Environmental Justice
Below, Chicago mayor-elect Brandon Johnson responds to our environmental questionnaire on the topic of environmental justice.
Q: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ruled last year that the City of Chicago is involved in Environmental Racist land use practices and is demanding that Chicago change its unlawful planning, zoning, and land-use policies so they don’t discriminate against communities of color, according to a letter HUD sent to the city. If elected, will your administration agree to work on a plan to overhaul Chicago’s land use processes and policies and finally put an end to the deep-seated practice of concentrating polluters in black and brown neighborhoods and ending Sacrifice Zones in Chicago?
A: Environmental racism is a form of discrimination that refers to the disproportionate exposure of marginalized communities, particularly communities of color, to environmental hazards such as pollution and toxic waste. This problem is not unique to Chicago and is a systemic issue that requires comprehensive and sustained efforts to address.
To address environmental racism and the concentration of polluters in black and brown neighborhoods, governments at all levels need to develop policies that prioritize environmental justice and equity. This has to involve a range of interventions, such as revising zoning regulations, implementing stricter environmental regulations, and providing resources for affected communities to participate in decision-making processes that affect health and wellbeing. It's encouraging that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is taking action on this issue by holding the City of Chicago accountable for its land use practices. However, it will take ongoing efforts and collaboration among all stakeholders, including elected officials, community organizations, and industry leaders, to put an end to environmental racism and the creation of sacrifice zones.
Q: Together with Alliance of the Southeast and with the legal expertise of Environmental Law and Policy Center, Friends of the Parks recently filed a long-planned lawsuit to stop the US Army Corps of Engineers' plan to keep dumping toxins on Chicago's lakefront adjacent to Calumet Park. The site was supposed to be closed and capped and turned into parkland decades ago. Will you support our call for the Corps to look for a real alternative site that is not in an Environmental Justice community and convert the brownfield into a park that respects the erosion-threatened lakefront location and provides sanctuary for flora, fauna, and human friends?
Did not answer.
Q: Chicago has one of the widest all-cause mortality rate gaps between Blacks and whites in the country. It is a city in which zip code, ethnicity and socioeconomic status are closely tied to mortality. Extreme weather events, due to climate change, are having a direct impact on the health and wellbeing of all Chicagoans, but black and brown communities, low SES communities and particular zip codes in Chicago experience climate effects more frequently and with worse outcomes than other parts of the city. The burning of fossil fuels in industry and transportation sectors are the largest contributors to greenhouse gasses in this country, and many of these communities are directly adjacent to areas most impacted by this fossil fuel burning.
What policies and initiatives will you implement to improve the health of, reduce the all-cause mortality rate and to reduce the impact of climate disasters on those communities that are most vulnerable in the Chicago metropolitan area? What policies will you and initiatives will you use to abate the contributors to climate change that already exist and to reduce and prevent the exacerbation or growth of new contributors to climate change?
A: To address health disparities related to climate change, policies would be developed that prioritize the health and wellbeing of vulnerable communities, particularly those most impacted by extreme weather events. This may involve investments in public health infrastructure, such as increased access to healthcare, mental health services, and social services. Additionally, initiatives could be developed that support community-based organizations working to address climate change and health disparities in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Q: Heat, poor air quality, increased flooding and significant health issues are challenges facing Chicagoans due to Climate Change. Our tree canopy and green infrastructure provide health and social benefits that mitigate these issues but are lowest in under resourced neighborhoods. Will you advocate for health-promoting green spaces including trees, parks, and urban farms?
Did not answer.
Q: Flooded streets and basements are way too common when it rains. The communities most impacted by flooding are predominantly low-income and immigrant neighborhoods and the climate crisis will only make this worse. As Mayor, will you commit to developing a clear plan that prioritizes implementation in areas hardest hit and includes increasing the use of green infrastructure to capturing flood water before it enters peoples’ homes, the rivers, and Lake Michigan?
A: Flooding is a significant problem in the Chicago metropolitan area, particularly in low-income and immigrant neighborhoods. The impact of climate change is likely to exacerbate this issue, making it even more urgent to develop comprehensive and sustained efforts to address it. Prioritize the implementation of green infrastructure, which involves using natural systems to manage stormwater and reduce the risk of flooding.