>>> TWO DECADES AGO MAYOR RICHARD M DALEY TURNED HIS HOMETOWN INTO THE GREENEST CITY IN AMERICA.

THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT HAS BEEN DISMANTLED AND ALLEGATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM CONCENTRATING INDUSTRIAL POLLUTERS IN BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS PERSISTS.

WE LOOK AT THE TOP ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES FACING THE NEXT MAYOR.

JOINING US IS CHERYL JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RECOVERY.

AND ADVOCACY GROUP BASED ON THE FAR SOUTH SIDE.

AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTHEAST ENVIRONMENTAL TASK FORCE, SERVING THE SOUTHEAST SIDE AND SOUTH SUBURBS OF CHICAGO.

AND KIM WASSERMAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION.

THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING THE TREK UP HERE ON THIS MONDAY EVENING.

VERY QUICKLY, THE TOP ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT THE MAYOR FACES IN YOUR MIND?

>> I HAVE THE TOP THREE THAT I HAVE TO MENTION.

IT HAS TO LOOK AT, HELPING US TAKE ABANDONED BUILDINGS, SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TURNING THEM INTO A NEW ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CENTER.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT THE REDLINE EXTENSION 230th STREET IS A BIG INVESTMENT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS VERY EQUITABLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR THIRD THING IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A GROCERY STORE.

WE DON'T HAVE A COMMERCIAL STRIP.

AND WE WANT TO SEE THOSE THINGS BE REVITALIZED.

>> SO YOU WANT THE MAYOR TO PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE ISSUES, HOW ABOUT FOR YOU IN THE 10th WARD?

>> YOU MENTIONED ALLEGATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM, IT'S NOT ALLEGATIONS, IT'S ACTUALLY THE HUD.

HUD HAS ISSUED A FINDING THAT THE CITY WAS ACTUALLY INVOLVED IN MOVING POLLUTING COMPANIES FROM PREDOMINANTLY WHITE WEALTHY COMMUNITIES IN LINCOLN PARK, >> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT GENERAL IRON.

>> YET, TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THOSE ALLEGATIONS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED.

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SAYING IS WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SAID IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND THAT HAS TO STOP.

>> THAT MOVE BY THE WAY IS ON PAUSE INDEFINITELY AS THEY KIND OF, WADE THROUGH THE LEGAL ISSUES.

>> THE SHREDDER HAS NOT BEEN DISMANTLED.

>> WE WANT THAT TO BE DISMANTLED.

THAT'S SOMETHING THE NEXT MAYOR NEEDS TO ABSOLUTELY DO.

THEY COULD JUST FLIP THAT SWITCH AND IT COULD BE WORKING AGAIN.

SO THAT BRINGS US BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

WE NEED CUMULATIVE IMPACT ORDINANCES.

WE NEED REGULATIONS THAT WILL PREVENT ANOTHER GENERAL IRON, ANOTHER CATASTROPHE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> EXPLAINED THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT IN JUST A SECOND BUT I WANT TO BRING IN KIM.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON LITTLE VILLAGE IN THE BIG DUST PLUME , WHAT DO YOU WANT THE NEXT MAYOR TO DO?

>> WE DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT ORDINANCE PASSED.

WE WANT THE NEXT MAYOR TO RELEASE THE REPORTS SO THAT WE CAN SEE IT AT THE COUNCIL LEVELS.

>> WE WANT THAT RELEASED SO THERE CAN BE HEARINGS IN THE CITY COUNCIL UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AND ENSURE, THE SAME THING DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

THESE ARE STAFFERS WHO MADE THIS DECISION HAPPEN.

LASTLY WE NEED TO BAN IMPLOSIONS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

WE CANNOT TRUST THIS ADMINISTRATION TO HANDLE ANOTHER IMPLOSION.

>> TWO OF YOU HAVE MENTIONED THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT STUDY.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO VIEWERS WHAT THAT IS?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT, HOW MANY FACILITIES ARE LOCATED IN A GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.

>> AND LOOK AT ITS IMPACT BASED ON AIR QUALITY ISSUES, THE PM 2.5 AND OTHER MATTERS, THE PARTICULARLY HAPPEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND ALSO LOOK AT THE HEALTH DISPARITIES ALREADY IMPACTED IN THAT COMMUNITY, AND WOULD THIS BE AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN IN THE COMMUNITY BASED ON ALL OF THESE OTHER ACTIVITIES LOCATED IN THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.

>> ONCE THIS STUDY IS DONE AND IT'S STILL ONGOING RIGHT NOW, YOU WANT THERE TO BE AN ORDINANCE TO COME OUT OF IT, WHAT SHOULD IT SAY?

>> JUST TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF CHERYL, APART FROM JUST HOW MANY POLLUTING COMPANIES OR COMPANIES ADMITTING THINGS INTO THE AIR IN ONE AREA, ALSO THE DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THESE ASSESSMENTS.

IN THESE DECISIONS REGARDING ZONING AND LAND USE.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, A POLLUTING COMPANY IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD IS GOING TO IMPACT VERY DEFINITELY IF IT'S SITUATED IN A WEALTHY NEIGHBORHOOD.

IN A POOR NEIGHBORHOOD YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, SO THE DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS NEED TO BE A FACTOR IN HOW WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS.

>> SO WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS, IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET AN INDUSTRIAL PERMIT TO BUILD IN A SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD, THESE THINGS HAVE TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION?

>> ABSOLUTELY AND IT LOOKS AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR ZONING DEPARTMENTS AND HOW CAN THE COMMUNITIES BE IDENTIFIED.

AND THAT MORE PROTECTION CAN BE GIVEN TO THEM , AND THE CITY AND ADMINISTRATION CAN BE THINKING ABOUT NOT JUST STOPPING THEM FROM BRINGING POLLUTION.

>> CHERYL JOHNSON JUST BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT IN THE CITY UNDER THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THAT'S BEEN GOTTEN RID OF.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT KIND OF ALLUDED TO WANTING TO BRING IT BACK.

OBVIOUSLY THERE WILL BE A NEW MAYOR COME MAY SO WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT?

>> IS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE DON'T JUST NEED AN ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT, WE NEED AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT THAT WILL STAND UP WITH ALL THE OTHER AGENCIES AND SEE WHERE THEY ARE CREATING HARM AND TRY TO REDUCE THOSE HARMS AND BURDENS THAT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

CHICAGO HAS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED, IT'S DISRESPECT FOR THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES THAT ALLOW THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN.

SO WHY NOT HAVE AN INSTITUTION ESTABLISHED , AND FUNDED , WITHIN THE CITY OF CHICAGO, TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.

BECAUSE IT AFFECTS OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, IT AFFECTS OUR SCHOOLS , IT AFFECTS OUR HEALTH AND BUSINESSES.

AND THE PERMITTING PROCESS.

THE CITY OF CHICAGO NEVER DENIED A PERMIT UNTIL NOW.

>> YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT GENERAL IRON, THERE IS AN INDUSTRIAL COMPANY, MATT ASPHALT, THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MEETING AIR-QUALITY STANDARDS BUT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE NEXT MAYOR DO WITH MATT ASPHALT.

>> I THINK ONE IS ENSURE THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

AND HOW DO WE DEAL WITH BAD ACTORS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS IS ABOUT BAD ACTORS WHO HAVE OSHA VIOLATIONS.

YOU SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET A PERMIT OR A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY WHEN YOU ARE FIGHTING TICKETS FROM THE CITY OR IN COURT LITIGATION.

THIS IS VERY BASIC.

JUST LIKE WE ARE RESPONSIBLE IF WE GET A TICKET.

THESE INSTITUTIONS AND COMPANIES SHOULD BE HELD THE SAME STANDARDS.

>> ON THAT NOTE THERE WAS A RECENT STUDY THAT SHOWED FEWER THAN HALF OF ALL AIR POLLUTION CITATIONS FROM CITY HEALTH INSPECTORS AND UP STICKING.

SO COMPANIES OFTEN GET THEM DROPPED.

WHY IS THAT HAPPENING?

>> THERE ARE SO MANY LOOPHOLES AND WAYS FOR THEM TO GET VARIANCES FROM THE RULES.

ALSO WITH THE CITY IS NOT ADJUDICATING THESE VIOLATIONS, AND THEY SETTLE, THEN THEY GET ERASED FROM THE RECORD .

SO THEN THEY COULD GO BACK AND APPLY FOR ANOTHER PERMIT.

THAT IS JUST UNCONSCIONABLE.

THEY HAVE ALL THESE VIOLATIONS THAT THEY PAY IN SETTLEMENTS THAT ARE ERASED.

FOR THEM, PAYING THESE FINES IS JUST THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS.

THESE FINES ARE NOT PUNITIVE ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY CHANGE WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

SO WE HAVE TO PROTECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE PEOPLE.

BECAUSE RIGHT AFTER , THERE WAS AN IG REPORT TALKING ABOUT ENFORCEMENT AFTER THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT WAS DISMANTLED.

THOSE ENFORCEMENTS WENT WAY DOWN.

WE HAVE ALL THE PROOF THERE, THE NEXT MAYOR NEEDS TO COME THROUGH AND ACTUALLY FOLLOW THROUGH.

WE HAVE THE DATA, WE NEED TO STOP GAS LIGHTING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACTIVISTS.

WE HAVE THE INFORMATION AND THE HEALTH STUDIES, THESE REGULATIONS, IT'S NOT JUST ONE CATCHALL THING, IT'S GOING TO BE A SWEEP OF REGULATIONS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN AND THERE HAS TO BE INTERAGENCY COORDINATION .

>> HERE'S ONE OTHER GIGANTIC ISSUE THAT THE NEXT MAYOR FACES, THE REPLACEMENT OF LEAD SERVICE LINES FOR WATER.

LESS THAN 1% HAVE BEEN REPLACED SO FAR, CHERYL JOHNSON, HOW SHOULD THE NEXT MAYOR GO ABOUT TACKLING THIS?

>> THEY CAN'T CREATE TWO CITIES.

I LIVED IN PUBLIC HOUSING FOR AN EXAMPLE AND THERE'S NO DATA.

THEY HAVE NO DATA ABOUT LEAD SERVICE LINES , AND HAVE THEY BEEN EXPECTED OR ANYTHING.

I'VE BEEN AN ACTIVIST FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS AROUND LEAD POISONING ISSUES.

IT'S JUST TERRIBLE THAT WE HAD TO GET TO THIS POINT WHEN WE KNEW 30 YEARS AGO THAT LED WAS TERRIBLE AND IT WAS IN OUR SCHOOLS AND HOMES.

IT TAKES A CRISIS DOWN HERE, I THINK IT WAS ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY, THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED HAVING THE DISCUSSION.

WE SHOULD BE MORE PROACTIVE BECAUSE WE NOW, SINCE 1978, LEAD IS BAD.

WE DEFINITELY KNOW THAT MOST OF THE HOUSING AND HOMES, AND SERVICE LINES EXIST.

WE HAVE A LOT OF OLD HOUSES.

>> SO THE WORK HAS STARTED ON THAT WITH THE HELP OF FEDERAL MONEY BUT THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO.

>> AND OUR KIDS ARE GETTING POISONED.

>> IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RECENTLY DID A TEST, 75% HIGHER THAN WHAT'S LEGALLY ACCEPTABLE IN A SCHOOL RIGHT NOW.