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General Iron: UIC supports to #DenyThePermit
Sydney B.
started this petition to
Mayor Lori Lightfoot, City of Chicago
After closing its North Side location, scrap metal shredder General Iron is one permit away from bringing their harmful practices to the Southeast community of Chicago. General Iron has a history of OSHA violations, fires, explosions, and expelling tons of air pollution, which shows no sign of changing once the new location opens. If given permission to operate, City Hall will be allowing an act of environmental racism against the industrially mistreated and discriminated community members. This petition is a direct call-out to Mayor Lori Lightfoot, for she has the power to Deny the Permit.
General Iron Industries and Reserve Management Group (RMG) do not belong in the Southeast side of Chicago. In 2018, the EPA cited General Iron for failing to contain lung-damaging particulate matter. In 2020, city health inspectors cited General Iron 11 times over the span of 5 months. No further steps to resolve the polluting problem have been taken as of yet, however, the company still plans to move to the Southeast side of the city with the same problematic equipment that they were cited for in 2018 and 2020. Moving from a predominantly white community to a predominantly working class black and brown community is equally problematic. These communities have historically been the victims of industrial pollution, and pollution hot spots in Chicago have been found to be concentrated in Black and Latino neighborhoods. With the current concern for COVID-19, these communities face greater health risks due to nearby pollution and toxins.
The University of Illinois Chicago has students, faculty, alumni, and other members who care deeply about its communities. Being among one of the top five most diverse campuses in the nation, UIC hosts a learning environment for students from different cultures and backgrounds, especially for the students who live in the same communities that General Iron is targeting. UIC is also dedicated to health and research, pledging sustainability and providing services to nearby communities. We cannot let General Iron Industries and RMG directly endanger the health and lives of our fellow classmates, teachers, friends, families, and community members.
To Mayor Lightfoot, we demand that you directly deny the final permit needed for General Iron to open and begin operating a shredding facility in the Southeast side of Chicago. By preventing the move, you would be acting on your campaign promises of reducing industrial pollution. If you allow the plant to operate, you will be ignoring and endangering the community that you promised to help.
For additional resources and a petition directly linked with @Chihungerstrike please go to the links provided below. #StopGeneralIron #DenyThePermit
https://linktr.ee/CHIhungerstrike
https://ilenviro.org/general-irons-pollution-doesnt-belong-here/
Photo Credit: https://worktogether4peace.org/stop-general-iron-rmg-deny-permit-press-conference-thursday-feb-4-2021-hungry-strike/
General Iron Industries and Reserve Management Group (RMG) do not belong in the Southeast side of Chicago. In 2018, the EPA cited General Iron for failing to contain lung-damaging particulate matter. In 2020, city health inspectors cited General Iron 11 times over the span of 5 months. No further steps to resolve the polluting problem have been taken as of yet, however, the company still plans to move to the Southeast side of the city with the same problematic equipment that they were cited for in 2018 and 2020. Moving from a predominantly white community to a predominantly working class black and brown community is equally problematic. These communities have historically been the victims of industrial pollution, and pollution hot spots in Chicago have been found to be concentrated in Black and Latino neighborhoods. With the current concern for COVID-19, these communities face greater health risks due to nearby pollution and toxins.
The University of Illinois Chicago has students, faculty, alumni, and other members who care deeply about its communities. Being among one of the top five most diverse campuses in the nation, UIC hosts a learning environment for students from different cultures and backgrounds, especially for the students who live in the same communities that General Iron is targeting. UIC is also dedicated to health and research, pledging sustainability and providing services to nearby communities. We cannot let General Iron Industries and RMG directly endanger the health and lives of our fellow classmates, teachers, friends, families, and community members.
To Mayor Lightfoot, we demand that you directly deny the final permit needed for General Iron to open and begin operating a shredding facility in the Southeast side of Chicago. By preventing the move, you would be acting on your campaign promises of reducing industrial pollution. If you allow the plant to operate, you will be ignoring and endangering the community that you promised to help.
For additional resources and a petition directly linked with @Chihungerstrike please go to the links provided below. #StopGeneralIron #DenyThePermit
https://linktr.ee/CHIhungerstrike
https://ilenviro.org/general-irons-pollution-doesnt-belong-here/
Photo Credit: https://worktogether4peace.org/stop-general-iron-rmg-deny-permit-press-conference-thursday-feb-4-2021-hungry-strike/
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