Between 1970 and 1978 six landfills were allowed to go into the city of Houston by the Department of Health, and of these six sites five were in black communities. It is very important to remember that only 30 percent of Houston's population is black. This is a issue of huge importance to minority groups in Houston because these landfills have had horrible effects on minority communities. How can the minority groups in Houston expect to close the gap in segregation when the government throws dumps in their neighborhoods which cost them money in lost property value and in health related issues. Since in 1979 no new solid waste sites have been set up, but many still exist mostly in black communities.
Minimum wage is another issue in Houston that is very important to minority groups.
Because of many years of racism and segregation in cities like Houston many people who work hard at low paying jobs tend to be minorities. Approximately 90,000 children under the age of 6 in Houston live in poverty. Many of these children have hard working parents that are making minimum wage and can't provide the essentials for their children. Many important issues to the minority groups within Houston are designed to chop at the greater problems which are continued racism and segregation. With better minority neighborhoods and an increase in better jobs minority groups in Houston can gain power and respect within Houston.