CHICAGO RESIDENTS WANT QUANTUM


CHICAGO RESIDENTS WANT QUANTUM


We are residents, business owners, and community leaders from South Chicago and the area surrounding the former U.S. Steel South Works site, and we want to make something clear: We support the Quantum Shore development which includes the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) anchored by PsiQuantum and the investment, jobs, and economic opportunity it will finally bring to our community.


We have watched this enormous stretch of lakefront sit empty for more than 30 years. Many of our parents and grandparents came here for the mills, and when the mills shut down, we never left. But what did leave were the jobs, the investment, and many of our neighbors who had the means to look for opportunity elsewhere, left.


Anyone who knows the history of our community knows there have been many failed starts and stops to redevelop this land. Now, for the first time in decades, we have a real chance to transform these 440 acres into an engine for thousands of jobs. It’s the kind of development that will attract other new businesses to the area, connect our young people to careers in growing industries, create new housing, and expand and preserve green space for the public. It’s even giving us a new Advocate Hospital — our first new hospital in more than a century.


We've heard some voices suggest that the site will damage the local environment, but that couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, developers are making the former industrial site safer for future generations using state of the art technology to remediate any legacy contamination.


We want our children to see a future for themselves here. We want good jobs for people of different skill sets and backgrounds, from engineers and physicists to technicians, skilled tradespeople, logistics workers, facilities staff, and security. We want people moving here, not leaving, and walking through the doors of our small businesses. We want access to healthcare and public land where we can enjoy the outdoors. Isn’t that what makes a healthy, thriving community?


As residents, we’re encouraged by what’s already happening to create opportunity here because of this development. Our kids are already being introduced to technology and science through partnerships and programs with schools and colleges. Bowen High School has hosted quantum programming. Olive-Harvey College is running another cohort of Saturday Morning Quantum. There’s also a program at Chicago State University, and partnerships are underway with Chicago Public Schools and Science Olympiad. Our kids are already in the room.


Companies owned and led by Black and Brown South Siders are already playing a significant role in the design and construction of this project. That means the economic engine is already at work and benefiting the community with opportunities that haven’t existed since our grandparents’ time.


We know our community and our history and the problems we need to solve. We’re entirely capable of evaluating an opportunity on our own doorstep. Still, our community has been talked over for decades. But this time, we’ve been invited into the conversations and seen how our voices have helped to shape what’s being built.


Hundreds of nearby residents support this development and are ready to seize this opportunity for the good of our children, our grandchildren, and future generations to come. Any project this important deserves a serious discussion. That’s why we want our voices heard.


Signed,


1. Elisa Jara                            66. Latara Daniels

2. Rosemary Jara                   67. Helen Gibson

3. Elizabeth Perez                  68. Nachum Taylor

4. KC Carrasco                       69. Marcus Jenkins

5. Jessica Garcia                    70. Niaomi Thomas

6. Josie A. Clark                      71. David Vance

7. Elias Quintero Jr.                72. Victor Short

8. Angel Avalos                       73. Humberto Barajas

9. Steve Glinski                       74. Dina Clark

10. Noemi L Esquivel             75. Kamesha Turnage

11. Rebecca Hernandez        76. Kenneth Litzsey

12. Robert Hernandez           77. April Morr

13. Guadalupe Sanchez         78. Rafael Hernandez

14. Carly Sanchez                   79. Ruben Gil

15. Marisa Sanchez                 80. Jason Highland

16. Eddie Jasso                        81. Hegwisch Business Association

17. Juan Garcia                        82. Eastside Chamber of Commerce

18. Xavier Avalos                     83. Birrieria Octolan

19. Erika Galan                        84. Lake Affect Development

20. Angel Laboy                      85. Giving Others Dreams

21. Yesenia Avila                     86. Old Time Tap

22. Jennifer Aguado               87. Miel 85 Collective

23. Elias Quintero                   88. BuenGro

24. Samantha Quintero         89. John Crowle

25. Eric Carreon                    90. Ariel Laboy

26. Luis Nunez                       91. Daniel Meraz

27. Joseph Killeen                 92. Andres Garibay

28. Josh Wieczorek               93. Victor Garibay

29. Samuel Brokop                94. Araceli Garibay

30. Victoria Huizar                 95. Mario Agredano

31. Richard Hanrahan           96. Salena Agredanot

32. Elizabeth Quintero          97. Jason Carrasco

33. Mallory Perez                   98. Jorge Perez, Resident

34. Anthony Perez                  99. Andres Reyes, Resident

35. Julian Perez                     100. Roberto Avalos

36. Miguel Vazquez              101. Rosa Avalos

37. John Poulos                     102. Nelson Velazquez

38. Mario Rojo                      103. Albert Puente

39. Kristine Hanrahan          104. Miguel Reyes

40. Daniel Quintero              105. Ana Galan

41. Loyda Quintero               106. Jaime Avila

42. Patrick Hackett                107. Gabby Perez

43. Sharon Hackett                 108. Lupe Perez

44. Eddie Ramirez                   109. Jorge Sanchez

45. Laura Ramirez                   110. Maximiliano Perez

46. Frank Corona                    111. John Sandoval

47. Emanuel Benitez              112. Rudolph Zavala Jr.

48. Steve Haltek                      113. Janet Zavala

49. Carlos Salaz                      114. Celia Colon

50. Cocula Restaurant             115. Veronica Buenrostro

51. Daniel Sánchez                  116. Dave Buenrostro

52. Fred Carrizales                   117. Edward Cerda

53. Juan Gonzalez                    118. Thomas Munpz

54. Socorro Castro                   119. Danny Vargas

55. Rita Denly                           120. Jose Rios Jr

56. Joseluis Gonzalez               121. Ryan Carrillo

57. Arturo Gonzalez                 122. Salvador Martinez

58. Omar Paez                           123. Robert Garcia

59. Cecilia Gonzalez                  124. John Perez

60. Isabel Paez                           125. Ruben Valdez

61. Doug Nelson                        126. Eric Munoz

62. Carlos Sanchez                    127. James Solorio

63. Ted Stalnos                       128. Jose Cisneros

64. Mark O'Malley                 129. Danny Munoz Jr.

65. Tomas Zadsak

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