Letter from Nicholas Cunningham, MD, Dr PH
An Open Letter to KeyBank Landlord
This is about safety—making 103 Main Street, Cooperstown a far safer place from which to do business; it’s not about any kind of law suit.
The need for greater safety in your building was acutely brought home to me on Monday, March 13 when, having concluded my business at KeyBank, and as I left the building, I fell down. Whilst I am 94, I’m a licensed driver in good health and used to walking up to a mile or two a day. I’ve been banking at KeyBank most of my life and always go in and out the front door. What I failed to notice on this occasion was that after descending the few steps that lead to the exit doors, there is an additional (about 6-inch-high) step to reach the sidewalk. This step is the same color as the sidewalk. The hand rails are set back on each side of the steps and relatively unobtrusive.
I missed the step, which caught my heel and propelled me 6-8 feet out onto the sidewalk. Fortunately (almost miraculously!), I sustained only superficial wounds and a possible cracked rib, but no other broken bones and no head injury. My wife—who, like me is a physician—witnessed this event and was horrified.
I reported the event to our teller with the suggestion that the step be painted yellow—and/or some warning sign be placed to prevent further accidents—and was informed that KeyBank does not own the building. The teller declined to inform us as to who is the landlord, hence this letter to both entities.
At the Randy Johnson photo exhibit opening event at Fenimore Art Museum this past weekend, I was reminded that I’m not the only old person living around Cooperstown. My wife and I are most concerned that none of us ever get needlessly injured exiting 103 Main Street. You have the ability to greatly mitigate the chances of such a tragedy. (Taking action now might well save you quite a lot of $ as well!)
Nicholas Cunningham
MD, Dr PH, Emeritus Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Public Health,
Columbia University
Springfield Center