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Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974

1972-02-16 Robert L. Humphrey to Mr. James I. Meyerson Page 1

7125FEB2272

Iowa
a place to grow

Legal

THE IOWA STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION
515-232-7250
AMES, IOWA 50010

JOSEPH R. COUPAL, JR.
Director
H.E. GUNNERSON
Chief Engineer

February 16, 1972

Re: 9-6
U-16-1
Lee County

Mr. James I. Meyerson
Assistant General Counsel
NAACP
1790 Broadway
New York, New York 10019

Dear Mr. Meyerson:

Thank you for your letter of January 28, 1972, regarding the proposed improvement of US 61 in Fort Madison, Iowa. As I'm sure you appreciate, several questions have arisen in regard to the NAACP position statement on the proposed project. They are as follows:

It was stated that "The proposed corridor, which has been chosen for the relocation of Highway #61, will have the discriminatory effect of disrupting minority neighborhoods in Fort Madison, Iowa, and the consequence of displacing a disproportionate number of minority group members living therein, specifically black persons and persons of Mexican-American ancestry." An individual at the corridor public hearing, speaking as a member of a minority group, state that about 85 percent of those being displaced were not of a minority group, so our question is: what do you consider a disproportionate number of minority group members and what specifically is the discriminatory effect in Fort Madison?

Your position statement also stated that "The proposed action of the Iowa State Highway Commission reflects a total insensitivity to the fact that the minority persons living in the corridor area have been systematically denied the privilege of living in other areas of Fort Madison because of their race and ancestry, and it authorizes, encourages, and sanctions continued discrimination on these grounds." At the public hearing a member of one of the minority groups stated that a member of a minority group can live anywhere in Fort Madison. We do not and will not encourage discrimination at any time and would

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7125FEB2272 Iowa a place to grow Legal THE IOWA STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION 515-232-7250 AMES, IOWA 50010 JOSEPH R. COUPAL, JR. Director H.E. GUNNERSON Chief Engineer February 16, 1972 Re: 9-6 U-16-1 Lee County Mr. James I. Meyerson Assistant General Counsel NAACP 1790 Broadway New York, New York 10019 Dear Mr. Meyerson: Thank you for your letter of January 28, 1972, regarding the proposed improvement of US 61 in Fort Madison, Iowa. As I'm sure you appreciate, several questions have arisen in regard to the NAACP position statement on the proposed project. They are as follows: It was stated that "The proposed corridor, which has been chosen for the relocation of Highway #61, will have the discriminatory effect of disrupting minority neighborhoods in Fort Madison, Iowa, and the consequence of displacing a disproportionate number of minority group members living therein, specifically black persons and persons of Mexican-American ancestry." An individual at the corridor public hearing, speaking as a member of a minority group, state that about 85 percent of those being displaced were not of a minority group, so our question is: what do you consider a disproportionate number of minority group members and what specifically is the discriminatory effect in Fort Madison? Your position statement also stated that "The proposed action of the Iowa State Highway Commission reflects a total insensitivity to the fact that the minority persons living in the corridor area have been systematically denied the privilege of living in other areas of Fort Madison because of their race and ancestry, and it authorizes, encourages, and sanctions continued discrimination on these grounds." At the public hearing a member of one of the minority groups stated that a member of a minority group can live anywhere in Fort Madison. We do not and will not encourage discrimination at any time and would