| Habib: US should stop shortchanging the blind
Blind Americans may soon find themselves able to use money just like anyone else. That is unless the Treasury Department is successful this month in its appeal of a recent federal court order that paper currency be made recognizable to the blind, who are currently unable to distinguish one denomination from another. I, for example, rely on the generosity of cab drivers, baristas and store clerks each time I make a purchase with cash. That I have rarely been ripped off is a testament to their honesty or my charm, but I cannot help but protest the perpetual necessity for either. After all, there are 180 countries in which this is not the case, because their currency is designed to be distinguishable by all. .
Commerce Briefs
DALLAS — The Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce has hired an attorney to investigate $40,000 worth of questionable expenses that may have included charges to local topless bars. The nonprofit chamber had been run by Les Tanaka for the past 10 years, and board members became suspicious of charges Tanaka made during the past several years. They were concerned with $40,000 worth of expenses the chamber reimbursed him for that may have included strip clubs. K.S. Kim, editor-in-chief of the Korean Journal, says Tanaka’s reputation in the Asian business community is mixed. "Some people say he’s using the chamber for his own success, so was he a good person or was he using it?" Tanaka has since resigned from his leadership position at the chamber. — CBS 11 News APAs Lend a New Wrinkle to Philanthropy In today’s era of shrinking public dollars and booming philanthropy, some community members worry about a divide between the explosive growth of Chinese American wealth and the unmet needs of a new generation of Chinese immigrants in New York City.
Police called often to seniors' home
Just before 11 p.m. on a recent Friday night, a sedan rolled up in front of Chugach View, a state-run apartment building for the low-income elderly and disabled in Fairview. A tall young man in a puffy jacket stepped out. He pulled his hood over his head and strolled to the call box. Someone upstairs opened the security doors for him. Ten minutes later, the electronic doors opened again and he got back into the idling car. "Now, what's he doing here?" asked an older resident, seated with her walker in the community room where she could keep track of comings and goings. "I'll tell you one thing," answered another older woman who was flipping through a tattered People magazine. "He ain't visiting his grandma." Chugach View occupants, many of whom didn't want to be identified for fear they'd be targeted for reprisal, say the steady stream of short, late-night visits are a sign of drug dealers in the building, part of what they say is escalating criminal activity in a public housing project where the majority of tenants are over 62.
More public service information needed for disabled people
A guide, designed to help public sector organisations improve communication with disabled people, is to be launched. The announcement was made by the minister for disabled people Anne McGuire. The guide, written by the Office for Disability Issues (ODI), will have five clear points on how information can be passed to disabled people more effectively. Ms McGuire said: "Good quality information is essential in helping all of us in the public sector in providing a quality service. "The ODI's research shows that a lack of, or misleading information, can be an important factor preventing disabled people from getting services they need," she added. Some of the advice given in the guide includes ensuring that disabled people are involved from the start, providing information through a range of channels and formats, as well as always making it clear who is responsible for the information provided.
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