BIENVENIDO TO, "CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES".

I'M HUGO BALTA, WTTW NEWS DIRECTOR AND YOUR HOST.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

NOW, ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, IT'S NOT JUST THEIR HEALTH THAT IS AT RISK, WE TALK WITH JOURNALISTS ABOUT THE DEVASTATING FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN LATINO COMMUNITIES.

INCLUDING THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, A SECTOR THAT EMPLOYS MANY LATINO WOMEN, TWO SHARE CONCERNS WITH US ABOUT GETTING THEIR OLD JOBS BACK.

>>> ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND INEQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION.

A LOOK AT WHY SOME CHICAGOANS ARE FIGHTING LARGE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS >> AND THIS BLACK HISTORY MONTH WE LOOK TO THE QUEEN OF SAAL IS A.

>> THROUGHOUT THE COVID PANDEMIC, THE LATINO COMMUNITY HAS BEEN AT HEIGHTENED RISK OF DEATH.

IT'S ALSO HARMING THEIR FINANCESES AND MAKING THEM MORE LIKELY TO LOSE THEIR HOMES.

AS PART OF CHICAGO TONIGHT'S IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, GAGE PARK HE SHARED INSIGHTS ABOUT HOW THE POP HAS BROUGHT MANY LATINO COMMUNITIES TO THE BRINK.

>> AND IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT ON EVERY LEVEL.

WE RECEIVE REQUESTS FROM PEOPLE ALL THE TIME FOR THINGS THAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU.

WE HAD A PATIENT A FEW WEEKS AGO COME TO THE EMERGENCY FUND BECAUSE THEY NEEDED $200 TO PAY FOR A CREMATION.

IT'S THINGS ARE HEART WRENCHING.

>> JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE CHARMAINE RUNES, A REPORTER WITH SOUTH SIDE WEEKLY, JUSTIN AGRELO, A REPORTER WITH CITY BOROUGH, AND MARIA INES.

MARIA INES, LAST WEEK YOU REPORTED THAT 87% OF LATINO HOUSEHOLDS DISCLOSED HAVING FINANCIAL PROBLEMS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT IS THE SITUATION NOW FOR THOSE FAMILIES.

>> THE SITUATION FOR LATINOS IS BAD.

DURING THE PANDEMIC WORKERS HAVE BEEN LAID OFF OR HOURS REDUCED.

AND THE REALITY IS THAT THE INDUSTRIES WHERE A ROT OF LATINOS ARE CONCENTRATED ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE ALSO LOST A LOT OF JOBS.

FOR EXAMPLE WE'VE LOST OVER 8 MILLION JOBS IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY ALONE.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE INDUSTRIES STILL DOING WELL, WE ALSO SEE THOSE INDUSTRIES DON'T EMPLOY A LOT OF LATINOS.

SO, AS A RESULT YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF FAMILIES STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY.

A POLL I REPORTED ON LAST SEPTEMBER SHOWED 72% OF LATINO HOUSEHOLDS IN CHICAGO REPORTED HAVING SERIOUS FINANCIAL PROBLEMS COMPARED TO 36% OF WHITE HOUSEHOLDS IN THE CITY.

SO THAT KIND OF SHOWS YOU THE SITUATION THAT LATINOS ARE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW.

AND THE WORST PART ABOUT IT FOR LATINO WHO DON'T HAVE PROPER DOCUMENTATION, OR THEY LIVE IN MIXED STATUS FAMILIES THEY OFTEN DON'T RECEIVE THE STIMULUS MONEY THAT OTHER AMERICANS RECEIVE.

THAT PUTS PEOPLE IN A REALLY VULNERABLE SITUATION.

IN COMMUNITIES WHERE ONE MEMBER OF THE FAMILY LOST A JOB, THEY OFTEN GO TO WORK IN WARE HOUSING.

THEY GET A JOB IN TEMP AGENCIES.

THEY GO AND WORK AND THOSE SAME WAREHOUSES HAVE A LOT OF COVID CASES OF THE SO THEY BRING THE VIRUS TO THEIR MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS.

AND THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THAT LATINOS STILL HAVE THE HIGHEST INFECTION RATES IN CHICAGO.

>> Hugo: JUSTIN, YOU REPORTED THAT DESPITE THE MORATORIUMS, PEOPLE ARE STILL GETTING EVICTED.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STORIES YOUR HEARING.

>> WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF STORIES.

THAT LANDLORDS CAN FILE EVICTION ON TENANTS WHO THEY PERCEIVE AS A THREAT.

PEOPLE ARE LANDLORDS ARE USING LEGAL LOCK OUTS, SHUTTING OFF UTILITIES, THREATS OF VIOLENCE ET CETERA TO REALLY MOVE PEOPLE.

AND YEAH, WE'RE SORT OF HEARING A LOT OF THAT.

WE SPOKE WITH 30 DIFFERENT RENTERS FOR A RECENT STORY THAT WE JUST PUBLISHED CALLED THE HOUSING CLIFF AND IT REALLY JUST HIGHLIGHTED HOW EASILY FOLKS HAVE FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS.

AND HOW LITTLE OR LIKE OW INEFFECTIVE THE EVICTION MORATORIUM HAS BEEN AT KEEPING PEOPLE IN PLACE.

>> >> Hugo: YOU MENTIONED IT, MARIA INES PAINTED A REALLY BROAD PICTURE.

CHARMAINE, WHAT MIGHT BE KEEPING US FROM HAVING ACCURATE DATA?

>> THERE ARE LOTS OF REASONS WHY WE MAY NOT HAVE ACCURATE DATA OF WHO IS AT RISK OF EXPERIENCING POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS.

THERE ARE A FEW WAYS THAT THE CITY COLLECTS DATA ON WHOSE AT RISK OF LOSING HOUSING, AND AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, BASED ON MY REPORTING, IT'S COBBLEED TOGETHER.

THERE'S THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM WHICH KEEPS TRACK OF FOLKS IN TOUCH WITH SERVICES.

BUT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO, FOR WHATEVER REASON ARE NOT IN SHELTERS OR ON THE STREETS AND HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED OUTREACH BY THE CITY OR BY NON-PROFIT, THEY'RE JUST NOT IN THE SYSTEM AND THERE IS NO WAY FOR THE CITY TO KNOW JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS LOSS IN NOT ONLY INCOME, BUT HOUSING BUT A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS AS WELL.

>> Hugo: YOU MENTIONED INDUSTRIES THAT EMPLOY A LOT OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS HAVE SLOWED WORK OR CLOSED IN THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT IMPACT WILL PRESIDENT TRUMP'S IMMIGRATION POLICY HAVE ON UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT TOSS RETURN TO WORK?

>> IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WAIL.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO UNDUE THE HARM CAUSED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

AND THAT CHANGE WILL COME SLOWLY, AND IT'S GOING TO FACE A LOT OF OPPOSITION.

FOR EXAMPLE, HE ISSUED A MORATORIUM TO STOP DEPORTATIONS IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION BUT THAT WAS CHALLENGED IN COURT.

A FEDERAL JUDGE IN TEXAS ISSUED A TEMPORARY STAY OF THAT ORDER.

AND WE ALSO SEE HE'S GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN REUNITED FAMILIES.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SEPARATED THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES AND A LOT OF CHILDREN ARE SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION KEPT VERY POOR RECORDS SO THAT'S GOING TO TAKE UP A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY.

HE'S ALSO HAVING TO FACE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF ASYLUM SEEKERS AT THE BORDER, LIVING IN SQUALLER, AND ASKING TO COME INTO THE COUNTRY FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM.

>> Hugo: CHARMAINE HAVE WE SEEN AN UP TICK IN HOMELESSNESS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN?

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES TO COLLECTING DATA ON THE HOMELESS?

>> IT IS HARD TO SAY, BUT IT DOES SEEM INCREDIBLY LIKELY THAT WE'VE SEEN AN UPTICK IN HOMELESSNESS JUST BASED ON THE NUMBER OF EVICTIONS AND PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE RENT AND NOT BEING SURE WHERE TO GO.

I THINK THE TROUBLE WITH REALLY DOCUMENTING HOMELESSNESS AND WHETHER THAT HAS INCREASED OR NOT, IS BECAUSE THE SHELTER SYSTEM HAS EXPERIENCED SO MUCH CHAOS BECAUSE OF COVID, RIGHT?

THE NUMBER OF BEDS THAT YOU CAN FIT IN ONE SPACE IS NO LONGER THE SAME BECAUSE OF THE NEED FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING.

AND SO, I THINK THAT WE LIKELY HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK IN FACT, IN 2020, DURING THE POINT IN TIME COUNT WHICH IS AN ANNUAL COUNT THAT IS CONDUCTED EVERY YEAR TO GIVE A SNAP SHOT ON WHOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ON A SINGLE NIGHT IN JANUARY.

WE SAW A 2% INCREASE IN JANUARY.

AND A LOT OF THAT INCREASE CAME FROM FOLKS STAYING ON THE STREET AS OPPOSED TO STAYING IN THE SHELTER.

A 21% OF INCREASE OF FOLKS STAYING IN SHELTERS AND AGAIN THIS WAS BEFORE COVID HIT.

>> Hugo: A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION.

I WANT TO GET IN ONE LAST QUESTION TO JUSTIN, IS THE ANTICIPATED COVID RELIEF PACKAGE COMING FAST ENOUGH OR ENOUGH TO HELP?

>> I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK.

I THINK FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR AT LEAST A YEAR THEY WOULD SAY NO, RIGHT, PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING A LONG TIME.

THE CITY DID PROVIDE TWO ROUNDS OF.

IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU'RE ASKING AND WHAT THEIR SITUATION HAS BEEN OVER THE YEAR.

>> Hugo: A LOT OF CHALLENGES AND THINGS AHEAD.

OUR THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND INSIGHTS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Hugo: UP NEXT, A LOOK AT THE IMPACT THE PANDEMIC IS HAVING ON HOSPITALITY WORKERS IN A CONVERSATION FROM EARLIER THIS WEEK.

>> Hugo: THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC HAS DEVASTATED THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

INCLUDING HOTELS AND THOSE WHO WORK IN THEM.

MANY PEOPLE IMPACTED ARE WOMEN FROM BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

ACCORDING TO THE ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTE, BEFORE THE PANDEMIC MORE THAT BE 14% OF LATINAS WORKED IN THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR.

AND MANY WORKING IN HOUSEKEEPING ARE OLDER WOMEN WHO ARE SPANISH DOMINANT.

MARIA DELGADO WORKED AT HOTEL FOR 16 YEARS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

SHE SHARED HER EXPERIENCE WITH US.

>> [SPANISH SPEAKING] >> Hugo: AGAIN, THAT WAS MARIA DELGADO WHOSE WORKED AT THE MARRIOTT ON THE MAGNIFICENT MILE, UNTIL THE PANDEMIC.

SHE WAS A HOUSEKEEPER AT THE HIGH YET CENTER THE LOOP CHICAGO FOR FOUR YEARS, AND TERESA HERNANDEZ WHO WAS A BANQUET SERVER.

LET'S START WITH YOU, TERESA, WE JUST HEARD FROM MARIA ON WHAT HER JOB MEANT TO HER, WHAT ABOUT YOU, YOU'VE WORKED IN THE INDUSTRY FOR 20 YEARS.

>> I WORKED FOR THE HOTEL FOR 20 YEARS AND I DEPEND ON MY JOB FOR EVERYTHING.

FOR PAY MY HOUSE, MY BILLS.

MY UTILITIES, EVERYTHING.

AND I'M BEHIND IN MY MORTGAGE PAYMENTS ALREADY BECAUSE I HAVE ALREADY ALMOST A YEAR WITH NO WORK.

>> Hugo: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MARIA ALSO MENTIONED TO US IS THAT WHILE CLACKING UNEMPLOYMENT, SHE HAS A DIFFICULT TIME MAKING ENDS MEET.

MELISSA ARE YOU FACING SIMILAR CHALLENGES?

>> YES.

I WAS LET GO IN MARCH, WHEN THE PANDEMIC HAD JUST STARTED.

AND EVERY SINCE THEN, IT'S BEEN VERY STRESSFUL.

I'M A SINGLE MOTHER OF FIVE, I'VE BEEN STRUGGLING, I'VE BEEN BACKED UP IN RENT, BILLS, I'M ACTUALLY REALLY BACKED UP ON MY BILLS RIGHT NOW.

I HAVE TWO SONS IN COLLEGE SO EVERYTHING'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT SINCE MARCH.

>> Hugo: ANOTHER THING MARIA SHARED WITH US IS HER AGE AS A BARRIER OF FINDING ANOTHER JOB.

KAREN KENT SAID AGE IS A CHALLENGE FOR MANY WOMEN.

>> THE ODDS ARE AGAINST WOMEN TO GET ANOTHER JOB LATER IN LIFE OR GET HIRED AS MUCH AS MEN OR AS MUCH AS SOMEBODY WHOSE YOUNGER.

THEY WILL EARN LESS WAGES, THE SALARIES WILL DECREASE.

THEY WILL JUST HAVE A MUCH TOUGHER TIME AND SLIP INTO POVERTY MUCH FASTER.

>> TERESA, IS THAT A CHALLENGE FOR YOU TOO?

WHAT OTHER DIFFICULTIES ARE YOU FACING?

>> YES, ESPECIALLY WITH MY AGE, I'M 50 YEARS-OLD AND IT'S NOT EASY FOR ME TO GO AND APPLY IN ANOTHER PLACE AND BESIDE THAT, TRYING TO APPLY IN A FACTORY, AND THEY GOT ALREADY THEIR OWN PEOPLE.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HIRE ME BECAUSE MY AGE.

>> Hugo: A VERY TOUGH SITUATION.

MELISSA, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES, ARE THEY IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS?

>> YES.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THINGS THAT'S WHY WE'RE FIGHTING FOR THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE I'M NOT ONLY SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, I SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY OUT THERE.

I WAS WORKING AT THE HOTEL FOR FOUR YEARS, BUT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THERE 15-20 YEARS, I FEEL LIKE THEY JUST USED US WHEN THEY NEEDED US AND NOW THEY LET US GO.

>> Hugo: NOW, THERE'S THAT PENDING ORDINANCE IN CITY COUNCIL THAT WILL REQUIRE HOTELS TO OFFER FORMER EMPLOYEES THE RIGHT TO RETURN TO THEIR OLD JOBS BEFORE HIRING OUTSIDE REPLACEMENTS.

THE ORTS WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT, REQUIRING HOTELS TO JUMP THROUGH MORE REGULATORY PAPERWORK HOOPS.

TERESA, ARE YOU AFRAID THAT WHEN YOUR HOTEL STARTS HIRING, THREE WON'T BE A SPOT FOR YOU?

>> YES, I'M VERY AFRAID.

SOMETIMES I DON'T SLEEP I'M THINKING THEY ARE NOT GOING TO CALL ME BECAUSE OF MY AGE.

AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT, BECAUSE TOO MANY YEARS I WAS THERE, AND THEY JUST THROW ME OUT.

IT'S HARD.

VERY HARD.

>> Hugo: SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

MELISSA, WOULD THE ORDINANCE EASE SOME OF YOUR FEARS?

>> OH, YES, DEFINITELY.

I'M NOT VERY YOUNG ANYMORE EITHER, IT'S DIFFICULT, I'VE APPLIED TO JOBS AND IT'S NOT EASY OUT THERE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR THAT WE HAVE TO STRUGGLE, BE STRESSED OUT LOOKING FOR A JOB WHEN WE ALREADY HAD ONE.

WE LOST IT BECAUSE OF A PANDEMIC, NOT BECAUSE OF OUR FAULT.

>> MELISSA, TERESA, WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Hugo: AND WE'RE BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES," BUT FIRST.

>> A CONVERSATION ON HOW BLACK HISTORY IS BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOL, PLUS LIFE AFTER PRISON IN THIS WEEK'S BOOKS COLLECTION.

OUR PEOPLE AND TEACHING YOUNG MEN TO BE GENTLEMEN.

TOMORROW AT 6:00 ON CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES.

>> Hugo: THANKS.

CITY OFFICIALS HOLIDAY A COMMUNITY MEETING LATE LAST MONTH GIVING UPDATES ON THE RESPONSE OF THE FORMER DEMOLITION OF THE COAL PLANT.

A LARGE DISTRIBUTION CENTER SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED THIS SPRING, CHICAGO TONIGHT'S NICK BLUMBURG HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO THIS.

>> FULFILL THEIR ONLINE ORDERS.

AND THEY HAVE BEEN GROWING FAST IN RECENT YEARS BUT CRITICS ARE INCREASINGLY SOUNDING AN ALARM ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THESE CENTERS AND THE FACT THAT MANY OF THEM ARE LOCATED IN LOWER INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> A PLOT OF LAND IN BRIDGEPORT, THE LAST DISTRIBUTION CENTER BEING BUILT MY PROLOGIS.

IT'S ON TRACK TO JOIN DOZENS OF AMAZON DISTRIBUTION CERTAINTY HE IS BUILT IN THE CHICAGO AREA OVER RECENT YEARS AND WAS.

>> SERVE A CRITICAL FUNCTION IN THE LOCAL, AND NATIONAL SUPPLY CHANGE.

>> THE DEVELOPER MET WITH THE ALDERMAN AND CITY OFFICIALS IN SUMMER 2019, THE FIRST PUBLIC MEETING WASN'T FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

>> THE COMMUNITY WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS WE WERE NOT TOLD IT WAS COMING IN OR ASKED IF WE WANTED IT OR WHAT SORT OF MITIGATIONS WE WOULD WANT TO BE PUT IN.

>> THE ALDERMAN HAS A DIFFERENT TAKE.

>> THIS IS BE A GOOD THING FOR THE 11th WARD AND THE BRIDGEPORT COMMUNITY.

I THINK WE LISTENED TO THE COMMUNITY AND MADE CHANGES.

>> CHANGES INCLUDE, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND A PUBLIC RIVER WALK AND THE DEVELOPER SAYS THE GOAL IS FOR ALL VEHICLES ON THE SITE TO BE ELECTRIC.

NEIGHBORS ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT MORE TRUCK TRAFFIC ON THIS ALREADY BUSY STRETCH OF HALSTED BIKE LANE AND PEDESTRIANS.

>> I MYSELF WAS HIT AT THIS INTERSECTION AT HALSTED AND ARCHER IN 2016.

I DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT.

>> TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ADVOCATE LYNDA LOPEZ SAYS SHE SAYS CONTRADICTIONS IN CITY POLICIES.

>> WE WANT A CITY THAT PEOPLE CAN ENJOY EXISTING WITHOUT CARS.

BUT WE'RE ALSO BRINGING IN MORE TRUCK TRAFFIC WITH THESE DISTRIBUTION SITES.

>> WHILE LOPEZ SAYS BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE.

COULD HELP.

>> WHY CAN'T YOU WAIT THREE DAYS, OR IS THERE SOMETHING LOCALLY IN YOUR COMMUNITY TO GO TO.

>> SUPPORTERS SAY DISTRIBUTION CENTERS CAN CREATE JOBS IN PLACES THAT HAVE LONG FACED DISINVESTMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

>> TO HELP THEM EXPAND.

HIRE MORE WORKERS AND SERVE MORE CUSTOMERS.

ALL OF WHICH HELPS OUR RESIDENTS WORK IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO WHEN THEY GET HOME TO THEIR KIDS FASTER AND THEY CAN BE THERE WHEN THEY WAKE UP.

>> BUT CRITICS SAY THEY AREN'T ALWAYS GOOD JOBS.

AMAZON'S BEEN CRITICIZED FOR POOR WORKING CONDITIONS.

MANY POSITION ARE LOW WAGE AND ONLY PART TIME.

>> WE SHOULD ATTRACT QUALITY EMPLOYMENT.

THE LITTLE VILLAGE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION HAS FOR YEARS FOUGHT A DISTRIBUTION PLANNED FOR THE FORMER CRAWFORD COAL PLANT.

>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP UNTIL THE RIBBON IS CUT AND EVEN THEN WE'RE STILL GOING TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE CITY AND LOCAL OFFICIALS.

>> CITY OFFICIALS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT MANY FALLEN AREAS WITH POOR AIR QUALITY.

CHICAGO'S PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER SAYS FUTURE SITES WON'T ALL BE ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE BECAUSE COMPANIES WANT TO BE CLOSER TO COMMUNITIES AROUND THE CITY!

WE AS CHICAGOANS HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT THIS SECTOR IS PART OF CHICAGO'S FUTURE ECONOMY.

OUR JOB AS STEWARTS OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST IS TO GET THE BEST PUBLIC BENEFIT OUT OF THESE FACILITIES AND HOLD THEM TO THAT HIGH STANDARD OF LIVEABILITY.

>> IN THE MEANTIME, OPPONENTS OF THE BRIDGEPORT DISTRIBUTION CENTER HOPE TO PUSH BACK ON THE BUILDING PERMITS AND MEET WITH THE DEVELOPMENT ON SAFETY ISSUES.

HE HOPES LEADERS THINK BIGGER.

>> I THINK CHICAGO IS A MAJOR CITY NOT ONLY NATIONALLY BUT GLOBALLY CAN ALSO BE A MODEL FOR HOW OTHER CITIES TRANSITION AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS, THE QUESTION IS WILL OUR POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC LEADERS ALLOW US TO DO THAT?

>> THE CHICAGO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE NETWORK ARE SET TO HOLD A MEETING ON WARE HOUSE DISTRIBUTION ON THE SOUTH SIDE NEXT MONTH.

SEVERAL CITY EARLY THIS YEAR.

>> NICK, THERE'S BEEN NEWS THIS WEEK ABOUT ONE OF AMAZON'S CHICAGO WAREHOUSES, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, WORKERS AT AMAZON'S DISTRIBUTION CENTER AT 28 AND WESTERN SAYING THEY'RE BEING FORCED INTO 10 AND-A-HALF HOURS OVER NIGHT SHIFTS.

THEY'RE DEMANDING THAT AMAZON OFFER ACCOMMODATIONS FOR FOLKS WHO CAN ONLY WORK PART OF THE SHIFT, AND LYFT RIDES TO AND FROM WORK WHICH THEY SAY AMAZON PROVIDES TO IT'S EMPLOYEES IN NEW YORK.

AMAZON'S PLANNING TO SHUT DOWN THAT FACILITY, SO BRIDGE PORT ACTIVISTS FEARS IT WILL SHUT DOWN THE JOBS IN THE BRIDGE PORT.

>> >>> >> Hugo: THE QUEEN OF SALSA WAS KNOWN FOR HER DAZZLING STYLE AND THE WIDE VARIETY AFRICAN CUBAN STYLES.

>> A WORD THAT IS NOT SPANISH BUT AFRICAN IN ORIGIN AT THE CHICAGO THEATER.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> Hugo: AGAIN THAT WAS CELIA CRUZ ALSO KNOWN AS THE QUEEN OF SALSA SINGING HER SIGNATURE HIT.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS SATURDAY NIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE news.wttw.com INCLUDING THE LATEST ON WHEN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL RETURN FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING AND JOIN BRANDIS FRIEDMAN FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES.

I'M HUGO BALTA, THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY INFORMED.

STAY HEALTHY.

STAY SAFE.

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