Councilors say safety isn't an issue, unlike with prayer vigil at Planned Parenthood

PLATTSBURGH -- City councilors approved a request to block off a lane of traffic on U.S. Oval for a special event next month.

Laura Carmichael asked the city to close the inside lane of the oval for about three hours on the morning of April 20 to facilitate the annual Autism Awareness Walk.

The group has held the walk on the oval the past three years in the same fashion, with about 1,000 people participating.

Several other groups have also held walks on the oval in recent years.

The request for the autism walk drew more notice this year because it came one week after the Bishop's Apostles for Life asked to use six parking spaces in front of Northern Adirondack Planned Parenthood on Brinkerhoff Street in downtown Plattsburgh when they pray the stations of the cross on Good Friday, March 21.

Councilors denied the Bishop's Apostles' request, with three of them citing safety as their main concern.

Councilor George Rabideau (R-Ward 3) asked Carmichael how safe the autism walkers are when they are in the inside lane at the oval.

Rabideau said he voted against the Bishop's Apostles because of safety concerns, as he did last summer when he voted against using parking spaces on City Hall Place for outdoor dining at Irises Cafe.

Carmichael told him there have been no problems the past three years.

Councilor James Calnon (I-Ward 4) wondered if using the sidewalk would be better.

Carmichael noted the sidewalk is not contiguous and is broken up by driveways at various locations.

Mayor Donald Kasprzak reminded Rabideau that he voted in favor of the Autism Walk the past three years.

Councilor Timothy Carpenter (D-Ward 1), who also voted against the Bishop's Apostles based on safety, said the two issues were different.

"There has been no trouble with walks on the oval," he said.