>>> HELLO, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON A SPECIAL EDITION OF CHICAGO TONIGHT, TONIGHT IS THE LATEST IN THE SERIES, WTTW NEWS, A SAFER CITY, EVERY MONDAY IN JULY AND AUGUST WE ARE DEVOTING OUR ENTIRE PROGRAM TO THE ISSUES OF PUBLIC ENTITY SAFETY AND ALSO PRIORITIZING PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR ONLINE COVERAGE AS WELL, INCLUDING IT WTTW.COM SAFER CITY.

>>> PUBLIC SPACES AND AMENITIES, HOW A LACK OF THEM MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO VIOLENCE AND CRIME, HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

>> IT'S AN AMAZING FEELING TO STAND HERE.

>> JOHNSON'S PICK FOR CHICAGO'S TOP COP ENVISIONS FOR THE CITY.

>>> LIVE AND WORK IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY, ACCESSING THINGS EASILY.

>> A LOCAL COLLECTIVE ON HOW EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT CAN HELP TO BUILD A SAFER CITY.

>>> PARKS, PUBLIC TRANSIT AND AMENITIES LIKE GROCERY STORES MAKE COMMUNITIES MORE APPEALING BUT CAN ACTUALLY MAKE THEM SAFER?

>>> HOW A VACANT LOT TURN ROLLER RINK HAS BECOME A SAFE AND FUN PLACE FOR NEIGHBORS TOGETHER, ALL THAT RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE GYM AND K NAVY FAMILY.

-- JIM AND KAY , AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT'S COVERAGE OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS SUPPORTED BY THE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INITIATIVE FOR REDUCING VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO.

>>> AS WE MENTIONED, TONIGHT'S FOCUS IN THE SERIES, WTTW NEWS, A SAFER CITY, PUBLIC SPACES.

ELEMENTS OF CREATING SAFER PUBLIC SPACES, AND LAW-ENFORCEMENT, THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED THEIR TOP PICK, BRANDON JOHNSON INTRODUCED LARRY SNELLING AS A SUN OF INGLEWOOD, AND THE NEW LEADER TO LEAD THE SCANDAL RIDDEN DEPARTMENT.

>> A NEW CHAPTER ON THIS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY TO BUILD A STRONGER AND SAFER CHICAGO.

HE COMMANDS THE HIGHEST RESPECT OF HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE DEPARTMENT, I AM FULLY CONFIDENT IN HIS ABILITY TO UNIFY AND STRENGTHEN THESE CRITICAL PUBLIC SERVICES.

CONFIDENT HE CAN BOOST THEIR MORALE.

>> JOHNSON'S CHOICE IS TO THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL FOR CONFIRMATION.

HEATHER WAS AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND SHE JOINS US WITH MORE.

LARRY SNELLING JOINED THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 1992 AFTER GROWING UP ON THE SOUTH SIDE, HERE'S WHAT HE SAID HIS APPOINTMENT MEANS.

>> FOR THOSE WHO GREW UP LIKE I DID, A RESIDENT OF INGLEWOOD AND THE STUDENT OF THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THE POSSIBILITIES ARE LIMITLESS.

>> WHAT ELSE DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE CHIEFS RECORD AS A MEMBER OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT QUICK >> SINCE SEPTEMBER, HE'S BEEN THE HEAD OF COUNTERTERRORISM FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND HE LED THE FAR SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO AND THE INGLEWOOD POLICE DISTRICT.

AND SPENT A GOOD DEAL OF TIME AT THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAINING ACADEMY, WHERE HE WAS REALLY THE EXPERT ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT POLICIES IMPOSED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING HOW IT USES FORCE AGAINST SUSPECTS.

>> YOU ASKED HIM ABOUT HIS TIME AT THE POLICE ACADEMY , THE 2017 INVESTIGATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOUND GRADUATES OF PREPARED TO POLICE LAWFULLY AND EFFECTIVELY, HOW DID HE RESPOND?

>> DID NOT DIRECTLY ANSWER MY QUESTION WHERE THAT SHOULD GIVE REFORM ADVOCATES PAUSE ABOUT HIS COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FULLY IMPLEMENTS THE COURT ORDERED REFORMS PROMPTED BY THE POLICE MURDER OF McDONALD.

HE DID SAY HE WAS COMMITTED TO ROBUST TRAINING THAT DIDN'T JUST CHECK THE BOXES TO COMPLY WITH THE COURT ORDER BUT TO TRULY GET TO THE ROOT OF PREPARING OFFICERS TO POLICE, THAT IS GOING TO BE A QUESTION THAT COMES UP IN THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS.

>> WHAT ARE HIS PRIORITIES?

>> THE FIRST WAS OFFICER TRAINING AND OFFICER WELLNESS, HE SAID SEVERAL TIMES HE UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE TOTAL OF BEING A CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER WAS LIKE AND WHAT COLE -- TOLL IT COULD TO HAVE THE DAYS OF CANCELED IT WAS CLEAR THAT MAYOR JOHNSON SHOWS HIM IN PART TO RESTORE THE MORALE OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH WE REPORTED HAS BEEN LOW FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

>> MAYOR JOHNSON PROMISED TO TAKE A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH BY FOCUSING ON THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME, IS HE STILL ON BOARD WITH THAT QUICK >> HE SAID HE WAS, HE AGREED WITH THE MAYOR THAT THE COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE NOT TWO SEPARATE INSTITUTIONS BUT THEY SHOULD WORK TOGETHER.

HOWEVER HE WAS SOMEBODY WHO DEFENDED THE USE OF THE CITIES SHOTSPOTTER GUNSHOT DETECTION SYSTEM, JOHNSON HAS PROMISED TO END THE CONTRACT, AND WASN'T SEEMING PERFECTLY COMMITTED TO THE NOTION OF SENDING SOCIAL WORKERS AND COUNSELORS TO RESPOND TO 911 CALLS FOR HELP FROM PEOPLE EXPRESSING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THEY A LINE DOWN THE ROAD.

WHAT IS NEXT QUICK >> THE COMMUNITY LOCATION, THEY SELECTED TRAN04'S A FINALIST, WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND IT WILL GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION, WHO WILL DECIDE WHETHER HE WILL BE THE CITIES 64th POLICE SUPERINTENDENT.

>> FOLLOWING IT ALL FOR US, THANK YOU HEATHER.

YOU CAN READ HER FULL STORY ON THE WEBSITE, IN FULL AT WTTW.COM /NEWS.

.

♪ ♪ >> MAKING NEIGHBORHOODS VIBRANT, ACCESSIBLE AND EASY TO GET AROUND, KEY PORTS MAKING THEM SAFER.

ADVANCING SOMETHING CALLED EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, MORE ON HOW THAT WORKS, JOINING US FROM 65th AND COTTAGE GROVE, ANGEL?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, WHEN WE THINK OF CHICAGO WE THINK OF A CITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT, AND OFTEN TIMES THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS WHERE THE FEELING OF SAFETY STARTS OR DOESN'T START, THAT'S WHY NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT IS SO IMPORTANT.

I SPOKE WITH A COORDINATOR AT ELEVATED CHICAGO, A GROUP OF COLLABORATORS IN AUTHORS AND ARTISTS AND OTHER FOLKS THAT ALL HAVE A COMMON GOAL OF WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.

WORKING AND LIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ONE RESIDES IN, IS AN OPTION MANY BELIEVE SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.

BUT IT ISN'T.

THAT IS WHERE ETO D, EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, COMES INTO PLAY.

>> IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO TRAVERSE ABOUT THE CITY WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM, THAT'S NOT THE CASE FOR EVERYONE, A LOT OF PEOPLE RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSIT, AND GETTING FROM PLACE TO PLACE IS DIFFICULT.

WHY NOT MAKE IT A CASE WHERE YOU CAN LIVE AND WORK IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY, AND YOU CAN ACCESS THINGS EASILY NEAR YOUR TRAIN STATION OR NEAR YOUR BUS STOP.

>> SINCE 2017, ELEVATED CHICAGO HAS BEEN WORKING TO MAKE THE CITY MORE ASSESSABLE, WITH CREATIVE METHODS LIKE CAN YOU WALK THERE, A SEEN ON TIKTOK.

>> I AM WALKING IN WOODLAWN.

>> NOT JUST HAVING A SIDEWALK YOU CAN WALK ON BUT WHAT CAN YOU SEE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ARE YOU WALKING PAST VACANT LOTS, DO YOU FEEL SAFE, ARE THERE AMENITIES YOU CAN INTERACT WITH, ALL THAT GOES UNDER WALK ABILITY, YOU MAY NOT WALK PAST ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN GO INTO FOR BLOCKS VERSUS OTHER AREAS, YOU WILL WALK PAST HOMES AND BARS, AND PAST DOG GROOMERS, ALL KINDS OF THINGS WILL BE THERE, IT'S NOT FAIR THAT THERE HAS TO BE THIS INEQUITY, BUT IF WE WANT TO BRING THE DEVELOPMENT, WE NEED TO HAVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT THE FOREFRONT.

NOW ARE GOING TO BUILD THE STUFF, IT'S GOING TO GO UP, THE PROPERTY VALUES GOING TO GO UP AND PEOPLE SAY I DIDN'T WANT A DOG GROOMER NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT'S NOT WHAT I NEEDED, I NEED THE GROCERY STORE, AND PEOPLE HAVE A VOICE.

>> DETERMINES THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS ETO D FRIENDLY AND WALKABLE QUICK >> FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED ETOD, HALF-MILE OF A TRAIN STATION OR QUARTER-MILE OF THE BUS STOP, DEVELOPMENT IS WHATEVER IS BEING BUILT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOUR GROCERY STORES, YOUR MURALS, WHATEVER IS GETTING PUT UP, BUT THE EQUITY PART IS THE PART THAT HAS BEEN MISSING A LOT OF THE DEVELOPMENTS.

FOR EXAMPLE LOGAN SQUARE, EXAMPLE OF ETOD IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT IS THE LUCY PARSONS GONZALEZ APARTMENTS, 100 UNITS OF 100% AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE GREEN ROUTE THERE, HOP AND A JUMP FROM LOGAN SQUARE TRAIN LINE.

WE MET ONE OF 40+ PROJECTS THAT ELEVATED CHICAGO HAS WORKED ON.

>> WHERE PEOPLE ARE ON THE BUS AND ABLE TO GET AROUND EASILY, MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE, SO OVERALL ETOD BENEFITS EVERYONE, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT ALLOWS US TO FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE AND ALLOWS US TO HAVE MORE RACIAL EQUITY FOR PEOPLE RELIANT ON TRANSIT ESPECIALLY BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND MORE DEVELOPMENT, WITH THE COMMUNITY DESIRES.

>> AND 64th IN COTTAGE, AND NOT BEHIND ME NOW, AND THE DEFINITION THEATER, ACTUALLY ONE OF THE PROJECTS I WAS TALKING ABOUT, ELEVATED CHICAGO HAS HELPED TO PUSH ALONG, LITTLE BIT HARD TO SEE AROUND ME, A TRAIN STATION ABOUT A BLOCK UP, A COUPLE OF FOOD EATERIES BUT WOODLAWN I WOULD SAY IS ALL PRETTY SCARCE, WHICH MEANS EVEN WITH THE THEATER COMING BEHIND ME, STILL A WAYS AWAY BECOMING A WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> IT'S BEING FUNDED BY THE CITY?

>> AND ETO D GRANTS, THE THEATER WHERE IF YOU KNOW THE PUBLIC SPACE THAT IS IN NEED SOMETHING TO BRIGHTEN UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT FALLS WITHIN THE ETOD GUIDELINES, IT IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD UTILIZE.

ACTUALLY BE PUTTING UP ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLICATIONS, IF YOU KNOW OF A NEIGHBORHOOD OR AN AREA IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS IN NEED OF SOME ETOD DEVELOPMENT, YOU SHOULD CERTAINLY APPLY.

>> THAT'S A LOT TO WATCH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> AS WE JUST SAW, PUBLIC TRANSIT AND AMENITIES LIKE THEATERS AND PARKS AND LIBRARIES AND GROCERY STORES MAKE NEIGHBORHOODS MORE LIVABLE AND APPEALING, BUT CAN THEY ACTUALLY MAKE THEM SAFER?

WHAT IMPACT CAN THEY HAVE ON CRIME?

HERE TO DISCUSS THAT IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN CHICAGO'S UNDER RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS, PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE MANAGER FOR THE NONPROFIT TEAMWORK INGLEWOOD, ARCHITECT AND PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CHICAGO ARCHITECT CENTER, UP UNTIL LAST SEPTEMBER SHE WAS IN THE COOK COUNTY LAND VACANT PROPERTIES, AND THE FORMER 47th BOARD ALDERMAN, -- AWARD.

NOW WITH THE SECURITY PROJECT, I WANT TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU ON THIS, IT'S -- GETTING TO WHERE A LACK OF PUBLIC SPACES CAN IMPACT CRYING.

>> PUBLIC SPACES LIKE INGLEWOOD, IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DISINVEST THEM, THE UNINTENTIONAL CONSEQUENCES AROUND NOT HAVING THOSE AMENITIES CREATES MORE CRIME, FOLKS THAT DON'T FEEL PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND DON'T HAVE ACCESS WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND TRAVEL OUTSIDE TO GET ACCESS TO THOSE THINGS LIKE GROCERY STORES AND THEATERS, SOMETHING AS SMALL AS TRYING TO GET TO A PET STORE TO GET SOMETHING FOR YOUR PET, CROSSES BOUNDARIES YOU MAY NOT FEEL SAFE IN, AND IF YOU ARE A SENIOR HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET THERE IF YOU DON'T DRIVE QUICK >> TRANSPORTATION CAN BE AN ISSUE.

>> WHEN THERE ARE NOT AMENITIES AND SPACES THAT ARE WELCOMING, WHY SHOULD PEOPLE COME OUT, WHY SHOULD THERE BE LIFE ON THE STREET ACTIVITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHEN THERE IS A LACK OF POSITIVE INFLUENCE, THAT IS WHEN THE AREA IS RIGHT FOR OTHER THINGS TO HAPPEN.

I WAS RECENTLY ON A TASK FORCE TO LOOK AT STATE STREET, THE ACTIVITY DOWNTOWN, WITH THE LACK OF ACTIVITY IN TERMS OF RETAIL PROGRAMMING, PROGRAMS LIKE THAT THAT NEED TO REVERSE THAT.

>> YOU NEED PUBLIC SPACES AND INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR GROWTH.

VAST SWATHS OF THE CITY HAVE BEEN REDLINED HISTORICALLY BUT THE PLACES THAT ARE FOOD DESERTS ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY BANKING, TRANSIT AND HOUSING, BROADBAND AND EVERY KIND OF DESERT SIMULTANEOUSLY.

YOU BASICALLY FORCE COMMUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN CAPITALISM WITHOUT CAPITAL AND THAT LEADS TO PROBLEMS.

>> ON THE FLIPSIDE, WOULD YOU SAY THE CRIME IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES TO BRINGING INVESTMENT TO COMMUNITIES?

>> NO ACTUALLY I DON'T, AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR STRATEGY IN MOST OF THE AMERICAN CITIES, WE BEG, NUDGE, BIG ACTORS TO COME TO COMMUNITIES AND THEY ARE HERE TODAY AND THEN THEY ARE GONE TOMORROW, AND WE BELIEVE IF THE MARKET WANTS TO INVEST IN TRINITIES THE PUBLIC SHOULD, THAT'S WHY THE PUBLIC OPTION SHOULD PLAY A BIG ROLE.

>> YOU THINKING A PLATE OBSTACLE IN GETTING THEM TO INVEST QUICK >> I WOULD AGREE WITH THE FORMER ALDERMAN, CRIME ISN'T SO MUCH A DETERRENT AS THE AMOUNT OF ROOFTOPS THERE ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE BUYING POWER IN THE DATA THAT IS OUT THERE, THAT NEEDS TO BE COLLECTIVELY USED TO GO TO PUBLIC BANKS, AND PRIVATE LENDING INSTITUTIONS AND SHOW THEM THAT THESE COMMUNITIES ARE NOT DEAD, THAT THEY REALLY DO HAVE A LOT OF LIFE IN THEM, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE WILLING TO SPEND THEIR DOLLARS.

>> DEMETRIUS, WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WHOLE FOODS, WALMART IN CHATHAM, WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DOES IT HAVE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD QUICK >> CLOSING GROCERY STORES ELICITS UNINTENTIONAL CRIME, WE LIVE IN A FOOD DESERT, WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD, ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, REHABILITATION RESOURCES, IT AFFECTS US NEGATIVELY IMPACTS THE CONNOTATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE RESIDENCE, AND DISCOURAGES THEM FROM PLANTING ROOTS IN INGLEWOOD, HENCE THE BLACK FLIGHT OUT OF INGLEWOOD AND SOUTHSIDE CHICAGO, THE COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.

>> YOU'VE ADVOCATED FOR THE GOVERNMENT OWNING AND OPENING GROCERY STORES, HOW WOULD THAT WORK QUICK >> I VOTED FOR THE SUBSIDY FOR WHOLE FOODS IN INGLEWOOD, AT THE TIME THE CEO CARED ABOUT THE FOOD DESERTS, SOON AFTER WE INCENTIVIZED WHOLE FOODS, AMAZON BOUGHT THEM AND THEY DON'T HAVE A STRATEGY AROUND THE FOOD DESERTS.

WE HAVE ENTIRE COMMITTEES THAT ARE WRITTEN OFF BY THE CAPITAL MARKETS AND MARKET ACTORS, THE ARGUMENT FOR PUBLIC GROCERY STORES THERE EIGHT STATES WITH GOVERNMENT LIQUOR STORES, AND WHEN THE GROCERY STORE CLOSE THEY DECIDED TO TAKE OVER, WHAT THEY REALIZED IS WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT GROCERY STORES BUT IT'S ALSO NOT OKAY FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE NO ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD, WE NEED CITIES TO BE UNTRUE AND ORIOLE, AND PUBLIC OPTIONS FOR EVERYTHING THE MARKET GIVES.

>> WHAT IS YOUR REACTION, SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT STEP IN WHERE THE PRIVATE HAS FAILED QUICK >> THE OPTION FOR GOVERNMENT TO DO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ON THE DISINVESTMENT THAT HASN'T -- HAS OCCURRED, AND THE QUESTIONS THEY HAVE FOR THE CITY GOVERNMENT, WITH THAT, FOLLOWING A CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, OPENING STORES WOULD BE THE BEST PLAN OF ACTION.

>> DO YOU THINK RESIDENCE CAN BE DISTRUSTFUL OF A CITY OPERATED STORE QUICK >> ABSENTLY, THAT'S WHY PARTNERSHIP WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED THE TRUST WITH RESIDENTS IS IMPORTANT.

>> YOU'RE THE FORMER HEAD OF THE COOK COUNTY LAND BANK, VACANT, FORECLOSED, OPPORTUNITIES, THE GOAL BEING TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WOULD YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE GOVERNMENT USING VACANT LAND FOR PUBLIC SPACES AND AMENITIES?

>> VACANT LAND IS OWNED BY A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES, THE COOK COUNTY LAND BANK, THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND THE MAJORITY IS ACTUALLY ON THE PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, THE FIRST STEP IS IDENTIFYING WHO OWNS EACH OF THESE PARCELS AND COMING UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF HOW TO ASSEMBLE THESE AND WORKING WITH COMMUNITY TO DETERMINE IS A PUBLIC SPACE, IS IT SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO INVEST IN, IN A COOPERATIVE, THE FIRST STEP THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO IS MAKE THE LAND ACCESSIBLE.

>> DEMETRIOUS COX YOU MENTIONED BLACK FLIGHT, CHICAGO HAS BEEN LOSING THAT FOR DECADES, THE NUMBER OF BLACK CHICAGOANS IS AT ITS LOWEST 1950, HOW HAS A LACK OF AMENITIES IN PUBLIC SPACES PLAYED INTO THIS?

>>> HOW YOU FEEL IN YOUR HOME, A LOT OF US ARE JUST UPROOTING HER LEAVING AND GOING TO OTHER PLACES, AND DISINVESTMENT IS OCCURRING, INSTEAD OF FOLKS ADVOCATING FOR BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE, THEIR NEED FOR OTHER PLACES HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, SOMETHING THAT WE TRY TO DO, INGLEWOOD, WE FOCUS ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE INITIATIVE, AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS, DRIVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> THE PEOPLE LEAVING ARE THE ONES WHO CAN AFFORD TO LEAVE RIGHT?

[ LAUGHTER ] WHAT ABOUT THE FOLKS LEFT BEHIND AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO LEAVE?

>> AGAIN, THIS IS WHERE FUMIKA COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE SUCCEEDED HISTORICALLY, IT IS WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A SYSTEMATIC INVESTMENT, WHETHER THROUGH BANK LOANS OR PUBLIC INVESTMENT, AND WHEN THOSE THINGS ARE DENIED RIGHT, IF YOU CAN'T PICK UP AND LEAVE TO GREENER PASTURES, YOU ARE LEFT WITH NOT ONLY SYSTEMIC DISINVESTMENT BUT THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ALL OF THAT.

>>> IS TO YOUR POINT WE NEED TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITIES, AND GIVE THEM UNILATERAL INVESTMENT BY A PUBLIC INSTITUTION WHICH IS IMPORTANT, WE CAN EITHER CONTINUE TO RELY ON THE GRANTS, ALL THESE THINGS THAT KIND OF WORK ON THE MARGINS, OR HARNESS PUBLIC CAPITAL TO INVEST ALONGSIDE COMMUNITIES.

SO THAT THEY CAN THRIVE.

IT CAN'T JUST BE LINCOLN SQUARE WHERE I LIVE.

>> ELEANOR, WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE, CITY, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, DUE TO SUPPORT INVESTMENT IN UNDER INVESTED COMMUNITIES QUICK >> I ALWAYS ADVOCATE FOR LOOKING AT THE TOOLS WE HAVE NOW, WHAT IS WORKING AND WHAT IS NOT, IT IS CONTROVERSIAL AMONGST MANY FOLKS BUT A CHANCE TO RE-EXAMINE THAT, THERE WAS TALK OF DOING A PUBLIC BANK, USING UTILIZING THE DOLLARS FOR THAT, I COULD SEE THAT BEING A BIG HELP IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THERE MAY BE ARE NOT FINANCED -- FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS LOCALLY.

>>> IN ADDITION, THE IMPROVEMENT FUND AND NEIGHBORHOOD OPPORTUNITY FUND, THESE ARE FUNDS THAT ALREADY WORK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES, NOR DO ENOUGH OF THEM AND ADMINISTER PROGRAMS, AND PACKING WHERE THEY ARE CAPABLE OF, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE ADMINISTRATION, RE-EXAMINING THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE AND HOW THEY CAN STRENGTH AND.

>> MY THANKS TO OUR GUESTS, DEMETRIUS, AND ELEANOR, THANK YOU TO ALL THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>> TWO YEARS AGO A VACANT LOT TRANSFORM INTO A PLACE TO GATHER AND PLAY, NICK GOT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT, AND WHERE IT IS HEADED NEXT, JOINING US LIVE AND A BIT OF RAIN.

NICK?

>> Reporter: IS A LITTLE BIT, YOU WOULD HARDLY NOTICE, WE INTRODUCED YOU TO THE GARFIELD PARK COMMUNITY PLAZA BACK IN JANUARY, AS PART OF OUR CHICAGO TONIGHT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

SINCE THEN A NEW EFFORT HAS GOTTEN UNDERWAY TO BRING EVEN MORE AMENITIES TO THE COMMITTEE SPACE, THAT HAS BECOME A HUB OF ACTIVITY FOR NEIGHBORS.

>>> FOR MANY CHICAGOANS, THE CLATTER OF ROLLERSKATE WHEELS IS THE FAMILIAR SOUND OF SUMMER, AND GARFIELD PARK IT HAS BEEN REPLACED BY ANOTHER FAMILIAR SOUND THIS TIME OF YEAR.

CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY AT THE GARFIELD PARK COMMUNITY PLAZA TO CREATE MORE PLAY AREAS FOR KIDS, A STAGE IN A COVERED ROLLER RINK AND A SCULPTURE DESIGNED BY YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> IS GOING TO BE A DYNAMIC SPACE AT AN OASIS IN THE MIDST OF A BLOCK WHERE FOLKS CAN COME IN, FIND A LITTLE PIECE A LITTLE QUIET, OR A LOT OF FUN ACTIVITY AND ENJOYMENT.

>> THE SIMPLER VERSION OF THE PLAZA AND ROLLER RINK OPENED IN 2021, OFFERING FREE SKATES ANYPLACE TOGETHER ON THE SIDE OF A LONG VACANT LOT THAT IS BECOME AN ISSUE.

>> ON A BUSY STREET, HAS ALL KINDS OF ACTIVITY GOING ON AS WELL.

>> RECLAIMING VACANT LOTS LIKE THIS DON'T EVEN -- JUST CREATE A VACANT SPOT TOGETHER AND PLAY, IT MAKES COMMUNITIES SAFER AND HEALTHIER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES WITH INCREASED ATTENTION TO THE SITE, SOMETHING HE HAS SEEN WITH HIS OWN EYES.

>> TWO BLOCKS TO THE NORTH, TO BLOCK TO THE NORTH, TWO BLOCKS TO THE SOUTH, TWO BLOCKS TO THE EAST IT IS A DIFFERENT STORY BUT ON THE CORNER, THE ATTENTION AND CONSISTENT ACTIVITY, SHOULDN'T FAMILIES HERE, WORKING TO INCREASE ALONG THE CORRIDOR HAS BEEN A BIG HELP.

>> Reporter: CRAWFORD SAYS INVESTING IN THE PHYSICAL SPACE SHOWS RESIDENCE IT'S A SPACE THEY CAN GROW AND THRIVE.

BUT HE ALSO KNOWS THAT MORE INVESTMENT CAN MEAN GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT OF LONGTIME RESIDENTS.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE SEEK JUSTICE, WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, THOSE WHO HAVE WEATHERED THE STORM FOR ALL THESE YEARS WILL ALSO BE HERE WHILE THE SUN SHINES.

>> WANT TO MAKE SURE THE SPACES DESIGNED AROUND THE IDEA OF BLACK CULTURE WELLNESS, ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND UPLIFTING THE VALUES IN THE PLAZA.

>> WE WORK TO BUILD A COMMUNITY THAT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE AS WELL.

>> RAY: AND EVEN THOUGH CONSTRUCTION IS HAPPENING DURING PEAK SUMMER ROLLERSKATING WEATHER, MAYBE NOT PEAK WEATHER TODAY ALTHOUGH, THE RENOVATED PLAZA HOPES TO REOPEN IN TIME FOR HARVEST VISTA OCTOBER.

>> THAT'S MUCH CONSTRUCTION DURING THE REIGN NICK, FIND A PLACE THAT'S DRY, THANK YOU SO MUCH .

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT, JOIN US AGAIN NEXT MONDAY FOR THE LATEST IN THE SERIES AND BE SURE TO FOLLOW OUR ONGOING COVERAGE ONLINE, DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED BY SIGNING UP FOR THE DAILY BRIEFING, AND DID CHICAGO TONIGHT ON FACEBOOK, WTTW.COM /NEWS, AND THE CBS VIDEO APP, JOIN US AT 5:30 PM IN 10:00 TOMORROW, MEMBERS OF THE SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION, WILL TALK ABOUT THE NEW POLICE CHIEF, THE APPOINTMENT OF LARRY SNELLING .

>>> AND WORK THAT IS LITTLE KNOWN IN THE U.S. >>> THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY -- PROUD SPONSOR OF PROGRAMMING THAT OFFERS ADVICE AND STRATEGY TO ENHANCE THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL