COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A local man who is disabled said he believes an area parking garage is taking advantage of him and those who come to help him at his Downtown apartment.
NBC 4 Photojournalist Rick Reitzel reported with the FAST FACTS.
Thirty-two-year-old Brent Simonds is a quadriplegic. He lives in a Downtown apartment complex.
Simonds told NBC 4 that a private company charges for parking in and around his complex.
Nurses come to his apartment on a daily basis for medical procedures. He said the company has been charging his nurses as much as $10 to park in the garage.
That's the same price the company charges a motorist to park in the garage during a special event.
This has been happening since January, according to Simonds.
"Even though they are not here for the event -- they are helping me with a medical procedure -- they are being forced to pay the event-parking rate."
Simonds said this is an issue for anyone with disabilities who is looking to move into the Downtown area and it should be a concern for the entire community.
"This is an issue that absolutely goes to the heart of accessible, affordable housing for people with disabilities," he said.
The parking company offered Simonds parking passes for his nurses – for a charge.
"So, every month the agency they worked for would have to pay $85 dollars per pass, which in turn would mean they would have to raise their rates," Simonds said.
Simonds pays a monthly premium to Medicaid for the medical visits.
"They would have to charge higher fees, and Medicaid would some how affected by that," he said.
The nurses are critical in Simonds' daily life
"Without them and the services they provide people like myself would not be able to work in the community," he said.
Simonds said he tried to work with the parking company but thinks they are giving him the runaround.
"Having basic medical care -- that has been my right to have that care. And for them to profit from that is, I personally say, immoral," Simonds said.
Simonds was scheduled to speak to Columbus city council Monday night.
He said he wants council to come up with an exemption for medical workers at paid parking lots.
NBC 4 called the company that manages the garage, but calls haven't been returned.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail stories@nbc4i.com.
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