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Cook County extends deadline for public comment on first-ever environmental justice policy

Those who live or work in the county can submit comment about the draft through Feb. 28 at midnight.

By Amethyst J. Davis

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Health

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January 27, 2025

A file photo of the Cook County seal in county chambers, as shown Jan. 16, 2025. HWH / Amethyst J. Davis

Update: Feb. 10, 2025: This report was updated to reflect an extension of this public comment period.

Cook County’s Department of Environment and Sustainability is inviting the public to comment on a draft of its environmental justice policy. The county extended its deadline to Feb. 28 at midnight.

The initial deadline was Feb. 7, but extended after immense public interest, the county said in a news release.

The effort was birthed out of the county’s COVID-19 recovery response plan and equity task force. Review the draft, compiled by an internal working group, here. Submit public comment online here.

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“Residents in low to middle income communities across Cook County, particularly communities of color, have been disproportionately impacted by pollution and lack of investment in green infrastructure,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said in a news release last month about the project.

Author

Amethyst J. Davis

Amethyst J. Davis is responsible for spearheading the growth and development of the HWH, including outlining the editorial trajectory and content. She also produces “The Renaissance Letter,” our biweekly email newsletter, edits content, and fact-checks stories prior to publication. Amethyst was an administrator at New York University before launching her journalism career. She was previously a member of the Sounding Board, the community advisory board for Chicago Public Media, which includes WBEZ Chicago and the Chicago Sun-Times.

Amethyst is a 2023 Leader of a New Chicago award recipient, as recognized by the Field Foundation and MacArthur Foundation. She was named to Forbes 30 Under 30.

In 2022, Amethyst was a Casey Fellow with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Black News & Views. She is a sought after speaker on community journalism and has given talks at institutions like DePaul University and the University of Kansas. Amethyst is a regular guest on City Cast Chicago.

She was invited by Harvard University to submit a 2023 and 2024 Nieman Lab prediction. Under her leadership, the HWH has become one of the nation’s most-watched hyperlocal newsrooms. The HWH has received national coverage in publications like Poynter, Harvard University’s Nieman Lab, the National Press Journalism Club Institute, and Editor & Publisher.

A Harvey native, Amethyst is a Brooks Middle School (’11) and Thornton Township High School alum (‘15) and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from NYU (BA’19). She is an alumna of the Data and Policy Summer Scholar program at the University of Chicago.