Chicago’s Public Health Department recently denied a permit for a metal shredding operation and recycling operation on its Southeast Side. Dr. Allison Arwady, Chicago Public Health Commissioner, said it was the right decision.
Arwady stated that we found increased risks to the environment, human health, and quality of life in an already overburdened community. Also, there was a history of problems with compliance with existing regulations.
Environmental justice advocates believe now is the right time for city leaders and industrial leaders to come together to address the needs of the community and the corporations.
Gina Ramirez is an activist and Midwest outreach manager at the Natural Resources Defense CouncilAccording to the decision, one lesson to be learnt is that concentrated industry is incompatible with densely populated areas.
Ramirez stated that the city should pay attention to the south and west sides Chicagos, which are the most affected by the pollution. The city should take its time, conduct a health impact analysis, as they did for the Southeast Side and consider the input of the community when making such large decisions that will impact the quality and health of these residents.
Dr. Teresa Cordova, director Great Cities InstituteUniversity of Illinois believes the case is the result of historic land-use policy in Chicago.
We [need to]Cordova stated that it is important to think about how we will approach manufacturing and what our policy will be regarding land use in relation to manufacturing. Because of this, part of what happened was that there were conditions for denial. More industry was concentrated in an already-burdened area, and less industrial activity is allowed in other areas of the city.
Erica Swinney Staley is the executive director of RED. She said that it would be a mistake not to recognize the importance of jobs with low entry barriers. Manufacturing Renaissance. She believes this gives Chicago the chance to be forward-thinking about how industry can fit in.
I believe that in a large metropolitan area like Chicago we need to make things. We need good jobs and wealth building opportunities. Let’s be proactive as a city, a city, an industrial developer, and as environmentalists. Staley said, “Let us actually plan this out.” The city of Chicago could now take a leadership role and say, “Hey, let’s figure out how to do industrial development that takes into account the values of our communities and the need for education so that people who live in these communities can work in these advanced green tech industries that we might want incentivize to move to any Chicago community.” This is an opportunity to do it right.
Ramirez considers the Method plant at Pullman an example of the right approach.
Ramirez stated that it is a high-quality job with minimal outputs that can impact human health and quality of life. We are proud to be a working-class community. While we want jobs, we don’t want them to compromise our health. It is important to have a seat at table when industry plans for the future. We need community benefits and we need to achieve the 21st century vision of the Southeast Side.
Cordova stated that the most common reason for locating industrial operations in residential areas is the belief that workers will be able to live close to their jobs. However, her research has not supported this claim.
Cordova stated that when we talk about the jobs and presumed benefits of these types of industries, it isn’t showing itself for those who live there. Data also shows that the majority of those who work in the area commute quite a distance to get there. Ultimately, people have to deal with the negative effects on their health without having to worry about the employment consequences.
We cannot rely on the industrialists and entrepreneurs to come up with great ideas. Staley stated that any development must be done in the context of the Green New Deal. Climate change is real and we must adjust our development priorities accordingly… Make investments in education and training to incentivize people learning the skills and becoming leaders in STEM fields. We have the option to choose to go this direction, but we must plan.
