>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, THIS MONTH'S DEEP FREEZE HAS LEFT THE CITY'S HOMELESS RESIDENTS IN DEADLY PERIL.

AND HOW TO PROTECT CHICAGO PLUS PROGRAM IS TAKING AN AMBITIOUS APPROACH TO VACCINATING THE COMMUNITY'S HARDEST HIT BY COVID.

WHAT IMPACTS DOES IT HAVE ON THOSE HARDEST HIT BY THE PANDEMIC.

PROTESTERS URGING THE CITY TO STOP A METTLE COMPANY FROM OPENING.

GO GO IN TONIGHT'S THROWBACK.

>> ALL BEAUTIFUL NECESSARY WORK THAT SHOULDN'T BE NECESSARY.

>> AND A CHEF GIVES LA ULTIMA PALABRA ON HOW WE BELIEVES PUBLIC POLICY IS FAILING EVERYONE.

FIRST TONIGHT, THE SUBZERO TEMPERATURES AND HEAVY SNOW FALL OF THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS ENDANGERERED THE LIVES OF PEOPLE ALREADY INCREDIBLY VULNERABLE.

THE MORE THAN 5,000 CHICAGO ANS ESTIMATED TO BE LIVING P ON THE STREETS OR IN SHELTERS, LEAVING THE CITY AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SCRAMBLING TO GET THEM TO SAFETY.

ADVOCATES SAY THIS IS A PROBLEM CHICAGO HAS FAILED TO DEAL WITH ADEQUATELY FOR MANY YEARS.

JOINING US NOW ARE JOSE MUNOZ, A NON-PROFIT SERVING YOUTH AND FAMILY'S HOMELESSNESS.

WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES."

>> ALDERMAN LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE YOU ARE ONE OF TWO ALDERMAN WHO OFFERED THEIR OFFICES AS WARMING SHELTERS, WHAT WENT INTO YOUR DECISION TO DO THAT?

>> THE LAST RESORT, WE SAW WITH THE FRIGID TEMPERATURES AND THE GROWING NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY WHEN WE REACH OUT DFSS AND OTHER AGENCIES IN THE CITY, WE WERE MET WITH A SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS LIKE GOING CALLING 311 AND WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO GO AND STOP BY THE BRIDGES AND WE WONDER, HOW FIRST OF ALL A LOT OF THESE HOMELESS RESIDENTS COMMUNICATE, MANY OF THEM DON'T HAVE CELLPHONES.

AND ALSO, IN THIS FRIGID TEMPERATURES, WE COULD NOT SIMPLE WAIT AND WATCH AS PEOPLE DIE IN THE COLD.

SO BASED ON THE LACK OF RESPONSE, WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT THE LOSS OF LIVES AND I THINK THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

AND THAT WE NORMALIZE THE SITUATION.

WE NEED TO TAKE A PROACTIVE PREVENTION TO PREVENT THE LOSS OF LIVES.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN FROM THE POPULATION THAT YOU SERVED IN THIS LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THIS IS A YEAR-ROUND ISSUE.

THE FRIGID TEMPERATURES MAKE IT MORE PROMINENT AND FOLKS TEND TO FOCUS IN IN THESE TIME PERIODS.

BUT THE ISSUE OF BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE SHELTER IS HAPPENING ALL DAY LONG AND EVERY YEAR FERMENT ON ANY GIVEN DAY WE'VE GOT ABOUT 1500 YOUTH AND ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN CHICAGO.

WE NEED TO CREATE MORE ACCESS POINTS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO BE ABLE TO FIND EMERGENCY AS FAR ASS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES IN A CULTURALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY.

WE NEED TO EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AVAILABLE TO GET INDIVIDUALS INTO PERMANENT AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND WE NEED TO WORK ON THE SPEED THAT WE DO THAT.

BECAUSE A LOT OF TIME EVEN WHEN THERE IS HOUSING AVAILABLE, IF THE PROCESS TAKES TOO LIGHTNING WE TEND TO LOSE INDIVIDUALS IN THE PROCESS.

WE NEED TO CREATE THOSE POINTS NOW.

IT'S A PROBLEM TO CONSTANTLY BE LOOKING AT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR UNTIL WE'RE ABLE TO SOLVE THE ISSUE.

>> AND JOSE, HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC IF EFFECTED OUR ABILITY TO GET SERVICES TO THE YOUTH YOU WORK WITH?

>> IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE SINCE DAY ONE.

WE NEED TO DO TWO THINGS, ONE, WE NEED TOLL BRING IN AS MANY FOLKS AS POSSIBLE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE NEED DO IT IN A WAY TO HELP INDIVIDUALS SOCIALLY DISTANCE AND MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CLIENTS AND THE STAFF WE SERVE AND STILL PROVIDE THE SERVICES.

IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

BUT DESPITE THAT WILL WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF FOLKS LOOKING FOR SERVICES.

TRYING TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT HAS LOOKED LIKE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IN 2020 WE SERVED 17,000 INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS, THE YEAR BEFORE THAT WE SERVED 3,000.

THREE TIMES AS MUCH.

>> A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE.

>> ALDERMAN, ARE THERE SPECIFIC POLICIES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY ADOPT OR EVEN KEEP TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED TO KEEP THEM SAFE ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEATHER IT'S WORSE THAN USUAL.

>> IT'S A YEAR ROUND ISSUE.

WE NEED TO INVEST IN MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EMERGENCY HOUSING, THE ISSUE OF HOUSING IS A HUGE ISSUE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF 120 UNITS IN THE CITY OF SHE CAN.

WE HAVE A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE NEED TO MAKE THAT A PRIORITY.

IN THE PAST FOR EMERGENCIES, WE HAVE MADE PARK DISTRICTS AVAILABLE OR C.T.A.

BUSES AS WARMING CENTERS.

WE COULD CONTINUE DOING SOME OF THOSE EMERGENCY POLICIES, BUT ULTIMATE IN THE LONG RUN WE IMMEDIATE TO MAKE SURE WE PRO PRIORITIZE HOUSING INVESTMENTS.

THE OTHER PART THAT'S CONCERNING, WE WOULD THINK AS SOMETIMES HOMELESSNESS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN CAN HAPPEN TO ANYBODY.

HOMELESSNESS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN EFFECT ANYONE.

IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE.

JUST RIGHT NOW DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS WE HAVE SEEN 21,000 EVICTIONS ON FILE IN THE LAST MONTH.

WE HAVAL SERIOUS ISSUE, WE NEED TOLL PUSH FOR LEGISLATION SO WE DON'T HAVE DEVELOPERS COMING IN AND GIVING 30 DAY NOTICES AND EVICTING RESIDENTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC.

IN A TIME OF A PANDEMIC WE NEED TO INVEST IN PUBLIC HOUSING THE C.H.A.

AND OTHER AGENCIES.

>> WITH REGARD TO HOUSING, JOSE, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL THAT YOU ADVOCATE FOR?

>> WE BELIEVE THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES WE NEED TO DEAL WITH ESPECIALLY IN THE COMMUNITIES EAR SERVING.

BUT THE VERY FIRST THING WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IS GETTING THEM HOUSED.

THE ARTICLED IS CORRECT, WE REALLY NEED TO EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING OUT THERE.

CREATE NOR VOUCHER HOUSING, MAKE IT EASIER FOR FAMILIES TO TO STAY HOUSED AND THEN WE COULD START DEALING WITH ALL THOR ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT HOUSING NEEDS TO BE THE FIRST STEP IF WE WANT TO HAVE STRONG COMMUNITIES AND BUILD RESILIENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON HOUSING AND IT HAS TO BE THE TOP PRIORITY.

>> MY THANKS TO YOU BOTH.

AND BEST OF LUCK TO YOU BOTH IN THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CHICAGO HAS LAUNCHED A COVID VACCINE DISTRIBUTION PLAN THAT PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO GET VACCINATIONS TO PEOPLE IN THE 15 COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

THE PLAN IS CALLED PROTECT CHICAGO PLUS, AND IT TAKES AN URGENT APPROACH TO ROLLING OUT VACCINATIONS.

WE SPOKE WITH CARMAN CHIEF OPERATIONS OF ONE OF THE PARTNERING OCEANS ABOUT THE PROGRAM AS IT IS IN IT'S EARLY DAYS.

>> HEALTHCARE HAS HISTORICALLY ALSO BEEN TIED TO YOUR EMPLOYMENT.

AND WHEN IT'S TIED TO EMPLOYMENT YOU LEAVE OUT A LOT OF PEOPLE.

PEOPLE WHO ARE PART TIME WORKERS WHO DON'T HAVE INSURANCE THROUGH THE EMPLOYER OR PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED OR PEOPLE WHO PRIMARILY WORK IN THE HOMES.

THIS PROTECT CHICAGO IS LOOKING TO PROTECT THEM AS WELL WHO ARE NOT REPRESENTED IN THE DIFFERENT PHASES.

THE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THEY'RE CONTACTING PATIENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SOME THROUGH PHONE, TEXT MESSAGES, DOOR TO DOOR CAN NOING.

STANDING IN FRONT OF GROCERY STORES PASSING OUT FLIERS, DIFFERENT METHODS TO CONNECT WITH AS MANY RESIDENTS AS POSSIBLE.

WE'RE HOPING TO CHANGE THE COLOR OF THE MAP.

YOU SEE THE MAP OF CHICAGO THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE DISPARITIES ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE.

WE'RE HOPING FOR EQUITY TO BE THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME.

>> YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE AT THE CITY'S VACCINATION RATES AT news.wttw.com.

>> THE GOVERNOR RELEASED HIS NEARLY $42 BILLION BUDGET PROPOSAL THIS WEEK.

HERE'S A LOOK AT PART OF WHAT HE SAID.

>> I HAD BOLDER PLANS FOR OUR STATE BUDGET THAN WHAT I'M GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY.

IT WOULD BE A LIE TO SAY OTHERWISE.

AS ALL OF OUR FAMILIES HAD TO MAKE SACRIFICE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR SO TOO DOES THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

FINDS THE RIGHT.

>> HIS PROPOSAL DOESN'T INCLUDE TAX INCREASES BUT INSTEAD RELIES WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS CLOSING TAX LOOP HOLES.

SPOKE SPOKE WITH STATE LAWMAKERS TO GET THEIR REACTION OF THE PLAN.

CHRISTINA CASTRO ON WHETHER A TAX INCREASE COULD BE A PART OF WHAT GETS PASSED IN THE END?

>> I DON'T SEE A TAX INCREASE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT AT THE LATINO CAUCUS IS, WE APLOWEDED THE GOVERNOR FOR NOT HAVING THAT.

A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES IMPACTED, I CAN TELL YOU, AND I'M SURE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE CAN TALK ABOUT PEOPLE, FRIENDS, FAMILY TREMENDOUSLY IMPACTED BY COVID.

IN ADDITION, WHEN YOU LOOK AT LATINO OUR LATINO COMMUNITY, LET'S NOT FORGET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUNISHED IMMIGRANTS, THE UNDOCUMENTED AND MIXED STATUS FAMILIES.

SO THE STATE TOOK THE STEP FORWARD TO HELP ADDRESS THAT.

THERE NEEDS TO BE HELP IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS UNDER WATER AND NOT BY CHOICES OF THEIR OPEN, THIS IS A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND WE HAVE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO SO OF IT.

IT'S A PROPOSAL.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR AND MY COLLEAGUES FROM ACROSS THE AISLE TO WORK THIS BUDGET AND TO COME OUT WITH A FINAL PRODUCT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE BOURNE DOES THIS BUDGET DO ANYTHING TO CHIP AWAY AT ILLINOIS'S LONG-TERM FINANCIAL ISSUES AND SHOULD IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WHAT WE SEE IS DOUBLING DOWN ON THE DECADES OF FISCAL POLICY ON A STATE GOVERNMENT RUN ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY BY DEMOCRATS.

THIS IS A BILLION DOLLARS TAX INCREASE IN THE BUDGET.

THIS IS NEW REVENUE, DEMOCRATS AND THEGOR SIGNED THESE PROVISIONS AND VOTED FOR THEM IN LAW TWO YEARS AGO.

IT'S GOING TO BE BUSINESSES PAYING MORE TAXES AND JOB CREATING A BILLION DOLLARS IN MORE TAXES.

WE SEE SPENDING SPENDING NO SERIOUS TALKS ABOUT RIGHTING THE FISCAL.

ILLINOIS'S FISCAL ISSUE GO BACK DECADES WE HAVE TO FUNDAMENTALLY GO BACK AND CHANGE THE WAY WE ARE.

>> PART OF A CONVERSATION FROM LAST WEEK WHEN THE GOVERNOR UNVEILED HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL.

TO WATCH THE FULL CONVERSATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

>>> PROTESTERS ARE USING A HUNGER STRIKE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO A METAL SCRAPPING.

SHUT DOWN LINCOLN PART METAL SCRAPPER GENERAL IRON AND OPEN SOUTH SIDE RECYCLING IN SOUTH DEERING.

AMANDA, AGAIN, CONNECTED WITH RESIDENTS AND KEY STAKE HOLDERS ABOUT THE DISPUTE.

ONE OF THEM PEGGY SALIZAR.

>> HERE'S THE IMPACT IT HAS, WE KEEP SAYING THAT THE INDUSTRY THAT'S HERE IS POLLUTING INDUSTRY.

WE'RE ZONED FOR DIRTY INDUSTRY.

THAT EQUATES TO POLLUTING INDUSTRY.

EVERY TIME THEY ADD SOMETHING TO WHAT'S ALREADY HERE THAT IT JUST INTENSEFIES THOSE EFFECTS AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN SAYING WE DON'T NEED ANYMORE.

WE LOOK AT THE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF ALL THIS INDUSTRY AND UNFORTUNATELY THE REGULATING INDUSTRIES TEND TO LOOK AT THEM INDIVIDUALLY.

SO THEY PERMIT EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY, BUT THAT'S NOT HOW THEY OPERATE BECAUSE THEY ALL OPERATE TOGETHER AT ONE TIME.

THIS IS WHY WE DON'T NEED ANYMORE.

>> IS IT THAT PART OF THIS, OF COURSE, A LOT OF CRITICISM STEMMING FROM SHUTTING DOWN OPERATIONS IN THE LINCOLN PARK AREA WHILE LOOKING TO EXPAND HERE, IS THAT REALLY IT?

OR IS THERE NO ROOM FOR ANY FACILITY LIKE THIS IN CHICAGO?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY SUPPORT RECYCLING.

WE SUPPORT IT IT'S AN IMPORTANT OPERATION.

WE'VE SAID MANY TIMES AND LINCOLN PARK, THE COMMUNITY SAID THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS DOES NOT BELONG IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA.

CERTAINLY BUSINESSES SHOULD NOT BE OPERATING IN THE BACKYARDS OF COMMUNITIES.

AND THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN REPEATING FOR QUITE AWHILE.

>> REPRESENTATIVES OF RESERVE MANAGEMENT GROUP SAY THEY HAVE GONE TO GREAT LENGTH TO ENSURE THAT THIS ISN'T A GREATER POLLUTANT.

WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE?

>> IF YOU NEED A PERMIT FROM THE ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY YOU ARE A POLLUTING INDUSTRY.

THAT'S WHY YOU NEED A PERMIT, BECAUSE YOU WILL BE EMITTING SOMETHING INTO THE AIR, WATER OR THE GROUND.

>> THE PARENT COMPANY FOR THE NEW SOUTH SIDE RECYCLING FACILITY DECLINED AN INVITATION FOR AN INTERVIEW THIS WEEK.

BUT A SPOKESPERSON WAS ON LAST MONTH.

>> CAPTURE AND CONTROL SYSTEM, A FILTER, A THERMAL OXIDIZER A WET SCRUBBER THAT REMOVES HARMFUL PARTICULATE MATTER AND VOLATILE COMPOUNDS FROM EMISSIONS.

>> HER WARD INCLUDES SOUTH DEERING, NAMED IN A FEDERAL COMPLAINT RELATED TO THE SOUTH SIDE FACILITY SAYING RESIDENTS RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED WILL THE CITY ALLOWED THEM TO MOVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

>> I'M HUMBLED BY WHAT THESE FOLK ARE DOING.

AND PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU KNOW, THIS ACTION WAS GENERATE THE BECAUSE PEOPLE FELT LIKE THEY'RE NOT BEING HEARD, RIGHT.

NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO STARVE TO BE HEARD.

AND THEY BROUGHT MORE ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE WHICH THEY'RE SUCCEEDING IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

I'M HUMBLED BY THE MOVEMENT.

BUT IT'S HARD FOR ME BECAUSE I HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY.

THERE'S A LAWSUIT, THERE'S A HUD COMPLAINT WHICH I'M NAME IN IT SO NOW I CAN'T TALK ABOUT ANY OF THIS.

IT'S VERY HARD FOR ME.

>> WERE YOU TOLD OR CAN YOU ELABORATE ON WHY YOU WERE INCLUDED IN THAT COMPLAINT?

>> I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHY I WAS NAMED.

TO SAY THAT I DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PEOPLE WHEN I SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE FIGHTING FOR WORKING CLASS FAMILIES IN THIS COMMUNITY.

LITERALLY MY WHOLE LIFE.

I THINK IT'S WRONG AND IT'S PUT A HUGE WEDGE BETWEEN ME AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY AND IT'S UNJUSTIFIED.

>> IS THAT GOING TO HINDER THEIR EFFORTS IN THE LONG RUN TO PREVENT THE METAL SCRAPPING FACILITY FROM COMING HERE.

>> IT'S NOT MOVING FROM ANYWHERE, IT'S BEEN HERE.

YOU KNOW, BUT WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND TOO IS FOLKS THAT LIVE HERE ARE VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ALSO GETTING, WE'RE NOT GETTING BEAUTIFUL SKYSCRAPERS OR THINGS LIKE THAT WE'RE GETTING INDUSTRY.

THERE HAS TO BE JOBS, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CARE ABOUT ANYTHING.

BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE CLEAN JOBS AND JOBS THAT DON'T MAKE PEOPLE SICK.

>> ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT THE FACILITY HERE AWAITING PERMITTING FROM THE CITY EVEN AS THERE IS A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE STATE PERMITTING.

WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT ON THAT?

AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO REMARK ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S ROLE IN THIS?

>> I CAN'T COMMENT ON THAT, ALDERMAN DO NOT ISSUE PERMITS.

ANY BUSINESS THAT COMES TO THE 10th WARD FILES FOR A PERMIT AND IF THEY FILE THE LETTER OF THE LAW AND THE RULE, THEN THEY WILL GET THEIR PERMIT OR YOU COULD TURN AROUND AND SUE THE CITY FOR DISCRIMINATION OR WHATEVER.

IT'S A HARD LINE.

>> IN THE LIGHTFOOT ADMINISTRATION IS ASKING REALTIME ENVIRONMENT AT PROTECTION AGENCY FOR GUIDANCE.

>>> BELOVED WHITE SOX OUTFIELDER BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO PLAY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IN 1991.

SOX FANS AND THE CUBAN COMET HIMSELF REFLECTS ON HIS TIME AS THE SOUTH SIDE FAVORITE.

>> I WAS THE FIRST BLACK TO PLAY FOR THE CITY.

AND I WAS THE FIRST BLACK WHO PLAYED OVER THERE.

AND HAD A GREAT, GREAT, YEARS.

>> AND HE WAS A TREMENDOUS CATALYST BECAUSE HE COULD HIT, RUN, AND FIELD.

HE HAD GREAT SPEED.

>> BACK IN THOSE DAYS, HE COULDN'T LIVE IN A HOTEL WITH THE WHITES BECAUSE SEGREGATION WAS GOING ON THEN.

HE USED TO SIT ON HIS PORCH AND I USED TO GO AND CHAT WITH HIM.

>> AND I USED TO LIVE IN 6405 MARYLAND.

I WOULD NEVER FORGET.

>> THEY RAN AND STOLE BASES AND WHEN A MAN WOULD GET ON FIRST BASE, THEY WOULD START A CHANT OUT OF THE STANDS, GO, GO, GO!

>> IS IT STARTED, AND I STARTED TO GO.

I THINK WITHOUT PUTTING ANYTHING IN MYSELF.

I STARTED THE GO!

GO!

WHITE SOX.

>> WHEN HE DIED IN 2015, WHITE SOX FAN BARACK OBAMA SAID OF HIM FOR SOUTH SIDERS AND SOX FANS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDING ME, MINI WILL ALWAYS BE THE WHITE SOX.

UP NEXT LA ULTIMA PALABRA RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHEF RAFAEL ESPARZA WORKED IN THE CITY'S GREAT RESTAURANTS AND HIS OWN.

BUT HE SAYS, THOSE EFFORTS ARE ONLY NECESSARY BECAUSE GOVERNMENT AND ELECTED OFFICIALS AREN'T DOING THEIR JOB.

TONIGHT, ESPARZA GIVES LA ULTIMA PALABRA ON HOW HAD HE BELIEVES WORKSES OF AID GIVE COVER.

>> I'M A LIFE LONG PILSEN RESIDENT AND I WAS INITIALLY GOING TO TALK ABOUT MUTUAL AID.

AT ALL THE WAYS THEY SHOW UP FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND AS I WAS DOING THAT I DECIDED TO GO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

I DECIDED TO USE THE TIME TO SPEAK ABOUT THINGS THAT I FEEL DON'T GET ADDRESSED OFTEN ENOUGH.

WE HAVE PEOPLE SETTING UP WARMING STATIONS, FUNDS TO GET HOTELS FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE, BECAUSE IT'S SO UNSAFE.

CLOTHING DRIVES FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE.

FOOD DRIVES FOR EVERYONE.

RESTAURANTS TURNED INTO COMMUNITY KITCHENS TO GIVE FREE MEALS TO PEOPLE.

ALL BEAUTIFUL, NECESSARY WORK THAT SHOULDN'T BE NECESSARY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO CHALK IT UP TO GOVERNMENT CONSPIRACIES OR SOME BIG OVERARCHING KIND OF CONSPIRACY, BUT CONSPIRACIES REQUIRE A LOT OF SECRECY, AND A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.

THIS IS POLICY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, IT'S IN YOUR FACE.

THE WAY THEY TARGET HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY.

THE WAY THEY CRIMINALIZE OUR HOMELESS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IS OUTRAGES.

ARCHITECTURE PUT UP TO KEEP THEM FROM SLEEPING, TO KEEP THEM TIRED.

THE CITY OF CHICAGO RECEIVED $403 MILLION IN FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUNDING AND THE MAYOR, LAURIE LIGHTFOOT SAW FIT TO HAND THAT TO THE POLICE.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT HURTING FOR MONEY.

OVERLY MILITARIZED POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST POLICE BUDGETS IN THE COUNTRY.

WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE LITERALLY STARVING TO DEATH.

I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF A BUSINESS OF A FRIEND THAT'S NOW CLOSED BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET COVID-19 RELIEF.

THE FACT THAT OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS HAVE TO GO ON A HUNGER SITE TO PREVENT GENERAL METAL FROM OPENING UP A PLANT.

MOVING FROM A RICH WHITE SIDE OF CHICAGO, TO A VERY BROWN AND BLACK SIDE OF CHICAGO.

THE FACT THAT THAT ISN'T A SECRET, THE FACT THAT IT'S OUT THERE SAYS TO YOU THAT THE POLICIES THAT ARE IN PLACE ARE ALL SET UP TO SYSTEMICALLY KEEP ALL OF US IN CHECK.

IN PLACE, IN OUR PLACE.

BUT WHAT ARE WE REALLY DOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING?

HOW ARE WE REALLY STOPPING ANY OF THIS.

THE TIME IS IT NOW TO ASK MORE OF YOURSELF AND THE PEOPLE NEXT TO YOU AND CLEARLY NO ONE'S COME TO GO HELP.

I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.

PEOPLE COME IN IN PURSUIT OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.

NIGHTMARES ARE DREAMS TOO.

>> WE HAVE INFORMATION ON SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS ESPARZA MENTIONS OFFERING MUTUAL AID ON OUR WEBSITE.

WATCH MORE ON OUR LA ULTIMA PALABRA.

AND WHILE YOU'RE THERE CHECK OUT OUR STORY ABOUT THE MAYOR FIGHTING BACK THE CRITICS TO USE THOSE FUNDS TO HELP POLICE COSTS.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS SATURDAY NIGHT.

A DAMMING REPORT FROM THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL ON THE POLICE RESPONSE TO UNREST IN THE WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD'S KILLING.

AND ACTOR DIAHANN CARROLL TELLS A HAIR RAISING STORY.

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

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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