>> And thanks for joining us Chicago tonight.

At the no way says I'm John this here's what we're looking at.

>> This is the big presidential election.

Early voting for the general election kicks off today.

What you need to know.

A new reporting details, a lack of access to green spaces in Chicago's Latino communities.

It has big consequences.

>> In every item.

an honor.

>> And we tell you how a passion for collecting led to an exciting business venture.

>> And now to some of today's top stories, Chicago police officer in a 16 year-old boy are both hospitalized tonight following a shooting earlier today.

The shooting took place on the 5600 block of South Shields Avenue in the city's Englewood Neighborhood.

Police Superintendent Larry Snelling says the shooting happened when officers are recovering a gun from the teen which was held in his waistband.

The gun discharged and shot the teen in the groin.

Snelling says that same bullet is believed to have also struck the officer in the leg.

The superintendent says the officer is in good condition and described the boy's condition as stable.

And as we mentioned, early voting for the November general election is officially underway.

Chicago residents can vote at Super site at night and one 91 North Clark or on the 6th floor of the Chicago Board of Elections at 69 West Washington.

Any voter in Chicago can vote at any early voting site, no matter where they live in the city.

But if you're waiting for a side closer to you, early voting in all 50 wards begins October.

21st at 09:00AM visit our website for more details and a full list of hours.

And President Joe Biden signed an executive order aimed at tackling modified guns.

U.S.

Senator Durbin alongside Chicago advocates spoke at a news conference this morning in support of action through executive order will target increasing threats from 3 D printed firearms and machine gun conversion devices while working to improve active shooting drills at schools.

>> The order also establishes a new federal task force to develop a plan to address threat posed by machine conversion devices in 3 D printed guns within 90 days.

So it's not just a matter of protecting the kids.

From shooter drills and trauma associated with that.

It's a just a new generation of weapons.

>> Up next, a rundown of what you need to know as we head into election season.

That's right.

After this.

>> Chicago tonight, Latino voices.

It's made possible in part by the support of these donors.

>> It's time to get to the polls.

Chicago, 33 days away from the election and early voting kicked off today at 2 downtown locations.

Election officials are urging voters to have a voting plan.

Here to talk more about what you should know is.

July might get who handles Hispanic outreach for the Chicago Board of Elections.

Thank you, Jim.

Onto making time.

We know that the polls opened bright and early at 09:00AM.

I assume they are day was busy.

How it been for you?

Been a busy busy day, but we're excited that early voting has now opened.

>> And as I mentioned, you handle the Hispanic outreach for the Chicago Board of Elections.

Tell me a little bit about what that entails.

it, you know, our purpose is to make voting accessible for everyone, including.

>> The Hispanic and Latino community to making sure that they feel comfortable on Election Day and that all their informed of their rights and all of the options at their And I know we talk about this often, but what would you share?

Some of the biggest challenge is Latinos phase.

>> When it comes to the voting process, are you seeing that there's more like the noles now heading to the polls what has that work like been like for you?

unfortunately, we do see that the Latino majority ward see a lower voting participation, at least in comparison.

>> 2 other parts of the city, specifically the north side of the city.

But we are working hard the board to make sure that voting is accessible.

As for language, bilingual poll workers and just meeting voters what they are, you know, a different events throughout the entire city to let them know that, hey, we're here, your vote matters.

And it's very easy to vote.

Talk to me about those events.

Those are throughout the city rate.

What what would you say is a purpose for these events?

Yes, we work with community organizations, elected officials throughout the entirety of the city.

>> 2 table host voting demonstrations.

And just informational sessions for some voters know what to expect on Election Day.

You know, we talk a lot about language the importance of having someone on Election Day who looks like the voters who speaks like the voters that way they go in that day knowing that they're going to be taken care of.

to talk about that, you mentioned the part of your job is making sure that everyone is in order and how many bilingual election judges do you have now yet telling me before this conversation that you are making sure that you have to make sure that there.

>> At the right spot.

Tell me about that, correct.

The for Election Day we try to hire election poll workers to cover 560 precincts with a majority Spanish speakers.

As of now, we have a little over 500 poll workers, but we're working hard to get all the slots filled So if anyone watching tonight is interested in being a poll worker, especially those that are bilingual, please go on our website and apply how many bowling ball touches say you have.

We have about 51515.

It's a large amount.

But you still yes, we want to fill in the vacancies, but also have backups because in that ugly things happen, we might see a wave of resignations as we But we want to be prepared for all scenarios.

And you say are expected to see this election cycle?

How should voters prepare?

Also fortunately, we always see at least a 70% participation in general presidential elections.

But for that reason because you never know what's going to happen on Election Day lines may be very long.

Thanks.

Come up with work and school kids.

So we have a few different options.

We by mail and also early voting.

So we want voters to have a plan to know, you know, if this coward go, what are my other options?

But also it is a pretty long ballot this time You know, we have a variety of offices, including judges, retention and also statewide, but for and not want to talk to you about that because we know it's not what's not only at stake is nationally, but we can see voters what can voters expect to see at the ballot when it comes to local elections because it could be quite confusing.

As you mentioned, it can be quite long.

Yes.

So the first 3 D. >> Objects that the voters are going vote on are going to be 3 statewide referendum.

That's the first thing on top of the ballot and other voters in the city of Chicago are going to see local referendum depending on the work that they live in.

But all of those waters, they want to be prepared want to go in and very able to find a sample ballot, able to see what their ballot is going to look like.

They can print it out.

They can study it and that's available on our website and that's available in Spanish as well.

Would you say those events are thrown throughout the city?

This is what also you guys help Yes, we want And for voters as much as possible.

We also hold border demonstrations during Election Day.

You are able to vote on paper and on touch screen.

But during early voting you can only vote on a touch screen.

So which can be a little intimidating.

So at these events, we will take our equipment out there and allow voters the opportunity to actually vote using a dental ballot.

Oh, wow.

And what would you say for first time with first time first-time voters need to know to register for the first time?

Yes.

So our deadline to register on paper at our office for voting is going to be up Tober 8 to do it online.

The deadline is October 20th, but you can still register during the early voting period.

And on Election Day for all of those voters that are already registered.

But maybe they haven't heard from our office.

They haven't received an e-mail.

We do encourage you to go online or to reach out to our office to make sure that your registration is active.

And why do you advocate for early voting and that, you know, you just never know what's going to happen on Election Day.

We do expect long lines, you know, on just never know car breaks down.

Family emergencies, anything so knowing that you have little over a month actually go in and vote on is essential.

And we you know, we just want everyone to have a plan so they can actually pull this election.

seem really passionate about this work.

Yes, of course, we you there's a variety of offices, very important offices, a lot that are going to impact voters directly and very soon.

So we want to make sure that they are prepared to what those offices are, what those statewide questions are.

And we want to see voters come Unfortunately, in the past few elections we have seen very low voter participation.

But we're hoping that this is going to be very tough it continues to grow.

Well, thank you, governor, for all those updates.

Thank you.

And we're back with more right after this.

Chicago is a city known for its parks, but not everyone has easy access to green spaces.

>> This is especially true for predominately Latino neighborhoods.

Data from the threat Trust for Public Land's tells us that Latino communities have 41 less percent access.

And the average Chicago in a collaboration between borderless magazine season on the Binion.

and Inside Klayman News details the issue in a series of new reports.

Joining us to explain more are let's see what low of c settle and even the in thing I that leak on borderless magazine infallible, the public health professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Thank you all for joining us.

So let's dive into this work.

Leslie, I want to go with you.

You're reporting focused on a new park being built and that's caused quite a local controversy.

Tell me what used to be there and what you found.

Alarming as ability Park is set to be built there.

>> Yes, so the site blakeslee factoring.

So it's been there since the early 20 th-century.

So it's been there for many years and it's become like different things.

Different industries like a factory for Dorian manufacturing.

Even the town uses it for construction projects.

So there is a lot of materials that were found to abandon Butte vehicles and just like remnants from the site that we're just left like tree tree trunks everywhere.

And and one of the findings from consultants from 2009 to 2011, the found that there were a lot of hazardous contaminants like lead and arsenic among other contaminants including the groundwater groundwater like vinyl chloride, which is like a gas that is used for plastic production.

So a lot of different things that were found on the site that where has hazardous people's And Philip?

>> You expressed concerns over the cleanup of ability Park.

You know what's the issue with the way the site is being cleaned up?

We know that the town is following protocol but there, but is there a safer approach to Right?

Thanks, Jenna.

>> I mean, I'm so proud to be here and I want to recognize the idea that they are following the law.

And so I think the big issue here is not the site itself is that procedure is detail by the legislation already and the community is not happy with it.

>> And want to go to you in.

You reported on Environmental justice advocacy in Brighton Park, which is now the park's district's headquarters.

Can you tell us about the efforts it took to bring a 17 acre Park, the neighborhood?

It was known as a park desert.

>> Yeah, it was known as a park to serve for a few years.

Thanks to a lot of advocacy and media attention that the community got and and what resulted of that was a renovated part of the only part that they had there.

But then years later, the Chicago Park district decided that they wanted to be based out of a community that.

What's lacking in these green spaces.

And so they were headquartered out of there now since last year.

>> Well, what would you say from like the most interesting about this whole procedure?

>> And I think it was really interesting that it took that much from the community to get that attention.

It was a lot of it seems going to meetings campaigning, knocking on doors.

So it really to take a years long effort to get that to happen.

>> And Leslie going back to ability Park as mentioned.

It's being built on a site with hazardous material underground.

What would you say are some potential risk factors that you found?

So arsenic was about residential levels and stead of removing arsenic from the site.

>> They're going average arsenic.

And so they're not going to do a complete removal.

And that's extremely toxic.

Come children can ingest that.

And, hey, like if you had to describe it to someone on it's like an invisible particles that's underneath the soil.

it leads to like cancer like lung cancer and other defects.

So it's definitely a concern for residents for children who will be playing in the park and who are already at back at school and it's going to be built next year.

Arsenic is definitely concern as well as lead.

Even though the EPA says that there can low percentage of lead the risk of exposure is prevalent and the site and even the groundwater and and Philip, how does something like this happen?

>> The reality is is, you know, our laws haven't really changed for a long while.

And the violations to those laws, those permitting regulations don't have dire consequences for the industries that pollute and so they can continually as millionaire and billionaire industries pollutes get a fine and then just pay it.

Pennies on the dollar because they can take everyone to court.

And, you know, that's tax paler para dollars every single time.

So again, the reality is we need to change the legislation and it has already been tried 2 separate times, 4 zoning around environmental justice.

Thinking about those areas and has failed twice to think about cumulative burdens that mostly plague black and brown communities and talking about that.

And why is there such a disparity in green spaces in black and brown communities compared to white neighborhoods?

I know.

>> The you've done a lot of data work on this.

Yeah.

So we can see very clearly that Sokaogon was segregated and along those lines at segregated by economics.

And so working class people tend to be closer to where they work.

And so when we think about the history, that's great.

You know, the past is set in stone, but from now on our children need fresh air.

And it's not it shouldn't be a function of where you live, especially when the new Illinois Constitution said that everyone should have fair and distributed exposure to environmental hazards.

are your thoughts when you yeah, I think what your story told us is that, yes, well, greenspaces matter and parks matter how we go about it is very important.

So >> what is already there?

What is it surrounding who lives around?

And so those considerations are really important to to other than less just plant more trees.

Yeah, and I want to talk about Little village because you're also your work also highlights work done in Little Village levee that like Brighton Park is a Heat island.

Can you explain what that is and how that happens in a city like ours?

Yeah.

In certain parts of Chicago, large parts of Chicago are just rarely hotter than other parts of the city.

And this due to just the built up of a lot of buildings, concrete and lack of green spaces and trees.

And so what happens this place is that used to be redlined.

Now we're not investing as much when it comes to green spaces and trees.

And so we're still seeing those communities trying to catch up so that those temperatures can come down.

But Brighton Park Little Village and a lot of other communities in the Southwest still have a long way to go.

was your process like trying to talk to people?

Were they all that they knew about what was a prop?

The journey like?

>> Unfortunately, we're doing engagement for the story and a lot of residents were shocked.

When we talk about that, the plans for the pike.

>> because they live very close to the park like a block away and they were not The only way that project was told to the public was through a newspaper called along Daily News.

And unfortunately, the community does not read that paper.

And and then the town board meetings are held very early.

It's impossible for residents to come.

They're at work.

So there's just no communication between officials and the community.

Would you say that people when you spoke with them that they did care about what's the were concerned?

>> About the contaminants when we told them what we found on the did not feel safe to send their kids to go play there.

And there's definitely they definitely want talk to officials in the future and ask for a new park features and more safety features as well.

So yeah, the residents are not informed about this.

County says this is being built next starting next year.

Phillip, can people do anything about or is it kind of set in stone?

>> I would say the best thing that they can do is organize rate, getting awareness out there and getting out legit fully and accurately much of what we find is that what is told right to communities is not legible to communities.

And there is also no stipulation in the law that has to You talk about policy change.

How can people get involved?

Right?

So talk to your political officials about the regulations where industry is allowed to keep their permits after they have violations.

I don't know any other profession that would allow the being violated so much at a city.

And the regional level and still be Boyd.

And so work is the first.

Is there some frustrations that you Yeah.

Well, I think about the children, right eye work with the community members, particularly in the southwest environmental Lions and it's their children.

It's their brothers, sisters, mothers, Cousins.

And so if you can't recognize that it's the children inhaling this air while permits are being negotiated, you're putting profit over people.

>> And a lot of people might hear this story and say so, you know, you can just travel to another another park, another area, another neighborhood.

It was it important for people to have access to these parks?

Yeah, it's important for everyone to have access to parks because >> these are community These are places where you've got to strengthen community ties.

You got to get to know your neighbor a little bit better.

You get to be more physically active.

And so if you have to drive farther way to do that, that's another barrier.

And so literally makes or breaks a community when it comes to making them healthier, more prosperous.

Well, thank everybody for your input and great words you through it.

>> Up next, minding something new and something old.

We explain right after this.

Chicago is filled with hidden gems as the city celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month.

We visit antique shop in Pilsen taking customers back in time.

>> If you're walking down 18th street, it's hard to pass this storefront without wondering what's as soon as you step in.

You realize it's just about People found it to like magical.

And as soon people they choose getting.

>> The I mean that, you know, this and just our home, mailing you know, the Bay coaching me, I doubt I'm saying goal of on this call.

>> school little school is the owner of it on the quality retro weird stuff.

Cool junk.

He says his passion for collecting began when he was just a kid in Mexico.

>> I like to and I found a little piece of metal the water and see they It was very interesting piece and scenes that I mean time.

>> Quirky vintage items, gadgets and a collection of Latin American book statues and artifacts are found throughout the shop.

>> This is the best part of the story because we tried to find their rears books and coach Goggle.

>> And if you hang around long enough, they'll start to feel like you've entered a whole other world.

This is very personal thing culture, the bat and the good.

>> And you can see in the back there in originals.

said like a guy from a person got make a miracle.

first to the north and this is in a very it can Duchenne.

>> school opened the shop 6 years ago, runs it with his wife, Alex and his daughter.

Gabby.

>> use to cut because it very much is hoarding.

>> Our house or the House only growing up and we would go to school and just what he does here he would do at home.

So it all the furniture rearranged give.

He says the more unusual, the discovery, the better it is.

>> This summer, I hear it's a doctor trying to keep death away from taking the woman.

So of asked about this on and so many who have offered or like know this.

It's just a rare find.

>> What school says?

The shop is a representation of his roots.

He wanted to be a space to celebrate his culture.

>> In love for all things strange.

>> I was saying to the people this is not a place is more like a concept.

>> Everything in the store is intentionally curated.

Nothing here is new.

I mean, everything is and we're trying like you said everything that you have here has a story.

>> And I believe every item.

>> To it's like calling for as what I'm being So every item.

>> It's unknown give credits her parents for the success of the antique shop in the community.

It's not just another store to them.

It's >> like them opening their home.

And yeah, I mean, they can come here have an experience.

>> And it's hard to leave without wanting to buy something.

The family recently opened a second location across the street.

There you can find furniture, a larger collection of paintings and decor.

And if you happen to visit on the weekend, Francisco's wife cells baked goods.

And I heard they're very good.

And that's our show for this Thursday night.

Stay connected with our NEWSROOM.

And what we're working on by following us on Instagram at W T Tw Chicago.

And check out our website for stories you may have missed like our roundup of activities to do outside this weekend, especially since its.

It's getting into that pumpkin season and that's at Www dot com slash news and join us tomorrow night for the weekend review at 5, 30 10.

Now from all of us here Chicago tonight.

I'm John at 9 this.

Thank you for watching.

Stay safe.

>> And help people.

And not just.

>> Closed captioning is made possible by Robert, a and Clifford law, offices of personal injury, law firm