CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALLSTATE AND THE SEARLE FUNDS AT THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST.

GOOD EVENING Y BIENVENIDAS FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

I AM ALEX HERNANDEZ.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT A 2021 MEASURE INTENDED TO SLOW GENTRIFICATION IN PILSEN AND ALONG THE 606 HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS.

WE WILL GET INTO IT AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR RESIDENTS.

>>> A NEW BOOK SHOWS WHY LATINOS STILL CANNOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE AFFAIRS AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

>>> A LIBRARY EXPLORES THE BRIEF BRILLIANT LIFE OF CHICAGO ACTIVISTS AND ORGANIZER RUDY LOZANO.

>> IF I CAN WORK WITH ANIMALS PLUS FRIENDS THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

>> A WOMAN BRINGING MEXICAN DESIGN TO CHICAGOANS AND THEIR PETS.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO EXTEND AN ORDINANCE AIMED AT SLOWING GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT IN PILSEN AND AREAS NEAR THE 606 TRAIL.THE 606 PILSEN DEMOLITION SURCHARGE ORDINANCE WAS EXTENDED TO APRIL FIRST, 2024.

THE MEASURE INCLUDES A FEE OF 1500 OR $5000 WHICHEVER IS GREATER ON PERMIT FOR BUILDINGS WITH RESIDENTIAL UNITS ALONG THE 606 TRAIL AND IN PILSEN ONE OF THE CITIES MOST IN DEMAND REAL ESTATE AREAS.

THE MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE CHICAGO COMMITTEE LAND TRUST TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN NEED IN THESE AREAS.

JOINING US TALK ABOUT THE ORDINANCE AND THE FUTURE OF THE COMMUNITIES IMPACTED OUR JOHN BETANCUR FROM UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO WHO STUDIED GENTRIFICATION IN PILSEN AND JOSE PEREZ A LONG TIME PILSEN RESIDENT AND OWNER OF SEVERAL PROPERTIES AND GROWL RAMON TO CEO OF RESTORATION PROJECT.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU RAUL.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DISPLACEMENT OF LOW TO MODERATE INCOME RESIDENTS TO HELP MAINTAIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S CHARACTER IN AFFORDABILITY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE DEMOLITION FEE IS IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE COMMUNITY?

>> I THINK THE ORDINANCE HAS HAD LIMITED SUCCESSES.

I THINK IT HAS PREVENTED SOMEONE TO THINK TWICE ABOUT DEMOLITION.

I THINK THE FEE IS SELF IN MY OPINION IS TOO LOW.

I THINK A NUMBER OF PERMITS THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED FOR DEMOLITION IS VERY MINIMAL.

THE FACT THAT IT GOT EXTENDED IS A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE IT WILL GIVE US MORE TIME AND OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE WHETHER IT IS A LONG-TERM SUCCESS BECAUSE IN COMMUNITIES LIKE PILSEN WANT TO AVOID DEMOLITION IN MY OPINION.

AT THE EXPENSE OF CREATING VERY HIGH DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE CHALLENGING AND DISPLACING FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WELCOMING DANLEY'S AND NEWCOMERS TO THE COMMUNITY BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EXISTING FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM THE PROSPERITY OF THE COMMUNITY AND THAT'S WHAT THE RESTORATION PROJECT HAS DONE FOR YEARS.

CREATING AFFORDABILITY MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS HEALTHIER AND BENEFITS EVERYONE.

>> JOSI, AS A LONG TIME PILSEN RESIDENT DO YOU AGREE WITH CHARGING PROPERTY OWNERS AND DEVELOPERS A FEE TO KNOCK DOWN BUILDINGS?

>> I THINK IT SHOULD BE MORE OF A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS BECAUSE I AM ALSO AN INSURANCE AGENT IN PILSEN AND I ENSURE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PROPERTIES HERE IN PILSEN.

MY POINT OF VIEW THE REASON I THINK IT SHOULD BE CASE-BY-CASE IS BECAUSE SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES ARE REALLY DILAPIDATED.

SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES SHOULD NOT EVEN STILL BE AROUND.

THAT IS MY PERSONAL OPINION WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.

THE FEE AS LONG AS IT COMES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IS A GREAT THING BUT TO SAY THAT WERE JUST GOING TO DO IT OVERALL FOR EVERYBODY I THINK WE COULD MODIFY THAT AND SEE IF WE CAN DO BETTER BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE OF COURSE OVER 20 YEARS OF INSURING THESE PROPERTIES SOME OF THEM THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS REHAB FOR THEM.

I THINK THEY NEED TO COME DOWN.

>> AND GOING WITH YOU JOHN, THE HOUSING COMMISSIONER SAYS THIS SURCHARGE SEEMS TO BE WORKING DEMOLITION HAS DECLINED 80 PERCENT ALONG THE 606 TRAIL AND ALONG PILSEN FROM PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

HOW DOES REDUCING DEMOLITION PLAY A ROLE IN PROTECTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF DEMOLITION AND IT DEPENDS ON WHAT IS REPLACED FOR THE DEMOLISHED UNIT.

I THINK PILSEN'S INTEGRITY IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I THINK THE ORDINANCE FORCES PEOPLE THAT WANT TO REHAB THEIR BUILDINGS TO KEEP THE SAME NUMBER OF UNITS IS GREAT.

IT SAVES THE INTEGRITY OF THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK THE PENALTY FOR DEMOLITION IS TOO LOW.

I DON'T THINK, I THINK MANY DEVELOPERS CAN AFFORD $5000 PER UNIT.

IT IS THE SMALL DEVELOPER THAT CAN PROBABLY NOT AFFORD THAT FEE BUT I THINK GENTRIFICATION SHOULD ALSO COVER THE BIG DEVELOPERS AND THIS IS A NICE MEASURE BUT THINK IT HAS TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY MANY OTHERS.

>> ACTUALLY, ONLY ONE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER VOTED AGAINST THE SURCHARGE DURING MONDAY'S FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.

THAT WAS 15TH WARD ALDERMAN RAYMOND LOPEZ.

LET'S TAKE A LISTEN.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNITIES 20, 30, 50 YEARS AND DECIDE TO CASH IN ON THEIR EQUITY AS IF THE TRADITION OF OWNING A HOME AND CREATING GENERATIONAL WEALTH FEES LIKE THIS STEELED EQUITY FROM UNDERNEATH THEM.

>> JOSI, I AM GOING WITH YOU.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ALDERMAN LOPEZ STATEMENT THAT THE FEE IS UNFAIR TO PROPERTY OWNERS?

>> IF YOU OWN THE PROPERTY YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO WHAT EVER YOU FEEL IS ACTUALLY THE BEST THING FOR YOU.

WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT IT THAT I KNOW THIS IS COMMUNITY AND I KNOW WERE TALKING ABOUT NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE PEOPLE LIVE ESPECIALLY IN PILSEN BUT PEOPLE DON'T JUST BUY PROPERTY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO LIVE THERE.

RIGHT?

IT IS ALSO AN INVESTMENT.

YOU HAVE TO TREAT IT LIKE IT IS A BUSINESS ITSELF.

IF WE ARE TRYING TO LIMIT WHAT THE COMMUNITY WHERE IT STAYS MORE OF A LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD I UNDERSTAND THE FEE AND MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE LEVELS.

IT DOES SEEM A LITTLE LOW BECAUSE 5 TO 15,000 THAT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET FOR SOME OF THESE INVESTORS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT THAT THESE BUILDINGS YOU RARELY SEE A SINGLE-FAMILY UNIT HERE IN PILSEN.

BESIDES THOSE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE YOU HAVE TO TREAT IT LIKE A BUSINESS.

THERE IS A UNIT SUMMONS GOING TO LIVE THERE BUT IT'S STILL AN INVESTMENT.

>> I WANT TO GIVE EVERYONE TIME RIGHT NOW WE HAVE LESS THAN THREE MINUTES.

RAUL WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE ALDERMAN'S POSITION?

>> QUICKLY.

WE BELIEVE WILL THINK WELL FOR FAMILIES AND HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE CRITICAL.

I THINK THE ISSUE HERE IS NOT -DOES NOT APPLY TO JOSI'S POINT.

I KNOW THE ORDINANCE.

IF THERE IS A PROPERTY THAT IS IN SUCH DISREPAIR THAT IT IS HAZARDOUS AND DANGEROUS I BELIEVE THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS FOR THAT TO BE KNOCKED DOWN, IF YOU WILL.

I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY.

WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS IN SITUATIONS WHERE YOU BUY A SINGLE-FAMILY YOU KNOCK IT DOWN AND YOU WANT TO BUILD A THREE OR FOUR UNIT CONDO THAT'S FOR THE INVESTOR.

THE FAMILY THAT GETS UP MONEY WILL GET THEIR WEALTH REGARDLESS.

WE WILL GET WHATEVER THE MARKET VALUE IS.

WHAT THAT DOES IS PREVENTS THE OWNER IF THEY WANT TO DEMOLISH IT TO PAY AND BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS UP IN BUILDING A TWO OR THREE UNIT CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX.

I BELIEVE THAT HE IS TOO LOW BECAUSE THEY WILL MAKE IT UP IN THE SELLING OF THOSE CONDOS AND WE NEED MORE RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE.

JOHN, SAME QUESTION WHAT YOU MAKE OF THE ALDERMAN'S POSITION?

>> I THINK EVERY VOICE IS THEIR PERSPECTIVE AND THEIR PERSPECTIVE IS MARRED BY THEIR INTEREST.

I HAD TAKEN THE MAJORITY OF PILSEN RESIDENCE RENTS.

I HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THE MAJORITY OF PILSEN IS STILL LOW INCOME AND I THANK YOU HAVE TO BALANCE THINGS AND NOT SACRIFICE ONE TO SAVE ANOTHER.

AND YOU CANNOT SACRIFICE THE HOMEOWNER TO SAVE THE TENANT AND YOU CANNOT SACRIFICE THE TENANT TO SAVE THE HOMEOWNER.

YOU HAVE TO ACHIEVE A BALANCE AND I THINK THAT THE POLICY IS BETTER SO THAT YOU INCENTIVIZE ONE SIDE TO SAVE ANOTHER.

>> GENTLEMEN, UNFORTUNATELY OUR TIME IS UP AND I KNOW THIS TOPIC WE COULD BE HERE LONGER.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN JOINING US THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> LOUIS LUZON IS LIFE WAS CUT TOO SHORT BUT HIS LEGACY AS AN ACTIVIST CHANGE LIVES OF LATINOS THAT CONTAIN NO STEW REVERBERATE IN THE STATE.

NOW HIS LIFE IS A NEW EXHIBIT, LOZANO EXHIBIT.

IT IS CALLED A SEARCH FOR UNITY LOUISE LOW SONO BRINGS TOGETHER A COLLECTION OF PHOTOS AND OTHER ITEMS INCLUDING RARELY SEEN VIDEO FOOTAGE OF LOZANO SPEAKING AT A RALLY IN 1979.

HERE IS THE CURATOR DAVID GREENS WITH A PREVIEW.

>> THIS IS A GROWING STORY OF A MEXICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN THE CITY IN THIS 20TH CENTURY.

HE MOVED TO TEXAS WHEN HE WAS VERY YOUNG AND HIS ACTIVIST STARTED WHEN HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AT HARRISON TECHNICAL.

WHILE HE WAS VERY YOUNG HE WAS AN ORGANIZER IN THE CITY AND HE WAS INTERESTED IN BRINGING TO FRONT COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.

WHILE HE WAS STILL YOUNG IN HIS EARLY 30S HE MOVED INTO ELECTORAL POLITICS.HE RAN FOR ALDERMAN OF THE 22ND WARD AND HE ALSO WORKED ON HAROLD WASHINGTON'S CAMPAIGN FOR THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO AND EVEN THEN HE BROUGHT DIFFERENT PEOPLE TOGETHER, BLACK, BROWN, PROGRESSIVES THAT HELPS WASHINGTON GET ELECTED SO WE WERE ABLE TO DIGITIZE FOOTAGE OF HIM SPEAKING AT A MAYDAY RALLY IN 1979 AND IT'S GREAT BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE HIM AS A YOUNG DYNAMICS EAGER AND YOU CAN SEE THE APPEAL HE WOULD HAVE HAD AS AN ORGANIZER AND POLITICIAN.

>> AGAIN YOU CAN FIND THE EXHIBIT AT UIC LIBRARY AND RUNS THROUGH THE FALL.

YOU WILL FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL.

PARIS SCHUTZ BEAKS WITH THE NEW AUTHOR ON A NEW BOOK ON HEALTH INSURANCE AND ACCESS FOR LATINOS.

>> WHEN PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SIGNED THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT INTO LAW TO A YEARS AGO IT WAS DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE TO PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS WITH ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

DESPITE THE ACA ROLLOUT WHICH INCLUDED EXPANSION OF MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY THE UNINSURED RATE AMONG LATINOS REMAINS TWICE AS OF THAT OF NON-LATINO OR WHITES.

A NEW BOOK TAKES A DEEP DIVE INTO WHAT KEEPS LATINOS FEELING LOCKED OUT OF HEALTHCARE ACCESS IT'S CALLED UNINSURED IN CHICAGO HOW THE HEALTH SAFETY ACT LEAVES LATINOS BEHIND.

NOW JOINING ME IS THE AUTHOR AND UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR VARGAS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I WANT TO START WITH THE METHODOLOGY.

YOU FOLLOWED 40 LATINOS THROUGH THE FIRST FEW YEARS OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

WHAT DID YOU SEEK TO LEARN FROM THEM YOU MET.

>> WELL I WANTED TO LEARN THE ANSWER OF WHY SOME WHO WERE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR MEDICAID OR SUBSIDIZE HEALTHCARE THROUGH THE ACA WHY SOME OF THEM WERE ENROLLING AND WHY SOME WERE NOT.

THIS INITIALLY STARTED AS GOING OUT TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS, BARS, ASKING IF PEOPLE WERE INTERESTED IN TALKING TO A RESEARCHER ABOUT THE ACA.

INITIALLY I HAD WANTED THE STUDY TO BE INTERVIEW-BASED BUT THEN I DECIDED TO FOLLOW-UP IN CONTINUE TO ASK INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE UNINSURED IF THEY WANTED TO DO FOLLOW-UP INTERVIEWS AND ALSO IF THEY WOULD ALLOW ME TO ACCOMPANY THEM AS THEY SEARCH FOR INFORMATION ONLINE OR WENT IN PERSON TO APPLY AT ANY OF THE DIFFERENT CENTERS OR ORGANIZATIONS IN CHICAGO.

IT YIELDED A LOT OF DATA THAT THE BOOK IS BASED OFF OF.

>> WHAT DID YOU LEARN OF WHY MANY LATINOS STILL DID NOT SIGN UP FOR HEALTH INSURANCE?

>> THE BIGGEST WAY TO SUM IT UP IS WHAT I LEARNED IS THE LEGACY OF PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES WITH HEALTHCARE AND GOVERNMENT MORE BROADLY FROM THE PAST IS THOSE LEGACIES MATTERED TREMENDOUSLY ON HOW PEOPLE PERCEIVE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, HOW THEY MADE SENSE OF INFORMATION COMING FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND ULTIMATELY HOW THEY DECIDED WHETHER OR NOT TO ENROLL.

BECAUSE FOR MANY LOW INCOME CHICAGOANS THE FIRST PLACE TO GO TO IF YOU ARE IN REALLY DIRE STRAITS FOR HEALTHCARE IS THE COUNTY EMERGENCY ROOM.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FOLKS MAKE IT DOWN TO THE COUNTY EMERGENCY ROOM ALL THAT OFTEN BUT THE EXPERIENCE IS OFTEN VERY HECK IT IS VERY LONG WAIT AND AT THE END OF IT FOLKS ARE WALKING AWAY WITH A VERY LARGE MEDICAL BILL.

SLEPT OFTEN WAS A COMMON PERCEPTION OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY HEARD OF THE ACA THEY THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT WAS GETTING THEM ACCESS.

REALLY A MAJOR MESSAGE FROM THE BOOK IS HOW WE MIGHT IN THE FUTURE WE MIGHT DESIGN NEW AND BETTER POLICIES BUT WHATEVER WE INTRODUCE ULTIMATELY HAS TO RECKON WITH WHAT HAS COME BEFORE US.

>> THERE'S CLEAR TRUST ISSUES.

YOU FOLLOWED ONE YOUNG MAN NAMED NICK WHOSE ILLNESS AND LACKED OF INSURANCE LED TO A CRIMINAL RECORD.

EXPLAIN WHY THAT WAS.

>> THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT IS WHEN PEOPLE ARE UNINSURED AND THEY HAVE HEALTHCARE NEEDS A SERIES OF EVENTS PUTS THEM IN LOSE LOSE SITUATIONS.

IN THE CONTEXT OF HIM WHO HAD ASTHMA AND WAS UNINSURED AND THIS WAS PRIOR TO ACA HIS OPTIONS WERE TO GO TO THE COUNTY EMERGENCY ROOM AND WAIT WHILE HAVING THESE ASTHMA ATTACKS WHICH FOR ANYONE WITH ASTHMA WILL KNOW IT IS AN EXTREMELY STRESSFUL EVENT.

IT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE LITERALLY DYING AND HE WOULD TELL ME THAT HE AVOIDED GOING TO THE COUNTY EMERGENCY ROOM OUT OF FEAR HE WOULD DIE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

HE HAD ANOTHER OPTION OF GOING TO PRIVATE UNIVERSITY EMERGENCY ROOM SWEAR HE COULD GET ACCESS TO A DOCK FOR MUCH FASTER BUT THEN INTO A PUT A HUGE MEDICAL BILL AT THE END OF IT AND RACK UP DEBT.

HE HAD ANOTHER OPTION OF TRYING TO SAVE HIS MONEY BUT THEN SAVING UP MONEY FOR ASTHMA INHALERS COSTS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR FOLKS WHO AREN'T WORKING IN HIGH VISIBILITY MARKETS AND THEN AS A LAST RESORT IT WAS RESORTING TO SHOPLIFTING SO HE USED THE INCOME GENERATED BY THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY TO PAY FOR ASTHMA INHALERS AND HE CHOSE THE LAST OPTION AND ULTIMATELY GOT CAUGHT AND WAS IN PRISON.

>> IT CERTAINLY SUGGESTS THAT A LOT OF THE UNDERGROUND DRUG MARKET MIGHT BE FOR REASONS OF HEALTH AND NOT JUST FOR REASONS OF RECREATION OR GETTING HIGH.

YOU LOOKED VERY CLOSELY AT SOME CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE LATER THE HARDEST HIT BY COVID.

HOW DOES WHAT HAPPENED WITH COVID SQUARE WITH WHAT YOU FOUND WHEN YOU FOLLOWED FOLKS IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS?

>> YOU KNOW, AS THE PANDEMIC WAS UNFOLDING IT WAS TROUBLING FOR ME AND I THINK FOR MANY ADVOCATES AND RESEARCHERS AND LATINO COMMUNITIES BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS FORESAW THE DEEP DISTRUST IN HEALTHCARE AND IT WAS CONTRIBUTING TO LOW RATES OF TESTING INITIALLY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND THEN EVENTUALLY WHEN THE VACCINE CAME OUT LOWER RATES OF VACCINE TAKE-UP.

AND IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THIS WAS THE FACT THAT THE INITIAL MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC TESTING SITES WERE MUCH HARDER TO FIND IN THE GENERAL COMMUNITIES.

EVEN AS THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SUPPORT UNROLLED IN CHICAGO MANY LATINO COMMUNITIES MANY TESTING AND VACCINATION SITES OFTEN CAME LATE TO THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

>> A LOT OF ISSUES OF NEGLECT AND TRUST THE SAME ISSUES YOU SAW CROPPED UP YOU HAVE A SECTION OF YOUR BOOK DEVOTED TO THE CONCLUSION OF THESE PRODUCTS WE TALKED ABOUT COMMUNICATION AND BUILDING TRUST BUT WHAT WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAW?

>> I THINK THERE IS A WORKFORCE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CONTRIBUTE SUBSTANTIALLY TOWARDS ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.

THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT INITIALLY HAD HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DEVOTED TO TRAINING AND HIRING OF WHAT IS CALLED HEALTH NAVIGATORS.

THEY'RE NOT QUITE SOCIAL WORKERS OR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS THEIR JOB IS TO BE CREDIBLE MESSENGERS TO HELP CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

NOT NECESSARILY TO RESTORE PEOPLE'S TRUST IN GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THAT IS A TALL FEET TO DO THESE DAYS BUT AT THE VERY LEAST IT CREATED AN INTERPERSONAL CONNECTION FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE DISCONNECTED AND DEEPLY DISADVANTAGED TO FEEL LIKE THEY AT LEAST HAD AN ADVOCATE AND SOMEONE ON THEIR SIDE TO NAVIGATE ALL THE POTENTIAL LANDMINES COME WITH INTERFACING WITH A TATTERED SOCIAL SAFETY NET.

AND THERE ARE LOTS OF IDEAS BUT REALLY I THINK IN THE SHORT AND LONG TERM INVESTING IN DIFFERENT KINDS OF WORKFORCE THAT CAN CONNECT BY WORLD-CLASS SYSTEMS OF MEDICINES AND HOSPITALS THAT WE DO HAVE HERE IN THE CITY THE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES WHERE DISTRUST AND NEGATIVE PAST EXPERIENCES ARE REALLY HIGH.

>> ALL RIGHT ROBERT VARGAS THERE'S LOTS OF GOOD INFORMATION IN THIS BOOK.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AGAIN THE BOOK IS CALLED UNINSURED IN CHICAGO HOW THE HEALTH SAFETY NET LEAVES LATINOS BEHIND AND WE ARE BACK WITH MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> GLAD YOU ARE STILL WITH US.

CHICAGOANS TOOK THE EXTRA TIME AND THE PANDEMIC HAS PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY TO START THEIR OWN SIDE HUSTLE.

NOW THIS WOMAN IS THE OWNER OF A SHOP IN PILSEN WITH HANDMADE DESIGNS FROM MEXICO.

HERE IS BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> COLORFUL SWEATERS AND PATTERNED BEST.

PILSEN'S POCHA PETS BOUTIQUE OFFERS UNIQUE DESIGNS FOR CHICAGOANS FURRY FRIENDS.

>> ALL OF OUR ITEMS ARE OUTFITS FOR CATS, DOGS, EVEN BUNNIES AND FERRETS.

WE HAVE TINY APHIDS THAT WILL DEFINITELY FIT YOUR PETS.

>> ALL OF THE ITEMS ARE MADE IN AUTO LE HAVRE, MEXICO BY HER BEST FRIEND.

>>.

[SPEAKING SPANISH] >> GONZALEZ HAS HER OWN SHOP IN MEXICO.

CYNTHIA SOTO USED TO WORK IN CHILDCARE IN THE PANDEMIC HIT.

>> I WAS LOOKING FOR A SIDE HUSTLE, SOMETHING TO DO NOT JUST SIT AT HOME AND WAIT TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

NEXT SHE WAS ALREADY BUYING THE PRODUCT FOR HER OWN DOG AND SHE DECIDED TRYING TO SELL THEM TO OTHERS IN CHICAGO.

>>.

[SPEAKING SPANISH] >> CYNTHIA SOTO SAID THE BUSINESS QUICKLY GREW FROM THERE.

>> I THINK THIS BROUGHT EVERYONE CLOSER TOGETHER WITH THEIR PET OR PUSH THEM OUT THE DOOR TO ADOPT PETS.

>> WE LOVE BEING HERE AND EVERYONE THAT I'VE EVER INTERACTED WITH HERE IS GREAT HERE.

>> IN MARCH OF 2021 CYNTHIA SOTO OPENED A STOREFRONT IN PILSEN.

THE GROUP'S NAME COMES FROM A DEROGATORY TERM THAT SHE WAS CALLED GROWING UP AS A FIRST GENERATION MEXICAN-AMERICAN.

>> THIS IS BASICALLY A DEROGATIVE WORD USED BY MEXICANS TO DESCRIBE MEXICANS THAT AREN'T MEXICAN ENOUGH.

>> TODAY SHE EMBRACES THE WORD AND WORKS TO PRESENT IT IN A POSITIVE LIGHT IN HER BOUTIQUE.

>> I'M NOT JUST MEXICAN I'M NOT JUST AMERICAN I'M A MIX OF BOTH AND A VERY PROUD OF THAT CULTURE BECAUSE IT MAKES ME WHO I AM.

>> RECENTLY BUSINESS HAS SLOWED.

CYNTHIA SOTO SAID THEY BEEN EXPERIENCING WITH UNIQUE PRODUCTS AND PETS.

>> WERE TRYING OUR BEST AND TO KEEP IT ALIVE WE ARE BAKING NEW ITEMS.

WE DID COOKIE DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS ALSO.

>> SOTO AND GONZALEZ HOPE TO EXPAND BUSINESS IN THE FUTURE.

>>.

[SPEAKING SPANISH] >> I WANT TO GROW INTO MAYBE CALIFORNIA OR FLORIDA OR JUST EXPAND OUR STORE SO OTHER PEOPLE CAN SEE US AND SEE THEMSELVES WITHIN THE NAME AND SEE THEMSELVES SEEN.

>> AGAIN THAT WAS BRANDIS FRIEDMAN WITH THE STORY.

THE PILSEN BOUTIQUE IS ONLY OPEN ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM.FOR MORE ON THE SHOP YOU CAN VISIT WTTW.com/NEWS.

>>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS AND IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO CATCH LATINO VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON SUNDAY AT 10 PM.

AND DON'T FORGET TO TUNE INTO UNIVISION AND I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU.

OR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, I AM ALEX HERNANDEZ.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

BUENAS NOCHES.