De Peña Appoints Rodriguez as Lawrence ADA Coordinator

Edward Palleschi, director of boards and commissions, administered the oath of office to Richard Rodriguez, left, when he was named in 2016 to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination Advisory Board to the Governor. (Courtesy photograph.)

Attorney Richard Rodriguez was recently named ADA coordinator for the City of Lawrence, responsible for ensuring the city’s compliance with the Americans with Disability Act.

Rodriguez, well known throughout the Merrimack Valley as an advocate for those with disabilities, was named to the full-time post by Mayor Brian A. De Peña. His office is within Lawrence City Hall.

He is no stranger to the needs of the job, having served as chairman of the Lawrence Commission on Disability for four years. In that position, he was instrumental in passing city ordinances benefiting the disabled such as increasing the fine for illegal parking in a handicapped space from $100 to $300.

In 2016, Gov. Charlie Baker named Rodriguez to the governor’s advisory board of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, where he continues to serve. He is also a member of Haverhill-based Asperger Works’ advisory board.

Rodriguez previously worked for the Lawrence Police Department as program director managing a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. He previously served as a job service representative for the Massachusetts Division of Unemployment Assistance.

He earned his bachelor’s from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, a Paralegal Certificate with honors from Long Island University, a postgraduate certificate in public policy from CORO Foundation in Public Policy and his law degree from Massachusetts School of Law.