March 27, 2024

To: The Honorable Governor JB Pritzker

RE: MIDWAY FLIGHT FACILITY DISPOSAL

Dear Governor Pritzker,

We write to bring your attention to the Midway Flight Facility property located at 5400 W. 63 rd
Street in Chicago, which has been identified as an excess facility by the Illinois National Guard
and in the early phases of possible sale. We are interested in exploring your interest and support
in the State of Illinois donating this building to be used as a new police district building in
Chicago’s 8th Police District.

In the March 19th Primary election, voters in Chicago’s 13th and 23rd Wards overwhelmingly
voted YES on a proposal to create a new police district on the Southwest Side. This measure
passed with 11,132 votes in favor of the referendum or 86.7% of the 12,835 votes cast. We
cannot ignore the clear message from voters and our constituents to invest in critical public
safety infrastructure in the community.

The referendum questions result from a broader grassroots coalition of constituents, residents,
local elected officials and other stakeholders looking to create a new police district in the 8th
District of the Chicago Police Department. Our coalition has called out the worst data points in
the city on key police staffing metrics as the main cause for slow police response times and
resident frustration in the 8th District. At its current size, which hasn’t changed since 1967, the
8th District is the busiest and third-largest police district in the city (at 23 square miles), and
serves the highest population with over 250,000 residents. That equates to 10 officers for every
10,000 residents, which is the lowest officer to resident ratio in the city.

We believe the location of the current Midway Flight Facility has the potential to be the location
of this much-needed new police district, and we’d like to work with you to secure the property.

We respectfully request that the disposal and sale process of this facility be paused until the
potential use can be studied and evaluated for its suitability as the location for a new police
district building.

We can facilitate and coordinate meetings with the Mayor of Chicago, the Chicago Police
Department, and Chicago Planning Commission to discuss this opportunity as soon as possible.
Our constituents and residents deserve no less and their overwhelming support at the ballot box
on March 19th demands it.

Your time and consideration are appreciated.

Best,

Sen. Mike Porfirio

11th District
Ald. Jeylú Gutiérrez
Sen. Bill Cunningham 14th Ward
18th District & Senate President Pro
Tempore Ald. Ray Lopez
15th Ward
Sen. Javier Cervantes
1st District
Ald. Stephanie Coleman
Sen. Willie Preston 16th Ward
16th District
Ald. David Moore
Rep. Aaron Ortiz 17th Ward
1st District
Ald. Derrick Curtis
Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar 18th Ward
22nd District
Ald. Mike Rodriguez
Rep. Cyril Nichols 22nd Ward
32nd District
Ald. Silvana Tabares
Ald. Marty Quinn 23rd Ward
13th Ward