MEDIA ADVISORY AND DAYBOOK ITEM FOR WEDNESDAY, May 4, 2022
Contact:
Carlos Enriquez,CEJN, carlos@setaskforce.org 815-342-5717
Ivan Moreno, NRDC, imoreno@nrdc.org, 773-799-6455
Advocates Urge Lightfoot to Rethink $188 Environmental Investments That Do Little to Address Sacrifice Zones
Advocates Say City’s Environmental Plans Will Fall Apart without Community Voices and a Cumulative Impacts Ordinance
WEDNESDAY, Environmental justice organizations from across Chicago will hold a press conference in light of Lightfoot’s $188 million environmental plan to urge her administration to listen to impacted communities and address policies that create sacrifice zones.
The Chicago Environmental Justice Network will call for a community-led process that leads to the passage of a cumulative impacts ordinance to stop the consistent expansion of the polluting industry, including warehouses and some of the most dangerous and hazardous facilities in communities of color.
Chicago’s Black and brown are overburdened with pollution that severely contaminates air, soil and water. Residents say that, too often, city government ignores the voice of communities most impacted and invest millions in false solutions that fail to address the root of environmental racism that creates sacrifice zones. The groups will call out the city for not consulting voices from the most impacted communities and call for a comprehensive cumulative impacts ordinance.
When: Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time
Where: Email carlos@setaskforce.org for zoom info/recording
Who:
• Gina Ramirez, Board President of Southeast Environmental Task Force
• Kim Wasserman, Executive Director of Little Village Environmental Justice Organization
• Alfredo Romo, Executive Director of Neighbors for Environmental Justice
Background:
The City of Chicago recently announced an $188 million investment from the Chicago Recovery Plan to address the city’s climate and other environmental issues. The plan includes a commitment to create a new citywide air monitoring program and cumulative impacts study that will be completed by 2023.
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