Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson will have to address decades of environmentally racist policies that have encouraged the dirtiest industries to leave gentrified neighborhoods and set up shop in vulnerable communities of color.

He’s inheriting a legacy that has created sacrifice zones mainly in communities of color resulting from the city’s broken zoning and land use laws.

These policies have even sparked a federal civil rights investigation from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and could put hundreds of millions of dollars of funding in jeopardy. The federal investigation found that the city has been violating residents’ civil rights by relocating polluting facilities from white communities into Black and Latinx areas.

The solution that the Johnson administration will have to implement must include strong protections from industry and all of the sources of pollution that have accumulated mostly in communities of color. 

It’s also important to recognize that although people of color are often hit the first and hardest by pollution, these problems are not just harming the people living close to industrial facilities. Air pollution is not static, it travels far beyond its source.

Even with decades of memorable warnings and data, young people still face the same – and new – health risks from tobacco-related products

According to a recent study, the total economic impact of manufacturing in Illinois is estimated to be $580 billion every year – the largest share of any industry to the state’s Gross Domestic Product.

Manufacturing has always been the backbone of Illinois. From food and electronics to pharmaceuticals and everyday essential goods, our state’s manufacturing industry has global reach, powering our economy and providing robust job opportunities for our state’s residents. In fact, according to a new economic impact report, manufacturers directly and indirectly employ nearly 30% of Illinoisans, providing real living wages that total $142 billion in annual wages and benefits.

For the last six years, the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools (IARSS) has released an annual Educator Shortage Survey that offers insights into the staffing challenges facing school districts across the state. This year’s report, released last month, showed that our school districts are still struggling to find qualified educators to fill open positions.

Of the responding districts, 79% report that they are currently experiencing a teacher shortage, with 30% of open teacher, support staff and special education positions remaining unfulfilled or underfilled by someone less than qualified for the position. This brings the total number of open positions to over 2,700. The 2023 report reflects what we hear from teachers and administrators every day: there is a need for strong, effective teachers, and students are paying the price. As a former principal, I can attest that great teachers change the lives of students; their impact cannot be overstated. 

Illinois can help grow its economy and we can all breathe cleaner air, if we put into effect simple standards for diesel and zero-emission trucks. This matters because every day, heavy trucks drive through our neighborhoods, past our schools, hospitals, and homes, spewing toxic pollution as they go. Elected officials have already set their sights on making our state a leader in electric vehicles. Governor Pritzker said Illinois should be “the best state in the nation to drive and manufacture an EV.” 

One of the most important responsibilities of any state in the union is public education.  In Illinois, the state constitution spells this out, and indeed, about 26% of the General Revenue Fund flows to the public elementary and secondary schools in every town.  In turn, those public schools must serve every child, whatever religion their family practices, whatever language is spoken in the home, or whether their family is headed by parents of the same gender.  The public schools must accommodate any disability that affects learning, and help all students achieve their potential.

We were all horrified when a man opened fire at the Highland Park Independence Day parade, killing seven people and injuring dozens more.

But more than four months later, the Illinois General Assembly gaveled in and out of their first week back in Springfield after the election — and no action was taken to ban these weapons of war from our streets. 

Meanwhile, Illinois leads the nation in the number of people killed or injured in mass shootings, according to data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive this year. Number one.

That’s wholly unacceptable. 

If you have the pleasure of visiting the Pilsen neighborhood in Chicago, you will experience a historical neighborhood of Mexican art, culture, family-owned businesses, and a vibrant social scene for young adults. The people in Pilsen know that what benefits one of us benefits us all. At the Economic Strategies Development Corporation (ESDC), we are dedicated to creating and supporting economic vitality through education initiatives and support for local businesses. We are all integral parts of our community, our economy, and our society. We are in it together.

This community mindset comes with a deep appreciation for programs like Medicaid managed care, that serve so many in Pilsen and the surrounding communities. Medicaid managed care provides its enrollees, many of whom come from traditionally underserved communities, with all the tools someone needs to get and stay healthy. These benefits include but are not limited to full coverage for primary care, dental and vision, and preventative services.

There is a new wave of job openings here in the Midwest and across the country. These jobs immerse you in a high-tech environment where you can earn a great living, do something different every day, build a future and make people’s lives better. We’re talking about the modern manufacturing industry, where our job descriptions say: “Creators Wanted.”

From inventing barbed wire to the cell phone, Illinois has always been home to innovation. Today, renewable energy is leading the state into a new era of advancement. The transition to renewable energy is in full swing, and Illinois is at the forefront of its incredible benefits. As we concluded the second annual American Clean Power Week, let us celebrate Illinois’ economic progress through clean energy leadership that has widened the lens of the industry’s impact.

As Co-Founder and CEO at Solstice, I have the pleasure of seeing the benefits of clean energy development every day. Illinois has grown into a renewable energy powerhouse increasing job creation and local economic investment. According to the American Clean Power Association (ACP), the renewable energy industry supports...