>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT", LATINO VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALLSTATE AND CIBC AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.♪ ♪ [MUSIC] >> GOOD EVENING AND BIEN VENIDOS TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT" LATINO VOICES.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHORT SIDE THE RESTAURANTS THAT MAKE UP CHICAGO CULINARY DESTINATION ARE HUNGRY TO REOPEN BUT OWNERS SAY THEY ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING STAFF.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT'S BEHIND THE RESTAURANT WORKERS.

OUTLOOK UNIVERSITIES ARE HANDLING TOPICS WITH LATINO STUDIES PROGRAMS.

AND PHOTOGRAPHER CAPTURES PICTURES OF HIS COMMUNITY AS A NEIGHBOR CHANGES AROUND THEM.

WE SURE HIS BACK STORY.

>> IS A REALLY COOL EFFECT WHEN YOU PLAY LOUD.

>> IN HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR AND TROMBONIST, RAFAEL TOOT HIS OWN HORN IN A MUSICAL PROFILE.

>> FIRST OFF TODAY, THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY TOOK A BEATING IN 2020.

HERE IN ILLINOIS THE LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY SECTOR LOST MORE THAN 200,000 JOBS LAST YEAR.

THE LONG-AWAITED REOPENING FOR CHICAGO CULINARY HOTSPOTS SHOULD COME AS WELCOME NEWS.

BUT THE OWNERS OF RESTAURANTS, FINDING THE LINE COOKS AND SERVERS THEY NEED, HAVE PROVEN TO BE A TALL ORDER HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE REASONS BEHIND THOSE EMPTY KITCHENS, WE HAVE JAIME DI PAULO PRESIDENCY OF ILLINOIS HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND MARGARITZ VALENZUELA KLEIN MEMBER ORGANIZING AT THE FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION, ARISE CHICAGO.

JAIME DI PAULO, WE WILL START WITH YOU.

ARE WE SEEING A SHORTAGE OF LOW-WAGE WORKERS?

OR IS IT SIMPLY POST-PANDEMIC MARKET ADJUSTMENT?

>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YES, WE ARE TAKING A BIG HIT.

RESTAURANTS CANNOT SERVE EMPLOYEES AND CLIENTS AT FULL CAPACITY AND WE SEEN A SHORTAGE OF EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WITH THE PANDEMIC WHEN RESTAURANTS WERE FORCED TO CLOSE, THE EMPLOYEES ARE, UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS THEY WENT AHEAD AND FOUND OTHER JOB .

>> MARGARITA, OUR WORKERS WERE HESITANT TO RETURN TO A LOW WAGE JOB?

AND IS ONLY ABOUT PAY?

OR ARE WE SEEING OTHER FACTORS LIKE CHILDCARE, HEALTH INSURANCE AND WHAT IF THEY GET SICK?

IS THERE PAID LEAVE, WHAT ARE WE SEEING?

>> TERESA, IT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES, THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY YOU KNOW, IN GENERAL, MINIMUM WAGE.

THE CONDITIONS ARE WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WORK AT VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

THE SAFETY REGULATIONS ARE A CONCERN.

THEY USE THE PPE FOR CUSTOMERS, AND PROTECTION OF WORKERS NEED.

IF THEY ARE IN THE WORKPLACE.

ALSO, PRAY A -- PLAY A HUGE ROLE.

IF YOU GET SICK, THE QUARANTINE KIND, IT CAN BE ALSO, A FACTOR.

THE TIME FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN VACCINATE, TIME OFF BEYOND WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO WERE SOME SUBURBS AND COUNTIES MAY OFFER, MAY ALSO PLAY A FACTOR.

IT IS A SAFETY, WAGES MOSTLY AND ALSO, ALL OF THE BENEFITS THAT CAN BE OFFERED.

FOR THIS EMPLOYEE SUPPORT.

>> BEING SAFE IS TOP OF MIND FOR MOST PEOPLE.

JAIME, ARE THERE ANY RESTAURANTS ORPEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE SEEN , HAVE SUCCESS IN FINDING EMPLOYEES, AND WHEN THEY SIMPLY OFFER THEM, IS IT BASICALLY OFFERING BETTER PAY?

OR ARE THERE OTHER OPTIONS FOR YOUR MEMBERS?

>> I HAVE SEEN RESTAURANTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS PAYING UP TO $25 AN HOUR FOR LINE COOKS FOR EXAMPLE.

AND THAT IS A WAY OUT OF THE BOX LIKE MARGARITA WAS SAYING, THEY PENNIMAN OR WEIGEL JOBS AND $25 AN HOUR IS OUTSIDE THE BOX.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING CREATIVE.

RESTAURANTS NEED TO GET CREATIVE.

FOR EXAMPLE CREATE AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR THE EMPLOYEES TO BRING SOME OF THEIR RELATIVES TO WORK WITH THEM.

IF IT IS A SAFE GOOD WORK, GOOD PLACE TO WORK IT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM EXPECTING GOOD EMPLOYEES.

THE EMPLOYEES CAN BE THE BIGGEST ADVOCATES TO BRING EMPLOYEES OVER SO CREATING INCENTIVES, IF THE EMPLOYEE LASTS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONTHS WE GET THEM NEXT WEEK PAY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY IS THE SURVIVAL OF THE RESTAURANT.

>> MARGARITA, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

$25 AN HOUR, THAT IS A LOT.

WHAT YOU THINK RESTAURANT OWNERS NEED TO DO TO BRING PEOPLE BACK?

>> IT IS NOT, THAT IS NOT THE NORM, IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY AND I CAN UNDERSTAND WITH THE LINE COOK BUT, I AM NOT CERTAIN THAT THAT IS THE LEVEL OF WAGES THAT A WAITRESS OR BUSBOY OR OTHER PEOPLE WHO HELP IN THE KITCHEN ARE MAKING.

THERE IS, THE MOST PROVIDE INCENTIVE IN TERMS OF WAGES.

IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SECONDLY, AND I WILL REALLY, UNDERLINE THIS, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR SAFETY CONDITIONS.

MANY RESTAURANTS AND I WILL NOT GENERALIZE ON THIS BUT THERE ARE MANY RESTAURANTS WHO PRIORITIZE CUSTOMERS.

BUT THE WORK IS A THINK THEY ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE GROUP IN THIS INDUSTRY.

YOU KNOW, WITH THE INDUSTRY IS DOING TO INCENTIVE.

YOU KNOW EVEN THE WORKERS TO GET VACCINATED.

AND PROVIDE YOU KNOW THE, THEY PAID FOR THE CARE OF SOMEBODY TO STAY AT HOME AND GET WELL IN GET PAID AND COME BACK TO WORK.

THOSE THINGS ARE ALSO YOU KNOW, INCENTIVES FOR THESE WORKERS.

>> WE DID SEE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AS BEING SOME OF THE HARDEST HIT WITH THE PANDEMIC AND THERE WERE A LOT OF VETERANS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

JAIME, BACK TO YOU.YOU THINK THEIR LEGISLATIVE SOLUTIONS TO ASSIST RESTAURANTS IN FINDING SOME OF THESE WORKERS THAT THEY NEED?

>> YES, I THINK FOR PEOPLE TO APPROACH GOVERNMENT SO WE CAN HELP FOREIGNERS TO WORK IN RESTAURANTS AND THAT IS LIKE THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.

IT HAS BEEN NEVER DONE BEFORE.

YOU HAVE SPECIAL VISAS FOR PEOPLE WORKING IN THE AGRICULTURAL FIELD.

LET'S DO THAT.

THE RESTAURANT CANNOT FIND EMPLOYEES, WE HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT LEGISLATORS THINKING OF THOSE THINGS.

IT IS FRUSTRATING SOMETIMES BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A GREAT RESTAURANT AND THEY CAN ONLY SERVE TWO SHIFTS BECAUSE I CANNOT OPEN DINNERTIME BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE EMPLOYEES TO SERVE, IT'S UNFORTUNATE WE GO TO RESTAURANT HAVE TO WAIT MORE FOR YOUR PLATE.

PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO SERVE YOU, THEY ARE SHORTHANDED IN THE KITCHEN.

AND USUALLY GO TO SEE THE OWNER IN THE KITCHEN WORKING ON SERVING PLATES.

WE ARE DOING THE BEST WE CAN AND KEEP PUSHING THE LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES TO DO A SPECIAL VISA OR HELP IS OUT HERE IT WOULD BE GREAT.

FOR EXAMPLE, ANOTHER THING, PEOPLE ARE DRAWING ON UNEMPLOYMENT AND GETTING EXTRA BENEFIT IT ALLOWS THEM TO WORK PART-TIME.

AND DON'T PUNISH THEM JUST FOR YOU KNOW THE ECONOMY ADJUSTS, ALLOWED TO DRAW UNEMPLOYMENT AND ALSO WORK THAT WOULD REALLY HELP THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.

>> AND BACK TO THIS IDEA OF READJUSTMENT.

MARGARITA, HOW MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WORK WITH HAVE MAYBE RETRAINED INTO OTHER JOBS?

OR FOUND JOBS ELSEWHERE?

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN?

>> WELL, THE RESTAURANTS WERE CLOSED FOR QUITE A WHILE AT THE BEGINNING OR PERSONNEL WAS REDUCED TO THE BARE MINIMUM TO SERVE CUSTOMERS.

MANY PEOPLE WERE FORCED TO FIND OTHER JOBS.

AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE FAMILY.

IN MANY CASES ALSO, THE CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST, ANOTHER BIG REASON WHY PEOPLE DID NOT WENT BACK TO WORK.

CERTAIN RESTAURANTS, LET ME A LITTLE BIT JUST WHAT JAIME WAS SAYING IN REGARD OF PROVIDING SPECIAL VISAS FOR WORKERS.

I DON'T SEE HOW THAT COULD BE A SOLUTION.

-- WORKERS ARE HERE.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS HOW RESTAURANTS MAKE IT MORE ATTRACTIVE TO GO BACK TO WORK INSTEAD OF OFFERING VISAS FOR WORKERS.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC YOU KNOW, RESTAURANTS DID NOT HAVE PROBLEMS WITH WORKERS.

AND THERE WAS ACCUSTOMED TO MINIMUM-WAGE SALARIES AND IN SOME CASES, NOT VERY GOOD CONDITIONS.

I THINK THAT THE SOLUTION IS TO OFFER BETTER SALARIES AND TO OFFER BETTER CONDITIONS.

INSTEAD OF SOMETHING -- >> THANK YOU THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TODAY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH THANK YOU JAIME DI PAULO AND MARGARITA VALENZUELA KLEIN FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT IS ADDRESSING THE PANDEMIC AND POLICING IN THE CLASSROOM.

STAY WITH US.♪ ♪ [MUSIC] [MUSIC] ♪ ♪ BACK IN 2018, CHICAGO'S -- NEIGHBORS WAS NAMED ONE OF THE COOLEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE WORLD.

PRETTY LONGTIME RESIDENTS OF THAT RAPIDLY GENTRIFYING COMMUNITY WAS BAD NEWS LIKELY TO BRING EVEN MORE DEVELOPMENT AND DISPLACEMENT.

ONE LIFELONG RESIDENT IS TRYING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE CHANGES.

THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY.

WE ARE INTRODUCED TO SEBASTIAN HIDALGO HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

>> MY NAME IS SEBASTIAN HIDALGO A VISUAL JOURNALIST OUT OF CHICAGO.

I GREW UP HERE.

>> SEBASTIAN HIDALGO ALWAYS CARRIES HIS CAMERA.♪ ♪ [MUSIC] ♪ ♪ BECAUSE HE SAYS HE NEVER ♪ ♪ KNOWS WHAT PILSEN WILL SHOW ♪ ♪ HIM.♪ ♪ >> I WAS WALKING HOME, I ♪ ♪ CAME ACROSS A FAMILY.♪ ♪ THAT WAS PLAYING IN A FIRE ♪ ♪ HYDRANT.♪ ♪ JUST LIKE I WAS WHEN I WAS ♪ ♪ YOUNGER.♪ ♪ AND THIS LITTLE GIRL, THE ♪ ♪ CORNER OF MY EYE, I JUST SAW ♪ ♪ HER FLOATING IN THIS NICE ♪ ♪ LITTLE STREAM OF FIRE ♪ ♪ HYDRANT WATER.♪ ♪ AND IT'S GREAT LIKE THOSE ♪ ♪ MEMORIES, THEY ARE REALLY ♪ ♪ SPECIAL.♪ ♪ >> PILSEN HOLDS A LOT OF ♪ ♪ MEMORIES.♪ ♪ >> TO ME IT'S A SENSE OF ♪ ♪ FAMILY.♪ ♪ WHERE YOU WALK IN THE STORES ♪ ♪ AND THE CLERK IS LIKE, YOU ♪ ♪ ARE THE HIDALGO BOY, HOW IS ♪ ♪ YOUR MOM?♪ ♪ THAT IS ESSENTIALLY GONE.♪ ♪ >> FOR THE LAST THREE ♪ ♪ YEARS, SEBASTIAN HIDALGO HAS ♪ ♪ PHOTOGRAPHED WHAT HE CALLS ♪ ♪ THE CULTURE UNDER THREAT.♪ ♪ GENTRIFICATION HAS CHANGED ♪ ♪ PILSEN A LOT IN HIS ♪ ♪ LIFETIME.♪ ♪ WITH A FELLOWSHIP FROM A ♪ ♪ NONPROFIT THAT SUPPORTS ♪ ♪ COMMUNITY JOURNALISM IS ♪ ♪ PRODUCT IS CALLED THE ♪ ♪ QUIETEST FORM OF ♪ ♪ DISPLACEMENT IN A CHANGING ♪ ♪ BURIAL.♪ ♪ QUIET, HE SAYS.♪ ♪ BECAUSE IMPACT IS NOT JUST ♪ ♪ ECONOMIC.♪ ♪ AND NOT ALWAYS VISIBLE.♪ ♪ >> I'M TRYING TO BRING ♪ ♪ AWARENESS THAT WITH ♪ ♪ GENTRIFICATION, THERE IS ♪ ♪ ALSO INDIRECT DISPLACEMENT.♪ ♪ WHICH IS THE FEELING OF A ♪ ♪ HOME CHANGING AND BEING ♪ ♪ UNRECOGNIZABLE.♪ ♪ TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ♪ ♪ CALLED HOME FOR GENERATIONS.♪ ♪ >> SEBASTIAN DISCOVERED ♪ ♪ PHOTOGRAPHY WHEN HE WAS 12.♪ ♪ HE WAS IN MEXICO TO VISIT ♪ ♪ HIS DYING GRANDFATHER AND ♪ ♪ HIS UNCLE LOANED HIM A ♪ ♪ CAMERA.♪ ♪ >> HE HANDED ME THE CAMERA ♪ ♪ WITH ESSENTIALLY, MY FIRST ♪ ♪ ASSIGNMENT.♪ ♪ WHICH WAS TO DOCUMENT MY ♪ ♪ FAMILY'S MOURNING PROCESS.♪ ♪ WATCHING MY GRANDFATHER DIE, ♪ ♪ WATCHING MY FAMILY MOURN AND ♪ ♪ HOW IT CHANGED THEM.♪ ♪ I JUST FOUND MEANING IN IT.♪ ♪ >> AT 22, THE PILSEN ♪ ♪ PROJECT WAS FEATURED IN THE ♪ ♪ NEW YORK TIMES.♪ ♪ NOW, IS A 23-YEAR-OLD ♪ ♪ FREELANCER, HE WILL SEND ♪ ♪ DOCUMENTS LIFE IN THE ♪ ♪ WORKING CLASS AND LOW INCOME ♪ ♪ BLACK AND LATINO ♪ ♪ COMMUNITIES.AND HE DOES ♪ ♪ NOT CLAIM TO BE OBJECTIVE.♪ ♪ >> IT IS REALLY HARD FOR ME ♪ ♪ TO ESSENTIALLY BE NEUTRAL TO ♪ ♪ THINGS WHEN ULTIMATELY, THE ♪ ♪ ONLY WAY THAT I KNOW HOW TO ♪ ♪ CREATE A PHOTOGRAPH IS CARE.♪ ♪ I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE ♪ ♪ PEOPLE THAT I PHOTOGRAPH.♪ ♪ >> SEBASTIAN HIDALGO KNOWS ♪ ♪ THAT THIS WILL NEVER GO BACK ♪ ♪ TO BEING THE NEIGHBOR HE ♪ ♪ REMEMBERS.♪ ♪ BUT HE SAYS HE HOPES HIS ♪ ♪ PHOTOS CAN HELP THE ♪ ♪ NEWCOMERS AND THE DEVELOPERS ♪ ♪ SEE HIS TOWN AND THE PEOPLE ♪ ♪ WHO WERE THERE FIRST.♪ ♪ >> CONSIDER THEM WHEN YOU ♪ ♪ SEE THEM WALKING DOWN THE ♪ ♪ STREET.♪ ♪ CONSIDER THEM WHEN YOU OPEN ♪ ♪ UP A NEW BUSINESS HERE IN ♪ ♪ THE NEIGHBORHOOD.♪ ♪ THEY HAVE BEEN HERE, THEY ♪ ♪ DESERVE A PLACE WHERE THEY ♪ ♪ CAN ACTUALLY CALL HOME.♪ ♪ THEY CAN WORK AND PROVIDE ♪ ♪ FOR THEIR FAMILIES.♪ ♪ ULTIMATELY, THAT IS WHAT I ♪ ♪ WANT.♪ ♪ >> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT", ♪ ♪ THIS IS JAY -- ♪ ♪ >> AFTER THE STORY AIRED, SEBASTIAN HIDALGO TRAVELED TO CALIFORNIA TO DOCUMENT THE TOWNS AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.

HE IS NOW BACK IN TULSA CONTINUE HIS WORK TO THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY EXPLORATION GRANT.

YOU CAN SEE A SLIDESHOW OF HIS WORK ON OUR WEBSITE.

EARLIER THIS YEAR CHICAGO TONIGHT MET FOUR STUDENT FELLOWS WITH THE CHICAGO MUSICAL PATHWAY INITIATIVE A PROGRAM THAT HELPS STUDENTS PURSUE CAREERS IN CLASSICAL MUSIC.

HERE, BROOKS COLLEGE SENIOR RAFAEL NORIEGA SHOWS OFF THE BASS TROMBONE.

>> THIS IS THE BASS TROMBONE.♪ ♪ [MUSIC] ♪ ♪ THE TROMBONE IN GENERAL I ♪ ♪ JUST LOVE IT.♪ ♪ YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE TO ♪ ♪ PRESS VALVES OR KEYS ALL THE ♪ ♪ TIME, IS THAT YOU HAVE THIS ♪ ♪ GIANT TO CALLED A SLIDE.♪ ♪ I'VE BEEN PLAYING TROMBONE ♪ ♪ SINCE THIRD GRADE.♪ ♪ I SWITCHED TO BASS TROMBONE ♪ ♪ IN EIGHTH GRADE.♪ ♪ AN ORCHESTRA, YOU ONLY HAVE ♪ ♪ ONE BASS TROMBONE AND YOU'RE ♪ ♪ THE ONLY ONE, NOT SHARING ♪ ♪ WITH ANYONE ELSE.♪ ♪ AND WHEN THE MOMENTS COME ♪ ♪ WITH THE BASS TROMBONE YOU ♪ ♪ CAN JUST REALLY LAY THE ♪ ♪ HAMMER DOWN.♪ ♪ YOU CAN PLAY REALLY LOUD AND ♪ ♪ IT WILL BE HEARD ACROSS THE ♪ ♪ ENTIRE HALL.♪ ♪ [MUSIC] ♪ ♪ THE THING ABOUT MUSIC, IS ♪ ♪ THAT PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY ♪ ♪ PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT BUT ♪ ♪ THE WAY I SEE IT, NO ONE ♪ ♪ WILL EVER REACH A LEVEL OF ♪ ♪ PERFECTION.♪ ♪ THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING WE ♪ ♪ CAN ALL IMPROVE UPON.♪ ♪ >> WILL PROFILE TUMOR ♪ ♪ STUDENT FELLOWS IN THE WEEKS ♪ ♪ TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" ♪ ♪ "BLACK VOICES".♪ ♪ BE SURE TO KEEP OUT AND ♪ ♪ OUT FOR THAT.♪ ♪ JOIN CHICAGO TONIGHT "BLACK ♪ ♪ VOICES" TOMORROW ALSO MONDAY ♪ ♪ 8:00 JOINT OUR SPECIAL ♪ ♪ "CHICAGO TONIGHT" VOICES ♪ ♪ COMMUNITY CONVERSATION.♪ ♪ WILL TALK WITH COMMUNITY AND ♪ ♪ THOUGHT LEADERS ABOUT THE ♪ ♪ SOMBER ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY ♪ ♪ OF THE KILLING OF GEORGE ♪ ♪ FLOYD.♪ ♪ ITS IMPACT ON CHICAGO AND ♪ ♪ WHAT A PATH FORWARD MAY BE.♪ ♪ AGAIN, MONDAY 8:00 PM VISIT ♪ ♪ www.WTTW.com/VOICES TO RSVP.♪ ♪ YOU CAN CATCH ME HOSTING ♪ ♪ WEEKEND EDITION SATURDAY AND ♪ ♪ SUNDAYS AS WELL AS MY ♪ ♪ REPORTING DURING THE WEEK.♪ ♪ ON A 91.5 WBEZ.♪ ♪ NEXT WEEK ON LATINO VOICES, ♪ ♪ ALEX FERNANDEZ WILL BE HERE ♪ ♪ IN THE HOST CHAIR.♪ ♪ NOW FROM ALL OF US HERE AT ♪ ♪ "CHICAGO TONIGHT", LATINO ♪ ♪ VOICES, THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEK WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE!

-- BUENOS NOCHES.

[MUSIC] ♪ ♪ [MUSIC] ♪ ♪ [MUSIC]