Willie Wilson: Austin residents have been forgotten after 2023’s historic flooding

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Many senior citizens in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood continue to struggle with mold remediation and other issues related to the 2023 flooding.

on some parts of Chicago. The Austin community, which has a population of more than 96,000, was significantly affected by flooding, along with Cicero and Berwyn.

The Austin community’s experience represents a microcosm of wider neglect in predominately Black and brown communities. Years of underinvestment in water infrastructure caused a water crisis in predominately Black communities including Flint, Michigan, and Jackson, Mississippi., a think tank that works on urban sustainability issues, found that “just thirteen ZIP codes represent nearly three-fourths of flood damage claims paid in Chicago between 2007 and 2016.

The senior citizens in Austin voted to elect Johnson, Pritzker and Preckwinkle. The least these leaders could do is provide resources to remedy environmental inequities that could further exacerbate serious health issues. It is common sense to take care of your own citizens’ needs first. Long-term exposure to mold can cause memory loss, poor mental health, constant fatigue and lung issues. The Austin community has some of the widest health disparities in the city. Heart disease, diabetes, infant mortality and drug overdose far outpace city averages. Many senior citizens are on fixed incomes, and they cannot afford the costs of mold remediation, a new water tank and furnace. The government has an obligation to assist our senior citizens — low-interest loans are not an option.

 

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