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Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974

1972-01-05 Miss Virginia Harper to Mr. Richard F. Lally Page 1

Fort Madison, Branch
OF THE 
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Fort Madison, Iowa  52627

720 - 7th Street
January 5, 1972

Mr. Richard R. Lally
Director of Civil Rights
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
Washington, D.C. 20590

Dear, Mr. Lally;

In August of 1970, a complaint was filed, by me, through your office regarding discrimination by the Iowa Highway Commission in their choice of a route in the relocation of U.S. Highway 61, through the city of Fort Madison, Iowa. After investigation, by your office, I received a letter, from you, dated December 31, 1970, in which it was stated that at such time as federal monies Administration, conduct a thorough review of the corridor selection to insure that the interests of all parties receive full consideration.

It is my understanding, that the Iowa Highway Commission has requested Federal approval, during this past year, and the approval was denied, pending further action on the part of the Iowa Highway Commission. For this reason, the Iowa Highway Commission is holding another "hearing", such as the one held in 1968, on the 27th of January, 1972. The proposed relocation route which was opposed, by me, in my correspondence, to you, and which the Iowa Highway Commission has gone on record as being in favor of, will still involve 146 families or 586 individuals. The number of minority group persons to be relocated, in this route, remains the same. In fact, on all of the other "proposed" relocation routes, the number of families being moved, is less than 100. Sixty - five (65) families is the most on any other route, and there are few, if any, minority group people involved. Because the "favored" area, is a so-called, low-cost area, the route is being "pushed" as being the one which will be most advantageous as far as the other tax-payers, are concerned.

It is the feeling of those of us, who are concerned, about the people who are to be relocated, that the soon to be held, public hearing, is just a means of "complying" with the Federal Department's request for a review of the

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Fort Madison, Branch OF THE National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Fort Madison, Iowa 52627 720 - 7th Street January 5, 1972 Mr. Richard R. Lally Director of Civil Rights Office of the Secretary of Transportation Washington, D.C. 20590 Dear, Mr. Lally; In August of 1970, a complaint was filed, by me, through your office regarding discrimination by the Iowa Highway Commission in their choice of a route in the relocation of U.S. Highway 61, through the city of Fort Madison, Iowa. After investigation, by your office, I received a letter, from you, dated December 31, 1970, in which it was stated that at such time as federal monies Administration, conduct a thorough review of the corridor selection to insure that the interests of all parties receive full consideration. It is my understanding, that the Iowa Highway Commission has requested Federal approval, during this past year, and the approval was denied, pending further action on the part of the Iowa Highway Commission. For this reason, the Iowa Highway Commission is holding another "hearing", such as the one held in 1968, on the 27th of January, 1972. The proposed relocation route which was opposed, by me, in my correspondence, to you, and which the Iowa Highway Commission has gone on record as being in favor of, will still involve 146 families or 586 individuals. The number of minority group persons to be relocated, in this route, remains the same. In fact, on all of the other "proposed" relocation routes, the number of families being moved, is less than 100. Sixty - five (65) families is the most on any other route, and there are few, if any, minority group people involved. Because the "favored" area, is a so-called, low-cost area, the route is being "pushed" as being the one which will be most advantageous as far as the other tax-payers, are concerned. It is the feeling of those of us, who are concerned, about the people who are to be relocated, that the soon to be held, public hearing, is just a means of "complying" with the Federal Department's request for a review of the