>> And thanks for joining us on Chicago tonight.

Black voices, I'm Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

Chicago Alderman on how to address the city's billion dollar budget deficit as an end of year.

Deadline looms.

And former mayoral candidate Willie Wilson supports a federal military deployment to Chicago is here to explain why.

>> First off Tonight, Day one of the federal government shutdown is in the books and despite the shutdown's impact across government services, Governor JB Pritzker says he expects President Donald Trump to continue with his plans to send military troops to Illinois.

>> Unfortunately, the president is likely to keep.

The militarization going.

He can do that.

there because there are emergency personnel and military personnel that he can keep on the job.

He's likely to do that.

>> Earlier this week, Pritzker said the Department of Homeland Security was seeking the deployment of 100 military troops to protect federal immigration agents in Illinois after the arrest of protesters over the weekend at a facility in west suburban Broadview.

Trump has also repeatedly threatened to send the military into Chicago in recent months to address crime in the city despite falling violent crime rates.

We'll have more on calls for the National Guard to come to Chicago later in the program.

Pope Leo has waded into a debate over abortion after U.S.

Senator Durbin declined an award from Chicago.

Cardinal Blase Cupich Cupich had planned to give Durbin a lifetime achievement award recognizing his work helping immigrants.

But some conservative U.S.

bishops objected over the senator's stance on abortion rights.

Pope Leo was asked about it late last night by a reporter with Catholic broadcaster EWTN News.

>> It's important to look many issues that are related to what is the teaching of the church, someone who says I'm against abortion but says I'm in favor of the death penalty is not really pro life.

someone who says I'm against abortion, but I'm in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants United States.

I don't know if it's pro life.

So they're very complex issues.

I don't know if anyone has all the truth on them.

>> The pope went on to ask the faithful for greater respect for one another.

A new report on sudden infant deaths in Cook County shows a gaping racial disparity.

Black infants died at 14 times.

The rate of white infants.

>> It's a luxury to love on your child.

So my heart breaks for those parents who don't have that opportunity.

But I want you to know that it's not your fault when things happen are unsafe.

Living conditions are sometimes created by socioeconomic status.

Is we don't always desire to have those conditions, but we don't have a choice.

So again, it's not your fault.

>> The report from the Cook County Medical Examiner and Rush University System for health examined every unexpected infant deaths from 2019 to 2023. showing 208 babies died.

The report shows 99% of them happened when the infant was sleeping in an unsafe environment such as sharing a bed with an adult or in a space with soft items like blankets or pillows or sleeping in baby loungers or nursing pillows.

sleep-related infant deaths declined modestly in 2022.

23 officials say there's work ahead to raise awareness about safe infant, sleeping practices.

And it's on to game 3 for the Chicago Cubs after a 3, nothing lost to the San Diego Padres.

The Padres took a one.

Nothing lead in the first inning followed by a 2 run homer for Manny Machado in the 5th game.

3 in the wild-card series is scheduled for 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

Back at Wrigley Field.

It'll determine which team faces the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.

Up next, how the city plans to navigate a billion dollar budget deficit.

Will top of some members of the Chicago City Council right after this.

>> Chicago tonight, black voices he's made possible in part by the support of these donors.

>> It's a busy budget season Chicago and the city is staring down a whopping billion dollar shortfall next year.

City officials have until the end of December to come up with a plan on how to address it.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is set to present his budget plan to City Council on October.

16th.

Joining us now are 2 members of that council Alderman Jason Ervin of the 28th Ward on the city's west side.

He's also chair of the city's budget Committee and Alderman Matt Marton of the 47th Ward on the city's north side.

Gentlemen, thanks to both for being here.

Alderman are going to start with you.

The mayor released his budget forecast at the end of August.

And as we mentioned, it shows a 1.1 5 billion dollar budget gap.

Now, that is 2.7% higher than expected and 14% higher than last year's shortfall.

And here's actually a little bit of the mayor and he's talking about his task forces, his budget task forces, preliminary report.

>> One of the things that I that it's clear that the working group fully established that we do not have a spending problem in Chicago.

We have a revenue challenge in Chicago and that's an important conclusion that I believe was necessary for.

The people Chicago to year.

>> Alderman Irvine, you agree with that characterization that it is not the spending problem.

That's the revenue problem.

I think it's both know that we have some revenue challenges, but we also need to become more efficient in how we deliver services for the more we need to do a better job of managing our risk.

So we don't continue to get into all of these lawsuits and things that we continue to see all the time is not like these.

A onetime situations.

These things continue to happen.

So I think there's some work that we can do on the expense side of the ledger.

But also there is a definite need for additional revenue in order to balance this out.

I don't think we can cut our way out of this situation.

Nor do I think we can tax our way out of this situation.

When you say risks and lawsuits were kind of?

Well, so, for example, I mean, you know, certain things.

Light poles falling on people.

That's something I think we should be able to get a handle on and be able to do with tripping hazards from sidewalks.

Those are things that we know about that.

If we address them in a more frequent manner, the Indy's don't lead to lie.

We spend 1000 books, a 500,000 books, types of things.

point, of course, 72 Tw has done extensive reporting on the amount that the city has paid out in police, misconduct, settlements and lawsuits.

>> that something that?

Yes part of part of the reforms in the police department, those are things that we need to be looking at.

And those are things that from a risk perspective, we can bring down the cost of doing business stand that that eats into that 1.1, 5 billion dollar deficit Alderman Matt Martin.

Same question to you with regards to whether or not the city has a spending problem or revenue problem.

>> It's a I think we have to start off by that this is the decades in the making.

This U.S.

or physical.

management that it involves tentative name arrived at the station of party leaders to silently anywhere significant to come on the wrist when it comes to >> By medieval literally to get really where they they don't think this is just a remnant We know were sent to We have hundreds vacant positions spread across apartments that have been debated over a Think it's incredibly important that we on council loafers tighten our belts.

Before we go to taxpayers asking them just in the morning.

>> So last month, the mayor's budget task force, as we mentioned, releasing its preliminary report recommending 89 fix is to add one to 2 billion dollars to in revenue to the city's coffers.

Most notably in annual property tax hike or a tax hike tied to inflation last year.

Are you all voted unanimously against the mayor's first proposal of a property tax alderman Martin, could you get behind one this year or in the future based on the recommendations of this task force?

>> I don't think appropriate for us to take anything off the table at this early stage.

Is that billion dollar project?

That's huge.

Just to put that into perspective, that's all what we said.

The van are tired.

Robots for CBD or we cut the entire Department of Streets and sanitation.

We would still have 800 million dollar gap.

So I we need to take a look at those proposal.

Seriously, when I got into office as way 19, I campaigned on a viewing property taxes as a last resort, not saying under no circumstances.

But look at the other things and what I would like to see do, especially being led by the mayor's office is to foster more constructive relationship in Springfield.

To be clear, have their but they But at the end of the day, if we're talking about asking individuals organizations who are best position to chip that's going to something that we do working in collaboration Springfield and today we seen and I results coming from those >> Alderman Urban property taxes based on the recommendation of a task force.

I think that property taxes can be part of the conversation.

Again, once we look at the expense side of this conversation, think we can look at that.

One thing that we have to you know, under the daily use, you know, as they say, property taxes has been the 3rd rail of politics.

But if we had of kind of had the incremental CPR type increases over time, if you go back from the 80's and into the 90's, we'd be at the same point that we are today.

But we still own our park and it is we still on the Skyway.

So these situations where we have flat taxes for period and then have to shoot them up, go back flat again to shoot them up is not best way to manage a man.

Is revenue noise a fiscally responsible because it puts us in these positions where we selling things that we really should have in order to continue continue moving forward.

>> city Council cannot apply a sales tax on services the way it does on goods without the support of the state without state approval.

How do you convince state officials to allow you to do that?

Well, I think it's a modernization.

We have a sales tax program this based in the 1930's economy.

And here we are almost 100 years later with a different type of economy.

>> Many states around us have made the move to a more more progressive, a more reasonable sales taxes on services.

I think it's awful.

I'm going to do the same thing again.

It would actually lower the tax rate that's being paid and again generate additional revenue that both the state needs and the unity government need as well.

>> closing the budget gap.

You know, like you both have said it is a mix right to it will also mean raising revenue but also cutting some services, such a CA going be prepared to see some services scale back.

>> a possibility for sure be the balances.

But he delivers way, I look at public safety services, infrastructure services as things that are going to be provided by other levels of government.

That's got to be responsibility.

So we need to ensure that they were looking under everything the department, which is we should avoiding progresses, fines fees.

We also IPO bowl with city services that people need because the end of the we want garbage service to happen less frequently.

Absolutely.

No number, we really been to him or her know.

Do we 3 lights and traffic lights few days or weeks longer than is already the case Celine?

Not it's finding that right balance of saying what are those over to service how are we going pay for them?

And how can we show that?

We are being more efficient work recently responsible >> Chicago missed the deadline, which was today to keep that one percent grocery tax in place.

That's worth 40 million dollars for the city.

Alton Martin.

First, you any appetite to reinstate that.

And if you did, you wouldn't be able to start collecting on until July of next year.

>> I haven't talked with many residents who are interested in a slim lead.

And that is one of the many tools to fill yet.

And to be clear, we do know a lot great options before us.

A guy like goes to look at other properties that have been in have to take intentionally decided to them being flanked by properties that are being family members we can look into And also continuing talk about are looking share of the state income tax to 10% about COVID.

Even 20 years ago.

36%.

I wonder we could go and conversation available support with the work they need to do.

And simultaneously reduce some of the benefit that they're thinking.

Looking at an so that polls, it is going to be much better than that people are asleep >> of and I agree with all of them are new and that is so I think that we have to look at this holistically.

We have to come up stable, predictable revenue sources that will allow us to do the business of government.

You know, a dollar here, a dollar there, fine and fee.

And are we to this particular point?

is not how we're going to make this last in the long term.

Now, granted, there are some things that need to be adjusted as some of these fees are based on the work of the working group have not been adjusted in a number of years.

And I think we need to right-size those things and set them on inflationary track so that we don't have to revisit.

Those are going forward.

But again, we have to really dig in and work with our partners at the state level.

Look at a bunch of bunch of options so that we can have a revenue mix that is stable and predictable that we can operate government last year.

You all didn't get a budget proposal until the end of October or almost the process went well into December, which was a bit frightening think for a lot of officials.

>> About 20 seconds, are you anticipating a smoother process this year?

Has the mayor's office been?

>> Proving you that proving to won't be quite a scare, I did I think that the scary news will come Monday decisions that have to be made right?

>> So we'll get the budget on the 16th as propose and we'll have to figure out a path parts of the last Tuesday in a in December.

So pretty I'm hopeful that we will get it done.

I think the options we have to discuss and we just have to make some decisions that when boils down Congo and hopeful that you will get it much sooner as well.

I hope that we do as well.

But however, you know, generally time, you know, county can work for you and sometimes you can work against you.

But the fact that we actually have to pass a budget does mean something best of luck to both Alderman Matt Martin Alderman Jason Ervin, thanks to Thank you for And on a programming note, next, Monday will be joined in studio by Mayor Johnson himself to discuss the city budget and more.

>> Up next, former mayoral candidate Willie Wilson on whether Chicago needs federal troops to fight crime.

Threats of military deployment from the federal government are ratcheting up following the arrest of 5 protesters outside an ICE facility in suburban Broadview.

The Trump administration now reportedly plans to send around 100 military troops to as the administration claims protect immigration agents.

The president doubled down on his desire to unleash military, strengthen American cities yesterday.

>> San Francisco, Chicago.

New York, Los Angeles.

It's very unsafe places.

And we're going to straighten that one by one.

And this is going to be a major part for some of the people in this room.

That's a word war from within Joe.

Pete, we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for.

Our military.

>> Governor JB Pritzker panned President Trump's comments calling them appalling.

Here's the governor earlier this week.

>> The MAGA Republicans supported invasion of Portland.

Chicago.

La.

And Washington, D.C., is not making us any safer.

Instead, it is putting our people in danger that's not preventing crime.

As Donald Trump claims that's threatening public safety.

>> Local businessman and former political candidate including runs for mayor of Chicago.

Willie Wilson is in support of a harsher crackdown on crime and says he would welcome National Guard troops into the city.

And Willie Wilson joins us now.

Welcome back.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Have so.

So so far, Los Angeles, DC, Memphis, they've all seen military deployments.

We heard the president mentioning addressing the issue of violent crime.

Pritzker says the Trump administration wants to deploy 100 troops to Chicago.

We know that the Oregon National Guard is also working to comply with the president's call for 200 troops in Portland.

Other spots in the country are under consideration.

New Orleans as well as in Missouri.

How would you envision a National Guard operation playing out in Chicago?

>> Well, anything that have to say live because of a and turns a lie because of fact that I assigned to about.

And many also a lot of people lose a kid.

Do people do get caught?

They've been going on for you.

You nobody get caught.

No.

As saying to Kim, about 2 people who lost a loved one.

And then we go.

We lose a loved one.

Have you lie?

Go down into the great with that loved one.

for people like the governor and then Mia, say they don't want Magic guard and to city.

Well, they seem to have most us, too.

But people got away.

Then put the ones who lost loved ones.

Do you think deployment of the National Guard would somehow assist in catching the people who commit those crimes?

What happened Washington, D.C.?

>> I was a windy yesterday.

notify.

I'm saying to me that going on now.

>> You gotta They 5000 to 2000 people.

Police officers short.

Why not take advantage of?

Does he have president got a great food mix together top work pain time together so we stop crime.

I think that that would help because proven to help and to DC and these other Why fight it?

This is our turn pain that don't look, fail as if they fail.

don't want nobody to come in here and you have get situation right.

>> So New York Times analyzed how National Guard activity in DC was changing local policing there and they find found the crime did fall significantly.

finding that more than 50% of arrests accounted for drug and gun offenses, including those who had a license to carry weapons in surrounding states but did not possess a DC permit traffic and other minor violations accounted for 18%, violent or property crimes made up 9% of cases that federal agents were involved in.

And so there's lowering some of these crimes.

But there's also Sarah difference between, of course, on preventing crime, right and stopping it from happening and solving murder cases in like some of ones that that you reference?

>> Well, I think in the bow.

National Guard.

You need program and play helping people that.

Creigh School, you know, haven't the senior citizen get food.

They too scared to come out home.

You know.

>> So you talk about a lot of the social issues that that many advocates talk about that need fixing.

We're working on that would also lend itself to lowering violence and crime yet.

But you have to hold people accountable.

>> You cannot have your.

So over here without holding people accountable.

Here.

that is problem right there.

So but I think problem right here it this year.

Okay, Senate to do I want to talk about him and to right.

Okay.

I know the whys in DC.

He stopped me from testify on a subject that point right?

He took me back to Jim Crow days right?

And my my okay.

He did not want citizens Chicago to know that I was dead to testify and top him foam containers too.

Not take 10 support.

Community like man committed while most of the crimes that.

Yeah, Latina community there as well and it and well into why community.

But he stopped me from doing that.

And it was How did how did that, how preventing you from testifying?

We did get a statement from Senator Durbin, which here in a minute.

But how did that take you back to Jim Crow days, sir?

>> Well, you know, don't own a one people down south.

They stop you.

You can go in certain places.

They stopped it right and big stop.

>> Biden prevented from traveling testify at that hearing.

You statement that we did receive from Senator Durbin reads, quote, Willie Wilson was scheduled as a witness for the majority decision to invite all the majority witnesses and subsequently to condense the panels and drop Wilson from the hearing was ultimately made by Chairman Grassley and his staff.

But you say that it was not Chairman Grassley, that it was actually Senator Durbin.

Here's what it all meant.

Staff said that that was a long book.

>> And had a law on the books and had been about a run against a particular Senate is set on the committee.

That they could not testify.

That was All right.

so OK, fine.

But then at the what I call that, thank you, chairman.

And I well, I guess the reason why couldn't get on it because law he's a now.

It was not It There's curry us today.

He gave to Durbin because ask them to do so.

Okay.

>> I want to get back to the National Guard in crime in Chicago because we know from CPD data that violent crime in the city had been trending say for a spike during the pandemic of violence.

Prevention experts, the mayor attribute that drop in violence to interruption, measures pushed more resources like the ones that you mentioned, education, jobs and involved community policing approach.

Are you concerned that military troops who may not be with Chicago in the police community relations here, that they could come in and hurt any progress.

The city has already made?

>> No, I don't think so.

I don't think that's true at all.

I think the mayor of Milan arrests taking to Chicago to you in.

He point police off about schools and things that nature.

I think that from I happened with the next guy comes and to support what they If you can 20 people, 5 people getting killed.

That it's a plus the right.

The last would say is too, is that.

couple weeks and ago, 54 people got shot.

that killed.

And he's and crime going down.

we all feel it into the community.

>> And I think think was the school board that allowed schools to make the pulling off police officers from school.

But to the point of the National Guard, they don't have law enforcement training.

They don't have arrest authority.

Of course.

What do you say to the critics of this move like the mayor like the governor who think that the presence of federal agents is actually just stoking fear.

>> I think, look, you've got to some different and people lose their lives or we can.

You got to crack them different you continue live and we can't.

Chicago is smaller than New York City.

But more try.

And I don't buy at all.

You know?

>> You don't let the mayor and a governor moves someone and they famine.

If that was the case, why didn't they have 100 companies office on him?

And people have police office on him as well.

just help share that people in the community A&M R and I know this is an issue that is personal to you.

As you mentioned, losing your son 30 years ago to gun Sorry for your loss.

>> And thank you for joining us here this evening.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

And that is our show for this Wednesday night.

Join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10.

>> Now for all of us here in Chicago tonight, Black Voices and Brandis Friedman, thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe and have a good night.

>> Closed captioning is made possible by Robert a and Clifford law, offices personal injury, law firm gives back to