>>> HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

CHICAGO'S INTERIM TOP COP IS STEPPING DOWN AFTER JUST TWO MONTHS IN OFFICE.

>> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP OVER MY TIME IN PUBLIC OFFICE.

>>> OUTGOING ALDER PEOPLE AND THEIR ADVICE FOR MAYOR ELECT BRENDA JOHNSON.

>> WE ARE STRIVING TO MAKE DOWNTOWN MORE EQUITABLE.

>>> HOW RESIDENTS CAN HELP TO DETERMINE DOWNTOWN'S FUTURE.

>>> I AM ANGELINO.

TONIGHT WE ARE TAKING A TRIP BACK IN TIME WITH HELP FROM THE GREEN BOOK.

>>> AND BRANDIS AND PARIS, AS YOU MENTIONED, I AM RECORDING LIVE FROM THE MAG MILE IN WHAT IS ZONED AS THE CENTRAL AREA!

CITY PLANNERS 20 YEARS AGO SET OUT AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR CHICAGO'S DOWNTOWN, NOW THEY ARE SEEKING RESIDENT 'S INPUT AS THEY SEEK TO UPDATE THE CENTRAL AREA PLAN.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THAT JUST AHEAD, BUT FIRST WE WILL SEND IT BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO.

>> AMANDA, THANK YOU.

>>> NOW TO SOME OF THE TOP STORIES.

CHICAGO IS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ONCE AGAIN WITHOUT A TOP COP.

THE SUPERINTENDENT ERIC PORTER ANNOUNCED THAT HE INTENDS TO STEP DOWN.

THE 30 YEAR POLICE VETERAN SAYS HE WILL RESIGN AS OF MAY 15th, JUST TWO MONTHS AFTER TAKING THE JOB AND THE SAME DAY THAT MAYOR ELECT BRENDA JOHNSON TAKES OFFICE.

HE SERVED AS THE DEPARTMENT'S SECOND IN COMMAND UNDER FORMER SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN.

IN A STATEMENT, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT CONGRATULATED AND THANKED HIM.

THE COMMISSIONER FOR CAMBODIAN PUBLIC SAFETY IS CONDUCTING A SEARCH FOR A PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT AND WILL RECOMMEND TWO CANDIDATES BY JULY 14th.

FOR MORE ON THAT PROCESS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

>>> MAYOR LIKE JOHNSON MAY NEED A BRAND-NEW SUPERINTENDENT ON HIS FIRST DAY, BUT OTHER PARTS OF THE LEGISLATION ARE STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE.

HE ANNOUNCED RICH GUIDAS AS HIS CHIEF OF STAFF.

THIS WAS AN AGENCY HAD BEEN WITH SINCE 2005.

HE WAS A GUY YOU WOULD SEE RAPPING IN PUBLIC FOR MAJOR WEATHER EVENTS AND PLANNING SECURITY FOR OTHER EVENTS, SUCH AS THE 2012 MAYORAL SUMMIT.

HE ALSO ANNOUNCED WESTSIDE STATE SENATOR AS HIS DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF.

SHE HAD SERVED IN THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY SINCE 2020 AND HAS BEEN A LONGTIME ISSUE SUCH AS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

>>> CHICAGO CITY EMPLOYEES FIRED FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH THE COVID MAXINE MANDATE.

THAT IS THE RULE COMING DOWN FROM THE ILLINOIS LABOR RELATIONS BOARD TODAY.

THE BOARD FOUND THAT THE MAYOR SHOULD HAVE BARGAINED OVER THE VACCINE MANDATE .

THE RULING COMES AFTER MORE THAN 20 OF THEM FILED AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES CHARGE.

A SEPARATE CASE IS PENDING.

>>> IF YOU HAVE OLD APPLIANCES YOU NEED TO UNLOAD BUT CAN'T RECYCLE, COOK COUNTY HAS THE PLACE FOR YOU.

IT IS LOCATED IN SOUTH HOLLAND.

>> Reporter: SOME COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTH SUBURBS LACK ACCESS TO RECYCLING SERVICES AND ARE THEN OVERBURDENED WITH WASTE FACILITIES AND ILLEGAL DUMPING.

COOK COUNTY, ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERS, ARE TRYING TO ENSURE THAT WASTE IS DISPOSED OF IN A LESS HARMFUL WAY.

>> Reporter: THE COUNTY ALLOCATED MORE THAN $200 MILLION AMERICAN RESCUE ACT FUNDS.

SATURDAY IS EARTH DAY, OF COURSE.

>>> COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM, MAKING 21ST-CENTURY CHANGES TO CHICAGO'S DOWNTOWN.

>>> BUT FIRST, OUTGOING ALDERMAN'S ADVICE TO THE NEW MAYOR.

THAT'S RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> THE LAST CITY COUNCIL OF HIS TERM IS IN THE BOOKS, AND FOR OUR GUESTS IT IS THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING EVER.

NOW THEY CAN SOUND OFF ABOUT WHAT THEY REALLY THINK ABOUT THE CITY'S PRIORITIES AND GIVE ADVICE TO THEIR SUCCESSORS.

SO HERE FOR THEIR EXIT INTERVIEWS ARE ALDERMAN JAMES KOPELMAN OF THE 46th WARD, 48 ALDERMAN HARRY, AND SOPHIA KING.

WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

THE PAST FOUR YEARS HAD TO BE UNLIKE ANY OTHER THAT YOU HAVE SERVED, WITH COVID, UNREST , IS THAT WHAT YOU DECIDED THAT NOW WAS THE TIME TO GO?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT IS NOT THE REASON.

IT WAS A VERY CHALLENGING TIME FOR EVERYBODY.

I FINISHED THREE TERMS, AND PRIOR TO THAT I WAS 11 YEARS AS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

SO 23 YEARS AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

I HAVE ACHIEVED A LOT IN MY COMMUNITY THAT I WANTED TO DO WHEN I SET OUT.

SO I FELT LIKE IT WAS THE RIGHT TIME TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

SO I WILL EMBARK ON SOMETHING ELSE.

>> ALDERMAN KAPLAN, YOU BEAT BACK SOME TOUGH CHALLENGES A COUPLE OF TIMES.

HOW COME YOU DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT ANOTHER TIME?

>> I WILL TELL YOU.

I WAS ELECTED IN 2011, AND I THOUGHT I WOULD ONLY SERVE TWO TERMS.

>> SO THIS WAS PART OF THE PLAN.

ALDERMAN KING, YOU HAD TO GIVE UP HER SEAT TO RUN FOR MAYOR.

WILL YOU MISS NOT BEING THERE OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS?

>> YOU KNOW, IT IS BITTERSWEET.

I WILL OBVIOUSLY MISS IT, BUT I DON'T REGRET TRYING TO STEP UP AND HELP OUR CITY.

WE ALL HAVE TO COME TOGETHER TO HELP MAYOR-ELECT JOHNSON.

>> ALDERMAN, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WORKED ON OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS WAS POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, AND YOU ARE NOW SEARCHING FOR THE NEXT POLICE SUPERINTENDENT.

DO YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THIS NEW OVERSIGHT CAN KEEP THE CITY SAFE BUT ALSO SERVE AS A GOOD CHECK?

>> I THINK THAT IT REALLY IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TO BRING COMMUNITIES CLOSER TO WORKING WITH THE POLICE.

WE HAD AN ELECTION, THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE, WHERE PEOPLE WERE ELECTED IN EVERY DISTRICT, THE COMMUNITY AND DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL AS PART OF THE COMMISSION.

I THINK THAT IT WILL BRING, AGAIN, POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY CLOSER TOGETHER, WHICH TO ME IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CITY.

I THINK THAT THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN DOING GREAT WORK ALREADY, COMING UP WITH CRITERIA FOR WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE FROM A SUPERINTENDENT AS WELL AS A PLAN.

ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT THE CITY AND THE MAYOR HAVE TO DEAL WITH IS CREATING AN OVERALL SAFETY PLAN, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS IT AND THE STICK TO THE PLAN.

THEY CAN MODIFY IT IF THEY HAVE TO, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE, IS A PLAN THAT MAKES EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY SAFER.

WE ARE EXCITED AND HOPEFUL THAT THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> ALDERMAN KAPLAN, A NUMBER WHEN YOU WERE ELECTED YOU WERE CONSIDERED PRE-LEFT-WING.

BUT YOU ARE GETTING A CHALLENGE FROM YOUR LEFT, SO WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT THAT PORTENDS TO THE CITY COUNCIL?

WHAT DYNAMIC WILL WE SEE WITH THE COUNCIL AND WITH MAYOR JOHNSON?

>> I THINK THAT THE CITY GOVERNMENT IS ALWAYS CHANGING.

I ACTUALLY WELCOME IT.

I DID NOT WANT SOMEONE WHO WAS GOING TO BE JUST LIKE ME.

WHAT I CONTRIBUTE TO THE 46th WARD WAS PART OF MY PERSONALITY.

WE NEED SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS.

>> ALDERMAN KING, HOW ABOUT YOU?

WHAT DO YOU PREDICT FOR YOUR SUCCESSOR AND THE DYNAMIC WITH THE NEW CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR JOHNSON?

WILL IT BE A STRONG COUNSEL, WEAK MAYOR, OR COLLABORATIVE?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I HOPE IT WILL BE MORE COLLABORATIVE.

I WISH MY SUCCESSOR WELL, AS WELL AS MAYOR ELECT JOHNSON.

I THINK THE KEY TO SUCCESS WILL BE COLLABORATION.

IT WILL BE THE EXECUTIVE BODY AND THE LEGISLATIVE BODY COMING TOGETHER TO WORK ON BEHALF OF THE CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY SHARE.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO REALIZE, THAT THE EXECUTIVE BODY SHARE CONSTITUENTS WHO WORK TOGETHER ON THEIR BEHALF.

WE WILL SEE MORE OF THAT.

AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT I AM HOPING.

>> YOU DIDN'T ALWAYS SEE THAT IN THE LIGHTFOOT ERA.

HE SOMETIMES SAW A LOT OF ACRIMONY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE NOW?

>> I THINK THAT THERE WILL BE AN IMPROVEMENT.

IT IS REALLY CRITICAL.

I THINK THAT SHE DID A LOT OF WORK ON HOUSING THAT SHE DIDN'T GET CREDIT FOR.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD THINGS THERE.

I THINK THERE ARE GOOD THINGS THAT SHE HAS DONE THAT HOPEFULLY THE MAYOR CAN CARRY ON, SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARDS TO HOUSING.

WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO SUPPORT THESE COMMUNITIES.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE LEGACY WITH MAYOR LIGHTFOOT?

>> I PURPOSELY WORKED WITH A LOT OF ALDERMEN WHO WERE DIFFERENT FOR ME.

I WAS VERY SURPRISED BY WHAT I SAW.

MY ROLE WAS COMMUNITY.

THE WHOLE CITY BENEFITS BY ALL OF US INVESTING.

>> SPEAKING OF INVESTMENT, ALDERWOMAN KING, I KNOW DURING THE DEBATE YOU ARE PRETTY BULLISH ON WHETHER THE BEARS COULD STAY IN SOLDIER FIELD.

IN YOUR REPORT FROM THE FOURTH WARD.

DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT?

IS THERE A CHANCE THE CITY COULD KEEP THEM THERE?

>> I AM AN OPTIMIST.

I THINK NO MATTER WHERE THEY GO THEY WOULD NEED ASSISTANCE IN SOME WAY.

I THINK THAT MONEY WOULD GO A LOT LONGER TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

IT WOULD BE A FACILITY THAT COULD BE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK DURING THE SEASON, AND COULD BE USED, YOU KNOW, AS MORE THAN JUST A PLACE WHERE THE BEARS ARE STAYING, BUT CERTAINLY WE ARE STILL BULLISH ON THE BEARS STAYING IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> ALL RIGHT, ALDERMAN KING, I WILL QUICKLY STAY WITH YOU.

WHAT IS NEXT, ANOTHER POLITICAL OFFICE, PERHAPS?

>> YEAH, THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION THAT I AM GETTING.

I AM GOING TO GET SOME REST FIRST, MUCH LIKE ALDERMAN OSTERMAN, THEN I AM OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR ME, I AM OPEN TO THOSE.

BUT I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO GET SOME REST FIRST.

BUT ALSO I REALLY WISH MAYOR WEST JOHNSON WELL, AND ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO I WILL LOOK TO DO AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU BET.

>>> UP NEXT, CITY OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK ON HOW TO IMPROVE DOWNTOWN.

SO STICK AROUND FOR MORE.

>>> CITY OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK ON HOW TO IMPROVE DOWNTOWN.

OUR PRODUCERS SPEND TIME DOWNTOWN TO ASK ABOUT POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT.

OUR PRODUCER AMANDA JOINS US FROM OUTSIDE THE WATER TOWER.

AMANDA?

>> Reporter: YES, BRANDIS.

THE CITY OF CHICAGO HAS SET OUT ON ITS VISION PLAN FOR 2023 TWO PREPARE IT'S DOWNTOWN FOR THE 21st CENTURY.

DECADES AFTER THE PLAN FOR THAT WAS RELEASED, CHICAGO IS REVISITING IT TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF CURRENT CHICAGOANS.

THE CENTRAL AREA PLAN WAS A VISION FOR HOW TO DEVELOP DOWNTOWN TRANSIT AND GREEN SPACES AND TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC SUCCESS OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

AMONG THE PLANS WRITTEN IN BLACK AND WHITE, THIS IS NO LITTLE PLAN.

THIS IS A PLAN FOR AN URBAN GREAT.

TWO DECADES OF PAST, AND NOW THE CITY WANTS TO REVISIT THE DESIGN.

KIANA IS A MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER WITH CHICAGO ROAD ALLIANCE.

SHE SAYS THAT THIS WILL LEAD TO MORE INPUT.

>> THE WAY LITTLE OTHER PEOPLE ARE USING THESE AREAS IS IMPORTANT TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE CITY, THE '03 PLAN WAS THE FIRST SINCE THE LATE 1960s.

IT AIMS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO ALL OF DOWNTOWN CHICAGO, FROM ADDING TRANSIT STOPS TO CREATING MORE PARKS.

SOME OF THE VISIONS CAME TO BE, LIKE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PART ON NORTHERLY ISLAND.

AFTER BEING USED AS THE SITE OF CHICAGO'S SECOND WORLD FAIR, THEN AN AIRPORT, THE MAYOR ORDERED THE AIRPORT TO BE DESTROYED UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS.

OTHER GREEN SPACE ASPIRATIONS STILL HAVEN'T COME TO FRUITION, SUCH AS THE CHICAGO RIVER, WHICH HAS GONE THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES.

THE CREATION OF THE THEATER DISTRICT IS A MAJOR BENEFIT THAT CAME OUT OF THE LAST CENTRAL AREA PLAN.

>> THE THEATER DISTRICT IS A HUGE ASSET TO CHICAGO .

WITH THIS ASSET IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO, WE HAVE OVER 30,000 PEOPLE WHO CAN FILL THOSE THEATERS THAT HAVE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OVER $2 BILLION.

>> Reporter: BUT WHAT PLAN DRAFTERS WEREN'T THINKING ABOUT IN 2003 WAS DOWNTOWN AND THE GROWING RESIDENTIAL AREA.

>> IT IS BECOMING A BOOMING RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE FASTEST-GROWING DOWNTOWN IN THE UNITED STATES.

DESPITE THE FEARS THAT PEOPLE WERE SIDING DURING THE PANDEMIC, THINGS GREW BY 10%.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THAT ACCESS NEEDS TO BE INCREASED TO GROCERY STORES.

ALSO, TRANSIT RELIABILITY AND SAFETY NEEDS TO IMPROVE.

>> WE HAVE SEEN BUSES PLUMMET IN TERMS OF RELIABILITY AND ON-TIME PERFORMANCE OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS.

>> Reporter: THE ALLIANCE RECENTLY STARTED PROVIDING FEEDBACK OVER WHAT THE UPDATED CENTRAL PLANS COULD LOOK LIKE.

>> THIS WOULD INCLUDE SAFER WANES FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS, CONCRETE-PROTECTED LANES , AND INCREASED SPACE FOR CARS ALL ACROSS THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

>> Reporter: ON THURSDAY THE CITY IS HOSTING A WEBINAR FOR RESIDENTS TO LEARN HOW THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE PLANNING PROCESS.

>> THERE IS SUCH AN EMPHASIS ON MAKING SURE THAT OUR CENTRAL AREA IS ACCESSIBLE AND EQUITABLE FOR ALL CHICAGOANS.

>> Reporter: NOW FOR MORE ON THE CENTRAL AREA PLAN AND THE FUTURE, I SPOKE WITH THE CITY DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

HE SAYS THE PLAN IS TO MAKE DOWNTOWN MORE EQUITABLE.

LATELY YOU HAVE HAD CITY LEADERS FOCUSING ON CHICAGO'S NEIGHBORHOODS, PARTICULARLY COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY NEGLECTED.

YOU CAN'T SAY THAT DOWNTOWN HAS BEEN IN THE SHADOWS.

SO I ASKED HER, WHY IS THE FOCUS ON WHAT HAS BEEN OUTLINED AS CHICAGO CENTRAL AREA?

>> MY COMMISSIONER MAURICE COX, HE ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT DOWNTOWN AS THE HEART OF THE CITY.

I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT.

WE REALLY NEED A GROWING DOWNTOWN, SO THAT IS WHY I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE CITY AS A WHOLE FUNCTIONS WELL.

WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS WELCOMING AND INVITING TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.

>> WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF A FUTURE?

REMOTE WORK IS HERE TO STAY.

>> THAT IS TRUE.

WE DO HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT REALITY.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT REMOTE WORK ON THE IMPACTS THAT IT HAS HAD ON DOWNTOWN, AND VACANT RETAIL SPACE AS WELL.

WE ARE LOOKING TO ACTIVATE THOSE USES AND MAKE IT A MORE LIVELY NEIGHBORHOOD JUST LIKE WE HAVE ACROSS THE CITY AND IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS.

THAT IS BRINGING IN NEW RESIDENTIAL UNITS AS WELL, SHOWING THOSE UP, CREATING PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND HELPING TO FINANCE THINGS.

>> WHAT OTHER CHALLENGES ARE YOU FACING?

WE THINK ABOUT A CHANGING WORLD, AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES PEOPLE SHOPPING ONLINE VERSUS DOWN THE MAG MILE.

>> THAT'S TRUE, ALTHOUGH I THINK WE FOCUS ON GROWING SECTORS LIKE THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, DESTINATIONS, ENTERTAINMENT AREAS AND ALSO TOURISM AS A GROWING INDUSTRY AS WELL.

IF WE CAN GET BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC NUMBERS WHICH WE ARE ON TRACK TO DO, THAT WILL HELP TO GROW DOWNTOWN AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE A VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

>> WHEN YOU SAY PANDEMIC NUMBERS, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT VISITORS OR TOURISTS?

>> I THINK VISITORS AND TOURISTS.

ALSO RESIDENTS WHO WILL COME TO DOWNTOWN AND STAY FOR A THEATER AND DINING EXPERIENCE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOWNTOWN IS INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING FOR EVERYONE AND THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING RIGHT IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN, WHERE YOU CAN LIVE AND WORK IN THE SAME AREA.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE LaSALLE INITIATIVE IN CREATING A PIPELINE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THAT OPTION TO OUR RESIDENTS.

I KNOW THERE ARE CONCERNS OUT THERE, BUT WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF GROWTH IN TERMS OF RESIDENTIAL POPULATION IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO.

THE FASTEST GROWING DOWNTOWN IN THE COUNTRY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT.

WE HAVE EVEN GROWN DURING THE PANDEMIC.

I THINK THERE IS LITTLE BIT OF A MYTH OUT THERE THAT DOWNTOWN IS EMPTY, BUT THE DOWNTOWN POPULATION HAS GROWN BY 4000 PEOPLE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

ALSO, TOURISM IS BACK UP AS WELL.

WE HAVE SEEN HOTEL INDUSTRY HAS ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH LEVELS, PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

>> SHE SAYS THE GOAL IS TO KEEP UP THAT TRAJECTORY AND MAKE DOWNTOWN MORE VIBRANT, SHE SAYS BY SHORING UP RETAIL ALONG CITY STREETS.

AGAIN, CHICAGO IS LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY INPUT.

RESIDENTS WHO HAVE IT ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH AUGUST.

THERE IS THE ZOOM MEETING A WEEK FROM TONIGHT, THEN THERE WILL BE MORE WEBINARS AS WELL AS POP-UP EVENTS AND TOWN HALLS.

THE GOAL IS TO HAVE A FRAMEWORK IN PLACE, LIKE I SAID, BY THE END OF AUGUST, THEN A FINAL VISION PREPARED BY FALL 2024.

THEN COMES THE NEXT STEP, WHICH IS MAKING IT REALITY.

BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO.

>> THAT'S ALWAYS GOOD STUFF.

AMANDA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> UP NEXT, A VISIT TO THE ILLINOIS HOLOCAUST MUSEUM TO LEARN ABOUT THE RESOURCE FROM THE JIM CROW ERA.

>>> WE LOOK AT THE RESOURCE THAT AIDED BLACK DRIVERS DURING THAT TIME.

>> YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL ON THE ROAD.

>> Reporter: DRIVING WHILE BLACK, ESPECIALLY DURING THE JIM CROW ERA, WAS NOT SAFE FOR BLACK AMERICANS.

IT IS NOT SAFE IF THE TOWN YOU ARE COMING TO IS A SON DOWNTOWN.

YOU WILL HAVE TO ENTER THROUGH THE BACK DOOR.

SO HE WAS MAKING BLACK LIVES BETTER AND MORE ENJOYABLE AND SAFER.

>> Reporter: IN 1936 GREEN BOOK WAS CREATED, AND WAS ACTUALLY MODELED AFTER ANOTHER BOOK THAT HAD BEEN CREATED FOR JEWISH TRAVELERS DURING THAT TIME.

>> FOR US, WE ARE A HOLOCAUST MUSEUM, BUT BECAUSE OF THE HOLOCAUST IS ALSO ON US TO LOOK AT OTHER ISSUES, RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, AND CERTAINLY THE JIM CROW ERA.

WE HAVE THIS AMAZING ENTREPRENEURIAL AND ALMOST SIMPLE RESPONSE.

WE WANT TO EDUCATE PEOPLE THROUGH THE EXHIBITIONS THAT WE HAVE ON THE HOLOCAUST AND ON OTHER ISSUES SO THAT WE CAN CREATE A MORE ACTIVE CITIZENRY THAT WILL ACTUALLY TAKE ACTION IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS, THE GREEN BOOK HELPED CHICAGOANS OUTLINE AREA AND LEARN ABOUT SAFE PLACES THEY COULD VISIT.

SHE VISITED THE EXPERIENCE TO LEARN ABOUT PLACES SHE COULD VISIT WITH HER AUNT.

>> WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING FROM MISSISSIPPI, HER CHILDREN WERE IN THE BACK SEAT.

SHE WAS ABLE TO GO TO THE TOWN WITHOUT ANYONE STOPPING HER BECAUSE SHE LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS WHITE, BUT HER CHILDREN WERE BLACK AND LOOKED BLACK.

SO WHAT SHE DID WAS SHE PUT THEM IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR AND TOLD THEM TO LAY DOWN, AND SHE TOOK A BLANKET, COVERED THEM WITH A BLANKET AND TOLD THEM NOT TO MOVE, NOT TO TALK WHILE SHE BROKE THROUGH THE TOWN.

>> Reporter: THE GREAT MIGRATION AND ROUTE 66 BOTH PLAYED A PART IN THE GREEN BOOK, MARKING CHICAGO'S PRESENCE .

IT SPECIFICALLY MADE UP 80% OF THE CITY'S LISTINGS.

>> THE AMOUNT OF BLACK AMERICANS WHO CAME UP TO CHICAGO, TRAVELING BY THEMSELVES, WITH FAMILY, CHICAGO IS ALSO ON ROUTE 66, WHICH WAS TO THE WEST.

SO WE NOT ONLY HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE PLACE WHICH WAS A HOTEL AND CLUB AND TODAY IS AN APARTMENT BUILDING, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A PROJECTION THAT INCLUDES SOME OF THE BUSINESSES THAT WERE LISTED IN THE GREEN BOOK HERE THERE WERE ABOUT 200 BUSINESSES THAT WERE LISTED OVER THE YEARS IN CHICAGO.

ABOUT 30 OF THE BUILDINGS STILL EXIST, AND TWO OF THE BUSINESSES STILL EXIST.

>> Reporter: AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 WAS PASSED.

THAT MEANT THE BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES HAD TO COMPETE WITH FRANCHISES WHICH HAD MORE RESOURCES AND FEWER OBSTACLES.

AT LEAST HALF OF THE BUSINESSES WITHIN THE GREEN BOOK WERE CLOSED LESS THAN A DECADE LATER AS A RESULT POINT.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT NOT JUST THIS MONTH BUT EVERY DAY TO SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES.

ASK YOUR GRANDPARENTS, YOUR GREAT-GRANDPARENTS TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AND ALSO RECORD IT SO THAT IT WON'T BE FORGOTTEN.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM ANGEL ITO.

>> YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE GREEN BOOK EXHIBIT AT THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM IN SKOKIE THROUGH THIS SUNDAY.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS SUNDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGNING UP FOR BRIEFINGS.

>> PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 FOR THE WEEK IN REVIEW, AND THEN AT 10:00 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

ON THAT SHOW, WHAT STAFF CUTS MEAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES.

>>> AND A CONTROVERSIAL NEW --