As a resident of the town of Cicero, I have witnessed firsthand the dire consequences of neglected water and sewage infrastructure. It is disheartening to see our community suffer from inadequate investment in these essential upgrades, especially when our taxes continue to increase year after year (despite's being among the lowest increases in Cook County). This petition aims to bring attention to this issue and demand immediate relief through funds, repairs (with declaration of disaster through FEMA + approved funding), and a temporary period that allows repairs to damaged areas (or upgrades to home aide/backups systems ) with no permit COST necessary.

Water and sewage systems are the lifelines of any community, ensuring access to clean water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and proper sanitation is crucial to health and safety. This is severely affected when sewage water backups into homes. However, despite the increasing tax burden on residents like myself, it is evident that our infrastructure has been neglected for far too long and needs a drastic overhaul to keep up with the increased demand. The reclamation can be an ally and join in our petition to request funding and make these majors repairs to infrastructure a possibility. This will allow homeowners to make repairs that'll truly serve as a "backup"  (in comparison to being absolutely necessary especially the way our infrastructure currently operates). Sewage backups become more common due to outdated systems unable to handle increased demand. These issues not only pose health risks but also cause significant property damage and financial burdens on homeowners.

We call upon local authorities and decision-makers responsible for making the issue of allocating funds towards infrastructure maintenance and improvement projects in Cicero (and surrounding West Suburbs) a TOP  priority in a 2-3 year plan. Aggressive but absolutely necessary and possible with new funding sources available.

Our demands are as follows:

1. Allocate sufficient funds: We urge local authorities to allocate substantial funding towards repairing or replacing outdated water/sewage infrastructure in Cicero. Request funds through FEMA and the infrastructure funding bill.

2. Expedited repairs: We request that repairs be conducted promptly to prevent disasters like 2023's flood on July 2nd from happening at this big of a scale again.

3. Temporary period of repair without permit costs: To alleviate financial burdens on homeowners affected by these issues directly or indirectly, we ask for a temporary period during which repair permits will be issued at no cost.

By signing this petition, you are joining the voices of Cicero residents + Surrounding municipalities who believe in the importance of accountability and investment in our water and sewage infrastructure. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that our community's essential needs are met.

Sign now to demand immediate action for the betterment of Cicero & the West suburbs water/sewage infrastructure!

Concerned Community Member
Cicero, Illinois