[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> A LYNCH US IN BROAD DAYLIGHT WITH CAMERAS ROLLING.

>> ACTIVISTS PROTEST KILLINGS OF BLACK PEOPLE AT THE HANDNESS OF POLICE AS CHICAGO BRACES FOR THE RELEASE OF THE VIDEO OF AN OFFICER KILLING ADAM TOLEDO.

>> THIS IS A REALLY RARE EVENT IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR.

>> A MAJOR SETBACK IN THE COVID-19 VACCINE EFFORT AS THE FDA CAUSED FOR A PAUSE IN THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTOR WEIGHS?

>> A COMMISSION TO TO EXAMINE THE SUPREME COURT AND WHETHER JUSTICES SHOULD HAVE TERM LIMITS AND MORE.

>> THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT JOINS A LAWSUIT TO GET CHICAGO TO INSTALL PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED.

>> WE ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR TREATMENT NOT TRAUMA.

>> SOME ORGANIZATIONS ARE CALLING FOR THE CITY TO REOPEN MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS THAT THE CLOSED NINE YEARS AGO.

WE HEAR FROM TWO SIDES.

>> ALDERMEN CARRIE AUSTIN IS FINED FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE RULES.

>> CANCELING STUDENT LOAN DEBT WILL PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN MAKE IT HAPPEN AND IF SO HOW MUCH?

>> OPEN YOU WILL THE BOTTLE AND SMELL HOME >> AND A LOCAL COMPANY THAT KEPT THE SAZON IN CHICAGO FOR OVER 60 YEARS.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

CITY AND STATE OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE WORKING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR RESIDENTS SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE NOW THAT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION HAS RECOMMENDED PAUSING THE USE OF THE SINGLE-DOSE VACCINE.

>> IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT PROBABLY NOT AS LARGE AN IMPACT AS IT MIGHT HAVE.

SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAD ALREADY SEEN A SLOWDOWN IN THE AMOUNT OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON WE WERE RECEIVING BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS.

>> Dr. ARWADY SAYS THE VACCINATION SITE AT CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY IS SWITCHING TO THE PFIZER VACCINE AS OF TOMORROW AND THE CITY IS WORKING TO REACH OTHERS WHO MADE APPOINTMENTS FOR THE J & J VACCINE INCLUDING THE HOMEBOUND PROGRAM.

PARIS HAS MUCH MORE ON THE VACCINE TAKEN OUT OF THE ROTATION.

>> 3200 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH THE SCRON AND 17 PEOPLE DIED.

1.285 MILLION PEOPLE TESTED POSITIVE SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN AND 21,540 PEOPLE DIED.

OVER 23% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION HAS BEEN VACCINATED.

>> IN MINNEAPOLIS, THE PROSECUTION RESTED ITS CASE AGAINST FORMER POLICE OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN TODAY AS HIS ATTORNEYS BEGAN PRESENTING THEIR DEFENSE STRATEGY STARTING WITH A USE-OF-FORCE EXPERT WHO TESTIFIED THAT CHAUVIN WAS JUSTIFIED IN PINNING GEORGE FLOYD TO THE GROUND BECAUSE HE KEPT STRUGGLING.

>> COULD YOU SUMMARIZE THE FINAL OPINIONS THAT YOU HAVE MADE IN THIS CASE?

>> I FELT THAT OFFICER CHAUVIN'S INTERACTIONS WITH Mr. FLOYD WERE FOLLOWING HIS TRAINING, FOLLOWING CURRENT PRACTICES IN POLICING, AND WERE OBJECTIVELY REASONABLE.

>> BARRY BROAD TESTIFIED THAT BYSTANDERS COMPLICATED THE SITUATION FOR CHAUVIN CAUSING HIM AND OTHERS TO WONDER IF THE CROWD WAS BECOMING A THREAT ALSO.

THE FAMILY OF GEORGE FLOYD TODAY MET WITH THE FAMILY OF 20-YEAR-OLD DAUNTE WRIGHT, ANOTHER MAN ALSO KILLED BY POLICE THIS TIME IN BROOKLYN CENTER, 12 MILES AWAY JUST TWO DAYS AGO.

HERE IS GEORGE FLOYD'S BROTHER, PHILONISE FLOYD.

>> FROM THE FLOYD FAMILY Y'ALL HAVE OUR CONDOLENCES WE WILL STAND IN SUPPORT WITH Y'ALL.

>> THE WHITE BROOKLYN POLICE OFFICER FATALLY SHOT WRIGHT RESIGNED AS DID THE POLICE CHIEF.

TIM GANNON SAID THAT 26-YEAR VETERAN KIM POTTER GRABBED HER GUN WHEN SHE MEANT TO GRAB HER TASER DURING A TRAFFIC STOP ON SUNDAY.

>> IT'S BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE 13-YEAR-OLD ADAM TOLEDO WAS SHOT DEAD BY A CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER STILL NO VIDEO OF THAT INCIDENT HAS BEEN MADE PUBLIC.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US LIVE WITH THE LATEST ON THIS STORY.

AMANDA?

>> BRANDIS I'M OUTSIDE C.O.P.A., THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

C.O.P.A.

SAID IT WILL RELEASE THE BODY-CAMERA FOOTAGE OF THAT FOOT PURSUIT THAT OCCURRED IN THE WEE HOURS OF MARCH 29TH THAT DID LEAD TO THE DEATH OF 13-YEAR-OLD ADAM TOLEDO.

BUT ONLY MAKING THAT FOOTAGE PUBLIC AFTER TOLEDO'S FAMILY HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW IT AND WE DO BELIEVE THAT TIME IS NOW.

IT'S BEEN REPORTED BY MEDIA OUTLETS INCLUDING WGN YOU CANNOT SEE BUT TO MY RIGHT YOU HAVE TV CAMERAS, JOURNALISTS ON BOTH SIDES OF C.O.P.A.

HEADQUARTERS WAITING TO POTENTIALLY HEAR FROM THE FAMILY.

TOLEDO'S FUNERAL WAS HELD FRIDAY.

THAT WAS PRIVATE.

BUT NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS HAD HELD A VIGIL FOR ADAM TOLEDO THIS MONTH.

WE DID LEARN SOME OF WHAT THE FAMILY WILL REPORTEDLY BE SEEING IN THAT FOOTAGE DURING A BAIL HEARING HELD A FEW DAYS AGO FOR THE 21-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO WAS WITH ADAM TOLEDO AT THE TIME AND WHO SUPPOSEDLY FIRED THE SHOTS FROM THE GUN THAT CALLED POLICE TO THE SCENE.

THAT WAS WHEN WE HEARD ABOUT THAT FROM COOK COUNTY PROSECUTORS THEY LAID OUT THEIR CASE DURING THAT BAIL HEARING FOR WHAT HAPPENED.

REPORTEDLY HOWEVER ADAM TOLEDO WAS HOLDING A GUN WHEN A POLICE OFFICER SHOT HIM IN THE CHEST.

THERE IS NO WORD FROM C.O.P.A.

ON WHEN AFTER THE FAMILY'S VIEWING THE VIDEO WILL BE MADE PUBLIC.

I DID REACH OUT TO C.O.P.A.

'S SPOKESPERSON AND NO WORD BACK NOTHING IN THE PAST COUPLE OF HOURS EITHER FROM THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE TOLEDO FAMILY.

BUT CHICAGO IS PREPARED FOR PUBLIC OUTCRY ONCE THAT FOOTAGE IS OUT WITH THE C.P.D.

TWEETING MONDAY EVENING THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS INCREASED ITS OPERATIONAL POSTURE TO INSURE THAT EVERYTHING IS AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE FOR RESIDENTS.

THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CLOSELY MONITORING THE EVENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHILE THERE IS NO ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE AT THIS TIME OUT OF CAUTION, C.P.D.

WILL BE DEPLOYING RESOURCES ACROSS COMMUNITIES CITYWIDE NEIGHBORHOOD RETAIL CORRIDORS AND THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT TO INSURE PUBLIC SAFETY IN ALL AREAS OF THE CITY AND TO SUPPLEMENT DISTRICT PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES DAYS OFF HAVE BEEN CANCELED FOR MANY TEAMS AND OFFICERS OF THE C.P.D.

SO, AGAIN, THAT IS A LOT OF PREPARATION GIVEN ALL OF THE LOOTING, PROTESTS THE RIOTING THAT OCCURRED LAST SUMMER IN THE WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD'S KILLING.

BUT WE DID SEE PROTESTS IN CHICAGO TODAY.

ONE WAS HELD IN DOWNTOWN NEAR THE BEAN AND THAT WAS A PROTEST HELD SEEKING JUSTICE FOR DAUNTE WRIGHT.

THAT, OF COURSE, BRANDIS AS YOU REFERENCED THERE A MINUTE AGO, A MAN KILLED DURING A TRAFFIC STOP IN A SUBURB OF MINNEAPOLIS REALLY NEARBY WHERE GEORGE FLOYD HAD BEEN KILLED.

WRIGHT SHOT BY A POLICE OFFICER WHO IN THE VIDEO WARNED SHE WAS GOING TO TASE HIM INSTEAD PULLING OUT A GUN AND KILLING HIM.

NOW, THE SIGNS OF PROTESTORS THERE AT THE BEAN HELD UP AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY SAYING IT IS NOT AN ACCIDENT IT IS MURDER.

SEEKING JUSTICE FOR DAUNTE WRIGHT.

ACTIVIST ERIC RUSSELL SAYS THESE ARE MODERN-DAY LYNCHINGS.

>> THE CLIENT USED TO TAKE US OUT INTO THE BACKWOODS BY TORCH LIGHT WEARING HOODS AND SHEETS.

NOW THE KLAN THE PREVAILING OPINION IS THAT THE KLAN HAS TURNED IN THEIR WHITE SHEETS FOR BLUE UNIFORMS AND THEY CARRY GUNS AND BADGES AND THEY LYNCH US IN BROAD DAYLIGHT WITH CAMERAS ROLLING FOR THE WORLD TO SEE.

>> RUSSELL HAVING NO PATIENCE FOR THE LIGHTFOOT ADMINISTRATION.

SAYING THAT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT IS A POLICE APOLOGIST.

>> LORI LIGHTFOOT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE, COMPENSATE AND REMEDY THE BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES HERE IN CHICAGO.

CHICAGO HAS GEORGE FLOYD'S.

CHICAGO HAS BREONNA TAYLOR'S.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE FAMILIES AND THE MAYOR HAS BEEN REMISS IN HER COMMITMENT TO REAL POLICE REFORM.

>> NOW, AGAIN, THAT PROTEST WAS MODEST.

ABOUT 100 PEOPLE GIVE OR TAKE.

AND AFTER THE BEAN THEY BEGAN A MARCH DOWN MICHIGAN AVENUE AND THEY WERE PLANNING TO GO TO THE GOLD COAST.

BUT RUSSELL SAYS THAT ACTIVISTS ARE PREPARING FOR MORE ACTION AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE HERE WAITING OUTSIDE C.O.P.A.

TO HEAR IF THE TOLEDO FAMILY IS GOING TO SPEAK AT ALL AND SHARE WITH THE REPORTERS HAS TO BE VERY DIFFICULT VIEWING EXPERIENCE THAT THEY WILL HAVE JUST HAD.

WITH THAT, BACK TO YOU.

>> YES, A CASE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WATCHING IN CHICAGO THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS WITH MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE FALLOUT.

PARIS?

>> BRANDIS A MAJOR HICCUP TODAY FOR ONE OF THE MAIN COVID-19 VACCINES OUT OF CAUTION, ILLINOIS STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ORDERED ALL CORONAVIRUS VACCINE PROVIDERS TO PAUSE THE ADMINISTERING OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON'S VACCINE AS FEDERAL OFFICIALS REVIEWED DATA INVOLVING SIX WOMEN WHO GOT A RARE AND SEVERE TYPE OF BLOOD CLOT AFTER THE ONE-DOSE VACCINE.

CHICAGO'S PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER SPOKE ABOUT THE NEWS.

>> WITH FEWER THAN 50,000 PEOPLE HAVING GOTTEN THE J & J VACCINE THE RATE OF THIS SEVERE SIDE EFFECT WE'RE SEEING IS ONE IN A MILLION.

I WOULD BE -- I WOULD NOT STATISTICALLY NECESSARILY EXPECT ANYBODY IN CHICAGO TO HAVE ONE OF THESE EVENTS BUT IT IS POSSIBLE.

>> AND JOINING US IS Dr. EMILY LANDON, EXECUTIVE MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL AT U CHICAGO MEDICINE.

Dr. LANDON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE SIX REPORTED BLOOD CLOT CASES TIED TO THE J & J VACCINE?

>> YEAH, SO THESE WOMEN HAD A BLOOD CLOT IN THE BLOOD SUPPLY IN THE BRAIN.

SIMILAR TO A STROKE.

THESE ARE NOT THE BLOOD CLOTS WE SEE SOMETIMES IN WOMEN OF THE SAME AGE GROUP WHERE THEY GET A BLOOD CLOT IN THEIR LEG OR LUNG THESE ARE MORE SERIOUS AND THEY ARE RELATED TO A LOW LEVEL OF BLOOD PLATELETS AND THAT SUGGESTS THERE IS AN IMMUNE RESPONSE AGAINST THE PLATELETS WHICH CREATES THIS BLOOD CLOT.

>> FOR THOSE THAT RECEIVED RECEIVED THE SHOT, YOU HEARD IT'S ONE IN A MILLION CASES.

BUT WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE THOSE WHO MIGHT BE WORRIED RIGHT NOW?

>> FIRST OF ALL YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET STRUCK BY LIGHTNING THAN YOU ARE TO HAVE THIS REACTION TO THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE.

ONE IN A MILLION EVERY EVERYONE EXCEPT FOR ONE WAS SUCCESSFULLY TREATED.

SO THE FIRST THING TO DO IS TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND DO NOT PANIC.

ALL OF THE CASES HAPPENED WITHIN 15 OR 16 DAYS OF THE SHOT BEING GIVEN AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO IS AT THE HIGHEST RISK AND WHICH GROUP IS SORT OF GOING TO BE THE MOST RISK AND THEY ARE CASTING A WIDE NET.

IF YOU GOT JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE IF YOU HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS NUMBNESS, TINGLING, STROKE LIKE SYMPTOMS OR TROUBLE BREATHING, ANYTHING CONCERNING, PLEASE CALL YOUR DOCTOR.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TALK YOU THROUGH IT AND WORK WITH YOU, CHANCES ARE GREAT AS Dr. ARWADY SAID THAT NO ONE IN ILLINOIS IS GOING TO HAVE ANY OF THESE SIDE EFFECTS.

ONE IN A MILLION IS SO SMALL THAT SHOULD GIVE EVERYONE CONFIDENCE IN HOW INCREDIBLY CAREFUL OUR FDA AND OUR CDC ARE IN TERMS OF WATCHING WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE VACCINES.

>> AND SPEAKING OF THAT RATE, Dr. FAUCI ADDRESSED THAT EARLIER TODAY.

LET'S TAKE A LISTEN.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN NOW 120 MILLION PEOPLE THAT HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF A VACCINE.

MOST OF THAT SUBTRACT THE 6.85 MILLION IS IN THE MESSENGER RNA FROM PFIZER AND FROM MODERNA.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO RED FLAGS SIGNALS FROM THOSE.

SO YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT TENS AND TENS AND TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED VACCINE WITH NO ADVERSE EFFECT.

THIS IS A REALLY RARE EVENT.

>> A VERY RARE EVENT Dr. LANDON WHY THEN WITH ONLY SIX CASES OUT OF SEVEN MILLION THE PAUSE HERE?

>> ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION AND MAKING SURE WE CAN KEEP EVERYONE'S CONFIDENCE IN VACCINES.

THERE ARE TONS OF DRUGS ON THE MARKET PEOPLE WATCHING I TAKE A MEDICATION THAT HAS A SERIOUS SIDE EFFECT THAT HAPPENS MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY THAN ONE IN A MILLION.

AND I NEED THAT MEDICINE FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM IN MY LIFE.

SO I TAKE THAT MEDICINE.

THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE TAKING MEDICINES LIKE THAT THAT DON'T EVER WORRY ABOUT HAVING THAT PROBLEM.

AND SO WHEN IT COMES TO A VACCINE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT SOMETHING IT'S BEST TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON BEFORE WE TAKE A PAUSE, LOOK AT THE DATA, MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION AND THEN I THINK WE WILL SEE A MORE LIMITED INDICATION THEY WILL SAY FOR THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE WE ARE CERTAIN THAT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE IS SAFE.

AND EVERYONE ELSE SHOULD GET MODERNA AND PFIZER THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT.

AND I THINK THE BEST THING IS PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS IS INCREDIBLY LOW RISK.

IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT IT'S CONNECTED YET.

>> WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR CHICAGO'S VACCINE AVAILABILITY AND COOK COUNTY'S AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS?

>> THAT WOULD BE A GREAT QUESTION FOR Dr. ARWADY.

WE ARE THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES GIVING JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINES.

JOHNSON & JOHNSON IS THE FASTEST WAY IMMUNE TO COVID WHICH IS IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW SINCE WE HAVE A WAVE OF INFECTIONS COMING OUR WAY FROM ABOVE US AND NORTH OF US.

AND FROM INSIDE OUR CITY.

BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO NOW IS JUST GET ON A LIST TO GET A VACCINE, GET WHATEVER VACCINE YOU ARE ABLE TO GET.

ONCE JOHNSON & JOHNSON IS BACK TO PROVIDING THE VACCINE TO WHOMEVER IS AN APPROPRIATE RISK LEVEL POLICE CONTINUE TO TRUST THEY ARE BEING EXTRA CAREFUL SUPER CAREFUL.

>> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE WILL EVENTLY COME BACK ON-LINE IN CHICAGO AND AROUND THE COUNTRY?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THIS VACCINE IS INCREDIBLY SAFE WITH ONE IN A MILLION PEOPLE POTENTIALLY HAVING A REACTION THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE VACCINE.

AND SEEMS TO BE IN A SPECIFIC AGE GROUP OF A SPECIFIC GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WE CAN TAKE THEM OUT OF THE POOL TO GET JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE.

>> ARE WOMEN BETWEEN LIKE 18-48?

THAT IS THE POOL THERE?

>> WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE.

THAT IS AN AGE GROUP THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE AND BLOOD CLOTTING AND THAT IS THE SAME AGE GROUP WE ARE SEEING THESE PARTICULAR CLOTS.

OTHERS CAN GET THE CLOTS AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SEARCH THROUGH THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE GOTTEN THIS VACCINE TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NOT OTHER AGE GROUPS AT RISK.

THE ASTRAZENECA VACCINE IN EUROPE IS APPROVED ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 50, BUT NOBODY OVER 50 OR 60 HAS HAD A BAD REACTION TO IT.

>> AND Dr. EMILY LANDON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AS ALWAYS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

>> SOME COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS ARE CALLING FOR THE CITY TO REOPEN MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS.

IN 2012 MAYOR USE MANUAL'S ADMINISTRATION CLOSED HALF OF THE CITY'S CLINICS, MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT CAMPAIGNED ON REOPENING THE CENTERS BUT FOCUSED SO FAR ON INVESTING IN ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

THIS FALL THE CITY ANNOUNCED 32 ORGANIZATIONS ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH AND WEST SIDES WOULD RECEIVE $8 MILLION TO EXPAND SERVICES.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS CALLS FOR THE CLINICS TO BE REOPENED AND THE CITY'S MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES ARE, DIANA CASTANEDA, DIRECTOR OF YOUTH AND CRISIS SERVICES AT COMMUNITY COUNSELING CENTERS OF COMMITTEE WHICH IS AMONG THE ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVING THE FUNDING FROM THE CITY.

A GROUP WORKING TO ADDRESS ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH HEALTHCARE IN CHICAGO.

MATT RICHARDS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER AT THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND AMIKA TENDA DIRECTOR OF BLACK LIVES MATTER CHICAGO AND ORGANIZED AROUND REOPENING MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS WITH STOP CHICAGO.

EARLIER TODAY, WE SPOKE WITH WOODLAWN RESIDENT HORACE WASHINGTON HOWARD ABOUT HOW THE CLINIC CLOSURE IMPACTED HIS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

HE SAYS HE USED TO LIVE BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE WOODLAWN CLINIC BEFORE IT CLOSED.

>> THE CLOSING OF THE WOODLAWN CLINIC IMPACTED ME VERY MUCH SO.

AT THAT TIME IT TOOK ALMOST THREE TO SIX MONTHS TO EVEN GET A THERAPIST.

AND NOW I WAS TRAVELING BY RAIL AND BUS TO LAURENCE WHICH IS 40 SOME HUNDRED NORTH.

>> REMIND US WHAT IMPACT THE CLOSURE HAS HAD ON RESIDENTS AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVED?

>> IT'S EXACERBATED A BIG PROBLEM IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

WE HAVE SEEN THROUGH RESEARCH THERE IS AN OVERWHELMING DEMAND FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH COMMISSIONS IN THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND THE DISPARITY IS A RATIO THAT WE'VE SEEN 22% OF THE CITY'S RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE MOST AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE IN EXCESS 4.5 THERAPISTS FOR 1,000.

AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE AN ACCESS RATIO OF .2 THERAPISTS FOR 1,000 RESIDENTS.

>> MATT RICHARDS, THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED IN THE FALL JUST OVER $9 MILLION ALLOCATED TO 32 ORGANIZATIONS ON THE CITY'S SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

TELL US HOW THAT PROGRAM IS WORKING TO HELP THOSE MOST IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES?

>> THANK YOU, BRANDIS.

THE MAYOR'S STRATEGY HAS INVOLVED TRIPLING THE CITY'S MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET IN HER FIRST TWO YEARS IN OFFICE.

IT'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT AND WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON EXPANDING CARE TO SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO PROVIDE CARE REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY, HEALTH INSURANCE STATUS OR IMMIGRATION STATUS WE MADE THAT 8 MILLION INVESTMENT PRIMARY HE WILL ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

ALL THE SERVICES ARE UP AND RUNNING THEY HAVE BEEN SINCE OCTOBER FIRST OF LAST YEAR.

WE'VE INTEGRATED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS OR ABOUT TO ACROSS THE 9-1-1 SYSTEM FOR THE FIRST TIME.

WE'RE FUNDING TEAM-BASED CARE NOT ALL PATIENTS ESPECIALLY PATIENTS WITH MORE COMPLEX NEEDS MAY BENEFIT FROM HAVING FOLKS COME TO THEM RATHER THAN COMING INTO A CLINK.

WE ARE INCORPORATED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACROSS THE HOMELESS SHELTER SYSTEM.

WE HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY BUSY BECAUSE WE HAVE TRIPLED THAT BUDGET THERE IS NO DOUBT WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO DO IT.

>> AMIKA TENDA, YOU ARE AMONG THE FOLKS WHO ARE CALLING ON THE CITY TO REOPEN THOSE CLINICS.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT WHEN THE CITY SAYS THAT IT IS MAKING INVESTMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH OTHER AVENUES?

>> CRITICAL WE REOPEN THE PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS BECAUSE THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS NOT ACCOUNTABLE.

LAST PREPANDEMIC LAST YEAR WE HAD ALDERMEN AND A TEAM CALL THE SITES THAT THE CITY SAID WERE AVAILABLE MANY WERE NOT.

MANY DID NOT ANSWER THE PHONE OR RESPOND IN ANYWAY.

WE NEED PUBLIC CLINICS SO THAT WE CAN HOLD SOMEONE ACCOUNTABLE.

IN ADDITION, IT'S CITY WITH GENTRIFICATION AND POLICE BRUTALITY THAT IS CAUSING AND EXACERBATING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FOR ITS CITY IT SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HEALING CHICAGOANS.

>> DIANA CASTANEDA YOUR ORGANIZATIONS IS AMONG THOSE RECEIVING THE FUNDS.

HOW HAS THAT IMPACTED THE WORK THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO DO?

>> IT'S HELPED US IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

ONE IS THE REALLY HELPS US IN THE FIGHT FOR EQUITY.

WE HAVE BEEN SEEING THE ISSUES FOR A LONGTIME.

WITH THE MONEY THAT THE CITY HAS ALLOTTED THROUGH THE GRANTS WE ARE WORKING WITH FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE WEST SIDE.

RIGHT NOW, ANYBODY CAN CALL US AND GET SERVICES RIGHT AWAY.

THE SECOND WAY IS THAT IT'S FOCUSED ON PREVENTION SERVICES INSTEAD OF CRISIS SERVICES.

WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF DOING CRISIS WORK WELL BUT WITH WANT TO HELP PEOPLE HEAL FROM THE BEGINNING AND HELP THEM GET ACCESS.

AND PART OF US ALLOCATING BECAUSE OF THE MONEY THE CITY GAVE US, ALLOCATING STRAIGHT TO FIVE WEST SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHERE THEY CAN CALL AND GET SERVICES RIGHT AWAY WHETHER THAT IS CRISIS, PREVENTION, TRAUMA AND HEALING WHATEVER THEY NEED.

>> ARTURO YOU HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING RESEARCH TO ACCESS IS THE NEED BEING MET?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THIS IS LAUGHABLE.

WE ARE TALKING $8 MILLION.

THIS PUT THIS INTO PERSPECTIVE.

I INVITE YOUR VIEWERS TO DIVIDE 8 MILLION DOLLARS TO 1.7 BILLION.

THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE CITY IS PUTTING TOWARDS POLICING.

HALF A PENNY OF EVERY DOLLAR GOING INTO POLICING IS INVESTED.

WHAT WE NEED IS THE CITY TO TAKE THE OWNERSHIP AND REOPEN THE CLINICS AND MAKE THE CLINICS AS A SAFETY NET FOR THE RESIDENTS.

WE FOUND AFTER THIS INITIATIVE HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED, WE FOUND THAT 86% OF RESIDENTS IN THE RECENT SURVEY SAID THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

ADD IN A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO ORGANIZATIONS DOES NOT INCREASE THE ACTS TO CARE WHERE WE HAVE DESPERATE NEED FOR SERVICES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY.

>> MATT RICHARDS I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND?

>> OUR FOCUS IS REALLY ABOUT STRENGTHENING THE SYSTEMS THAT PROVIDE CARE REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY, HEALTH INSURANCE STATUS AND IMMIGRATION STATUS.

THAT IS 200 HEALTH CENTERS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO THAT ARE REGULATED, COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS ACCREDITED BY THE STATE.

FIVE OF THOSE OVER 200 ARE CLINICS OPERATED BY THE CITY.

WE VALUE THOSE CLINICS.

WE HAVE INVESTED MILLIONS SINCE THE MAYOR HAS TAKEN OFFICE.

WE HAVE FUNDAMENTALLY TRANSFORMED FOUR OF THE FIVE SITES THAT NEEDED A LOT OF INVESTMENT SO IT'S NOT CITY SERVICES VERSUS THE BROADER SYSTEM.

IT'S BOTH.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE'VE DONE FROM THE BEGINNING IS INVESTING IN OUR OWN CLINICS AND RECOGNIZING THAT FOLKS GET THEIR CARE IN A LOT OF PLACES AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO INVEST IN THE LOCATIONS AS WELL.

>> ARE YOU ABLE TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE HOW THE CITY'S INVESTMENT IN C4 HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP YOU ALL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES OR INCREASE CAPACITY?

>> SO REALLY AS IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT THERE IS HUGE WORKFORCE ISSUE.

WHAT IT HAS ALLOWED US TO DO IS TO TAKE CLINICIANS AND HAVE THEM DEDICATE THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO JTS RELATIONSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS, WITH THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE MONEY TO SERVE IN THIS EQUITY THING.

CERTAINLY THERE'S HIGH NEED IN THE CITY AND NOT RESOURCES CAN'T GO EVERYWHERE.

WHAT THE MONEY FROM THE CITY IS HELPING THAT WE'RE ALLOCATING THE RESOURCES TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE OFTEN BEEN HARMED BY INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND THINGS LIKE POLICE BRUTALITY, VIOLENCE, DISINVESTMENTS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE ARE OUR STRATEGY IS TO FOCUS ON THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED IN THAT WAY UNDERSTANDING WE CANNOT SERVE EVERYONE.

WE ARE MAKING CHOICES TO SERVE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY DISENFRANCHISED.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THE CLINICS WERE CLOSED?

>> THERE IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH AND FOLKS REALLY WE NEED THE RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR PUBLIC AND ACCOUNTABLE MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS, TO MAKE SURE THINGS CAN SHIFT FROM COMPLETELY FREE OF CARE TO THERE IS A CHARGE IF IT'S PRIVATE.

AND OUR FOLKS ARE DEDICATED TO IT HAS TO BE PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS EVERYWHERE ACCESS TO QUALITY CLINICIANS EVERYWHERE FOR EVERYONE.

>> AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THANKS TO DIANA CASTANEDA, AUR TUROW RA KEY YO, MATT RICHARDS AND AMIKA TENDA FOR JOINING US.

AND TO PHIL PONCE AND WEIGHING CHANGES TO THE COUNTRY'S HIGHEST COURT.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCED THAT A BIPARTISAN COMMISSION WILL SPEND SIX MONTHS STUDYING POSSIBLE CHANGES TO THE SUPREME COURT.

WHAT KIND OF CHANGES ARE ON THE TABLE?

ADDING MORE SEATS TO THE COURT AND INSTITUTING TERM LIMITS FOR JUSTICES AMONG OTHER THINGS.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT HIS RESEARCH ON THE TOPIC IS ADAM CHILTON A PROFESSOR AND THE WALTER MANDER RESEARCH SCHOLAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LAW SCHOOL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT THE CONGRESS CAN DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF JUSTICES AND THERE HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN NINE JUSTICES.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

THE CONSTITUTION DOESN'T MENTION THE NUMBER OF JUSTICES ON THE SUPREME COURT.

THE FIRST CONGRESS SET THE NUMBER AT SIX JUSTICES.

AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE 17 AND 1800'S THAT NUMBER MOVED UP AND DOWN ABOUT SEVEN TIMES N1859 THE NUMBER SETTLED ON NINE JUSTICES AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY EVER SINCE.

>> NINE JUSTICES SINCE 1869.

AND WE WILL GET TO THE PROSPECT OF INCREASING THE SIZE IN A MINUTE.

ANOTHER OPTION ON THE TABLE IS TERM LIMITS FOR JUSTICES AND THE MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED POTENTIAL TERM IS AN 18-YEAR TERM.

IS THAT A GOOD IDEA?

>> YES, I THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA THAT WITH AN 18-YEAR TERM IT INSURES THAT EVERY PRESIDENT THAT IS ELECTED WOULD BE ABLE TO APPOINT TWO JUSTICES.

SO WHEN IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS AND ONE IN THE SECOND TWO YEARS AND THAT WOULD HAVE A NICE AFFECT LINKING THE COMPOSITION OF THE SUPREME COURT TO ELECTORAL OUTCOMES AND IT'S DETERMINED WHEN THE JUSTICES DIE OR RETIRE.

YOU HAVE SITUATIONS WHEN JIMMY CARTER WAS ABLE TO APPOINT ZERO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES DURING HIS FOUR-YEAR TERM BUT DONALD TRUMP WAS ABLE TO APPOINT THREE.

SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT IS DETERMINED BY LUCK AND STRATEGIC BEHAVIOR AND THE TERM LIMITS WOULD HELP TO EVEN THE APPOINTMENTS ACROSS PRESIDENTIAL TERMS.

>> AND YOU HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS YOU RAN MODELS.

WHAT DID THAT RESEARCH TELL YOU AND YOU TOUCHED ON IT, BUT WHAT DID THE RESEARCH TELL YOU WHAT TERM LIMITS OF 18 YEARS WOULD DO TO THE LIBERAL-CONSERVATIVE BREAKDOWN ON THE COURT?

>> ONE IMPACT THAT IT WOULD BE THE BALANCE OF THE SUPREME COURT WOULD BE LESS LIKELY TO BE EXTREMELY PARTISAN.

IT WOULD BE LESS LIKELY THAT YOU WOULD HAVE YEARS WHICH THERE WERE SEVEN OR EIGHT JUSTICES APPOINTED BY PRESIDENTS FROM THE SAME PARTY AND THE REASON IS OUR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS GO BACK AND FORTH.

WE HAVE BIDEN BEFORE THAT IT WAS TRUMP BEFORE THAT OBAMA ET CETERA BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

AND IF YOU HAVE TERM LIMITS THAT INSURE THAT WAS THE COURT REFLECTS THE ELECTORAL OUTCOMES YOU HAVE MORE YEARS WITH FIVE OR SIX JUSTICES FROM THE SAME PARTY COMPOSING THE MAJORITY INSTEAD OF SEVEN OR EIGHT.

>> MY UNDERSTAND SOMETHING THAT TERM LIMITS HAVE A MORE SEEM TO HAVE MORE SUPPORT AMONG BOTH LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES THAN ADDING SEATS TO THE COURT.

WHY IS THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT HAVING TERM LIMITS IS A SYSTEM WHERE IT SEEMS STABLE LONG-TERM AND ALSO FAIR.

IF WE ADD SEATS NOW IT WOULD CREATE A WINDFALL FOR THE PARTY THAT IS ABLE TO ADD THE SEATS AND THE NATURAL RESPONSE IN THE FUTURE WHEN THERE IS A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT AND SENATE THEY WOULD BE TEMPTED TO ADD SEATS AS WELL.

THE WORRY IS YOU HAVE TIT FOR TAT RESPONSE.

>> MY UNDERSTAND SOMETHING THAT YOU AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THINK THAT THE PROSPECT OF ADDING SEATS TO THE COURT IS DEAD IN THE WATER.

IS THAT HOW YOU FEEL?

>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

WITH THE DEMOCRATS ONLY HAVING 51 VOTES IN THE SENATE AND THE CURRENTLY THE UNWILLINGNESS TO GET RID OF THE FILL BURSTER THE PROSPECT OF ADDING MORE SEATS TO THE SUPREME COURT IS UNLIKELY IN THE CURRENT SITUATION.

>> GOING BACK TO THE PROSPECT OF TERM LIMITS HOW WOULD THAT WORK?

WOULD IT BE DONE BY STATUTE?

WOULD IT HAVE TO BE DONE VIA CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT?

>> THIS IS HOTLY DEBATED.

WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS IS THAT THE JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT SHALL SERVE IN A TERM OF GOOD BEHAVIOR.

NOW, GOOD BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN INTERPRETED TO MEAN THAT THE JUSTICES CANNOT BE REMOVED UNLESS THEY COMMIT AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE.

ANY TERM LIMIT PLAN TO GET RID OF THE CURRENT JUSTICES OR PUT A HARD CAP ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME ON 18 YEARS WOULD REQUIRE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

HOWEVER, A NUMBER PLANS INSTEAD CALL FOR THE IDEA THAT AFTER 18 YEARS ON THE COURT, THAT THE JUSTICES WOULD STILL BE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES BUT THEY WOULD TRANSITION TO SENIOR STAT WITH US DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES.

THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERNAL DELIBERATIONS OR THE MANAGE MANY OF THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY OR SIT ON LOWER COURT CASES BUT THEY WOULD NOT BE DECIDING THE MERIT CASES IN FRONT OF THE SUPREME COURT.

IF THE TERM LIMITS TAKES THAT APPROACH IT'S POSSIBLE IT CAN BE DONE BY A STATUTE.

>> IF IT WERE DONE VIA STATUTE, PRESUMABLY THAT WOULD CHALLENGE THE STATUTE AND COULD IT BE DECIDED BY THE SUPREME COURT ITSELF?

>> YES, THAT IS RIGHT.

ULTIMATELY WHETHER OR NOT THE TERM LIMITS WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE CONSTITUTION, IS A CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION AND THAT IS A QUESTION THAT THE SUPREME COURT WOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE.

SO YOU NOT ONLY HAVE TO CONVINCE THE SENATORS AND CONGRESS PEOPLE TO PASS THE TERM LIMITS PLAN YOU HAVE TO CONVINCE JOHN ROBERTS AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SUPREME AS WELL AND THAT MIGHT BE TRICKY BECAUSE THEY WERE SIGNING AWAY THEIR RIGHT TO A LIFETIME APPOINT MANY OF HAVING A POSITION OF HUGE INFLUENCE.

>> IT'S UNLIKELY THEY WOULD RECUSE THEMSELVES ON AN ISSUE SO PERSONAL.

ADAM CHILTON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND BRANDIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> PHIL, THANK YOU.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", A FINE FOR BREAKING CAMPAIGN FINANCE RULES REDUCED BY THOUSANDS FOR ALDERMAN CARRIE AUSTIN WE'LL TELL YOU WHY.

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MOVES TO JOIN A LAWSUIT THAT CLAIMS CHICAGO HAS FAILED TO MAKE CROSSWALKS FOR THOSE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED.

SOME ARE CALLING FOR $50,000 IN STUDENT LOAN DEBT FORGIVEN WHAT IMPACT COULD THAT HAVE ON THE ECONOMY AND TAXATION?

AFTER SIX DECADES OF KEEPING CHICAGO SPICETY, LA CRIOLLA FOODS IS POISED FOR GROWTH WITH THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

FIRST MORE TOP STORIES.

KENOSHA POLICE OFFICER RUSTIN SHESKEY WILL NOT FACE CHARGES FOR THE SHOOTING OF JACOB BLAKE.

THE KENOSHA POLICE CHIEF SAID THE INCIDENT WAS INVESTIGATED BY AN OUTSIDE AGENCY, REVIEWED BY AN INDEPENDENT EXPERT AND THE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THAT CHEFKY WAS ASKING WITHIN POLICY.

BLAKE WAS SHOT SEVEN TIMES IN THE BLACK AND LEFT PARALYZED.

SHESKEY RETURNED FROM LEAVE LAST MONTH.

>> NEW MOTHERS CAN CONTINUE ON MEDICAID FOR A FULL YEAR AFTER DELIVERING BABIES.

THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THE EXTENSION TODAY MAKING ILLINOIS I WILL THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TO EXTEND COVERAGE TO 12 MONTHS.

RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT IN ILLINOIS BLACK WOMEN ARE SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE OF A PREGNANCY RELATED CONDITION THAN WHITE WOMEN AND 70% OF THOSE DEATHS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.

AND TO PARIS WITH DETAILS WITH A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN FINES FOR ONE ALDERMAN.

PARIS?

>> THANKS.

34TH WARD ALDERMAN CARRIE AUSTIN WILL PAY 5,000 IN FINES FOR VIOLATING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION RULES THAT MIGHT SOUND LIKE A LOT BUT NOT AFTER THE ORIGINAL FINE IT WAS 145,000.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US WITH MORE.

REMIND US WHAT ALDERMAN AUSTIN WAS CHARGED WITH BY THE ETHICS DEPARTMENT AND WHY THAT FINE HAS GONE DOWN $140,000.

>> THE CITY HAS RULES THAT SAYS THAT IF YOU ARE A COMPANY OR INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS A CITY CONTRACT YOU'RE LIMITED TO GIVING THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN, CITY TREASURER AND CITY CLERK ONLY $1600.

THAT'S IT FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.

ALDERMAN AUSTIN ACCEPTED $48,000 FROM BENCHMARK CONSTRUCTION COMPANY OVER TWO YEARS IN 2017 AND 2019 BLOWING THOSE LIMITS AND THE ETHICS BOARD HIT HARD IN JANUARY WITH THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED WHICH IS THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF THE IMPROPER CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION.

BUT ON MONDAY, THE BOARD MET AND DECIDED THAT THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT TOO TOUGH GIVEN THE EQUITIES OF THE SITUATION.

THEY SAID THEY WOULD FINE HER $5,000 THE SAME AMOUNT THEY HIT THE COMPANY WITH THAT MADE THE IMPROPER CONTRIBUTIONS TO BEGIN WITH.

>> THE BOARD RETHINKING THAT FINE.

AND ALDERMAN AUSTIN WE REMEMBER IN 2019 HER OFFICE WAS RAIDED BY THE FEDS.

WHAT IS THE LATEST WITH THAT FEDERAL INVESTIGATION OR APPARENT INVESTIGATION?

>> YEAH, WOULDN'T WE LIKE TO KNOW?

THE ALDERMAN THE SECOND LONGEST SERVING ALDERMAN ON THE CITY COUNCIL HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED AND DENIES WRONGDOING.

AND THIS IS WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT CITY HALL FOR YEARS NOW.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS GOING ON BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT STATUS THEY ARE IN OR WHETHER THEY ARE STILL ACTIVE.

SO WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT-AND-SEE IF SOMETHING ELSE POPS NEWSPAPER REGARDS TO ALDERMAN AUSTIN WHO IS USED TO BE THE CHAIR OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE BUT WAS OUSTED BY MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT.

>> I REMEMBER ROAMING AROUND CITY HALL AND EVERY ALDERMEN WORRIED ABOUT OTHER ALDERMEN WEARING A WIRE.

>> BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> LATE LAST WEEK, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MOVED TO JOIN A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY OF CHICAGO THAT ALLEGES IT'S FAILED TO MAKE CROSSWALKS ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE MIND, DEAF BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION.

THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO INSTALL SIGNALS THAT GIVE AUDIO OR QUEUES THAT IT'S SAFE TO CROSS THE STREET.

ACCORDING TO THE SUIT CITY HAS 15 OF THOSE AT ITS 2700 INTERSECTIONS WITH VISUAL CROSSWALK SIGNALS.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE SUIT ARE JULIE TYE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE HADLEY INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED.

AND RANDALL SCHMIDT CLINICAL PROFESSORS OF LAW AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND THE DIRECTOR AT THE MANDEL LEGAL AID CLINIC.

WE INVITED THE CITY TO JOIN US BUT THEY DECLINED.

IN A STATEMENT THE LAW DEPARTMENT SAYS QUOTE...

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

JULIE WHAT IS THE SCALE IN ERPL IT IS OF PEOPLE AFFECTED?

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY BLINDNESS AND LOW VISION?

>> BRANDIS, IT IS PRIMARILY OLDER ADULTS WHO ARE IMPACTED AS A RESULT OF AGE-RELATED EYE DISEASE.

MACULAR DEGENERATION, GLAUCOMA, RETINOPATHY.

10,000 PEOPLE TURN 65 EVERYDAY.

THE INCIDENTS OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IS INCREASING RAPIDLY.

SO I THINK AN EASY WAY TO IMAGINE IT IS THAT FOR EVERY THREE OLDER ADULTS IN YOUR LIFE OR ON THE STREET, ONE IS LIKELY TO BE LEGALLY BLIND.

>> RANDY, WHAT ARE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE AS FAR AS ACCESSIBILITY?

>> WELL, BOTH THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973 AND THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT FROM THE 1990s REQUIRE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PROVIDE IN ESSENCE THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BE TREATED EQUALLY.

AND IN THIS CONTEXT, WHAT THE LAW IS BEING INTERPRETED AS REQUIRING IS EQUAL ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

SO AT THESE CROSSWALKS THE WALK, DON'T WALK SIGNS THAT WE SEE ARE PROVIDING US WITH INFORMATION AND PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED ARE NOT HAVING EQUAL ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION.

>> JULIE WHAT CROSSWALKS CAN CITIES AND INSTALL FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE VISION ISSUES OR ARE DEAF BLIND?

>> THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES FOR PEOPLE VISUALLY IMPAIRED THERE ARE AUDIBLE SIGNALS.

THERE ARE ALSO CHIRPS AND TALKING MESSAGES.

SO YOU CAN SAY YOU CANNOT CROSS RIGHT NOW BETWEEN GREEN BAY ROAD AND ELM STREET.

THOSE ARE POSSIBLE.

AND FOR THE DEAF-BLIND COMMUNITY, EMERGING TECHNOLOGY FOR VIBRATING SURFACES AN ACTUAL ABILITY TO FEEL WHEN IT IS SAFE TO CROSS.

>> RANDY WHAT COULD A LAWSUIT LIKE THIS ACHIEVE?

>> WELL, MOST IMPORTANTLY IT CAN ACHIEVE RELIEF THAT REQUIRES AN ORDER REQUIRING THE CITY TO INSTALL SOME TYPE OF DEVICE SO THAT PEOPLE VISUALLY IMPAIRED KNOW WHEN IT'S SAFE TO CROSS THE INTERSECTIONS.

THERE ARE ONLY 15 OF THESE OUT OF 2700 INTERSECTIONS THAT THE CITY HAS DEEMED REQUIRES THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED TO SIGHTED PEOPLE BUT NOT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED.

THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RELIEF AND THE POSSIBILITY OF COMPENSATORY DAMAGES IF THE PLAINTIFFS SHOW THAT THE CITY ACTED WITH IN ESSENCE INTENTIONALLY DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

JULIE IS IT POSSIBLE THAT SOME PEOPLE FELLOW PEDESTRIANS MAYBE ARE NOT AWARE OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY BLINDNESS OR LOW VISION PROBLEMS?

NOT EVERYONE USES A SERVICE DOG OR WALKS WITH A KANE?

>> THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT.

IT IS LARGELY AN INVISIBLE DISABILITY.

SO OBVIOUSLY IF YOU SEE SOMEBODY WITH A WHITE KANE OR A DOG IT IS A SIGNAL THEY ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED.

BUT FOR LOW VISION, FOR LEGAL BLINDNESS AND SOME DEGREE OF VISION YOU ARE NOT LIKELY TO KNOW THAT THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU IS STRUGGLING TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN CROSS THE STREET.

>> RANDY HOW DIFFICULT CAN A DISCRIMINATION CASE BE TO PROVE IN THIS INSTANCE?

>> DISCRIMINATION CASES IN GENERAL ARE ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO PROVE.

IN THIS CASE, THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT SUGGEST TO ME THAT THE PLAINTIFFS HAVE FAIRLY DECENT CASE.

FIRST, JUST THE SHEAR NUMBERS.

15 OUT OF 2700.

THE CITY NEEDS TO EXPLAIN WHY THEY HAVE KNOWN SINCE 2006 THEY NEED TO INCREASE THIS YET THERE ARE 15 INTERSECTIONS THAT ARE PROTECTED.

AND SECONDLY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DECISION TO INTERVENE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DID THIS AFTER AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS AND ITS INVESTIGATION DOJ CONCLUDED THE CITY WAS VIOLATING THE TWO ACTS SO THEY ARE SEEKING TO INTERVENE.

>> JULIE ARE YOU HOPEFUL THAT ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS WILL BECOME COMMONPLACE IN CHICAGO AND OTHER CITIES?

>> YES, I'M VERY HOPEFUL.

I BELIEVE THE CITY OF CHICAGO CARES ABOUT ITS CITIZENS AND WANTS TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

IT'S COMPLEX CITIES HAVE LOTS OF PRIORITIES.

I THINK THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S INTERVENTION IS GOING TO MAKE THIS A HIGHER PRIORITY AND I HAVE TO WONDER IF IT ISN'T SENDING A SIGNAL TO OTHER CITIES THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT.

AND IT GIVES CHICAGO AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A MODEL CITY FOR OTHER CITIES.

>> OK. THAT IS WHERE WE WILL LEAVE IT.

JULIE TYE AND RANDALL SCHMIDT THANK YOU FOR JOINING US I'M SURE THE TWO OF YOU WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THIS CASE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD NIGHT.

>> UP NEXT, THE DEBATE OVER CANCELING STUDENT DEBT.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... MORE THAN 1.7 TRILLION DOLLARS THAT IS HOW MUCH TOTAL STUDENT DEBT THAT AMERICANS OWE.

NOW, THERE ARE NEW CALLS FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TO CANCEL UP TO $50,000 OR MORE OF LOAN DEBT PER STUDENT.

BUT CRITICS SAY IT WOULD PUT AN UNDO BURDEN ON AMERICANS THAT NEVER WENT TO COLLEGE.

JOINING US ARE CODY HOUNANIAN PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA BASED ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION STUDENT DEBT CRISIS.

AND BRAD POLUMBO, POLICY CONSULTANT FOR THE LIBERTARIAN THINK TANK FOUNDATION TORE ECONOMIC EDUCATION BASED IN WASHINGTON D.C.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

CODY, YOUR BASIC CASE FOR CANCELING SOME LEVEL OF STUDENT DEBT?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

THIS ISSUE HAS BECOME ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES FOR AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND I'M HAPPY TO ECHO THEIR VOICES.

YOU KNOW DEBT CANCELLATION IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR MANY REASONS BUT DURING THE PANDEMIC FIRST AND FOREMOST WE NEED A STIMULUS WE NEED SOMETHING THAT CAN BE IMMEDIATELY DONE TO BOOST THE ECONOMY AND WE KNOW THE PRESIDENT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO CANCEL STUDENT DEBT WITH EXECUTIVE ACTION AND IT WOULD ADD OVER $100 BILLION TO THE ECONOMY AND ADD JOBS TO THE ECONOMY.

WE NEED THAT NOW DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> BRAD YOU'VE WRITTEN IN THE NATIONAL REVIEW YOU THINK THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD AMOUNT TO A REGRESSIVE TAX.

EXPLAIN HOW YOU THINK THAT IS?

>> YES, THAT NOT MY OPINION THAT IS THE FINDING OF A UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO STUDY THAT FOUND THAT STUDENT DEBT CANCELLATION WOULD GIVE SIX TIMES MORE BENEFIT TO THE TOP 20% OF INCOME EARNERS THAN IT WOULD TO THE BOTTOM 20% OF INCOME EARNERS.

SO STUDENT DEBT CANCELLATION IS TALKED ABOUT AS A PROGRESSIVE PROPOSAL BUT AS THINLY VEILED TAXPAYER FUNDED BAILOUT FOR WEALTHY EDUCATED AND RELATIVELY WELL OFF PEOPLE.

ONLY ONE IN THREE ADULTS OVER 25 WENT TO COLLEGE.

BUT WHEN YOU FORCE TAXPAYERS TO PAY OFF THEIR STUDENT DEBT THAT INCLUDES THE TWO-THIRDS OF ADULTS WHO NEVER WENT TO COLLEGE.

YOU ARE REDISTRIBUTING RESOURCES TO A WELL OFFICE SLICE OF SOCIETY.

>> CODY HOUNANIAN "ABOUT FACE: STONEWALL, REVOLT AND NEW QUEER ART" THAT ARGUMENT IT'S DEGREE RESPECT STEF IN IT AFFECTS HIGHER EARNERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE COLLEGE COLLEAGUES AND THUS STUDENT DEBT?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT RESEARCH IS FLAWED AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE FOR EVERY PERSON WHO NEVER HAD TO TAKE OUT STUDENT LOANS BECAUSE THEY ARE WEALTHY, BECAUSE FROM PRIVILEGE THEY ARE NOT WELL REPRESENTED IN THE DATA.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE POPULATION OF WHO HAS STUDENT LOAN DEBT YES THERE IS A PORTION THAT IS WHITE AND HAS A HIGHER INCOME.

BUT THERE'S ALSO THE MANY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IMPACTED BY PREDATORY FOR-PROFIT COLLEGES.

ALL THE PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT COMPLETE AND HAVE POOR JOB PROSPECTS.

WE KNOW THAT DEBT CANCELLATION WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES AS WELL.

AND LET'S NOT FORGET THAT DEBT CANCELLATION HELPS OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY.

WE KNOW POLLS HAVE SHOWN THAT A MAJORITY OF VOTERS THOSE WHO NEVER HAD STUDENT LOANS, AND THOSE WHO PAID BACK THEIR STUDENT LOANS SUPPORT CANCELING STUDENT LOAN DEBT BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT'S WRONG IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY IMMORAL THAT OUR SYSTEM CRUSHES STUDENTS WITH DEBT.

>> BRAD POLUMBO WHAT ABOUT THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THOSE WITH DEBT WOULD THERE NOT BE AN ECONOMIC STIMULUS TO CANCELING SOME LEVEL OF STUDENT DEBT?

>> NO.

THERE WOULDN'T BE.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE DEBT IS PAID BACK OVER DECADES.

SPENDING 1.5 OR MORE TRILLION IN DOLLARS RIGHT NOW TO CREATE $100 BILLION IN ECONOMIC GROWTH IS NOT A GOOD TRADE OFF.

EVERY DOLLAR SPENT SOMEWHERE HAS TO BE TAKE FRIEND SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT CREATE MONEY OUT OF THIN AIR THEY CAN CREATE MONEY BUT NOT RESOURCES.

THE NONPARTISAN COMMITTEE FOR RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL BUDGET FOUND THAT STUDENT DEBT RELIEF IS NOT EFFECTIVE ECONOMIC STIMULUS.

SO WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS A FORM OF ECONOMIC STIMULUS WE ARE MISSING THE PLOT.

THAT IS 1.5 THRILL YOON THAT COULD COME FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> THE PRESIDENT CAMPAIGNED ON 10,000 OF STUDENT DEBT CANCELLATION AND DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING FOR 50,000.

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LEVEL?

IS THERE A LEVEL THAT YOU PREFER?

>> YOU KNOW AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS OVER TWO MILLION AMERICANS IMPACTED BY STUDENT LOAN DEBT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR BROAD-BASED DEBT CANCELLATION THE MOST AMOUNT OF RELIEF.

BUT OF THE PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE $50,000 IS THE ONE THAT WE ARE STANDING BY AND OVER A MILLION OF OUR SUPPORTERS ARE STANDING BY TO PETITION SIGNATURES AND ACTION AND THAT IS BECAUSE THAT WOULD PROVIDE DEBT RELIEF FOR OVER 80% OF PEOPLE WITH STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

ERASE IT.

BUT I HAVE TO GO BACK TO BRAD'S POINT ABOUT SPENDING $1 TRILLION ON $100 BILLION IN STIMULUS.

THAT IS JUST NOT CORRECT.

THE MONEY SPENT ON STUDENT LOANS IS OUT THE DOOR.

WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS NOT RECEIVING PAYMENTS FROM STUDENT LOANS.

>> TAXPAYERS HAVE TO PAY OFF THE MONEY.

>> IT COULD TAKE SEVERAL DECADES FOR THAT TO REACH OVER A TRILLION.

>> AND MENTION NOT A LOT OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING IS ACCOUNTED FOR.

IT'S DEBT AND THE FED PRINTING MORE MONEY BUT GO AHEAD.

>> BOTH THINGS HAVE REAL ECONOMIC COSTS.

>> NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

>> I THINK THE IDEA THAT CANCELING STUDENT LOAN DEBT MEANS THE GOVERNMENT IS PAYING OFF PEOPLE'S LOANS AS IF THEY ARE WRITING A CHECK TO A BANK THAT IS NOT HOW IT WORKS THAT IS A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE SYSTEM AND IMPORTANT DETAIL TO POINT OUT.

>> BRAD POLUMBO, DO YOU PERSONALLY HAVE STUDENT DEBT?

AND DESPITE THE ECONOMIC NUMBERS THAT YOU MENTIONED DO YOU SYMPATHIZE WITH PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE OVER THEIR HEAD IN DEBT?

>> LOOK THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT I SYMPATHIZE WITH.

BUT BY AND LARGE, THE IDEA THIS IS A CRISIS IS OVERBLOWN.

THE MEDIAN MONTHLY STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT IS BETWEEN 200 AND $300.

IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO PAY THAT WITH A COLLEGE DEGREE IT'S BECAUSE YOU MADE A MISTAKE SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE.

MAYBE YOU CHOSE TO STUDY FRENCH POETRY INSTEAD OF ACCOUNTING BUSINESS OR STEM.

BUT THAT IS YOUR DECISION AND PASSING ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT DECISION TO OTHER PEOPLE IS WHAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY IMMORAL.

I DO NOT HAVE STUDENT DEBT BECAUSE I CHOSE AN AFFORDABLE COLLEGE, GRADUATED A YEAR EARLY AND WORKED NIGHTS AS A SECURITY GUARD TO AVOID THAT DEBT.

AND TO TAKE OTHER PEOPLE'S DEBT AND OTHER PEOPLE'S DECISIONS WHO MAY BE CHOSE TO GO TO AN EXPENSIVE PRIVATE SCHOOL AND TAKE FIVE YEARS TO GRADUATE, TO MAKE ME PAY FOR THAT, THAT IS WHAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY IMMORAL.

>> CODY I WANT YOU TO RESPOND TO THAT.

IS IT PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE CHOICES THEY MADE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

PEOPLE WHO BORROW TO PAY FOR COLLEGE THEY KNOW THE RESPONSIBILITY THEY ARE TAKING ON.

BUT SOMEONE WHO HAS STUDENT LOAN DEBT WENT TO A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY AND WORKED MY WAY THROUGH COLLEGE, I LIVED THE EXPERIENCE AND TALK TO BORROWERS EVERYDAY AND THE REALITY IS THAT PAYING BACK THE DEBT IS PROBLEMATIC WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT COMPOUNDING INTEREST AND A BROKEN STUDENT LOAN SYSTEM, AND FOR-PROFIT PREDATORY COLLEGES AND STUDENT LOAN SERVICING COMPANIES THAT TODAY WERE ON THE HILL GETTING GRILLED BY SENATORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

I'M QUOTING THE G.O.P.

SENATOR TODAY WHO SAID IF OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST CANNOT GET IT, THEN SOMETHING'S WRONG.

THAT IS THE REALITY OF THE SYSTEM TODAY.

THAT IS WHY IT IS A CRISIS AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE PAYMENTS IT'S ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO PURCHASE A HOME OR START A FAMILY OR START A BUSINESS.

>> THANKS TO CODY HOUNANIAN AND BRAD POLUMBO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WHEN AVELINA MALDONADO STARTED HIS SPICE DISTRIBUTION COMPANY LA CRIOLLA IN CHICAGO IN 1957 THE BIGGEST WAY OF LATINO IMMIGRANTS HAD YET TO ARRIVE.

64 YEARS LATER LATINOS MAKEUP 30% OF THE CITY'S POPULATION AND LA CRIOLLA HAS NEW OWNERS WHO HOPE TO BRING THEIR FLAVORS TO ANOTHER GENERATION OF COOKS.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT" PRODUCER ERIKA GUNDERSON HAS THIS STORY.

>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN CHICAGO.

SO MY MOTHER USED TO USE LA CRIOLLA BRAND.

SO I FEEL LIKE IT'S A LEGACY IN THAT PART BECAUSE WE'RE BRINGING IT ON TO OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN.

>> AS IN SO MANY CULTURES FOR LATINOS THE FAMILY KITCHEN IS A SACRED PLACE WHERE TRADITIONS ARE PASSED DOWN IF GENERATION TO GENERATION.

AND SINCE 1957 WHEN AVELINA MALDONADO STARTED LA CRIOLLA FOODS BY SELLING SPICE BLENDS OUT OF THE TRUNK OF HIS CAR THE COMPANY HAS OFFERED A TASTE OF HOME FOR CHICAGO'S LATINO FAMILIES.

>> WE HAVE THE SAZON AND THE ADOBO.

THAT WAS A CREATION FROM AVELINA MALDONADO THAT'S LIKE A MULTISEASONNING.

YOU CAN PUT IT ON EVERYTHING.

>> MARIE AND AJOSE CHAPARRO TOOK OVER LA CRIOLLA FOODS AT THE ORIGINAL LOCATION IN 2016.

THEY BOUGHT THE COMPANY FROM AVELINA MALDONADO'S WIFE CARMEN.

>> CARMEN WAS LOOKING FOR TO PASS THE LEGACY TO A LATINO FAMILY AND WE WAS THE LUCKY ONES TO GET IT.

>> IN 2018, THEY MOVED LA CRIOLLA TO A LARGER FACILITY IN SOUTH SUBURBAN ALSIP.

SINCE THEN, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON PLANS TO EXPAND AND PROMOTE HER BRAND TO A NEW GENERATION VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

LA CRIOLLA'S FINANCE AND OPERATIONS MANAGER, RAUL ROSAS SAYS THE PANDEMIC HAS RENEWED INTEREST IN COOKING AT HOME.

>> IT'S BEEN A RESURGENCE OF HAVING TO EXPERIMENT AGAIN WITH YOUR COOKING.

AND HAVING TO REMEMBER THOSE RECIPES THAT YOUR MOM HAS MADE OR HAD TO GET ON A ZOOM CALL OR GOOGLE ME CALL WITH THEM OR FACE TIME TO SAY, HEY AM I DOINGTIES CORRECTLY?

AM I ADDING THE RIGHT PINCH AIT'S ALWAYS A PINCH.

>> AND GETTING JUST THE RIGHT FLAVOR TO SPARK THAT MEMORY OF HOME COOKING IS LA CRIOLLA'S MISSION.

>> WHAT WE HOPE IS WHEN THEY THEYOPEN IT THEY WILL SMELL HOMD REMEMBER THEIR MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER COOKING WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

FOR ME IT'S THE CHILI THAT MY MOM MAKES.

>> CHEF ROBERTO PEREZ IS IN CHARGE OF BRINGING THE FLAVORS TO LIFE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WHAT THAT MEANS RIGHT NOW IS THAT I'M DOING SOME FOOD TESTING, TESTING WITH SPICES, TESTING THEM OUT, CHECKING THEM OUT IN DIFFERENT PARTICULAR RECIPES AND SEEING IF ANY ADJUSTMENTS NEED TO BE MADE.

A LOT OF THE INGREDIENTS ARE INSPIRED FROM CARRIBBEAN COOKING.

>> AS PART OF THE EXTENDING THE BRAND'S REACH, ROSA SAYS ANOTHER THING FOR LA CRIOLLA IS THE IN THE WORKS.

>> WHAT WE ARE DOING IN OUR PLANS FOR THE NEAR FUTURE IS POSITIONING IT FOR AN EQUITY PROFITING CAMPAIGN WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO INVEST AND BE PART OF LA CRIOLLA.

>> PEOPLE KNOW LA CRIOLLA IS THE LOCAL BRAND.

>> AND AS THE CITY'S LATINO POPULATION GROWS ROSA SAYS THE COMPANY IS POSITIONED TO GROW ALONG WITH IT.

>> THE LATINO MARKET IS A MARKET THAT'S BEEN OVERLOOKED FOR SUCH A LONGTIME IT IS A SLEEPING GIANT.

AND IT IS A POWERFUL -- THERE IS POWER IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD.

AS A LATINO HOUSEHOLD.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON.

>> FOR MORE ON LA CRIOLLA BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON Facebook, YouTube AND WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. >> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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