Display, Reddit, good morning. Good morning The Joint
Committee for the committee on Environmental Protection and
energy and the committee on health and human relations will
come to order in a few minutes. Thank you all for being
here. We are some people. There were some train delays and
I know we had some traffic delay. So we have a few members
in our share that are still on Route. I'm so thank you for
just being patient for a few minutes. There are slips for
Publix
Men at the back of the room. So if you find these pink
slips, if you would like to sign up for public comment I
think we've got a pretty full deck already but you can
still take your chances but when I come back to the diocese
will be ready to begin. So thank you.
Are.
Are you you're starting right?
Good.
Good morning, everybody.
Wait, wait, wait.
That way, we can do better than that. Good morning,
everybody write the joint committee on Environmental
Protection and energy, and health, and human relations,
will now come to order off first, or going to begin with
the role quality to establish for him. Maria had and
present Rodriguez, Sanchez Ramirez.
Dim.
Timothy Knudsen, Daniel Espada.
Lamont, Robinson, Desmond, Yancey. Hey, Lu Gutierrez
Raymond Lopez, Stephanie? Coleman Monique Scott.
Byron.
Byron sigcho Lopez. Jessica Fuentes Ruth Cruise, William
Conway Brandon Reilly.
Ben.
Bennett Lawson.
I'm at.
I'm at Martin Lenny Menaul happened, where
Angie.
Angela,
Angela clay.
Oh my
Elmo.
Almost almost Angela, almost. All right. They're being
eleven members, we have a quorum joining us. Virtually is
alderwoman, Angela. Clay. Now that we have a quorum
establish, I'll ask the members to approve alderwoman,
Angela Clay's. A tendency of virtual mean based on rules
59. All those in favor say aye, all those opposed say nay
and,
In the opinion of the chair, the ice have an older woman
and she looks I will be marked present for Coram. Are there
any non-members that wish to be recorded? All right, all
the Roman Julio Ramirez is also present. It will be
recorded at this time. We're going to be. A public. Comment
is limited to 30 minutes out of respect for everyone's
trying. Each speaker is limited to three minutes. We do
have a lot of people sign up. Thank you all for being here,
and thank you for signing up based on the number of people
who signed up and wanting to give people their time. We may
not get through all of our public speakers today, but
please know that if your name isn't called, it's not
anything personal. We're shuffling these guys up
I'm so that we may.
I'm so that we make sure that we get through as many folks
as possible. So, we're going to start with Rachel Williams.
Do I represent post from the southeast side Pacific, Lee
Rose Monroe's. More one. When we talked about environmental
racism, we have to talk about the impact that is affecting
black and brown folks in the current climate with climate
change. We have to address those issues and who it's going
to impact more and allowing companies to have consistently
been, harmful to our communities in this climate, creating
a system where we are put in more danger than any more
danger now. And so, we're dealing with environment. One
part about areas are considered EPA Brown zones where
things should not be growing. We have environment with
black and brown, folks are living in in those. Same traits,
as you are asking them to stay, no spaces while raising
children in an inadequate, housing and adequate education.
So it ends up being a drunk of domino effect and affecting
our community. And so
End up being a domino effect and we need to address that
article on a holistic and a collective level including
Alderman, as well as the constituent because at the end of
the day, we got y'all here and we can take you out.
Thank you, Miss Williams. Next up, we got Isis Baldor.
If?
If you.
Hi. I am with alliances office and bridges Monday. So, the
necessity for cumulative, impact assessment, for the city
becomes evidence as historical policies, have
predominantly, prioritize property values over Public,
Health considerations into connection between property
values and our well-being, Warren scrutiny. It is now
imperative to prioritize the welfare of our communities,
over the profit motive of Industry, throughout my entire
life. I have an envelope in an environment saturated with
pollution resulting in adverse health effects, including
the development of asthma at age 11 and various respiratory
issues.
To.
To highlight the severity of this situation. It is a
recurring joke at my former high school that if someone
forgot their inhaler a fellow classmate would have theirs
or 10.
Under.
I'm just going to persuasive. The persuasive nature of air
quality concerns. Consequently is urgent for us to advocate
for a policy framework. That is, comprehensively address
the existing Health burden that we are ready and dirt and
anticipate help where the industry development, May
further, exasperate our Collective health challenges and
underprivileged under drop United communities. Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you very much, mr. George Lakemore.
For the for Mr. Blakemore. Before I start your time, just
want to reflect the record. We've got all them and Brendan,
Reilly and Alderman Byron sigcho Lopez here for Coram as
well.
We've.
We must ask this question. Why do you place a polluting
companies in poor black area? What motivates you to do
that?
Ray.
Racism.
And what motivated the Altamont to.
Except these.
Money.
What money paid to play. They don't have this environmental
racism in Europe.
Are.
Ariel, why
I'll
Auto.
I don't use the word black people and brown people. I'm
particularly talking about black people.
I do.
I don't happen to nobody else.
In.
In the 8th ward that still milk left from up in Lincoln
Park area. Why did Michelle Harris? Let them come to her.
Eric
why did she do this? And another thing, why did the black
people accept that?
Why we?
Why would they style? Well, they promised a job from
contraction and service. You know, the white man can
promise you a lot of thing.
Is.
He signed the Emancipation Proclamation and he said that you
was free, but you had to go right back on the plantation.
As a Crawford, you had the word Indian giver.
They made treaties with the end and then they tore him up.
Environmental racism and it goes, it connected to the city
and the county would give the people who live in the area,
a job, and we don't give the companies that give them job
tax write-off.
That just happened. No.
If another dog and pony show because everybody who sits
here of sex cure, a member of a machine or wicked wicked,
polluted machine machine and what do they all do, 69 each
other? It's time for my people to come out of the
democratic Plantation and Try a Little Tenderness, maybe
truck or transpiration, the whole system is race. That's
why the environmental pollution go to the black
neighborhood.
Thank.
Thank you. Thank you mr. Blakemore
All right.
The.
The next speaker, the next speaker is baltazar Enriquez.
What?
Remind.
Good morning, everybody. My name is baltazar Enriquez and
I'm the president of the little village community council
in Little Village. We began a campaign called fighting for
our Lawns and it's funny because we learned a lot out of
this campaign. We learned that there's a lot of people with
ask my little village special children and is very hard for
them to even go to the doctor is an appointment in 6 months
later.
So this is the things that happened in communities where
they put a lot of warehouses. My neighborhood is remember
helco, a bunch of clothes and then they brought in Target
ringtone brings a lot of semi trailers and now we're going
to give them another permit to do the exchange. 55, we will
be a garage that repairs Semi Trailers. So they're bringing
in more semi-trailers to little village and we can do
nothing. We answer Alderman. I said, hey, can you stop the
semi trailers from coming down 26th Street? And that's
Alderman. Michael Rodriguez.
take a
But it can be done. But when I went to Milwaukee Avenue,
they don't allow those semi trailers for you go to Lawrence
Avenue. They don't allow Semi Trailers, Peterson allowed
allowed in my neighborhood.
So when you guys did this cumulative impact, assessment
study you should not include the biodiesel trucks. So your
studies no good.
because,
Because it's not really a it's not studying the elements,
it's in the air, these are studying nothing but numbers and
in a show that they're just giving you that studies, no
good. We have been very adamant about also put in a
moratorium on Warehouse, the sizes of warehouses can be
done, but other cities other states have done it.
We?
We did.
We just don't have the passion of really fighting for the
environment like we should and is based on who donates
money to your campaign. So that's why we're very concerned
that that these individuals will continue dumping money
into your hands and you guys will continue ignoring the
people killing us, softly, it is very costly to didn't get
the treatment and sometimes you can't get the treatment. So
that's why we're very concerned that this study did not
include bio diesel trucks, driving down our community.
And that's why.
And that's why we want to come up to you and see if you
could do the test. Again, especially in my neighborhood to
see how many diesel trucks, Don't in the air and what are
the effects? Because I could tell you that when I die or
not out of every 10 Homes, at least, three or four homes
had people with asthma or some pulmonary problem or some
heart problem. So, I mean, I don't know how much to say but
that's, that's my time. Thank you, thank you for your
comments.
Are.
Our next speaker is Brian McEwen.
And I will let the record reflect Alderman. Lamont Robinson
is also present.
Well, the
carpet.
purpose outside and Ruth Chris as well. Thank you.
The.
The purpose of this, this is Sossaman and creating this map
is very important, but there are significant issues with
the current map and if not done properly, it's going to
it's not going to help all the people that it should. And
it's not going to dress all the concerns that need to be
addressed.
one of
One of the problems is drawing, arbitrary lines between
certain areas of skiers, the environmental impacts felt by
residents of environmental harms for a, given community
area. Only assessed by considering what harms our existing
within that community area or its component census tracts
to the exclusion of Harm's close to the community area, but
not within its assigned. Geographic lb in the true harms,
felt by the community members will not be accurately
captured. I will not reflect the true cumulative
assessment, for example, the residents of census tract,
5906 and 5905 within the McKinley Park neighborhood but not
included. As part of the McKinley Park Community area. Find
themselves geographically located with EJ neighborhoods to
the west south and east known sources of pollution surround
this area. And in some cases are found directly across the
street /, dividing line between census tracts and Community
areas mad asphalt's. It's just on the other.
Side of Pershing Road.
Side of Pershing Road from 5906. And the stockyard said,
just south of Pershing Road, neighboring, 5906 and 5905
pretending that the environmental impact of the surrounding
EJ neighborhood and the sources of pollution, they contain
are contributing to environmental harm in these two census.
Tracts is ignoring the purpose of the study and it's map
just us the cumulative effect of environmental pollution on
the area. You can't act like these areas are sealed off
from what's right across the street, you know, you could
have three factories on your block, but if I cross the
street, your dad's a different census tract, then the
looters will be free to go in there. Adding to your
cumulative impact, but not showing up as as far as the map,
the map goes
I did.
additional.
Additionally, the rod data use for the study hasn't been
published so outside. Experts can't see, if can't check the
math behind it. And additionally, the, the formula and use
for the index score hasn't been hasn't been fully
fleshed-out and publish. Its it's not too late to fix this.
There's there's data scientists and people in community
health all here and people data scientist that you I see
that are willing to show what the problems are with this
map. So we can be corrected, so we can address the concerns
that are needed and accomplish the real goal of
Actually cap.
Actually captured.
Actually, capturing true cumulative impact. And I also Echo
baltazar his comments about truck, traffic in Little
Village. It's it's terrible. And if that's not considered,
that's a huge oversight. Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you for your comments. Next, stop is got on Theresa
McNamara.
Theresa McNamara with the Southwest environment Alliance
and the chairperson, and I live in McKinley Park before. I
start at 1 to see a map report to work, but there needs to
be changed to protect our community. Remember that the data
message working group in The Advisory council members were
given the responsibility, identifying Chicago, community's,
most burden by pollution and most vulnerable to its
effects. Their task was to design a reliable EJ index. Why?
Because the city's planning to you, just for this map and
decision-making and Zoning permitting and enforcement Etc,
The approach for the EJ index to date is inaccurate and
then and then complete the study focused only on census
tracts. Totally ignoring pollution from industrial
corridors, their feet, the diesel trucks causing diesel
death zones, throughout the South Side. When we look at the
CIA,
Lower.
Learn.
Large parts of Bridgeport McKinley Park, Charleston Back of
the Yards, East and West are not labeled a ZJ neighborhood.
We see large, polluters like, like industrial quarters,
scrap metal. Facilities are not viewed by the study as
important enough to be included in calculating the
environmental burden. And so because of these communities
will not be given appropriate protection balloon as we'll
see this report.
As.
As a welcome and an invitation to drop in at will. We also
are aware that the preservation and expansion of industrial
corridors are the result of continuing discriminatory
policies. I wanting me or not amazing. Asphalt plants, are
not even mention. We have eight producing processing
facilities. That run at least eight months to season
residents. Can smell something went wrong with this
committee. When they did their calculations, I live near
Matt asphalt, which is across the street from our park down
the street, from the school with more than 300 children.
And I can tell you, it's stinks. All and in, all the other
companies that are in our community, also smell and we also
have six of eight railyard. That still diesel fuel 24/7. We
need this fixed,
Play.
Bass with accepting the CIA Matt report and will is the new
Administration going to tolerate this discriminatory policy
by officially endorsing both to see a study and methodology
report as is I hope not. Why hasn't cdph release the names
in the of the advisory council members their
qualifications. We have people have the right to know who
sat down to do the calculations for the study.
Do.
Does the cdph want us to believe that the pollution thank
you for your coming. Thank you.
Next up.
Are.
Our next speaker is on Asha Browski.
I am Anna's Brodsky amarista at the Bridgeport neighborhood
in a member of Bridgeport Alliance and Southwest
environmental Alliance. I want to build on what the other
speaker said and asked, why were industrial, Corridor is
not included in the EJ index. Indicators the Chicago
environmental justice index. Methodology States on page ten
then industrial quarters were not included in the Chicago
EJ index, indicators, yet. The next page features of map.
That overlays the industrial corridors on the in the EJ
index.
Are.
Area is showing the high correlation between industrial
corridors and a high, EJ index for Bridgeport is flanked by
the Thousand Acre. Pilsen industrial Corridor to the North
and the 1,500 Acres, Stockyards industrial Corridor to the
South and the area, bordered by Ashland Avenue, the Dan
Ryan Expressway Pershing Road and 47th Street. The
Stockyards industrial Corridor includes 90s are including
two that released their combined 270000 lb of chemicals on
site in 2021 and includes for Brownfield to asphalt plants
and several businesses, operating heavy vehicle, please.
But that area is not high enough on the Chicago EJ index to
be designated an DJ neighborhood. DJ action plan to just
grin and specific attention to the designated DJ
neighborhoods. Only the Chicago cumulative impact
assessment, 2023 summary report says, the city has
initially committed to prioritize inspection and
enforcement activities.
Facility.
Facilities located in EJ neighborhoods that you Jay and
cumulative. Impacts ordinance, recommendation section says
the city aims to codify an executive order or analyzing and
EJ advisory body. That would have the opportunity to submit
written recommendations on proposed facilities in EJ
neighborhoods. Only. However, large parts of the Stockyards
industrial Corridor will not be subject to that increased
oversight despite being bordered by Santa's tracks with
some of the highest Chicago EJ. And
So I would like to have the, the committee respond to this
in writing, why were the industrial Corridor is not
included in those EJ index indicators. Thank you, thank you
for your comments.
Our next speaker is Amalia Nieto Gomez.
The more.
Good morning.
My name is Amalia. Be at the Gomez. I'm the executive
director with the line to the southeast and we also
coordinate the Coalition for Southport CBA and Citywide
ethical development Roundtable. I support the city's
efforts to create a cumulative impact policy. Our
communities have been waiting for this for a really, really
long time. It's really important that we have a strong.
Give me of impact policy because we cannot afford to have
more toxic development and environmental justice
communities. We cannot afford to have more sacrifice those
so strong policy, which is why we're really here today,
because we want to see something take place and for change
to happen. A strong policy must include Health impacts and
Health Resources. We have high asthma and cancer rates. On
the Southeast side of Chicago. We have shorter life, the
life expectancies on the Southeast side of Chicago, but
we're not the only ones, the south and west side of Chicago
or
Greatly impact.
Greatly impacted by the industries that are already here.
So, we're not the only ones. Affected our folks don't think
that they are effective. But everybody has to deal with
chalk traffic in our neighborhood, the diesel pollution
that we are all breathing in the means that there are
higher rates of asthma and cancer by those who live and
work clothes by. We need to also include things like
remediation of where the communities that are already
affected. So things like even simple things like your
windows for older, our building so that we aren't breathing
in the pollution from outside EJ Community should be the
first for green infrastructure. So things like the CTA
turnabout on the Southeast side should be prioritized for
green jobs and training for local folks. We also need
monitoring and enforcement is really important. We have a
lot of looters already, and the communities are most
affected need to be centered in the decision-making
process. So we appreciate the facts.
Best.
The star.
The study but we are looking for the next steps for the
policy. So thank you very much.
They?
Thank you for your comments.
Are.
Our next speaker is Mary Gonzales.
Hi.
I'm using the mic a little bit lower for you. There you go.
Hi. My name is Lilia. Medina, Naga, neiser, represent Mary
Gonzales. She been a resident of then coming here since
1958 and I'm homeowner since 1972. She loves a man who
despises melanoid trucks and Air.
Is dirty are a few years ago, she was diagnosed with lung
disease. I know. Was it brought it is? Because you've been
living in the most polluted community in the country. It
was she was glad to see that the city of Chicago assume
some responsibility and sister pollution burning but the
resident carry. But she discovered last week that the city
was cut four blocks why strip from Lehman's Western across
bosun and the Clara is not an EJ area, then where she lives
or why is that?
brother discover that mean Academy Park and Southeast
Chicago was cut in half hour cut and all Bridgeport is not
even in the map, the pollution that they face and not only
from polluted industry quarter or close by but from diesel
truck traveling through our community space science which
are so few blocks from your home and the pain that fly over
everybody minutes over to head to learn that diesel was not
also considered in the assignment, but why is that
Are.
If you go to their neighborhood between Damen Avenue and
Western, they should have been included in the EG area. We
invite you to. We are a community center on a corner as
through you wait for a bus or see how many diesel truck
spit at you while you. Wait, if you do that, you will
understand why Jesus must be included in the CIA man.
Thank you so much for your coming.
Our final speaker is I think here on behalf of Greg guy has
no
Aloha.
Elwood song.
Thank.
Thanks Theresa.
I'm at McNamara. I'm speaking for Greg gluto who
What?
Was rushed to the hospital last night with pneumonia. So
he's just down the street at Northwestern Memorial.
the problem with our air is what I'm
Change the cause of that Greg's peace. Greg is a resident
of Pilsen, a fundamental flaw. In the methodology of the
CIA study is the use of census tracts solely in the
calculation of the burden of exposure to pollutants.
Gray.
Greg lives a block and a half from Sims Metal Management.
The well.
The weather.
The well-known polluter in Tillson.
Is Grand.
His grandchildren go to school.
Right next to a railroad switching yard at Leavitt and 18.
Yep.
Call.
According to the CIA map.
This is not an environmental justice community.
Ascend.
Essentia.
A census tract, might not have any sources of pollution
within its boundaries.
What is people living in the census? Tract might be right
across the street from an asphalt, plant a major Trucking
facility concrete, plant Regional Rail Yard,
The.
The methodology of the CIA study makes the Absurd
assumption.
The pollutant spewing from a facility.
Do not cross the boundary of the census tract.
The result will be the census tracts right next to
Industrial. Carter's is innocent. Will have a huge sign
over them that reads, bluders. Welcome.
The.
the neighborhoods of the southwest side are inundated with
cumulative impact, from industrial Carter's railroad,
switching yards, Trucking facilities,
Balthazar mentioned expressways in traffic in and out of
Midway. The CIA report does not measure the cumulative
impact.
On.
On all sensors tracks, on the southwest side of Chicago.
We are in favor.
How to repair?
I need to report. Thank you for your comments.
We have completed our public comment. I want to thank all
of our speakers and the chairwoman and I get started. I
just want to remind people that this is the beginning of a
lot more work to come. So thank you all for being a part of
it. And being here, I'll turn it over to Sherwin. Rodriguez
Sanchez.
Good.
Good morning, everybody. My name is Delphine. Rodriguez
Sanchez. And I am the, chairwoman of the committee on
health and human relations. I am very happy that we are
finally having this conversation. I know that is something
that we have been waiting for, for a very long time and
that a lot of people have organized for. So, thank you.
Sure. Woman hadn't for convening us. I also want to say
that I hear all of the concern about this map and all the
problems that that you see in it. We want to do the right
thing. We just got into the seat into this, committee's,
and we take this job. So seriously and this responsibility
with you and all of our communities. So seriously, are you
are now going to have to fight us to follow up on this and
to make sure that we get it right? Because we want to get
it right for all of us. So I am very happy.
Still have this car.
To have this conversation today. But as the chairwoman said,
this is not the end. This is the beginning of the
conversation that we are committed to working with all of
you and I thank you all so much for all the work that you
have done for being committed to Coco burning with us
because we need you the only way that we will be able to do
this. We're the only way that we were able to achieve
racial Justice and environmental justice. For our
communities is going to be together and we are with you. We
recognize that this is a public health issue, it is an
environmental issue and it is a racial justice issue and we
are here to work with you to make sure that our communities
are healthy and that there is a mental Justice for
everybody. I am now going to pass it on to other women had
him
So as we get started, just wanted to ground us a little
bit, especially for the broader public, who might be
watching committee members of our group or four members of
the public who, who aren't maybe you participated in the
assessment, maybe you're just learning about it. But we're
here because after they, the negligence demonstrated by
City officials and authorizing, the demolition of the hilco
smokestack smokestack at the kind of peak of the covid-19,
pandemic, a couple years ago. And the administration's
previous administration's decision to allow the
Scrap metal.
Scrap Metal Recycle.
Scrap metal recycling, facility represented by General iron
to relocate from Goose Island to part of the southeast
side, where a concentration of intensive industrial
operators, already exists. A lawsuit was filed against the
city of Chicago. Claiming environmental racism that
lawsuit, alleged, that the city had seemed certain areas of
our city. De facto sacrifice Zone on the basis of race and
national origin and violation of title 6, the Fair Housing,
Act section, 109, and hugs, and flemmington regulations. As
a result of the lawsuit, the city reach the
first-of-its-kind, settlement with the Department of
Housing and Urban Development and the plaintiff's, this
settlement require the city to undertake an assessment in
partnership with Community groups and environmental leaders
to evaluate our practices and policies that affect equity
and have allowed these parts of our city off and black, and
brown, low income areas to become sacrifice zones for
People.
People are.
People leaders today. Committee members will hear
first-hand testimony from Neighbors in these communities
about their lived experiences. These neighborhoods have a
heightened, exposure to harmful pollutants, impacting the
health, and well-being of residents. These outcomes range
from frequently experiencing unpleasant smells to increase
rates of asthma, coronary heart disease, and lower birth
rates. The hearing today, will help members of our bodies
better understand, the underlying issues that led to the
report.
Ask open.
The scope and scale of the report and the new environmental
justice neighborhood index as well as recommendations in
the report. In the next steps to this groundbreaking
undertaking again just highlighting. This is a real
first-of-its-kind Endeavor and as so many of you have
pointed out in your public comment.
Eva.
Even.
Even though you're supportive of the work that's been done,
we hear you talking about the work that has to still be
done. And so please know that this is the beginning and we
know it's long overdue but we're very appreciative of all
of you who have been Partners in both fighting for this
issue, to actually come to the city and now you have to
continue to work with us to hold the city accountable as we
move forward and try to figure out what the policies and
practices we need in order to make sure that we don't
create more sacrifice owns and that we're doing right by
Chicago. And so with that want to introduce our speakers
are first round of speakers go in the box with us today we
have Alfredo Romo with neighbors for environmental justice.
We have Oscar Sanchez with the southeast environmental task
force. We have Anya Solano from the little village
environmental justice organization, Cheryl Johnson from the
people for Community recovery. So each speaker has been
Dilemma.
The limit their testing.
To limit their testimony to 5 minutes out of respect for
time. So I really appreciate you all for doing your best. I
know. I appreciate you for coming to share your personal
experiences as well. I'm so also joining us today are
representatives from the Department of Public Health and
the office on climate and environmental equity, which coach
are the cumulative, impact assessment, the report, which
was shared with all committee members before today's
meeting, and is available at Chicago. Gov forward, slash
cumulative. Impact is the result of an 18-month Endeavor
that collected quantitative and qualitative data to inform
a series of recommendations in the coming months.
Accumulate impact. Assessment ordinance will be drafted for
Chicago City council's consideration following testimony
from our Community Partners and the cumulative impact
assessment, co-chairs, they will be an opportunity for our
committee members. To ask questions, and provide feedback
are acting commissioner of the Department of Developmental.
Patrick Murphy and Kathleen to ticket from the Department
of Planning Development and Mary nickel from the Department
of Transportation are also joining us to answer questions
about the proposed recommendations during our Q&A session.
With that being said I'm going to turn it over to Alfredo
Romeo, from Neighbors for environmental justice. Thank you
for joining us today Alfredo and just a note on the
microphone. It takes them once you turn it on, you just
have to give it a moment. There you go.
And I vice-chair Knutson, I will be recorded present for
quorum.
An.
An alderman discuss.
Good morning, everyone. My name is Isabella Romo. I am the
executive director of neighbors for environmental justice
and a member of the Chicago environmental justice Network.
I want to thank everyone who is hard work made this
assessment a success and it took a lot of work. A lot of
research, a lot of our reach and more meetings that I can
count.
Thank.
Thanks to that work. We have the city's first Community
been Pacs assessment. This report gives us a clear and
detailed picture of environmental harm in Chicago, where it
happens where you heard and what the city is doing or not
doing that has to change. If we are going to end the
sacrifice Zone,
Now comes the hard part, we must act. We must pass a law so
they know part of Chicago is automatically approved for
pollution a cumulative, impacts ordinance. That requires
the city to always consider was already there before
approving. Anything new
We must hold.
We must hold City departments accountable to the promises.
They made in their environmental justice action, plans
promises me not just to the federal government, but most
importantly, to the people of Chicago,
We may.
We must go beyond those plans and bring environmental
justice into the day-to-day operations of City departments.
Be.
These things are hard to do, but that's what it will take
to and sacrifice zones.
And that's, that is why we are here today. The city of
Chicago has sacrificed zones for decades. It has been City
policy. The pollution belongs in certain neighborhoods
neighborhoods in the west side, on the Southside, Southwest
in the southeast.
We're more black and brown people live in some don't speak
English City. Policy, put solution in neighborhoods, like
Austin, and they'll go in Little Village. These vibrant
communities where we live and work and play, and go to
school, or where the city puts warehouses metal, shredders
and factories and extremely high levels of diesel
pollution.
and,
And it goes beyond the.
And it goes beyond location to take one example.
very,
Arizona, lemon asphalt, building McKinley Park without a
single public meeting but Department of Public Health. Gave
them on air pollution permit, the department of procurement
Services of worse than City contracts. But admits they do
not monitor the Environmental Compliance of their vendors.
In.
and,
In the Department of Transportation uses that ass pop, or
truck routes instead of bike lanes because environmental
justice communities in Chicago sacrifice zones. What
matters is Materia. Moving fast, not people, moving slow.
all the
All of these things must change with this assessment, the
city, finally acknowledges and validates, what
environmental justice organisers have said for decades. The
pollution of these communities is a choice. Now, we must
make a different choice.
We all have a role to play in the work ahead to the members
of city council who are here today. I asked you to embrace
it. We need you, we need you to protect us environmental
study. We need your support for the cumulative. Impact
ordinance, we need your help to whole city. Departments to
their promises into the larger promise of change, please.
remember the
Remember those promises in the mud?
Remember those promises in the months ahead? When they are
sitting, before you asking for budgetary money, and I
bought Ball, please keep in mind the Bonnabel committees
dealing with these EJ issues on a daily basis.
Camille.
The cumulative impact assessment is a unique City Y project
in a remarkable achievement. The best way to celebrate
their achievements is to act on his findings and turn it
into a historical blueprint for other cities across the
country to follow it is time to end, Chicago sacrifice
zones. Thank you so much for your time.
Thank.
Thank you, Alberto.
Hello other people and fellow advocates for environmental
justice. My name is Oscar Sanchez. I am the co-executive
director of the southeast in Miami to ask Force. I was one
of the leaders of the stop denying campaign. And one of the
30-day hunger, Strikers, I want to start by saying that
environmental justice is a fundamental principle that
transcends economic divides, racial boundaries, and
geographical constraints, it's about ensuring that every
Community regardless of their economic situation.
Race or location can bask in the simple joys of Clean Air
pure water and a healthy environment. It's about righting,
the wrongs of the past and forging a future where no one
Bears, the burnt of environmental dangers, unfairly in our
pursuit of this Noble goal. It is a Pearman
That.
that we listen to the real-life experiences of those who
are most affected by environment inequities. We must let
these experiences guide our policies and actions Drive our
efforts to mend environmental damage and shape. Our vision
for a more sustainable future. The report we discussed
today represents a crucial first step towards this
Collective, endeavor,
This.
This report is not just a document, it is a catalyst
fraction it serves as a call to the heart of Chicago
resonating with elected officials City, departments
Community groups and Industrial sector impact assessment
has laid bare.
The.
The areas of our city and most in need of attention.
We're pollution exposure and vulnerability converge
predominately on the South and West sides and more have
been shown in that report.
Be.
These are the neighborhoods that bear the brunt of
intensive, industrial activities and heavy truck traffic,
the convergence of environment, Health, and Social
stressors in these areas, exacerbate, disparities in an
equity and amplifies the risk to Public Health.
Who.
Crucially, our city policies, play a pivotal role in
addressing these challenges faced by environmental justice
communities. The city of Chicago's environmental justice,
executive order issued earlier this year, underscores the
significance of the community impact assessment and shaping
our path forward.
On behalf of my organization. I want to expect express our
deepest gratitude to dmwg datametrics working group and the
members of The Advisory Council would dedicated significant
time and effort to conduct this assessment. Equally
important has been an invaluable input from community
members of steam. Through in-person engagement sessions
online, surveys in the thoughtful feedback from our friends
in other environments of Justice communities. Your voices
I've been.
I've been a dry.
I've been the driving force behind this report.
Further.
Furthermore, I'm heartened to know that the Chicago
environmental justice index will not be a static document.
It will continue to evolve offering opportunities for
enhancements in the future.
But you, Department of Public Health in the office of Civic
engagement and environment Equity. I plan to release
updated versions of the Chicago EJ index in the coming
years,
This.
This journey will involve refining the existing indicators,
incorporating, new ones, and improving the methodology,
which truly inspiring is the commitment of the city staff
to involve the public in shaping. These Futures and shaping
the future iterations of the Chicago EJ index. In addition,
naively anticipate, the comprehensive technical document
that cdph one, bale this winter. It will provide a detailed
insight into the data and methods used in. Selecting the
indicator is Chicago, DJ index, the dashboard in the
evening index map. Alongside this, they are developing the
Chicago EJ, index data dashboard. An interactive online
tool that will Empower users to visualize. Not only
Didn't.
The index.
The index itself, but also its components and individual
indicators. It will stand as a testament to transparency
and accountability in our pursuit of environmental, Justin
Justice in closing. Let us remember that environment to
justice is not a destination, but a journey, a journey that
we undertake together hand-in-hand Guided by the principles
of fairness equity in the belief that every Community
deserves a healthy environment.
as a
As you move forward, let us keep these principles close to
our hearts and let the power of our Collective action
should be brighter more Equitable future for all the
residents of Chicago. Thank you.
They?
Thank.
Thank you, I'll scar will now. Hear from Anya.
A girl.
A good morning, everybody. My name is Ana Solano. I'll be
reading on behalf of our executive director.
Good morning Community, chairs members and to all thank you
for the opportunity to testify today at the Joint hearing
on the community commutative impact assessment. As was
mentioned, my name is Kimberly Wasserman and I am the
executive director of The Little Village environmental
justice organization as part of the CIA process. I am the
co-chair of the data and methods, working group, our group
came together, in February 2023. And over the course of
twenty meetings. We were to propose key indicators data,
sources and methods for the assessment. This group had
subject matter experts that were more than just the
scientific and Health Community, or also included community
members to be able to ground-truth. What the data was
telling us
They?
This combined with research, reviews and robust discussion,
and various forms of community, feedback allowed us to
produce the Chicago EJ index map. Throughout the process
Community have been invited to participate, and provide
feedback in different capacities and that will continue as
we transition into the next phase, we will focus on policy
change and implementation. It will be critical to keeping
our encouragement with our engagement, with the people and
communities, who are most affected by environmental health
and social structures along with businesses, and
decision-makers, who can adjust them.
G.
Ground.
Ground shooting and salt. Designation are crucial to this
process ground, choosing refers to the process to validate
and bring data closer, to lived experiences by engaging
community members directly
In.
and,
in the cia's process community community activities. Were
crafted to gather input and on-the-ground expertise from
community members and EJ neighborhood. It is crucial to
formalize a framework or ground truth in that includes
considerations for data collection and validation and ways
to continue to inform community members about how
quantitative and qualitative data are used. Additionally,
our lift experience have taught us that no one speaks
better for themselves than Community. We believe that it is
crucial to pass policy as part of the CIA process to allow
for communities to self designate as environmental justice
communities, and be able to show proof of how their
communities are being impacted.
It is not right.
It is not reflected in the map in current data. There only
two of many policies that allow us to ensure we are not
leaving anyone behind, and Tola Community House. The Voice
throughout the process, moving forward, the CIA process
will allow us to further data access and transparency. By
developing the Chicago EJ, index data dashboard. An online
tool to visualize the Chicago EJ index, its components and
individual indicators as well as other environmental health
socioeconomic, they do measures, we will help create a plan
to gather input from community members. This fall, to
inform the design and usability of the data dashboard with
anticipated. Completion. In early, 2024, by the end of 2023
cdph is set to publish a technical documentation report to
provide details on the data and methods used to select the
indicators and key.
Battleship.
At the Chicago EJ index as well as to describe the
qualitative and quantitative data collection performed as
part of the assessment and development of the data
dashboard initial information about this process and
indicators is included in the EJ index. Methyl mythology,
documents already released in particular the indicators
used to include data for diesel pollution. Particulate
matter, ozone proximity to traffic.
A.
And proximity to rail in addition, to proximity to
polluting industrial facilities and more. And these
indicators, among the full list were chosen responsive to
community input about the long-term and increasing impacts
of warehousing diesel, Trucking and transportation
pollution on our communities. It's important to know that
during the indicator selection and review process. We
identified data gaps and improvements to be addressed in
future versions of the Chicago, EJ, index, and data
dashboard. They include needing expanded or additional
information on emission inventories, water contamination
violations and enforcement actions, transportation and
traffic orders and noise affecting the quality of life.
Historical locations of polluting Industries, chronic
disease rates in children community resilience and measures
of persistent poverty, generational wealth,
State.
They do that's important to our communities as part of its
commitment through the EJ. Action plan. Cdph has already
begun addressing several of these data gaps and needed
improvements in order to string a short-term and long-term
data collection. New and updated indicators will be
considered for inclusion in periodic updates of the Chicago
EJ index and progress made towards their collection and
refinement will be reported to community members elect.
Fishing.
Officials in other.
Officials and other stakeholders cdph. And the Ocoee have
committed to continue to work on an advocate for better
data to measure cumulative burden in Chicago communities. I
highlight these things particularly because we know
communities are afraid of being left out. They want to
ensure this process is transparent. And that the city is
accountable to our communities after years of environmental
racism, It Is our commitment in this process to ensure
accountability and transparency. That all stakeholders
voices are, heard sweatshirt. We all have a chance to
breathe.
Thank you.
Thank you for.
Thank you for your time today. Thank you, Moana.
Neck.
Next up for going to hear from Cheryl, my name is Cheryl
Johnson and I'm just Deca director of people for Community
recovery. We are a 44 year-old organization that has been
located in altgeld gardens. My mother delayed, Hazel
Johnson known as the mother of environmental jobs,
environmental justice labeled our community, the toxic
donut. You know why she called The Donut? Because we are
sitting in the middle of the donut and now outside the
parameters is over 400. Polluting entities,
Eva.
Even including fifth.
Even including 50 documented landfills on the far, south
side of Chicago. We've been doing this work, we was even
responsible for the, for the term environmental justice.
We've been doing this work for 40 years, 30 years ago. My
mother made that correlations between pollutant entities,
do not community and the poor health quality of the
community.
To.
Did.
Today we're having a conversation that she's been talkin
about 40 years. 30 years prior to her death. This is about
us as human beings being impacted. Don't think because we
are psychoff ice Dawn's in the city of Chicago, that your
neighborhood is not infected. Your family is not infected,
we all Impact it.
but,
But you are the new leaders in this movement, in this time
to make a difference.
Not just for the city, but for mankind.
Because right now it's showing us the difference because we
are disrespected.
To our environment.
We have to change disc limited impact should have been done
30 years ago.
Because we, we will be doing something different to have a
healthy environment.
Nobody should have to live and be sacrificed because
they're black.
Ali.
I live in public housing.
The income is low.
but,
But you allow industry.
Tomb.
To make a profit off the life of people.
And you are accountable because you allow them the permits
to operate. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the
complaint that was filed with her.
We are here.
Because we say it enough is enough along in your lungs need
to survive because we're dying.
because,
Because of what we do.
but,
But production by industry that don't even care about the
neighborhood today. The Jason neighbors, y'all got to make
this change is on your back. Everybody certificate, Lee
talked about what needs to be done in the human impact
assessment
so, we need
So we need to pass this because it's your responsibility to
protect your family at the end of the day.
You.
You know, you hear people, I live in altgeld gardens, a lot
of time. People said you still fighting that pollution out
that I said we didn't stay at in my neighborhood.
It's
It doesn't State the velocity of the wind the wind pattern.
The emission from diesel fuel from confuse industry. I
water and believe me, y'all. We don't, we understand that
pollution, don't go to heaven,
It.
It goes into a water. We track it in the housing, Ikea's,
plays in the grass. Let's make a change and you got to be
part of this J. Because you are the decision, making them
take it to the next level to protect. Not only the city of
Chicago.
but,
But the state of Illinois.
and,
And the rest of the world.
Should.
Chicago has been behind Chicago has been resistance for
over 40 years.
And you.
And you act like you not an impacted. So when you leave this
chamber today, you got to make the constant decision if
Chicago going to be healthy or Chicago be unhealthy. And we
going to have to pay the price for it. Thank you.
We?
We'd like to thank all of the representatives from our
organizations for taking time today but also over the past
18 months to provide your experience, your knowledge, your
input, your feedback, and all of your knowledge, that's
inform the final report. Also, thank you for coming to City
Hall. Today, I would like to turn it over now to our
co-chairs on the cumulative, impact assessment, to share an
overview of the assessment and they're finding us, we have
Angela Tovar. Chief sustainability officer to start us off
and she's joined by Kate McMahon from the city's Department
of Public Health. Thank you both for joining us today.
I,
I suppose we'll recognize Alderman Carlos, Ramirez, Presa
and Alderman. Stephanie Coleman for Coram. Thanks for being
here today. You guys
I'm in.
coming in here and looking nice with your fancy glasses.
Both of you
In.
And for a committee members, I believe the presentation
presentation was in the email. So you guys all have the
slides that we're about to go through as well? I'm at the
printout of the recommendations that were provided to you
in person.
Chief saw, you can begin when you are ready.
Read.
Ready.
Can.
Good morning everyone. Thank you. Cheer had and chair
Rodriguez, Sanchez, and esteemed members of the Committees
on Environmental Protection and energy and the community
health in human relations. My name is Angela Tobar. I'm the
chief sustainability officer for the city of Chicago, and I
leave the office of environment and climate and
environmental Equity. I'm joined today by my colleagues.
Kate McMahon director of policy for the Chicago Department
of Public, Health and Gabi Wagner. So Gretel environmental
justice project manager in our office, the office of
climate and environmental Equity. Kate and Gabby will join
me in Coke.
on the
On the cube.
On the cumulative impact assessment report.
We're also joined by Mary nickel policy director at Sea.
Patrick Murphy acting, commissioner and Kathy diket, Deputy
Commissioner, both of the Department of Planning and
Development. All who were part of the city's,
interdepartmental working group.
And Lead their Department in understanding how this
assessment can lead to policy and operational changes
within the city. Finally, we are joined by Keith Harley of
the Chicago, environmental law, clinic, a member of our
data and methods. Working group, they will all be available
to field questions. Following the conclusion of our
presentation today.
I want.
I want to also acknowledge the organizers and staff in the
audience who dedicated hundreds of hours over the course of
a year and a half in meetings and analyzing data and
intending Community conversations about cumulative impacts.
I just want to make sure that they're recognized. So if you
all can just wave, if you were part of one of our working
groups, it's just really great to make sure that people see
who you are and that you're recognized for all of the work
that you put into. This is an incredible, incredible job
and, and, and really, really remarkable in terms of City
policy.
and I want,
and I want to pause again and just reflect
And I want to pause again and just reflect on what you see
in this box. I'm Community leaders, technical advisor and
city leaders working hand-in-hand in Partnership, we're
incredibly grateful and honored to be here with our friend
leaders representing. Some of Chicago's most impacted and
environmentally overburden communities folks that were
willing to forgo their rightful, hesitation to work with us
as a city folks that said, you know what? We are going to
put our trust in you despite the fact that your institution
has contributed to environmental harm and that we have
historically impacted these communities environmental
harms, like the siding of industry, or the creation of the
highway Network. Those were deliberate sometimes. And
sometimes unintentional either often invite involving
leadership and the cooperation or Silence of local state
and federal governments, as well as the private sector and
other Civic institutions.
These hard.
These homes have to be acknowledged and confronted in order
for us to do better as an institution today. Next line.
Eager to share the findings of the cumulative impact
assessment report. And in order to do that, I'm going to
provide some context, Chicago's cumulative, impact
assessment, or the CIA is spearheaded by cdph, and the
Ocoee along, with our Community Partners who we call the
environmental Equity working group, or the ewg.
Acronyms.
I'll try not to use them if possible, I'm just so that
everyone can follow along. Cumulative impacts is a Citywide
project to provide data on how environmental health and
social factors very an impact across the city. This work is
Colette & Co design with people and organizations who lived
these issues everyday. And it identifies neighborhoods that
experienced the greatest cumulative, impacts recognizing
that Environmental Protection and public health, require a
whole-of-government approach. The assessment, also provide
strategies and actionable policy recommendations to guide
decision-making on issues such as land-use and Zoning
permitting, enforcement, Transportation Planning and future
investment in our communities.
There are.
There are in.
There are a number of reports and maps that make up the
comprehensive cumulative, impacts assessment, they include
and this this one I think, is the most powerful. The
community input survey tonight is qualitative data, that
was collected from public hearings and Community meetings,
not just within the context of cumulative impacts, but
going back years to read through public comments to read
what people have said in public meetings and that was
analyzed at the request of our community leaders who
charged us to do better as a city to say. You know what, we
are tired of telling you the same thing over and over
again. Go back and look at your nose. We're telling you
right here, what
We've been saying for years.
We've been saying for years and to take that and to analyze
that in order to shape our assessment forward. It also
includes the Chicago EJ index and map which is an analysis
of the indicators to measure environmental, exposures and
conditions and as well as to how to identify our EJ
communities. The Chicago environmental justice action plan,
which was created by the interdepartmental working group of
City departments and the cumulative impacts policy
recommendations. And I know my colleagues and I are going
to go into detail and each of those
what?
One final thing to note is here is that the CIA is a
requirement of the city's HUD, voluntary, compliance
agreement, and which was agreed to, by all parties in May
of 2023 voluntary, compliance agreement, or the VCA
results. Huds findings of non-compliance the findings of,
non-compliance a rose. From a complaint filed by
environmental advocacy organizations that are here alleging
City actions and policies shifted, pollution activities,
from predominantly white neighborhood to predominantly
Black and Hispanic neighborhoods that were known to the
city to be overburdened by environmental hazards. So as
part of that, we have agreed to their cumulative impacts,
as well as more transparency in our policy making, moving
forward to overcome that next line.
where,
We're pleased to align ourselves and to demonstrate our
commitment in compliance with the HUD VCA through this
process. But compliance with HUD is not the only important
point. The important thing is to highlight here is that
this effort is long overdue. And that's what you heard from
Cheryl Johnson. You just heard many of our other front-line
leaders who have testified and have called on the city for
decades to mitigate and invite to mitigate environmental
impacts of pollution in their Community, but also device
better opportunities to it for their voices, thoughts and
Community Vision, to be supported and uplifted. It is
important to honor their leadership and Legacy of their
tireless fight to protect their communities from harmful
impact of pollution. We do that by continuing to create a
commitment to co-development throughout this process. So,
as many people have already remarked, this is only the
beginning. We encourage people to come to the table and to
continue to work with us as we move forward on policy.
We honor the core tenants of environmental. The
environmental justice movement has principles would call it
our for our policy-making, to be inclusive to emphasize
bottom of organizing and solutions and to call for folks
that are most impacted to be able to speak for themselves
next line.
The final play.
The final point that I will cover before turning it over to
Kate is to highlight the co governance model of this
process. The cumulative impact assessment was officially
launched in May 2022. When cdph begin to work with the
Ocoee to coordinate with our environmental Equity working
group together. We envisioned a community Co government's
approach that with somebody the values of environmental
justice and that would help us guide our past forward under
the cumulative impact assessment project structure. That
was ultimately adopted. The ewg provided guidance and how
the assessment should be conducted and served as an
accountability body throughout the process. Three working
groups were created which were co-chaired by
representatives from cdph, or the o.c. as well. As the
environmental Equity working group a project management
group was also created consisting of representatives from
each of the working groups.
with a
With our subcontractor organizations and they provided
day-to-day oversight and support to working groups to
ensure that the assessment was carried out dog, flea and
successfully, this was co-chaired by cdph and the southeast
environmental task force. So to go into more details on the
working group in the overall methodology. I want to turn it
over to Kate McMahon from the Department of Public Health.
Good.
Good morning. My name is Kate McMahon. I'm the policy
director at the Department of Public Health. I mean, go to
the next by please.
The.
Before we get into the deliverables of the cumulative
impact assessment report that was just released. I want to
spend a little bit more time talking about the process
because we know that in order to do you differently, we
have to be differently. And that requires censoring people
who are most impacted by environmental justice injustice in
the decision-making about the chemo and impact assessment.
So as you see here, we organize ourselves by working groups
for deliverables. So data and methods which was really
charged with, providing the data on where pollution is
coming from and demonstrating, how burdens vary across
Chicago communities and then really showing community-level
vulnerability to pollutions in former policy decisions. And
so the deliverables that that group produced aren't the
Chicago environmental justice index in map, which I'll talk
to you in a minute. And that work was co-chaired by our
colleagues at
Village.
Village in Parma.
Village environmental justice organization and the greater
Chicago Legal Clinic.
We all.
We also I'm organized ourselves into a policy working group
because you've heard from a public comment and testimony
and her colleagues. This is not an academic exercise. You
we are here to present these findings to you so that we can
together make actionable policy change and the scope of
that policy working group has really to develop a set of
recommendations that really captures the division of
environmental justice for addressing committed impacts of
that collectively we together can make a change. And that
work was co-chaired by our colleagues at the environmental
law & policy Center. We could not do this work without
extensive and Community engagement. And so we organized a
workup specific just to that. And this was really designed
to ensure that community members and specifically people
who are most impacted by environmental Injustice were able
to co design.
Any messages?
Any messages and engagement to ensure that we were not only
raising awareness about committed impact assessment, but
really bringing in communities most impacted to the
process. And the key deliverables of that working group are
that summary of community input and then a Lessons Learned
assessment, which will be coming soon. And I will say for
anyone who's a visual learner like me, the very last slides
are going to be a picture of all of these different
reports, so you can go where you want to go for more
information. And then, lastly, I want to highlight quickly
the
Department.
Departmental environmental justice group. We know that this
requires a whole-of-government approach. And so we also
convened a group of City departments to really work towards
environmental justice commitments that we can make today
with the policies and tools available to us and the key
deliverable of that working group is the environmental
justice action plan, which my colleague Gabby will talk to
you in a minute. And again, before I move on, I I want to
emphasize how much that Health Department, understands
honors and respects, the risk that Frontline environmental
justice organizations took to partner with us. To ask us to
be a better partner to them and it has been such an
incredible honor to do this work for and with them.
I see there is an expired. I will touch this, a little bit
more on community engagement. So as my colleague, Angela
mentioned, when we set out to begin the cumulative impact
assessment, we heard loud and clear from our Frontline
environmental justice leaders in the environmental Equity
working group please. Please listen to all of the testimony
of our lived experience that we have given to you already.
Please start from the Decades of organizing work that we
have done to name the arms that are experienced in our
communities. Before you asked us to order,
Anyway.
Anymore. Can
Any more Community engagement events and so one of the the
main products of the assessment is actually a summary of
existing Community input. And so what the technical team
did is review public comments, reports that were already
delivered, the city public testimony. That had already been
given in multiple City processing fees, to understand. It's
the desires and to really shape that came out of impact
assessment. So that's the first thing that we did before we
even sat out and creating working groups and doing
additional Community engagement. And a summary of that work
is available on the website then throughout the Canada's
impact assessment process. In addition to having the
working group's co-chaired by people most impacted by
environmental Injustice and having people with lived
experience in each of the working group's, the
communications and engagement working group. Also organized
additional ways for people to become involved
They?
The whole.
They hosted I'm in person engagement sessions across the
city. There were also tabling done at existing community
events. They conducted at youth, focus group, a series, a
focus group conversations for the business community and
then also provided online public comment and survey for
people to get involved because we know that the success of
this is having communities share their experience in their
voice and that is
Valley.
Value that.
Value that we carried through this entire project.
Okay, so now on to some of the deliverables. So next slide,
I'm first going to share a little bit more about the
Chicago environmental justice index, I appreciate that. The
text is going to be a little small on the slide. If you're
following along in your executive summary report, this is
also on page fifteen. And I think what I really want to
emphasize here is that this environmental justice index was
developed by the data and methods, working group, which
included technical experts subject matter experts,
including people with lived experience and who were charged
with coming up with how do we, how do we measure cumulative
impact of pollution, burden at a local level in Chicago and
this index as, you know, decided upon by the data and
methods working group is built on the 2020
Quality.
quality and health index which the health department
produced of it. Really the underlying methodology is the
cow in virus green on and that is a tool. It's been used by
many jurisdictions across the country in their
environmental justice goals. And that is really what the
data and message working group determined would be the most
appropriate place for us to start. And when we
Talk about.
Crocodile.
Talk about she admitted impacts. Will we are talking about,
is cumulative, burden from Environmental Health and Social
stressors. So, what goes into our index is measures of
pollution burden. So environmental exposures and these are
indicators based on measurements of different types of
pollution that people may come into contact with
environmental conditions. So these are based on locations
of toxic chemicals in or near communities and then we also
have to take into account Health and Social stressors. So
we have indicator is related to population characteristics.
So sensitive population's needs can be indicators measuring
the number of people in a community area, who may be more
severely impacted by pollution because of their age, or
underlying health status.
and then, so,
And then socioeconomic factors. So indicators in a
community that may increase people stress and make it more
difficult to and make them more vulnerable, to pollution
the facts on it. So all of the indicators that you see here
are part of that Chicago environmental justice index, and
the calculation is the average of the pollution, burden and
population characteristics. That's what produces our index
score and the data and message working group determined
that they wanted to produce the score at the census level.
Because they want.
Because they wanted hyper.
Because they wanted hyperlocal data, which is what you see
in our environmental, justice index map to fit. Go to the
next side. Again, for folks that might need a bigger visual
of this is on page, 17 of the summary report. And what you
see here is a visualization of the environmental justice
index. So census tracts in blue experience, a greater
cumulative impact of environmental burden as observed. By
the map, you can see that environmental justice
neighborhoods are significantly concentrated on the South
and West sides of the city. We know that these
neighborhoods are bisected by major highways and has high
concentrations of Industry.
And again, I think I just heard in the comments from our
community Frontline environmental justice leaders.
We?
We are committed to getting this Index, right? And this is
really the first iteration of what will be continued to be
involved. So the cumulative impact assessment, we set out
to create a baseline assessment sotetsu for us to have a
baseline understanding of the cumulative, impacts of
Environmental Health and Social stressors. And that is what
you see visual eyes care.
I'm in the palace.
I'm in the policy recommendations, which I will return to
my colleague to share with you. At one of the
recommendations is for the cumulative, impact assessment to
be redone, every number of years. So that, as our data,
methodology improves, we continue to update this so that
this is a real-time tool for us. And then again, if you
heard from public comments and our community, co-chairs
there will be additional data tools that the health
department will be producing on behalf of this project. So
you'll see a data dashboard that will include indicators
that the data and methods, working group didn't decide to
include in the index. But believes that people may want
access to, for policy, decision-making, advocacy, and also
a really, a longer technical document, which will include
all of the calculations and more information about the
various indicators.
and,
Anna.
And then, you know, again, in terms of the community
engagement pieces, that I talked about before we used real
hyper, local data and people's World experience to bring
the data are closer to what people experience and that's
called Brown, true thing. And we know that there needs to
continue to be ground-truth and throughout this process and
something that had also been recommended during the process
is potentially having Community areas.
Be able to see.
Be able to self.
Be able to self designate as environmental justice
neighborhoods in future iterations. Without I think I'm
going to turn it to Gabby to give you the summary of our
environmental justice action plan and policy
recommendations.
Thanks. Kate Snow, still with me. You're here a lot of
presenters. So I will try to make this both interesting may
be entertaining to. My name is Gabby Wagner sobreiro. I
work out of the office of climate and environmental Equity
with cheese. Tober over here, I'm an environmental justice
program manager or project manager and I've been around
with for this project for the past and feels like 2 years
so I'm really excited that we have a lot of folks in the
room today and again thank you to everyone that contributed
and took time away to even be here. I'm going to walk us
through the EJ action plan that some of my co-presenters
mentioned earlier as part of the city's voluntary
compliance agreement, with the city set for that commitment
to convene departments. I'm into an interdepartmental.
In group.
Group with representatives from across various departments,
with authorities to address environmental impacts. So those
became the creation of the interdepartmental working group,
the group right now has 10 departments. They are all listed
in that report summary, but they include Department of
Planning and Development Street. In sanitation,
Transportation Law, Public Health assets and Information
Services housing building procurement and Water Management.
So those are the time that are included at least in this
first cohort of Departments. Of course, we've heard
feedback that the city also needs to expand that
interdepartmental working group to some of our sister
agencies that also have some Authority or have some
responsibility to address environmental impacts within
communities.
but,
What does?
But the star
But to start over the course of 10 meetings at the very
beginning, you know, we came together with this concept of
how do we advanced environmental justice in the city and
what is our responsibility and authority to do so as public
servants and we've created this shared goal, which is in
the blue box I'll read it out loud. And that shared goal is
that all city of Chicago, departments will work together
and use their powers to improve the environment health and
quality of life.
Diamond.
Environmental justice communities through changes to
internal decision-making process, these Citywide policy,
meaningful Community engagement, and equitable distribution
of benefits and burdens a city actions. So having a shared
goal is very important in the sense of having almost a
shared vision for what we wanted to see Chicago exemplify
and throughout the course of those 10 meetings on Eye
Health Department's, really kind of come together. And
think about what are some strategies that they could
advance or wanted to advance within their departments?
Purview that involves a little bit of some one-on-one. So
the coaching consultation with Department wraps on during
meetings, we also you know provided breakout sessions were
folks shared and and collaborated and in that sort of
environment and it got the idea was not to Silo Department
saying this is your responsibility
take care.
Take care of it.
Take care of it but understanding that many of the
Departments of not all playing some role into really
implementing this goal and also the strategies that come
forward in the green circles, these are the categories of
strategies. So for improved data collection reporting and
transparency, their strategies related to expanding our
community are monitoring Network tracking. The city's
response to non-emergency complaints.
Making more data.
Making more data, shareable and more available for. Would
you seen Transportation impact? We have on strategies
around promoting public transit. Thinking about emission,
reductions and starting, or at least uplifting a program
around commercial Fleet. Electrification program for
expanding Community, involvement, and decision-making their
strategies around creating and strengthening and
notification system. Really deepening commitment to engage
in community housing issues, and also having a shooting
Community engagement standards for the city.
I'm continuing on in the diagram, we have for increased
benefits for environmental justice communities. We really
wanted to think about what are ways that we aren't just
creating new policies and taking a more preventive
approach, right? To pollution, but also thinking about
interventions that we can also help communities that are
currently facing the burden of environmental impact. And
so, under this category, we have strategies around a green
infrastructure Investments around where tree planting
Reviving vacant. Lots also amendments considerations for
amendments to the industrial Corridor system fun or
The music.
Studies again or just examples that are under that category.
Then one other I will shout out is really changing or
development happens, right? So thinking about what are some
of the updates that we can do to zoning regulations? What
are the ways that the city can really redesign almost in a
sense of How It's on currently provide to give permits or
how it is owned? And so they are some strategies around
that, underneath that category and then for additional
pollution medications, we have you know, sort of the
preventive side of not removing trees. I'm really kind of
maintaining a healthy canopy, making proposed updates to
the Calumet design, guidelines, updating the Chicago,
sustainable development policy. So, again, these are all
listed within the
Report.
So these are just right like sort of initial steps, right?
We are starting to really scratch the surface and get
deeper in terms of how departments can Advanced strategies
to how they can advance. The shared goals. We did have an
opportunity to get community input as well which was super
important in terms of setting accountability, but also
ensuring that strategies were also what you know folks.
Community one.
the community wanted to see from their, their departments,
Beside us in front of you. Now presents, an overview of the
policy recommendations that our policy working group that
was co-chaired by cdph and environmental law & policy
Center helped Shepherd. And one of the first steps that the
policy working group did was conducted a landscape
assessment. So they look nice Nationwide examples of where
cities and states were advancing cumulative impact and
really incorporating an analysis but also passing
legislation to advanced environmental justice. And with
that landscape assessment also came the combination of
lived experiences first. Initially from that Community
input summary that Angela and cable spoke to. But then also
you know Consulting the working group members on what it is
that they have lived through have seen in their communities
and soda
That the problems.
The problem solving around those issues in policy Forum. So
as the chart categorizes, it's kind of in three different
buckets. The first is environmental justice fundamentals.
This is really about internal decision-making process. He's
really trying to bridge, the gap between lack of community
voice. So you'll see the bullet points. They're sort of
touch on that. The second is cumulative, impacts elements.
This is where we get to amendments to the current air
quality. Is zoning ordinance things. Such as requiring. A
cumulative impact, study the development or creation of an
e. J advisory body that has oversight to information and
can provide recommendations. And then the removal of pyrite
zoning to expand review processes for uses subject to the
hez. So that
Apple.
Applications for permits are subject to more scrutiny and
then the second part is related to rulemaking and thinking
about aligning requirements for permits, not otherwise
subject to the hez providing opportunity for public comment
and considering reforms to the current fines and fees
structure. The last category is community benefits and this
kind of gets back to some of the pollution mitigation.
Strategies, that I mentioned.
Strategies that I mentioned before from our department, but
takes it a bit further in terms of really establishing a
precedent for how the city on you, no response or reckons
with the historical on passes of environmental racism but
also thinking about how the city can also provide for folks
that are dealing with a lot of these environmental burdens.
So establishing a designating, a fun. So these are against
some of the recommendations on enabling the use of
supplemental environmental projects in settlement
agreements is another example? All of these things I will
say they are recommendations, right? This is what you're
not sitting in front of you. The actual policy ordinance,
but there's still work to tie loose ends with a lot of
these recommendations and will be working with our
community partners with our departments with our lawyers.
To really come.
To really kind of bring this to life and its next iteration
next by please.
Where can I?
We're coming soon. I promised the road road map for future
action. You can also find this in the summary report. I
won't go into detail into all of these but kind of Whittle
it down there still a lot that we need to do around data.
There's still a dashboard that we need to publish and
provide we still need to collect quantitative and even
qualitative data and connect the dots, we will continue to
work with the environment to equity working group in the
spirit of coke. Governance, we will continue to work with
our departments in the interdepartmental working group and
also expand that working group to other departments and
sister agencies. And we will build on a Citywide DJ program
as required by the executive order and also develop and
Institute a community engagement practice and and so forth.
Last.
Glass slide.
Is our final slide on everything that we mentioned is in
one of these reports has not mentioned in a few, everything
can be found online at chicago.gov for its last team would
have been packed. And I want to remind folks that the
summary report is just a summary report. And so, if you are
looking for more details on a specific area or topic, you
should also check out some of the other reports that are on
the slide. Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you so much.
Yeah, and that concludes our presentation. We're happy to
take questions. Thank you so much to all of the speakers. I
have a question that I was looking at
Add.
Are the different recommendations and there's one part that
I don't see, which is the, the interventions, the health
interventions of Public Health interventions that we need
to do with people who have lots of conditions that are the
result of pollution. So I wanted to hear maybe from Oscar
or some of the community Representatives. First what do we
think are some of the interventions that need to happen to
mitigate some of the health conditions right now? Cuz I see
that we're looking at policy and we're looking at at what
are the mitigation that we can do in terms of environmental
impact? But I didn't necessarily see a lot of what are the
public health interventions that we have to have with the
people that are actively suffering from lots of health
conditions because of the in,
Act of pollution.
Do.
Do I stand?
Just state your name, for again, for the record of Scar, as
well. I think
Okay.
Of course, my name is Oscar Sanchez again, executive
director of the Southeastern to task force. And I also want
to open the floor for our colleagues as well. In this
process. I think one of the things that we're talkin about
mitigating, what some of the things that are happening
during development processes. We see a lot of the way that
state permitting can exemplify a lot or allow, a lot of
these things that occur through asking for something to be
introduced for being honest, about a right to build, right?
We need to be able to see the community process needs to be
taking consideration before anything is built, especially
to stay permanent because the permitting process three
permits. What does the way to appeal? This is a 3rd permit
but the first apartment allow for the industry to already
be built. So our intervention comes late in that process.
So right away for new developments that something
but I
but then,
But only when it comes to a ongoing developments right now,
something that's really needed is having inspectors on
site. And if there's violations right away that there has
to be contingency plan, either shutting at industry down at
that moment to further investigate. Or we have to make sure
that there's meaningful ways to ensure that communities are
safe in those matters. These things happen all the time and
Racine that because he don't have an say investigators or
anybody recording to these things. That a lot of the times
these things are left on checked and they're checked off
that it's okay. And these reports are made constantly over
and over again. My last point is specifically, with even
reporting on 311, a lot of committee members were asked to
report via that tool yet. There's no record taken set
count. The many reports they were making, especially when
it comes to odors and I'll put the caveat
It's really.
It's really good.
It's really difficult to currently test for older but it's
important that to note that whatever you are, smelling you
are ingesting into your body and we have to put that but I
want a different open. The florastor other committee
members of healthcare. I what I have heard today is that
respiratory issues. Are some of the most prevalent issues
that communities are dealing with still thinking about what
I do.
Intervention, is that?
Intervention, is that we need to be doing at the city of to
be proactive about about managing those conditions so that
they don't deteriorate. But also preventing that has really
seen in the southeast side is, for example, could you hold
the microphone? So what are the things that we see in the
southeast side of La is Asma bands? They go to elementary
school to check on Children's Health. I think that's
something that's really important, as we are trying to take
care of our current house or we have to offer to create
more resources around because this is intersectional,
right, when we're looking at this, of course, was talking
to the public health, in Viagra Mitty, but we have to look
at the other things. There are communities are going
through when it comes to housing. A lot of the housing
cases. People are going to lighting or heat waves. And when
we talkin about the intersectionality, when it comes to
environment, you see that these people need
Are.
RPP.
Our people need right away, relief. So when it comes to
cooling stations, when it comes to blood prevention's, when
it comes to, what happens when you are flooding, this is
something that's an issue that was in my interview. So I
think it's in general, having a mechanism where we
intervene right quickly. And I think that's the principal
guy lined up. You all want is that when people are hurt,
there is immediate.
Yaksha.
Reaction and Mari sponsor people to know that the meeting
is taking place to address those immediate harm. So I think
we can create a caveat more like talking points to that,
but I think that's the premise, right? And I will leave it
up if you would have had anything that
Wants to come in and then I'll be happy to get your
response as well and policy director for the Department of
Public Health. Thank you, gentlemen, for the question, I
think what mostly emerged from the process is the
recommendations that you heard and so this is really
important for us to continue to bring into the process as
well. In addition to the actions that Oscar highlighted I
think something else that I heard in the process is also
recommendations around Community benefits and there was
really still a lot of
or should I say I'm still a lot of ideas of what might
Community benefits be so that people who live in
neighborhoods who have been historically, harmed by
environmental justice can now you know really receive more
Equitable benefits and I think that may also be an
opportunity to explore more directed Health service
resources to thank you so much for that. I look forward to
working with the Department of Health and communities to
make sure that we are able to put the right interventions
in place.
and some
and,
Actual.
I actually,
I actually asked her where you got to go on to the next
question, from a committee members. So I've got all them in
the Spotify by IHOP in Moore followed by Alderman Lawson
and and just give us a signal if you want to ask a
question. I thank you so much, chair chairs, and also to
everyone in the Box for this important work at it as much
if not more. So, for everyone who turned out to give
testimony stay with us to challenge to cajole to hold us
accountable to this work. I really, really appreciate y'all
on your way from hellos. I wanted to ask a question that
was brought up through public testimony in terms of
The.
The, the details of the map because sometimes we look and
I, I can understand some of the confusion here because when
you go by census tract, it can get very granular but it can
get confusing to the point where we can look and we can
seat cases where a census tract, might be surrounded by
areas, we Define as environmental justice communities and
yet that particular census tract is not included itself. I
want to call it out for you again.
I am can.
I am confused having been there myself. Why practically the
southern side of Bridgeport as we get closer to canaryville
isn't included perfectly, the area, when we get south of
Pershing, where we know that there's substantial Industrial
Development were frankly if you visited I can understand
perfectly from the diesel traffic and congestion
perspective, why we might have those concerns. Can you
speak to hell that the factors influence the map and why we
would see since its tracks it appear to have been admitted?
That's okay.
So I can.
So I can keep McMahon policy director for the Department of
Public Health. And thank you for the question Alderman, we
share the value of data-driven policymaking and when the
data and methods working group, deliberated on, what the
index should be, and what indicators to include within the
index, there was really a healthy debate and what
ultimately, they determined was most representative and
right for assessing cumulative, burden of Environmental
Health. And Social stressors, is that the index that you
see. Before you today, as a starting point, the methodology
does recognize that our pollution does not stay put and
does travel. So does take into account sense.
Track.
Cracks at next to census tracts in so they can take us to
the 75th percentile in our map. And then I would also say
that what has emerged from this process is continued need
for ground. True thing, which is to bring data, to be more
in line with lived experience and we have formal plans to
continue to do so. And also are considering as a project
team recommendation to allow neighborhoods to South
designate as environmental justice neighborhoods as well.
Of course, there are always limitations to data and and
models, but this is really what the data and methods
working group with all of the scientific technical
expertise, our expertise subject matter experts. Including
people with lived experience, determined was most
representative of hyperlocal cumulative impacts and again
emphasize cuz you know it took me a little bit to get this
to. It is cumulative. Impacts means
It's the key.
It's the cumulative burden of Environmental Health and
Social stresser. So it's a little different than a
traditional risk assessment which is going to model. The
health comes Health outcomes associated with that
particular site. This is really designed to get at
cumulative burden.
I really appreciate that for the clarity. I I also know
that one of the deliverables we talked about was being able
to produce an online map that residents could review and
NSA data, transparency, which I also heard others in the
room talking about we've seen this before we all over since
it's backed way you can view the way different data points,
informed that track. I hope it's something that way for the
encoder that I see a lot of head nodding, so that's
fantastic. Okay, so, two other quick questions, one on
vehicle electrification. Because we know that the diesel
impact, we know the transportation impacts looking at the
Chicago recovery plan. Our capital budget. I know that we
had put forward, I believe it was last year. 42 million
committed towards commercial Fleet electrification. I'm
wondering if anyone marry. This might be your purview.
if we know,
if we know I,
If we know anything about the uptake on that 42 million,
how that commercial Fleet conversion is happening, how are
values around environmental, justice and Equity inform,
where that work is taking place.
Irene.
I ruined Mary Nicol director of policy was C. So the 42
million dollars that you're referring to wall. See dots
involved with it. It's actually a s that's leading with the
purchasing for city fleet and so we can through the chair.
Get you the exact numbers of the, the purchases of the
vehicles. I don't end Angela because it's her team managing
that pot of money might have a more direct answer.
Talking about internal or external which is why I look
alive clean Chicago program but where those dollars
designated towards our Municipal Fleet. So this is my
second time in two days here. So I talked about this
yesterday so sorry for the review. For those of you who
we're here. We have we have started that program we
launched Chicago Electric. We are very proud of that. They
have been working. Only with the office of racial equity
and justice but as well as working in close coordination
with our team to identify the fleet transition. For the
city of Chicago, we have already transitioned
23% of our flight.
23% of our Fleet and we have a goal of course, to do a
hundred percent. We are utilizing in pursuing new tax
credits that are newly available to non-tax pain at
identities through the inflation reduction act. So that's a
program called direct pay. So we will seek that incentive
and and hope to utilize that rebate to be able to continue
to invest. In this City's. Fleet I mentioned their racial
Equity action plan. This is a commitment that a ice has
made through the office of racial equity and Justice. So
they are they are transitioning. Fleet yard by Fleet, yard
utilizing this assessment as a guide. I'm to make sure that
they're beginning their transition within their fin Fleet
yards that are historically. Overburdened for the we're
very proud of the movement and the intentionality tied to
that effort, my question is staying within the
transportation space of this referencing.
Play again like we know what the city's policy is on diesel
idling. You also know that like an enforcement can be a bit
challenging. So I wanted to ask you fold question number
one. So we know that you can place a 311 complaint related
to diesel vehicle idling what currently happens when a
resident makes a complaint. And also based on the
enforcement need and inter
Cuckoo.
Who can enforce right? Right now, in terms of our, our
parking enforcement, a cdph inspectors, are there ways that
were working to improve the enforcement side of things
I will.
I believe that that is still under there, a purview of
parking enforcement and then also see PD when, when
possible, we do not have an update on I'm what future
policies can look like yet, but it's something that were
interested in. There are really exciting case studies that
were seen from other cities. They really does taking a new
approach, right? Which is allowing for citizens to report
enforcement in new ways. So, that's exciting. It is
something that is worth exploring for the city, but we do
not have a policy shift.
Or what?
Or what happens with a 311 complaint when it comes in. But
number two, if we could get some kind of a summary of
diesel idling citations issued over the last three years,
and if it's possible to break that out by ZIP code, I'm
willing to wait for that day. Don't feel like I need it
tomorrow, but like the ottoman, the spot. I'll say we will
definitely note that through the chair. Although I don't
know if it's the Chiefs team, that'll do it but there is a
I know a point of clarification I Believe by Cher Knutson
wanted to chime in on came out tonight. You know I don't
believe we're doing much of any enforcing related to diesel
idling that is my understanding related to the research.
That's gone into the ordinance, we proposed that would
prohibit.
Gas.
Gasp.
Gas power.
Gas powered vehicle titling as well. The biggest issue
related to, you know, these conceptual things that we do
they can really benefit the environment is enforcement.
That is something we are just as a city, not doing an
adequate job of right now. So I just want to clarify on
that point.
Order.
Order person connects and I was practically going to pass
you the ball on that one. I appreciate the point. Thank you
for this all of my questions. Thank you. Next up. We have
Alderman IHOP in Moore. Thank you so much are as many of my
questions were asked and answered by my you charity, but I
did want to, I wanted to say thank you to those who came
for public comments and those that are in the box now and
everyone who cannot be here today, who worked up until this
point to create this report. I was born in the tenth board
and I had the pleasure to visit the 10th Ward with me and
my colleagues and many of you here and to be reminded that
the highest point in Chicago is a landfill.
and,
and just
And to see Public Schools right next to polluters and to go
down street, that children walk down that there are no
sidewalks to walk down on alongside cars, you know, on the
median. Is it just reminds us that this map was created by
decisions that we made around infrastructure? And how are
we going to dismantle it through our decisions with
infrastructure including our policies and who who is
helping make those policies happen? I really appreciate all
of the the values that you're bringing to this work
including the lived experience of so many. And I I want to
know more about how we're going to use our technology
including 311 to bring more people in I'm into
Knowing more about how Joey MC is involved in this work, as
they are going to be on the back end of 311 and and I just
appreciate all the work. I'm mad that we're here because
it's federally mandated. This is work that we should have
been doing such a long time, but I'm, I'm grateful for this
opportunity moving forward and somebody from the Edgewater
Are.
Mario.
Area where, you know, we're separated by many commercial
corridors to and, you know, Broadway and where the end of
December Lake Shore Drive.
And many trucks go through our neighborhood. I'm also
interested in how and after we have created these really
great policies, are we going to enforce them and what is,
how are we going to hold our private sector? Also
accountable, and where do they fit in with the conversation
that we're going to be having moving or because they should
have a seat at the table as well. So thank you for all your
work. Thank you. Jesus. Thank you Elder Lawson.
Thank.
Thank you chairs for putting this on and a lot of my
questions have been touched down a little bit, but I'll go
a little deeper. I don't think I would have a sign posted.
Usually, it's a knock it off and I don't know how many
tickets have been written, but the enforcement is BPD. It's
OMC, its revenue and it's bacp. And so I don't I didn't
hear those departments as part of the working group on
enforced and obviously, public health of a lot of overtime
of Public Health has enforcement as well, but I'm concerned
about the business Community like my colleague has just
mentioned
And Patrick, you should probably grab a mic at some point
for me because I, I know we're talkin about new Industries
more time but existing Industries and so I think I want to
go back to the medication. Question real quick for existing
Industries sitting, there were some things that were talked
about when it came to the physical, the built environment
with it at the traffic, diversion or green Islands or
things like that outside of the operations side. Give me
when comments on that or some supposed to recommend Monday.
Since coming out of that built environment, that might be
asked you that question more than
Planet Busters or go ahead Patrick?
That's not Patrick Murphy of the Department of Planning
Development. That is probably more to see that question or
answer as far as those types of improvement.
Mariah Nicole with a director of policy with C. On the
website that Gabby reference. There's a CD Version of rej
action plan, which lists out of variety of of the item
items that were pursuing. I think in terms of, you know,
with the e t, o d ordinance. You know, we're pursuing a
variety of and just put in that some Transportation demand
management plans, which will be a particularly impactful on
your ward and the the rules they are listed there. Do you
know, we are
Expand.
Expanded.
Are expanding at the bike lane and, you know, safer
sidewalks. And a more complete streets throughout the city.
That's another, a big piece of our plan. And then, as well
as we Alderman, the spot ask about electric station. That's
another big piece of our plan to mitigate the impact of
heavy truck. Traffic is working to you do find all the
federal funds that we can to help incentivize commercial
fleets to to a transition where the other pieces of your
question is one of the best opportunities we have come in,
through both the city's Fleet and private please. I might
also like to make sure that we have electric vehicles that
are Parts, being built in the city. And so, I passed my
back over to Patrick Murphy now because I'm a little
concerned.
We say.
We say no across-the-board. We aren't attracting industry.
We aren't attracting innovation in the way that we want to.
And so, it'll happen since acting director Murphy. How many
new businesses have opened? Our new Industries locations of
open? Since we passed the air quality zoning ordinance, it
off the timer at ballpark spine, Patrick Murphy Department
of planning. You mean new businesses that
Would not let her know.
Good. Now that are now subject to what is called the air
quality bad. I I do not know the number of the top of my
head but we can we can find out for you. I mean about being
reviewed by your department and we're the committee is
necessary, right, right. So that these little projects that
start out with the transportation environment reviews and
then ultimately have to come through for some zoning path.
Either either by right through a special used to the zoning
board or as planned at all. But even those Industries in
industrial corridors are subject to the air quality or
nuts. Only, if they are one of the listed types of uses, so
it's not every Endust heaviest ever use that allowed into
our manufacturing District. It's it's a certain subset.
Okara okara cuz I would love to see clean industry being
involved with these discussions discussion groups to clean,
energy jobs act, right? And we want Chicagoans be working
on his plate Industries and want to make sure that we're
setting up the processes that are very very welcome to them
and whether you know.
These type of cleaning, the streets are allowed by, right?
You know, in any of the XYZ zoning districts or that, you
know, we understand and what word describes what we really
want to encourage, we really want to be open to because as
we build our green economy, it's those private industries
that are going to create the jobs and do the work. These
aren't City owned or state-owned utility on some utility I
suppose. So I just want to let you know the other thing.
I think, I
I think I've heard a lot about Coke governance and I want
to make sure I understand what that looks like. Obviously
we're having, you know, we're getting feedback from the
communities in that are most impacted projects are being
reviewed as they come in. But are we delegating sort of
authority as a city? In some way to treat her
decision-making, body, governess is going to be our
buzzword for the entire term. Come on you, because I know
our leads has have answered this before in committee, where
city council, nobody can take away our Authority. So
there's no State Statute that saying all the sudden that a
a Community Committee or working group all the sudden gets
to decide things. So let me be very clear for everyone on
our joint committees and all the members of the public we
shouldn't be
A free.
Afraid.
Afraid of a working group. We shouldn't be afraid of
involvement from voices, that has been traditionally
excluded.
We should embrace it and the fact that we have failed. So
miserably and so many of our decisions as a city is because
we have excluded are most impacted community members to
think about the fact that we've accomplished this like
large body of work, which I know is so difficult. Sometimes
I think about all of you who spoke at public comment, the
frustration that you have for living your entire life,
right? Or your family is multiple Generations. In a space
where you've been dealing with air pollution, right, diesel
truck frames, and you've been complaining. We heard people
talking about other people who don't listen right, people
taking payoffs are campaign contribution. If we listen to
people a little bit more, maybe had a few more working
groups. Maybe we wouldn't have to sit through a 30-minute
public comment. We're on a day when we've got actually a
significant accomplishment. Those p.
5/4 a
Far for that. Accomplishment still are. I are displeased
and dissatisfied so we're all going to have to come to
Define Co governance for ourselves for me. It's just a
mocker C. I think what we seen demonstrated and in the work
that led up to this assessment, it's just the mccratic
process and there's no way the city of Chicago is afraid of
a little
Democra.
Democracy. But here in the city council, we still have to
make the votes. And I think that's what we're hearing.
Right from our community members there, they're going to
put together an ordinance and recommendations and maybe
just for the path forward as well. If you guys don't mind
me speaking for those next steps. It's, it's probably going
to be multiple organ. Is also over multiple years, right?
So there's no one ordinance that's going to Encompass, all
the things until please rest assured, like for both our
committees. I don't even think all of this is going to come
through. You know, either of our committees, some of these
things are going to go through zoning, right? Some of them
are going to have to go through additional committees
housing, right? Depending on what they cover. And so like
it or not, we're still going to have to make like the
decisions about it and I imagine it's going to be a lot of
work. So we're going to have to take up a lot of these
recommendations but
On.
On that.
On that note, governance isn't the new thing to say that
all dramatic perogative isn't alive and well or city
council is somehow not going to get to have a voice but I
think it's also an end. This is an open invitation. It's
also something that we can keep making better. So I really
like your comment about the the kind of clean industry and
what are proactively we are looking at to involve and who
can we bring into the conversation?
What are dependent?
What are dependent on fire?
What are dependent on proximity and then maybe this goes
back to my question about mitigation, right? Talk a lot
about asphalt, we talked a lot about concrete that have to
come within so many miles are so many minutes, right? To be
usable and so maybe we can talk offline. You know, we can't
have them in some other little counter, right. We need to
have them closer by. So I always with navigate to transport
the manufacturer of the impact. On those communities is
something that I'm I'm interested in as well. And Patrick
may have a number for me on air quality, Patrick Murphy
Department of planning. So we maintain a website that
tracks all of the currently under evaluation and previously
reviewed projects. There's 13 that have gone through this
sense or I should say there are 13 that have gone through
this or are currently undergoing review subject to those
rules from March of 2021.
Red Bank & Trust.
We want.
We went.
We went to acknowledge that other one kind of phone has
joined us today. Next, we have Alderman, 60 Lopez followed
by alderman.
They?
Thank.
Thank you. Thank you to both of them chairs, for making sure
that these important.
Curing takes place and I think shows the commitment of the
nutrition really turned a page in what has been a Cheerio
Cheryl mention all the years of learning about the
dismissal of the facts. So when I first have knowledge that
work, that many of The Advocates hunger Strikers, the many
other people have done to get us to this point. I got a few
questions in just want to uplift some of them. Some of the
questions that our community has in particular we being is
affect the tremendously by environmental racism.
What?
One.
One of the questions was around the methodology and the use
of census tracts and how we are able to capture, for
instance, cumulative effects and environmental effects or
railroad companies, and or environmental issues with
manufacturing districts. It is my opinion. And let me know
before I let it allowed to have someone come and tell him
that that we must correct. So that we can capture the map.
another problem that
Another problem that we have, we be dismissing the
seriousness of the problem. In many of our manufacturing
zones are, we got to realize 30% of many manufacturing
items across the US, go to Chicago. And that means that
there's a tremendous traffic. I mean, you can ask Erica
seat when, you know, around the conditions of Viaduct,
under conditions of industrial areas. I disagree with all
my contacts in terms of allowing individual braids by,
right? Because if they cannot pass simple Community
meetings, what are we doing things for it is not for the
community that we were percent. So I don't think that this
dichotomy of choosing between shelves and jobs is a real.
One is a false. Premise is a fallacy, I must be
acknowledged. So with that in context my question is
How is how is it that we can correct some of the, the
feedback and hearing from her constituents? We all want
this study to be successful. We want this report to
continue and there's an acknowledgement that they may be
more feedback necessary. This was at a particular question
that came from public comment around may be using some
modifying, some of the census. Tracts versus what we see
just giving the things are changing. So rapidly does a
question that came from your community.
and,
Any.
anybody in the Box wants to address that question for on our
part, our committees are open to be able to discuss these
things and we definitely want to follow up and continue
having these conversations, but from the box, if we can
have a response,
I can keep and policy director with the Chicago Department
of Public Health. Thank you for the question older person
and we share the commitment to data-driven policymaking and
and also that this process is done differently. So that
communities who are most impacted by environmental,
Injustice are leading the way for the policy actions that
follow up with respect to the methodology, the data and
methods, working group, that was comprised of technical
experts at subject. Matter experts are also consulted with
our advisory committee included people with lived,
experience determines and enderle. Deliberated, at what
level of data would we make our index and determined that
census tract would be the most hyper local and the most
appropriate to measure cumulative impacts in Chicago.
The environmental justice index that was produced as part of
this Baseline assessment is only the first step and is not
a static tool. We welcome continued Community input
engagement in the process as we work to continue to make
the next iterations of the indexes so that they are
representative of communities. Lived experience another
recommendation from the engagement process that I want to
uplift is a recommendation that Community areas be able to
self designate as environmental justice neighborhoods and
that's something that the project team is very seriously
considering because of our commitments to first voice and
censoring people who are most impacted by environmental
Injustice.
just,
Just one more.
You're?
Your me, the index map will be updated every 3 years. So
the index that's part of. Also, the commitment from the
city is that there's a continuous review indicators. But
also, I think there's additional indicators that gets, you
know, updated and added onto the algorithm for the
methodology. And then from there, we have even more robust
stronger. Matt, at the, in the long run. I want to just
also like
Clyde's.
Flies that part of one of my frustration. So I also come
from public health. I'm a bridge Porter. I notice also that
the census in my area was not, you know, lit with EJ. And
one of the things that will come out of the dashboard is,
you know, that ability to see really what kind of happening
and your senses track to. So obviously we're still talking
about him. Let it impact in the cumulative burden of all
these indicators. But still if we're trying to drive
strategies and we're trying to draft policy, we also need
to know where flooding is most present, right or where air,
pollution is more presents, where there's more industry,
right? Where there's this, the school that is next to the
diesel truck parking lot for instance. So, again, I think
these are all things that in the coming months. You know,
we're committed to improving and really demonstrating. I'm
good effort in
And this again, Kate McMahon with the health department,
those additional indicators that Gabby reference will be
part of the data dashboard, so that policy makers Community
organizations and Advocates can use that information, you
know, as it is available. And also the health department
has committed as part of our departmental environmental
justice action plan to improve our data collection so that
we can continue to enhance the data that we are able to
make a publicly available as part of this process and
include in the process as well.
They?
Thank you. So certainly, you know, when I'm glad that we we
are committed here in this in this city council and
administration to make sure that we have public
participation. And the public feedback is included and
Riker, Tina want to make sure that this Southwest
Government, the Lions, and any group across the city.
Anybody's welcome to participate and continue to have
feedback during some of the researchers. In you, I see many
of whom have collaborated with us submitted many grants to
get every opportunity to address environmental Injustice in
our community be funded. So we got in line. And again, I
want to challenge the notion that somehow the industry is
is harm. I will mention a specific examples or not, you
know, would like to discuss was possible. But the practice
is even in every industry are inconsistent, depending where
they operate, I mentioned princess seams facility, a metal
Priscilla.
A silly.
facility in the 25th Ward this facility or similar facility
operates in New York and they have a state-of-the-art
operation there yet in Chicago. Their operations are so
insane that they wanted was a recent fire. There was not
even an emergency plan to communicate with residents and
safely caution people in the midst of a pandemic. So
Is Mary.
Is marriage in this marriage legislation this marriage,
making sure that we regulate this industry. So that they
operate on the minimum standards similar here in the city
of Chicago Eye Care to comment on the inconsistency ocal.
Corridors are treated differently or welcome to see the
evolution and changes. And I think we all should move to
bring the corridors about why we are some of us are stuck
between choosing between the Cubs and the well-being of our
families vs. Good paying jobs. When we know that we must
have and we can talk about. So we got in line with
inconsistencies one. How do we make sure that we have more
consistency and practices that we know that fellow in other
parts of the country? How do we have consistently practices
that we have here in our city? And for that, I do think
that we got to tap into the federal funds that are
incentivizing ring. Technology, green Corridor, we can have
green good paying jobs in our community and we deserve and
we will be part of it.
So, my question is, how do we tap into this Federal
incentive State incentives? Right. I'm glad to see, you
know, some of elected officials are the governor becoming a
little more mindful, right? What Progressive actually
means. And that means making sure that we put funding into
this. So what opportunities we see out there so that we can
build the kind of commercial opportunities that we are
going to see. But this pitching has of, you know, choosing
between health and jobs that is 4 years ago, we are past
that conversation. So,
How to?
How do we enforce regulation and how we have more funding?
So our communities have this good opportunity that we all
need and deserve.
I can begin and then I would ask Mary may be married to
just talk a little bit more about funding to we agree with
you. We you know this is a once-in-a-lifetime for the city
of Chicago to really aggressively pursue funding and, you
know, we're in a unique position because we have the
passage of the climate Equitable jobs act at the state
level, as well as the passage of the bipartisan
infrastructure law at the federal level, and the inflation
reduction act. So there are not only billions of dollars of
tax incentives, available to the city of Chicago, as well
as competitive grants. And then a small amount of money
available in Formula funding, that is something that my
team has committed ourselves to working in partnership with
departments to pursuing. We already have applications for
federal funding that are that exist that are pending and
then
I'm up for,
I'm up for review, we have also established Regional
Partnerships with folks like the Metropolitan mayor's
krakus to think about a regional approach to pollution
mitigation and entering improving Transportation Systems as
well, we're working with C. On increase, increasing their
capacity to advance their, their public charging Network as
well. So there are there are a lot of funding. There is a
lot of funding out there. The Investments that we made the
Chicago recovery plan will be out at some of those measures
could be eligible for direct pay, and this is the first
time again, that municipalities as non-tax pain. Entities
are eligible to pursue tax incentives that are available
for the government. The guidance was just released but we
are also aggressively pursuing direct-pay incentives as
well. So every time that the city purchases an electric
vehicle for example, for our Fleet,
Republic Trash.
Republic charger as well as you know any time that we are
start. We are starting to invest dollars into decarbonizing
our own buildings, doc as well and and putting a rooftop
solar on our building. As we do that. We know that there
are incentives available and we do intend to pursue those
and to utilize that money to put back into green
Investments as the city one. Last one that I will mention
is with the climate equitable.
Stop.
Jobs.
Stop.
Jobs act. We ask the city of Chicago are transitioning to a
hundred percent renewable energy for our own building.
Portfolio by 2025, as you all know, we have an energy
Supply agreement, but we also have very high standards that
we've given ourselves for Equity. So ensuring, that the
folks from historically underserved neighborhoods can
participate on the job that we have a project, labor
agreement in place with labor and that we are, you know,
just thinking about both the labor and Equity provision
that are outlined in the climate Equitable, job back.
Because of that investment that we've made to transition to
a hundred percent. Renewable energy, that requires a
large-scale solar farm, which is building being built in,
in, in Illinois to help our, our, our load and as well as
cook County's load because we're adhering to that those
Provisions. We will be eligible as a city for a rebate
through seizure.
We've achieved their standard for equity and for labor and
we want to utilize those incentives again to pour back into
the green economy. So those are just a couple of examples.
I'm but there is a lot of work being done on behalf of the
city to make sure that we maximize those opportunities for
the city of Chicago.
and,
An ottoman if you don't mind and marry, I apologize. If we
can take the rest of the responses to that through the
chair just for the sake of time, knowing that we have a
couple of members on stock in the budget committee meeting
starting at noon and thank you for getting the other one,
is a sacrifice that a true. Could that be through the chair
is the next question would get through the my final
questions through the chair and thank you again for putting
this together, looks into the process to and sacrifice. All
right, so I think that we would like to see, you know,
through the chair right. I planned that he's willing to
lose the community. I think Innovation only Foster when we
have the conditions for participation and I don't think
Innovation comes in Draconian structures, right? So, do you
think that our car we ain't got to be achieved that has to
be done mine fully with our community and I think it would
be good to the church to see what is the process to get us
to that point and I will
The regional.
the regional approach a thing in there at Southwest side,
all of us was elected officials. Can do what has been done
in other parts of the city to bring a mental Justice were
coming. Thank you.
Thank.
Thank you. Other message to Lopez. And next, I have other
woman cruise, and we went to recognize at sermon. Thank you
for joining us there. Next, I have Venison and then Other
Woman
so,
So fast cuz we're probably going to get the boot for budget.
Is that right?
Either.
Either way, I'll go fast a lot of great questions and then
answered a thank-you chairs and I want to thank people in
the box so I had the it truly was an honor to take the
environmental justice to her the other week to the 10th
Ward, and other areas better are hit hard with these issues
in it really struck me. The lived experience, that
everyone's talking about. I think that's a tour that if we
could get every single person on city council to do, it
would be really impactful. Just, you know, the stories, the
stories of kids walking to school and getting getting
sicker running to their car. Because the odor is so much
that, that, you know, you might throw up in the long-term
impact on asthma and so many other things I say. One thing
always strikes me, you know, all the men lost and talk
about proximity and maybe some
some require some requirements relating to proximity that
we have to Grapple with. As we push this all forward. I
always find one simple fix just like us in forcing things
better. So many of these things are are not enforced and I
understand that, you know, that the CSO you do such an
amazing work with a little team that is boxing far above
their weight and we should do.
Can I get you more fun day?
Can I get you more funding? So they
Imma get you more funding, so that the team can expand and
also, so that enforcement can expand because enforcement
tends to generate generate Revenue when it's done. Well, we
talked about 311 in the expansion and I do think we should
be looking into 311 and how it can be used to better and
forth these. But it's never going to enforce everything.
It's it's not realistic to think that someone who's getting
hit with you. No waves of diesel exhaust or an intense
odor. To the point of sickness is going to be able to put
in at 311 and have that responded to quickly. I didn't get
there, so many things to cities, do we need to enforce
other other areas that could be done here you know my word
is part of a pilot program for parking enforcement being
done by camera. I think when we talked about private sector
vehicles and delivery vehicles, I disobeying rules related
to routes going there, schools in.
Why is there?
Why's there's pretty easy things we can do with technology,
whether it's GPS or otherwise to enforce those vehicles, to
obey the laws already on the books. I think we should look
into that type of GPS attachment to these vehicles. Also
just you know the manufacturing zones when a lot of times
when they're approved, they make promises related to the
amount of Ingress and egress that are happening every
single day. And they make those promises is a part of
getting their zoning approvals. And then the second it's
done in
Through.
Through the blowing, those promises simply because we're not
tracking that, that type of data going forward to, you
know, I don't want to list some of what I think or is just
really low-hanging fruit that does piggyback off of other
enforcement work that we're doing is a city, but look like
I ate, you know, I I park my my vehicle wrong, I expect to
get a ticket and I pay my tickets. Everybody just so we
know, but it should be. It should be the same. It should be
the same exact thing. It should be more aggressive and I
just really hope that this body takes it seriously that
we've got an opportunity here right now to push a lot of
this forward in that whether we do it or nits by ordinance
or through one big package, let's start getting some of
these things through. So thank you, I run.
I want to.
I wanted to recognize vice mayor Walter Burnett that has
been in the chambers. Next, I have other woman Cruz
followed by Ramirez.
Thank you chairs. I also want to express my gratitude to
the box for doing all this work. I know it's not easy work
and there's constant feedback given but something that you
all have been showing is the leadership of taking action,
but also listening to those feedback. So, I met with Oscar
and I see the passion of Oscar, I see what he has been
doing for the commute.
Play for very long time. I see all of your passion. So this
is what we need to be able to bring the change. They were
looking for, so thank you, but I also think you took public
speakers, they never brought up. Very go to concerns that
we all even have ourselves as well and how do we
incorporate those the feedback but it what we're doing
again. But again I believe we have the right people who are
willing to listen and I know you all have commented already
about implementing some of their feedback as well.
Throughout we have heard a lot of great information and I
think we we all would I like to say the future is bright
with the leadership that we have in the Box in our chairs
as well. And we heard a lot from change and I know, change
is not easy at times. For a lot of people we her family's
well-being. We talked about how we talked about protecting
the environment, we talked about multiple generations of
going through, you know, The Decemberists many of our
communities but more important.
what I
What I want to say is we have a, like, I mentioned earlier.
We have the people are willing to listen and do the right
thing and I work. I'm very, you know, optimistic of what
we're heading with the changes that we have here. But I
also want to Echo with some of my colleagues have said with
the diesel truck pollution and taking into consideration,
that diesel is idling. That is something that we are also
experiencing in the northwest side. Some of the trucks,
just idling
h a
Hours. And
Hours and hours. But more importantly, when we talked about
enforcement we talked about, you know what, my colleague
has had about them, you know, the revenue but more than
that, we also want to do is go to behaviors as well. So we
do have to work more on the enforcement part of things. So
I have a 1 proof. Question for 20 questions for the box is
CPS one of these sister agencies that is working in this
model.
Gabby Wagner silver with the office of climate environment
to equity, to answer your question, all the women, they
have not been a part of the initial interdepartmental
working group. So that group that included attend
apartments that I said earlier, that being said, there is a
commitment to expand the working group to include sister
agencies and CPS is one of those agencies. I think there
was an awesome. Another question or comment about oemc and
they are all. So, you know, a group that we are going to be
approaching as well and sort of this next phase of the
work. Okay, glad to hear that. And then there are, you
know, essential to to this plan as well. And are we looking
into other cities or doing the same initiatives as we are
with an EG EJ?
it's
It's so we are, there are quite a few examples of EGA
policies that exists across the country Newark. New Jersey
is, is probably the closest in terms of having a policy
that is that evaluates at the time of zoning, some of these
environmental considerations the process. I think it did
take a you know our process has has started with Community.
I think if that's that's the distinction here is that we
didn't move ahead of community to say, you know, we want to
do this, this has been something. It's been driven equally
by everyone in this box. The other the other distinction is
that the Newark model is just a checklist. So at the time
of zoning, you know, a proposed development can come in and
check the boxes to say that they fulfilled the requirements
and then that moves forward. So we're really looking at
that talking to people in Newark to to learn how that
policy has played out.
and to think about where
And to think about where there's opportunities in gaps, in
gaps, in their policy and opportunities for improvement.
But there are a few other. There's there was a really
robust report that we could give you through the chair that
the gives you a landscape landscape analysis of of the
various EJ policies that have been, you know, completed by
other municipalities across the country that we've looked
into an inn have Dino taken time to to meet with those
folks to learn more about what they've done and where
they're there's opportunity to do more.
Perfect.
Perfect, thank you.
Did they have anything else? Other woman? No. Other woman
has
I think.
Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Chairwoman
chairwoman, I'm going to get right to it. I guess. My first
question is around development so I'm Patrick. If you can
help me with this when were thinking about new development,
you know, sometimes we have to consider getting something
new or having housing around a manufacturing district. And
so, how are we incorporating? The businesses that already
exists and that in that planning decision making and then
the other part of it is sort of like the intersectionality
of it all have we considered possibly moving some of these
businesses or relocating them and if so is that something
we can do?
burn through the
For through tpd.
IPad.
Patrick Murphy from the Department of planning sold the
first part of your question, when the air quality ordinance
was passed, it included a reverse of what we were analyzing
from an industrial development standpoint. So normally or
initially the Quakes the air quality ordinance with a
requirement that is placed on Industrial Development.
Certain intensive industrial developments. The ordinance
also includes a requirement when what we classified as
sensitive uses residential schools hospitals outdoor, areas
patios things of that nature, that are affiliated with
eating and drinking facilities. When those look tube to
establish themselves within a certain distance to intensive
industrial uses that are otherwise regulated through the
air quality ordinance. We put additional requirements to
make sure that those establishments are a aware of what's
in relative proximity to their site and B are doing things
to mitigate against impacts from industrial Velma that
already exists. So,
make a conscious a
Make a conscious effort to me.
Make a conscious effort to make sure that new sensitive uses
are being well protected. If they choose to still proceed
in those areas when they're in close proximity to
intensive, uses secondary that when we have existing
businesses existing facilities that are within distances to
intensive uses that we want to try to protect against. If
there is an ability for the city to participate in
relocating a business. Either through financial incentives
that we have land sales. We certainly we certainly can
explore that with entities. There's not always a city
resource for moving every development it exists, but it's
definitely conversations that we do have it. So that is
something, if if I did want to consider something I can
approach tpd that. Have that conversation are so awesome.
Thank you so much. The second part was about like school
zones and Parks. So particularly in the 12th Ward, there
are no current protections that I've seen through the dad
in particular.
That.
That helps.
That helps walkability bikeability. And I think that's part
of some of the things that we want to also happen. But it's
hard to put those things in place when there's trucks all
around us. And so, I'm just wondering if there is some sort
of priority within the sacrifice zones in terms of building
protection. As we build out some of these new ideas,
Mary Nicol with the Chicago Department of Transportation.
Yeah, we still currently the department. Historically has
been using something that we call the mobility and economic
hardship index, which takes a variety of different,
socioeconomic factors and transportation sectors to
prioritize. Some of the, the streetscape Investments that
we are making the, the EJ index being new data, we need to
figure out how we're incorporating those pieces into our
processes. And then just at the, you know, bike planning
kind of pedestrian level. I were always happy to engage
with your office. Have further conversations particular,
there's problematic areas. I'm some of those bike planning
in particular, has been a community-led process. I know our
bike Team. This summer has been involved in conversations
in areas.
Do.
Duo.
To overlap with the EJ index, but again, we're happy to
start. Those Community conversations to identify. What are
the routes within your neighborhood that particularly nice
upgrades and safety upgrades. Thank you so much and my
last, I'm sorry. I really want to talk about like how we're
building up internships or some sort of programming.
I feel like this.
I feel like this is like an emergency action that we should
have like, just, you know, just like whole bed. Like, we
had people on the ground, we connected with Community
groups and we gave opportunity to young people to knock
doors to give opportunities to give information about
vaccines. So, I really want us to think about how we can
Implement that and then continue the work with the people
that have already started the CIA. And so if I can hear
maybe from some of the folks through the community Awards
about maybe what that may look like, why that's important
in the expansion of those opportunities.
What's?
I was going to Sanchez cuz I could have done for the
southeast side Diamond to task course. And I really
appreciate this question because it's really important
about our building these things out. Because to be
completely honest with you, a lot of our team members,
don't know that the Living Sacrifice zones because it's
become so normal for people to stay there going to live
somewhere because it's cheaper to live there. And not know
that, they're sacrificing their house and if you ask
anybody in the southeast side, who has asthma, who has
health concerns, who has high cancer rates?
Will stay where it is, what it is. So I think it's
something you're bringing up is the component of Workforce
Development, 10 things, that would be really great is that,
you know, that key part of canvassing and surveying that
can go with you and it's really important that awareness.
Some people we're going through and experience to lead.
Water many folks. Don't know what led does to your body
with folks that even when it comes to Shrout site where
many orders visited, you people don't know that it's there
and people are living in it. So I think the really crucial
parts of this is not only the Workforce Development part to
this, but also be creating the awareness and being
subjected to this will do only complaint that the ad is
that it's really important about how you move forward in
new developments. Because again, people do not know and
it's not because they don't know better. It's because that
if the city of Chicago
Drake.
For example, when there is Maggie Nissan in baseball fields
community members were known right away? When hilco
happened, can you remember this or not know what? Right
away. So there is distrust and because there is trust, you
see this trust happening in the process, they were talking
about today. So, we're coming in good faith as community
members, but we also want to be staying, there needs to be
a citation taken upon to ensure that we again are
protecting.
Ark.
Arkham. You
Our communities house because it is so precious to us, we
had to remember is to who stand with us. And I don't want
to say, I want to share that because we have folks, like a
fellow, who is a cancer survivor being executive director
sharing this
I will.
I want don't want to take away from what we speaking about
right now, but I want to really tell folks
We are.
We are stressed every day because of where we live, but we
choose to live here because it is our home and we want to
make it work. We are here looking for jobs, that don't
think aware how we're looking to create this new form of
economy. We're doing our own research because in times
before, we need to ask the city for support especially
about how to reach the neglected us. So even now our task
force and the Chicago number to Justice Network is doing
research of what companies can you brought in that? Don't
take her out like solar for all programs. Looking creamy
renewable energy, looking at ways that we can electric by
exemplify that sorry. So I just want to have those points
because it's a holistic approach. You must take because our
environment is only one of the influences, and that's what
you mean of impacts. Really said, sport is
The house and saw.
The house and socioeconomic factors that taken place. So,
thank you so much for that question. Thank you for your
comment. Is that all you have? Okay, we have come to the
end of his hearing though other than my first of all I just
want. And you know I just use this issue and forgive me for
being late couple of meetings and I'm not in the either the
committee's but I definitely wanted to be here because one
of the darkest shaded areas here in this EJ index map is
where I live. I live with my family and my 11 year old and
five year old. And the fact is there's an issue of coke
governance that was talked about earlier and I want to
commend both chairs and the mayor's administration because
this is Wilco governance. Looks like it looks like green
community members to the table, it looks like transparency.
It looks like being able to apologize. When we get things
wrong and work,
Make things.
Make things, right? And I think that that's what this
process has been about. And I'm super glad that this is
happened, under your leadership and under the mayor's
leadership. I want to say to my colleagues. The fact is
that we have been successful in working with City
departments and I urge, folks, to leverage our city
departments, particularly zoning, and law, for instance and
a 22nd Ward. We've gotten rid of hundreds of illegally
parked trucks and truck that have been quite frankly.
They're older trucks, that shouldn't be there. And by
taking it
Of course.
The court system to our Law Department, we've been
successful. I'm very interested in looking at what kind of
recommendations are made out of this as far as a policy.
You know we didn't go far enough in the last Administration
for Taqueria near quality or immense and you know we work
side-by-side on that one and it was part of the reason I
was a no because we didn't go far enough, we need to
continue on that path. And the last thing I'd say as a
chair Workforce Development, I'm very interested in looking
at the green jobs infrastructure and grieve jobs. As we
move forward because that is our future and they're
well-paid jobs and their jobs that we need to be looking at
and partnering together. Figure out how we get there by
still respecting, our labor force, and our union labor. And
making sure that whatever comes in a green jobs, future is
also organized labor. That's going to be crucial As you
move forward. So thank you for your leadership on this both
of mirrors. In this situation, both of our chairs, and our
community members, and all those City departments that are
involved in this process.
What?
What good governance looks like.
Well, I thank you for your comments. Thank you to everybody
who did so much work to get us to this moment at today for
all the comment that we heard from the box. I do want to
say I wanted to remind us all that. We live in systems that
were not the signs of guarantees, everybody's well-being
and I we are going to have to continue to organize
together.
To make.
To make sure that our communities are healthy, that
environment is healthy. I was thinking throughout this
hearing about the fight of vehicle in in Puerto Rico, to be
able to get rid of the Navy. The US Navy bomb the island of
Vieques for 60 years, and the rates of cancer in vehicles,
were insane because of the radiation that were fourteen
years old old children with cancer. And that was a fight
that took everybody to come together to be able to get rid
of the US Navy. And every Victory, every environmental
victory that we see around the world happens because there
are people to who organized who put pressure and we do want
to assure you that right now, you have a city government
that is standing with you in this fight and that we want to
get this, right? So we are going to come
You have.
You haven't?
You having this conversation?
We will send out the committee members, any answers that we
received two questions that were not answered during
today's meeting with there being no further business before
the committee. May I have a motion to adjourn.
Other other women might not have been worth with emotion,
so I moved, I hear noise options to order the joint meeting
of the committee of Environmental Protection and energy and
health and human relations Is Now adjourned.