Mother Baltimore: Imagine
Imagine going to sleep and waking up to a life-altering flood. But imagine that this isn’t just the first flood but the third or fourth one that has forced you to immediately evacuate your home. No time to think about what to bring. No time to think about what to save. No time to think about where to go. You just need to get. out. now.
Then imagine that what you thought would be a temporary stay at a hotel or a friend’s home is a more long-term situation and the home that you thought was permanent is now destroyed. Looking for a new home is now your daily job.
Nearly a month after severe flash flooding hit East St. Louis, those circumstances are the reality for some residents in the city.
Now, here’s the latest news in southwestern Illinois:
Durbin secures $28M for sewer issues in Cahokia Heights, addresses East St. Louis flooding
Last week, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) announced that he secured $28 million for sewer problems in Cahokia Heights, including about $6 million to fix a sewer line in the city. During the press conference, the senator also said he’s working on ways to reduce flooding issues in both Cahokia Heights and East St. Louis, given the severe flash flooding that recently hit the area. However, members of a citizens group at the forefront of the issues felt left out again:
“It’s great to do these press conferences, and it’s great that all this money is coming in, but make no mistake, all this money is coming in because residents mobilized,” said a legal advocate for Cahokia Heights residents facing the sewer crisis.
More on flash flooding in southwestern Illinois:
How many homes were damaged in July flooding in 11 towns in St. Clair County? What we know
State government declares flood disaster for St. Clair, Washington counties
As money comes to Cahokia Heights for legacy sewer issues, how will IL monitor spending?
Following Durbin’s visit, U.S. Sen Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) toured Cahokia Heights to speak to residents impacted by the city’s extensive flooding and sewer issues. She announced that an additional $7 million was requested for the city to address its failing water infrastructure. The new funding will include over $1 million for Centreville Citizens for Change, a resident-led group that has demanded changes to fix those problems that plague their community, to help solve any indoor air or drinking water that’s contaminated because of the crisis.
More on flooding in Cahokia Heights:
Pritzker announces IL grant to help fix “notorious” overflowing sewers in Cahokia Heights
‘I’m traumatized.’ Residents in East St. Louis, Cahokia Heights try to recover from flooding
Nearly 300 southern Illinoisans have to give up their firearms after gun rights revoked
Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly held a press conference this week to announce that his office revoked the firearms rights of roughly 300 people in southwestern Illinois. The agency performed a “firearms enforcement blitz” to monitor compliance with the Firearms Owners Identification Card Act. East St. Louis Police Chief Kendall Perry spoke at the conference and worked with the state agency on the compliance efforts. During the press conference, Kelly mentioned an announcement on whether the Illinois State Police headquarters will move to East St. Louis could be made soon.
More on crime in the metro-east:
Man hit and killed riding his bike in East St. Louis. Police on lookout for vehicle.
DNA helped solve this once-cold case. Now, a Granite City woman is convicted of murder.
What to do
This section of Mother Baltimore highlights upcoming events in the metro-east that are relevant to Black communities. If you have tips for events, send them to dsutgrey@bnd.com
Empire 13 Cleanup for Ending Illegal Dumping
August 27th at 3908 Lincoln Avenue in East St. Louis
Empire 13, a local grassroots organization, will host its second cleanup in East St. Louis to combat illegal dumping in the city. The group hosted the first cleanup for the initiative earlier this year. Saturday’s event starts at 9 a.m. Volunteers are welcome.
What to watch
“Sidney”
Produced by Oprah Winfrey and directed by East St. Louis native Reginald Hudlin, “Sidney” is a forthcoming documentary that explores the decorated career of Sidney Poitier during the Civil Rights Movement. The Bahamian actor died this year at the age of 94. “Sidney” will feature interviews from Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Spike Lee and more. The documentary will debut September 23 on Apple TV+
What to read
Trapped in Harm’s Way as Disasters Mount
A recent investigation by Columbia Journalism School Investigations, Type Investigate and the Center for Public Integrity revealed that there is minimal governmental aid for residents needing to relocate after a climate disaster. Further, the analysis found that among the hardest-hit counties for climate disasters in the country, communities of color received about 40% less per person from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster preparedness.
“Can you imagine being in your home, a place of protection and safety, when it rains each time and your kids ask you, ‘is the boat going to have to come [and] get us.”
That’s all she wrote!
Talk to y’all in two weeks!
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