>>> HEY, EVERYONE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I AM PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN WILL JOIN US IN A MOMENT.

HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

>> THIS HAS BEEN A TRAGIC WEEK FOR US.

UNPRECEDENTED.

>> TWO FIREFIGHTERS LOSE THEIR LIVES ON THE JOB IN TWO DAYS.

HOW THE CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT IS COPING.

MEANWHILE, 14 ADDITIONAL ELECT THEIR NEW ALDER PERSON IN LAST NIGHT'S RUNOFF.

WE ARE LIVE WITH A FEW OF THE WINNERS.

>> WITH OUR VOICES AND OUR VOTES, WE HAVE USHERED IN A NEW CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY.

>>> PLUS, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THE KEYS TO BRANDON JOHNSON'S VICTORY.

WE GO TO BRANDIS WITH OUR TOP STORY OF THE NIGHT.

>>> MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT ARE REELING TONIGHT FROM THE DEATHS OF TWO FIREFIGHTERS IN JUST TWO DAYS.

>> THIS JOB IS DANGEROUS.

DESPITE THE BEST TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT THAT WE CAN PROVIDE.

THE SACRIFICES THAT THEY MAKE, THE SACRIFICES THEIR FAMILIES MAKE ARE SIGNIFICANT.

ALL IN THE SERVICE OF OUR CITY.

FIREMEN AND POLICE OFFICERS RUN TOWARD DANGER.

THE REST OF US RUN IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.

>> WTTW NEWS REPORTER MATT JOHNSON JOINS US WITH MORE.

TELL US ABOUT THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED TODAY THAT KILLED LIEUTENANT JAN TCHORYK.

>> TCHORYK WAS RESPONDING TO A FIRE THAT BROKE OUT THIS MORNING .

HE WAS LEADING TOWER LADDER 10 AS THEY WERE MAKING THEIR WAY UP TO THIS FIRE.

THEY WERE CLIMBING UP STAIRCASES.

HE WAS ON THE 11th FLOOR, WHICH IS WHERE HE WENT DOWN.

MEMBERS OF HIS CREW IMMEDIATELY STARTED PERFORMING CPR ON HIM.

HE WAS RUSHED TO A HOSPITAL BEFORE HE WAS EVENTUALLY SUCCUMBED TO HIS INJURIES WHILE AT THE HOSPITAL.

>> WHAT DO WE KNOW?

>> HE'S BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR 26 YEARS.

THE FIRE COMMISSIONER DESCRIBED HIM AS AN AVID OUTDOORSMAN WHO ENJOYED BIKING.

HE ENJOYED RIDING MOTORCYCLES.

HE WAS A NAVY VETERAN WHO SERVED IN DESERT STORM.

WE ALSO LEARNED HIS SON, DYLAN, RECENTLY BECAME AN OFFICER FOR THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT A PHOTO OF LIEUTENANT AND HIS SON, DYLAN.

HIS DEATH COMES ON THE END OF ANOTHER FIREFIGHTER , JERMAINE PELT.

>> BATTLING A SEPARATE FIRE IN WEST PULLMAN NEIGHBORHOOD.

HE JOINED IN 2005.

HE HAD TWO CHILDREN, ONE OF WHOM WAS AN ADULT DAUGHTER, WHO HE JUST RECENTLY WALKED DOWN THE AISLE AT HER WEDDING.

HIS DAUGHTER WAS ON HER HONEYMOON WHEN SHE UNFORTUNATELY LEARNED OF HIS PASSING.

DEVASTATING FOR THE FAMILY AND THE CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT.

>> WOULD PROMPT ANY POLICY CHANGES?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT IS NECESSARILY CLEAR YET.

SHE SAID IT IS TOO EARLY FOR MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING.

SHE POINTED OUT THESE TWO FIRES WERE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.

DESPITE ALL THE TRAINING THESE FIREFIGHTERS DO EVERY SINGLE DAY, FIRES CAN BE UNPREDICTABLE.

IT CAN LEAD TO THE SORT OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

>>> YOU CAN READ MATT'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

NOW TO PARIS FOR MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

>>> CHICAGO'S NEW MAYOR ELECT BRANDON JOHNSON HIT THE RED LINE EARLIER THIS MORNING.

SHAKING HANDS AFTER LAST NIGHT'S VICTORY.

>> A BETTER, STRONGER, SAFER CITY IS SOMETHING WE ARE ALL GOING TO WORK TOWARD TOGETHER.

I WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO FOR PUTTING THEIR TRUST IN OUR MOVEMENT.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR CONVERSATIONS AHEAD.

>> HE CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

PAUL VALLAS IN A RUNOFF ELECTION WITH 51.4% OF THE VOTE.

THERE IS MORE ON THIS STORY ON OUR WEBSITE AND A SPOTLIGHT -- ASSESSES THE RACE AND WIN A BIT LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

>>> A FEDERAL JUDGE RULES THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS IN VIOLATION OF THE AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT.

THE CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT REPRESENTING ABOUT 68,000 CHICAGOANS CLAIMED THE CITY HAD INSTALLED A MINUSCULE VERSION OF SIGNALIZED CROSSWALKS ACROSS THE CITY.

THOSE ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS USE AUDIO CUES TO LET PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE OTHER DISABILITIES KNOW WHEN IT IS SAFE TO CROSS THE STREET.

THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TOLD WTTW NEWS IT WAS PLANNING TO INSTALL 150 SUCH SIGNALS BUT AS OF JANUARY THIS YEAR ONLY NINE WERE UP AND RUNNING.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CITY'S LAW DEPARTMENT SAYS THE CITY DOES NOT COMMENT ON ONGOING LITIGATION.

>>> A COUPLE OF FEDERALLY OWNED BUILDINGS ON STATE STREET ARE ABOUT TO GET THE WRECKING BALL.

WTTW NEWS HAS LEARNED THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS MOVING TO TEAR DOWN THESE VACANT LOWRISE BUILDINGS ADJACENT TO TWO HISTORIC SKYSCRAPERS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALSO OWNS.

THE SERVICES ADMINISTRATION SAYS A RECENT ASSESSMENT FOUND THE BUILDING IS STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND AND IT COULD EVEN COLLAPSE , HARMING PEDESTRIANS AND STREET TRAFFIC.

THE GSA SAYS THE DEMOLITION IS SLATED TO BEGIN ON APRIL 14th.

TWO ENGLEWOOD RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS PROTEST THE CONTROVERSIAL SAVE A LOT ON THE SIDE OF A SHUTTERED WHOLE FOODS.

>> SHUT IT DOWN.

SHUT IT DOWN.

FOR MONTHS, NEIGHBORS HAVE SLAMMED THE IDEA OF OPENING SAVE A LOT SAYING THE COMPANY HAS A POOR REPUTATION IN THE COMMUNITY FOR LIMITED SELECTION AND SPOILED PRODUCTS.

COMMUNITY LEADERS, INCLUDING THE AREAS ALDERMEN SAY THEY WERE BLINDSIDED WHEN THEY FOUND OUT YELLOW BANANA WERE HOLDING A PREVIEW EVENT TONIGHT AND A SOFT OPENING TOMORROW.

>> SAVE A LOT'S YELLOW BANANA JUST PAID $12,000 AT 4:00 P.M. JUST SO THEY COULD HAVE A SOFT OPENING TOMORROW.

SO WITHOUT EVEN RESPECT TO OUR COMMUNITY DID NOT EVEN INVITE US TO THIS VIP ONLY TASTING -- WHATEVER THIS IS.

JUST PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO OPEN THEIR DOORS LEGALLY TO OUR COMMUNITY.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

>> COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES DID NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND TO A REQUEST FOR COMMENT, BUT ACTIVISTS SAY IT HAS DELAYED THE SOFT OPENING.

>>> YOUNGER AND MORE PROGRESSIVE ?

THAT IS HOW MANY ARE DESCRIBING CHICAGO'S NEW CITY COUNCIL.

WE WILL MEET SOME OF TONIGHT'S CITY WINNERS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> CITY COUNCIL IS SET TO LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT THIS YEAR FOLLOWING YESTERDAY'S RUNOFF ELECTION MADE UP OF YOUNGER, MORE PROGRESSIVE OLDER PERSONS WHO WILL BE WORKING WITH CHICAGO MAYOR ELECT BRANDON JOHNSON.

A RECORD NUMBER OF RETIREMENTS, WHICH MEANS A NUMBER OF FIRST-TIME ALDERPEOPLE WILL BE JOINING THOSE SEATS.

ANGELA CLAY WON THE VOTE FOR THE 46th WARD.

ALDER WOMAN ELECT OF THE 40th WARD.

AND PASTOR WILLIAM HALL, WHO WON THE VOTE FOR THE SIXTH WARD.

WELCOME, ALL OF YOU, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.

LONG AND EXCITING 24 HOURS.

ANGELA CLAY.

46th WARD.

UPTOWN.

YOU ARE A HOUSING ORGANIZER.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND GENTRIFICATION HAVE BEEN THE CRUX OF ISSUES IN UPTOWN FOR A WHILE.

WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH?

>> OUR APPROACH IS SIMPLE.

IT IS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BUILDING TO AFFORDABILITY FOR ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR INCOME IS IN OUR WARD.

WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD A HISTORY OF DOING THAT.

WE HAVE SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCIES FOR THE FORMER GOVERNOR'S MANSION WITHIN OUR WARD.

THAT SHOULD SHOW YOU HOW INTENTIONAL WE HAVE BEEN WITH HOUSING.

THAT IS SOMETHING I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE SAFE, QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR EVERYONE.

>> 40th WARD.

ANDERSONVILLE.

AT WHAT APPEARED WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES FOR THE WARD?

>> YOU MIGHT KNOW THAT ANDERSONVILLE WAS VOTED ONE OF THE FIRST NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE WORLD TO LIVE IN BUT WE ALSO WANT TO BE IN THE 40th WARD WHEN IT IS MOST WELCOMING.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE POPULATIONS WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF LGBTQ PEOPLE.

AND SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS HAVE 40 LANGUAGES SPOKEN.

BUT I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST SMALL BUSINESSES TO SIGN ON TO THE HIGHER TRANSIT NOW INITIATIVE.

IT WAS PUSHED OUT TO A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ALL SMALL BUSINESSES , AS WELL AS THOSE THAT ARE IN ANDERSONVILLE, EDGEWATER.

>> A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN EDGEWATER.

YOU RUN ONE.

PASTOR WILLIAM HALL, WE MENTIONED YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

YOU BEAT OUT RICHARD WOOTEN.

WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES?

>> SIMPLE.

PEOPLE WANT A SAFER WARD.

WE ARE GOING TO DEFINITELY MAKE IT SAFER.

WE WANT CLINICS TO BE OPEN.

WE WANT NEW ONES AS WELL.

ALTERNATIVES TO MENTAL HEALTH.

WE WANT A POLICE STRATEGY AS WELL THAT DOESN'T MAKE THE RESIDENTS AFRAID OF THE POLICE.

WE WANT TO MAKE THE WARD A WALKABLE WARD AS WELL.

DRIVING BUSINESSES TO AND FROM , UP AND DOWN 75th, 79th, 87th STREET, 95th.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, GREAT SCHOOLS.

WE WANT OUR SCHOOLS TO COMPETE.

THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE ONLY SCHOOL IN THE ENTIRE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THOSE THREE THINGS.

THE NEIGHBORS AND THE WARD HAS SAID WE WANT ASP .

>> IS THREE THINGS ARE ISSUES ALL OF YOU WILL BE DEBATING ON.

ANGELA CLAY, THE ISSUE OF POLICING, BRANDON JOHNSON HAS TALKED ABOUT DIVERTING $150 MILLION OUT OF THE $2 BILLION BUDGET.

IS THAT THE KIND OF APPROACH YOU WOULD ADVOCATE?

>> YEAH.

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT EVERY TOOL WE HAVE HERE TO KEEP US SAFE.

INVESTING IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO GIVE THEM SAFE SPACES IS SOMETHING WE REALLY HAVE NOT SHOWN A LOT OF EFFORT TO PUT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE INVESTING IN PEOPLE.

INVESTING WITH MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

ALSO GETTING INTO THE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT THEY NEED.

>> THE POLICE OFFICERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE JUST EXPECTING THEM TO CONTINUE ON WITH BUSINESS AS USUAL, BUT THEY TRULY NEED MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.

AND ALSO THE CARE TO GET BACK HOME SAFELY.

>> MAYOR ELECT BRANDON JOHNSON TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT TODAY TOO.

LENI MANAA-HOPPENWORTH, HOW ABOUT YOU?

YOUR APPROACH TO THE POLICE BUDGET, POLICING, POLICY AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY?

>> YEAH, RIGHT NOW WE SPENT 40% OF OUR GENERAL BUDGET ON POLICING.

NOT EVERYBODY FEELS SAFE.

SO IF WE WANT TO SEE DIFFERENT OUTCOMES, WE HAVE TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY, WHICH IS WHY I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THE NEW MAYOR AND ALSO NEW SUPERINTENDENT AND ALSO THE NEW POLICE DISTRICT COUNCIL , WHO ARE GOING TO BE LEADING THE CHARGE ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO KEEP COMMUNITIES SAFE.

THAT HAS TO BE A CITYWIDE STRATEGY.

I'M REALLY EXCITED TO DO THAT.

TOO OFTEN WE POINT TO THEM AND SAY THAT THEY ARE THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS WHY I'M REALLY EXCITED.

IT IS BASICALLY THE OPPOSITE OF THE GANG DATABASE.

IT WILL .2 OPPORTUNITIES -- REAL OPPORTUNITIES, JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUTH ACROSS THE CITY.

>> CONTROVERSIAL GANG DATABASE.

THE MAKE UP OF THE CITY COUNCIL PROBABLY WILL BECOME A THING OF THE PAST.

PASTOR HALL, YOU MENTIONED ALL OF THOSE BUSINESS QUARTERS.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO ATTRACT SMALL BUSINESS TO HELP THEM THRIVE, TO MAKE AN ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO SUCCESS?

>> NO ONE LIKES TO SPEND MONEY WHERE THEY ARE NOT SAFE.

SO WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOMED AND THEY FEEL EXCITED ABOUT THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE.

WE WANT THE SIXTH WORD TO BE A TOURIST DESTINATION.

WE HAVE THE WOOD SHOP, WHICH IS AN ART GALLERY RIGHT ON THE STREET.

AGAIN, WITH CARJACKING AND VIOLENCE IS THE NARRATIVE, NOBODY WANTS TO EXPERIENCE THAT.

SECONDLY, WE WANT TO COUPLE BUSINESSES WITH A GREAT MODEL THAT IS ANCHORED WITH OUR TWO BUSINESS SCHOOLS.

IT GIVES MODELS TO SCALE.

MOST BUSINESSES ON OUR WARD OPEN UP ON A WING AND A PRAYER.

WHEN THEY HAVE PARTNERS THAT CAN WALK WITH THEM AND JOURNEY WITH THEM -- LASTLY, BRING RESOURCES TO THE BUSINESSES.

IT IS HARD TO GET THE BASIC LINE OF CREDIT NEEDED.

BIG BANKS DO NOT TOUCH SMALL BUSINESSES CONSISTENTLY IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP NOW WITH LIBERTY BANK, A BLACK-OWNED BANK WHERE OUR CAMPAIGN HAD ALL OF OUR MONEY.

PROVIDENCE BANK.

WE HAVE THE FORMER SELF-HELP BANK.

THREE BANKS THAT CAN PARTNER TO HELP MISSES BECAUSE EQUITY AND SCALING IS WHAT MAKES HIS MISSES THRIVE.

>> SAYS LIKE YOU HAVE A LOT OF IDEAS.

ANGELA CLAY, THERE IS SOME CONCERN AMONG THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY CITYWIDE.

BRANDON JOHNSON TALKING ABOUT $800 BILLION IN NEW THINGS LIKE A CORPORATE HEAD TAX.

HIGH AND REAL ESTATE TAX.

THE COMMUNITY THAT THE TAX BURDEN IS NOT GOING TO BE TOO BURDENSOME.

>> I THINK WE JUST NEED TO LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE TAXES WE HAVE HERE.

IN ORDER TO GET THE THINGS WE NEED IN THE CITY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK PEOPLE TO PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO THE POT.

THAT MEANS CORPORATIONS COMING IN AND NOT JUST BRINGING THEIR CORPORATIONS BUT ALSO BRINGING HELP TO THE CITY AS WELL.

MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE ALSO A PARTNERSHIP IN OUR CITY.

THEY ALSO HAVE TO STEP UP AND PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE SERVICES THAT ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS DESERVED.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

CONGRATULATIONS.

GOING TO BE A VERY INTERESTING TIME.

ANGELA CLAY, WILLIAM HALL, LENI MANAA-HOPPENWORTH.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

APPRECIATE IT.

>>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ASSEMBLES FOR TAKEAWAYS FROM LAST NIGHT'S ELECTION.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

♪ >>> AS YOU NO DOUBT KNOW BY NOW, COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER BRANDON JOHNSON WILL BE CHICAGO'S NEXT MAYOR.

JOHNSON DEFEATED PAUL VALLAS AFTER A BRUISING RUNOFF CAMPAIGN , IN THE PROCESS BECOMING THE SECOND BLACK MAN ELECTED TO LEAD THE NATION'S THIRD-LARGEST CITY.

HERE NOW TO BREAK IT DOWN IS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM, AMANDA, KIRA , AND SITTING IN WITH THE BAND TONIGHT, NICK BLUMBERG.

LET'S HEAR A LITTLE BIT OF BRANDON JOHNSON'S VICTORY SPEECH LAST NIGHT.

>> WE HAVE USHERED IN A NEW CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY.

WE WILL NOT ALLOW THE POLITICS OF OLD TO TURN US AROUND .

WE ARE BUILDING A BETTER, STRONGER, SAFER CHICAGO .

WE CAN REJECT THE FALSE CHOICES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO US FOR TOO LONG.

WE DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BLACK , BROWN, WHITE, YOUNG, OLD, POOR, RICH .

WE GET TO DO IT FOR EVERYONE, CHICAGO.

>> HEATHER, YOU SAT DOWN WITH MAYOR ELECT JOHNSON JUST HOURS AFTER HE DECLARED VICTORY.

YOU ASKED HIM HOW HE WOULD WITHSTAND THIS ONSLAUGHT OF ATTACKS ON WHETHER HE WOULD DEFUND THE POLICE.

WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE?

>> WELL, HE SAID THAT HE REALLY FEELS CHICAGO UNITED AROUND HIS PLATFORM CALLING FOR A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

POLICE OFFICERS FOR TOO LONG HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO TOO MUCH.

THE ENTIRE CITY IS SUFFERING.

WHETHER THAT IS ACTUALLY WHERE HE IS, I THINK EMMA IS AN OPEN QUESTION.

HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT REALLY HIS FIRST CHORE AS MAYOR OF CHICAGO IS TO BRING EVERYBODY INTO THAT AND TO SORT OF LET EVERYBODY HAVE THEIR SAY IN CREATING THAT NEW APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS REALLY JUST 180 DEGREE TURN FROM LORI LIGHTFOOT AND WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AT ISSUE .

>> NICK, YOU ARE AT JOHNSON'S HAD CREAM HEADQUARTERS.

GIVE US A SENSE OF THE ROOM AND MOOD AND HOW IT CHANGED AS THE NUMBERS STARTED COMING IN IN HIS FAVOR.

>> FOLKS DO NOT GO INTO THE NIGHT ASSUMING IT WOULD BE A VICTORY PARTY.

CERTAINLY THERE WAS A LOT OF HOPE THERE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPRESSED CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM THAT THE NIGHT WOULD GO THE WAY OF THEIR CANDIDATE, BUT IT TOOK A LITTLE WHILE.

THE VERY FIRST ROUND OF RESULTS HAD PAUL VALLAS WITH A SMALL LEAD, BUT AS BRANDON JOHNSON OVERTOOK HIM AND AS THAT MARGIN OF EVENTUAL VICTORY GREW AND GREW, FOLKS GOT A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE.

PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THEIR PHONES CLOSELY.

THEY WERE WATCHING THE TVs VERY CLOSELY.

AS NEWGROUNDS CAME IN, THERE WERE ROUNDS OF TEARS.

THERE WAS THE PERCOLATOR.

THERE WAS THE CHA-CHA SLIDE.

IT IS NOT A CHICAGO PARTY OTHERWISE.

YOU COULD FEEL THE FLOOR UNDULATING DOING SOME OF THAT.

PEOPLE REALLY HAD A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM.

THERE WAS A LOT OF GOODWILL IN THAT ROOM AS THE NIGHT WENT ON.

IT WAS TRULY A PARTY.

IT WAS A LOUD ROOM IN THERE.

>> PAUL VALLAS QUICKLY REALIZING THE WAY THE EVENING WAS GOING.

HE CALLED JOHNSON TO CONCEDE THE RACE.

HERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF VALLAS' CONCESSION SPEECH.

>> I RAN FOR MAYOR TO BRING THE CITY TOGETHER.

IT IS CLEAR THAT THE CITY IS DEEPLY DIVIDED.

SO TONIGHT, EVEN THOUGH OF COURSE WE BELIEVE EVERY VOTE SHOULD BE COUNTED, I CALLED BRANDON JOHNSON AND TOLD HIM I ABSOLUTELY EXPECT HIM TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR OF CHICAGO.

AND PLEASE , PLEASE, PLEASE -- I MEAN, THIS CAMPAIGN THAT I RAN TO BRING THE CITY TOGETHER WOULD NOT BE A CAMPAIGN THAT FULFILLED MY AMBITIONS IF THIS ELECTION IS GOING TO DIVIDE US MORE.

>> SO NO CHA-CHA SLIDE AT THAT ONE.

YOU WERE AT THE VALLAS PARTY.

>> DEFINITELY NO DANCING.

EVEN WHEN THE RESULTS WERE COMING IN HIS FAVOR.

THEY WERE SHOWING PHOTOS FROM THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

SOME OF THE SPONSORS OF THE PARTY.

SO YOU DID NOT HAVE A HUGE TVs WITH RESULTS.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE A CROWD REALLY REACTING TO IT.

IT WAS A VERY LARGE BALLROOM.

PEOPLE WERE THERE, BUT THERE WAS ROOM A LITTLE BIT TO SPREAD OUT.

THE YOU DID NOT HAVE THAT SORT OF REACTION UNTIL THE MOST RESOUNDING TIME WITH WHAT WE JUST HEARD IN THAT VIDEO WHEN HE SAID HE WAS ESSENTIALLY GIVING UP, GIVING IN, AND CONCEDING TO MAYOR ELECT JOHNSON.

THAT WAS WHEN THE CROWD -- YOU HEARD HIM TRYING TO SAY, MOVE ON FROM THAT.

I THINK NO MATTER WHO WON THIS RACE, THAT IS GOING TO BE SO DIFFICULT.

JOHNSON MAY SAY HE WANTS TO UNITE FOLKS, BUT THE PLATFORM HE HAS IS ONE THAT JUST DOES NOT SQUARE WITH MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE IN THE ROOM THAT I WAS IN LAST NIGHT.

>> DO YOU SEE VALLAS SUPPORTERS GIVING JOHNSON A CHANCE?

>> I THINK IT IS LESS TO DO WITH THE BRUISING CAMPAIGN.

IT HAS REALLY TO DO WITH PLATFORM AND THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY AND SOME HEARTFELT BELIEF IN TERMS OF WHAT THE ANSWERS ARE TO SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

VALLAS LIKEWISE SAID HE WANTED TO INVEST IN COMMUNITIES TO CURB CRIME DOWN THE ROAD, BUT HE HAD A VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH RIGHT NOW WHEN SHOOTINGS ARE UP.

THERE IS THAT.

I ALSO TALKED TO SOME BUSINESS FOLKS WHO SAID THERE IS A REASON THAT EVERYONE FROM SMALL BUSINESS TO BIG BUSINESS WAS BEHIND PAUL VALLAS.

THAT IS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED THAT JOHNSON'S PLANS ARE GOING TO REALLY DECIMATE THE CITY, DRIVE FOLKS AND BUSINESSES OUT.

THAT IS A HEARTFELT BELIEF.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING THEY ARE GOING TO EASILY GET OVER, ALTHOUGH WHEN YOU TALK TO FOLKS ON THE RECORD, SOME OF THE BUSINESS LEADERS, SOME OF THOSE WHO HAD ENDORSED JOHNSON INSTEAD OF VALLAS, THEY SAID, WE WANT TO TOGETHER.

THEY ARE PUTTING ON A SMILEY FACE.

>> I WANT TO COME BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL IN A MINUTE.

WHAT DOES HIS VICTORY SAY ?

>> TOTAL DOMINANCE.

TOTAL DOMINANT POLITICAL FORCE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

PROBABLY THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TOO.

LED BY THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION.

OTHER GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE UNIONS AND THIS GROUP, UNITED WORKING FAMILIES, WHICH IS A COMBINATION OF THE TWO.

LET'S LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE.

FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WITH THE DEATH OF THE TRADITIONAL WARD ORGANIZATIONS AS POLITICAL FORCES, IT IS THE TEACHERS UNION AND PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT THAT CAME IN TO FILL THAT VOID.

LET'S ALSO REMEMBER THAT PAUL VALLAS OUTSPENT AND OUTRAISED BY MILLIONS.

BUT IT DID NOT MATCH THE POWER OF ORGANIZING.

BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

THE TEACHERS UNION GET FOLKS HANDING OUT FLYERS AND KNOCKING ON DOORS.

FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY LICKING THEIR WOUNDS TODAY, THE LESSON IS THEY DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE A BIGGER SEAT AT THE TABLE UNLESS THEY LEARN HOW TO ORGANIZE LIKE THAT.

THE MONEY IS NOT GOING TO CUT IT.

>> WE ARE ALSO HEARING ABOUT A CHANGE IN THE CITY COUNCIL AS WELL.

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP JOHNSON IS GOING TO HAVE WITH THIS NEW COUNSEL?

>> THERE WERE 14 RUNOFFS.

ONE OF THEM IS TOO CLOSE TO CALL.

THE 29th WARD IS A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF THE COMPETITOR.

IN NINE OF THOSE RACES, THE MORE PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE WON.

THAT COMBINED WITH THE NOW SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO DSA IS REALLY GOING TO FORM THE NUCLEUS OF JOHNSON'S SUPPORT ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

THAT, HE HAS TO HOPE, WILL HELP HIM GET THROUGH PIECES OF HIS PLATFORM INTO LEGISLATION.

NOW THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MAJOR CHANGES TO THE WAY THE CITY OPERATES IN TERMS OF PRIORITIZING SOCIAL WORKERS AND COUNSELORS GOING TO CALL 911 FOR HELP.

AND ALSO TO RAISE SIGNIFICANT MONEY IN TAXES FROM REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS FOR UNHOUSED CHICAGOANS.

THESE WERE ALL POLICIES BLOCKED BY MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT THAT NOW HAS THE SUPPORT TO PRETTY CLOSE TO A MAJORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> SOME OF THESE WILL ALSO CALL FOR CHANGES IN STATE LAW.

WE WILL HAVE TO WATCH FOR THAT AS WELL.

CERTAINLY GOING TO BE A GROUP OF PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATORS, INCLUDING THOSE IN FRONT FOR JOHNSON.

>> MANY OF THOSE HAVE TIES TO THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION WHO PUSHED THE ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD BILL.

LIKE I SAID, STATEWIDE PROBABLY THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE.

>> WHAT DOES JOHNSON HAVE TO DO TO REACH OUT TO CHICAGOANS WHO DID NOT VOTE FOR HIM?

PARTICULARLY THOSE IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHO ARE WARY HE IS JUST GOING TO RAISE TAXES ?

>> CERTAINLY BRANDON JOHNSON IS AN EXPERIENCED ORGANIZER.

HE IS AN EXPERIENCED COMMUNICATOR.

HE KNOWS HOW TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN THAT WAY.

TO THE POINT ABOUT THE POWER OF PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT, WHEN YOU TALK WITH FOLKS LIKE MAYOR ELECT JOHNSON AND A LOT OF HIS SUPPORTERS, THEY SAY THEIR IDEAS ARE THE ONES THAT WON OUT.

THIS WAS NOT A LANDSLIDE VICTORY, BUT 16,000 VOTES AND LIKELY TO GROW.

THAT IS SIGNIFICANT IN A RACE WHERE WE WERE NOT NECESSARILY SURE IF WE WOULD HAVE THOSE RESULTS.

IT SEEMS LIKE THOSE PROGRESSIVE ARGUMENTS ON POLICING, TRYING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ROOT CAUSES VERSUS INCREASING ENFORCEMENT -- THOSE WON THE DAY.

SO IT IS NOT AS THOUGH -- YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE IS ALSO A KNOWLEDGE THAT WEALTHY FOLKS AND BUSINESSES ARE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO PULL UP BIG ON THAT AND LEAVE THE CITY.

I THINK THERE HAS TO BE SOME GIVE AND TAKE, BUT I THINK FOLKS HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PROGRESSIVES AND THEIR POLITICAL LEADERSHIP HAVE SOME REAL POWER RIGHT NOW.

>> GOING TO BE FUN TO WATCH IT ALL HAPPEN.

THANKS, EVERYBODY.

>>> WE ARE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING.

YOU CAN GET CHICAGO TONIGHT STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOU TALK, AND OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 10:00.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I AM PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.