BREAKDOWN.

>> I THINK FOR ONE, IT ADDRESSES TO THE LOCAL RESIDENTS THE NEEDS FOR A SAFE BIKE ROUTE.

HAVE EXISTED.

I THINK IT GIVES OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE RESIDENTS TO BE OPPORTUNITIES AND SAFER BIKING IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> IN THE PAST THERE, THERE BEEN CONCERNS AND AS YOU KNOW ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF DIFFIE THAT IT APPEARS THAT NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS WERE GETTING DIFFIE TO BE SET UP FIRST.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE STATE OF EQUITY IN TERMS OF DID THE ITSELF?

>> WELL, I THINK THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS TRYING TO ADDRESS THE INEQUITY THAT EXISTS AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF ADITI BIKES.

ALSO, IT'S NOT JUST DISTRIBUTION, BUT THE COSTS.

SO, THEY HAVE MADE ACCOMMODATIONS IN TERMS OF LOWERING THE COST FOR LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES TO AFFORD THE DIFFIE.

>> LINDA LOPEZ, WHAT ROLE DOES THE COMMUNITY TYPICALLY HAVE IN MAKING THIS THESE DECISIONS?

FOR EXAMPLE, ONCE UPON A TIME, THE CITY WAS PERCEIVED AS HAVING A TOP-DOWN PLANNING MENTALITY.HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE COMMUNITY INPUT NOW?

>>WOMAN: I THINK THE COMMUNITY WAS PRETTY UNIQUE.

IT'S PROCESSING TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS AND MAKING IT EXCEPT THE PROJECT IN PARTICULAR, THERE'S A LOT OF ENGAGEMENTS IN COMMUNITY RESIDENTS.

THEY WERE LEAVING WITH THEIR OWN IDEAS AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF SAY IN THE PROCESS.

I THINK A LOT OF RESIDENTS AMONG THE TASK FORCE WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

>>ANCHOR: WHAT KINDS OF THINGS MATTERED TO THE COMMUNITY?

WHAT KINDS OF INPUT DID THEY HAVE?

>>WOMAN: YES, I THINK THEY HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE MAP OF THE COMMUNITY AND SAY HEY, I WANT TO BIKE ROUTE ON THIS STREET.

THIS STREET IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT WORKING FOR PEOPLE ON BIKES.

I THINK WE NEED A BIKE ROUTE AND THAT PARTICULAR STREET.

LOOKING AT THE MAP ALSO MEANS PEOPLE CAN SAY HOW THEY VIEW THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR OWN EYES AND EXPERIENCES OF BIKING IN THE COMMUNITIES TO WALKING IN THE COMMUNITIES.

LIVING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

I THINK THAT WAS REALLY VALUABLE AND TO HAVE RESIDENTS BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH TRANSPORTATION FUNDS LIKE THAT.

AND BRINGING IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE.

>>ANCHOR: JACKIE GRIMSHAW, WHAT PARTS OF THE CITY STUDIED ATTENTION.

STILL NEED MORE OPTIONS INCLUDING BIKING?

>>WOMAN: I THINK YOU CAN LOOK AT THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE.

PARTICULARLY AT AREAS THAT NEED MORE BIKING.

FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE NORTH SIDE, THERE IS MILWAUKEE AVENUE THAT HAS BEEN CREATED ALMOST AS A BICYCLE HIGHWAY.

ON THE LEFT SIDE, THERE IS AN ISLAND AVENUE.

AND THEY HAVE THE SAME KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

OR ON THE SOUTH SIDE, YOU KNOW.

ARCHER.

WHICH ARE STREETS THAT CAN CARRY PEOPLE ON A BICYCLE SAFELY FOR COMMITS.

RATHER THAN JUST BICYCLING IN NEIGHBORHOODS FOR RECREATION.

>> JACKIE GRIMSHAW, ARE THERE EFFORTS TO MAKE SOME OF THOSE STREETS MORE BICYCLE HIGHWAY AS YOU NOTED, CURRENTLY EXIST ON MILWAUKEE?

>>WOMAN: WELL, THE TRANSPORTATION EQUITY NETWORK, WHICH LINDA IS ALSO COCHAIR, WAS INVOLVED WITH THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC PLAN.

THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ADVISED THAT INDICATED THAT THEY NEEDED MORE PROTECTIVE BIKE LANES ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE.

THEY ARE COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF STRATEGIC PLANS.

SO, HOPEFULLY YOU KNOW, WITH THE CAPITOL FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE, ALREADY AND THE CAPITOL PLAN AS WELL AS THE FUNDS THAT ARE COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THAT WILL BE ABLE TO CREATE THOSE HIGHWAYS ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE.

>> THOSE HIGHWAYS COME TO THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST SIDE.

IS THERE THAT'S ONE OF THE PROSPECTS THAT IT WOULD ACHIEVE THE KIND OF VOLUME THAT EXISTS ON MILWAUKEE AVENUE YOU SAY?

>> IS A GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS IN MAKING THE AREA AND NEIGHBORHOODS LIKABLE.

I THINK FOR ONE, I THINK THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF FACTORS THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF HOW PEOPLE FEEL SAFE.

MOVING ONTO COMMUNITIES.

AND WHAT'S BACK THERE.

THEY HAVE TO COEXIST FOR EXAMPLE IN THE SOUTHWEST SIDE, WHICH THE ADVISOR COUNCIL BIKE ADVISORY.

REPRESENTATIVES.

THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND AIR TRAFFIC AND AIR POLLUTION.

NEIGHBORS ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE HAVE MORE POLLUTED NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO, I THINK BIKING IS A LOT MORE THAN JUST GETTING ON THE BIKE AND GOING SOMEWHERE.

IT'S DO I WANT TO BIKE NEXT TO THESE TRUCKS AND SEED EXPANSION OF THE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS IN THE OUTSIDE PARTICULARLY.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF MAKING PEOPLE FEEL SAFE ON A BIKE.

YES, BIKE LANES, BUT THEY ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN BIKE LANES.

I THINK IT'S THE FIRST STEPS, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT AS WELL.

>> JACKIE GRIMSHAW, AT THE SUMMIT IT'S A LITTLE MORE CALM KID THAN JUST PAINTING A STRICT CLOSE TO THE SIDEWALK AND SING OKAY, THAT'S FOR CYCLISTS.

WHAT MORE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURES THAT NEED TO BE DONE TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITIES HAVE HISTORICALLY MAYBE NOT GOTTEN THE ATTENTION THEY SHOULD'VE IN TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS WHAT MORE HAS TO BE DONE OR HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT IT'S ALL FAIR?

>>WOMAN: AS I SAID, IT STARTS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION STRATEGIC PLAN.

AND THEN THE ACCOUNTABILITY.

OF THE GOALS THAT WE SET FORTH IN THIS THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY HAS TO BELIEVE THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO LISTEN TO THEM.

YOU CANNOT ASK PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND GET INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS WITH TRANSPORTATION PLANNING IS YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T BELIEVE THEIR INPUT BE DEDICATED.

THE COMMITMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT IS IMPORTANT.

AND JUST TO CLARIFY, I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT PLAYING STRIPES ON THE STREETS FOR BYSTROM TALKING ABOUT PROTECTIVE BIKE LANES WERE THE BICYCLISTS ARE SEPARATED FROM THE CAR AND TRUCK TRAFFIC.

>>ANCHOR: GOT IT.

LINDA LOPEZ, AS WE WRAP UP, AS YOU LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE, WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE GETTING A FAIR SHAKE IN TERMS OF ALL OF THESE OPTIONS THAT WE BEEN TALKING ABOUT?>>WOMAN: I THINK GOING BACK TO SOME OF THE POINTS THAT I MADE EARLIER, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT BIKING HOLISTICALLY.

AS JACKIE MENTIONED, PROTECTIVE BIKE LANES.

IF YOU'RE ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE, PROTECTED BY CLEAN AND THERE'S ANOTHER TRUCK ON THE OTHER SIDE.

MAYBE YOU DON'T FEEL AS AFRAID.

I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ALSO.

TO LIVE WITH IN ADDITION TO AFFORDABILITY.

LIKE, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE EXPANSION OF COMMUNITIES AROUND THE CITY.

THINKING ABOUT HOW YOU COULD CONTINUE TO EXPAND FOR EVERYONE.

SO THE PEOPLE CAN SIGN UP.

PEOPLE CAN FEEL LIKE IT'S AN OPTION FOR THEM.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO UNRAVEL AND WORK WITH PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT BIKING IS A POSSIBILITY FOR THEM.

AND WE CAN THINK ABOUT WHAT OTHER EDIT STATIONS PEOPLE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.

TAKING BIKING A POSSIBILITY.

>> LINDA LOPEZ AND JACKIE GRIMSHAW.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO YOU BOTH.

I APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHTS.

LET'S THANK YOU PHIL.

>>ANCHOR: YOU BET.

BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY COVID-19.

IN BOTH THE PHYSICAL AND THE MENTAL HEALTH.

NOW A LOOK AT THE STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH AND THE HISPANIC LATINO COMMUNITY AND WHAT'S BEING DONE TO BREAK THOSE GENERATIONAL BARRIERS BY PROVIDING SERVICES IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

CHICAGO TONIGHT'S JOANNA HERNANDEZ HAS THE STORY.

>> GOING UP, WE DID NOT REALLY SPEAK ABOUT HOW YOU FELT OR WHY YOU FELT THINGS, YOU KNOW?

AND OFTEN AS A GROWN-UP, I AM LIKE I KNOW I FEEL SOMETHING, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

WHY DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT TO SOMEONE ELSE.

>> FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, HIS PARTNER GOING TO SET A HAVE BEEN RUNNING PLAN SHOP CHICAGO IN THE ALBANY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD.

GOMEZ WAS BORN IN BELIZE SURROUNDED BY NATURE AND CAME TO CHICAGO AS A CHILD.

HE NEVER IMAGINED THAT 31 YEARS LATER THAT HE WOULD FIND HIS WAY BACK TO HIS ROOTS.

>> I STARTED GOING TO GARDEN CENTERS AND STARTED VISITING THEIR HOUSEPLANTS ACT CENTERS.

A COUPLE OF HOUSEPLANTS AND PLANT SHOPS THAT WERE AVAILABLE THEN.

AND I SAW THAT IT HELPED ME KIND OF CLEAR MY MIND.

PAUSE, LEAVE WORK AT WORK, COME HOME TO MY HOME.

YOU KNOW, TO MY FAMILY.

AND THAT HELPED ME A LOT.

SO, I BASICALLY WANTED TO TAKE THAT AND PUT MY OWN TWIST INTO IT AND RE-CREATE AND OFFER IT TO WHOEVER WANTED TO COME IN.

>> AUGUST IS NURTURING PLANTS IS A FORM OF THERAPY FOR HIM.

SOMETHING THAT HE SAYS HE'S NOTICING WITHIN HIS CUSTOMERS.

PLANTS HELPING THEM WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

>> ANOTHER THING TO REOPENING BACKUP, YOU SEE A NEW WAVE OF PEOPLE SAYING YOU KNOW, PLANTS GOT THEM THROUGH QUARANTINE AND GOT THEM THROUGH BEING AT STUCK AT HOME.

OTHERWISE, WHAT THEY WOULD'VE DONE.AND HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE AND YOUR STORIES AND THEY TEND TO SHARE THINGS.

>> IS PARIS IS A LICENSED CLINICAL THERAPIST HAS MADE IT HER MISSION TO HELP REMOVE THE STIGMA AROUND LATINO MENTAL HEALTH FOR.

>> I THINK A LOT OF IT WAS JUST NOT EVEN HAVING THE LANGUAGE.

TO EXPRESS WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY IS DEPRESSED, MAYBE IT'S NOT FEELING AS BAD.

ESPECIALLY BACK THEN FOR THERE IS NO REAL LANGUAGE TO SAY I THINK THAT I'M FEELING REALLY STUCK OR UNFEELING SAD AND MY MOOD IS REALLY DOWN.

AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO ME.

>> LAST YEAR SHE FOUND IT TALK THERAPY ON MICHIGAN AVENUE.

WERE SHE ALSO OFFERS IMMIGRATION EVALUATIONS WITH THE TEAM OF BILINGUAL THERAPISTS.

>> THE IDEAS RELATE TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO SEE THEMSELVES ENOUGH.

AND SAY MAYBE IF THE TRY.

THAT PERSON LOOKS LIKE ME OR THEY CAN UNDERSTAND ME.

AND THEN PEOPLE BEING OPEN TO TRYING THERAPY AT LEAST.

>> ABOUT 16 MILES FROM PARIS PRACTICE, ESTHER FLOORS IS DIRECTOR OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVE AT THE WELLNESS CENTER.

HE IS ALSO ON A PATH TO HELP OTHERS IDENTIFY THE SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESS.

>> IN MY FAMILY, THERE WAS A TRAGEDY.

WHEN I SAW SERVICES FOR MYSELF AND MY SON, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY CULTURALLY SENSITIVE SERVICES THAT REALLY FELT SUPPORTED.

WERE WE FELT SEEN.

AND SO, THAT REALLY STARTED ME ON THIS JOURNEY.

>> ACCORDING TO THE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, ONLY ONE IN FIVE LATINOS WITH SYMPTOMS OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER APPROACH THE DOCTOR.

AND ONLY ONE IN 10 LATINOS APPROACH THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.

>> WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE GENERATIONS IS THAT ALL THIS GETS PASSED ON THROUGH BELIEF SYSTEMS THAT SOMETIMES THAT VERBALIZE AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE NOT.

>> WHOSE HELP THEM FOR THE LAST NINE YEARS SAYS THAT HE IS SLOWLY STARTING TO SEE CHANGES.

>>MAN: I WOULD SAY NINE OR 10 YEARS AGO, THAT WAS THE CASE.

BUT THERE WAS A STIGMA THAT IT WAS CONSIDERED SERVICE THAT WAS ONLY NEEDED IF YOU WERE REALLY HAVING A MENTAL BREAKDOWN.

NOWADAYS, WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THE COMMUNITY PICK WE ARE KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE NOTE THAT IF SOMEBODY IS STRUGGLING WITH ANY SORT OF SYMPTOM OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, STRESS, BEHAVIOR WITH CHILDREN, THAT THEY COULD COME TO US.

>> SAYS HIS JOURNEY WITH MENTAL HEALTH HAS NOT BEEN EASY.

BUT HE IS TAKING STEPS TO IMPACT THOSE TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES.

>> IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO EXPLORE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND TO EXPLORE YOUR FEELINGS.

EXPLORE YOU, WHAT YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN ABOUT YOURSELF TO THE WORLD.

THAT GROWING UP IN A COUNTRY THAT YOU ARE NOT NATIVE TO, YOU FEEL THOSE EMPTY SPACES, WHICH WORK.

>> THEY ARE CREATING A SPACE FOR OTHERS TO LEARN ABOUT PLANTS WHILE DISCOVERING HIS OWN VOICE IN A WORLD WHERE HE ONCE FELT SILENCE.

>> ,FATHER.

MY DAUGHTER IS FOUR AND I THINK HAVING A DAUGHTER OR JUST A CHILD KIND OF HELPS WITH THAT.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE TEACHING THEM AND THAT IS SOMETHING THEIR LEARNING.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINA VOICES AND JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> AND PLACES LIKE NELSON WELLNESS CENTER ARE TAKING THE EXTRA STEP OF RECRUITING THERAPISTS FROM COUNTRIES LIKE MEXICO AND COLOMBIA.

IN AN EFFORT TO BETTER CONNECT WITH CLIENTS.

UP NEXT, A NEW WAREHOUSE AND LITTLE VILLAGE CAUSING COMMUNITY CONCERN.

THAT'S A CONVERSATION RECORDED EARLIER.

[MUSIC] X YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT CONTROVERSIAL SMOKESTACK IN THE VILLAGE LAST YEAR.

IT WAS ALL MAKE WAY FOR NEW TARGET WAREHOUSE FACILITY THAT MADE WAY LAST WEEK.

IT'S THE LARGEST SUPPLY CHAIN IN THE FACILITY IN THE U.S. AND IS EXPECTED TO SUPPORT WITH IN 80 CHICAGO TARGET SOURCE.

THE NEW WAREHOUSE HAS SPARKED MORE PROTEST AMONG SOME RESIDENTS IN THE LITTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY THAT SAYS THAT THEY DON'T WANT THAT.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE IMPACT ON COMMUNITY AND MORE ARE EDITH TOVAR, A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH THE LITTLE VILLAGE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION AND MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ OF THE 22ND WARD.

WE ALSO INVITED TARGET TO JOIN THIS CONVERSATION, BUT THE COMPANY SAID THAT IT IS NOT ABLE TO COMMENT AT THIS TIME.

BUT WE DO WELCOME THE TWO OF YOU HERE.

EDITH, I WILL START WITH YOU.

THERE WAS A PROTEST LAST WEEK AT THE GRAND OPENING OF THIS FACILITY.

WHAT ARE YOU AND SOME OF YOUR FELLOW RESIDENTS CONCERNED WITH?

>>WOMAN: WELL, IT'S AN ONGOING CONCERN.

WAREHOUSE FACILITIES, THE CONTINUATION OF A TOXIC LEGACY.

THEY LEFT BEHIND.

WE ARE STILL SEEING THE COLD PLANT EFFECTS.

WITH THE SHUTDOWN OF COLD PLANTS THAT TOOK 12 YEARS TO SHUT DOWN.

WE ARE SEEING THE CONTINUATION FROM COAL TO DIESEL.

AFTER WHICH IN.

I AM EXCHANGING ONE POLLUTION TO ANOTHER.

AND TO THE SOLD.

RIGHT?

>> PHYSICALLY DIESEL POLLUTION IS COMING FROM THE TRUCKS THAT ARE COMING IN AND OUT OF THE WAREHOUSE.

>>WOMAN: ABSOLUTELY.

THE WAREHOUSE IS NOT IN RED OPERATION YET.

BUT WE'VE BEEN DOING TRUCK COUNTING SINCE EARLIER IN JULY AND WE ARE SEEING TWO DIESEL TRUCKS PER MINUTE IN THE INTERSECTION OF 21ST AND POLANSKY.

TO SAY THAT YOU KNOW, THE WAREHOUSE IS NOT GOING TO CAUSE AS MUCH POLLUTION BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE GOING TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS DON'T DENY THE FACT THAT AIR POLLUTION IS NOT STAGNANT.

IT TRAVELS.

IT DOES NOT IDENTIFY PROPERTY LINES.

IT WILL NOT STAY WITHIN PROPERTY LINES.

SO, THE WORRY IS STILL THE SAME AND THAT LITTLE VILLAGE CONTINUES TO BE A WE REALLY WANT TARGET TO NO LONGER BE PART OF EXCHANGE [INDISCERNIBLE] >> WE DID JUST OPENED THEIR OWN SITE WHICH HAD BEEN ON THE PROPERTY FOR A WHILE.

OTHER THAN RODRIGUEZ, ARE THERE ANY BENEFITS TO THIS FACILITY IN THE LITTLE VILLAGE?>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH HARRIS, FOR HAVING ME ON.

AND I THINK EDITH AND THEIR ADVOCACY, THERE WERE PUSHED THE AGENDA HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT A GREEN NEW DEAL IN OUR COUNTRY.

AND THE FACT IS THAT NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT GETTING CAREER ORIENTED JOBS.

THE FACT IS THAT THIS FACILITY WAS APPROVED PRIOR TO BECOMING HERE.

I'M DEALING WITH THE REALITY THEY'RE GOING TO BE HERE.

IT'S INEVITABLE.

THEY'VE OPEN THEIR DOORS.

SO, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP THEM ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE SOME POTENTIAL BENEFITS HERE.

THEY WILL BE HIRING UP TO 2000 INDIVIDUALS AT THIS LOCATION.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT AS MANY OF THOSE JOBS AS POSSIBLE GO TO COMMUNITY RESIDENTS FROM AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

FROM OUR ZIP CODE AND ZIP CODES.

>> HOW CAN YOU DO THAT MAKE SURE THAT THEY HIRE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM LITTLE VILLAGE?

>> YES SO, WE'VE BEEN PUSHING THEM.

THERE'S BEEN A TABLE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT MEET WITH TARGET FOR SOME MONTHS NOW.

WE GOT THEM TO AGREE TO MEET WITH ME.

ONE OF THE CONCESSIONS AND NEGOTIATING POINTS THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM IS THAT WE WANTED THEM TO DO TWO AT LEAST TWO TARGETED JOB FAIRS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THOSE DOCTORS WOULD BE ON THURSDAY AND SATURDAY AS THEY RAMP UP THEIR HIRING.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY HIRED SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE.

MANY MORE TO BE HIRED.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AS MANY OF THOSE JOBS GO TO THOSE RESIDENTS IN SOUTHWEST AND SIDE OF CHICAGO AS POSSIBLE.

>>ANCHOR: EDITH TOVAR, AS I UNDERSTAND, THE STUFF WOULD START AT $18 AN HOUR.

DECENT WAGES.

DOES THAT WANT SOME OF YOUR CONCERN?

IF THEY HIRE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND PAY DECENT WAGES?

>>WOMAN: NO.

TARGET PREPARATION IS MULTIBILLION DOLLAR CORPORATION.AND A LIVABLE THRIVING WAGE HERE IN CHICAGO IS ESPECIALLY ABOVE $20.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE ARE HOUSING JOBS.

THEY ARE DANGEROUS LABOR-INTENSIVE JOBS.

SO, WHY DO WE WANT OUR NEIGHBORS TO BE PARTICIPATING IN THAT TYPE OF EXTRACTIVE LABOR?

YOU'RE NOT ALSO HERE TO DENY AND TO LOOK DOWN AT THE SEVEN JOBS.

A JOB AS A JOB.

WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO NOW IS WITH NEIGHBORS RIGHT, WERE SERIOUSLY CONCERNED, THEY WANT TO ALSO BE ADVOCATING FOR THESE WORKERS, AND WE WANT THEM TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR WORKERS, RIGHT?

WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT CHICAGO IS A UNION TOWN.

IF THESE WORKERS WANT TO FORM A UNION, LET'S SUPPORT THEM AND LET'S DO THAT.

TARGET SHOULD NOT BE WASTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR TO BUST UNIONS THAT ARE FORMING IN DIFFERENT WAREHOUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

[INDISCERNIBLE] >>ANCHOR: RODRIGUEZ, THERE'S ALSO THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT EDITH BROUGHT UP.

MAINLY DIESEL EXHAUST FROM THE TRUCKS.

COMING INTO THE COMMUNITIES AND EDITH MENTIONED THAT THEY ARE BANNED FROM GOING ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS THERE.

BUT EXHAUST CAN TRAVEL INTO THE RESIDENTIAL AREA.

HAPPY TO HAVE YOU ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS?

>> ONE IS THAT I CANNOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE ABOUT UNION RATES AND WHAT A LIVING WAGE IS.

WE WANT ANSWERS.

SO, I WANT TO STRESS THAT I'M TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THOSE EFFORTS OF WORKERS TRYING TO GO THAT ROUTE.

WHICH I HOPE THEY DO MAKE SURE THAT THE EXERCISE ALL THE RIGHTS THAT THEY HAVE.

I DID A FOLLOWING.

I THINK IT'S EASY TO GO TO WAR.

I PREFER TO TALK AND NEGOTIATE.

THE FACT THAT IT'S INEVITABLE.

THE TARGET WILL BE HERE.

THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO COME HERE.

WE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE EDUCATED AND ARE HIRED.

ALSO, IT WAS NO SMALL TASK TO BE ABLE TO GET THE AGREEMENTS THAT TARGET TRUCKS WOULD NOT COME INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

FOLKS ARE EXACTLY RIGHT.

DIESEL FUEL DOES SEEP INTO COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE AIR.

THE ONE THING THAT WE NEED FROM THE COMMUNITY, HERE IN THE COMMUNITY IS THAT THOSE TRUCKS SHOULD NOT BECOME INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I LIVE FIVE BLOCKS FROM THE SITE.

IT GOT ENTIRELY TOO MANY TRUCKS COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY.WE GOT AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM THAT THOSE TRUCKS CAN'T COME IN.

WHEN IT COMES TO AIR POLLUTION, PART OF THE REASON THAT I WAS AGAINST THE AIR QUALITY ORDINANCE EARLIER IN THIS TERM WAS THAT I DID NOT THINK IT WENT FAR ENOUGH.

THE FACT IS THAT WE NEED TO BE HOLDING CORPORATIONS ACCOUNTABLE.

THEY NEED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE WORKED WITH NUMBER OF GROUPS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, INTRODUCING ORDINANCE THAT WOULD TAKE STIMULUS FUNDS AND HELP TO RETROFIT THESE FIELDS.

DIESEL FLEETS IN THE CITY.I THINK WE NEED TO DO MUCH, MUCH MORE IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.

TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CHANGING OUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

IT NEEDS TO BE THE OLD ECONOMY AND GO TO THE NEW GREEN ECONOMY.

>> A LOT AND LITTLE VILLAGE AND WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS A LOT LAST YEAR AND 1/2.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW.

THANKS TO EDITH TOVAR AND MIKE RODRIGUEZ.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINA VOICES JUST AHEAD.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

[MUSIC] >> A YEAR AFTER THE CITY'S WATCHDOG SAY THE SANITATION WAS FALLING BEHIND ON CLEARING VACANT LOTS OF WEEDS.

A NEW FOLLOW-UP REPORTS THAT THAT THE APARTMENT STILL HAS SOME WHACKING TO DO.

WT TW NEWS REPORTER PATTY WETLY JOINS US WITH MORE DETAILS.

PATTY, REMIND US WHAT THE ORIGINAL AUDIT FROM 2020 FOUND?

>> YES SO THE ORIGINAL AUDIT FOUND THAT STREETS PROCESS WAS FAIRLY INEFFICIENT.

THAT'S TOO MANY REQUESTS WERE SIMPLY BEING MADE BY WORD SUPERINTENDENTS JUST DRIVING AROUND THEIR WARD.

AND THAT THERE WEREN'T THERE WASN'T CLEAR COMMUNICATION OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

AND THERE WAS ACTUALLY NO DATABASE OF CITY-OWNED VACANT LOTS FOR STREETS TO CONSULT TERMS OF GETTING THESE LOTS ON A FREQUENT BASIS.

SO, LOTS OF INEFFICIENCY.

>> IMPLEMENTING ANY OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE MADE IN THE REPORT?

>> THE INSPECTOR GENERAL MADE ROUGHLY 7 RECOMMENDATIONS IN STREETS AND STANDS AT FULLY IMPLEMENTED ONE OF THEM.

PARTIALLY A SECOND ONE.

AND STILL HAD QUITE A BIT OF WORK TO DO ON SOME OF THE OTHER ONES.

BUT, THEY ARE GETTING CREDIT FOR HAVING THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY GIVE THEIR STAFF AND CONTRACTORS TO MOVE THESE WEEDS DOWN TO 21 DAYS.

TO RESPOND.

TO REQUEST.

AND THEY ARE ALSO WORKING ON IMPLEMENTING A NEW DATABASE.

SO THAT THEY WILL HAVE A LIST OF ALL OF THOSE VACANT LOTS AND MORE ROUTINELY GIVE THEM A PASS.

>> GOT IT PATTY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.

>> THANK YOU PHIL.

>> YOU CAN READ PATTY'S FULL STORY ON THE WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN ALSO FIND THE REPORT ITSELF.

THAT'S WT TW.COM/NEWS.

AND THAT WAS OUR CHAUFFEUR THIS SATURDAY NIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE.

WT TW.COM/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WT TW NEWS.

INCLUDING DETAILS ON THE STATES MASKING GUIDELINES.

AND JOIN BRENDA FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

INTIMATE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE WITH THE CHICAGO MOTHER WHOSE SON WAS RECENTLY KILLED.

PLUS THE LAST WORD ON EFFORTS TO MOVE THE COUNTRY TOWARDS RACIAL JUSTICE.

AND NEXT WEEK ON LATINA VOICES, ALEX HERNANDEZ WILL BE YOUR HOST.

AFTER ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINA VOICES, I'M PHIL.

YOU FOR SHARING PART OF OUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOODBYE.

[MUSIC]