>> Hello and thanks for joining us on Chicago tonight.

I'm Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

>> The truth is that this budget is fiscally responsible is just smoke and mirrors.

>> With a looming deadline, does Chicago have a deal on the budget?

Heather Sharon joins us live from City Hall with the latest.

>> These products have an intoxicating effect often to dangerous levels.

>> A push to regulate hemp products in Illinois.

We hear from backers of a proposed bill critics.

There are not many grocery stores that are within walking distance of of our neighborhood.

And a look at Chicago food insecurity this holiday season.

>> And now to tonight's top story for Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago City Council.

The 4th time was the charm Chicago has a spending plan for 2025 after a close vote by older people but ended months of tense negotiations and an afternoon of charged debate.

>> My colleagues have stood up and property tax.

And we with the support of everybody in this room think the message 50 to nothing.

But we did not want property then a record plea just while lot.

With 250.

And you are rejected the 150.

We went to 68. recklessly.

While OG E U.

We go to the role.

However, in order to get to the role, we are fine the and the people of the city of Chicago to death.

>> I do think.

In spite of my frustrations and challenges that democracy is represented in the budget that in front of us today.

Do I think it is a complete and perfect reflection of my values.

My community values.

But it is it a budget that moves us forward in ways that I think are responsible.

Yes.

>> Our Heather Sharon joins us now with the latest.

Heather, the main sticking point, which was the proposed property tax hike that we just heard quite a bit about was completely removed less than 24 hours ago.

How did the city council make up the difference?

>> Well, the mayor went back to the drawing board and found a combination of cuts and quote, unquote, operational efficiencies to bridge that last gap.

And that was the crucial piece that had been missing up until this point.

The city council voted 27 to 23.

One of the closest budget votes in Chicago history to pass the spending plan, averting a government shutdown that would have happened on December 31st and ensuring that 30,000 city workers will still get paid and that Chicagoans will continue to rely on the city services that they need.

But they did it without making significant or structural changes to the way the city's finances operate.

And in fact, the only way the city was able to avoid a property tax increase was to put off paying nearly 40 million dollars in debt.

That former Mayor Richard Daley incurred when he bought the former Michael Reese hospital site.

City officials will have to figure out how to foot that Bill.

Next year.

But this budget does include a hike in taxes.

Heather, what does this mean for Chicagoans?

>> So in all, Chicagoans will pay 161.5 million dollars more in taxes.

The bulk of that will be paid by companies that lease digital goods as light and that will hit large corporations hardest.

But Chicagoans who sign up for streaming services and other digital subscriptions will also pay a little bit more to the city to help bridge budget gap.

And that was really sort of the only way that this says this budget can work.

The city is finding its finances, pinched by massive pension debt debt, high level of debt and escalating personnel costs.

>> Heather, several of the mayor's allies, though they said they did vote for the mayor's budget.

But reluctantly.

Why was >> Well, felt that Mayor Brandon Johnson mismanaged these budget negotiations, stopped to finish and the 2 co-chairs of the progressive caucus let the mayor know that they are deeply disappointed in how they how he has handled this.

He said they said that that his management, his list, the city Council badly fractured and made it harder for Chicagoans to trust that their government can operate in their best interest.

There is no doubt that after these last couple of months, the mayor has a significant amount of fence-mending and bridge building to do with those who have his closest allies on the City council.

>> And to that point, many older people have said that this is one of the most difficult budget seasons that they have ever had to experience.

And, of course, Chicago's financial woes are not over after this.

What happens next?

>> Well, everybody here at City Hall will be holding their breath to see whether Wall Street ratings agencies downgrade the city's credit rating.

They had been hoping that the city would raise property taxes, which will ensure a steady stream of income for many years to come.

That did not happen and they will also be waiting to see whether all of this budget-related chaos will ensure that ratings ground great.

If it does, it will make it much, much more expensive for the city to borrow the money that it needs to operate on a daily How the Sharon, of course, we'll check back in with you later in the program.

Thank you.

>> Up next, a growing debate over new regulations on the hemp industry in Illinois will hear from 2 different sides right after this.

>> Chicago tonight is made possible in part by the Alexander and John Nichols family.

The gym and K maybe family.

The Pope Brothers Foundation and the support of these donors.

>> Hemp growers are pushing back on a state bill that would put new regulations on the industry.

Backers of the measure, including Governor JB Pritzker, say tighter regulations would protect children in Illinois.

But critics say the rules threaten to put them out of business.

Joining us with more are.

We've got to finish Ingram executive director of the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois, Illinois State Representative La Shawn Ford and joining us via zoom, Justin Ward, president of the Illinois Healthy Alternatives Association.

We were hoping to Illinois Senate majority leaders, state Sen can really light join us for this conversation as well.

She might call in later.

Stay tuned, everybody.

Thanks to the 3 of you for joining us, Justin Ward.

Let's start with you.

Please explain the difference between hemp and cannabis.

>> So have was to find the 2018 federal farm bill has any plan to rid of it I somersault from the cannabis plant that test below 0.3%, Delta, 9 THC.

And that is the distinction between what we call marijuana were high THC, cannabis >> Okay.

And of course, we know that him can also be used for CBD, which we know has has grown in popularity.

then there's the intoxicating hit.

The stuff that we're talking about called Delta 8.

Tiffany, what is intoxicating have been wise?

It state rise dangerous.

>> So intoxicating have actually it could be many different things, right?

it's anything that's above the line.

But the 0.3 and a dry weight bases Delta, 9.

And so what happens is that you have you have many actors that are creating sort of synthetic derivatives that make it more intoxicating.

So they they do certain things to change the molecular structure to make it more intoxicating.

So people purchase Okay.

>> And what are the concerns with with being able to buy that?

Where does one get this?

So one of the major concerns is that it's predominately unregulated.

And what mean by that is that no requirements for H getting testing labeling.

>> Reading potency.

And so when you don't have those are tracking and tracing sort of the similar things that you have in the cannabis industry.

And when you have industry that's been allowed to sort of run unfettered you, we've seen instances where, you know, national leaving scene numbers of many children going to the hospital because they're getting a hold of these products because they don't have the necessary protections in place.

>> And we know that Senator Light Ford has she sponsored House Bill.

4293, what we know about that bill and what we do.

That's correct.

But bill passed overwhelmingly in the Senate the bill essentially is to have consumer products.

Second, which that what it does is that it creates a sort of registration for hemp products.

So it's not banning him.

That's creating a regulatory structure.

>> You know, with demand in sort of regulatory structures in place to regulate hemp.

So we know who selling it, where they're getting it and that it's properly tested right?

But then there's another part of that legislation that deals with intoxicating products and those products.

You know, we'll take another path as very similar to how cannabis is regulated.

And then the 3rd thing that it does is that remove it completely does remove the ability to create synthetic products which we think are problematic.

>> Representative how would this legislation impact businesses that sell hemp products or tell you that we agree.

I agree everything that Tiffany and the governor says about regulation.

And so my thought is that we protect industry that's already in existence but regulate it and tax it and make sure that it's It definitely have a goal of limiting the each right now.

People can purchase this under 21.

We need to stop that now.

We can do that today.

We see people purchasing Delta products at bad actors, the gas stations in places like that.

We need to shut them down today.

Justin, what are your concerns with this legislation?

>> First, I'd like to echo the some of that sentiment from the governor's office as well as the legislature and rep for that.

We as have industry are concerned about children getting access to these products and no way support of that.

And we've been pushing for regulation for years.

The problem is, is the technical flaws in some of the language in this legislation create a ban that would ban even non intoxicating full-spectrum CBD products because of the way that the bill is written.

So things like CBD lotions and CBD oils would no longer be available or the way the bill as currently written.

>> And same question to you, Justin.

What's the impact that this that legislation like this might have on businesses that sell the products?

>> It's devastating for businesses as well as consumers.

not only am I the president of the Illinois Healthy Alternatives Association, but I'm the co-founder and chief operating officer of Stony Branch Farms Fish are 6 generation family farm and was a lifeline for our farm to be able to get back involved in farming.

We don't have the acreage to be involved in row.

Proper in a land have allowed us to build ability to get involved in Farmer land again.

>> This bill would put us out of business immediately.

It would limit access to consumers who rely on these products.

So it will be truly devastating to the hemp industry in Illinois.

And the fact is it doesn't truly close up the loophole allowing these products to be able to get access to children, children, to go to get access these proxies products and still be widely available online to be shipped in from out of state anywhere in the country in Illinois would have no ability to regulate those products.

So I think we really need sensible regulation here in the state to provide safe options for consumers who are getting treatment.

it's from products.

>> Tiffany, do you think that him products should only be sold?

Cannabis dispensaries?

So there's a distinction, right?

So hemp products within themselves, CBD products are are not the challenge, right?

I think there's been misnomer flick.

>> You If you know, trying to ban him from that.

And that's not not the case like at to his point some of these products are therapeutic.

The CBD, not intoxicating products and in the law.

There is, you know, sort of provisions for that account for this and not intoxicating product.

That doesn't require the sort of strict regulation that intoxicating product lick.

Turning to the intoxicating product.

That a whole different issue.

I mean, what we are seeing is that children are getting access to these products because there is no age gating.

You know, this unregulated industry has had sort of devastating effects on sort of cannabis industry writ large, the state, you know, take a lot of investment to create a cannabis industry with social equity at its center.

You have a license holders that are, you know, social equity license holders that are sandwiched between Delta, 8 sellers that or not subject to the requirements.

Many dispensaries have to have like cameras and security and testing all that's very expensive.

And plus, we pay close to 40% taxation.

So, you know, those those revenues from cannabis flow to all sorts of things that benefit the state.

flows to community programming.

It flows too funding that goes to social equity programs and loans.

And it's it's something that we're seeing a sort of.

You know, erosion of that cannabis revenues that go to the state because we have unfettered unregulated market that is infringing on Representative Ford, you said that putting cannabis dispensaries in charge of him sales will put dispensaries basically in control of the market.

>> What's wrong with that?

>> Well, I mean, there's lawsuit right now in New Jersey, I believe where there have been sued because they've done similar things that we're doing here in Illinois and it gives a monopoly to the cannabis industry.

We have to remember that Delta it's federally illegal.

Delta II is legal.

Delta 9, of course, being tht see cannabis.

Yes, and we need to recognize that we did it for cannabis.

Regulated, made it safe tax that made sure that people are able to get clean marijuana.

can do the same thing with Delta.

We can't go back and say that we cleaned up the cannabis industry, but we're going to not clean up the Delta.

We're going create a underground traditional market for Delta.

That's wrong.

And it's a guess I would call in the war on drugs.

Justin, what would you like lawmakers to know before moving forward if this should get called up?

>> Yeah, I like legislators and the governors office to know that we are more than happy to collaborate and educate and explain.

You know why 42 93 would be so damaging to our industry and goes far beyond regulation, but is actually a van and that we we want to see regulation pass and we want to work with legislators to make that happen.

we will be reaching out have been for several years and continue to do that until we can get good sensible regulation for half past year in Illinois that protects consumers allows access customers or, you know, in need of these products and allows businesses to continue to thrive and grow.

>> Tiffany, somebody mentioned New Jersey where other states doing to regulate hemp.

So I will say majority of states that you have a cannabis program have instituted some type of.

>> No regulation, whether it's a complete ban, some hybrid or something.

And the other.

And so I point to, you know, our neighbor in Missouri governor had put in an executive order to actually have a van.

And that's not something with this legislation.

Does I like applaud the governor for taking, you know, taking the step in taking action that he'd like to see this legislation that we believe this measured and and had tons of stakeholder engagement, including from the hemp industry.

And, you know, if you look at other states like California, also, Governor Newsom has impose that executive order basically saying no hay and what my health agency too, get these products out of our Many, many states are taking action to regulate band or some type of hybrid to make sure that they're protecting their citizens from these types of products.

Sounds like what he's doing all the same to regulation.

It's a patchwork.

Still still figure that out, OK?

We'll have to leave it there.

My thanks to Tiffany Chappelle Ingram, Justin Ward and Representative La Shawn Ford.

Thanks, Thank you very much.

>> Thank you.

Up next, we check back in with Heather Sharon, who's reporting live from City Hall.

Stay with us.

And now we check back in with Heather Sharon, who's joining us from City Hall with Alderperson Jesse Fuentes of the 20th Ward.

Heather.

>> Thanks, Brendan Alderman for went as was one of the key swing votes and she joins us now to talk about that other person you said that had this post he can pass place on Friday.

You would voted no.

But today you voted yes.

Why?

>> I think that this budget held the line for a lot of the things that I came into office championing represent rapidly gentrifying community.

My constituents should clear they can't afford a property tax.

This budget proposal 0 $0 property tax.

We've done important things in Humble park like House apartment encampment, house and over 80 households in the last week and a half.

This budget makes the investments in rapid rehousing and accelerate moving events.

prioritizes employment, peacekeeping, Biden's prevention, all the things that are important me, my constituency, point making sure that people can keep their homes in that 1, 6, 4, if you're a member of the progressive caucus, we heard from the 2 co-chairs today that they felt that Mayor Brandon Johnson also a progressive.

>> And badly mismanaged these negotiations.

Do you agree with I think that the process was difficult, right?

That's something we can articulate, something that we definitely off, though.

I think what we learned that 300 million dollar property tax increase will I do believe that there are moments which really collaboration to face this bunch is a representation of that bringing that property tax 0 seeing Officiants is particularly in the mayor's office making sure we hold the mention obligation, this budget probably has more on mannequin put that we've seen historically.

One of the things that Alderman Maria had and the co-chair of the Press caucus said was that these negotiations have taken time away from older people.

>> Preparing for President elect Donald Trump to take office.

He said Chicago will be ground 0 for his mass deportation office.

You represent Humboldt Park.

There mentioned thousands of undocumented immigrants were very scared tonight.

Are you also frustrated that this took you away from that work?

I think that we're all frustrated with how much time some of the work here in City Council takes.

Right, because we have an obligation to our constituents.

>> But we also are all elected with the commitment that we're going to be very present in our war.

Graves funded forward to some of the adjustments that are going to be made to the budget management ordinance beginning this time to do both.

The city Council work and the woodwork.

I will say that on the northwest side are the kids have already brought together constituents from across the northwest side in a post-election debrief which we have already begun that work, right?

We have that again that carries.

Thank you so much.

>> Back to you.

After a very long day at City Hall grand I'm sure it has been a lot of work for the folks there, Heather and all the person.

Just the point is included.

Thanks to you both.

>> Up next, battling food insecurity in Chicago.

Stay with us.

One in 5 Chicagoans is food, insecure.

That's in part because of a lack of grocery stores and affordable food options in their neighborhoods.

In partnership with Wt Tw News Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism students report on how some local organizations are putting produce and pantry.

Staples on the shelves for those in need.

Here's Mila Branson.

>> so?

Circle Urban Ministries in Austin opens its pantry doors to the public serving all who come great day.

Coordinator Daario Anderson says the nonprofit feeds about 1000 people each month.

>> Hughes.

>> It's area.

They can easily be swept under the carpet and it really impacts a large population of Chicago.

The ministry's pantry operates like a grocery store.

Clients will cards through aisles and select shopping for what they want to have a choice of what they want to get.

It allows us to be a little bit more intimate with the crime.

Former client Frank Smith says he appreciates the pantry so much that he began volunteering as security.

What break that down for me.

>> It can't.

>> Food and my family's mount.

Doing 10 could.

>> The nonprofit receives free food from the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Its pantry is one of several small pilots working with the organization.

There are not many grocery stores that are within walking distance of of our neighborhood.

That really puts a hardship.

All our residents one other nonprofit Dion, Chicago Dream hopes to remedy the food desert issue by delivering boxes of produce directly to clients.

Dion Dawson founded the organization in 2020 and says it's grown to service more than 173 zip codes in Chicago.

If you say that you're you access that we take you for The numbers demonstrate demand.

The nonprofit currently delivers food packages to more than 4,000 households in Chicago.

Each week with a wait list of another 2000 families were convinced that the need is going anywhere.

How do we just, you know, every day, keep chipping away in a way where, you know, you can see that tangible growth.

Dawson says his organization has received government grants, but it's mainly supported by donations from individuals.

Dion, Chicago, dream purchases, food from a local wholesalers have about a year's worth of fresh fruits and vegetables to a household and $1000 per year cost like Dawson's program, Rush Medical Center, food distributions are also funded primarily by donations.

It operates a food pantry for patients in need.

Food is medicine program Director Julia Bassett says individuals are referred to the pantry by physician based on their level of food insecurity.

Workers.

you have again, communities that are under-resourced.

They don't have grocery We do food distributions and that helps support.

But again, a Band-Aid approach.

Bassett says the program gets around.

70 physician referrals per week.

>> With free fresh food sourced from the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

She says the program aims to alleviate comorbidity issues, but even with distributions in place, Bassett says more food is needed.

we have those things in place.

We could really change the trajectory of some of our black and brown people were experiencing some of those issues.

Bassett says money is the key to addressing food insecurity because you to find these very emergent needs of communities.

If we still have that type of support, that we can get grocer was some sort the communities that will really help kind of things.

Some of the programs that we have no matter the obstacle, local organizations are still focused on supporting their own.

We're all in community together and we all need a helping hand.

For Wt DW news and Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism.

I Mila Branson.

Again.

That was a W T Tw News partnership with Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism.

>> You can find more details on our website.

And that's our show for this Monday night.

For more on what our NEWSROOM is working on.

You can follow us on Instagram at W T Tw Chicago and you can stay connected with us on Blue sky and join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10.

We break down the city's new budget and much more with our spotlight.

Politics teams and was talking.

And last week President Biden pardoned nearly 1500 people for their criminal convictions.

Hundreds of men and women in Illinois are asking Governor Pritzker to do the same.

Now for all of us here at Chicago tonight, I'm Brandis Friedman.

Thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe.

Have a good night.

>> Post captioned made possible by Clifford and