DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974 | 1972-02-26 Miss Virginia Harper to Mr. James I. Meyerson Page 1

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Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974

1972-02-26 Miss Virginia Harper to Mr. James I. Meyerson Page 1

720 - 7th Street
February 26, 1972

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

Dear Mr. Meyerson;

As per your request, I will try to answer the questions which were posed by Mr. Humphrey of the Iowa State Highway Commission. However, first, I would like to state that the two minority group persons who spoke in favor of the proposed corridor, one a Mexican American and the other Black, are not interested on the real effect this would have on their people.

In answer to the first question, the Federal Department of Transportation was responsible for the statement about a disproportionate number of minority group persons. I would regard this as meaning, in respect to the total population and its make-up, a disproportionate number of those to be moved, are members of minority groups.

In answer to the second question, it is true, as far as we can tell, that members of minority groups are able to live almost anywhere in Fort Madison, if they are economically able to do so, at this time. however, the people who are in the affected are, are there, because of the socio-economic factors which prevailed at the times when they were purchasing homes and property. Because of these same conditions, most of them have been unable to move out. Some are retired an, now, that they can, do not have the means. We have reasons to believe there are still areas that are restricted, on an unwritten basis. To prove this, one would have to have people, again, who are able to afford the price of a home in the areas in question. This, we do not have, in this community, at this time, however, we have had. The minority group person who made this statement is a slum landlord who has property he is anxious to move, and I really can't blame him. However, the minority group home-owners in the area will not benefit as greatly as he indicated. Property taxes will be higher in any other area of town, and it has been stated, already, that these people will all have to come up with at least $60.00 more a month, for living expenses when they are moved out of this area.

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720 - 7th Street February 26, 1972 Mr. James I. Meyerson Assistant General Counsel NAACP 1790 Broadway new York, New York 10019 Dear Mr. Meyerson; As per your request, I will try to answer the questions which were posed by Mr. Humphrey of the Iowa State Highway Commission. However, first, I would like to state that the two minority group persons who spoke in favor of the proposed corridor, one a Mexican American and the other Black, are not interested on the real effect this would have on their people. In answer to the first question, the Federal Department of Transportation was responsible for the statement about a disproportionate number of minority group persons. I would regard this as meaning, in respect to the total population and its make-up, a disproportionate number of those to be moved, are members of minority groups. In answer to the second question, it is true, as far as we can tell, that members of minority groups are able to live almost anywhere in Fort Madison, if they are economically able to do so, at this time. however, the people who are in the affected are, are there, because of the socio-economic factors which prevailed at the times when they were purchasing homes and property. Because of these same conditions, most of them have been unable to move out. Some are retired an, now, that they can, do not have the means. We have reasons to believe there are still areas that are restricted, on an unwritten basis. To prove this, one would have to have people, again, who are able to afford the price of a home in the areas in question. This, we do not have, in this community, at this time, however, we have had. The minority group person who made this statement is a slum landlord who has property he is anxious to move, and I really can't blame him. However, the minority group home-owners in the area will not benefit as greatly as he indicated. Property taxes will be higher in any other area of town, and it has been stated, already, that these people will all have to come up with at least $60.00 more a month, for living expenses when they are moved out of this area.