Policies hurt environment

When did Gov. Pritzker and the Illinois Democrats abandon the environment? Air quality is compromised, there is a stifling heat wave, water shortages plague the Southwest, signs of climate change abound, and yet there are news stories about Illinois projects that threaten the environment. Adding two lanes to I-55 will increase traffic congestion and air pollution.

How can the state even allow the high-risk project in central Illinois to store tons of carbon dioxide underground? There are significant safety issues with pipelines transporting carbon dioxide from all over the country to be stored in Illinois.

And the Lake County Forest Preserve District plans to give 52 acres of the Waukegan Savanna to create a $182 million, 1,000-foot longer runway for a handful of corporate jets. This noise-creating project is in a majority minority neighborhood.

The state says it plans to build an $80 million overpass for corporate jets to cross Green Bay Road for this project. Those are the same jets that produce 14-times more pollution per passenger than passenger jets.

To help the environment the governor and Democratic majorities in the legislature did not even approve converting the abandoned Rt. 53 right of way in Lake County to a state park, which would improve air quality.

As a retired Democratic state senator and mayor of Waukegan, I urge the governor and Democratic Party to refocus on a core principle of the Democratic Party, stand up for the environment and not bow to big corporate and big labor interests. These anti-environment projects should be stopped, and the Rt. 53 right of way should be converted to a state park right now.

Bill Morris

Waukegan