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Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974

1970-06-23 Letter to Federal Highway Administration, Equal Opportunity Division

720 - 7th Street
June 23, 1970

Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Equal Opportunity Division
1717 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20591

Dear Sirs:

As Branch Administrative Secreatary of the Fort Madison, Iowa, Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, I would like to register a protest with your agency against the City of Fort Madison and the Iowa Highway Commission.

In 1968, the City of Fort Madison announced, with the Iowa Highway Commission, plans for the relocation of Highway 61 through the city of Fort Madison. On March 7, 1968, the Iowa State Highway Commission held the required public hearing on the proposed relocation, and as was stated, it had nothing whatever to do with the final decision. However, the attendance was well over what had been expected, and well over 300 people whowed up to register objections. The citizens who were to be affected, as well as those who were interested in the welfare of the "total" community, felt then, as they do now, that the hearings are no more than a "sham". The corridorthat was chose for the relocated highway, affects Blacks, Mexican-Americans and low-income whites. This, of course, is the so-called "cheaper area of town. according to the officials in charge of the decision making. Until recently, Blacks and Mexican-Americans have been denied whose the privilege of buying or building or renting in other areas of town. Even those whose economic status would have enabled them to go elsewhere, have been forced to live in areas which were not going to offend the neighbors. Those persons who were able to overcome this obstacle, however, had a tremendous fight on their hands. 

Little attention has been paid to the citizens of this area until it became evident that there is much opposition to the plan for relocating the Highway through this town.

Saving...

720 - 7th Street June 23, 1970 Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Equal Opportunity Division 1717 H Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20591 Dear Sirs: As Branch Administrative Secreatary of the Fort Madison, Iowa, Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, I would like to register a protest with your agency against the City of Fort Madison and the Iowa Highway Commission. In 1968, the City of Fort Madison announced, with the Iowa Highway Commission, plans for the relocation of Highway 61 through the city of Fort Madison. On March 7, 1968, the Iowa State Highway Commission held the required public hearing on the proposed relocation, and as was stated, it had nothing whatever to do with the final decision. However, the attendance was well over what had been expected, and well over 300 people whowed up to register objections. The citizens who were to be affected, as well as those who were interested in the welfare of the "total" community, felt then, as they do now, that the hearings are no more than a "sham". The corridorthat was chose for the relocated highway, affects Blacks, Mexican-Americans and low-income whites. This, of course, is the so-called "cheaper area of town. according to the officials in charge of the decision making. Until recently, Blacks and Mexican-Americans have been denied whose the privilege of buying or building or renting in other areas of town. Even those whose economic status would have enabled them to go elsewhere, have been forced to live in areas which were not going to offend the neighbors. Those persons who were able to overcome this obstacle, however, had a tremendous fight on their hands. Little attention has been paid to the citizens of this area until it became evident that there is much opposition to the plan for relocating the Highway through this town.