[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HERE IN OUR NORTHWEST SIDE STUDIO.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ LIVE FROM ARCHER HEIGHTS ON THE CITY'S SOUTHWEST SIDE.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> EVERYDAY SOMETHING NEW.

>> CONFUSION REINS ABOUT WHAT IS ALLOWED AND WHAT ISN'T UNDER THE LATEST COVID RULES.

CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS ARE DOING BETTER THAN MOST OF THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF COMING OUT OF THE SURGE AND WE ARE GETTING THERE.

>> CHICAGO'S TOP DOCTOR WHERE THINGS STAND ON THE BATTLE AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST CONFIRMED COVID CASE IN THE U.S. >> WE BUILT THE GREATEST POLITICAL MOVEMENT IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY.

>> AND PRESIDENT TRUMP LEAVES OFFICE FACTIONS EMERGE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE G.O.P.?

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH GRIEF THEY ARE DEALING WITH LOSS.

>> A COMMUNITY A FACTORY AND RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES HOW ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN ARCHER HEIGHTS ARE DEALING WITH THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

>> WE DON'T WANT TO SEE PROJECTS GET APPROVED EVEN THOUGH THE COMMUNITY IS AGAINST IT.

>> ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND INEQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION.

A LOOK WHY SOME CHICAGOANS ARE FIGHTING LARGE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS.

>> HE KNOWS I HAD HIS BACK THROUGHOUT EVERYTHING.

>> AND WHY BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO SAYS THEY ARE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR MORE BLACK AND LATINX MENTORS.

>> BUT FIRST, BRANDIS, I AM IN ARCHER HEIGHTS ON THE CITY'S SOUTHWEST SIDE THE LATEST STOP OF OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

THIS IS A WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY MOSTLY LATINX AND INSTRUMENTALLED WITH A HIGHER RATE OF COVID THAN MOST OF THE REST OF THE CITY.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE HEALTH AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS AND THE LACK OF HEALTH RESOURCES THAT PLAGUE THIS COMMUNITY.

FIRST BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

THE SHOWDOWN BETWEEN THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION AND C.P.S.

INTENSIFIES.

C.P.S.

SENT A LETTER TO TEACHERS AND STAFF TELLING THEM QUOTE THE DECISION BY THE UNION TO REMAIN OUT OF SCHOOLS AND DENY FAMILIES ACCESS TO IN-PERSON SCHOOLS IS A DECISION TO STRIKE.

THE LETTER GOES ON TO SAY IT EXPECTS PREKINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8TH GRADE TEACHERS TO BE IN THEIR CLASSROOMS ON MONDAY.

YESTERDAY WE REPORTED THAT TEACHERS WILL BE VOTING INTO THE WEEKEND WHETHER TO RETURN TO IN-PERSON TEACHING AS ORDERED OR TO CONTINUE WORKING REMOTELY UNTIL THE UNION AND DISTRICT REACHED A DEAL.

C.T.U.

HAS RETAINED THE CONSULTATION OF Dr. GUPTA FROM WASHINGTON STATE.

>> I'VE BEEN REALLY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE A MOVEMENT NOT ONLY IN CHICAGO BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY OF AND ESSENTIALLY, LEVERAGING AS A PAYCHECK AND FORCING TEACHERS AND OTHER ADULT STAFF ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE MIDDLE OF 'OUT WILL KROF PANDEMIC.

>> OUT WILL KROF PANDEMIC.

>> NEARLY 5,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH THE CORONAVIRUS.

A >> OF COURSE WE'VE BEEN LIVING THROUGH THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC FOR NEARLY A YEAR NOW.

THAT IS MEANT HAVING TO ADJUST DO DIFFERENT MANDATES THERE'S HOPE THAT CHICAGO AND THE SUBURBS WILL BE AT THE STAGE WHERE THINGS CAN OPEN UP AT LEAST A BIT MORE.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US TO BREAK THIS DOWN.

AMANDA?

>> BRANDIS, SOME OF ILLINOIS' CORONAVIRUS MANDATES ARE SIMPLE ENOUGH LIKE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT EVERYONE SHOULD WEAR A MASK WHEN OUT IN PUBLIC.

BUT OTHERS ARE LESS.

SO LIKE RULES THAT MARY AREGONI PAYS ATTENTION TO AS A FOUNDER AND OWNER OF THE VIETNAM NEZ RESTAURANT SIAGON SISTERS.

>> IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES YOU KNOW.

EVERYDAY SOMETHING NEW.

LIKE TODAY I JUST TALKED TO THE ILLINOIS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION ABOUT THIS MITIGATION TIER 2.

WHAT THAT MEANS EXACTLY BECAUSE I WAS NOT SURE IF I CAN EVEN HAVE DINE-IN UP TO 10 PEOPLE.

AND JUST VERY LIKE THINGS LIKE THAT THAT CHANGE ALL THE TIME.

>> TIER TWO IS CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY HAVE BEEN IN SINCE THE START OF THIS WEEK.

IT IS A LOOSER STAGE THAN TIER THREE WHICH THE CITY AND THE SUBURBS AND FRANKLY THE REST OF ILLINOIS HAD BEEN IN FOR NEARLY TWO MONTHS.

SINCE ABOUT THANKSGIVING THROUGH TWO WEEKS AFTER THE NEW YEAR.

AS THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION TOLD SIAGON SISTERS IN TIER TWO THE ANSWER IS NO.

INDOOR DINING IS NOT ALLOWED.

WHAT IS?

WELL SOME PRIVATE GATHERINGS AND PRIVATE UP TO 10 PEOPLE ALSO MOVIE THEATERS AND MUSEUMS BUT AT VERY LIMITED CAPACITY.

ALSO LIMITED FITNESS CLASSES.

>> IT IS A LITTLE CONFUSING BECAUSE THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IS SAYING THIS AND THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS SAYING THIS.

PEOPLE DO GET CONFUSED.

>> WHAT IS CHICAGO SAYING?

AN INTERVIEW WITH CHICAGO'S Dr. ALLISON ARWADY, EARLIER TODAY, THE DOCTOR SIGNALED THAT CHICAGO COULD BE LOOKING AT MOVING TO THAT NEXT LESS STRICT TIER SOON.

THAT IS WHEN LIMITED INDOOR DINING WILL BE PERMITTED THAT COULD COME WITHIN A WEEK.

>> YESTERDAY, THE DAY BEFORE WE WERE RIGHT AT 8%.

EVERYTHING IS MOVING THE RIGHT WAY.

SO I ANTICIPATE IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO, WE MAY START TO BE BELOW THAT MARK.

YOU HAVE TO BE BELOW IT FOR THREE DAYS.

IT'S ALL ABOUT AS ALWAYS WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE METRICS AND WE HAVE BEEN MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

>> 8% TALKING ABOUT CHICAGO'S POSITIVITY RATE FOR THE CORONAVIRUS.

AGAIN, THE SOONEST CHICAGO WOULD MOVE TO THE STAGE OF LIMITED INDOOR DINING COULD BE SATURDAY ACCORDING TO THE ILLINOIS GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

NOW, WHAT MITIGATIONS THE VARIOUS 11 REGIONS OF THE STATE MUST FOLLOW IS BASED ON A FEW KEY THINGS; LIKE HOSPITAL CAPACITY AND THAT POSITIVITY RATE THE RATE OF PEOPLE WHO TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID.

IF YOU ARE STILL CONFUSED THAT IS UNDERSTAND AN WE HAVE TIERS, REGIONS, PHASES WHAT ALL DOES THIS MEAN WHEN IT COMES TO METRICS?

THE EASIEST MAY BE TO THINK OF IT LIKE THIS... AND THAT IS THAT THE WHOLE STATE ALL 11 REGIONS IS IN PHASE FOUR.

THIS IS THE NEW COVID NORMAL.

AND IT IS FAIRLY STRICT.

PHASE FIVE WILL NOT BE UNTIL ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED THAT THERE IS HERD IMMUNITY.

ON TOP OF PHASE FOUR YOU HAVE THE TIERS AND THEY COME INTO PLAY TO FURTHER MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF COVID.

AND TIER THREE IS THE STRICTEST AND YOU DO HAVE ONE REGION OF THE STATE THAT IS NEAR ST. LOUIS THAT IS IN STILL THAT STRICTEST TIER THREE.

THEN YOU HAVE TIER TWO WHAT CHICAGO IS NOW WHERE THINGS ARE LOOSENED A LITTLE BIT.

AND TIER ONE IS MORE AND THAT IS WHEN LIMITED INDOOR DINING WILL BE PERMITTED.

YOU DO HAVE REGIONS OF ILLINOIS THAT ARE ALREADY THERE.

AND CHICAGO HOPEFULLY SOON.

SOME PARTS OF THE STATE HAVE HAD ALL OF THE TIERS LIFTED.

SO, AGAIN, THIS IS THE LOOSEST THAT WE WILL GET FOR SOMETIME THAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE JUST PHASE FOUR THAT IS AT THE POINT WHEN FEWER HOSPITAL BEDS ARE TAKEN UP BY COVID PATIENTS AND THE POSITIVITY RATE DECLINED FOR DAYS.

REMEMBER THAT PHASE FOUR WE WERE IN IT WHEN GATHERINGS OF 50 PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED AND BARS THAT DO NOT SERVE FOOD WILL BE ABLE TO REOPEN FOR INDOORS.

AS MOST OF ILLINOIS IS NOW OUT OF THAT STRICTEST TIER THREE PART THAT DOES MEAN A CHANGE FOR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES WHO FOR MONTHS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COMPETE.

>> IT'S REALLY JUST ABOUT THE WELL-BEING OF STUDENT ATHLETES FROM THE PHYSICAL AND THE MENTAL AND THE EMOTIONAL STANDPOINT.

AND WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE HURTING BECAUSE THEY ARE AWAY FROM THEIR TEAMS AND AWAY FROM DOING WHAT THEY LOVE BEING WITH THE COACHES AND TEAMMATES.

WE'RE CIT EXCITED IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL GET SPORTS BACKUP AGAIN.

>> SWIMMING, AND BADMINTON IS ALLOWED.

>> THEY CAN START PRACTICING AND CAN START GAMES AS SOON AS THE BOARD APPROVES IT.

THE HIGHER RISK SPORTS IN THE WINTER IS BASKETBALL BUT THAT WILL BE FOOTBALL AND IT WILL BE LACROSSE AND OTHERS THAT WE'RE WAITING TO PLAY THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PLAY GAMES UNTIL THEY GET TO A DIFFERENT STATUS OR UNLESS THE RISK LEVEL IS REDUCED.

>> THE IHSA IS ASKING GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO REDUCE THE RISK LEVEL FOR BASKETBALL SO THAT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES WOULD BE ABLE TO PLAY.

YOU HAVE MUCH OF THE SPORTS CALENDAR FOR HIGH SCHOOL GOOFED UP BECAUSE OF THIS.

THE BOARD IS GOING TO MEET AND BIG DECISIONS ARE LIKELY TO BE MADE AT THAT MEETING LIKE WHETHER IT IS GOING TO CUT ANY OF THOSE LOWER AND MODERATE RISK SPORTS SEASONS SPORT TO SQUEEZE IN BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL THIS SCHOOL YEAR OR WHETHER THAT BECAUSE OF COVID IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THAT IS EVER GOING TO BE SOMETHING IN THE NEAR FUTURE THAT WILL HAPPEN IN ILLINOIS AND SO MAYBE THEY WILL INSTEAD SHIFT VOLLEYBALL TO A WINTER SPORT AND HOPE THAT BASKETBALL WILL BE PERMITTED LATER.

LOTS OF DECISIONS UP IN THE AIR.

WE HAVE A BRIEFING EXPECTED TOMORROW FROM GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER.

BUT HE IS EXPECTED TO FOCUS MOSTLY ON THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE.

THE HOPE, BY THE WAY, AND THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR FOLKS, IS THAT AS ILLINOIS IS MOVING OUT AGAIN OF THAT STRICTEST TIER THREE OF PHASE FOUR THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE HOPEFULLY DONE WITH THOSE STRICTEST MITIGATIONS NOW THAT WE HAVE A VACCINE.

BUT THAT IS STILL DEPENDING ON PEOPLE PRACTICING PRECAUTIONS, WEARING MASKS, ALL OF THAT.

AND ALSO THERE IS STILL THE FEAR THAT GOD FORBID THAT MORE CONTAGIOUS STRAIN OF CORONAVIRUS COULD BE A BACKTRACK.

HOPING NOT.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ONE YEAR AGO TODAY, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION CONFIRMED THE FIRST CASE OF COVID-19 IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE PATIENT A RESIDENT OF WASHINGTON STATE HAD RECENTLY RETURNED FROM WUHAN, CHINA WHERE AN OUTBREAK OF PNEUMONIA CAUSED BY A CORONAVIRUS WAS CAUSING CONCERN.

AT THE TIME THE CDC SAID THAT IT WAS UP CLEAR HOW EASILY THE VIRUS SPREAD FROM PERSON TO PERSON.

SADLY, WHEN NOW KNOW THE ANSWER AND MORE THAN 400,000 AMERICANS INCLUDING MORE THAN 18,000 ILLINOISANS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVE TO THAT VIRUS.

JOINING US NOW, IS Dr. ALLISON ARWADY, COMMISSIONER OF THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE KNOW YOU GOT YOUR SECOND SHOT TODAY AND ARE GLAD TO KNOW YOU ARE FEELING WELL.

WE MENTIONED THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST ARRIVAL OF A CASE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

AS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST WERE YOU THEN BRACING FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE ILLNESS HERE IN CHICAGO?

>> WE WERE ALREADY AT THE TIME THAT FIRST CASE WAS DETECTED O'HARE AIRPORT WAS ALREADY SCREENING TRAVELERS FROM WUHAN, CHINA AND WE ALREADY HAD OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH UP AND GOING.

I CERTAINLY WE DID NOT KNOW THE SCALE OF WHAT WAS COMING OBVIOUSLY.

BUT WE WERE STARTING TO USE OUR PLANS AND STARTING TO LOOK AHEAD AND REALLY HAVE CONTINUED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO USE ALL OF THAT PANDEMIC PLANNING THAT WE HAVE DONE EVEN BEFORE THE COVID OUTBREAK.

>> AND AT THAT TIME WE WERE NOT AWARE OF HOW QUICKLY AND EASILY IT WOULD SPREAD.

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE FOR YOU, LEADING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DURING A ONCE IN A GENERATION KIND OF PANDEMIC?

>> YEAH, SO I HAD ACTUALLY JUST MOVED INTO THE COMMISSIONER ROLE AND BEEN CONFIRMED BY CITY COUNCIL FOUR OR FIVE DAYS BEFORE WE ACTIVATED FOR COVID.

I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE IN THIS ROLE EXCEPT IN THE TIME OF COVID.

THE BIGGEST THING IS MY STAFF HAS JUST BEEN AMAZING.

THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAVE STEPPED UP IN WAYS THAT CONTINUE TO AMAZE ME EVERYDAY.

A YEAR IN, I'VE GOT PEOPLE SKIPPING THEIR VACATIONS, SIGNING UP TO WORK AT POINTS OF DISPENSING.

SAYING HOW CAN I HELP?

AND REALLY BANDING TOGETHER.

NOT JUST AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WITH SO MANY PARTNERS ACROSS CHICAGO.

IT IS BEEN AN AWFUL YEAR BUT WE HAVE SEEN AMAZING WAYS THAT CHICAGOANS HAVE WORKED TO HELP EACH OTHER.

AND TO HELP US TRY TO GET PAST COVID.

>> FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE ONSET OF THIS PANDEMIC THE NEW PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED A NATIONAL PLAN TO FIGHT THE PANDEMIC AND WHILE HE HAS SIGNED A LOT OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS, 10 OF THEM, HERE ARE A FEW SPECIFIC TO COVID THAT WE THOUGHT WERE WORTH HIGHLIGHTING.

INVOKES THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT AND PROVIDES AID TO STATES AND A MASK MANDATE FOR TRAVEL AND FEDERAL BUILDINGS, CREATING A HEALTH EQUITY TASK FORCE AND EXPANDING TESTING AND TREATMENT.

HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE DO YOU THINK THE MEASURES AND HAVING A FEDERALLY COORDINATED RESPONSE WILL MAKE?

>> I THINK IT WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

HONESTLY SOMETHING LIKE USING ALL THE RESOURCES AS POSSIBLE THAT IS A CRITICAL STEP HERE.

WE ARE READY IN CHICAGO TO VACCINATE AS MUCH VACCINE AS WEIGH CAN RECEIVE.

WE ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH YET BUT THE FACT THAT I THINK THIS PRESIDENT IS STANDING UP AND HAS DONE IF IN COLLABORATION WITH STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS SAYING WHAT DO YOU NEED, WHERE HAVE YOU NOT HAD ENOUGH.

AND IF THERE IS A PLAN THAT IS PROJECTED MORE THAN A FEW DAYS IN THE FUTURE IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD THAT.

I AM FEELING OPTIMISTIC.

THERE IS A LONG WAY TO GO BUT IT WILL HELP TO HAVE HOPEFULLY AN EFFORT THAT IS NOT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED BUT MOTIVATED BY THE SCIENCE THAT WE KNOW AND IS WORKING TO BRING RESOURCES.

WE'VE GOT THIS AMAZING VACCINE BUT WE'VE NOT HAD THE RESOURCES TO BUILDUP ALL OF THE WAYS TO GET IT INTO ARMS.

WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB IN CHICAGO BUT WE WILL DO A BETTER JOB WHEN WE GET MORE FUNDING AND OPEN MORE SITES AND DO OUTREACH.

WE HAVE PLANS FOR THAT.

AND VERY EXCITED TO SEE PUBLIC HEALTH TAKE THAT CENTRAL ROLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION.

BECAUSE GETTING PAST LAST YEAR, MEANS BEING SERIOUS THIS YEAR.

AND I DO THINK THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL DO THAT WELL.

>> YOU SAID TODAY THAT THE CITY YOU HAD NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH VACCINE TO VACCINATE NEAR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE AND WOULD LIKE IT.

HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS THE VACCINE ROLLOUT SO FAR?

AND WHEN DO YOU THINK WE'LL GET ENOUGH?

>> RIGHT.

SO WE ARE THE POINT ON THAT WE ARE GETTING 34,000 DOSES FIRST DOSES OF VACCINE NEXT WEEK HERE IN CHICAGO THAT IS THE SAME AMOUNT WE GOT LAST WEEK AND THE SAME AMOUNT THE WEEK BEFORE AND THE WEEK BEFORE.

AND THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION LET US KNOW THAT UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS THE AMOUNT THEY EXPECT WE WILL GET FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS.

34,000 DOSES IS HOW MUCH WE ARE GETTING.

THERE ARE 362,000 CHICAGOANS OVER THE AGE OF 65, ANOTHER APPROXIMATELY 300,000 CHICAGOANS IN THESE FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORK GROUPS LIKE EDUCATION NOT TO MENTION THE PEOPLE IN CONGREGATE SETTINGS OUR HOMELESS SHELTERS.

SO WE ARE GETTING ENOUGH VACCINE TO VACCINATE 5% OF THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE EXCITED TO GET THE VACCINE.

WE HAVE MORE THAN 400 PLACES ACROSS THE CITY THAT CAN ADMINISTER VACCINE AND MOST IS GOING THROUGH HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.

I WANT TO URGE THERE'S GOING TO NEED TO BE PATIENCE HERE AND THE VACCINE IS GOING TO INCREASE WE ARE READY IN CHICAGO FOR AS MUCH AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ABLE TO PUSH US AND WE WILL RAMP IT UP QUICKLY.

>> AND THERE IS A MORE INFECTIOUS VARIANT THAT IS GOING AROUND AND DR. NGOZI EZIKE THE COMMISSIONER SAID THAT COULD BE THE PREDOMINANT VIRUS AROUND MARCH.

HOW MUCH MORE CHALLENGING DOES THAT MAKE MITIGATING THE SPREAD OF THIS?

>> THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DIRECT OUR VACCINE IN CHICAGO TO THE PLACES IT IS MOST NEEDED TO GET OUR CASE NUMBERS DOWN.

WHEN YOU GET CASE NUMBERS DOWN YOU GIVE LESS OPPORTUNITY FOR SPREAD AND GIVE LESS OPPORTUNITY FOR VARIANTS TO EMERGE AND EVERYBODY PAST COVID FASTER EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE.

I AGREE WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE THE VARIANTS REPLACE THE LESS INFECTIOUS KIND THAT IS HOW VIRUSES WORK.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT AT THIS POINT ALL OF THE VARIANTS THE VACCINE WORKS AGAINST THEM THEY ARE NOT MAKING PEOPLE SICKER IT MEANS WE NEED TO BE AS WE HAVE GOOD NEWS AND STARTING TO REOPEN, WE CANNOT LET DOWN OUR GUARD ON THE MASKS AND THE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THE HAND WASHING THAT WE ALL KNOW WORK.

AND WE ARE ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO GETTING THAT VACCINE OUT AND GET COVERAGE IN A TARGETED AND FOCUSED WAY THAT MAKES OUR RISK IN CHICAGO AGAINST THAT VARIANT AND ANY VARIANT AS LOW AS POSSIBLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> ALWAYS ON THE JOB.

THANKS TO Dr. ALLISON ARWADY FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AS THE CITY'S COVID RATE STARTS TO RECEDE FROM THE LATEST PEAK THERE ARE SOME COMMUNITIES WHERE THE DISEASE HASN'T REALLY RELENTED SINCE THE BEGINNING.

A LOT ARE CLUSTERED ON THE CITY'S SOUTHWEST SIDE.

AS PART OF OUR SERIES, PARIS SCHUTZ AND MARISSA NELSON SPENT THE DAY REPORTING IN THE ARCHER HEIGHTS COMMUNITY IT IS A MIX OF RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL AND SITS IN THE SHADOWS OF MIDWAY AIRPORT.

PARIS SCHUTZ JOINING US NOW.

>> THIS COMMUNITY IS ABOUT 77% LATINX.

SO IT FOLLOWS THE TREND IN SIMILAR COMMUNITIES HAVING A HIGHER RATE OF COVID-19 THAN OTHER PARTS OF CHICAGO.

IN ALL, THE ZIP CODE HAS SEEN MORE THAN 11,000 POSITIVE CASES AND THE POSITIVITY RATE WAS 18%.

TODAY IT'S 13%.

REGULARLY HIGHER THAN THE CITY AVERAGE.

AND LIKE SO MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE IT'S WORKING CLASS, TRADES WORKERS, DAY LABORERS, HIGH POPULATION OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE BEEN BEGGING FOR MORE TESTING SITES.

THEY PARTIALLY GOT THEIR WISH WITH A LARGE SITE AT THE MIDWAY AIRPORT PARKING LOT.

BUT ONE ISSUE THAT A COMMUNITY LEADER IS MANY PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE CARS AND DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY PILE CAR-POOL TO GO TO PLACES LIKE TESTING SITES.

AND FOOD BANKS AND THAT PRESENTS ITS OWN RISKSES.

>> WE HAD MULTIPLE FAMILIES COME IN ONE CAR.

SO THAT CREATES AN INCREASE IN THE POSSIBILITY OF EXPOSURE TO COVID.

SO IF ONE PERSON IN THAT CAR IS SICK, AND IT'S TWO HOUSEHOLDS THERE COULD BE A POTENTIAL FOR THE COVID TO SPREAD TO THE TWO HOUSEHOLDS.

>> AND BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES AROUND HERE, RESIDENTS HAVE NOT SEEN EVIDENCE OF THE VACCINE REALLY SPREADING IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE DATA SHOWS ACROSS THE CITY THAT AREAS CLOSER TO DOWNTOWN AND NORTH SIDE HAVE SEEN A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE OF THE VACCINE.

ANOTHER UNDER RESOURCED ISSUE IS MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS.

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES HAVE ONLY WORSENED WITH THE PANDEMIC AND THE SHUTDOWN.

THERE IS A LOCAL ORGANIZATION CALLED NO SOMOS LOCOS, THEY HAVE AIMED TO STEP IN TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR FOLKS THAT LOST LOVED ONES OR LOST JOBS.

>> PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH GRIEF.

THEY ARE DEALING WITH LOSS.

A LOT OF LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST AND THE LATINO COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT.

MY CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL A FEW BLOCKS AWAY AND ONE OF THEIR TEACHERS PASSED AWAY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING WITH THAT AND THE LOSS OF JOBS AND ISOLATION WE ARE IN A PARTIAL LOCKDOWN AND WE ARE NOT ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.

>> NOW THIS ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS, A FREE LITTLE LIBRARY OF MENTAL HEALTH BOOKS.

ONE OF THE GOALS IS TO REDUCE THE STIGMA OF MENTAL HEALTH THAT EXISTS IN THE LATINX COMMUNITY.

>> WE WANT TO DEFY THAT CULTURAL STIGMA ESPECIALLY IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY WHERE IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH YOU ARE CONSIDERED CRAZY.

YOU ARE NOT SANE.

AND ESPECIALLY AFTER MY BROTHER PASSED AWAY I HEARD THINGS LIKE THAT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID WAS HE CRAZY AND THINGS LIKE THAT?

AND THAT IS DANGEROUS.

IT'S DANGEROUS TO STIGMATIZE PEOPLE.

IT KEEPS THEM FROM GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED.

>> AND WE VISITED THIS AREA GAGE PARK BRIGHTON PARK AND COMMUNITY LEADERS THEN TOLD US THE RESIDENTS WERE BARELY HANGING ON.

FAST FORWARD NINE MONTHS IT'S THE SAME SITUATION BUFFERED BY THE MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS AND FORECLOSES.

NOW, THE HEAD OF THE LOCAL UNITED CREDIT UNION TELLS US THE LIFTING OF THAT MORATORIUM WILL KA CAUSE A CASCADE OF PROBLEMS FOR A LOST HIS CLIENTS WHO HAVE EATEN THROUGH MUCH OF THEIR SAVINGS.

>> DEVASTATING.

IF IT LOOKED BAD BEFORE, IT'S GOING TO CREATE HAVOC GOING FORWARD.

EVERYONE IS PUTTING STASHING MONEY AWAY IN CHECKING AND SAVINGS AND DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS FOR A RAINY DAY AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT THOSE FUNDS BE DEPLETED THAT TELLS ME THEY ARE TAPPING INTO THOSE RESERVES INTO THE SAVINGS.

>> A LOT OF CONCERNS THERE.

AND RESTAURANTS HERE LIKE ANYWHERE ELSE ARE AMONG THE BUSINESSES HARDEST HIT.

THERE'S ONE THAT WE VISITED TODAY, PEKE'S POZOLE, AND THE PROBLEMS SEND TO EMPLOYEES SHE IS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND WORKED THERE FOR THREE YEARS AND IS LUCKY TO HAVE KEPT HER JOB BUT THE HOURS HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED AND THE PROBLEM WITH NO CUSTOMERS IS NO MORE TIPS AND PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE HOW MUCH OF HER INCOME IS BASED ON THAT AND SHE HAS TO RETHINK HER COLLEGE PLANS AS A RESULT?

>> IT'S LIKE DEFINITELY GAVE ME SOME ANXIETY WHETHER I WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO GO THIS YEAR HOW TO TAKE A GAP YEAR BECAUSE OF IT OR HOW TO START LOOKING AT OTHER LIKE SCHOLARSHIPS TO APPLY TO EVEN MORE.

AND I USED TO HELP A LOT AROUND THE HOUSE WITH BILLS AND STUFF TO HELP MY PARENTS SINCE MY DAD IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS A JOB AND BECAUSE OF THIS, HIS BUSINESS HAS SLOWED DOWN.

IT'S BEEN IMPACTING OUR FAMILY GREATLY.

>> OBVIOUSLY THE PROSPECTS FOR A PARTIAL RETURN TO INDOOR DINING GOOD NEWS FOR THAT RESTAURANT AND ALL RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE CITY.

AND WE WILL BE BACK WITH MORE FROM ARCHER HEIGHTS IN JUST A BIT.

BRANDIS, WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT, THE BATTLE OVER BRINGING BIG DISTRIBUTION CENTERS FROM COMPANIES LIKE AMAZON TO CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS.

STICK AROUND.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE PREVENTS STRONG COALITION OF BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES FORMING ACROSS THE COMMUNITIES?

>> I WANT US TO AS A NATION TO FIND A WAY TO COME TOGETHER.

>> GO DOWN THE BLOCK, GET IT FROM SOMEONE LOCAL AND KEEP THE MONEY IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> BLACK JOY AND THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IS MAGICAL.

>> AND THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD ON THE PROGRAM INCLUDING WHAT SOME OF ILLINOIS' REPUBLICANS THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE G.O.P.

>> FIRST, CITY OFFICIALS TONIGHT HELD A PUBLIC MEETING GIVING UPDATES ON THE RESPONSE TO THE FAULTY DEMOLITION OF THE CRAWFORD COAL PLANT LAST YEAR AND ON THE STATUS OF THE PROJECT REPLACING THE PLANT A LARGE DISTRIBUTION CENTER SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE SPRING SET TO JOIN LAST MILE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS USED BY AMION AND TARGET FOR ON-LINE ORDERS THAT HAVE BEEN GROWING FAST.

CRITICS ARE SOUNDING AN ALARM ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THESE CENTERS AND THE FACT THAT MANY OF THEM ARE LOCATED IN LOWER INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" NICK BLUMBERG REPORTS.

>> THE PLOT OF LAND IN BRIDGEPORT BETWEEN THE RIVER OF I55 IS THE LATEST SITE SET TO BECOME A LAST MILE DISTRIBUTION CENTER BUILT BY THE DEVELOPER PROLOGIS.

>> WE'VE HEARD IT WILL BE LEASED TO AMAZON.

>> IT IS ON TRACK TO JOIN DOZENS OF AMAZON DISTRIBUTION CENTERS BUILT IN THE CHICAGO AREA AND WAS APPROVED AT A NOVEMBER MEETING OF THE CITY'S PLANNING COMMISSION.

>> DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES INCLUDING THE ONE PROPOSED HERE, ARE CRITICAL FUNCTION IN THE LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN.

>> SOME NEIGHBORS ARE OPPOSED BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL TRUCK TRAFFIC AND BECAUSE OF HOW THE DEAL CAME TOGETHER.

THE DEVELOPER MET WITH THE ALDERMEN AND THE CITY OFFICIALS THE FIRST PUBLIC MEETING WAS NOT FOR A YEAR.

>> THE COMMUNITY WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS WE WERE NOT TOLD THIS WAS COMING IN OR ASKED IF WE WANTED IT OR MITIGATIONS WE WOULD WANT IF IT WAS COMING IN.

>> THE ALDERMAN HAS A DIFFERENT TAKE.

>> I THINK THIS WILL BE A GOOD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND SPECIFICALLY FOR THE 11TH WARD AND BRIDGEPORT COMMUNITY.

WE ARE NOT ALL GOING TO AGREE BUT I THINK WE LISTENED TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE'VE MADE MODIFICATIONS AND CHANGES.

>> CHANGES INCLUDE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, LANDSCAPING ON THE SIDE OF THE LOT NEXT TO HOMES AND A PUBLIC RIVERWALK.

AND THE DEVELOPER SAYS THE GOAL IS FOR ALL THE VEHICLES ON THE SITE TO BE ELECTRIC.

BUT IT IS NOT JUST AIR POLLUTION.

NEIGHBORS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT MORE TRUCK TRAFFIC ON THIS BUSY STRETCH OF HALSTED PUTTING MORE SEMIS IN CONFLICT WITH CYCLISTS USING THE BIKE LANE AND PEDESTRIANS COMING TO AND FROM THE CTA STATION.

>> I MYSELF WAS HIT AT THIS INTERSECTION AT HALSTED AND ARCHER IN 2016 WENT THROUGH 10 MONTHS OF SURGERIES AND PHYSICAL THERAPY.

AND I DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT.

>> TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ADVOCATE LYNDA LOPEZ SAYS THAT IS A WIDESPREAD CONCERN ABOUT DISTRIBUTION CENTERS SHE SEES CONTRADICTIONS IN CITY POLICIES.

>> WE WANT A CITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN ENJOY EXISTING WITHOUT A CAR BUT WE ARE ALSO BRINGING IN SO MUCH MORE TRUCK TRAFFIC WITH THE DISTRIBUTION SITES.

LOPEZ SAYS BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE AND ELECTRIC FLEETS CAN MAKE DISTRIBUTION SAFER AND GREENER.

>> WHY DO WE NEED TO BE ORDERING EVERYTHING ON-LINE AND EXPECT ONE DAY DELIVERY.

WHY CAN'T YOU WAIT THREE DAYS IS THERE SOMETHING IN YOUR COMMUNITY THAT YOU CAN GO TO.

>> DISTRIBUTION CENTERS CAN CREATE JOBS IN PLACES THAT HAVE FACED DISINVESTMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

>> THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW AMAZON DELIVERY STATION RIGHT HERE IN PULLMAN.

TO HELP THEM EXPAND HIRE MORE WORKERS AND SERVE MORE CUSTOMERS.

ALL OF WHICH HELPS OUR RESIDENTS WORK IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO WHEN THEY GET HOME TO THEIR KIDS FASTER AND THEY CAN BE THERE WHEN THEY WAKE UP.

>> BUT CRITICS SAY THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS GOOD JOBS.

AMAZON HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR POOR WORKING CONDITIONS AND MANY POSITIONS ARE LOW WAGE AND PART-TIME.

>> WE SHOULD BE PURSUING DEVELOPMENTS THAT WILL ATTRACT QUALITY EMPLOYMENT AND BUILD WEALTH.

>> THE LITTLE VILLAGE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION FOUGHT A CENTER PLANNED FOR THE CRAW FORD COAL PLANT WHERE THE DEMOLITION BLANKETED THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN DUST.

>> WE ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP AND WE WILL PUT PRESSURE ON THE CITY AND LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS LARGER ISSUE OF THE CONCENTRATION OF THESE FACILITIES IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> WHICH CITY OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGED AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT AREAS WITH POOR AIR QUALITY.

CHICAGO'S PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER SAYS FUTURE SITES WILL NOT ALL BE ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

BUT HE SAYS DISTRIBUTION IS GROWING.

FAST.

>> WE AS CHICAGOANS HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT THIS SECTOR IS A PART OF CHICAGO'S FUTURE ECONOMY.

OUR JOB AS STEWARDS OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST IS TO GET THE BEST PUBLIC BENEFIT OUT OF THESE FACILITIES AND HOLD THEM TO A HIGH STANDARD OF LIVEABILITY.

>> IN THE MEANTIME, OPPONENTS OF THE CENTER HOPE TO PUSHBACK ON THE PERMIT AND MEET WITH THE DEVELOPER ON SAFETY ISSUES AND HE HOPES LEADERS THINK BIGGER.

>> CHICAGO AS A MAJOR CITY NATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY CAN BE A MODEL FOR HOW OTHER CITIES TRANSITION AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS.

THE QUESTION IS WILL OUR POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC LEADERS ALLOW US TO DO THAT?

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M NICK BLUMBERG.

>> AND THE CHICAGO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE NETWORK IS PLANNING TO HOLD A TOWN HALL TO DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF DISTRIBUTION AND LOGISTIC FACILITIES AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSED THE ISSUE TODAY.

IT'S LAUNCHING A STUDY OF SOUTHWEST SIDE INDUSTRIAL AREAS EARLY THIS YEAR.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... A HISTORIC CHANGE.

WE TALK WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE AARON ORTIZ ABOUT WHAT IS TO COME UNDER CHRIS WELCH.

PART OF OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

>> THE MOB WAS FED LIES.

THEY WERE PROVOKED BY THE PRESIDENT.

>> WHAT IS IN STORE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

AND HOW THE MENTORS IN THE BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS CHICAGO PROGRAM ARE KEEPING THEIR CONNECTIONS WITH KIDS ALIVE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

>> BUT FIRST, MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ADVOCATES ARE CELEBRATING THE CREATION OF AN IMMIGRATION UNIT IN THE COOK COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE AS PUBLIC DEFENDER AMY CAMPANELLI IS AMOK COUNTERPARTS CALLING ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO ADOPT A 10-POINT PLAN FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM.

>> ONE OF THE MOST CRUCIAL THINGS IS THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL.

IT IS REALLY HORRIFIC WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS DAY AND AGE THAT YOU CAN BE DETAINED, YOUR LIBERTY CAN BE TAKEN.

YOU CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE COUNTRY, ALL WITHOUT THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL.

YOU MAY NOT SPEAK THE LANGUAGE.

YOU ARE ON A VIDEO SCREEN IN IMMIGRATION COURT.

THERE IS A PROSECUTOR THERE.

THERE IS A JUDGE BUT NOBODY TO REPRESENT YOU.

>> A 2010 RULING RULED PUBLIC DEFENDERS MUST GIVE ADEQUATE ADVICE TO NONCITIZEN DEFENDANTS REGARDING THE RISK OF DEPORTATION.

COOK COUNTY VOTED TO FUND A UNIT IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE.

>> THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT'S TRYING TO CRACKDOWN ON THE RASH OF CARJACKINGS.

C.P.D.

SAYS IN THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF THE NEW YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN 150 CARJACKINGS IN THE CITY.

IN ALL OF 2020 THERE WERE MORE THAN 1400.

>> MOTIVES INCLUDE JOYRIDING, AND TO FACILITATE ANONYMITY WHILE COMMITTING OTHER CRIMES TO INCLUDE ROBBERY AND SHOOTINGS.

OUR PLAN INVOLVES A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.

>> THAT NEW APPROACH INCLUDES ADDITIONAL STAFFING FOR THE DETECTIVES DIVISION AND EXPANDING THE CARJACKING TASK FORCE THIS IS VIDEO THAT POLICE RELEASED OF A CARJACKING THAT HAPPENED WEDNESDAY.

MOST OF THE SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15-20.

BUT SOME YOUNGER.

AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN CITES CIVIL UNREST AND THE PARTIAL SHUTDOWNS OF SCHOOLS AND COURTS AS CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE INCREASE.

AND NOW PHIL PONCE WITH A LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP MAY BE OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE BUT HIS IMPRINT ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS NOT FADED.

A NBC POLL FOUND THAT 87% OF REPUBLICANS STILL SUPPORTED TRUMP AS HE LEFT OFFICE.

THIS AS SOME PARTY LEADERS LIKE SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL SOUGHT TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM HIM.

>> THE MOB WAS FED LIES.

THEY WERE PROVOKED BY THE PRESIDENT AND OTHER POWERFUL PEOPLE.

AND THEY TRIED TO USE FEAR AND VIOLENCE TO STOP A SPECIFIC PROCEEDING OF THE FIRST BRANCH OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHICH THEY DID NOT LIKE.

>> JOINING US WITH MORE ON THE FUTURE OF THE G.O.P.

NATIONALLY AND IN ILLINOIS WITH PAT BRADY FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY.

JOE WALSH A FORMER TEA PARTY REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND FIERCE CRITIC OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AND KENT GRAY DIRECTOR OF THE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 2016 CAMPAIGN HERE IN ILLINOIS.

GENTLEMEN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

FIRST, THERE WAS A COLUMN IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES" TODAY THAT ARGUED THAT THERE ARE NOW THREE TYPES OF REPUBLICANS.

THE NEVER TRUMPERS WHO REFUSED TO SUPPORT PRESIDENT TRUMP FROM THE START.

THE NEW RHINO'S OR REPUBLICANS IN NAME ONLY.

LONG TIME TRUMP SUPPORTERS BUT REFUSED HIS CALLS TO SUPPORT OVERTURNING THE ELECTION AND TRUMP REPUBLICANS HIS DIEHARD LOYAL FOLLOWERS INCLUDING THOSE WHO ATTACKED THE CAPITOL TWO WEEKS AGO.

KENT GRAY IS THIS AN ACCURATE BREAKDOWN WHERE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY STANDS NOW?

>> I MEAN THAT IS A BREAKDOWN BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.

TRADITIONAL THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS CONSERVATIVE ACTIVISTS, RELIGIOUS CONSERVATIVES.

BUSINESS TYPES, NATIONAL SECURITY TYPES AND FISCAL CONSERVATIVES.

SOME OF THAT COALITION HAS FRAYED DURING DONALD TRUMP ESPECIALLY WITH NATIONAL SECURITY AND SOME OF THE CHOICES THAT HE MADE AND ESPECIALLY FISCAL CONSERVATISM WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT HAS BEEN SPENT.

YOU HAVE A FRAYED REPUBLICAN PARTY BUT THERE'S NOT THREE POTS THAT ARE EQUAL LIKE "THE NEW YORK TIMES" THINKS THERE IS.

>> JOE WALSH HOW ABOUT IT, TO WHAT EXTENT ARE REPUBLICANS WEDDED TO PRESIDENT TRUMP?

>> I THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS SCREWED.

I THINK IT'S FRACTURED AND I THINK THE FRACTURE IS PERMANENT.

LOOK, THE PARTY HAS EMBRACED SOMEONE THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE COUNTRY DESPISES.

AND THE PROBLEM FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS THAT A VERY LARGE CHUNK OF THE REPUBLICAN VOTERS IS DEVOTED TO THIS PRESIDENT.

IF THEY IMPEACH OR CONVICT HIM REMOVE HIM AND DISQUALIFY DONALD TRUMP FROM EVER RUNNING FOR OFFICE AGAIN, 40% OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY VOTERS WILL WALK AND NEVER VOTE REPUBLICAN.

I THINK THE PARTY HAS PERMANENTLY FRACTURED.

>> PAT BRADY HOW ABOUT, A PERMANENT FRACTURE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

>> I DON'T AGREE.

MOST CULT LEADERS FADE AWAY.

THE KARDASHIANS GOT CANCELED AFTER A WHILE.

BUT IN ILLINOIS WE NEED TO DISASSOCIATE FOR THE COMMON SENSE REASON HE RAN TWICE IN THE STATE AND LOST BOTH TIMES.

LET'S BE PRACTICAL ABOUT THIS.

DONALD TRUMP IS EXTREMELY UNPOPULAR IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS ON AN AGGREGATE LEVEL AND WE NEED TO RECRUIT CANDIDATES WHO CAN BRING FORTH THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF OUR PARTY.

AS WE DID IN THE LAST ELECTION WE DID WELL IN ILLINOIS PARTICULARLY IN THE HOUSE WHERE MICHAEL MADIGAN HAD 10-1 MONEY ADVANTAGE AND PICKED UP ONE SEAT.

WE NEED TO PICK UP MORE CANDIDATES AND GET BACK TO THE CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES AND FORGET ABOUT TRUMP HE IS NOT RELEVANT ANYMORE.

>> KENT GRAY MANY PEOPLE WOULD ARGUE THAT THE PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO BE RELEVANT.

TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU THINK MODERATES HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, IN ILLINOIS THEY HAVE A HUGE INFLUENCE ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THEY ARE TWO-THIRDS OF THE LINEUP AND A PART WHAT RUNS THE ILLINOIS PARTY.

BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF VOTES THAT ACCRUED TO DONALD TRUMP IN 2020, 10 MILLION INCREASE OVER FOUR YEARS AGO, MEANS THAT THERE ARE VOTERS THAT WILL VOTE REPUBLICAN.

WE WILL HAVE TO GET PAST THE HORRIBLE CAPITOL SCENE BUT KEEP IN MIND DEMOCRATS GENERALLY LEFT TO THEIR OWN DEVICES WILL DO THINGS TO PUSH PEOPLE BACK TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ON THEIR OWN.

AND ILLINOIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE NATION.

BUT DONALD TRUMP WILL PLAY A BIG ROLE IN THE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS IN 22 AND THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE IN 24.

I DON'T KNOW THAT HE RUNS AGAIN BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN'T HE IS A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON IF NOT GET THE ENDORSEMENT OF, NOT GET IN THE WAY OF.

>> JOE WALSH AS FAR AS THE ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL COUPLE WEEKS AGO TO WHAT EXTENT OR HOW LONG MIGHT THAT BE A STAIN ON THE G.O.P.

PARTY?

>> I THINK IT IS A PERMANENT STAIN, PHIL.

I MEAN THINK ABOUT T WE'RE TWO WEEKS REMOVED FROM IT, BUT THERE WAS AN INSURRECTION.

THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO PHYSICALLY OVERTHROW AN ELECTION CAUSED BY THIS PRESIDENT WHO INCITED THAT INSURRECTION BECAUSE HE LIED AND LIED ABOUT A STOLEN ELECTION FOR MONTHS.

HERE IS THE PROBLEM, THOUGH, PHIL.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTERS BELIEVED THAT LIE.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS BELIEVED THAT LIE.

DONALD TRUMP LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE WITH HIS LIE AND THAT LIE IS GOING TO HAUNT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY I THINK FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

>> PAT BRADY TO HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS THE LEVEL OF ANGER TOWARDS REPUBLICANS WHO BROKE WITH TRUMP TOWARDS THE END?

NOT JUST THE 10 WHO VOTED TO IMPEACH HIM BUT MORE MODERATE REPUBLICANS?

>> THERE'S ANGER IN THE TRUMP WORLD THE TRUMP CULT THAT THINK THE PEOPLE WHO STOOD UP AND SAID THE GUY NEEDS TO BE IMPEACHED AND THEY WILL CATCH HEAT FOR IT.

BUT THE REALITY IS, WE NEED TO DISASSOCIATE OURSELVES FROM THIS OR WE WILL NOT WIN AGAIN.

HERE IN ILLINOIS HE IS TOXIC AND NATIONALLY HE IS TOXIC BUT I THINK WE CAN DO THAT AND HIS BEHAVIOR FROM THE TIME OF THE ELECTION, JUST THE NATURE OF IT AND WHAT HE DID IN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS IT SHOULD BE EASY FOR US TO DISASSOCIATE FROM HIM AND WE HAVE TO OR WE'RE NEVER GOING TO SUCCEED.

>> KENT GRAY THERE'S BEEN TALK OF PRESIDENT TRUMP FORMING HIS OWN POLITICAL PARTY.

DO YOU SEE THAT AS SOMETHING THAT IS POSSIBLE OR CONCEIVABLE?

>> NO.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

YOU KNOW DONALD TRUMP GOD LOVE HIM, BUT HE NEVER FIGURED OUT THAT POLITICS WAS A GAME OF ADDITION AND DID NOT INVOLVE SUBTRACTION.

HE FOUGHT TOO MANY FIGHTS WITH TOO MANY PEOPLE OVER TOO MANY TIME.

THE REPUBLICAN WE'RE DOWN A LITTLE BIT LIKE AFTER PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS INAUGURATED.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WILL BE RECEPTIVE TO THE MESSAGE AS LONG AS DONALD TRUMP IS NOT SITTING AROUND CAUSING MISCHIEF IN THE PARTY WHICH HE MAY WELL DO HE HAS THAT ABILITY.

BUT I THINK THAT MOVING FORWARD WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES SOME OF THE STATES WE LOST THIS TIME WERE BY NARROW MARGINS BECAUSE OF TRUMP'S UNPOPULARITY ESPECIALLY ARIZONA BECAUSE OF FORMER McCAIN STAFFERS MADE UP THAT DIFFERENCE.

THAT IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

AND THERE IS A DEFINITE WAY TO MOVE FORWARD AND BE SUCCESSFUL.

DEFINITELY IN ILLINOIS AND NATIONALLY.

>> PAT BRADY BACK TO ONE OF THE POINTS YOU WERE MAKING ABOUT THE STATE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN ILLINOIS, AGAIN, YOU WERE ARGUING THAT THINGS ARE NOT AS BAD AS PEOPLE MIGHT THINK.

A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT?

>> LOOK AT THE SUCCESSES THAT THE ILLINOIS HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAD AGAIN SPEAKER MADIGAN HAD 10-1 MONEY ADVANTAGE AND BEFORE THE ELECTION THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT A BLUE WAVE AND THEY WERE GOING TO PICK UP EIGHT OR NINE SEATS.

THE REPUBLICANS HAD A NET GAIN AGAINST ONE AND THAT IS AGAINST A POWERFUL DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION.

THERE IS AN APPETITE FOR THE REPUBLICAN MESSAGE WE NEED TO RECRUIT BETTER CANDIDATES.

WE NEED TO RUN NEW AND FRESH FACES AND TALK ABOUT THE IDEAS WE BELIEVE IN.

I THINK WE NEED TO DO AS REPUBLICANS QUIT FOCUSING ON OURSELVES AND FOCUS ON WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE DOING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND HERE IN ILLINOIS.

KENT TOUCHED ON IT THEY WILL DO THINGS THAT A LOT PEOPLE DON'T LIKE.

WE ARE OVERTAXED AND WE HAVE A CRIME PROBLEM AND DEFICIT, UNFUNDED PENSION.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE GOOD IDEAS HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS.

AND I THINK ONCE WE RECRUIT THE RIGHT CANDIDATES WE WILL DO WELL.

>> GENTLEMEN THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANK YOU TO PAT BRADY KENT GRAY AND JOE WALSH THANK YOU.

AND NOW BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> AND NOW WE GO BACK TO PARIS FOR THE NEXT STOP ON OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES HE SPENT THE DAY IN ARCHER HEIGHTS ON CHICAGO'S SOUTHWEST SIDE.

>> EARLIER TODAY I SPOKE WITH THE FOUNDER AND THE C.E.O.

NONPROFIT SOUTHWEST COLLECTIVE JAIME GROTH SEARLE AND I SPOKE WITH HERE IN THE AREA AND I ASKED HER IF COVID RELENTED SINCE WE LAST TALKED?

>> IT HASN'T LET UP.

IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WE'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DHP THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THEY TOLD US THE ZIP CODES THAT COMPRISE THIS AREA 60632, 29 AND 38, HAVE SEEN A DOUBLE-DIGIT INCREASE.

AS RECENTLY AS OCTOBER IT'S SPIKED QUITE A BIT.

AND SO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR MOST OF THE FALL AND THE WINTER IS WORKING WITH PARTNERS AT THE DPH AND CORE TO BRING MORE STATIC HELLO OWE TESTING SITES HERE.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WE HAD WAS A LACK OF CONSISTENT PLACES TO GET TESTED.

SO PEOPLE WERE SKIPPING IT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND A PLACE AND THEY HAD TO GET TO WORK OR SKIPPING IT BECAUSE THEY FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO NEED INSURANCE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT WORKING AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY IT WASN'T HAPPENING AND WE WERE SEEING A SPIKE AND THIS ATTITUDE OF OH, PEOPLE ARE GATHERING AND WHILE THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE IN SOME AREAS, THE GENERAL WAY IT'S HAPPENING HERE IS FOLKS ARE ESSENTIAL AND LIVING IN MULTIFAMILY UNITS AND SO THEIR BUBBLES ARE BIGGER JUST BY THE NATURE OF THEIR WORK AND HOW THEY ARE LIVING.

>> WE TALKED ALSO EARLIER WHEN WE SPOKE WITH YOU IN THE SUMMER ABOUT THE ECONOMIC SITUATION AND PEOPLE HAD ALMOST NOTHING LEFT THEY DID NOT HAVE SAVINGS HOW IS THAT SITUATION NOW?

>> THAT IS WORSE.

WHICH I IMAGINE EVERYBODY GUESSED THAT THAT IS HOW IT WAS GOING TO GO.

OVER THE SUMMER WE WERE FEEDING PEOPLE HERE AT THE CREDIT UNION THEY HAVE A PARKING LOT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE WOULD WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS AND THEY WOULD GIVE US FOOD BOXES YOU ARE TALKING 250 BOXES WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE OVERRAJS.

WE HAD PEOPLE LINED UP FOR AN HOUR AND PEOPLE WALKING AWAY BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO GIVE.

AND THAT IS STILL THE CASE WE GET MESSAGES ON THE WEEKLY ABOUT DO YOU HAVE FOOD DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN GET FOOD.

WE ARE A SIGNING PEOPLE UP FOR SNAP BUT THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN IS EXHAUSTED.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE VACCINE?

WE HAVE SEEN LEADERS TALK ABOUT THE NEED TO HAVE AN EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION HAS THE VACCINE MADE ITS WAY INTO THE SOUTHWEST SIDE?

>> WELL, I HAVE NOT SEEN A LOT OF IT.

I'VE SEEN A FEW PEOPLE AT THE HEALTHCARE FACILITIES GET TESTED WHICH IS GREAT.

IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AN EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION THAT WILL BE HARD TO DO BY NATURE HOW THE CITY HAS BEEN DESIGNED OVER THE YEARS.

LET'S CALL IT WHAT IT IS IT'S THE MOST SEGREGATED CITY IN THE NATION.

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR IS DECENT HEALTHCARE.

IF NOT FOR MERCY WE WOULD HAVE NO HOSPITALS.

ON THE BRINK OF CLOSING.

>> IT WAS IN DANGER OF CLOSING LAST YEAR AND WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE STRAIN IT WAS GOING TO PUT.

THIS IS A BOOMING AREA.

THERE ARE PEOPLE MOVING HERE EVERYDAY WITH FAMILIES YOUNG FAMILIES.

AND THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH HEALTHCARE RESOURCES HERE.

DOWNTOWN THERE IS A HOSPITAL EVERY OTHER BLOCK.

UP NORTH THERE ARE [INAUDIBLE] NORTHWESTERN.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE THAT HERE.

THAT SYSTEM DOES NOT REACH THE SOUTHWEST SIDE AT ALL.

AND IT IS A MAJOR ISSUE.

>> A SNAPSHOT OF THE PROBLEMS EXACERBATED IN ARCHER HEIGHTS BY COVID-19 AND THE SHUTDOWN.

AND WHEN WE COME BACK POLITICS.

WE'LL TALK WITH THE LOCAL STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHO IS NOW ASCENDED TO A HIGH ROLE IN LEADERSHIP IN SPRINGFIELD.

DON'T MISS THAT.

>> SEE YOU IN A BIT THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, WHY BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS CHICAGO WANTS MORE BLACK AND LATINX MEMBERS FOR THE KIDS THEY SERVE.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER...

THE BIG BROTHERS BUSIESTERS MENTORING ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN IN CHICAGO FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

OVER THE FIVE DECADES THE NEED FOR ADULT VOLUNTEER MENTORS WHAT THEY CALL BIGS HAS ONLY GROWN THEY ARE LOOKING FOR MORE BIGS FROM THE BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES TO MAKE CULTURAL CONNECTIONS THAT HELP KIDS ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

WTTW NEWS DIRECTOR AND HOST OF "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" HAS THE STORY.

>> OMARI RASHEED AND JORDAN BOND ARE NOT RELATED BUT THEY ARE BROTHERS.

THEY WERE MATCHED EIGHT YEARS AGO WHEN RASHEED WAS IN FIFTH GRADE.

>> FROM THE JUMP HE WAS REALLY GREAT MANNERED GUY.

CONFIDENT.

GREAT PERSONALITY.

SMART AND WILLING TO WORK HARD.

HE WAS AWESOME FROM THE BEGINNING.

>> THROUGH THE YEARS, RASHEED AND BOND HAVE DONE ALL THE BIG AND LITTLE THINGS BROTHERS DO.

>> I REMEMBER ONE OF OUR FIRST OUTTINGS THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

>> WE DID AN 8K OR 10K.

>> THE HARDEST RUN IN MY LIFE.

SLEDDING WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

BASKETBALL.

>> WE'VE PLAYED A LOT OF PLACES.

>> C.E.O.

OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS CHICAGO JEREMY FOSTER SAYS HIS ORGANIZATION IS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR MORE BLACK MEN AND WOMEN TO BE BIGS.

>> WE YOU HAD HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO SEE SOMEBODY WHO LOOKS LIKE YOU IN EVERYDAY LIFE.

HAVING SUCCESS AND GROWING UP IN A SIMILAR ENVIRONMENT.

>> FOSTER SAYS THEY ARE HOPING TO RECRUIT MORE SPANISH SPEAKING BIGS TO BETTER SERVE THE KIDS.

>> WE ARE RECRUITING MORE CHILDREN FROM LATINX FAMILIES.

AND BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE STAFF THAT ARE BILINGUAL IT'S IMPORTANT LIKE WITH AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN THAT WE HAVE REPRESENTATION WITHIN OUR LATINO COMMUNITIES.

>> WHAT IS SOMETHING FROM 2020 AT THAT TIME YOU THINK YOU WANT TO KEEP DOING?

>> BIG SISTER DENISE GONZALEZ AND LITTLE SISTER ITZEL RIVERA WERE MATCHED THROUGH A PROGRAM IN WHICH BIGS AND LITTLES MEET IN GROUPS.

>> EVERY TWO WEEKS, COMING TO THE OFFICES, AND WE WERE HOSTING OUR SESSIONS THERE.

WE DEFINITELY HIT IT ALL WELL AND WE WERE LUCKY AND JUST MADE AN EFFORT TO KEEP IT GOING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE'RE STILL TALKING THE SAME AMOUNT.

NOTHING HAS CHANGED 0 OTHER THAN BEING ON ZOOM.

>> WE LOVE PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER OR REDECORATING OUR ROOMS.

WE LOVE OUR ANIMALS OR WHAT ANIMALS WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IF WE LIVED ON A FARM OR A BIGGER HOUSE.

>> I ACTUALLY TO CONNECT WITH SOMEONE AND NOT JUST MY AGE BUT OLDER AND SEE THEIR DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND ACTUALLY TAKE IN SO MUCH MORE THAN I WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE FROM MY VIEW OF THE WORLD.

>> AT 12 YEARS OLD, ITZEL RIVERA HAS A FEW YEARS TO GO BEFORE SHE HAS AGED OUT OF THE PROGRAM.

BUT OMARI RASHEED IS NOT SO LITTLE HE JUST TURNED 18 AND IS PREPARING TO HEAD OFF TO COLLEGE IN THE FALL.

>> JORDAN WAS ONE OF MY RECOMMENDERS,MY RECOMMENDATION LETTER.

I APPLIED TO SEVEN COLLEGES AND I GOT INTO ALL SEVEN.

MY TOP THREE -- >> ALL SEVEN.

>> HE GOT INTO ALL SEVEN.

>> I WILL CONTACT HIM WHEN I GO TO COLLEGE AND IT WILL BE THE SAME.

>> AGREED.

THE SKY'S THE LIMIT.

NO MATTER THE DISTANCE, NO MATTER THE TIME, FAMILY IS FAMILY.

SO.

>> HE KNOWS I HAVE HIS BACK.

THROUGHOUT EVERYTHING.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT", I'M HUGO BALTA.

>> AND YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS ON OUR WEBSITE AND WE'LL SPEND MORE TIME IN OUR WEEKEND SHOWS AHEAD.

AND BACK TO PARIS WHO IS IN CHICAGO'S ARCHER HEIGHTS COMMUNITY AS PART OF OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

PARIS?

>> BRANDIS, EARLIER TODAY WE SPOKE WITH THE LOCAL STATE REPRESENTATIVE HERE AARON ORTIZ AND THE NEWS CAME OUT HE IS PART OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM OF THE NEW STATE HOUSE SPEAKER CHRIS WELCH.

SO I BEGAN BY ASKING REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ WHAT CHANGES WOULD BE USHERED IN AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF REIGN OF MICHALE BARZ?

>> I APPLAUD SPEAKER WEALTH FOR ADDING MORE DIVERSITY TO HIS LEADERSHIP AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE EXPECTED LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES BY CREATING CAUCUS WHIP POSITIONS IN WHICH NEWER MEMBERS A DIVERSE SET OF MEMBERS ARE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM LEADERS IN MEMBERSHIP AND I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE A WHIP FOR THE LEADERSHIP.

>> WILL THIS BE A LESS THAN A TOP DOWN APPROACH THAN UNDER MICHAEL MADIGAN?

IF HE DECIDED LEGISLATION WENT IT WENT.

AND IF HE DIDN'T WANT IT TO GO IT DID DIDN'T GO.

WILL THIS BE DIFFERENT?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE LEARNED IS THE PROCESS IT'S TAKEN TO PASS ANY PIECE OF LEGISLATION IT HASSING TO THROUGH MULTIPLE ADVOCACY GROUPS.

I'VE LEARNED IT'S A LOT OF WORK TO GET A PIECE OF LEGISLATION DONE.

SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN IDEA HOW THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION SHOULD WORK.

BUT I DO THINK THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MORE OF A DIVERSE COLLABORATIVE APPROACH AND TAKE ON MANY OF THE ISSUES.

>> AND SPEAKING OF LEGISLATION, THE BIG WAS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM BILL.

ENDING CASH BAIL FOR THE MOST PART.

CRITICS SAY IT'S SO BIG AND PEOPLE DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO DIGEST EVERYTHING IN IT.

DO YOU THINK THAT IT WAS A POSITIVE PIECE OF LEGISLATION?

>> I THINK IT WAS ONE OF THE POSITIVE PIECES OF LEGISLATIONS WE WORKED ON.

I THINK THIS IS A BIG LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IN WHICH MANY PIECES OF BILLS HAVE BEEN WORKED ON FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

AND FORTUNATELY, THE BLACK CAUCUS HAD ENOUGH FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO PUSH THIS THROUGH.

I THINK IT IS A HISTORIC MOMENT.

IT WAS THE RIGHT MOMENT.

THE BLACK CAUCUS COULD HAVE TRIED DOING THIS IN JULY AND JUNE BUT THEY WORKED WITH THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS MEMBERS TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTIONS AND THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES OF THEM.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, I WANT TO ADDRESS THERE IS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE.

LEGISLATORS HAVE HAD ZOOM CALLS WITH CAUCUS AND SUBJECT HEARINGS WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON THIS LEGISLATION FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS WORKING ON MANY OF THESE ISSUES AS WELL.

I'M HAPPY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUSH THIS THROUGH AND I USED TO WORK WITH A LOT OF STUDENTS A LOT OF YOUTH.

I THINK OF THE YOUTH THAT I USED TO WORK WITH IN PARTICULAR THE BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH THAT I WORKED WITH.

AND HOW THOSE PIECES OF LEGISLATION WILL HELP THEM.

>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT COVID.

SINCE THE VACCINATION PROGRAM HAS HAD STUMBLES THERE'S BEEN A LACK OF COORDINATION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

WE KNOW THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS STRUGGLED WITH COVID.

HOW DO YOU IMPROVE THE VACCINATION RATE AND ESPECIALLY GET IT HERE TO THE SOUTHWEST SIDE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION THAT YOU BRING UP AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS TO ACKNOWLEDGE IS THE LACK OF TRUST MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE.

I'VE SEEN A INCREASE IN MORE PEOPLE GETTING TESTED AND ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT WORKED I THINK PARTNERING UP WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE THAT TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY.

ALSO GETTING A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THE WORK.

THERE IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE CALLED PROMOTERS IN WHICH THEY ARE GOING INTO THE LAUNDROMATS AND THE DIFFERENT STORES AND TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING TESTED, SOCIAL DISTANCING, BUT GETTING THE VACCINATION.

>> THAT'S OUR CHAT WITH FIRST DISTRICT STATE REPRESENTATIVE AARON ORTIZ.

AND BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TONIGHT IT'S NOT THE TRAIN IT'S ENGINES IT SOUNDS LIKE.

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING SIGN.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

>> YOU CAN GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

>> AND DON'T FORGET TO JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW".

>> AND NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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