ACLU of WI: Environmental Justice for Wisconsin

On February 11, 1994, President Clinton issued Executive Order 12898 "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice (EJ) in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations." The Executive Order, which is at Executive Order, requires federal agencies, to the greatest extent practicable and as permitted by law, to achieve environmental justice by identifying and addressing disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects, including interrelated social and economic effects, of their programs, policies and activities on minority populations and low-income populations.

Environmental Justice applies to entities that receive funding from the federal government - not just to the federal agencies themselves. One of the main laws directly implicated by EJ is Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin by recipients of federal financial assistance.CRA 1964

The ACLU of Wisconsin is working hard to protect the rights of the poor and minorities in fair housing, transportation and environmental justice. What follows is a partial history of some of the work our Poverty, Race and Civil Liberties project has done both alone and in coalition with other community groups to provide oversight on the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission or SEWRPC on behalf of the poor over the last few years.

COMMUNITY GROUPS URGE SEWRPC TO “GET MOVING”ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TASK FORCE

February 26, 2007

“It’s time for the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission to get moving on the Environmental Justice Task Force that it agreed to create.” That’s the opinion of organizations who have been meeting for years with SEWRPC, trying to make sure that the Commission follows federal law on including under-represented communities in the planning process. continued...

ACLU TELLS GOVERNOR DOYLE:“PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS; DON’T WIDEN MILWAUKEE HIGHWAYS”

March 2, 2006

Milwaukee, WI -- Last week, the Milwaukee School Board voted 8 to 1 to oppose 19 miles of highway expansion in Milwaukee. In doing so, the School Board joined the City of Milwaukee, the Milwaukee County Board, and dozens of citizens’ groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin, that don’t want highways widened in our front yards. continued...

ACLU WISCONSIN URGES GOVERNOR TO VETO DISCRIMINATORY HIGHWAY EXPANSION FUNDING

July 13, 2005

The ACLU of Wisconsin urges the Governor to veto $38 million for highway expansion that the legislature stuck in the budget bill. The legislature wants this money used for preliminary engineering on the Zoo interchange expansion – including 21 miles of expansion of Hwy. 45 - even though reconstruction of this segment wouldn’t begin for a decade. continued...

Federal Officials Want SEWRPC to Improve Environmental Justice Practices

March 3, 2005

The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin commends yesterday’s decision by federal transportation officials to require that the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission do a better job of involving low income and minority communities in regional planning, and to monitor SEWRPC’s implementation of its recommendations. The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transportation Administration made the recommendations during the process of certifying SEWRPC as the metropolitan planning organization for Southeast Wisconsin. continued...

Regional Planning Commission May Lose Federal Certification

September 29, 2004

Community residents filled a public hearing last night on the performance of the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission as this area’s federally certified Metropolitan Planning Organization. About 50 people attended the meeting. Of the almost two dozen speakers, the vast majority called for major reform of SEWRPC, if not its complete decertification. The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration conducted the hearing. continued...

ACLU of Wisconsin and NAACP-Milwaukee Call For Annex 2001 Caution

July 22, 2004

Today, two leading civil rights and civil liberties organizations called on elected officials and policy planners to stay out of Lake Michigan water until everyone has had time to digest the draft agreements, that the eight Great Lakes Governors have proposed to create an enhanced water management system for the Great Lakes basin. The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin and the NAACP -- Milwaukee Branch expect that the public comment phrase on the proposed implementing agreements to the Annex 2001 will be thorough and inclusive. continued...

ACLU Urges Planning Commision and Waukesha County to Be Smart About Fair and Affordable Housing

July 22, 2004

Today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin urged the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC), and the Waukesha County Comprehensive Development Advisory Committee, to ensure that Smart Growth planning addresses the need for fair and affordable housing in southeastern Wisconsin. The Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet this afternoon to work on its comprehensive plan with SEWPRC's assistance. Smart Growth in Wisconsin law requires counties and municipalities to engage in comprehensive planning - including planning for community housing needs. continued...

Click Here to read the letter sent to SEWRPC

Future of Great Lakes Water Needs Poor and Minorities at the Table

July 14, 2004

The ACLU of Wisconsin has urged Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle to consider the concerns of the poor and minority communities as the Council of Great Lakes Governors considers standards for an enhanced water management system in the Great Lakes basin. The standards will regulate not only consumptive uses of Great Lakes water, but also water diversions from the basin. continued...

SEWRPC Right to Listen to Milwaukee Freeway Expansion Opponents Not Suburban Politicians

March 27, 2003

The ACLU of Wisconsin claims that SEWRPC needs to respect the will of the low-income and minority people of Milwaukee and not suburban politicians, regarding proposals to expand the freeway system in Southeast Wisconsin.

The Freeway System Reconstruction Advisory Committee of SEWRPC at its April 2 meeting will consider a staff recommendation that reportedly will call for reconstructing the freeways in Milwaukee County without additional lanes in much of the City of Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Common Council and a majority of Milwaukee County Supervisors have also voted against unbridled freeway expansion. The ACLU of Wisconsin says that these recommendations are in more in the interests of and fairer to Milwaukee County's low- income and minority populations. continued...

ACLU of Wisconsin Dismayed by Governor's Shocking Disregard for Public Input on Freeway Expansion

July 25, 2002

Today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin responded to Governor Scott McCallum's decision not to veto a provision in the Budget Adjustment Bill that would mandate the expansion of freeways in Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties. It may consider legal action. This expansion could lead to concentrating the adverse effects of the expansion in Milwaukee's low income and minority neighborhoods. continued...

ACLU of Wisconsin Calls Budget Decision on Freeways Precipitous and Arrogant

July 3, 2002

Today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin reacted sharply to a decision by the Legislature's Budget Conference Committee that threatens to cut off debate about freeway expansion in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. The Committee endorsed a budget provision, which would require the Department of Transportation to design the reconstruction of I-94 in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties to meet the projected vehicular traffic capacity needs for 25 years. continued...

The ACLU Asks SEWRPC to do our Freeways the Fair Way

June 13, 2002

The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin today called a $6.2 billion plus freeway project unfair to low-income and minority residents in Milwaukee. The civil liberties group called the planning process carried out by the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission suspect. SEWRPC will be making a recommendation to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation on how best to reconstruct freeways in Southeast Wisconsin. The ACLU is already on record as considering legal action. continued...