>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

LATINO VOICES.

I'M JOHN THAT.

AND THEN THIS ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>> IT'S THE FEAR IS THAT HYSTERIA?

>> DESPITE THE GUN LAWS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS IN ILLINOIS, A LOOK AT WHY THE STATE DOESN'T BAN GUNS FROM POLLING PLACES.

GOVERNOR PRITZKER IS LOOKING TO ELIMINATE THE STATE GROCERY TAX.

THAT'S A MUNICIPALITY CZAR PUSHING BACK.

AND LITTLE VILLAGE IN HUMBLE PARK BECOME STATE DESIGNATED KALTER DISTRICTS.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS JOIN US TO SHARE MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, CHICAGO PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE WARNING RESIDENTS OF ITS FIRST CONFIRMED MEASLES CASE SINCE 2019, 2019 OFFICIALS SAY THE SOURCE OF THE INFECTION IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME, BUT ADDS THE INDIVIDUAL IS RECOVERING WELL AT HOME.

THE DEPARTMENT SAYS NO LINK HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BETWEEN THIS CASE AND A MEASLES CASE IN AN INDIANA RESIDENT WHO HAD VISITED CHICAGO LAST MONTH.

CDPH IS WORKING TO NOTIFY PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED ON FEBRUARY 27TH AT SWEDISH HOSPITAL MEDICAL PAVILION OR THE CTA.

92 BUS.

IF YOU ARE AT THOSE LOCATIONS ON THAT DATE, CDC PDH SAYS YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CALL THEM.

THE OPENING OF THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER IS DELAYED AGAIN, THE CENTER BROKE GROUND IN JACKSON PARK IN 2021 AND HAD BEEN SLATED TO OPEN IN OCTOBER 2025, BUT IT IS NOW SET TO OPEN IN THE PUMP TO THE PUBLIC IN SPRING 2026, THE LATEST DELAY WAS FIRST REPORTED BY THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.

THE NEWS COMES AS FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WAS ON HAND TO TOUR THE SITE TODAY.

THE OBAMA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES ON MONDAY.

IT WILL BREAK GROUND ON THE CENTER'S 45,000 SQUARE-FOOT ATHLETIC AND CONFERENCE CENTER.

CHICAGO IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO A HYBRID ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD.

THAT'S AFTER LAWMAKERS IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE PASSED A MEASURE THAT WOULD ALLOW STUDY RESIDENTS TO VOTE FOR HALF OF THE CHICAGO BOARD OF EDUCATION IN NOVEMBER'S ELECTION.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON WOULD APPOINT THE OTHER HALF OF THE BOARD AND ITS PRESIDENT VOTERS WILL THEN GET THE CHANCE TO ELECT THE ENTIRE BOARD IN 2026.

BUT COMMUNITY GROUPS HAVE PUSHED BACK SAYING THAT DELAYING THE FULLY ELECTED BOARD IS ANTI DEMOCRATIC.

AND THE HYBRID PLAN EMPOWERS THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION.

THE PROPOSAL PASSED THE ILLINOIS SENATE YESTERDAY AND WILL NOW GO TO GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER CITY COUNT.

COOK COUNTY IS LAUNCHING A NEW OUTREACH EFFORT TO COMBAT THE ONGOING OPIOID EPIDEMIC TODAY, COOK COUNTY HEALTH ANNOUNCED A MOBILE OVERDOSE PREVENTION AND OUTREACH VAN, ACCORDING TO COOK COUNTY DATA.

MORE THAN 1500 PEOPLE DIED OF OPIOID OVERDOSES LAST YEAR.

OUTREACH WORKERS WILL PROVIDE TREATMENT.

FENTANYL TESTING STRIPS AND RECOVERY SUPPORT.

>> THIS MOBILE VAN HAS EMBARKED ON A MISSION TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT AND INTERVENTION TO THOSE IN COMMITMENT MEETING INDIVIDUALS WHERE THEY ARE BOTH GEOGRAPHICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY SETS THEM APART IS TRUE.

CHAMPIONS OF COMPASSION, EMPATHY.

>> THE PROGRAM IS BEING FUNDED BY A GRANT TO SERVE COMMUNITIES HARDEST HIT BY FATAL OVERDOSES.

WHILE THE WEATHER IN CHICAGO HAS FELT A BIT STRANGE THIS YEAR.

ONE SEASON THAT IS ALWAYS RELIABLE.

IS POTHOLE SEASON.

THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SAYS THE MILD WEATHER HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE AGENCY'S EFFORTS TO TACKLE POTHOLES AND MAINTAIN ROADWAYS.

THIS WINTER.

>> THIS FEBRUARY WAS ONE OF THE WARMEST AND RICE.

RECORD.

OUR CREWS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THIS AND FILLED MORE THAN 93 POTHOLES DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY.

THIS IS ABOUT 63% FROM FEBRUARY COMPARED TO FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR.

AND THIS ALLOWS US TO SHIFT OUR FOCUS FROM PATCHING TO PAVING OPERATIONS EARLIER THIS YEAR.

>> YOU CAN SEE UP IF YOU SEE A POTHOLE, YOU CAN REPORTED 2, 3, 1, 1, DRIVING THROUGH A POTHOLE IS NOW FUN.

NOW, UP NEXT, DETAILS ON A POTENTIAL NEW GUN END OF ANY JOINS US RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

>> YOU CAN CAST A BALLOT NOW FOR THE MARCH 19TH PRIMARY.

EARLY VOTING HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR A MONTH SO FAR.

IT'S GOING WELL.

THERE HAVEN'T BEEN MAJOR DISRUPTIONS BUT THREATS OF VIOLENCE AT THE POLLS ARE RISING CONCERN.

WDW NEWS END OF ANY KEY JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THE PLAN THAT SEEKS TO ADDRESS THAT PROHIBITING GUNS AT THE POLLS.

AMANDA, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US?

WELL, ALL RIGHT, WHEN YOU VOTE, THERE ARE RULES IN SOME OF THESE ARE OBVIOUS LIKE NO TAMPERING WITH VOTING MACHINES, KNOW, STUFFING BALLOT BOXES.

>> TEARING DOWN OR DEFACING CAMPAIGN POSTERS OR HERE'S AN OBVIOUS ONE ACCEPTING MONEY IN EXCHANGE FOR A VOTE.

LESS OBVIOUS.

IT IS AGAINST STATE LAW TO KNOWINGLY SHARE A MARKED BALLOT.

SO NO SELFIES AT THE VOTING MACHINE.

YOU CAN YOU EVER GO ARMED WITH INFORMATION, SAY USE YOUR PHONE TO CHECK OUT THE W T TW NEWS VOTER'S GUIDE DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE.

IT IS ALSO WHERE YOU VOTE.

THAT IS I'M SORRY.

HE'S ALSO OKAY TO BE LITERALLY ARMED.

STATE LAW HAS NO EXPLICIT RESTRICTION ON GUNS IN POLLING PLACES.

STATE LAWMAKER BOB MORGAN IS WORKING TO CHANGE THAT.

THE REPRESENTATIVE SAYS.

>> IT IS NECESSARY GIVEN RISING SECURITY CONCERNS SURROUNDING ELECTIONS.

>> AS WE HAVE SEEN ELECTION LOCATIONS INCREASINGLY UNDER THREAT OF THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO DISRUPT THE PROCESS OF BEING ABLE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE INCREASINGLY USING VIOLENCE TO INTIMIDATE PEOPLE AND BRINGING GUNS TO THESE POLLING LOCATIONS TO SCARE PEOPLE FROM EXECUTING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

>> GUN RIGHTS ADVOCATES SAY MORGAN'S PROPOSAL IS AN ANSWER IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM.

>> SHOW ME THE DATA THAT THERE IS A IF THERE'S A PROBLEM AND GREAT THE YOU KNOW, LET'S LET'S SEE IT.

I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU THERE'S NOT.

>> THE ILLINOIS STATE RIFLE ASSOCIATION'S AND SULLIVAN SAYS THE PROPOSALS FEAR AND HYSTERIA AND HE SAYS IT'S UNFAIRLY TRYING TO CATEGORIZE LAW ABIDING GUN OWNERS AS DANGEROUS.

>> THE REALITY IS THIS.

IF SOMEBODY IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING BAD AND APPOINT PLACE, THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING PLACE THE WHAT WITH THIS BILL DOES IS MAKE PEOPLE LESS SAFE BECAUSE IT GOING TO DO SOMETHING.

>> YOU THINK THERE'S GOING RIGHT THERE?

YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SEEN THE PRESS WHERE SOMEONE HAD A CONCEALED CARRY PERMANENT STOP, SOMETHING FROM HAPPENING?

>> SULLIVAN MENTION CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT.

HOLDER'S KNOW THOSE ARE FOLKS WHO PASS BACKGROUND CHECKS AND ARE LICENSED BY THE STATE TO BE ABLE TO CARRY GUNS IN PUBLIC.

SO I DO WANT TO CLARIFY GUNS ARE ALREADY FOR BEEN AT MANY PLACES THAT SERVE AS POLLING PLACES LIKE SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES AND GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.

BUT THAT IS BY VIRTUE OF THEIR REGULAR FUNCTION NOT TO DO WITH AN ELECTION.

MORE GUNS.

BILL WOULD EXPLICITLY GUNS AT ANY AND ALL POLLING PLACES DURING EARLY VOTING AND ON ELECTION DAY.

>> WE SAW WISCONSIN AND MICHIGAN IN TWENTY-TWENTY WHERE POLLING LOCATIONS WERE LITERALLY UNDER THREAT AND PEOPLE WERE SHOWING UP WITH EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF FIREARMS TO INTIMIDATE AND SCARE PEOPLE.

SO WE'RE NOT TO LET THAT HAPPEN IN ILLINOIS.

ARE GONNA MAKE SURE THE POLLING LOCATIONS ARE SAFE PLACE TO GO.

>> MORGAN POINTS OUT SOME ELECTION.

AUTHORITIES SAY SECURITY CONCERNS HAVE MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT ALREADY TO RECUE RECRUIT ELECTION WORKERS AND JUDGES AND AMENDED.

WHAT ARE THE BILL'S CHANCES WILL DO GUN ISSUES ARE NOT STRICTLY PARTISAN, BUT WE HAVE SEEN SUCCESS IN THE DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED STATE GOVERNMENT OF SOME MAJOR GUN CONTROL.

THIS ISSUES.

THINK ABOUT THAT ASSAULT WEAPONS LAW.

A SIMILAR PLAN TO MORGAN'S ALREADY JUST PASSED.

BECAME LAW IN NEW MEXICO AND THEN YOU HAVE STATES INCLUDING NEIGHBORING MICHIGAN, AS WELL AS VERMONT THAT ARE CONSIDERING SIMILAR PROPOSALS BANNING GUNS IN POLLING PLACES.

NOW, SULLIVAN AGAIN, GUN RIGHTS LOBBYIST SAYS THAT OUTSIDE OF HIS MAIN ARGUMENTS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, THERE ARE SOME SUBSTANTIVE PROBLEMS WITH MORGAN'S PROPOSAL, INCLUDING HE SAYS IT IS SILENT ON ISSUES LIKE WHAT TO DO ABOUT ARMED SECURITY GUARDS THAT MAY BE WORKING AT POLLING PLACES.

HE ALSO SAYS THAT IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING LIKE REQUIRING NO GUNS SIGNS AT POLLING PLACES, EVEN THOUGH THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS REQUIRED UNDER THE CONCEALED CARRY AMENDED.

THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT.

THANK YOU.

>> AND YOU CAN CHECK OUT OUR ONLINE VOTER GUIDE THAT AMANDA MENTION THAT'S AT WWW DOT COM SLASH VOTER GUIDE.

WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

A NEW PROPOSAL FROM GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER IS LOOKING TO REMOVE THE STATE TAX ON GROCERIES.

THE TAX COULD SAVE ILLINOIS SHOPPERS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR.

THE MANY MUNICIPAL LEADERS SAY THAT WHILE THEY SUPPORT THE EFFORT, THEY'RE CONCERNED WITH HOW THE GOVERNOR PLANS TO MAKE UP FOR THE LOSS IN REVENUE SINCE THE MONEY COLLECTED FROM THE TAX SCHOOLS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE LATANYA JACKSON WILSON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ADVOCACY AT THE SHRIVER CENTER ON POVERTY LAW AND MAYOR GARY GRASSO OF SERB IN A SUBURBAN BURR RIDGE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

WELL, TONY, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

HOW WOULD ELIMINATING THIS TAX IMPACT PEOPLE WHO BUY GROCERIES, WHICH IS EVERYONE WHO BUYS COMPULSORY RIGHT?

>> IT WOULD PUT MORE MONEY IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS.

IF YOU'VE GONE TO THE GROCERY STORE LATELY, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN EASY.

IT IS VERY PRICEY.

THEY THE ITEMS AND RAISE THE PRICES AND WE'RE ALL EXPERIENCING THAT.

SO ONE PERCENT REDUCTION COSTS FOR GROCERIES.

IT IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

BUT WOULD YOU SAY THE IMPACT WOULD BE ON LIKE A LATINO COMMUNITY?

THE POVERTY RATE FOR PEOPLE FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY IS HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE RATE 11% IS POVERTY RATE IS 14% THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

28% FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

AND SO THEIR INCOMES LOWER AND THIS WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THEM IN TERMS OF GIVING THEM MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS.

AND MAYOR GRASSO COULD ELIMINATE THE ONE PERCENT TAX HELP FAMILIES AND SURE THAT THERE'S A DEFINITION OF REGRESSIVE TAX THAT PROBABLY >> IS WITHIN THAT DEFINITION BECAUSE IT DOES IMPACT THE POOR COMMUNITIES MORE SO OUR CONCERN, OF COURSE, IS WHEN WE GET THE MONEY THAT A TAX PROVIDED, IT PROBABLY WAS NOT A GOOD TAX.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR CORRECTLY POINT NOW WHERE ONE OF 10 OR 12 OR 13 STATES THAT DO THIS.

SO MAYBE TO NOW GOING TO BE A DIRTY DOZEN THAT ARE SO TO SPEAK.

WHAT DO WE GET THE MONEY FOR THE MUNICIPALITIES?

MY JOB AS A MAYOR OF MY COMMUNITY, VARIOUS MAYORS AROUND THEIR JOB IS TO FUND AND PROVIDE SERVICES.

WE HAVE PENSION OBLIGATIONS.

WE HAVE OTHERS.

>> TALKING ABOUT SERVICES.

WHAT DOES THAT MONEY FROM THESE TAX, TEXAS TYPICALLY GOING TOWARDS?

SO OUR OUR BASIC SERVICES FROM GARBAGE REMOVAL TO PLOWING THE ROADS TO FIXING THE STREETS.

>> TO MAKING OUR POLICE OBVIOUSLY THE NUMBER ONE JOB OF GOVERNMENT IS TO KEEP PEOPLE AND PROPERTY SAFE.

SO ALL OF THIS MONEY GOES TO THIS AND EVEN ONE PERCENT.

AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I JUST GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE.

BURR RIDGE AS GOING TO LOSE TO IT TO USE THE WORD 200,250 $1000 A YEAR NOW FROM TAX, WHICH IS REAL MONEY TO A COMMUNITY SUCH AS MINE.

AND I CAN TELL YOU, MAYORS ARE ALREADY ENDED UP WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST THEM.

SO WE'RE LOOKING TO THE GOVERNOR TO SAY THIS IS AFFECTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

HOW ABOUT LOOKING AT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISTRIBUTIVE FUND WHAT WE CALL ELEGY DF AND WANT RAISE IT.

NOW, ANOTHER POINT BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY TAKEN THAT GOVERNOR PRITZKER.

TO BE FAIR, THE GOVERNOR ENDED BACK.

BUT PAST GOVERNORS HAVE TAKEN ALMOST 40% OF THAT MONEY AWAY FROM US IN THE LAST DECADE OR MORE.

AND SO GIVE US ANOTHER POINT ON THAT.

AND THAT WOULD PROBABLY MAKE IT UP.

THAT'S ON THEM.

WHAT HE'S SAYING.

>> WE BELIEVE THAT STRONG FAMILY, STRONG TAXES ARE AM ARE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE FOR SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND FOR OUR FAMILIES.

MAKING A DIFFERENT CHOICE IS WHAT'S NECESSARY HERE.

I WANT TO BREAK DOWN SOME NUMBERS TO CALL REPORTING ESTIMATED 80 MILLION IN LOST REVENUE FROM THIS.

>> OTHERS REPORTED AMOUNTS RANGING FROM 8 MILLION TO 30,000.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THIS CONCERN FOR MUNICIPALITIES?

>> THAT THINK THAT MUNICIPALITIES WANT THEIR COMMUNITIES TO BE STRONG.

THEY WANT THEIR FAMILIES TO BE STRONG.

THEY WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO BUY GROCERIES AND NOT HAVE A TAX IMPOSED GROCERIES.

THERE'S THERE NEEDS TO BE AND MAKE ANOTHER CHOICE.

WE BELIEVE POVERTY IS A POLICY CHOICE AND WE CAN MAKE DIFFERENT CHOICES >> GOVERNOR, I WAS FREAKED OUT ON THIS.

THE GOVERNORS SUGGESTION THAT, WELL, WE'LL JUST LET COMMUNITIES DECIDE IF THEY WANT IMPOSE THE TAX LOCALLY.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

THAT WAS JUST THE WRONG APPROACH.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TURN AROUND TELL THE COMMUNITIES WE'RE NOT GOING IMPOSE A GROCERY TAX IN BURR RIDGE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE RECOGNIZE AND MAYBE THAT'S NOT A GOOD TAX.

OUR CONCERN IS OKAY, GOVERNOR, NICE MOVE.

BUT WHEN YOU WEAR IT WHERE IT'S A YIN AND YANG, WHERE DO GET THAT MONEY?

SO THAT LEADS TO MY NEXT QUESTION.

THERE ARE CONCERNS OF MUNICIPALITIES WOULD JUST RAISE ANOTHER TAX TO MAKE UP FOR THE LOSS.

>> I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

PROBABLY THE FIRST THING I'M GOING TO DO IS SEE HOW WE CAN BETTER MANAGE OUR VILLAGE.

SEE WHERE WE CAN.

>> TIGHTEN THE BELT A LITTLE BIT MORE AND MAKE UP FOR THAT LOST MONEY IN MY COMMUNITY.

WE CAN PROBABLY DO THAT EASIER BECAUSE IT'S NOT THAT SHOOT IN NUMBER.

BUT SOME COMMUNITIES, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT.

AND SO THERE WILL HAVE TO BE ANOTHER WAY TO TAX OR OR TO HAVE SERVICE FEES, WHICH IS ANOTHER FORM OF TIME DURING OTHER CONCERNS FROM OTHER MAYORS.

YES, I THINK THE MAYORS WHO, YOU KNOW WHERE WHERE THEY HAVE A VERY TIGHT BUDGET WHERE THERE ARE STRUGGLING COMMUNITIES THAT TO PROVIDE SERVICE.

AND I SAID BEFORE, THE NUMBER ONE FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS ON EVERYBODY'S MIND THEY'RE CONCERNED THERE ARE THESE THE OKAY?

THAT WAS IMPORTANT MONEY FOR A POLICEMAN.

THE WOMAN, A SQUAD CAR.

>> AND WANT TO GO TO YOU, THIS IS JUST ONE PERCENT AND CAN SEEM QUITE INSIGNIFICANT COMPARED TO OTHERS.

YOU KNOW WHY THIS?

BECAUSE GROCERIES PEOPLE IN >> AND WE SHOULDN'T BE PENALIZING OR MAKING MONEY OFF OF PEOPLE ARE USED TAXING FOOD AND GROCERIES, ESPECIALLY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT QUESTIONS HAVE INCREASED SO MUCH OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS WITH THINGS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS.

WELL, I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT PEOPLE WERE LIVING IN POVERTY 10 TO WORK.

THEY'RE WORKING PEOPLE.

AND ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IS THAT THEIR SNAP BENEFITS PEOPLE WHO ARE YOU USING SNAP RECEIVING SNAP BENEFITS THAT HAS BEEN DECREASED.

THEY WERE RECEIVING A CERTAIN AMOUNT DURING THE PANDEMIC AND OVER THE LAST YEAR, THEY THEY'VE THAT HAS REDUCED.

THEY THEY'RE NOT RECEIVING AS MUCH AS SAY THEY WERE RECEIVING.

SO THIS IS A THIS IS A LARGE IMPACT ON PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN POVERTY AND PEOPLE WHO AND THIS IS AN ATTACK THAT ONE PERCENT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING A COUPLE $100,000.

IF YOU'RE MAKING $15,000 A YEAR, A $30,000 A YEAR TO TRY THAT HAS SOME FAMILIES WITH THE WORK THAT YOU DO WRITE.

YES, WE AND AND MAYOR GRASSO, WHAT KINDS OF CUTS COULD YOU BE LOOKING AT THERE ISN'T A WAY TO REBUILD REVENUE?

I KNOW YOU TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

WE MIGHT DELAY A FEW THINGS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WILL CUT WE MAY DELAY SOME ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AGAIN.

>> I AGREE THAT THE TAX PROBABLY SHOULD GO AWAY.

OBVIOUSLY A GALLON OF MILK IS A GALLON OF MILK AND THEY WERE SUSPENDED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IT WAS.

AND AND SO WE MADE UP SOME.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS FEDERAL MONEY THAT CAME IN TO MAKE UP ON A LOT OF THE DIFFERENCES.

>> ALL THAT MONEY IS GONE AWAY TO STATES NOT GETTING INTO CITIES CITY, CHICAGO.

WE'RE NOT GETTING IT ANYMORE.

SO SO WE'LL PROBABLY BELT TIGHTENING.

WE MAY DELAY A FEW THINGS AS WE TRY TO FIGURE THIS OUT BOUND AND WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE GOVERNOR AND SAY, REMEMBER THAT LOCAL JUST GOVERNMENT DISTRIBUTIVE FUND AND LG D F THAT YOU HAVE INCHED UP FOR US A LITTLE BIT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND MAY BE INCHING UP A LITTLE BIT MORE NEXT YEAR TO MAKE FOR THIS DIFFERENCE, WHICH OVERALL SALES TAX AND NOT A GROCERY TAX BASED.

SO THAT'S MORE EQUITABLE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR INPUT.

I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, STATE FUNDING FOR 10 COULTER DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE.

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS RIGHT AFTER A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

NEIGHBORHOOD'S HISTORICALLY IMPACTED BY GENTRIFICATION AND THE ECONOMIC DISINVESTMENT CAN APPLY TO GET MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR PRESERVATION EFFORTS.

IT'S PART OF THE STATE DESIGNATED CULTURE DISTRICT PROGRAM WHICH ALLOWS ORGANIZATIONS AND 10 DISTRICTS ACROSS ILLINOIS TO APPLY FOR STATE FUNDING TO HELP SUPPORT PROGRAMMING EFFORTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

2 OF THE DISTRICTS INCLUDE LITTLE VILLAGE IN HUMBLE PARK.

HERE TO TELL US MORE ARE JOSE LOPEZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PUERTO RICAN CULTURE CENTER AND CAME CLOSE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FOUNDATION.

A LITTLE VILLAGE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU WAS A YOU'RE A LONGTIME ORGANIZER WITH THE PUERTO RICAN COMMUNITY IN HUMBLE PARK.

THIS CULTURE DISTRICT DIDN'T COME OVERNIGHT AND IT CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR WORK AND HOW THIS CULTURE DESIGNATION CAME ABOUT WHAT IT CAME ABOUT WE WERE FACING OBVIOUSLY THE TWIN PROBLEMS OF >> HISTORICAL DISINVESTMENT GENTRIFICATION.

AND WE COME BEING A COMMUNITY, A SUMMIT ABOUT 7, 8 USEABLE.

AND WE CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA IF THIS STATE LEGISLATURE CAN DESIGNATE AREAS, WHY NOT DESIGNATE AN CALLED DESIGNATED DISTRICT A CULTURE AND LOOK AT SENT ENTERPRISE NOT AS SOMETHING THAT IS A SIDEKICK, BUT SOMETHING THAT'S CENTRAL TO THE VITALITY OF THE COMMUNITY.

THE CITY AND HOPEFULLY THE WORLD A VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.

FOR CAME, WHAT IS THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF LITTLE DELAY?

TELL DOES IS.

>> DESTINATION HELP RECOGNIZE THAT HISTORY.

>> LITTLE IT EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE HISTORY OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A COMMUNITY OF IMMIGRANTS.

AND EVEN TO THIS DAY, IT'S A PORT OF ENTRY FOR PEOPLE COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES DIRECTLY IMMIGRATING DIRECTLY INTO CHICAGO THROUGH THE ARCH.

THE ART.

YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THERE.

AND SO NOT ONLY DOES IT HAVE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, BUT IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, THE 26TH STREET HAS ON THE CITY AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS LITTLE VILLAGE IS ON.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ALSO KNOWN AS THE KING TO NEAR CAPITAL OF THE MIDWEST.

SO IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO VISIT IN CHICAGOLAND AND DEFINITELY DESERVES THIS CULTURAL VERY QUICKLY.

THE FOUNDATION, A LITTLE VILLAGE IS A NEWER INITIATIVE, RIGHT?

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE ROLE >> OF THE ORGANIZATION IN THE COMMUNITY?

YEAH.

THANK YOU.

THE FOUNDATION OF LITTLE VILLAGE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2018 TO BUSINESS SERVICES IN SPANISH TO THE COMMUNITY OF ENTREPRENEURS THAT ARE INVESTING IN LITTLE VILLAGE AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AROUND LITTLE VILLAGE.

SO WE ENTREPRENEURIAL COHORTS IN SPANISH AND ALSO WE HAVE INITIATIVES FOR CORRIDOR, REVITALIZATION AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION, WHICH IS WHY WE APPLIED TO GET THE DESIGNATION UPON ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND JOSE, GOING TO YOU, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE OF THE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE UP TO 3 MILLION IN FUNDING?

YOU KNOW, HOW WILL THIS MONEY?

YOU DON'T BE SPREAD IN I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS IS THAT IT SPEAKS.

>> TO THE VERY IDEA, I CULTURE.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IS THAT REALLY FINDING UP URBAN CENTERS?

WE'VE LIVED IN A WORLD IN WHICH CITIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DEFINED BY THOSE.

THEY'RE OUT OF THE INMATES IN 21ST CENTURY IN THIS INFORMATIONAL CITY.

WHY WE THINKING ABOUT THE WORLD IN THE CITY AND WHAT THIS CREATES ENSURES THAT COMMUNITIES CAN BE VIBRANT AND DYNAMIC CAN EXCHANGE DID KNOW EACH OTHER CAN EARN ABOUT EACH OTHER'S THEN TO REACH OTHERS MUSIC.

LISTENING POSITIONS.

ALL OF THIS.

IT'S WHAT MAKES CULTURE FOR US IN THE PUERTO RICAN CULTURAL CENTER.

IT MEANS THE WORDING BEST THING RIGHT NOW AND THE PUERTO RICAN AGENDA WE'RE CREATING, OBVIOUSLY 4 PILLARS, ONE, OBVIOUSLY OUR ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HELP SHUN AND HOUSING AND SORT WRAPPED AROUND MY ARTS AND CULTURE.

AND SO WE ARE LOOKING IN NEXT FEW WEEKS, OPENING 6 BUSINESSES DIVISION STREET ON DEAL.

THAT'S A VERY BIG DEAL.

DO YOU WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE LONGTIME HUMBLE PARK RESIDENTS WHO HAVE LEFT BECAUSE OF GENTRIFICATION TO COME BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY?

ABSOLUTELY.

A MATTER OF FACT, NEXT MONTH HAS CAUSING LOW 6 FEET APART FROM >> A OF COMPULSORY RESIDENTS FOR 60 A PART THAT IS THAT WOULD BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING RIGHT ON THE CORNER OF THE VISION AND CALIFORNIA AND FROM THE HUMBLE PARK.

THAT'S GREAT.

AND FOR YOU, KIM, WHAT IS THE VISION?

HOW WOULD YOU WOULD YOU SAY THAT THIS MONEY CAN BE USED IN LITTLE VILLAGE, ESPECIALLY ON THE 26 CORRIDOR, RIGHT?

IT'S A VERY VIBRANT CORRIDOR.

MANY PEOPLE GO THERE.

>> WHAT IS YOUR VISION IN THE FOUNDATION'S VISION?

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

SO THE FIRST YEAR OF THE GRANT IS WERE SUPPOSED TO GENERATE A REPORT BASED ON WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS.

THAT'S REALLY OUR GOAL FOR 2024.

IS TO HAVE COMMUNITY IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE QUALITY OF LIFE PLAN THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS IN LITTLE VILLAGE SO THAT COLLECTIVELY.

SO THERE'S A COMMUNITY VOICE AND HOW THOSE FUNDS SHOULD BE APPLIED.

AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER COMPETITIVE GRANT PROCESS THAT WHERE WE HAVE TO APPLY.

THE 10 DESIGNATED DISTRICTS HAVE TO APPLY TO GET THE MONEY ALLOCATED WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE READY TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY REALLY WANTS.

REALLY, IT'S A REAL COMMUNITY WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO TELL YOUR RESIDENTS YOUR HAND?

THEY?

>> ABOUT REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THAT NEIGHBOR.

WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT WE WILL HAVE >> A HUB IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO THAT OBVIOUSLY OUR COMMUNITY CAN BE PUERTO RICANS HAVE SHAPED THE LIFE OF THE CITY.

WE HAVE THESE HUGE FLAGS THAT BASICALLY SPEAK TO WHAT CONTRIBUTIONS PUERTO RICANS HAVE MADE TO THE CITY.

THE FLAGS ARE MADE OUT OF STEEL BECAUSE THE FIRST MIGRATION OF PUERTO RICANS CAME TO WORK IN THE STEEL MILLS.

THE FLAGS ARE MADE OUT OF PIPELINES BECAUSE GROUP OF PUERTO RICANS CAME TO WORK IN THE PIPELINE INDUSTRY AND THEN TOGETHER BECAUSE ANOTHER GROUP OF PUERTO CAME TO WORK AT THOSE FAMILIES.

WE THOSE PEOPLE TO CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS CHICAGO.

>> ALSO BE ABLE TO OUR CULTURE AND OUR VISION WITH THE REST OF THE CITY VERY EXCITING NEWS.

>> ANYTHING ELSE, ANY LAST WORDS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

KIM?

>> I MEAN, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR LITTLE VILLAGE THE BUT THE CULTURAL DISTRICT CAN.

YEAH, BUT WE CAN ADD TO THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO INCREASE TOURISM AND INVESTMENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IF PEOPLE WANT TO PARTICIPATE, CAN THEY GO TO THE LITTLE VILLAGE FOUNDATION AT WWW FOP?

CHICAGO DOT ORG WILL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BOTH OF THE RIM.

PUT >> AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> AND >> THAT'S SHOW TONIGHT AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5.37, FOR THE WEEK IN REVIEW.

AND STAY TUNED HERE TONIGHT.

WE WILL HAVE LIVE COVERAGE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS TONIGHT AT 08:00PM.

NOW FROM ALL OF US HERE CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES.

I'M JOINED THAT AND ON THIS.

STAY HEALTHY.

STAY SAFE WHEN US NOT >> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH FRONT.

THAT IS PROUD TO BE A MULTI-LINGUAL