Fair Housing/Urban Environment

Freeway Expansion and Transportation Equity/Environmental Justice

Description:

The process for determining that $6.25 billion should be spent to rebuild and expand freeway system failed to adequately involve minority and low-income communities, and failed to adequately address the impact of proposed freeway expansion on issues affecting those communities (such as employment, housing, and health and pollution issues), in violation of statutes and U.S. Dept. of Transportation rules on civil rights and environmental justice.

Forum:

NA

Attorneys:

Poverty, Race & Civ. Lib. Attorney; Sierra Club; Midwest Environmental Advocates; Dennis Grzezinski, Milwaukee.

Articles:

March 27, 2003 >> SEWRPC Right to Listen to Milwaukee Freeway Expansion Opponents Not Suburban Politicians FULL STORY

July 25, 2002 >> ACLU of Wisconsin Dismayed by Governor's Shocking Disregard for Public Input on Freeway Expansion FULL STORY

Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Association (SEWRPC)

Description:

Every three years a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) must be certified by the federal Nat’l Highway Administration and Nat’l Transit Administration, a process which includes consideration of the MPO’s record on environmental justice issues. Because SEWRPC does not include any members of low income or minority communities; failed to adequately involve minority and low-income communities, and issues affecting those communities, in its evaluation of proposed freeway expansion , in violation of statutes and U.S. Dept. of Transportation rules on civil rights and environmental justice; and failed to adequately address fair and affordable housing issues in its Smart Growth Planning, we are raising challenges to SEWRPC’s certification.

Forum:

Federal certification hearing.

Attorneys:

Poverty, Race & Civ. Lib. Attorney; numerous community advocates.

Articles:

July 22, 2004 >> ACLU Urges Planning Commision and Waukesha County to Be Smart About Fair and Affordable Housing FULL STORY