When Michela Alioto-Pier was an aide to Vice President Al Gore in 1992, she couldn't navigate her wheelchair in some areas of the West Wing.
After threatening to sue, the White House improved its wheelchair access.
Now a San Francisco supervisor, the 39-year-old Alioto-Pier is running into similar trouble at City Hall, where her colleagues recently voted against a plan to lower the board president's elevated speaking dais so a ramp could be installed. Currently, the perch is only reachable by walking up five stairs.
"When they voted against it, I looked at other supervisors and said 'Is this San Francisco, the most liberal city in world?'" Alioto-Pier recalled in an interview. "They voted against accessibility upgrades?"
