Walter Turner III, Pastor of New Spiritual Light MB Church, said in a recent statement that faith leaders are concerned about the impact of House Bill 4663, which would allow pilot projects for autonomous vehicles in Illinois. The statement comes as the bill remains in the Illinois House Rules Committee after being introduced by Rep. Kam Buckner and assigned to the Transportation Vehicles and Safety Committee.
The issue matters because many residents in Chicago’s South and West Side neighborhoods rely on driving jobs for economic stability. Black workers comprise 21.4 percent of the transportation and warehousing sector according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Black residents in Chicago’s South and West Side neighborhoods rely heavily on driving jobs and public transit for economic stability.
“We are writing to you today as a group of 30 pastors deeply embedded in communities from South Shore to West Garfield Park, compelled by a profound concern over a bill to allow unfettered expansion of autonomous vehicles in Illinois. While autonomous vehicles hold the potential to make our streets safer, we need to make sure that progress benefits everyone, not just a small number of communities and powerful companies. The state should not in a rush to legislate, ignore the potential for deep systemic harm to workers and communities of color,” Turner III said.
The letter was sent to Leader Buckner as House Bill 4663 remained referred to the Rules Committee following its assignment to the Transportation, Vehicles, and Safety Committee. The communication provides input from faith leaders representing congregations in Chicago’s South and West Side neighborhoods on the proposed legislation to allow pilot projects by submitting an operational design domain to the Department of Transportation according to documentation.
Chicago Fed research reported that Black workers are overrepresented in 17 of the 30 U.S. occupations at highest risk of automation, including taxi drivers, bus drivers, and chauffeurs. A Brookings Institution analysis found Black workers more than three times as likely as White workers to hold such positions. This overrepresentation means rapid shifts toward autonomous vehicles could disproportionately affect minority drivers who have historically used the transportation sector as a path to economic stability according to Chicago Fed research.
A UC San Diego survey reported that 85 percent of Americans believe widespread use of driverless cars would lead to job losses for ride-hailing, ridesharing, and delivery drivers. The Department of Commerce previously projected that autonomous vehicle adoption could affect the occupations of 3.8 million motor vehicle operators. According to UC San Diego, such potential displacement underscores concerns raised by local faith leaders like Turner III.
Turner III leads New Spiritual Light MB Church in Chicago and has actively participated in legislative matters affecting local employment and community welfare. According to church information, he has provided testimony before the Illinois House on bills related to background checks and workforce opportunities.
