Community Corner
General Irons clout and Lincoln Park air quality
Please take a moment to express any experiences you may have had with the General Irons facility operations
Last week Alderman Hopkins ordered a revocation of a waiver allowing General Irons to operate outside of regular recycling facility hours. If you have not heard what happened here is a Chicago Tribune article outlining the events from last week which became an attack against Ald. Hopkins from 'a group of aldermen vigorously defended a clout-heavy scrap yard". The operations have recently been cited by the EPA for failing to contain toxic air-borne contaminants [EPA cites North Branch Scrap shredder for dirty air: Chicago Tribune]. We must support Alderman Hopkins in his battle against the powers that be to protect our community and establish proper and 'normal' operating hours. If you've had any experience with odors or smells with the scrap facility or what you believe may be coming from their facility please take action.
Alderman Hopkins recently wrote this call for action in his Sept 18 Newsletter:
I’m not going to be distracted by the personal attacks, and will continue fighting for the health of my community. The fact is my office receives consistent evidence from the neighbors, local workers and even yes, the EPA, that General Iron’s operations are health and safety threats to the public. Unfortunately, to this point, the Department of Public Health has lacked the urgency displayed by our community in addressing this problem. The CDPH Commissioner has asked that impacted residents fill out this form if they’ve witnessed or experienced operational or environmental hazards at the site. I realize how inconvenient this form is. No other source of nuisance complaints besides General Iron enjoys the protection of what seems to be an intentional bureaucratic impediment to documenting resident complaints. So I ask you to not be deterred if you believe that General Iron is a hazard to our community. Please send the form to:Dr. Julie Morita Commissioner Department of Public Health 333 S State St, Room 200 Chicago, IL 60604 Or via email it to Julie.Morita@cityofchicago.org
