Title VI_Project Connect 8Jun2021(LateBackup) — original pdf

Backup

June 8, 2021 Memorandum for Community Development Commission Chair Amit Motwani and Members (BC-Amit.Motwani@austintexas.gov) Subject: Title Transit Disparate Impacts—Community Services Block Grant VI Affordable Housing Impediments (Possible Action) 1. Disparate Impact: $7.1B Project Connect, contingent on 45% Federal funding, will segregate Austin for centuries. North of US 183 rail is 24-30 years, yet Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority/Austin City Council promoted “equity” propaganda. During the 87th Texas Legislature, HB 3893 (Hinojosa) died on “intent calendar.” Republican Senators understood that Capital Metro’s discriminatory Cap Remap violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which “prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin” (FTA, 2012) and would have jeopardized Texas’ Federal funding had the Downtown tunnel bill passed. Federal Register: Submit Formal Comment to Federal Transit Administration. This will help determine if Capital Metro gets Federal funding. Ø Blue Line: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/05/24/2021-10866/preparation-of-an-environmental-impact-statement-for-the- capital-metro-blue-line-project-in-austin#open-comment Ø Orange Line: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/05/24/2021-10865/preparation-of-an-environmental-impact-statement-for- the-capital-metro-orange-line-project-in-austin [Deadline: June 23, 2021 (15 days remaining)] June 8, 2021 2 Subject: Title Transit Disparate Impacts—Community Services Block Grant VI Affordable Housing Impediments (Possible Action) 2. Target Audience: False ad, “Project Connect is a transit plan with more ways to move us all.” Voters were never told they would be subsidizing a system for white commuters from the suburbs. Instead, false ballot language noted “essential workers.” December 14, 2015-March 13, 2016 - about 5,000 surveys (partial results below): 72% white, 52% female (25-35), majority had access to two vehicles, earned $100K, and 94% had some college (≈27% graduate degree). Capital Metro then created its new bus network saying “the people” wanted to walk ½-mile to a frequent bus. November 16, 2016 I testified against disparate impacts. October 24, 2017 Chair Wade Cooper relied on AURA urbanists, third party data not publicly available, asserting minorities [Southeast Hispanics, not Northeast Blacks] had access to the 15-minute network, ignoring safety: more transfers north of US 183 on roadways over 30K vehicles per day (“vpd”) due to unilateral northeast-west eliminations, walk to main corridor from home, wait at neighborhood stops, and transfer time. Blacks wait twice as long as Cooper’s #30-Walsh Tarlton whites outside the service area. Cooking the Books! 2015-16: Capital Metro surveyed 72% whites. Resolutions and Ballot falsely implied minorities under the guise of Title VI. August 24, 2020 Capital Metro excerpt (p. 78) Source: Connections2025.org January 25, 2016: Item III. Public Comment Anthony Walker (Black driver, 24-years). Urban Rail reflections: “Capital Metro Board, is not respecting the City of Austin … taxpayers. As leaders, ya’ll got to do a better job.” Stop protecting the rail. Pflugerville and Cedar Park “voted CapMetro out of the service area, but “you’re catering” to them. (Clip 06:50-12:20) in general, Item IX: Origins and Destination Study: Chart (left) shows 70% of MetroRail riders are white. 24-hour ticket = $7 vs. Bus = $2.50. Rail is nearly three times more, too costly for Black transit-dependent “essential workers” to enjoy. Video: https://austintx.new.swagit.com/videos/45288 ### July 25, 2016: Item III. Public Comment (12:32) Susan Pantell, PhD: “The survey had about 5,0000[;] . . . survey responses were (uhm) slanted toward (uhm) white people and also higher income than the bus ridership. I’m concerned … [consultant’s] service study… will be biased.” Video: https://austintx.new.swagit.com/videos/45296 June 8, 2021 3 Subject: Title Transit Disparate Impacts—Community Services Block Grant VI Affordable Housing Impediments (Possible Action) 3. Integrity: May 24, 2021 Capital Metro approved its Ethics Policy while still violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.1 In part, “Compliance with the Code will help protect Capital Metro’s reputation for honesty and integrity” (p. 48). Passing HB 3893 would have made Texas legislators complicit in the City of Austin and agency’s race discrimination, jeopardizing Federal funding. “You have figured out how to circumvent Title VI: “Say one thing; do another; document what is said to fool the Feds.” ~Zenobia C. Joseph, March 11, 2020 Capital Metro Public Hearing Disparate Impacts acknowledged by Capital Metro Chair/lawyer Wade Cooper on January 28, 2019 “It is also undeniable that individuals may have seen, in particular areas, changes that did not help those individuals and maybe disadvantaged those individuals. . . . We hear the pain and challenge, particularly, with respect to the Eastside community.” August 7, 2020 FTA funding requires “implementing the least discriminatory alternative,” but Cooper maintains Black inequities. Approved: June 10, 2020 Title VI FHWA Transit Precedent Dayton Blacks v. Beavercreek, OH Denying Blacks equal access on federally-funded roadways run by TxDOT violates Title VI! Actors falsely conflated Ridership (white riders) with coverage (lifeline) Cap Remap maintains the racist status quo: infrequent, unreliable, disconnected NE buses! Northeast bus service Before 2018, 35-min Peak “New” Route 339 was a restored number from ServicePlan2020 Worsened: 60 min all day only for Blacks, but fooled the FTA! August 7, 2020 Project Connect Resolution ID# AI-2020-1297 (p. 34) Bus to UPS stops at 9:10PM Blacks can’t work 2nd Shift June 8, 2020 Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (“CAMPO”) Item 5: May 4, 2020 Minutes [17:50]. I testified against Chair Wade Cooper’s reappointment to Capital Metro’s Board of Directors [video]. https://austintx.new.swagit.com/videos/63256 TxDOT/FM 969: Craigwood (Blacks walk 1 mile to Frequent 18-MLK) Disparate Impact: June 3, 2018 Planner Roberto Gonzalez unilaterally took 3 hrs off #339. 1 CapMetro (2021). Ethics (p. 48): https://www.capmetro.org/docs/default-source/public-involvement-docs/board-meetings-docs/board-agenda-docs/may-2021_board-meeting_agenda- packet.pdf?sfvrsn=dc3aeaa4_2 June 8, 2021 4 Subject: Title Transit Disparate Impacts—Community Services Block Grant VI Affordable Housing Impediments (Possible Action) 4. Fair Housing Impediments: Travis County Program Year 2019. 8 of 9 developments = 0.7 to 5 miles from transit which failed to “affirmatively further fair housing.” Additionally, the Housing Authority of the City of Austin uses 80% AMI = New Redlining. Very respectfully, Zenobia C. Joseph