FOP Joins Anti-NorthPoint Town Halls

The Will County Sheriff deputies' union is among a growing number of area organizations that oppose NorthPoint. The FOP, along with numerous Joliet community leaders, are intending to participate in the first of three No to NorthPoint town halls Monday.

"There has been absolutely no discussion with law enforcement labor unions whatsoever how public safety is going to work with NorthPoint, said Detective James Eiden, vice president of the Will County Sheriff's Department Deputies Fraternal Order of Police Labor Union.

NorthPoint development wants to annex 1,260 acres into Joliet for a warehouse trucking facility located eight miles from the nearest interstate. The matter goes before the planning commission on Feb. 24, and likely before the Joliet City Council on March 17.

"In the strongest language we urge caution because of the impact to public safety, the lack of infrastructure to support the warehouse trucking facility in terms of roads, and the lack of revenue its going to generate to cover the costs,” Eiden said. “There has been a total lack of transparency from the City of Joliet, Manhattan and Elwood in terms of the burden on taxpayers all over.”

The first public town hall is Monday at Wilson Creek Elementary School, 25440 S. Gougar Road, Manhattan. In Joliet, public town halls will be March 5 at the Knights of Columbus, 100 S. 129th Infantry Drive, followed by March 9 at the Croatian Club, 1503 Clement Street. At all three, the time begins with an open house at 6 pm, followed by a presentation at 7 pm.

"Joliet residents are bringing this fight home to Joliet because we absolutely cannot let NorthPoint take a foothold,” said Joliet resident Dominic Orlando. “This flies in the face of the Southeast Side Comprehensive Plan established by the City of Joliet.”

Orlando served a two year term on the Joliet Planning Commission. After his term expired, he continued to serve another six months and was replaced in January 2019.

Also in January 2019, over a thousand people attended a contemptuous Elwood Planning & Zoning Commission hearing on NorthPoint that extended over three nights with over 14 hours of testimony.

"When I was on Joliet's planning commission, I voted against the warehouses because I felt the City of Joliet was going to do an injustice to the residents who live in the Cedar Creek subdivision,” he said. "I’m not against all warehouses, I’m just against where they want to put them. You’re doing an injustice for your residents by putting warehouses in every crack and crevice."

One of NorthPoint’s typical scare tactics is “If Joliet doesn’t take it, Manhattan will.” This was a common fear in Elwood that Joliet would take it, town hall organizers said.

“That is why the first town hall is in Manhattan,” said Joliet native Erin Gallagher, a volunteer co-organizer of the event. “Joliet needs to see for themselves that Manhattan stands firmly against NorthPoint.”

“NorthPoint has tried to pit communities against one another, first with Manhattan and Elwood, and now Joliet,” Will County Board Member Rachel Ventura, who is a Joliet resident running for Congressional District 11.

“Signs all over Joliet saying ‘No to NorthPoint’ illustrate this is not a good fit for our town and our elected officials should listen to their constituents,” Ventura said.

"Just Say No to NorthPoint" is not just a group. It started as a Facebook page that has grown into a movement — a movement that is strongly gaining momentum throughout many Joliet neighborhoods, said John Sheridan, president of the Cunningham Neighborhood Council.

NorthPoint’s warehouse trucking facility, as currently proposed, spans five miles wide by 3.5 miles deep. In Joliet, that would span from Slammers Stadium to Joliet Junior College, and from Rockdale to Crest Hill.

Eiden explained that other public safety concerns include that the influx of workers is greater than Will County can accommodate. That adds to more traffic from Cook and other counties, burdening all neighboring communities with more traffic, over weight trucks, crashes and pot holes.

Other critical issues such as cargo container theft, narcotics, stolen goods and human trafficking also need to be a part of the discussion, he said.

"If a foreign trade zone is a part of this deal, that could be game over for local law enforcement because it's private property with a controlled access,” Eiden said. "We would ultimately cede control to the federal government.

Kansas officials said that NorthPoint's foreign trade zone there has tied their hands, taking control away from the citied in matters of public safety. Cities, for example, cannot close roads leading to NorthPoint, even if in dangerous conditions, because that would stop commerce.

“How many police officers is Joliet planning on hiring to accommodate NorthPoint’s massive trucking warehouses?,” Eiden said. “Plus, we have no idea what Customs and Border Protection’s role will be because there is no permanent presence at the existing intermodals in Will County.”

For more information about the growing Just Say No to NorthPoint movement, visit www.no2northpoint.com.

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Erin Gallagher is a public relations consultant who serves her clients as a community liaison. Unlike other gun-for-hire PR pros, Erin's community liaison approach ensures clients maintain credibility and lasting relationships within their communities. Erin Gallagher is no ordinary spin doctor. Her clients are confident in putting forth a message that is genuine. With a reputation for integrity, transparency and fairness, "Erin Gallagher drives it straight up the fairway!"

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