It is time for Peoria to “Walk Their Talk” on Justice, Equity and an End to Racial Discrimination for the Southside.

The City Council is expected to vote March 12th on the proposed Distillery Tax Increment Financing District (TIF).

No added air and water pollution requiring new state or federal permits should be allowed in the Southside through the TIF. Definitely no carbon dioxide pipelines or carbon capture/sequestration equipment should be allowed because those could be a direct health and safety threat to the surrounding low-income and racial-minority neighborhoods.

While most of the news focus seems to be on storefront businesses, the City of Peoria Distillery TIF proposal also includes the BioUrja industrial plant property from the Cedar Street Bridge approach south. The TIF project could allow funds from property tax increases to be used by BioUrja for industrial processes including high-pressure, hazardous carbon dioxide pipelines, carbon capture and sequestration equipment, or other changes that would add more air and water pollution and public health and safety risks.

TIFs enable the increased property tax revenues that come from property improvements and their increased values go into a designated area TIF, such as the Distillery TIF. These funds can then be used to reimburse businesses for eligible and approved projects or property expenditures. Each business must negotiate with the City of Peoria to create a redevelopment agreement for their TIF projects. The City can use TIF funds for costs involved with utilities and infrastructure changes or improvements, including streets, sewers, or other needs.

Southside Community United for Change leaders are concerned about the Distillery TIF. The Southside is already a U.S. EPA designated Environmental Justice area, due to multiple factors including existing pollution levels, number of racial minority residents, economic disparities, and health status.

Generations of discrimination and racial inequities inflicted on the Southside demand that we not allow “business as usual.” Continued environmental degradation and health risks should not happen within the Distillery District TIF.

The Peoria City Council must take the “Peoria Joint Commission on Racial Justice & Equity, 2022 Annual Report” findings into full consideration and apply those findings to the Distillery TIF. That report clearly indicates the Southside is already harmed by higher air and other pollution, housing challenges, economic and health disparities, and a long list of decades of injustices. (View the report at peoriacounty.gov ).

A listing of wording additions was sent to City Hall on Feb. 12 requesting Justice and Equity provisions be added to the Distillery TIF. At a TIF Joint Review Board meeting on Feb. 1, Scott Sorrel, Chair for the Distillery Joint Review Board, proposed a second motion with wording that would allow equity, racial minority rights to a healthy and safe environment, and related concerns to be added to the TIF proposal. It was unanimously approved.

The Distillery TIF Plan must be modified to add clarifications and further emphasize environmental and social justice concerns as discussed at the Feb. 1 Joint Review Board meeting. The City needs to ensure no added air and water pollution and no CO2 pipelines and carbon capture happen in the Southside.

Joyce Blumenshine
Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance