LATINO VOICES.

I'M JOHN ON THIS ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

PUSH TO PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON CHICAGO'S NORTHWEST SIDE.

DETAILS ON A SUMMER EVENT BRINGING MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE WHAT WE REALLY DROPPED ABOUT WAS BEING IN THE COMMUNITY, BRINGING THE BOOKS TO THE PEOPLE.

AND A BILINGUAL BOOK STORE FOR KIDS IS HITTING THE ROAD.

AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

CHICAGO TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING NEARLY 100 MILLION DOLLARS IN LAWSUITS RELATED TO A DISGRACED FORMER POLICE DETECTIVE IN A POTENTIALLY ON THE HOOK.

FOR MORE, ACCORDING TO DOCUMENTS OBTAINED BY W T TW NEWS, MORE THAN 35 MILLION WAS PAID 2 PRIVATE ATTORNEYS TO DEFEND AND NOW THEY'LL GIVE OUT A AND 39 LAWSUITS ALLEGING HE FRAMED PEOPLE FOR CRIMES.

THEY DID NOT COMMIT.

AND 60 MILLION DOLLARS WAS SPENT TO SETTLE 6 LAWSUITS BY RESIDENTS WHO SAY WHO SAID THEY WERE THE VICTIMS OF GIVE MISCONDUCT.

41 CHICAGOANS HAVE BEEN EXONERATED AFTER DECADES IN PRISON IN CASES RELATED TO GIVE A ANOTHER.

34 LAWSUITS ARE STILL PENDING.

BIDEN WAS NEVER DISCIPLINED FOR HIS CONDUCT AS A DETECTIVE, NOR DID HE FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES.

THERE'S MORE ON THIS STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

RESIDENTS IN BEVERLY MORGAN PARK IN AUBURN GRESHAM CAN ONCE AGAIN USE THEIR TAP WATER.

THAT'S AFTER A WATER BOIL ORDER WAS ISSUED ON TUESDAY NIGHT BECAUSE OF AN OUTAGE AT THE ROSELAND PUMPING STATION.

CITY OFFICIALS SAY THE WATER MAIN BREAK HAS BEEN REPAIRED IN THE POSSIBILITY OF CONTAMINATION HAS BEEN RULED OUT THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER MANAGEMENT IS ADVISING RESIDENTS TO FLUSH ALL FOSSETT'S.

YOU CAN FIND INSTRUCTIONS FOR THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

THE COOK COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SAYS IT'S RECOVERED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF STOLEN MERCHANDISE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPORTS ITS RETAIL CRIME TASK FORCE HAS BEEN WORKING TO FIGHT.

THAT'S IN RETAIL AREAS ALONG MICHIGAN AVENUE FOR THE PAST YEAR.

THE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE TASK FORCE RECENTLY BUSTED A STOREFRONT SELLING STOLEN LUXURY ITEMS LIKE DESIGNER SNEAKERS, GUCCI, CHANEL AND OTHERS RECOVERING OVER 2.4 MILLION DOLLARS IN 6 PECKED SUSPECTED STOLEN GOODS.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE STEALING, WELL, WE WILL ARREST YOU.

WE WILL HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE.

THAT'S THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT TRY TO MAKE THE POINT TO PEOPLE.

THIS IS NOT SOMEBODY WHO STEALING A LOAF OF BREAD TO FEED THEIR FAMILY.

NONE AT ALL.

THIS IS VERY ORGANIZED.

UP NEXT, HELPING TO KEEP COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AFTER THIS.

CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES HE'S MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

NEIGHBORS ON CHICAGO'S NORTHWEST SIDE ARE PUSHING FOR A NEW ORDINANCE THAT AIMS TO PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PREVENT DISPLACEMENT OF LONGTIME RESIDENTS.

THE PROPOSAL WOULD EXPAND A PILOT PROGRAM AROUND THE AREA OF THE 606 TRAIL THAT ADVOCATES SAY HAS SUCCESSFULLY HELPED STABILIZE THE AREA AFTER BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE RAPID GENTRIFICATION.

THE ORDINANCE WOULD TARGET AREAS OF LOGAN SQUARE AVONDALE AT MOST IN HUMBLE PARK, ALL COMMUNITIES WITH LARGE LATINO POPULATIONS THAT HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT DISPLACEMENT IN RECENT YEARS.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE JULIE, A BECAUSE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LESS THAN A PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS A LOGAN SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

WE'LL BEAT.

THAT'S THE WAY THEY GOT.

WHO HAS BEEN WHO HAS LIVED IN LOGAN SQUARE HER ENTIRE LIFE WITH HER PARENTS AND BROTHER.

ENJOY IT.

I GOT SEE ALL OF BIGGER.

BAKER DIED GROUP REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, A NONPROFIT DEVELOPER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALDERMEN GOGGLES OR MEDIEVAL, SIR, OF THE 35TH WARD, WHO IS ONE OF THE LEAD SPONSORS OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

JULIA, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN SUPPORTING THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE.

NOW, BEFORE WE GO INTO ALL THE DETAILS, TELL US WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THAT AREA FOR THESE YEAH, I THINK ULTIMATELY WE'RE SAYING IS THAT CHICAGO IS FOR EVERYONE.

EVERYONE COOL LIVES HERE WORKS HERE.

STUDIES HERE AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT IT'S BECOME HARDER AND HARDER FOR WORKING CLASS AND POOR FAMILIES TO REMAIN IN THE CITY PERIOD AND PARTICULARLY IN THESE COMMUNITIES OF LOGAN SQUARE, AVONDALE, HUMBLE PARK AND MOST I'M THEY HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF RENT INCREASES AND DISPLACEMENT.

WE JUST IN LOGAN SQUARE LAWN AND ONE OF THE COMMUNITY, 20,000 LATINOS FORCED TO LEAVE RIGHT IN SEARCH FOR MORE AFFORDABLE RENTALS AND AND AND PROPERTY GOING WE'RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WEST, RIGHT WEST SIDE OF THE CITY.

WE'RE SEEING SUBURBS, SOMETIMES EVEN THE STATE ENTIRE AND WE BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO THE CITY AND THAT WE NEED TO CREATE AVENUES AND PROTECTIONS.

I'M FOR FAMILIES TO STAY AND CONTINUE TO GROW AND PASS A DOWNRIGHT THAT GENERATIONAL WEALTH.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT THE NOSE AND BLACK FAMILIES HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND WE'RE JUST SAYING, LIKE WE WANT TO THRIVE AS WELL.

AND ALL MONOGAMY IS ALSO ONE OF THE LEAD SPONSORS OF THE ORDINANCE.

TALK US THROUGH THE MECHANICS OF WHAT IT WOULD DO.

YES.

SO THIS ORDINANCE, THE NORTHWEST SIDE HOUSING PRESERVATION ORDINANCE BUILDS.

I'M POLICIES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SUCCESSFULLY PILOTED THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

AS YOU NOTED, LAST TERM, WE SUCCESSFULLY PASSED 2 ORDINANCES TO PROTECT 2 TO 4 FLAT APARTMENT BUILDINGS AROUND THE 606 TRAIL.

SO THE 606 SHOWS AN AMAZING AMENITY.

WE LOVE THAT THE COMMUNITY FOUGHT FOR IT.

BUT WHAT WE SAW IS THAT ONCE THAT WAS BILL PEOPLE STARTED PURCHASING THE 2, 3, 4, 5, APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND TURNING THEM INTO LUXURY.

SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES ARE TURNING TO INTO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE CUSTOMERS AND THE COMMUNITY COULDN'T AFFORD PUT ENOUGH OR THEY WERE BEING DISPLACED.

WE SAW A DECREASE IN ENROLLMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS.

OUR BUSINESSES STRUGGLE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE CUSTOMER BASE NECESSARY.

AND SO WE REALLY WANTED TO TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT THOSE 2 TO 4 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDINGS, WHAT ARE OFTEN CALLED NATURALLY OCCURRING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE THEY DON'T RECEIVE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES ARE STILL AFFORDABLE TO WORKING MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES ARE WHAT'S SOMETIMES CALLED MIDDLE HOUSING.

RIGHT?

BECAUSE IT'S NOT A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.

IT'S NOT A BIG SKYSCRAPER.

IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE SERVING MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES.

SO WE WANT TO PROTECT THOSE BUILDINGS.

ONE FROM DEMOLITION.

SO WE PASSED THE SURCHARGE THAT SAID THAT IF YOU WANT TO DEMOLISH BUILDINGS NEAR THE 606, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY A BIGGER FEAT TO DISSUADE YOU FROM DEMOLISHING BUILDING.

AND THE 2 WE PASSED AN ORDINANCE THAT SAID THAT IF THE BLOC IS MAJORITY TO FLATS FLATS AND UP, YOU CANNOT BUILD A SINGLE FAMILY HOME ON THAT BLOCK.

YOU CAN BUILD A SINGLE FAMILY.

HOME OF THE BUCS ARE READY, MAJORITY SINGLE-FAMILY HOME.

BUT IF IT'S 2 OR 3 FLEX, MORE YOU HAVE TO BUILD MULTIFAMILY HOUSING IN THAT BLOCK BECAUSE WAS SUCCESSFUL.

SO NOW THE EXACT YOU'RE TRYING TO.

PRECISELY SO GOES TO VOTERS WERE SUCCESSFUL IN WOODLAWN ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

THEY ALSO PASSED THE TENANT OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE A PILOT WHICH ALLOWS TENANTS TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUY THE BUILDING IF IT GOES TO SAIL.

AND SO PACKAGING THAT ALL TOGETHER.

WE'RE EXPANDING THE BOUNDARIES AND WE'RE SEEING THESE ARE POLICIES THAT WE KNOW HELP PROTECT THOSE.

2 TO 3 FLATS WAS FOR PROTECT LONGTIME RESIDENTS AND HELP KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES.

AND JULIET IN TERMS OF MONEY THAT WOULD BE RAISED THROUGH THE DEMOLITION SUB CHARGE.

HOW WOULD THAT MONEY BE USED?

WELL, WHAT WE'RE SEEING ARE A OF LIKE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY INCLUDE COMMUNITY THAT COMMUNITY LAND TRUST.

WE HAVE A A VERY SUCCESSFUL ON LAND TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY CALLED THE HERE TO STAY LAND TRUST WHERE HOPEFULLY CLOSING 3 MORE PROPERTIES THIS WEEK.

THAT WILL BRING US UP TO 18 UNITS IN IN IN OUR YOU KNOW, A IN PART OF THE CITY WHERE HOMES ARE GOING FOR OVER $900,000 WERE ABLE TO GET FAMILIES IN FOR ABOUT $250,000.

THAT'S JUST ONE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY.

BUT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, PARTNERS, A BIGGER DEIAH GRAY WERE OR DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE RENTALS BECAUSE WE NEED ALL KINDS OF HOUSING, RIGHT?

FOR ALL KINDS OF SITUATIONS.

SO THAT WE SEE AN ARRAY OF DIFFERENT USES FOR THAT FOR THOSE FEES THAT WOULD GO RIGHT BACK GET AND LOOK THE UFC GROUP IN LOGAN SQUARE.

YOUR FAMILY HAS BEEN THERE FOR YEARS.

CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN LIKE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY YOU'VE BEEN NOTICING GENTRIFICATION YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

YES, SO WHEN I WAS A VERY YOUNG, I WOULD WALK BACK TO MY HOME AND, YOU KNOW, I WOULD ALWAYS SEE THE PILOT BATTLES A LOOK A STREET VENDORS AND NOW I WALK DOWN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND NOW I JUST SEE THOSE BLAKELY, BIG LUXURIOUS OF CONDOS.

THOSE BIG SAW A SINGLE HOME SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AND QUITE UGLY.

AND I MISS SEEING THOSE THOSE BIG HOUSES WITH DOLLARS SIGNS THAT SAY, WELL, COME WITH THOSE BEAUTIFUL, BRIGHT COLORS.

MY PARENTS ACTUALLY THOUGHT SELLING OUR HOME MAYBE LIKE 3 YEARS AGO, JUST BECAUSE IT PROPERTY TAXES WHICH JUST INCREASING EXPONENTIALLY.

AND I GUESS IT HAS TO FEEL DISCOURAGING FOR YOUR FAMILY.

YES, IT'S I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS MY PARENTS ARE MEXICAN, RIGHT?

THEY GREW UP WITH THE IDEA THAT A GOOD PAIRING IS ONE THAT ALWAYS PROVIDES FOR CHILD FINANCIALLY.

SO AT TIMES I DO GET THE SENSE THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'VE THEY FEEL THAT PARENTS, BUT THEY HAVEN'T.

AND I'VE I'VE PERSUADED THEM TO STAY THE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I DON'T WANT TO MOVE OUTSIDE OF LOGAN SQUARE AND I DON'T PLAN ON DOING SO.

IT'S REALLY TOUCHING.

ENJOY YOUR ORGANIZATION.

AS WE MENTIONED, IS A NONPROFIT FOCUSED ON CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WILL THE ORDINANCE HAVE ANY IMPACT ON ABILITY FOR NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS LIKE YOURSELF TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

I THINK FIRST OF ALL, WE NEED A LOT OF TOOLS TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND I THINK THAT THIS PROVIDES RESOURCES TO DO SO WHETHER OR NOT IT GENERALLY IT WHETHER OR NOT A SPECIFICALLY GENERATES FUNDS TO FUND THE PROJECTS THAT WE WORK ON.

IT WILL FUND OTHER PROJECTS THAT PROVIDE BADLY NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR RESIDENTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND JULIET, MY QUESTION IS HERE.

HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THOSE FOLKS, INCLUDING SOME OF THE FOR-PROFIT DEVELOPERS WHO SAY THAT NEIGHBORHOODS, HAVE ALWAYS CHANGED OVER TIME AND THAT THIS IS JUST THE WAY THE REAL ESTATE MARKET TOO.

THAN CHICAGO.

I'M YOU KNOW, REALTORS, DEVELOPERS, BANKERS INVENTED REDLINING AFFECTED RACIAL LIES, SEGREGATION, DRY, AND AND AND THANK YOU PRACTICES THAT FRANKLY WHERE RACE IS RIGHT IN AND KEPT GENERATIONAL WEALTH FROM FAMILIES OF COLOR, RIGHT FOR GENERATIONS.

AND WE SEE THE EFFECTS STILL LIKE WE COULD STILL THE COMMUNITIES.

THEY WERE REDLINED WRITE 100 YEARS AGO ARES STILL PRETTY THE RIGHT.

AND SO TO SAY, LIKE, OH, THIS IS JUST HOW IT'S ALWAYS BEEN.

WELL, HOUSE ALWAYS BEEN IT'S BEEN IT'S STACKED AGAINST WORKING CLASS PEOPLE, RIGHT?

AND SO WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WE NEED TO ALLOW EVERYONE TO THRIVE BY THAT.

I THAT'S WE'RE IN 2024.

I THINK IT'S TIME TO THAT GOAL OF BARRIERS WAS TOO.

YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

SO THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY TO ENJOY.

WHAT WOULD YOUR THAT WOULD YOU SAY THIS ORDINANCE WILL HOLD DEVELOPERS ACCOUNTABLE I THINK IT WILL HOLD DEVELOPERS ACCOUNTABLE AND REALLY PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO FEED BACK TO GET BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY'RE DEVELOPING IN AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES WHEN DEVELOPERS COME IN, THEY'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT THE REAL ESTATE AND THE THINKING ABOUT THE PROFIT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE OFF OF THIS IS A WAY TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THERE THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE AND THINKING ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY IN PEOPLE'S ABILITIES AND THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE REGARDLESS THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE MONEY.

OH, AND PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME, DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO SLOW DEVELOPMENT ANYTIME IT DOESN'T?

NEW POLICY?

AND I SAY IT HASN'T WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS ITS COST DOING BUSINESS?

SURE.

ABSOLUTELY.

IF YOU WANT TO DEVELOP IN A PARTICULAR NEVER DO OUR AND I ALSO JUST WANT ADD ONE 20TH, A SAID.

IF YOU'RE IN A COMMUNITY, IF YOU'RE DEVELOPING A COMMUNITY AND YOU I'M FIRED.

LET'S RETURN TO FOG.

OH, MY GOODNESS.

WELL, YOU AT IF YOU DON'T PAY SURCHARGE, DON'T DEMOLISH THE YES.

IF YOU DON'T DEMOLISH THE BUILDING, THAT MEANS THAT THAT UNIT IS GOING TO BE MORE AFFORDABLE.

AND THAT MEANS THAT THAT LONGTIME TENANT HAS A BETTER SHOT AT AND REALLY HAVE REHABBING EXISTING BUILDINGS.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AND REHABBING ALWAYS LEADS TO MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS.

NEW CONSTRUCTION IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION LEADS TO THOSE BIG TICKET SALES MILLION DOLLAR HOUSES.

PLUS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ENOUGH MILLION DOLLAR HOUSES IN CHICAGO.

THOSE RAISE PROPERTY TAXES FOR NEIGHBORS.

SO REALLY, THIS IS A TOOL TO HELP PROTECT THE EXISTING RESIDENTS, EXISTING LONGTIME HOMEOWNERS, EXISTING TENANTS.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO PAY THE SURCHARGE, YOUR DEVELOPER JUST DON'T KNOCK THE BUILDING, NOT THE BUILDING.

AND THEN LAST QUESTION REALLY OF TIME FOR ONE THAT'S GETTING ALL THE MUGGLES.

LOOKING AHEAD.

HOW SOON MIGHT THIS BE INTRODUCED FOR A VOTE AT THE CITY COUNCIL?

WE ARE WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY AROUND THE CLOCK TO PUT FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE ORDINANCE.

WE HOPE TO INTRODUCE IT ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 17TH, YOU KNOW, THE PROVISIONS THAT WE PASSED LAST TERM SUNSET AT THE END OF DECEMBER.

AND SO WE ARE ON THE CLOCK TO MAKE SURE WE GET THESE PROVISIONS IN PLACE AND EXPAND THEM.

JUST LIKE WE SAID, WE WOULD BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU ALL FOR SITTING DOWN ME IN TALKING ABOUT HE SHE ATE IT.

UP NEXT, WHY A FAMILY OF BOOK LOVERS IS HITTING THE ROAD.

MAKE W T TW YOUR HOME FOR 2024 CONVENTION COVERAGE.

FIND THE LATEST NEWS ON OUR WEBSITE AT WT TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS AND SPEND EACH CONVENTION NIGHT WITH US BEGINNING AT 05:30PM, WITH LIVE CHICAGO TONIGHT REPORTING AND ANALYSIS FROM THE CONVENTION BEFORE AND AFTER PBS NEWSHOUR IS PRIME TIME COVERAGE W T TW YOUR SOURCE FOR TRUSTED INDEPENDENT NEWS AND INFORMATION.

IN NEED OF SOME NEW BOOKS FOR YOUR KIDS.

WILL YOU JUST MIGHT BE IN LUCK.

THE VIALS OF THE VIDEOS COULD BE COMING TO A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU.

THE ONLINE SHOP JUST LAUNCHED A BOOKMOBILE AND OWNERS.

NINA SANCHIS MICHAEL RUN ALONG WITH THEIR DAUGHTER V ARE EAGER TO SHARE THE LOVE OF READING WITH THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT BOOKS IS THAT YOU CAN EXPERIENCE NEW WORLDS AND AND LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT YOURSELF, BUT ALSO OTHER WE STARTED OUR BOOKSHOP ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO AND THE PANDEMIC REALLY RESPONDING TO THE SEAT FOR BILINGUAL IN SPANISH BOOKS.

THIS IS FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH MY OWN FAMILY.

MY OWN CHILD, UNDERSTANDING THE AMOUNT OF WORK IT TOOK TO FIND QUALITY BILINGUAL BOOKS.

WE REALLY WANTED TO COME FROM THIS PLACE OF BRINGING A LITERATURE THAT CAN BE RESTORED IT TO COMMUNITIES.

WE WANT BRING ACCESS TO LANGUAGE AND ACCOMPANY THAT WITH IDEAS ABOUT JUST AS WELL.

WE DECIDED TO LAUNCH THE 4TH YEAR WITH WHOLE BOOKMOBILE TO BE ABLE TO GET TO EVEN MORE COMMUNITIES IN AND AROUND CHICAGO.

WE ALSO WANTED TO TIE BACK TO OUR CULTURE AND TAKING INSPIRATION FROM LEFT IN A STREET VENDORS AND HAVING NOT JUST VEHICLE BUT A PUSH CART THAT IS LIKE A FRUIT VENDOR OR SOMALIA VENDOR THAT YOU WOULD FIND ON THE CORNER OF ANY NEIGHBORHOODS HERE IN THE CHILDREN ARE RESPONDING AND REALLY.

OPEN AND OBVIOUS POSITIVE WAYS ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE SEEING ON THE COVER OF A BOOK AND FEELING EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

IT REALLY HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE HEALING NATURE OF BOOKS AND STORIES AND HAVING ACCESS TO THOSE.

WE IS REALLY ABOUT THE LIFE AFFIRMING NATURE OF BOOKS AND THE STORIES THAT WE ALL HAVE TO SHARE.

ONCE THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTS.

WE'LL TAKE OUR BILL BILL ON THE ON THE ROAD TO OUR BILINGUAL BOOK FAIRS ON A DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

WE PARTNER WITH A LOT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO BRING BILINGUAL LANGUAGE BOOKS TO THEIR KIDS.

OUR BUSINESS IS A FAMILY BUSINESS.

A LOT OF IT WAS CI WHYNELL WILL GRACE.

THANK GIVE MY HUSBAND WHO PARTNER IN THE BUSINESS.

A LOT OF CREDIT FOR THAT BECAUSE HE'S SO MY VISION AND THEN ULTIMATELY PRODUCE WITH HIS OWN 2 HANDS.

THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO HAVE MOBILE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A DAY DREAM OF BEING BOOKSELLERS AND SITTING IN A BOOKSHOP.

WHAT WE REALLY DROPPED ABOUT WAS IN THE COMMUNITY, BRINGING THE BOOKS TO THE PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO AND YOU CAN FIND THE BUBBLES, THE BUBBLES AT THE FACULTY FROM A THIS FESTIVAL IN PILSEN ON JULY 19TH FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE REST OF THE TOUR.

CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE.

AND THOUSANDS OF TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS CALL CHICAGO THEIR HOME, BUT NOT ALL OF THE AREA'S YOUTH GET IN THE CORPORATE UNITY TO EXPLORE THE HEART OF THE CITY.

ONE OF IS A SHUNT IS WORKING TO CHANGE THAT BY PARTNERING WITH BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO HOST DOWNTOWN DAY.

THE EVENT IS THIS SATURDAY AND AIMS TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS TO EXPLORE THE LOOP.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE JAMAL CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF MY BLOCK.

MY HOOD, MY SON, MY CITY, MIKE.

WELL, WASHINGTON AND EXPLORES PROGRAMMING INTERN AT MY BLOCK.

MY HOOD, MY CITY AND MICHAEL EDWARDS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CHICAGO LOOP ALLIANCE.

THANK YOU GUYS OFFER JOINING US.

WHAT A FUN EVENT.

YOU KNOW, JAMAL, I HAVE INTERVIEWED YOU BEFORE.

YOUR ORGANIZATION IS VERY FOCUSED ON THE USE IN GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES.

TELL ME ABOUT WHERE THIS IDEA TO HOST DOWNTOWN DAY CAME FROM.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING LIKE WELL, IDEA CAME FROM VOLUNTEER TO COOK COUNTY JAIL AT THE JAIL, THE RESIDENTS WERE ASKED ME WHERE I WORKED AND I SAID I WORK AT A TRAINING FROM DOWNTOWN THIS IS TOWER.

I EXPECTED THEM TO WHAT THE TRAINING FOR WHAT YOU DO IN THEIR WAS ASSIST.

OUR AND HOLD UP, YOU KNOW, INTO THE SEARS TOWER, HOW MANY PEOPLE IN JAIL BUSINESSES?

HOW RAISE YOUR HAND?

YOU KNOW, I DID NOTHING.

I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO JOHN HANKE BRAZEN AND WEST SAID NOTHING THAT THAT KIND MY MIND.

SO THAT'S WHAT I REALIZE.

IT HAD DOWN TOWN THAT HAD WAY FOR A TAXI HAD IN ELEVATOR.

ONE KID SAID HE HAD BEEN DOWNTOWN BENEATH DOWNTOWN WAS OUT OF TIME.

AND SO I WAS TAKEN TO A LITTLE WINDOW AS A THERE'S A TOWER AS 100 FOOTBALL FIELDS HIGH THE HANCOCK BUILDING AS 100 FOOTBALL FIELDS HIKE YOUR CITY?

YEAH.

I MEAN, JUST LIKE MARKET HOUSE BILL THAT YOU CAN WITH OUR KENTUCKY ON THIS AND THAT'S HOW IT STARTED.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS IMPORTANT TO TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL?

WELCOME TO THE I JUST IMAGINE WHAT HIS YOUNG GIRL FROM LIKE NORTH LAWNDALE.

I'M PLACE WHERE HOPE OFTEN OVERSHADOWED BY ADVERSITY.

AND NOW SHE'S STANDING DOWNTOWN LOOKING AT SKYLINE.

SHE DOESN'T SEE JUST A BIG BUILDING A SHE SEES A HER FUTURE IS BRIGHT AND FULL OPPORTUNITY A SHE CAN SEE THIS A LEADER JUST BY THE END DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN REPRESENTS OPPORTUNITY AND THEY ONLY IS THEIR LIMITS WHERE YOU WERE JUST TELLING ME THAT YOU STARTED, YOU KNOW, JAMAL SAYS YOU'RE 14 YEARS OLD.

NOW YOU'RE 23 YEARS OLD.

YOU'VE GROWN FROM NT TO A MENTOR AT THE ORGANIZATION.

NOW, TELL ME WHAT HAS INSPIRED YOU TO STAY AND CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED TO USE.

THE MAIN THING WAS ROAMING UFA.

SO AND I SEEN A LOT OF KIDS KNOW JUST LIKE ME AND A THEY CAN GET SOMETHING TO THE SCREEN, STANDING THIS UP TO SOME DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT PATIENTS AND IBM IS PROBE NOW WHERE HAS DONE FOR THINGS OFF AND ON THE DIFFERENT LEVELS TO OFFER THEM I'M JUST WATCHING KANSAS AND ALSO NOW I WANT TO INVESTMENTS ARE FROM AN ISRAELI WOMAN.

WANT TO GIVE BACK WHAT WOULD YOU SAY EXCEPT TO YOU ABOUT WHAT IT CAN TO EXCITED ABOUT WE'LL GET INSIGHT ABOUT DOWNTOWN REALLY JUST AN A REALLY JUST BEEN ABLE SEE PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT ETHNIC DIFFERENT CULTURES, MAN DOWN TIME, EVERYBODY BE WELCOMING WHEN I GOT OUT, I REALLY GOING TO SHE'S POLLS ARE GOING YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH GREAT GROUP.

AND MICHAEL DOWNTOWN DAY OFFERS BOAT CRUISES MUSEUM, AXES AND OTHER ATTRACTIONS.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE ITINERARY?

SURE.

FOLKS COME DOWN A IN THERE'S A THERE'S A KICK OFF AT 10 O'CLOCK.

JAMAL BE HOSTING THAT WITH OTHERS AT THE HARRIS THEATER.

THE KIDS GET A $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO 50 CARD.

ARE THESE FREE FREE.

YOU CAN A DOLLAR AND WE HAVE 40 BUSINESSES THAT HAVE SIGNED UP IN THE LOOP AND ALONG THE MAGNIFICENT MILE TO OFFER DISCOUNTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE KIDS TO SPEND THAT CASH ON SOMETHING FOR EVERYTHING FROM FOOD TO CLOTHING, TO EXPERIENCES AND THE EXPERIENCES WE THINK ARE REALLY SPECIAL.

THERE'S A LOT OF ART GALLERIES.

THERE'S A LOT OF NEW KINDS OF EXPERIENCES, THE MUSEUM OF ILLUSIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS TO DO THAT THEY REALLY NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE HIM.

AND TO MY WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE IN JOURNEY GOING INTO THE BUSINESSES AND TALKING TO THEM SHARING YOUR IDEA WHERE THEY WERE COMING TO YOU KNOW, MICHAEL WAS RIGHT AWAY.

YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE I'M THEY REALIZE THAT TAKING KIDS FROM SOUTHWEST SIDE DOWNTOWN IS NOT JUST OF A SIGHTSEEING.

IT'S ABOUT OPEN THE DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY WIDE ENOUGH FOR EVERY KID, A WALK-THROUGH.

IT'S ABOUT WE ALSO A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

SO EVERY KID ALSO THERE'S THAT COLD CAN NUMB.

YOU KNOW, DREAM.

BUT WITHOUT YOU JUMPED ON BOARD BY, FOR EXAMPLE, CANNON DESIGN, ONE OF THE GREAT ARCHITECTURE FIRMS IN CHICAGO'S OPENING THEIR PLACE OF THE KIDS CAN UNDERSTAND THAT IN THIS ENORMOUS BUILDING THAT THEY WALK BY MAYBE THEY COULD BE THEY COULD BE ARCHITECTS.

THIS IS WHAT ARCHITECTS TO THIS OFFICE LOOKS LIKE.

POWERFUL.

ALMOST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY COULD ABSOLUTELY EXPOSING THEM TO THAT.

SO THEY GO BACK AND THEY YOU KNOW WHAT?

I COULD BE THERE TO THAT IS MY DOWNTOWN'S EVERYBODY'S DOWNTOWN.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHEN THEY WANT LIKE LAST YEAR FOR ASKED WHEN I SAY IN A LOT OF KIDS GOING TO DIFFERENT SYSTEM WE OPENED, THE MAY ENJOY EVEN ME FAST AS WHEN I WAS IN PROGRAM GOING TO DEFEND.

THIS IS THE TIME THAT I CAN DO OR GO IN A DIFFERENT BALL GAMES.

AND WITH TIME THAT YOU FELT THAT YOU WERE EXCLUDED LIKE YOU SHOULDN'T REPLACE?

I MOST PLACES, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PROGRAM I HAVE DONE WITH MOST PLACES I HAVE BEEN THEY OPENED THEIR DOORS UP TO US WITH OPEN HANDS.

THEY ALWAYS ALLOWED US TO DO WHAT WE NEEDED TO BE.

LOT OF FOLKS, JUST TASTE JUST OPEN UP THROUGH THE I FACED MANY PEOPLE TO LAST YEAR LAST YEAR WAS BY 160 TEENAGERS.

AND THIS YEAR WE DOUBLE IS ALREADY.

2100 SIGN-UPS WERE TAKING WALK-UPS.

2100 SIGN-UPS.

YEAH.

ONE SUNDAY, A MANY MORE TO SEE THAT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE SIGNED UP.

YOU KNOW, HOW DOES MAKE YOU FEEL?

STARTED I CAN IMAGINE STARTED FROM AN YEAH.

IT'S BECOMING A REALITY FOR THE SECOND YEAR.

YEAH.

IDEAS A POWERFUL WEAPONS AND TOOLS THAT CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.

WE NEED GOOD IDEAS IN CHICAGO, YOU KNOW, AND SO I'M I'M SO EXCITED.

WE HAVE DOUBLE THE STUDENTS.

WE ALSO HAVE DOUBLE THE BUSINESSES ON THE CAUSE FOLKS AT LOOP ALLIES AND MAGNIFICENT MILE ASSOCIATION.

WE WENT FROM 6 BUSINESSES LAST YEAR TO OVER 40 THAT OPENED THEIR DOORS ISSUE.

I MEAN, IT'S IT'S IT'S WAS IMPORTANT TO YOU TO BRING OTHER BUSINESSES AS WELL.

ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

WANT PEOPLE GO TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AS WHAT WE WE WANT THE KIDS TO KNOW THAT THE LOOP MAGNIFICENT MILE BELONGS TO THEM, TOO.

AND SO THIS IS A WAY FOR US TO REALLY DEMONSTRATE THAT INVITING COME DOWN, GET A LITTLE BIT OF CAST OF THE CAN HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE FUN THAN MAYBE JUST WALKING AROUND.

YOU CAN REALLY EXPERIENCE THE CITY AND SEE THEMSELVES HERE TO THAT DAY AND THEN THE TO THE FUTURE.

WE'RE REALLY HAPPY ABOUT IT.

WELL, TELL ME ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES.

I MEAN, YOU GREW UP AGAIN WHEN YOU'RE SO JUST THINKING ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP LIKE WHAT WAS IT WAS A FEELING LIKE LAST YEAR.

YOU KNOW, WHAT WERE THEY TELLING YOU?

MOST CAST THEY HAVE FUN AND LOVE, BUT IT CAN JUST LIKE HE SAID WHEN YOU GO DOWNTOWN AND YOU GO TO A SPEARS LIKE DOWNTOWN, DO YOU GET ALLOWED AT THE SCENE AS WELL AS ONE OFF?

AND THEN WHEN YOU FILE LIKE THE BLOCK YOU FROM WHAT THE LITTLE BUBBLE THAT AND WHEN YOU GO DOWNTOWN, MY DOWNTOWN THERE.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FREE STUFF.

YOU'RE GOING GET OFFENDED CART.

YOU CAN GO TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT MISSES LIKE ICE AND OPEN AN OFFICE TOLD HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE PART OF SOMETHING LIKE ME I MADE A LOT OF PHONE CALLS FINANCE PROGRAM TO YOU.

YOU CAN'T.

YOU'RE LEARNING HOW TO TALK TO PEOPLE.

YEAH.

SO THERE'S REALLY PHONE CALLS AND JURORS, SOCIAL MEDIA IS A BIG MAKE WEATHER RIGHT NOW AND TO THE WORLD.

JUST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA PHONE CALLS AND JUST GETTING BACK OUT OF HIS CREASE AND TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE WITH WE JUST NOT GOING DO EVENT.

WE'RE GOING HAVE FUN, WHICH WE CALLED THE WHAT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY A VENT.

AND AFTER YOU THOUGHT OF HIM, SHE THIS IS WE HOPE FOR FOR SURE LANDMARK.

WELL, HE'S ALWAYS BEEN.

YOU KNOW, I AT FAVORITE.

WE ALWAYS MY FAVORITE.

I THINK THE CEOS ORGANIZATION RIGHT NOW.

IT'S OUT THERE GUY'S GOING TO BE.

CEOS ARE AN ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN THAT WAS A MINIMUM.

THEY'RE PROUD OF HIM HIS FAMILY.

AND, YOU YOU LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT YOUR INVITATION.

WE I WOULD JUST SAY TO THE YOUTH ARE LISTENING OR THAT DOWNTOWN DOES MORE THAN JUST ABOUT A JUST COMING DOWNTOWN FOR A DAY TRIP.

ABOUT MAKING A STATEMENT OF RESILIENCE AND DETERMINATION.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT LETTING THE CITY KNOW THAT WHERE YOU COME FROM, NO DETERMINE HOW FAR YOU YEAH, WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE BIAS DONATED.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO DO THAT IS EXPENSIVE.

IT'S HARD THANK WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE?

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE CITY PART OF THE CITY IS ON CHATHAM BECAUSE CHINA WAS IT'S NOT A COMMUNITY AS A STATE OF MIND.

AND I STAYED IN LINE YOU BLOCK CLUBS.

I JUST LOVE.

I LOVE CHATTING WITH PLACE CALL HOME.

THAT'S ALSO THE OF THE RIVERWALK.

AND IT'S OVER A NEW MINUTES WHERE EVERYBODY COMES TOGETHER AND IT'S NOT JUST FOLKS AROUND TOWN THAT MIGHT BE COMING A DISTANCE TO COME TO THE BEAN, THE FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY LIVE AND WORK DOWNTOWN, THEY REALLY KIND OF FREQUENT.

THE PLACE JUST OPENED EVERYBODY AND SO MUCH TO SEE HIM NOT TO SPEND ANY THANK YOU, GUYS.

THANK YOU.

GOOD LUCK AGAIN, THE EVENT IS THIS SATURDAY.

THERE'S MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE.

CHECK US OUT AT WWW DOT COM SLASH NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WDW NEWS AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5.37, AND 10 FOR THE WEEKEND REVIEW.

NOW FROM ALL OF US HERE TO KYLA TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES.

I'M JOINED AT 9 THIS STAY HEALTHY.

STAY SAFE.

ONE HAS NOTICED.

CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFF.

AND A PERSONAL INJURY.

LAW