Durbin, Kirk: It's Time To Clean Up Chicago River
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Illinois' two U.S. senators - and some other politicians - took a water taxi tour of the Chicago River Sunday before proclaiming that it's time to clean it up.
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Senator Dick Durbin says it's time.
"Chicago is the last city in America that has not tackled this issue of disinfecting the sewage that goes into its major river. Come on. We can do better," he said.
Families in kayaks drifted by - and so did bottles - as the stench from the river filled the air at Lawrence Avenue.
Durbin says he will push for federal money for studies to begin the cleanup. This month, the river was called one of the dirtiest and most-endangered in the county.
The Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District board has to approve the funding - and right now there's apparently a difference of opinion on the board.
For instance, the board president wasn't on the water taxi tour or at the news conference.
