>> MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON IS ANNOUNCING THE LATEST PHASE IN HIS PLAN TO FIGHT VIOLENCE ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH AND WEST SIDES BY ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME.

JOHNSON SAYS IT'S, QUOTE, HIGH TIME FOR THE CITY TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE RACIAL AND SOCIAL ECONOMIC DISPARITIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO VIOLENCE.

>> WE KNOW.

WHAT CREATES VIOLENCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE LACK OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES, DISENGAGEMENT.

DISENGAGEMENT FROM SCHOOL OR ACCESS TO ALTERNATE PATHWAY, CAREERS.

DISENGAGEMENT FROM HOUSING IN.

YOU HAVE HOUSING INSTABILITY AND OF COURSE, STOREFRONT VACANCIES AND OTHER DISPARITIES.

>> AND REPORTER HAD A SHARON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE HEADER BREAK DOWN THE MAYOR'S NEW PLAN FOR US.

WHAT THIS PLAN SPOTLIGHT FOR CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS, ENGLEWOOD, AUSTIN, LITTLE VILLAGE AND WEST GARFIELD PARK FROM LOOKING AT MAP OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.

RIGHT NOW, THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE SOUTH AND THE WEST SIDE ARE WHERE REALLY CHICAGO IS CONFRONTING THE MOST SERIOUS CASES OF VIOLENCE AND CRIME.

AND JOHNSON'S PLAN CALLS FOR CITY OFFICIALS TO SPEND 1 MILLION DOLLARS ON LAYERED PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THOSE ROOT CAUSES.

WE HEARD HIM TALK ABOUT AND IN SOME CASES JOHNSON SAID HE'S PREPARED TO GO BLOCK BY BLOCK AND DOOR-TO-DOOR TO REACH PEOPLE.

THE CITY HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT OTHER WHITE WITH THESE PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOODS CHOSEN.

SO NOT ONLY ARE THEY THE MOST VIOLENT IN CHICAGO, THEY ARE WAY OUT OF STEP WITH OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN CHICAGO.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, ENGLEWOOD, HE'S SEEN A MURDER RATE INCREASE OF NEARLY 5%, EVEN THOUGH MURDER CITYWIDE ARE DOWN 12%, WHICH GIVES YOU A SENSE OF JUST HOW SERIOUS THE ISSUE ARE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE JOBLESSNESS IS IS VERY COMMON AND THAT THERE IS NOT A LOT OF SORT OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

SO JOHNSON WANTS TO ADDRESS THAT WITHOUT REALLY FOCUSING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IT'S, OF COURSE, AS WE ALL KNOW, CHICAGOANS, IT'S BECOME AN ANNUAL RITUAL OF FOR CHICAGO'S MAYOR TO STEP UP ANTI-VIOLENCE EFFORTS AS THE WEATHER BEGINS TO WARM.

HOW IS THIS PLAN AND DIFFERENT?

WELL, IT'S A LITTLE BIT EARLY, RIGHT.

POWERS ARE JUST STARTING TO BUT ALSO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNELLING AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S COMMAND STAFF WERE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND AT TODAY'S EVENT IN WEST GARFIELD PARK.

AND USUALLY AT EVENTS, YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE PROMISING TO CRACK DOWN ON LAST LAWLESSNESS AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE WHO COMMIT CRIMES ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

THERE WAS NONE OF THAT TODAY AND JOHNSON TOLD ME IT WAS A DELIBERATE STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THOSE RACIAL AND ECONOMIC DISPARITIES THAT ARE REALLY CHICAGO'S LEGACY OF SEGREGATION AND THAT HE SAID HE PROMISED TO CONFRONT WHEN HE WAS ELECTED.

JUST ABOUT 10 MONTHS AGO.

OKAY.

HAVE A SHARON.

THANKS SO MUCH.

THANKS.

BRANDIS.

AND YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

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

>> CHICAGO, TONIGHT'S COVERAGE