Join the Conversation: Cook County’s Inaugural Town Hall on Groundbreaking Environmental Justice Policy

Cook County is working on its first environmental justice policy. To get input from locals, officials held a town hall meeting at Niles North High School on Tuesday.

This new policy aims to address how pollution affects lower-income communities. County Commissioner Josina Morita, who has dedicated two years to this initiative, emphasized that the policy will focus on the inequalities in environmental decision-making.

“Issues like transportation access, affordable housing, and ensuring our schools are free of lead are crucial,” Morita noted.

In 2024, the county’s Department of Environment and Sustainability launched a survey to identify key areas of concern. Many respondents highlighted “safe and healthy housing” as a top priority.

Christopher Buccola, a teacher at Niles North and a volunteer with the Village of Skokie’s Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission, shared his thoughts on the importance of housing in this policy. He pointed out the risks of placing homes in flood-prone areas. “We should avoid building houses that could easily get damaged in storms,” he said.

The current draft of the policy focuses on eight essential themes: air quality, water resources, climate resilience, access to nutritious food, transportation, green spaces, community engagement, and economic development.

Morita also underscored the need to support historically disadvantaged communities in this effort. “For too long, decisions were made without considering these communities. They had to live next to industrial pollution or cope with inadequate services,” she explained.

During the meeting, residents voiced their opinions and suggested improvements to the proposed policy. Evanston Township High School student Chayse Johnson highlighted the need for equal resources in schools, saying, “If students don’t engage with their future, they won’t care about their community.”

Cook County will organize more town halls, both in-person and online, on January 27, January 29, and February 3. Kevin Schnoes, Acting Director of the Department of Environment and Sustainability, noted that these events are a way for community members to influence local initiatives.

“Cook County is home to five million people. Every voice counts, even if it feels small,” Schnoes added, encouraging everyone to participate.