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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THE TRUTH IS THIS DID UNFOLD MORE QUICKLY THAN WE ANTICIPATED.

>> CAUGHT BY SURPRISE.

CHAOS IN AFGHANISTAN AS THE COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT FLEES THE AFGHAN ARMY COLLAPSES AND THE TALIBAN TAKES CONTROL.

>> UNDER STAFFING AND BURN-OUT AND POOR WORKING CONDITIONS WE HEAR FROM NURSE ON THE FRONTLINES OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> A ALDERPERSON UNDER INDICTMENT'S COMMITTEE SPENDS HEAVILY WITH LITTLE TO SHOW FOR IT.

>> THE BEST, SAFEST PLACE FOR STUDENTS TO BE IS IN SCHOOL.

>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS HEAD BACK TO THE CLASSROOM IN TWO WEEKS WE TALK WITH THE INTER RIM C.E.O.

RETURNING TO SCHOOL AS COVID CASES RISE.

>> RESEARCH SHOWS A RISE IN ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE.

WE HEAR FROM TWO COMMUNITY LEADERS.

>> MORE CHICAGO ORGANIZATIONS ARE REQUIRING COVID VACCINES THAT AND MORE BUSINESS NEWS FROM CRAIN'S.

>> AND A GROUP OF STUDENTS SAYING YES TO CLEAN ENERGY AND WORKING TO BRING SOLAR PANELS TO THE WEST SIDE.

BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> THE HEAD OF THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT IS ACTING ACTIONS AGAINST SEXUAL ABUSE IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

TWO HIGH LEVEL MANAGERS IN THE BEACHES AND POOLS UNIT HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED AND 40 OTHERS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED AND FIRED AND SOME RESIGNED.

KELLY IS ALSO ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF PROTECTION TO HANDLE FUTURE HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS.

>> I'VE COMMITTED TO THIS FROM DAY ONE MY COMMITMENT THAT THAT WOMAN AND FAMILIES I WILL ROOT IT OUT.

IT'S FRUSTRATING.

THE INVESTIGATION AND TIMELINESS IS FRUSTRATING BUT IT'S PLAYING OUT IN OUR FAVOR AND THESE SUSPENSIONS ARE BIG.

THIS IS GOING TO SEND A RIFT, RIPPLE EFFECT THROUGH THE DISTRICT.

>> AND THIS ACTION COMES AFTER A WBEZ INVESTIGATION INTO SEXUAL HARASSMENT INTO THE PARKS DISTRICT AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS INVESTIGATING.

>> NEIGHBORS IN THE SOUTH SUBURBS WILL HAVE A NEW AREA CODE.

THE ILLINOIS COMMERCE SAYS THE NEW 464 AREA CODE WILL OVERLAY THE 708 AREA CODE WHICH SERVES MOST OF WESTERN AND SOUTHERN COOK COUNTY AND EASTERN AND SOUTHERN WILL COUNTY.

THE 464 AREA CODE WILL BECOME AVAILABLE WHEN ALL PREFIXES HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED EXPECTED TO BE IN JANUARY.

>> AND WITH THE BULLDOZER AND ROAD CLOSURES IN PLACE, CONSTRUCTION AND 0 THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER IS GETTING STARTED.

PROGRESS ON THE 500 MILLION DOLLAR CENTER HAS BEEN DELAYED BY LAWSUITS, CONCERNS ABOUT DISPLACING BLACK RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND A FEDERAL REVIEW SINCE ITS LOCATION JACKSON PARK IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

THE 19-ACRE LAKEFRONT CENTER IS EXPECTED TO INCLUDE A MUSEUM, LIBRARY AND CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA.

THE DOCUMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN DIGITAL FORM.

THE OBAMA FOUNDATION SAYS A FORMAL GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE FALL.

UP NEXT WE DIG INTO THE DETAILS ON THE CHAOS IN AFGHANISTAN.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON PRESIDENT BIDEN DELIVERED HIS FIRST REMARKS SINCE THE SWIFT FALL OF AFGHANISTAN TO THE TALIBAN.

THE RAPID DETERIORATION HAPPENED AS THE U.S.

MOVED TO REMOVE ALL AM WASSY AND SUPPORT STAFF FROM THE COUNTRY.

THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE STANDS BY HIS CONTROVERSIAL DECISION TO WITHDRAW BUT ACKNOWLEDGED HIS ADMINISTRATION WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD HOW QUICKLY THE COUNTRY COLLAPSED.

>> THE TRUTH IS THIS DID UNFOLD MORE QUICKLY THAN WE ANTICIPATED.

THE AFGHAN MILITARY COLLAPSED.

SOMETIME WITHOUT TRYING TO FIGHT.

AMERICAN TROOPS CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT BE FIGHTING IN A WAR AND DIEING IN A WAR THAT AFGHAN FORCES ARE NOT WILLING TO FIGHT FOR THEMSELVES >> AND JOINING US WITH MORE ARE JOHN MEARSHEIMER, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND A FOREIGN POLICY SPECIALIST.

CECILE SHEA A NONRESIDENT SENIOR FELLOW AT THE CHICAGO COUNCIL ON GLOBAL AFFAIRS, ALBERTO COLL PROFESSOR OF LAW AND U.S. FOREIGN RELATIONS AT DePAUL AND KHALIL MARRAR PROFESSOR AT GOVERNOR'S STATE UNIVERSITY WITH A SPECIALTY IN FOREIGN POLICY AND TERRORISM.

WELCOME BACK.

CECILE SHEA WHY AFTER 20 PLUS YEARS OF COMBAT DO YOU BELIEVE THE COUNTRY FELL SO QUICKLY TO THE TALIBAN UPON AMERICAN WITHDRAWAL?

>> WELL, I HAPPEN TO BE ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO THINK IT WAS INEVITABLE AND INDEED WHEN I SERVED IN THE SENIOR POSITION IN ISLAMABAD THE PAKISTANIS WOULD TELL US THE U.S. WAS GOING TO PULL OUT OF AFGHANISTAN AND THEY WERE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH A TALIBAN LED GOVERNMENT AND THAT IS ONE REASON WHY THE PAKISTANIS HAVE BEEN HEDGING BETS FOR 20 YEARS.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS SURPRISED IT HAPPENED.

IT HAPPENED IN WEEKS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS PEOPLE ARE ASKING IF WE PULLED OUT IN THE WINTER WOULD THAT HAVE SLOWED IT DOWN.

ONCE IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THE WARLORDS WERE CHANGING SIDES AND ONCE IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS GETTING ON AIRPLANES AND FLYING AWAY IT WAS INEVITABLE IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN QUICKLY.

SAW THE WRITING ON THE WALL.

>> AS WE LOOK AT THE SCENES FROM THE KABUL AIRPORT, JOHN MEARSHEIMER, WAS THERE ANYTHING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OR THE PREVIOUS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION COULD HAVE DONE TO EASE THIS WITHDRAWAL OR DO YOU AGREE WITH CECILE SHEA THAT THESE SCENES WERE INEVITABLE?

>> I DON'T THINK THESE PARTICULAR SCENES WERE INEVITABLE.

IF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAD BEEN IN POWER AND THEY HAD ANTICIPATED HOW QUICKLY THE TALIBAN WOULD WIN OR IF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAD BEEN ABLE TO ANTICIPATE HOW QUICK THE TALIBAN WOULD WIN, THIS OBVIOUSLY WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

BUT THERE WERE VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT THAT THE TALIBAN WOULD WIN SO QUICKLY.

AND YOU WANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAVE AN INCENTIVE NOT 0 BAILOUT QUICKLY.

NOT TO PREPARE FOR THE EXITS QUICKLY BECAUSE THAT WOULD GUARANTEE THAT THE AFGHANI MILITARY WOULD COLLAPSE.

SO THEY WAITED UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT AND THAT CAME BACK BECAUSE IN THE END, THE AFGHANI MILITARY COLLAPSED QUICKLY.

AND WE HAVE THIS MESSY SITUATION.

>> AND KHALIL MARRAR WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THERE'S LITTLE RESISTANCE FROM THE AFGHANI MILITARY 300,000 STRONG THAT THE U.S.

INVESTED BILLIONS IN TO STOP THE TALIBAN AS THE POINT POINTED HIS FINGER IN THAT DIRECTION AND AFGHAN POLITICAL LEADERS, WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IS?

>> I AGREE WITH BOTH AT THE OUTSET.

AND TO ANSWER YOUR EXCELLENT QUESTION, I WOULD SAY THAT THE TALIBAN HAS CONVICTION AND THIS ALLIANCE THIS COALITION OF WHICH 90% OF THAT MILITARY IS ACTUALLY I WILL LITERAL CANNOT READ OR RIGHT.

THEY HAVE NO FACE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE CORRUPT REGIME THAT EXISTED IN KABUL UNTIL TODAY.

AND WITH THIS IDEA IS THAT THE COUNTRY FELL.

I WOULD DISAGREE.

I DON'T THINK THAT AFGHANISTAN HAS EVER BEEN GOVERNED BY ANY ONE PARTY.

THE TALIBAN CONTROLS A MONOPOLY ON VIOLENCE AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A REALM.

IT IS QUANTIFIABLE THERE IS EQUALITY ABOUT IT.

AND THE KABUL REGIME FOLDED BECAUSE THE PEOPLE LED BY CONVICTION THEY HAVE LESS FAITH AND LESS FAITH IN THE TALIBAN TO HAVE GOOD GOVERNANCE BUT THEY HAVE MORE FAITH IN THE TALIBAN'S ABILITY TO KILL THEM AND HURT THEM.

>> THIS WAS NOT A POLITICALLY STABLE SITUATION BEFORE THIS WITHDRAWAL HAPPEN.

LET'S HEAR WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID A MONTH AGO ON HIS THOUGHTS OF THE TALIBAN COMING IN AND OVERTAKING THE COUNTRY.

>> THE JURY IS STILL OUT BUT THE LIKELIHOOD THERE'S GOING TO BE A TALIBAN OVERRUNNING EVERYTHING AND OWNING THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY.

>> CLEARLY NOT THE CASE.

ALBERTO COLL, SHOULD THERE HAVE BEEN STRONG U.S. INTELLIGENCE THAT INDICATED THAT AFGHAN SECURITY FORCES WOULD NOT HOLD FOR LONG AND THAT THIS WAS A LIKELY OUTCOME?

>> THIS IS A TERRIBLE DISASTER FOR AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY AND WE SHOULD JUDGE THE ADMINISTRATION BY THEIR OWN METRICS.

METRIC NUMBER ONE...

THEY SAID THEY ARE GOING TO WORK WITH ALLIES.

THE DECISION TO PULL OUT OF AFGHANISTAN AND TO DO IT SO QUICKLY AND TO IMPLEMENT AND FOLLOW-UP ON THE ILL ADVISED TRUMP PLAN WAS DONE WITHOUT CONSULTING IN GREAT DEPTH WITH OUR NATO ALLIES.

METRIC NUMBER TWO, THEY PRIDE THEMSELVES ON COMPETENCE.

YOU CANNOT SEE ANYTHING MORE INCOMPETENTLY MANAGED THAN THIS WITHDRAWAL.

METRIC THREE, SUPPOSEDLY WE ARE GOING TO BE LEADING.

WHAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP IS THIS WHEN WE MAKE THIS DECISION IN SUCH A RASH WAY BASED ON THIS WEIRD OBSESSION OF WRAPPING UP THE WITHDRAWAL BY SEPTEMBER 11th?

METRIC NUMBER FOUR, THE ADMINISTRATION IS SUPPOSED TO CARE ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS AND PARTICULARLY THE WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND WE ARE ABOUT TO HAND OVER WE ARE HANDING OVER MILLIONS OF AFGHAN GIRLS AND WOMEN TO THE MOST MISOGYNIES PARTICULAR HORRIBLE REGIME.

WORSE THAN SAUDI ARABIA.

THIS IS A HORRIBLE FAILURE AND IT WILL IMPACT OUR CREDITABILITY.

BOTH WITH OUR ALLIES AND OUR ADVERSARIES.

>> THE REGIME THE TALIBAN WHICH WAS IN POWER FROM 96-01.

CECILE SHEA REMIND US WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP THAT COUNTRY CAN EXPECT UNDER TALIBAN RULE AGAIN?

>> SURE, I WANT TO ADD ONE THING, THIS PRESIDENT HAS THE SAME CHOICE AS THE TWO PREDECESSORS WHICH IS STAY OR GO.

THERE WAS NO HALFWAY.

AND WE KNOW WHY DESPITE THE FACT THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA PROMISED TO GET OUT AND PRESIDENT TRUMP STARTED TO GET OUT BUT DID NOT COMPLETE THE JOB IT'S BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT AND LEAD TO A LOT OF SUFFERING WHICH LEADS US TO YOUR QUESTION.

TALIBAN LITERALLY MEANS STUDENTS.

IN YIDDISH [INAUDIBLE] BUT A GROUP OF DEEPLY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE THAT HAS ALWAYS ATTRACTED A LOT OF PSYCHOPATHS AND THAT IS NOT IN ANYWAY TO SAY ALL TALIBAN WITH PSYCHOPATHS.

THE TALIBAN PAYS BETTER THAN THE COMPETITORS IN AFGHANISTAN AND IN PAKISTAN.

SOME ARE THERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE LEADERSHIP.

AND IF YOU WANT TO BE A LEADER IN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY YOU WILL JOIN THE TALIBAN.

BUT THEY ARE RELIGIOUSLY FANATIC EVEN IRAN SAYS THEY GO TOO FAR.

THAT IS TELLING YOU SOMETHING.

THEY ARE SUNNIES.

THEY ARE PASHTUN WHICH MEANS THEY HOLD A LOT OF CULTURAL VIEWS TOWARD WOMEN.

A LOT OF THEIR VIEWS AND HARDCORE BELIEFS ABOUT WOMEN COME FROM THE PASHTUN BACKGROUND.

>> JUSTIFICATION FOR INVASION 20 YEARS AGO THEY HARBORED AL-QAEDA TERRORISTS.

>> JOHN MEARSHEIMER THERE ARE SOME IN THE MILITARY CLASS THAT BELIEVE THE U.S.

PRESENCE DID STABILIZE THE COUNTRY.

DO YOU BELIEVE THERE MIGHT BE ANYTHING TO GAIN BY MAINTAINING SOME SMALL PRESENCE IN AFGHANISTAN?

>> THE PROBLEM IS, PARIS, ONE WAS DOOMED FROM THE START AND BASICALLY THE SAME REASONS THAT KHALIL MARRAR WAS POINTING OUT.

THE UNITED STATES INVADED AFGHANISTAN TOPPLED THE TALIBAN AND THEN IT MADE THE CRUCIAL MISTAKE OF STAYING THERE AND TRYING TO TURN THE PLACE INTO A LIBERAL DEMOCRACY.

AND WHEN WE DID THAT WE WERE DOOMED BECAUSE WE BECAME AN OCCUPIER AND GOT ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF SOCIAL ENGINEERING IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY.

AND THE FACT IS THAT THE TALIBAN HAD WIDESPREAD SUPPORT IN THE POPULATION AND THE GOVERNMENT THE AFGHANI DEFENDANT WAS JOINED AT THE HIP WITH THE UNITED STATES AND IT DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF LEGITIMACY.

AND AT THE SAME TIME WE WERE FUNNELING HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO THAT GOVERNMENT AND TO THE [INAUDIBLE] WHICH LED TO CORRUPTION WHICH LED TO LESS FAITH AMONG THE PEOPLE IN THE AFGHANI GOVERNMENT AND IN THE END THIS ENDED UP JUST LIKE VIETNAM.

I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THIS IS VIETNAM ALL OVER AGAIN.

>> A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE MADE THAT COMPARISON.

KHALIL MARRAR THERE ARE MANY FOLKS IN AFGHANISTAN TRYING TO EVACUATE NOT JUST AMERICAN PERSONNEL BUT AFGHANS WHO ASSISTED AMERICANS HOW DIFFICULT WILL IT BE TO GET THEM OUT OF THERE AND TO GET THEM ASYLUM IN THE U.S.?

>> LOGISTICALLY NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AT THIS POINT.

WE ARE WESTERN GOVERNMENTS ARE TRYING TO GET OUR OWN PERSONNEL OUT.

NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO, THE AFGHAN PEOPLE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE INCIDENT HEARTBREAKING DEVASTATING OF PEOPLE TRYING TO FLEE THE COUNTRY IT WON'T BE HARD ONCE WE GET THEM HERE.

GETTING THEM OUT OF THERE IS THE PROBLEM.

AND HOW DO YOU CHOOSE?

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A BORDER WITH MEXICO WHERE THE PREVIOUS PRESIDENT WAS TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A WALL AND THE CURRENT PRESIDENT HAS NO IDEA WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT THE NOT JUST OPTICS ARE BUT WHAT JOHN POINTS TO, WHAT REBUILDING A COUNTRY MEANS.

THE COUNTRY REMAINS LARGELY UNBUILT.

THE TALIBAN IS TAKING OVER.

WITH THAT SAID THIS IS NOT OUR DADDY'S TALIBAN.

THIS 20 YEARS AGO THE TALIBAN WAS DIFFERENT THAN THE TALIBAN OF TODAY.

BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION BLUNTLY, PARIS, WE CAN BASICALLY GIVE THEM ALL ASYLUM.

THE POLITICAL FEASIBILITY OF THE LOGISTICS WOULD BE A NIGHTMARE.

>> ALBERTO COLL TELL US WHAT THE FUTURE HAS IN STORE WITH THE TALIBAN-LED AFGHANISTAN NOT JUST FOR AFGHANISTAN BUT FOR THE UNITED STATES, FOR WESTERN ALLIANCES.

BECAUSE THE FEAR IS THAT THEY COULD AGAIN, HARBOR TERRORIST ELEMENTS THAT WOULD BE A THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES?

>> PRECISELY BECAUSE THE TALIBAN ARE A COLLECTION OF WARLORDS YOU WILL SEE EVENTUALLY HAPPEN WHAT HAPPENED OVER 20 YEARS AGO WHICH IS SOME OF THE WARLORDS IN THE MORE REMOTE AREAS OF AFGHANISTAN IS A HUGE COUNTRY RUGGED, SOME OF THEM WILL FIND IT IN THEIR INTEREST BECAUSE OF MONEY OR IDEOLOGICAL REASONS TO HARBOR AND GIVE REFUGE NOT ONLY TO AL-QAEDA LIKE ELEMENTS BUT ALSO TO ISIS.

DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF WHICH ARE RECONSTATING THEMSELVES IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA AND WE ARE GOING TO WINDUP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WE HAD 25 YEARS AGO AND SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY TRYING TO DEAL WITH THAT THREAT.

AT A SECOND LEVEL WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT MANY OF OUR ALLIES IN PACIFIC ARE ASKING THEMSELVES HOW RELIABLE IS THE UNITED STATES?

HOW MUCH CAN WE TRUST THEM?

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, HOW WILLING IS THE UNITED STATES TO STAND UP BY THEIR FRIENDS AND FOLLOW A CLEAR STRATEGY.

INTERNATIONAL POLITICS IS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT CLEAR-CUT ENDINGS IT'S NOT ABOUT TOTAL VICTORY OR DEFEAT.

SOMETIMES THE BEST YOU CAN ACHIEVE IS A LONG-TERM STALEMATE.

WE HAD THAT IN AFGHANISTAN AND PRESIDENT BIDEN'S ADVISERS GAVE HIM A BLUEPRINT FOR MAINTAINING THE LONG-TERM STALEMATE.

>> AND CLEARLY THE PRESIDENT DECIDED NOT TO GO THAT ROUTE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT WE WILL BE ASKING ON THIS.

FOR NOW, OUR THANKS TO JOHN MEARSHEIMER, CECILE SHEA, ALBERTO COLL AND KHALIL MARRAR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

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

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

A CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE HEADED UP BY A HIGH PROFILE ALDERPERSON UNDER FEDERAL DOCUMENT SPENT $200,000 LAST YEAR WITH ALMOST NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT.

JOINING US WITH MORE IS WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE.

WHO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT AND WHAT IS THE COMMITTEE SUPPOSED TO DO?

>> WELL, WE TALKING ABOUT ALDERPERSON CARRIE AUSTIN, WHO IS THE CHAIR OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S COMMITTEE ON CONTRACTING, OVERSIGHT AND EQUITY.

AND YOU SAID IT.

THEY SPENT ALMOST $200,000 AND MET THREE TIMES IN 2020 BUT PASSED NO SUBSTANTIVE LEGISLATION IN THE ENTIRE YEAR.

>> AND WHAT HAS THIS COMMITTEE DONE?

>> IT IS A NEW COMMITTEE FORMED IN MAY 2019 AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO INSURE THAT CHICAGO'S LUCRATIVE CONTRACTS GO TO AS MANY COMPANIES OWNED BY WOMEN AS WELL AS BLACK AND LATINO AND ASIAN CHICAGOANS.

BUT THAT IS STILL VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS.

>> OK. DID ALDERMAN AUSTIN OR THE MAYOR HAVE ANY RESPONSE TO YOUR REPORTING?

>> THEY DID NOT.

AND I ALSO ASKED THE MAYOR WHETHER IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR ALDERMAN AUSTIN WHO IS UNDER INDICTMENT SHE FACES FOUR COUNTS OF BRIBERY AND LYING TO THE F.B.I., SHE HAS PLED NOT GUILTY.

BUT I THINK IT IS AN OPEN QUESTION WHETHER SHE SHOULD REMAIN AS A CITY COUNCIL CHAIRMAN ALDERMAN ED BURKE HAD TO STEP DOWN WHEN HE WAS INDICTED.

AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S OFFICE WOULD NOT TELL ME WHETHER THE MAYOR ASKED AUSTIN TO STEP DOWN.

THIS IS ALSO COMPLICATED EFFORTS BY THE MAYOR TO REAUTHORIZE THE CITY'S PROGRAM TO INSURE THAT BUSINESSES OWNED BY BLACK AND LATINO AND ASIAN CHICAGOANS GET THEIR SHARE OF THE CITY'S CONTRACTS THROUGH THE SET ASIDE PROGRAM.

THAT PROGRAM EXPIRES AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER AND IT HAS TO BE REAUTHORIZED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

BUT LEGISLATION TO DO THAT HAS BEEN STALLED IN ALDERMAN AUSTIN'S COMMITTEE SINCE THE END OF JUNE AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

>> AND REMIND US HOW THE COMMITTEE WAS CREATED IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> WELL, IN 2019 MAYOR LIGHTFOOT TOOK OFFICE AFTER ALDERMAN AUSTIN ENDORSED HER RIVAL, TONI PRECKWINKLE.

AND SO FOR THAT, ALDERMAN AUSTIN FOUND HERSELF OUT IN THE COLD AND NO LONGER CHAIRPERSON OF THE POWERFUL BUDGET COMMITTEE.

AND THIS WAS AN OLIVE BRANCH OFFERED TO THE MAYOR BY ALDERMAN AUSTIN WHO IS POWERFUL ALDERMAN.

SHE IS THE SECOND LONGEST SERVING ALDERMAN ON THE CITY COUNCIL BEHIND ONLY ED BURKE.

>> OF COURSE.

HEATHER CHERONE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

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

ACROSSED COUNTRY HOSPITAL SYSTEMS ARE FACING A SHORTAGE OF NURSES IN COOK COUNTY, NURSES AT STROGER HOSPITAL WENT ON STRIKE OVER STAFFING SHORTAGES.

NURSES SAY THE LACK OF STAFFING HAS LED TO BURN-OUT AND CAUSED PATIENTS TO BE REDIRECTED FROM ONE HOSPITAL TO ANOTHER.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE CONDITIONS THAT NURSES ARE FACING ARE ELIZABETH AQUINO PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION ILLINOIS.

AND ELIZABETH LALASZ, A REGISTERED NURSE AT STROGER HOSPITAL OF COOK COUNTY AND A STEWARD AT NATIONAL NURSES UNITED.

WE DID REACH OUT TO STROGER HOSPITAL OF COOK COUNTY FOR COMMENT AND DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE.

THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

ELIZABETH LALASZ, WHAT HOSPITAL CONDITIONS WOULD YOU SAY ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS SHORTAGE?

>> I THINK THAT THE HOSPITAL CONDITIONS CONTRIBUTING TO THE SHORTAGE AND I WANT TO SAY I DON'T THINK THERE IS A REAL SERIOUS NURSING SHORTAGE BEFORE COVID.

THERE'S REALLY ONLY A SHORTAGE OF NURSES WHO ARE WILLING TO WORK IN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENTS.

THE CONDITIONS OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC HAVE BEEN NURSES NOT BEING PROVIDED WITH OPTIMAL PPE LIKE N95s, GOWNS, ALL SORTS OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT SO THAT WE CAN WORK WITH PATIENTS.

AND NURSES HAVE BEEN FEARFUL FOR THEIR LIVES.

SOME HAVE GOTTEN SICK AT STROGER HOSPITAL AND ACROSS THE SYSTEM WHERE I WORK.

AND PEOPLE ARE FEARFUL FOR THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL.

AND NATD, WHAT WE ARE -- IN ADDITION, WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THE HOSPITALS SYSTEM THEY ARE RETIRING OR LOOKING FOR OTHER JOBS OR TRAVELING NURSES THAT ARE INSIDE OF OUR HOSPITAL WORKING TO SUPPLEMENT OUR STAFFING, YOU KNOW, ARE PLANNING ON WORKING FOR THIS YEAR AND THEN TAKING TIME OFF.

>> I WANT TO GET ELIZABETH AQUINO IN HERE YOU HAVE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VIEWPOINT ON THIS.

ELIZABETH AQUINO, YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU DID SEE A SHORTAGE CURRENTLY A SHORTAGE AND PREPANDEMIC WHAT WAS THE CAUSE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC?

>> BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WE WERE EXPERIENCING A SHORTAGE AS A RESULT OF THE GROWING AGING POPULATION, THE AGING NURSING WORKFORCE AND THE ESTIMATE IS EXPECTED ONE MILLION ARE SUPPOSED TO RETIRE BY 2030.

WE HAVE A NURSING FACTORY SHORTAGE AND THE BURN-OUT.

YEAH, THE COVID PANDEMIC HAS DEFINITELY EXACERBATED THE SHORTAGE WITH SOME NURSES CHOOSING TO LEAVE EARLIER.

I TEACH AT DePAUL AND WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT GRADUATE AND ALREADY IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR AND CONSIDERING WHAT OTHER OPTIONS THEY MAY HAVE BECAUSE THE EXHAUSTION THE BURN-OUT IS SOMETHING REAL THAT NURSES ARE FACING.

ELIZABETH AQUINO HOW BAD IS THE SHORTAGE?

>> WE DON'T HAVE EXACT NUMBERS BUT WE KNOW WHEN NURSES ARE FEELING OVERWHELMED OR BURN-OUT THAT CAUSES TURNOVER.

I'M SURE THE NUMBERS WILL COME OUT SOON.

AND SEE THE DIRECT IMPACT.

WE KNOW ANECDOTALLY IT'S HAPPENING NURSES ARE NOT RETURNING.

>> ELIZABETH LALASZ, WE KNOW THAT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO THERE WAS A STRIKE WITH YOUR UNION OVER STAFFING SHORTAGES AT STROGER HOSPITAL HOW DID THAT SHORTAGE AFFECT DAY-TO-DAY WORK AT THE HOSPITAL?

>> I MEAN, WHAT IT MEANT WAS THAT PEOPLE WERE EXHAUSTED.

THAT PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY AS I WAS SAYING THE CONDITIONS WITHIN SIDE THE -- WITH INSIDE THE HOSPITAL CONTRIBUTED AND THE FAILURE FOR THE HOSPITALS TO PLAN FOR THE SURGES AROUND COVID.

WITH OUR STRIKE WHAT WE DID WAS AND WE HAD NOT STRUCK SINCE 197640 YEARS IF NOT MORE.

AND I'M NOT SOMETHING THAT IN A SAFETY NET HOSPITAL IS THE TYPICAL THING WE DO.

BUT WE WON THROUGH OUR STRIKE OF ONE DAY ON JUNE 24, A COMMITMENT IN WRITING TO HIRE 300 ADDITIONAL NURSES INTO THE SYSTEM.

WITHIN THE NEXT 18 MONTHS FROM HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT.

AND WE'VE BEGUN THAT PROCESS.

WE HAD 150 PEOPLE AT A JOB FAIR FOR MY DIVISION CALLED MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING.

AND WE'RE PLANNING AND PEOPLE ARE BEING HIRED AND BROUGHT INTO THE SYSTEM.

SO THAT WAS PART OF IT.

BUT WITH OUR STRIKE WE WON GOOD BENEFITS.

AND SO IT IS A VERY ATTRACTIVE PACKAGE I KNOW A LOT OF HOSPITALS ARE HAVING SIGN ON BONUSES.

>> TO GET MORE NURSES IN.

BUT ABOUT THE PATIENTS, ELIZABETH AQUINO WHAT IMPACTS DOES THE SHORTAGE HAVE ON PATIENTS COMING TO HOSPITALS FOR TREATMENT AND CARE?

>> IT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON PATIENTS BOTH PATIENTS WHO ARE COMING INTO THE HOSPITAL AND NEEDING SERVICES AND DUE TO A SHORTAGE OF AVAILABLE BEDS OR SHORTAGE OF STAFFING HOSPITALS MAY HAVE TO GO ON BYPASS AND THAT MEANS PATIENTS ARE NOT ABLE TO BE CARED FOR AT AN INSTITUTION.

WE KNOW THAT STAFFING AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF CARE AND PATIENT OUTCOMES.

IT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTS BOTH NURSES AND PATIENTS.

>> ELIZABETH LALASZ, DESCRIBE PLEASE THE CHALLENGES BECAUSE YOU HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE WITH WORKING IN SOME OF THE COVID HOSPITAL WARDS.

>> THE CHALLENGES ARE AS I'VE SAID, YOU KNOW, NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE SAFETY MEASURES THAT NURSES NEED.

AS WELL AS OTHER HOSPITAL STAFF.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.

THE CHALLENGES OF HAVING TOO MANY PATIENTS.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY HOSPITAL SYSTEMS CAN TAKE CARE OF BY LIKE I SAID HAVING HIRING FAIRS AND PROMOTING BRINGING IN NURSES AND RETAINING NURSES.

THOSE ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE.

AND THE IDEA OF BURN-OUT, IS ONE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO FLIP THAT ON ITS HEAD BECAUSE IT MAKES IT SEEM AS IF IT IS AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE OR THE NURSE OR DEFICIENCY WHEREAS WHAT WE SAY IN OUR UNION IS THAT IT'S MORAL DISTRESS.

AND YOU KNOW, HOSPITAL SYSTEMS HAVE THE MONEY.

MY HOSPITAL SYSTEM RECEIVED A BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL COVID RELIEF MONEY.

THAT CAN BE USED TO ACTUALLY BRING IN MORE STAFF AND RETAIN THE STAFF.

>> WE HAVE 45 SECONDS LEFT.

ELIZABETH AQUINO YOUR ASSOCIATION WORKED ON THE NURSING STAFFING IMPROVEMENT ACT AND IT'S BEEN SENT TO THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS SIGNATURE.

WHAT WOULD THAT ACT DO?

>> IT IS A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO STAFFING THAT USES NURSING-DRIVEN FLEXIBLE STAFF AGO APPROACH.

IT HELPS SUPPORT NURSES IN THREE SIGNIFICANT WAYS: IT STRENGTHENS THE NURSING VOICE THE DIRECT CARE REGISTERED NURSE RELATED TO STAFFING DECISIONS, STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF THE NURSING CARE COMMITTEE WHO ADDRESS THE STAFFING ISSUES WITHIN THEIR INSTITUTION.

AND IT HOLDS HOSPITALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PROVISIONS UNDER THE LAW.

>> OK. WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO.

ELIZABETH LALASZ AND ELIZABETH AQUINO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, A GROUP OF STUDENTS WORKING TO BRING SOLAR PANELS TO THE WEST SIDE.

STAY WITH US.

>> AND THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD INCLUDING NEW DATA ON ANTI-ASIAN INCIDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

A GROUP OF STUDENTS ON THE WEST SIDE ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE A BIG CHANGE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BY CONFRONTING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND WORKING TO BRING SOLAR ENERGY TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" JOANNA HERNANDEZ MET WITH SOME STUDENTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR VISION FOR GARFIELD PARK.

>> I FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT IS GOING THROUGHOUT YOUR COMMUNITY AND HOW YOU CAN SOLVE THE BAD ENERGY.

>> IF WE HAD A WHOLE ACRE OF SOLAR PANELS WE COULD POWER THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> KIERRE TURNER IS ONE OF JASMINE JONES' STUDENTS IN GARFIELD PARK.

THEY HAVE PUT WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED IN THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CLASS INTO ACTION.

>> KNOWING ABOUT LOW BIRTH RATE AND HAVING ASTHMA COME FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU IN AND LIKE WHERE YOU COME FROM.

SO I DIDN'T KNOW THAT BUT I LEARNED IT WHEN I TOOK THE CLASS.

>> A CLASS THAT OPENED THEIR EYES TO ISSUES THAT IMPACT THEIR LIVES.

>> I LEARNED THAT APPROXIMATELY 98% OF CHILDREN COME OUT WITH ASTHMA DUE TO POLLUTION WHILE THEIR MOTHERS ARE PRESENTING NANT.

>> IT -- PREGNANT.

>> JONES WANTED TO CHALLENGE HER STUDENTS THE WAY THEY VIEW SCIENCE.

>> I WANTED TO MAKE IT A REAL WORLD APPLICATION BUT HOW IS IT USING SCIENCE AS A TOOL TO INTERVENE IN THIS SOCIOPOLITICAL SPHERE AND IMPACT STUDENTS' LIVES.

>> IMAGINE HOW MUCH WORK WE CAN GET DONE... >> JONES LAUNCHED A SOLAR PANEL PROJECT WHERE STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THINK LIKE DEVELOPERS AND REALIZE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING SOLAR PANELS INSTALLED.

>> IT IS A GREAT IDEA IN GENERAL BECAUSE OF THE SMRUTION AND THE CLIMATE CHANGE THAT IS GOING ON.

HAVING IT HERE IN GARFIELD PARK IS A GOOD THING BECAUSE IT IS A LOT OF STUFF THAT GOES ON AROUND HERE THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

>> THEY HAVE THEIR EYES SET ON THE GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL.

PANELS WILL PROVIDE CLEAN AIR WITHOUT PRODUCING AIR POLLUTION.

>> OVER THE COURSE OF 15 YEARS THE CONSERVATORY WILL BE SAVING HALF A MILLION FROM THE ENERGY SAVINGS.

>> JOINING THE PROGRAM, THE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK WITH THE CONTRACTORS, ENGINEERS AND BE PART OF THE DESIGN PROCESS.

>> THAT IS A PROGRAM THAT REALLY FOCUSES ON HELPING TO GET SOLAR PANELS IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE OURS.

WHAT WE CALL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES WHERE THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCORE WHEN YOU RESEARCH IT IT IS UNHEALTHY.

>> THE STUDENTS ARE HOPING TO SUBMIT THEIR FINAL PROPOSAL BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AS THEY WORK ON FINDING FUNDING FOR A BIG PROJECT THEY SAY WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING CHANGES LIKE STUFF WILL BE TURNED AROUND FOR OUR COMMUNITY IT WON'T BE WE'RE STANDING BY WE ARE TAKING PRECAUTIONS TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE FOR US.

>> ALONG THE WAY, THE PROMISING IS EMPOWERING THE STUDENTS TO FIND THEIR VOICES.

>> IT FEELS GOOD BECAUSE LIKE I FEEL LIKE I WAS HELPING THE COMMUNITY AND LIKE BEING A LEADER.

>> IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A BOSS BECAUSE I'M DOING SOMETHING THAT SOME GOOD FOR ME AND OTHER PEOPLE.

>> THE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY ABOUT THEIR VISION AND RIGHT NOW A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE PARK DISTRICT SAYS THEY ARE OPEN TO THE IDEA AND WAITING TO REVIEW A FINAL PROPOSAL FROM THE STUDENTS TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE BENEFITS BEFORE APPROVAL.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE LIVE HERE.

AND FOR SO LONG OTHER INDUSTRIES AND PEOPLE HONESTLY COMMUNITIES WHO DON'T LIVE HERE HAVE BEEN DICTATING THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH WE LIVE.

I THINK THAT IN THE FUTURE I WOULD SAY TO THE COMMUNITY TO LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE FROM THE STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES TEACHING HOPEFULLY COMMUNICATING AND SHARING.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> THE STUDENTS HAVE ALSO WORKED TO GET THE SUPPORT FROM DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO GET THE PROJECT FINALIZED.

AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" A LOCAL HOTEL CORPORATION BETS BIG ON LEISURE TRAVEL THAT AND MORE FROM CRAIN'S.

>> THE FIRST DAY OF PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS IS TWO WEEKS AWAY.

WE TALK WITH THE INTERIM C.E.O.

ABOUT VACCINE REQUIREMENTS FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF AND MUCH MORE.

>> AND ANTI-ASIAN INCIDENTS ARE RISING WE HEAR FROM TWO COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT HOW SOME ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO ARE RESPONDING.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... FIRST... >> BODY-CAMERA FOOTAGE OF THE INCIDENT THAT LED TO THE KILLING OF POLICE OFFICER ELLA FRENCH WILL NOT BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC FOR NOW.

THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THEY CITE A COURT ORDER THAT PROHIBITS RELEASING MATERIALS DURING AN ONGOING CRIMINAL MATTER.

THE MATERIALS WILL BE RELEASED UPON THE LIFTING OF THE JUDGE'S ORDER.

FRENCH WAS SHOT AND KILLED ON AUGUST 7 AS SHE AND TWO OTHER CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS CONDUCTED A TRAFFIC STOP ON AN S.U.V.

CARRYING BROTHERS ERIC AND EMONTE MORGAN IN THE WEST ENGLEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> AFTER FIVE YEARS OF REVIEWS, LAWSUITS AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS GROUND HAS BROKEN ON THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER IN JACKSON PARK.

ROADS WERE CLOSED AS BULLDOZERS SETUP THAT WILL BE THE HOME TO THE CENTER.

THE OBAMA FOUNDATION HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE FEDERAL REVIEW SINCE THE PARK IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND THEY HAD TO WAIT OUT LAWSUITS AND MEETINGS WITH RESIDENTS CONCERNED ABOUT DISPLACEMENT.

A MORE FORMAL GROUNDBREAKING WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE FALL.

>> LOCAL RELIEF EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO AID THE VEHICLES OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI.

THE HAITIAN MUSEUM IN CHICAGO IS HOSTING A "GOFUNDME" PAGE.

U.S. SAID AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE RAISING FUNDS TO SEND RELIEF.

1300 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REPORTED DEAD SO FAR AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE THAT STRUCK AROUND 80 MILES OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL PORT-AU-PRINCE.

THIS FOLLOWS THE ONGOING POLITICAL CRISIS IN THE WAKE OF THE ASSASSINATION AS THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

>> THE PARK DISTRICT IS TAKING ACTION AFTER REPORTS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND ABUSE AMONG LIFEGUARDS.

THE PARK SUPERINTENDENT AND C.E.O.

MICHAEL KELLY SAID TWO HIGH LEVEL MANAGERS IN THE BEACHES AND POOLS UNIT HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED AND 40 OTHERS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED OR FIRED AND SOME RESIGNED.

THE ACTION COMES AFTER A INVESTIGATION INTO SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE PARK DISTRICT.

>> I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION WITH THE TIME IT'S TAKEN TO LOOK INTO THE COMPLAINTS.

AND INVESTIGATIONS NEVER HAPPEN FAST ENOUGH.

BUT I ASSURE EVERY PERSON WHO HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY THIS CASE, THAT THIS IS TOP OF MIND FOR ME AND IT HAS BEEN SINCE THE FIRST DAY I LEARNED ABOUT IT.

MY OFFICE CONTINUES TO COOPERATE FULLY WITH THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL AND PUT MEASURES IN PLACE TO TRAIN, SUPPORT, AND PROTECT OUR WORKFORCE.

>> KELLY IS ESTABLISHK THE OFFICE OF PROTECTION TO HANDLE FUTURE HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS.

TO BRANDIS FOR SOME OF TODAY'S TOP BUSINESS HEADLINES.

>> THANK YOU.

>> A NEW WAVE OF CHICAGO ORGANIZATIONS SAY THEY WILL REQUIRE COVID VACCINATIONS.

HYATT HOTELS MAKES A BET ON THE RETURN OF LEISURE TRAVEL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO GETS ITS LARGEST EVER DONATION TO BOOST FINANCIAL AID.

HERE TO GO BEHIND THE HEADLINES IS CRAIN'S BUSINESS REPORTER DANNY ECKER.

WELCOME BACK.

A NUMBER OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS FROM HOSPITALS TO A HIGH-END GYM SAY THEY WILL REQUIRE THE COVID VACCINE.

WHO ARE THEY AND IS THIS GOING TO BECOME THE NEW NORMAL?

>> IT'S CERTAINLY IMPACTFUL DECISION THAT EVERY BUSINESS OR SCHOOL IS FACED WITH.

DO YOU SAY THAT GETTING VACCINATE SECOND A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT OR A CONDITION TO USE THE FACILITY?

WE HAD THE EAST BAY CLUB ONE OF THE LARGEST GYMS 8,000 MEMBERS AND OCTOBER FIRST IF YOU ARE NOT RACKS NATURED YOU CANNOT BE THERE.

AND WE SAW NORTH SHORE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM AND COOK COUNTY HEALTH AND SINAI CHICAGO REQUIRE VACCINATION BY DIFFERENT OCTOBER DEADLINES TO BE EMPLOYED THERE.

MOST OF THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THE DELTA VARIANT PUSHING COVID CASES UP AND ORGANIZATIONS REALIZING THEY HAVE A LOT OF POWER IF THEY CAN BOOST VACCINATION RATES.

WE COULD SEE MORE LIKE THIS.

>> HYATT HOTELS HAS AGREED TO BUY APPLE LEISURE GROUP FOR $2 BILLION.

BESIDES THE MONEY WHY IS THAT A BIG DEAL?

>> APPLE LEISURE GROUP IS KNOWN FOR HIGH-END RESORTS IN MEXICO AND THE CARRIBBEAN.

WITH THIS ACQUISITION HYATT WILL BECOME THE LARGEST OWNER OF ALL INCLUSIVE RESORTS IN THE WORLD.

AND WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THAT IS HYATT'S BRAND IS KNOWN AS A FULL SERVICE HOTEL BASED HEAVILY ON MEETINGS AND CORPORATE TRAVELERS AND SUBURBAN AREAS THIS IS THE COMPANY SAYING WE NEED TO RAISE OUR BET ON VACATIONERS ON LEISURE TRAVEL WHICH HAS DONE BETTER THAN I EXPECTED.

THEY ARE PIVOTING TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT AS RELIANT ON BUSINESS TRAVEL STILL BLURRY OUTLOOK HERE.

>> AND LASTLY, U CHICAGO RECEIVED ITS LARGEST EVER DONATION FROM THE SCHOOL'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

HOW MUCH IS IT?

AND WHAT IS IT FOR?

>> IT IS $105 MILLION.

IT'S GOING TO THE ODYSSEY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WHICH FUNDS NEED-BASED LOAN-FREE FINANCIAL AID FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS.

THE BOARD IS MAKING THE DONATION IN HONOR OF ROBERT ZIMMER, THE OUTGOING PRESIDENT HE WILL BECOME CHANCELLOR.

ABOUT 20% OF U OF C STUDENTS GET SOME FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE ODYSSEY PROGRAM.

AND THE SCHOOL GIVES FREE TUITION FOR FAMILIES THAT HAVE LESS THAN $125,000 OF INCOME.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY.

THE INCOMING FULL COST IS ABOUT $83,000 THIS YEAR.

>> NO SMALL AMOUNT.

DANNY ECKER THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS.

>> UP NEXT, CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS INTERIM C.E.O.

TALKS ABOUT RETURNING TO CLASSROOMS AMID A RISE IN COVID CASES THAT FIRST AIRED ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" WITH ALEX HERNANDEZ OF UNIVISION.

STAY WITH US.

>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL ALSO REQUIRE ALL TEACHERS AND STAFF TO GET A COVID-19 VACCINE THIS FALL.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO AN ANNOUNCEMENT MADE BY THE DISTRICT AS C.P.S.

CONTINUES TO BARGAIN WITH THE TEACHERS' UNION OVER CORONAVIRUS SAFETY PLANS AND AS COVID-19 CASES RIFE DRIVEN BY THE DELTA VARIANT STUDENTS ARE SET TO HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE HIS DIRECT'S -- DISTRICT'S PLANS ARE JOSE TORRES AND Dr. GERALDINE LUNA MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> JOSE TORRES THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" SINCE TAKING THE POSITION.

YOU ENTERED THE DISTRICT AT A TUMULTUOUS TIME.

HOW HAVE THE FIRST SEVERAL WEEKS BEEN AND WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES AS STUDENTS GET READY TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AND YES, IT'S BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE BACK IN THE DISTRICT.

I USED TO BE IN THE DISTRICT IN 2007-2006-8.

AND MY PRIORITIES ARE TO REENGAGE 100,000 STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN DISENGAGED AND OPENING SCHOOLS ON MONDAY AUGUST 30 A WEEK BEFORE LABOR DAY.

>> MOVING NOW TO THE IN-PERSON LEARNING.

Dr. LUNA MORE THAN 70% OF ADULTS IN CHICAGO OVER THE AGE OF 18 HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE.

AND 50% OF PEOPLE 12-17 HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE BUT A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE STUDENTS WHO WILL BE BACK IN SCHOOL ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS THAT IS REQUIRING TEACHERS AND STAFF TO GET VACCINATED MITIGATE RISK.

>> OF COURSE.

HAVING VACCINATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL AND WE KNOW THAT NOTHING CAN SUBSTITUTE THAT.

HOWEVER, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE WAY IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND Dr. TORREZ CAN TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT, BUT WE'RE RECOMMENDING THE SAFETY MEASURES THAT THEY ARE TAKING PLACE IN C.P.S.

WHICH IS TO CONTINUE USING MASKS, IT'S SO IMPORTANT MORE THAN EVER.

WE KNOW THAT VACCINATED I HAD HAVES WITH SPREAD THE DELTA VARIANT OF COVID-19 AS WELL.

UNIVERSAL MASKS TO PROTECT THOSE THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO GET THE VACCINE.

SOCIAL DISTANCING WITHIN PERMISSIBLE ENVIRONMENT OF SCHOOL.

AND ALSO SCREENING COVID TESTING SCREENING AND MAKING SURE THAT NOBODY WITH SYMPTOMS GOES INTO THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT OR THE SCHOOL AS IT IS AND ANOTHER THING IS THAT OUR TESTING COVID-19 TESTING WILL BE AMPLELY AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE TO GET TESTED.

>> SPEAKING OF THE TESTS AND THE VACCINES, CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION AND THE C.P.S.

REMAIN IN NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT THE REOPENING.

C.T.U.

PRESIDENT JESSE SHARKEY SAID THE VACCINE MANDATE DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH.

>> IT DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE IN THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

STUDENTS ESPECIALLY.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE IS A VACCINE THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS THAT ARE AGED 12 AND OLDER.

AMONG BLACK STUDENTS IN CHICAGO ONLY 12% OF THE STUDENTS ARE VACCINATED.

>> Mr. TORREZ IS A VACCINE MANDATE FOR STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT'S FUTURE AND WILL C.P.S.

THEY DO TO INCREASE VACCINATION AMONGST STUDENTS?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

WE HAVE ALL THE MITIGATION EFFORTS THAT Dr. LUNA MENTIONED IN ADDITION TO UNIVERSAL MASKS, HAND WASHING, TESTING, THREE FEET DISTANCE WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

ADDITIONAL VENTILATION EFFORTS.

ALL THOSE THINGS WERE IN PLACE BEFORE THE VACCINE WAS POSSIBLE.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE IN-PERSON SCHOOLING.

NOW THAT WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED IT ONLY ADDS TO IT.

REGARDING WHEN THE STUDENTS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO TAKE THE VACCINE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL NEED TO LEAVE TO THE C.D.C.

AND THE EXPERTS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY WHEN THEY SAY THAT IT IS MORE APPROPRIATE TO DO THAT.

WE WILL BE CONSIDERING IT.

>> WILL YOU BE CHECKING WHAT STUDENTS ARE VACCINATED OR NOT?

STUDENTS OVER 12 OBVIOUSLY?

>> IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET ALL OF THOSE DATA.

WE WILL BE REQUIRING FOR EXAMPLE, OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE IN EXTRACURRICULAR AND SPORTS BECAUSE WE OFTEN HAVE EXTRA REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE STUDENTS.

WE WILL BE REQUIRING THEM TO LET US KNOW WHAT THEIR VACCINATION STATUS IS.

AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO GET VACCINATED.

FOR THE OTHERS, WE'RE NOT READY TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION YET.

>> Dr. LUNA CONCERNS ARE RISING OBVIOUSLY ABOUT THE DELTA VARIANT.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REPORTS THAT CASES AMONG CHILDREN ARE INCREASING.

WHAT THREAT DOES THE DELTA VARIANT POSE TO CHILDREN?

HOW CONCERNED SHOULD PARENTS BE?

>> YES, PARENTS UNFORTUNATELY UNVACCINATED INDIVIDUALS AND WE CAN SEE IT WHICH ARE LEADING THE OUTBREAK IN OUR CITY WE KNOW THAT VACCINATION IS THE HIGHEST PROTECTION.

EVEN IF THE CASES THAT WE'VE SEEN IT CAN SPREAD EVEN VACCINATED CAN SPREAD THE DISEASE.

BUT UNVACCINATION NATURED OVER 90% OF OUR HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS ASSOCIATED IS UNVACCINATED INDIVIDUALS.

IT IS A PANDEMIC OF THE UNVACCINATED.

THE THREAT IS FOR UNELIGIBLE STUDENTS YET.

THERE ARE PROMISES AND NOTHING OFFICIAL WE CAN SHARE IN TERMS OF WHEN IT WILL BECOME AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN 12 YEARS AND YOUNGER.

BUT WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE AND THIS IS AN EFFORT INCREDIBLE EFFORT WE ARE DOING WITH C.P.S.

ALONGSIDE AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO TRY TO PROMOTE AND INCENTIVIZE VACCINATION.

WE HAVE THE AT HOME VACCINATION WE GO TO YOUR HOME NO QUESTIONS ASKED, NO ID NO DOCUMENTS ANYTHING THAT POSES A THREAT TO UNDOCUMENTED OR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE VACCINATED THERE IS VACCINES.

>> METRICS ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT HAVE BECOME HUGELY IMPORTANT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

Mr. TORREZ, WOULD C.P.S.

SET METRICS IN JUST IN CASE, COVID CASES OR POSITIVITY RATES RISE, WOULD YOU CONSIDER CLOSING SCHOOLS?

AND WHAT WOULD THOSE METRICS LOOK LIKE?

>> WELL, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH CDPH.

THE REALITY IS WE HAD METRICS IN THE SPRING THAT ARE NO LONGER VALID BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE VACCINE IS WIDELY AVAILABLE AND PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED.

SO THE METRICS WILL CHANGE A LITTLE BIT.

I DON'T HAVE THEM PRESENTLY BUT WE WILL HAVE GUIDELINES AND THE STATE HAS GIVEN US GUIDELINES AND IT IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE C.E.O.

YOU QUARANTINE A CLASSROOM, A MULTIPLE CLASSROOMS, A SCHOOL AND OBVIOUSLY THE DISTRICT.

MY HOPE, THOUGH, IS THAT GIVEN THE MITIGATION FACTORS OF UNIVERSAL MASKS, HAND WASHING, SOCIAL DISTANCING WHERE POSSIBLE AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE, THAT WILL BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY START THE SCHOOL YEAR ON MONDAY AUGUST 30 BUT CONTINUE TO HAVE A VIBRANT -- WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT THIS BUT THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OF HEALTH FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED ON-LINE AND ISOLATION HAVE HAD MAJOR EFFECTS.

THE BEST PLACE THE SAFEST PLACE FOR STUDENTS TO BE IS IN SCHOOL.

AND EVERYBODY AGREES ON THAT.

>> WELL, I THANK BOTH OF YOU.

THANK YOU Mr. JOSE TORRES AND Dr. GERALDINE LUNA FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

>> THANK YOU Mr. HERNANDEZ.

>> BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> MORE THAN 9,000 ANTI-ASIAN INCIDENTS IN THE U.S. HAVE BEEN REPORTED SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN ACCORDING TO STOP AAPI HATE COALITION'S RECENT REPORT THAT STATES 4500 HATE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN 2020 AND 4500 ALREADY IN 2021.

AND JOINING US TO DISCUSS ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE AND HOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE EXPERIENCING IT, ARE GRACE PAI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ASIAN-AMERICANS ADVANCING JUDD IN CHICAGO AND VIVIAN ZHANG OUTREACH COORDINATOR FOR A COALITION FOR A BETTER CHINESE COMMUNITY.

WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

GRACE, WHAT HAVE YOU NOTICED IN THE CHICAGO AREA IS IT MIRRORING WHAT HAPPENED ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

>> WE HAVE SEEN A SIMILAR TREND IN CHICAGO TO OTHER STATES AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK IN INCIDENTS AND THE TROUBLING THING IS I THINK EVEN WITH THE INCREASE IN REPORTS THAT ARE BEING SUBMITTED TO ALL THE VARIOUS TRACKING SITES I THINK IT STILL IS VERY MUCH UNDER REPORTED THAT THERE ARE MANY HESITATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES.

AND BARRIERS.

WHETHER IT'S STIGMA NOT WANTING TO SAY THEY HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF WHETHER IT IS A CRIME OR NOT.

ANY SORT OF RACIAL INCIDENT OR JUST NOT WANTING TO INTERACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE OF LANGUAGE BARRIERS.

>> VIVIAN ZHANG WHAT ARE THE INCIDENTS TEND TO LOOK LIKE?

MORE PHYSICAL ALTERCATIONS?

VERBAL?

A COMBINATION OF BOTH?

>> AS OF LAST MONTH, IT HAS NOT SEEN VIOLENT PHYSICAL ALTERCATIONS.

BUT I THINK THERE IS DEFINITELY AN INCREASE IN VERBAL HOSTILITY.

>> AND TO THAT END, WE SPOKE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS STUDENT ABOUT A RECENT EXPERIENCE THAT SHE HAD SHOPPING AT A TARGET.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> I WAS JUST AT THE REGISTER TRYING TO RETURN AN ITEM WHEN A LADY CAME UP TO ME AND TRIED TO TELL ME TO GO BACK HOME.

AND THAT I CAN'T CONTROL THE THINGS COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH AND REFERRING TO THE VIRUS ITSELF.

AND CONSTANTLY TELLING ME THAT I SHOULD GO HOME AND THAT SOME PEOPLE JUST SHOULD GO HOME AND THEY DON'T BELONG HERE.

IT WASN'T JUST FEAR FOR THIS LADY IS VERBALLY ASSAULTING ME, BUT THE FACT I DON'T KNOW IF SHE HAS A KNIFE OR A GUN AND IF SHE WILL USE PHYSICAL VIOLENCE TOWARDS ME.

IF I DIDN'T LEAVE THAT SITUATION.

>> GRACE PAI YOU TALKED ABOUT THE BARRIERS TO REPORTING INCIDENTS.

HOW ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF REPORTING AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS?

>> I THINK IT IS JUST A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO BE ACCOSTED BY A STRANGER IN A PUBLIC PLACE AND NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THAT MOMENT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF, I WOULD FREEZE IN THAT SITUATION AND NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO.

AND TALKING ABOUT IT WITH PEOPLE YOU MAY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND LOVED ONES BUT THERE CAN BE BARRIERS TO WANTING TO FILE A REPORT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WANT TO DO.

>> VIVIAN WHAT HAVE BEEN THE RIPPLE EFFECTS IN THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE?

>> FOR CHINATOWN SPECIFICALLY, I THINK THAT PEOPLE HAVE STARTED PAYING ATTENTION MORE TO LOCAL GROUPS THAT REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS SO IN THIS CASE, WE RECENTLY HAD A RALLY A SAFETY RALLY WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

AND THERE'S BEEN MORE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHES AS WELL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE KIND OF GRAVITATED TOWARDS GUN OWNERSHIP AS A MEANS TO FEEL MORE PROTECTED AS WELL.

>> SO INCREASED GUN OWNERSHIP AND YOU ARE SEEING THAT AMONG MANY GROUPS.

GRACE PAI WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE TO TAKE DOWN THE TEMPERATURE TO MINIMIZE THESE INCIDENTS TO DO A BETTER JOB TO PROTECT ASIAN-AMERICAN THERE IS THIS?

>> WE BELIEVE THAT RESPONDING TO ANTI-ASIAN INCIDENTS AFTER THEY HAPPEN IS NOT ENOUGH.

WE NEED TO TAKE PRO-ACTIVE SOLUTIONS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE REDUCING BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION AND THAT LOOKS LIKE EDUCATION.

WE WERE PROUD TO LEAD THE EFFORT TO PASS THE TEACHINGET WITNESSABLE ACT WHICH REQUIRES ASIAN-AMERICAN HISTORY TO BE TAUGHT IN 2022.

AN APPROACH LIKE THAT IS A GREAT WAY TO EDUCATE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO UNDERSTAND OTHER COMMUNITIES AND NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PEOPLE.

>> THE TEACH ACT SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER.

VIVIAN, HOW HELPFUL WILL IT BE THAT ILLINOIS SCHOOL CHILDREN WILL LEARN ABOUT ASIAN-AMERICAN HISTORY AND THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT?

HOW BENEFICIAL WILL THAT BE DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT FIRST STEP.

ILLINOIS IS THE FIRST STATE TO MANDATE THIS.

SO THAT IT IS INCREDIBLE.

I THINK THAT IT IS -- THIS IS JUST LIKE THE VERY FIRST STEP REALLY TO TELLING OUR STORY I THINK THAT ASIANS IN AMERICA HAVE FACED SIMILAR TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS FOR OUR ENTIRE HISTORY GOING BACK TO THE TRANS CONTINENTAL RAILROAD.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO LEND THEIR STORIES AND LEARN ABOUT THEIR RESILIENCE AND LEARN FROM WHAT WE CAN DO TO BE PRO-ACTIVE AND APPROPRIATE THE HISTORY OF RESILIENCE.

>> WE THANK YOU FOR LENDING YOUR EXPERTISE.

THANKS TO KENT GRAY AND VIVIAN ZHANG THANK YOU -- GRACE PAI AND GIVE GIVE.

>> 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 MONDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. CHICAGO'S AFTER BEGAN COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO THE SWIFT TALIBAN TAKEOVER OF THE COUNTRY.

>> AND A VISIT INSIDE A NUCLEAR PLANT THAT WILL CLOSE BY THIS TIME NEXT MONTH BARRING STATE ACTION.

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

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

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOOD NIGHT.

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