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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ HERE IN OUR NORTHWEST SIDE STUDIO.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN REPORTING LIVE FROM CHICAGO'S AVONDALE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THE MAYOR OUGHT TO BE HAPPY, ALL 50 ALDERMEN OUGHT TO BE HAPPY.

>> THE LATEST CENSUS DATA IS PUBLIC AND WHAT IT TELLS US ABOUT THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN REGION.

>> WE HAVE SHIFTED FROM A PANDEMIC BUDGET TO A RECOVERY BUDGET.

>> A PROJECTED BUDGET DEFICIT OF $733 MILLION BUT THE MAYOR SAYS THE CITY IS REBOUNDING FROM THE PANDEMIC.

>> THE LATEST ON VACCINATIONS, POSSIBLE SUPER SPREADER EVENTS AND RISING COVID-19 CASES IN ILLINOIS AND NATIONALLY.

>> I THINK WE'VE DONE A REMARKABLE JOB BEING ABLE TO MAKE LEMONADE OUT OF LEMONS WITH THE PANDEMIC.

>> HOW AVONDALE RESIDENTS ARE MAKING GREENSPACE WHEREVER THEY CAN.

>> THE PERSEID METEOROLOGIST I DON'T REMEMBER SHOWER THIS WEEK WHERE TO WATCH.

MEET A CARTOONIST WHO KEEPS ALIVE A MAD MAGAZINE TRADITION.

>> THEY ARE SAFER THAN YOU THINK.

WHEN YOU ARE UP THERE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT YOU.

>> WELCOME TO THE COLORFUL WORLD OF STREET BIKES.

WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE WHO CREATE THE CUSTOM RIDES.

>> I'M LIVE IN CHICAGO'S AVONDALE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I WILL BE COANCHORING AS PART OF OUT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS LOOKING FOR MORE GREENSPACE THAT WE MANAGE TO FIND A LITTLE BIT HERE BUT IT'S CONCERNED WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR RESIDENTS AND SUPPORT FOR ITS HOMELESS POPULATION AND A PLACE WHERE LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE HOPING TO STAY OPEN AND KEEPING THEIR STAFF AND THEIR CUSTOMERS SAFE.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT IN JUST A BIT.

>> ALL RIGHT SEE YOU THEN.

AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

LOLLAPALOOZA WAS NOT A SUPER SPREADER EVENT ACCORDING TO CHICAGO PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ALLISON ARWADY.

OF THE APPROXIMATELY 385,000 PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED, 203 HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH COVID.

NONE OF THOSE WHO TESTED POSITIVE HAVE HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED OR DIED.

OF THE 203 CASES 127 WERE VACCINATED AND 76 WERE UNVACCINATED.

MORE ON COVID AND THE RISING NUMBER OF KIDS WHO HAVE IT LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

MEANWHILE, THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ANNOUNCES MORE THAN 3,000 NEW COVID CASES FOR A TOTAL OF 1.54 MILLION CASES SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE STATE RECORDED 24 ADDITIONAL DEATHS THE HIGHEST NUMBER SINCE THE BEGINNING OF JUNE.

THE TOTAL DEATH TOLL IN ILLINOIS IS 23,575.

>> AND THE STATE'S SEVEN DAY POSITIVITY RATE IS ON THE UPSWING AT 5.8%.

>> AND DESPITE THE UPTICK IN COVID CASES A FAVORITE SOUTH SIDE TRADITION RETURNS.

THE 92-YEAR-OLD BUD BILLIKEN DAY PARADE RETURNS SATURDAY WITH A MODIFIED ROUTE AND FREE COVID TESTING.

THE THEME FOR THE PARADE IS BACK TO SCHOOL, BACK TO LIFE.

AND BACK TO BUD BILLIKEN.

THE PARADE WAS CANCELED IN 2020 FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1929 BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, OF COURSE, AND THERE ARE 250 GROUPS MARCHING AND BECAUSE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES THERE WILL BE 125 ENTRANTS.

ORGANIZERS ARE ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO WEAR MASKS ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE FROM EAST 45TH STREET DOWN TO SOUTH KING DRIVE TO WASHINGTON PARK.

FREE COVID VACCINATIONS WILL BE OFFERED IN WASHINGTON PARK FROM 10:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M. >> UP NEXT OUR WEEK HE WILLLY "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES" UP NEXT OUR WEEKLY "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES" SERIES.

>> THE NORTHWEST SIDE COMMUNITY OF AVONDALE IS A DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH AN INDUSTRIAL HISTORY.

LOCATED NEAR THE KENNEDY EXPRESSWAY AND THE CHICAGO RIVER IT HAS SIGNIFICANT POLISH, LATINO EASTERN EUROPEAN AND ASIAN POPULATIONS AND RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE CONCERNED GENTRIFICATION MIGHT DISPLACE LONG TIME NEIGHBORS.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN SPENT THE DAY REPORTING FROM AVONDALE AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES" AND JOINS US NOW LIVE.

>> GENTRIFICATION IS A CONCERN FOR NEIGHBORS HERE IN AVONDALE AS IS A LACK OF GREENSPACE.

WE FOUND A BIT OF IT.

THIS IS A GARDEN AT ADDISON AND AVONDALE ONE OF THE FEW PUBLIC SPACES AND WE'LL GET INTO HOW RESIDENTS ARE WORKING TO ADDRESS THAT SHORTAGE.

FIRST BACKGROUND, AVONDALE HAS LOST POPULATION OVER THE YEARS DOWN NEARLY 3% SINCE 2010 AND 11.5% SINCE 2000.

THIS IS A LOWER MIDDLE INCOME COMMUNITY THE MEDIAN INCOME $66,000 TODAY THERE'S 34% WHITE AND 56% HISPANIC.

OFFICER ZOBY SOTO SAYS THIS COMMUNITY USED TO BE KNOWN AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT BUILT CHICAGO.

IN FACT SHE LEARNED A FUN FACT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO OWNED HER HOME BEFORE SHE MOVED IN 28 YEARS AGO.

>> COME BACK TO VISIT AND I SINCE LEARNED AT THAT TIME THE GENTLEMAN HELPED BUILD SEARS TOWER.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LIVED HERE BACK IN THE DAY, DID A LOT OF THAT WORK THEY WERE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, COPS, THEY WERE IN LABOR, RIGHT WORKING IN LABOR.

>> NOW, ZOBY SOTO SAYS SHE HAS SEEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGE RACIALLY AND SOCIOECONOMICLY TO THE POINT SHE IS CONCERNED THAT NEW CONDO BUILDINGS WILL LEAD TO GENTRIFICATION WHEN SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND I MIGHT HAVE NOTICED SHE IS WEARING A CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY T-SHIRT AND IS A PROPONENT OF THE SYSTEM AND AVONDALE NEVER RECEIVED THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IT WAS PROMISED YEARS AGO.

ONE OF THE REASONS SHE SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT FOR NEIGHBORS TO PARTNER WITH THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN PLANNING AGENCY FOR PLANNING TO DEVELOP A NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.

>> HAVE A VOICE AND A PLAN SO WHEN THE DEVELOPERS COME IN, WE COULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE PLANS AND SAY DOES THAT FIT WITH THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT WE WANTED TO SEE FOR OUR FUTURE INSTEAD OF LETTING IT HAPPEN TO US.

AND DOING IT ONE BY ONE.

IT IS A BATTLE FIGHTING DEVELOPERS THAT COME IN AND WANT TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT AND HAVING AN ALDERMAN SIGN OFF ON IT.

>> EARLIER WE MENTIONED GREENSPACE OR LACK OF IT.

BACK WHEN THIS SECTION OF THE KENNEDY WAS BUILT IT BUY SECKED THE -- BY SECTED THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND CUT INTO THE PARK SPACE.

THE AVONDALE GARDENING ALLIANCE OPERATES A NEIGHBORHOOD SPACE LOT THAT BACKS UP TO THE SMALL PARK AND HAS A VIEW OF THE INTERSTATE EXPRESSWAY.

THE ALLIANCE POINTS TO THE WORK THAT IT DOES TO MAKE URBAN AGRICULTURE ACCESSIBLE.

THIS SPACE IS CALLED THE MINDFUL LIVING GARDENS, FULL OF FLOWERS AND FOOD THAT GOES TO THE AVONDALE MUTUAL AID SOCIETY AND THE BRIDGE.

ORGANIZERS REPORT SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC INTEREST IN THIS GARDENING HAS SKYROCKETED.

>> WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SOME OF OUR MEMBERS REALLY STEP UP IN AMAZING WAYS TO ADDRESS THE FINANCIAL AND FOOD INSECURITY THAT'S RAISED.

AND THE INTEREST IN URBAN AGRICULTURE, WE THIS TIME TWO YEARS AGO IN 2019 WHEN WE WERE DOING OUR LARGEST EVENT, OUR ON-LINE COMMUNITY WAS ABOUT 350 PEOPLE.

TWO YEARS LATER WE ARE OVER 1500.

>> IN FACT, ONE OF THE ALLIANCE MEMBERS CONVERTED HER WEDDING FLORIST BUSINESS INTO A PLANT BUSINESS BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE DID ADOPT PANDEMIC PLANTS.

NOW, WITH THE UP AND DOWNS OF THE PANDEMIC BARS AND RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE CITY HAVE HAD TO PIVOT TO KEEP UP WITH THE CHANGING POLICY AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

SLEEPING VILLAGE ON BELMONT IS ONE OF SEVERAL MAKING IT A POLICY THAT CUSTOMERS MUST BE MASKED AND SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION THEY STARTED THIS SEVERAL MONTHS ANG WHEN CASES FELL WHEN THE CASES WERE DOWN EARLIER THEY BACKED OFF OF IT.

LATELY IT'S BACK IN PLACE.

>> AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I FEEL MORE CONFIDENT IN MY ABILITY TO KEEP THE VACCINATED PERSONS SAFE IN OUR SPACE.

VERSUS SOMEBODY COMING THROUGH THE DOOR THAT IS UNVACCINATED.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE FEEDBACK WE'VE GOTTEN HAS BEEN VERY, VERY POSITIVE.

THE THING WE'RE HEARING MORE THAN NOT IS THAT PEOPLE FEEL MORE SAFE IN A SPACE THAT IS REQUIRING PROOF OF VACCINATION.

>> AND CO-OWNER BILLY HELMKAMP SAYS THAT WHILE THEY HAVE ONLY HAD TO TURN AWAY A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE FOR LACK OF PROOF OF VACCINATION MOST OF THE CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN UNDERSTANDING SINCE THEY KNOW WE HAVE BEEN IN THE PANDEMIC FOR ALMOST 18 MONTHS.

PARIS, LATER ON WE'LL HEAR FROM ONE OF SEVERAL ALDERPEOPLE WHO REPRESENTS AVONDALE AND TALK MORE ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN THAT I MENTIONED.

FOR NOW, BACK TO YOU.

>> GREEN PATCH OF LAND BY THE HIGHWAY.

THANK YOU.

IT'S FOUR MONTHS LATER THAN USUAL BUT THE RESULTS FROM LAST YEAR'S NATIONAL CENSUS ARE OUT.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW TO SHARE WHAT THE DATA SHOWS FOR OUR REGION.

SOME SURPRISING NUMBERS HERE, PERHAPS?

>> MAYBE.

GETTING BACK TO WHEN THIS CAME OUT IT IS TRUE THAT THE INFORMATION IS DELAYED VERSUS A NORMAL YEAR BUT 2020 WAS NOT A NORMAL YEAR.

AND SOCIOLOGIST CYNTHIA BUCKELY SAYS ALL THINGS CONSIDERED IT IS AN INCREDIBLE FEAT TO HAVE PULLED OFF A CENSUS DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

BUCKLEY A CENSUS EXPERT A DEMOGRAPHER AND SPENT THE SUMMER WORKING AS AN ENUMERATOR.

>> REMEMBERING LAST SUMMER WORKING AND HOW HARD IT WAS TO KEEP YOUR MASKS IN THE CONTEXT OF NO VACCINES AND NOT A LOT OF GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE COVID PANDEMIC GOING FROM DOOR-TO-DOOR TO EITHER CHECK CENSUS FORMS SUBMITTED OR TO ENCOURAGE SOME OF OUR FELLOW ILLINOISIANS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CENSUS.

>> FOR POLITICAL REASONS THERE WAS HESITANCY BUT DESPITE THE PANDEMIC AND THE OTHER CHALLENGES, BUCKLEY SAYS IT APPEARS THE CENSUS GOT AN ACCURATE COUNT.

DEMOGRAPHERS, POLITICIANS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS, REPORTERS WAITING FOR THIS INFORMATION TO COME OUT.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE IT DETERMINES A LOT.

EVERYTHING FROM HOW FUNDING FOR THE STATE HOW MUCH FUNDING THE STATE GETS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HOW MUCH MONEY GOES TO PARTICULAR PROGRAMS MAYBE HOW MUCH MONEY WILL BE GOING INTO EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM THAT SPEAK MANDARIN AND WHICH ALDERMEN ARE ELECTED BECAUSE IT IS A FACTOR OF THE DISTRICTS THEY RUN IN.

AND IT'S BRAGGING RIGHTS LIKE BECAUSE OF THE CENSUS, CHICAGO IS PROOF IT CAN MAINTAIN ITS STATUS AS THE THIRD LARGEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND THAT SHOULD MAKE CHICAGOANS HAPPY.

>> THE MAYOR OUGHT TO BE HAPPY.

THE ALL 50 ALDERMEN OUGHT TO BE HAPPY EVERYBODY SHOULD BE HAPPY BECAUSE WE BOUNCED UP BY 2% AND WE CAME OFF A DECADE WHERE WE HAD DECLINED LAST TIME THE CITY WENT DOWN BY 6% AND EVERYBODY IS LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING TO CHICAGO?

AND NOW WE'VE GOT GROWTH.

>> NOT JUST THE CITY PROPER THE COUNTIES SAW GROWTH, TOO.

KENDELL COUNTY WHICH AT ONE POINT WAS THE FASTEST GROWING PRAISE IN THE NATION IT WAS THE ONLY COUNTY TO SEE THE DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH AT 15%.

>> IT IS A BIG DAY FOR THE METROPOLITAN AREA.

AGAIN NOT ENORMOUS NUMBERS WE ARE NOT GROWING LIKE HOUSTON OR TAMPA OR LIKE PHOENIX.

BUT ALMOST EVERY COUNTY IN THE METRO AREA GREW BY AT LEAST A PERCENT OR TWO.

AND HERE IS THE BIGGEST SURPRISE.

COOK COUNTY, COOK COUNTY, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SO DOWN ON THIS AREA, THE POPULATION.

AND BLAMING COOK COUNTY FOR THIS OR THAT.

COOK COUNTY ADDED 80,000 PEOPLE OVER THE DECADE.

>> NOW, THAT SORT OF GROWTH NOT THE CASE THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE STATE.

ILLINOIS WAS ONLY ONE OF THE FEW TO HAVE GOT MENTIONED DURING A WEB PRESENTATION BY THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU WHEN IT MADE THE NUMBERS PUBLIC.

>> THERE WERE FEWER STATES IN THE HIGHEST GROWTH CATEGORY MOST STATES GROWING SLOWLY AND WEST VIRGINIA AND MISSISSIPPI AND ILLINOIS ALONG WITH PUERTO RICO DECLINED IN POPULATION.

>> BUT BUCKLEY SAYS ILLINOIS IS JUST BARELY IN THE RED.

SHE SAYS IT'S ALMOST A ROUNDING ERROR IN TERMS OF POPULATION LOSS WE DID HAVE EVERY COUNTY SEEING DECLINES.

AND ON ACCOUNT OF THAT ILLINOIS IS GOING TO LOSE THAT ONE SEAT IN CONGRESS.

BUCKLEY SAYS KEEP IN MIND THAT THAT ISN'T AS MUCH BECAUSE OF ILLINOIS' POPULATION LOSS, AS IT IS GROWTH ELSEWHERE.

>> TEXAS, AND FLORIDA AND OTHER STATES WERE REALLY EXTRAORDINARILY FAST.

AND SO WE RAN THE RACE.

IT'S NOT AS IF WE RAN BACKWARDS.

IT'S THAT WE WERE IN A RACE WITH PEOPLE WHO HAD MUCH FASTER GROWTH RATES.

>> NOW, AGAIN, THESE ARE SOME OF THE TOP LINE TAKEAWAYS.

NEITHER HAD THAT MUCH TIME TO LOOK OVER THE WEALTH OF INFORMATION AND STATS BETWEEN WHEN IT WAS RELEASED AT NOON AND WHEN HE TALKED TO THEM AFTER.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER TAKEAWAYS FOR ONE, THE NATION WHOLE LOT MORE RACIALLY DIVERSE AS IS ILLINOIS.

AND ESPECIALLY COOK COUNTY.

BUT AGAIN THAT DOESN'T HOLD TRUE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE.

BUCKLEY SAYS THE 2010 CENSUS SHOWED THERE WERE 40 COUNTIES WITH WHAT IS CALLED A DIVERSITY INDEX THAT SHOWED THE POPULATION WAS NEARLY ALL WHITE.

FAST FORWARD A DECADE, AND SHE SAYS NOW 11 COUNTIES ARE MEETING THAT HYPER SEGREGATED CRITERIA.

IN SHORT IT SHOWS THAT THE AREAS OF THE STATE THAT USED TO HAVE A RACIALLY PROFILE PARTICULARLY DOWN STATE ARE SHOWING MORE DIVERSITY.

>> WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE STEREOTYPE OF ILLINOIS THAT RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITIES ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE CHICAGOLAND REGION AND AS YOU MOVE SOUTH THAT IT IS A MUCH MORE RACIALLY HOME GENIUS LANDSCAPE CERTAINLY THE PERCENT OF PEOPLE IDENTIFYING AS WHITE ONLY IS STILL FAR DOMINANT IN THE STATE.

AND THAT IS THE LARGEST GROUP IN THE CHICAGOLAND REGION AS WELL.

BUT THE PICTURE IS GETTING MORE COMPLEX.

>> AS I HINTED BEFORE THE BREAKDOWNS, THEY ARE ALL WHAT IS USED TO DRAW POLITICAL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.

YOU DID HAVE ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS GOING AHEAD AND DREW STATE LEGISLATIVE MAPS WITHOUT THIS REDISTRICTING CENSUS INFORMATION AND THAT LED TO A COUPLE OF STILL ONGOING LAWSUITS.

HE EXPECTS LEGISLATORS WILL HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD BECAUSE THEY WERE DONE WITH AN UNDER COUNT GIVING THE SURPRISING GROWTH NUMBERS.

AND YOU HAVE LAWMAKERS HAVING TO GO AHEAD AND DRAW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AND CHICAGO WILL ALSO BE GETTING UNDERWAY WITH THIS INFORMATION DRAWING NEW WARD MAPS.

IT SHOWS LOSSES IN THE CITY'S SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

I DID CALL A SUM OF STATE LEGISLATORS TO SEE WHAT THIS INFORMATION MIGHT DO AND THEY SAID IT'S TOO FRESH NO REAL INSIGHT WHETHER THEY WILL BE BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD OR A TIMELINE FOR THE MAPS.

BUT BELIEVE THAT FOLKS ARE GETTING BUSY ON COMPUTER MAPPING AND BEGINNING TO CRUNCH ALL OF THESE FRESH NUMBERS IN THE U.S. CENSUS.

WITH THAT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS, AMANDA.

>> CHICAGO'S FISCAL PICTURE IS LESS BLEAK THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR THAT IS THE MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR WHEN SHE RELEASED FIGURES THAT SHOWING THE BUDGET TO BE $733 MILLION OUT OF WHACK.

AND THAT IS DOWN FROM A GAP OF 1.2 BILLION LAST YEAR.

>> DOING THE MATH, THIS 733 MILLION PROJECTED GAP FOR 2022 IS 40% LESS THAN THE PROJECTED GAP FOR THIS YEAR, 2021.

MEANING THAT WE HAVE SHIFTED FROM A PANDEMIC BUDGET TO A RECOVERY BUDGET.

>> AND HERE TO TELL US WHAT THIS MEANS FOR CHICAGOANS ARE AMANDA KASS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE RESEARCH CENTER THE THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO.

EMMA TAI DIRECTOR OF THE UNITED WORKING FAMILIES TO PUT THE CONCERNS OF WORKING FAMILIES ON THE AGENDA AND PRESIDENT OF THE CIVIC FEDERATION, LAURENCE MSALL.

WELCOME ALL OF YOU BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

LET'S DIG INTO THE SPECIFICS HERE.

AS WE MENTIONED $733 MILLION DEFICIT.

782 MILLION IN FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS TO PLUG SOME OF THE HOLES.

1 BILLION IN DEBT REFINANCING TO PAY 275 MILLION IN RETROACTIVE PAY TO POLICE OFFICERS.

AMANDA KASS, THIS $733 MILLION GAP DO YOU THINK THAT IS AN ACCURATE REFLECTION WHERE THE CITY'S FINANCES ARE RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK IT IS DIFFICULT TO TELL WITH THE BUDGET FORECAST DOCUMENT THAT WAS RELEASED YESTERDAY.

I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THE BUDGET FORECAST IS REALLY ABOUT AGENDA SETTING FOR THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THE 2022 BUDGET IS GOING TO BE.

AND WE SHOULD VIEW IT AS A POLITICAL DOCUMENT TO EXPRESS WHAT THE MAYOR HE APRIORITIES AND AND WHAT THE VALUES ARE AND WHAT SHE SEES WHAT THE CITY SHOULD BE USING THIS MONEY ON AND THE BUDGET FORECAST IS ONLY LOOKING AT THE CORPORATE FUND JUST ONE OF THE CITY'S BONDS IT'S THE LARGEST ONE.

BUT WE'RE ONLY GETTING A PARTIAL PICTURE.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT CORPORATE FUND THAT RUNS BETWEEN 10-12 BILLION BUT THE OBSCURE FUNDS WE DON'T HEAR MUCH ABOUT.

LET'S HEAR FROM ANTHONY BEALE ON THE SHOW NOT BUYING THE NUMBERS.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, A 700 MILLION PENSION PAYMENT THAT IS DUE AND THEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION DID NOT BOND AN ADDITIONAL 500 MILLION AUTHORIZED TO BOND THAT WE GAVE THEM LAST YEAR.

THE ADMINISTRATION IS USING FEDERAL CARES ACT MONEY FOR OUR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION AND ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL.

ALL OF THESE ARE ONE-TIME FIXES THEY ARE USING.

>> AND EMMA TAI ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS IS USING 780 MILLION OUT OF $2 BILLION THAT CAME FROM THE FEDS IN THIS RELIEF MONEY.

IS THIS THE RIGHT WAY TO USE THAT MONEY?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

IN FACT THERE IS AN ORDINANCE IN THE BUDGET COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW CALLED THE CHICAGO RESCUE PLAN ORDINANCE THAT HAS A DETAILED SPENDING PLAN AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTENDED AND ON THE COMMUNITIES THAT THE HAVE BEEN HIT HARDEST BY THE PANDEMIC.

IT PROVIDES HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR CHILDCARE, FOR CASH PAYMENTS FOR RENTAL RELIEF, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, THESE ARE THE SERVICES THAT PEOPLE DESPERATELY NEED AND THE FACT THAT IT'S LANGUISHING IN BUDGET COMMITTEE IS UNCONSCIONABLE.

>> AND LAURENCE MSALL THE ALDERMAN MENTIONED THE INCREASED PENSION PAYMENTS UP ABOUT 255 MILLION THIS YEAR.

HOW SUSTAINABLE IS THIS PAYMENT SCHEDULE?

>> WELL, IT IS A CHALLENGE.

IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR BOTH OF THE LAST TWO MAYORS AND THE MAYORS BEFORE THAT THE RATE OF GROWTH.

BUT THAT IS MOSTLY DRIVEN BY THE FACT THE FULL CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE NEVER BEEN MADE TO THE PENSION FUNDS BECAUSE WE ARE ON LEGISLATIVE CREATIVE STATUTORY FORMULAS.

THERE IS A BIG CHUNK OF OBLIGATION THAT COMES DUE THIS YEAR FOR THE MUNICIPAL AND LABORERS PENSION FUND BECAUSE THEY ARE MOVING TOWARD AN ACTUARIAL CONTRIBUTION INSTEAD OF THE RAMP UP ESTABLISHED OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

BUT THE BIG CHALLENGE IS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT.

WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY IS NOT BEEN COMPLETE.

DOWNTOWN CHICAGO HAS NOT SEEN THE REBOUND IN HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE CONVENTION INDUSTRY A BIG QUESTION MARK.

THE CITY IS NOT IN A POSITION TO ESTABLISH NEW PROGRAMS THAT OBLIGATED TO SPEND MONEY IT DOES NOT HAVE.

CHICAGO IS IN A BETTER PLACE THAN A YEAR AGO BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STEPPED UP UP WITH THE AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN THE RESCUE PLAN AND PROVIDED THE CITY AS YOU SAID ALMOST $1.9 BILLION FOR TWO YEARS.

WHEN THE TWO YEARS IS UP WE ARE OUT OF MONEY.

>> IF THEY DON'T DO BETTER THAT IS LESS TAX REVENUE IN THE CITY'S COFFERS.

AMANDA KASS WE MENTIONED THAT TO PAY THIS EXTRA POLICE COST $275 MILLION IN BACK PAY THE MAYOR WILL REFINANCE A BILLION IN DEBT.

THEY WILL FIND A GOOD INTEREST RATE TO SAVE A COUPLE HUNDRED MILLION BY REFINANCING DEBT?

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE AND ONE OF THE THINGS I DON'T THINK WAS CLEAR IN THE FORECAST DOCUMENT.

AND SO AGAIN, WITH THE POLICE COST THAT'S THE COST OF THE POTENTIAL CONTRACT.

THAT IS A CONTRACT THAT IS IN NEGOTIATION RIGHT NOW THAT HASN'T BEEN EXECUTED.

DOESN'T THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE TO VOTE ON IT?

>> THEY HAVE TO VOTE ON THE CONTRACT THAT HAS TO BE RATIFIED BY THE POLICE UNION MEMBERSHIP.

YES, A LOT OF THAT IS UP IN THE AIR.

>> SO THE BUDGET SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS A DOCUMENT THAT IS EXPRESSING VALUES AND PRIORITIES.

IT IS NOT A BANK STATEMENT THAT WE MIGHT THINK OF.

BUDGETING FOR THAT IS BUDGETING FOR SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN FULLY EXECUTED YET.

FUNDING THAT IS ONE ISSUE WITH IT.

AND I THINK IT'S NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR WHAT THE CITY IS PLANNING WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

MONEY IT CAN USE THE MONEY FOR TO MAKEUP FOR REVENUE SHORTFALLS IN MAINTAINING OPERATIONS AND IT CAN USE THE MONEY FOR NEW PROGRAMS, NEW INITIATIVES, REACHING PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MOST AFFECTED BY COVID.

THERE IS ALSO THE $450 MILLION FROM THE CARES ACT WHICH I COULDN'T EASILY FIGURE OUT HOW THE CITY WAS USING THAT MONEY.

I THINK I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT FIGURING OUT THE DETAILS OF THE PLAN.

>> A LOT TO IRON THROUGH.

LAURENCE MSALL THE MAYOR IS VOWING NO PROPERTY TAX HIKES THIS YEAR SAVE FOR $20 MILLION TIED TO INFLATION.

DO YOU BUY THAT THIS BUDGET CAN BE BALANCED WITHOUT A PROPERTY TAX HIKE?

>> I THINK THEY CAN.

AND ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THAT FEDERAL RECOVERY MONEY.

THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE THAT THE MAYOR IS HOLDING THE LINE ON STILL ALLOWS FOR A INCREASE IN THE OVERALL LEVY TIED TO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.

SO THEY ARE BASICALLY STAYING WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THEIR SELF IMPOSED CAP.

THE BIG CHALLENGE IS IN THE OUTYEARS AND THE TWO YEARS WE HAVE NOW WITH THE FEDERAL FUNDING, SHOULD BE USED TO MAKE A PLAN FOR WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

WHAT DO WE DO LONG-TERM.

THE PENSION OBLIGATIONS ARE NOT GOING AWAY.

WE ARE GOING TO RESTRUCTURE FOR SAVINGS AND IT'S GREAT NEWS THAT THE CITY IS NOT GOING TO USE SCOOP AND TOSS, WE NEED TO SEE THE DETAILS ON THAT BORROWING.

WE ARE IN AN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TO BORROW OR REFINANCE FOR SAVINGS.

BUT YOU CAN ONLY PULL THAT RABBIT OUT OF THE HAT SO MANY TIMES AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE BUDGET OFFICE SAID THEY ARE GOING TO USE IT.

NOW THAT THEY'VE RECEIVED REVENUE SUPPORT THEY DID NOT HAVE TO USE IT TO CLOSE LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.

IT IS THE MID-YEAR REPORT SAYING WE ARE DOING BETTER AT THE MID-YEAR IT DOESN'T TELL US HOW THE MAYOR IS GOING TO CLOSE THE $733 MILLION.

>> THIS IS NOT A FINAL DOCUMENT A LOT OF THINGS CAN CHANGE.

EMMA TAI THE MAYOR WANTS TO USE A LOST FUNDS TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES IN CHICAGO.

BASED ON WHAT WE'VE SEEN, IS THE MAYOR HOLDING TO THAT PROMISE?

>> I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CLASSIC CASE OF RHETORIC VERSUS REALITY THE LANGUAGE SOUNDS GOOD BUT A TALKING POINT YESTERDAY WAS 14 MILLION FOR CHILDCARE SUPPORTS.

THAT SOUND GREAT UNTIL YOU REALIZE THAT CARES ACT MONEY SHE SPENT 280 MILLION OF THAT MONEY ON THE POLICE.

AND I THINK THAT FRANKLY, WE WERE HOPING THAT IN THE MIDST OF A DEVASTATING SUMMER AND DEVASTATING VIOLENCE NUMBERS THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE HOW THE CITY SPENDS ITS DOLLARS ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND LOOK AT THE MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEANINGFUL INVEST IN CHICAGO VIOLENCE.

CHICAGO HAS MORE POLICE PER CAPITA THAN ANITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO WE ARE JUST DISAPPOINTED IN WHAT WE HEARD AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING TO PRODUCE A BUDGET THAT IS AS AMANDA SAID A MORAL DOCUMENT THAT REFLECTS THE CITY'S OBLIGATIONS TO ITS PEOPLE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

MORE TO DISSECT HERE.

AND WE HOPE TO HAVE ALL OF YOU BACK.

THANKS TO AMANDA KASS, EMMA TAI AND LAURENCE MSALL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT A LOCAL CARTOONIST KEEPS ALIVE A MAD MAGAZINE TRADITION WITH HIS OWN BRAND OF HUMOR SO STAY WITH US.

>> A LOT AHEAD INCLUDING THE LATEST ON THE DELTA VARIANT AND THE RISING NUMBER OF KIDDING TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

FIRST, MAD MAGAZINE WAS ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL SATIRES OF THE 20TH CENTURY.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THE SIMPSONS OR SNL WITHOUT MAD.

IT'S HEYDAY MAD HAD A READERSHIP IN THE MILLIONS AND ITS INFLUENCE STAYEDED IT -- FADED IT STILL HAS A PULSE.

OVER THE YEARS CONTRIBUTORS HAVE BEEN KNOWN AS THE USUAL GANG OF IDIOTS.

WE MET A LOCAL CARTOONIST WHO IS ONE LAST MEMBER OF SAID GANG.

>> SINCE 1964, A SIGNATURE FEATURE OF MAD MAGAZINE HAS BEEN THE FOLD IN.

THE RIDDLE THAT IS SOLVED WHEN THE PICTURE IS FOLDED.

THE FOLD IN IS CONCEIVED, WRITTEN AND SKETCHED AND PAINTED BY CARTOONIST JOHNNY SAMPSON.

>> IT IS A DREAM JOB AND IT'S BIG FOR ME.

THE BIGGEST PART WAS GETTING THE LETTER FROM AL IN THE FIRST PLACE SAYING I THINK YOU CAN DO THIS.

>> AL IS AL JAFFEE, THE LEGENDARY CARTOONIST WHO ORIGINATED THE FOLD IN AND MADE IT UNTIL HE RETIRED IN 2020 AT AGE 99.

JOHNNY SAMPSON CREATED THIS BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE TO AL JAFFEE AND HE CARRIES ON HIS MAD TRADITION.

>> I'VE TRIED TO STAY FAITHFUL TO AL'S METHODS.

PHOTO SHOP BEFORE PHOTO SHOP IT IS CUT AND PASTE.

I PREFER ANALOG MATERIALS.

I START WITH PENCIL AND PAPER.

THAT'S HOW IT STARTS.

AND THAT IS WHERE I ACTUALLY I START WITH THE IDEA.

BECAUSE THAT'S IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A FOLD IN.

FROM THERE YOU NEED TO HOW IS THIS GOING TO WORK?

WILL IT WORK?

>> BEFORE HE WORKED FOR MAD SAMMION MADE A RIP-OFF FOLD IN FOR PITCHFORK BY SHOWING AL JAFFEE ANSWERING NATURE'S CALL.

BUT THAT WASN'T HIS FIRST ATTEMPT.

>> MY FIRST FOLD IN WAS A COMIC STRIP I DID FOR THE SCHOOL NEWSPAPER AND IT WAS DUMB COMIC BUT IT SAYS EVERYBODY IS SO FULL OF... AND I GOT AN IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION FOR IT.

>> SAMPSON DOES GIG POSTERS FOR LOCAL EVENTS AND MADE ALBUM ART FOR ACTION BROKEN DON AND KING KHAN AND HE CONTRIBUTES TO KID FRIENDLY PUBLICATIONS AS WELL.

>> IT'S WEIRD AS A FREELANCER YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE IT'S COMING FROM NEXT AND YOU CAN KNOCK ON DOORS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT BUT THEY WILL CALL YOU.

YOU DON'T CALL THEM.

BUT THEY DO CALL.

AND IT'S NICE.

IT'S NICE TO BE CALLED.

PLEASE CALL ME.

>> THE PUBLICATION ONLY HAS TWO FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.

AND A HANDFUL OF CONTRIBUTORS LIKE SAMPSON.

CONTENT IS RECYCLED MATERIAL FROM THE ARCHIVES.

THE MAGAZINE'S FUTURE WAS IN QUESTION BEFORE IT WAS ACQUIRED BY AT&T.

>> AND NOW AT&T UNLOADED TIME-WARNER MEDIA, THE PARENT COMPANY TO MERGE WITH DISCOVERY MEDIA AND THIS DEAL IS IN THE WORKS AND IT MAY NOT BE COMPLETE UNTIL A YEAR, TWO YEARS I DON'T KNOW.

THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING AFTER THAT WE'RE HOLDING ON TO HOPE HERE.

>> BEING ONE OF THE LAST KEEPERS OF THE FLAME IS A BITTERSWEET BURDEN.

>> FOR ME IT'S PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE HONOR OF DOING THE FOLD IN.

LIKE IT'S HEAVY: YEAH, IT'S SAD BECAUSE NOW MAD IS ALL REPRINTS AND STILL MEANS A LOT TO ME BUT IT'S ALSO KIND OF HAS AN ASTERISK NEXT TO IT.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS MARC VITALI.

>> MAD MAGAZINE IS AVAILABLE AT COMIC BOOKSTORES AND THROUGH SUBSCRIPTION AND AL JAFFEE TURNED 100 IN MARCH.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CARTOONIST JOHNNY SAMPSON ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND HEAR FROM AVONDALE COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT BRINGING RESOURCES TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT DISPLACING LONG TIME NEIGHBORS.

>> HOW VULNERABLE ARE CHILDREN TO SERIOUS ILLNESS FROM THE DELTA VARIANT?

WE HEAR FROM AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST.

>> THE PERSEID METEOR SHOWER MAY PUT ON ITS BEST DISPLAY IN YEARS AND WHEN YOU CAN CATCH THE SHOW.

>> AND BIKES BUILDING WORKS OF ART FROM RECYCLING MATERIALS.

>> FIRST MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR OPENS TODAY.

THE FAIR IS BACK DUE TO HIATUS BECAUSE OF COVID-19 LAST YEAR.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SPOKE ABOUT THE MASKING REQUIREMENTS.

>> I HOPE THE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEEDED TO PUT MASKING IN PLACE FOR THE FAIR FOR BEING INDOORS AT THE FAIR.

AND IT'S OBVIOUS.

WE HAVE AN ENORMOUS INCREASE IN THE DELTA VARIANT CROSSING THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.

WE DO NOT THINK PEOPLE WILL ATTEMPT TO DEFY THAT COMING TO THE FAIRGROUNDS.

PEOPLE ARE HERE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

I HOPE THEY WILL COME AND ENJOY WHAT WE'VE GOT.

>> IF YOU CAN'T CATCH THE STATE FAIR IN PERSON YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT ON-LINE.

ORGANIZERS SETUP TWO DOZEN WEBCAMS THROUGHOUT THE GROUNDS.

MORE INFORMATION IS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> THE CUBS CUT PITCHER VARITEK ARRIETA ONE OF THE LAST STARS LEFT FROM THE WORLD SERIES TEAM.

ARRIETA GAVE UP SEVEN RUNS AGAINST THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS YESTERDAY IN JUST THE FIRST INNING.

THE CUBS BROUGHT ARRIETA BACK TO CHICAGO BUT HE STRUGGLED SINCE MAY.

HE LEAVES WITH AN ERA OF 6.9.

AND THE TEAM PRESIDENT SAID IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR HIM, FOR US, AND THE RIGHT TIME.

>> AND IN BETTER BASEBALL NEWS THE WHITE SOX GO THE DISTANCE TO REACH THE OFFICIAL FIELD OF DREAMS.

A LOT OF REFERENCES FROM THAT MOVIE GOING AROUND TODAY.

BASEBALL FIELD IN IOWA THE BRAINCHILD OF A WOMAN WHO DREAMT OF RECREATING THAT MOVIE'S MAGIC.

AND TONIGHT THE DREAM OF HAVING AN OFFICIAL MAJOR LEAGUE GAME COMES TRUE SHOW SHE DID PASS AWAY.

THE WHITE SOX ARE FACING THE YANKEES IN FRONT OF 8,000 FANS IN THE MIDDLE OF A CORN CENTER FIELD AND THE PLAYERS EEMERGENCIED FROM THE CORN DURING THEIR INTRODUCTIONS.

>> AND THE SOX LEAD THE YANKEES 5-3 IN THE BOTTOM OF THE THIRD INNING.

>> AND NOW WE CHECK BACK IN WITH BRANDIS FRIEDMAN WHO IS LIVE IN AVONDALE AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

SOUNDS LIKE THAT IS GOOD NEWS FOR THE CHICAGO WHITE SOX FANS.

RIGHT NOW I'M JOINED BY 33rd WARD ALDERWOMAN ROSSANA RODRIGUEZ-SANCHEZ, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TECHNICALLY WE ARE NOT IN YOUR WARD BUT AVONDALE IS THERE ARE COMMUNITIES PARTS OF AVONDALE THAT ARE IN YOUR WARD AND IT IS A DIVERSE COMMUNITY, WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORS AND AREAS ARE FACING SIGNIFICANT GENTRIFICATION.

HOW CAN YOU HELP PEOPLE TO NOT BE DISPLACED FROM THAT GENTRIFICATION HITTING AVONDALE?

>> MY OFFICE HAS PUT IN PLACE A COMMUNITY DRIVEN ZONING PROCESS WITH THE PURPOSE THAT OUR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATE IN THE DECISIONS THAT I AS AN ALDERWOMAN MAKE WHEN WE CHANGE THE ZONING OF DIFFERENT PROPERTIES.

BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE INPUT HOW OUR COMMUNITIES ARE DEVELOPED AND AFFORDABILITY IS A BIG PART OF THAT.

OUR COMMUNITY IS COMMITTED TO AFFORDABILITY SO WHENEVER WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT CONVERSATION WILL BE PART OF THE PROCESS.

WE ARE, OF COURSE, TRYING TO WORK WITH DEVELOPERS THAT ARE BRINGING IN AFFORDABLE PROJECTS AND WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT FIGHT FOR THE SAME.

>> AND TO THAT END WE WILL HEAR FROM THE AVONDALE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ABOUT CREATING THIS AREA'S FIRST EVER COMMUNITY PLAN.

WHAT RESOURCES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE COME TO AVONDALE?

>> I AM EXCITED ABOUT WORKING WITH AVONDALE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN THAT PLAN.

AGAIN THEY ARE COMMITTED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING A BIG PART OF THE WORK TO DO IN THAT PLAN IS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER RESOURCES TO BRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AVONDALE NEEDS A LIBRARY.

WE HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT HOW TO DO THAT.

BUT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY AND LAND USE AND MAKE SURE WE ARE PREVENTING GENTRIFICATION AND GIVING PEOPLE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.

>> PIVOTING, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCED THE CITY IS FACING A $733 MILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR AND THAT IS NOT AS BAD AS IT WAS LAST YEAR.

BUT STILL A BIG HOLE TO FILL.

WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES WHEN IT COMES TO TACKLING THAT BUDGET GAP?

>> RIGHT NOW, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT HAS EXPRESSED IN TERMS OF INCREASING THE POLICE BUDGET WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A BUDGET GAP TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO INCREASE THE BUDGET OF THE MOST WELL FUNDED AGENCY IN THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IS WORRISOME.

AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE IDEA OF GIVING A LOT OF THAT MONEY TO BANKS TO PAY OFF DEBT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE IN DEBT.

WE ALSO JUST WENT THROUGH A PANDEMIC AN LOUING BANKS TO CHARGE INTEREST IN THIS MOMENT INSTEAD OF FIGHTING AND WORKING WITH BANKS TO WAIVE THOSE FEES SO WE DON'T HAVE TO BE PAYING INTEREST AND FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE, MENTAL HEALTH, HOUSING, JOBS WE NEED THAT.

>> A LOT OF RESOURCES.

THAT MEANS YOU HAVE YOUR WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU.

ROSSANA RODRIGUEZ-SANCHEZ THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> I WANT TO SAY I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE LOCAL 1220 WORKERS NEGOTIATING WITH WTTW AT THE MOMENT.

>> ALL RIGHT GOOD TO KNOW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

PARIS BACK TO YOU FOR NOW.

>> THANK YOU.

EARLY IN THE SHOW WE HEARD ABOUT THE OFFICIAL COVID FIGURES FROM LOLLAPALOOZA.

THE CITY'S TOP DOCTOR SAID IT WAS NOT THE SUPER SPREADER EVENT SOME FEAR TO DO WOULD BE.

HOW ACCURATE IS THAT?

AND WHAT IS THE DELTA VARIANT RISK TO CHILDREN NOW THAT THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS ALMOST UPON US.

JOINING TO HELP ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IS Dr. SUSAN BLEASDALE, THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL AT UI HEALTH.

WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THE STATE IS AVERAGING ABOUT 3,000 NEW CASES PER DAY TEST POSITIVITY IS 5.8%.

ARE THERE MODELS THAT TELL US WHETHER THIS IS ON THE RISE OR IS PLATEAUING RIGHT NOW?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ON THE RISE.

THIS IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN OTHER STATES WHEN THE DELTA VARIANT HAS BECOME A PREDOMINANT STRAIN THE NUMBERS START TO INCREASE AND INCREASE RAPIDLY BECAUSE OF THE EASE IN THE WAY THAT IT CAN BE TRANSMITTED.

>> WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE THOSE CASES CONTINUE TO GO UP FOR THE TIME BEING.

AND Dr. ARWADY SUGGESTS THAT ONLY 200 CASES WERE REPORTED OUT OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CONCERT GOES AT LOLLAPALOOZA.

DO YOU BUY THAT AS AN ACCURATE NUMBER?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IT'S A SAMPLE.

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION FROM THAT EVENT WE ARE TWO WEEKS OUT AND SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES.

THOSE THAT THROUGH CONTACT TRACING SELF IDENTIFY BEING AT THE LOLLAPALOOZA EVENT ARE SHOWING THAT THERE IS A SMALL NUMBER RELATIVE TO HOW MANY THAT WERE THERE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL OUTSIDE THE CITY OF CHICAGO THAT NOT CLEAR IF THE CITY HAS ALL OF THAT CONTACT TRACING DATA.

THE NUMBERS OF CASES THAT THEY IDENTIFIED SOME WERE WITHIN CHICAGO AND SOME WEREN'T IT IS NOT CLEAR THEY HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION THERE MAYBE OTHER CASES THAT ARE NOT CAPTURED IN THEIR DATA.

IT MAY BE LARGER BUT OVERALL, PROBABLY NOT TO THE HIGHEST SCALE THAT WE HAD BEEN CONCERNED.

I THINK THE TESTING AND THE REQUIREMENT FOR VACCINATION WAS A GOOD MITIGATION STRATEGY BUT THERE'S PROBABLY SOME MORE CASES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED.

>> AND WHAT CITY OFFICIALS SAY THAT 90% OF FOLKS THAT ATTENDED WERE VACCINATED THROUGH THEIR OWN MEASUREMENTS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RISK OF BREAKTHROUGH CASES.

THE CITY SAYS 99.7% OF NEW CASES ARE AMONG THE UNVACCINATED.

BUT WE'VE HEARD OF A NUMBER OF BREAKTHROUGH CASES.

IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THE BREAKTHROUGH RATE IS HIGHER THAN REPORTED?

>> PROBABLY HIGHER THAN IS BEING REPORTED.

IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE DATA TO GET REPORTED AND ALL OF US HAVE BEEN SEEING THE CASES THAT ARE FOLLOWING THEM THERE ARE BREAKTHROUGH CASES IN PEOPLE THAT ARE VACCINATED.

AND THERE IS A COUPLE OF ISSUES AROUND THAT E SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THAT THEY CAN BE INFECTED.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF ANYONE HAS SYMPTOMS THAT THEY GET TESTED FOR COVID EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

IMPORTANT TOO THEY KNOW THEY CAN STILL TRANSMIT IT.

THE RISK IS LOWER BUT IT'S STILL PRESENT AND IT'S LIKELY THEY WILL HAVE A MILDER CASE.

SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT GET TESTED AND MAY NOT KNOW IT IS ATTRIBUTED TO THAT EVENT.

WE ARE GOING TO START TO SEE MORE CASES.

WE ARE STARTING TO SEE MORE CASES IN THOSE THAT ARE ARE VACCINATED.

MILD CASES.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE WISE CHOICES ABOUT WHEN THEY UNMASK EVEN FOR THOSE THAT ARE VACCINATED.

THE AWARENESS THAT YOU CAN GET IT IS NEWS TO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE VACCINATED.

>> THE DATA IS MORE CONCLUSIVE THE BREAKTHROUGH CASES THE SYMPTOMS ARE MILDER.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE F.D.A.

RECOMMENDING A THIRD BOOSTER SHOT IN FOLKS THAT ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT WILL BE HELPFUL TO THE POPULATION?

>> I THINK IT WILL BE HELPFUL.

THE MESSAGING RIGHT NOW IS YOU ARE HEARING ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH CASES AND BOOSTERS.

LIKE YOU MENTIONED THE PEOPLE THAT ARE VACCINATED GETTING THE BREAKTHROUGH CASES ARE STILL PROTECTING AGAINST HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH AND THAT IS WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE 97, 98% OF OUR HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS ARE IN THE UNVACCINATED.

SO THE VACCINE IS SHOWING THAT IT IS STILL PROTECTING PEOPLE WITH THE INCREASED NUMBER OF CASES.

BUT WE DO KNOW AND WE'VE HAD DATA THAT THOSE THAT ARE VERY VULNERABLE, THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS NOT STRONG PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD AN ORGAN OR A BLOOD TRANSPLANT THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM CANNOT MOUNT THE SAME RESPONSE TO THE VACCINE MANY THEY NEED A BOOSTER AND IT WILL BE LIKELY APPROVED SHORTLY FOR THESE PARTICULAR GROUPS.

AND THEN IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THOSE THAT LIVE AROUND THESE VULNERABLE PEOPLE THAT THEY GET VACCINATED TO HELP TO COCOON AND PROTECT THEM AS WELL.

>> IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

ANOTHER GROUP OF CONCERNED CITIZENS CONCERNED POPULATION PARENTS OF KIDS UNDER 12 WITH KIDS GOING BACK TO CLASS NOW.

WHAT DOES THE DATA SAY ABOUT HOW AT RISK CHILDREN ARE TO GETTING SIGNIFICANTLY ILL FROM THE DELTA VARIANT?

>> WELL, WE'RE SEEING INCREASED CASES OVERALL.

AND THEN YOU ARE SEEING SOME SMALL NUMBERS INCREASE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS NATIONALLY BECAUSE OF THE DELTA VARIANT.

AND IT'S HARD TO TELL HOW MUCH OF THAT IS RELATED TO JUST THERE'S MORE TRANSMISSION OF CASES.

THE YOUNGER POPULATION IS EITHER NOT VACCINATED OR IS STARTING TO HAVE ACTIVITIES WHERE THEY ARE BEING AROUND EACH OTHER UNMASKED.

WE ARE SEEING A RAPID RATE OF TRANSMISSION AND SEE SOME SMALL NUMBERS OF CASES OF INCREASED HOSPITALIZATION.

OVERALL MOST OF THE CASES IN THOSE THAT ARE YOUNG ARE NOT SIGNIFICANT IN CAUSING HOSPITALIZATION.

WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT IS SO CONTAGIOUS.

>> DO YOU THINK THE STATE-WIDE SCHOOL MASK MANDATE IS SUFFICIENT TO PROTECT KIDS AND PARENTS AND TEACHERS FROM SPREADING THE VIRUS?

OR DO YOU RECOMMEND MORE MITIGATIONS?

>> I THINK THAT IS A CRITICAL POINT TO HELP TO PROTECT TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK TO IN-PERSON EDUCATION WE KNOW MASKS WORK THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS IN PREVENTING TRANSMISSION.

MASKS WORKS.

AND FOR THOSE VACCINATED, THAT IS AN ADDITIONAL MEASURE OF PROTECTION FOR YOU.

FOR THOSE UNDER 12 AND EVERYONE THAT IS GOING BACK TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION THE MASKS ARE HELPFUL TO PREVENT TRANSMISSION.

>> Dr. SUSAN BLEASDALE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND FILLING US IN ON THE LATEST COVID INFORMATION.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT, WHEN AND WHERE TO WATCH THIS YEAR'S PERSEID METEOR SHOWER.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> YOU CAN HEAD OUTSIDE FOR ANOTHER SHOW.

THE PERSEID METEOR SHOWER HITS ITS PEAK THIS WEEK AND IT MAY PUT ON THE BEST DISPLAY IN YEARS.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER PATTY WETLI JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

PATTY WHEN IS PRIMETIME FOR METEOR WATCHING AND THE BEST PLACE TO CATCH IT?

>> THE BEST TIME WOULD BE AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT OR TECHNICALLY TOMORROW MORNING.

UNTIL DAWN.

NASA PEGGED THE 3:30-4:30 AM HOUR HAS PRIMETIME.

AND REALLY ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK UP.

ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE OUT IN THE COUNTRY.

JUST LOOK UP YOU OUGHT TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE 40ISH METEORS AN HOUR.

>> I WILL SET MY ALARM FOR 3:30.

AND WHAT CAUSES THE METEOR SHOWER?

>> YOU KNOW EVERY YEAR, THE EARTH ORBIT INTERSECTION WITH SOME DEBRIS FROM THE COMETS.

THAT IS WHAT THE METEORS ARE THEY ARE COMET DEBRIS.

AND WE INTERSECT WITH THEM EVERY YEAR.

AND AS YOU WERE MENTIONING SETTING YOUR ALARM IF YOU ARE IN THE CITY YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET A GREAT SHOW.

SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT GETTING OUT OF TOWN FOR THE WEEKEND WHEN IT'S NOT PEAK.

STILL A GOOD SHOW.

>> MAYBE SET MY ALARM FOR AN HOUR OR TWO BEFORE TO GET INTO A WIDE OPEN AREA.

THIS COULD BE ONE OF THE BEST METEOR SHOWER SHOWS EVER.

WHY IS THAT?

>> WE'RE LUCKY BECAUSE THIS YEAR THE MOON IS A CRESCENT MOON WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET LIGHT POLLUTION FROM THE MOON AS LONG AS YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE LIGHT INFLUENCE OF THE CITY.

COUNTRY FOLKS GOT IT ALL OVER THE CITY FOLKS ON THIS ONE.

>> MAYBE THEY WILL TAKE PICTURES IF THERE ARE HIGH RESOLUTION CAMERAS.

THANK YOU, PATTY.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ PATTY'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE AND FIND A LINK TO NASA'S LIVE STREAM OF THE METEOR SHOWER ALL AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> TIME FOR MORE FROM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN SHE SPENT THE DAY IN AVONDALE ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

BRANDIS?

>> PARIS THAT IS RIGHT.

WE ARE JOINED BY MELISSA TOOPS SHE IS THE ZONING CHAIR OF THE AVONDALE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN PEOPLE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THOSE, WHAT KIND OF THINGS DO YOU WANT TO LOOK AT?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IS EVERYTHING.

IT IS TALKED ABOUT HOW WE SEE OUR TRANSIT, OUR LOCAL TRANSIT HOW THAT IS SUSTAINABLE AND TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPMENT WHAT DEVELOPMENTS WE WANT TO SEE AND WHAT RESOURCES ARE WE LACKING.

GREENSPACE AND LIBRARIES AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THERE IS A LOT OF NEED BUT HONING IN ON WHAT AVONDALE NEEDS.

>> HOW CAN YOU BRING IN NEW DEVELOPMENT BUT WHILE MAKING SURE THAT LONG TIME RESIDENTS ARE NOT BEING DISPLACED.

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES.

WE WORK WITH DEVELOPERS BRING YOU GO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE LOVE TO SEE THOSE DEVELOPERS COME IN AND MAKING SURE THERE IS A PLACE FOR OUR LONG-TERM RESIDENTS AND AREUSING OUR BUILDINGS AND NOT CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE AND THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO LIVETH THEIR HOMES.

>> AVONDALE HAS A DIVERSE POPULATION.

A LARGE POLISH PRESENCE.

BUT A LARGE HISPANIC LATINO POPULATION.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PLAN REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY'S DIVERSITY?

>> WE ARE LOOKING TO CREATE A COMMUNITY PLAN AND WE NEED A COMMITTEE WE NEED A COMMITTEE OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER OUR COMMUNITY.

WE WANT EVERY WARD REPRESENTED EVERY RACE, WE WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE A REPRESENTATION IN OUR COMMITTEE.

AND WE'RE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A PULSE OFFER EVERY COMPONENT.

IT'S HARD WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET IT 100% RIGHT BUT WE WILL TRY.

>> AND IT IS A TWO-YEAR PROCESS, WHAT DO YOU HAVE AT THE END OF THOSE TWO YEARS?

>> WE HAVE THIS AMAZING PACKET WHERE WE CAN TALK THROUGH IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITY ZONES AND NEEDS AND SOMETHING THAT CAN DRIVE THE FUTURE LEGISLATION THAT HAPPENS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WORKING WITH PEOPLE LIKE OUR LOCAL ALDERMEN TO MAKE SURE SHE IS THINGS CAN GET ENACTED.

>> WHAT WILL YOUR RESIDENTS SEE AS FAR AS LIKE ZONING CHANGES OR DEVELOPMENT?

>> I THINK THE RESIDENTS WILL SEE A CLEARER PATH FORWARD ZONING ORDINANCES THAT ARE BEING ASKED POTENTIALLY BEING TURNED OUT IMMEDIATELY, NO THIS IS NOT WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS WANT.

THEY WILL SEE IT IN ALL FUTURE DECISIONS BEING MADE IN AN AROUND OUR COMMUNITY AND WE ARE HOPING TO WORK WITH OUR ALDERMEN TO SNAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.

>> THANKS TO MELISSA TOOPS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN SOME AVONDALE RESIDENTS ARE EAGER TO SEE MOVE FORWARD.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND UP NEXT, THE UNUSUAL WAYS THAT SOME CYCLISTS GET AROUND TOWN.

FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> HAVE YOU THROWN OUT A BROKEN BIKE OR SPARE PARTS?

THERE IS A CHANCE A LOCAL BIKE CLUB SCOOPED UP THAT TRASH TO MAKE A WORK OF ART ON WHEELS.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" EVAN GARCIA VISITED LOGAN SQUARE TO LEARN ABOUT THE BUSTLING CUSTOM BIKE CULTURE.

HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

>> 14-YEAR-OLD MALCOLM LANGFORD IS RIDING A TALL BIKE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> IT WAS SCARY.

BUT IT'S COOL.

IT'S LIKE WAY DIFFERENT.

WBBM NEWSRADIO I'M SO HIGH.

>> UNUSUAL BIKES ARE HERE AT LOGAN SQUARE PARK, TALL ONES, LONG ONES AND A RAT ON WHEELS.

>> CUSTOM BIKES IS A REPRESENTATION OF YOURSELF.

THE CLOTHES YOU WEAR REPRESENT YOU.

THE THINGS YOU DO THAT SO THE BIKE YOU RIDE CAN REPRESENT YOU.

AND SOME OF US ARE WEIRDER THAN OTHERS I GUESS.

>> CRIS CASTELLAN IS A LOCAL MEMBER OF THE RAT PATROL WHICH STARTED IN 1999.

>> MOST OF THIS STUFF THAT I MAKE WE COME OUT OF THE ALLEYS OUT OF THE TRASH PEOPLE'S LEFTOVERS I FIND AND BRING HOME AND TURN INTO MY GOLD.

>> RAT PATROL AND BIKE GROUPS SCOUR ALLEYWAYS FOR SPARE BIKE PARTS WHICH THEY WELD INTO CREATIONS.

LIKE THIS GRILL BIKE MADE OF SEVERAL BIKES A MOVING CART AND A CHARCOAL GRILL.

WE LIKE TO EAT AND PARTY AND TAKE IT WHERE WE GO.

WE SAID LET'S BUILD SOMETHING WE CAN TAKE THE GRILL TO THE PARK OR TO THE BEACH.

>> THIS SWING BIKE WHICH LOOKS PRECARIOUS AS THE TWO WHEELS SWING OUT OF ALIGNMENT WAS BUILT BY AIDEN.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE A WILD IDEA YOU CAN PUT IT TO THE LEFT OR IN FRONT OF YOU.

IT FEELS FREE AND FLOATY.

>> THROUGH ORGANIZING PUBLIC MEET UPS, THE RAT PATROL AIMS TO FOSTER A DOO IT YOURSELF SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO BIKING.

>> RAT PATROL WANTS TO SEE PEOPLE HOW TO BUILD THEIR OWN BIKES AND MAINTENANCE THEIR BIKES AND HOW TO DIVERT BIKES FROM THE WASTE STREAM.

>> THE ISOLATION BROUGHT ON BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC INSPIRED JUAN LUCERO TO EMBRACE CHICAGO'S CUSTOM BIKE SCENE AND INTRODUCE HIS DAUGHTERS TO THIS HOBBY.

>> IT IS A FAMILY ORIENTED THING FOR ME BECAUSE WE ALL NEED EXERCISE AND GET OUT AND THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN HAPPENING.

THAT IS WHERE I GOT INTO IT AND THE KIDS I SAID LIKE LET'S GO OUT A COUPLE DAYS A WEEK AND RIGHT SOMEWHERE.

>> I JUST THINK THAT THEY HAVE A LOT TO SAY BUT THEY PUT IT IN THEIR BIKES.

AND IT'S JUST REALLY COOL DESIGNS AND SOMETHING REALLY GREAT THEY ARE DOING.

>> I DEFINITELY WANT TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND MAKE A BIG BIKE IT'S COOL HOW SYSTEMS WHEN ME AND MY DAD RIDE DOWN THE STREET PEOPLE STARE AT YOU IN A GOOD WAY.

I WANT TO KEEP DOING THAT.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M EVAN GARCIA.

>> JUAN LUCERO AND HIS DAUGHTERS LOOK FAMILY LOOK FAMILIAR THEY ARE PART OF A MARIACHI BAND AND JAY SHEFSKY DID A PROFILE ON THEM FIVE YEARS AGO YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RAT PATROL BIKE CLUB AND THAT STORY AND THE MEET UPS.

AND WE'RE BACK OF THE YARDS TO WRAP THINGS UP.

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

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND YOU CAN ALWAYS GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7 PEOPLE FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW".

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

ENJOY THE METEOR SHOWER TONIGHT IF YOU CAN SEE IT.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

[♪♪♪]