Chicago City Wire

Chicago has introduced a new ordinance aimed at protecting communities from disproportionate pollution. Mayor Brandon Johnson, with several city alders, presented the Hazel Johnson Cumulative Impacts Ordinance, which seeks to enhance zoning reviews for heavy land uses prone to pollution, particularly in communities already burdened by such stressors.

"Chicago is the birthplace of the environmental justice movement, so it is only right that we take the lead nationally on protecting our most vulnerable communities from the harm of pollution," stated Mayor Johnson. He emphasized the need for thoughtful economic development without compromising the health of working-class and minority communities.

The ordinance honors the legacy of Hazel Johnson, an environmental justice pioneer. It includes measures such as the establishment of an Environmental Justice Project Manager and an Environmental Justice Advisory Board. These initiatives aim to secure clean air for all residents, irrespective of their location, as noted by Angela Tovar, Chicago’s Chief Sustainability Officer.

Cheryl Johnson, Executive Director of People for Community Recovery, hailed the ordinance as historic. "It is long overdue for the community to have a seat at the table as equitable partners with stakeholders like industry," she remarked, highlighting her mother's long-standing fight for such policies.

The ordinance seeks to provide resilience to communities facing environmental stressors by requiring rigorous zoning reviews and cumulative impact studies. It is grounded in Chicago’s 2023 Cumulative Impact Assessment, which shed light on neighborhoods most affected by cumulative pollution.

Dan Lurie of the Metropolitan Planning Council acknowledged the ordinance's potential to balance economic growth with necessary environmental protections. Juliana Pino from the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization stressed the importance of safeguarding community health alongside economic development, advocating for measures that prevent pollution overloads.

For further details, the city encourages visiting their Cumulative Impact Assessment page.