>> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>> WE DID EVERYTHING I SAID I WOULD DO.

>> ALL THE PEOPLE APPROVE THE MAYOR.

16 BILLION DOLLAR SPENDING PLAN ONE ON ONE WITH THE CITY'S BUDGET DIRECTOR.

IF THERE ISN'T ENOUGH TO PAY WHAT EVERYONE IS OWED, THE CITY IS ON THE HOOK TO PAY THE DEFINED BENEFITS.

YOU MAY HAVE READ THE CITY HAS A PENSION PROBLEM.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WTW NEWS EXPLAINS.

GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT OFF THE RECORD AND GO ON LIES.

INSTEAD OF PRISON TIME.

PROGRAM IS OFFERING PEOPLE CHARGED WITH NONVIOLENT OFFENSES.

ANOTHER OPTION.

POSITIVE ROLE MODELS LITERALLY CAN CHANGE THE >> AND THE FOUNDER OF HIM INTO OUR ORGANIZATION GIVES THE LAST WORD ON THE VIRTUES OF BECOMING A MENTOR.

>> AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, A JUDGE IS DENYING DEFENSE ATTORNEY'S REQUEST TO DELAY SENTENCING FOR THE SO-CALLED COMMENT FOR DEFENSE.

ATTORNEYS SAY PROSECUTORS ARE SEEKING WHAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY BE LIFE TERMS AND ARGUED THE SENTENCING DATE BE PUSHED BACK TO GIVE THEM MORE TIME TO PREPARE THE 4 WHO ARE ALL IN THEIR 60'S OR 70'S WERE CONVICTED OF WORKING TO BRIBE.

FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN.

THEY FACE UP TO 5 YEARS IN PRISON ON CONSPIRACY CONVICTIONS UP TO 10 YEARS ON EACH BRIBERY, CONVICTION AND UP TO 20 YEARS ON EACH RECORD, FALSIFICATION CONVICTION, MADIGAN'S OWN RACKETEERING TRIAL IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN APRIL.

WTW NEWS HAS IDENTIFIED A 3RD FORMER POLICE OFFICER HIRED BY CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS A SECURITY GUARD.

DESPITE BEING ON THE CITY'S DO NOT HIRE LIST.

ARWA 100, THE LUNA, A SECURITY GUARD AT RICHARD GATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN LOGAN SQUARE WAS SUSPENDED WITHOUT PAY IN MARCH.

AND AN INVESTIGATION BY THE DISTRICT IS ONGOING.

WTW NEWS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THAT 2 CPS SECURITY GUARD SUSPENDED BY THE DISTRICT WERE HIRED DESPITE BEING PLACED ON THE CITY'S DO NOT HIRE LIST AFTER THEY WERE FIRED FROM THEIR POSITIONS.

CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS.

YOU CAN READ MORE ON THIS STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

IF YOU FELT THE GROUND SHAKING THIS MORNING, IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN YOUR IMAGINATION.

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, A 3.6 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE HIT NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS TODAY SHORTLY BEFORE 05:00AM THE EPICENTER OF THE QUAKE WAS THE TOWN OF STANDARD ILLINOIS, ABOUT 100 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CHICAGO.

THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF ANY DAMAGE OR INJURIES.

16 MIN INCARCERATED IN STATE BILL CORRECTIONAL CENTER MADE HISTORY TODAY.

>> AND SO WHEN I WHEN I GOT THE INVITATION TO COME HERE, AND TO ADDRESS YOU.

WILD HORSES COULDN'T STOP TO ME.

BECAUSE I'M ADDRESSING MYSELF.

>> NOTED AUTHER AND JOURNALIST TIME COACH GAVE THE COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS TO THE FIRST COHORT OF STUDENTS TO GRADUATE FROM NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

WHILE INCARCERATED.

AND THE FIRST INCARCERATED MEN TO RECEIVE BACHELOR'S DEGREES FROM TOP 10 SCHOOL.

THE UNIVERSITY STARTED THE NORTHWESTERN PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAM BACK IN 2018, PARTNERING WITH OPEN COLLEGE FOR THE STUDENTS EARN ASSOCIATE DEGREES.

FIRST, WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THIS STORY NEXT WEEK.

AFTER ALMOST A 3 YEAR PROCESS, 40 ACRES, FRESH MARKET IS CELEBRATING THE GROUNDBREAKING OF ITS FIRST BRICK AND MORTAR GROCERY STORE ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE FOUNDER LIZ DO KNOW IS HOPING IT WILL BE A BEACON OF CHANGE IN THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY WHERE THERE ARE FEW FRESH FOOD OPTIONS.

>> WE KNOW WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE THE NEWS ALONG THE WAY AND CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT WE BOUGHT THIS BUILDING IN 2020.

CONSTRUCTION IS NOW GETTING STARTED 3 YEARS LATER, I'D SAY THAT'S A MILESTONE THAT THE VICTORY TIME TO KIND OF TAKE A STEP BACK AND CELEBRATE HOW FAR WE'VE >> 40 ACRES HAS BEEN OPERATING AS A CITYWIDE DELIVERY SERVICE AND POP-UP PRODUCE MARKET.

UP NEXT, THE CITY'S BUDGET DIRECTOR ON THE NEWLY APPROVED SPENDING PLAN RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY 5TH 3005TH BANK AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> 3RD, WE BELIEVE WOULD DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD AND EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER A FUTURE HOLDS GREAT PROMISE FOR ALL.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO.

TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES TOGETHER.

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER.

WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>> CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON.

16.6 BILLION DOLLAR SPENDING PLAN TODAY.

THE PASSAGE COMES DESPITE CONCERNS THAT THE BUDGET DOES NOT SET ASIDE ENOUGH MONEY TO CARE FOR THE MORE THAN 21,000 MIGRANTS WHO MADE THEIR WAY TO CHICAGO.

INSTEAD, JOHNSON AND HIS ALLIES CELEBRATED THE BUDGET AS A DOWN PAYMENT ON PLEDGES JOHNSON MADE DURING THE CAMPAIGN TO INVEST IN WORKING CLASS CHICAGOANS WTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE FROM CITY HALL.

HEADER.

YOU'VE REPORTED THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS OVER THIS BUDGET, WE'RE DEFINED THE DEBATE OVER HOW TO CARE FOR THE MIGRANTS, INCLUDING THE 2400 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO ARE STILL ON A POLICE STATION.

FLOORS ACROSS THE CITY AS WELL AS AT O'HARE AIRPORT.

HERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF THE DEBATE TODAY.

>> MY GREATER CONCERN IS THE 150 MILLION DOLLAR BLANK CHECK FOR THE MIGRANT CRISIS.

IT IS NO SECRET.

THAT THIS ISSUE IS TEARING THIS CITY APART.

>> I DON'T EXPECT THAT ANY OF US ARE GOING TO SIT BACK AND HOPE AND PRAY.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO PASS THIS BUDGET.

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR.

AND THAT IS TO COLLABORATE.

THAT IS TO GET TO WORK.

>> SO HEAD OF THE BUDGET SETS ASIDE 150 MILLION DOLLARS TO CARE FOR THE MIGRANTS.

BUT WILL THAT BE ENOUGH?

AND IS THERE A BACKUP PLAN?

>> SO IT WILL NOT BE ENOUGH BY EVERYONE'S ACCOUNT AND THERE IS NO BACKUP PLAN IN THE BUDGET.

BUT IN HIS NEWS CONFERENCE AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET, WE GOT A GLIMPSE FROM MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON ABOUT WHAT THAT NEXT PLAN IS.

AND IT IS APPARENTLY AN ENTIRELY NEW APPROACH.

THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS GRIPPING CHICAGO AND THE CENTERPIECE OF THAT NEW APPROACH APPEARS TO BE A 60 DAY LIMIT ON HOW LONG MIGRANTS CAN STAY IN CITY SHELTERS.

WE'RE EXPECTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS LATER THIS WEEK.

AND IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW THE CITY WOULD ENFORCE OR WHERE PEOPLE WOULD GO IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO AT AT THAT 61ST DAY.

SO THERE IS A PLAN.

WE ONLY HAVE THE BRIEFEST GLIMPSE OF IT TODAY.

>> THE ARRIVAL OF MIGRANTS HAD ARE EXPOSING DEEP TENSION BETWEEN CHICAGO'S BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES WITH MANY BLACK OLDER PEOPLE RELUCTANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY TO CARE FOR THE MIGRANTS WHEN THEIR COMMUNITIES HAVE SUFFERED FROM DECADES OF DISINVESTMENT.

HOW DID JOHNSON THREAD THAT NEEDLE?

>> WELL, THE BUDGET INCLUDES TO A HIGH PRIORITIES FOR THE BLACK CAUCUS.

5 MILLION DOLLARS FOR NEW EFFORTS TO WELCOME PEOPLE RETURNING TO CHICAGO FROM JAIL OR PRISON AS WELL AS $500,000 TO STUDY WHETHER TO PAY REPARATIONS TO THE DESCENDANTS OF ENSLAVED AFRICANS.

THE ISSUE FOR THE BLACK CAUCUS WAS THAT THEY REPRESENT WARDS THAT HAVE SEEN DECADES OF DISINVESTMENT AND THEM AND THEIR CONSTITUENTS HAVE BEEN REALLY FRUSTRATED AND HURT TO SEE THE CITY MOBILIZE A FULL FORCE OF GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE MIGRANT WHO ARE JUST RECENT ARRIVALS TO CHICAGOANS WHEN THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE BEEN HERE IN CHICAGO FOR GENERATIONS SUFFERING UNDER POVERTY CRIME.

AND AS I SAID, A LOT OF PUBLIC DISINVESTMENT ARE GOING TO GET INTO SOME OF THOSE INITIATIVES THAT YOU IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

HEATHER, AS WELL.

BUT HERE'S WHAT SOME OF MAYOR JOHNSON SAID AFTER THE BUDGET WAS VOTED ON.

>> WE DID EVERYTHING I SAID I WOULD DO.

MY WORD.

HEATHER.

HOW EXACTLY DOES THIS BUDGET START TO FULFILL SOME OF JOHNSON'S CAMPAIGN PROMISES?

>> WELL, DURING THE CAMPAIGN, WE HEARD A LOT FROM JOHNSON ABOUT THE SO-CALLED TREATMENT, NOT TRAUMA PROPOSAL.

AND THIS BUDGET DOES MAKE AN INITIAL PAYMENT ON THOSE EFFORTS, INCLUDING PROFIT, INCLUDING REOPENING TO MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS AND EXPANDING THE CITY'S EFFORTS RESPOND TO 9-1-1.

CALLS FOR HELP FROM PEOPLE SUFFERING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IS THAT IS NOW A PERMANENT PART OF THE CITY'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

BIG BIG WINS FOR JOHNSON AND HIS ALLIES THAT WERE BLOCKED UNDER FORMER MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT.

>> HAD A SHARON AT CITY COUNCIL FOR US.

THANK YOU, HEATHER.

AND YOU CAN HIS FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S WTW DOT COM SLASH NEWS.

AND AS WE JUST HEARD TODAY, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS APPROVED MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON'S FIRST BUDGET.

THE 16.6 BILLION DOLLAR SPENDING PLAN THAT TAKES EFFECT JANUARY FIRST INCLUDES NO NEW TAXES, FEES OR SERVICE CUTS.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS MORE OF THE BUDGET.

DETAILS IS THE BUDGET DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND THAT DO'S MAN AND I THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MAYOR JOHNSON TODAY SAID THAT NEGOTIATIONS OVER THIS BUDGET.

WE'RE TOUGH.

WHAT WERE THEY LIKE?

>> YOU THEY DURING A COMPRESSED TIME FRAME.

I JUST BECAUSE ONLY BEEN IN OFFICE FOR 6 MONTHS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH 50 ALDERS TO PREPARE BUDGET, THAT'S A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS.

AND WE HAVE VERY LITTLE TIME FROM THE TIME TO BE INTRODUCED.

SO THE TIME THAT WE PASSED THAT A DATA TO REALLY ENGAGE IN NECESSARY CONVERSATIONS UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, HOW TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF EACH OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> SO THE BUDGET ESTABLISHES 2 NEW DEPARTMENT OF RE-ENTRY AND A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT WOULD STUDY WHETHER THE CITY SHOULD PAY REPARATIONS TO DESCENDANTS OF ENSLAVED AFRICAN AMERICANS.

LET'S START WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF RE-ENTRY FIRST.

HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM THE POSITION OF FIRST DEPUTY OF THAT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT PUT IN PLACE LAST YEAR?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN OFFICE THAT IS CONTAINED WITHIN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

IT'S FOR THE FIRST TIME ACTUALLY RATED IN THE BUDGET AND IT HAS A SUSTAINABLE REVENUE SOURCE TO SUPPORT ITS WORK NOT JUST NEXT YEAR, BUT FOR YEARS AFTER THAT, I THINK THAT'S REALLY UNDER THE PREVIOUS BUDGET.

THE POSITION A PERSON FROM THE DEPARTMENT FAMILY AND SUPPORT SERVICES WHO WORKED WITHIN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND IT WAS FUNDED THROUGH ARPA.

SO WE KNEW THAT THAT WAS NOT A SUSTAINABLE WAY TO SHOW OUR COMMITMENT TO VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

AND SO WORKING WITH THE ALDERMANIC BLACK CAUCUS IN PARTICULAR, VICE MAYOR BURNETT, WE REALLY LOOKED AT HOW DO WE MAKE THIS SUSTAINABLE?

HOW DO WE SHOW THIS COMMITMENT TO OUR RESIDENTS ESPECIALLY ARE RETURNING RESIDENTS AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO BY PUTTING A SUSTAINABLE REVENUE SOURCE BEHIND IT.

YOU KNOW, THIS PUTS ASIDE 5 MILLION FOR THIS OFFICE.

WHAT KIND OF SERVICES CAN CHICAGOANS EXPECT TO SEE?

>> FROM THAT OFFICE?

>> YOU NEW DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF REENTRY IS GOING TO BE WORKING WITH WHAT WE CALL DELEGATE AGENCIES OR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHO DO THIS WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY TO PROVIDE THE TYPE TO WRAP AROUND SERVICES THAT WILL HELP THESE RETURNING RESIDENTS REENTER THEIR COMMUNITIES REENTER OUR WORK SPACES.

AND TO REALLY, YOU BECOME ARE ENGAGED RESIDENTS AGAIN.

AND SO THIS WILL INCLUDE THINGS WORKFORCE YOU KNOW, SERVICES CONNECTIONS TO THAT THEY SORELY NEED TO RESTART THEIR LIVES AGAIN WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS OTHER.

HOPEFUL SUPPORTS THAT WILL BE A BIT I'VE WHEN THEY RETURN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> SO THE OTHER INITIATIVE WE MENTIONED $500,000 BEING SET ASIDE FOR A SUBCOMMITTEE STUDYING REPARATIONS FOR CHICAGOANS KNOW, AGAIN, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT SUCH A SUB COMMITTEE HAS BEEN FORMED.

WHAT CHICAGOANS EXPECT TO COME OUT OF THIS?

ONE VERY LITTLE GOT DOWN UNDER THAT LAST ONE.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEARD FROM THE ALDERMANIC BLACK CAUCUS ABOUT THE LAST TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED WAS THEY DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY SUPPORT TO DO THAT WORK TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE BEST WAYS IN WHICH TO PROVIDE REPARATIONS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE SUPPORT THERE FOR THIS COMMISSION AND THIS COMMITTEE THAT WILL INCLUDE BEING ABLE TO HIRE CONSULTANTS, POTENTIALLY BEING ABLE TO HIRE STAFF TO HELP US THINK THROUGH THE BEST WAY TO YOU KNOW, REPARATIONS YOU GUYS.

ALL THE ARE CHAIRMAN IRVIN SAYS NOW THE TIME REPARATIONS CAN COME IN MANY DIFFERENT FORMS.

AND SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE BEST FORM FOR RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

AND SO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH TO REALLY DIG IN AND MAKE A COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE THAT THIS WILL WORK THIS TIME.

>> AND THAT WHY WERE THESE 2 INITIATIVES, A KEY PART OF ENSURING SUPPORT FROM THE BLACK CAUCUS?

>> YOU KNOW, THE BLACK CAUCUS CAME TO US EARLY ON EVEN YOU KNOW, WE REALLY STARTED ENGAGING IN EARNEST IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET AND CENT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WITHIN ALL OF THE THING YOU'RE DOING, WE'RE MAKING A COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND IT'S THAT KIND OF METHOD INTENSIFIED OVER THE COURSE OF THE.

BUDGET ESPECIALLY WHEN WE WE'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE PROVIDING FUNDING IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET FOR THE MIGRANT MISSION.

AND YOU KNOW, THEY'VE ALWAYS SAID, AND I THINK THE MAYOR IS WHO WE CAN DO WORK ENSURE WE'RE HELPING NEW MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

WELL, AT THE SAME TIME, MAKING SURE INVESTING MAINTAINING OUR COMMITMENT TO EXISTING RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

AND SO THROUGH THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ULTIMATE CAUCUS, WE LISTENED.

WE UNDERSTOOD WHAT IT IS AS THEY FORMED EXACTLY WHAT THEY THOUGHT THE BEST WAY TO PROVIDE THAT COMMITMENT TO SHOW THAT COMMITMENT TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AND SO AGAIN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU ASKED ME AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS INTERVIEW.

YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THOSE NEGOTIATIONS LIKE?

THAT'S WHAT GATE IS BECAUSE SHE'S RIGHT.

IT IS.

IT IS LISTENING.

IT WAS UNDERSTANDING IT WAS FINDING THE BEST BEST HALF BOARD.

>> MAYOR JOHNSON SPOKE AFTER THE MEETING ABOUT HOW HE INTENDS FOR THIS BUDGET TO HELP ALL CHICAGOANS.

HERE'S A QUICK LOOK AT WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> THE SMART CHOICES WE MADE WITH THIS BUDGET.

WHICH ACKNOWLEDGED THE NEED AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR OTHER GOVERNMENTS TO INVEST IN THIS CRISES.

HAS ALLOWED US TO KEEP OUR PROMISE.

PROMISED TO NEVER SACRIFICE THE NEEDS OF CHICAGOANS AND SUPPORT OF THOSE WHO WISH TO BECOME CHICAGOANS.

>> AND THAT WE'VE LITERALLY GOT A COUPLE OF SECONDS TO THE ISSUE OF BALANCING CHICAGOANS AND MIGRANTS TO DO THAT COMPLICATE NEGOTIATIONS AT ALL.

I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW, HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH ALDERS IN PARTICULAR OLD ALDERMAN BURNETT.

>> WHERE HE SAID I'VE NEVER SAID THAT WE CAN'T HELP THOSE WHO ARE COMING HERE.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL SO DOING RIGHT BY THOSE WHO ALREADY LIVE HERE.

AND SO IS HOW DO WE HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING SUFFICIENT SERVICES TO BOTH GROUPS THAT SACRIFICING THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO LIVE HERE FOR THOSE WHO ARE JUST COMING TO BEGIN WITH.

SO DON'T THINK IT COMPLICATES I THINK IT AND 5 THE CONVERSATION AND WE'RE ABLE TO DO BOTH.

>> OKAY.

MORE TO COME.

I'M BUDGET DIRECTOR AND BEN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

UP NEXT, WTW NEWS EXPLAINS CHICAGO'S PENSION PROBLEM.

STAY WITH US.

SO ON BUDGET DAY, THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO TALK ABOUT PENSIONS.

MORE SPECIFICALLY THE CITY'S PENSION PROBLEM.

YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT PHRASE, BUT DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS?

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

HOW MUCH DOES THE AND HOW DID WE GET INTO THIS MESS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

IN THE LATEST EDITION OF OUR EMMY AWARD-WINNING SERIES W T TW NEWS EXPLAINS.

I MEAN, DIVINITY TAKES A LOOK.

>> YOU MAY HAVE CHICAGO HAS A PENSION PROBLEM TO THE TUNE OF MORE THAN 35 BILLION DOLLARS OF DEBT.

THAT'S MONEY MEANT FOR CITY EMPLOYEES DOWN THE LINE.

WHEN THEY REACH RETIREMENT, THE CITY'S PENSIONS ARE UNDERFUNDED.

SO THE FEAR IS THAT THOSE RETIREMENT BENEFITS WON'T BE THERE WHEN WORKERS RETIRE, PENSIONS AFFECTS NEARLY EVERYONE.

EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE, TAXPAYERS HAVE ALREADY FOOTING THE BILL TO ALLEVIATE THE TENSION CITIES ARE RATED ON THEIR FISCAL STABILITY AND CREDIT RATINGS.

AGENCIES FROWN AND PENSION UNDERFUNDING.

IF THEY CUT THE CITY'S RATING BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE FOR CHICAGO TO BORROW MONEY.

THAT EXTRA COST EITHER GETS PUT ON RESIDENTS OFTEN THROUGH HIGHER TAXES OR MEANS LESS MONEY FOR OTHER CITY PROGRAMS LIKE SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SAFETY FILLING POTHOLES.

HOW DID IT GET TO THIS POINT?

FIRST, YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW PENSIONS THEY START OUT LIKE MOST OTHER RETIREMENT PLANS.

A CERTAIN AMOUNT JUST TAKEN OUT OF A WORKER'S PAYCHECK.

THAT MONEY GETS INVESTED IN AN EFFORT TO GROW IT.

>> BUT THE PENSION IS A DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN WHICH WORKERS ARE GUARANTEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT UPON RETIREMENT.

REGARDLESS OF HOW THE INVESTMENT PERFORMS.

THAT'S WHAT CHICAGO NEEDS TO CONTRIBUTE TO ITS CORE PENSION FUNDS.

IF THERE ISN'T ENOUGH TO PAY WHAT EVERYONE IS OWED, THE CITY IS ON THE HOOK TO PAY THE DEFINED BENEFITS RIGHT NOW.

REMEMBER, THE FUNDS ARE COLLECTIVELY 35 BILLION DOLLARS SHORT.

SO WHY ARE THE CITY'S PENSION SO SEVERELY UNDERFUNDED?

SOME CLAIM THE PENSION BENEFITS NEGOTIATED BETWEEN UNION CITY AND STATE ARE OVERLY GENEROUS AND TOO DIFFICULT TO KEEP UP WITH >> ALSO FOR A LONG TIME, THE CITY JUST FLAT OUT DIDN'T CONTRIBUTE ENOUGH TO THE PENSION FUNDS.

CHICAGO WAS FOLLOWING STATE LAW WHICH DIDN'T REQUIRE THE CITY TO PUT IN IT'S ALSO A MATTER OF MASK FOLLOWING THE LAW.

STILL IN THAT THE PENSIONS WITH LOADS OF NOW A NEW LAWS IN PLACE.

ILLINOIS REQUIRES THE CITY GET ITS PENSIONS.

90% FUNDED WITHIN THE NEXT 30 OR SO YEARS IN AN EFFORT TO CATCH UP THE CITY APPROVED A NEW CASINO.

ITS TAX REVENUE WILL GO EXCLUSIVELY TOWARD PENSION WILL IT BE ENOUGH FIX THE PENSION FUNDING PROBLEM?

GO AHEAD YOUR TOO.

>> AND YOU CAN SEE MORE EPISODES OF WTW NEWS EXPLAINS ON OUR WEBSITE W T TW DOT COM SLASH EXPLAINS.

IT'S A PROGRAM THAT OFFERS THOSE CHARGED WITH NONVIOLENT OFFENSES, A CHANCE TO TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND RATHER THAN SERVING TIME.

COOK COUNTY IS GIVING PEOPLE ANOTHER OPTION.

CHICAGO TONIGHT'S JOANNA HERNANDEZ SHARES HOW THE INITIATIVE IS HELPING PEOPLE FIND JOBS AND HE'LL.

>> NOTHING BUT THE BEST FOR YOU IN THE FUTURE.

GROWING UP IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD AND HERMOSA MAKES ME FEEL VERY PROUD.

HE'S ONE OF THEM.

MIGHT.

>> 28 YEAR-OLD MICHAEL'S MODERNA'S HAS BEEN GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY MY CASEWORKER BECAUSE HE HAS HELPED ME A THE PROGRAM DID WORK WITH ME.

ON US IS ONE OF 16 PEOPLE GRADUATED FROM THE AV RESTORATIVE JUSTICE COMMITTEE COURT PROGRAM.

IT'S A COOK COUNTY INITIATIVE HELPING PEOPLE CAUGHT IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

GET A CLEAN SLATE.

A LOT OF MY CASES ARE A THINGS.

>> AND A LOT OF THEM CARRY THAT BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY'RE SCARED.

>> NOT TO HAVE IT WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING SO THEY USE IT FOR PROTECTION.

BUT ON US AS HE GOT CAUGHT IN THE SITUATION WHILE AT WORK CARRYING A GUN WITHOUT A PROPER LICENSE.

SO ACTUALLY JUST GOT A GUN CASE DISMISSED.

>> WORK AS A TOW TRUCK DRIVERS.

SO I GOT ROBBED AT GUNPOINT.

IT THE WRONG WAY OF JUST CARRYING A GUN.

THEY GOT ME WITH THAT.

THEY PUT ME INTO THIS CASE.

THIS THE PROGRAM CAN LAST UP TO A YEAR WHERE PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE VARIOUS COURSES.

>> LIKE 21 YEAR-OLD JAMAL RUFFIN, WHO SAYS HIS COURSEWORK TAUGHT HIM MORE ABOUT GUN LAWS.

RIGHT AT THIS CASE IS MISS OUT AND MAYBE HALF A MILE FOR GAME.

I CAN SEE I HAD TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.

JUST WANT TO SAY THIS WAS A GOOD PROGRAM.

>> HELPED ME GET ON TRACK.

RUFFIN AND ON US HAVE NOW HAD THEIR CHARGES DISMISSED AND RECORDS EXPUNGED.

>> CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE BEATRICE DOUGLAS SAYS IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THEIR REPORT TRYING PUNISH THE PERSON YOU'RE WITH TRYING TO RESTORE AND HAVE THEM GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY BETTER THAN THEY WERE COMING INTO THE SYSTEM.

ONE LESS PERSON IN THE SYSTEM.

THAT'S WHAT JUDGE SOMETHING WILL SAYS.

SHE LOVES ABOUT HER WORK.

IT'S ALREADY HARD ENOUGH AS IT PERSON OF AND THEN TO HAVE THAT CONVICTION AS IT'S PUT ON A SAYS THE PROGRAM HAS GIVEN HIM A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON HIS FUTURE.

MY GOAL IS NOT TO GET ANY PROBLEMS AND JUST CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES, I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ PART.

THE COUNTY SAYS 300 PEOPLE HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM SINCE 2017.

>> UP NEXT, THE VIRTUES OF BECOMING A MENTOR.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

MILLAGE RENEWAL SAYS AS A YOUNG BLACK GIRL GROWING UP IN CHICAGO, HER PARENTS WERE ALWAYS HER BIGGEST CHEERLEADERS.

IT WASN'T UNTIL SHE SAW SOME OF HER PEERS STRUGGLE WITH SELF-CONFIDENCE AS TEENAGERS, BUT SHE REALIZED NOT EVERYONE GOT THE SAME ENCOURAGEMENT AT HOME.

SO SHE DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

SHE BECAME A MENTOR HERE.

SHE GIVES THE LAST WORD ON WHY SHE SAYS BLACK GIRLS NEED MORE ROLE MODELS AND WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE IT A TRY.

>> MY NAME IS STIMULUS FOR FOUNDER AND CEO OF LADIES, A VIRTUE GROWING UP.

MY DAD USED TO ALWAYS SAY YOU'RE IN ASKING GIRL, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING.

YOU PUT YOUR MIND AND MY MOM WAS THE SAME WAY THEY PUSHED ME ACCOMPLISH MY DREAMS.

HONESTLY, I THINK MY PARENTS WERE GRANTED.

I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL ABOUT MY YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT ALL PARENTS ARE NOT INSTILLING THOSE POSITIVE WORDS.

AND SO THEIR KIDS.

I SAW HOW SOME OF MY FRIENDS LAST TOOK A DOWNWARD TURN.

AND THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED THAT POSITIVE ROLE MODELS LITERALLY CAN CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THE LIFE.

SO THAT'S LAST 30 MINUTES AS A SOPHOMORE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS IN URBANA CHAMPAIGN.

AND I HAVEN'T LOOKED BACK SINCE SO I STARTED LATE IS A VIRTUE IN 2011.

SO THIS IS ARTS.

WELL YEAR WE STARTED WITH 6 GIRLS AND THE GREATER GRAND CROSSING LIBRARY AND NOW WE SERVED OVER 500 GIRLS THIS YEAR AND WE ARE AN 18 PROGRAM SITES WITH 27 PROGRAMS ACROSS THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THERE IS A WIDE OVER 2 TARGETS.

BLACK GIRLS IS BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT THE WORD IS SAYING ABOUT BLACK GIRLS.

WE SEE THIS THAT BLACK GIRLS HAVE THE HIGHEST DISCIPLINARY RATES, THE HIGHEST SUSPENSION RATES.

WE KNOW THAT BLACK GIRLS ARE RESILIENT.

STRONG.

PASSING WE ARE TO.

THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO FOCUS ON BLACK GIRL SO THAT WE CAN CHANGE THE NARRATIVE ENSURE THAT OUR GIRLS ON POWER TO BECOME CONFIDENT AND PURPOSE DRIVEN LEADERS.

THEY WANT TO BE AROUND MS OR THAN ADULTS THAT LOOK LIKE THEM.

AND SO THEY ARE ALL HOW SEEKING OUT THOSE POSITIVE ROLE MODELS.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE FOR ANYONE LISTENING.

IF THIS EXCITES YOU, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAP BECOME A MENTOR TO GIVE BACK TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

COME COME.

JOIN WELL, THE SO POWERFUL ABOUT MISS WORSHIP IS THAT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY EXPOSE GIRLS, TOO, A WORLD THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE EVEN CONSIDERED.

WE'RE SEEING SO MANY POSSIBILITIES THAT ARE OPENING UP FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS.

WE HAVE GROWTH THAT ARE TRULY ABSTAINING, THEIR GOALS AND THEIR DREAMS BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAS PLAN WRITE HIM A VISA, WE JUST NEED TO THE GIFTS THAT ARE READY LIVE WITHIN THEM SO THAT THEY CAN AND FULLY REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

>> SIMILARLY, TRIMMEL SAYS THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MENTORSHIP.

VOLUNTEERS.

YOU CAN FIND MORE ON OUR WEBSITE WHERE YOU'LL ALSO FIND MORE IN OUR LAST WORD SERIES.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM W T TW NEWS AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES.

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

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