Harper Overrides Rauner’s Veto of Urban Agriculture Zones Bill
State Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, helped override the governor’s veto of her legislation that creates local urban agricultural zones across communities in Illinois to help residents grow their own produce.
“I have been fighting for access to healthy food options and to expand urban agriculture on the south and west sides of Chicago for nearly a decade,” said Harper. “My communities have been ignored and left to fend for ourselves in order to find and purchase quality nutritious foods. I’m happy to report to that this bill is one step closer to becoming law, and another step to bring relief to Chicago neighborhoods and other food desert areas across Illinois.”
Harper’s House Bill 3418 would allow local governments and residents across Illinois to work together to create urban agricultural zones to combat food desert areas. Food deserts are defined as areas that lack access to healthy foods or where it is difficult to purchase them. These zones would empower residents by granting them the resources they need to grow their own healthy foods around the areas they live. On a bipartisan basis, the measure was successfully overridden in the Illinois House of Representatives after Gov. Rauner’s veto this year.
“This is another good example of bipartisan collaboration that the state needs more of on other legislation,” said Harper. “It was unfortunate to see the governor veto good legislation that will help people live longer and healthier lives, but I thank my colleagues for rising above partisan lines to help real people.”
Harper represents the 6th District, which includes all or portions of Armour Square, Bridgeport, Chicago Lawn, Englewood, Gage Park, Back of the Yards, Canaryville, New City, West Englewood, Marquette Park, South Loop and River North.
Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.
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