Committee on Health and Environmental Protection
March 28, 2018
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, on October 7, 2009, the Chicago City Council passed an anti-idling ordinance intending to reduce the amount of fumes emitted from diesel powered vehicles that pollute the City; and
WHEREAS, section 9-80-095 of the Municipal Code of Chicago (the "Chicago anti-idling law") prohibits any person who owns or operates any large diesel-powered motor vehicle to idle for more than a total of three minutes within any sixty-minute period; and
WHEREAS, diesel emissions from school buses contribute disproportionately to ambient air quality, especially near schools. Diesel emissions from school buses contain significant levels of particulate matter, which poses health risks to all individuals, especially children with asthma; and
WHEREAS, a University of Chicago study estimated that asthma impacts 12.9% of Chicago residents, with rates in minority and low income communities ranging between 2% and 44%. Asthma hospitalization rate in Chicago is two times the national asthma hospitalization rate; and
WHEREAS, a University of Chicago study estimated that 17.3% of Chicago children 0-17 years of age have asthma, over 57% of whom missed school because of asthma within the last year. The burden of asthma on Chicago's youth prevents those individuals and their families from living happy, healthy lives; and
WHEREAS, state-wide and city-wide idling initiatives throughout the country have raised awareness to the growing issue of asthma in the United States. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection encourages schools to promote anti-idling initiatives by providing free anti-idling signs for schools to post around campus; and
WHEREAS, on December 8, 2010, the Chicago City Council passed Resolution R2010-1393, calling for stricter enforcement of the Chicago anti-idling law, and citing a Chicago Tribune report that the Chicago Police had not written any tickets for violating Chica...
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