Statewide ADU Legislation
Representative Kam Buckner has introduced HB 4213, which would legalize Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) statewide. We are incredibly excited about this bill because it would remove the need to fight for ADUs city by city and would send a clear message to local elected officials that Illinois is taking the housing crisis seriously. It would also be our biggest housing win yet!
On Tuesday, March 12th, the bill will face its first committee meeting, so now is the time to demand our elected officials prioritize abundant housing. The best way to do this is to submit a witness slip in support of Representative Buckner's bill.
Submitting a witness slip takes less than a minute and is highly impactful. UE member Steven Vance has even written up a step-by-step guide for submitting one (if you're receiving this email, we suggest you list "Urban Environmentalists Illinois" instead of "self").
Let's do everything we can to get pro-ADU legislation passed!
March Happy Hour
We're teaming up with Joining Forces for Affordable Housing for our second happy hour of 2024! Meet us at Firehouse Grill in Evanston at 6 pm on Thursday, March 28th. Firehouse Grill is right next to the Main Street Metra UP-N station, which is only a 20 minute ride from the Ogilvie Transportation Center. The CTA Purple Line stops next door, too.
We're in the paper (twice!)
Urban Environmentalists members have been on a writing spree lately! Ben Wolfenstein's letter to the editor was featured in Crain's Chicago Business and Steven Vance's letter to the editor was published in the Chicago Sun Times.
Ben's letter criticizes Mayor Brandon Johnson for delaying the appointment of a new Zoning Committee chair and potentially reinstating Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa. He calls on the Mayor to appoint a progressive YIMBY who can address both the housing and climate crises effectively.
Steven's letter discusses Representative Kam Buckner's land use bill (separate from the ADU one!) that would end single-family zoning in Illinois' largest cities. He highlights the devastating consequences of urban sprawl and urges our elected officials to embrace progressive housing measures which will support a more equitable and prosperous future for Illinois.
Rumor has it that the Mayor's staff cares a lot about press publications, so we're going to keep the housing and public transit content coming! Keep an eye out for additional publications in the coming weeks, and shoot us an email if you would like to write your own. đź‘€
Springfield Lobby Days
Every year, activists head to Springfield to connect with legislators and advocate for their cause of choice. This year, there are two Lobby Days that we are interested in:
- April 3rd: Housing Lobby Day, organized by Joining Forces for Affordable Housing
- May 9th: Climate Action Lobby Day, organized by the Illinois Environmental CouncilÂ
If you're interested in representing Urban Environmentalists Illinois, please sign up using the links above, and respond to this email to let us know you plan on attending! This will be a highly impactful volunteering opportunity since the majority of the General Assembly will be hearing from us for the first time at these events.