FROM IMPLOSION TO PROMOTION
Mayor puts official found negligent in Little Village dust-cloud disaster in charge of building safety
A city official found negligent after an investigation into the 2020 coal plant implosion in Little Village that left the community blanketed in dust is now leading the city’s department responsible for making sure buildings are safe.
Mayor Brandon Johnson named Marlene Hopkins acting commissioner of the Department of Buildings after firing her former boss last week.
Almost four years ago on Easter weekend, Hopkins and another buildings department official were in charge of making sure the implosion of an almost 400-foot chimney was performed safely.
Instead, Hopkins and the other official failed to put a plan in place that would have prevented the dust-cloud mishap even “in the face of information that an implosion posed a high risk of environmental harm to the neighboring Little Village community,” former Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson wrote in a once-secret report the Sun-Times made public last year.
The actions by Hopkins and the other official, then-Chief Building Inspector Jorge Herrera, “constituted poor public administration and a negligent dereliction of regulatory responsibility and duty,” Ferguson added.
Hopkins, a city employee for more than 25 years, was the top buildings official overseeing the implosion of the former Crawford power plant on Pulaski Road just north of the Stevenson Expressway.
Ferguson recommended both Hopkins and Herrera be disciplined, but former Mayor Lori Lightfoot chose not to do so. Ferguson also recommended the firing of a city public health official, Dave Graham, for his part in the bungled planning of the implosion, though Lightfoot also ignored that advice. Neither Lightfoot nor Johnson have officially released the Ferguson report on Crawford.
In light of the appointment, Johnson should officially release the Ferguson report, said Kim Wasserman, executive director of Little Village Environmental Justice Organization.
“How is a community or city to trust this administration?” Wasserman asked. “Accountability is important.”
The Crawford plant was being demolished to make way for a more than 1 million-squarefoot warehouse now being leased to retailer Target. Lightfoot pushed through changes to city law related to planning for large demolitions but insisted the developer, Hilco Redevelopment Partners, rather than City Hall, was to blame for the mishap.
In fact, Lightfoot promoted Hopkins just months after the Crawford implosion, when she named Matthew Beaudet the commissioner for buildings. Beaudet was ousted by Johnson last week.
Hopkins was most recently first deputy commissioner of the buildings department, earning an annual salary of more than $175,000, according to city payroll data.
Hilco recently agreed to a $12.25 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit brought by Little Village residents for the dust storm that coated homes, yards and other property surrounding Crawford.
A City Hall spokesman confirmed the interim appointment. Johnson has not yet nominated a permanent commissioner. Hopkins declined to comment.
If Hopkins does become Johnson’s permanent choice to lead the department, Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22nd) said he “will work to continue to hold them accountable.”
Rodriguez also said the Ferguson report should be released officially.
The buildings department website, which still listed Beaudet as the commissioner Friday morning, highlights its safety mission.
“The Department of Buildings enhances safety and quality of life for Chicago’s residents and visitors through permitting, inspections, trade licensing and code enforcement,” a statement at the top of the site reads.