As of today, 9/12/23, Midwest Industrial Funds has begun deforesting in earnest. Many of our beloved bur oak trees have become mulch overnight. But we still have hope! MIF has an opportunity to stop logging and change the end of this story.
We are at 3,551 signatures. PLEASE keep sharing with your friends and contacts on social media and share the story of what is happening to us in Geneva, Illinois in the name of warehouses, trucks, and industrialization to fatten the pockets of a few powerful fat cats at OUR EXPENSE.
At today's Kane County Board meeting, I gave a eulogy for the oak trees we have lost and I urged MIF to stop clear-cutting. I also pled with Kane County to institute a tree preservation policy and for the City of Geneva to STOP courting developers who are destructive and antagonistic towards our environment and our pleas as residents.
The City of Geneva and Mayor Kevin Burns have repeatedly stated that there is "nothing they can do" about this. Members of council have intimidated and attempted to silence our organizers, asking why we are trying to "sabotage" the city and harm its reputation. Some members of council have suggested we are making a mockery of ourselves.
I want to clearly state that it is not us, as defenders of the trees, who are deforesting our old growth oaks. It was the City of Geneva who courted and wooed a developer that has no respect for our ecological heritage and refuses to even engage with us in conversation. We have a right, as residents and citizens, to express our heartbreak that the city has pursued a relationship with MIF, when they have a well-documented track record of destroying communities for profit.
Now, there is even more documentation.
Midwest Industrial Funds plans to seek annexation from the City of Geneva and has already indicated they will seek variances to our city policies, including the Tree Preservation Plan. The answer should be a clear and resounding, "NO!!!" MIF has proven itself to be an unfriendly and harmful neighbor.
At the very least, we hope that other cities who consider going into business with Midwest Industrial Funds, find our story and say "NO!" to exploitative developers who merely seek to enrich themselves and destroy the environment.
PLEASE continue sharing this petition and also visit SaveGenevaOaks.com, which has information on how to contact the city, the county, and Midwest Industrial Funds directly.
OUR FIGHT IS NOT OVER.
When Midwest Industrial Funds seeks annexation, we will remember.
When election rolls around again, we will remember.
And we will remember our beloved oaks, who are gone too soon, despite MIF not planning to break ground for several years. WHY DESTROY OUR 300+ YEAR OLD OAKS YEARS BEFORE YOU PLAN TO DEVELOP? WHY HARM OUR AIR QUALITY AND HARM THE WILDLIFE THAT DEPENDS ON THIS FOREST?
GREED.
Greed has no place in Geneva, Illinois.
It is not we who sabotage the city. We are its defenders. And the City Council that voted to allow this should be ashamed. This is now part of our city's legacy.
In 100 years, no one will look back and say, "I'm so glad they put up those warehouses?"
In 100 years, our descendants will look back and grieve what we let developers destroy in the name of endless profits.
READ MY EULOGY FOR THE TREES HERE:
We gather, not only to mourn the loss of our beloved bur oaks, but to bear witness to the consequences of corporate development and industrialization. These majestic trees, once the guardians of this land, have fallen victim to the relentless march of bulldozers and concrete.
These bur oaks, which stood tall for centuries, were not mere witnesses to history; they were a part of it. Their branches provided shade to generations of children, their leaves whispered stories of seasons passed, and their roots carved deep into the earth, anchoring them firmly to this place. They were not just trees; they were a living testament to the beauty and resilience of nature.
As we bid farewell to these oaks, let us reflect on the profound loss we all feel today. Their tragic end is an ominous warning of how the natural world is not an endless resource to be exploited, but a fragile ecosystem that requires our care and protection.
May the grief we feel today guide the decisions we make tomorrow; our choices shape the world we leave for future generations. In their memory, let us commit ourselves to better stewardship of our environment.
Let us advocate for responsible land use and sustainable development practices. Let us plant new trees, nurture green spaces, and strive to strike a balance between progress and preservation.
Though these bur oaks have been taken too soon to make way for warehouses, their legacy lives on in our collective consciousness.
May their untimely end at the hands of Midwest Industrial Funds inspire us to do better, to honor the memory of these noble trees, and to work towards a future where our city, county, state, nation, and the world privilege the planet and its people over profits.
In their memory, we urge Kane County to institute a tree preservation plan and implore the City of Geneva to only partner with developers who make sustainability and environmental justice a top priority.
Rest in peace, dear bur oaks. Your loss is deeply felt, but your message of the need for balance and stewardship will not be forgotten.
Watch the eulogy here: https://youtu.be/xwLhEnRB1sM?si=ZhRqoCBsd4EutsND