The NAACP has accused a pair of Mississippi departments of discrimination against Black Mississippians, leading to the loss of drinking water in the state's capital city at the end of the summer.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is investigating the state of Mississippi for civil rights violations after the state's majority-Black capital city of Jackson lost safe drinking water in August 2022.
According to an article by Ashton Pittman for the Mississippi Free Press, the EPA's investigation follows a complaint filed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). “For years, the State of Mississippi, its agencies, instrumentalities, and officials (collectively ‘the State’) have discriminated on the basis of race against the City of Jackson, Mississippi (‘Jackson’) and its majority-Black population by diverting federal funds awarded to ensure safe drinking water and unpolluted surface waters and groundwater,” reads the text of the complaint. The complaint specifically accuses the Mississippi State Department of Health (MDH) and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality of discrimination against Black Mississippians in finding choices for water supply infrastructure.
According to the article, the August pump failure at the O.B. Curtis water treatment plant, following flooding along the Pearl River, was only the latest failure for the city's drinking water infrastructure. “In early 2021, residents of the 82% Black city also lost access to running water for weeks after a deep winter freeze,” writes Pittman.
Planetizen picked up news in September that the city of Jackson was requesting $200 million in funding from the EPA, bypassing the state entirely, to help fund an estimated $1 billion needed to repair the city's water supply infrastructure.
FULL STORY: EPA Investigating Mississippi For Civil Rights Violations Over Jackson Water Crisis
Costs to Fix Jackson's Water System Estimated at $1 Billion
Planning and funding are both in dire need in Jackson, Mississippi. The question is who should be in charge of all the planning and funding.
Water Supply Failure in Jackson, Mississippi
A catastrophic failure of the water supply in Jackson is leaving state and local officials scrambling to deliver clean water to some 180,000 residents of the state’s capital.
The Real Cost of Clean Water in One Kansas Town
Pretty Prairie has water with very high levels of nitrates, and lots of farmers that need to use nitrates if they want to keep the local economy going.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and harrowing close calls are a growing reality.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)