With excuses that don’t make sense and an enabling Federal Highway Administration in its corner and back pocket, the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission copes with public criticism — by shutting down a public hearing where it might be voiced. More here.
And please participate Oct. 22. Southeastern Wisconsin residents deserve better than this. Details below
ACLU-WI ¤ CITIZENS ALLIED FOR SANE HIGHWAYS (CASH) ¤ GOOD JOBS AND LIVABLE NEIGHBORHOODS COALITION ¤ MIDWEST ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES ¤ SIERRA CLUB – GREAT WATERS GROUP
Make Your Voice Heard on Decisions Impacting Quality of Life, Mass Transit, Asthma Rates, Affordable Housing, Job Growth, and More
ACTION ALERT: On October 22, 2008, come join a coalition of individuals and groups to challenge the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission’s (SEWRPC) recertification as the recognized Metropolitan Planning Organization for the region.
“We said this four years ago, and unfortunately we have to say it again – SEWRPC hasn’t lived up to either its ethical or legal obligations to represent the interests of all residents of our community,” said Karyn Rotker, Senior Staff Attorney for ACLU-WI.
Every four years, the federal government has to certify that a Metropolitan Planning Organization is following federal laws and requirements, including civil rights and environmental justice requirements. SEWRPC is up for recertification this year. The U.S. Department of Transportation will have a public meeting where YOU can provide written or spoken comments.
As the region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization, SEWRPC makes recommendations about transportation planning. These transportation projects impact priorities for government funding, how healthy our air is, where housing is developed, job growth, the availability of mass transit, the supply of and potential movement of water outside the Great Lakes Basin, and much more. The agency, however, often has ignored the concerns of minority and low-income residents of Milwaukee. For example, SEWRPC has yet to conduct a regional housing study – something it promised in 2005 to do. It has denied requests from groups representing low income and minority communities to participate on advisory task forces. It rejected the requests of its own Environmental Justice Task Force to seek a diverse and inclusive pool of candidates to fill its Executive Director and Assistant Director positions.
WHAT: Public Meeting on SEWRPC’s Certification as Metro Planning Organization
WHERE: Downtown Transit Center, Harbor Lights Room, 909 E. Michigan Ave. Milwaukee
WHEN: October 22, 2008 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.