REsidents Voice HEalth Concerns Due To O'Hare Runway Noise
By Lily Corral, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University
Residents affected by jet noise surrounding O’Hare International Airport voiced health concerns stemming from the noise during a meeting held in Jefferson Park on Thursday.
The meeting took place at Copernicus Center Theater, located at 5216 W. Lawrence Ave. State Rep. Robert Martwick and Sate Sen. John Mulroe were on hand to listen to their constituents’ complaints.
Meeting attendees were upset with the possibility of the airports diagonal runways being decommissioned. FAiR Coalition representative, Colleen Mulcrone believes keeping the diagonal runways open is a top solution to lessening the jet noise in residential areas. The O’Hare Modernization Program’s impending plans to add additional parallel runways will cause increased airline traffic in flight paths directly over area homes.
Area residents are looking for solutions to alleviate the negative health impacts they are currently experiencing.
“The biggest complaint I have is that I have not been able to sleep many nights through since this started,” Marie McDonald, 53, resident of Jefferson Park said. “Sleep deprivation is a big issue, you’re hearing it all over the news.”
Residents lined the aisle as one after another spoke on the health issues the airplanes have caused them.
“My personal experience with the noise is that it creates a ton of stress for me and I can feel it in my gut,” Mary, Norwood Park resident said. “I walk to the train everyday with these special ear plugs I got from an audiologist to help me on my commute because of how much it shakes me in my core.”
The City of Chicago currently has a hotline set up to take jet noise complaints, but some residents don’t think it addresses all of the issues.
“I dial 311 and I talk to those operators and they have various categories for which they would take my complaint and not one category is relative to health,” Michael Ton, 54, resident of Norwood Park said.
A solution has yet to be reached concerning the health issues that come with the jet noise. Leaders at the meeting urged residents not to give up voicing their concerns.
“When you go to these hearings, that’s something you need to bring up,” State Sen. John Mulroe said. “The stress that its creating in your life, how it’s disrupting your life, disrupting your sleep. This obviously has impact on your health.”
The Federal Aviation Administration, Chicago Department of Aviation, and the City of Chicago along with representatives of FAiR will meet with each other in hopes of reaching a solution.
“Why are we monitoring just noise and not health? Something needs to be done,” Tim Gault, 41, a resident of Mayfair said. “I don’t want to be a prisoner in my home.”