Email feedback from my last interview

Your interview on TV the other night both inspired me and angered me....

 You are a wonderful person.  You are helping others, have such a positive attitude and are just trying to do the best you can.

 I wish I could say the same about our City.  Timing is everything...we were just notified that our aging sidewalks are due to be replaced.  However, this is the process the City has recently established.

 - The City selects 3-6 neighbourhoods each year for “renewal” (100 of the 300 neighbourhoods have been identified as being in need of complete replacement)

- Property owners are then informed that they are to pay 50% of the renewal cost.  (Reduction curbs would be  included in the project)

-The Property then vote on whether to pay the cost of the new sidewalks.  (average 50 ft lot would cost $3,242.92)

- If 51% petition against it, the project is cancelled.  The sidewalks are then temporarily repaired and the curb reductions do not get done.  

- If the owners can afford to pay, the sidewalk & curb reductions get done.

 I am astonished that the decision to replace Edmonton’s sidewalks/curbs is up to the property owners of the neighbourhoods and whether they can financially afford to do so.  I am from BC and cities there maintain & replace all their sidewalks on a regular basis and with no extra costs to the property owners.  In the last 20 years Edmonton has upgraded 30 neighbourhoods through this process.  That works out to 1.5 per year.  In 2009 a dedicated property tax of 1.5% was established for “Neighbourhood Renewal Projects.”  My question is, how much money do they need to finally make our sidewalks safe to travel on?

 I am meeting with City Hall and possibly our MLA today to ask some tough questions.  I will use the term “gross negligence”.  They have identified 100 neighbourhoods (plus how many business/park/public areas) of being in need of total replacement but do not have a proper plan in place.   After watching your broadcast I am amazed that you have not injured yourself yet.    

 You have given me the desire to push this matter even more.  I plan on finding out what the City’s mandate is on curb reductions and I will be asking until I get some answers.

 Did Rick Hansen not teach us anything!



Keep up the good work & safe travels Timothy!

My show idea

Mightywheels wants to film a free accessibility reality show, where my team and I ride the city's ETS bus around, finding poor surface areas non-accessible businesses, and bringing attention to them. and commending the one that are wheel friendly.

We'll need help to do this, any suggestions wold be greatly appreciated.

I believe

I have ruffled some feathers with businesses and property owners, therefore, many people have told me I'm pushing it. I believe I am not. People with disabilities are often not expected to master huge accomplishments in their lives, but I am not afraid to push the envelope, and I will not rest until my environment is accessible for people with wheels. In the meantime, I must give thanks to the kind people who offer to help others who use wheels, cross the street, when they are seen struggling.

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a twitter shoutout

Shoutout to a great #yeg person:

@mawelltim, AKA, #MightyWheels, dedicated to bringing #yeg true #accessiblity :) http://mightywheels.blogspot.ca/

69th Ave.

The sidewalk behind bus stop 5758 is not cleared of snow and is not accessible for people who use wheels. I would like some confirmation, on why the city is NOT removing the snow from that block.

UPDATE*** A big thank-you from all wheel users to the city for clearing the snow around 5758! Much appreciated!

A fact

Canada Health says by the time a typical Canadian reaches 85 years old, 6-10 of us will have mobility issues or have to use a wheelchair. Edmonton's intersections, sidewalks, and sidewalk ramps are not in the best of conditions. I have created a team called Mightywheels as a free service to help those who uses wheels. For example, parents pushing baby strollers, the elderly with their walking devices, or people like me, in a wheelchair. Check out my blog at mightywheels.blogspot.ca.

red tape

The Ministry of Service Alberta administers the Residential
Tenancies Act, the provincial law that sets out basic standards
of conduct between landlords and tenants in Alberta. Your
specific situation is not addressed under the Act. You may wish
to speak with the municipality regarding your concerns.

If you have additional questions please contact us at:

Ministry of Service Alberta, Contact Centre

Edmonton:  780-427-4088

Other areas in Alberta (toll-free):  1-877-427-4088

Outside Alberta:  1-780-427-4088

Email: rta@gov.ab.ca

Visit our website at www.servicealberta.ca for comprehensive

registries and consumer information and services.

----- Original Message -----
From: Timothy Maxwell <tldmaxwell@gmail.com>
To: Service Alberta <Service.Alberta@gov.ab.ca>
Sent: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 12:26:31 -0700
Subject: Boardwalk [InteractionID:4f7081b2-8fec-4370-ba82-50fdc6817e3d]

Hello, This is Timothy Maxwell, I have contacted you guys many times before. I run the Mightywheels and finally accomplished having the city install ramps and a crossing light on the 69th ave. crosswalk, right out front of Boardwalk rentals. I hoped Boardwalk would of voluntarily repaired the missing length of there sidewalk to the city sidewalk, so all the people who use the sidewalk are not pushed out on the road.