Before leaving office, former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence denied an emergency declaration request from the city of East Chicago, Indiana. But East Chicago State Rep. Earl Harris, Jr. is hopeful new Gov. Eric Holcomb will still consider one.
The Calumet neighborhood of East Chicago has lead and arsenic contamination in its soil at 200 times the legal limit.
Harris says the request isn’t something the city asked for lightly.
“I didn’t know if there was a lack of understanding or what the situation was but really we need, needed, and still need more help,” Harris says.