In the last week, I spent three nights wondering if storms are going to flood or damage my home and potentially injure me or my family. I’ve had to accept the fact that this is our short-term reality, as the effects of climate change make storms more dangerous. However, I refuse to accept that this is our long-term reality.
Of course, if we stopped all global carbon emissions today, it would still take a while for temperatures to come down and for the effects of climate change to disappear. But rather than be a reason to do nothing, I find that’s a reason to do something more quickly.
It gives me hope that my U.S. representative, Delia Ramirez, believes climate change to be an urgent issue. It also gives me hope to see Republican members of Congress beginning to engage on this issue.
Now, it would give me even more hope to see them work together on climate solutions!
— Alex Marianyi, Illinois state coordinator and Chicago group leader, Citizens’ Climate Lobby
Condemning future generations
We recently experienced a nationwide heat wave and unprecedented tornadoes and are bracing for our children to face much worse.
But PJM, the operator of part of Illinois’ electric grid, is skirting federal reforms and keeping us locked into deadly coal and gas (“Advocates hit try at end run by power grid operator,” July 14).
PJM and its members (including ComEd and fossil fuel power generators) are condemning future generations to misery because they don’t want to stop burning coal, gas, oil and money.
— Mona Blaber, Oak Park
Get power grid operator on track
I’m writing to thank Tribune reporter Nara Schoenberg for casting a light on the obstruction of our state’s clean energy goals by the regional transmission organization known as PJM. Her articles of April 21 (“Wind and solar in limbo: Long waitlists to go online”) and July 14 show that PJM is trying to undermine the Clean Energy Jobs Act and our legislators’ commonsense reforms of the outdated and dirty energy grid.
As the manager of the regional electrical grid, PJM is the gatekeeper for new energy sources, as well as manager of the transmission systems’ needed infrastructure upgrades. Apparently, it hasn’t gotten the memo about potential dire consequences of climate change, such as increased temperatures, tornadoes and flooding. Apparently, it isn’t aware or doesn’t want to acknowledge the tremendous drop in costs for renewable energy and battery storage, as it has slow-walked new projects in its jurisdiction.
The ultimate losers are ordinary folks, the ratepayers who might otherwise get the benefits of lower-cost community solar and cleaner air.
Will it take action by our U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Rep. Danny Davis to get PJM on track? I would encourage Schoenberg to continue in her efforts. I wonder who has actually profited from PJM’s foot-dragging.
— Nick Bridge, Oak Park
Wetlands protection is critical
There are countless bills and legislative efforts that never become law. That’s politics. But there was one piece of legislation that was left behind during this year’s state legislative session in Illinois that we cannot afford to let slip away.
This past spring, Illinois lawmakers had a chance to restore protections for Illinois wetlands, which sit vulnerable after a 2023 Supreme Court decision weakened the Clean Water Act safeguards for millions of acres of wetlands across the United States.
As a Catholic priest, I see bills like SB0711, the Wetlands Protection Act, as a moral opportunity to defend the sacred and protect the common good, especially the most vulnerable. Water is sacred. It is essential for life — physical, spiritual and communal. It is corrective and restorative, often seen as a symbol of God’s abundant mercy and love. This theme was underscored at the Vatican Pavilion at Expo 2008 in Zaragoza, Spain, where water — the theme of the expo — was directly connected with the sacrament of baptism.
In December 2022, I participated in the United Nations Biodiversity Conference as a delegate. The conference passed a biodiversity framework calling for the preservation of 30% of lands and oceans by 2023. The Supreme Court’s move last year was a significant step backward in this commitment and a desecration of water as part of God’s sacred creation.
Wetlands are crucial for our state’s wildlife, flood management and public health. As it stands, they are threatened by thoughtless development, pollution and a warming climate.
People of faith are being summoned to action by religious leaders such as Pope Francis, whose message to the United Nations conference strongly supported its efforts to protect the biodiversity of our planet.
— The Rev. John Pawlikowski, member, Climate Action Task Force, Parliament of the World’s Religions, Chicago
City’s chaos of moving objects
Current articles and letters mostly advocating for more and safer bike use are a continuation of Chicago’s long tradition of transportation failure and abuse of public rights of way. The bigger picture is the street fight in the greater central city where every conceivable use competes over streets and sidewalks: cars, taxis, ride-shares, bikes, e-bikes, motorcycles, scooters, buses, food trucks, food and beverage delivery trucks, Amazon trucks, pedestrians, sidewalk diners and parked vehicles.
Looking back at past failures, we are the only remaining major city in the country with an elevated rapid transit in the central business district and two disconnected rapid transit systems. And then there is the constraint imposed by the diabolical parking revenue concession.
What do all these things have in common? A failure to think, deliberate, consider everyone’s legitimate interests and commit to reasonable and achievable order. Instead, we have a chaos where the chosen (unregulated bikes and ride-shares) oppress the forsaken (taxi drivers, pedestrians and car drivers).
To make intelligent decisions, planners need to gather, analyze, and publicize data and trends as they develop policies, regulations and infrastructure. For example, most people older than 55 don’t bike. Do we know how many of them are traveling around Chicago every day versus the number who bike?
Another: Do we want to encourage people to walk when our sidewalks are clogged with diners, bikes and scooters?
Of those competing for right of way, ride-shares, most bikes, Amazon trucks and scooters were not on the streets a decade ago. How are planners thinking about emerging uses for our limited public thoroughfares?
The picture and needs are bigger than the narrow interests of bike advocates. The city needs to end this street fight.
— Ed Bachrach, Chicago
Jim Crown’s wonderful legacy
I read with great interest the Tribune’s recent account of the Chicago business community’s massive new investment in violence reduction and prevention (“Civic leaders take aim at violence,” July 11). The article omits the name of the person whose vision and leadership were the driving force behind this unprecedented commitment.
My friend and congregant, Jim Crown, made this $100 million pledge shortly after he was named the head of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago. Investing in violence reduction was outside the usual focus of the Civic Committee, but Jim felt that Chicago’s business community was called to address this source of great pain to so many families and its threat to the city’s future.
Tragically, only weeks later, Jim died in a racing accident. It is a tribute to him and his leadership that the Civic Committee has followed through on his pledge.
Chairing the Civic Committee and addressing the epidemic of violent crime were only some of Jim’s myriad contributions to the city and region through his philanthropy, business acumen and embrace of the commandment to “repair the world.” He and his legacy of good works deserve to be acknowledged.
— Samuel Gordon, emeritus rabbi, Congregation Sukkat Shalom, Wilmette
Note to readers: Taking Jean Kwas’ lead in her July 13 letter to the editor, we would like to hear from you about memorable acts of kindness you witnessed or facilitated. Send us a letter of no more than 400 words to letters@chicagotribune.com. Provide your full name and your contact information including city.
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