March 14, 2024
Economic development, jobs, and tax revenue are the life blood for all communities. Without them a community will face a very difficult road maintaining a consistent level of sustainability and quality of life. The Village of Ford Heights is a suburban community in considerable need of all three elements.
The Cook County Board has made it a priority to address the needs and provide support whenever possible to communities like Ford Heights until today’s vote (on 3/12/24). To my dismay, I was the lone vote in opposition to the Forest Preserve District of Cook County’s (FPDCC) proposal to purchase 56 acres of open land in the Village of Ford Heights. A land purchase that was strongly opposed by the village.
In a letter to the County Board, Ford Heights Mayor Charles R. Griffin stated, “the 56 Acres are also a large portion of the U.S. Route 30/Joe Orr Road TIP district (Transportation Improvement Program) and redevelopment project area that will be adopted by the board of trustees in April of 2024. The Forest Preserve plan to purchase this land would cripple the Tax Increment Financing district as a commercial and industrial development in that area. Economically, the Village of Ford Heights would be severely crippled and the detriment to the village shall greatly outweigh the environmental benefits for the Forest Preserve District.”
I concur with the sentiments reflected by Mayor Griffin in his letter so I could not in good conscience support voting to strip potential economic development and job creation opportunities to a most in need community like Ford Heights. I concur with the position articulated by Mayor Griffin in his letter so I could not in good conscience support voting to strip potential economic development and job creation opportunities to a community most in need. Supporting economic development and job creation should be paramount for the Cook County Board, especially in the case of Ford Heights. But the County Board disregarded the urging from Ford Heights elected officials to “remove this item from all future meeting agendas and allow the village officials to meet with the necessary parties to reach an agreement that would benefit both entities.”
If the County Board is sincere in its commitment to “equitable” solutions for marginalized communities, then we ought to work with the Village of Ford Heights to maximize economic development and job creation opportunities to help grow and strengthen their community. Their voice should not be ignored.
Unfortunately, today’s vote did the opposite and undercut the Village of Ford Heights. Removing 56 acres of prime land from their long-term economic development plans is not in their community’s best interest.
- Commissioner Sean M. Morrison
17th District, Cook County
Attachment: Village of Ford Heights Letter [Dated: 2/28/24]
