Last night I was denied entrance to a pub and restaurant on Central Park South in New York City. The place is named Whiskey Park and I was subjected to harassment by the door man and then “Manager Girl” who proceeded to ask me if I could produce papers or authenticating documentation for my guide dog. I told her the question is illegal, and she didn’t give a shit. So I’m filing a grievance against these sub-Cartesian merchants via the NYC Human Rights Commission.
I was only going to this pretentious, yuppy fern bar because Micky Mantle’s Sports Bar has closed. An era is over.
As for Whiskey Park, I’ll see them in court.
God Almighty! It’s 2012 people!
Planet of the Blind 
This is so disheartening and unacceptable. I was surprised at the challenges I experienced in NYC a few years ago. Cheering you on.
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Good for you, Steve.
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the ignorant Discriminating treatment is so very deeply rooted within the Culture of so many communities! do ya think they might get it when the ADA is 42 years old or will it take another 42 years after that!
Scott Ricker
Equal Access
Advocate from
Massachusetts
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NYC seems to have conflicts with Federal ADA laws with regards to service animals and their admittance to places that serve food. Your case may be a good opportunity to examine these conflicts to determine if any changes need to be made. Looking at description of these laws posted at http://www.servicedognyc.com/biz.html , one can definitely see a need for clearer laws so that business owners can avoid getting caught between potential violoations of either public health or ADA laws when operating their businesses. Particularly problematic seem to be NYC laws governing identification of service animals:
What local documentation is required of disabled NYC residents who own and use a Service Dog?
Where there is a conflict in legislation, federal laws take precedence over state and local laws.
In NYC, all residents are required to have their dogs registered by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Those who own service dogs are required to further register their dogs as “Service Dogs” at no additional cost. Registered Service Dogs in NYC are issued a special cross-shaped brass tag to identify the dog’s Service Dog License number. The example picture below shows such tag, except with the license number crossed out.
All NYC residents’ Service Dogs are required to wear their NYC dog license, the NYC Service Dog tag, and Rabies Vaccination tag, all of which should be up to date. In compliance to local NYC governance rules and regulations, disabled NYC residents with Service dogs must also carry the NYC Dog License card, which should state in the lower right hand corner that the dog is a “Service Dog” or “Guide Dog” with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. (See example pictures below)
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Welcome to NYC circa 2012. I too have been refused service in NYC restaurants. “No wheelchairs” is a refrain I have heard more than once this year. If you ask me, Bloomberg’s aggressive anti disability policies are the root cause. See his sternuous opposition to accessible NYC taxis.
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