HOUSTON (AP) - A faded and weathered building permit is still taped to Houston resident Mal Moses' front door, covered in mold after 2017's Hurricane Getting Harvey hit. It recalls the difficulties he faced in repairing the walls of the plaza and the leaking roof.
But Trinity Moses says life in the Houston Gardens area has always been tough. His family endured racial abuse and harassment when some of the first black residents moved in in the late 1960s. He said that when the white residents left, resources such as consistent garbage collection and a properly functioning drainage system also appeared to flee.
Therefore, according to Harvey, the 65-year-old Moses was expected to be denied government aid. And he wasn't surprised by federal officials' conclusion that year that states were discriminating against minorities, especially black residents, in distributing flood relief funds from hurricanes.
"It was just another example [of discrimination] to me... Having experienced it first hand growing up, I was not shocked that it was done," Moses said.
Texas said Friday an investigation by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found in March that the state had violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964, resulting in "a disproportionately low amount of available funds." By distributing more than $2 billion to fund flood control projects, Harvey said, more than was available to white residents. We were able to benefit minority residents. This deadline passed without the dispute being resolved.
The Texas General Land Office (GLO), which is responsible for allocating funds, said his actions were not illegal. In a letter sent to HUD Secretary Marsha Fudge on Thursday, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said he had no plans to force the GLO into a deal.
“HUD should close this case without carrying out the threats in your letter, which will only delay funding to Texans who really need disaster preparedness,” Abbott said. rice field. HUD has referred the matter to the Department of Justice and is threatening legal action.
"We are reviewing our options and have no further comment at this time," HUD spokesman Michael Burns said in an email Friday.
#politics #poltical#discrimination
No comments: