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Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974

1970-09-02 Miss Virginia Harper to Mr. William H. Bailey Page 1

September 2, 1970

Mr. William H. Bailey
Civil Rights Specialist
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
Washington, D. C. 20590

Dear Mr. Bailey;

This letter is being written, in answer to your letter of August 28th, requesting more information regarding my complaint against the re-routing of US Highway 61, through the city of Fort Madison, Iowa.

Before going any farther, though, I would like to emphasize the fact that this complaint was made on behalf of people of all races, and their civil rights. Minority groups will be affected, but so will low-income whites.

In answer to your questions:
a. What is the present status of the proposed relocation program?
AT this time, there is not enough housing available for the persons who will have to be relocated. However, because of the referendum which was passed in May, for "low-rent" housing, there are plans for an adequately taking care of those who will need housing. As it was explained, to me, by building housing for those with low-incomes and the elderly, the city hopes to clear enough homes to take care of those who do not wish to live in the housing projects. HUD, I understand, has approved the plans of the Housing Agency, but will not be able to allocate funds for the project, until the next fiscal year. This would mean, according to the Chairman of the Agency, that the city would not get the money until January of 1972. However, at this time, there are people, who are not low-income, (Black and White), who are unable to purchase homes that are available, because the "asking" price, is too high for what is being offered.
In the meantime, the city is "rezoning" and making plans to enforce a Housing Code which they have never "bothered" with, primarily because of the opposition to their "strategy" and the proposed relocation of the HIghway. Actually, my real answer would be, that the present status of

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September 2, 1970 Mr. William H. Bailey Civil Rights Specialist Office of the Secretary of Transportation Washington, D. C. 20590 Dear Mr. Bailey; This letter is being written, in answer to your letter of August 28th, requesting more information regarding my complaint against the re-routing of US Highway 61, through the city of Fort Madison, Iowa. Before going any farther, though, I would like to emphasize the fact that this complaint was made on behalf of people of all races, and their civil rights. Minority groups will be affected, but so will low-income whites. In answer to your questions: a. What is the present status of the proposed relocation program? AT this time, there is not enough housing available for the persons who will have to be relocated. However, because of the referendum which was passed in May, for "low-rent" housing, there are plans for an adequately taking care of those who will need housing. As it was explained, to me, by building housing for those with low-incomes and the elderly, the city hopes to clear enough homes to take care of those who do not wish to live in the housing projects. HUD, I understand, has approved the plans of the Housing Agency, but will not be able to allocate funds for the project, until the next fiscal year. This would mean, according to the Chairman of the Agency, that the city would not get the money until January of 1972. However, at this time, there are people, who are not low-income, (Black and White), who are unable to purchase homes that are available, because the "asking" price, is too high for what is being offered. In the meantime, the city is "rezoning" and making plans to enforce a Housing Code which they have never "bothered" with, primarily because of the opposition to their "strategy" and the proposed relocation of the HIghway. Actually, my real answer would be, that the present status of