On Jan. 29, newly sworn-in U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy signed a “Woke Rescission” Memorandum meant to eliminate all Biden-era programs “that promote climate change activism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, racial equity, gender identity policies, environmental justice, and other partisan objectives,” according to a release from the U.S. DOT that says the memo was issued to align with Trump executive orders.
In response to questions from the Dayton Daily News, a spokesperson for the city of Dayton said this week: “This funding is currently on hold as we await the Federal Government’s review of the program and its approved funding.”
Asked by this news outlet for details on who suspended the project and if other city projects are impacted by executive orders, the city responded with a statement: “We are currently working with our state and federal lobbyists to assess additional funding impacts and that work is not complete.”
Contacted for comment, a spokesman for Turner said he “cannot comment on the status of this project while the administration is conducting their review process.”
The $2 million for Revive35 is a grant from the Reconnecting Communities Pilot program “designed to support projects that enhance connectivity by mitigating the negative impacts of past infrastructure decisions,” according to a release from Turner’s office.
The money would fund a comprehensive planning study on the U.S. 35 corridor, including looking at restructuring intersections to allow increased mobility and mitigate environmental and public health issues, city officials say.
Among other things, this is meant to address damage done to minority communities when the highway system was built, carving up diverse neighborhoods and dividing the city.
“By reimagining this critical transportation route, we are creating new opportunities for our community, strengthening Dayton’s infrastructure, and fostering a more vibrant future for residents and businesses alike,” Dayton Mayor Jeffrey Mims Jr. said when the grant was announced.
