I’m taking “Law & Inequality” this term & my only complaint is that it’s an elective. Brilliant guest scholars come to each class & yesterday we heard from @DeborahNArcher after reading her incredible article on highways, segregation, & civil rights https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3539889

I’ve heard that Pete has read the article — I hope every DOT & local transpo bureau & transit agency too! As Prof. Archer points out we need to spend less time fixating on whether people are acting w/ biased intent & more time building structures that facilitate equity. https://twitter.com/deborahnarcher/status/1352288586318700546

Right now, the INVEST America Act gives short shrift to the segregation & civil rights impacts of $300b in highway spending. PDX is expanding a freeway into another Black n’hood. Transit agencies nationwide prioritize shiny trains over bus service for BIPOC & low-income riders.

We can do something different! We can sharpen the teeth of Title VI w/ an explicit right of private action; structure transit agencies to be accountable to riders; and implement Prof. Archer’s racial equity impact studies to put equity at the forefront of all new projects.