Builders Initiative Statement on Today’s Landmark Civil Rights Settlement to Overhaul City’s Zoning Laws to Protect Communities Hardest Hit by Industrial Pollution
Builders Initiative supports the landmark civil rights settlement announced today by Southeast Side environmental justice groups, the City of Chicago, and HUD.
Since 2020, Builders Initiative has been making deep and sustained investments in helping to grow Chicago’s environmental justice organizations and their efforts to protect the health and well-being of those who live in Chicago’s most polluted neighborhoods.
Builders Initiative proudly supports People for Community Recovery, Southeast Environmental Task Force, the Greater Chicago Legal Clinic, and their partners in their work to overhaul Chicago’s approach to development, zoning, and land use.
The following is a statement from Builders Initiative President Bruce McNamer in support of the landmark civil rights settlement agreement announced today by Southeast Side environmental justice groups, the City of Chicago, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
“This historic settlement shows the power of what can be achieved when we stand behind the leaders who live closest to the problems we are trying to solve,” said Bruce McNamer, President of Builders Initiative. “We want to applaud Chicago’s visionary environmental justice leaders on this landmark case that will benefit Chicagoans and cities across the country. Builders Initiative remains steadfastly committed to supporting our environmental justice communities as the important work to implement these sweeping changes begins now.”
The news of this settlement comes on the heels of the Johnson administration’s announcement that the Lightfoot administration signed an Environmental Justice Executive Order that will sustain the city's data collection on cumulative burdens in Environmental Justice communities, establish a community advisory body and interagency working group, create a new position within the Office of Climate & Environmental Equity, and advance reforms across several city agencies and departments.
Press Contact:
Kathleen Strand, Builders Vision
kstrand@buildersvision.com