Christian Mitchell and Neighbors of Sterigenics Demand Answers on Rauner's Month-Long Delayed Response

Interview

Today, DPI Executive Director Christian Mitchell and families impacted by Sterigenics held a press conference on the Rauner-owned company releasing cancer-causing toxins into the community and the Rauner administration refusing to take immediate action to shut down the facility and protect our children.

Bruce Rauner downplayed the U.S. EPA report when it came to light on August 28, saying "this is not an emergency, this is not a public health immediate crisis," as his administration delayed and refused to release key records. But yesterday, 35 days later, Rauner's administration said, "we believe Sterigenics should pause operations." Rauner's 180 may be attributed to weeks of public outcry, impeding lawsuits, and the U.S. EPA conducting more extensive air pollutions tests, but he refuses to come clean.

"A company that Bruce Rauner owned has been releasing cancer-causing toxins into our community, but instead of taking immediate action to shut down the facility and protect our children, Rauner's administration delayed and refused to release key records," said JB Pritzker. "Our community and our children deserve full transparency on everything the administration knows about the toxins they've been breathing in for years. Bruce Rauner has a pattern of covering up his mismanagement instead of protecting the lives at stake -- whether it's at the Quincy Veterans' Home or Sterigenics. This is yet another shameful display of misplaced priorities, and Bruce Rauner must come clean to the people of Illinois."

"The simple fact of the matter is this: Sterigenics has been releasing cancer-causing toxins, putting everyone in this community at risk," said DPI Executive Director Christian Mitchell. "Bruce Rauner owned this company, Bruce Rauner's administration allowed the toxins to be released, and now Bruce Rauner is dodging transparency. We need to see every administration document related to Sterigenics. This community needs to know what Bruce Rauner knew and when he knew it. Rauner has failed the families standing here today, and he owes them an explanation."

"My home is just three miles from the Sterigenics plant, and about a year ago I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. This diagnosis came out of nowhere," said Maureen Powell, a Western Springs resident. "What I noticed after my diagnosis was the surprising number of women in my small community who were going through the same thing I was or who were recent survivors. I'm demanding that our governor do something about the company he's been involved with. We need more transparency. We deserve to know the truth about what's going on in our community. We need a thorough investigation and while that's happening they need to shut this plant down. We're here demanding that Bruce Rauner, the man in charge of this state, and who has been involved with this company, put people over profits."

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