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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WE'RE AT WAR.

BUT WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING WE NEED TO WIN.

>> REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR DARREN BAILEY CAMPAIGNED REPEATEDLY INCLUDING LAST WEEKEND WITH A LOCAL PASTOR WHO WAS AT THE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6TH.

>> CALIFORNIA MOVES TO BAN THE NEW SALE OF GAS PORTFOLIO POWERED VEHICLES BY 2035.

WHAT THE MOVE COULD MEAN FOR ILLINOIS.

>> SIX MONTHS INTO THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND AN END TO THE CONFLICT APPEARS NOWHERE IN SIGHT.

BUT UKRAINIANS REMAIN DEFIANT.

>> YOU SEE THEM ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS AND THEY GO TO BE AN EXTENDED VERSION OF OUR FAMILY.

>> CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY FOR A BELOVED FAMILY DINER IN NORTH CENTER WE HAVE A LIVE REPORT.

>> A NEW SURVEY SAYS YOUNG ADULTS ARE USING WEED AND PSYCHEDELICS MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.

A LOOK AT WHAT MIGHT BE BEHIND THE TREND.

>> AND BRANDIS AND PARIS, I'M LIVE IN NORTH CENTER WHERE I WILL BE REPORTING AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

TRANSPORTATION SAFETY IS TOP OF MIND FOR MANY HERE AMID RECENT DEATHS AND INJURIES OF CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS.

WE TALK TO LOCAL LEADERS HOW THEY ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE SAFETY AND A NONPROFIT GOT A $1 MILLION GRANT TO IMPROVE SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

FOR NOW BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE PUBLIC COULD SOON LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT LED F.B.I.

OFFICIALS TO SEARCH FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S MAR-A-LAGO RESIDENCE THIS MONTH.

THE JUDGE IS ORDERING THE TO RELEASE THE ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER.

THIS HOURS AFTER FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS SUBMITTED PORTIONS OF THE ATTENTION AFFIDAVIT THEYWANTEDDED TO KEEP.

IT LAYS OUT WHY INVESTIGATORS THINK THERE WAS PROBABLE CAUSE THAT CRIMES HAD BEEN COMMITTED.

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS UNTIL NOON TOMORROW TO RELEASE THE DOCUMENT.

>> CHICAGO'S TOP DOCTOR TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

THE CITY'S PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ALLISON ARWADY ANNOUNCES SHE HAS CONTRACTED COVID AND IS EXPERIENCING COLD LIKE SYMPTOMS INCLUDING A FEVER.

ARWADY WILL WORK-FROM-HOME WHILE ISOLATING AND DESPITE HER SYMPTOMS SHE IS FEELING WELL CREDITED SHE HAS BEEN FULLY VACCINATED AND BOOSTED.

>> AND Dr. ARWADY IS NOT THE ONLY OFFICIAL TO TEST POSITIVE TODAY.

SECRETARY OF STATE JESSE WHITE'S OFFICE ANNOUNCES THAT THE 88-YEAR-OLD CONTRACTED COVID-19.

WHITE'S OFFICE SAYS HE HAS MILD SYMPTOMS AND WILL WORK-FROM-HOME WHILE QUARANTINING.

UP NEXT, CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR'S DARREN BAILEY CONTROVERSIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A LOCAL PASTOR.

STAY WITH US.

>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR DARREN BAILEY HAS CAMPAIGNED CLOSELY WITH ROCKFORD AREA PASTORS THAT WTTW NEWS HAS LEARNED WERE AT THE U.S. CAPITOL DURING THE INSURRECTION ON JANUARY 6TH.

ONE OF THOSE PASTORS WHO ATTENDED THE RALLY AND SUBSEQUENTLY MARCHED TO THE CAPITOL IS ALSO A COUNTY COORDINATOR FOR THE BAILEY CAMPAIGN.

THE ASSOCIATION COULD PROVE TO BE A HURDLE FOR BAILEY'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER.

BAILEY APPEARED WITH ONE OF THE PASTORS AT HIS ROCKFORD AREA CHURCH FOR A SERVICE THIS WEEKEND.

>> WE HAVE OFFICIALLY WORSHIPED WITH YOU AS MUCH AS WE'VE WORSHIPED WITH OUR HOME CHURCH BACK HOME IN THE LAST YEAR.

>> BAILEY MADE THE APPEARANCE AT THE GROVE FELLOWSHIP.

A CHURCH LED BY PASTOR BRIAN PHILLIPS LOCATED IN POPULAR GROVE EAST OF ROCKFORD.

THERE WAS A LINE FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT OF THE BIBLE SAYING THE LORD IS A MAN O' WAR.

NEXT TO A SYMBOL OF THE PUNISHER, A MARVEL COMICS CHARACTER APPROPRIATED BY FAR RIGHT MILITIA GROUPS LIKE THE PROUD BOYS.

>> THE LORD IS THE MAN O' WAR BUT HE DEALS WITH THE SPIRITS OF EVIL IN HEAVENLY PLACES.

>> BAILEY APPEARED WITH PHILLIPS AND SOUNDED SIMILAR OMINOUS TONES DURING HIS PRESENTATION SUNDAY.

>> WE ARE AT WAR BUT WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED TO WIN AND IT'S UP TO WHAT WE SAY, WHAT WE DO, WHERE WE DID, HOW WE INTERACT.

>> IT'S OVERWHELMING.

>> PHILLIPS WAS AT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S RALLY IN WASHINGTON ON JANUARY 6, 2021 SEEN BEHIND STEVE CASTLE ANOTHER PASTOR AT A CHURCH THAT BAILEY APPEARED AT.

ON FACEBOOK LIVE THEY DOCUMENT THEIR WALK TO THE CAPITOL.

DAYS LATER PHILLIPS TALKS ABOUT BEING ON THE CAPITOL GROUNDS.

>> WE'RE OUT FRONT DOING THE WE THE PEOPLE.

JUST HAVING FUN, RIGHT.

MAKING OUR VOICES HEARD.

NOTHING EVIL OR DESTRUCTIVE AND THEN WHY DON'T WE GO TO THE BACK ENTRANCE.

>> IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER OR NOT THEY WENT IN.

PHILLIPS SAYS HE DOESN'T BELIEVE THE RIOTERS BROKE IN WITH ACTUAL TRUMP SUPPORTERS.

>> TO WATCH THE NEWS AND SEE THIS WAS A TERRORIST RALLY ALL TRUMP'S FAULT, DUDE THIS WAS A SETUP.

>> THE ASSOCIATION COULD BE PROBLEMATIC FOR BAILEY.

STRUGGLING TO GAIN GROUND AGAINST INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT J.B. PRITZKER.

BAILEY HAS FACED FALLOUT FROM CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS CALLING ABORTION WORSE THAN THE HOLOCAUST.

PHILLIPS HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF GOVERNOR PRITZKER'S COVID STAY AT HOME ORDERS AND MASK MANDATE.

HE MADE NO SECRET OF THE POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR BAILEY DURING HIS SERMON ON SUNDAY.

>> SEE WHAT IS BEING DONE AND HOW SCARED THE ENEMY IS IS AND FATHER, WE JUST LIKE YOU WORK THROUGH YOUR BELIEVERS, GUYS, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT TODAY SATANS THROUGH HIS BELIEVERS.

>> THE BAILEY CAMPAIGN ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING... Mr. CASTLE RUNS THE CHURCH IN LENA, ILLINOIS WHERE THE BAILEY'S DELIVERED GUEST SERMONS.

CASTLE IS THE STEVENSON COUNTY COORDINATOR FOR THE BAILEY CAMPAIGN AND SAYS THEY ARE CLOSE FRIENDS.

CASTLE STATED PUBLICLY HE WAS VISITED AND QUESTIONED BY THE F.B.I.

ABOUT HIS ACTIONS ON JANUARY 6.

NEITHER PHILLIPS NOR CASTLE ARE ACCUSED OF CRIMINAL WRONGDOING IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR ATTENDANCE AT THE CAPITOL.

CASTLE TOLD ME HE AND PHILLIPS WERE THERE TO DO MINISTRY ON JANUARY 6.

THEY DID NOT ENTER THE CAPITOL BUILDING.

PASTOR PHILLIPS DID NOT RETURN CALLS OR MESSAGES SEEKING COMMENT.

BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CHICAGO'S NORTH CENTER NEIGHBORHOOD IS A COMMUNITY WHERE MANY CITY DWELLERS RAISE A FAMILY WITH LOTS OF SCHOOLS, PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACE.

THE BROWN LINE RUNS THROUGH THE AREA AND THE CHICAGO RIVER MARKS THE WESTERN BOUNDARY.

MANY RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WORKED FOR YEARS TO CREATE A COMMUNITY FEEL AND TO ADDRESS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY.

AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES" REPORTER NICK BLUMBERG AND ACACIA HERNANDEZ SPENT THE DAY IN NORTH CENTER AND JOINS US NOW.

>> NORTH CENTER HAS BEEN KNOWN AS A FAMILY ORIENTED NEIGHBORHOOD BUT AS ONE LONG TIME RESIDENT PUT IT IT ME IT'S NOT ALL STROLLERS WITH RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES AND EVENTS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO ENJOY.

CHAMBER OF CHEERS BOARD MEMBER SIMON STEIN SAYS THAT GROUP WORKS NOT JUST TO BOOST AREA BUSINESSES IT DOES PHILANTHROPY WORK AND FOCUSED ON BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER THROUGH EVENTS TO HELP NEIGHBORS FEEL ROOTED.

>> PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE TO LIVE WHERE THEY WANT IN THE CITY.

WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM THE CITY MOVING TO SUBURBS.

AND I AM A CITY GUY A CHICAGO GUY.

I THINK IF WE HAVE ACTIVITIES AND MANY PRACTICING AND A BIGS COMMUNITY THAT MAKES PEOPLE WANT TO STAY IN THE CITY AS OPPOSED TO MOVING OUTSIDE THE CITY.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS AIMED AT ATTRACTING AND KEEPING PEOPLE IN NORTH CENTER IS ITS FARMERS MARKET.

IT FEATURES LIVE MUSIC AND RESTAURANT POP-UPS IN ADDITION TO LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE.

I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL KNOWING WHERE YOUR FOOD COMES FROM, KNOWING YOUR FARMER.

KNOWING WHERE YOUR PEPPERS COME FROM OR EGGPLANTS COME FROM.

THERE IS A CONNECTION AND IT HELPS OUR FARMERS.

>> ANOTHER LONG TIME COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE GETTING NEW LIFE IS THE FORMER JERRY'S GRILL AT MONTROSE AND WRN WHICH CLOSED IN 2020 AFTER 60 YEARS IN BUSINESS.

ITS NEW OWNERS ARE THE FAMILY THAT RUNS THE DINER ALEXANDER'S A RESTAURANT JERRY VISITED AS A CUSTOMER.

THE FAMILY HAS BEEN HEARING FROM A LOT OF NEIGHBORS EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW RESTAURANT OPENING UP.

>> THEY SEE WHAT WE DO THERE AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE COMING INTO A PLACE WHERE YOU KNOW, 90% OF THE PEOPLE AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE KNOW 90% OF THE PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU SEE THEM ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS AND THEY ARE AN EXTENDED VERSION OF OUR FAMILY AND EXTENSION OF US.

>> ERIK MIZHQUIRI'S FAMILY BOUGHT ALEXANDER'S IN EDGEWATER AFTER HIS FATHER SPENT 30 YEARS AS THE CHEF.

ERIC SAYS THEY WANT TO BRING THE FAMILY FEEL TO THE NORTH CENTER RESTAURANT WHICH THEY ARE HOPING TO OPEN MID-TO LATE SEPTEMBER.

>> IT'S FUN.

THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE WERE ABLE TO DO THIS IS DOING IT TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.

BECAUSE EVERYBODY HANDLES WHAT THEY GOT TO HANDLE AND IF THEY CAN'T HANDLE IT REACH OUT FOR HELP SOMEBODY'S GOT YOU.

>> ANOTHER LONG TIME STAPLE OF THE COMMUNITY IS THRESHOLDS LOCATIONS AROUND THE GREATER CHICAGO AREA.

AND IN NORTH CENTER HAS A RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM AS WELL AS A DAY SCHOOL FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 16-21 WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

PROGRAMS DIRECTOR SAYS MANY OF THE ADULTS ARE TRAUMA SURVIVORS AND IN THE DCFS SYSTEM.

>> THE COMBINATIONS CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO JUST SORT OF NAVIGATE SCHOOL, NAVIGATE WORK, NAVIGATE THE COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS THINGS LIKE THAT.

THOSE ARE THINGS WE WORK ON TO TRY TO PREPARE THEM ON TO LEAVE THE WORLD OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT SERVICES AND MOVE ON INTO THE ADULT WORLD.

>> THE YOUNG ADULT PROGRAM GOT A MILLION DOLLAR FEDERAL GRANT FOR BUILDING RENOVATIONS WHICH WILL ALLOW THE NONPROFIT TO DESIGN THE SPACE WITH THE WORK IN MIND.

>> AS OPPOSED TO SORT OF MANAGING THE SPACE AS BEST AS WE CAN AND TRYING TO MAKE IT MEET OUR NEEDS.

FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, TOO, I THINK IT SENDS A GREAT MESSAGE TO THEM THAT THEY ARE VALUABLE THAT THEY DESERVE TO HAVE AN INVESTMENT PLACED IN THEM IN THEIR FUTURES.

>> ANOTHER WAY NORTH CENTER LEADERS SAY THEY WANT TO INVEST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.

AIMED AT MAKING THINGS SAFER FOR CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS PARTICULARLY CHILDREN AND SENIORS.

THIS SUMMER 75-YEAR-OLD MAN A LONGTIME COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY A DRIVER WHILE CROSSING THE ROAD.

HIS DEATH CAME DAYS AFTER A TWO-YEAR-OLD WAS KILLED IN LINCOLN SQUARE.

BUT BEFORE THOSE DEATHS, THE LOCAL ALDERMAN'S OFFICE WAS FOCUSED ON MAKING STREETS AND SIDEWALKS SAFER.

>> YOU CAN'T HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY THAT FUNCTIONS IF PEOPLE CAN'T GET TO EVENTS TO SCHOOLS TO PARKS SAFELY.

THAT SAID, I THINK THIS DID HIGHLIGHT THE DEGREE TO WHICH PEOPLE CARE.

THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE 47TH WARD AND IN CHICAGO BROADLY FOR BOLD CHANGES TO HOW WE DO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> ALONG IRVIN PARK ROAD AND SOME OF THE CHANGES INCLUDE PROTECT BIKE LANES, EXPANDED SIDEWALKS AND PEDESTRIAN AREAS AND TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES PARTICULARLY NEAR SCHOOLS.

THOSE SORTS OF IMPROVEMENTS TO SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE SHOULD BE STANDARD CITYWIDE.

COMING UP WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THOSE EFFORTS AND MUCH MORE WITH MATT MARTIN AND WE'LL CHECK IN WITH LIVE MUSIC VENUE MARTYRS FOR NOW BACK TO YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS FOR A LOOK AT A MOVEMENT TO ELIMINATE GAS PORTFOLIO POWERED CARS.

>> CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR NEWSOME IS EXPECTED TO BAN THE SALE OF GAS POWERED CARS IN THAT STATE BY 2035.

IT COMES ON THE HEELS AT FEDERAL LEGISLATION AIMED AT BOOSTING THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE MARKET AND ILLINOIS LEGISLATION ATTEMPTING TO DO THE SAME.

ARE CONSUMERS READY TO MAKE THE SWITCH?

>> AND JOINING US ARE DAVE SLOAN PRESIDENT OF THE CHICAGO AUTOMOBILE TRADE ASSOCIATION.

AND JEN WALLING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL.

WE WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

JEN, WE HAVE THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT AND PASSED ILLINOIS LEGISLATION FOR TAX CREDITS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES REMIND US OF THE TAX INCENTIVES HERE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO PURCHASE AN ELECTRICAL VEHICLE OR A CHARGING STATION.

>> THE CLIMATE EQUITABLE JOBS ACT THAT WAS PASSED LAST YEAR HAS A $4,000 REBATE FOR EACH VEHICLE THAT HASN'T GOTTEN A REBATE BEFORE.

THERE IS AN UP TO 80% REBATE FOR INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR HOMES.

THOSE ARE EASILY GOOGLABLE YOU CAN FIND THEM ON GOOGLE AND FIND THE INFORMATION AND GET IT THROUGH THE DEALER.

THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT ADDED TO THAT WITH AN ADDITIONAL TAX CREDIT $7500 FOR A NEW VEHICLE AND $4,000 FOR A USED VEHICLE AS WELL AS MONEY FOR CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

SO AND ILLINOIS ALSO PASSED TAX CREDITS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANUFACTURING TO BE LOCATED IN THE STATE.

A NUMBER OF INCENTIVES THAT CAN STACK ON EACH OTHER.

>> DAVE SLOAN LET'S LOOK AT THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE RIGHT NOW.

I BELIEVE IT'S AROUND $65,000.

JUST OVER $65,000 AND THERE ARE WORRIES THAT EV MANUFACTURERS MIGHT BOOST THE PRICE TO OFFSET THE FEDERAL TAX CREDIT.

DO YOU THINK ALL THE INCENTIVES WILL BRING THE PRICES DOWN FOR CONSUMERS AND MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE?

>> ONE PROBLEM WITH THE RECENT INCENTIVES THEY ARE RESTRICTIVE AS TO WHERE THE BATTERIES ARE THE MATERIALS FOR BATTERIES ARE EXTRACTED AND ALSO WHERE THE VEHICLES ARE MADE.

AND THEN WHAT IS THE INCOME OF THE CONSUMER?

SO WE'RE HOPING THAT OVER TIME THOSE WILL BECOME LESS RESTRICTIVE AND MORE AVAILABLE TO MORE CONSUMERS.

BUT I DON'T THINK YOU WILL SEE THE MANUFACTURERS RAISING THE PRICE TO OFFSET THE INCENTIVE.

OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE BEEN RAISING PRICES BECAUSE OF THE COST OF THE MATERIALS.

>> RIGHT.

A BIG ISSUE WITH INFLATION AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

JENNIFER TO THAT CALIFORNIA LAW THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, 2035 BANNING THE SALE OF NEW GAS PORTFOLIO POWERED CARS.

HOW BIG OF AN IMPACT CAN THAT HAVE?

>> CALIFORNIA PASSING THAT IS HUGE.

CALIFORNIA WAS FIRST WITH THE CLEAN CAR STANDARDS AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO ENCOURAGE EV MANUFACTURING IN THE STATE THAT IMPACT CAN'T BE UNDERESTIMATED.

AND I KNOW ILLINOIS IS GOING TO BE FAR BEHIND.

WE HAVE NOT ENACTED THE CLEAN CAR STANDARDS YET OR SOME OF THE HEAVY-DUTY TRUCK STANDARDS.

SO I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO IN THE STATE.

BUT IT'S PROMISING AND IT WILL INCREASE THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE MARKET IN ILLINOIS.

>> DAVE SLOAN COULD AN ACTION LIKE THAT IN CALIFORNIA MOVE THE MARKET TO EV'S?

>> WELL, THE POINT -- WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT IS THE AUTO MANUFACTURERS ARE ALL IN ON EV'S THEY ARE SPENDING TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INVESTING IN THE EV TECHNOLOGY NEW EV VEHICLES AND THEY ARE COMING FAST OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

SO I THINK AND WE'VE SEEN WE PRODUCE THE CHICAGO AUTO SHOW AND WE'VE SEEN MORE AND MORE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN EV'S TAKING TEST DRIVES AND SO ON.

OF AND INDICATING THEIR INTEREST.

I THINK THE DEMAND IS GOING TO BE THERE.

WE ALWAYS RATHER SEE CONSUMER DEMAND MOVE THE MARKET RATHER THAN GOVERNMENT MANDATE.

BECAUSE EV'S MIGHT NOT BE GOOD FOR EVERYONE.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE SOMEONE IN RURAL AREAS, WHO HAVE TO TOW THINGS.

EV'S MIGHT NOT BE THE RIGHT ANSWER.

BUT CERTAINLY FOR SUBURBAN AND CITY APPLICATIONS, THEY WOULD WORK MUCH BETTER.

SO IT'S HARD IN A STATE LIKE CALIFORNIA OR EVEN ONE LIKE ILLINOIS TO HAVE A BLANKET MANDATE.

MUCH RATHER SEE CONSUMER DEMAND.

AND IT'S CERTAINLY SEEMS WE ARE GOING THAT WAY.

>> JEN WALLING I WANT TO PICK UP ON THAT.

I HAVE A FRIEND THAT MOVED FROM LA TO CHICAGO AND HE HAD TO SHIP HIS ELECTRIC VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY TO DRIVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

HOW FAR BEHIND ARE WE AS A NATION AND ILLINOIS AS A STATE IN SETTING UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE EV'S WHEREVER YOU WANT?

>> LOOKING AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN ILLINOIS, THERE IS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ACCOMMODATES MOST MILEAGE.

SOME OF IT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO STOP AT A FAST CHARGING STATION FOR 20 MINUTES.

YOU MAY HAVE HAVE TO STOP FOR LONGER.

BUT THERE'S INFRASTRUCTURE THAT EXISTS.

WE DO NEED TO BULK IT UP.

WE NEED TO HAVE MORE FAST CHARGING STATIONS AND PROVIDE MORE ROUTES AND INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE THAT SOME OF THE CONSOLIDATED MAPS ARE YET TO BE FULLY COMPLETE.

AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE CHARGING THAT IS COMING.

SOME OF THE GROUPS THAT ARE COMING IN THAT MIGHT BE COMPANIES ARE NOT AS TRANSPARENT OR OPEN WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO PUT THEIR CHARGES STATIONS AND WE WISH WE COULD SEE THAT SO WE CAN PLAN AS A STATE WHERE ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE GOING TO GO AND WHERE THE FRACTURE ROUTES WILL GO.

OUR STATE IS MAKING A LOT OF PROGRESS AND PEOPLE CAN CONFIDENTLY MAKE A ROAD TRIP WITH MOST VEHICLES IN ILLINOIS.

>> DAVE SLOAN WHAT ABOUT THAT?

HOW FAR AWAY IS THE U.S.

BEING ABLE TO HAVE A EV DRIVER GOING TO ARIZONA TO LARAME WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT FINDING A CHARGING STATION?

>> MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.

BUT THE CARS ARE SMART, TOO.

THERE'S SO MUCH INTELLIGENCE IN THE VEHICLES THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH CHARGE YOU HAVE LEFT AND WHERE YOU NEED TO GO TO GET YOUR CAR CHARGED.

WE'LL SEE THINGS LIKE THAT.

LOTS TO BE DONE IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

YOU KNOW, IF YOUR CONDO OWNER IS YOUR ASSOCIATION GOING TO PUT A LEVEL TWO CHARGER IN YOUR GARAGE.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS NEED TO HAPPEN FOR MORE PEOPLE TO GET INTO THE EV MARKET.

HOW EASY IS IT FOR APARTMENT DWELLERS?

THERE IS A COMPANY THAT DOES A LOT OF RESEARCH IN THE EV CATEGORY AND THEY SAY MOST NEW CAR BUYERS ARE HOMEOWNERS.

SO THAT WILL -- SO YOU ARE ASSUMING THEY HAVE GARAGE TO CHARGE THEIR VEHICLES.

I'VE BEEN DRIVING AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE SINCE 2013.

AND I CHARGE MY VEHICLE AT MY GARAGE.

I CHARGE IT AT WORK AND IT WORKS OUT WELL FOR ME.

>> JEN WALLING YOU MENTIONED THAT ILLINOIS IS BEHIND THE CURVE ON ENACTING MILEAGE STANDARDS ARE GROUPS LIKE YOURS GOING TO LOBBY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR A LAW LIKE THE ONE IN CALIFORNIA BANNING THE SALE OF NEW GAS POWERED CARS DOWN THE ROAD?

>> WE WILL BE LOBBYING ON TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.

BUT WE ARE FAR BEHIND CALIFORNIA AS I MENTIONED.

AND I HAVE TO DO MY DUE DILIGENCE WE NEED TO MAKE ACTIVE TRANSIT AND BIKE SAFETY AND PUBLIC TRANSIT BETTER FIRST IT NEEDS TO BE PRIORITIES.

BUT ELECTRIFICATION IS VITAL TO THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR AND THERE'S SO MUCH IN TERMS OF THE CLEAN CAR STANDARDS AND ONE OF SEVERAL STATES THERE IS A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF GOVERNORS THAT SIGNED ON TO A HEAVY-DUTY MOU FOR SEMI TRUCKS AND LIGHT TRUCKS THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES PARTICULARLY IN CHICAGO.

THOSE ARE ALL THINGS WE WILL NEED TO DO WITHIN OUR STATE.

GOVERNOR PRITZKER AND HIS TEAM HAVE LED ON NEW POLICIES LIKE MANUFACTURING.

BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER POLICIES WE NEED TO PUT INTO PLACE BEFORE WE'RE HEADING IN THAT DIRECTION.

I'M HOPING WE SEE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE PA TAKE ACTION ON THOSE.

>> THANKS TO DAVE SLOAN AND JEN WALLING WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> AND UP NEXT, THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR HITS THE SIX MONTH MARK.

WHERE DO LOCAL AND GLOBAL EFFORTS STAND TODAY?

STAY WITH US.

THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE ARE NOW SIX MONTHS INTO A WAR THAT MANY WESTERN ANALYSTS AND MILITARY STRATEGISTS IN RUSSIA THOUGHT MIGHT BE OVER IN DAYS.

BUT WHILE THE COURAGE AND RESILIENCE OF UKRAINIANS IMPRESSED THE WORLD AN END TO THE CONFLICT APPEARS NOWHERE IN SIGHT AND THE DEATH TOLL CONTINUES TO RISE.

WITH REPORTS THAT THE AT LEAST 25 PEOPLE HAD BEEN KILLED IN A RUSSIAN ROCKET ATTACK ON A TRAIN STATION IN CENTRAL UKRAINE.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE CONFLICT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES ARE ELIZABETH SHAKLEFORD, A FORMER U.S.

DIPLOMAT NOW A SENIOR FELLOW ON U.S. FOREIGN POLICY AT THE CHICAGO COUNCIL ON GLOBAL AFFAIRS.

HAS WRITTEN ABOUT THE WAR IN UKRAINE.

ANNA CIRILLI PRINCIPLE AT ST. NICHOLAS SCHOOL IN UKRAINIAN VILLAGE TAKEN IN MORE THAN 70 STUDENTS WHO ARE REFUGEES FROM THE WAR.

AND NATALIE BARANCHAN, ONE OF THE FOUNDS OF HELP RAZOM WHICH FORMED IN CHICAGO SHORTLY AFTER THE OUTBREAK OF THE WAR AND SUPPLIES AID TO BOTH SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS IN UKRAINE.

AS WELL AS UKRAINIAN REFUGEES IN THE UNITED STATES.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

SO ELIZABETH SHAKLEFORD, LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE, SIX MONTHS INTO THIS WAR IS THERE ANY END IN SIGHT?

>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN A WAR OF ATTRITION PHASE.

NEITHER SIDE HAS A CLEAR UPPER HAND OR PATH TO MILITARY VICTORY.

BOTH SIDES ARE WONDERING IF THEY CAN OUT LAST THE OTHER AND BOTH SIDES HAVE INSENN TIPS TO KEEP ON KEEPING ON.

AND AN END IS NOT IN SIGHT IN THE NEAR TERM THEY WILL WORK TOWARDS GETTING THE UPPER HAND FOR WHAT WILL BE A NEGOTIATED END.

>> VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY IS WILLING TO NEGOTIATE.

WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO BRING VLADIMIR PUTIN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE?

>> WELL, I THINK IT WILL TAKE MORE PAIN DIRECTLY ON PUTIN TO BRING HIM TO THE TABLE.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PRESIDENT PRESIDENTVOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY A D END IS THE BEST THING AND ONE THAT UKRAINE CAN LIVE WITH.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST FACTORS WILL BE THE CONTINUED ASSISTANCE MILITARILY FROM THE UNITED STATES, EUROPE AND OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN PROVIDING THE TRAINING, EQUIPMENT AND WEAPONS THAT UKRAINE NEEDS TO STAY IN THE FIGHT AND IT WILL BE A QUESTION OF HOW MUCH PRESSURE THERE IS ON PUTIN BACK HOME AND HOW MUCH SANCTIONS WILL CONTINUE TO BITE FURTHER INTO HIS ECONOMY.

>> NATALIE BARANCHAN YOU WERE ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF HELP RAZOM AND SPENT TWO MONTHS IN UKRAINE HELPING TO DISTRIBUTE AID.

GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT THAT EXPERIENCE WAS LIKE FOR YOU?

>> WELL, AT FIRST, IT WAS SURREAL.

I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I HEARD THE SIREN.

AND THE SPACE I WAS LOCATED WAS NEXT TO A MILITARY OBJECT AND I REMEMBER THAT FEELING WELL, WILL IT HIT ME?

SHOULD I RUN?

WHERE IS THE NEAREST BOMB SHELTER.

IN THE END, I JUST ENDED UP STAYING WHERE I WAS AND HOPE THAT I WOULD GET TO LIVE ANOTHER DAY.

>> AND WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE AID WHILE YOU WERE THERE?

>> IT WAS REWARDING.

WE WERE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE 100 TONS OF HOSPITAL SUPPLIES, MEDICAL SUPPLIES AS WELL AS FOOD AND HYGIENE.

AND PEOPLE ARE SO THANKFUL AND AID IS NEEDED.

AND JUST MEETING PEOPLE ON THE GROUND AND HEARING THE FEEDBACK.

>> ANNA CIRILLI WHEN WE LAST SPOKE WITH YOU YOUR SCHOOL HAD TAKEN IN 20 UKRAINIAN REFUGEES AS STUDENTS.

I IMAGINE THERE'S BEEN CHANGE SINCE THEN.

WHAT IS THE SITUATION AT THE SCHOOL NOW?

>> WE ACTUALLY ENDED LAST SCHOOL YEAR AT 75 STUDENTS.

SO I DEFINITELY DID NOT ANTICIPATE THAT IN JUST THAT SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

GOING INTO THIS SCHOOL WITH THAT NUMBER BEING AT 65, FROM THE TIME OF THE VACCINATION.

SO WE'VE -- INNOVATION.

SO WE'VE LOST STUDENTS AND TAKEN IN NEW ONES.

>> HOW ARE ARE THE STUDENTS COPING?

THIS HAS GONE ON LONGER THAN MANY PEOPLE EXPECTED.

>> YEAH, WE'RE DEFINITELY SEEING THE TRAUMA COME OUT FREQUENTLY AT TIMES.

DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION.

A LITTLE BIT OF AGGRESSION, YOU KNOW, MAYBE JUST A DIFFERENT REACTION FROM SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT.

THERE WERE SOME TEARS THIS MORNING BUT MOSTLY IN THE YOUNGER GRADES THAT IS TO BE EXPECTED.

BUT WE DID HEAR FROM THE FAMILIES THAT OUR STUDENTS HAD A LOT OF ANXIETY STARTING THIS SCHOOL YEAR BECAUSE THEY JUST -- IT IS A CLARIFICATION THAT GOING BACK HOME IS THAT FARTHER AWAY FROM REALITY.

>> AND OBVIOUSLY ANN YOU CAN EDUCATE THE STUDENTS BUT HOW YOU ARE MEETING SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS AS WELL?

>> WE TRY TO DO SOME FUN THINGS HERE AND THERE.

AND FOCUS ON POSITIVE REINFORCEMENTS FOCUS ON POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL REINFORCEMENTS.

AND OUR TEACHERS ARE FOCUSED A LOT ON SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.

SO ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR STAFF SO THAT THEY CAN HANDLE THOSE SORTS OF DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS OR CONFLICTS IN THE CLASSROOM.

THEY HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> ELIZABETH SHAKLEFORD, UKRAINE RECENTLY CONDUCTED STRIKES ON CRIMEA IS IS READYING A COUNTER OFFENSIVE.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED THIS $3 BILLION AID PACKAGE FOR THE COUNTRY.

HOW MUCH AND YOU TOUCHED ON THIS, BUT HOW MUCH IS WESTERN MILITARY AID CHANGING THE DYNAMICS ON THE GROUND COULD THAT MAKE THIS DECISIVE FOR UKRAINE?

>> WELL IT IS ESSENTIAL TO UKRAINE'S EFFORTS TO KEEP THIS GOING AND CHANGE WHAT IS ON THE NEGOTIATING TABLE AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITH CRIMEA IS SOMETHING THAT RUSSIA WAS NOT ANTICIPATED.

RUSSIA BELIEVED THE CONTROL AND SECURITY OF CRIMEA WOULD BE AT RISK AT THIS STAGE AND THAT HAS HELPED BY SOME OF THE ASSISTANCE IN TERMS OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT THAT THE UNITED STATES AND OTHERS HAVE SUPPLIED.

WHAT NEEDS TO CONTINUE IS INCREASING AND EXPANDING THE CAPACITY BY UKRAINE SO THEY CAN CONTINUE CHANGING THE TERMS ON THE TABLE.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT UKRAINE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THIS WITHOUT THE SHEAR WILL THAT THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE AND ITS GOVERNMENT HAS SHOWN BUT IT IS NOT DECISIVE, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ASSISTANCE THEY ARE GETTING FROM THE U.S. >> GIVE US THE SINCE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CRIMEA.

>> IT'S MILITARILY IMPORTANT AND THE FACT THAT UKRAINE'S BEEN ABLE TO STRIKE CRIMEA HAS SHOCKED THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE AND IT'S PUTS RISK FACTORS TO RUSSIA'S MILITARY ACCESS THERE.

BUT I THINK THAT RUSSIA AT THIS STAGE CONSIDERS CRIMEA PART OF RUSSIA.

THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE HAVE ACCEPTED THAT.

AND SO THIS IS DEFINITELY A MORE DEVASTATING TO THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE THAN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT WAR REPORT AND MILITARY BASE.

AND THAT IS WHY HAVING THIS ACCESS AND THE ABILITY TO PUT SECURITY AT RISK IS GETTING UKRAINE AN UPPER HAND.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE TO BRING VLADIMIR PUTIN TO THE TABLE?

>> I WISH I KNEW THAT IS THE BILLION DOLLAR QUESTION AT THIS POINT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE PUTIN NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THERE IS NO OTHER WAY OUT BUT NEGOTIATION.

SOME SIGNALS LIKE WHAT WE SAW FROM THE UNITED STATES TODAY, THIS WEEK WITH THE NEW SECURITY ASSISTANCE PACKAGE TO UKRAINE IS THE KIND OF THING WE NEED.

THIS IS A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT THIS IS MONTHS OF WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING TO THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE THAT IS A MESSAGE TO VLADIMIR PUTIN THERE IS NO UKRAINE FATIGUE GOING ON IN THE UNITED STATES YET.

IF WE CAN GET EUROPE TO MAKE THE LONG-TERM COMMITMENTS THAT IS THE THING THAT WILL HELP PRESS PUTIN TO UNDERSTAND THERE IS NO QUICK WAY OUT.

I SAID AT THE BEGINNING IT IS A QUESTION OF WHO CAN OUT LAST WHOM AND THE SIGNAL IS SHOWING UKRAINE IS NOT GOING TO GIVE UP WILL BE HELPFUL.

>> NATALIE BARANCHAN, HAVING RECENTLY RETURNED TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY, WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO SEE YOUR COUNTRY SO VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE WAY YOU MIGHT REMEMBER IT AND ALSO HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS THE MOOD OF THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE SIX MONTHS INTO A WAR?

>> UKRAINIANS ARE UNITED.

AND UKRAINIANS ARE THANKFUL TO THE ENTIRE WORLD IT HAS UNITED AROUND UKRAINE AND AROUND THIS WAR.

AND UKRAINE WILL KEEP GOING UNTIL WE CAN BRING A VICTORY FOR UKRAINE AND EUROPE AND THE REST OF THE WORLD.

>> THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANKS TO NATALIE BARANCHAN, ELIZABETH SHAKLEFORD AND ANNA CIRILLI.

>> AND NOW PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" MORE ON WHAT IS BEING DONE TO ADDRESS PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST SAFETY FROM THE NORTH CENTER COMMUNITY.

>> A GROWING NUMBER OF YOUNG ADULTS APPEAR TO BE TURNING TO CANNABIS AND HALLUCINOGENS.

AND FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> UNEMPLOYMENT IS DOWN IN ALL OF ILLINOIS' METRO AREAS ACCORDING TO JULY DATA FROM THE U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR SUSPECTS AND THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY.

COOK COUNTY SAW A DECREASE IN UNEMPLOYMENT FROM 8% IN JULY 2021 TO 5.4% IN JULY 2022.

THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AREA ALSO SAW SOME OF THE LARGEST YEAR-OVER-YEAR INCREASES IN NONFARM JOBS CREATED WITH A 4.8% INCREASE.

>> A LAKEVIEW CHURCH SAYS THEY HAVE BEEN VANDALIZED BECAUSE OF PRO ABORTION MESSAGING.

HERE IS A PORTION OF A VIDEO A NEIGHBOR CAUGHT OF THE INCIDENT SHOWING TWO PEOPLE THROWING ROCKS AT SECOND UNITARIAN CHURCH IN CHICAGO.

NOW THE SIGN BROKEN HAD SAID QUOTE WE SUPPORT ABORTION ON DEMAND WITHOUT APOLOGY.

THE CHURCH'S MINISTER SAYS IN A STATEMENT THAT THEY QUOTE WILL NOT BE INTIM NATURED BY INDIVIDUALS DAMAGING OUR PROPERTY.

A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED TODAY AGAINST AN APARTMENT COMPLEX IN KENWOOD ALLEGING A FAILURE TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS SAFE LIVING CONDITIONS MANY THE SUIT FILED ON BEHALF OF A GROUP OF RESIDENTS ARGUED THEY HAVE MAJOR DISREPAIR, EXTREME FLOODING AND NO HEAT AND IT ALLEGES AFTER THE OWNERS BOUGHT THE PROPERTY IN 2019, THE COMPANY FAILED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SECURITY ALLOWING NONRESIDENTS TO TRESPASS.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" NICK BLUMBERG SPENT THE DAY ON THE CITY'S NORTH CENTER AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

HE JOINS US AGAIN FROM THE NORTH CENTER COMMUNITY.

>> EARLIER TODAY, I SPOKE WITH 47TH WARD ALDERMAN MATT MARTIN AND I BEGAN BY ASKING HIM ABOUT PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS WHO HAVE BEEN INJURED AND KILLED IN RECENT MONTHS BOTH LOCALLY AND CITYWIDE AND WHAT HE SEES AS SOME OF THE ROOT CAUSES.

>> OUR COMMUNITIES IS REELING AS YOU MENTIONED.

WE HAD A 75-YEAR-OLD A FEW BLOCKS WEST OF HERE WAS HIT AND KILLED AS HE WAS WALKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH HIS WIFE IN A MARKED CROSSWALK.

WE HAD A TWO-YEAR-OLD AND THREE-YEAR-OLD HIT AND KILLED ONE WAS ON A SCOOTER AND ANOTHER WAS ON THEIR PARENT'S BIKE AND THAT IS NOT UNIQUE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS ACROSS THE CITY WE'RE FACING.

WE CERTAINLY NEED TO DEAL WITH AGGRESSIVE DRIVING, DISTRACTED DRIVING, PLEASE GET OFF YOUR PHONE IF YOU ARE DRIVING A VEHICLE THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THAT.

AND ALSO INFRASTRUCTURE IS HUGELY IMPORTANT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE FOR BIKES AND PEDESTRIANS WE ARE BUILDING THAT STUFF OUT SO FOLKS HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO BE OUT AND ABOUT ON THEIR BIKES WALKING KNOWING THEY CAN GET FROM ONE POINT TO THE NEXT SAFELY.

>> YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON CHANGES TO LEGISLATION TO CITY POLICY TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THERE IS WORK DONE ON ROADS, YOU KNOW BY THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT OR THE WATER DEPARTMENT SOME OF THOSE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS CAN GO INTO PLACE IT IS NOT ON A WARD BY WARD BASIS.

>> NO ONE I'VE TALKED WITH EVER THINKS ABOUT THE WARD THEY ARE IN WHEN THEY ARE WALKING OR BIKING SOMEWHERE.

I AM GOING TO BE IN THIS WARD AND AVOID THIS WARD THAT MAKES NO SENSE.

IT STANDS TO REASON WE SHOULD BE BUILDING OUT INFRASTRUCTURE ACCORDINGLY.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE IF YOU ARE IN ONE WARD YOU MIGHT HAVE PAINTED BIKE LANE OR A CONCRETE PROTECTED BIKE LANE AND IN ANOTHER WARD THERE'S NOTHING.

THAT IS NOT SENSIBLE.

WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS ON LINCOLN RIGHT HERE OR MONTROSE, BOTH OF THEM ARE SLATED FOR RESURFACING WHEN YOU DIG UP THE STREETS, YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT WHAT IMPROVEMENTS DO WE WANT TO PUT IN PLACE.

IT'S GREAT FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT AND THE CITY'S BOTTOM LINE.

NO ONE WANTS A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE A FRESH LAYER OF ASPHALT AND TWO MONTHS LATER UTILITY COMES IN AND TWO MONTHS YOU ARE DOING A BUMP OUT THAT MAKES NO SENSE.

>> AND THE CITY'S BOTTOM LINE WE ARE AT THE START OF THE BUDGETING SEASON.

THERE IS A $300 MILLION DEFICIT THAT THE CITY IS FACING THE BUDGET OFFICE SAYS THAT COULD INCREASE IF THE CITY CASINO DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR AS WE HEAD INTO THE THICK OF BUDGETING SEASON IN THE FALL?

>> SOME IS INFORMED BY WHAT I'M HEARING FROM RESIDENTS.

AND TWO OF THE BIG THINGS ARE AROUND AFFORDABILITY FOLKS ARE STRUGGLING WITH PROPERTY TAXES.

YOU MID-AND LONG-TERM FOR FOLKS WHETHER IT'S RAPID REHOUSING, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IMPORTANT TO FIGURE OUT ONCE THE FEDERAL FUNDS GO AWAY OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS WHAT IS GOING TO BE THERE TO PICK UP THE SLACK.

ANOTHER IS MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS.

WE KNOW WHETHER YOU ARE A KID OR OLDER PERSON, SOMEONE MIDDLE-AGED YOU'RE PROBABLY STRUGGLING WITH YOUR MENTAL HEALTH BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN RECENT YEARS ESPECIALLY AROUND OUR PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS AS WELL AS PRIVATE PLACES MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PAYING FOLKS WHAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO COME TO THE IMPORTANT POSITIONS AS WELL AS STAY.

WE NEED TO DO MORE THERE.

BUT THEN LASTLY, OUR CITY'S PENSION OBLIGATIONS.

WE KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO CLIMB THAT RAMP FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, THE PROJECTED DEFICIT LOOKS MANAGEABLE.

IN THE COMING YEARS LESS SO.

WE NEED TO START PLANNING RIGHT NOW NOT JUST WITH CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE BUT MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR STATE COLLEAGUES.

BECAUSE WE CAN'T BE IN A SITUATION WHERE OUR CITY'S FINANCES ARE SO POOR.

>> AGAIN THAT WAS 47TH WARD ALDERMAN MATT MARTIN SPEAKING WITH US EARLIER TODAY.

COMING UP WE'LL HEAR FROM ONE OF THE PEOPLE BEHIND LONG-TERM TIME LIVE MUSIC VEN HUGH MARTYRS.

BUT FOR NOW BACK TO YOU.

>> UP NEXT, AN UPTICK IN DRUG USE AMONG YOUNG ADULTS.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> 2021 WAS A RECORD YEAR FOR MARIJUANA AND HALLUCINOGENIC DRUG USE AMONG YOUNG ADULTS, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH HAS BEEN TRACKING DRUG USE SINCE 1988 AND COLLECTED THE DATA FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 2021 AND IT SAYS 43% REPORTED USING MAIER NECESSARY IN THE PAST YEAR.

29% IN THE PAST MONTH.

AND 11% THE HIGHEST LEVEL EVER RECORDED REPORTED USING MARIJUANA DAILY.

WHEN IT CAME TO HALLUCINOGENS 8% SAID THEY HAD USED LSD AND PCP IN THE PAST YEAR A 3% INCREASE FROM 2011.

WHY ARE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TUNING INTO THE TRIP?

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT ARE JEAN LACY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS PSYCHEDELIC SOCIETY.

VILMARIE FRAGUADA NARLOCH A PSYCHOLOGIST AND THE DIRECTOR OF SANA HEALING COLLECTIVE.

SCOTT CHIPMAN VICE-PRESIDENT OF AMERICANS AGAINST LEGALIZING MARIJUANA.

AND HARRIET deWIT A PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY AND BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

WE WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

VILMARIE FRAGUADA NARLOCH WHY DO YOU BELIEVE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE REPORTING USING CANNABIS AND PSYCHEDELICS?

>> I THINK THERE'S SO MANY REASONS.

EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT EVERYONE IS AN INDIVIDUAL.

AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING AND THE RESEARCH PARTICULARLY FOR PSYCHEDELICS IS PROMISING.

AND ADDRESSING A VARIETY OF REALLY INTENSE AND CHRONIC MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.

WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF PROMISING RESEARCH ADDRESSING THE TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, ADDRESSING TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE CATCHING ON AND PEOPLE ARE NOTICING THAT.

THERE'S A LOT IN THE MEDIA LIKE YOU ALL ARE DOING HERE TODAY AROUND PSYCHEDELIC USE AND I THINK UNFORTUNATELY OUR MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM IS NOT DOING A GREAT JOB AT ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE AND FOLKS ARE KIND OF GOING ABOUT THEIR OWN WAY AND TRYING TO SEEK HEALING ANYWAY THEY CAN.

>> IN FACT THERE WAS A RECENT JAMA STUDY I BELIEVE THAT SHOWED THAT SOIL SIGN EN HELPED A GROUP OF PEOPLE KICK THE HABIT OF ALCOHOLISM SO THERE IS A LOT OF RESEARCH.

JEAN LACY, WHAT ABOUT THAT?

IS IT SAFE THAT FOLKS ARE TURNING TO PSYCHEDELIC SUBSTANCES AND PERHAPS NOT IN A CLINICAL SETTING WHERE THEY CAN BE MONITORED?

>> I THINK THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK THE OVERALL PROFILE OF MOST OF THE SUBSTANCES IS THEY ARE PRETTY SAFE.

DEPENDING ON THE CONTEXT THAT YOU CONSUME THEM AND THAT IS A LOT THE WORK OF WHAT THE ILLINOIS PSYCHEDELIC SOCIETY IS DOING PROVIDING MORE INFORMATION TO PEOPLE TO ENGAGE WITH THE SUBSTANCES MORE SAFELY BECAUSE THEY HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT IN THE MEDIA AND FRIEND WHO IS TRYING IT AND IT'S HELPING THEM.

SO THEY ARE SEEKING THESE SUBSTANCES AND PRACTICES FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS.

SO THE WAY TO GET THEM TO DO IT MORE SAFELY IS TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION SO THEY HAVE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE WHEN LOOKING TO ENGAGE IN THIS KIND OF WORK.

>> AND WITH RESPECT TO CANNABIS, PART OF THE INCREASED USE MIGHT BE THE FACT THAT IT'S LEGALLY AVAILABLE IN MORE PLACES LIKE ILLINOIS.

SCOTT CHIPMAN YOUR GROUP IS AGAINST THAT.

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE THE SOCIAL COSTS HERE OF THE INCREASED ACCESSIBILITY OF LEGAL MARIJUANA?

>> WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE CERTAINLY HAVE A DRUG USE EPIDEMIC IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND IT'S PRIMARILY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GETTING BAD INFORMATION LIKE WAS GIVEN.

THERE'S NO MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR PAIN, THE ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PHYSICIANS, THE NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE, LUNG CANCER SOCIETY ALL THESE GROUPS SAY MARIJUANA IS NOT GOOD FOR HEALTH.

IT'S NOT MEDICINE.

AND THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM WITH MARIJUANA IS WHAT PEOPLE THINK THEY KNOW ABOUT IT IS WRONG.

WE HAVE THE F.D.A.

PROCESS.

WE HAVE WHAT YOU WOULD CALL MARIJUANA BASED MEDICINES.

THOSE ARE HANDLED UNDER STRICT CLINICAL CONDITIONS FOR SPECIFIC TREATMENTS OF SPECIFIC AILMENTS.

THEY ARE NOTHING LIKE WHAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING BY GOING TO A SO-CALLED DISPENSARY A BUD TENDER GIVING OUT CLINICAL OR MEDICAL INFORMATION.

WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE WE NEED A REEDUCATION PROGRAM ON TODAY'S MARIJUANA.

WHICH IS 10 TO 40 TIMES STRONGER THAN IT WAS IN THE 60s AND 70s.

>> HARRIET deWIT GETTING BACK TO THE STUDY HERE THE FACT THAT MORE YOUNG ADULTS ARE ALLEGEDLY USING CANNABIS AND PSYCHEDELICS YOU HAVE COVID-19, SHUTDOWNS INCREASED ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.

COULD THAT BE A FACTOR PEOPLE ARE TURNING TO THE SUBSTANCES BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE ANXIETY IN THEIR LIFE?

>> IT'S POSSIBLE.

I THINK THERE ARE MIXED REPORTS ABOUT THE USE OF DRUGS DURING COVID.

THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN SOME REPORTS THAT DRUG USE DECREASED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

PARTLY BECAUSE DRUGS ARE USED IN SOCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND PEOPLE WERE LESS SOCIAL.

SO I THINK WE ARE ALL BURDENED AS THIS DISCUSSION KIND OF SHOWS BY A LACK OF SYSTEMIC EMPIRICAL RESEARCH AND CONTROLLED RESEARCH AND THERE HAVE BEEN OBSTACLES TO DOING THE RESEARCH THAT WE NEED.

WHAT ARE ARE THE MEDICAL BENEFITS OF CANNABIS?

AND FOR WHOM ARE THEY -- WHO WOULD THEY BE GOOD FOR AND FOR WHAT INDICATIONS.

SIMILARLY WE'RE GETTING STARTED WITH PSYCHEDELIC RESEARCH BUT THERE'S BEEN A LACK OF SYSTEMIC, CLINICAL RESEARCH THAT WE CAN COUNT ON AND THAT THE PHYSICIANS CAN USE FOR ADVISING THEIR PATIENTS.

RIGHT NOW, THERE'S TALK ABOUT MEDICAL CANNABIS.

BUT IT HASN'T BEEN DEMONSTRATED YET PARTLY BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL BEEN THE LEGAL CONSTRAINTS HAVE BEEN REGULATORY CONSTRAINTS HAVE BEEN THERE.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE THOSE THINGS LOOSENING UP SO WE CAN COLLECT THE DATA THAT WE NEED.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE DON'T HAVE CLINICAL DATA ON TODAY'S MARIJUANA IS BECAUSE IT'S SO HARMFUL THAT YOU CAN'T DO THE RESEARCH ON PATIENTS WITH 15, 20, 30, 50, 90% THC.

THE RESEARCH IS BEING USED IS DONE WITH 3% THC WHICH IS NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THIS DRUG HAS GONE OUT OF CONTROL.

>> THE LEGAL CANNABIS DISPENSARIES WILL TALK ABOUT IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS OUT STRICT REGULATIONS AND HURDLES THEY HAVE TO PASS TO BRING THE PRODUCT TO MARKET.

VILMARIE FRAGUADA NARLOCH I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE HURDLES FOR PSYCHEDELIC RESEARCH, WHAT ARE THE HURDLES HERE TO GETTING A GOOD SENSE OF WHAT THE SUBSTANCES COULD DO FOR CERTAIN ISSUES LIKE MENTAL HEALTH?

>> YEAH, I MEAN THERE IS A LOT OF LIMITATIONS IN DOING THIS RESEARCH WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH SUBSTANCES LIKE CANNABIS THAT ARE NOT REGULATED AND NOT LEGAL THERE IS A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS AND RESEARCHERS HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH TO GET APPROVAL TO DOING THIS.

AND OFTENTIMES IT'S RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE IT'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF FUNDING THAT NEEDS TO BE RAISED IN ORDER TO EVEN LIKE BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT STUDYING THE STUFF.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY LIMITED IN THE SENSE OF PROTOCOLS AND BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY PARTICIPANTS MAYBE APPROPRIATE FOR THESE KINDS OF STUDIES.

YOU HAVE TO GENERALLY IT'S ONE INDICATION SO BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY PARTICIPANTS THAT MAY BE ONLY HAVE TREATMENT WITH DEPRESSION AND THEY DON'T HAVE OTHER CO-OCCURRING ISSUES.

ALL OF THAT IS COMPLICATED.

AND YOU KNOW, SLOWS DOWN THE PROCESS AND THE F.D.A.

PROCESS IS A SLOW-MOVING ONE AS WELL.

>> CERTAINLY WILL TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO GO THROUGH THE F.D.A.

PROCESS.

JEAN LACY OAKLAND IS AMONG THEM THAT TALKED ABOUT DECRIMINALIZING SUBSTANCES, MAGIC MUSHROOMS SO TO SPEAK.

ARE THOSE SMART PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTIONS TO GO?

>> THAT IS A LOADED QUESTION THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT I AM NECESSARILY QUALIFIED TO ANSWER.

IT'S SMART PUBLIC POLICY OR NOT ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE MUNICIPALITIES ARE TAKING A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

I DO THINK WHAT IS SMART IS TO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE ARE ENGAGING WITH THESE SUBSTANCES REGARDLESS OF THEIR LEGAL STATUS.

SO DOING A LITTLE BIT OF WORK TO UNDERSTAND THE WAYS PEOPLE ARE ENGAGING WITH THE SUBSTANCES CAN HELP GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF DIRECTION HOW WE CAN POTENTIALLY REGULATE THEM TO MAKE PEOPLE SAFER IN THE WAY THEY ENGAGE WITH THE SUBSTANCES AND PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE WHAT THAT RELATIONSHIP LOOKS LIKE WITH THE SUBSTANCE SHOULD IT BECOME PROBLEMATIC.

>> AND HARRIET deWIT YOU HAVE DONE STUDIES ON THE TREND OF MICRO DOSING.

EXPLAIN WHAT MICRO DOSING IS AND DID YOU FIND THERE'S ANY BENEFIT OR HARMFUL DRAWBACK TO DOING THAT?

>> IT IS A VERY POPULAR PRACTICE.

IT IS A PRACTICE OF PEOPLE SAY THAT TAKING VERY LOW DOSES OF LSD OR PERHAPS PSILOCYBEN, THE DOSE IS A 10TH OF THE DOSE THAT YOU WOULD TAKE FOR A TRIP.

AND THE CLAIMS ARE THAT IF YOU TAKE THIS EVERY THREE OR FOUR DAYS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, YOU WILL GET ALL KINDS OF BENEFICIAL EFFECTS.

AND WHAT IS A LITTLE BIT WORRYING IS THE RANGE OF BENEFICIAL EFFECTS THAT PEOPLE CLAIM.

ANTIDEPRESSANT AND ANTIANXIETY, IMPROVE COGNITION, BETTER SPORTS PERFORMANCE.

A WHOLE WIDE RANGE.

AND YOU HAVE TO THINK THERE IS SOME INFLUENCE OF EXPECTATION THERE.

SO THAT WHETHER IT'S EFFECT.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT IN THE LABORATORY THAT I HAVE THAT WE ADMINISTER DRUGS UNDER HIGHLY CONTROLLED CONDITIONS AND WE CONTROL PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS.

SO WE DON'T TELL THEM WHAT DRUGS THEY ARE GOING TO RECEIVE.

WE TELL THEM THEY MIGHT GET A RANGE OF DIFFERENT DRUGS SO THEY DON'T GO WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME PARTICULAR BENEFICIAL EFFECT.

AND WE HAVE DONE A STUDY WITH LOW DOSES OF LSD THAT PEOPLE CAME IN ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND WE MEASURED THEIR MOOD AND PERFORMANCE AND EMOTIONAL REACTIVITY AND WE DIDN'T SEE ANY BENEFICIAL EFFECTS ACROSS THOSE FOUR SESSIONS WITH THE MEASURES THAT WE TOOK.

NOW THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT OTHER POPULATIONS MIGHT BENEFIT FROM IT.

>> CLEARLY SO MUCH RESEARCH TO BE DONE IN THIS FIELD.

FASCINATING DISCUSSION.

AND OUR THANKS TO JEAN LACY, VILMARIE FRAGUADA NARLOCH AND SCOTT CHIPMAN AND HARRIET deWIT WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IN JUST A MOMENT.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT EVENTS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND... >> NOW, WE CHECK BACK IN WITH NICK BLUMBERG WHO INTENT THE DAY IN NORTH CENTER AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> BRANDIS WE'RE HERE WITH BRENNAN QUINN MANAGER AND TALENT BUYER OF MARTYRS PERFORMANCE AND EVENT CENTER.

IT IS A FAMILY RUN BUSINESS.

WHAT KIND OF CONNECTIONS HAVE YOU ALL BEEN ABLE TO MAKE WITH THE COMMUNITY OVER THE DECADE?

>> INCREDIBLE CONNECTIONS.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND I WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOL I SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE HERE AND FAMILY AND EVERYTHING IT'S BEEN COOL GROWING UP IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> AND COVID HIT LIVE MUSIC VENUES VERY HARD EVENT VENUES VERY HARD AND SINCE VACCINES HAVE BEEN WIDELY AVAILABLE THERE'S BEEN STOPS AND STARTS WITH COVID SURGES.

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE TO WELCOME FOLKS BACK INTO YOUR DOORS AND WHAT ARE CHALLENGES YOU ARE FACING?

>> IT'S.A PLEASURE TO OPEN BACK UP FOR BUS.

IT'S BEEN FUN AND PEOPLE ARE EXCITED TO COME BACK TO LIVE SHOWS.

LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO WE WERE CLOSED ON THE INSIDE FOR 15 MONTHS WE WERE PARTNERING WITH A NEIGHBORING BUSINESS ON THE PATIO.

WE WERE ABLE TO DO THE PATIO BUSINESS FOR A WHILE AND NOW THINGS ARE STARTING TO COME BACK INSIDE AND PEOPLE ARE READY TO PARTY.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE THERE'S EXCITEMENT AND ENTHUSIASM.

>> IT'S GREAT.

>> ARE THERE ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS THAT BUSINESSES LIKE YOURS NEED WHETHER IT'S FROM THE CITY OR FROM OTHER FOLKS?

IS THERE STUFF YOU WOULD HOPE TO SEE HAPPEN?

>> WELL, I GUESS WE'VE BEEN LUCKY WHERE WE'VE WE MADE CHANGES THAT HELPED AND ALSO WE'VE GOOD CUSTOMERS AND SOME WHO ARE DRIVING BY.

WE HAVE GOOD CUSTOMERS THAT HELP US OUT A TON AND THERE'S BEEN HELP FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH SAVE OUR STAGES ACT.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ULTIMATELY BAILED EVERYONE OUT SO THAT WAS SUPER HELPFUL.

WITHOUT THE CUSTOMERS AND WITHOUT THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO AND EVERYONE SUPPORTING US WE WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT.

IT'S BEEN GREAT.

>> FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN DOWN TO MARTYRS WHAT IS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE?

WHAT ACTS CAN THEY EXPECT TO SEE?

>> IT IS A SMALL ROCK CLUB WE HOLD ABOUT 300 PEOPLE AND WE DO MOSTLY ROCK MUSIC BUT ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 1 WE ARE HOSTING THE WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL SPONSORED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.

WE HAVE ARTISTS COMING IN.

WORLD MUSIC, ROCK MUSIC.

PEOPLE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

PEOPLE LIKE ADELE EVERYONE IN-BETWEEN.

IT'S BEEN COOL.

>> AND CHICAGO IS ALWAYS A LIVE MUSIC TOWN ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER BUT YEAR-ROUND.

HOW IMPORTANT ARE VENUES LIKE YOURS AND SO MANY OTHERS AROUND THE CITY TO THE CULTURAL FABRIC OF THE CITY.

>> ?

CHICAGO IS THE BEST MUSIC CITY OF THE WORLD AT THE CLUB LEVEL.

THERE'S NO OTHER CITY IN THE WORLD LIKE IT.

SO WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF WORKING HERE AND LIVING HERE AND YEAH, IT'S THERE IS NO PLACE COOLER THAN CHICAGO IN MY OPINION.

>> YOU MIGHT BE BIASED ON THAT.

>> I AM A LITTLE BIASED.

>> BRENNAN QUINN MANAGER AND TALENT BUYER OF MARTYRS LIVE VENUE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND BRANDIS THAT IS IT FOR US TODAY IN NORTH CENTER BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO.

>> NICK MOST CHICAGOANS ARE BIASED ABOUT THAT.

BEFORE WE LET YOU GO IT SEEMS LIKE YOU SPOKE WITH A LOT OF RESIDENTS TODAY TAKING AN ACTIVE HAND IN THEIR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE PRIORITIES?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

I MEAN A LOT OF FOLKS REALLY WANT TO BE ENGAGED IN MAKING SOME OF THE POLICIES DECISIONS HERE IN NORTH CENTER AND MAKING SURE THAT THE MONEY FLOWS WHERE THEY THINK IT SHOULD BE GOING TO THAT END WE TALKED WITH ALDERMAN MARTIN ABOUT THE BUDGETING PROCESS AND THIS IS THE FIRST WARD IN THE CITY TO ENACT A PARTICIPANTER TO BUDGETING PROCESS WHERE FOLKS GET TO WEIGH-IN HOW THE ALDERMAN'S OFFICE SPENDS THE MENU MONEY THEY GET.

THERE ARE OTHER WARDS AROUND THE CITY THAT HAVE ALSO TAKEN UP WITH PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING EFFORTS.

IT IS A WARD BY WARD DECISION AS SO MANY THINGS IN CHICAGO ARE AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING THAT MANY FOLKS MANY ADVOCATES AROUND THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

MORE CHICAGOANS CAN GET A SAY HOW THEIR DOLLARS ARE SPENT AND THAT IS A BIG PRIORITY FOR FOLKS HERE AND THEY ARE CERTAINLY PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SAY IN DIRECTING SOME OF THE DOLLARS.

>> NICK BLUMBERG THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

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>> OF COURSE CHICAGO IS THE BEST MUSIC CITY.

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FOR ALL OF US AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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