The committee on Environmental Protection and energy will
now come to order. Um, thank you all for being here. This
morning, there are 2 items before committee. Item 1 is
re-referred resolution for a hearing on the impact.
reduction of single-use.
Alder Cruise.
Alder Rodriguez, Sanchez.
Alder Conway.
Alder, Sigel Lopez.
Alder, Reilly
Alder Lawson.
Alder clay.
Alder Martin.
Alderman, a hoppenworth.
And uh, I recognize a older Vasquez as a non-committee
member who was present. All right, we do have a quorum,
we've got 10 members present. Um, do we have any older
persons joining virtually?
All right. Uh, we might have a rule 58. We had a rule 59
requests for Alder Lawson. Um, he doesn't appear to be in
the zoom with us yet, but I may ask for a motion to allow
his room for participation once he arrives. Uh, so we'll
come back to that.
All right.
At this time, we're going to begin our public comment
period. Public comment is limited to 30 minutes out of
respect. For everybody's time, each speaker will be limited
to 3 minutes um and we will start
Uh, Luis Sandoval.
I uh, is this?
Is this the right microphone? Yep. Um, go ahead and, and,
uh, you can move it to raise it. Hello. Um, and you can
hear grab the metal stand, and you can adjust it a little
bit since you're talking.
Thank you, I'm pretty tall. All right. Thanks um hi my name
is Luis. Soal, I'm here. Um on as a student of Columbia
College Chicago, um I'm here on behalf of a project for my
culture of climate change class.
Um, we've been assigned to like, take a form of action and
attending this meeting to speak with you all is like, my
form of taking action. Um, this is my first time at City
Hall. So apologies. If I do make any mistakes,
um,
I know there. Um I know for 1 of the things that are being
discussed today is about the usage of single-use plastics.
Um I know that some there is definitely like concern from
like businesses regarding um having to use like these less
um, I think it's more if people want to
We want to like in a way have I guess civilians. Just start
using single-use plastic slides. We're going to have to
like convince people to
Like in a way maybe not not through data or statistics,
maybe it's just going to be have to show them like proof of
the effects that happen. Perhaps from taking my class in
college, we've seen on several like films of people's
experiences with like climate change and what kind of
things they've done. I think that's probably 1 of the ways
to help like help get action done.
Um,
um, let me see.
Um,
I know that. Um,
Um, I know that.
C.
Oh,
I know that.
I know that there are definitely issues that might run that
you you might run into when trying to get things passed.
Um, I think even though there are concerns like budgets and
whether like people higher Powers might not approve of it,
I think having being able to keep discussing things, keep
these discussions going is, it's still, I guess in a way
making action still happening, keeping these topics being
discussed.
um, kind of
it still contributes to something.
I think that.
I hope, whatever.
I hope the discussions that are being held today,
contribute to something positive. And I'm hoping for the
best for just people in general, here in Chicago, whether
it be
maybe just people who are locals, whether it be people are
visiting here for the first time I do hope things come of
good through this meeting
Um, that's all. Thank you.
Thank you, Louis.
All right, next up, we have Diego Morales.
Good morning. My name is Diego Morales. I am a resident of
pilson and chair of the 25th. Ward, independent political
organization. I'm here to speak in favor of the yet to be
introduced. Hazel M, Johnson environmental ordinance which
will be introduced April 16th.
And I wanted to start by saying why this is important to
me. Um,
so everybody in my family say for myself has asthma,
Uh, and struggle throughout that their whole lives. I
remember a horrifying day, many years ago, when my youngest
sibling, who was a grade school student came home
And told us that his their best friend had passed away in
the night from an asthma attack. A great school boy.
Um and the weight that that awful experience had over the
many nights that we would wake up late to the coughing to
the wheezing scrambling for albuterol, scrambling for
inhalers.
Um, fast forward to today, 3 blocks from my home. There's a
metal Shredder by the name of Sims, which is across the
street. From a high school beneath the Hues on only 2
blocks from an elementary school.
Um, we know that the operations of shredders like Sims
releases small metal particulates into the air that young
people breathe into their lungs. They breathe into their
nervous system causing asthma causing cancer, causing all
kinds of health issues.
Um, I I personally believe it's unconscionable that we
operate in the city of Chicago and think that giving kids
asthma is just the cost of doing business.
So, it's clear, however, that the current regulations and
laws on the books are not strong enough.
To keep polluters like Sims to account.
In fact, 4 years ago, the state's attorney Attorney General
Kwame. Raoul sued Sims for their polluting practices and
said you have to correct and reduce your emissions by
installing equipment.
um, and it was reported just a month ago by block club that
today, 4 years later Sims has still failed to install the
necessary equipment that curbs their emissions and lessens
the pollution that are especially young people are
suffering from.
so,
I am proud to stand in solidarity and support with
organizations like little village. Environmental justice
organization who fought for decades against hilco with the
southeast Congress Strikers who fought and defeated General
iron who helped to craft this ordinance. That he's M
Johnson ordinance. I've also had the pleasure to work with
hazel Johnson's daughter. Cheryl
Um to pass this very necessary, legislation to help protect
protect communities, like mine against these polluters. So
when this ordinance is introduced April 16th, I would
implore everybody on city council and the general public to
please.
Turn back.
The tradition in Chicago of putting the profits of these
industrial polluters, putting the profits of these
companies.
As priority number 1 and instead prioritize the health and
safety of the residents of this city. Thank you.
Thank you, Diego.
Next up is Taiwan Sims.
um,
I came to hijack, this committee
in regards to what took place Friday the what y'all call
it, the black violent
Kids take over.
48 Hours. These kids have been villainized
criminalized all through the news.
media y'all, I guess y'all control that
But nobody gets and what's the name William? J Kelly.
Vicious.
Just the way he talked about teenagers American teenagers.
I guess because they Black America.
Right. But we see it all through the news. Um, it's amazing
but the
Killer part is the guy who heads the chair, what the chair
the um, Public Safety, Brian Hopkins, the guy who heads,
he's the chairman of Public Safety, should have Provisions,
safe, guards. All these things set up in regards to if, if
something like this, take place he's the 1 screaming, the
loudest.
I'm Amazed.
At how y'all work. Y'all. It's a Continuum. Y'all going to
in some way politicize black Americans. Ain't y'all?
we gonna make it this, we gonna make it to where they
running around, in the streets, 300, how to 300 people, get
in 1 place,
If Public Safety is set up, if Provisions are set up,
safeguards, we got a whole Force.
The force, the same Force, the same law enforcement that
y'all won't allow to Aid Americans. Y'all utilize against
Americans.
To criminalize them villainize. Black Americans.
We can't go downtown now, huh. Now, we're going to revise
the curfew.
For a whole city, in regards to an incident.
What? Y'all going to keep politicizing black Americans.
What? Y'all not going to fund? No resources. All that
remember 982 million of American taxpayer dollars, put into
initiative called the new arrivals.
This was y'all investment, this is the investment of the
great collaborator.
But he don't stand up for black Americans nor Americans at
all. So this anti-American sentiment that y'all keep trying
to push Mr. Coe Lopez as we watch Saturday, Harries
sympathizers marching through the streets, all through the
streets of Chicago, which all didn't are that on the news,
did y'all?
But they screamed Palestine free Palestine, right? See Yo
Lopez.
but y'all don't hold on to that, but y'all gonna keep
trying to push black Americans around
The Antics got to cut. It's just got to stop in some way.
I'm not the mayor, but I'm a 44 year old black American in
the city of Chicago. That's watching.
And gets to see this go on.
I'm not a sucker though.
And I don't got to stand under the weight of it.
So y'all need to figure it out. How y'all can politicize.
This is some other way the Democratic party here is over
with y'all. Could try to fix y'alls.
Thank you, Mr. Sims
Next up is Teresa Reyes, mcnamera.
Thank you. Hello. My name is Teresa Reyes. Mcnamer, I'm
with the Southwest environment Alliance.
And I'm here today to first, I'd like to thank you for
having this hearing.
I don't like this process. Okay, I'm here to repeat what
we've been asking for. Stop, Sims the polluter.
The problem is, it doesn't matter. To cdph what we have to
say, they tell us that their hands are tied. They don't
have the power. Then why? Why tell me, why do we have cdph
dealing with environment?
They can't protect us.
I'm tired of it. Put it where it belongs. In the
environment Department, let them do it. Let them fight for
us because we have nobody here in the aldermen that are
sitting here. I wish you would be listening because you are
responsible for your constituents. And where are you?
You're all looking at your telephones. Y'all doing
something else and you should be listening because it's
your fault. You're up here fighting with each other and
stuff, fighting for us, fighting for our communities
fighting to make sure that we are healthy. Now, what's
going on in April, is an ordinance, an ordinance that is
named after an activist, a strong woman on the Southeast
side, a strong black woman,
and what did they put together? It took them 3. Damn years,
a zoning ordinance.
Give me a freaking break. A zoning ordinance after 3 years.
I was on that committee for a short time I asked for the
full ordinance. I never got it.
I asked some of the older men that are sitting here around
the tables and I asked them. Have you seen it? No. It's
Hush Hush. It's it must be, we need a, what is it? Uh, uh,
strategy room like in Washington because Washington, DC the
doors are wide open. They're leaking, but not here. We're
supposed to be quiet. We're not supposed.
To say anything. But I'm sick and tired of this happening.
And we need to relook at this zoning order. That's named
after a very good woman.
And it needs to, we need to give this woman an honor
honorable space. And if this is going to be an ordinance,
it should be in her honor and it should be strong. Not this
weak piece of crap that I'd say that doesn't cover. What we
are fighting for. We're fighting for our lungs. We're
fighting, not to have cancer for asthma now. And where are
where? What's going on?
We're letting this go and I would like to have a meeting. I
already have a meeting set up with all, all the women had
it. I'd like to have a meeting with all their women Sanchez
because we need to talk because I need you fighting here on
the inside, we the people on the outside are fighting but
we need you on the inside to be pushy.
and we need, we might need to take this out of the hands of
Thank you, Teresa.
Next up is Balta. Uh Balthazar Enriquez.
Uh, good morning. Uh, my name is baltasar Enriquez. I'm the
president of the little village community council Alderman
seicho, by the way. Um,
So in Little Village uh last summer we started a campaign
called fighting for our lungs and the reason we started
this campaign is because we have seen the increase amount
of warehouses in our neighborhood when hilco got
Uh knocked down, they brought in a Target warehouse and
then they brought out an Annex that brings about 3 to 400,
semi-trailers to Little Village.
Um, and then we figured out that a Milwaukee Avenue and
Lawrence Avenue. They don't allow semi-trailers to travel
down those streets, but they allow it on 26th Street, that
is called environmental racism.
And our children.
Are suffering now from asthma, COPD heart problems. And
you know that in order for us to see a pulmonary doctor? We
need to wait about 6 to 8 months and maybe a year.
And this is an issue that's been going on. And when I saw
that, the city was going to open the environments of
Department. I said, oh hey, we might get something there
when I saw this legislation. I said, hey, they might
include our neighborhood or stop these warehouses.
no, this this, this ordinance gives
The warehouses the right to go into an industrial area.
on 31st Street.
and,
but if they want,
while, while they were
their hammermill Shredder, they uh, constructed a
stationary Shear, which is uh considered another emission
Source by the Illinois, EPA and by um, the Attorney
General's office, uh, this was pointed out to cdph as both
a violation of, uh, of the, uh, cdph and Municipal Code.
They didn't seek a construction permit before doing this.
They didn't seek 1 from the city. They didn't seek 1 from
the state and they were sued by the state, but cdph didn't
consider that to be a violation of their permit conditions
and didn't seemingly consider that when uh considering
their track record of law-breaking.
Cdph and their responsiveness document said that. Oh well.
Um, they eventually after getting sued and this was brought
before a court, they eventually amended their uh, federally
federally enforceable, uh, permit application. Uh. So that
means they're all good. So cdph is, uh, shown that they're
not interested.
in using their own enforcement Authority, especially if
there's another body that's that's involved and
You know, this this can't continue the best, you know, we
we haven't seen language of the ordinance. If any of you
have seen it, we haven't. But even the best ordinance. If
it's written fantastically without enforcement, it's
useless.
Thank you, Brian.
All right, our last speaker is Sean Sullivan.
Oh, good morning. Uh, my name is Sean Sullivan and I'm here
to ask the city publish the full contents of the Hazel. M
Johnson cumulative, impacts ordinance, immediately.
Now this ordinance has been in the works for years, but as
of now even as the past, even as the push to pass it ramps
up, almost no details are available on what it will
actually do how it will actually protect our communities.
Now I live in Bridgeport, it's 1 of 1 of a number of
Southside communities uh like pills and like little village
permeated with industry and enduring disproportionate
Health burdens.
Now, the Citywide cumulative. Impacts ordinance is a rare
opportunity to address those problems and to prevent new
ones.
So I think that withhold the ordinance language until it's
all but too late for public con for public comment and
scrutiny uh is to risk squandering that opportunity.
uh, if the city gets this wrong,
if we have to come back in another 3 years because the
ordinance fails to reign in polluters like Sims
Fails the children of little village that another 3 years
of accumulating impacts.
now, the 3 years of soot and the lungs and magazines in the
brain,
Thank you.
All right.
Um the public comment period is concluded. Thank you to all
of our speakers today, I would like to note that our
committee received 6 written public comments. Those have
been sent to committee members uh via email ahead of
today's meeting along with all of the other relevant
materials. Um, so joining us virtually um we have uh Alder
Lawson um, yep. And per rule 59, can I have a motion to
approve, Alder Lawson's, uh, remote participation. Now that
we've established Forum, all right, I see, um, Alder
Ramirez. So moves all those in favor. Say I
all those opposed say, nay
and the opinion of the chair, the eyes have. It also would
like to, uh, recognize Alder Conway for purposes of Quorum.
Thank you for being here today. Thank you, chair.
all right, um,
Oh yeah, Alder. Lawson your present.
Yes, thank you chair. All right, recognized. All right with
that. Our first order of business, is the September rule,
45 report, which was sent to the committee, could I have a
motion to approve, the rule, 45 report,
All right, Alder person. Laspata, so moves all those in
favor of passing the resolution. Say I
all those opposed say, nay
And the opinion of the chair. The eyes have it.
Our first item. Well, our second item uh, on the agenda is
a re referral uh, for our 2023 D. 0000029 to be considered
in a joint committee on Environmental Protection and
energy, and health, and human relations. Single-use
Plastics have an impact, that goes beyond the environment
microplastics have also a public health impact, which is
why this is being re referred to a joint committee. We are
working with chairwoman Rodriguez Sanchez to hold this
joint committee later. This month, we're subject matter
experts will join us for a hearing on the item
No, you didn't you don't you don't like this. Look, I can
come on. I can't go for this. Look Daniel.
Could I have a motion to recommend approval of the re-re of
this item?
All right, uh, Alderman, Reilly so moves all those in
favor. Say I
all those opposed say, nay
And the opinion of the chair of the eyes. Have it. I'll
report this vote. As a recommendation to pass. The next
city council meeting on April, 16th 2024.
Uh the second item on today's agenda is a subject matter
hearing on the Chicago Department of Public Health and
environmental enforcement policies and efforts joining us
are representatives from the Department of Public Health
including commissioner Dr. E gay ahead of today's hearing,
we've asked, cdph to prepare a presentation on its
permitting and enforcement processes and policies. The uh,
impending are monitoring program Urban heat, island effect,
and mitigation opportunities and ongoing efforts to
transition environmental enforcement positions from cdph,
to re-established Department of environment. Um, with that,
I'll turn it over to our guests from, cdph, to introduce
themselves and share their presentation. Um, of course, we
will have plenty of time for questions. Um, so Dr. EA,
thank you for joining us today and if you want to take a
moment to introduce yourself and your team, we'll go ahead
and get started.
Thank you very much. Chair for this opportunity. Um, I am
here with uh some of my colleagues from the Chicago
Department of Public Health. I am Dr. Simba eay. I'm a
medical doctor by training. My expertise is in public
health, public health is about prevention promotion and
protection of the health of the public. And I am here also
because I am ultimately responsible for protecting the
health of Chicagoans. I am also ultimately responsible for
enforcement of environmental um Health uh, policies and
and uh ordinances. Uh so I oversee along with my colleague,
colleague, uh, Muriel Travis Torres, the work of the Office
of Environmental permitting and inspections, uh, and I
will, I we will not go through the, the introduction.
Because there is just so much. Um, there are many
questions, uh, people are hungry for answers, so I want to
maximize our time in providing as many answers as possible.
Um, I will let Muriel introduce herself when I pass the
Baton to her. Um, so I'm going to just Dive Right In. Um,
I am very excited to be here today.
I have, I can tell you very categorically. Seems I started
in my role concerns about environmental health, is the
number 1 thing that I have to deal with in my work. So I
know that it is top of mind for Chicagoans, um, but I want
to start today by just acknowledging that Public Health,
Is facing a really tough time in our country.
Public health is under attack. There are many people who
feel public health is not necessary. It should not be
funded. The work is not necessary.
so, I want to start today by just recognizing the 44 men
and women
In our office of environmental permitting and inspection.
These folks they don't have Saturdays or Sunday.
They have to walk all hours because we get complaints,
thousands of them and we are obligated to respond.
These are people who face verbal physical threats from
business owners. And from communities in the course of
their work last year, there was more than 2 incidents in
which people narrowly escaped being shot. Because in the
course of their work, they were caught in the crossfires of
drive by shooting.
So I want to acknowledge their commitment, we have a huge
turnover in that space because it is a really hard job to
do. Nobody likes inspectors.
So the those who have committed their career to protecting
the health of Chicago ones, I want to salute them today and
say that we appreciate the work that they do.
Now, there are many questions, there are many questions,
and I'm going to do my best to share the answers that we
have. There is a lot of room for improvement, but I want to
share with you, um,
And I have focused on air pollution for a reason.
I work in public health is protecting Health. There are
many. There are 2 parts of environmental threats, health
impact and environmental impact.
My focus will be on the health impact 1 moment.
Sure what's unmuted. It says it's Council says it's council
chambers. Mike that's unmuted.
Hey council. Chambers mute yourself.
Show you what the issues are.
Why environmental health and air pollution, particularly is
a public health issue.
Environmental health protecting. I don't know about you but
I care if there is poison in my food. I care if there is
poison in my water and I care if there is poison in the air
that we breathe. Even if you live in a neighborhood
Airborne pollutants, don't stay in a neighborhood. They
travel at least 15 months when their wildfires in Canada,
it gets to us. Nobody is safe from environmental
pollutants. So we care deeply about it because I am not
safe. My children are not safe, if our air is not safe. So
environmental health is a core part of the threats that we
track in public health.
Now, people ask me all the time.
Is air quality important. Is it a contributor to life
expectancy? The answer is an emphatic. Yes. How long you
live and how well you live is a function of what I call
Vital conditions. It is not just about your Healthy
behavior that contributes 30%. It is not just about how
many hospitals or clinical care. We have that contributes
20% it is also a function of our socioeconomic factors
which contribute a huge part of it so it is
Is important that people have jobs. It is important that
people are not poor, if they want to stay healthy and
physical environment, contributes 10% to how long, and how
well people live. So there is no doubt. There is no, you
know, equivocation in terms of air quality and health. It
is proven. We know it and we are committed to fixing it.
Now this is why are pollutants are regulated.
They contribute to how long and how well people live, it is
a mandatory fundamental service for local Health
departments to track things that impact health. So
environmental health is a fundamental um, required for
accreditation service that we must provide. There are 6 air
pollutants that the federal government regulates the Clean
Air Act of 1970 and the establishment of the Environmental
Protection Agency set, the national ambient air quality
standards for 6.
pollutants, carbon monoxide lead, nitrogen, oxide ozone,
sulfur dioxide and particulate matter lead is no longer a
big problem because gasoline no longer has lead carbon
monoxide. There is nowhere in the country where carbon
monoxide is exceeding. The set standards Nitro nitrogen
dioxide and sulfur dioxide when they come together under
sunlight, they form ozone and it has both health impact and
environmental impact. But for the most part, most of them
are under control ozone. Also, we are meeting the national
threshold here. Where are we not doing so well?
Particularly late matter, 2.5 air pollution in all of its
forms is responsible globally for more than 6.5 million
deaths every year. It is important and
The national air quality standards considered both the
health effects and environmental effect to set threshold.
So again, my purview is the health effects component of it.
States are mandated, they are required to take action to
reduce emissions and improve air quality. That is a
requirement by law. And so we must do it now, particularly
matter 2.5, I call this fine particle and is also suit,
It is very small. If you take a strand of your hair, the
strand of your hair is 10 microns. Um,
In size.
Particular, the hair of your head is 50 to 70 microns. We
have particulate matter that is 10 microns. It is a
fraction of the thickness of your hair.
2.5 is so tiny that we cannot see it. So it is there
whether we can see it or not, the things that mostly we can
see in the in the air are not always the big threats
because they can be filtered out by the the fine hairs in
your nostrils. The biggest threats is the particulate
matter 2.5 fine, particles many times, you don't even see
it, but it is there and it can go straight into your lungs.
Now, the sources, anytime we talk about air pollution with
health threats, the number 1 problem in health is
particularly matter 2.5. That is what causes the most
health problems and we pay close attention to it. Now, the
major source of this particular matter 2.5 is burning
combustion.
Anytime you're burning anything, it is a problem.
Fossil fuel is the number 1 reason why we have particulate
matter, 2.5, diesel combustion, coal combustion, uh trash
combustion combustion. Combustion combustion. So dust
agriculture, fires Etc. Can also contribute to this. Now
stay with me health impact. Well, documented, well,
researched for many decades. If you have an irritant going
down into your lungs, you will have problems with your
lungs, period.
If you have an irritant that doesn't let oxygen flow from
your lung to your heart, you will have problems with your
heart period. What people don't also know is that if you're
pregnant and you're not getting enough oxygen and you're
exposed to particulate matter 2.5, your baby cannot grow.
It contributes to premature delivery and small for age
babies. So the impact of particulate matter 2.5 and 5
particles, heart lungs asthma. I nose irritation and
reproductive health issues. Well, documented their people
who are particularly sensitive to these problems older
people. People will underline health conditions outdoor
workers. People who were working in these industries are at
the highest risk children and pregnant people and people
who live near heavy traffic or industry.
So, it is important.
Air pollution is a big public health issue.
Now, how is Chicago doing context matter?
Chicago.
is not doing so well when it comes to air pollution and the
status
Pm2.5 fine, particulate matter.
This is the annual average concentration across the city.
You can see it is, due to the west and skewed to the South,
the blue areas, the darker blue areas is where we have more
concentration of BPM 2.5.
Our average for Chicago is 9.3.
Um, microns per meter cube and and that is not very, that's
not where we should be.
So that is the average for the entire city. Now this is a
lot of lines. But what I want to establish here is there is
a flat line that is the national air quality standard. We
are above it.
All of the monitoring stations that we have right now are
above it.
Are above the national standards for air quality. So again,
she Chicago, we're not meeting the National Standard and so
we acknowledge that. Now, what I also want to establish
here is there is an Illinois, average, we're also not at
the level of Illinois. We are higher.
So we are also higher than other cities. We are about the
same as New York 9. 7, 0,
These numbers there, a lot of numbers but what is easy for
people to understand are these colors green, yellow,
orange, red, very red and more red.
What we're looking for is green for most of the year.
Yes, for most of the Year, 60 of the days, in the year
we're doing it.
30% yellow.
1% of the time, we have really bad air quality.
So this is the easy way for people to know is the air
quality good. Is the air quality. Not so good. We will like
to have more green days than we have. Now that is our goal.
Now why is it that Chicago is not meeting the threshold?
What is it about Chicago? We are not California. We don't
have wildfires for most of the time so why are we not
meeting the threshold? There are a number of reasons if we
don't understand the problem. The solutions that were
preferring will be difficult for us to pinpoint and Target
the issues. Chicago is a Transportation Hub where the
second busiest airport? In the world, in, in the country we
are industrial help. We are also residentially segregated.
Uh, so this is the Chicago context context. Now, if you
look at diesel emission, remember I started with combustion
combustion combustion. Now, what do we see here? Again?
blue, concentrated in some parts of the city west south.
where potential transportation and Industrial sources of
sources of diesel emission. We contribute to particulate
matter 2.5 is concentrated in our city
So again, Factor number 1 transportation.
Trans uh Factor number 2. Traffic intensity. See Chicago
blazing blue in the middle there. Relative to the rest of
the neighborhoods that surround us. Chicago is a
Transportation Hub. The transportation intensity where a
car dependent City. So there is continuous combustion and
exposure. Their residential proximity to traffic is
associated with various health impact, particularly asthma
and mortality there is no question there. It is not for
debate. There is many many data that shows that these are
some of the factors now industry, where Transportation Hub.
Traffic intensity industry is also a factor. Now these are
the all of the regulated industries that we oversee in the
Chicago Department of Public Health.
Look at the spread of all over the city. There is no part
of the city that is spared. We have a we I a and Industry
Hub and that is not necessarily bad.
So we have to do a good job of ensuring that this industry
are compliant with the rules and regulations. It is a
requirement by the state. We must comply but I want you to
see the spread of Industry across the city. Nowhere is
spared, and that's why I said, we're Transportation Hub,
traffic intensity, industrial Hub. And all of these
facilities, we must issue permits for them. And before we
issue a permit, we have to ensure they are not exceeding.
The threshold for
air pollutants.
Now protective factors bike Lanes. Less traffic better.
Better are
Now bike lane. Yes, we're very proud to be a viking City.
We have the second highest percentage of commuters riding
by their bikes to work. We have 478 miles of off Street and
on street bikes the problem, they're all concentrated on
the North bike Lanes, contribute to reduce air emission,
promote cycling improves your physical health, zero,
emotion mode of transportation reduces car. Traffics lower
emotions, and Emissions. Mostly concentrated in the north.
So, opportunities, opportunities, opportunities, trees,
many people don't like trees, people cut down trees. We
have been working so hard to get more trees in our
neighborhood.
and so we want people to know that trees protect
Trees make our hair uh the are better. They don't remove
the pollutants, they serve as a barrier, so more trees
better are. So again, an appeal to all of us that yes,
these are some of the protective things. Um,
That we can also do while trying to look at the the
regulatory part. Now I started by saying I am ultimately
responsible for the use of authorities and regulation of
anything that is a health threat. We do that in close
collaboration, with our Department of Law, there is no
commissioner that can independently create policies or laws
for the city of Chicago.
and whatever authorities we have must be within the
boundaries of the ordinances state and federal laws
so,
What we have done is, if we want to improve air, quality,
what are others doing? What are the best practices in the
field? Um, we know the sources best approaches to reducing
at source that is the number 1. We are in the business of
prevention. Our preference is for it to be prevented at
all. Um, so
Since the Clean Air Act in 1970.
This is where progress has been made and we can learn from
it. New passenger vehicles are 98 to 99% cleaner than it
was in the 1970s. Why? Because regulation has changed the
kind of fuel as change emission standards for many cities
lead has been eliminated. Nobody's going to say there's a
lead in the air unless there's Demolition and we oversee
that sulfur levels is more than 90% lower, so regulations
matter. And this learn relations have been effective. Now,
we get a lot of tension here.
Business and clean air are not be mutually exclusive.
We want to be an industrial help. We want to be an economic
viable City, but it doesn't have to be at the expense of
the health of our residents.
This slide shows you that even as businesses have continued
to grow overall.
Are standards, have continued to improve the Top Line.
There is gross domestic products. They can be economic
growth are the second line. There is vehicle miles
traveled. That has continued to grow over time. Yes, sir.
That we're on right now. Are we looking at data from New
York? Are we looking at data nationally nationally, okay?
The first 1 is National and then the second 1 is the data
from New York. Thank you. So nationally.
Population has grown nationally vehicle miles have grown
nationally, domestic gross. Domestic product has grown. And
yet nationally, the use of energy is not growing and
nationally Co emissions is reduced and nationally. Um,
Aggregates particulate matter is reducing, so these things
are not mutually exclusive. We can have business growth and
still have standards that reduce health impact.
And this is New York. Again, this is an example of this was
what it was in 1973, and this is what it is in 2017. There
are more vehicles in New York now than in 1973. And yet
smug is better because there are regulations that have been
put in place that can make air cleaner without necessarily
compromising businesses. So, there are many recommendations
at the national level at the state level. There are many
examples, we can look at Transportation policy industrial
emission controls cleaner, Residential Heating solution,
because it's also indoor and outdoor exposures, that we
should be looking at, phasing out High emission wood,
burning, stoves electrification of home, eating
And subsidizing cleaner heating initiative. These are what
other cities are doing to make air cleaner inside the home
and outside of the home. Now, other best practices
construction and dust control measures. Our preference is
to control dust before it is generated, it is to control
emission before it is generated and not just depend on
fines. After the fact, we do not want dust at all. We do
not want, fine matter, matter particles at all.
And we also need Regional and federal coordination. Like I
said before air, pollutants, don't stay in 1 place, they
move around. And that's why we look at not just Chicago the
EPA monitors, the 15 mile radius because these things are
going to move forward. If it is in another state is going
to come to us. If it is in a suburb is going to come to us.
So we need this collaboration and that is why some of these
things are regulated at the state and federal level.
Community-based monitoring and public awareness. We have to
do a better job of Education. I acknowledge that we are not
and that's why I have loaded you with all this information
because we need to make these things visible. We need
everybody to see what we are seeing and low cost air
quality sensors. Invulnerable, communities are ways to
again, make data visible. We have tons of data on our
website, but it's not always user-friendly. It is very
technical. So, maybe there are ways that we can, um, create
data specific to neighborhoods that can help people see the
conditions, and then take action. Now, this photo that you
see here, this is a dust boss. These are some of the things
that we require. If you're doing construction in the city
of Chicago, you must have this machine on site. Why? This
is a wet method, we are not going to wait for you to
generate the Dust.
Before we take action so you must have this. So when you
send us a permit we say, do you have a dust boss? This this
generates finance and it weighs down the dust particles so
that it doesn't fly around. These are the less visible
parts of our work are ensuring that there is control of a
mission from Source are doing permitting and doing
activities.
The air quality management cycle involves all levels of
government. This is not the work of just 1 Department. It
is the work of many departments elected officials, federal,
and state, and local government Community groups,
scientists general public. But at the core of all of, this
is the scientific research. So I have shared with you. Some
of the data that we look at because it is necessary. That
the burden of proof is on us. If we issue a violation, we
have to prove and show evidence that that violation has
occurred. So we depend very heavily on data and scientific
evidence. And again, all of our data every single report,
every single permit, every single ticket is on our website.
It is publicly available.
So Chicago here, pollution standards there is a lot. It's
like 4 pages of all of our rules and regulations and
policies and ordinances. But what I want to highlight here
is federal and state law federal and state law, visible
emission, limitations federal and state law has
requirements. And we are working very hard to ensure that
we meet all those requirements, all of those other
Controlled Substances. Um in the air, we have federal and
state requirements that we must
Adhere to. So the last part there air pollution is
prohibited in the city of Chicago. We must ensure that air
pollution emissions, above Federal above federal and state
law, standards are unlawful in Chicago period. If you have
an accident that exceeds the state and federal
requirements, you will get a ticket
if you don't fix it, that is the law. And that is, you will
see on our website, everyone who is in violation of
and state law.
Must.
Get an enforcement.
that. You must
the city on a daily basis. We want to make sure that they
are comp, they're complying with the city state and local.
Federal, uh, regulations to address are water and and any
land threat when they don't um uh are in compliance. You
know, we issue citations and we hold them accountable as
well. We also do some Hazard, um, response and Remediation,
uh, in order, um, to mitigate some of the um,
issues during every single inspection, we want to work, we
want to educate with the um the uh Industries um to make
sure that they uh, remediate um, and have everything in
place, um, for their um, permit and the work that they're
doing.
Um, in uh, 2024 OPI, um, conducted uh, over 6,000. Um,
inspections, were conducted during the year, uh, we
reviewed, uh, a thousand, um, permits and we also, um,
E-Waste, um, over 650,000, that's our recycling household
recycling. Um, facility that we have. So we collected over
650,000, um, you know pounds,
Little bit about, um, you know, the type of inspection set.
We do there are are related. So in 2024, um, there was
4,504 complaints that came in through 311. Um, it is our
goal to inspect them uh, within uh 1 uh day, um, and we
were successful 98% of those complaints. Um we were able to
to, you know, complete during the year, we do do and uh
routine inspections. We completed 393 uh, currently we have
have 3 inspectors who perform all these facilities. Routine
facility inspections and investigate the complaints. We
currently have 3 vacancies that we are um actively uh
filling. Um, and even though we only had, you know, 3
inspiring to um complete um 98% of those complaints, we
Do have to prioritize um our inspections based on our our
staffing that we currently have. So we prioritize
complaints first historical violations. And um, any
Illinois Protection Agency requirements? For example, motor
vehicle, repair shops dry cleaners, metal, uh, planning uh
uh, facilities. Some of our facilities are inspected more
once annually. We do categorize our, uh, facilities based
on emission level, uh, and if you can see on the, you know,
know, on the chart, um, we have 1900 facilities, um, that
are categorized in these 4, um, areas and we were only able
to get to, you know, 13% because of our current Staffing
um, that, um, situation that we have.
um just a quick uh and you know, we are actively in order to
increase our our uh inspections we're actively, you know,
filling uh these positions and uh adding additional um
Staffing to um to our our program really quick. You know,
due to timing uh here is just, you know, some pictures of
pictures of some of the complaints that we have received uh
Uh, and some of the abatements that, you know, have taken
place. This was an asbestos complaint. Um, and we worked
with the, um, landlord, um, to address some of the, you
know, the issues we go in there, we provide education and
we help, uh, Abate, and remediate, um, the issue. Um,
here's Rock, crushing a material, you know, handling? Um,
Dr, E, you know, mentioned, you know, we work with them.
Make sure that they have the right equipment, um, in order
to prevent dust from going into, um, into the air. Um, few
years ago we had a mercury spill you know, as well. It was
a it was
In a foreclosure how home uh the previous owner was a um
electrician who had Mercury uh thermometers in the facility
facility as they were um, uh, going through the items.
There was a mercury spill and it took about a week to, you
know, to clean up. Uh, but you can see all the, you know,
weed mediation abatement that, you know happened in our, in
our, in our folks were on the, on the ground. Assisting
and then the next, uh, you know, slide is just some of the
pollution, you know, controls that have been in place based
on, you know, the uh the citations that have been issued
and the recommendations and requirements that were placed
on these businesses
in 2024, we uh, issued 695 tickets and the majority of the
tickets. Um, you know were successfully prosecuted at, um,
administrative um, hearing
And you can find all of our data in the data portal, it
gets updated at least on a weekly basis.
And then I'll turn it over to Dr. E. So thank you, Muriel.
So we are working to get better. We're working to improve
our ear monitoring efforts. Um, the right now, this is what
already exists, iepa operates, an ambient air monitoring
Network Statewide, which includes 8 in the city of Chicago.
There are 15 monitors around in the Chicago land area, and
this is what the money does. Look like those those things
on the roof. Um, and so you can scan the QR code to see the
locations in Cook County. Uh, so this is a collaboration
between the state Cook County and the City of Chicago. So
air quality data right now, you can scan this find what
today's air quality is at any time and depending on, if it
is green or yellow, you can take appropriate action. So,
there is data.
Are available on air quality every day.
in addition to that, we have a health Atlas, we have Hades
since 2012, there are 400 health indicators on it that we
track every year, we have more than 35 surveys that happen
every year. And we also track data from other sources. So,
35 data sources, updated regularly, multiple Geographic,
layers, you can look at the Citywide, you can look at it by
community area, you can look at it by ZIP code, you can
look at Trends, you can look at rank, um, on this data. And
some of these data is what we use to guide our strategic
plan. These are the main reasons why people are dying in
Chicago, and these are the things that we're going to
prioritize the chair. So that data is available, um, on our
website for those who are interested. So, this is what the
Chicago Health Atlas looks like, and on that Atlas on the
right side, you will see topic pages and dashboard. And
also indicators that drop down menu. Looks at all of the
indicators based on the framework that I shared with you at
the beginning,
Health factors, clinical care, factors, physical
environment factors, these are all vital conditions for
health. So we're not just tracking Health outcomes. We can
also look at associations and relationship between
different factors by neighborhood.
Um, so you can download scatter blocks charts graphs. All of
that on this website and it's been around. This is an
award-winning, um, platform. Uh and in addition to the
state county layer data, our uh, Health Atlas, we also have
periodically partnership with academic institutions for
research product projects. This is an example. This was a
partnership between Microsoft City of Chicago, um, in 2021
that also looked at data and pm2.5 readings uh, in the
So we have a lot of data on the health problems that we
we have and the contributors to the problem. So some of the
things we want to do more of is improve data collection,
uh, and it is for the purpose of education. So that at the
hyper, local level people can work with us on interpreting
data, it will be a participatory process. We want to
increase education and we also want to explore policy
options. There is room.
For improvement. So the air sensor Network fits into the
general framework of the data that we have between us and
the United, um, UIC, we have 230 sensors. Now, these
sensors are not the high quality sensors that you see on
the roof, they are smaller um, kind of sensors, um, but
they're, they're useful nonetheless. So but the sensors
have to be sited on light bulbs. So, we have an mou we see
dot to help us locate the
On the light pole. Um, in addition to that Those sensors
need to be calibrated. So we will co-locate Those sensors
with the regulatory sensors to make sure that the readings
are accurate. And once that is calibrated and ready to go,
then we will install the sensors. There is going to be an
Advisory Group again. If I come to your neighborhood and
start putting something in the on the pole that looks like
a camera. People are going to say, what are you doing? The
government is tracking us. So Community input and Community
engagement is absolutely necessary. Otherwise Those sensors
will be down in 2 days so we know that we need Community
input. Where should they go? How will the community be
educated on this? Um data, what are we going to use the
data for and where will it be publicly available?
So opportunities for Community involvement, we want people
to apply to join The Advisory Board. We are working with
some of our Health Equity Zone leads so that they can help
us with selecting those organizations. So that it is more
objective and there is also 1 of our partners. Anthony
mojia of neighborhoods for health justice has created a
portal where people can make suggestions on where this um,
uh, sensors can be located. So we are going to Triangle it
all that information, but we are going to work with our
scientific Partners. UIC work with the county work with
iepa and make sure that these sensors, the readings are
accurate, uh, to help the community.
So education. I said, we need to do more about education. So
if you have your phone right now and you see what the air
quality is today, what can you do now? Um to safeguard your
health uh 1. It is important that you check daily
especially if you fall into any of the sensitive categories
that we have shared. It is important that you take
precautions, both for indoor and outdoor air quality. Uh,
some people have if, um, air purifiers at home, which is
helpful. If you're particularly sensitive wearing a mask on
on poor air quality day is an action that you can take in
the moment. Um, our inspectors are on site on this
construction locations all day, how don't they get sick?
Because they have to take personal protective equipment and
make sure. So there are things that we can do to safeguard
our health and replacing gas stove. That is also good, not
burning wood in fireplaces, growing plants using air
purifier. These are actions that individuals can take. And
then we invite people to know.
35311. If they see something, uh, many times like you said,
we have 3 are inspectors. Uh, they they cannot be
everywhere. So we depend on the community to let us know if
they see something so that we can come out and check it
out.
So people want updates, people want information. What is
going on? How are you spending taxpayers dollars? What are
you doing in? Cdph? We have the newsletter, uh, that people
can sign on to, to get updates on everything that is
happening. Um, so this is the link environmental news
opportunities for public engagement. Isn't there? We have
introduced Community engagement for, uh, permits and
complex, demolition. So people know what we require from
this industry to safeguard health and we also have a 311
process. The if you scan this, you'll be able to see what
311 complaints. We respond to what we don't respond to.
There are some things that are outside of our purview that
we don't respond to but you see we get thousands of
complaints every year. Um there are some pieces that share
required us to talk about that. I didn't talk about today
and this is because there's just so much heat is another
big area of work. That is not.
Primarily cdph lead. It is an interdependent um
collaboration so we will we will be willing to come and
talk about our part of it but I think having an inter
departmental conversation, uh maybe the way to go
transition of work from doe to um from cdpa to doe is an
conversation about what is health. What is environment,
what are the things that we can do and what are the things
that they can do? So, I believe there will be further
conversation about
that once that is determined and again, our work is shaped
by the Department of Law, regardless of, if it's doe or
cdph, um, any, uh, ticket, we issued can be contested. And
so it is always in collaboration with the Department of
Law. Um, and so the Department of Law Department of
environment, Department of Transportation Department of
trade, and sanitation department of, um, public health or
work together, um, when permits
Go to the Department of Planning and Development, they
asked us to evaluate the health component, just the health
component. So our determination is does this exceed the
state federal and city ordinances. If the answer is, no, we
say we have reviewed and the answer is no and then we pass
it on to the next Department. Um, so there are
opportunities for improvement, uh, and we are working very
hard, um, on of those. And I will stop here and thank you
again for your attention. It's very long. No.
Thank you very much Dr. Eay. Um, so when she sent us a 50
slide deck, I was skeptical you guys. I'm going to say I
was like I don't think you can get through this and, and
time but you did. So thank you. Um um, I'll save my
questions until the end or kind of intersperse. Um so I
will now uh take questions from members and I think on
stack I've got Alderman Martin, then Alderman Conway.
Great, thank you, chair. Um, commissioner and team. Thank
you for being here. Uh obviously very important instead of
issues. In, as you mentioned at the outset, um both these
issues. And then overall, what you're doing in your
department are important for us in city council to focus on
on giving especially what's happening in Washington. Most,
if not all of us have read, um, the significant loss of
funding that your department, um, will be enduring as well
as your counterpart at the state level. So, um, while I
have, uh, some questions, including some critical
questions, it's not, um, a any sort of indictment on the
work that you're doing you and your team, it's more, how do
we ensure that you are getting the resources and that you
have processes in place to help? Uh, improve our air
quality especially in parts of the South and West sides
that we've seen. Um, our suffering continuously from 4 air
start with the 3 inspection. Um, so 6 total are those
Grant-funded corporate funded or funded. Otherwise
Um it um it is a combination of uh some uh corporate and 1
Corporate into, you know, Grant, you know, funded. So they
are posted. Um, and we're actively, uh, recruiting. And for
the 3 people who are currently, um, doing the work as
inspectors, what's the breakdown in terms of where the
funding for those positions come from? Uh, those are
corporate. Okay? So essentially out of those 6 for our core
corporate tours Grand funded and then for the vacancies to
Grant, um, 1 Corporate for through the chair. If you could
note the, um, source of funding for the grant funded
positions that would be helpful. Um, and if you could also,
uh, explained through the chair, um, where we're at in that
hiring process because we recognize that there are many
funded vacancies across many departments. And while, um, we
know that, uh, HR, uh, pushes a lot off to departments, I
think both the individual departments and HR
Themselves can continue to improve their processes. So that
those positions are filled because, uh, I think we saw in a
previous slide about 4500 inspections, uh, at least based
on complaints. If you discount at least weekends, you're
talking about, 260 262 days a year that's roughly what like
like 7 or so. Inspections per day that each of those 3,
people are doing assuming minimal vacation, uh, and sick
time. So that's a lot and, uh, I, I think as you noted, you
would like to see those positions filled and I'm sure
additional positions as well to do more proactive um, uh
work which I think that is needed. Because as we saw from 1
of the slides, a breakdown of various potential, um
emitters all across the city, as you know, every single
area generally has at least 1, if not multiple, but we're
continuing to see a concentration of 4 are air quality uh
on the south side. And so with that in mind, um, I was
Wondering, if you could speak a little bit more towards how
the inspections work, my understanding is that the reports
and inspection records seem to show that cdph often times
stops issuing tickets for ongoing violations. If there's a
previous citation, um, that still has a hearing date, our
code. However, says that every day of a violation can
constitute, a quote separate and distinct offense. Uh, and
quote uh, a 2001 air pollution ordinance.
The uh we passed uh, had escalating fines for repeat
offenders. Um, but to my knowledge that's not been applied
yet to polluters because of that previous process of once,
there's an initial, um, violation set a hearing date and
there are no subsequent violations. So you're talking about
potentially many weeks months where those violations can
continue to happen before. There's that hearing date and
potentially uh proving up that uh the required remedial
measures have been taken. So with that context in mind 1,
let me know if I misstated anything and if I haven't, can
you explain the strategy behind this process? And in
particular, um, why we aren't treating? Some of these
persistent emitters as um, escalating and repeating
offenders? That potentially could help bring in more
funding that would help us. Uh, expand the number of
inspectors that clearly we need
Thank you Allure. Um, so
With regards to duplicative or repeat offenses. Um by law,
the city can only have 1 recovery against the same person
for the same offense. So um we have consulted extensively
with our Department of Law. And you know, Section 1 141 140
of the Chicago money post, Municipal Code states that in
all cases, where the same offense is made punishable or is
created by different Clauses or, um, sections of the code.
The cooperation Council may elect under which to proceed,
but not more than 1 recovery. Can be had against the same
person for the same offense, but isn't as I mentioned
earlier, each day under the code is a separate and distinct
defense. So, couldn't you have a situation if you have 14
straight days of offenses, 14 separate instances. So I'm
not saying, hey, let's like treat them as like 28 offenses,
like, noon and midnight, but couldn't we never
Over the last in certain situations for especially
problematic, uh, uh, emitters, uh, find them or somehow
find that they've engaged in 14 separate offenses and not a
single 1. Yes,
So, we can for each day of the violation is, you know, a
violation. But cumulatively what we can impose for all of
those violation for the same business. Um, you know, it's,
it's a tough tough thing, uh, to get through, uh,
administrative hearing. And, um, so I, I
Um, variable, you can say a little more if we've been
successful in in being able. Yeah, even if you've pursued
it to start because I think that it begs the question of
has the city pursued multiple violations for each day. Um,
and what was the outcome
and we work very closely with our department in um, of Law
and they provide the guidance, and, um, they, um,
We can only cite them for that. 1 violent 1 per day per
day. Yeah, so under like, say a hypothetical, someone is,
uh, found to have, uh, admitted, uh, in violation of the
code, 14 straight days what is to stop the city from
finding that they have engaged in 14, separate violations.
And pursuing remedial action, including any available fines
for each of those 14 specific instances as opposed to just
1 day.
Yes, as long as the first violation has been filed
subsequent violation on the different days that we is going
to be evaluated collectively. Why would, why would we treat
it that way? It it's not our determination. We issue the
citation and then the Department of Law and they will take
it to Administrative Hearings and then it will be helped
held but what's to stop us, uh, Day 2, violations? That,
that's the question. So these These Are determinations by
law. We can say, this is your violation, this is your
violation, this is your violation and then they'll take it
to administrative hearing and then it will be determined.
You know what? They should pay. So that is
The determination of what gets paid.
Is at the level of the administrative hearing and there's a
a quick point of clarification questions. From Mrs. Dr. E.
So if we're only talking about that 1 single day, when
again can we file another case against this poller? And so
if we have a case and that case is being resolved where in
conversation
Until that case is resolved.
It is still considered that 1 case. Now, if I have a case
today, it's not resolved today. Another day, it's not
resolved. The day after is not resolved, we will continue
to count every day that the issue is not resolved and then,
we will issue tickets and say, you have not fixed the
problem. You have not fixed the problem, you have not fixed
the
Problem and then ultimately what penalty will be made it
out. Um I can issue you 10 tickets and then it goes to
administrative hearing and then it will be determined that
it will be counted as 1 and this is what you're going to be
paid. So what people eventually pay
And what eventually happens is, determined by
administrative hearings.
Can I so that?
Yes, I that's really helpful. So then am I to understand
that even if the city were to come through and say, over
even with the hypothetical 2 week period, there are
multiple instances where inspectors come and found that
there's a violation of city code that the uh,
hearing officers have the discretion and exercise the
exercise. The discretion, to despite those multiple
findings say you are only found to have made 1 violent
You know Financial um hit that you take is just based on
that single violation. Exactly.
Okay, well, I think through the chair, if you can, uh,
provide the code references that provide that discretion, I
think that's maybe something. If you and your team are
doing the work in concert with the law Department to find
multiple instances of violations. But if they are not
treated as such ultimately, by administrative hearing
officer, that seems to be a problem to me, because then,
you can have a situation where certain perms, especially
problematic ones will say, I'm just going to wait out until
the end date and especially if they know what remedial
actions, they need to take. You're talking about weeks
months, maybe even longer of them. But continuing to put
these harmful chemicals in the air when they know what the
solutions are. So it seems like through continued
conversation, maybe we need to tighten up um and remove
some of that discretion, if ultimately, that's the problem.
Um,
Though.
I I don't want to get into the air quality monitors because
I think I want to be respectful of colleagues and I'm sure
some of them will ask about that. When you look at I think
my final set of questions is around the number of
inspectors. Um, when you uh, in your tenure have engaged
with the budget office, the mayor's team city council, how
are you looking to assess, um, the prioritization of making
asks, for additional positions, and, or ensuring that
existing positions aren't cut? Because at the end of the
day, I don't hear you saying. That 6 positions is anywhere.
are close to adequate clearly if we Tinker with some aspects
of the code and and process maybe additional inspectors
could more than pay for themselves but stepping back, what
is an appropriate number of inspectors? What what are the
sort of inputs that you would look to to say, hey I am more
hey I am more comfortable with the number of inspectors
that are budgeted whether it's 8 or 18 or even 80
Yes. So we are in the middle of that exercise now to
determine what the ideal state will be um it is a
consideration of routine. I mean see the number of
facilities that require routine. There are thousands. So,
if we're going to be able to meet that, we're meeting only
13%. Now, uh, to be able to fully meet the routine
inspections, and also do all of the complaints and also do
the permitting. Um then it is a big number and because of
the overall state of Public Health right now. The same
thing is happening in food, protection. The same thing. We
need the same number for uh vaccinations and communicable
disease control. So overall across the department, they're
huge needs. And we know that the city, you know, what can
the city afford is also a big consideration and how do we
prioritize across all of those different things?
That are necessary for public health. So it is an ongoing,
you know, the um,
Conversation on, how do we staff up for the things that
need to happen? The other limitation that we have is what I
shared because of the turnover and just our in our ability
to attract and retain people, it is a very challenging role
to feel
So uh, many some of these roles in various supervising,
folks. Some, some of them have been open for 3 years. I was
trying to to fill some of those positions so it is it is
challenging to feel
um,
we we don't pay enough for the work that they need to do uh
and the City.
What the city can afford. So those are some of the
considerations that goes into the total number. So we've
supplemented, we granted Etc. Um, as we are able but
The need for staff is across board across all departments.
Okay, I think my last through the chair question in light
of that is, if you can put that and anything else that you
find relevant in terms of ways to improve, um, the speed at
which you can fill these positions, like, share that and
writing with us because look, at the end of the day. If we
need to take an approach of bird in the hand is better than
2 in the bush to say, maybe we need to reduce the number of
positions. Maybe we go from these 3, vacancies to 2 or even
1. But if we can maybe bump up the collective salary to
ensure that we are
Are attracting more qualified candidates and keeping them
once they get in. Um, I I I I want to respectfully hear
more about solutions that you and we can take as opposed to
an explanation of what the problems are because at the end
of the day, when we see what's happening at the federal
level, and even locally people increasingly feeling
distrustful and the work that government is doing, I think
we need to be able to show. Hey, we hear you 1 of these
issues among many is air quality. We've taken these steps.
We have more inspectors, and they're doing more
inspections. Here are the results. So, if we need to
revisit maybe some of these processes to focus on you, but
then look bigger picture. I just, I'm not convinced that
despite best efforts we're taking the right approach here
and I I'm hoping that maybe by this time next year, we can
hear a better story about Recruitment and Retention so
thank you and thank you cheer. Thank you.
All right, I've got, uh, Alder Conway and Then followed by
Alder laspada.
Wonderful. Thank you. I I first want to uh say Dr. EA, you
talked about the importance of education, and I first want
to thank you for the education that you have provided here
with us today. Uh you know, I mean Matt's a Harvard
educated lawyer but the rest of us are simple folks trying
to do stuff. And and so we, I appreciate you. I know, you
know a lot about the subject but you really put in terms
that we can understand. I want to thank you and Madam.
Chairwoman, I want to thank you for hosting this hearing
today. You're doing a great job as chairwoman of this
committee and really appreciate your your leadership. Um,
question I had
For you. Uh, if you could perhaps go to that to slide 10,
the, the P 2.5,
Slide.
and actually, on the way there, can you hit slide 19181716
just just to like show them real fast?
yeah.
so, looking at
through our committee. We've heard a pretty constant um
refrain from
comment around concerns around the industrial corridors,
the diesel trucks. And the fact that this was a factor
from the EJ index that was created in 2023. Um now we'll
say I know you guys were going to keep questioning going
the air monitoring program could really help us in
measuring that. Um, but I will say, I think this is really
helpful and um, I think, you know, as we work with our
department of environment.
Environment and listen to our communities.
This is probably 1 of the number 1 things that we hear like
they know it's having a negative impact on them. We don't
have any way to regulate it. And we're not even considering
it as a factor in our EJ index. And I think this is
something for us to look further into that seems like a
Miss based on based on the map. So now thank you for
pointing. Um,
That out. Also if you maybe just go back real quick to
slide 10.
noticing certainly that that, um,
It looks like the Eastern side of the city, especially
along the lakefront really doesn't have problems. And there
could be a lot of reasons for that. You know, we we as, as
public officials in Chicago are always looking for ways to
sort of sell the city.
And 1 of the ways, we always say is, hey, we have an
abundance of fresh water. We have a beautiful Lakefront,
etc, etc. To what extent is the fact that we do have a
giant Lake next to the city.
Help us help us in this area of air quality.
Uh,
It's a double-edged sword. Okay. Uh, there are some
advantages because, you know, because we have this, um,
You know how many miles of just lake front? That allows that
is not built up is is very helpful. Um, but I do want to
say that the Lake Michigan effect and the temperature
inversion
is also a negative for smug because of the lake effect, the
Michigan effect and the temperature inversion, when we have
ozone ozone goes up and just stays there. So if I were to
show you the map for ozone, for instance it is around that
area. So for pm2.5 lakefront is helpful for for ozone or
smug. It it can be a problem so I don't I don't want to
oversell it. No no no, no. So you hear about this issue in
Los Angeles, too. So I I suspect that's the same there. Um,
that I like I said I greatly appreciate the education
learned a lot today and I and thank you again and Madam
chair when that's all I have, thank you, thank you. Um, got
older laspada followed by Alder Ramirez.
Thank you so much sir. I I appreciate this hearing.
uh, the
the data is frustrating.
I think about it within the context of those who give
public testimony today. I think about it in the context of
my own home. Like we got rid of our gas stove and
thankfully, we're able to because I want to reduce my
daughter's chance of getting Asthma as much as I can.
It's hard when I think about the 55% of renters in this
city.
Who wouldn't have the opportunity to replace their stoves
if they wanted to. Um,
I I wanted to ask because the chair brought it up. Maybe
this was a question you were going to ask.
Knowing everything that we do about the impact of diesel
pollution.
why was that left off as a metric in the
The environmental justice community.
Yes. Yes. Um, so
I I will go back to this as a reference. So for the
Strategic plan, we were looking at what did we need to take
action on for 2025 that had not shown any Improvement in
the last 15 years that are primary drivers of mortality?
Premature mortality
um, so
Health behaviors clinical case, socioeconomic factors
physical environment. So when we look at premature death,
that's number 1 there. And we look at the number 5 drivers
of premature deaths. And the number 1 is heart disease.
the number 1 cause of
premature death in the city of Chicago is heart disease.
Now, the things that contribute to heart disease is a
of things so it's very hard to isolate. Oh but I'm not
asking I'm so sorry. I was confused, EJ index, not your
strategic index. Thank you for clarifying with the EJ
index. Understanding what we do understand about the impact
of diesel pollution. Why was that left off of the ETA
index. Um, so you will notice that did not put the NJ index
on the slide. Instead, I looked at the different components
of what drives air pollution. And um,
You know, the India index was before my time.
um,
what I have done instead is look at the contributory
factors to air pollutants, um as an alternative. So if we
are eventually going to come up with an EJ index, uh, my
recommendation going forward, will be for us to look at the
relative contribution of the different factors to air
pollution. Um, and that, that is a feedback that I've heard
and that we may need to do, but why it wasn't included
before I I'm not sure why. Uh, maybe there are others that
were so I okay. Oh, hi, I'm Kirsty Bose. I'm an
epidemiologist with the health department and I worked on
the um, EJ.
Index, and, and diesel particulate matter is included in a
number of ways. We have a measure for looking at diesel
particulate matter. We also look at um, traffic intensity
is also in the um index. And then lastly, we have a measure
measure of consequential facilities, which includes um,
warehouses and storage, where we see a lot of truck traffic
there. So it actually is included in 3 different ways.
Okay, I'll I'll accept that. Um, I want to ask what is for
those facilities that are permitted. If we can go back up
to the 6000 plus inspections, 1,000
General inspections, that took place.
And then I think a j, this is the challenge of a 50 slide
deck. Um sorry never mind 39. No 39. So we have 2717 that
are permitted and then we're going down, I'm looking for
the the number of inspections that took place and I think
we're close to being there.
This 1, no next slide. It's the combination of both, right?
So like
Persona facilities, inspected.
How do I, how do we identify?
Which facilities are being inspected. I'm assuming that's
on a complaint basis as they're proactive inspection.
That's happening of these facilities. How do we prioritize?
Could you review that again?
Um I I will later Muriel say little but that prioritization
is 1 of the things that we're working on. We're very
complaint driven now because we have a requirement to
respond within 24 hours to complaints and what that has
done is moved. Uh, Focus to the complaints and not having
and not having enough capacity to also keep up with the
routine. And so, the prioritization. So that is, um, you
know, correct? Because we are so driven currently with, you
know, complaints that were the majority of the focus has
been and we have to prioritize because we don't have
sufficient inspectors to, um, to, um, deal with the, uh,
the inspection. So we are primarily
Complaints right now. Uh, and then we do prioritize those,
you know, um, ones that have, you know, large emitters. If
you look at A1, that is, you know, 1 of the A1 is the, uh,
facility that a, uh, they um, emit more than a 100 tons. So
we were able to get to 34%, you know, of those, it's not
ideal, it's not ideal. None of these numbers, you know, are
ideal, um, we have 1900 facilities. That, you know, if we
had sufficient Personnel, we should be able to get to on a
yearly basis. Um, so we do prioritize and go with, you
know, A1 category. But because of personnel, and as the
commissioner mentioned, we are here to respond to those
complaints, you know, within a specified. Um, time there's
a quick point of clarification from owner Vasquez. Yes,
thank you. Just, I just want to Clarity on on that last
point. So when you're saying 34%,
You mean 34% of the 17%?
Yes, correct. Okay just wanted to yes just to make sure
like how small we're talking given the capacity. Thank you.
Correct. Yeah.
I guess I would ask what, what is a sufficient number of
personnel?
To inspect on the basis that the department would prefer.
And I think that's, you know, it can't be 6 and sure, it
can't be 3. I, I hesitate to put out a number because it it
will be scary. Um, so I'm not easily scared.
I think, you know, doctor if I might, if I might chime in
we're in the process of doing some strategic planning and
looking at the current structure of the, you know, office
and really looking at the inspections who uh the Personnel
Personnel that we have, and, you know, coming up with what
is an ideal state in order for us to be able to, inspect
these High, um, admission, um, you know, facilities to Dr.
E gaze point. I don't want to, we don't want to give a
number right now, but we can definitely provide that
information through the chair. That's that's fair. I hope
it at some point in the course of the next 4 to 5 months,
do whatever you think is the appropriate time and you
provide that number because we
we can't be advocates.
For what communities need. If we don't know that number and
we can't find out that number in October either, or it's
too late.
so,
Many questions. I could ask I'll I'll see if they get asked
prior to me. Taking some sort of a round 2. I did want to
ask the 2 230 plus sensors that you were talking about
What percentage of those have been currently?
Installed my understanding is that we were you're shaking
your head which shaking of a head feels like zero. Um,
little frustrating because my understanding is we were
trying to get those sensors installed.
Last fall.
What, what is the timeline that we're on? I love an
advisory body. I love Community participation.
If feels like our communities could tell us tomorrow where
where they would hope to see those Sensors. How, how are we
getting this done? Yes. So we have procured the sensors, we
have the sensors procured, um, what led to the delay, is
that the sensors needed to be calibrated. We couldn't just
go and install Those sensors right away. So that was a
feedback we received from iepa and like we have to ensure
that this sensors are reading, you know? Because they are
low quality, they they're not the same quality as the
regulatory sensors. So now the calibration needs to happen
during optimal season. So, the recommendation is that, that
she'll happen. Um, in Spring, not at the height of winter,
uh, it will not be as accurate as it should be, so we
Then calibrate the sensors and our hope is that these
sensors will be fully operational in summer. Um, so we have
the mou with C dot, they're the ones who we installed the
sensors. Um, now and we also have the contract with the
community, uh, Partners who are going to help us, determine
who will be a part of The Advisory Group also in place. So
I am optimistic that, you know, those sensors will be
installed and ready to go in.
In summer at the latest. Now, 1 of the things to be aware
of is we have this sensors operate for 5 years. Our goal is
that we will have the sensors installed and we will have a
public dashboard like everything else that we have is
public, so that people can see. And then our Community
Partners will also help with Community Education. So if we
have sensors and we have data, and we are the only ones
seeing it, it's no use. So, we want community members to be
able to know to see this data, know what actions, they can
take, Etc. So we need that Community Partnership and
engagement also to ensure that our communities are
Welcome this, this sensors and they know what they are and
their participating and they have the information that they
need. So those things, um, those requirements to make sure
this is useful and that the data is useful, uh, in place
now. So summer, um,
We will be fully mobilized. Okay?
does summer does summer starts in a couple months like
Yes, it will be done.
Okay, um, the last point that I would face, and then I'll
hand over the mic. If, if the QR code that we saw are
supposed to
link to the results of inspections and where they're taking
place.
they they do not link there like there's a lot of
information on there, but if I couldn't find the results of
these inspections,
as someone who,
I I'll be clear like has a lot of privilege related to
education with uh with the respect to language access.
There's probably a lot of folks who can't find that
information. So if there's a way for us to make it more
accessible and digestible, I mean, there's a place that I
can access, that's supposed to link to these locations, but
I need arcgis.
You know, at that point that's
That's accessible, but not useful. And that, that I think
is what we need to solve for. So thank you for your time.
Thank you, chair. Thank you. Um, Alder Ramirez, followed by
Alder SRO Lopez awesome. Good morning, Dr. E. Um, you know,
we live this and we see this every day, and a lot of these
Maps look, very, very, very similar. Does it matter what
topic you, you know, you're discussing, you know, we know
the neighborhoods that are impacted but I felt really
struck today. I
I think, and, um, I just want to say thank you for the
presentation that you put to put together because it
affected me in a different way. Um,
but I wanted to start off, you know, um, Alderman laspada,
did start asking this. I, I did want to ask sort of, what
does it look like at full capacity? Like would you even be
able to meet the need right now? Um, so my first question
is really if that's not the case and you guys don't have a
number right now of like what it means to work at you know,
a potential 100%
Um, is there right now? Currently a way for you guys to
work with the Department of environment or Department of
buildings or, you know, other departments um on certain
cases or do you see that as like an opportunity in terms of
the workload being separated by a specific type of case?
That may be a different department? Can look at so you guys
can look at, you know, maybe more serious inquiries
Thank you older. Um, so there are 2 components to that, um,
inspections and
Staffing for inspections, I think only resides at cdph
right now.
For health inspections, um, doe does not have inspectors at
to the base of my knowledge right now. Um,
So permitting. So there are 2 entry points to this when
people are starting newly doing permits. Now, the way, if
you are new industry and you're starting newly, the entry
point to the city, is the Department of
planning and development.
So it is a series of steps where we are just 1 of the many
steps in that process. So the department dpd is where the
application goes. Then dpd says, review the health
component and then other departments are involved, zoning
Etc, are involved. So we have a very small slice of that,
where we just say, you know, this is the health component
include that in your consideration, Etc.
Now, for a demolitions.
It's also a series of steps. So if there's going to be a
demolition department of building, will send it to the
Department of Health to say, is this complex.
And we make the determination. If it is complex, if it we
say it is complex. If it is near residential again, because
of the potential for dust or if it is near a body of water,
Etc. Now once we say this demolition is complex, then we
become involved in the, in the process. So dpd D dots DS,
the several departments were involved, so it's a series of
steps and we are 1 step in that process. Our step is, is
there dust is? There lead, is there asbestos? Those are the
3 things we look for in that process.
And if any of those present then it is our responsibility to
make sure those things are abated before the demolition
happens.
um, Now 1 of the
We don't really triage the complaint and say if you're from
this neighborhood we will not go. And if you're from this
neighborhood, we will go. But a lot of the complaints we're
getting, are coming from higher income locations and then,
And I just was going to jump in. Um I had a a a point of
clarification question um that you uh now get to but I
think you you nailed that on the head and I'm I'm wondering
if there's a way
I'll just say through the chair.
Knowing that that is a thing, right? And knowing that
compelled by a complaint driven piece. Um, I'm just through
the chair. If you guys have any recommendations on, I know
we've talked about the Staffing piece, but I'm wondering
too if there are
Um legislative things that we could do right to help you
guys make the terminations based on where you know the EJ
communities are too. I think, um, Alder Ramirez's point of
like, how, how could you be given more power to assess and
determine so that you're, you're more equitably being able
to distribute the resources of your inspector. So through
the chair, I know it's a bigger question. I think another
point of clarification from um, to
That's right. Oh oh, okay, we got you on stack. All right,
back to alter Ramirez. Yeah, and thank you so much,
chairwoman for saying that um you know, I I text uh
like bike Lanes, you know um it's kind of crazy to see that
crazy to see that uh bike like in IT bike lane,
infrastructure map. Um you know, I'm very Pro bike lane. I
we were just, you know, talking about tree canopies in our
Ward. Um, those things are important but, you know, time
and time again, we know who the polluters are, right? And I
think that they're the ones that are creating like this
density that we have in our air pollution. And so really,
my question is, is how does your deploy
apartment work with procurement, um, in order to stop these
things because what's the point if you're after year, we're
getting the same complaints or I hate using this term, but
we have, you know, repeated offenders. And so on this idea
of like, you know, repeated offenses. What have you seen
works well for them? Maybe to not repeat their offense or
you know to fix the issue right away. What what are some
tactics that you feel work? Yes. So control at source is
usually the best uh um, option for repeated pollutants. Uh,
again if for instance, uh my bill will show you some of the
photos if you're an industry, what we don't want is
fugitive dust. We don't want anything leaving your premises
and going into the community. Now, the way to do that is
control it at source. Do not generate dust at all. Now if
those equipment I installed and I've been used then they
will not so, a lot of our effort is ensuring that
they are installing those things for instance, if you are
generating Dust, We Will compel you to pave your
your, um, every everywhere in your, in your premises, we
will compel you to install curtains and scrubbers
we will compel you to install um, use wet uh
processes instead of dry. Now if those things those
industrial fixes and system fixes are in place, then we
feel confident that there's no fugitive thoughts. The
second thing that we do is then put fence line monitors.
So, for many of the industries that we have, they are
required to have fence line monitor, so that we can track
if something is going outside.
So those fence line, monitors help us identify when there
is a problem.
Where we begin to have problems is if you have if we see
yellow and we come and inspect and say, hey, what is going
on? And you fix it, then we're fine. If you do not fix it
and you don't put those remedies in place, then we have a
problem.
now, that problem needs to be resolved in court many times
because you say fix it and like, I'm not going to fix it,
and everybody has to
You know.
They can contest and then we go to court and the court will
say blah blah blah and and so it becomes a long process of
just trying to solve the problem. So we want to really work
with those Industries.
To ensure that those fixes are in place.
Um, it is easier when they're new than when they existing.
Uh when they're new you're like if you don't have these
things in place, you are not even going to be able to allow
to operate at all when they are existing. There are all
kinds of Maneuvers that that. And so, the burden of proof
on us and the best way to prove is the fence line monitors.
So tracking those fence line monitors and we say, yes, we
we you have exceeded it and we have records that you have
exceeded it and then we can Implement um, remedial actions.
But our preference is control at source.
Rather than letting them continue to emit things and then
issue them ticket because again, like, I share, there's a
limit to how many and if someone just pays 5,000 or 30,000,
for many of these industries, it's not a big deal, they'll
they'll just pay it and and continue. So what we really
want is for them to put those industrial fixes and you have
to install the curtain, you have to install the, the the
scrubbers you have to install all of those things that make
sure that nothing is coming out into the community. Those
are, that's our preference.
Um, I'm gonna just let make a couple points and then I'll
pass the mic. Um, I did want to talk on that a little bit
Dr. Eay. Because, you know, for Sims, for example, Sims had
9 citations for air pollution in a single year if they had
been found liable for the, just those violations. Um, the
finest outlined would have amounted to 120,000 to 165,000,
and they ended up settling for only 18. And so I think this
is just sort of like the injustices that we see time and
time again and um that's why I was curious to get your take
on. We know who the Bad actors are and you know, seemingly
seemingly not only are they getting away financially but
they're getting away long term because of the harm that
they're creating in those communities. And then I also just
want to flag you know there's an asphalt plant right next
to a school Park you know this already and so I just want
to flag for you as asphalt will begin. Um you know those
complaints are going to be coming in and I don't know you
know how privy sometimes my
Community members may be to complain but this is going to
be a year-by-year situation. And so it's like what is the
resolve that I can bring back to my community instead of
just saying complain and they may or may not be fined and
so just wanted to make sure I outlined that. Thank you.
Great, thank you so much. Alder person. We're going to go
now to um Alder Chelle Lopez.
Thank you, um, Vice chair. And, um, thank you commissioner
for being here and appreciate the opportunity to hear
these, um, um, about the efforts of the department.
As you heard about it in terms of the public comment and in
our community, we have been a sacrifice Zone uh an
industrial Corridor where a lot of Industry had dumped um
waste and pollution, uh, for decades. Um, they have also
been courageous efforts to um, to reverse and and remediate
the harm with the removal of the coal plants, just as
recent as 2011, but that's our community lead for
Generations on the harm that it was created. Um, I welcome
the, the, the will of the council to address that. And um,
I wanted to start with, you know, using this specific case,
um, of Sims um, around the several lawsuits was 1 in 2018
and a subsequent on 2021, uh, when they were urged to take
measures. Um, I know that there has been concern around the
is low progress.
and I heard from our colleagues they they will also of the
council to be um,
Uh, to be more diligent in fines and fees and consequences
and accountability when it comes to, um, the delays though.
Um, it seems like um, we still have not seen some of the
mission controls. Um, I think that the the, the Attorney
General mandated that back in 2021. Um, the company has
recently, um, in a part of the Corning Junction mentioned
that there will be installed in April, or May that is
almost 4 years later. So, to the previous comments, um,
what are the mechanisms and and what are or options in
order to prevent that because if, um, if there's impunity,
right? And I know that, um, you know, corporations like to
take the city to court, but I'm really concerned about some
comments, even by General iron, as of recently, uh, when
they are saying that, um basically they've been called to a
different
Standard right? And there and therefore this opens the gate
to actually more polluters and less accountability. So in
that sense, I do think that and I know there is not only
the cdph and the department of environment at the city
level is also the daily noise EPA is also the federal
level, but I'm really concerned about what's happening and
the deregulation, the guarding of the EP agency and what it
puts into context towards
See. So that is my question in this particular case. And and
and I welcome the will of the council again to um, to make
sure that we hold these companies accountable
Thank you Allure. Uh, and and we've had a lot of
conversation about what is possible here. Um, what gives me
some hope in this situation is the Attorney General's,
oversight of what is happening at SIMS. They are required
to send periodic reports to the attorney general, to ensure
that these things happen. Um, there some of the delays in
putting some of those control in place. Um,
I i a result of, you know, we took a long time to issue the
permit because they needed the permit to install those
equipments and we needed to do community engagement to let
people know why we're giving them a permit. So that they
can install those equipment that the attorney general has
required. So, as that the latest report right now, the
commissioning phase of all of the equipment that have been
required by the Attorney General, including all the
pollution controls that have been required by the Attorney,
General is in progress.
Um, as of February 26th, installation of the regenerative
thermal oxidizer, RTO the particulate matter control
equipment, the associated catwalks and and platforms, the
remaining sensors and auxiliary systems the spray foam, the
heat trace and fiberglass, insulation have been completed.
So that is what I mean by the in industrial controls. Now,
as at February 26th, installation of all of those 6
different things have been completed internal, testing of
all the equipment is in progress and a third party
contractor will evaluate the equipment in March 2025. So
when we have the report from that third party contractor
and compliance testing is anticipated April to May 2025. We
want to make sure all of this is ready before their next
report to the attorney general.
So the testing protocol is in process. Uh, we are getting a
third party to do all of this testing because very easy,
you can say oh cdph. Um so we want a third party to also
review the process and then the testing protocol will be
submitted to iepa for approval and like this is how we're
going to test that they are in compliance. Uh, and when
iepa says, yes, we approve that process then. The next
court status is May 14th 2025 and seems will be required to
submit is next report by May 7th.
So they will submit the report by May 7th. The court date is
is May 15th General will be able to evaluate. If all of the
things that have been required have been done.
So that is the status for Sims, um, at the moment. Uh, it
is making sure all of those controls are in place, um,
before the next court date. So the Attorney General is
overseeing that process and ensuring that, you know, the
controls are in place.
Thank you. Commissioner. Um, my next question uh has to do
do with um, um, the community impact and also the
distinction between, um, renewal permits and new permits,
um, in our community. As I mentioned, um, we, uh, we have
paid the consequences of the lack of oversight and the, uh,
unfortunate uh, way of having industry operating by right
that gives very little oversight. And unfortunately, that
is the current situation. Um,
We had to organize and and and really fight in the courts
and what all means necessary to even prevent a previous
metal Shredder. In fact, the the 1 that ended up going to
the southeast side I mean a lot of people don't know that
but they actually almost operated in pilson which should
have made us um and even more polluted area, there are
differences. Our communities are certainly suffering, the
consequences as we speak. Uh when we we remove 1, there
comes another 1, there was an s
implant that that open up this spider or objections, uh,
right before I took office. So the, the struggle is real. I
hear constituents and I don't see a lot of our, um, a lot
of the wheel in the federal state and city council to
actually cooperate to get this done my concern. Again, it
is on potential, um, less oversight at the federal level,
right? I'm hearing now that these companies are trying to
push, um, and, and, and perhaps took the city to court.
How can we in the city council? Um provide the the
necessary oversight to make sure that this community
oversight. Again, in terms of the new ordinance, uh, I
welcome the participation. I think that we need to be at
the table. Um, a welcome. All our constituents. We thought
to be at the table. Um, my concern again, is this
difference between renewal permits and new permits and have
vulnerable or communities are under the new federal
Administration, the hard complaint on their General item is
what stopped this. So there was an order that the federal
level that even allow us and a hunger strike that actually
joined. So I understand the frustration and I'm concerned
about the less and less legal options that we are having.
So in that sense, commissioner, how can we the Ilion CPA?
How can local resources and local Corporation? Help us in
the context.
Thank you Allure. Um, I I think the first tool that we have
is zoning
um, if an area is owned industrial, then their Industrial
If we want to limit more industrial action, we have to
limit what we are able to permit.
Now, so that is an option that is on the table for us.
um, in in, in terms of
New and existing. So when you're new,
You haven't yet. Immediate anything. So we have to model.
It is a hypothetical situation based on the operations that
you submit to us.
So we will hire a contract, um, a consultant and say, model
the scenario.
And that is the health impact assessment. It is a
hypothetical modeling of what you will do.
So at that stage, we are able to say you know, based on
everything else going on in this community.
We don't think that, even if you're a low emitter, we don't
think we can accommodate any more in this community, based
on the model.
And we can give our read of that situation back to dpd and
say, this is our assessment. There's too much going on in
this community and we don't think that even this very small
thing will help.
Now, for existing facilities, we have to depend on actual
emission.
Actual data in that scenario, they have fence line monitors
that are tracking what they're doing all the time.
So it is a little harder to say hypothetically. This is
what you're going to do because we have actual data. So,
for instance, for The Sims, where they have fence line
monitors, and you will see somehow, those fence line
monitors are located in some of these facilities.
Um,
those are the actual data that will be considered in
determination. So this this for instance,
So the yellow. So that is the perimeter, the green is the
perimeter of this industry and the fence line, monitors,
yellow and and orange are around. So we will have to use
the actual data to demonstrate that there is an accident.
And that is where the Rob lies. So, for existing
facilities, we have to use the actual data.
The burden of proof is on us. We have to be able to prove
that the actual data exceeds the threshold.
uh, for new facilities, we can model
And say, giving all of the other circumstances that is what
it is. So the thresholds, the standards that we want to.
You know, as a city adopt is important.
and,
How we can use zoning to help buffer.
Some overburdened Community is also an option on the table.
You're right, older things are going to get worse right
now. The average air pollution level for Chicago is 9.3. We
want to get it to 9. The National Standard is 9, so we're
just a tad above and we've been coming down slowly. So we
really want to get tonight.
but,
Some of the proposals right now is that they want to take
it back to 12.
Now, keep in mind, the emission standard at the global
level is 5.
So there are important considerations right now. In terms
of
How we proceed based on federal state?
A lot of our activities are Guided by federal and state.
So that is a real threat.
um, but for city council, when we're talking about
exploring policy options,
Um, what eventually?
Ends up being enacted in the city as a policy or an
ordinance.
You know, will depend on the city council?
um,
and once an ordinances in place, then we have backup to be
able to implement
Um, our ability to go outside of the legal boundary is
limited.
And the burden of proof is on, cdph, we will have to
provide proof that there is an accident and that is where
the robe lies. So,
There there are many things for us to consider in the city
in terms of policy options uh all the way from
Transportation. Uh I shared, you know, on the slide, what
other cities are doing some cities, have low emission
zones. Some people have their, there are a lot of best
practices around the country around how people are reducing
this, but
ultimately city council will need to determine
how far we're willing to go, okay.
Please be quiet. Um, you can always send in questions to us
and comments from the committee. I know we've talked um,
but please respect the rules of
The committee. Appreciate that.
Yeah.
Thank you chairwoman. Um,
And again, I understand the frustration especially from new
residents. Um, I think that I think the, the context of
this is severe. I mean, we went from coal plants to metal
shredders, uh, to cement plants and I think there's no
ending. Um, I do, I do think that it will require the will
of the council and all organizations coming together so
that we don't go to that. Uh, but we don't go backwards.
Uh, I personally and as as someone who believes blocks away
from the facility with 3 kids and we see the effects of
asthma and other, um, permanent illnesses on on, on our
community. I urge city council, uh, to work together to
work with the coalitions. I personally think that the
change here is that every single organization is welcome in
this effort, we need everybody at the table and we need
every city council member uh, to take action. But again I
as I do not believe that these uh companies are deemed to
doing appropriate to operate near residential area.
Areas that's been done. In Lincoln Park has been done in in
other areas. Unfortunately, Southeast side and the
southwest side continue to to receive industry. That is not
safe near facilities and that's what is not. Their job was
1 1 electoral officials, not only the city council, it is
also the state of Illinois and the federal government to
work together, but that's going to be a really challenging
issue. My
my final, um, again my, um,
My final question has to do with the collaboration indeed.
Uh, because we talked about generally about environmental
enforcement policies, um, instead of the state of Illinois.
I think that there has been, um, maybe a blueprint here
around lead pipe replacement right now. In the west side,
we have almost 16,000 homes are being affected. Many of
them have mold. Many of them have conditions that are
inhumane and in a in inhabitable, for residents, on the
west side. And there's also some federal funds that have
been allocated. My questions to you, is, how do we can
coordinate those efforts? I know that was a few years ago,
federal dollars that were allocated for lead pipe
replacement to address mold and other. Um, another severe,
um, conditions that can really create permanent Health
consequences to Resonance. So, in terms of the funding,
that has come and allocated, what are the coordinations
with cdph, to ensure that those funds actually are gone to
the west side and communities, that need that let pipe
replacement and, and and areas like the west side, we have
even had left pipe. Uh, let in the schools
This is a compromising the future of our children. So again
what is that kind of collaboration? How that can be be a
blueprint for and monitor and other things I really urge,
you not only in the city council but the state of Illinois
and the governor to work together. It is not enough to
condemn what's happening on the federal government. It is
responsibility of all of us to create Solutions.
Thank you Allure. Uh, in terms of collaboration for lead
pipe replacement. We work very closely with the Department
of Water Management. They are taking the lead there. Uh, we
are also very proud to say we got an additional 2 million
from HUD this year. Um, we do the remediation for paint LED
in paint and led in homes, so healthy homes. Uh so we are
also prioritizing the places where we are seeing a lot of
lead poisoning in children. Uh so the now we are also able
to do remediation for mold at the same time. Um so the data
is 1 of the the options that we have to help guide policy.
The reason I inundated you with all of this information and
slice today is that I hope that policy makers have the
information that they need to be able to make this
decisions. Um, but we need Chicago has some of the the
largest number of homes with
In the country. We also have a lot of lead in the in the in
the water pipes.
uh,
so there is Need for us to do more. I know that there's
always conversation about what can the city are forward.
What can the city have forward? Uh, but
In that conversation, how can we prioritize and mobilize the
resources that we need to fix some of these health issues?
Uh, so we are willing to collaborate, we have data to show
where the problems are, we have always had that data.
Um, but having data is not sufficient without the resources
to solve the problem and we depend a lot on the federal
government for those resources.
So that what makes me nervous if the federal resources go
away, can the city, feel the gap.
Cdph receives about 600 million from the from the federal
government. If that funding goes away, can the city feel
600 million
So, and if we're not able, then where do we even start
What are the things that we should do? So these are the
real realities of, you know, the limited uh, resources. We
have at the city. And we need the federal government, we
pay federal taxes and that's why we need federal dollars,
we pay state taxes, we need State dollars, this cannot all
be on the city to solve.
So, whatever advocacy we can do at the federal and state.
We cannot solve all of these on our own. The city doesn't
have the capacity to solve all the problems. Uh, so we need
this Federal resources. We need the state resources to
complement what the city can can invest. But you can, you
can see, the need is huge, is huge.
Thank you to women. And let me just end by um urging
everybody specially Community groups to come together. It
will take the whole city United to address this. We have a
really hostile Federal Administration needless to say. Um,
I think there is important to honor the legacy of, um, uh,
of leaders like hazel Johnson. I will not disrespect the
Legacy by not even talking, uh, to her daughter who
continues the Legacy, who is pushing for this? It is
important that we work together and collaborate. I, I would
like to work also, with the chairwoman, uh, hadn't to work
together. I think they're being similar efforts, even
Regional efforts to clean up sites, like areas affluent
areas that now have now reduced significantly. Uh, they're
heavy industry. There's no reason why the southwest side
and the southeast side cannot do the same and they will
require a regional effort but also the will of the count,
the, the council. So I urge all our or, um, coalitions and
organizations to come to the table. Everybody's welcome and
will ensure that that is the case, these ordinances. I
think it can also 1
1. There's no Silver Bullet, but we do need a plan and a
strategy in light of what's happening at the federal level.
So I urge us to work with leaders like Cheryl Johnson and
others with, uh, this committee to prioritize and
strategize in the midst of, um, of the federal government
got taken us backwards. It will require the will of this
United Council and Grassroots organizations, and we're
again together to push legislation with the state as well.
So my commitment, um, chairwoman to work with you and make
sure that everybody's at the table.
It will take all of us together. Thank you. Thank you. All
right. I've got Alder Vasquez and then Alder Cruise.
Thank you very much a woman, thank you for the information.
I kind of go straight to questions. I think. Um I do
appreciate
What everyone's been raising up and share the frustrations
that I think you're hearing, right? And I know it's not
directed at 1 person, it's more just understanding
the situation we're in, I think.
I I I wish that in some regard, I shared your optimism
about advocating to the federal government.
I do not because I think even looking at the Democratic
party, they don't necessarily know how to negotiate and
push things that we would need when it comes to, um,
budgets or any kind of votes. And so I think I always tend
to focus on what are our controllables, as city government,
right? We have what we wish other folks would do and then
we have the things that we're in control of. And so I think
I think the questions I have are kind of aligned on that
front. So, as far as the the air monitor, um, kind of
initiative, there's also an advisory group of community
groups that supposed to be comprised,
I recognize that the installation and the procurement
process has its own hurdles to get to which is why we
weren't able to put anything up in the beginning of this
year. What's the hold up on The Advisory Group which would
not involve any of that?
Ah, it is the Contracting process. So The Advisory Group, we
promised that there will be seed grants and compensation
for the time that they will spend on that. Now, the pathway
to having that Contracting process, you know, our process
there there are many different layers for for getting a
contract in place that is what has dragged on for longer
than necessary. So the
Solution that we have developed. Now, is we have contracts
with, um, Health Equity Zone Partners? Can we utilize some
of those contracts to expedite the process? Instead of
starting a new RFP process to bring the Advisory Group on
board? Um, so this that is what has taken time. Uh, we are
able to, at least support the time and effort that the
community members will.
Contribute to this process. Uh we have some funding from
the upper dollars to do that. Uh but we need a Contracting
Pathway to do that. Um so that's what has
delayed the process, but we, we are, I, I understand that
for folks who
They don't have the means. They're, they're clearly invested
in organizing, but they're not necessarily paid to do this
work. But there are organizations that are paid to do this
kind of work, whether state city level could, they not
start like the core group because they are a fundamentally
fundamentally not dependent on, grants to do that work to
at least have something that's a nucleus of what could
expand into.
I guess I'm trying to figure out if yeah.
so something's better than nothing, right and if nothing
been started,
pictures of like somebody's house like buildings that had
Why?
Or another department? Why is not?
Um if it's a business bacp taking on some of that or
Department of environment, taking on some of that work. So
you can focus on your share of it and more effectively
penetrate rather than try to take it all on and only get
17% of 34% of the whole pie. Yes, it is a consideration.
We've explored across board. I think all City departments
contain the same, then the same situation that we're in more
demand than the capacity that they have so Department of
buildings. For instance, they have as many complaints as we
have there. Are they look at structural issues rather than
health issues. So for instance, you know, build asbestos
asbestos inspectors. We have 1 in the entire city. We had
to pull the person back from retirement, you know? So um,
It's hard to make the assumption that other departments
have the capacity because we are all, you know, every all
of these demolition. We have to do it with building. They
look at structural. We look at Health. Um, so that Health
capacity, uh, right now doesn't exist in other spaces. Uh,
there are times where we tack teams. So, for food,
inspection, for instance, bacp can, you know, inspect and
flag for us when things are health related. Uh, but is this
thing safe to eat? Is he not safe to eat? They will also
defer to health to evaluate, but they can flat for us if
they see something that is not right, I just think it ends
up.
Unfortunately in the world we're living in where we could
all get cuts to the Departments to different levels.
they will unfortunately, in that world have more capacity
than you all would
And so in order to, well, if you're getting 74, 82% cut, and
they're not 82% funded by the federal government in a world
world where all the federal government money is gone.
You're at way less capacity in the another department. And
so I think that's why I think about
How you?
Try to eliminate redundancies and have Department of
environment. Take on some more of this because
the other the map that kept getting raised up where we know
the south and west side is experiencing more of this but
the north side let's just say it is more privileged
affluent and prone to make complaints.
If I were in that position, I would say. We're going to
spend half of our time addressing the complaints and maybe
or or whatever share. And the other share focused on where
we know the larger problems are because the issue that we
see related to even the bike infrastructure and everything
else is in communities where they're being played by
multiple things.
if you're worried about violence because of gun violence
and everything else in your neighborhood,
Bikes aren't going to rise to the top of that list and
whereas in the north side, you're going to hear that is
being the number 1 complaint.
but if we know that,
I believe the challenge that articulated by my colleague.
Um, 6, Joe Lopez is that
I would not depend on the council to sort that out. When we
talk about bikes, we're fighting over it because the actual
Alders are saying, they don't want it to happen. When you
mentioned zoning,
we all know how differential people get to colleagues that
some of it should actually be policy driven from the
executive branch.
And so, I guess my question is, if you're considering those
kind of changes,
What's impeding the Executive Branch from saying? Here's
what we're going to do rather than waiting on a city
council to try to agree on something.
um, I believe that we are, um, in all of the conversations
that we've been having there is a lot of will to fix this
problem. Um,
the data, the cumulative, impact assessment, all of that
has been our efforts to elevate this to a priority position
in in decision making. I want to say. I believe that it is,
um,
What I I was highlighting before, for instance, the
department of environment. I know for certain that they
have less staff that we do, um and they have environmental
impact, they've just completed the solarization and
they're, uh, energy and all of those other things that they
also do as well. So it is a little tricky for me to assume
that they will be able to accommodate our stuff in addition
to the things that they also trying to do. But we are
exploring, I believe there's a management ordinance that
says, look at the feasibility of this. Um, what we have in
cdph is the interdependency um, our environmental health
team is, you know,
A hybrid corporate and and Grant funded. But a lot of this
data works that we're doing right now is not in
environment, is the Department of um, epidemiology. I know
it's our epidemiology team that is supporting. Um, we're
not, we don't have lawyers, these Department of Law. That
is supporting, um, our contracts and finance team. We have
all of that, that supports the entire department. So, it's
not just 1 team. Now, if we take inspectors out and put
them somewhere else, now, they need the data person, then
they need the environmental person, then they need the web
person, then they need all of those other things as well to
help them be functional. So we're looking at all of the
options but 1 of the things that we will also like support
with is in the prioritization. We we we know, we cannot do
it all. Um, a lot of things come to us, you know, people
want us to do heed and want us to do. And being able to
prioritize. What we can take on is a, is a challenge
because they are real needs and real problems. And there
are so many of them.
Um, so that is, you know, what? You've requested through
the chair. Can we prioritize our complaints? Can we
prioritize our inspections, can we prioritize, uh, where we
put sensors instead of having to do everything for all, 77
communities, for everything are there opportunities for us
to prioritize and and will that be acceptable to our city
leaders? Um, when we say we are doing more work here than
there, that has not always been welcome. You know,
everybody wants us to do.
Everything. So I think that's the challenge when you talk to
50 people here to try to get some love priority is going to
be a problem, but the word that you use is 1 that I'm
trying to figure out if I agree when you say the Department
of Law supports the efforts because I think there's plenty
of instances here where Department of Law be the 1 that
because of concerns of liability or how they interpret
something impede the level of work being done as well as I
guess, Administrative Hearings from what we're hearing in
this here. Um, 2 2 points of clarification. Yeah. Um, 1 I I
I get your point but I think she meant literally support
like obligated and Staffing. Um, I do want to point out as
were um kind of making the observations and suggestions
around. Um, the complaint base things and making some
suggestions. I just want to lift up again some of those and
I know that's why we have the question. They don't have a
choice. So they, they're legally obligated to respond to
complaints within 24 hours. So I like, I think that's where
like in
That scope of things. And also just as a point, the
department of environment does not currently have any
inspectors.
So just sure. Yeah, thank you and I think I think obviously
with the prioritization makes sense but also just very
specifically suggestions of municipal code changes where we
can help Empower right and and make that happen because the
thing that and I could be wildly off but the analogy to me
was interesting that if I get a parking ticket,
It's still an administrative hearings, nobody pauses. If I
get another ticket right after it, nobody says, hey we're
going to include all these 14 tickets, as part of the same
violation that goes concurrent and it grows up. So I'm
trying to figure out what the difference in law is and that
being treated that way and this being viewed differently,
right? Because
to your point if even if it's a thirty thousand dollar
citation, that's chump change and it's not accomplishing
the goal. And if the industry understands that what we're
doing, doesn't phase them at all, they don't actually
change the behavior. It just incentivizes them to continue
dragging it out.
And whatever changes we need to do to make sure that there
is a level of accountability that we haven't seen. So they
actually react and respond in the way they should.
Giving us those tools would be extremely helpful too. So
thank you for this. Thank you chairwoman for for having the
hearing on this. I think it's
Clearly, an important conversation, we may be talking about
what we can't afford, but we really can't afford is what
this leads to if we don't make the changes now. So, thank
you very much. Thanks Elder Vasquez. All right. Uh, Alder
Cruise you're up.
Thank you, chair. Um and also thank you. Commissioner Dr. EA
EA for for this information, I think when we see it is
something that we know about it but when you bring it up
again and show all those maps and really highlighted the
south and west side and everything that's happening, and
do we all work together? You know, you mentioned about bike
bike lanes and how that's map looks so different to the um
North side or Northwest side um compared to
Other parts of the city and how um things that sometimes we
get a lot of push back that has an impact. But I want to
highlight today something that my colleagues have been
saying as well and it is enforcement. If you slap somebody
in their hand and say don't do it again, they will continue
to do it. So if there's not really consequences or
penalties where they can actually feel it, um they will
continue to do it to something that we really have to
because we can do all this other work. We can be proactive,
we can work together. We can have a lot of these, um,
hearings. But if these individuals that have not been hold
accountable, then the change might not be seen as much as
if they were part of the process as well and understanding
all these things and maybe haven't even uh hearing with
them to also hear the impacts of um the work that they do
and what are some of the changes. But I just want to make
sure that I, I get enforce that, um, enforcement it is um,
part of this.
Citations because people get to the habit of we know how the
city operates they'll forget, we'll just wait for it,
they'll come back next year or so and they get complacent
that and but when they see that things have changed and
process of changing enforcement will change, things will
change as well, because they will get their act together.
And I just can tell you that for, you know, different
things that happen in the war. When it comes to businesses,
when they show, when they see, they were serious. We're all
following enforcement, then that's when things get done.
So, I just want to Echo that and I really hope that that is
something that eventually will come back again. And see the
the difference of what is the process that we have changed,
what can law do? Um, think all the members were at a really
good point when somebody gets a ticket, you know, you don't
get it. Nothing changes for you. Nothing processes into
your hearing. So I think going back and having you an app
being part of those conversations,
And really advocating for enforcement. I really hope that
something that, um, you can do thank you older. The the 1
contribution, I will add to the enforcement conversation,
is the abatement, you know, um, fines are useful, but I
think what the industries have found most painful are the
changes that they are required to make, you know, when we
say you have to pay when you have to install, all of these
equipment is millions of dollars. There is
1 business, for instance, that had to install, you know,
Equipment over a million dollars. That is the that's what
really pinches them. And so I I just want to elevate that
also as 1 of the enforcement tools that we have that has
worked really well. I mean, you saw the list of equipment
that seems is required to install. Now even if we give them
10 tickets,
It is not as effective as now you have to install all of
these equipment and all of those are more than a million
dollars. So I I think that also making sure that that piece
is preserved and that when we're looking at abatement it is
what is lasting and sustainable change, um, and that is you
you have to build or buy this equipment and you use it, um,
and that works really well. So that is also a tool that we
have that we want to continue to use so that that is more
sustainable in the long term than, you know. Um,
The citations and, and the finest.
To many of these organizations. It's, it's not a big deal,
but if you have to change your operations and buy some of
those equipment that you, you
Then you feel it and I hope we can track the data too. Like
you talked about 1 um specific business but maybe you know,
know, highlight others that have also done that as well.
follow-up will be key for all of this as well. Making sure
that it is installed working properly. Um, often so I can
follow up will be be key but also good question. Was that
the department of environment invited to this um, hearing
No, we needed this to focus on the Department of Public
Health. So we, we specifically did not include the
department of environment in this. Um, because right now,
all of these, all of these things live with the Department
of Public Health, they don't live in the department of
environment. So and I and I just say this because, you
we're we know where we heading when it comes to, um,
Federal funding, how do we become proactive now and plan
for something? What if, what this will happen and how do we
bring all our departments? Like the department of
environment and other departments for bacp or how to start?
Shifting or cross straining or how do we think bold of what
happened? So,
If let's say, you know, we don't want it to happen, but if
it does, we don't want to start planning for that. At that
time, rather, how do we proactive? And I think that the
department of environment could be key in this, how what
are some of the work that you're all doing together? Do you
all meet often? Like, can you walk me through a little bit
about your collaboration with them with yes. So yes, we
work very closely together, uh, for the health related
components data, Etc, that, uh, epidemiology support with
that. Um, we have a very active policy team also. Uh, our
cycle says, we we enforce and then we make policy
recommendations. So some of the cumulative impact work we
did together and making policy recommendations cdph will
make those recommendations you know to to the city and then
then environment is taking the lead in moving those
policies forward. Um, I have regular meetings uh 1-on-1
with the commissioner also uh, for environment. So
That we are aligned in the work that we're doing. So the
data, the enforcement, uh, Community engagement, making
recommendations of policy, sits with cdph, and that goes to
Department of environment. So the operational pieces right
now for the work, um, for environmental control sits with
Department of Planning and Development Department of
Buildings, Department of Health uh Department of
Transportation, the policy pieces of it sits with the
Department of environment. So um in terms of collaboration
and shared resources that is already underway. Um when
Federal funding goes away like I shared before, there are
some things that are mandatory for the Department of Public
Health. Uh, regulatory functions food are
Um those are regulatory functions for Department of envir
of health. So that needs to be preserved, regardless of,
you know, whatever happens. Other activities in cdph, may
need to evolve and change over time so that we can focus
our resources on the things that we must do. But
efficiencies, always, bacp and food bacp department of
environment, if their inspectors go out there. But again
because of authorities and ordinances and you know, cities
about, you know processes, if I make a recommendation then
it has to go to finance, then it has to go to law or then
it has. So there's this separation of Duties where all
functions are not Consolidated in 1 Place, uh, again as
part of the separation of Duties and ensuring
accountability so that those are
Places where we come together. Um, permitting
4 5 different departments are involved in the review
because of their different areas of expertise. Will all
Health expertise, our medical directors, Etc, will not go
to environment. They sit with us. So there, there are
opportunities for us to collaborate, but, you know, the
specialized areas of of the work, um,
You know, rest in different areas, I didn't talk about the
environmental impact at all, you know, the impact on the
environment, the impact of energy climate change all of
that. You know, we collaborate with the Department of
environment on that but they are the lead so heat for
instance, yes the health impacts of that but we are not
primarily the lead for for heat uh that's its Department of
um oemc. So those are some of the
The distinctions in terms of what what is our specialty?
And that's why I stayed within our area. There are other
components of the environment work, climate change,
sustainability energy that sits with the Department of
environment.
Thank you. Thank you chair. Thank you.
Um I I'm going to have a couple questions and and 1 of them
them is actually just a through the chair. Um, so 1, I'll
thank, uh, committee members of the need that you have.
You weren't on stack Lenny. I apologize. Please. Go ahead.
Alderman, a hob and worst Mike's not working. Try again.
You might have to use. Uh, if you could try uh, alter 6
Lopez is Mike? Thanks.
Thanks chair. Wow.
Information. I'm I'm learning so much. Um, I'm
I was curious about I said, 2 things maybe 3.
the 1 of the last things that you said was, um, about the
structural changes that you asked companies to make, can
you either now or through the chair, just give some
examples of
That including how long does it take for you to see the
data to show that those changes? Those structural changes
actually made a difference. Can can you share some examples
now or send it through the chair? That would be great.
Well, send it through the chair. Uh, the the way we track
changes is through the fence line monitors. So that is what
actually tracks the emission.
So, that is what we look at if there are accidents and
there are no longer accidents. So that's what examples of
the kind of structural changes that happen. We will send
you some examples, um, through the check. Thank you,
particularly on the south and west side.
And then there was a slide, maybe 10 or 11.
there was a chart and I was just curious to know, there was
a dip
and I was just curious to know if, you know,
What caused that dip?
Yes, it's it's likely koide.
Uh again because of the this 1.
So, uh, the first dip here is again, changing regulation
and coal use of coal industrial changes. Um,
fluctuations over time, then you will see the deep that
happened during coid again because
Less traffic activities overall and then things started to
pick up again.
So we want all these lines to be below here.
Um, and they have been below here before during coid. Uh,
which you know, indicates, like less traffic less exposure
to, um, to combustion can help improve the air quality. Um,
so those those are some of the, um, trends that we are
looking at that can help inform but
Got it, call traffic cam combustion. Some of the changes.
they have contributed a point of clarification, uh,
clarification from older and Martin. Yeah, I really
appreciate the question from my colleague and was wondering
in a similar vein. What would you attribute that rise
starting in 2016 ending in approximately 2020. Uh
appreciate the point about coid after that. What do you
think the principal causes were in the rise before? Co
um,
Percy. Do you do you have more more insight into that
period?
Unfortunately, I do not um but we can um check with our um
friends at the regional EPA and they can help us. They this
data is really coming from them and I we can check and get
back to you. Thank you. Thank you.
Um, I'll I'll add to that. I'm
wondering if if you check into that, I'm wondering if it's
any kind of change of equipment or things that maybe got
better either, but okay. Yeah, it's it's curious to me
that, uh, Chicago Mayfair Pump Station. That seems to be a
little bit different from the others, the others. Yeah.
Especially at the end.
yes, so you you see some Regional variations you know in
terms of
Particulate matter levels for the different locations and
that changes over time. Um so those are some of the things
that we want to study and get more hyperlocal data and see
what else is going on in this neighborhoods. Um, and
sometimes we know that it's not just having industries that
is the contributing factors. So that's why we're looking at
all of the different pieces. For instance, if you look at
This slide.
That looks at, you know, these are all the regulated
Industries.
You know, so it's not just industry.
That is contributing to the level of emission. There is a
concentration of Industries here and we are not seeing a
concentration of particulate matter in this area.
So it is not just industry and that's why we said it has to
be a multi-sectoral approach. We are doing more inspections
here, we're doing, you know, there's a lot of activity in
the middle area.
So why are we seeing? So that's why we're like traffic
contributes to this industrial Corridor contributes to
this. So it has to be a multi.
Um, a 1 simple solution for complex problems. Don't always
work.
so the these are some of the things that we are trying to
evaluate so that we don't build our solution around 1
Factor when they're multi,
Uh, issues that need to be addressed. So, transportation is
also 1 of those things. And some of the protective factors
that they have here, that's not on the other side. That
mitigate some of the impact is also a factor.
Yeah, I found that other slide interesting too where you
show the the community areas um in the concentration on the
North side too because of traffic
I had a question about you, you mentioned something about
prioritizing and needing help with that. But in terms of um
Environmental
Um issues. Can you send through the chair a little bit more
about the buckets of
I guess issues that you will deal with just in terms of
environment. Um, and because as the chair said that you you
have a requirement to
To respond within 24 hours to certain things, including
environment and food. Can I ask a a clarifying question for
for the buckets. So I know um, as as Dr. Ego goes, um, to
the complaints. Is that what you're thinking about? Yeah,
and I think that yeah, the green slide with the bars, with
your um, um,
Uh, let's see. I think it's 2 slides in advance. Um, is
about those complaints. So like those 4,000 plus
complaints. Are you thinking about the types of complaints?
you're looking at? Yes. Yes, I'm curious about that. Is
that. Is this in? Nope. It's 2. More slides know the time.
The the type of complaints we have 1 more
There we go.
Alright so through the chair. Um you'd like a breakdown of
like where those kind of buckets they fall into. Yeah, yes.
yes. And then in terms of the 44, um, environmental
that you have like where where are they? Well there's only
um, there's 44 employees that they have um, in the area.
They're not all inspectors. There are 6. Inspector
positions and only 3 are filled.
For the air quality inspector. The air for are. So we have
are and asbestos is 1 unit, but you will see that hazardous
waste.
Remediation is also a big part of the work that we do.
So in addition, so I just spoke about are and asbestos as 1
1, slice of the range of work. So, my bill say that some of
the other, you know, some of the other, um, uh, uh, areas
it's that construction, demolition illegal, dumping noise
complaints to get a lot of noise, complaints a permits uh,
service stations storage tanks.
Uh, has a risk materials vehicle idling is the other, uh,
you know, complaint water pollution, um, Solid Waste. Um,
and just random water, pollution complaints noise that, you
know, we get
um, so that's where the other inspectors also, um, you
know, are focusing on those, you know, complaints. But the
uh, you know, the the majority of the complaints, you know,
do come from, um, you know, air pollution is is the main
component.
An air pollution and dust when people can visibly. See
something in the air that that's we get a lot of that and
equipment.
Noise.
Interesting. Thank you. Thank you so much for this
information. Thank you for holding this hearing chair.
Thanks.
Thank you.
Um, so my couple things and kind of and kind of wrapping
Um I think uh 1, I appreciate everybody's questions, I
really appreciate the the in-depth presentation from you
and your team. Um I know we have a lot of work to do and um
so a couple things um we we've captured, you know, my team,
thank you. I know we've captured some through the chair
requests. I'm going to add 1 in here and it's it's along
our line of questioning around. I think the enforcement
piece um which again I think comes up a lot. So through the
chair, um, I'm thinking of the follow-up that I want to do
with Administrative Hearings in the Law Department, um, to
look at right. Like
the um,
I guess strength of enforcement in their part in
supporting. So if you could share, um, maybe some examples
that you guys have um, in recent years of, um, you know,
where you've given a citation for multiple days, um, under
what you're allowed to do, um, that have been collapsed and
kind of, you know, we're so if you can come up with some
examples to share with us so that we have a couple cases
that we can take right through my committee to to law to
Administrative Hearings to talk about that. I would
appreciate that. Um, I also have a question you mentioned
um,
You know, I know everything we're doing through enforcement
through the city is, of course, to get compliance right to
get people in compliance with our laws. Um,
A complaint comes in or through regular inspection, 1 of
your inspectors finds that somebody is in violation. Um,
right of our air quality um, ordinances or our our you
know, EPA standards. I EPA standards your inspector issues,
citation, you know, starts the process and let's say, um,
In the meantime, what are I guess? We think about the
community impact, right? So like, hey
Are there are there notifications that go to community to
say, hey, guess what, this, this polluter in your area
currently is out of compliance. I know we have, um, you
know, uh, National Weather Service in different, uh,
agencies, um, that give us broader, air quality things, but
am worrying about, you know, if, um,
Uh, I guess.
Does your inspector and does your department have the
ability to let's say shut down operations? And is that
something that happens? So like if I'm uh an industrial
group and somehow, oh, you found me out of violation while
I am working to get in compliance. Can you, do you have the
authority to stop?
You know what I'm doing? That's creating the pollution.
Like, what's happening in that? Meantime, can you speak a
little to that? Yes. So there is opportunity for emergency
session of what is causing. So let's say we are on a
construction site. Uh, and now boom there is dust
explosion. They have to stop. They have to stop for the
work until that is fixed.
So I inspectors on site it stop.
so they can do that and say, stop
um, if
let's say, uh, we get a notice that, oh, we can see
something in the, in the air dust is coming out. Uh, we're
not on site, our inspectors will go and inspect.
Um, look at the air monitor readings, it's like what's
going on? Um, here this is the cycle, we communicate the
standards and the regulations and and all of that is like,
okay, we inspect, if we find something is wrong,
We don't, you know, sometimes depending on the scale of the
issue. Uh we work with them and say you need to do XYZ
things and do it.
If they do it immediately. And that is fixed. Then it ends.
There we go. Back and do a repeat inspection. And
You know, check that they fixed it. Now if they don't fix
it,
Then we issue them a ticket.
It's like you need to fix it.
Um, and then we keep going back until they fix it. Now, if
we issue them a ticket, they can contest the ticket.
Then we'll start the whole process of back and forth, back
and forth. Um, do we have options to force them to do
things Beyond
These options are available.
No.
So we issue the violation and citation. And then we can
file a lawsuit if nothing changes. And then it becomes
stuck in court and until that is resolved, there's not
anything else we can do in the interim, so we we
Want to work with the industries to do that because if it
becomes a lawsuit, then you say, 3 year, long process, the
4 year long process where we're not able to take action and
everything is dragged out in court. So if we can get to an
agreement and say do the thing and they do, it, it is in a
better interests and the interests of the community.
Because now, they are going to do the thing than for it to
be tied up in court for 3 years, where they get away with
not doing anything. And then our community is
Is suffering. So those those are some of the negotiations
that we do, uh, and really we just want to educate them and
say this is the problem and objectively give them data and
and many times you will see that again for our um,
you know, we we show you some of the uh, uh tickets and
You know, 695% to work with them to fix it. So if all of
that fails, then when we issue you a ticket, we are almost
certain that it will be upheld because we have done the due
diligence to cover all the bases.
And show that we have tried everything to work with you to
fix it.
so,
That is the dance. You know, sometimes our community say,
you know, your goal is to disrupt the business or like
primarily we're Public Health people. We just want it to be
fixed. We're not really, our goal is not just to disrupt
business, just because, but if it becomes necessary to do
that,
Then we're willing to do that, but you really that always
usually takes us to court.
that that's helpful to know and I'll say for um uh
Rey. I'm making a special note for you. Um I I'll say I
think through our committee. I I know we brought up folks
brought up the example of you know.
If I get a parking ticket, I will say technically if you
get a parking ticket or a a a a ticket for the same thing,
thing, um, within a short period of time, you actually can
contest that thing. Um, but you know, if you don't have
your city sticker together and you can get a ticket in in
subsequent days, um, and you're liable for them. I also
think about like restaurants and other small businesses
right where the ACP has a lot of enforcement power. If if
bacp inspectors show up in in urine violation of something,
we can close down your business for that day. Um, and so I,
I'm, you know, I'll put a flag in that as I think, as a
committee like to explore what we could do more in the
city. Because you know, obviously you know, Health
enforcement around food. Safety is
It's very important. I'd say that this is just as important
and as a city, if we've got somebody, you know, emitting
pollutants into the air, somebody's reported a bad smell.
Um, we, we hear our committee hears on a weekly basis from
committee or from communities about that impact. And, um,
we want to make sure that your department and I think our
city has more enforcement authority to shut down
operations. Along that line, I'd also like us to explore
the finest, um, because I think you're right. Like the
abatement piece, she brought that up is like, hey,
Um we have we have, you know, some pain that we can bring
But um how do we how do we make it more expensive uh or
expensive to just do the abatement more proactively um than
to have to deal with the city fines. So I'd like us to look
look into, you know, can we raise our finest? Can we make
difficult? Um, the last thing I'll ask and this is through
the chair as well just as we're kind of nearing the end.
end. And I think there's a lot of technical info. Um, you
know, we have heard and, you know, constituents have
around some questions around the type of equipment
sometimes that these um companies are required to like the
fence line monitors and I think we've heard questions um
previously from the community about
You know, hey, this is equipment that's used to monitor but
is that equipment actually? Is it sensitive enough? Is it
it monitoring the right things? So, I know that that's not
necessarily something that the city governs, but just the
through the chair request, if you can get us information
about,
Who does govern that right? What are who stipulates, what
are the guidelines? Um, I think it would be good to know
more about the
because
protections that are community members rely on.
through this department, so we appreciate you all. We
appreciate all of your team your time and uh your
partnership. So thank you. Um,
Having no more questions, that concludes the items before
the committee. Today, I'll send out any answers, uh, to
questions that were not answered through the chair and, uh,
I, you know,
I'll entertain a motion to adjourn Alderman, Martin moves
to adjourn, uh, all in favor.
Excellent, no objections. So ordered
Meeting is over. Thank you all.