>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT -- >> THESE ARE HARD-WORKING RESIDENTS WHO FOR THE MOST PART OWNED THEIR HOMES.

>> KUCHA COUNTY PROPERTY OWNERS FACE SPIRALING DEBT AS PROPERTY INVESTORS BUY OUT THEIR UNPAID TAXES.

RESIDENTS SAY CONSTRUCTION ON THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER IS CAUSING CONGESTION AND CONFUSION IN WOODLAWN.

THE COOK COUNTY PROMISE GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM HAS ENTERED ITS NEXT PHASE.

WE TALK WITH PARTICIPANTS ABOUT THEIR HOPES FOR THE PROGRAM.

AND THERE IS NOTHING QUITE LIKE BLACK TWITTER.

AS CHAOS HAS OVERTAKEN THE SOCIAL MEDIA SITE, WE TALK ABOUT WHAT MAKES IT SO THOUGHT-PROVOKING, INFLUENTIAL, AND SO VERY, VERY FUNNY.

>>> PLUS, A CHICAGO MUSICIAN AND VISUAL ARTIST ARE WORKING TOGETHER WITH A LOCAL NONPROFIT TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARTISTS TOOK ALL THAT COMING UP, BUT OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT, DIVING INTO THE BRILLIANCE OF BLACK TWITTER.

IT'S RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FIFTH THIRD BANK AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> EVEN WHEN MANY TWITTER RIGHTS FEARED OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA SITE WOULD IMPLODE LATE THIS WEEK, BLACK TWITTER WAS STILL BLACK TWITTERING.

THURSDAY NIGHT, THIS TWEET READ BLACK TWITTER SHOWING UP TO THE TWITTER FUNERAL.

IT'S GOT PICS OF MEGHAN MARKLE, BEYONCE AND MORE, SERVING CROWNS, SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO CALL THEM HATS.

ALSO THIS ONE ANSWERING THE QUESTION ABOUT BLACK TWITTER, IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW.

THERE WAS ALSO THIS ONE FROM LATE LAST WEEK, BEFORE THE IMPLOSION.

MAYBE THIS AUTHOR SAW IT COMING.

THIS WAS FROM AUTHOR AND WRITER SHANITA HUBBARD.

IT READS, ONE DAY WE WILL GET A DOCUMENTARY ON THE RISE AND FALL OF TWITTER.

THE DOCK WILL INCLUDE HOW BLACK TWITTER WAS MORE THAN A SPACE ON THE INTERNET WHERE WE EXCHANGED CULTURALLY SPECIFIC INSIDE JOKES IN FRONT OF THE WORLD, BUT LACK TWITTER ALSO IMPACTED WHAT MAINSTREAM MEDIA COVERED, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

YOU COULD READ THE REST OF THAT THREAD ON TWITTER.

JOINING US NOW ARE ARIANNA NETTLES, LECTURER AND DIRECTOR OF AUDIO JOURNALISM PROGRAMMING AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, XAVIER POPE, LAWYER, ESPN LAS VEGAS CONTRIBUTOR AND HOST OF SUIT UP NEWS, AND DAKOTA COCHRAN, HOST OF THE DAILY NEWS PODCAST CITY CAST A CHICAGO.

FAMILY, WELCOME TO BLACK VOICES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST I WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION TO THIS NEAR IMPLOSION THAT TWITTER HAD ON THURSDAY NIGHT.

RE: ON FIRST TO YOU, WHAT DID YOU THINK?

>> YOU KNOW IT'S ALWAYS REALLY SCARY WHEN SOMETHING YOU LOVE IS KIND OF ON THE BRINK OF THE END, BUT IN BLACK TWITTER FASHION, YOU CAN'T GET TOO UPSET BECAUSE IT JUST MEANS THAT THE JOKES ARE GOING TO COME EVEN HARDER.

LIKE THAT IS LITERALLY WHAT LACK TWITTER IS FOR, IS THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A TRAGEDY THAT CANNOT BE TURNED AND FLIPPED INTO COMEDY, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY REFLECTIVE OF KIND OF WHAT WE DO CULTURALLY, IS THAT WE GET THROUGH STUFF WITH A JOKE.

AND THURSDAY NIGHT WE HAD A LOT OF JOKES.

>> SAVIOR, OVER TO YOU, WHAT DID YOU THINK?

>> IT WAS PERFECTLY SAID BY ARIANNA.

IT'S BEEN HOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE STRUGGLE.

THAT'S THE NATURE OF BLACK TWITTER.

THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE BARBECUE, SO TO SPEAK, OUT LOUD.

BECAUSE GUESS WHAT, WE'RE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

PEOPLE STILL CAN'T GET THE JOKES ABOUT US SO IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SHARE THAT WITH THE WORLD AND THEY IMPACT CULTURE WITH IT.

TO SEE THAT GO AWAY POTENTIALLY, BUT THAT TURN INTO SOMETHING FUNNY, THAT'S HOW WE DO IT.

>> JACOBY?

>> I HAVE LOOKED AT TWITTER FOR A COLLECTIVE MORNING WHERE WE HAVE HAD TO WATCH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS GUNNED DOWN IN THE STREET AND I HAVE ALSO WATCHED TWITTER, ESPECIALLY BLACK TWITTER, TAKE SOMETHING LIKE WORLD WAR III AND THE POTENTIAL OF NUCLEAR WAR AND MAKE HILARIOUS JOKES USING SPONGEBOB MEANS.

SO IT'S THE RANGE FOR ME.

IT'S THE RANGE.

>> IT'S THE RANGE.

SOME FAVORITE BLACK TWITTER MOMENTS, ARE YOUNG, YOU MENTIONED DECEMBER 21 IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE TWITTER DATES.

FIRST OF ALL, HOW DID YOU REMEMBER THE DATES?

BUT ALSO, WHY WAS THAT ONE SO SPECIAL?

>> I WILL NEVER FORGET THE DATE NOW, AND I THINK THAT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT ON TWITTER, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A DAY WHERE BLACK PEOPLE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET SUPERPOWERS, RIGHT?

>> I GOT MINE, DID YOU GET YOURS?

>> SO THE JOKES -- >> I WOKE UP MORE HANDSOME.

>> CLEARLY, RIGHT?

>> IT'S ALL GOOD.

>> EXACTLY.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU HAVE A JOKE AND THEN WE MAKE JOKES ON TOP OF THE JOKE AND THEN MORE JOKES ON TOP OF THOSE JOKES, AND IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT THERE, JUST HOW FUNNY IT REALLY WAS.

>> ONE EXAMPLE OF LIKE HOW BLACK TWITTER FUNCTIONS.

>> EXACTLY.

IT'S LIKE THIS IS FREE CONTENT.

YOU'RE GETTING THESE LAUGHS FOR FREE.

YOU DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS.

>> THIS IS WELL BEFORE THE EIGHT DOLLAR BLUE CHECKMARK COST.

XAVIER, ONE OF YOURS IS A BIT MORE RECENT.

DIONNE WARWICK'S SHOUT OUT TO PETE DAVIDSON.

CAREFUL, PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF TWITTER.

YOU HAVE SOMEONE FROM BACK IN THE DAY, AND THEY BECOME EXTREMELY RELEVANT.

PETE DAVIDSON, HIM DATING DIFFERENT REALLY BEAUTIFUL WOMEN, DIONNE WARWICK SAYING SOME THINGS ABOUT DAVIDSON PHYSICALLY THAT ALLOWED HIM TO STAY WITH THESE WOMEN.

DIONNE WARWICK WANTED TO HAVE HER LOVE, NOT JUST LIKE THIS AGAIN, A SONG BY HER, BY GETTING WITH HIM, SAYING SHE WOULD DATE PETE DAVIDSON.

THAT WAS SO RANDOM AND SO MANY JOKES WERE MADE ON TOP OF THAT, JOKES MADE ON TOP OF THAT.

>> JACOBY, WHY WERE YOU ON TWITTER ON JANUARY 6th, BEYOND THE REASONS A LOT OF US WERE?

>> I MEAN, WHILE SO MANY PEOPLE I THINK WERE LIKE WRINGING THEIR HANDS, LIKE OUR COUNTRY IS NOT LIKE THIS, THIS IS NOT US, WHO ARE WE, I FELT LIKE I WAS COLLECTIVELY STANDING ON MY PORCH WITH A BUNCH OF MY FRIENDS, MY FAMILY MEMBERS, MY COUSINS, JUST POINTING ACROSS THE STREET LIKE OH MY GOD, YOU SEE THESE PEOPLE?

THEY IS NUTS, THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO RUN UP IN THE CAPITAL, THEY'RE GOING TO LET THEM IN THE CAPITOL.

ARE YOU WATCHING THIS?

WE ARE NO MATTER WHAT POSITION YOU COME FROM, WHETHER YOU ARE A SOCIAL COMMENTATOR, WHETHER YOU ARE AN ACADEMIC, WHETHER YOU ARE SOMEBODY ON TWITTER JUST MAKING JOKES, WE ALL HAD THIS SHARED UNDERSTANDING WHERE IT WAS LIKE, WE CAN'T DO THAT AND WE ALREADY KNOW OUR POSITION IN THIS SOCIETY, HOW WE ARE SEEN, HOW WE ARE LOOKED AT, HOW WE ARE DEGRADED.

AND YET AS THESE TRUMPERS WERE STORMING THE CAPITOL AND PENETRATING, STANDING ON THE SENATE FLOOR, IT WAS THIS MOMENT WHERE IT WAS LIKE, LOOK HOW MUCH TIME WE'VE INVESTED INTO DENIGRATING, OPPRESSING US, AND LOOK AT THIS FORCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED UNDERNEATH ALL OF THAT.

AND I JUST FELT LIKE WE HAD A GOOD TIME LAUGHING AS SO MANY PEOPLE KIND OF LOST THEIR MIND IN EITHER ONE OR TWO DIRECTIONS, COMPLETE IGNORANCE OR NA÷VET÷.

>> SAVIOR, YOU'RE SORT OF A TWITTER POWER USER.

WHY IS THIS THE RIGHT PLATFORM FOR YOU?

>> IT'S A PLACE THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SAY THINGS PRETTY FREQUENTLY SO THE ARTICLES WRITTEN ABOUT THINGS I'VE TWEETED ABOUT, I WORKED ON A VIDEO COMPONENT OF MY TWEETS, SO THERE ARE CELEBRITIES THAT TWEET ME, THAT DME STORIES OR STORY IDEAS AND WEARING THIS COLIN KAEPERNICK JERSEY THAT WAS SENT TO ME BY COLIN KAEPERNICK BECAUSE OF A TWEET THAT WENT VIRAL ABOUT ME.

SO THAT'S THE WAY THAT I USED THIS PLATFORM, BEING ABLE TO TOUCH AND INFORM AND INSPIRE AND ALSO RETAIN PEOPLE AS WELL, ESPECIALLY TALKING ABOUT CARROT CAKE.

IT'S BECOME A THING FOR THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS.

HATE IT.

DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE EJECTED FROM SOCIETY.

WE GET INTO IT, WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT.

>> THANKS GIVING IS COMING UP BECAUSE THERE'S OBVIOUSLY THE BLACK TWITTER DISCUSSION ABOUT PUMPKIN PIE VERSUS SWEET POTATO PIE.

BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT RIGHT HERE.

>> SUITE OTITO , WE KNOW THAT.

>> OBVIOUSLY, THANK YOU.

RE ON, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY BLACK TWITTER MEANS TO THE CULTURE?

>> I THINK BACK ON BLACK TWITTER THAT IT IS ALSO, IN ADDITION TO BEING LIKE A REALLY FUN PLACE, IT IS KIND OF OUR ARCHIVE OF NOT JUST INTERNET CULTURE, BUT WHAT HAS REALLY HAPPENED, I WOULD SAY OVER THE LAST DECADE, THERE ARE LITERALLY TIMES WHERE I'M WORKING ON RESEARCH AND I CAN'T RECALL THE ARTICLE THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, BUT I REMEMBER THE TWITTER DISCUSSION AROUND IT, SO I GO BACK TO TWITTER AND I LOOK UP, I KNOW I CAN REMEMBER THE KEYWORD TO FIND THE TWEET THAT CAN LEAD INTO THE ARTICLE THAT I NEED FOR RESEARCH.

THAT'S JUST SUCH A UNIQUE THING BECAUSE WE JUST HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS HERE, AND IT'S REALLY ARCHIVED.

LIKE THIS IS HISTORY.

THIS IS LIKE A LIBRARY OF ALL THIS INFORMATION.

>> AS LONG AS WE CAN ACCESS IT, I GUESS WE'LL ALL FIND OUT HOW LONG THAT MIGHT BE.

XAVIER, AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU STREAM SHOWS, OR THE SHOW THAT YOU HOST STREAMS ON TWITTER.

WHERE DO CREATORS LIKE YOU GO IF TWITTER DOESN'T EXIST?

>> THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO.

I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST CREATORS TO GO TO TWITTER FOR SUIT UP NEWS.

I JUST THINK ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF SUIT UP NEWS, WHETHER IT BE STREAMING, WHETHER IT BE AN APP, WHETHER IT BE SOME SORT OF PROMOTED YOUTUBE CHANNEL, REALLY IF THE NEXT STEP FOR ME IS TAKING THAT NEXT PATH AND HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW TO CONTINUE TO INFORM, TO INSPIRE, AND ENTERTAIN THE PUBLIC, THAT I'D LIKE TO HEAR THINGS.

>> WE'VE GOT ABOUT 45 SECONDS LEFT.

WHERE DOES THE CONVERSATION GO?

WHAT'S OUR PUBLIC FORUM IF IT IS NOT TWITTER?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, AND I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER.

I THINK SO MANY OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS HAVE TRIED TO REPLICATE THE VIRALITY OF TWITTER, WHETHER IT'S FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM OR SNAP OR READ IT, BUT NONE OF THEM QUITE CAPTURE THIS FEELING LIKE YOU'RE IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE, TALKING TO CICERO, AT ANY MOMENT, AND WITHOUT THAT, I'M NOT SURE IF ANYBODY IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO QUITE DOMINATE THIS PARTICULAR SPACE IN THE SAME WAY.

SO WE'LL FIND EACH OTHER.

WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT.

BLACK PLANET WAS OUR PLACE, AND TAG, AND MY SPACE, AND WE'VE EVOLVED AND WE'VE FIGURED IT OUT.

WE ARE A RESILIENT BUNCH OF PEOPLE.

WE ARE GOING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

>> IT MIGHT JUST BE AT THE COOKOUT.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANKS, ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> APPRECIATE YOU.

>> WE ARE BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" AFTER THIS.

>>> PROPERTY TAXES ARE OUT AND DO AT THE END OF NEXT MONTH, BUT FOR THOSE DELINQUENT ON THEIR TAXES, THE SEMIANNUAL COOK COUNTY TAX SALE IS UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S WHERE PRIVATE INVESTORS SWEEP IN AND PURCHASE TAX DEBT, LEAVING HOMEOWNERS WITH GIANT INTEREST PAYMENTS IF THEY WANT TO AVOID LOSING THEIR HOME ALTOGETHER.

IT CAN BE A VICIOUS CYCLE, AND IT'S PROMPTED THE COOK COUNTY TREASURER TO CALL THE SYSTEM A RACKET.

SHE'S NOW PROPOSING BIG CHANGES.

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: HENRY JOHNSON IS A RETIRED SCHOOLTEACHER AND HAS LIVED IN THIS BUNGALOW ON NORTH KINGVALE FOR 42 YEARS.

FOUR YEARS AGO HIS WIFE DIED.

THAT SAME YEAR, JOHNSON FELL BEHIND ON HIS PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS.

>> MY WIFE, SHE WAS SICK, AND SHE WAS AN EDUCATOR.

SHE WAS ABLE TO HELP WITH EVERYTHING.

BUT AFTER THAT, THAT MADE IT A BIT DIFFERENT.

>> Reporter: PER STATE LAW, JOHNSON WAS CHARGED 1.5% INTEREST FOR EVERY MONTH THE TAX BILL WAS LATE, ACCRUING TO 18% OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.

AFTER THAT PERIOD, DELINQUENT PROPERTIES LIKE JOHNSON'S ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE COOK COUNTY TAX SALE ADMINISTERED BY THE COOK COUNTY TREASURER'S OFFICE.

THAT'S WHERE A PRIVATE INVESTOR BUYS THE DEBT AND CAN MAKE BIG PROFITS OFF OF IT.

>> BASICALLY THIS IS VERY POOR PEOPLE PAYING VERY RICH PEOPLE.

>> VERY POOR PEOPLE PAYING THE WEALTHIEST IN THE COUNTRY, BEYOND THE WEALTHIEST.

THESE ARE HEDGE FUNDS.

>> Reporter: THE INVESTOR NOW CHARGES THE HOMEOWNER 12% INTEREST EVERY YEAR.

THE HOMEOWNER HAS THREE YEARS TO PAY THIS OFF BEFORE POSSIBLY LOSING THEIR PROPERTY ALTOGETHER.

IN THAT TIME, THE TOTAL INTEREST ACCRUES TO 54%.

HENRY JOHNSON'S ORIGINAL TAX BILL WAS LESS THAN $1800.

SUBSEQUENT BILLS, INTEREST, AND FEES SHOT IS TOTAL PAYMENTS UP TO EIGHT THOUSAND $173 , ALL OWED AT ONCE IF HE WANTED TO KEEP HIS HOME.

>> WHAT WAS ALREADY AN INSURMOUNTABLE CHALLENGE BECOMES SOMETHING THAT JUST SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE, AND WE STEP INTO SAY NO, IT'S POSSIBLE.

DO YOU WANT TO KEEP IT?

LET'S FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO IT.

>> Reporter: TIFFANY SMITH IS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES OF CHICAGO.

SHE SAYS THE TAX SALE DISPROPORTIONATELY HITS BLACK AND LATINO HOMEOWNERS, ESPECIALLY SENIORS LIKE JOHNSON, WHO ARE ON FIXED INCOMES.

>> THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR AMERICAN DREAM, AND FOR IT TO BE STOLEN, IN SOME DEGREE THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

WE ARE TAKING IT AWAY FROM THEM AT A PERCENTAGE OF THE VALUE OF THE HOME.

>> Reporter: PAPPAS AND SMITH SAY THEIR OFFICES GO DOOR TO DOOR TO REACH HOMEOWNERS AHEAD OF TIME, TO CHECK AND SEE IF THEY HAVEN'T CLAIMED MONEY THE COUNTY ACTUALLY OWES TO THEM.

>> LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE SPENDING ON THE PROPERTY TAX, IF THEY HAVE MISSING INCLUSIONS, IF THEY HAVE REFUNDS THAT ARE SITTING UP THERE.

>> VULNERABLE CITIZENS WHO HAVEN'T GOTTEN A HOMEOWNER, HAVEN'T GOTTEN A SENIOR AND HAVEN'T GOTTEN A SENIOR FREEZE, GOING BACK FOR YEARS THAT'S $6000.

>> Reporter: SMITH AND PAPPAS SAY AN IDEAL SCENARIO WOULD BE TO ELIMINATE THE TAX SALE ALTOGETHER.

>> THERE'S 30 STATES IN AMERICA THAT HAVE ANNUAL TAX SALES, SO THIS ISN'T NEW.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

>> Reporter: BRAD WESTOVER IS PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL TAX LIEN ASSOCIATION, A GROUP THAT REPRESENTS TAX VIRUS.

HE SAYS THE TAX SALE IS NECESSARY, BECAUSE WITHOUT THE PENALTY, HOMEOWNERS WOULDN'T HAVE INCENTIVE TO PAY TAXES ON TIME.

PLUS, THE PRIVATE BUYER PROVIDES THE MISSING REVENUE OWED TO GOVERNMENT.

>> SOMETIMES THEY HAVE A BUDGET SHORTFALL BECAUSE OF THE NONPAYMENT OF PROPERTY TAXES.

SO THIS PROCESS IS A MEANS BY WHICH KIND OF EVERYBODY PAYS THEIR FAIR SHARE.

>> Reporter: BUT SMITH SAYS THE TAX SALE DEFEATS THE PURPOSE IT WAS INTENDED FOR.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF SELF EVICTION WHEN THOSE PROPERTY TAXES ARE SOLD, WHICH LEADS TO VACANT PROPERTIES.

IT BECOMES A BLIGHT ON THE COMMUNITY THAT CAN ILL AFFORD IT.

>> Reporter: TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THE INVESTOR RARELY KEEPS THE PROPERTY WHEN IT COMES TIME TO GO TO DEED.

IN FACT, THEY CAN GET THEIR INITIAL INVESTMENT BACK.

A RECENT STUDY FROM THE COOK COUNTY TREASURER'S OFFICE FOUND THAT MANY TEXT BUYERS USE A LOOPHOLE IN STATE LAW TO GET A FULL REFUND ON THE PROPERTY TAXES THAT THEY PAID.

THAT'S BECAUSE THEY EXPLOIT WHAT'S CALLED THE SALE AND EVER LAW.

TO GET OUT OF A CONTRACT, IF ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROPERTY DOESN'T MATCH UP WITH WHAT WAS ADVERTISED.

>> THE WEBSITE OF THE ASSESSOR SAYS THAT THERE'S AN AIR CONDITIONER AND THERE'S NO AIR-CONDITIONER.

I THOUGHT THERE WAS A TOILET AND THERE'S NO TOILET.

I THOUGHT THERE WAS A BASEMENT.

THERE IS NO BASEMENT.

HERE, TAKE IT BACK.

>> Reporter: THE STUDY FOUND THAT LOCAL TAXING BODIES PAID OUT $280 MILLION OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS TO TAX BUYERS AS A RESULT OF THE SALE IN EVERY LOOPHOLE.

>> IT'S A LEGALIZED RACKET THAT WE NEED TO BREAK UP, AND WE ARE GOING TO DO IT.

>> Reporter: TREASURER PAPPAS SAYS SHE'S PREPARING LEGISLATION IN SPRINGFIELD TO MAKE BIG CHANGES TO THE TAX SALE THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE SALE IN ERROR LAW, CUT THE FIRST YEAR'S DELINQUENT TAX INTEREST IN HALF, EXEMPT THOSE OWING $1000 OR LESS, AND PROVIDE A PAYMENT PLAN TO THOSE THAT REMAIN.

WESTOVER ADMITS THE SALE IN EVERY LOOPHOLE HAS BEEN EXPLOITED AND SAYS HIS INDUSTRY IS OPEN TO ALL OF THESE CHANGES.

>> IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO REDEEM THEIR TAX BILL IN FULL, THEN COLLECTING PARTIAL PAYMENTS OVER TIME MAKES PERFECT SENSE.

>> Reporter: JOHNSON RECENTLY PAID OFF HIS DEBT BY REARRANGING BILLS, AND HE GOT A MATCHING GRANT FROM NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES.

BUT HE SAYS HE WOULD HAVE BENEFITED FROM THESE PROPOSED CHANGES.

>> ALL THOSE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND WORRIES BACK IN MY MIND , THERE WAS GOING TO BE SOMEWAY, SOMEHOW IT WAS GOING TO BE DONE.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT LACK VOICES, THIS IS PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> THE CURRENT TAX SALE IS FOR PROPERTIES THAT HAVEN'T YET PAID THEIR 2020 TAXES.

THE SALE BEGAN THIS WEEK AND LAST UNTIL MONDAY.

>>> THE COOK COUNTY PROMISE GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT IS READY TO TAKE OFF.

AT AN ENROLLMENT EVENT THIS WEEK, THE MORE THAN 3000 PARTICIPANTS WHO WERE SELECTED BY LOTTERY BECAME SET TO RECEIVE THEIR FIRST MONTHLY PAYMENT OF $500 ON DECEMBER 15th.

WE HEARD FROM COOK COUNTY PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE AS WELL AS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND ADMINISTRATORS ABOUT THEIR HOPES FOR THE PROGRAM.

>> THIS IS THE LARGEST GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT IN THE COUNTRY.

$42 MILLION.

WE WILL HAVE 3250 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD IN THE PILOT PROGRAM, AND THEN WE'VE DEDICATED RESOURCES TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM AFTER THE PILOT.

SO THIS WILL BE AN ONGOING INITIATIVE IN COOK COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

WE DEDICATED CANNABIS REVENUES TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM AND WILL BE LOOKING FOR OTHER REVENUE STREAMS, AS WELL.

>> WE ARE HOMELESS RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN A SHELTER RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE THREE KIDS, SO THIS MONEY IS A HELP AS I REALLY NEEDED TO SAVE UP SO I CAN BE ABLE TO GET A HOUSE ONE DAY, AND GET US OUT THE SHELTER.

BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS TO HAVE A STABLE JOB.

NOWADAYS, MOST OF THE JOBS THEY OFFER YOU IS REALLY NOT STABLE.

IT'S A TEMP , OR TEMPORARY JOB, OR SEASONAL JOB, BUT WHEN YOU DO GET A JOB, THEY'RE NOT PAYING YOU ENOUGH TO LIVE IN YOUR CITY, TO LIVE IN THE CITY, TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THE RENT GOING.

SO THIS IS WHY THIS IS A BIG HELP FOR US, AND MY FAMILY.

>> I GIVE DIRECTLY, HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERING PAST PROGRAMS AROUND THE WORLD .

WE HAVE FOUND ACROSS THE BOARD, CASH HELPS PEOPLE MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS.

IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO INVEST IN THEIR FUTURE.

>> I AM A CAREGIVER FOR MY MOM, SO I HAD TO LEAVE MY JOB TO DO THAT, AND THIS PROGRAM TAKES A LOT OF WORRY, STRESS OFF OF ME, IN THAT IT ALLOWS ME TO MAINTAIN SOME OF THOSE THINGS I HAD TO THINK ABOUT CHANGING.

I MAKE PLANS WITH THAT MONEY AND I CAN ALLOCATE IT TO DO THINGS OR CHANGE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.

THE FACT IS THAT YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT THAT COMING IN AND OVER TWO YEARS IT'S $12,000, SO IT'S A BIG HELP.

>> I WANT TO BE PART OF THE NATIONAL NARRATIVE THAT THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.

>> THE PILOT WILL LAST TWO YEARS, BUT AS YOU HEARD COOK COUNTY PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE MENTIONED, THE COUNTY'S PLAN IS TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM IN THE FUTURE, USING REVENUE FROM CANNABIS SALES.

>>> BIG CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS CAN MEAN BIG HEADACHES FOR NEIGHBORS.

THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER IS NO EXCEPTION.

RESIDENCE WE SPOKE WITH IN WOODLAWN SAY STREET CLOSURES, CHANGING LANE PATTERNS, AND TRUCK TRAFFIC ARE CREATING DELAYS AND CONFUSION FOR DRIVERS AND CTA PASSENGERS.

>> I HOPE SOMEBODY CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE I BARELY CAN WALK.

MY BACK HURTS, MY LEG IS MESSED UP AND I BARELY CAN WALK, AND I CAN'T BE OUT HERE STANDING LIKE THAT FOR KNOW OUR JUST TO WAIT ON CTA BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING CONSTRUCTION.

>> CONGESTION BECAUSE OF ALL THE TRAFFIC.

THEY'VE NARROWED TWO LANES DOWN TO ONE, AND WITH THE TWO LANES BE NARROWED DOWN TO ONE AND THEY'RE CONSTANTLY CHANGING THE WAY THAT THEIR CONES ARE SET UP, THEN PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO REALLY GO.

>> FOR HER PART, 20th WARD OLDER WOMAN JEANETTE TAYLORS HAS BETTER COMMUNICATION IS KEY TO EASING CONSTITUENT CONCERNS.

>> THE COMMUNITY IS GROWING, AND SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON, BUT CLASSIC CITY OF CHICAGO.

WE WORK IN SILOS, SO THE LEFT HAND DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT HAND IS DOING, AND THE CONSTITUENCY ARE LEFT OUT IN BETWEEN.

SO WE'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB OF WORKING WITH CBOT AND THE FOUNDATION TO INFORM PEOPLE HOW TO GET AROUND.

PEOPLE HAVE TO GET TO WORK.

THAT'S HOW THIS CITY RUNS, BECAUSE PEOPLE WORK, SO WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE IT OUT .

>> IN A STATEMENT, THE OBAMA FOUNDATION SAYS, QUOTE, WE KNOW TRAFFIC CHANGES ARE NEVER EASY, AND WE ARE WORKING WITH CDOT TO BE SURE DRIVERS HAVE PLENTY OF ADVANCE NOTICE AND ALTERNATE ROUTES FOR ANY CHANGES.

THE CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY SAYS, QUOTE, THE SCHEDULE AND IMPACT OF PROJECT WORK IS DETERMINED BY THE CONTRACTOR.

CTA WILL ADJUST ITS BUS SERVICES ACCORDINGLY.

RECENT NEARBY PROJECT WORK HAS CREATED SOME INSTANCES OF UNSAFE BOARDING AND ALIGHTING CONDITIONS FOR CTA CUSTOMERS, RESULTING IN UNPLANNED, TEMPORARY BUS STOP CHANGES.

CTA HAS BEEN COORDINATING WITH THE CONTRACTOR TO ASSURE A.D.A.

ACCESSIBILITY.

FOR MORE ON WOODLAWN INCLUDING CONCERNS ABOUT HOUSING IN THE AREA, AS WELL AS EXCITEMENT FROM A LOCAL YMCA ABOUT FUTURE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CENTER, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE, THAT'S THE BEAUTY TW.COM/NEWS.

WE'RE BACK WITH DETAILS ABOUT A UNIQUE COLLABORATION, RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> MUSICIAN NIKO SIEGEL AND CONTEMPORARY ARTIST NICO WASHINGTON ARE ENGAGING YOUNG ARTISTS IN A CREATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL NONPROFIT, PLAY TOGETHER.

THE COLLABORATION IS ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO CREATE EITHER ARTWORK OR MUSIC BASED ON PROMPTS SIEGEL AND WASHINGTON CREATED FOR THE PROJECT.

FOR WASHINGTON, THAT'S A MURAL THAT'S NOW UP AT THE MERRICK SCHOOL OF MUSIC, AND FOR SIEGEL, IT'S A MUSICAL COMPOSITION.

THE ARTISTS SHARE THEIR CREATIVE PROCESS BEHIND EACH OF THEIR PIECES, AS WELL AS WHY THEY BELIEVE ANY UPCOMING ARTISTS SHOULD APPLY, EVEN IF THEY ARE UNSURE OF HOW TO PURSUE A PATH AS AN ARTIST.

>> I'VE ADDED A THEME TO IT OF THIS DUALITY THAT I FELT IN HIS PIECE.

THERE'S A CHARACTER AND THEN THERE'S ALMOST A SHADOW LIKE CHARACTER OF THAT CHARACTER, A SHADOW LIKE VERSION OF THAT CHARACTER.

SO IN MY MUSICAL PIECE I ADDED A SECOND SECTION TOWARDS THE END THAT FEELS ALMOST LIKE THE REPRISE OR THE SHADOW VERSION OF THE FIRST HALF OF THE PIECE.

AND OBVIOUSLY NICO, THERE'S A LOT OF THEMES HERE OF DUALITY, SO I WANTED TO SHOWCASE THAT IN THE MUSIC.

>> THE MURAL ITSELF, I WANTED TO CAPTURE LIKE A YOUNG ENERGY, LIKE WHERE I WAS INITIALLY AS A KID.

LEARNING AND STUFF AND LEARNING NEW TECHNIQUES FOR PAINTING OR MUSIC NOTES OR LEARNING HOW TO PLAY THE DRUMS, OR ALL THAT NATURE, I WANTED TO SHOW THAT ENERGY IN THE FORM OF INTERPOLATING IT , MUSIC AS PAINT STROKES.

YOU LEARN MORE FROM LOSING THAN YOU DO FROM WINNING, SO I ALWAYS THINK YOU SHOULD TRY, AND IF YOU FAIL, USE THAT AS A LESSON.

SO I WAS NOT GOOD AT ANYTHING WHEN I FIRST STARTED, ESPECIALLY THAT, SO THAT MADE ME WANT TO BE BETTER AT IT.

IT MADE ME WANT TO LEARN HOW TO DO THINGS AND GET BETTER AT IT .

SO I THINK NOT KNOWING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD THING IN OUR WORLD, BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU OPEN TO A LOT MORE POSSIBILITIES FOR INSPIRATION AND EXPERIMENTATION, JUST YOU IN FINDING YOUR VOICE THROUGH THIS.

>> SELECTED WINNERS WILL RECEIVE A $500 SCHOLARSHIP AND BE FEATURED IN A PIECE OF DIGITAL ART KNOWN AS AN NFT ALONGSIDE THE WORK OF WASHINGTON AND SIEGEL.

APPLICATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED ON A ROLLING BASIS.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WT TW.COM/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FORM WT TW NEWS.

WE WILL BE OFF NEXT WEEKEND FOR THE THINGS GIVING HOLIDAY, BUT YOU CAN JOIN ME AT PARIS SCHUTZ MONDAY AT 7:00 ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES", I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT .