* WTTW…
For the past eight months, members of the Save Bell Bowl Prairie coalition have been inundating Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office with emails, petitions, texts, tweets, phone calls and old-fashioned letters, pleading with the governor to broker a deal that would save a patch of ancient prairie from demolition by the Greater Rockford Airport Authority, which plans to rip up the prairie as part of a major expansion of the airfield’s cargo operation.
The deluge of messages has largely been met with silence, save for a brief off-the-cuff comment made by the governor at a press conference back in November. Then, two weeks ago, Pritzker’s reelection campaign dropped a 30-second TV ad called “Cargo Load.”
“Do you know what city has the fastest growing cargo airport in the world? Rockford, Illinois!” the ad boasts. “As governor, J.B. Pritzker made it happen.”
“My first reaction was, ‘What?’” said Kerry Leigh, executive director of the Natural Land Institute, the organization that for decades was entrusted with stewardship of Bell Bowl Prairie — a handful of acres of 8,000-year-old land tucked inside the airport’s nearly 3,000-acre expanse.
In the ad’s emphasis on job creation and the airport’s importance as an economic engine, Leigh distinctly heard echoes of the talking points the airport authority has used in its ongoing battle against the Save Bell Bowl coalition, by portraying the conservationists as anti-development and anti-commerce.
“What I got out of the commercial is (Pritzker’s) only listening to the airport,” said Robb Telfer, of Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves, a nonprofit that’s allied itself with Natural Land Institute in the fight for Bell Bowl.
The Pritzker ad is here.
* Response from Natalie Edelstein at the Pritzker campaign…
The governor’s new ad celebrating Rockford being home to the fastest growing cargo airport in the world does not indicate a shift in any previously held positions. Economic development and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive, and the governor has demonstrated a strong commitment to both. As he said in November, we can protect our environment, while also creating jobs.
…Adding… The governor was endorsed today by the NRDC Action Fund…
- NIU Grad - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 3:21 pm:
Saying “Hey, this airport exists and it’s great!” isn’t the same as “I agree with them on everything that they’re doing”.
Are the environmentalists upset about the airport itself or the issue concerning the prairie? I don’t know why they’re so surprised that the Gov would be boosting for Rockford…which, frankly, hasn’t had enough attention from Governor’s in the past.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 3:24 pm:
All the man has to say is: “as long as I am governor the Bell Bowl Prairie will be safe from development.” There also needs to be some legislation to further formalize the importance of this historic land remnant. It is not unreasonable for people to worry about a sneaky midnight destruction of the prairie akin to Meigs Field.
- vern - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 3:28 pm:
Continuing adventures of the environmental movement missing the proverbial forest for the trees. A “handful of acres” within the borders of an airport can’t possibly be more important than keeping a Republican from controlling IEPA.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 3:29 pm:
I look forward to Richard Irvin’s ad discussing how when his grandparents immigrated from Sweden they knew the value of the natural prairie and promising to protect Illinois’ natural resources.
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 3:40 pm:
The upgrades to the cargo handling facility were built to accommodate old and dirty 747s
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 3:42 pm:
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 3:29 pm:
C’est moi.
- Bruce( no not him) - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 3:47 pm:
I must of missed the part of the commercial where he said “I’m gonna tear up the prairie.”
- Amalia - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 3:51 pm:
spend some time asking the airport authorities what their environmental plans are. do they have green roofs? how do they take down weeds? (goats etc.). what about the substances they use to de ice? how are those managed? wildlife and the airport, how managed? environmental issues and an airport are very complicated. spend some time on that and I will be impressed. also, do you take airlines when you travel? are you accepting amazon packages?
- Wonky Kong - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 3:58 pm:
“What plays better in the press there, the environment or cargo expansion?”
“Expansion, huh? Well then rip up that prairie. If you can get it done by November I would appreciate it. “
- RKFD guy - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 4:01 pm:
Some folks are missing what’s going on. The green folks here are desperate to talk to the airport and work out a plan to put the cargo road in a place that doesn’t destroy the 8000 yo prairie. They want the airport to succeed, expand — but to protect this land while they do it. The airport refuses to even talk (and refused before folks sued, and still refuses). So greens are asking the Gov, Senators, everyone to get the airport to sit down and get a win-win. Pritzker could make that happen with one call. (”Want the cash, make a deal.”). But he hasn’t, and hasn’t responded to the greens here at all. Frankly, I don’t get why he doesn’t exercise a little leadership and get it done. But the failure to meet and discuss is going to make the greens get louder and louder.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 4:06 pm:
This is probably a fight Pritzker wouldn’t mind to have in the GE.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 4:08 pm:
“I’m a champion for the environment, as much as I’m for making Illinois good for business. Both can be true”
That really it, that, and which Republican nominee for governor will decide that business expansion is bad?
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 4:23 pm:
==That really it, that, and which Republican nominee for governor will decide that business expansion is bad? ==
I suppose the argument is that this could get some Dems to stay home, even if a Republican doesn’t campaign on it. But Dems (outside of some of the ones with their hands out) really like Pritzker, so it’s got a long way to go.
- Al - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 4:35 pm:
The boast on the air cargo was a goof, due to it being the least efficient means of moving goods; water, rail, truck, and the air freight. Air freight causes so much global warming and CO2 emissions. Now a fizzer in the Green block. Ha.
- Ok - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 4:45 pm:
“This is probably a fight Pritzker wouldn’t mind to have in the GE.”
I am not aware of any election in recent history where picking a fight with environmentalists has had any positive value in a General election, so that’s a bit of an odd statement.
- Paradox - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 5:13 pm:
This is maybe the lamest rebuttal to an ad I’ve ever heard
- New Day - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 5:24 pm:
“I suppose the argument is that this could get some Dems to stay home, even if a Republican doesn’t campaign on it.”
Yea, maybe eight will stay home. This is not an issue about which the gov is going to lose votes. And polls show that people talk about the environment but generally don’t vote on it, except in Democratic primaries. But between a GOPer and a D, he will lose zero votes and probably pick up some GOP and independent votes because he’s so pro-growth and pro-jobs.
- Blue Dog - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 7:54 pm:
maybe we can use that Rockford airport to transport that southern illinois coal. it’s got to be greener than all those trucks and barges that keep wrecking our roads down here. BTW. where us all that coal going.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 8:19 pm:
The usual “conservative” critics here are totally dedicated to a new conservative green effort and not at all about a hypocritical cheap attack on the governor. They really care about the environment.
- Al - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 8:58 pm:
Dear Blue dog, it goes to China to make steel mostly.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 9:27 pm:
===keeping a Republican from controlling IEPA===
What percentage of the double exempt staff has Pritzker appointed? It doesn’t seem to me like there has been much turn over so prior Republican administrations might have defacto control over IEPA if their appointees are still serving. Especially if they do not have a strong belief in the purpose of the agency.
===The deluge of messages has largely been met with silence, save for a brief off-the-cuff comment made by the governor at a press conference back in November.===
I would put good money on the messages simply not making it in any way shape or form in front of the Governor and potentially not being elevated enough to cause anyone to be remotely aware that running that ad would elicit the response from concerned activists in Rockford. If this isn’t the case then the campaign may just be making strategic decisions without involving enough people in the conversation, or over ruling them if they are involved.
Either way it’s not a great sign.
===and the governor has demonstrated a strong commitment to both.===
I might have missed this, but the Governor hasn’t actually made any commitment on the specifics of this issue. This flub should be addressed more effectively than it has been, so maybe someone from the Governor’s staff should follow up with these folks and make a real commitment.
- Chicagonk - Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 9:28 am:
There are thousands of square miles or farm land that could be converted into prairie around the state. NIMBY environmentalists should focus on real environmental issues and not saving a 5 acre plot of land.
- Responsa - Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 9:49 am:
By thy prairies verdant growing—Illinois, Illinois.
This is not just any prairie. You cannot just “convert” to a brand new prairie. This is a tiny remnant of natural prairie that existed when the native peoples roamed this state. Preserving it has little to do with “environmentalism” and everything to do with preserving a moment in Illinois history by leaving a small spot of original native plants and soil undisturbed for future generations to study and reflect on. Ever hear of the Morrow plots in Champaign or the Hartwick Pines in upper Michigan? Not the same issue, but similar in concept. Surely they can find a way to work around a 5 acre piece of land without ruining the airport.
- I-39 - Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 4:14 pm:
For those who think governors haven’t paid attention to Rockford haven’t driven on the newest interstate in the nation. Interstate 39.
Peoria for example would love to have a direct interstate connection to Chicago.
Interstate 39 is part of an interstate system that connects Winnipeg Canada to the Gulf of Mexico right through Rockford. Jim Thompson started during his Build Illinois initiative in 1985 and Governor Jim Edgar wrapped it up in the 90s.
Rockford airport expansion should embrace these few acres and brag about what they kept.