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CNN honors attorney for helping disabled bus riders
· January 2, 2007
Richard
Bernstein won a poll.
Farmington Hills attorney Richard Bernstein stood atop Times Square on live television with CNN host Anderson Cooper -- not to ring in the new year but to be honored for his doggedness in righting governmental wrongs.
Bernstein, 33, recently won an online poll as top watchdog for Cooper's "Keeping Them Honest" TV show, which focuses on challenging authority and corruption.
Bernstein, who was born blind, represented Detroiters with disabilities in a lawsuit against the city over inoperable wheelchair lifts on city buses. The lawsuit ended in a settlement in which the federal Department of Justice will monitor wheelchair access on buses.
Matt Friedman, a childhood friend, nominated Bernstein for the contest several months ago, and CNN whittled the contestants down to four finalists.
"It's something I will never forget," Bernstein of Birmingham said Monday afternoon while awaiting a return flight to Detroit from Newark, N.J. "I guess the voters realized that public transportation is vital for people's lives and independence."
Friedman said CNN became interested in Bernstein's story as soon as he submitted him as a contestant.
"They hired a crew in Detroit and did a story on him," Friedman said.
Contact BEN SCHMITT at 313-223-4296 or bcschmitt@freepress.com.