>> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING PRIVATE TRASH COMPANIES AREN'T SUPPOSED TO OPERATE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, BUT IT WBTW NEWS INVESTIGATION FINDS VIOLATORS ARE RARELY SIGHTED.

POLICE DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

LEADERS OF THE POLICE UNION AND AN OVERSIGHT GROUP SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS.

AND WHY ANIMAL SHELTERS ARE EXPERIENCING AN INCREASE IN STRAY ANIMALS AND EUTHANASIA.

BUT FIRST ON TODAY'S TOP STORIES, THE TRIAL FOR THE ALLEGED HIGHLAND PARK SHOOTER WILL HAPPEN MUCH SOONER AFTER A SURPRISE DAY IN COURT.

>> ROBERT CRIMO, THE 3RD TOLD THE COURT THAT HE BE REPRESENTING HIMSELF THAT HE BE INVOKING HIS RIGHT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL.

THIS MOVES HIS TRIAL DATE UP TO LATE FEBRUARY 2024.

INSTEAD OF WHAT WAS EXPECTED TO BE 2025.

CRIMO THE 3RD FACES 117 CHARGES INCLUDING 21 COUNTS OF MURDER FROM THE JULY 4TH MASS SHOOTING THAT KILLED 7 PEOPLE AND WOUNDED DOZENS OF OTHERS.

TODAY'S HEARING WAS THE FIRST SINCE HIS FATHER, ROBERT CRIMO JUNIOR PLEADED GUILTY TO 7 MISDEMEANOR COUNTS FOR RECKLESSLY AIDING HIS SON IN OBTAINING FIREARMS.

THERE'S MORE OF THIS STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

PEOPLE LEAVING THE CUSTODY OF COOK COUNTY JAIL WILL SOON HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO TAKE WITH THEM ON THE WAY OUT.

A NEW STATE ID, THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND COOK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICES ARE TEAMING UP TO ISSUE THE CARDS.

THE FIRST PARTNERSHIP OF ITS KIND FOR COUNTY JAIL.

>> IT'S CRITICAL TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL ENFRANCHISEMENT.

A STATE ID IS NEED TO APPLY FOR HOUSING JOB.

GOVERNMENT BENEFITS PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND SO MUCH MORE.

>> ADVOCATES SAY THE MOVE HELPS PEOPLE OVERCOME BARRIERS TO GETTING AN ID AFTER BEING IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM LIKE OBTAINING DIFFICULTY OBTAINING SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS AND BIRTH CERTIFICATES AS WELL AS TIME AT IN TRANSPORTATION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.

OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL START WITH PEOPLE WHO EITHER PREVIOUSLY APPLIED FOR A STATE ID OR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR HAVE ACCESS TO THE NEEDED DOCUMENTS BEFORE EXPANDING TO ALL INDIVIDUALS IN THE JAILS CUSTODY.

DRIVERS HEADING INTO THE CITY FROM THE NORTH SIDE MIGHT HAVE NOTICED A MUCH SMOOTHER COMMUTE TODAY.

THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SAYS ALL LANES AND RAMPS ON THE INBOUND KENNEDY EXPRESSWAY ARE FULLY REOPENED.

THE EXPRESSWAY HAS BEEN UNDER CONSTRUCTION TO UPDATE AND RESTORE PARTS OF THAT STRETCH BETWEEN THE JUNCTION AND OHIO.

BUT ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN.

THE NEXT PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION MEANS CLOSURES FOR THE REVERSIBLE EXPRESS LANES EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN SPRING 2024.

THERE ARE SHOTS AND THE DEBATE OVER POLICE DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT HAS RECOMMENDED A COPY FIRED FOR SERIOUS ACCUSED MISCONDUCT LIKE AN UNJUSTIFIED SHOOTING.

THE CASE GOES TO THE CHICAGO POLICE BOARD.

THAT BOARD CARRIES OUT A TRIAL LIKE PROCESS FULLY IN VIEW OF THE PUBLIC.

BUT RECENTLY A JUDGE RULED CHICAGO POLICE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE THOSE CASES HEARD BY AN INDEPENDENT ARBITRATOR.

INSTEAD BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, THE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE HAS REJECTED THAT PROVISION OF A NEW POLICE CONTRACT.

AS A MAJORITY OF ALL, THE PEOPLE SAY IT'S A MAJOR STEP BACKWARD IN POLICE REFORM.

BUT CHICAGO'S POLICE UNION FOUGHT FOR THE NEW RULING AND SAYS IT'S ONLY FAIR.

AND JOINING US ARE JOHN CATANZARA PRESIDENT OF THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE AND ANTHONY DRIVER.

PRESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

WELCOME BOTH OF TO CHICAGO TONIGHT HERE TOGETHER, MISTER KAN'S ERA FOR 60 YEARS, THE CHICAGO POLICE BOARD A BOARD APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR HAD THE FINAL SAY ON WHETHER OR NOT COPS ARE FIRED FOR THESE SERIOUS MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS.

YOU FIGHT TO GET THIS JUDGE'S RULING THAT THESE CASES COULD BE INSTEAD HEARD BY AN INDEPENDENT ARBITRATOR.

HOW COME?

>> WELL, LET ME JUST CLARIFY.

THIS WASN'T MUCH OF A FIGHT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

THE PROVISION STATED ALWAYS IT WAS BY AGREEMENT.

THE ILLINOIS, YOU KNOW, STATUTE IS VERY CLEAR THAT ARBITRATION IS BASICALLY REMEDY FOR ALL OF THIS UNLESS IT'S BY AGREEMENT.

SO FOR DECADES THAT'S BEEN BY AGREEMENT THAT THE POLICE BOARD WITH DETERMINATION CASES.

THE UNION ALWAYS HAD THE ABILITY TO OPT OUT OF THAT AGREEMENT.

IT WASN'T LIKE WE FOUGHT FOR WE JUST SAID WE'RE DONE.

WE'RE WE'RE EXERCISING AN OPTION CLASS.

AND AGAIN, IT'S BEEN REPEATED EXAMPLES WHERE THE POLICE BOARD HAS NOT EXACTLY BEEN FAIR, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE LIQUID MCDONALD MURDER AS A JUDGE.

AND WHEN BEN, THAT AGREED TO ARBITRATION THE ARBITRATOR.

>> I'M ANTHONY DRIVER.

WHAT WOULD THE IMPACT BE ON POLICE AND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY?

IF IT WENT THIS ROUTE?

YEAH, I THINK THIS WOULD ACTUALLY BE A DECISION THAT WILL SET US BACK DECADES.

THIS WOULD DRIVE THIS PROCESS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

RECENTLY, WE STARTED POLICE BOARD, WHICH IS NOW, BY THE WAY, NOT A POINT.

ONLY BY THE MAYOR ARE COMMISSION, WHICH IS PUBLICLY ACCOUNTABLE, ACTUALLY HAVE TO APPOINT ANYBODY WHO THEN IS CONFIRMED BY THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL, WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS DONE YEARS PAST.

BUT YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO RETURN DECISIONS.

YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO ATTEND MEETINGS.

YOU CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT RECORDINGS TO PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW WHEN YOU GO TO FOR THE POLICE BOARD OF AGO, THE FOREIGN ARBITRATOR, IT GOES BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS ISSUE THAT AFFECTS LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF POLICE FORCE.

ONLY THE MOST EGREGIOUS OF OFFENSE.

JUST GO BEFORE THE POLICE BECAUSE YOU CLARIFY SOME OF THE LESS SERIOUS OFFENSES CAN BE SENT TO AN ARBITRATOR LIKE THIS.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CONTENTION THAT OTHER PUBLIC EMPLOYEES HAVE THIS RIGHT THERE FOR THIS RIGHT OUR PRODUCTION.

THAT ONE THAT'S NOT TEST.

IT DOESN'T WORK THAT CPS SCPS A NEUTRAL PARTY ARBITRATOR MAKES A DECISION TO GO TO FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN A PROFESSION THAT HAS TO BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD WHERE YOU CAN TAKE SOMEONE'S LIFE OR LIBERTY WHERE YOU CAN BE A LAWYER WHO'S GOVERNED BY A ARE D C A A DOCTOR WHO'S GOVERNED BY THE STATE MEDICAL BOARD.

YOU THE BAR HAS TO BE HIGHER.

YOU HAVE TO BE PUBLICLY ACCOUNTABLE.

>> WHAT ABOUT MISTER KAN'S THERE.

I MEAN, YOU ARE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE THE POWER TO KILL SHOULD SHOULD BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD FOR MISCONDUCT OR CRIMINAL CHARGES.

THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DISCIPLINE PROCESS.

NUMBER THE STATUTE IS CLEAR IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY CARVE OUT FOR ANY SPECIFIC UNION EXCEPT FOR THE FACT OF INTEREST ARBITRATION.

>> BASICALLY BEING THE TRADEOFF FOR THE NO STRIKE ABILITY IF THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT GIVING US THE ABILITY TO STRIKE LET'S HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

IF THEY WANT TO PUT IT ON PAR WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.

BUT THAT'S NOT IT.

WE WERE AFFORDED THE ABILITY TO GO TO ARBITRATION IN LIEU OF STRIKING PERIOD.

FULL STOP.

>> AND THIS IS THAT THIS IS PART OF THE PROVISION THAT CITY COUNCIL SHOT DOWN AS PART OF THE NEW UNION AGREEMENT.

I CANCER.

YOU YOURSELF HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A MISCONDUCT YOU RESIGN BEFORE YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE YOU THINK THIS PRESIDENT WAS VERY YOU?

THAT ABSOLUTELY WAS NOT.

WHICH IS WHY RESIGNED.

THERE WAS MOTION AFTER MOTION.

THAT WAS DENIED BY THE HEARING.

OFFICER LITERALLY.

AND IT'S A ROUTINE WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT KIND OF TRANSPARENCY WITH THE POLICE SPORT JUST TODAY, THE POLICE BOARD HEARING.

I JUST GOT A CALL FROM OUR ATTORNEY EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON AT THE POLICE BOARD HEARING A STATUS HEARING, A VERY BASICALLY FAMOUS CASE.

THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WHAT THE FOR WAS GOING TO BE AS FAR AS A PUBLIC ACCESS.

OUR ATTORNEY SAID FINE IF IT'S GOING TO BE PUBLIC ACCESS, THE NOT LET'S HAVE A LINK SO PEOPLE CAN LISTEN.

LET'S HAVE A VIDEO BASICALLY ABILITY FOR ANYBODY ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY TO WATCH.

WAS CRICKETS IN THE ROOM.

THE POLICE BOARD DOESN'T DO THAT.

YOU HAVE THESE IN PERSON ANYMORE.

EVERYTHING IS BY ZOOM WITH JUST THE ATTORNEYS PRIMARILY.

WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR GENERAL COUNSEL FILE A LETTER TO THE POLICE BOARD TO HAVE OUR FIRST VICE PRESIDENT ALLOWED ACCESS TO THE LINK TO ONE OF THE HEARINGS FOR OUR OFFICERS THAT WE REPRESENT.

SO THIS TRANSPARENCY ARGUMENT, THE POLICE FORCE, A FIELD THAT THERE'S BEEN IMPEDIMENTS HERE.

IF YOU'RE ON THE POLICE SIDE, WHAT ABOUT THAT AS THE POLICE BOARD PROCESS BEEN FAIR TO ALL PARTIES?

BUT THE CITY THE COMMISSION THAT I'M THE THESE ARE GOVERNED BY OPEN MEETINGS.

ACT MANDATORY THAT THOSE ALL >> A PUBLIC, THE MINUTES ARE RECORDED.

YOU VIEW THEM VIA LIVESTREAM.

YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO PUBLIC COMMENT JUST LIKE ANY OTHER PUBLIC BODY IN THE STATE.

GOVERNOR BUDDY OPEN MEETINGS ACT ARE JUST ABSOLUTELY TRANSPARENT.

ALL RIGHT.

INDEPENDENT ARBITRATORS SAID JOHN RECORDING AN IG REPORT.

THEY SIDE WITH POLICE 78% OF THE TIME AGAIN ON THESE LOWER-LEVEL MISCONDUCT CASES THAT THEY ALREADY HERE.

SO IS THE POINT HERE THAT YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET A MUCH MORE FAVORABLE OUTCOME WITH THIS PROCESS?

FAIR IS NOT FAVORABLE.

FAIR IS RIGHT.

>> WE WELL TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UP TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND ALL OF THAT STUFF.

BUT WHEN YOU TAKE THE EMOTION OUT OF IT AND A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE ON THE POLICE BOARD AND THEY JUST NAME SOMEBODY I MIND YOU WHO TALK ABOUT BIAS.

THIS PERSON SAID ON THE PAROLE BOARD HE HAD NOT ONCE BUT TWICE VOTED TO PAROLE.

A COP KILLER.

NOW THAT'S A GUIDE US NOW HERE IN DISCIPLINE CASES AT THE POLICE BOARD FOR OUR MEMBERS.

IT'S EGREGIOUS.

SO AGAIN, ARBITRATORS HEAR THE FACTS.

THEY TAKE THE EMOTION AND THE PUBLIC SENTIMENT OUT OF IT AND THEY SIMPLY GO WITH WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG PERIOD BY THE PAIR ARBITRATORS ARE NOT PUBLICLY HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

FACT, THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE RESIDE IN THE CITY CHICAGO RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S ONLY 5 ARBITRATION HEARING THESE CASES, 4 OF THEM ARE WHITE MALES.

IT'S NOT A VERY DIVERSE GROUP.

THEY'RE NOT PUBLICLY HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

YOU CAN'T GO BACK AND LOOK AT THEIR VOTING RECORD.

THE DISPLAY RECORD.

YOU HAVE NO ACCESS TO ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

>> TALK ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.

TALK ABOUT FAIRNESS.

THIS IS ONE PERSON HERE IN THE MOST EGREGIOUS CASES THAT ARE BROUGHT THAT THIS BOARD IS PERSON AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO LIVE IN A STATE TITLE BECAUSE OF THE COMPLICATED NATURE OF THIS PROVISION.

IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A THREE-FIFTHS MAJORITY OF COUNCIL EITHER WAY.

I MEAN, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE VOTES ON COUNCIL, YOU'RE GOING TO COURT RIGHT?

>> WELL, I'VE GOT HIS BACK UP ABOUT THE THE PART WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT THESE ARBITRATORS NOT BEING FAIR OR NOT BEING DIVERSE.

WHATEVER THE CASE QUESTION MAY BE, THERE'S A PROVISION IN COOK COUNTY FOR JUDGES WHO BASICALLY DON'T DO THEIR JOB.

THEY GET BASICALLY RECALLED EVERY 2 YEARS WHEN THEIR NAMES ON THE BALLOT.

THE SAME THING IS PRETTY MUCH FOR THESE ARBITRATORS EVERY YEAR.

THESE TRIGGERS BY AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY AND THE FOP.

THE CITY HAS THE ABILITY TO STRIKE AN ARBITRATOR THEY THINK IS NOT BEING FAIR TO THE PROCESS.

THAT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN.

ALL RIGHT.

SO SO THERE'S THIS ABOUT PERCENT, THE GREATER THE ARCHERS ARE.

SO ANTHONY DRIVER.

>> WHAT IS THERE SOME KIND OF COMPROMISE HERE WHERE MAYBE THIS DOES GO TO ARBITRATION SAID THE POLICE BOARD, BUT MAYBE IT'S DONE IN A MORE TRANSPARENT PUBLIC MAYOR.

I HOPE WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR IS A VALUE SYSTEM SHOULD MENTION THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS IN CITY COUNCIL.

I MEAN, THE ARBITRATOR RULED FOR THIS PROVISION.

SO FOP IS GOING TO GO TO COURT AND THEY'LL BE SOME KIND OF LEGAL BATTLE.

SO WHAT WOULD A COMPROMISE LOOK LIKE?

A COMPROMISE?

AND MY OPINION WOULD BE SOMETHING ALLOWS TRANSPARENCY TO BE INJECTED INTO PROCESS TO ALLOW ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE PUBLIC TO BE INJECTED INTO PROCESS.

>> WE LIVE IN A CITY AS A VERY BAD HISTORY WHEN IT COMES TO POLICING THESE THESE FOLKS GO OUT THERE, PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE INTO A VERY IMPORTANT JOB.

BUT I HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR HIM.

THAT'S REALLY MEAN THAT.

BUT THERE ALSO IS A LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE THAT HAS TO BE HERE, TOO.

AND THAT'S WE'RE FIGHTING FOR JACK AND SAY IT DOES GO THIS ROUTE.

WOULD YOU SUPPORT SOME KIND OF PUBLIC INFORMATION THAT THE PUBLIC COULD HAVE ACCESS TO A AS THESE CASES GET EDUCATED BY AN ARBITRATOR.

YOU KNOW, THE SAD REALITY IS THE MAYOR PUT HIS THUMB ON THE SCALE HERE.

>> I WAS INITIALLY SUPPOSED TO GIVE TESTIMONY IN THE WITNESS BOX ON THURSDAY SO I CAN GIVE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE, YOU KNOW, EXAMPLE, OF WHAT WAS GOING ON IN ARBITRATION, MEDIATION.

THAT WAS THE NIGHT LITERALLY THAT MORNING.

IT CHANGED IF I WAS ALLOWED TO SPEAK, YOU WOULD HAVE HEARD MANY EXAMPLES ON HOW WE PROPOSED.

AND AGAIN, WE HAVE THE HIGH GROUND HERE.

WE HAVE THE STATUE ON OUR SIDE.

WE KNOW YOU'RE PROPOSING SOME KIND OF NUMBER MIGHT WHETHER HAD TO COULD BE A PUBLIC PRESS, CORRECT?

WE NEVER HAD TO GIVE AN INCH, BUT WE OFFERED IT ANYWAY.

AND THE CITY BASICALLY REJECTED IT BECAUSE IT WAS THEIR PROPOSAL OR NOTHING AT ALL AT THAT POINT.

VERY QUICKLY, WHAT YOU THINK'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON WEDNESDAY AGAIN, CONSULATE.

THEY CAN REJECT THIS PROVISION.

THE NEED TO WITH THE 3 FENCE VOTE OF 31 WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT HARD FOR THOSE VOTES AND WE WON'T.

WE WON'T STOP THERE.

BUT BASED ON WHAT JOHN IS SAYING, THERE'S THERE'S SOME DAYLIGHT HERE.

SO I'M ACTUALLY HOPING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT HOW WE CAN.

>> FIXED A SO MAYBE A LOT COULD CHANGE BY WEDNESDAY.

I HOPE SO.

ALRIGHT HAPPENED.

HOPE SO.

JOHN AND THERE'S HELP EVERYWHERE.

JACK AND THEIR ANTHONY DRIVER, THANKS FROM VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

SHAKING HANDS.

THEY'RE VERY GOOD.

UP NEXT, WHAT'S BEING DONE ABOUT ILLEGAL EARLY MORNING?

GARBAGE PICKUPS.

FIND OUT RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> DESPITE COMPLAINTS FROM ACROSS CHICAGO, PRIVATE TRASH HAULERS MAKING PICKUPS DURING CITY MANDATED QUIET HOURS.

RARELY FACE CITATIONS FOR THE ILLEGAL PICKUPS.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO A W T TW NEWS ANALYSIS OF CITY DATA FROM 2022.

23.

BUT A NEW MEASURE AIMED AT CURBING THE PROBLEM MEANS SLEEP DEPRIVED.

CHICAGOANS MAY HAVE SOME HOPE IN SIGHT.

WTW NEWS REPORTER NICK BLOOMBERG JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

NIC, HOW BIG OF AN ISSUE IS THIS?

WELL, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AS WE'VE BEEN REPORTING ON THIS ISSUE SINCE JUNE AND WE DISCOVERED PRETTY EARLY ON THAT THE CITY HASN'T HAD A UNIFORM WAY OF TRACKING OR ENFORCING QUIET HOURS FOR PRIVATE GARBAGE AND RECYCLING COMPANIES.

NOW THEY AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE MAKING NOISY PICKUPS BETWEEN 10:00PM AND 07:00AM.

WE'VE GOTTEN COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS AROUND CHICAGO.

SOME CALL 3, 1, ONE, SOME CALL 9-1-1.

SOME CALL THEIR OLDER PERSONS OFFICE.

>> THROUGH A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST, WE OBTAINED 3, 1, 1, COMPLAINTS FROM JANUARY OF LAST YEAR TILL OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR AND FOUND 140 COMPLAINTS FROM 32 OF THE CITY'S 50 WARDS.

MANY COMPLAINED OF TRUCKS COMING DURING THE 04:05:06AM, HOURS A FEW EVEN COMPLAINED OF PICKUPS AS EARLY AS BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 03:00AM.

HOW OFTEN ARE COMPANIES BEING PUNISHED?

ACCORDING TO INFORMATION WE OBTAIN FROM THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT JUST 5 TIMES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND THOSE APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN POSSIBLY REPEAT OFFENDERS.

RECORDS SHOW 2 TICKETS IN THE SAME LOCATION IN NOBLE SQUARE AND 3 TICKETS AT THE SAME LOCATION IN AVONDALE.

NOW SOME OF THE SCOFFLAWS MAY HAVE CLEANED UP THEIR ACT WITHOUT A CITATION UNTIL RECENTLY, A COMMON WAY TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN FOR THE LOCAL STREETS.

AND SAM WARD SUPERINTENDENT TO CALL THEIR COUNTERPARTS AT PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT GET COMPLAINED ABOUT AND REMIND THEM OF THE LAW.

AFTER THAT, IT WAS UP TO CPD TO STEP IN WITH A CITATION.

BUT THE 3, 1, ONE RECORDS SHOW PLENTY OF FRUSTRATED, ANGRY CHICAGOANS MAKING REPORTS ABOUT REPEAT OFFENDERS.

ONE OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY COMPLAINED ABOUT WAS WASTE MANAGEMENT IN A STATEMENT, WASTE MANAGEMENT TELLS W T TW NEWS.

WE TAKE ALL COMPLAINTS SERIOUSLY.

OUR TEAM WORKS WITH THE CITY AND THE OLDER PERSONS OFFICES TO ADDRESS AND RESOLVE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE RECEIVED.

FLOOD BROTHERS AND LAKESHORE RECYCLING SERVICES ALSO APPEAR FREQUENTLY IN THE COMPLAINT LOGS.

NEITHER COMPANY RESPONDED TO A REQUEST FOR COMMENT.

NICK, YOU MENTIONED THE CITY'S APPROACH TO STOPPING ILLEGAL PICK UP UNTIL RECENTLY.

WHAT CHANGE?

THAT'S RIGHT.

FIRST WARD ALDERMAN DANIEL, A SPOT HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR TOUGHER ENFORCEMENT FOR A WHILE.

NOW.

HE TOLD US THAT NOISE COMPLAINTS ARE AMONG THE MOST FREQUENT PROBLEMS REPORTED IN HIS WARD.

SPOT WAS THE LEAD SPONSOR OF AN ORDINANCE TO GIVE CITATION WRITING POWER FOR ILLEGAL PICKUPS TO STREETS AND SAND AND REQUIRES PRIVATE TRASH HAULERS TURN OVER THEIR GPS AND OTHER TRACKING DATA FOR TRUCK ROUTES UPON REQUEST THAT WAY, CITY STAFFERS CAN VERIFY COMPLAINS ABOUT PREDAWN PICKUPS AND WRITE THOSE COMPANIES THAT TICKET THAT ORDINANCE PASSED UNANIMOUSLY LAST MONTH AND TOOK IMMEDIATE EFFECT.

STREETS IN SAN TOLD US RESIDENTS SHOULD SEND IN COMPLAINTS TO 3, 1, 1, SO THE DEPARTMENT CAN FOLLOW UP AND HOPEFULLY BRANDIS CHICAGOANS TIRED OF RUDE AWAKENINGS FROM GARBAGE TRUCKS WILL GET A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF.

I'M HOPING THAT IS THE CASE FOR THEN.

NICK NUMBER, THANKS SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

AND YOU CAN READ NEXT FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S ALL AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS.

>> UP NEXT, A RISE IN EUTHANASIA CHICAGO'S ANIMAL SHELTER.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

VISITORS TO THE CITY'S ANIMAL SHELTER ON THE LOWER WEST SIDE ARE MET WITH ROWS OF KENNELS FILLED WITH DOGS AND CATS.

BUT FOR MANY OF THOSE ANIMALS, THEIR LIVES WILL END THE CITY SHELTER IS SEEING AN INCREASE OF STRAY ANIMALS COMING THROUGH ITS DOORS SINCE THE COVID PANDEMIC UP.

47 1% SO FAR THIS YEAR COMPARED TO 2020.

THIS IS LEADING TO MORE ANIMALS BEING EUTHANIZED.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS WHAT THEY'VE SEEN, OUR SUSAN CAPELLO, ACTING DIRECTOR OF CHICAGO, ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL.

PAULA, U.S., CO-FOUNDER OF PART CHICAGO AND CYNTHIA BATHURST CEO AND FOUNDER OF SAFE HUMANE CHICAGO.

THANKS TO THE 3 OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M SUSAN LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

WHAT IS CAUSING THIS INCREASE IN ANIMALS COMING INTO THE SHELTER?

>> WELL, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS RIGHT NOW SO DURING THE PANDEMIC, YOU 2020 SOME NUMBERS.

WE WERE DOWN AS LOW 30 ANIMALS IN OUR SHELTER DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN IN THE CHICAGO SHELTER BEFORE EVER.

SO RIGHT NOW PEOPLE ARE RETURNING BACK TO WORK.

THERE ARE ISSUES VETERINARY CARE WITH MONEY.

EVERYTHING IS SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE.

WE'RE REALLY SEEING TURN IN THEIR ANIMALS BECAUSE THEY CAN THEM ANYMORE.

THEY THEY CAN'T CARE FOR THEM ANYMORE.

AS THE RETURNING TO WORK.

SO THAT'S WHAT THAT WAS.

A COUPLE OF THE MAJOR REASONS SAID.

OF COURSE, WE ALL REMEMBER DURING THE PANDEMIC, EVERYBODY WAS AT HOME AND THEY WANT BUDDY TO KEEP THEM COMPANY.

SO THERE WERE A LOT OF PETS BEING ADOPTED AT THE TIME.

>> I'M PAULO ONE OF THE TRENDS THAT YOU ALL ARE SEEING AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC OR AIR SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

WELL, BASICALLY, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT WE NEED TO HELP ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL MORE AND MORE.

>> WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR 25 YEARS.

AND THAT'S BEEN OUR NUMBER ONE FOCUS.

BUT SINCE WE'VE BEEN SEEING SO MANY ANIMALS COMING IN AND TRULY, SHOCKINGLY, THE ANIMALS THAT WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

FRENCH BULLDOGS AND THINGS THAT THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING IS A LOT OF BACKYARD BREEDERS.

MAKING MONEY DOING THIS NOW AND THEY'RE JUST TURNING THEM IN.

SO AND LOOK AT IT.

I'M GETTING CALLS FROM EVEN LIKE LAST NIGHT, A VET HOSPITAL UP IN JUST PLANES.

4 LAB.

DROPPED OFF AND THERE THEY DO THE INTAKE FOR THAT COMMUNITY.

AND I'M LIKE, OH, MY GOSH, YOU KNOW, THEY SAID WE HAVEN'T SEEN SO MUCH.

SO IT'S A LOT A LOT OF READERS THAT ARE JUST THAT WE'RE MAKING MONEY AND NOW THEY'RE NOT MAKING PEOPLE AND FIND THEM.

>> SUSAN, HOW TO CHICAGO COMPARED OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WELL, WE DID SOME COMPARISON AFTERNOON AND WE ARE PRETTY MUCH IN LINE OTHER NATIONWIDE MUNICIPAL ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITIES.

>> SO WE'RE ALL SEEING VERY HIGH AND TAKE.

WE'RE ALL SEEING A LITTLE LOWER NUMBERS IN OUR ADOPTIONS.

BUT IT JUST GOES IN TAKES IT'S REALLY IN ITS NATIONWIDE.

IT'S NOT JUST US.

WE COMPARE OURSELVES TO MILWAUKEE AND ABOUT EQUAL WITH THEM, PROBABLY TAKING IT ANYWHERE BETWEEN 13 15,000 ANIMALS THIS YEAR.

CYNTHIA, WHAT SHELTERS FEEL?

THEY HAVE TO TURN TO EUTHANASIA.

WHAT POINTS DOES THE SHELTER HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS?

WELL, THAT'S AN INDIVIDUAL DECISION.

IT DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF SHELTER THAT THEY THE TYPE OF COMMUNITY THERE.

AND SO THAT REALLY IS LIGHTLY.

>> I THINK THE SHELTER DEFINED.

I DECISION WHICH FRANKLY AM.

I'M NOT REALLY SURE ON.

YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO THINK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE BUTTER.

IT IT DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL SHELTER AND IT'S A DIFFERENT WHEN YOU'RE A NONPROFIT AND YOU CAN EITHER OPEN OR CLOSE YOUR DOORS OR CHOOSE CERTAIN KINDS OF ANIMALS COMPARED TO A CITY, A GOVERNMENT FACILITY.

IT HAS THAT BASICALLY HAS TO TAKE EVERY ANIMAL THAT COMES TO THE DOOR.

>> AND TO THAT POINT, SUSAN, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE SORT OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES?

I THINK IN OUR FROM WBTW NEWS, YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF STRAYS VERSUS PEOPLE BRINGING IN ANIMAL TO YOU AND KIND OF WHAT IS THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY WHEN YOU WITH WITH STRAYS VERSUS SOMEONE CALLING SAYING, I NEED TO GIVE YOU MY ANIMAL BECAUSE I CAN TAKE CARE OF IT ANYMORE.

SO ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL WE WE DO.

WE ARE OUT THERE TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> SOUTH HEALTH PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE OF OUR MAIN THINGS.

BUT WE DO FOLLOW THE MUNICIPAL CODE CHICAGO.

REQUIRES US TO PICK UP STRAY ANIMALS FROM THE STREET.

WE DO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS IN PLACE.

IF WE PICK UP AN ANIMAL THAT HAS A MICROCHIP OR A TAG ON IT, WE WILL TRY TO DO THAT RESEARCH AND RETURN ON RIGHT THEN.

AND THERE INSTEAD OF BRINGING THAT ANIMAL TO THE SHELTER THAT'S WHY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PET HAS A TAG OR MICROCHIP IN THEM SO THAT WE CAN RETURN THOSE PAT BACK HOME.

BUT YESTERDAY, ANIMAL INTAKE HAS INCREASED OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS.

PAULA.

HOW DOES HOW DOES PAUSE WORK WITH THE CITY TO EASE THIS BURDEN?

WELL, WE TRANCE TRANSFER ABOUT 40% OF THE ANIMALS THAT ANIMAL CARE CONTROL COME TO PASS DIRECTLY.

>> THEY HAVE ANOTHER MAYBE 100 RESCUES THAT ALSO TAKE.

BUT WE ARE BY FAR THE LARGEST TRANSFER AND BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE ALL ON RED ALERT.

WE'RE ALL REALLY FOCUSING AND WE'VE UPPED OUR TRANSFERS AND WE'RE UPPING PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE ANNOUNCING NOW WITH THE CITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO PAUSE WILL ACTUALLY BE POSITIONING PEOPLE AT ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL.

SO OF OUR STAFF WILL BE THERE HELPING TO INCREASE VOLUNTEERS, INCREASE ADOPTIONS.

AND WE ALSO HAVE THE MEDICAL CENTER THAT'S ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF AWAY.

SO WHEN THEY HAVE ANY KIND OF EMERGENCY, THEY CALL US.

WE COME RIGHT OVER AND GET HIM.

>> CYNTHIA WONDER, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BARRIERS TO FOSTER OR ADOPTIVE RIGHT NOW?

I'M NOT SURE THAT I KNOW ALL OF THEM.

BUT THE BIG WINNER, HOUSING ISSUES, INSURANCE ISSUES.

LOT OF THE ECONOMIC ISSUES HE'S GOING TO PAY FOR THE FOOD, THE CARE NEARY ISSUES AND THEN OTHERS IS JUST GETTING PEOPLE EDUCATED AND UNDERSTAND WHAT FOSTERING MEANS, HOW MUCH IT COST TO ADOPTING.

KEEP AN ANIMAL.

AND THAT'S LIKELY.

BUT SAFE HUMANE, CHICAGO LIKES TO DO IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO YOUNG PEOPLE, TO YOUNG ADULTS.

WHAT'S INVOLVED IN DOING THAT?

WHERE CAN YOU GET HELP?

BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS.

WE'RE ONLY JUST A LITTLE DROP IN THE BUCKET SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS WHO WILL PROVIDE HELP AND WE NEED TO THOSE RESOURCES AND HELP FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

TELL US WHAT THEY NEED AND HELP THEM GET WHAT THEY NEED TO THAT POINT.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO FUTURE?

PET OWNERS ARE CURRENT PET OWNERS.

WHAT DO THEY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SITUATION?

BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, AS WE SAID DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE'S A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE EVERYBODY WAS GETTING A PET.

>> AND THEN WE SAW A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HAVING TO RELINQUISH LAKERS THIS PAST BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T TAKE THEM ON FOR WHATEVER REASON ANYMORE.

WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW.

I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR COMMUNITIES SO THAT THEY CAN GET HELP WITHIN THEM.

AND WHAT NONPROFITS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS CAN PROVIDE TO THEM WHERE THEY CAN GO FOR HELP ALSO NEED UNDERSTAND WHAT ANIMALS NEED IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S SORT OF LIKE ANIMALS WENT FROM THE BARNYARD TO THE BACKYARD TO THE BEDROOM AND THEY'RE ALL FAMILY MEMBERS.

AND SO PEOPLE EXPECT A LOT MORE WANT TO PROVIDE MORE.

AND THAT'S MAINE'S MONEY AND RESOURCES.

SO THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE ARE.

AND THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN THEY START HAVING DIFFICULTIES, THERE ARE PLENTY OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL HELP THEM SAFE.

HUMANE CHICAGO JUST DOES TRAINING.

THINGS WERE NOT A RESCUE OR SHELTER PAUSE OR OUR CHICAGO ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL WERE MORE LIKE A FRIENDS OF GROUP FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF CHICAGO.

ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL WHAT WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY WILL ORGANIZATION.

SO HOW DO WE GO INTO COMMUNITIES?

BRAIN FOLKS AND SHOW THEM WHAT THE SHELTERS LIKE, SHOW THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND THEN PROVIDE PROGRAMS SOME OF THAT EDUCATION TRAINING.

SUSAN, I KNOW THAT ALSO STRUGGLED WITH STAFFING, OBVIOUSLY, VOLUNTEERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO BOTH OF YOUR WHY HAS THAT BEEN A CHALLENGE ENSURING OF STAFF AND OF COURSE, VOLUNTEERS.

>> SO STAFFING IS A BIG ONE WITH US ON ESPECIALLY CRITICAL POSITIONS LIKE VETERINARIAN.

>> AND A CERTIFIED THAT TAX OTHER FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY DIDN'T GO TO SCHOOL AGAIN DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SO WE'RE STRUGGLING HIRING THOSE POSITIONS.

AND THEN TO THE WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO, THERE'S A BLANKET WAY TO HIRE FOR ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS.

SO WE DO FALL UNDER THAT BLANKET.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A POSTING OF THE POSITION FOR CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS.

THEN THERE'S THE INTERVIEW PROCESS AND THE HIRING PROCESS, WHICH DOES TAKE A LITTLE LONG.

IT TURNS PEOPLE AWAY BECAUSE OF THE LINK THE TIME.

SO WE DO HAVE THOSE PEOPLE THAT WAY.

BUT WE ARE CONTINUALLY POSTING OUR POSITIONS IN GETTING PEOPLE HIRED AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

AS FAR AS VOLUNTEERS, THEY GO THROUGH A VERY SIMILAR PROCESS AS OUR NEW HIRES DO.

I'M NOT AS IN-DEPTH OUR VOLUNTEERS.

SOMETIMES THEY DO FALL THROUGH THE CRACK.

BUT THEY ALSO DON'T REALIZE WHAT WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO WHEN THEY COME TO THE SHELTER.

SO I THINK THEY'RE GOING WITH PUPPIES AND KITTENS HAVE A LOT OF CLEANING THE BIGGER SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT ALL BEST OF LUCK TO ALL OF THAT WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE, THOUGH.

SUSAN, CAPELLO UP, ALL OF ISN'T SIMPLY ABOUT FIRST.

THANK YOU THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

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YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10, THE PROSECUTION PREPARES TO WRAP UP IN THE CORRUPTION TRIAL OF FORMER ALDERMAN ED BURKE WILL HAVE THE LATEST AND CITY COUNCIL WEIGHS WHETHER POLICE SHOULD HAVE ALL SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THAT AND MORE.

AND WE LEAVE YOU WITH A LOOK AT THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE IN DES PLAINES, ONE OF THE LARGEST PILGRIMAGE IS IN THE COUNTRY THAT TAKES PLACE BEGINNING TONIGHT FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT AND BRING THIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY CLIFFORD AND