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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> WE'RE GRINDING OUR WAY WITH PROGRESS.

>> AS SHOOTINGS REMAIN HIGH AND OFFICER MORALE PLUMMETS CHICAGO POLICE DETAILS THEIR WEEKEND'S VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGY.

>> EVERYTHING WE HAVE A DONALD SIGNATURE ON IT OR HIS INITIAL.

>> THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION AND ITS C.F.O.

ALLEN WEISSELBERG FACE A MULTITUDE OF CHARGES IN AN ALLEGED SCHEME TO DODGE 15 YEARS OF TAXES.

>> IT IS A ROSE THAT IS GROWING FROM CORONAVIRUS CRETE.

>> TWO NEW DEVELOPMENTS ARE BRINGING JOBS AND AFFORDABLE HOMES TO THE NORTH LAWNDALE COMMUNITY ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE.

>> THE CASES FOR AND AGAINST WASHINGTON D.C.

BECOMING THE NATION'S 51ST STATE AND THE ODDS OF CONGRESS MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

>> GEOFFREY BAER HAS THE STORY OF CHICAGO'S OLD RAIL STATIONS IN TONIGHT'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> YOU COULD NOT DO THIS IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

>> AND THE SECRET BEHIND SOME OF THE MOST CELEBRATED HONEY IN ILLINOIS.

>> AND AS YOU MENTIONED I'M IN NORTH LAWNDALE FOR THIS WEEK'S "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

THIS WEEK, THE AREA WELCOMED TWO NEW PROJECTS, ONE BRINGING AFFORDABLE HOMES; THE OTHER BRINGING JOBS.

WE WILL TALK WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS HOW THEY HOPE THIS WILL HELP TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO HELP RESIDENTS TO BUILD WEALTH.

BUT FIRST, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES..., ANOTHER ALDERPERSON IS INDICTED AND SO IS HER CHIEF OF STAFF.

THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ANNOUNCES THE INDICTMENT OF ALDERPERSON CARRIE AUSTIN ON BRIBERY CHARGES ACCUSED OF GETTING PERSONAL BENEFITS LIKE FREE HOME IMPROVEMENTS AND FURNITURE FROM A CONTRACTOR SHE HELPED DIRECT CITY TAX REVENUE TO TO BUILD RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN HER WARD.

INDICTMENTS ALLEGE CHIEF OF STAFF CHESTER WILLSON GOT PERSONAL BENEFITS FROM THE CONTRACTOR AS WELL.

ARRAIGNMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN SCHEDULED.

>> HALFWAY THROUGH 2021 AND CHICAGO IS ON PACE FOR ONE OF ITS DEADLIEST YEARS OF GUN VIOLENCE SINCE THE 1990s.

HOMICIDES ARE STARTING TO RETREAT A BIT THIS YEAR OVER LAST YEAR.

THERE HAVE BEEN 332 TOTAL HOMICIDES THROUGH THE END OF JUNE.

THAT IS BELOW THE 338 HOMICIDES RECORDED TO THIS POINT LAST YEAR THAT WAS ONE OF THE DEADLIEST YEARS IN RECENT MEMORY.

THE NUMBER OF SHOOTINGS OUT PACES LAST YEAR BY 12% AS ALDERPEOPLE CALL FOR A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON VIOLENCE.

SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN AND TOP BRASS TALKED ABOUT THEIR SUMMER STRATEGY OF SATURATING 15 HIGH CRIME NEIGHBORHOODS WITH MORE RESOURCES.

>> IF YOU LOOKED AT A HEAT MAP OF ALL THE VIOLENT CRIME IN THE CITY VERSUS THE HEAT ACTIVITY, AND OVERLAY THEM THE CLOSER WE CAN GET THE MAPS TO MARRY EACH ONING TO, THE GREATER CHANCE WE HAVE IN REDUCING VIOLENT CRIME.

>> MORE IN A FEW MOMENTS.

>> CHICAGO'S MINIMUM WAGE WITH BUSINESSES WITH MORE THAN 20 EMPLOYEES IS OFFICIALLY $15 PER HOUR.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT TOUTED THE WAGE AFTER SHE SIGNED THE ORDINANCE TO HIKE IT.

THE MINIMUM HOURLY WAGE WITH COMPANIES WITH 4-20 EMPLOYEES WILL RISE 50 CENTS AN HOUR CAPPING OFF AT $14.

THE $10 MINIMUM WAGE IS SET TO RISE AND THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE IS 7.25 AN HOUR.

TO BRANDIS AND MORE ON THE REPORT ON CRIME LEVELS IN THE CITY.

>> PARIS, AS YOU MENTIONED, SHOOTINGS IN CHICAGO ARE UP ALMOST 12% THIS YEAR.

HOMICIDES FLAT COMPARED TO THIS POINT IN 2020.

BUT CHICAGO POLICE ARE TOUTING NUMBERS THEY SAY SHOW THEIR SUMMER VIOLENCE STRATEGY IS HAVING AN IMPACT.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER MATT MASTERSON JOINS US WITH MORE CONTEXT.

AS WE MENTIONED SHOOTINGS ARE UP THIS YEAR BUT DOWN YEAR-OVER-YEAR FOR MAY AND JUNE.

HERE IS WHAT POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN SAID TODAY ABOUT THIS.

>> FOR JUNE 2021, CHICAGO EXPERIENCED 78 MURDERS.

WHICH IS A 20% DECREASE COMPARED WITH JUNE 2020, 98 MURDERS.

>> MATT, WHAT IS THE STORY HERE?

ARE CHICAGO POLICE MAKING PROGRESS IN REDUCING SHOOTINGS AND HOMICIDES?

>> SO IT IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO SAY.

HOMICIDES ARE SLIGHTLY BELOW LAST YEAR'S PACE AT THIS POINT.

BUT 2020 WAS ONE OF THE VIOLENT YEARS THAT CHICAGO HAS SEEN IN A COUPLE DECADES, SLIGHT PROGRESS IN THE AMOUNT OF HOMICIDES, IS PUTTING CHICAGO ON PACE FOR ONE OF THE DEADLIEST YEARS SINCE 2000.

THE CITY IS HOPEFUL THERE WERE FEWER HOMICIDES IN MAY AND JUNE.

DESPITE THE SIX-MONTH FIGURES THAT SHOW THE CITY IS ON PAR WITH LAST YEAR, THE TREND FROM THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS OFFICIALS ARE HOPE SOMETHING PUTTING THE CITY BACK ON TRACKING IT IN A BETTER DIRECTION.

>> WE'RE HEADING INTO THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND, WHAT IS THE DEPARTMENT'S STRATEGY?

AND IS IT DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS YEARS?

>> THIS YEAR CITY OFFICIALS ARE RELYING ON A DATE IT-DRIVEN APPROACH TO FLOOD HISTORICALLY VIOLENT DISTRICTS WITH MORE RESOURCES BEYOND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE CITY RELIED ON AN ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH.

DAVID BROWN IS NOT ANXIOUS TO MAKE CHANGES.

HE POINTED OVER THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND TO A 10-YEAR LOW.

AND HE SAID IF THIS MEANS THAT VIOLENCE IS GOING TO CONTINUE GOING DOWN USING THIS STRATEGY THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY THE NEWEST THAT HE WANTS TO KEEP RIDING THE STRATEGY UNTIL THE WHEELS FALL OFF IF IT MEANS MORE HOLIDAYS WITH HISTORICALLY LOW VIOLENCE.

>> THERE'S BEEN CRITICISM FROM THE POLICE UNION SURROUNDING CHICAGO POLICE WORKING THE 12-HOUR SHIFTS, DAYS OFF BEEN CANCELED.

HERE IS WHAT SUPERINTENDENT BROWN SAID ABOUT THAT TODAY.

>> WE ARE SWORN TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO.

BUT WE HAVE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED 12-HOUR SHIFTS AND CANCELED DAYS OFF, IMPACTING OUR OFFICERS.

WE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT.

AND WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED A OFFICER WELLNESS PLAN AS A PART OF THIS DEPLOYMENT.

>> MATT, HOW BIG OF A PROBLEM IS POLICE MORALE RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, OFFICERS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITHOUT A NEW POLICE CONTRACT FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

AND UNION REPS SAID THERE'S MORE RETIREMENTS AND LESS RECRUITS COMING INTO THE DEPARTMENT.

IT DOES APPEAR THAT MORALE IS A PROBLEM AND THE SAME UNION OFFICIALS SAID THIS 12-HOUR SHIFT AND CANCELED DAYS OFF DURING THE HOLIDAY WEEKENDS IS A DIRECT CAUSE OF THOSE PROBLEMS AND REASON FOR WHY MORALE IS GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

>> AND WE KNOW THAT ALDERMEN CALLED SUPERINTENDENT BROWN TO APPEAR BEFORE CITY COUNCIL A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL TOMORROW.

HE SAYS HE WILL BE THERE.

WHAT DO WE EXPECT TO HAPPEN?

>> THE ALDERMEN WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT DEPARTMENT IS DOING IN TERMS OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION ESPECIALLY AFTER A WAVE OF MASS SHOOTINGS ACROSS THE CITY THROUGHOUT THE LAST MONTH.

AS YOU SAID BROWN SAID THAT HE PLANS TO ATTEND BUT HE DID NOT GIVE A DIRECT ANSWER IF HE PLANS TO ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS.

IT'S NOT CLEAR IF WE ARE GOING TO GET MORE INSIGHT WHAT THE DEPARTMENT IS PLANNING FOR THE WEEKEND OR THE SUMMER IN TERMS OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

>> POTENTIAL FIREWORKS AT CITY COUNCIL TOMORROW BEFORE THE FOURTH OF JULY.

MATT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND YOU CAN READ MATT'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND SEVERAL NEW PROJECTS COULD BRING PEOPLE BACK TO THE WEST SIDE.

BLACK CHICAGOANS FLOCKED TO THE CITY'S NORTH LAWNDALE COMMUNITY AFTER WORLD WAR II BUT IN RECENT DECADES THE POPULATION HAS DWINDLED.

FOR THE LATEST OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES" AMANDA VINICKY AND MARISSA NELSON SPENT THE DAY IN NORTH LAWNDALE.

HEY AMANDA?

>> HEY.

I'M IN NORTH LAWNDALE'S DOUGLAS PARK WAS RENAMED LAST YEAR IN HONOR OF ABOLITIONIST FREDRICK DOUGLASS.

DOUGLASS PARK HOSTS A LOT OF CHICAGO'S EVENTS AND CONCERTS.

LAST YEAR CANCELED BECAUSE OF COVID RIOT FEST IS GOING TO BE BACK IN SEPTEMBER HERE.

AMONG THE OTHER ATTRACTIONS, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. EXHIBIT CENTER.

MLK LIVED HERE IN THE 60s.

HOME AND SQUARE COMMUNITY CENTER A STRUCTURE THAT WAS ACTUALLY CHICAGO'S ORIGINAL SEARS TOWER.

THESE ARE ALL ATTRACTIONS THAT FASHION DESIGNER, DENITA ROBINSON SAYS MAKES NORTH LAWNDALE ONE OF CHICAGO'S HIDDEN GEMS.

>> I THINK IT IS A ROSE THAT IS GROWN FROM CONCRETE.

I THINK IT HAS SO MUCH BEAUTY THAT IS HIDDEN BEHIND DARKNESS IT'S BLOSSOMING.

THE SEEDS ARE STARTING TO FLOURISH.

>> A ROSE SHE SAYS BECAUSE IT IS A COMMUNITY THAT IS FULL OF LOVE, A COMMUNITY FULL OF SUPPORT.

WITH ACTIVE GROUPS LIKE THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION WHICH SHE IS A MEMBER.

AS FOR THE CONCRETE, THERE IS THE VIOLENCE.

A LACK OF INVESTMENT, SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION.

>> WE TALK ABOUT BARRIERS AND THINGS THAT THIS COMMUNITY DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO REDLINING BEING ONE.

NO ACCESS TO HOMEOWNERSHIP AND ACCESS TO THE CAPITAL.

I COULD HAVE THE SAME CREDIT SCORE AS SOMEONE FROM LINCOLN PARK AND WE DON'T GET THE SAME ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND I THINK THAT'S CONCRETE.

>> ROBINSON GREW UP IN NORTH LAWNDALE AND A COUPLE YEARS AGO SHE BOUGHT A HOME NEAR 13TH AND CENTRAL PARK CLOSE TO HER GRANDMA AND ALSO ACROSS THE STREET FROM A DOG PARK WHICH SHE SAYS HER YORKIE PRINCE AND SPARKLE APPRECIATE.

IT IS TIME TO BE THE CHANGE THAT HER COMMUNITY NEEDS TO SEE AND THAT MEANS INVESTING IN IT.

SHE SAYS OWNING A HOME HERE GIVES HER POWER.

NORTH LAWNDALE DOES OFFER GORGEOUS OLD GRAY STONES BUT THEY ARE ALSO A LOT OF VACANT LOTS MORE THAN 2,000.

A JOINT CITY-STATE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP BEGINS TO BRING LIFE TO THE EMPTY SPACES THE SELLING 250 PARCELS FOR A DOLLAR EACH AND THE LAWNDALE CHRISTIAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WILL BUILD A PROJECT TO BUILD SUBSIDIZED HOMES.

RICHARD TOWNSELL HOPES THEY WILL SELL FOR $200,000 EACH WITHIN REACH FOR WORKING FAMILIES.

>> AND SO OUR GOAL IS HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE TO NOT MOVE, BUT IMPROVE.

HOW DO WE REPOPULATE GET YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE DENITA ROBINSON AND OTHERS TO THE SIDE NOT TO GO LIVE IN THE WEST LOOP BUT INSTEAD BUY A HOME IN NORTH LAWNDALE.

GET PEOPLE TO HAVE HISTORIC TIES THROUGH CHURCHES, THAT WORK AT THE HOSPITAL OR THE MEDICAL CENTER AT RUSH AND SCHOOLS TO DECIDE THAT THEY WANT TO BUY AND LIVE IN NORTH LAWNDALE.

>> ALSO INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT, SHANGWE PARKER WHO DOES PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND LIVES IN ONE OF THE GRAY STONES.

HE SAYS NORTH LAWNDALE IS SEVEN MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN AND NEAR 290 AND CTA STOPS.

BUT NORTH LAWNDALE HAS NOT SEEN THE DEVELOPMENT THAT OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY HAVE.

HIS GOAL WITH THIS PROJECT TO NOT MAKE IT JUST ABOUT HOMEOWNERSHIP BUT JOB TRAINING TO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE THE SKILLS THEY NEED IN THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES TO MAKE THESE HOMES.

>> IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY VISION TO SEE PEOPLE BUILD THE HOMES AND IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING HOMES THEY MAKE MEANINGFUL WAGES THAT THEY CAN PURCHASE THE HOMES.

I THINK IT WOULD BE SUCH A GREAT STORY IF WE ACTUALLY HAD A COMMUNITY THAT CAN WALK DOWN THE STREET WITH THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS AND SAY, HEY I BUILT THAT HOME, I BUILT THAT HOME, AND BY THE WAY, IABILITY THE HOME WE STAY IN.

>> WE SPOKE WITH PARKER DOWN THE STREET FROM HARMONY COMMUNITY CHURCH, THE CONGREGATION USED THE TIME THAT IT HAD TO BE EMPTY DURING THE PANDEMIC TO DO RENOVATING BUT IS NOW BACK TO HOSTING SUNDAY 10:00 A.M. SERVICES AND THE PASTOR SAYS THE MUSIC IS REALLY GREAT.

JAMES BROOKS GREW UP IN NORTH LAWNDALE BUT HIS FAMILY WAS AMONG THOSE THAT LEFT AND THAT EXODUS ACCORDING TO THE LATEST AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY THE POPULATION OF NORTH LAWNDALE 87% BLACK, NOW HOVERS NEAR 34,000.

THAT IS DOWN FROM WELL OVER 100,000 AT ITS PEAK.

BUT BROOKS CAME BACK AND IS RAISING HIS DAUGHTERS HERE.

VIOLENCE IS A CHALLENGE.

BUT IT IS ONE HE SAYS THAT THE CHURCH CONFRONTS HEAD ON WITH ITS PROJECT PRESENCE PEACE GATHERINGS.

>> WHEREVER THERE IS A HOTSPOT, WHEREVER THE VIOLENCE HAS OCCURRED, WHEREVER DRUG SALES ARE HIGH WE WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND WE SETUP POSITIVE LOITERING EVENTS.

AND THIS ALLOWS US TO BRING POSITIVITY TO A NEGATIVE SPOT.

>> NOW, THE NEW HOMES ARE NOT THE ONLY PROJECTS THAT NORTH LAWNDALE IS SEEING.

ON MONDAY, THE GOVERNOR ALSO FORMER CHICAGO MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL WERE ON HAND FOR A RIBBON CUTTING AT THE NEW MANUFACTURING WAREHOUSE AT K STREET PROJECT A 60,000 SQUARE-FOOT SPACE AND THIS IS JUST PHASE ONE THE PLAN IS TO DOUBLE IT WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR-AND-A-HALF.

PRESIDENT JOSHUA DAVIS SAYS THE WILL GROUP LOOKED AT 0 OTHER AND LESS EXPENSIVE AREAS BUT DECIDED TO DO IT IN NORTH LAWNDALE.

>> BECAUSE WE WANTED TO INVEST IN THE WEST SIDE.

WE'VE BEEN IN THE WEST SIDE SINCE 2008 AND LONG-TERM FOR US WE DEVELOPED THE WORKFORCE THAT LIVED IN THE AREA FOR US WE WANTED TO STAY IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE ARE PROUD WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> THE WILL GROUP MAKES STREET LIGHTING AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT INCLUDING NEW LED STREET LIGHTS THAT YOU SEE AROUND THE CITY.

THE GOAL IS TO HIRE AT LEAST 100 LOCAL PEOPLE TO WORK AT THIS NEW PLANT IT IS A JOB THAT OFFERS A 401K, HEALTH BENEFITS, TUITION REIMBURSEMENT AND COMPETITIVE WAGES.

ASSEMBLY JOBS STARTING BETWEEN $16-$20 AN HOUR.

JARVIS REED IS ONE OF THE 26 EMPLOYEES IN LOCAL RESIDENTS WORKING AT THE FACILITY NOW.

>> DIFFERENT AGENCIES BUT THIS IS LIKE THE FIRST JOB OUT OF ALL THE OTHER JOBS THAT I HAVE NOW THAT I CAN FEEL THAT IS LIKE BETTER THAN OTHER JOBS THAT I HAD.

>> WE CAUGHT UP WITH ANOTHER WORKER WHO SAID THAT HE WAS REALLY PROUD WHEN HE DROVE BY AMAZON DISTRIBUTION CENTER AND WAS ABLE TO TELL HIS 10-YEAR-OLD SON, CARL, THAT HE HAD MADE THE SPECIALIZED LIGHTING AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT THAT POWERS IT.

THERE IS MORE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AHEAD FOR NORTH LAWNDALE.

MICHAEL SCOTT SAYS AN RFP IS OUT TO REDEVELOP THE OPERATION SILVER SHOVEL DUMP SITE AND WE DID TALK WITH ALDERMAN SCOTT ABOUT THAT AND MORE.

WE'LL HAVE THAT COMING UP.

FOR NOW, BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO.

>> INTERESTING LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>> AND NOW PARIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> SILVER SHOVEL BRINGS UP MEMORIES OF NEWS STORIES.

BRANDIS ANOTHER ALDERMANIC INDICTMENT PROSECUTORS IN NEW YORK HAVE CHARGED THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER ALLEN WEISSELBERG WITH TAX FRAUD IN A DELIBERATE 15-YEAR SCHEME TO COMPENSATE EXECUTIVES OFF THE BOOKS.

BOTH PLEADED NOT GUILTY.

WEISSELBERG IS CHARGED WITH BENEFITS OF 1.7 MILLION.

AND HERE ARE MICHAEL MONICO A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR AND NOW A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY AT MONICO & SPEVACK.

>> AND RENATO MARIOTTI A FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY AND A PARTNER AT TOMORROW TO THOMPSON COBURN TOMORROW.

FIRST, BEFORE WE GET TO THE TRUMP NEWS ALMOST THREE MONTHS HERE WITHOUT AN ALDERMANIC INDICTMENT AND THAT DROUGHT ENDS TODAY.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE CHARGES AGAINST ALDERWOMAN CARRIE AUSTIN THAT SHE AND HER CHIEF OF STAFF ALLEGEDLY GOT BENEFITS FROM THE CONTRACTOR WHOM SHE HELPED STEER CITY MONEY TO?

>> I THINK SHE HAS TO BE VERY CONCERNED.

THE CURRENT GROUP OVER THERE HAS BEEN AGGRESSIVE ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS.

BUT IT DEFINITELY LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT CASE AND THIS IS SOMETHING, OF COURSE, WE'VE KNOWN AND BEEN ANTICIPATING FOR SOMETIME.

>> IT'S BEEN IN THE NEWS INCLUDING A RAID IN HER OFFICE.

IN NEW YORK, WE MENTIONED THE CHARGES AGAINST THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION AND C.F.O.

ALLEN WEISSELBERG HOW SERIOUS DO YOU BELIEVE THE CHARGES ARE?

>> IT IS SERIOUS THEY CARRY PRISON TERMS EACH OF THE 15 COUNTS IS PROBATIONAL.

WHAT IS INTERESTING IS IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE STATE PROSECUTORS IN NEW YORK AND THE CITY PROSECUTORS ARE GOING AFTER AERIAL ALLEN WEISSELBERG IN A WAY THAT IS INTENDED TO GET HIM TO COOPERATE AGAINST SOMEONE ELSE.

IT'S UNCLEAR WHETHER HE IS GOING TO DO THAT.

I SAY THAT PAUSE I KNOW BECAUSE I KNOW Mr. COHEN TESTIFIED MANY TIMES ABOUT THIS MATTER.

>> MICHAEL COHEN.

>> RIGHT.

MY CLIENT.

AND I CAN'T GO INTO EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID BUT I KNOW IT GOES WAY BEYOND WHAT IS IN THIS INDICTMENT.

>> RENATO MARIOTTI AS YOU LOOK AT THIS, DO YOU LOOK AT THIS AS THE END GAME FROM THE NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND THE MANHATTAN'S DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG?

>> WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.

ONE THING I THINK IS EVIDENT FROM LOOKING AT THIS IS THEY HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL CASE.

I THINK IT'S LIKELY TO OBTAIN A CONVICTION IF WHAT IS ALLEGED IN THE INDICTMENT IS IN FACT TRUE.

AND WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE EVIDENCE RIGHT NOW TO CHARGE OTHERS OR CHARGE MORE EXTENSIVE SCHEME OR CONSPIRACY.

IF THEY DID, I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD BE JUST DROPPING THIS MORE NARROW FOCUSED CHARGE ON ALLEN WEISSELBERG NOW AS MICHAEL SAID, I THINK LIKELY TO TRY TO GET Mr. ALLEN WEISSELBERG TO FLIP.

>> AND MIKE, YOU ELUDED TO THAT.

THE ONLY PERSON ABOVE WEISSELBERG IS DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF OR PERHAPS HIS SONS WHO ALLEGEDLY WERE RUNNING THE COMPANY.

DO YOU LOOK AT THIS AS A CLASSIC ATTEMPT FROM THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO SQUEEZE HIM TO GET MORE INFORMATION TO FLIP?

AND DO YOU THINK HE WILL FLIP?

>> WELL, IT SEEMS THAT THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO.

IT'S HARD TO SAY WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO SINCE EACH OF THE COUNTS IS PROBATIONABLE.

IT IS NOT LIKE WHEN MY CLIENT GOT 30 MONTHS IN JAIL FOR RECEIVING THE TAXES ON AND PAYING HUSH MONEY TO THE PROSTITUTES -- >> STORMY DANIELS.

>> RIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT ALLEN WEISSELBERG IS GOING TO DO.

HE SEEMS HE IS FACING A DIFFICULT CHOICE BUT AS I SAY SENSE HE MAY NOT BE FACING JAIL I AM NOT SURE.

>> AS YOU SAID THE CHARGES COULD BE PROBATIONAL.

RENATO MARIOTTI THE DEFENSE FROM Mr. WEISSELBERG HIS ATTORNEYS HE IS AN ACCOUNTANT HE DID NOT KNOW THIS WAS THE FOLLOW THE LAW AND THE PUBLIC RELATIONS STRATEGY IS TO CALL IT A POLITICAL WITCH HUNT ARE EITHER THESE EFFECTIVE OR BELIEVABLE?

>> I THOUGHT THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION'S STATEMENT WAS ODD WHICH IT DID NOT DENY THE CHARGES.

WHEN WE REPRESENT CLIENTS THAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU SAY.

I THOUGHT IT WAS UNUSUAL THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN DENY THE FACTS OF THE CHARGES.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS TO WHAT WEISSELBERG, THE DIFFICULTY HE IS GOING TO HAVE IF YOU READ THE INDICTMENT IS THIS IS A STRAIGHTFORWARD SCHEME WHERE THEY LOWERED HIS PAY THAT WAS ON THE BOOKS AND GAVE HIM A OFF THE BOOKS PAY THAT THEY DIDN'T PAY TAXES ON OR CLAIM A DEDUCTION ON.

SO HE PROTECTED THE GUY WRITING THE CHECKS HE WAS WRITING THE CHECKS FOR HIS OWN RENT FROM HIS APARTMENT FROM THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S GOING TO BE HARD FOR JURORS TO GET THEIR HEADS AROUND AN ARGUMENT THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS RECEIVING THAT BENEFIT WITH THE CARS AND TUITION FOR HIS KIDS.

IT IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY AND HE WAS IN THE THICK OF IT.

>> EASY CASE FOR JURORS TO FOLLOW.

MICHAEL MONICO YOU MENTIONED MICHAEL COHEN HE AND ALLEN WEISSELBERG WERE BEHIND THAT HUSH MONEY PAYMENT TO THE PORN STAR STORMY DANIELS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS INVESTIGATION.

COHEN WENT TO PRISON FOR THAT.

WEISSELBERG AND TRUMP HAVE NOT BEEN CHARGED.

>> I WON'T DISCUSSION MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

ALL I CAN SAY IS YES, IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF DOCUMENTS THAT ARE IN THE POSSESSION OF PROSECUTORS THAT TIE EVERYTHING TO DONALD TRUMP.

THE TARGET IS NOT ALLEN WEISSELBERG IT IS THE C.E.O.

OF THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION, DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF.

>> MICHAEL MONICO YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU REPRESENTED Mr. COHEN AND YOU TALKED TO HIM TODAY DID HE SAY MORE WHAT HE THINKS OF THE CHARGES AND WHAT MIGHT BE COMING?

>> , HE TOO, IS SURPRISED.

THAT IT WASN'T A BIGGER CASE.

>> WHAT DO YOU READ INTO THAT?

>> THE WAY I MAKE IT IS THAT HE IS THAT THE PROSECUTOR CY VANCE AND THE NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL ARE BEING VERY CAREFUL AND TAKING THEIR STEPS ONE AT A TIME.

AND THEY ARE DOING IT IN A WAY THAT THEY FEEL IS BEST.

THEY HAVE GOT AN EXCELLENT PROSECUTOR THEY BROUGHT IN MARK PALM RANS WHO IS DOING A GREAT JOB AND IT WILL BE A LONG-HAUL.

WE'LL SEE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE INVESTIGATION.

>> CHARGING AN ORGANIZATION TIED TO A FORMER PRESIDENT IS FRAUGHT WITH ISSUES.

RENATO MARIOTTI, WHAT DOES THIS DO TO THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION TO TRUMP'S SONS TO THEIR ABILITY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS OR ABILITY TO GET LOANS OR PAYBACK THEIR LOANS?

>> I THINK THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THERE IS A CONVICTION AT THE END OF THE DAY HERE, I WILL TELL YOU FROM REPRESENTING COMPANIES THAT UNDER INVESTIGATION OR INDICTMENT THAT IT REALLY PUTS A CONSTRAINT ON THE COMPANY.

EMPLOYEES START THINK BEING WHY THEY WANT TO FIND A NEW JOB.

ANYBODY WHO IS DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU SUDDENLY RECONSIDERS WHETHER THEY WANT TO DO THAT.

WHEN YOU TRY TO GET A LOAN OR A LINE OF CREDIT YOU HAVE TO DISCLOSE THE CHARGES TO THE CREDITOR AND SOMETIMES THE LENDER DOESN'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED OR LOAN YOU THAT MONEY.

WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO SELL ASSETS OR HAVE A MERGER OR BUSINESS COMBINATION, THAT CAN BE ANOTHER DIFFICULT DISCLOSURE.

IT CAN HAMSTRING A BUSINESS AND HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.

ANYONE SUGGESTING THIS IS A GOOD DAY FOR THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION IS NOT BEING SERIOUS.

>> AND THE ORGANIZATION HAS HAD TROUBLE ATTRACTING LENDERS AND BANKS TO DO BUSINESS WITH IT.

WELL, BOTH OF THESE CASES, AUSTIN AND THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION WE WILL TALK MORE TOMORROW IN THE "THE WEEK IN REVIEW".

THANK YOU TO MICHAEL MONICO AND RENATO MARIOTTI.

>> AND UP NEXT, SELLING VACANT LOTS TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN NORTH LAWNDALE.

SO STAY WITH US.

>> WE CHECK BACK IN WITH AMANDA VINICKY IN NORTH LAWNDALE AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> EARLIER TODAY, I SPOKE WITH 24TH WARD ALDERMAN MICHAEL SCOTT, JR. HIS OFFICE ON KEILLOR ONE OF THE STREETS THAT GIVES PART OF NORTH LAWNDALE THAT K TOWN NICKNAME.

I BEGAN BY ASKING HIM ABOUT THE CITY'S ANNOUNCEMENT MONDAY THAT IT IS GOING TO SELL 250 VACANT LOTS TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP AND PUT HOMES ON.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW AS THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT, WE HAVE A GLUTNY OF VACANT LOTS IN THE AMOUNT OF 2500 OVER THE COURSE OF THE ENTIRE WARD.

AND SO ALTHOUGH 250 IS A SMALL NUMBER COMPARED TO 2500, TO BRING BACK 250 FAMILIES TO THIS COMMUNITY WOULD BE HUGE.

WE'RE UNDER POPULATED AND LOOKING FOR ROOFTOPS.

IT BRINGS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC IT BRINGS JOB AND IT WILL HELP OUR COMMUNITY.

>> WE'RE ACROSS THE STREET FOR ONE OF THE VACANT LOTS AND IT'S PRETTY RIGHT NOW.

WILD FLOWERS BLOOMING BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR OUR COMMUNITY?

>> A VACANT LOT MEANS YOU HAVE TO HAVE STREETS AND SAND COME OUT AND CUT AND CLEAN YOU HAVE TO HAVE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS PICK UP BEHIND YOU.

IT IS USUALLY AN EYESORE.

YOU HAVE THOSE PRETTY BLUE FLOWERS BUT THOSE ARE WEEDS IT CATCHES ALL THE DEBRIS IN THE BAGS.

TO HAVE A HOUSE THERE, TO HAVE A RESIDENCE AND SOMEBODY BUILDING COMMUNITY THERE IS AGAIN, REALLY IMPORTANT FOR NORTH LAWNDALE.

>> I BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ANOTHER PROJECT HERE AND THIS IS THE K TOWN BUSINESS CENTER.

YOU SPOKE ABOUT YOUR LATE FATHER HAVING YOU ASKED HIM ONCE, DAD WHY ARE WE STAYING HERE?

TELL US THAT STORY, PLEASE.

>> SO WHEN I WAS IN 7TH GRADE MY FATHER WAS ACTUALLY HE WAS SPECIAL EVENTS AT THE TIME AND THE DIRECTOR.

AND HE HAD COME HOME EARLY FROM WORK.

AND IT WAS AROUND THE TASTE OF CHICAGO TIME AND IF YOU ARE WORKING AT SPECIAL EVENTS AT THAT TIME TASTE OF CHICAGO IS THE BIGGEST EVENT YOU ARE THERE EVERYDAY UNTIL MIDNIGHT.

SO HE HAPPENED TO BE EARLY AND FOUND OUT THAT SOMEBODY HAD BROKEN INTO OUR HOME AND TAKE OUR BIKES.

AROUND SUMMERTIME I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO FOR THE SUMMER.

HE TOLD ME WE'LL GET IT BACK THOSE ARE MATERIAL ITEMS AS WE WERE COMING OUT OF THE BASEMENT THE GUYS WHO MY FATHER HAD SEEN EARLIER, WERE BACK.

HE CHASED THEM ACROSS THE STREET.

HE GOT SHOT ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED I SAID, HEY, DAD WHY ARE WE HERETH THIS COMMUNITY?

WE GOT SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE STEALING FROM US, COMMITTING BODILY HARM.

WHAT IS THE POINT OF US BEING HERE AND MY FATHER SAID, HEY, COUPLE THINGS IF YOU LEAVE HERE, YOU ROB THIS COMMUNITY OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT IT'S POURED INTO YOU.

AND LASTLY IF WE LEAVE YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM IN NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION WHY I SERVE AND WHY I'M HERE AND I CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK THAT I DO.

>> YOU ARE A LEGACY OF WEST SIDE POLITICS.

WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF CHANGE.

THE MAYOR LOSING CONTROL IT APPEARS OF C.P.S.

I MEAN WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE OF HOW DIFFERENT POLITICS IS FROM WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?

>> IT IS VASTLY DIVMENT YOU KNOW AND CHANGE HURTS BUT IT'S ALWAYS NECESSARY.

SO HOPEFULLY THIS IS A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER AND WE'LL HAVE POSITIVE OUTCOME ON THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> YOU ARE ONE OF THE ALD METROPOLITAN WHO DID CALL FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING THAT WILL BE HELD TOMORROW.

WHAT IS YOUR REASONING BEHIND THAT?

WHAT HAVE YOU NOT LEARNED OTHERWISE ABOUT CHICAGO CRIME, VIOLENCE PREVENTION THAT YOU HOPE TO GLEAN FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT IN THIS SPECIAL MEETING?

>> FOR THIS IT'S MORE ABOUT MY RESIDENTS.

50% OF THE CALLS THAT I GET FOR SERVICE IN THIS COMMUNITY IS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND SO YOU KNOW, FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO MY COMMUNITY WHAT IS GOING ON IS ONE THING.

THE C.E.O.

OR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE POLICE DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO COME TO THE COMMUNITY AND SAY THIS IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO HELP YOUR COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT AND THAT IS WHAT MY COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR AND WHY I SIGNED ON.

>> BY THE WAY, AS WE WERE FINISHING OUR INTERVIEW WITH THE ALDERMAN, A COUPLE CONSTITUENTS DID DRIVE BY AND WAVED, BEEPED ONE SAID HE IS GREAT, SUPER RESPONSIVE.

THAT IS WHAT EVERY ALDERPERSON WANTS TO HEAR.

WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE LAUNCH OF A NEW RECREATION ASSOCIATION.

THAT IS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND.

MORE COMING UP.

BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO.

>> WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... WITH THE ATTACK ON OUR NATION'S CAPITOL UNFOLDED DIFFERENTLY IF WASHINGTON D.C. WAS A STATE?

WE'LL HEAR FROM TWO SIDES OF THE WASHINGTON D.C. STATEHOOD DEBATE.

HOW A SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY IS SUPPORTING YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN THE LAWNDALE COMMUNITY AND THE LAUNCH OF A RECREATION ASSOCIATION ON THE WEST SIDE.

GEOFFREY BAER HAS A FASCINATING STUDY OF CHICAGO'S OLD COMMUTER RAILROAD STATIONS IN "ASK GEOFFREY".

ILLINOIS IS KNOWN FOR GROWING CORN AND SOYBEANS AND HAS A BUZZING HONEY INDUSTRY WE SHARE THE SECRET.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... FIRST CHICAGO'S AIRPORTS ARE BRACING FOR THE BUSIEST TRAVEL WEEKEND SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

THEY ARE PLANNING TO HOST 1 MILLION PASSENGERS UP 240% OVER THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

CITY AVIATION OFFICIALS PREDICT FRIDAY WILL BE THE BUSIEST DAY WITH 220,000 PASSENGERS EXPECTED TO PASS THROUGH O'HARE AND 41,000 AT MIDWAY.

>> MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT TOOK A PAGE FROM FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND BRANDED A BELITTLE BITTING NICKNAME ON A A POLITICAL RIVAL.

THE MAYOR REFERRED TO INDICTED 14TH WARD ALDERPERSON ED BURKE AS BURGER KING ED.

BURGER KING PART REFERS TO ONE OF THE CRIMINAL CHARGES BURKE FACES THE FRANCHISE IN HIS WARD.

LIGHTFOOT BELIEVES BURKE IS THE RINGLEADER BEHIND THE WHOLE THING.

>> STILL ALIVE AND WELL AND HE IS MESSING AROUND AND TRYING TO CREATE CHAOS.

HE CAN'T DO IT ON FULL -- HE CAN'T DO IT, UM, IN A WAY THAT MAKES HIM PUBLIC.

BUT HE IS DOING IT THROUGH PUPPETS AND TRYING TO ORCHESTRATE CHAOS.

>> AND NOW BACK TO BRANDIS AND THE DEBATE OVER 7ST STATE.

>> YOKES ARE WORKING TO ADD A 51ST STAR TO THE U.S.

FLAG THIS PUSH FOR WASHINGTON D.C. TO BECOME A STATE IS RAMPING UP WITH A BILL MOVING THROUGH CONGRESS.

A MARCH ON THE MALL AND THE SECOND EVER SENATE HEARING TO DISCUSS THE MATTER.

ADVOCATES SAY WASHINGTON D.C.

RESIDENTS DESERVE REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS AND OPPONENTS POINT TO CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENTS AGAINST STATEHOOD FOR THE CAPITOL.

JOINING US WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE PERSPECTIVES ARE ZACK SMITH LEGAL FELLOW AT THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION A CONSERVATIVE WASHINGTON D.C. BASED THINK TANK.

AND JAMAL HOLTZ LEAD JOCK FOR THE 51 FOR 51 CAMPAIGN TO GIVE DC STATEHOOD.

WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> JA'MAL, WHAT IS YOUR CASE FOR GIVING DC STATEHOOD?

>> I MEAN, THE FIGHT FOR DC STATEHOOD FOR ME IT'S PERSONAL.

AND IT ROOTS BACK TO THE REASON WHY I GOT INVOLVED INTO THE MOVEMENT.

ONE THE IDEALS OF THE COUNTRY ARE FOUNDED ON THE BASIS OF NO TAX WITHOUT REPRESENTATION AND WE CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE WE CANNOT CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE WHEN THERE ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO ARE DISENFRANCHISED MAJI BLACK AND BROWN AND IT'S PERSONAL FOR ME WHEN I GOT INVOLVED IN 2014 IT WAS DURING A TIME WHEN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WAS UNDER PROVISIONS AND REALLY GIVEN AMERICAN FAMILIES NOT DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, AMERICAN FAMILIES A BASIC RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO WALK INTO A HOSPITAL AND GET TREATMENT AND GET BASIC HEALTH INSURANCE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MYSELF OR MY MOM DID NOT HAVE BEFORE.

I WANTED TO ADVOCATE FOR IT.

AND ADVOCATE TO INSURE THAT WE HAD PREVENTATIVE CARE COVERED AND WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY AND A VOICE IN THE HEART OF THE SENATE TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR LIVELIHOOD AND I KNEW MY ADVOCACY ENDED UP IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WHERE I POURED SO MUCH MONEY AS A TAXPAYER IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT ME.

I DON'T GET A VOLUNTARY VOTE, I DON'T GET A VOICE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE ISSUES.

>> YOU TOLD OUR PRODUCER YOU COULD NOT CALL YOUR SENATOR BECAUSE YOU COULD NOT HAVE ONE.

ZACH WHAT IS YOUR CONCERN WITH THIS AND WHAT IS YOUR CASE AGAINST WASHINGTON D.C.

GAINING STATEHOOD?

>> BEFORE WE GET TO THE QUESTION WHETHER WASHINGTON D.C. SHOULD BE A STATE WHETHER WASHINGTON D.C. SHOULD BE IN A STATE THAT IS BEING PROPOSED AND THAT WAY IS THROUGH SIMPLE LEGISLATION.

AND WHAT I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM JA'MAL AND OTHER PROPONENTS OF WASHINGTON D.C. STATEHOOD IS ADDRESSING THE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES WITH A CHANGE IN THE STATUS OF THE DISTRICT IN THIS MANNER THROUGH SIMPLE LEGISLATION.

EVEN IF YOU WERE TO AGREE WITH JA'MAL AND OTHER PROPONENTS OF THE STATEHOOD THERE ARE SERIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL CONCERNS WITH ACHIEVING IT THROUGH SIMPLE LEGISLATION AND HISTORICALLY HAS NOT BEEN A PARTISAN ISSUE.

BOTH DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN JUSTICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE AGREED THAT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WOULD BE NEEDED IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE STATUS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

>> AND JA'MAL TO ZACH'S POINT IS IT NECESSARY BY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT?

>> THE CONSTITUTION ALLOWS THAT CONGRESS HAS THE POWER TO MAKE NEW STATES AND THAT IS PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

WHAT WE SEE WITH THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BECOMING A STATE WE PASS WITH 86% OF AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SAYING WE WANT TO BE A STATE.

AND PER HOUR RECOMMENDATION.

THE CONSTITUTION SAYS NOTHING HOW THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SHOULD BE.

IT SAYS HOW SMALL -- IT DOESN'T SAY HOW HOW SMALL IT CAN BE BUT IT SAYS HOW BIG IT CAN'T BE.

WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING AS AMERICAN CITIZENS WE SHRINK EN OUR FEDERAL DISTRICT DOWN TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE MONUMENTS AND PEOPLE COME TO WASHINGTON D.C. FORMENTO'S THE ATTRACTIONS AND MAKE A STATE THE DOUGLAS COMMONWEALTH WHERE PEOPLE LIVE AND RAS RAISE THEIR FAMILIES.

>> ZACH THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT THE METHOD THE ROUTE THROUGH WHICH ADVOCATES ARE TAKING BUT DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WASHINGTON D.C.

BEING A STATE ITSELF?

>> WELL, I THINK YOU HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE DISTRICT WOULD BE UNIQUE.

IT WOULD BE 17 TIMES SMALLER IN LAND MASS.

19 CITIES THAT WOULD BE LARGER THAN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AND RIGHT NOW, AT LEAST WITH THE CURRENT PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE, THERE ARE REAL QUESTIONS OUTSTANDING HOW THE DISTRICT WERE FUND SERVICES ESPECIALLY WITH COURT SYSTEM AND THE PRISONS.

CURRENTLY THE DISTRICT DOES NOT PAY FOR THE SERVICES.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES AND THE CURRENT PROPOSAL WOULD HAVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES INDEFINITELY.

AND WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION AGAIN BRIEFLY.

JA'MAL'S POINT, YES EVERY OTHER STATE AFTER THE 13 COLONIES THAT HAS COME INTO THE UNION HAVE BEEN ADMITTED BY SIMPLE LEGISLATION.

SO WHAT?

THAT IS IRRELEVANT BECAUSE NO OTHER STATE ENJOYS THE UNIQUE STATUS OF THE DISTRICT, NO OTHER STATE WAS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED FOR IN THE CONSTITUTION LIKE THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IT'S UNIQUE.

AND SO, AGAIN, IF THE STATUS OF THE DISTRICT IS GOING TO BE CHANGED, THEN THE APPROPRIATE MECHANISM TO ACCOMPLISH THAT IS THROUGH A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND NOT THROUGH THE SIMPLE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

>> LOOK, THE HISTORY OF DISENFRANCHISING IS STARTS IN RACISM.

IT'S ALL BEEN ABOUT RACE.

SEGREGATION DID NOT WANT TO ADMIT HAWAII AND MEXICO BECAUSE THE POPULATION WAS THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE OF COLOR.

LIKE WASHINGTON D.C. YOU HAVE COTTON AND OTHER REPUBLICANS USING LANGUAGE THAT WASHINGTON D.C.

DOESN'T HAVE REAL PEOPLE OR WASHINGTON D.C.

DOESN'T HAVE CAR DEALERSHIP WHICH IS RACIST DOG WHISTLES.

ABOUT GIVING BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE.

THERE'S NOTHING UNCONSTITUTIONAL ABOUT GIVING THE AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO PAY FEDERAL TAXES AND GIVEN THEM A VOTE IN THE CONGRESS.

>> WE HAVE 45 SECONDS LEFT AND I WANT TO POSE THIS QUESTION.

GREAT DEAL OF SUPPORT IN CONGRESS FROM DEMOCRATS SERIOUS REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION.

DO EITHER OF YOU THINK THIS BILL CREATING STATE OF WASHINGTON DOUGLAS COMMONWEALTH HAS LEGS IN THE SENATE, ZACH TO YOU FIRST?

>> I HAVE TO ADDRESS JA'MAL'S LAST POINT.

TYING OPPOSITION TO RACISM IT'S UNFORTUNATE AND INTENDED TO IMPUNE THE [INAUDIBLE] AS A DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REPORT SAYS THIS IS NOT A RACIAL ISSUE NOT A CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE IT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE THAT DEPOSE TO THE REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND TO YOUR QUESTION DC STAT HOOD FACES AN UPHILL BATTLE BUT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> JA'MAL 10 SECONDS.

>> I WILL SAY THE COMMENTS LIKE ZACH SAID IS WHAT RACIST REPUBLICANS HAVE ALWAYS SAID ON THE HILL AND WHAT WE HEARD IN 1960s WHERE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE AFRICAN-AMERICANS THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE.

RIGHT NOW IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT OUR DEMOCRACY AND GIVE AMERICAN CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

>> THIS IS A DEBATE THAT WILL GO ON FOR A LONGTIME WE'LL SEE HOW MUCH LONGER IT GOES ON.

THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU ZACK SMITH AND JAMAL HOLTZ FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND BACK TO AMANDA VINICKY WHO SPENT THE DAY REPORTING IN NORTH LAWNDALE AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> I'M NOW JOINED BY FRED LONG VICE-PRESIDENT OF VICE-PRESIDENT.

FOR YOU CAN, BASED IN NORTH LAWNDALE.

WE ARE IN DOUGLASS PARK FOLKS ARE SKATEBOARDING AND I SEE JOGGERS AND PEOPLE WALKING THEIR DOGS AS THIS WEEKEND YOU CAN IS INVOLVED IN AN EFFORT TO LAUNCH AN RECREATION ASSOCIATION WHAT IS IT AND WHY ARE YOU DOING IT?

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE FREE SPORTS AND RECREATION ONE THAT IS WORLD CLASS.

IN SOME OF THE SUBURBS IN CHICAGO WHERE YOU HAVE TO PAY TO PLAY WE WANT TO GIVE OUR FAMILIES A CHANCE TO PLAY AND BE RECREATIONAL AND HAPPY AND FREE OF CHARGE.

>> WHAT ARE WE TALKING?

SOFTBALL, SOCCER?

>> ALL SPORTS, SOFTBALL, FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, RUGBY AND ALSO GIRLS BASKETBALL AND SOCCER AS WELL.

>> AND NO PRICE FOR ANY OF THE YOUTH THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE?

>> NO PRICE AT ALL.

AS LONG AS YOU ARE CONNECTED WITH ONE OF OUR PARTNERS IN NORTH LAWNDALE AND ARE YOU CONNECTED TO YOU CAN AND YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES.

>> ALREADY HEARING FIREWORKS BLASTING IN THE NEARBY DISTANCE.

THE FOURTH OF JULY HAS COME TO BE KNOWN ALSO FOR SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS SIMILAR AS GUNSHOTS.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN TERMS OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

U CAN HAS TWO MODELS, STREET OUTREACH A TEAM OF 50 STAFF WORKING IN COMMUNITIES OUT IN THE STREETS MITIGATING VIOLENCE AS IT HAPPENS AND TRYING TO PREVENT VIOLENCE FROM HAPPENING WITH SHOOTINGS.

WE'RE SCALING UP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND THERE WAS A SHOOTING LAST NIGHT ON MILLARD ON 22nd STREET AND OUR TEAM IS RESPONDING TO THAT AND ACTIVATING SIMILAR TO WHAT FIRST-RESPONDERS DO.

>> ANY HOPES OUT OF THE MEETING HELD WITH SUPERINTENDENT BROWN TOMORROW?

>> YEAH, I THINK THE REAL HOPE IS THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LARGE EFFORT.

U CAN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ALDERMEN AND FOLKS LIKE YOURSELF AND GO I HAVE EN US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WAYS WE CAN MITIGATE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE STREETS OF CHICAGO.

>> YOU'VE WORKED FOR U CAN FOR 18 YEARS AND PRIOR YOU WERE INVOLVED OTHERWISE?

>> YES.

U CAN'S VISION IS YOUTH WHO SUFFER TRAUMA CAN BECOME OUR FUTURE LEADERS.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU TAG ON A WALL IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS REAL.

I AM A FORMER CLIENT IN FOSTER CARE I GREW UP AND NOW I AM AN EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT AND WE HAVE 20 PLUS ALUMNI WHO WORK FOR U CAN.

>> AND THE BRIEF TIME, U CAN IS KNOWN FOR THE FOSTER CARE SERVICES.

HOW WAS THAT AFFECTED DURING THE PANDEMIC?

>> JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

WE STILL HAD TO SERVE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES AND WE BECAME PSEUDO HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO USE PPE AND BE SAFE.

IT'S NECESSARY.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND BEST WISHES THIS WEEKEND WITH BOTH THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND THE RECREATION EFFORT.

AND WITH THAT, BACK TO YOU.

>> AMANDA, THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, THE FASCINATING STORY OF CHICAGO'S OLD CUTER RAILROAD STATIONS IN AN ENCORE EDITION OF "ASK GEOFFREY".

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

CHICAGO'S OLD PASSENGER RAILROAD STATIONS FOR DECADES ACTED AS THE CITY'S FRONT DOOR WHERE PEOPLE ARRIVED SEEKING A BETTER LIFE OR JUST THE THRILLS OF THE CITY.

GEOFFREY BAER TAKES US BACK TO THE GOLDEN AGE OF RAIL TRAVEL IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

HEY, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU, PARIS.

>> WE HAVE A QUESTION... >> WELL, OF COURSE, WE CAN!

AS YOU MENTIONED THE LATE 19TH CENTURY THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY THIS WAS THE GOLDEN AGE OF RAIL TRAVEL WHEN PEOPLE TRAVERSED THE COUNTRY ON TRAINS.

AND OF COURSE RIGHT AT THE CENTER AT THE HUB OF IT ALL WAS CHICAGO.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE AS RECENTLY AS THE 1960s, THERE WERE SIX PASSENGER TRAIN STATIONS IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO.

TODAY ALL PASSENGER TRAINS THAT COME INTO THE CITY FROM BEYOND THE SUBURBS GO THROUGH THE LAST ONE STANDING UNION STATION WHICH IS NOW OWNED BY AMTRAK.

IT'S DESIGN INCLUDING THIS NOW DEMOLISHED CONCOURSE ON THE RIVER AND THE COLONNADED MAIN BUILDING STILL STANDING BEHIND IT.

THOSE RECALL THE GRANDURE OF RAIL TERMINALS IN THE GLORY DAYS.

DESIGNED TO WOW THE TRAVELER THE WAY MANY AIRPORTS DO TODAY THAT WAS THE GOAL OF ANOTHER NEOCLASSICALLY DESIGNED TERMINAL.

CHECK THIS OUT.

OWNED BY THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY.

VERY NEOCLASSICAL BOZARTS AND STOOD AT OGILVIE TRANSPORTATION CENTER OPERATED BY METRA.

THAT INCLUDED ORNATE CONCOURSES AND WAITING ROOMS AND SPACES FOR BARBERS AND HAIRDRESSERS.

PEOPLE TRAVELING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE CHICAGO NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY TRACED THE ROOTS TO THE GEORGIA LIPNA AND THE CHICAGO UNION ESTABLISHED IN 1848 BY CHICAGO'S FIRST MAYOR.

>> CERTAINLY THE GOLDEN AGE OF TRAVEL.

AND A KEY PLAYER YOU HEAR REFERENCES IN POP CULTURE THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT COMPANY BILLED ITSELF AS THE MAIN LINE OF MID-AMERICA AND IT WAS A DOMINANT PLAYER BOTH IN PASSENGER AND FREIGHT RAIL.

THEIR MAIN PASSENGER TERMINAL WAS CENTRAL STATION AND IT ONCE STOOD JUST SOUTH OF GRANT PARK ON THE LAKEFRONT.

THE RAILROAD BUILT THIS MAMMOTH TERMINAL IN 1893 TO ACCOMMODATE THE INFLUX OF VISITORS THAT WERE EXPECTED FOR THE WORLD'S FAIR THAT YEAR.

YOU WILL NOTICE ALMOST ALL OF THESE TERMINALS HAVE CLOCKS OR CLOCK TOWERS SO PEOPLE HURRYING TO CATCH TRAINS DID NOT HAVE TO FUMBLE AROUND FOR POCKET WATCHES IF THEY HAD WATCHES AT ALL.

CENTRAL SPHATION WAS AN IMPORTANT POINT OF ENTRY FOR MANY AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO CAME TO CHICAGO FROM THE SOUTH DURING THE GREAT MIGRATION.

AND CENTRAL STATION MET THE WRECKING BALL IN THIS CASE IN THE MID-1970s AFTER AMTRAK DIVERTED THEIR TRAINS TO UNION STATION THERE IS AN ACTIVE PLATFORM AT 11TH STREET SERVING THE METRA ELECTRIC LINE.

>> AND THE INSPIRATION FOR THAT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT CENTRAL STATION WHICH RICHARD M. DALEY LIVED THERE FOR A WHILE.

>> AND WE HAD OUR OWN GRAND CENTRAL STATION HERE IN CHICAGO.

OURS WAS HARRISON AND WELLS ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE LOOP ALONG THE RIVER FOR 80 YEARS.

IT WAS JUST NORTH WHERE RIVER CITY'S DEVELOPMENT IS TODAY.

TRAFFIC DECLINED AT GRAND CENTRAL AFTER WORLD WHERE 2 WORLD WHERE 2.

THIS WAS TAKEN IN -- WORLD WAR II.

AND IT WAS TORN DOWN IN 1971.

AND ABANDONED RAILROAD LAND IS BEING REDEVELOPED.

DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT ON THIS SITE, BURIED STONES FROM GRAND CENTRAL STATION WERE UNEARTHED AND REPURPOSED FOR A RIVERWALK.

ONE CHICAGO TRAIN STATION THAT IS STILL STANDING SO IN ADDITION TO UNION STATION IS DEARBORN STATION IN THE SOUTH LOOP IT IS NOT A TRAIN STATION AND YOU CAN SEE ITS CLOCK TOWER VISIBLE FROM THE NORTH SIDE OF THE LOOP TOOKING SOUTH ON DEARBORN.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TOP OF THAT CLOCK TOWER?

LOOK AT THIS EARLY PHOTO.

AT ONCE HAD THIS HUGE WOODEN ROOF ON TOP OF IT.

BUT IN 1922 IT CAUGHT FIRE.

LOOK AT THE INCREDIBLE PHOTOS FROM THE SCENE AS CROWDS GATHERED AND FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO SAVE THE BUILDING BUT NOT THE TOWER.

MOST OF THE TRAIN SHED WAS DEMOLISHED BUT THE FACADE AND PORTIONS WERE PRESERVED AS PART OF A MALL SERVING PRINTERS ROW.

THE BUILDING IS CALLED DEARBORN STATION AND MANY OLD STATIONS LIVE ON IN THE NAMES OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS THE ONE YOU MENTIONED CENTRAL STATION JUST SOUTH OF GRANT PARK WHERE MAYOR DALEY USED TO LIVE.

AND A NEW APARTMENT BUILDING AT HARRISON AND WELLS IS USING THE GRAND CENTRAL NAME.

>> THAT THE GHOSTS OF CHICAGO'S RAIL PAST STILL AROUND.

ALL RIGHT GEOFFREY BAER THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS ABOUT CHICAGO'S OLD PASSENGER RAIL STATIONS.

AND SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS TO GEOFFREY BAER.

>> BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

ILLINOIS IS KNOWN FOR GROWING CORN AND SOYBEANS BUT THERE IS A LOCAL CROP SOME SAY IS READY FOR ITS CLOSE-UP.

HONEY.

QUINN MYERS RECENTLY BROUGHT US THE STORY OF A BEE FARM NORTH OF CHICAGO THAT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED IN THE STATE.

HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

>> THIS IS JUST WHAT, ONE TO ONE SUGAR?

SUGAR AND WATER.

AND WE'RE FEEDING THEM BECAUSE THERE IS NO NECTAR BEING PRODUCED RIGHT NOW.

NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE HONEY.

AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW IS BUILD THE COLONIES UP.

>> KAREN AND JIM BELLI NEVER EXPECTED TO BECOME BEEKEEPERS.

A RETIRED C.P.S.

TEACHER AND ARCHITECT THEY GREW UP IN CHICAGO.

FAR AWAY FROM ANY SORT OF AGRICULTURE LET ALONE AN APRIL ARI.

BUT AFTER THEY BOUGHT FARM LAND IN OLD MILL CREEK ILLINOIS NEAR THE WISCONSIN BORDER, THE PREVIOUS OWNER WHO STILL LIVED ON THE PROPERTY HAD AN IDEA.

>> AND SHE SAID WHY DON'T YOU TRY BEEKEEPING?

SHE SAYS ALL THE FARMS YEARS AGO ALL HAD A COUPLE HIVES.

>> A FEW YEARS LATER AFTER THEY BEFRIENDED A BEEKEEPER AND ATTENDED WORKSHOPS THE BELLI'S DECIDED TO GIVE IT A SHOT.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAMILTON ILLINOIS TO BUY EQUIPMENT AND WE ARE GOING TO GIVE IT A TRY.

>> KAREN LOOKED AT ME AND SAID IF WE DON'T GET INTO THIS SOON WE WILL BE TOO OLD TO DO IT.

>> THEY BEGAN WITH TWO HIVES AND EXPANDED.

THEY STARTED ENTERING THE HONEY IN COMPETITIONS AND THEN THE STATE FAIR THEN NATIONAL CONTESTS.

AND TODAY HAVE RACKED UP DOZENS AND DOZENS OF AWARDS.

AND JUST LAST YEAR, THE COUPLE WERE NAMED THE 2020 BEEKEEPERS OF THE YEAR BY THE ILLINOIS STATE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION.

>> IT STILL IS A TECHNICAL HOBBY BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT?

>> IT IS IT IS A PASSION.

>> IT'S NOW A PASSION I WOULD SAY THAT.

>> THEIR SECRET IS THE DIVERSITY OF LOCAL PLANTS AND TREES.

MAKING NORTHEAST ILLINOIS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO RAISE HONEYBEES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

>> YOU COULD NOT DO THIS IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

AND IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME THIS THAT NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS WAS THIS MAGICAL PLACE FOR HONEY I WOULD HAVE SAID YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING.

>> EVERY YEAR, THE BELLI'S BEES FEAST ON LINDENS, BLACK LOCUSTS, CLOVER, WILD FLOWERS AND MORE CREATING SHADES OF HONEY THAT RANGE FROM ALMOST TRANSLUCENT TO DARK BROWN.

COLORS HARD TO FIND ANYWHERE ELSE.

>> THE COLOR IS DETERMINED BY THE NECTAR SOURCE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A HUGE VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PLANTS AND TREES AND SHRUBS TO GET THE DIFFERENT NECTAR SOURCES WHICH WILL GIVE YOU THE DIFFERENT COLORS.

HERE WE HAVE A LONG GROWING SEASON.

AND WE HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF VARIETY.

>> THE BELLI'S MAINTAIN 40 HIVES AT THE SUMMER PEAK YIELDING A THOUSAND POUNDS OF HONEY EVERY YEAR THEY DO IT ALL ON THEIR PROPERTY.

HOME TO AN EXPANSIVE BARN THEY REFURBISHED AND A CUSTOM FARMHOUSE JIM DESIGNED.

WHILE THEIR OPERATION HAS GROWN A BIT SINCE THEY BOUGHT THEIR FIRST HIVES THE BELLI'S SAY WHAT KEEPS THEM GOING IS WORKING WITH THE BEES THEMSELVES WHAT THEY CALL BEE TIME.

>> THERE'S NO CLOCK THERE'S NO DAY, IT'S JUST YOU AND THE BEES.

AND HAVE A BOND WITH THEM AND YOU'RE WATCHING THEM AND YOU'RE WATCHING THEM COME IN AND OUT OF THE HIVE AND LOOKING AT THE FRAMES AND SEEING THEM MOVE AROUND AND TRYING 0 TO BE CALM AND PEACEFUL AS YOU CAN.

AND THEY ARE JUST SO BUSY DOING THEIR JOB AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE OF TIME THERE'S NOTHING IT'S JUST YOU AND THE BEES.

FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M QUINN MYERS.

>> SWEETED BUSINESS AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BELLI BEES ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW".

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

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT!

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