>> thanks for joining us Chicago tonight, Latino voices.

I'm joined on this.

Here's what we're looking at.

A proposal to demolish the damning silos clears a key hurdle.

We hear from local residents.

Apps that connect help workers with jobs are taking heat from labor advocates who say the apps break state lost.

>> What a local charity is doing to reach his donation goal this holiday season.

>> When you take a look at worldwide butterflies have a significant, unique culture.

>> In local conservation efforts aimed at protecting monarch butterflies.

>> And now to some of today's top stories.

Amazon workers in Skokie and at locations across the country are on the picket line today.

Workers at 7 facilities went on strike today in an effort to pressure Amazon for Labor Agreement.

The union says it's the largest strike against the company in U.S. history.

Amazon says it did not expect the labor action to impact its operations despite a coming during the busy holiday shopping season.

The Union hasn't said how many workers participated in the strike or how long the walkout would last.

And residents in Pilsen are pushing back after the city approves a permit allowing a metal scrapping company to continue its operations.

Aldermen.

Byron Sigcho Lopez joined environmental advocates today to criticize Johnson Administration for renewing the permit for Sims metal this week.

Neighbors have pushed back on the shredding company saying it has a history of air pollution violations and tickets today called for a fully fund the Department of Environment and stricter policies for industrial companies.

>> We're here today to demand what I knew and expand event.

A shipping companies facilities that next year.

That's tomorrow.

Right now.

We cannot wait for another child to SoCal debris.

We will not wait for another life to be lost.

cannot afford to wait and we would not be silent.

>> In a statement, Sims Metal says this approval is the right decision so that the critical work of recycling can continue in Chicago.

The federal EPA has delivered are pilsen facility, a clean bill of health after extensive air monitoring and we remain fully committed to continuing to achieve the city's operational expectations.

And protesters demonstrate outside the Cook County State's attorney's office after charges were dropped against the suburban police officer day before his trial.

trial was set to begin leaders from the Arab American community held a news conference to express their outrage over states attorney Eileen O'Neill, Burke's decision to dismiss charges against Oakland Officer Patrick O'Donnell citing insignificant incident, insufficient evidence.

The officer was accused of using excessive force during the arrest of a 17 year-old Palestinian boy during a traffic stop.

And Mexican Foreign Secretary Cohen, Vermont, as visiting Chicago today as part of his Midwest tour.

He met with local leaders and organizations at the Mexican consulate to discuss ways to build relations between Mexico and the United States.

With President elect Donald Trump promising mass deportations.

We met with immigration lawyers to listen to their concerns and proposals for the coming months.

He says he wants to remind the undocumented community in Chicago that they are not alone.

Chicago is home to one of the largest Mexican populations in the country.

Up next, President Bush proposal to demolish the damning silos.

>> Chicago tonight, Latino voices.

It's made possible in part by the support of these donors.

>> The data silos 15 structures.

A 15 story structure built in 19.

0, for grain storage is one step closer to demolition.

That comes as a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved a crucial permit needed for the city to consider the proposal at limited partnership bought the 23rd Acre plot from the state back in 2022. at that time he purchased it.

He said he planned to develop the site into a headquarters for his company.

Local residents are pushing back on the development while others are hoping to save the silos from demolition.

He's joining us now to talk more arcade weakened president of the McKinley Park Development Council and Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation, Chicago.

Now we also invited owner Michael Tate, a junior to join us.

We received a statement from his spokesperson which will get a moment.

Well, thank you both for joining us now.

Kate, I want to start with you.

As I mentioned, the property was sold 2 years ago, but the owners has said there are no final plans for the development.

What are your concerns with the development and public access in the area?

>> Our first concern is that there is no plan for development.

The teams have repeatedly said that they don't know what they're going to do with it in a crispy.

Don't believe that you don't spend 6 million dollars on a piece of property unless you have a plan for it.

And this is an owner that has a history in our neighborhood.

They also own of them at asphalt plant on Pershing Road, which is in the middle of a residential area.

And we've had a lot of problems with that development and it's equally opaque with what their plans are for the in Believe they know they're just trying to keep it secret.

>> I do want to read minds.

want to try to read minds, but I don't believe I believe that if they had something that was intended for the benefit of the community, that they would be willing to tell us it Let's talk about the property.

Can you briefly minus about the significance of the silos?

>> It was built over 100 years ago.

It was also a location with one of the Transformer movies was filmed rate.

That's that is correct.

see it all the time, right?

Right.

That's the most visible point of it, right.

But it was designed by an engineer named John Metcalf in 19.

0, 6, >> And they used to slip arm of which was a unique form of of using concrete.

>> And it was such a successful agricultural silo that he continued to build.

He and his company can do to build sylas across the world, extending all the way to Australia with offices in like what areas in Sydney, Australia.

So really significant component of Chicago in early agricultural history, which a lot of people sort of forget about, right.

that's because especially when you're driving past it.

>> Every other day may be right about average Chicago.

Right?

And people ask what they are.

And you know, so this was one of our Chicago 7 most endangered in 2023. they're really significant.

We'd like to see them landmark.

We'd like to see some conservation working with the community and we have some ideas and visions and we like to work with the owner, Mike Tate in the city of the park district towards good outcome you ever communicated with Mike Tate.

yes, we have we have and he's been actually very gracious.

Given us tours isn't cut is in contact with us.

We haven't shared this sort of larger idea with them.

>> Now want bring up the statement that Michael Tate in gave us.

He said we have been committed to receiving input from various stakeholders in the community.

As we stated from the start of this process, Damon silos is an iconic piece of Chicago history.

We look forward to transforming the property for its future.

Use.

Okay.

Do you think the owner has been responsive to the community ideas?

He hasn't shown up to a single community meeting.

>> And what has community meetings have What have they been Lee?

Well, I mean, there is meeting for the city permits and which over 100 neighbors for presents.

And I hope that the city will handle the forthcoming permit prosus better than they handled at the first time.

The first time around.

They didn't come.

They didn't come to hear community feedback.

They came to tell us how they were going to They weren't expecting that money to people.

Well informed people to show up with ideas and really understanding the history with examples of things that have been done in other cities and what we're really asking for some creativity and use the process there's a lot of things you can do with this property other than tear it down.

It's an enormous piece of land twice at over.

23 acres and there's room to build something new there and to have something old.

Our commitment is to secure public assets on the property.

And that's really important to remember that this was public property.

And then the way that the state sold it back in 22, they took.

They also took no public comments, Noakes concern for the community whatsoever.

And there were several other proposed projects in that bid and over the years that would have been great assets to community.

What what does that say to you It says that the state needs to change their process and that's why at the time we actually lobbied for them to instead allow the city to conduct that process because the city has a process.

But the reason for invest Southwest and several other programs to take community input into account in the sale of public property in the state hasn't done that.

And with the statement also said they plan to demolish some time early 2025 which it's around the corner.

>> Is there enough time to make the case for preserving the silos?

like think so.

>> And, you know, we have we have vision and we've been work with Kate and her group in even the Chicago Park district in a preliminary fashion, as well as a Blue star properties that runs the salt shed, which is also another landmark in a former industrial building on on the Chicago River, the North branch in a very successful music venue in the whole idea is to have sort of a festival ground but also have green space, a RiverWalk in a lot of public access to a great piece of property that really could bring more musical events to Chicago and not take over neighborhood parks and for weeks at a time, which is really bringing a lot of angst to communities.

And of course, there's though the wear and tear on these parks here.

We would have a a solid place.

It's not in everybody's backyard in would be specifically sort of working together to bring these festivals and concerts to the which the reality is, I mean, they own the property so they can do what they want.

>> They can do what they want, but Mr. Tate in a shared with us that, you this, he could consider a sale of the property.

He'd like to sell it to one particular entity.

So we're working sort of fulfill that idea.

And and working with the community several of the city and private organization.

You talked about idea to talk about salt shed.

Kate, I want talk more specifically about that.

What other ideas do you see?

>> Happening there?

>> Yeah.

So I would point out that Blue Star was one of the by the bitters when the property was sold by the state and they're the only ones who submitted any qualitative analysis of what they intended to do on the site.

And we were really pleased to see that they were looking at sports venues and gathering spaces, gathering spaces or something our neighbors really want to see on the river and their big part of our communities plan for our riverfront.

That was published back in June.

So we're really pleased to see somebody come in and propose something that was appropriate to our Latino majority.

Well, thank you both.

We'll have to see what happens next.

Thank you.

We'll be here for an update here for an update.

Of course.

Thank you.

>> Up next, why smartphone apps for temp workers have labor advocates worried?

>> For >> years people have accused Uber and Lyft to breaking labor law with the companies saying they're just technology platforms, not taxi services.

Now there's a new group of apps using a similar model.

They connect temporary workers with companies, but they say they're not temp staffing agencies.

Just tech companies are.

Nick Bloomberg joins us now with more now.

Nick, we see apps popping up all the Times.

How did these apps work will ultimately these work the same way as a staffing agency?

Does they perform the same function?

They connect temp workers with companies looking to hire laborers, but not as full-time staff.

>> Now they just do it via smartphone apps rather than a staffing company where Labor's have to show up in person at the office in order to get placed at a company because these companies say they're just a tech platform.

They haven't registered with the state of Illinois has a temp agency which the requires no registration might sound kind of simple.

But worker advocates say it's actually really important to protect labor's from shady fly by night operations that just close up shop and leave temporary workers in the lurch since these apps haven't registered to Chicago Workers Collaborative filed a series of complaints with the state Labor Department.

That department granted the collaborative the right to sue several of these companies, which the group says it's planning to do the organization's attorney told me the idea that these apps aren't operating as temp staffing agencies is just a sham.

It would do these companies that make these apps have to say, well, none of the companies responded to our requests for an interview, but we obtain their responses to the state Labor Department.

One of them variable wrote that there's a stark difference between its app and traditional staffing agencies.

The company says, quote, individuals that use variables platform decide when where and how long they want to work.

And at what pay rate and they bid to work on the operations that variables, business customers post on the platform now in a post on its blog aimed attracting those business customers.

The company writes that, quote, many companies invest a lot of resources and money to maintain a large force of hourly workers often becoming a barrier for a company to grow with little to no added value.

Now, despite describing itself as a technology platform, variables website does list 42 regional offices around the U.S.

The company raised a reported 32 million dollars in funding in 2021, Joanna, another one of the apps the Workers Collaborative reported to the state Labor Department has a reported valuation of 2 billion dollars.

So a lot of money, lot of money.

Why would just say that worker advocates are so concerned about these apps?

Will the registration requirements, the other state laws related to temps, the laws that the workers collaborative says these at companies are violating.

They're put in place to protect what's people vulnerable group of workers estimates of temps in Illinois range from 200,000 to more than 600,000 workers annually.

But a USC study found they earned just 50 to 67% of what direct hires make also injured on the job at higher rates.

And a black and Latino workers are over represented in the pool of temps.

One study found black workers face discrimination over the stereotype that Latino workers are harder working.

2 labor experts I spoke with said these temp staffing agencies raise a lot of concerns and that they view the app says just trying to get around labor and employment laws.

It is really interesting just to see how these new apps are popping up in these new policies.

Remember, we didn't have any apps.

No kid came back in the dirt one thing can make for that report.

Thanks, China.

>> And you can remix full story on our Web site.

That's www dot com slash news.

For many.

The holiday season is a time for giving back.

However, some charities say they're seeing less donations this year, according to giving USA report charitable giving dropped more than 2% in 2023.

The local organizations are making efforts to reach donation goals just in time for the New Year.

Joining us on zoom is major Kendell Matthews, Associate Chicago area commander for the Salvation Army.

Thank you for joining us.

Now, I want to start off.

Tell us about the Salvation Army is facing this year with donations.

>> Well, challenge is right now that we're faced with is we're seeing that same amount of people who gave last year this year.

And so we're just seeing a slight decline in in financial donations.

And with our Colton without Tories.

but we still believe that there's still time available for people to people to support the work of Salvation Army because of our history and our heritage of serving people throughout this area.

>> Are you surprised with seen that decline?

>> you know, not necessarily because I think people today are, you know, they're keeping their coats longer.

They are, you know, items that they would normally donate.

They're holding on to islands just a little bit longer and And we see that they just just just not giving as they have before and it could be because the economics that could be it could be several factors generational.

Giving it could be several factors.

Why?

But we're not at such a decline at Def Con 3 because the community still supporting the work of the Salvation Army.

>> And that is we know the Survation Army in Elgin says they've seen a decrease in toy donations.

Are you seeing that same impact in other communities?

>> We are here in the Chicago Land area.

We've had to put all several pleas to the community about Tories and giving items so that children have gifts under the tree.

And so far moving forward.

We're seeing several of our sites throughout Chicago are seen a Hamas, increase, but we're meeting the needs and whether or not it's an increase or decrease long as they need is being met.

We feel like the work is being accomplished for the disenfranchised and for the people in our community.

So you're saying you're you're being hopeful.

>> And as we know around the holidays, a Salvation Army relies heavily on the red Kettle campaign to raise money needed throughout the year.

What's been the challenge is for the campaign this year.

>> challenge is for the campaign.

Pretty much has been getting getting people to give a little bit more.

reminding people that, you know, $0.83 out of every dollar goes for direct services.

>> I think the challenge is can have been met can be met as long as people know that percentage of which that they're getting $0.83 out of dollar.

You can't get too much banger blessing for your buck and people need to be aware of So we want people to know if they if they gave $20 last year get to $10 this year, $0.83 out of every dollar goes towards direct services.

>> And that is wheels.

And also Salvation Army is known to have the bell ringers right outside the store is collecting donations.

It seems there has been less of them outside.

Why is that?

>> Well, you know, we just had a difficult time really, really hiring in getting in more volunteers.

So many times people who the Bills are volunteers.

On and people are volunteering in other areas right now, packing food boxes donating toys in and riding on our on our truck.

Serving food people are finding different ways to give either through the red kettle or through the mail appeal.

And got to tell you people there would goes thing.

The bucket is the income.

But the outcome of the income is food, shelter and clothing.

>> And I want to leave this and a happy note.

What can people do to help this holiday season?

>> We'll Army Chicago Dot Org is is one of the websites that you can go to or we You know, we've got 4 days left without ringing.

If you see some more rain in the Baylor cattle drop a dollar, drop $2.

And because, you know, those those dollars and up at the end of the day and those dollars help us to provide soup.

So and salvation.

>> And I have a final question here because what I find interesting you kind of mentioned about do you see a difference in generational giving when it comes to donations and volunteers?

>> I really do.

I think you know, right now, people people want to donate their time and their talent.

They may not have much as they had year before.

And this generation.

I think it's let me get my time.

Let me give my town you know, the treasure may not come right away.

the school teachers music teachers and social workers and counselors and people at the local church is the time.

And the talent is just as good as the Treasury and this generation understands that very well.

>> Well, they help you reach your donation.

Go.

Thank you for joining us.

>> My pleasure.

Thank you so much.

>> Up next, efforts to protect Illinois state insect.

The U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service is pushing for Monarch butterflies to gain a federally protected status.

It comes as local residents have been making moves to conserve the species, which is the Illinois state insect for years.

Population assessments show Monarch butterflies have declined by nearly 60% from 2023 to 2024. in these unique pollinators are important part of the local ecosystem with deep culture connections in the Mexican community.

>> Very hard insect pollinator and most people think about pollination in conjunction with honeybees and bumblebees because they're so very important to our food crops.

However, butterflies can be very important to our wildflower populations.

Brookfield Zoo works with the Illinois Monarch Project.

>> To help protect the insects population through educational services.

>> Conservation efforts in meeting goals to plant native milkweed for the butterflies to eat and lay eggs on manager of interpretive programs and recall planned.

>> Emphasize is that ecological and cultural importance of monarchs.

When you take a look worldwide butterflies have a significant many cultures.

>> They are related to her dreams going from one room to another.

Sometimes they can be signals from her loved ones veteran the here after coming back to give a certain messages here in Illinois.

They have a special significance because in 1975 group of schoolchildren in Decatur lobbied successfully to have the monarch butterfly considered our state insect.

And in 2017 milkweed was adopted as the Illinois State wildflower.

So these animals can have an intrinsic value, but they can also have a value that's really rooted here in our literature and our spirituality.

>> Monarch butterflies migrate each fall from the northern border of Canada all the way down to Mexico and then move back north to states like Illinois in the spring and summer Polson resident and Sanchez who put a spa, says that this has dedicated her time and home to the preservation of butterflies.

>> I happened see mice He saving my vote.

would that she's been they threw for me as a human.

It's so sad for me.

Team came that the when they I be be with him any more.

So why don't I I I learned that keep 19 as many threes as many plants I can because I want come back.

I battle for I would be with them for a bit.

>> Sanchez has transformed her home into a butterfly sanctuary, complete with the large collection of the pollinators displayed in her living room for her, the our sign of liberation.

>> ice can cross the border that any time they need to because they need to make it a south and then they need to migrate north.

They require a passport.

They don't make quite big, but it's the cross-border It's something that makes me feel is so painful because humans week we had enough pretty to do that.

We don't have means to go and be safe out for me.

Sickels, the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service.

They're looking to at the monarch butterfly to its endangered species list.

>> Advocates hope the designation will turn around the insects, declining population.

>> Due to habitat loss insecticides and climate change we've seen before with some of our conservation successes.

>> When you have.

Concerned citizens as well organizations government agencies all working together.

>> You can have a dramatic turnaround and we have to animals here at Brookfield Zoo, Chicago that symbolize conservation success.

See our American bison as well as the bald eagle.

These are to add moves with populations were really, really low.

But everybody worked together in this nation, we saw conservation success.

Those populations rebound to the point where they're stable.

And this is why I'm hopeful and confident that we can do it again with the monarch butterfly.

>> The U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting public comments on its proposal to list monarch butterflies as an endangered species.

Now through March, 12th, there's more information on our Web site, including what you can do to help the butterflies are one of my favorite insects are so beautiful.

All for us.

A jury in Mexico.

And that's our show for.

We leave you tonight with a special holiday event at Nathan Hale Elementary School.

All of us here in Chicago tonight on John then this.

Thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe.

One is not >> Closed captioning is made possible by Robert a cliff and Clifford law Chicago personal injury and wrongful death.