>> CHICAGO SPENT JUST 29% OF THE FEDERAL RELIEF AND CITY OFFICIALS PROMISE TO USE TO STRENGTHEN THE SOCIAL SAFETY AFTER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BY THE END OF 2023.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO A WDW NEWS ANALYSIS OF 2 YEARS WORTH OF REPORTS TO FEDERAL OFFICIALS REVEALS THAT CITY OFFICIALS HAVE STRUGGLED TO MAKE GOOD ON PROMISES TO USE THE INFLUX OF CASH TO HELP THOSE STRUGGLING TO RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC.

WTW NEWS REPORTER SEAN JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON HER EXCLUSIVE REPORTING ON THIS.

HEATHER, LET'S START WITH WHAT CITY OFFICIALS HAVE SPENT FROM CHICAGO.

NEARLY 2 BILLION DOLLAR SHARE OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

WHAT MONEY IS GOING WELL, BACK IN 2021 WHEN THIS MONEY STARTED TO FLOW, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THEN MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ESSENTIALLY DIVIDED IT IN 2 PARTS.

ONE PART NEARLY 1.4 BILLION DOLLARS WAS USED TO SHORE UP THE CITY'S PANDEMIC DEVASTATED BUDGET BY REPLACING THE TAX REVENUE THAT DIDN'T FLOW WHEN THE WORLD WAS SHUT DOWN.

>> THE OTHER 550 MILLION DOLLARS WAS SET ASIDE TO PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO CHICAGOANS WHO ARE HIT HARD BY THE PANDEMIC.

IT WAS MEANT TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO INCREASE AVAILABLE MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND TO KEEP VIOLENCE FROM SPIRALING.

EVEN MORE OUT OF CONTROL AS IT DID DURING THE PANDEMIC OF THAT 550 MILLION, ONLY 160 MILLION HAVE BEEN SPENT BY THE END OF 2023 OR JUST 29% ALDERMAN MATT MARTIN, WHO ALSO HAD A CREATED 2021 TO KEEP TABS ON TOLD YOU THIS JUST SPENT THE BULK OF THIS ALREADY WHEN THE PANDEMIC WAS RAGING, ESPECIALLY.

SO WHY WASN'T?

WELL, I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE.

THERE WAS A LOT OF RED TAPE AND IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE CITY TO FIND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT COULD DO THIS WORK AND THEN EVEN ONCE THE NONPROFITS HAD THE CONTRACTS, IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE NONPROFITS TO HIRE PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY DO THE WORK.

BUT THAT DOESN'T EXPLAIN WHY MONEY THAT WAS EARMARKED FOR THE CITY TO EXPAND ITS OWN OPERATIONS HASN'T BEEN SPENT, ESPECIALLY ON SOMETHING LIKE THE COMMUNITY SAFETY COORDINATION CENTER, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO GET TO THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME.

AND IT MIGHT BEEN CRAFTED BY MAYOR LIGHTFOOT, BUT THAT IS VERY CLEARLY IN LINE WITH WHAT MAYOR JOHNSON WANTS TO DO.

AND IT'S NOT CLEAR WHY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

AND CITY OFFICIALS NOW THE REMARK ALL THE FEDERAL COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDS BY THE END OF THE YEAR THAT TO SPEND EVERY CENT OF IT BY 2020 16.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT MAYOR'S PLAN TO DO THAT?

WELL, BUDGET DIRECTOR AND THAT GUZMAN TOLD ME THAT ONE OF HER FIRST JOBS FROM MAYOR JOHNSON WAS TO FIX THIS PROGRAM AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY DIDN'T HAVE TO GIVE UP A SINGLE RED CENT OF THIS MONEY BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SHE SAYS THAT ANALYSIS IS UNDER WAY RIGHT NOW AND IT WILL BE PRESENTED THE CITY COUNCIL PERHAPS AS EARLY AS EARLY SPRING.

THAT WILL GIVE JOHNSON A CHANCE TO TWEAK THIS PROGRAM.

BUT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR HIM TO OVERHAUL THE PROGRAM THAT HE'S NOW GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IMPLEMENTING EVEN THOUGH IT WAS CRAFTED BY HIS PREDECESSOR, RIGHT, HEATHER?