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Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974

1972-06-22 James I. Meyerson to the Office of the Secretary of Transportation Page 1

NAACP Special Contribution Fund
1790 BROADWAY / NEW YORK, N.Y. 10019 / 245-2100

June 22, 1972

Office of the Secretary of Transportation
United States Department of Transportation
Washington, D.C. 20590

ATTENTION: Richard F. Lally, Director of Civil Rights

RE: The proposed relocation of US Highway # 61 through Fort Madison, Iowa

Dear Mr. Lally:

I am writing you this letter regarding the above-mentioned matter in light of this office's deep concern about the adverse effect that the proposed highway relocation will have on minority persons residing in Fort Madison, Iowa and the efforts that I have taken, to date, in that regard.

I have been advised that, after reconsideration, the Iowa State Highway Commission will approve the proposed highway corridor and forward the same to the Secretary of Transportation for his approval. The Highway Commission is taking this action not withstanding the fact that your office previously found that the "corridor selection, if approved, will have the effect of discrimination in that a disproportionate number of the displaced persons will be minority group memebers, i.e., Negroes and Mexican-Americans." (This finding was made in a letter to Miss Virginia Harper, Administrative Secretary of the Fort Madison Branch of the NAACP, over your signature; a copy of thereof is attached hereto).

I have enclosed herewith, as well, copies of correspondence which have been transmitted between this office and the Iowa State Highway Commission, regarding this matter, dating back to January 22, 1972 when I forwarded a letter to the Commission stating our position.

Needless to say, nothing has changed since your office made the aforementioned finding. Accordingly,

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NAACP Special Contribution Fund 1790 BROADWAY / NEW YORK, N.Y. 10019 / 245-2100 June 22, 1972 Office of the Secretary of Transportation United States Department of Transportation Washington, D.C. 20590 ATTENTION: Richard F. Lally, Director of Civil Rights RE: The proposed relocation of US Highway # 61 through Fort Madison, Iowa Dear Mr. Lally: I am writing you this letter regarding the above-mentioned matter in light of this office's deep concern about the adverse effect that the proposed highway relocation will have on minority persons residing in Fort Madison, Iowa and the efforts that I have taken, to date, in that regard. I have been advised that, after reconsideration, the Iowa State Highway Commission will approve the proposed highway corridor and forward the same to the Secretary of Transportation for his approval. The Highway Commission is taking this action not withstanding the fact that your office previously found that the "corridor selection, if approved, will have the effect of discrimination in that a disproportionate number of the displaced persons will be minority group memebers, i.e., Negroes and Mexican-Americans." (This finding was made in a letter to Miss Virginia Harper, Administrative Secretary of the Fort Madison Branch of the NAACP, over your signature; a copy of thereof is attached hereto). I have enclosed herewith, as well, copies of correspondence which have been transmitted between this office and the Iowa State Highway Commission, regarding this matter, dating back to January 22, 1972 when I forwarded a letter to the Commission stating our position. Needless to say, nothing has changed since your office made the aforementioned finding. Accordingly,