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| Government Corruption |
| Joe Biden DOT Halts Texas Highway Project Using the Civil Rights Act |
| 2021-04-04 |
| [Breitbart] President Joe Biden’s Department of Transportation (DOT) has paused a highway widening project in Houston, Texas, citing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as legal justification. In what could be a first for any administration in this context, the Biden administration is using its federal powers to pause the Texas DOT plan to widen Interstate 45. The administration is doing this as a test to address what it calls a history of “government-driven racial inequalities.” This comes after complaints from local activities during the federal DOT’s intervention period. The proposed plan, known as the North Houston Highway Improvement Project, is proposed to widen I-45 at three different sections. The Texas DOT’s completed environmental review of the project in February found it would have a significant impact on the surrounding communities the highway currently runs through. It would reportedly displace a substantial number of black and Hispanic communities, including schools, places of worship, and more than 1,000 homes and businesses. Biden’s transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, claims he will make what he calls “systemic racism” the centerpiece of his time at the department, consistent with Biden’s Executive Order 13985. Title VI is part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs that are receiving federal financial assistance. Federal officials involved in this could eventually allow the project to take place. Politico reported, “the action to freeze it at all, and in particular DOT’s use of civil rights laws to underpin that decision, has buoyed activists on the ground and surprised even seasoned regulators in Washington.” Permanently blocking this project could pose an uphill battle for the administration. Many lawyers say the administration will have to prove that widening the highway route in specific areas is intentionally discriminating against minority groups. Others note the Biden administration could try to persuade courts to agree that because the highway’s widening affects more minorities than whites, it should be considered a Title VI violation even with no evidence of discriminatory intent. If the federal DOT would be able to successfully bock the start of this project, countless other federally funded programs could be deemed illegal. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), a Democrat who represents the Houston area, joined local officials to challenge the project. In her complaint, she urged holding off on the expansion, including starting on contract solicitation until the federal DOT has time to review the plans, including the civil rights and environmental concerns. Jackson Lee said, “I think this project is the poster child for [the administration’s] policies.” Fred Wagner, former general counsel at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), said, “This is a big deal … It just doesn’t happen very often.” Related: Department of Transportation: 2021-03-04 Ethics concerns led to criminal referral involving Chao, inspector general says Department of Transportation: 2020-12-25 Rosen Takes Over Justice Department as Acting Attorney General Department of Transportation: 2020-10-08 CA Officials Topple Giant 'TRUMP' Sign Overlooking 405 Freeway, Citing 'Life And Safety Hazard' Related: Title VI: 2021-02-03 Justice Department drops lawsuit alleging Yale discriminated against white and Asian applicants Title VI: 2021-01-27 To Insults Of U.S. Troops, Biden Administration Adds Forcing Female Soldiers To Shower With Men Title VI: 2020-11-19 Federal investigation opened following complaint of antisemitism at UIUC Related: Pete Buttigieg: 2021-03-27 Former ‘Mayor Pete' Buttigieg Declares War On Rural Red States With Call For Mileage Tax Pete Buttigieg: 2021-03-06 Obama claimed Buttigieg couldn't win election because ‘he's gay' and Pete Buttigieg: 2020-12-17 Biden 'confident' son Hunter did nothing wrong |
| Posted by:Skidmark |
| #14 I work with several successful black business men. They hate these freeloaders as much as everyone else does. And they are very vocal about it to these freeloaders, which is shocking to watch because most people would never get away with what they tell them. |
| Posted by: Ebbomoger Speaking for Boskone4589 2021-04-04 16:23 |
| #13 Think of the government spending savings! If you think merely stopping the project would stop the spending you're not paying attention. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2021-04-04 12:59 |
| #12 So "Biden" is proposing a huge "infrastructure" bill while simultaneously stopping current infrastructure projects. You could reasonably conclude that the "infrastructure" part of the bill is just a Trojan horse for the massive spending on a grab bag of Dem favorites. |
| Posted by: Matt 2021-04-04 12:51 |
| #11 Just think! If they get this approach rolling, (Keystone Pipeline being an early trial balloon) they could stop every single infrastructure project in existence dead in its tracks! Think of the government spending savings! |
| Posted by: Bobby 2021-04-04 12:40 |
| #10 Others note the Biden administration could try to persuade courts to agree that because the highway’s widening affects more minorities than whites, it should be considered a Title VI violation even with no evidence of discriminatory intent. So...if it impacts more whites than "minorities," then everything is cool? 'cuse me, but GFYs. When I was but a lad, my Dad showed me the ghost of the house he was born in. Twas but a dip in the curb marking the former driveway to a now vacant lot which was surrounded by a vast area of vacant lots making way for the Grove Shafter freeway in Oakland. But that's OK because these were mostly working class white people who were affected. |
| Posted by: JHH 2021-04-04 12:03 |
| #9 Secede already |
| Posted by: Boss Phack4745 2021-04-04 10:54 |
| #8 Texas needs to tell them to fuck off and keep doing it. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2021-04-04 10:08 |
| #7 Past time to begin nullification. |
| Posted by: Warthog 2021-04-04 09:23 |
| #6 So Plugs is going to piss off his supporters in Houston...." Points finger at head and says " Kidneys ! " |
| Posted by: Phinetch Wherese4624 2021-04-04 09:20 |
| #5 And Sheila Jackson-Lee is a dumb ass race-baiting idiot who keeps on getting elected... so who's the idiots? |
| Posted by: Mercutio 2021-04-04 08:20 |
| #4 I wonder how much Federal Taxes are paid by Texans? What if we eliminated the Federal Income tax and go back to the original way of funding the US Federal Government? States collected tax monies and SHARED amounts with the Federal Government. The Fed's collected Tariffs, Excise taxes, import duties and etc.. It kept the Federal Gov. in check and listening to the States. |
| Posted by: NN2N1 2021-04-04 07:36 |
| #3 Once again demonstrating is that the laws are not important - it's the bureaucrats who interpret the laws that are important? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2021-04-04 02:48 |
| #2 Extortion of the contractors. There is no other choice than to widen the highway where it is, or simply overburden it with traffic which will devalue the entire area. They will destroy the economy around the I-45 corridor because people will start avoiding it due to the inadequate roadway. Fucking luddites. And Sheila Jackson-Lee is a dumb ass race-baiting idiot. |
| Posted by: These Forkbeard7574 2021-04-04 01:17 |
| #1 Meanwhile twit Pete Buttigieg unloads a bike near where is is to attend a cabinet meeting and rides it a couple blocks rest of the way with his security detail following in SUV's. |
| Posted by: crazyhorse 2021-04-04 00:49 |