Municipal Service Disparities: Liability under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Abstract

Communities face a crisis in providing urban infrastructure. Municipal services such as road improvements, mass transit, and the extension of municipal sewer and stormwater drainage systems are increasingly scarce. Communities have new areas springing up demanding new services while old areas need their antiquated facilities updated or replaced. Federal subsidies for these services are shrinking, and vote-conscious politicians are reluctant to finance the services with higher property taxes. But these services have a daily impact on the quality of life in urban neighborhoods and are increasingly sought after and competed for.