salon.

Wrong. Elevators are permitted, even in the most historical buildings.

And by locating where absolutely no disabled person can get to the salon, the salon is actively discriminating against the disabled. Shameful. Salons and other businesses serving the public should be accessible. That third floor location would be better as a private office or residence.

Originally posted by

ann

I am in a wheelchair and tried to go to Republic Salon. Guess what? THERE'S NO WAY TO GET THERE...THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE AN ELEVATOR! I think it's disgusting that in a progressive community like Athens, we still have businesses that discriminate against people with disabilities. If you support businesses like this, you are spitting in the face of people with disabilities.

Yes ann theyre spitting in you face. The dont want you no wheres around their dyky saalon honey. The older owner woman said seeing the cripples drive able bodyed cleint dykes away which is why she wants the top floor. She is I hear a jew + thinking about $$$ filthy lucer all the time ann. She couldnot care less + cracks jokes about you legs. Your moneys no good to a person like she is.

Originally posted by

Roberta Carrier

I am the owner of Republic Salon. Please know that we did investigate putting in an elevator in order to make sure that Republic Salon was accessible to everyone in Athens.

Unfortunately, the cost of installing any sort of elevator (including a chair lift) was exorbitant (over $75,000.) and something we could not do upon start-up. Our landlord was not willing to install an elevator or particpate in any of the expense.

As our business grows, we will definitely re-address this issue.

I personally apologize to Ann. This lack of accesiblity is in no way discrimination. It was and is an affordabililty issue.

That insincere apology is not acceptable. It is so dishonest and whiney. Blame the landlord. Bray about the cost. Victimize the disabled person. It is just so selfish and evil. Ann, you get you a money hungry lawyer and sue that money hungry money grubber woman all the way out of the county.