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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS THE EVENING OFF.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WE CAN OPEN SCHOOLS AND OPEN THEM SAFELY.

>> THE LATEST ON THE STANDOFF BETWEEN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE TEACHERS' UNION.

>> WE ARE IN THIS POLITICAL TUG OF WAR.

>> WILL STUDENTS RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING IN CHICAGO?

WE HEAR FROM TWO PARENTS BEING CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF NEGOTIATIONS.

>> IT'S TIME TO GET BACK TO WORK.

>> THE PANDEMIC SHOULDN'T SLOW DOWN THE LEGISLATURE.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THAT AND MORE.

>> TODAY CHICAGO SENDS A MESSAGE A NATIONAL MESSAGE THAT WE ARE AGAINST THE SCAPEGOATING OF IMMIGRANTS.

>> ALDERMEN DISCUSS EXPANDED PROTECTIONS FOR CHICAGO'S IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND MEASURES TO CURB GENTRIFICATION.

>> AS PEOPLE OF COLOR CONTINUE TO FEEL LOCKED OUT OF ILLINOIS' MARIJUANA INDUSTRY WE TALK WITH THE GOVERNOR'S CANNABIS ADVISER HOW TO REMEDY THE SITUATION.

>> BEFORE ERIC GARDINER THERE WAS EMMETT TILL.

>> THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE VOTE MAKING EMMETT TILL'S HOME A LANDMARK.

>> OUR DESIRE AND NEED AS PEOPLE.

>> AND THE RELIEF AID BILL THAT IS AIMED AT HELPING ARTS WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BUT FIRST SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORE RITZ.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SAYS THE STATE WILL GET MORE DOSES OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE NEXT WEEK BUT WARNED DEMAND WILL STILL FAR OUTSTRIP SUPPLY FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

PRITZKER SPEAKING AT AN EVENT TO LAUNCH A DRIVE-THRU SITE SAYS PEOPLE HAVE TO BE PATIENT.

>> WE HAVE MORE THAN THREE MILLION PEOPLE IN PHASE 1B AND THAT WE'RE ONLY GETTING VACCINES FIRST DOSE VACCINES ON THE ORDER OF NOW, IT WILL BE PROBABLY AROUND 140,000 PER WEEK.

I THINK PATIENCE IS THE WATCH WORD HERE.

>> THE GOVERNOR ALSO PUSHED BACK ON CRITICS WHO SAY THE STATE'S VACCINE ROLLOUT IS NOT GOING WELL AFTER A "NEW YORK TIMES" ASSESSMENT RANKED ILLINOIS 43rd OUT OF 50 IN DISTRIBUTION WHEN YOU TAKE OUTDOESES SET ASIDE FOR LONG-TERM FACILITIES AND SECOND DOSES THAT QUOTE ACTUALLY WE ARE DOING QUITE WELL AS A STATE.

>> AT LEAST SOME HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS WILL SOON BE BACK.

THE ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES SEVERAL SPORTS INCLUDING BASKETBALL, DIVING AND CHEERLEADING CAN BEGIN PRACTICING WHILE FOOTBALL CAN BEGIN MARCH 3.

NEITHER BOB OR FOOTBALL WILL HAVE A STATE TOURNAMENT.

BASEBALL, SOFTBALL AND TRACK WILL START THEIR SEASONS APRIL5.

3700 NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES TODAY AND 81 LIVES LOST.

ILLINOIS RECORDED 1,112,000 CASES SINCE THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> DESPITE ENDURING A ONCE IN A CENTURY PANDEMIC THE WORLD IS NO CLOSER TO AN APOCOLYPSE.

CREATED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO 75 YEARS AGO THE BULLETIN OF THE ATOMIC SCIENTISTS SAYS THE CLOCK REMAINS 100 SECONDS TO MIDNIGHT THAT IS CLOSE TO GLOBAL CATASTROPHE.

RACHEL BRONSON THE PRESIDENT OF THE BULLETIN CALLS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC A WAKE-UP CALL FOR HUMANITY AND A DECRY CALL TO SCIENCE.

>> IN THIS TIME OF GENUINE CRISIS, GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD TOO OFTEN ABDICATED RESPONSIBILITY, IGNORED SCIENTIFIC ADVICE, DID NOT COOPERATE TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY AND FAILED TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THEIR CITIZENS.

>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS DID NOT GET A DAY OFF THIS WEEK BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.

THERE ARE NO SNOW DAYS FOR REMOTE LEARNING NOT THAT CHICAGO TOOK MANY SNOW DAYS BUT THERE MAY BE A BREAK IN CLASS YET THIS WEEK.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH THE LATEST ON THE STANDOFF BETWEEN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE TEACHERS' UNION.

>> CHICAGO TEACHERS COULD GO ON STRIKE THEIR SECOND SINCE MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT TOOK OVER AS SOON AS TOMORROW.

C.P.S.

SCHOOLS HAVE BY AND LARGE BEEN EMPTY SINCE LAST MARCH BECAUSE OF COVID AND THE STANDOFF NOW IS WHETHER IT'S SAFE FOR TEACHERS TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM ACTUAL CLASSROOMS NOT REMOTE LEARNING.

THE DISTRICT AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SAY YES AND THE TEACHERS' UNION SAYS NO.

THE NEGOTIATIONS RAN LATE TODAY BUT AS OF THE LAST TIME I CHECKED MY E-MAIL BEFORE I LOGGED ON TO BE HERE WITH YOU, STILL NO WORD WHETHER ANYTHING SOLID CAME OUT OF IT.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT THIS AFTERNOON SAYING C.P.S.

WOULD SEND A IN THE TO PARENTS ABOUT WHAT IS IN STORE FOR TOMORROW.

BUT AGAIN AS OF WHEN I LAST CHECKED MY E-MAIL BEFORE 7:00 P.M., STILL NOTHING.

SHOULD TEACHERS REFUSE TO PHYSICALLY SHOW UP C.P.S.

HAD BEEN CONSIDERING LOCKING TEACHERS OUT OF THEIR REMOTE VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS.

BUT WHEN ASKED ABOUT THAT PROSPECT AROUND 4:00 P.M., LIGHTFOOT BRUSHED OFF TALK OF A LOCKOUT.

>> I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT LOCKOUTS.

WHAT WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT IS HOW DO WE GET A DEAL DONE SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD?

WE'VE HAD THREE WEEKS OF SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN THAT C.P.S.

PUT IN PLACE AND BY THE WAY THAT THEY SHARED AND ADAPTED AS A RESULT OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE C.T.U.

EVERY SINGLE DAY WHAT WE SEE IS OUR CASE RATES GOING DOWN, OUR POSITIVITY RATES LOWERED.

>> HERE IS WHAT WE DO KNOW AT THIS TIME.

THAT THE HEAD OF CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Dr. ALLISON ARWADY WAS BROUGHT INTO NEGOTIATIONS TODAY.

AND C.T.U.

FORCES SAY THE TENOR OF THE CONVERSATIONS CHANGED SINCE PASSAGE IN SPRINGFIELD OF A BILL THAT WOULD GIVE THE C.T.U.

MORE BARGAINING RIGHTS.

AND THAT THIS MORNING'S BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING CHIEF JANICE JACKSON OUTLINED THE DISTRICT'S RENEWED OFFER WHICH SHE SAYS INCLUDES OFFERING RAPID TESTING TO ALL SCHOOL EMPLOYEES TWICE A MONTH.

>> WE WILL BEGIN OFFERING FREE MONTHLY COVID TESTING FOR STUDENTS WHO ATTEND IN A ZIP CODES WITH THE 10 HIGHEST COVID POSITIVITY RATES AND WHEN THE DISTRICT BEGINS RECEIVING VACCINES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WE WILL PRIORITIZE VACCINATING STAFF WORKING IN THE HARDEST HIT COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS STAFF WHO HAVE THE GREATEST EXPOSURE.

THE DISTRICT IS PREPARED TO OFFER AS MANY MEDICAL AND CARETAKER ACCOMMODATIONS FOR TELEWORK AS POSSIBLE.

>> BUT C.T.U.

PRESIDENT JESSE SHARKEY SAYS C.P.S.

'S OFFER DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH.

WITH ALLOWING PEOPLE TO WORK REMOTELY, WITH TESTING, AND HE SAID THE DISTRICT'S PLANS FOR RETURNING TO REMOTE LEARNING IN THE CASE OF HIGHER COVID CASES OR AN OUTBREAK WOULD ONLY GO REMOTE ONCE IT WOULD BE TOO LATE.

AND QUESTIONED WHY TEACHERS MUST RETURN TO THE CLASSROOMS BEFORE THEY'VE RECEIVED THE COVID VACCINE?

>> IF A VACCINE FREE-FOR-ALL.

NO ONE IS TALKING TO US WHAT IS REALLY POSSIBLE ABOUT THE VACCINE.

THE REAL CONSTRAINTS.

IF THERE WAS A WILL COULD THERE BE A WAY?

WE CAN'T SEE WHY YOU CANNOT PHASE IN REOPENING IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS OUR MEMBERS TO BE VACCINATED.

>> THE PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATION MEANWHILE COMING OUT WITH A PLAN ATTEMPTING TO THE BRIDGE THE DIVIDE IT CALLS FOR OPENING 50-100 SCHOOLS AS A PILOT MAKING SURE THAT THE STAFF WHO ARE IN THOSE CLASSROOMS GET VACCINE PRIORITY AND THEN PHASING IN MORE SCHOOL OPENINGS OVER TIME.

DIRECTOR OF THE PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATION TROY LaRAVIERE SAYS WHILE C.P.S.

PHASED IN ITS OWN PLAN... >> AND NO MATTER HOW SINCERE THE DISTRICT IS, WE NEED THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE FACE IS NOT SQUARE WITH THE REALITY OF IMPLEMENTATION ON THE GROUND IN MOST SCHOOLS.

>> PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, MIGUEL del VALLE, ALSO WEIGHING IN ON THE PROSPECT OF ANOTHER STRIKE SHOULD IT HAPPEN THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND STRIKE IN 15 MONTHS.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE SECOND TIME WITHIN THAT SPAN THAT CHICAGO STUDENTS WOULD NOT BE GETTING A PUBLIC EDUCATION.

>> A STRIKE WOULD BE DEVASTATING FOR OUR STUDENTS OUR PARENTS, OUR COMMUNITIES WE HAVE ENDURED SO MUCH OVER THE LAST 10 MONTHS.

WE BELIEVE OUR TEACHERS TRULY WANT TO CONTINUE TO DELIVER HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION TO OUR STUDENTS.

AND THAT THEY KNOW HOW DEBILITATING A STRIKE WOULD BE FOR STUDENTS WHOSE PROGRESS AND WELL-BEING HAS ALREADY BEEN IMPACTED BY COVID.

>> THE MAYOR WAS ASKED TODAY ABOUT WHAT IS DIFFERENT NOW FROM THAT STRIKE IN 2019.

>> WE'RE ADDRESSING ISSUES ABOUT THE SCHOOLS WHICH ARE SAFE, NOT ONLY SAFE AS EVALUATED BY OUR CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, BUT SAFE AS TO CDC GUIDANCE AND A NUMBER OF STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE BOTH HERE IN IN CHICAGO AND ACROSS THE WORLD.

SCHOOLS ARE NOT GENERALLY THE SOURCE OF SPREAD PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU INVEST IN THE PRECAUTIONS AND MEDIATION EFORTS LIKE WE HAVE.

>> SOME STUDENTS HAD ACTUALLY RETURNED TO THE CLASSROOM PRE-K AND SPECIAL NEEDS CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE WELCOMED BACK EARLY THIS MONTH.

STAFF FOR KINDERGARTEN-8 THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE RETURNED BEGINNING DOING PREP ON MONDAY WITH A GOAL OF THE STUDENTS WHO CHOOSE FROM K-8 RETURNING TO THEIR SCHOOLS STARTING FEBRUARY FIRST.

THIS IS, OF COURSE, A DEVELOPING STORY AS I SAID, I'M SURE CHECKING OUR INBOXES I HAVE A LOT OF INK FROM C.P.S.

PARENTS AS WELL.

CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR ANY DEVELOPMENT.

>> THANK YOU.

YOU AND I ARE WATCHING THIS.

AS ARE PARENTS AMID THE STANDOFF BETWEEN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE TEACHERS' UNION, ARE STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

JOINING US TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES ARE C.P.S.

PARENTS, FLOR DIMAS WHO HAS TWO CHILDREN IN C.P.S.

ONE IN THIRD GRADE AND THE OTHER IN 12TH.

AND NATASHA DUNN, WHO HAS A SIXTH GRADER IN C.P.S.

THANK YOU TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

NATASHA DUNN LET'S START WITH YOU.

YOU HAVE A SIXTH GRADER AND YOU WOULD LIKE HER TO BE ATTENDING CLASSES IN PERSON.

WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

>> RIGHT NOW SHE IS STRUGGLING BECAUSE A LOT OF OTHER AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS ARE.

AND IT'S A PART OF MAKING SURE THAT SHE HAS A HOLISTIC AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT CAN ENCOURAGE HER AND BE ABLE TO SUPPORT HER ACADEMICALLY.

>> FLOR DIMAS YOU HAVE A THIRD GRADER AND 12TH GRADER YOU'VE CHOSEN NOT TO SEND YOUR BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING YET AND YOU ARE NOT A FAN OF SCHOOLS REOPENING.

TELL US WHY?

>> WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE LIVE IN A MULTIGENERATIONAL HOME.

WITH GRANDPARENTS WHO ARE HIGH-RISK.

WE'VE TAKEN THE SAFETY MEASURES SINCE THE BEGINNING OF COVID BUT MY SON'S SCHOOL IS IN A VERY AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE STUDENTS WILL BE TRAVELING BACK FROM OUT OF THE STATE INCLUDING OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

I DON'T FEEL SAFE SENDING MY SON BACK IF THAT IS GOING ON.

AND I HONESTLY JUST DON'T TRUST C.P.S.

'S PLAN BECAUSE THEY PUT THIS PLAN TOGETHER WITHOUT CONSULTING THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OPENING THE SCHOOLS AND MUCH LESS THE PARENTS.

THEY DIDN'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHETHER OR NOT ALL FAMILIES HAD ACCESS TO E-MAILS, TO TAKE THE SURVEYS THAT THEY SENT OUT.

AND THEY CERTAINLY DIDN'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN LANGUAGE BARRIERS SO THAT PARENTS COULD ANSWER THE SURVEYS PROPERLY.

I SPEAK ENGLISH.

I SPEAK EDUCATION LANGUAGE.

AND I HAD A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING WHAT MY OPTIONS WERE.

SO IF I HAD A HARD TIME, I KNOW THAT OTHER PARENTS HAD A HARD TIME.

I KNOW THEY ARE NOT REACHING UNDER RESOURCED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ARE ALWAYS UNDERSERVED, HAVE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF ACCESS AND -- >> TO THAT POINT, THE DISTRICT SAID THIS IS ABOUT EQUITY FOR THEM.

THEY BELIEVE REMOTE LEARNING TO NOT NECESSARILY BE WORKING FOR EVERYONE.

DO YOU THINK REMOTE LEARNS AS EXACERBATED THE INEQUITIES THAT EXISTED IN C.P.S.?

>> IT CERTAINLY HAS AND I WANT TO SAY THE REASON WHY I BELIEVE IN THE BACK TO SCHOOL AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE OF THOSE INEQUITIES.

RIGHT NOW THERE IS CURRENTLY AN ACHIEVEMENT GAP.

THE BLACK STUDENTS ARE FACING WITH READING AND MATH.

THIS WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

SO HAVING STUDENTS OUT OF SCHOOL WHEN THEY ARE STRUGGLING BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AND STRUGGLING NOW WITH THE PANDEMIC.

I DID A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT TO GET THE GRADES FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT THE FIRST GROUP -- THE BLACK NETWORKS WITHIN C.P.S.

HAD THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF F'S AND D'S THAN ANY OTHER NETWORK.

IT IS NOT WORKING.

REMOTE LEARNING IS NOT WORKING FOR ALL CHILDREN.

WHILE IT MIGHT WORK FOR SOME IT'S NOT WORKING FOR OTHERS AND IT'S EXACERBATING THE INEQUITY GAP.

>> THE CDC RELEASED A REPORT YESTERDAY THAT SAYS SCHOOLS CAN SAFELY REOPEN BUT THAT THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ARE CRUCIAL.

DOES THIS GIVE YOU PEACE OF MIND ABOUT POTENTIALLY RETURNING TO SCHOOLS?

>> IT ACTUALLY DOES NOT.

I WORKED AS A TEACHER FOR C.P.S.

IN THE EARLY 2,000'S.

AND C.P.S.

HAS NOT CHANGED THAT MUCH AS FAR AS MAKING SURE THAT, AGAIN, UNDERSERVED AND UNDERRESOURCED SCHOOLS IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAFETY MEASURES THAT ARE NEEDED IN ORDER TO RETURN TO SCHOOL.

WHY HAVEN'T THEY PRIORITIZED STUDENTS AND TEACHERS GETTING VACCINATION NATIONS?

WHY THEY DON'T THEY ALLOW PARENTS TO CHOOSE TO RETURN AND GO BACK AND ROLL IT OUT SLOWLY AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE VACCINATIONS AND YOU KNOW OUR BUILDINGS ARE SAFE.

I CAN STILL GO TO A SCHOOL, RUN THE WATER IN A BATHROOM AND I WILL HAVE YELLOW WATER RUNNING OUT OF THERE.

TURN ON A VENT, AND WIPE DOWN MY TABLE A FEW HOURS LATER AND THAT TABLE WILL BE FILTHY AGAIN.

NO, I DON'T TRUST THAT C.P.S.

IS DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO ESPECIALLY WHEN -- >> I WAS GOING TO SAY NOT ALL PARENTS ARE ABLE TO STAY AT HOME AND ASSIST WITH E-LEARNING.

HERE IS A CLIP FOR A MONDAY PRESS CONFERENCE IN SUPPORT OF REOPENING SCHOOLS.

WILLIE PRESTON AND HIS WIFE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME.

HERE IS WHAT THEY SAID.

>> LOOKS LIKE WE ARE HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE WITH THAT.

BASICALLY HE IS SAYING HE HAS SIX CHILDREN AND THAT IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO FIND PEOPLE TO COME AND BABYSIT.

WHAT HAVE BEEN THE CHALLENGES OF BALANCING REMOTE LEARNING?

>> CHALLENGES ARE WHAT WILLIE SPOKE OF.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE NOT EVERYONE HAS THE CAPACITY TO STAY AT HOME WITH THEIR CHILD THEY DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY TO HIRE TUTORS OR HAVE OTHER PLAY DATES TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILD.

I THINK WHAT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER IS THAT WE JUST CAN'T WAIT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY OUR CHILDREN NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL BECAUSE THE LONGER THEY ARE OUT OF SCHOOL THE HARDER IT WILL BE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO CATCH UP.

WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY IN THE BUILDINGS, WE HAVE ALL BEEN IN THE PANDEMIC TOGETHER.

THE TEACHERS ARE NOT SEPARATE FROM ANYONE ELSE.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TEACHERS ACTUALLY VACATIONING ON THE BEACH IN CANCUN, MASKLESS AND SAYING THEY ARE AFRAID FOR SCHOOLS TO REOPEN TO ME THAT IS HIGHLY OFFENSIVE AND IT'S NOT FAIR BECAUSE THE REALITY IS THE WORLD IS OPEN.

IT'S OPEN.

AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CREATING EQUITY YOU CANNOT HAVE GROUPS OF KIDS GOING TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND KIDS IN THE SUBURBS GOING TO SCHOOL AND THEN SAYING THAT THE MOST LOW INCOME, COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO DON'T HAVE ACCESS.

>> THANK YOU.

I THINK WE'RE GETTING WORD FROM CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS THERE WILL BE MORE REMOTE LEARNING TOMORROW.

AND TOMORROW NIGHT ON THIS PROGRAM, MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND SCHOOL'S C.E.O.

JANICE JACKSON WILL JOIN US FOR THE LATEST ON THE SITUATION.

BUT FOR NOW, THANKS TO FLOR DIMAS AND NATASHA DUNN FOR JOINING US.

BEST OF LUCK.

>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2021 CITY COUNCIL MET TO VOTE ON SEVERAL CITYWIDE MEASURES.

AMONG THEM WERE CHANGES TO CHICAGO'S WELCOMING CITY ORDINANCE WHICH FURTHER RESTRICTS CHICAGO POLICE FROM WORKING WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES, EXTENDING PROTECTIONS TO THE CITY'S IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

AND PASSED RESTRICTIONS ON CONVERTING MULTIUNIT BUILDINGS TO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

AND WHAT DO ALDERMEN THINK ABOUT SCHOOLS REOPENING FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING?

JOINING US ARE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL: MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ, 15TH WARD ALDERMAN RAY LOPEZ, 35TH WARD ALDERMAN CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA AND 38TH WARD ALDERMAN NICK SPOSATO.

GENTLEMEN THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

>> ALDERMAN CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA, THE CHANGES TO THE CITY'S WELCOMING CITY ORDINANCE PASSED CITY COUNCIL FOR YEARS, YOU'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR THESE CHANGES WHICH WOULD LIMIT CHICAGO POLICE FROM COOPERATING WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES.

WHY WERE THE CHANGES NECESSARY?

>> IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE UNDOCUMENTED CHICAGOANS SAID THE CITY COULD DO MORE TO PROTECT OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO CREATE A LINE OF SEPARATION BETWEEN FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ASSURE OUR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY WHICH NUMBERS CLOSE TO 200,000 PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO THEY DID NOT NEED TO BE AFRAID TO CALL 9-1-1 OR FEAR IF THEY WERE A VICTIM AND PICKED UP PHONE AND CALLED 9-1-1 THAT THEY OR A FAMILY END WOULD END UP IN THE HANDS OF I.C.E.

BY HAVING THIS CLEAR LINE OF SEPARATION WE ARE IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY AND MAKING SURE WE ARE A SANCTUARY THAT PROTECTS ALL IMMIGRANTS THAT IN NO EXCEPTION CAN THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT WORK WITH I.C.E.

>> ALD.

>> YOU WERE AMONG THE EIGHT VOTES THAT OPPOSED THE CHANGES.

ALDERMAN LOPEZ WHY DID YOU OPPOSE HE IS?

>> MY OPPOSITION HAS BEEN CONSISTENT SINCE IT WAS FIRST PROPOSED UNDER THE LAST ADMINISTRATION.

MY CONCERN IS ABOUT SAFETY.

SAFETY OF MY RESIDENTS AND THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY OF CHICAGO.

I REPRESENT MANY UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS FROM THE COMMUNITIES I WAS ELECTED TO SERVE AND BACK IN THE YARDS IN PARTICULAR.

THOUGH WE CONTINUE TO HELP THE UNDOCUMENTED IN MY NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY TOO WERE CONCERNED THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE CHOSEN A DIFFERENT AND DARKER PATH WERE BEING GIVEN THE SAME AMOUNT OF COMPASSION AS THE INDIVIDUALS TRYING TO DO RIGHT IN THEIR NEW HOME.

WE FEEL IT'S UNFAIR AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS CAUSE FOR MY CONTINUED OPPOSITION TODAY.

>> ALDERMAN SPOSATO?

>> YES, SIMILAR TO WHAT ALDERMAN LOPEZ SAID I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT AND I AM NOT INSINIATING THAT THE MAJORITY [INAUDIBLE] PEOPLE ARE CRIMINALS.

THE FAR MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT COME HERE ARE HARD-WORKING PEOPLE AND WANT TO MAKE A GOOD LIFE AND WE HAVE LAWS IN THE COUNTRY WE'RE WELCOMING COUNTRY AND CITY BUT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAWS.

THERE IS A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP AND PEOPLE NEED TO COME THAT WAY.

>> TO THAT END THERE ARE MANY IMMIGRANTS IN CHICAGO WHO MIGHT NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE CALLING THE POLICE IN AN EMERGENCY BUT IT WOULD ALLOW GANG MEMBERS TO GET AWAY WITH COMMITTING THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT BEING REPORTED.

HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THE TWO DIFFERENCES?

>> THE FACT IS TODAY A GREAT DAY FOR OUR CITY.

A SUPER MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL CAME TOGETHER TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE CHANGES.

THE FACT IS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF MY COLLEAGUES AGREED WITH CARLOS AND I THAT IMMIGRANTS NEED TO FEEL SAFE IN OUR CITY.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS ARE NOT I WILL CS.

WE NEED TO -- ARE NOT CRIMINALS.

WE NEED TO TREAT IMMIGRANTS FROM A WELCOMING PERSPECTIVE.

THE 22nd WARD IS THE MOST IMMIGRANT DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

MANY RESIDENTS COME TO SAY WE ARE IN THE SHADOWS WE DON'T WANT TO PICK UP THE PHONE IF WE SEE A CRIME BECAUSE WE THINK AUTHORITIES WILL COME FOR US AND TALK TO I.C.E.

WE STOPPED THAT AND THE FACT IS THAT A JUDGE CAN STILL INTERVENE IF THERE IS SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

THE CITY POLICE, THE STATE'S ATTORNEY WILL STILL ADJUDICATE INDIVIDUALS WHO COMMIT CRIMES.

THE FEAR MONGERING HERE IS ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY.

IT IS A GOOD DAY IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

A SUPER MAJORITY OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO BE A WELCOMING CITY FOR IMMIGRANTS AND WE ARE HAPPY WE MADE THAT HAPPEN TODAY.

>> AND SOMETHING ELSE THAT HAPPENED IN COUNCIL, CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA THE ORDINANCES AIMED AT CURBING GENTRIFICATION WERE APPROVED TODAY.

THEY LIMIT THE CONVERSION OF TWO-SIX UNIT BUILDINGS CONVERTING THEM INTO SINGLE HOMES IS LIMITED.

WHAT IMPORTANCE TO THE BUILDINGS THE LARGER BUILDINGS HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY?

>> TWO AND THREE-FLAT APARTMENT BUILDINGS PROVIDE SO MANY OF THE AFFORDABILITY.

70% OF THE FAMILIES ARE ACTUALLY FOUND IN TWO, THREE AND FOUR FLATS.

WHEN WE DEACON VERT THOSE FLATS TO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WE ARE LOSING THE MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN PILSEN AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN AROUND THE 606 TRAIL IN LOGAN SQUARE, THE DECONVERSION WAS LEADING TO LOCAL BUSINESSES CLOSING.

WAS LEADING TO THE RESEGREGATION OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

CURRENTLY LOGAN SQUARE AND PILSEN ARE ONE OF THE FEW COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE A LEVEL OF DIVERSITY AND SCHOOL ENROLLMENT DROP AND HOUSING PRICES CONTINUE TO GO UP AND UP.

COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING TO SAY HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND INSURE WE ARE PROTECTING THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT MIDDLE HOUSING THAT IS FOUND IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND THROUGH WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND MY COLLEAGUE, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY GROUPS, LOGAN SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WE WERE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER TO CRAFT ONE PART OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE A BIGGER SOLUTION.

BY SAYING YOU CANNOT DEACON DEACON VERT WE ARE PROTECTING THE HOUSING THAT EXISTS AND THIS IS SIMILAR TO MEASURES IN MINNEAPOLIS AND INTRODUCED IN SEATTLE.

THIS IS TOTALLY SOMETHING THAT WAS WITHIN OUR RIGHT AS A CITY TO DO AND THAT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO SO WE PROTECT THAT DENSITY THE HOMES THAT PROVIDE AFFORDABILITY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS IN THESE MULTIUNIT BUILDINGS IMPACTED BY SOARING RENTS AND DISPLACEMENTS?

>> BEFORE I ANSWER THAT QUESTION, I WANTED TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES WHO JOINED ME IN THE RESOLUTION THAT WE PRESENTED TO TALK ABOUT FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ROLLBACK THE TRUMP ERA ANTI-IMMIGRANT MEASURES.

I THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING THAT EFFORT.

WE HAD A UNANIMOUS SUPPORT.

THERE WAS A LITTLE HICCUP BUT WE WON'T TALK ABOUT THAT.

I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

LITTLE VILLAGE IS A NEIGHBOR OF PILSEN.

WE SEE WHAT IS GOING ON THERE.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO THROW EVERYTHING WE CAN AT MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP AFFORDABILITY HERE IN THE CITY.

WE'VE SEEN RECORD NUMBERS OF BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES LEAVE OUR CITY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES.

PART OF THAT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.

THIS IS A SMART BILL.

DECONVERSION BILL TO MAKE SURE WE MAINTAIN DENSITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT IS HOW YOU HAVE A THRIVING CITY THROUGH DENSITY.

>> WE'VE GOT 45 SECONDS LEFT I WANT TO HEAR FROM A COUPLE OF YOU ABOUT SCHOOLS.

WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN C.P.S.

AND C.T.U.

THERE'S BEEN RESEARCH FROM THE CDC IN WISCONSIN SAYING THAT VIRAL SPREAD WITHIN SCHOOLS CAN BE LIMITED WITH PROPER MITIGATION.

ALDERMAN SPOSATO IS IT TIME TO REOPEN SCHOOLS?

ISM I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE TO GET OUR KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

I'M NOT SURE WHEN THE RIGHT TIME IS U BUT ONCE WE GO BACK WE STAY BACK.

MY THING IS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S THE RIGHT TIME.

>> LOPEZ?

>> THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, OUR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN THE POLITICAL FOOTBALL WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC EDUCATION EVER SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED.

WE'VE SEEN WHERE OUR STUDENTS HAVE NOT BEEN GOING TO SCHOOL ON-LINE CONSISTENTLY.

AND THEY ARE ONLY GOING TO BE FURTHER BEHIND IF WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE EGOS BATTLING EACH OTHER WITH OUR CHILDREN CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

I HOPE WE GET RESOLUTION THAT IS IN THE INTEREST OF OUR STUDENTS AND NOT POLITICAL EVIL SLOKING.

>> WHAT IS THAT RESOLUTION?

>> I THINK WE CAN DISCUSS WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND TEACHERS AND PARENTS AND ADMINISTRATION ALL IN A ROOM AND DO WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR OUR STUDENTS.

IF THAT MEANS THEY GO BACK WITH PRECAUTIONS SO BE IT.

IF IT MEANS WE CONTINUE ON-LINE, SO BE IT.

BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AIMED AT MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE GETTING EDUCATED AND NOT BEING KICKED AROUND LIKE A POLITICAL FOOTBALL TO SCORE POINTS.

>> A LOT OF TOUGH DECISIONS.

THANKS TO ALDERMAN MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ, ALDERMAN RAY LOPEZ, ALDERMAN CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA AND ALDERMAN NICK SPOSATO.

>> AND UP NEXT, A LOOK AT CHICAGO ARTISTS JOINING OTHERS S FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN DEMANDING FEDERAL RELIEF AID.

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 WE HAVE MUCH MORE AHEAD ON THE PROGRAM INCLUDING A ONE-ON-ONE WITH GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S TOP ADVISER ON MARIJUANA.

FIRST, ARTISTS ARE CALLING ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO ALLOCATE RELIEF AID FOR THE ARTS SECTOR IN THE BILL KNOWN AS THE DAWN ACT OR DEFEND ARTS WORKERS NOW STARTED BY MATTHEW-LEE ERLBACH.

ANGEL IDOWU SHARES HOW THEY PLAN TO FIGHT FOR AID FOR AN INDUSTRY RESPONSIBLE FOR AN $877 BILLION CONTRIBUTION TO THE U.S. ECONOMY.

>> IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ARTS HERO CAMPAIGN ARTS WORKERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE WRITING THEIR SENATORS DEMANDING MORE FEDERAL FUNDS.

THEY SAY DEDICATION TO THEIR CRAFT HAS ADDED MORE TO THE ECONOMY THAN AGRICULTURE AND MINING COMBINED.

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT ILLINOIS, IT'S A $30 BILLION IN ADDED VALUE TO ILLINOIS' ECONOMY WHICH IS MASSIVE.

IT SUPPORTS ARTS AND CULTURE SUPPORTS OVER 224,000 JOBS IN ARTS AND CULTURE.

AND THAT IS PEOPLE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA ON STAGE TO SOUND TECHNICIANS, ENGINEERS, MUSEUMS PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING [INAUDIBLE] IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THOSE JOBS, ILLINOIS IN PARTICULAR YOU WANT TO PUT AN ECONOMIC FLOOR UNDER THEM BECAUSE IF THEY GO THAT IS A HUGE CHUNK OF ILLINOIS' ECONOMY.

>> THE CAMPAIGN IS ORGANIZED BY MATTHEW-LEE ERLBACH AND FEATURES LETTERS FROM MORE THAN 2 HUNDRED ARTISTS.

>> ARTISTS HAVE THE SKILLS TO BUILD COMMUNITIES AND COALITIONS.

WORK WITH ARTISTS WHEN WE NEED TO ENVISION NEW SOLUTIONS.

>> E. FAYE BUTLER IS ONE OF THEM.

SHE SAYS THE SUPPORT WOULD BE A REFLECTION OF APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK PEOPLE DO IN THE ARTS.

>> THE LOVE US BACK A LITTLE BIT.

WE NEED YOU.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT.

WE HAVE FAMILIES WE HAVE HOMES.

AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS MISCONCEPTION THAT ARTISTS ARE THE WILD FLOWER PEOPLE THAT KIND OF ROAM THE STREETS AND OR THEY ARE INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY OR THEY DON'T NEED MONEY BECAUSE WE ARE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT DON'T REALLY HAVE A JOB.

WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO GET A JOB IN THIS IS A JOB AND IT IS MY LIFE AND IT'S HANGING IN THE BALANCE.

AND FOR ALL OF THOSE ARTS WORKERS WE NEED YOU.

WE ARE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, MANY, MANY OF US.

AND WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO FIGHT FOR US.

>> THE DAWN ACT WOULD HAVE THE GOVERNMENT TO AUTHORIZE $48.3 BILLION TO MAKE GRANTS THAT BENEFIT ART SIFTS -- ARTISTS, VENUES AND BUSINESSES.

THAT MEANS LIKE PROGRAMS LIKE YOUNG CHICAGO AUTHORS.

KEVIN COVAL SAYS MOMENTS LIKE AMANDA GORMAN'S POEM ARE REFLECTIVE OF ART'S ABILITY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

>> IF ONLY WE'RE BRAVE ENOUGH TO SEE IT IF ONLY WE'RE BRAVE ENOUGH TO BE IT.

>> POETRY IN ITS BEST LIVED PRACTICE IS A RADICALLY DEMOCRATIC FORM THAT TRULY BELIEVES HOLDS THE NOTION THAT REGARDLESS OF WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU COME FROM YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

>> WITH APPROXIMATELY 5.1 BILLION ARTS WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MATTHEW-LEE ERLBACH SAYS THE DAWN ACT WERE SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND RECOGNIZING ARTS WORKERS AS CORNERSTONES OF AMERICA'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY.

>> THE PROBLEM OF ECONOMIC CATASTROPHE IS WHAT WE ARE FACING WE WERE THE FIRST TO CLOSE AND THE LAST TO REOPEN AND THE ACT IS SAYING HERE IS HOW WE GET ECONOMIC REVIVAL BUT NATIONAL RECONCILIATION.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> ARTS WORKERS ARE ASKING THAT THAT 43 BEEN 8 BILLION GRANT HELP THEM WITH EXPENSES INCURED THROUGH JUNE 30, 2021.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE DAWN ART AND BE AN ARTS HERO CAMPAIGN.

STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" EMMETT TILL'S CHILDHOOD HOME IS A CHICAGOLAND MARK.

HOW ILLINOIS AIMS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO MARIJUANA DISPENSARY LICENSES AFTER CRITICISM FROM EQUITY ADVOCATES.

>> IT'S ALWAYS CHALLENGING TO FIGURE OUT AND STRIKE THE RIGHT BALANCE.

>> AND OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM EXAMINES MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S PLAN TO REDRAW THE CITY COUNCIL MAP THIS YEAR AND MUCH MORE.

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

AN ANNUAL COUNT OF CHICAGO'S HOMELESS POPULATION HAS BEGUN.

THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND SUPPORT SERVICES HANDLES THE POINT IN TIME ASSESSMENT WHICH AIMS TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE TALLY OF THE HOMELESS INCLUDING THOSE LIVING ON THE STREETS IN SHELTERS OR RIDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR WARMTH AND SHELTER.

THE 2020 COUNT FOUND UNDER 5400 PEOPLE WERE HOMELESS A 2% INCREASE FROM 2019.

THE DATA IS USED TO DETERMINE THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES FOR HOUSING AND SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS.

>> CITY COUNCIL'S LATINO CONTACT DISCUSS REJECTED A CALL TO CHARGE AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION WITH THE REDRAWING OF BOUNDARIES OF THE 50 WARDS SAYING ALDERMEN ARE BEST EQUIPPED TO INSURE THAT THE MAP IS EQUITABLE.

CHAIRMAN ROBERT MALDONADO INSISTED THAT ALDERMEN SHOULD BE THE ONES TO DRAW THE BOUNDARIES AND DISMISS THE MYTH THAT AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION WOULD INSURE TEST OF INTERESTS.

>> 10 YEARS AGO KNOWING THE HISTORY OF WHAT HAPPENED AND HAVING BEEN THERE 10 YEARS AGO IN THE PROCESS, WE WERE -- LATINOS WE WERE PLAYED.

WE ENDED UP WITH LESS SEATS IN THE CITY COUNCIL THAN THE ONES THAT WE SHOULD HAVE HAD.

AND I THINK THAT THIS TIME AROUND WE CANNOT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> AND ILLINOIS HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT MORE THAN 3700 NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES AND AN ADDITIONAL 81 LIVES LOST.

THE STATE RECORDED 1,112,000 CASES AND 18,964 DEATHS.

>> IT'S OFFICIAL.

IN EMMETT TILL A CHILDHOOD HOME IS A CHICAGOLAND MARK AFTER CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO GIVE LANDMARK STATUS TO THE TWO-FLAT.

HE WAS LYNCHED IN MISSISSIPPI 65 YEARS AGO.

GALVANIZING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

TODAY JENNETTE TAYLOR WHOSE WARD INCLUDES THE HOME SPOKE ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TODAY'S VOTE.

>> WE STILL HAVE A REAL PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY NOT ADDRESSING THE BRUTALITY THAT HAS HAPPENED TO BLACK FOLKS AND MAKING SURE WE APOLOGIZE AND RECOGNIZE IT AND DO SOMETHING TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE WILL REPEAT HISTORY IF WE DON'T ADDRESS IT.

>> AND TAYLOR'S VIRTUAL BACKGROUND THERE A PHOTO OF I AM MITT TILL AND HIS MOTHER.

PATTY WETLI JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS BEEN FOR THE HOUSE TO GET LANDMARK STATUS AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN NOW?

>> YEAH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PRESERVATIONISTS HAVE BEEN PUSHING FORMENTO'S A WHILE BUT WHEN 2020 ROLLED ON AND IT WAS THE ANNIVERSARY OF EMMITT A MURDER THE TIMING ALL ALIGNED AND THEY RECEIVED PRELIMINARY LANDMARK STATUS BACK IN SEPTEMBER AND IT'S BEEN A PROCESS OF WORKING THROUGH FINAL LANDMARK, CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL, BUT TODAY IT'S 100% OFFICIAL A LANDMARK NOW.

>> AND WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE HOME?

>> WELL, THAT WAS THE BIG QUESTION BACK IN SEPTEMBER WHEN PRELIMINARY STATUS WAS AWARDED AND THAT'S BECOME CLEARER IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

THE ORGANIZATION BLACKS IN GREEN HAS PURCHASED THE HOME AND THEY HAVE INTENTIONS TO TURN IT INTO AN INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE PILGRIMAGE SITE WHERE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT THE STORY OF THE GREAT MIGRATION AS TOLD THROUGH THE LENS OF THE TILL FAMILY.

IT WILL BE A LOT ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND ALSO ABOUT THE GREAT MIGRATION.

>> I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THAT.

IN THE MEANTIME THANKS TO PATTY WETLI.

>> AND YOU CAN READ THE FULL STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> IT'S BEEN ONE YEAR OF LEGAL MARIJUANA IN ILLINOIS.

MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS OF RECREATIONAL AND MEDICAL WEED WAS SOLD IN 2020 AND THE STATE HAS EXPUNGED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MARIJUANA-RELATED ARRESTS.

BUT ILLINOIS' CANNABIS PROGRAM HAS COME UNDER HEAVY FIRE FROM EQUITY ADVOCATES TO SAY PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT OF THE CHANCE TO OPEN DISPENSARIES.

JOINING US WITH MORE IS TOI HUTCHINSON, SENIOR ADVISER TO GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER AND THE FORMER STATE SENATOR FROM CHICAGO'S SOUTH SUBURBS.

ONE YEAR OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA WHAT GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE THE STATE'S HANDLING OF THE ROLL OUT SO FAR?

>> INCOMPLETE WE ARE NOT DONE.

WE ARE NOWHERE NEAR DONE.

THIS IS OUR FIRST ATTEMPT TO TRY TO DISMANTLE SOMETHING.

SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S A FINISHED PRODUCT YET I THINK WE ARE TRYING TO PLUG AWAY AS HARD AS WE CAN TO GET TO WHAT THE INTENTION OF THE LEGISLATION WAS AND MEET THE DEMANDS THAT THE WORLD IS WATCHING.

>> AS MENTIONED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS EQUITY CONCERNS RAISED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR IN APPLYING FOR THE LICENSES.

HERE IS A BRIEF CLIP OF ONE APPLICANT WE SPOKE WITH A FEW WEEKS AGO.

>> I THINK WHAT STINGS THE MOST IS WHEN WE GET THESE REPORTS ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY IS BEING MADE, WE'RE UP CLOSE TO A BILLION DOLLARS.

AND NONE OF US HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

IT'S JUST NOT FAIR.

YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SAY I'M HAPPY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT IS MAKING THAT BILLION BECAUSE THAT SHOULD BE US.

THIS BILL WAS SOLD TO US FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL EQUITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> YOU GIVE THE STATE AN INCOMPLETE GRADE.

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE BLACK AND LATINO APPLICANTS THAT FEEL LOCKED OUT OF THE PROCESS?

>> NOBODY HAS BEEN LOCKED OUT.

THIS IS A TIME FOR WHEN WE HAVE TO FIND ALL THE MISTAKES ALL THE THINGS AND KEEP WORKING.

LIKE THE THING ABOUT THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN SPENT WE HAD ONE -- A MAJOR GOAL THAT WAS BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE PLACES.

HOW DO YOU CHANGE THE FACE OF THE INDUSTRY?

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE MONEY?

AND HOW DO YOU UNDO PAST HARMS?

AND EVEN IN THE FACE OF A PANDEMIC WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WORK ON ALL THREE FRONTS.

I KNOW, EVERY TIME WE SEE HIGH DOLLARS I ALSO KNOW THAT ONE OUT OF FOUR DOLLARS THAT COMES TO THE STATE IS PLUGGED INTO A COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT PROGRAM AND WE JUST ANNOUNCED $32.4 MILLION IN GRANTS TO PLAQUE AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN UNDERSERVED FOR SO LONG IN ADDITION TO 20,000 PARDONS FOR ARRESTS AND ALMOST 500,000 ARREST RECORDS EXPUNGED AND WE ARE STILL INTENTLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WAY WE CHANGE THE FACE OF THIS INDUSTRY HAPPENS WITH THE WAY WE INTENDED FOR IT TO HAPPEN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THIS IS AN ONGOING THING.

IT'S TAKING WAY LONGER THAN ANY OF US WANTED BUT THE GOAL AND THE INTENTION HAS NEVER CHANGED.

WHEN WE BUILD AN INDUSTRY IN THIS STATE IT WILL LOOK LIKE NOWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY.

BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE WHOLE WORLD LOOKS THE WAY IT DOES HERE IN ILLINOIS.

AND THAT IS THE REASON WE'RE HERE.

THE STORY OF ENTREPRENEURS THAT WILL GET THIS SHOT I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO BE OUT FRONT AND RUN THEIR BUSINESSES.

>> I DO WANT TO COME BACK TO THE COMMUNITY GRANTS.

BUT IT HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED THE STATE WILL ALLOW APPLICANTS TO REMEDY THEIR APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED FOR DISPENSARY LICENSES DO YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE APPLICANTS WILL FEEL MORE INCLUDED AND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH A TRANSPARENT PROCESS GOING FORWARD?

>> WE ARE GOING TO DO WHAT WE ARE DOING OUR BEST.

NOTHING MATTERS IF THERE IS NO TRUST IN THE PROCESS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY THE GOAL IS TO CHANGE THE FACE OF THIS INDUSTRY AND NONE OF US ARE GOING TO STOP UNTIL THAT HAPPENS.

THE COMMUNITY IS NOT GOING TO STOP DEMANDING IT.

AND UNLESS WE HAVE A GOVERNOR AND ADMINISTRATION THAT ARE KEYED INTO THE FACT THAT WE MUST DO THIS.

BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN CONTINUE TO NORMALIZE AND LEGALIZE SOMETHING WHERE THE PROHIBITION OF THAT SAME ACTIVITY HARMED OUR COMMUNITIES FOR AS LONG AS IT DID AND YOU DON'T GET ECONOMIC JUSTICE WITHOUT RACIAL JUSTICE SO THE POINT IS TO GET US TO THE POINT WHERE WE BREAKTHROUGH THE HARDEST BARRIER WHICH IS ACTUALLY TO SEE PEOPLE OF COLOR IN POSITIONS OF OWNERSHIP.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO THE APPLICATION PROCESS TO CHANGE THE FACE OF THE INDUSTRY?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW SOON WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE SUPPLEMENTAL PROCESS.

PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO -- WE'RE TRYING TO IDENTIFY MISTAKES THAT WERE NO FAULT OF THE APPLICANT'S AND THAT IS CRITICAL.

WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY SITUATION WHERE THERE IS A LOTTERY HAPPENING WHERE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE IN POSITION TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT AREN'T.

THAT IS ABOUT BEING AS FAIR AN EQUITABLE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

SO FIRST STEP IS TO RIGHT THAT PROCESS.

THE SECOND STEP WE ARE GOING TO NEED HELP FROM OUR LEGISLATIVE PARTNERS TO AUTHORIZE AN ADDITIONAL LOTTERY.

AND THE GOOD THING ABOUT THAT THERE'S LARGE AGREEMENT AMONGST THE COMMUNITY AND THE ADVOCATES AMONGST PEOPLE WHO REALLY KNOW WHAT IS AT STAKE HERE TO TRY TO GET THAT DONE.

IT'S DIFFICULT NOW BECAUSE OF COVID CONDITIONS AND WHEN THE LEGISLATURE CAN MEET.

BUT THE THING THAT IS HEARTENING ABOUT ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THE FEEL, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY ARE REAL IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THE TABLE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THE FIXES WE NEED TO MOVE IT FORWARD.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE BARRIERS AND THAT IS NOT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

OUR GOAL WAS TO CHANGE THE FACE OF THE INDUSTRY.

FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST USE THE MONEY FROM THIS.

AND THEN UNDO THE PAST HARMS AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN DO IN ALL OF THOSE SILOS TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.

>> AND WE HAVE ABOUT 25 SECONDS LEFT, IF YOU HAD TO GIVE IT A TIMELINE HOW SOON WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THAT NEXT SET OF LICENSES BEING DISTRIBUTED?

>> PERSONALLY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM YESTERDAY BUT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND A SUPPLEMENTAL PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT IS EXPECTED AND SCORES ARE ACCURATE AND PEOPLE CAN TRUST THE RESULTS.

AND THAT WILL TAKE TIME TO DO THAT RIGHT.

>> IT WILL TAKE PATIENCE.

TOI HUTCHINSON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> UP NEXT, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM DIVES INTO THE BATTLE OVER REOPENING CHICAGO SCHOOLS.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> A POSSIBLE TEACHERS' STRIKE LOOMS OVER SAFETY ISSUES AS CITY AND STATE COVID-19 MITIGATIONS ARE BEING ROLLED BACK.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM IS HERE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

TONIGHT WE'RE JOINED BY AMANDA VINICKY AND HEATHER CHERONE.

SO IN A TWEET JUST POSTED AS WELL AS IN AN E-MAIL SENT TO PARENTS, THE DISTRICT SAYS QUOTE C.T.U.

LEADERSHIP HAS DIRECTED STAFF TO REMAIN HOME TOMORROW.

DUE TO THE UNION'S DIRECTIVE WE ARE UNABLE TO GUARANTEE SUFFICIENT STAFFING TO SAFELY COVER IN-PERSON AND PARENTS SHOULD NOT SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL.

REMOTE LEARNING WILL CONTINUE TOMORROW THURSDAY, JANUARY 28.

SEEMS LIKE WE ARE ON A DAY BY DAY BASIS.

AMANDA, WE KNOW THAT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND THE UNION ARE CONTINUING.

WHERE ARE WE WITH THAT TWEET?

>> IF APPEARS AS IF WE ARE STILL AT A STANDOFF AND WHAT HAPPENED AS I REPORTED EARLIER IN THE SHOW WE KNOW THAT NEGOTIATIONS TODAY RAN LATE.

PERHAPS THAT IS GOOD NEWS.

MAYBE THEY MADE PROGRESS JUST NOT ENOUGH.

I HAVE TO SAY I'M NOT A PARENT MYSELF BUT, BOY, WOULD THIS HAVE ME IN A TETHER AS IF LIVING THROUGH A PANDEMIC IS NOT QUITE ENOUGH, YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOUR CHILD IS GOING TO BE LEARNING WHETHER IT IS GOING TO BE IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER OR PREPARING TO GO TO A CLASSROOM.

I BET YOU HAVE ANXIOUS KIDS AS WELL.

AND IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE SITTING IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER GOING TO CLASSROOMS VIRTUALLY IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE WHAT?

THIS REALLY IS QUITE THE CUSTOMER IF YOU HAVE FELL AND IT -- KERFUFFLE, NEITHER SIDE IS WILLING TO BACK DOWN AND IT IS NOT AS IF WE HAVE A HUGE INFLUX OF VACCINES COMING SO YOU CAN ASWAGE THE FEARS OF GETTING THE SHOTS TO THE TEACHERS.

>> AND WE KNOW IT'S AFFECTING THE PRE-K STUDENTS AND THE SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS.

HERE IS WHAT CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS C.E.O.

JANICE JACKSON SAID SOMETHING LAST NIGHT AT A PRESS CONFERENCE.

>> WE HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO EXPAND SURVEILLANCE TESTING AND TELEWORK ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STAFF AND TO PRIORITIZE VACCINATIONS IN OUR HARDEST HIT COMMUNITIES.

WE BELIEVE THAT OUR LATEST PROPOSAL TO THE UNION CAN SERVE AS A FOUNDATION TO A DEAL.

FRANKLY, THERE IS NO GOOD REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T HAVE AN AGREEMENT AT THIS TIME RIGHT NOW.

>> AND HEATHER, I KNOW YOU ARE A PARENT LOTS OF PARENTS WHO HAVE WHIPLASH BECAUSE BOTH SIDES HAVE COMPETING MESSAGES ON THE SAFETY OF RETURNING TO SCHOOL THEY HAVE BOTH ENLISTED SCIENTISTS AND EXPERTS.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THAT?

>> IT REALLY DEPENDS WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUE IS THERE IS A LOT OF COVID-19 CIRCULATING IN CHICAGO AND THE TEACHERS' UNION HAS YET TO BE SORT OF ASSURED THAT IF TEACHERS DO GO BACK IN PERSON, THAT THEY WILL BE AS PROTECTED AS POSSIBLE.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE HANG UP SEEMS TO BE IN TERMS OF WHAT PERCENTAGE POSITIVITY OF EACH SCHOOL WILL TRIGGER A SHUTDOWN.

HOW WILL THEY QUARANTINE.

AND THEN THERE IS THE ISSUE OF TEACHERS WHO ARE AT GREATEST RISK THEMSELVES OF CONTRACTING COVID-19 OR THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT PASSING IT ON TO A LOVED ONE IN THEIR BUBBLE WHO MIGHT HAVE A HEALTH ISSUE.

PART OF THE CUSTOMER FULLLE THAT AMANDA WAS TALKING ABOUT IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT THE SCIENCE IS SAYING.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE MAYOR SAYING THE SCIENCE TELLS US IT'S SAFE AND THEN YOU HAVE THE TEACHERS' UNION SAYING NOT SO FAST AND THAT IS WHAT THIS HAS COME DOWN TO.

Dr. ALLISON ARWADY, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH WAS AT THE TABLE THIS AFTERNOON.

THE MAYOR TOLD US THAT.

SO THAT WOULD SEEM TO BE THAT THE QUESTIONS OF SCIENCE ARE FRONT AND CENTER ABOUT GETTING KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL PERHAPS ON FEBRUARY FIRST, PERHAPS LATER AT THIS POINT.

>> AND OF COURSE YOU HAVE CDC GOM COMING OUT CAN GUIDANCE SAYING IT'S SAFE FOR SCHOOL, AND THERE IN LIES THE QUESTION AND THIS IS A POLITICAL STORY, TOO, GIVEN IT WOULD BE POTENTIALLY THE SECOND STRIKE DURING MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S TERM.

BRANDIS YOU COVER EDUCATION WE KNOW THAT SCHOOL WILL BE IN TOMORROW REMOTELY DESPITE THAT NOT BEING WHAT THEY WANTED WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PROSPECT OF A STRIKE?

>> THAT IS A QUESTION A LOT OF PARENTS ARE WONDERING WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

WILL THERE BE A STRIKE OR WILL THE DISTRICT SAY YOU KNOW WE CAN'T SEND STUDENTS BACK TO SCHOOL IF WE KNOW TEACHERS ARE REFUSING TO COME IN SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK REMOTELY AVERTING A STRIKE.

WE KNOW THAT THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION IS POWERFUL AND THEY HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB AT ORGANIZING THEIR COMMUNITIES AND PARENTS AROUND THEM AND AROUND THEIR MISSION AND THEIR AGENDA.

SO OFTEN THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY WHEN THEY ARE TAKING A STRIKE AND THEY DO A GOOD JOB AT MAKING THEIR CASE.

BUT YOU HAVE TO ADMIT WHEN STUDENTS HAVE NOT BEEN IN SCHOOL, THE OPTICS OF TEACHERS PROTESTING OUTSIDE OF BUILDINGS EMPTY FOR THAT LONG I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT IS GOING TO LOOK TO PARENTS.

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

OBVIOUSLY.

HEATHER K-8 TEACHERS THEY ARE THE ONES EXPECTED TO RETURN THIS PAST MONDAY.

IT IS THEIR STUDENTS WHO ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN THIS COMING MONDAY.

WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY MAKE IT INTO SCHOOL BUILDINGS NEXT WEEK?

>> MAYOR LIGHTFOOT WAS ASKED THAT AND SHE SAID SHE WAS TARGETING THAT RETURNTATE.

I THINK EVERY -- RETURN DATE.

I THINK EVERYDAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS DO NOT GO BACK TO START PLANNING THAT GETS INTO GREATER DOUBT.

BECAUSE TEACHERS HAVE NOT BEEN IN THE BUILDING SINCE MARCH.

SO THEY WILL NEED TIME TO SETUP THE CLASSROOM.

THEY WILL NEED TIME TO REVIEW THE NEW SAFETY PROTOCOLS WHICH ARE OF COURSE OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO INSURE THAT KIDS AND TEACHERS DO NOT GET SICK.

BUT THAT I THINK IS WHERE THE RUBBER IS GOING TO MEET THE ROAD ON THIS ISSUE.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IT'S ONLY ABOUT 7,000 KIDS IN PRESCHOOL AND IN SPECIAL EDUCATION CLUSTER PROGRAMS THAT ARE SORT OF BEING KEPT HOME.

I THINK THAT CALCULUS CHANGES IF YOU TELL TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND YOU CAN'T.

THAT IS A POLITICAL DILEMMA OF A DEFINITER THAN THE ONE TODAY.

>> WE COVERED THE NEWS ABOUT IHSA TALKING ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AND FOR THOSE C.P.S.

ATHLETES THAT HAS TO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION THAT I IMAGINE WILL BE PART OF THIS TALK.

THERE'S SO MUCH FRUSTRATION ON PART OF THE ATHLETES AND THE PARENTS ON THE PROSPECT OF MISSING OUT ON A FUTURE AND SCHOLARSHIPS IF THEY DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO HIT THE FIELD.

>> THE BIG CONCERN IS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC YOU COVERED A STORY THAT FOUND RACIAL DISPARITIES ABOUND IN VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.

WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

WE GOT THE FIRST LOOK AT THE DATA THAT SHOWS 53% OF ALL CHICAGO RESIDENTS WHO HAVE GOTTEN THE COVID-19 VACCINE AS OF EARLIER THIS WEEK WERE WHITE.

NOW, 20% OF THOSE WHO DIED FROM COVID-19 ARE WHITE IN CHICAGO.

SO THAT TELLS YOU THAT THE DISPARITIES ARE STARK THIS IS A PANDEMIC THAT KILLED DISPROPORTIONATELY CHICAGOANS AND LATINO CHICAGOANS AND THOSE HAVE BEEN AMONG THE PEOPLE MOST RELUCTANT TO GET THE VACCINE AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORIC RACISM IN TERMS OF HEALTHCARE BUT THAT IS REALLY COMING TO BEAR.

AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT CALLED THOSE FIGURES ALARMING AND SAID IT IS REALLY SORT OF FRUSTRATING TO KNOW THAT THE VACCINES ARE MOST NEEDED IN THE BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES WHO ARE MOST RELUCTANT TO TAKE THEM.

THE CITY IS GOING TO STEP UP EFFORTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET THE VACCINE.

HOWEVER, THE MAIN ISSUE STILL IS THE LACK OF SUPPLY OF THE VACCINE IN CHICAGO.

CHICAGO'S ONLY GETTING 34,000 DOSES OF THE VACCINE AND THE CITY COULD VACCINATE 170,000 PEOPLE THAT IS QUITE A DIFFERENCE.

>> IN STATE POLITICS THE GOVERNOR IS URGING LAWMAKERS TO GET BACK TO WORK TO THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE DESPITE THE PANDEMIC.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> WE NEED THE LEGISLATURE TO GET BACK INTO SESSION.

THEY WANT TO BE BACK IN SESSION I KNOW.

IF YOU TALKED TO ALL THE LEGISLATORS EVERYBODY HAS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION THEY NEED TO GET DONE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THEIR DISTRICTS.

I WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

THE SOONER THE LEGISLATURE GETS TO WORK, THE BETTER WHETHER IT'S REMOTELY OR IN SPRINGFIELD.

BUT WE NEED LEGISLATION TO KEEP MOVING.

>> AMANDA, LAWMAKERS ARE USUALLY IN SESSION FOR A FEW WEEKS IN FEBRUARY LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED BACK FOR A DAY AND THE GOVERNOR WANTS THEM TO BE WORKING WHAT IS GOING ON DO YOU THINK THEY WILL ADOPT REMOTE VOTING?

>> I THINK SEVERAL THINGS ARE GOING ON.

PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S FRUSTRATION IS THAT HE HAS QUITE THE BUDGET PICKLE AND DURING THAT LAME DUCK SESSION HE HAD WANTED THE LEGISLATURE TO GIVE HIM AUTHORITY TO BASICALLY, NOT ALLOW SMALL BUSINESSES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A TAX BREAK AFFORDED THEM BY CHANGES IN FEDERAL LAW, MEANT TO GIVE TO SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WERE HURTING BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND HE COULD NOT GET ENOUGH SUPPORT THAT LEFT HIM IN A REALLY TIGHT SPOT WITH THE BUDGET.

AND HE WANTS THEM TO HURRY IF POSSIBLE TO GET THAT PASSED.

BECAUSE THE TIMELINE IS RUNNING OUT.

ANOTHER DYNAMIC AT PLAY IS THAT THE YOU HAVE A LOT OF LEGISLATORS SAYING HEY IF YOU ARE GOING TO BRING ME BACK TO THE CAPITOL TO POTENTIALLY BE MEETING WITH CONSTITUENTS AS THEY DO, LOBBYISTS, THEY WANT TO BE HIGHER UP IN LINE FOR THAT COVID VACCINE SOMETHING THAT ILLINOIS' RULES ARE NOT ALLOWING.

SO THAT IS ONE OF THE DYNAMICS.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE BACK FOR ONE DAY IN FEBRUARY AND SO, YES, I DO EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE SOME SORT OF CHANGE IN THE RULES THAT WILL ALLOW PARTICULARLY THE HOUSE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN DOING THAT.

THE SENATE HAS BEEN HOLDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS VIRTUALLY THAT WILL ALLOW THE HOUSE TO DO SO NOW THAT IT HAS A NEW SPEAKER.

THE TECH ADVERSE IS NOT IN THE JOB, MICHAEL MADIGAN.

>> DID WE LOSE HEATHER?

THEY ARE GOING TO START GOING TO THE REMAP PROCESS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> OBVIOUSLY ALDERMEN HAVE A SPECIFIC ROLE TO PLAY AND THEY SHOULD BUT THIS CAN'T BE A BACK ROOM, CLOSED DOOR DEAL THAT THE PUBLIC HAS NO INSIGHTS INTO BECAUSE WHATEVER THE PRODUCT IS, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAVE LEGITIMACY.

>> MODERN TECHNOLOGY UNFORTUNATELY IT'S ME AND ABAN DA.

HOW DIFFERENT MIGHT THE MAP LOOK?

10 SECONDS?

>> IT'S DEPENDING TO LOOK DIFFERENT.

THE BIG THING IS THAT THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU ANNOUNCED IT WILL BE DELAYED BY FOUR MONTHS THE INFORMATION THAT LEADS TO THE DRAWING OF THOSE MAPS SO EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE PUSHED BACK AND THAT IS HUGE AND DIFFICULT FOR POLITICIANS AT EVERY LEVEL.

>> VIN VIP OUR AMANDA VINICKY AND OUR THANKS TO HEATHER CHERONE.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

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

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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