IT WAS INDUSTRY FEEL ABOUT THAT MOVE.

>> WE AND OTHER CITIES AROUND THE WORLD FOUND OUT THE PANDEMIC HAS PLAYED HAVOC WITH OUR ECOSYSTEMS >> HOW BUSINESSES ARE HANGING ON IN THE CHICAGO LOOP AFTER THE SUMMER'S CIVIL UNREST AND 10 MONTHS OF COVID SHUTDOWNS.

>> I WILL NOT BE THE LAST.

>> BREAKING BARRIERS.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS HOLDING THE SECOND HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE NATION AND WHAT CHALLENGES MAY LIE AHEAD.

>> AND THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE"'S FORMER ARCHITECTURE RESTAURANT AND MUSIC CRITICS TALK ABOUT THEIR STORIED CAREERS AND THE FUTURE OF JOURNALISM.

BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TELLS PARENTS TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN HOME TOMORROW AS TALKS WITH THE TEACHERS' UNION OVER IN-PERSON LEARNING REACH AN IMPASSE.

RESCHOOL AND SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS WERE GIVEN THE OPTION TO RETURN THIS MONTH WITH K-8 SET TO RETURN NEXT WEEK.

TODAY THE UNION TOLD ALL MEMBERS TO WORK REMOTELY STARTING TOMORROW EVEN THOSE WHO HAD BEEN WORKING IN SCHOOLS THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND TOLD THEM TO PREPARE FOR A POSSIBLE STRIKE ON THURSDAY.

IN A STATEMENT, C.T.U.

PRESIDENT JESSE SHARKEY SAYS WE ARE WILLING TO KEEP TEACHING BUT C.P.S.

SAID THEY WILL LOCK US OUT.

WE NEED A MEDIATOR TO INTERVENE AND PUT A SAFE REOPENING BACK ON TRACK.

AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND SCHOOL C.O.O.

JANICE JACKSON TOUTED THE DISTRICT'S SAFETY EFFORTS AND SAY THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE UNION FOR MONTHS.

>> C.P.S.

HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS GOOD FAITH BY SINCE JUNE MEETING WITH THE C.T.U.

LEADERSHIP OVER 60 TIMES.

AND IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS VIRTUALLY EVERYDAY INCLUDING WEEKENDS.

MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE CDC AND CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES I'M DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED AFTER ALL THIS TIME, ALL THE SESSIONS, ALL THE WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR C.P.S.

SCHOOLS AND BUILDINGS ARE SAFE, NO AGREEMENT HAS YET BEEN REACHED.

>> AND SNOWFALL IS FINALLY LETTING NEWSPAPER PARTS OF THE CHICAGO AREA FARTHER FROM THE LAKE.

AS OF THIS AFTERNOON, SNOWFALL AS HIGH AS SEVEN INCHES WAS RECORDED IN SUBURBS.

LAKE-EFFECT SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THIS EVENING AND INTO TOMORROW AND WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THE IMPACT OF THE YEAR'S FIRST MAJOR SNOWSTORM IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> ILLINOIS REGULATORS REJECT A BID BY THE OWNERS OF MERCY HOSPITAL TO OPEN AN OUTPATIENT CENTER ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

LAST MONTH, REGULATORS SHOT DOWN A PLAN BY THE OWNER OF THE BRONZEVILLE HOSPITAL TO CLOSE MERCY.

CRITICS ARGUED IT'S ONE OF THE SOUTH SIDE'S BUSIEST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AND TREATS UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.

IN A 3-2 VOTE, THE STATE BOARD THAT OVERSEES HEALTHCARE PROJECTS TURNED DOWN A REQUEST TO OPEN AN OUTPATIENT CENTER TWO MILES FROM THE SITE WHICH WAS INTENDED.

THE PROPOSAL TO SHUTDOWN THE HOSPITAL WILL BE UP FOR CONSIDERATION AGAIN IN MARCH.

>> AND ILLINOIS HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT ANOTHER 3600 CASES OF CORONAVIRUS AND 87 DEATHS SINCE YESTERDAY.

THE STATE'S TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES STANDS AT 1.1 MILLION WITH 18,883 LIVES LOST.

300 VEHICLES HAVE BEEN PLOWING AND SALTING CHICAGO ROADS MAKING THE ARTERIES DRIVABLE.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US TO EXPLAIN SOME OF THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE STORM AND WHY IT'S PRESENTING A CHALLENGE FOR SOME OF THE CITY'S MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.

AMANDA?

>> BRANDIS AS ILLINOIS' OFFICIAL CLIMATOLOGIST IT IS TRENT FORD'S JOB TO FOLLOW STORMS LIKE THIS AND TO STUDY HOW WEATHER PATTERNS MATCHUP WITH YEARS PAST.

AND HE BY THE WAY TEACHES CLASSES ON CLIMATE SCIENCE AND WHAT WE SAW OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS WAS A TEXTBOOK EXAMPLE OF THE RANGE OF PRECIPITATION TYPES THAT CAN COME FROM LARGE WINTER WEATHER SYSTEMS.

>> DEPENDING WHERE YOU ARE, WHERE THE LOW PRESSURE CENTER IS OF THE SYSTEM WHERE IT PASSES THROUGH AND WHERE THE WARM AIR COMING UP AND THE COLD AIR MEET TOGETHER.

>> SO WHILE THE CHICAGO AREA GOT FOUR TO SEVEN INCHES OF SNOW... >> WHEN YOU GO DOWN SOUTH TOWARDS CHAMPAGNE WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF SNOW A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN AND A DECENT AMOUNT OF ICE WHICH FORMS FROM FREEZING RAIN.

THE LIQUID PRECIPITATION HITS THE SURFACE AND FREEZES IMMEDIATELY.

AND FURTHER DOWN SOUTH OF SPRINGFIELD, AND I70, WE IT WAS MOSTLY RAINFALL.

>> GO FURTHER SOUTH AND YOU HAVE LAST NIGHT'S TORNADO IN ALABAMA.

WHAT IS NOT TEXTBOOK IT'S NOT PRETTY LATE ABOUT TWO TO FOUR WEEKS BEHIND FOR NORTHERN ILLINOIS TO SEE ITS FIRST MAJOR SNOWFALL THAT STICKS.

HE SAYS MOST OF THE STATE WENT INTO THE STORM BEHIND FOR OVERALL LEVELS OF SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON.

EVEN WITH WHAT IS ON THE GROUND NOW, CHICAGO HE SAYS WILL STILL BEHIND FOR A TYPICAL YEAR.

ACTUALLY HE SAYS THERE WAS THAT POLAR VORTEX BUT WE HAVE THROWN TOGETHER A FEW MILD WINTERS.

THE CLIMATE CHANGE MEANS THAT THE TEMPERATURES ARE RISING AND THEY ARE INCREASING AT THE LARGEST RATE IN THE WINTER VERSUS OTHER SEASONS.

THAT MEANS IT WILL BE LESS LIKELY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE LONG STRETCHES OF SUPER COLD WEATHER.

>> WE CAN STILL GET THOSE COLD AIR OUTBREAKS THOSE ARE DEFINITELY POSSIBLE AS YOU SAW IN JANUARY 2019.

BUT IT'S LESS LIKELY THAT WE WILL HAVE AN ENTIRE MONTH OF WELL BELOW AVERAGE TEMPERATURES BECAUSE OF THAT BACKGROUND WARMING >> NOW, AS FOR SNOWFALL HE SAYS THAT IS VARIABLE.

THE TOTAL SNOWFALL CAN BE DOMINATED BY A COUPLE OF LARGE SNOWFALL STORMS.

MILD ERWINTERS AND RISING WINTER TEMPERATURES DOES NOT MEAN THAT CHICAGO'S WINTERS ARE GETTING [INAUDIBLE] >> IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT COLD WE HAVE AN ENERGY DEFICIT AND TEMPERATURES WILL BE COLD.

IT'S JUST THAT THEY ARE WARMING.

AND I WILL ALSO SAY THAT PROJECTIONS WE LOOK AT PROJECTIONS OF FUTURE CHANGES THOSE SNOWSTORMS THE YIELD OF SNOW ARE PROJECTED TO DECREASE AS WE CONTINUE TO WARM INTO THE FUTURE.

>> SO SNOWSTORMS, COLD WEATHER IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

USUALLY WHEN IT'S FREEZING COLD OR YOU HAVE A LOT OF SNOW JEREMY NICHOLLS WOULD... >> WE WOULD GO AND SEARCH AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THOSE WHO PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE AND LIKE UNDER THE VIADUCTS AND OFFER THEM A PLACE TO STAY IN OUR CAFETERIA.

>> USING THE CAFETERIA AS A WARMING CENTER SAVED PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS.

PEOPLE AT THE POINT THEY COULD NOT FEEL THEIR HANDS OR FEET HAD A PLACE TO GO.

NOTICE, I SAID THAT IS WHAT HE USUALLY DOES.

>> WE'VE HAD TO MAKE DRASTIC CHANGES THIS YEAR.

>> INVITING PEOPLE IN THE SHELTER WHERE MANY OF THE PROGRAMS' ARESIDENTS ARE OLDER WAS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

>> IF WE BRING IN A LOT OF PEOPLE WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST THAT DO HAVE COVID THEN WE'RE -- WE COULD POSSIBLY PUT EVERYBODY ELSE AT RISK FROM OUR PARTICIPANTS TO OUR STAFF AND THEN WE COULDN'T STAFF WHAT WE'RE DOING AS WELL.

SO IT IS A FINE BALANCE THAT WE REALLY DO NEED TO REALLY TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.

>> HE SAYS IT IS AN ETERNAL BATTLE HE SAYS IT IS HARD KNOWING THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUTSIDE AT RISK OF HYPOTHERMIA AND FROSTBITE.

DIRECTOR OF THE CHICAGO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS DOUG SCHENKELBERG SAYS ACTUALLY THE CITY HAS DONE A DECENT JOB OF ADDRESSING INDIVIDUAL SHELTER NEEDS.

>> THE NOT SO MUCH OF A CONCERN WHETHER OR NOT SHELTERS HAVE SUFFICIENT BEDS THE FACTOR OF FOLKS UNSHELTERED OFTENTIMES DON'T WANT TO GO INTO A SHELTER SYSTEM NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T NEED HOUSING BUT THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE SYSTEM AND THAT PARTICULARLY HEIGHTENED IN THE AGE OF COVID.

>> NEXT WEEK, THOSE WHO LIVE AND WHO WORK AT HOMELESS SHELTERS WILL BEGIN TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE COVID VACCINE BECAUSE THEY ARE CONGREGATE SETTINGS BUT DOUG SCHENKELBERG SAYS IT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND WHO ARE NOT IN SHELTERS TO BE ABLE TO GET ACCESS TO THE COVID VACCINE SOON AFTER MANY ALSO HAVE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED SYSTEMS.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PHIL PONCE AND A LOOK AT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S FOREIGN POLICY PLAN.

>> BRANDIS, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FACES A HOST OF FOREIGN POLICY CHALLENGES.

ONLY YESTERDAY IN A VIRTUAL ADDRESS TO THE WORLD'S ECONOMIC FORUM CHINA'S PRESIDENT WARNED OF A NEW COLD WAR IN WHAT WAS SEEN AS A THINLY VEILED ATTACK ON THE U.S. BIDEN HAS TO CONTEND WITH THE IMPACT OF FOUR YEARS OF AN AMERICA FIRST APPROACH THAT HAS STRAINED OLD ALLIANCES.

HE ADDRESSED THOSE CHALLENGES IN HIS INAUGURATION SPEECH LAST WEEK.

>> HERE IS MY MESSAGE TO THOSE BEYOND OUR BORDERS... AMERICA HAS BEEN TESTED.

AND WE'VE COME OUT STRONGER FOR IT.

WE WILL REPAIR OUR ALLIANCES AND ENGAGE WITH THE WORLD ONCE AGAIN.

NOT TO MEET YESTERDAY'S CHALLENGES BUT TODAY'S AND TOMORROW'S CHALLENGES.

>> JOINING US ON THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE NEW ADMINISTRATION'S FOREIGN POLICY ARE CECILE SHEA A NONRESIDENT SENIOR FELLOW ON SECURITY AND DIPLOMACY ON THE CHICAGO COUNCIL OF GLOBAL AFFAIRS.

JOHN MEARSHEIMER PROFESSION FESSER OF POLITICAL SCIENCE.

AND ALBERTO COLL PROFESSOR OF LAW AND U.S. FOREIGN RELATIONS AT DePAUL UNIVERSITY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

CECILE SHEA LET ME BEGIN WITH YOU, PLEASE.

PRESIDENT BIDEN HAD HIS FIRST CALL WITH PRESIDENT PUTIN TODAY AND HE WAS SAID TO HAVE DISCUSSED TOP INS INCLUDING ARMS CONTROL, REPORTS OF RUSSIAN BOUNTIES ON U.S.

TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN, AND RUSSIA'S INTERFERENCE IN THE 2020 ELECTION.

YOUR EXPECTATIONS HOW BIDEN'S RELATIONSHIP WITH TRUMP -- WITH PUTIN WILL DIFFER FROM TRUMP'S RELATIONSHIP WITH PUTIN?

>> I THINK THAT THE RELATIONSHIP ITSELF WILL BE VERY DIFFERENT FOR WHATEVER REASON PRESIDENT TRUMP SEEMS EAGER TO BUDDY UP TO PUTIN AND EAGER TO DENY SOME OF THE REALLY HARMFUL BEHAVIOR THAT RUSSIA WAS ENGAGED IN IN THE U.S.

THE FACT THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS APPOINTED BILL BYRNES, THE FORMER U.S.

AMBASSADOR TO MOSCOW SHOWS A SIDE OF THIS RELATIONSHIP THAT MOST AMERICANS DO NOT SEE AND WILL NOT SEE BUT PRESIDENT BIDEN IS GOING TO TAKE SERIOUSLY WHICH IS LOOKING INTO EXACTLY HOW MUCH RUSSIAN INTERFERE REASONS IS IN OUR CULTURE AND SOCIETY AND POLITICAL SYSTEM AND FINDING WAYS TO TAMP THAT DOWN.

IT'S BEEN PROBLEMATIC FOR THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS NOW.

WE'VE SEEN FROM THE INDICTMENTS AGAINST SOME RUSSIANS HOW INVOLVED THEY ARE IN EVERY SECTOR OF OUR SOCIETY AND TRYING TO TEAR US APART.

AND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WHAT WE'VE WITNESSED IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS WITH OUR COUNTRY, CAN BE BLAMED ON MOSCOW.

I THINK YOU WILL SEE BIDEN TAKING A TOUGHER LINE BEHIND THE SCENES WITH INTELLIGENCE, BUT ALSO FORCEFULLY AND IN PUBLIC.

>> JOHN MEARSHEIMER, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID TO HAVE RAISED WITH PRESIDENT PUTIN IS THE ARREST OF ALEXEI NAVALNY, IS THAT SMART IS THAT STRATEGIC FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TO DO?

>> I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY FOOLISH FOR TWO REASONS.

ONE IS, I THINK I DISAGREE WITH SEE SEAL HERE.

I THINK THE UNITED STATES HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN IMPROVING THE RELATIONS WITH THE RUSSIANS AND PUTTING AN END TO THE PHOBIA IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE NEED THE RUSSIANS TO HELP US CONTAIN CHINA.

AND IN THIS REGARD, I THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP'S INSTINCTS WERE CORRECT.

WE SHOULD IMPROVE RELATIONS.

AND WE SHOULD STAY OUT OF THE DOMESTIC POLITICS OF COUNTRIES LIKE RUSSIA.

THIS WHOLE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THE ALEXEI NAVALNY WAS POISONED AND WHAT ROLE PUTIN PLAYED IN THAT EPISODE IS ONE THAT WE CAN'T ASSESS IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY FROM THIS DISTANCE AND WE OUGHT TO KEEP OUR NOSE OUT OF THEIR BUSINESS IN THE SAME WAY WE LIKE THEM TO KEEP THEIR NOSE OUT OF OUR BUSINESS.

PEOPLE COMPLAINED THAT THE RUSSIANS INTERFERED IN DOMESTIC AMERICAN POLITICS.

FINE.

BUT WHY SHOULD WE THEN GO AROUND INTERFERING IN THE DOMESTIC POLITICS OF RUSSIA?

I SAY BY AND LARGE, DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THAT ISSUE.

>> ALBERTO COLL BETTER FOR THE U.S. TO HAVE A FRIENDLIER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE RUSSIANS AS OPPOSED TO ONE THAT BORDERS ON THE CONFRONTATIONAL?

>> DEFINITELY, I MEAN WE DO NEED TO ENGAGE RUSSIA.

THEY ARE A GREAT POWER AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE.

LET'S THINK ABOUT THE RUSSIA RELATIONSHIP IN TERMS OF THREE CHESS BOARDS.

ONE CHESS BOARD IS THE CHESS BOARD OF ARMS CONTROL.

WE NEED TO BE NEGOTIATING WITH THE RUSSIANS ON ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENTS AND RENEW SOME OF THE AGREEMENTS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ALLOWED TO LAPSE LIKE THE OPEN SKIES TREATY AND WE NEED TO REJOIN THAT AND RENEW START.

AND THE SECOND CHESS BOARD HAS TO DO WITH RUSSIA'S BEHAVIOR ON PLACES LIKE UKRAINE, SOME OF THE MORE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR TOWARDS OUR BALTIC ALLIES AND THE EASTERN EUROPE WE HAVE TO BE CLEAR TO RUSSIA AS WE WERE DURING THE COLD WAR THAT WE HAVE REDLINES AND WE ARE PREPARED TO DETER THEM.

AND THE THIRD CHESS BOARD IS THAT OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

AND I THINK THAT THERE WE NEED KIND OF A MIX OF WHAT THEY POINTED OUT WE ARE LEVERAGE ON RUSSIA IS LIMITED WITH REGARDS TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY THROUGHOUT HISTORY GOING BACK TO THE EARLIEST TIMES OF THE SOVIET UNION.

IT IS OK TO LET THEM KNOW WE ARE CONCERNED LIKE THE POISONING OF ALEXEI NAVALNY BUT THAT CANNOT STAND IN THE WAY OF NEGOTIATIONS AND DIALOGUE ON REALLY STRATEGIC ISSUES.

>> CECILE SHEA ANTHONY BLIN KEN WAS CONFIRMED TODAY AS SECRETARY OF STATE WHAT DOES IT SAY HOW THE U.S. EXPECTS TO ENGAGE WITH THE WORLD AT LARGE?

>> WELL, ANTHONY BLINKEN WAS LOW KEY AS PREVIOUS STATE DEPARTMENT ASSIGNMENTS AND HE IS VERY WELL LIKED AND COMPETENT AND NOT FLASHY.

HE ALSO UNDERSTANDS THE INSTITUTION OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND I THINK THAT ONE THING THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN UNDERSTANDS IS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DID ENORMOUS DAMAGE TO A LOT OF THE INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE STRENGTHENING OUR DEMOCRACY WHETHER THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OTHER PARTS OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

ONE OF BLINKEN'S JOBS AND THIS IS SING NATIONALLED BY HIS APPOINTMENT IS TO REBUILD THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND MAKE IT ABLE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING AROUND THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.

SO I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE SOMEWHAT LOW KEY BUT HIGHLY COMPETENT SECRETARY OF STATE WHO WILL BE FOCUSED ON REBUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

>> JOHN MEARSHEIMER HOW DAMAGING TO THE UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL STANDING WAS THE INSURRECTION AT THE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6?

HOW MUCH DID THAT HURT THIS COUNTRY?

>> I DON'T THINK IT HURT IT MUCH.

IT CERTAINLY WASN'T HELPFUL.

THE FACT IS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DID A GREAT DEAL TO DAMAGE OUR RELATIONS WITH MOST COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS A UNILATERALIST AND HE ESPECIALLY TENDED TO VIEW OUR ALLIES MUCH THE WAY AS HE VIEWED OUR ADVERSARIES HE THOUGHT THEY WERE ALL TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF US.

HE THOUGHT OUR ALLIES WERE FREE RIDERS THEY WANTED US TO PAY ALL THE COSTS AND DO THE HEAVY LIFTING WHILE THEY ENJOYED THE BENEFITS.

AND THERE WAS SOME ELEMENT OF TRUTH TO WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS SAYING.

HE SLAPPED OUR ALLIES AROUND AND SLAPPED OUR ADVERSARIES AROUND.

AND THE END RESULT IS THAT OUR STANDING IN THE WORLD IS NOT VERY GOOD.

AND I DO THINK THAT ONE OF THE GREAT ADVANTAGES OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WILL BE THAT THEY WILL DO A BETTER JOB THAN PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS ADMINISTRATION DID WORKING WITH ALLIES.

OF AND I THINK THAT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH THE CHINA THREAT AND ALSO DEALING WITH THE WHOLE QUESTION OF IRAN WHICH IS ANOTHER HUGE ISSUE SITTING ON THE TABLE.

>> ALBERTO COLL LET'S TALK ABOUT CHINA.

THE CHINESE PRESIDENT WARNED ABOUT A POSSIBLE NEW COLD WAR AND THINLY VEILED REFERENCE TO THE UNITED STATES THE PROTECTIONIST POLICIES CONTINUED.

WHAT CAN -- WHAT IS THE BEST CASE SCENARIO FOR THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA?

>> I THINK THE BEST CASE SCENARIO, PHIL IS A MANAGED RIVALRY.

A CAREFULRY MANAGED RIVALRY.

WE CANNOT GO BACK IN OUR RELATIONS WITH CHINA TO WHAT THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN 10, 15, 20 YEARS AGO.

THE REALITY IS CHINA HAS BECOME A MAJOR GEOPOLITICAL ADVERSARY AND WE NEED THOUGH WE DON'T LIKE TO USE THAT TERM WE NEED A POLICY OF CONTAINING AND DETERRING CHINA.

ONLY THE UNITED STATES HAS THE MILITARY FORCES AND THE CAPABILITIES TO ACTUALLY DETER CHINA.

CHINA HAS TO BELIEVE FOR EXAMPLE THAT INVADING TAIWAN WOULD NOT BE WORTH IT BECAUSE IT WOULD BE SO COSTLY TO IT THAT IT WOULD BE A TREMENDOUSLY DIFFICULT THEM FOR THEM TO DO AND THAT REQUIRES A RETHINKING OF U.S. MILITARY STRATEGY.

IT LITERALLY REQUIRES WHAT MICHELLE FOR KNOW SAID MEANS THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE CAPABILITIES TO SINK EVERY CHINESE ASSET IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN IN THE FIRST 72 HOURS OF ANY CHINESE ATTEMPT TO INVADE TAIWAN WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL BE FACING PRESSURES FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO REDUCE THE DEFENSE BUDGET.

YES WE HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR ALLIES IN THE PACIFIC BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO STRENGTHEN OUR MILITARY POSTURE IN THE PACIFIC AND PRESIDENT BIDEN IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT CHINA IN THE EYE OF THE CHINESE PRESIDENT AND SAY LOOK, WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU WE DON'T WANT A HOT WAR BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE WILL NOT ALLOW AND INVADING TAIWAN IS ONE OF THEM.

>> I ASKED YOU ABOUT A BEST CASE SCENARIO AND THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A GOOD SCENARIO BUT I -- I TAKE YOUR POINT.

>> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHTS, CECILE SHEA JOHN MEARSHEIMER AND ALBERTO COLL.

>> AND UP NEXT INDOOR DINING IS BACK ON THE MENU BUT NOT EVERYONE IS ONBOARD.

WE HEAR FROM A SERVER WHO DOESN'T THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

EVEN WITHOUT A PANDEMIC, JANUARY AND FEBRUARY ARE NOTORIOUSLY SLOW MONTHS FOR THE SERVICE INDUSTRY.

HOWEVER AS OF LAST SATURDAY, INDOOR DINING AND DRINKING IN CHICAGO AND SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY ARE BACK OPEN AT A LIMITED CAPACITY.

SOME SAY IT COULD BRING MORE CASH DURING THE COLD MONTHS BUT OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY FEAR THE HEALTH RISKS OUTWEIGH THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE INCOME.

>> JOINING US TO TALK MORE ABOUT INDOOR DINING REOPENING ARE RAFAEL ROYAL, CO-OWNER OF BIANCA'S BURGERS.

CINTHIA MIRANDA WHO WORKS AT FLOW IN THE SQUARE.

AND NINA KERN THANK YOU TO YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

CINTHIA MIRANDA LET'S START WITH YOU YOU CONTRACTED COVID OVER THE SUMMER HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SAFETY WITH REGARD TO INDOOR DINING?

>> THERE'S MANY MIXED EMOTIONS.

I WANT OUR INDUSTRY TO COME UP AND GET BACK TO NORMALCY.

BUT COVID IS REAL AND IT HIT ME AND IT HIT ME HARD.

AND FINANCIALLY IT HIT HARD AND EVERYONE IS HURTING RIGHT NOW.

>> I'M SURE.

HOW WOULD YOU SAY GUESTS ARE ABOUT FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES WHEN YOU SEE THEM COME TO THE RESTAURANT?

>> YOU HAVE MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE RESPECTFUL OF THE GUIDELINES AND LOOKING TO THE RULES AND SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST VERY ANXIOUS TO COME IN AND ONCE THEY ENTER THE DOOR EVERYTHING GOES RIGHT OUT ALL THE RULES GO OUT THE DOOR.

>> AND THEY TEND TO FORGET AND GET COMFORTABLE AND SETTLE INTO THE COMFORT THEY ARE USED TO IN A RESTAURANT >> YES.

>> TO MOVE INTO TIER ONE RESTRICTIONS ANY REGION NEEDS TO RECORD THREE DAYS OF TEST POSITIVITY BELOW 8%, NO INCREASE IN COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR SEVEN OUT OF 10 DAYS AND MORE THAN 20% OF THE ICU BEDS MUST BE AVAILABLE.

NINA DO YOU THINK RESTAURANTS WERE RUSHED INTO REOPENING FOR INDOOR DINING?

>> I PERSONALLY DO BELIEVE WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A RUSH.

YOU KNOW WE DIPPED RIGHT BELOW THE NUMBER WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BUT ONLY BY A SMALL PERCENTAGE.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE WANT AND NEED TO REOPEN THE RESTAURANTS BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DO THINK IT WAS DEFINITELY RUSHED.

>> WAS IT SURPRISING WHEN YOU RECEIVED THE NEWS THAT RESTAURANTS WOULD BE REOPENING?

>> I WAS A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED HOW QUICKLY FROM WHEN WE HEARD HEY INDOOR DINING MIGHT BE OPENING UP TO IT ACTUALLY OPENING UP AND THE TIME WE WERE GIVEN THE OK TO WHEN WE WERE EXPECTED TO HAVE THE DINING ROOMS OPEN IT WAS A REALLY QUICK TURN AROUND.

BUT LUCKILY THE RESTAURANT THAT I WORK AT WE TAKE COVID PRECAUTIONS EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY AND WE HAVE A GREAT STAFF TO GET IT UP ON ITS FEET BUT IT'S HARD FOR RESTAURANTS TO DO THAT QUICK OF A TURNAROUND.

>> RAFAEL YOU AND YOUR SISTER YOU OPENED YOUR RESTAURANT IN AUGUST DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT HAS THAT BEEN LIKE?

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN REALLY INTERESTING.

THE THING WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW IS IT WAS A TOUGH TIME TO OPEN A RESTAURANT.

BUT BECAUSE THE WAY RESTAURANTS NORMALLY OPERATE ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT SANITATION AND WORRIED ABOUT MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS SAFE AND THAT THE FOOD IS SAFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT IS SAFE.

SO THE HARDEST PART WAS NOT ADJUSTING TO NEW COVID GUIDELINES IN TERMS OF SANITIZING IT WAS MORE ADJUSTING TO THE GUESTS.

THAT WAS THE HARDEST PART ABOUT IT.

BECAUSE EVERYONE EITHER DOESN'T REALLY THINK IT IS AS SERIOUS AS IT IS.

AND I'VE KNOWN SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY WHO HAVE GOTTEN SICK AND A FEW WHO HAVE SADLY PASSED AWAY.

SO THEY MADE IT HARD AT THE SAME TIME PEOPLE THAT DO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, I LOVE THEM FOR IT.

AND IF IT WEREN'T FOR THEM, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT BECAUSE MOST OF MY BUSINESS HAS BEEN TAKE OUT.

WE'VE KEPT THE COMMUNITY AND LETTING THEM KNOW HOW SERIOUSLY WE TAKE EVERYTHING AND IT IS A GOD SEND FOR US.

>> SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THE LOSS THAT YOU EXPERIENCED.

OBVIOUSLY, REVIVAL IS DIFFERENT BUT DO YOU SEE INDOOR DINING AS BEING GOOD FOR BUSINESS?

>> IT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

INDOOR DINING, FRIDAY WHEN IT STARTED WE SAW A HUGE [INAUDIBLE] PEOPLE WANT TO BE OUT.

WHETHER IT'S IN A FOOD HALL OR A RESTAURANT.

I THINK COVID FATIGUE IS REAL.

I CALL MYSELF WIRNING I WERE OUT AND THINKING I WANT TO BE OUT BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE OUT SO BADLY THAT I CONTRACT THE VIRUS.

>> NOT WORTH THE RISK FOR YOU.

>> NO.

>> NINA YOUR RESTAURANT HAS PATIO OPEN AS WELL.

AND FOR RESTAURANTS THAT HAVE THE OPTION FOR OUTDOOR HOW VIABLE IS THAT DURING A CHICAGO WINTER?

>> SO WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD AN ENCLOSED PATIO SPACE WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS OPEN UP ONE OF THE WALLS IN THE PATIO AND STUCK HEATERS OUT THERE.

AND THEY DO AN OK JOB.

IT'S STILL DEFINITELY COLD OUT THERE.

I'M NOT GOING TO LIE TO YOU.

>> WHAT IS IT LIKE HAVING TO SERVE IN THOSE COLD TEMPERATURES?

>> I WILL BE HONEST IT'S LESS THAN IDEAL BUT I WOULD RATHER BE SAFE AND KNOW I CAN GIVE A GUEST SAFE SERVICE AND BE A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE.

>> CYNTHIA FLOW DOES NOT HAVE A PATIO FITTED FOR THE WINTER.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT IS WORKING OUT AND IS CONTINUED CARRY OUT SUSTAINABLE?

>> WE ARE FORTUNATE ON CHICAGO AVENUE FOR 20 YEARS.

WE HAVE A GREAT REGULARS THAT COME IN.

GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DOES SUPPORT THEIR SMALL BUSINESS.

SO WE'VE BEEN STEADY.

I CAN'T SAY WE'VE BEEN SELLING A LOT OR A LITTLE BUT VERY STEADY AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS CAME IN AND GOTTEN CARRY OUT FROM US.

>> RAFAEL HOW LONG DO YOU THINK INDOOR DINING WILL STAY OPEN WHEN CASES GO UP RESTAURANTS GET CLOSED?

>> I HOPE IT STAYS OPEN UNTIL SPRING.

BUT REALISTICALLY, JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT WE'VE HANDLED THE CLOSURES, I DON'T SEE STAYING OPEN LONG BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY GUIDELINES I LIVE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND MY SISTER LIVES IN LINCOLN HILLS AND THEY ARE DIFFERENT GUIDELINES.

IN THE CITY AND OUR RESTAURANT WILL BE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

BUT UNTIL WE HAVE THE SAME GUIDELINES STATE-WIDE AND NATIONWIDE IT DOESN'T MEAN MUCH BECAUSE ONE PERSON MIGHT BE THE SAFEST PERSON IN THE WORLD AND THE NEXT PERSON FOLLOWING THEIR LOCAL GUIDELINES ISN'T AND THEY ARE MOVING THE VIRUS AROUND THE STATE AND AROUND THE CITY.

>> RIGHT.

AND NONE OF OUR RESTAURANTS ARE ON AN ISLAND.

>> YEAH.

>> RAFAEL ROYAL, CINTHIA MIRANDA AND NINA KERN THANK YOU.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" HOW THE LOOP IS DOING 10 MONTHS INTO THE PANDEMIC AND AFTER THIS SUMMER'S CIVIL UNREST.

>> A WOMAN OF MANY FIRSTS.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS HOLDING THE SECOND HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE NATION.

>> AND THREE VETERAN JOURNALISTS LEAVE THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" AND JOIN US TO TALK ABOUT THEIR CAREERS AND THE FUTURE OF JOURNALISM AND WHAT COMES NEXT.

>> FIRST MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TELLS PARENTS TO KEEP STUDENTS HOME TOMORROW AS THE TEACHERS' UNION TELLS MEMBERS TO PREPARE FOR A POSSIBLE STRIKE.

THE UNION AND THE DISTRICT HAVE BEEN IN MARATHON NEGOTIATIONS OVER EXPANDING IN-PERSON LEARNING OPTIONS TO K-8 STUDENTS.

PRE-K AND SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS HAD THE OPTION TO GO BACK AND THE UNION TOLD ALL MEMBERS TO WORK REMOTELY STARTING TOMORROW AND PREPARE FOR PICKET LINES ON THURSDAY IF C.P.S.

LOCKS THEM OUT.

THE DISTRICT OFFERED ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES INCLUDING PRIORITY ACCESS FOR VACCINATIONS FOR STAFF, MORE TESTING AND EXPANDED REMOTE WORK ACCOMMODATIONS.

BUT THE UNION SAID SAFETY MEASURES STILL DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH AND CALLED FOR MEDIATION.

>> ALSO TODAY C.P.S.

ANNOUNCES A NEW PROGRAM TO REIMAGINE SCHOOL SAFETY.

WIDESPREAD RACIAL JUSTICE PROTESTS LAST YEAR INCLUDED A CALL FOR C.P.S.

TO REMOVE CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS FROM SCHOOLS.

THE DISTRICT INSTEAD GAVE SCHOOL COUNCILS CONTROL AND OK'd A PLAN TO RETHINK SAFETY PROGRAMS.

TODAY C.P.S.

ANNOUNCED FIVE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SET TO HELP CREATE TRAUMA INFORMED SCHOOL SAFETY PLANS BEGINNING WITH 10 MEETINGS NEXT MONTH.

WE HAVE DETAILS ABOUT THAT INITIATIVE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> MORE CHICAGO AREA COUNTIES GET THE GO AHEAD FOR INDOOR DINING.

IMPROVED CORONAVIRUS METRICS MEAN RESTAURANTS AND BARS IN REGIONS 8 AND 9 ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE PATRONS INSIDE 25 PEOPLE OR 25% CAPACITY.

WHICHEVER IS SMALLER.

THE REGIONS INCLUDE DUPAGE, KANE, LAKE AND McHENRY COUNTIES.

AND LOOSE LOOSER RESTRICTIONS IN CHICAGO WENT INTO EFFECT SATURDAY.

CITY OFFICIALS SAID ONE BUSINESS WAS CITED FOR VIOLATING THE RULES WITH TOO MANY CUSTOMERS AND MORE ABOUT THAT ON-LINE AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> THE STREETS OF CHICAGO'S LOOP HAVE BEEN QUIET OVER THE PAST YEAR.

COVID-19 FORCED THOUSANDS OF DOWNTOWN OFFICE WORKERS TO STAY HOME AND PERFORMING ARTS VENUES HAVE BEEN RETREATED INTO HIBERNATION BUT MANY OF THE LOOP'S SMALL BUSINESSES ARE STILL KICKING.

QUINN MYERS SPOKE WITH SOME OF THEM HOW THEY ARE STAYING AFLOAT.

>> HARRY HAS WORKED ON JEWELERS ROW IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS SELLING WEDDING BANDS AND ENGAGEMENT RINGS LOCATED IN THE DIAMOND CENTER AT WABASH AND MADISON, THE STORE WAS ONE OF DOZENS IN THE LOOP THAT WAS BROKEN INTO DURING CIVIL UNREST IN MAY.

>> IT WAS CHAOS.

THE WINDOW WAS BROKEN.

ALL AROUND THE BUILDING.

>> AND THEN TWO MONTHS LATER IN MID-AUGUST, T WAS HIT AGAIN.

>> IN ORDER TO AVOID MORE DESTRUCTION DECIDED COME DOWN HERE WITH ANOTHER OF THE BUILDING MANAGERS AND TRY TO GET PEOPLE OUT.

>> LOOTERS OUT >> YES.

>> WERE YOU SUCCESSFUL?

>> DEFINITELY WE PREVENTED A LOT OF DAMAGE FOR THE SECOND TIME.

>> THE STORE AND MOST OF ITS COMPETITORS ARE BACK OPEN WITH BUSINESS STABLE BUT STILL SLOW BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

SLOW ENOUGH TO WHERE T HAS CONSIDERED MOVING ELSEWHERE.

>> IF WE ARE RELYING ON OUR REGULAR CUSTOMERS OR OUR WHOLESALE BUSINESS THEN WE CAN VERY EASILY DO THIS IN ANOTHER LOCATION WHICH WOULD BE MUCH LESS IN THE RENT.

>> IT IS A DECISION BUSINESSES ACROSS THE LOOP ARE FACING.

EVEN AS PEOPLE SLOWLY RETURN DOWNTOWN.

>> AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PANDEMIC WHEN IT FIRST STARTED WE HAD PEDESTRIAN COUNTS OF 20% YEAR ON YEAR.

AND NOW THEY ARE AROUND 35, 40% AT AROUND THE HOLIDAY THEY GOT UP TO 50%.

PEOPLE ARE FINDING THEIR WAY BACK BUT IT'S BEEN TOUGH.

>> MOST OF THE STORES ON STATE STREET REMAIN OPEN AND MUSEUMS ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW SUIT IN THE COMING WEEKS.

BUT THE LOOP ECOSYSTEM WHERE ONE INDUSTRY'S SUCCESS OR FAILURE FEEDS INTO ANOTHER IS STILL STRUGGLING.

>> NOBODY THINKS THE LOOP CAN FAIL.

IT'S SO BIG FILLED WITH BIG CORPORATIONS WITH LOTS OF MONEY BUT WHAT MAKES DOWNTOWN GO IS THE STOREFRONT ECONOMY.

SO THE STORES BEHIND YOU, YOU KNOW IS SUFFERING BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.

SO OUR JOB IS TO BRING MORE PEOPLE DOWN.

>> LIKE EVERYONE DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUSINESSES IN THE LOOP HAVE HAD TO REIMAGINE HOW THEY OPERATE.

ESPECIALLY AS FOOT TRAFFIC ONCE THE MAIN SELLING POINT OF BEING DOWNTOWN HAS SLOWED TO A CRAWL.

THAT INCLUDES THE THEATRE WHICH HAS PIVOTED TO VIRTUAL OFFERINGS DURING THE PANDEMIC LIKE A PRODUCTION OF THE CHRISTMAS CAROL.

BUT THOSE ACTIVITIES ARE DIVORCED FROM THE DOWNTOWN ECONOMY THAT GOODMAN WAS A PART OF.

>> WE PRODUCE CHRISTMAS CAROL ON-LINE.

I MENTIONED HOW SUCCESSFUL THAT WAS.

THAT DOESN'T GENERATE REVENUE FOR THEM NEXT DOOR THAT IS THE TYPE OF APPROACH WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND IF WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK.

>> JOHN COLLINS IS THE CHAIR OF THE LEAGUE OF CHICAGO THEATERS AND SAYS WHILE IT'S TOO SOON TO PUT A DATE ON REOPENING THE CITY WILL WORK WITH VENUES TO FIND A SAFE WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> AS WE BRING BACK AUDIENCES WE CAN START TO FILL THE RESTAURANTS AROUND US, WE CAN START TO FILL THE HOTELS AROUND US AND GET BACK TO PLAYING OUR PART.

>> BACK ON WABASH, LOCALLY OWNED BAKERY SUGAR BLISS HAS HAD TO TOTALLY RETHINK THEIR BUSINESS MODEL DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> MOST OF OUR BUSINESS IS CORPORATE AND SINCE THEY WERE WORKING FROM HOME THEY WERE NOT ORDERING CATERING FOR BUSINESS MEETINGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> AFTER THE INITIAL SHUTDOWN, OWNER TERESA GING BEGAN OFFERING DIFFERENT ON-LINE PACKAGES AND STARTED SHIPPING HER BAKED GOODS NATIONWIDE.

SO FAR IT'S WORKING.

SUGAR BLISS DID BETTER THIS PAST DECEMBER THAN IN DECEMBER 2019.

AND LIKE TERRY T, BEGINNING STAYED OPEN AS A FOOD HOLD OF THE LOOP.

>> YOU KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN THE LOOP AREA THEY WERE GRATEFUL THEY SAW OTHER OPTIONS TO KIND OF GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND GET A CUPCAKE.

>> I'M GLAD WE HAVE A LOT OF CUSTOMERS THAT SUPPORT US AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP FROM OUR CUSTOMERS AND THE COMMUNITY AND TRYING TO KEEP US GOING AND I THINK IF THAT CONTINUES THEN I THINK EVERYBODY WILL BE OK. >> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M QUINN MYERS.

>> AND THE CHICAGO LOOP ALLIANCE SAYS THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE CONTINUED GOVERNMENT AID FOR BUSINESSES IN THE LOOP ESPECIALLY SHUTTERED RESTAURANTS AND THEATERS.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS HAS SPENT HER CAREER BREAKING BARRIERS.

LAST WEDNESDAY WAS NO DIFFERENT AS SHE MADE HISTORY FOR TAKING THE OATH OF NATION'S SECOND HIGHEST OFFICE.

THE FIRST WOMAN VICE-PRESIDENT AND THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND PERSON OF SOUTH ASIAN DESCENT TO HOLD THE POSITION.

HERE IS THE THEN VICE-PRESIDENT-ELECT ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HER NEW ROLE.

>> WHILE I MAY BE THE FIRST WOMAN IN THIS OFFICE I WILL NOT BE THE LAST.

[CHEERING] >> BECAUSE EVERY LITTLE GIRL WATCHING TONIGHT SEES THAT THIS IS A COUNTRY OF POSSIBILITIES.

>> AND JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HER ROLE AND THE CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD ARE REBECCA SIVE, THE POLITICAL STRATEGIST AND FORMER UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LECTURETER WHERE HE FOUNDED THE HARRIS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY WOMEN'S PUBLIC LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE AND AUTHORED SEVERAL BOOKS RELATED TO WOMEN RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

NITASHA SHARMA PROFESSOR OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES AND ASH THAN AMERICAN STUDIES AND FELICIA DAVIS PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF CHICAGO FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

REBECCA SIVE LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE.

WHAT IS HARRIS' SEAT IN THE NATION'S SECOND HIGHEST OFFICE MEAN FOR WOMEN IN POLITICS ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT THAT SECTOR IS DOMINATED BY MEN?

>> WELL, IN THE FIRST PLACE, SHE HOLDS THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT EXECUTIVE OFFICE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THE WORLD NOW.

WE HAVE NEVER HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY BEFORE TO SEE A WOMAN IN THAT ROLE.

AND VERY FEW WOMEN HOLD EXECUTIVE OFFICE.

THE PRIMARY ROUTE WAS WOMEN IN OFFICES OF LEG IS SLAVE POSITIONS.

THE SECOND THING SHE GETS TO CARRY A PORTFOLIO OF POLICY THAT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN A WOMAN HAVE BEFORE IN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP AND THAT IS IMPORTANT AS THE ADMINISTRATION GRAPPLES.

>> AND NITASHA SHARMA HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THE FACT THAT HARRIS IS BI RACIAL SHE IS BLACK AND SOUTH ASIAN HOW SIGNIFICANT IS IT, IT IS HER THAT BREAKS THIS BARRIER?

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY SIGNIFICANT AND SPEAKING TO THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IT'S INTERESTING TO THINK ABOUT HER POLITICS ON ONE HAND AND IDENTITIES ON THE OTHER HAND AND THEY DO NOT ALWAYS ALIGN THE WAY WE EXPECT.

IT'S INCREDIBLY SIGNIFICANT A WOMAN WHO HAS GOTTEN TO THIS POSITION OF POWER IS NOT A WHITE WOMAN IN THIS COUNTRY.

THAT SIGNIFIES REALLY IMPORTANT MESSAGES AS SHE SAID.

ON THE OTHER HAND WHILE REPRESENTATION MATTERS, I THAT WE LEARNED FROM OBAMA JUST BECAUSE A PERSON IS BLACK OR INDIAN DOESN'T MEAN THAT THOSE ARE THE ONLY CONSTITUENCIES SHE IS GOING TO SPEAK TO.

AND SO I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW HER POLITICS EXCITE OR DISAPPOINT PEOPLE AND HOW THEY DO AND DON'T ALIGN WITH HER IDENTITY.

>> IN NOVEMBER, THEN VICE-PRESIDENT ELECT HARRIS GAVE A SPEECH THANKING THE WOMEN WHO CAME BEFORE HER.

>> WOMEN WHO FOUGHT AND SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR EQUALITY AND LIBERTY, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

INCLUDING THE BLACK WOMEN WHO ARE OFTEN TOO OFTEN OVERLOOKED BUT SO OFTEN PROVE THEY ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

>> EVEN AFTER THE 19TH AMENDMENT BLACK WOMEN WERE LEFT DISENFRANCHISED IN STATES WITH POLICIES LIMITING WHO COULD VOTE AND TODAY BLACK WOMEN ARE ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL VOTING BLOCKS IN THE COUNTRY.

FELICIA DAVIS WHAT DOES HARRIS' POSITION TELL US HOW FAR WE'VE COME AND HOW FAR WE HAVE TO GO?

>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

IT'S INTERESTING 100 YEARS AGO SOME WOMEN RECEIVED THE RIGHT TO VOTE ABSENT IN THAT WERE BLACK WOMEN.

AND WOMEN OF COLOR WERE LEFT BEHIND TO HAVE THIS MOMENT ALMOST COME FULL CIRCLE WHERE I THINK A LOT OF BLACK WOMEN, MYSELF INCLUDED FINALLY FEEL THIS IS THE WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN OWED FOR ALL OF THEIR DEDICATION AND ORGANIZING AND REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITIES AND LISTENING TO COMMUNITIES.

AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS IMPORTANT AS WELL IT'S ABOUT THE POLICIES THAT VICE-PRESIDENT HARRIS SUPPORTS AND ADVOCATES FOR.

REBECCA ELUDED TO THIS, WE ARE IN A TREACHEROUS TIME WE HAVE TWO PANDEMICS GOING ON ANTIBLACK RACISM TO BE CLEAR AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT FROM AN EQUITY STANDPOINT THAT WE CENTER BLACK WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR IN OUR RECOVERY AND IN THE POLICIES AROUND RECOVERY EQUITABLELY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN CARRYING THE PANDEMIC ON THEIR BACKS ARE HELPED.

>> REBECCA SIVE WHAT CHALLENGE ALSO HARRIS FACE THAT ARE UNIQUE TO WOMEN IN POLITICS AND IN THIS CASE A WOMAN OF COLOR IN POLITICS?

>> I WOULD FIRST, I GUESS SPEAK TO THE CHALLENGE THAT OF STRUCTURAL DISCRIMINATION WHICH OF COURSE FELICIA ELUDED TO AGAINST AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

SECONDLY THE SYSTEMIC GENDER DISCRIMINATION THAT WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP CONTINUE TO FACE.

SHE IS GOING TO HAVE TO CONFRONT THOSE TWO FACTS AND PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT WOMEN SHOULDN'T HOLD THE KIND OF POSITION SHE IS HOLDING MUCH LESS, LESSER POSITIONS.

THAT SORT OF PROBLEM NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO IS THE FACT IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT THE DIVISION OF LABOR WILL BE BETWEEN HER AND THE PRESIDENT AND WHILE SHE WILL BE IN THE ROOM WITH HIM AND HAS CLEARLY SHOWN A PARTNERSHIP WITH HIM TO DATE WE DON'T KNOW YET WHAT HER PORTFOLIO WILL BE AND SPECIFICALLY WHETHER AS I HOPE IT WILL, IT WILL INCLUDE SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE ISSUES THAT WOMEN AND GIRLS CONFRONT AS THEY TRY TO ACHIEVE HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL LIVES.

I GUESS THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY ABOUT THE CHALLENGES IS THAT WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE IS SHE GOING TO CONSISTENTLY PRESENT ABOUT WHO SHE IS AND WHAT SHE IS AND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR WOMEN AT LARGE AROUND THE WORLD.

WE DON'T KNOW YET WHAT THAT WILL BE AND WHETHER SHE WILL DECIDE TO MAKE THOSE STATEMENTS.

>> AND NITASHA SHARMA, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE SHE IS THE DAUGHTER OF BOTH JAMAICAN AND INDIAN IMMIGRANTS.

HOW IS SHE CHANGING THE WAY WE TALK ABOUT RACE AND MULTICULTURALISM IN THE COUNTRY.

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

SHE HAS TO DEAL WITH THE EXPECTATIONS THAT INDIAN AMERICANS HAVE AND THAT ASIAN-AMERICANS HAVE FOR HER TO REPRESENT ON THEIR BEHALF.

SHE HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IDENTIFYING WITH HER.

WHAT SHE IS ALSO DOING IN HER ROLE AS THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, IS REALLY SHAKING UP THE WAYS THAT WE THINK ABOUT RACE.

WE OFTEN MIGHT SEE HER AS A BLACK WOMAN AND SHE TALKS ABOUT HER INDIAN FAMILY HER INDIAN MOTHER AND RELATIVES IN INDIA.

SHE IS CHANGING THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT RACE PEOPLE ONLY HAVE ONE RACIAL IDENTITY.

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IT WILL RAISE ON THE OTHER HAND ASIAN AMERICANS RACIAL VISIBILITY AND IT WILL HAVE INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN ASIAN AMERICANS AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS, BLACK AND ASIAN COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES THAT AT TIMES DO NOT ALIGN ON IMMIGRATION LAWS AND OTHER TIMES DO ALIGN WITH REGARD TO GENDER DISCRIMINATION AND DESIRES FOR EQUITY.

OVERALL I WOULD SAY THAT SHE IS GOING TO CHANGE OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE WITH REGARDS TO THE ASSUMPTION THAT PEOPLE ONLY HAVE ONE RACE AND ALSO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MULTIRACIAL AND MIXED RACE IDENTITY THE FASTEST GROWING POPULATION WITH THE PRESUMPTION THAT MOST MIXED RACE PEOPLE HAVE A WHITE PARENT.

>> I APOLOGIZE WE'VE GOT SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.

WE HAVE TO HAVE YOU BACK.

REBECCA SIVE, NITASHA SHARMA AND FELICIA DAVIS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, FORMER LONG TIME TRIBUNE JOURNALISTS REFLECT ON THEIR CAREERS AND THE FUTURE OF THE NEWS BUSINESS.

DON'T GO AWAY.

THREE OF THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE"S MOST VETERAN AND RESPECTED WRITERS HAVE TAKEN VOLUNTARY BUYOUTS.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR CAREER, THE FUTURE OF JOURNALISM AND WHAT COMES NEXT ARE BLAIR KAMIN, A PULITZER PRIZE WINNING CRITIC WHO WAS AT THE TRIBUNE FOR 33 YEARS, 28 ON THE ARCHITECTURE BEAT.

HOWARD REICH WHO HAS COVERED MUSIC, ARTS AND CULTURE FOR THE TRIB SINCE 1983.

AND PHIL VETTEL WHO WORKED AT THE TRIBUNE FOR MORE THAN 41 YEARS AND WAS THE RESTAURANT CRITIC FOR THREE DECADES.

CHICAGO NO LONGER HAS A FULL-TIME ARCHITECTURE OR RESTAURANT CRITIC THERE IS ONE REMAINING FULL-TIME MUSIC CRITIC AND ALL OF THEM HAVE TAKEN VOLUNTARY BUYOUTS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN OUSTED AND THEY ARE BOUND BY NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS SO WE WON'T BE GETTING JUICE ON THE TRIB.

PHIL CONGRATS ON THE NEW CHAPTER.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORIAL EXPERIENCE REPORTING ON YOUR BEAT AND I'M SURE IT'S LIKE PICKING A CHILD.

>> A LOT LIKE THAT.

I WAS VERY HAPPY TO BE AROUND FOR THE BIRTH OF RESTAURANTS SUCH AS TRIO IN EVANSTON AND TO WATCH THE ASSENT OF CHICAGO DINING AND BECOMING REALLY A NATIONAL FORCE.

I DON'T THINK I CAN PICK ONE PARTICULAR MOMENT.

BUT IT'S BEEN I'VE HAD A GOOD FRONT ROW SEAT FOR A REMARKABLE TIME IN CHICAGO DINING.

>> BLAIR KAMIN WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST STORY YOU COVERED?

>> LIKE PHIL THAT IS WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHILD QUESTION.

BUT MILLENIUM PARK'S OPENING CERTAINLY.

ALSO COVERING THE OPENING OF THE WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDING IN DUBAI.

THERE ARE MANY OTHERS AND LIKE PHIL IT WAS A PLEASURE TO WITNESS THE RISE OF STARS LIKE JEANNIE GANG OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.

AGAIN, HAVING A FRONT ROW SEAT TO GREAT ARCHITECTURAL CITY LIKE CHICAGO IS TRULY A PRIVILEGE AND A RESPONSIBILITY.

>> HOWARD, YOUR WORK LED TO INTERVIEWING ELLY WIZLE WHICH LED TO A BOOK WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST THRILL IN YOUR TIME.

>> TWO ONE IS ELLY GETTING TO MEET HIM AND KNOW HIM AND WORK WITH HIM DURING THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF HIS LIFE ON THE BOOK THE ART OF INVENTING HOPE.

AND THE TRIBUNE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO GO TO EASTERN EUROPE AND UNCOVER MY MOTHER'S SECRET CHILDHOOD HOLOCAUST EXPERIENCE AND IN JAZZ IT WAS MOVING THAT MORTON AND TWO GENERATIONS OF BLACK COMPOSERS WERE SWINDELLED OUT OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BY THE WHITE MUSIC INDUSTRY.

>> WOW.

PHIL VETTEL YOU SAID YOU DID NOT TAKE THE BUYOUT TWO YEARS AGO BUT WHY NOW?

>> IT WAS A GOOD TIME FOR ME.

I AM A GRANDPA NOW I WASN'T TWO YEARS AGO.

THERE ARE MORE THINGS FOR ME TO DO AT HOME.

AND I JUST TURNED 66.

AND I WASN'T GOING TO DO THIS FOREVER.

I WOULDN'T SAY THE STARS ACTUALLY ALIGNED BUT IT IS AS GOOD OF TIME AS ANY.

>> CONGRATS GRANDPA.

BLAIR, WHY NOW?

>> I TOOK IT NOW BECAUSE THIS WAS TOO, A GOOD TIME.

I DECIDED A YEAR AGO THAT I WAS PROBABLY GOING TO LEAVE.

AND I WANTED TO GET TO THE END OF THE CURRENT POST GREAT RECESSION BUILDING BOOM TO COVER THE COMPLETION OF BUILDINGS LIKE THE NEW BANK OF AMERICA TOWER THE TALLEST BUILDING IN CHICAGO IN 30 YEARS.

AND THE ST. REGIS CHICAGO TOWER.

ALSO BY JEANNIE GANG.

THOSE WERE MILEPOSTS AND IF I WAS GOING TO LEAVE I WANTED TO FINISH THE RACE BY COVERING MAJOR STORIES.

AND SO IT WAS THE RIGHT TIME.

>> HOWARD REICH WHY WAS THIS THE RIGHT TIME FOR YOU?

>> ACTUALLY MY WIFE AND I HAD TALKING ABOUT IT FOR SOME YEARS AND THREE YEARS AGO THE TRIBUNE ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO TAKE ON THE CLASSICAL MUSIC BEAT I'VE BEEN WRITING FOR THE TRIBUNE SINCE 1978.

SINCE MARCH THERE HAVE BEEN NO CONCERTS AND THERE MAY NOT BE CONCERTS FOR THIS YEAR IT'S LIKE BEING A WAR CORRESPONDENT WITHOUT THE WAR.

I DON'T HAVE MUSIC TO COVER AND MUSIC IS AT THE CENTER WHAT I DO THIS WOULD BE A PERFECT MOMENT TO REDIRECT MY ENERGIES TO WORK ON BOOKS AND FILMS.

>> AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL COME BACK TO YOUR FILM IN A BIT.

>> BLAIR, THE YOUR FAREWELL COLUMN WAS THIS, IMAGINE CHICAGO WITHOUT A FULL-TIME SKYLINE WATCHDOG, SCHLOCK DEVELOPERS AND HACK ACT PROTECTS WOULD WELCOME THE LACK OF SCRUTINY IS THIS THE LAST WORD ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ARCHITECTURAL CRITICISM?

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ARCHITECTURE CRITICS DO THE MOST IMPORTANT PERHAPS IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC TO OPEN THEIR EYES TO GET THEM TO LOOK AT BUILDINGS AND RAISE THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE ART THAT SHAPES HOW WE LIVE MORE THAN ANY OTHER ART.

BUT CERTAINLY, THAT FUNCTION WATCHDOGGING KA KEY DEVELOPMENTS IS A CRITICAL PART OF THE BEAT.

WHEN DONALD TRUMP FIRST UNVEILED HIS CHICAGO SKYSCRAPER IN 2001 IT WAS A REAL DOG.

AND EVEN THOUGH CITY HALL PEOPLE WERE WAXING ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT SOMEONE SAY THIS SUCKS, EXCUSE MY FRENCH.

IN ORDER TO GET THE DESIGN IMPROVED.

AND OVER TIME THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED.

THAT'S JUST A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE DO.

CRITICISM IS ABOUT JUDGMENT.

THE GREEK WORD MEANS SKILLED IN JUDGMENT.

AND SOMEBODY HAS TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT THE POWERS THAT BE WHETHER THEY ARE IN ARCHITECTURE, FOOD OR CULTURE, THAT THIS IS THE REAL STORY.

AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION WHETHER WHATEVER YOUR BEAT IS.

WHETHER IT'S FOOD, SHOULD I SPEND MONEY ON A RESTAURANT OR SHOULD I SPEND MONEY TO GO TO A CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERT?

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS CRITICS ARE VALUED AND THEY ARE LIKE PHIL OR HOWARD THEY OPEN YOUR EYES TO WORLDS YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THAT IS WHY I ENJOYED READING MY COLLEAGUES SO MUCH BECAUSE THEY OPENED THE DOOR FOR ME TO SEE THE NEW WORLDS.

>> PHIL YOUR FAREWELL COLUMN QUOTE THE WORK IS NEVER DONE THERE'S ALWAYS ANOTHER RESTAURANT TO COVER ANOTHER TREND TO SPOT ANOTHER NEW CHEF WHO IS ABOUT TO MAKE THE WORLD STAND UP AND TAKE NOTICE.

THE LACK OF CONCERTS, THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY HAS BEEN UPENDED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

PHIL WHAT IS IN THE FUTURE FOR RESTAURANTS?

>> HOPEFULLY SURVIVAL.

IT'S INCREDIBLE TOUGH TIME FOR THEM.

THE CHICAGO RESTAURANTS ARE NOW ABLE TO OPEN AGAIN INDOORS BUT AT 25%.

WHICH NOBODY PRETENDS IS VIABLE FOR SURVIVAL.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY TOUGH.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF GOOD RESTAURANTS GO AWAY.

AND MAYBE THAT IN THE LONG-TERM WILL CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOMEONE ELSE BUT IT IS NOT GOING TO BE A HAPPY TIME.

AND IT'S -- IT MAKES ME SAD.

>> HOWARD THERE IS A FILMS DOCUMENTARY COMING OUT BASED ON A SERIES YOU WROTE.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> THIS IS MY NEXT ACT AFTER THE TRIBUNE.

THE FILM IS CALLED FOR THE LEFT HAND ABOUT THIS AMAZING CHICAGO MAN WHO WHEN HE WAS 10 YEARS OLD TRAGICALLY WAS ATTACKED BY HIS FATHER AND LEFT PARALYZED ON HIS RIGHT SIDE BUT HE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A PIANIST AND HE SPENT DECADES AS A SUCCESSFUL HIGH SCHOOL CHORAL TEACHER AND NEVER TOLD ANYONE WHY HE WAS PARALYZED AND NEVER TOLD ANYONE HE WAS PRACTICING THE PIANO.

I HEARD ABOUT THIS GUY AND I WROTE A SERIES ABOUT HIM AND AT AGE 78 HE GETS INVITATIONS TO PLAY CONCERTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND NOW NORMAN IS A CONCERT PIANIST AND THE FILM WILL TELL HIS TALE.

>> WHAT A STORY WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU HAVE UP YOUR COLLECTIVE SLEEVES.

BEST OF LUCK AND OUR THANKS TO PHIL VETTEL, BLAIR KAMIN AND HOWARD REICH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, BRANDIS.

>> THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC THE CORONAVIRUS HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED CHICAGO'S LATINO COMMUNITY.

WTTW NEWS DIRECTOR AND HOST HUGO BALTA MODERATED A VIRTUAL COMMUNITY CONVERSATION LAST NIGHT ABOUT COVID-19'S IMPACT AND AVAILABLE VACCINES.

DURING THE CONVERSATION MIGUEL BLANCARTE, JR. TALKS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MIGRANT WORKERS IN ILLINOIS GETTING THE VACCINE HERE IS A SHORT CLIP.

>> WE NEED TO INSURE THAT THEY GET VACCINATED AS WELL.

BECAUSE FARM WORKERS IN RURAL ILLINOIS ARE THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS OF CHICAGO OF OUR CITIES.

AND IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT WE SEE THAT THE DISPARITIES HOW COVID IS IMPACTING ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND HOW COVID HAS BEEN IMPACTING NOT ONLY WITH HIGH POSITIVITY RATES AND MORE BITTY RATES OF LATINOS WHO ARE DEFINE THEMSELVES AS ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

SO FOR FARM WORKERS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE SIMILARLY THEY GET VACCINATED THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE VACCINE AS WELL BECAUSE THEY ARE PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE STATE.

>> AND AGAIN THAT WAS FROM LAST NIGHT'S VIRTUAL COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ABOUT COVID-19'S IMPACT ON CHICAGO'S LATINO COMMUNITY.

YOU CAN WATCH THE FULL CONVERSATION ON OUR YouTube CHANNEL AT WTTW CHICAGO AND TUNE IN TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" SATURDAY EVENINGS AT 6 AND THE NEXT CONVERSATION FEBRUARY 22 WHICH I WILL BE HOSTING.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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