>> HEY THERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

IT IS GOING TO EASY, THE FIGHT STILL GOES ON.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON DOUBLES DOWN ON HIS PROGRESSIVE AGENDA.

AND MORE SPECIFICALLY A LOOK AT WHAT YESTERDAY'S ELECTION COULD MEAN FOR THE BRING CHICAGO HOME REFERENDUM.

>> OPEN AND READY TO BE GAG >> HIM THE CELEBRITY, AN ENSEMBLE CAST OF STEP IN WOLF'S LATEST PRODUCTION PURPOSE TELLS AUDIENCES TO BE READY FOR SOMETHING THEY'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, A SENIOR CITY OFFICIAL WHO WAS IN CHARGE DURING THE 2020 LITTLE VILLAGE SMOKESTACK IMPLOSION COULD BE SERVING AS THE CITY'S BUILDINGS.

COMMISSIONER MARLENE HOPKINS WAS THE TOP OFFICIAL IN THE CITY'S BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT.

GREENWOOD, THAT BOTCHED IMPLOSION RESULTING IN A PLUME OF DUST WAFTING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN APRIL.

THAT YEAR, JUST AS THE COVID PANDEMIC SWEPT INTO THE CITY.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON HAS NOMINATED HER TO REPLACE FORMER COMMISSIONER MATTHEW BEAUDETTE WHO HE FIRED LAST MONTH.

EVEN THOUGH MAYOR JOHNSON CRITICIZED LORI LIGHTFOOT'S ADMINISTRATION FOR ITS ROLE IN THE DISASTER DURING THE 2023 CAMPAIGN, THE NOMINATION MUST BE CONFIRMED BY CITY COUNCIL.

AS MORE OF THIS STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND CHICAGO TAXPAYERS WILL SHELL OUT MORE THAN 57 MILLION DOLLARS TO SETTLE 3 POLICE MISCONDUCT LAWSUITS.

ONE OF THEM INVOLVES THE 2021 CASE WHERE A CAR CHASE LEFT A 15 YEAR-OLD BOY WITH A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, UNABLE TO TALK OR WALK.

THE SETTLEMENT MEANS THE CITY PAYS 20 MILLION DOLLARS AND THE CITY'S INSURANCE COMPANY PAYS ANOTHER.

25 MILLION DOLLARS.

IN A SEPARATE CASE, THE CITY WILL PAY 5.5 MILLION TO A MAN WHO SPENT MORE THAN 22 YEARS IN PRISON AFTER BEING FRAMED BY A DISGRACED FORMER CHICAGO POLICE DETECTIVE MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON REACTED TO THE SETTLEMENTS AFTER TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

>> STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

IT ALSO SPEAKS TO JUST 2 DECADES OF OF NEGLIGENCE.

SOME OF THESE THINGS, AS YOU KNOW, PREDATE MY EXISTENCE.

>> AND FOR MORE ON THESE CASES AS WELL, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

>> 21 ALDER PEOPLE ALONG WITH DOZENS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE CALLING ON THE CITY TO REPLACE CHICAGO'S 60 DAY SHELTER, EVICTION POLICY FOR NEW MIGRANTS WITH ONE THAT ADDRESSES SHELTER STAYS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.

THE COST OF THIS MOVE, BOTH OF THE FINANCIAL COST INCREASE VISITS AND OTHER CROSS ASSOCIATED RISING HOMELESSNESS THAT WILL RESULT IN CONTINUE SHELTER EVICTIONS.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE HUMAN COST OF PEOPLE WHO ALREADY UP THEIR FAMILIES AND LIVE FROM THEIR COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN TO SEEK REFUGE HERE SHOULD BE INTOLERABLE TO ALL OF US.

>> 40TH WARD ALDERPERSON ANDREA VASQUEZ SAYS HE SENT A LETTER ASKING THE MAYOR IN SHELTER EVICTIONS AND INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND HOW THE ROLLING EVICTIONS ARE BEING DECIDED.

UP NEXT, RECAPPING YESTERDAY'S KEY RACES AND THE ONES STILL TOO CLOSE TO CALL.

THAT'S RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> A DEFIANT MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON VOWED TO KEEP PUSHING HIS BIG BOLD AGENDA ON WEDNESDAY.

ONE DAY AFTER PROGRESSIVE, CHICAGO DEMOCRATS APPEARED TO SUFFER 2 BIG SETBACKS.

LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT HE TOLD REPORTERS AFTER TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

>> MY RECORD OF BEING ABLE TO COMPEL AND CAMPAIGN.

AND CONVINCE.

THERE WERE SOME LIMITATIONS TO HOW I CAN ENGAGE IN THIS MOMENT.

THAT WAS FRUSTRATING.

BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT.

IF ANYONE BELIEVES.

THAT ONE ISSUE THAT WE STILL HAVE TO ADDRESS.

HE'S GOING TO CAUSE ME TO PUT THE BRAKES ON MY AGENDA.

WELL, THEY MISS THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY BECAUSE WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE 1.2 5 BILLION DOLLAR BONDS DEAL THAT'S GOING TO INVEST IN PEOPLE.

SO GUESS WHAT?

>> BUCKLE UP.

THE MAN SAID WBTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW WITH THE LATEST ON THE AFTERMATH OF TUESDAY'S ELECTIONS.

HEATHER PROPOSAL KNOWN AS BRING CHICAGO HOME.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A LOT.

OF COURSE, IT IS TRAILING BY ABOUT 22,000 VOTES WHILE CLAYTON HARRIS, THE FACES A DEFICIT OF LESS THAN 10,000 VOTES.

EILEEN O'NEILL, IN THAT, OF COURSE, IS IN THE RACE FOR COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY.

WHERE DOES THE VOTE COUNT?

STAND RIGHT NOW?

SO THERE IS A UNIVERSE OF ABOUT 150,000 MAIL-IN VOTES THAT WERE SENT OUT BY ELECTIONS OFFICIALS.

AND THAT COULD BE RETURNED BEFORE APRIL 2ND, AS LONG AS THEY WERE DROPPED OFF OR POSTMARKED BEFORE MIDNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT.

>> NOW, TYPICALLY IN ANY GIVEN ELECTION SINCE THE PANDEMIC, ABOUT 80 TO 85% OF THOSE VOTES WILL COME SO THERE IS TECHNICALLY PLENTY OF VOTES FOR BOTH BRING CHICAGO HOME AND CLAYTON HARRIS TO MAKE UP THOSE DEFICITS.

BUT WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL SOMETIME TOMORROW ON THURSDAY WHEN ELECTIONS OFFICIALS FINISHED PROCESSING THOSE BALLOTS IN VALIDATING THOSE SIGNATURES AND COUNTING THOSE VOTES.

SO WE ARE ALL STILL IN THE WAITING PATTERN WHERE WE WERE HERE YESTERDAY AT 10 O'CLOCK.

YEAH.

IT'S ONE OF THE NEW WORLD ORDER AS MAIL IN BALLOTS HAVE HAVE GROWN IN POPULARITY.

IT'S WE'RE GOING TO GET USED TO NOT KNOWING ON ELECTION ELECTION DEFEATS OFTEN PROM POLITICIANS TO SORT OF RETHINK THEIR AGENDA, THOUGH ANY SIGN THE IS RECONSIDERING HIS APPROACH BEYOND THIS DEFIANT.

>> BUCKLE UP.

TONE.

THERE IS NOT.

THE MAYOR BELIEVES THAT THE CITY HAS A MORAL OBLIGATION TO HOUSE THE UNHOUSED AND THAT HE SAID SEVERAL TIMES THAT THIS IS A RACIAL EQUITY ISSUE.

70 1% CHICAGOANS WERE ON HOUSE ARE BLACK.

THE MAJORITY OF THE REST OF THEM ARE LATINO.

>> HE SAYS THAT THE CITY MUST TAKE ACTION AND HE SEEMED PRETTY FRUSTRATED WITH THE LOW TURNOUT YESTERDAY AND THE NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS SORT VOTING IN THIS BALLOT REFERENDUM QUESTION.

AND CALLED THE OPPOSITION, WHICH WAS LED BY THE BUSINESS AND REAL ESTATE COMMUNITIES COWARDLY.

HE SAID THAT THAT DROWNED OUT THE STORIES OF CHICAGO FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO STAY HOUSED IN A CITY THAT IS BECOMING MORE EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN.

IT SEEMS EVERY DAY THIS IS NOT SOMEBODY WHO IS SORT OF LOOKING AT THESE VERY CLOSE RACES AND SAYING, MAN, I GOT TO RECALIBRATE.

THIS IS SOMEBODY WHO SAYS MAYBE WE DIDN'T PUSH JUST HARD WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THAT.

BOTH SIDES OF THE BRING CHICAGO ISSUE IN JUST A BIT WITH OUR NEXT SEGMENT.

HE ALSO TOLD REPORTERS HIS HIS HANDS WERE TIED IN THE FIGHT FOR BRING CHICAGO HOME.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

THAT'S RIGHT.

WELL, SO THE CHICAGO EPIC SPORT HAS CRACKED DOWN IN RECENT ELECTIONS ABOUT CITY OFFICIALS USING THEIR OFFICIAL OFFICES IN TITLES AND CITY RESOURCES TO CAMPAIGN EITHER FOR OFFICES UP OR FOR OTHER PARTISAN ISSUES.

>> SO HE SAID THAT THERE WAS A LOT HE COULDN'T DO TO SORT OF ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF BRING CHICAGO HOME.

NOW, HE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VOTE ON BRING CHICAGO HOME, BUT HE DIDN'T SAY WHICH WAY REALLY HE WOULD VOTE IN SORT OF A CAMPAIGN SETTING.

HE SAID HE'S HE'S HE'S THE CITY'S GAME OR HE SAID HE WANTED THE BALL.

HE DIDN'T GET IT.

HE SAID HE'S READY TO PUNCH BACK NOW AND PEOPLE SHOULD BE WAITING.

I KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

EVEN WITH A LOT OF VOTES LEFT TO CLEAR.

ONE COOK COUNTY OFFICIAL, THOUGH, HAD A BAD NIGHT.

HEATHER, WHO'S AT?

YEAH, IRIS MARTINEZ LOST NOT ONLY HER BID FOR RE-ELECTION AS COOK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT CLERK TO MARIANA SPEROPOULOS, BUT SHE ALSO LOST HER POSITION IS 33RD WARD DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE PERSON TO ALDERMAN ROSANA RODRIGUEZ SANCHEZ, MARTINEZ AND SANCHEZ HAD REALLY BEEN SORT IN GRUDGE MATCH FOR CONTROL OF THIS NORTHWEST SIDE POLITICAL MACHINE.

IN ADDITION, GROSSE GUZMAN AND ORGANIZER FOR THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION.

SHE'S HEADING TO THE STATE SENATE TO REPLACE NATALIE TORO, A CLOSE ASSOCIATE AND PROTEGE OF IRIS MARTINEZ.

RIGHT?

GET TO KNOW HOW TO SHARON.

THANKS SO MUCH.

THANKS, BRANDIS.

AND COMING UP, WHAT'S NEXT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HOMELESSNESS AS THAT CONTROVERSIAL BALLOT MEASURE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT APPEARS HEADED FOR FAILURE.

WITH THE 20 CITY PRECINCTS AND NEARLY 110,000 MAIL IN BALLOTS STILL UNCOUNTED THE MEASURE KNOWN AS BRING CHICAGO HOME IS STILL TOO CLOSE TO CALL FOLLOWING TUESDAY'S ELECTION.

NOW, THIS IS, OF COURSE, THE MEASURE THAT CALLED FOR HIKING THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX ON PROPERTY SALES OVER 1 MILLION DOLLARS.

>> SUPPORTERS SAY THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE WOULD FUND EFFORTS TO FIGHT HOMELESSNESS.

BUT THE CLOSE RACE COULD POINT TO SOME DISAGREEMENT AMONG CHICAGOANS OVER HOW TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S UNHOUSED.

JOINING US AGAIN, OUR COREY OWENS, A MEMBER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDING OWNERS ALLIANCE AND ALDERMAN WILLIAM HULL OF THE 6TH WAR.

GENTLEMAN, I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS ON MONDAY BEFORE THE ELECTION.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN BECAUSE WE STILL DON'T KNOW THE STATUS OF THIS CORIO AND I WANT TO START WITH YOU BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD BRANDON JOHNSON AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ON THE SHOW, DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS LOSS HERE, NOT DISCOURAGING HIM FROM CONTINUING HIS AGENDA.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE AWAY FROM LAST NIGHT'S VOTE RIGHT NOW?

>> I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL WAITING TO TO SEE WHAT IS GOING TO BE AND HOW IT'S GOING TO GO.

BUT TO I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE OPTIMISTIC.

BUT I MEAN, ANYBODY WHO CALLS IT A WIN, I THINK IS NOT THE RIGHT TERMINOLOGY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE CHICAGO IN THE HOUSES.

WE JUST NEED TO FIGURE OUT THE WAY THAT IS GOING TO WORK BEST FOR CITY CHICAGO, A BILL TO PROVIDE IT.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

I HOPE BRANDON JOHNSON CONTINUES TO FIGHT FOR THIS AND CONTINUES TO TRY TO FIND TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS IN CHICAGO.

MEAN THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

AND AS HOUSING PROVIDERS, WE WANT TO BE PART OF THAT FIGHT AS WELL.

>> SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

WHAT'S YOUR TAKEAWAY THE VOTE SO FAR?

>> WELL, SO FAR I SEE A BREEZE RIGHT TO VOTE.

DID NOT HAPPEN AT THE JUAN MARCH.

APARTHEID DID NOT SIMPLY UP TO ONE MARGIN EITHER.

SO WE WOULD DO IS CONTINUE TO MARCH FOR ORGANIZED.

A GAME IS ALL ABOUT WHAT'S TEARS.

I'M GRATEFUL TO HEAR THE CORE LET SPAWNED THE MIDDLE ON THIS.

BUT AGAIN, IDEA THAT PEOPLE SLEEPING ON IN KIDS IN PLACE TO GO BUT BIGGER THAN THAT IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS WHAT WE NEED IN NEIGHBORHOODS PRODUCES JOBS AND PRODUCES A FISH YEAR OF THE 16 BILLION DOLLAR.

WE FIGURED OUT.

>> ALDERMAN WHOLE.

DO YOU THINK THE BRING CHICAGO HOME MOVEMENT NEEDS TO CONSIDER MAKING CHANGES TO APPROACH?

>> WELL, I DO THINK THAT THIS MOVEMENT, AT HIS CORE IS CENTERED EQUITY IMPAIRED AND THAT THE CORE OF THIS IS SIMPLY JUST SAY THIS IS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.

AND WHAT WE WANT IS INVESTMENT IN NEIGHBORHOODS.

THAT'S WHAT THIS WAS ABOUT.

ESSENTIALLY LESS THAN 1 MILLION DOLLARS.

IT'S CHEAPER TO BUY NEIGHBORHOODS WITH BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE LIVE.

WE'RE INVITING WISHING ONE ECONOMIC HOSPITALITY.

THINK COMING IN.

CARGO EMPOWERMENT ZONES, THESE EXEMPT YOU FROM TAXES.

WE WANT GOOGLE TO CUMBIA.

WE WANT FORCE WE WANT UNITED AIRLINES TO BUILD SOMETHING SMALLER IN NEIGHBORHOOD TO NEIGHBORHOOD GROWTH MATTERS.

WE SEE THE EXIT IS THE BLACK POPULATION OF BLACK POPULATION IN THE CITY.

CHICAGO.

SO WE WANT TO BRING PEOPLE BACK TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND INVEST IN NEIGHBORHOODS BEFORE THE VOTE APPEARED WITH THIS MOVEMENT SEEM TO HAVE A LOT OF MOMENTUM AND A LOT OF BACKING ALDERMAN.

WHERE DO YOU THINK THINGS MIGHT FALLEN SHORT?

>> WELL, ESSENTIALLY THIS I MEAN, IT'S IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE THINK IS THAT EVERY ELECTION MATTERS IN PRIMARY.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T SEE IT AS A >> PRIORITY, WHICH WE WILL CHANGE THAT.

BUT MOREOVER, THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE WAS NOT DEFEATED STILL NOT DEFEATED.

AGAIN, WE LOOK AT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

DO WE WITH ON US THAT WE STOPPED DOGS TRYING TO BUY NOTE AND THIS IS REALLY OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COME BACK AND EXPAND MORE VOICES.

SO MANY PEOPLE DID NOT KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS MOVEMENT WAS UNTIL YESTERDAY AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT FAILURE.

IF YOU DON'T TRY TO GIVE ME.

SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE CONVERSATION.

ECONOMIC COREY OWENS.

IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS REFERENDUM THAT YOU THINK WOULD WORK?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THAT THE BASELINE ON THE NEWS, WE NEED TO FIND A FUNDING FOR FOR HOMELESSNESS RIGHT TO 2 CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUE TO BE ABLE TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AFFORDABLY, RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WITH DEVELOPMENT IS SPECIFICALLY ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF CHICAGO IS TO REALLY DO NEW DEVELOPMENT THE WAY THAT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THE ECONOMICS DON'T WORK FOR IT, RIGHT.

AND SO I BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER TO SOLVE OR EVEN BEGIN TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF HOUSING HOMELESSNESS, WE GOT TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF HOW DO WE CREATE MORE HOUSING IN AREAS WHERE WE'RE SEEING VACANT LAND OR WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF BOARDED-UP BUILDINGS AND HOW DO WE THEN CREATE A SYSTEM THAT WILL BRIDGE ECONOMIC GAP SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE THOSE ARE HOUSING AFFORDABLY AND ALSO, YOU SUSTAINABLY.

SO APPARENTLY THE REFERENDUM WASN'T ENOUGH TO BRING MANY VOTERS TO THE BALLOT BOX WITH VOTER TURNOUT.

CHICAGO ONLY AROUND 20%.

>> WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF IT?

>> WELL, I I DON'T KNOW THAT'S AN ISSUE.

SPECIFIC THING.

YOU KNOW, I THINK HISTORICALLY IN PRIMARIES WE ALWAYS SEE A LOAD OF A LOWER VOTER TURNOUT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT.

YOU KNOW, CONTINUING TO AND EDUCATE PEOPLE AND SHOW THEM WHY THEY GOT TO BRING OUT AND DO THEIR CIVIC DUTY IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT THAT IN THE FUTURE THAT EVERYBODY'S VOICE EVERYBODY HAS HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD AND SHOWING THAT IT'S NOT A MATTER OF WINNING AND LOSING.

I'M NOT AN ADVERSARY.

HE'S, YOU KNOW, HOME.

I'M NOT ADVERSARIAL TO.

THE MAYOR WERE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM.

WE ALL WATCH THE CAR GOING TO BE A BETTER PLACE.

WE JUST SAW AN ISSUE AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEWS ON HOW TO SOLVE THAT ISSUE.

AND THAT'S WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO KIND OF STOPPED LIKE I'M NOT THE ENEMY.

WE'RE NOT THE VILLAINS.

YOU GUYS AREN'T DEVELOPED BECAUSE YOU WANT TO PROVIDE HOMELESSNESS.

WE'RE ON THE SAME TEAM.

WE JUST GOT TO BE ABLE TO SAY, HEY, IT'S OK FOR ME TO HAVE A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW ON HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

YOU CAN HAVE YOUR POINT OF VIEW.

LET'S FIND SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO AS A WHOLE BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET BACK AND WE WANT TO GET BEHIND YOU ON THIS AS WELL.

WE WANT TO BRING OUR SUPPORT TO YOU.

>> ALDERMAN NOT ONLY DID ONLY 20% OF REGISTERED VOTERS SHOW UP FOR THIS, WHICH CAN HAPPEN IN THE PRIVATE PRIMARY HAS DISCUSSED.

BUT THE VOTE IS STILL VERY CLOSE.

WHAT WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?

BECAUSE USUALLY WHEN THERE'S A WIDE MARGIN THAT THERE'S THE VOTERS ARE GIVING YOU A VERY DEFINITIVE ANSWER.

BUT WHAT DOES IT SAY TO YOU THAT THE VOTE IS STILL TOO CLOSE TO EVEN CALL?

>> WHAT IT SAYS IS THAT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, IT WILL NEVER BE BROKEN.

WHAT HE SAYS IS THAT OVER 125,000 PEOPLE, BELIEVE IN THE IDEA OF ECONOMIC PARITY, THIS ARGUMENT THAT WE HAVE IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE GET MIXED UP.

THE ONE THING IS NOT THING THAT'S NOT CONFUSING.

ONE THING THAT IS CLEAR IS THAT WE DON'T WANT KIDS SLEEPING ON TRAINS WE WANT WE DON'T WANT KIDS.

PEOPLE ON COUCHES IN COUCH SURFING.

AND SO AGAIN, THE ECONOMIC FORMULA THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY THEY WANT TO SIMPLY THIS WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING 40 TO $50,000 A YEAR, PAY MORE TAXES CAN BILLIONAIRES.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

AND SO THE FORMULA THAT WE PRESENTED AGAINST SIMPLER THAN SIMILAR TO MATCH, NEED TO ADD AND SUBTRACT.

SO WHAT WE WILL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET A GUN.

AND AGAIN, WE'RE NOT ATTACKING PEOPLE THAT WERE PARDONED, HAVE ACCUMULATED WEALTH AND WEALTH HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED.

BUT WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT THIS IS A 16 BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY THAT ESSENTIALLY CAN 1000 JOBS.

NO ONE ON BOTH SIDES DISAGREES ON JOB CREATION.

NOBODY ON BOTH SIDES DISAGREES OR HOUSING FOR THOSE IN NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY AND ON MONDAY.

WARD CHAIRWOMAN OF THE BLACK CAUCUS.

COLEMAN'S WARD HAS 0% OF ANYTHING OVER MILLION DOLLARS.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

THIS PROBLEM DID NOT HAPPEN WITH MAYOR JOHNSON BECAME A YEAR SO WE CAN FIX IT OVER TIME AND TO GET SOUNDS LIKE NOW.

>> OBVIOUSLY IT'S SOMETHING WE ALL AGREE ON.

HOMELESSNESS IS A PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED.

BUT LIKE YOU SAID EARLIER, COREY, IT'S IT'S IT'S DIFFERENCE OF OF HOW WHAT THAT SOLUTION LOOKS LIKE FOR EVERYONE.

THAT'S WHERE WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

I'M SURE THERE WILL BE MORE TO DISCUSS AS THIS VOTE COMES DOWN.

COREY OWENS AND ALDERMAN WILLIAM HALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING UP NEXT, A NEW PLAY EXPLORES FAMILY POLITICS AND IDENTITY.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

RIGHT NOW.

A HANDFUL OF THEATER GOERS HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO SEE THE LATEST PRODUCTION ON STEPPENWOLF STAGE PURPOSE.

THE PLAY ABOUT A BLACK POLITICAL ILLINOIS FAMILY IS BRAND NEW.

SO KNOW THAT THE CAST DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A COMPLETE SCRIPT WHEN WE SAT DOWN WITH THEM LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AGO.

BUT PLAYWRIGHT MACARTHUR GENIUS AND TWO-TIME PULITZER FINALIST BRANDON JACOBS.

JENKINS SAYS THAT'S HOW THE BEST PRODUCTIONS OR MAKE.

SAT DOWN WITH HIM DIRECTOR AND TWO-TIME TONY WINNER PHYLICIA RASHAD AND THE REST OF THE PURPOSE CAST TO FIND OUT MORE.

>> I THINK YOU ALL I WAS GOING TO LET HIM HAVE STEP EVEN A PK, YOU ALL EXCITEMENT, EXCITEMENT YES, THIS IS A NEW WORK AND THIS IS A NEW AS WHEN WE STARTED THIS PLAY, WE HAD 50 PAGES.

>> WE'VE BEEN BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE.

>> YES, YES, YES.

>> IT'S IT'S IT'S A VERY >> IS THAT TYPICAL LIKE WHEN, YOU BUT IT IS IT IS REALLY EXCITING.

YOU KNOW IT.

IT PUTS US ALL ON THE SAME JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, ALL THE ACTORS AND THE DIRECTOR AND EVEN THE PLAYWRIGHT BECAUSE HE'S STILL HE'S WRITING IT AS WE'RE REHEARSING IT.

YEAH, AND HE HAS IDEA IN HIS HEAD, BUT >> HE'S ONLY NOW PUTTING IT ON PAPER.

SO THE FIRST DAY REHEARSAL WHEN WE SHOWED UP, WE ONLY HAD ONE SCENE AND THEN BY THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK, WE HAD A SECOND SCENE AND THEN BY THE 3RD WEEK WE HAD A 3RD SCENE AND THEN YESTERDAY WE KIND OF OUTLINE OF THE 4TH SCENE SO THAT IT REALLY PUTS US ALL ON THE SAME LEVEL AND THE SAME PLAYING FIELD AS WE DO THIS ALL TOGETHER.

>> NO ONE IS PANIC THAT WE ARE ALL EXTREMELY THRILLED AND AND I WOULD SAY THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE CASTLE IS THE DIRECTOR.

EVERYONE SAID YES, WHEN THERE WERE ONLY 50 PAGES.

SO THAT TELLS YOU SOMETHING ABOUT.

HIM AS A WRITER IN THE CALIBER OF HIS WORK.

>> WE YOU 10 >> MISTER SHOT.

WHAT ABOUT THIS PROJECT IN THIS PRODUCTION ATTRACTED YOU TO IT?

WHEN I READ THIS DRAFT, WHICH THE FIRST ACT.

I SAID, OK?

DO THIS.

WASN'T FINISHED BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH ABOUT IT.

THAT WAS UNKNOWN.

YES.

BUT I LIKE THE WAY HE WRITES.

EITHER WAY HE INCORPORATES KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE CONVERSATION THAT AN ACTOR'S HAVING WITH THE AUDIENCE OF ACTORS, CHARACTERS, SHOULD SAY ARE ENGAGED.

YOU KNOW, I WAS INVITED BY DEER ACTING ON SOME MOST OF THIS COUNTRY TO MAKE A PLAY AND IT WOULD BE RIDICULOUS FOR ME TO COME IN HERE WITH A PRE BAIT.

>> EASY BREAK THE BANK.

THANK DINNER REOPENING THAT RE HEAT.

YOU KNOW FOR ME, THE OPPORTUNITY HERE IS TO COLLABORATE WITH SOME EXTRAORDINARY TALENTED ARTISTS AND I'M DEFINITELY OF THE SCHOOL THAT LIKE THIS IS ACTUALLY WHAT THEATER HAS BEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME.

RIGHT?

EVERYDAY PLAYWRIGHT WAS SORT OF TIED TO AN ACTING ENSEMBLE, RIGHT.

SHAKESPEARE HAD HIS WITH A CORD BLOOD, CHAMBERLAIN'S MEN.

YOU KNOW, THE GREEKS WERE REHEARSING FOR YEARS BEFORE THAT PLAY KIND OF AUGUST WILSON, LLOYD RICHARDS, THE NAVAJO COTERIE OF ACTRESS THAT THEY PULLED UP ON TO TELL THEIR STORIES.

SO FOR ME, TRUE ITS FORM OF PLAYMAKING IS A DEEP COLLABORATION WITH ACTORS.

>> ONE THAT'S STORY WAS ABOUT ROSA PARKS.

PERSONALLY.

I ROUTE.

HE WAS JUST TRUMP.

>> YOU'RE A BIG DEAL.

I MEAN, YOU'RE LIKE LIVING HISTORY.

>> HISTORY IS BY DEFINITION OF >> WHAT GIVE US A SENSE?

WHAT'S IT BEEN LIKE TO SORT OF PRODUCE SOMETHING BRAND NEW THAT'S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.

>> THE CHARACTERS THAT YOU'RE PLAYING, THE PLAY ITSELF.

HAS YOUR DNA.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE YOU'RE SAYING THINGS THAT THE PLAYWRIGHT IS HEARING ADJUSTING TO IT SAYING TRY THIS OR I LIKE WHAT YOU DID THERE.

SO LET'S LET'S ADD THAT SO THIS THIS IS THRILLING FOR JOHN, TELL ME, TELL ME ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER AND CHARACTER.

NAZARETH COMES FROM A VERY PROMINENT BLACK FAMILY CHICAGO.

HIS WAS IS A PASTOR.

HIS BROTHER IS A SENATOR LIKE VERY POLITICAL IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

>> AND HE'S INCH OVER.

SO HE'S SORT OF THE BLACK SHEEP OF THE FAMILY.

GONNA TELL ME ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER.

YOU PLAY AS >> I THINK SHE REPRESENTS LIKE A YOUNGER GENERATION OF THINKERS OF FEELERS AND SHAKERS.

SHE CHALLENGES.

YOU THE OLD HAD OR FOR LACK OF SO THERE'S LIKE THIS DICHOTOMY OF LIKE SO HAPPY TO BE HERE.

BUT THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE WRONG HERE.

HOW DO I HELP?

BUT IT HARRY, YOUR CHARACTER.

YOU PLAY THE PATRIARCH OF THIS FAMILY.

TELL US ABOUT HIM WHAT HE'S GOING THROUGH.

THIS IS REALLY BEEN QUITE AN INTERESTING THOUGHT EXPERIMENT DRAMATIC FORM.

WHAT WITH THE NEW WORLD LOOK LIKE?

WHAT WOULD THIS NEW MILLENNIUM?

>> LOOK LIKE WHAT WHAT THEY DO IN EYE TIME WHEN A LOT OF THINGS HAVE REPLACED TRADITIONAL VALUES WHEN REPLACED TRADITIONAL FAMILY.

WHEN GENDER ROLES HAVE CHANGED.

SO SO SIGNIFICANTLY AND PERHAPS SEISMIC LEE, THE UNSETTLING THAT THAT WOULD DO WITH THE MAN WHO'S NOW A LITTLE BIT PAST WELL, OR PERHAPS A LOT PAST HIS PRIME OVER 2 WEEKS.

>> AND I GET TO EXPLAIN WHAT THAT EXPERIENCE WAS LIKE.

I THINK IT'S BUT I CAN TELL YOU NOW.

IT WAS SOME OF THE DARKEST OF MY LIFE.

>> GLENN CLOSE, BUT YOUR CHARACTER, HOME FROM PRISON.

I THINK HE'S ON JOURNEY OF REDEMPTION AND I THINK HE TRYING TO KEEP HIS FAMILY TOGETHER AND FINDING FINDING A RE-ENTRY A SOMEWHAT, YOU KNOW, CHALLENGING.

SO I THINK FOR HIM HE'S, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO CONNECT WITH HIS FATHER.

HIS MOTHER IS IS HIS WIFE, HIS CHILDREN YOU KNOW, THE PLAY QUESTIONS, WHETHER FOLKS ARE DESERVING OF A SECOND CHANCE WHEN IT COSTS TO IMPART THIS SECOND CHANCE ON SOMEONE WHEN IT COSTS THE FAMILY, WHAT IT COSTS HE HIMSELF.

ONE OF THE 2 OF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCTION.

THEY >> YOU KNOW, THIS IDEA, LIST WOULD REALLY LIKE PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY THEIR COATS AND THEIR WALLETS AND THEIR JACKETS AND THEIR PHONES NOT LEAVE ANYTHING IN BLUES.

NOT BUT I THINK WE'RE BOTH INVESTED IN THE KIND OF THEATER.

THAT'S MORE OF AN OCCASION FOR GROUP REFLECTION, RIGHT?

I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF I FELT PLAY WAS ABOUT SENDING A MESSAGE OUT JUST IN TO THE MASS YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

I DON'T THINK PLAYERS ARE ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP AND TOGETHER KIND OF EXAMINE THEIR VALUES, THEIR RELATIONSHIPS TO EACH OTHER, THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> AND SO I THINK WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BUILD OCCASION TO REFLECT ON FAMILY HOW FAMILIES ARE SHAPED BY HISTORY, HOW FAMILIES MAKE HISTORY TO THINK ABOUT HOW FOR SOME FOLKS, FAMILY IS A LUXURY THAT ONLY GOES BACK A FEW GENERATIONS.

AND TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, REALLY EXAMINE THE WAYS IN WHICH IDEAS OF FAMILY AND FAMILY VALUES ARE SHAPING THEIR SHIFTING, RATHER NEW DIRECTIONS AND EXPANSIVE DIRECTIONS AND INSIDE OF THAT EXPANSION, MAYBE GET A CLEAR SENSE OF WHERE WE ARE NOW VERSUS WHERE WE USED TO BE.

>> COMFY COME SEE THE SHOW.

>> DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING.

THE THEATER WHEN YOU DO GO SEE THE SHOW, THE PRODUCTION WAS EXTENDED EVEN BEFORE OPENING NIGHT.

IT IS SLATED TO RUN THROUGH APRIL.

28 AT STEPPENWOLF THEATER.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW AT 5, 30 10 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES.

A LOOK AT WHETHER DONALD TRUMP IS GAINING SUPPORT IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

AND WE TAKE YOU INSIDE A DANCE STUDIO PROMOTING BODY INCLUSIVITY.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTION MADE POSSIBLE BY CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, CHICAGO, PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH THAT.

HE'S PROUD TO RECOGNIZE ITS 18 ATTORNEY