>> Hello and thanks for joining us on Chicago tonight.

Black voices.

I'm Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

>> When I ran for office, I promise to tell people the truth.

That I the mayor reverses a campaign pledge and proposes a property tax hike to avoid cuts to services.

>> As former President Obama stumps for Harris, a look at the impact black men could happen next week's election.

>> And why advocates are calling the lack of funding in early childhood services.

In Illinois, a crisis.

First off tonight, Mayor Brandon Johnson is calling for a 300 million dollar property tax hike.

>> Saying he had no choice but to break one of his central campaign promises in order to avoid cuts to services and thousands of layoffs.

Here's what Johnson told older people this morning at City Hall about his 17 billion dollar spending plan.

>> This is tough.

It is something that I grappled with for weeks and weeks.

We didn't make this decision.

I would certainly much rather tax the rich.

>> W t Tw News reporter Heather Sharon joins us now from City Hall with more on the proposed tax hike.

Heather Johnson's at the property tax increase, which would be the biggest since 2016 is necessary to close that 982.3 million dollar budget shortfall.

What would it mean for Chicagoans?

>> Well, if you own a home worth about $250,000 it will likely mean that your property tax bill will increase between $22240 a year.

Now that is on top of any increase in the value of your property.

And that is all under way by the Cook County assessor's office.

So this could have a big impact on Chicagoans who have been struggling to stay in their homes amid rising property values.

It is also, as you said, the largest property tax increase in nearly a decade.

And it comes on the Hill heels of a pretty significant increase over the years with Chicagoans paying a significant amount more in property taxes to fund the city's basic services such as police, fire and garbage pickup.

>> Heather House is Johnson propose closing that gap?

>> Well, as mayors have done in the past, he relies on a pool of funds dedicated to fighting blight across the city.

city's tax increment financing districts he says has 570 million dollars in surplus funds that ongoing projects projects don't need.

So he declared those to be in surplus, sending about 130 million dollars to the city and 330 million dollars to the Chicago Public Schools.

Now, we've talked a lot about that agency's financial crisis that will help the schools make a required pension payment of about 175 million dollars.

But it is not enough to potentially avoid having to file or make cuts to the district's operations.

They still don't know how they would pay for a new contract for teachers and principals leaving a lot of unknown questions.

This evening.

Yeah, a lot of a lot of questions, Heather.

So the mayor spending plan also proposes.

>> Making that additional payment to the city's for pension funds funds.

But why not cancel that payment?

then maybe avoid the need for that property tax hike.

>> Well, that is what a lot of older people are asking tonight in all the city will pay more than 2.8 billion dollars into its for pension funds which are all woefully underfunded.

The mayor fiercely defended this proposal saying that if the city does not make additional payment, the city will have to pay billions more over the next several years.

And it will threaten the safety and security of the pensions that thousands of former city employees rely on to pay their bills.

Now that they're no longer working, that is going to be the subject of good deal of controversy during the upcoming hearings because if you if the city did not make that additional payment, they could cancel the property tax increase, but it could also potentially mean that it would cost the city more to borrow money if Wall Street age rating agencies lower the city's credit rating.

>> And no easy answers.

There thrown at City Hall for us.

Thank you.

And you can read Heather's full story on our website.

It's all at W T Tw Dot com slash news.

And now to some more.

Today's top stories Election Day is next Tuesday.

And if you're planning on voting day of there is a new resource available.

If you have trouble at the polls, the U.S. Attorney's office in Chicago is announcing a telephone hotline to receive complaints related to the voting process like discrimination, intimidation, threats of violence directed at poll workers or election officials and election fraud.

You can find the hotline numbers on our website.

And while you're there, be sure to check out our voter tool box, it has the information that you need to know ahead of casting your ballot, including which offices are up for election.

You can find that at W T Tw dot com slash voter guide.

police are still investigating whether the shooting of an Orthodox Jewish man over the weekend should be charged as a hate crime.

The state is rolling out a new service to report acts of hate.

>> When you report online or call to help stop a team will connect you with resources and supports Taylor to your experience, your identity or community and where you live.

Your reports will help will also help prevent the escalation of hate in the future.

>> Officials today launched help stop hate a statewide service allowing people to report a hate act they've experienced or witnessed.

The state says it is not affiliated with law enforcement and the reports can be made anonymously.

Officials say they'll collect data from the reports made either online or by phone to better understand what communities are experiencing.

Acts of hate in the final resources to those areas.

The FBI says hate crimes reached an all-time high in 2023. with nearly 12,000 incidents reported.

new report says Illinois gun laws are among the strictest in the nation.

But that hasn't led to reduce violence in Chicago.

>> opposition accounts were massive portion of conveys incarceration and county and confirmation on discharge organ, the liveries anywhere from Kenny through The relief effort hessel our criminal legal system is the washingon possession cases and that strategy has failed to keep us safe.

>> Cook County Public defender, Sharon Mitchell joining the Chicago Appleseed Center for care Courts in announcing their new report analyzing policies that have led to the so-called hyper criminalization of gun possession.

The data says while arrests for gun possession in Chicago have increased from 2 to more than 10% of all arrests in the last 20 years.

The number of injuries and deaths by guns is not decreased.

The group also says Black and Latino communities or twice victimized as both impacted by gun violence and also criminalized for gun possession.

At 97 years Young, the founder of Johnson products Company thinks maybe it's finally time to write that men wore George E Johnson founder, the company, which was the first black owned company to be listed on the American Stock Exchange.

And of course, is the maker of culture Sheen.

And after Sheen hair products, Johnson products was also the financial sponsor of the musical Variety show.

Soul Train.

The memoir titled Afro Sheen.

How I Revolutionize an industry with the Golden Rule from Soul Train to Wall Street is COVID.

And with author Hilary Beard and a set to be released in February.

Up next, one key group that could help tip the election right after this.

>> Chicago tonight Black is made possible in part by the support of these.

Don't use.

>> New polling shows black men might be shifting their attitudes about who to vote for next week's presidential election just 6 days away in case you haven't heard the black male vote has turned into a crucial block this election with both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump making an appeal to get their votes here to talk more about what's at stake are Gary Gardner, co-founder of The We got a vote Billboard campaign and Devin Jones, Republican committeeman of the 18th Ward and chairman of the South Side Republicans.

Thank you both for joining us today.

We appreciate it.

Thank you so first.

I want to why do you think the black male vote has become such a deciding factor in this electoral cycle area?

Start with you.

Please.

>> measures black male voters much young.

generational difference is I think all young people back in April when we heard the pundits in the Journal is saying that, but were going to a vote in November.

I think they were talking really about all young man that just disenfranchised, that their choices were to be 2.80, year-olds.

And with that democracies, certain feel like it to me.

So think I understood the frustration.

I shoulders with a young black man every day.

So I really didn't hear that sentiment that they weren't going to vote.

They weren't allowed the Democratic Party to take the votes for granted.

They had to earn their vote.

And I think that may be that Democrats were slow to do that, to realize that.

But I think Kamala hazard to come up to speed and made.

I think a really credible, strong case to black men and we will turn up next week.

Devon, same question to >> Yeah, you know, I would agree with what you but also because we've seen such a seismic shift in and where people are voting, what no one seems to hard aligned to anyone right now, especially black people.

see people go into City Hall, you know, say of Chicago's going red, Black, Chicago's go red.

So I think debts.

that has has been the case nationwide.

And I think that's why you're seeing a hyper focus on black men, black women and even on other groups young people.

I'm a millennial myself.

So so we are all over the place with who were supporting saw.

I think that people are done with the old alignments and allowing political parties to take advantage of them.

>> Gary, you and your wife.

You started the billboard campaign.

We got votes in the spring in a world that has gone digital.

Why did you choose this tactic to reach out to the to the younger voters that that we're talking about?

Yeah, well, I think there's plenty of people in the program in the party.

They're doing the digital campaigns.

But world school.

>> And what we knew we had to do was couple things, one, reach out to black men to give them an invitation.

>> We think that the billboard campaign only identify them got a chance to celebrate them.

These guys are seeing themselves.

We picked up these likely logo weeks.

She's gotta have So it's kind of a cute of logo and slogan.

We hope not voting is not an option becomes a mandate.

And then my way came up with we can't go back 4 months ago and the Democratic Convention kicked it up?

I guess great minds think alike.

making it a billboard makes a celebration of these guys.

We knew that we had to do images.

And we have 3 different images and we hope at least half of the what population of young men see themselves and one of those.

But more importantly of young black.

Yeah.

Like the board hoping that that appeal to more importantly their family see them and celebrate them.

>> Devin, last time you joined us, he said that one of the most concerning issues for black men was the was.

>> We're financial issues, lack of economic growth among the community since then by Vice President Harris has come out with opportunity agenda for black men.

Do you think that addresses your concerns at all?

>> I don't think I think that many of us feel like if it was going to be done, it would have already been done or rolled out sonar.

So I think people are still looking at at other options.

And again, you know, it's not just Vice President Harris is an entire apparatus on one side or the other that people I I looking to to break.

And again, that's why you're seeing this.

This shift of of of a sizable minority of people who are looking at other options.

So yesterday Harris did an interview with radio host Charlamagne the God and they asked her to speak on the topic of whether black men are supporting or he's a listen.

>> I mean, I was just it's a barbershop Philly talking with very incredible and distinguished men who are leaders in their community and small business and education.

And these men, these black men were talking about not only their support for me, but most importantly, to support from my but back what we can do that lit up the community and happened to the ambitions and the aspiration.

>> you think are messaging these last few weeks has reached the voters that she needs to reach?

I think she's really come on strong.

>> I'm really excited about the 3 million new homes being Now with that, bring the cut, the supply will bring the cost of housing down.

But if done right, it really will be a great opportunity for black men to become a bill could literally building the homes of their community.

>> A recent NAACP poll, as we mentioned, found that the likelihood that black men under 50 years old will vote for Trump has decreased from 27 to 21%.

And the likelihood for Harris has increased from 51 to 59%.

Now, I think we've all.

Questioned validity of our polls in recent But Devin, what do you make of this?

What you think that is?

>> You know, I think I want to see what questions were asked.

I will haven't seen the science behind this or what they what they actually asked.

I don't.

>> think as I have talked to people on on the ground, vice President Harris goes to barber shops.

I go to barber shops.

I go to different places.

>> And there's sizable minority of of black man who are not voting for, you know, and and so weathers.

21% or 29%.

That's still a significant amount of people that that are rejecting one of the policies of Trump's that you think will be helpful for black men, the black community and what what is the tracks?

>> Them I think people trust his his economic policies, those that are voting for him, trust economic policies because of what they saw in his 4 years.

As as president people saw more money in their pocket, they saw the ability to be able to for things like gas for their cars, utilities and their homes, groceries, basic basic And we have not seen that under the last 3 and a half almost 4 years.

>> Guerrier slogan, States not voting is not an option.

That's on the bottom part of your But there's some folks who might still be planning to withhold.

Maybe they are just not comfortable with either of these candidates.

What do you say to them?

>> We've got to change that.

You know, we have got to understand that voting gives us a place sit at the table.

I'm not only here in the national election, but in the local elections.

We're we look up and find out that the state legislatures have given our rights away have restricted our children.

So hopefully this is just the beginning.

It has to be a mandate and I hope this becomes a legacy and not just a campaign slogan.

We know that polled the race has been extremely tight with just got a few seconds left But what do you think it is that holding her back from being able to tip this election in her favor?

>> I think she's got I think our guys didn't want to be taken for granted.

But once they get in the booth and this campaign was competing to get that in the there's no choice.

There's only one choice.

>> Only one choice on, you know, both candidates gave their final pitches last night.

What would you like to hear from them the first?

>> You know, I think this is a you know, we've heard all that we can hear.

Now it's up us to take whose values we we aligned with and actually vote.

And I think people are are taking this very seriously this time.

Okay?

I think so.

That's a good place to leave it.

Good luck next week, gentlemen, if you haven't already voted.

>> Gary Gardner and Evan Jones, appreciate you.

>> Up next, calls for Illinois to step up its funding for the state's youngest.

Stay with us.

Babies can't wait and neither can.

Illinois families, according to the nonprofit, start early, that group is launching a campaign that aims to draw attention to the gaps in early childhood development services advocates are calling on Governor JB Pritzker to increase early intervention funding by 60 million dollars to tackle staffing shortages and delays in treatment.

Joining us now with more are Karen Berman, senior director at start early and Jacqueline Vasquez, parent and Advocate.

Thanks to you both for joining us.

We appreciate it.

Thank you having So Karen Berman first, if you would tell us, you know, about the importance of those early years that 0 to 3 in a child's life well, the first 3, their years of life when we see the most opportunity for development, it's when the brain is in its.

>> Highest developmental period.

In fact, 80% development occurs during those years.

So understanding when there's concerns and intervening as early as possible is critical to having the best outcomes for success in school and in life.

>> Check-in desk.

As I understand, you benefited from from using early intervention for several of your children when they were little.

How are they helpful for you and your family?

>> So out of 4 children, 3 received early intervention services and the earlier we start with intervention, the later vote, the least amount of interventions we need to apply later in life.

My oldest is now 10 and he is doing wonderful.

He had low muscle tone head to toe and I had twins and the pandemic.

One of my girls is ventilator dependent.

And with that rate, G 2.

So we received all of the 3rd, the various services between developmental physical we had occupational nutrition vision, orientation and mobility and with all of them, we had it when apply for services.

Unfortunately, during the pandemic, we were unable to get all of them to come into our home.

So we had to make the concession to have services via zoom.

My background is that of early childhood special education educator.

So I was very familiar with how that with where to look and how to make all that come together.

Can you imagine for parents who don't have that knowledge, you don't know where to go?

Absolutely.

And I'm also knowledgeable about systems and how to navigate the system.

So I played all of my background knowledge into supporting my children to be successful for potential opt into meeting their potential optimal life outcomes.

And I imagine pandemic or not to have that many therapists kids full disclosure.

My has employed earlier intervention as well to have those services coming into the home, especially to help with such a little people.

I can imagine.

>> That makes a big difference.

Huge.

We only had one provider able to come into our home at that point.

But with the time that they spent with us, we were able to take that knowledge, be a zoom or in person and apply all day every day through play to help my child who was unable to walk, crawl walk.

She's now dancing, jumping, running and in school in a blend a classroom with her son, twin sister Grace.

A lot of difference.

It made for huge differently.

There.

So you all care and have launched the babies can't wait campaign to draw attention to the increased need for funding.

>> One of the challenges that you all draw attention to is providers are leaving a new report that since 2019, nearly 500 have left the state.

What is causing that?

>> So unfortunately, we've had many years of compensation neglect for this workforce.

It's important to know that these providers are speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapist, developmental therapist.

Many have advanced degrees and there's been research done now in the state in order to fix this problem, showing that these providers really need a 50% rate increase in order to pay them a competitive in really livable wage.

It's also important for people to know that these providers are traveling and coming into holes, though, the way early intervention works support for the child.

But it's also support for the family.

It's really important to do these interventions in the context of family of a child's routines.

And so these providers are not paid for missed appointments for transportation.

They don't have health benefits.

So the rate that we provide them needs to cover all of those expenses.

Right now they're only able to bill for one of every 3 hours.

They work.

So if they're leaving the state, what does that mean for families and for children who need their services?

That's what's leading to the historically high waiting list.

We have doubled the waiting less than we have ever had since 2021 since before the pandemic this summer leaving the state.

But honestly, many are leaving.

Just tickle work in schools are in hospitals or private clinics where they can get paid a much higher wage.

It's also important for people to know.

>> That early intervention is a program under the federal law, families are legally entitled to receive these services.

And that's because the research is so clear both the importance of these services for developmental outcomes, but also the cost savings that state's chief when deliver these services as early as possible.

Of course, we know you are having rallies across the state to bring attention to this issue, including one Friday in Chicago.

What are you calling for?

>> So a rally in Chicago on Friday is at 11 30.

It's at the corner of the Adams and Dearborn, read the Federal Plaza is we hope many, many people will join us there.

And we are calling for that extra 60 million dollars in funding for early intervention and really a commitment to increase the funding over the next few years.

In order to get to that level of funding that is necessary to get these families off of waiting lists for this help.

Okay.

10 seconds.

Go on.

>> I think it's really important that families understand that this is of rights issue.

Our children deserve this.

They deserve to have every possible support from the very earliest moments of their life to help create these beautiful success stories we to only we don't apply this the support right now, Tony, greater supports later on as their as they get We'll have to leave it.

There knows biggest, very important.

Karen Berman, Jackson Vasquez, thank you so much.

you for having us.

>> And that is our show for this Wednesday night.

Election Day is less than a week away.

As we've mentioned, check out our voter guide before you cast your ballot.

Weve got information on candidates running for Congress.

States attorney Board of Education.

Very important and much more head to wt tw dot com slash voter guide to check it out and join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10 are demeaning.

Comments made about Puerto Rico moving the dial with voters.

A look at Harrison Trump's last-ditch efforts to sway Latino voters.

Now for all of us here in Chicago tonight and greatest Friedman, thank you for watching to healthy and safe.

>> I have a good thing.

>> Closed caption he's made past.

By Robert, a cliff and Clifford law offices, a Chicago personal injury and wrongful that is proud to recognize it's turns