Environment & Health News
McKinley Park neighborhood groups and leaders have recently thrown their support behind a proposed, non-binding Chicago City Council resolution to encourage national adoption of Carbon Fee & Dividend legislation. This measure addresses climate change by charging fees for carbon dioxide emissions of fossil fuels at the point where they enter the U.S. economy, returning funds to citizens in the form of a monthly payment.
"Carbon Fee & Dividend will significantly reduce carbon emissions, create jobs, grow the economy, save lives and protect households from higher energy prices," the McKinley Park Development Council said in a letter to 12th Ward Alderman George Cardenas, who it encouraged to back the proposed resolution. Thanks to this and other advocacy — notably engagement from Horizon Science Academy students — Cardenas is supporting the measure and working to schedule a March committee meeting to take action on it, said Liliana Escarpita of the 12th Ward office.
Read more: Development Council, Alderman Back Carbon Fee and Dividend Resolution
The Green New Deal March and Rally, held in the McKinley Park neighborhood on February 23, 2019, drew dozens of attendees and local political candidates to a march through the neighborhood and a rally in McKinley Park. The focus by speakers remained targeted on local environmental issues, and often included criticism of local industry, including HILCO developments in the Little Village Neighborhood and the new MAT Asphalt plant, sited across the street from the rally location.
"We stand united in our hopes for the 12th Ward community," said candidate Pete DeMay. He, along with fellow 12th Ward aldermanic candidates Martha Rangel and José Rico, participated in the march and spoke at the rally, which attracted more than 60 attendees.
Read more: Green New Deal Draws 12th Ward Candidates, Residents to March and Rally
Aldermanic candidates Pete DeMay and José Rico shared their visions for the 12th Ward with a capacity crowd at the candidate forum on Thursday, February 7, 2019, at St. Maurice Church hall. Co-sponsored by the McKinley Park neighborhood-based Neighbors for Environmental Justice, the forum attracted nearly 200 attendees.
For 90 minutes, DeMay and Rico spoke and answered questions from the audience, addressing a number of local issues such as affordable housing, environmental issues, soil testing at public parks and improving local schools. "It was wonderful to see candidates for elected office taking issues of environmental justice and the health impacts of pollution on our 12th ward community seriously," said Neighbors for Environmental Justice President Robert Beedle.
Falling snow couldn't keep dozens of local residents and members of Neighbors for Environmental Justice away from the group's first Winter Community Social, held on Saturday, January 12, at the McKinley Park branch of the Chicago Public Library. The local environmental advocacy and activism group welcomed all ages to its event featuring networking among attendees and exhibits on neighborhood air quality, Chicago's water quality and how environmental concerns cut across issues facing neighborhood residents.
A number of speakers shared their thoughts and expertise, including 12th Ward City Council candidate Pete DeMay and campaign staff members from 12th Ward City Council candidate José Rico: Both introduced their campaigns ahead of their planned participation in the 12th Ward Candidate Forum on Thursday, February 7.
Read more: Neighbors for Environmental Justice Hosts First Community Social
Local educator Jessica Fong received more recognition for her groundbreaking research on the benefit of outdoor play for children in a new writeup that also profiles the McKinley Community Play Garden, the beloved community space at 3518-28 S. Wolcott Ave., Chicago.
The article by Julia Mondschean on Free Spirit Media looks at both the facility and use of the play garden, as well as Fong's research into the disparity of access to natural play spaces across Chicago's social strata and geographic areas. The McKinley Park News has previously noted Fong's role in local nature play education in an article from this past fall.
Click here to read the Free Spirit Media article
