Race And Resource Gaps Are Wider Than A Pothole

The Journal Sentinel did some good investigative work in determining that white-dominated census tracts got pothole repairs faster than minority-dominated neighborhoods, and an editorial Thursday correctly says that further investigation is needed into the disparities.

Seems to me that what's also required is a broader look at how millions and billions of state and federqal transportation dollars around here are allocated - - beyond potholes, t0 planning for and building new roads and transit services.

Transportation dollars, whether spent on an asphalt patch, a new freeway lane or a better transit line, all come from the same public sources - - gasoline tax collections, vehicle registration fees, borrowings and property taxes.

People of all races pay those taxes and fees.

That's what is significant about the discrimination complaint filed against the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission by the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin on behalf of low-income people.

The ACLU is alleging that SEWRPC endorsed and moved highway projects forward without the same push for transit priorities, and that minorities and urban residents are excluded from key SEWRPC decision-making committees.

That's been a theme of this blog since its beginning 18 months ago, and in my work for former Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist beginning in 1996.

The ACLU of Wisconsin is framing these issues legally, and asking federal funders to examine whether transportation spending has been free of discrimination in the region - - a region in which transit service has actually declined while major highway spending has escalated, exacerbating the disconnection between suburban jobs and low-to-middle-income Milwaukee workers, transit riders and job-seekers.

It is also asking for remedies - - more equitable planning and additional transit programs - - and penalties to SEWRPC if it does not follow recommendations, should there be a finding that remedial action is needed.

I'd love to see the Journal Sentinel turn its attention to transportation planning, spending and execution in the region.

The pothole is a wonderful, working image for so many local and regional issues.

Let's see just how wide that pothole really is.