Representatives from the Alliance of the Southeast (ASE) and Southeast Side community leaders Peggy Salazar, Marie Collins-Wright, Jim Kinney, Ana Johnson, and Sam Corona issued a statement of gratitude and support following an August 15, 2026, meeting with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul at his Chicago office. The meeting addressed the joint lawsuit filed by Attorney General Raoul, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and the City of Chicago against A-F Acquisition LLC (doing business as Pullman Innovations) for persistent alleged air pollution and environmental violations affecting Jeffrey Manor and Slag Valley.
ASE commends Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Mayor Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Department of the Environment, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) for answering the community’s call to action. Community members view this legal intervention as a step toward restoring environmental health to neighborhoods long overburdened by industrial pollution.
“We extend our sincere thanks to Attorney General Kwame Raoul for listening to the residents of Jeffrey Manor and Slag Valley,” said Sam Corona, a long-time Southeast Side resident and ASE community organizer. “For years, our families have dealt with industrial pollution that impacted our daily quality of life. Seeing state officials step up to take decisive legal action gives our community confidence that our voices are being heard and that real change is underway.”
“You can’t have quality of life without quality air,” added community leader Peggy Salazar. “We are grateful for the Attorney General’s willingness to meet directly with us, listen to our experiences, and take concrete legal action to protect our neighborhood.”
During the meeting, community leaders expressed appreciation for the open dialogue established by the Attorney General’s Office. To build on this positive momentum, ASE urges the state and city to pursue the case to the full extent of the law and move swiftly to secure an immediate court-ordered injunction against Pullman Innovations.
ASE highlights that this milestone reflects decades of dedicated grassroots organizing by local residents, families, and environmental justice advocates. While celebrating this crucial legal step, coalition leaders remain committed to staying engaged throughout the legal process and working alongside officials on post-litigation enforcement to ensure permanent clean air protections.
About ASE: The Alliance of the SouthEast (ASE) is a multicultural, interfaith coalition of churches, schools, businesses, and community organizations, all working together to address the challenges facing the neighborhoods of Southeast Chicago.
