Advertisement

Handicapped parking controversy leads to small but spirited protest outside Starbucks

 
Thom Delilla wants Starbucks employees to report people misusing the handicap parking spot at the store on Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa.
Thom Delilla wants Starbucks employees to report people misusing the handicap parking spot at the store on Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa.
Published Aug. 6, 2015

TAMPA — Days after his ban from Starbucks was lifted, Rob Rowen returned to the coffee shop on Wednesday — and he brought some friends.

Rowen organized a small demonstration to reiterate his point that Starbucks could do more to keep customers from misusing the lone handicap parking spot outside the 401 S Dale Mabry Highway location, near Azeele Street.

"What would be wrong with having a sign that says, 'Respect accessible parking?' " he said.

Rowen said he invited hundreds of people to the protest. Fewer than 10 showed up. They gathered around the store's handicapped parking space holding signs bearing messages like:

Dignity is worth more than a latte.

One of the demonstrators was Karen Clay, 62, who is active in several disability advocacy organizations. Her son, Michael Phillips, 34, has spinal muscular atrophy and was featured on a 2008 episode of NPR's This American Life.

"You can sit at a table outside," she said, "and watch person after person park in that spot."

The law against parking in handicapped spots without a placard is clear-cut, said Tampa police spokeswoman Andrea Davis. She said there are some things business owners and employees can do when they believe someone has illegally parked in a handicapped spot.

The business can ask the offending driver to move their vehicle and refuse to serve them. If the customer refuses to comply, the business can call the police.

"We'll come out and we'd be happy to settle it," Davis said. The traffic violation comes with a $165 fine in Hillsborough County.

This all started a few months ago when Rowen, 62, started confronting people who parked in the handicapped spot outside Starbucks without the required placard. Some customers complained, and on July 23 the coffee company sent him a letter banning him.

After a media firestorm, Starbucks rescinded the ban on Saturday and said it was working to "improve the parking situation" at that store.

Throughout the process, Rowen said Starbucks employees were always courteous. But he said they still weren't doing anything about the people who misuse the spot.

Rowen said that while attendance Wednesday wasn't what he expected — having the demonstration outdoors during the workweek made that difficult — more demonstrations are to come.

Employees inside Starbucks declined to comment. But there was an employee stationed at the door handing out a statement from the company regarding Rowen's demonstration and a copy of its policy on disability inclusion to journalists covering the protest (who nearly equaled the number of demonstrators).

In a statement, the company said Rowen is welcome to any of its stores.

But for Thom Delilla, the demonstration was more about general awareness than Starbucks itself. Delilla, who uses a wheelchair, said people shouldn't use the spots if they don't need to and store employees should call the police if they see people misusing the spot.

Keep up with Tampa Bay’s top headlines

Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter

We’ll deliver the latest news and information you need to know every morning.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

"Starbucks opened a door for this issue," he said.

Contact Emily McConville at (813) 226-3374 or emcconville@tampabay.com. Follow @emmcconville.