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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ HERE IN OUR NORTHWEST SIDE STUDIO.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN REPORTING LIVE FROM THE SOUTH LOOP.

>> AND ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THIS IS NOT HAPPENING IN LOS ANGELES.

IT'S NOT HAPPENING IN NEW YORK CITY.

>> MORE THAN 500 WOMEN WHO WORK AT THE COOK COUNTY JAIL FILE LAWSUITS ALLEGING THEY HAVE BEEN HARASSED AND THAT THE SHERIFF IS NOT HELPING.

>> PEOPLE NEED TO GET THEIR DAY IN COURT.

>> ARE COURTS TO BLAME FOR A SPIKE IN CRIME?

CHIEF JUDGE TIMOTHY EVANS RESPONDS TO THE REPEATED ACCUSATIONS FROM MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN.

>> ON THIS POINT, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE IDENTITY OF WHO DID IT THE PRESIDENT HAD A LOT OF ENEMIES.

>> POLITICAL GAFFES FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATION OF HAITI'S PRESIDENT.

WE HAVE LOCAL REACTION.

>> PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK IN FULL FORCE.

>> CONVENTIONS, CONCERTS WILL BE LIVE FROM THE SOUTH LOOP FOR OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> WHAT IS TO BLAME FOR THE LOW NUMBER OF BLACK CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS?

A NEW REPORT SHARES INSIGHT.

>> AND WE INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL WOODWORKER WHO IS USING HIS ART BACKGROUND TO CARVE CUSTOM FURNITURE.

>> AND PARIS AS YOU MENTIONED I'M IN THE SOUTH LOOP COANCHORING AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

CONVENTIONS ARE RETURNING TO McCORMICK PLACE WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW PROVIDING A MUCH-NEEDED ECONOMIC BOOST TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE CITY.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ON EFFORTS TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THIS AREA'S RICH CULTURAL HISTORY FROM ARCHITECTURE TO THE BLUES.

BACK TO YOU.

>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

A 28-YEAR-OLD CHICAGO MAN IS CHARGED WITH THE SHOOTING OF TWO A.T.F.

AGENTS AND A CHRIS POLICE OFFICER.

HE IS CHARGED IN A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT WITH AN ACCOUNT TO USE A DEADLY WEAPON ASSAULT ON A FEDERAL AGENT.

THE SHOOTING OCCURRED ON AN I57 RAMP NEAR 119TH STREET NOT FAR FROM THE MORGAN PARK POLICE STATION AND THE THREE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WERE WORKING UNDERCOVER ON AN INVESTIGATION THEY WERE ABLE TO ASSIST THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO CATCH THIS SUSPECT.

>> WHEN THEY NOTED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS FOLLOWING THEM, THEY WERE ABLE TO RECORD THE LICENSE PLATE OF THAT OTHER VEHICLE.

WHEN THE AGENTS AND TFO APPROACHED THE EXPRESSWAY IN THE UNMARKED VEHICLE, THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WITH HIS WINDOW DOWN BEGAN FIRING AT THEM.

ALL THREE OFFICERS WERE INJURED.

FORTUNATELY THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED AND NONE OF THEIR INJURIES ARE LIFE-THREATENING.

>> 34TH WARD ALDERPERSON CARRIE AUSTIN PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO FEDERAL BRIBERY CHARGES.

AUSTIN APPEARED IN FEDERAL COURT TODAY AND IS CHARGED WITH TAKING BRIBES IN THE FORM OF HOME IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING KITCHEN CABINETS AND COUNTERTOPS FROM A DEVELOPER AND IS CHARGED WITH LYING TO F.B.I.

AGENTS.

AUSTIN'S CHIEF OF STAFF CHESTER WILLSON IS CHARGED ON MULTIPLE COUNTS OF BRIBERY, HE TOO, PLEADED NOT GUILTY.

THE NEXT COURT APPEARANCE IS AUGUST 10TH.

>> MORE CHICAGOANS ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR TREATMENT AND RECOVERY PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF INCARCERATION.

THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ANNOUNCED AN EXPANSION OF THE NARCOTICS ARRESTS DIVERSION PROGRAM TO ALL 22 POLICE DISTRICTS TO DIVERT INDIVIDUALS INTO TREATMENT AND EVERY RECOVERY INSTEAD OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM.

IT BEGAN IN 2018 AND HAS EXPANDED TO COVER HALF OF THE CITY.

THE EXPANSION WILL HAPPEN BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

>> MORE THAN 500 WOMEN WHO DO OR DID WORK AT COOK COUNTY JAILS ARE SUING.

THEY ALLEGE THE SHERIFF DID NOT DO ENOUGH TO PROTECT THEM FROM SEXUAL HARASSMENT FROM THOSE IN CUSTODY.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH THE LATEST.

>> 529 WOMEN, NURSES, TEACHERS, COURT LIBRARIANS, COURT DEPUTIES HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT ALLEGING SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION.

WE'RE GOING TO MEET ONE OF THEM BONNIE PARKER WHO WORKED FOR 28 YEARS AS A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER BEFORE RETIRING IN 2019.

PARKER USED TO DO INTAKES.

WHEN C.P.D.

WOULD BRING IN THOSE THAT HAD BEEN ARRESTED SHE WOULD PROCESS THEM.

FINGERPRINTING AND INTERVIEWING.

AND PLACE THEM IN THE LOCK PEN WHAT SHE -- LOCK UP OR THE BULLPEN.

SHE SAYS FROM 2014 ON HOWEVER THAT PROCESS BECAME HARDER BECAUSE INCREASINGLY, THE DETAINEES HARASSED HER.

>> EVEN CONSISTED OF THINGS LIKE GUYS CAT CALLING, PULLING OUT THEIR PENISES.

EJACULATING, TELLING ME ABOUT MY BODY PARTS.

AND THE SUPERVISORS IT BECAME SO FREQUENT THAT THEY JUST IGNORED IT.

AND CHALKED IT UP TO WELL, YOU WORK IN A JAIL.

>> IT WASN'T ALWAYS LIKE THIS SHE SAYS.

OFFICER LIKE HER USED TO BE ABLE TO WRITE UP DETAINEES WHO BEHAVED THIS WAY.

>> PREVIOUSLY DISCIPLINE WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING LIKE FOR -- SOMETHING LIKE SHOWING YOUR BODY PARTS PULLING OUT AND EJACULATING WOULD HAVE BEEN PROBABLY AT LEAST 30 DAYS IN SEGREGATION, NO VISITING PRIVILEGES.

YOU WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO SHOP AND BUY GOODIES.

>> BUT SHE SAYS THAT CHANGED.

IN RECENT YEARS THE POLICY MEANT CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS HAD TO REPORT HARASSMENT TO THEIR SUPERVISORS AND WAIT FOR ACTION.

SHE SAYS SOMETIMES THE INCIDENTS WERE BRUSHED OFF AND OTHERS IT WOULD TAKE WEEKS BEFORE A DETAINEE WAS PUNISHED.

AND THAT BEHAVIOR CONTINUED.

SHE COMPARE IT IS TO A CHILD WHO CONTINUES TO ACT UP IF THERE ARE NOT CONSEQUENCES.

>> THEY WERE NOT DISCIPLINED SO THE PROBLEM GREW AND GREW AND GREW, AND GREW LIKE A SNOWBALL GOING DOWNHILL.

I WAS HARASSED THE LATTER PART OF MY CAREER FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

>> PARKER WAS PART OF A LAWSUIT FILED FIRST IN 2017 AGAINST TOM DART MAKING SIMILAR ACCUSATIONS BUT THAT CLASS ACTION SUIT LATER DECERTIFIED BY AN APPELLATE COURT FROM CLASS ACTION STATUS PROMPTING THE NEW COMPLAINT FILED YESTERDAY THAT INCLUDES THE INDIVIDUAL STORIES OF 529 FEMALE JAIL EMPLOYEES.

NOELLE BRENNAN IS ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS ON THE CASE.

>> THIS SUSPECTED'S THE TYPE OF THING THAT HAPPENS IN EVERY JAIL.

SO THE IDEA THAT THE SHERIFF HAS DONE EVERYTHING THAT HE CAN DO, JUST DOESN'T HOLD WATER.

THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE THAT ARE COMMON SENSE.

FOR INSTANCE, HANDCUFFING BEHIND THE BACK.

PUTTING THEM IN UNIFORMS THAT ARE EXPOSURE CONTROLLED UNIFORMS.

>> SIMILAR TO PARKER SHE SUGGESTS IMPLEMENTING STRONGER DISCIPLINARY MEASURES.

BUT DART AGAIN PUSHING BACK.

STAYING IN A STATEMENT -- SAYING IN THE STATEMENT THE SHERIFF ENACTED INNOVATIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE MEASURES TO PREVENT AND TO DETER DETAINED PERSONS FROM MASTER BAITING IN FRONT OF STAFF INCLUDING NEW JUMPSUITS, INCREASED DISCIPLINARY CONSEQUENCES AND THAT INCLUDES FILING CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST DEFENDERS.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS THAT RESULTED IN TWO-THIRDS DROP OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT RELATED INCIDENTS SINCE DECEMBER OF 2016.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WORKS EVERYDAY TO PREVENT AND DETER THOSE ORDERED INTO CUSTODY FROM ENGAGING IN ACTS OF VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT TOWARDS STAFF AND OTHERS AND HAS DONE SO BEFORE THE LAWSUIT WAS FILED FOUR YEARS AGO.

THE SAFETY OF ALL PERSONS WHO ENTER THE JAIL IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEFEND OUR RECORD ON SUPPORTING OUR STAFF AND AGGRESSIVELY ADDRESSING INCIDENTS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT BY DETAINED INDIVIDUALS.

NOW, THERE WAS ANOTHER LAWSUIT FILED IN 2017 THIS ONE BY PUBLIC DEFENDERS WHO WERE ALLEGING SIMILAR BEHAVIOR ON THE PART OF DETAINEES.

THAT NOVEMBER, THE COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS APPROVED SETTLING THAT CASE FOR $14 MILLION.

NOELLE BRENNAN SAYS IT IS NOTABLE THAT LAWYERS WERE TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN JAIL EMPLOYEES.

SHE SAYS THE 529 PLAINTIFFS IN THIS CASE REPRESENT A QUARTER OF THE APPROXIMATELY 2,000 WOMEN WHO WORKED IN THE COOK COUNTY JAILS AND COURTS DURING THE PERTINENT TIME PERIOD.

>> THAT YOU HAVE ONE QUARTER OF YOUR FEMALE STAFF WILLING TO PUT THEIR NAME ON A COMPLAINT AND SUE THEIR EMPLOYER IS UNPRECEDENTED.

AS FAR AS WE KNOW THIS IS THE LARGEST INDIVIDUAL SEX HARASSMENT CASE EVER BROUGHT >> NOW, THOUGH SHE IS RETIRED, BONNIE PARKER SAYS SHE IS WORRIED ABOUT SOME OF THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS THAT SHE LEFT BEHIND, SOME OF WHOM SHE HAD BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAINING.

>> AND YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THEM IN A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THAT IS IN ESSENCE WHAT IT BECOMES.

WHEN YOU HAVE TO COME TO WORK AND MENTALLY KNOW THAT WHEN YOU OPEN THAT DOOR OH, LORD, I AM WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY?

ARE THEY GOING TO GET ME IN THE FACE?

IS IT GOING TO BE ON THE BACK OF MY PANTS?

IS SOMEBODY GOING TO HEY OLD LADY LOOK WHAT I GOT FOR YOU?

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO TODAY, LORD.

THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO STOP.

>> THE SUIT IS SEEKING A CHANGE IN POLICY BUT ALSO MONETARY DAMAGES.

WITH THAT, PARIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE CLASS IN THAT SUIT 500 AND MORE.

THANK YOU.

>> ANOTHER SIGN THAT CHICAGO'S RETURNING TO NORMAL CONVENTIONS ARE BEGINNING TO RETURN TO THE CITY.

MEETINGS AND EVENTS AT McCORMICK PLACE CONVENTION CENTER WHERE 1.9 BILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE CITY ONE THAT DISAPPEARED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

McCORMICK PLACE SITS IN THE SOUTH LOOP WHERE BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND QUINN MYERS SPENT THE DAY REPORTING AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

BRANDIS, THE AUTO SHOW IS SET FOR THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN, IS IT NOT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, IT IS AND IT'S GOING TO BE HERE AT McCORMICK PLACE.

AS IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST BUT IT WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN YEARS PAST BEING IN JULY INSTEAD OF IN FEBRUARY.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THAT AS WELL AS THE RETURN OF CONVENTIONS COMING UP LATER WITH THE C.E.O.

OF McCORMICK PLACE.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE ON THE ROOFTOP GARDEN OF ONE OF THE BUILDINGS OF McCORMICK PLACE I'M DIRECTLY ABOVE THE INTERSECTION OF SURMAC AND INDIANA.

I HAVE WYNN TRUST ARENA AND THE SOUTH LOOP SITS IN THE SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITY AREA HOME TO 24,000 CHICAGOANS AND IT'S HOME TO RESTAURANTS, BUSINESSES AND MUSIC VENUES.

THIRD WARD ALDERPERSON PAT DOWELL THE ALDERPERSON FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, SHE SAYS THE COMMUNITY IS WORKING TO BE MORE CONNECTED WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER WITH $10 MILLION IN TAX INCREMENT FINANCING GOING TOWARDS STREET SCAPING ALONG WITH OTHER IMPROVEMENTS AND INVESTMENTS.

SHE ADDS THAT WHILE THE BUSINESSES IN THIS AREA DID FAIRLY WELL DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE CONVENTIONS ADD MORE VALUE.

>> WE'RE REAL EXCITED ABOUT THE AUTO SHOW COMING BACK AND VERY EXCITED ABOUT MORE ATTENTION AT CHINATOWN.

CHINATOWN IS REOPENING SO THE GOAL IS TO TRY TO CONNECT THE SOUTH LOOP McCORMICK PLACE, MOTOR ROW WITH McCORMICK PLACE AND CHINATOWN AND BRONZEVILLE.

>> AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAR MORE FROM PAT DOWELL ABOUT THE WORK THAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN THE SOUTH LOOP AND HER THOUGHTS ON THE CITY'S VIOLENCE AND CHANGES AT THE CITY COUNCIL LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

BUT ONE OF THOSE LONGSTANDING BUSINESSES HERE IS CALLED REGGIE'S A RESTAURANT AND LIVE MUSIC VENUE AND COMEDY AS WELL.

OWNER ROBBY GLICK SAYS SINCE THE CITY REOPENED HIS CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN COMING BACK IN FULL FORCE AND HE IS THANKFUL THAT IT PROVIDES WORK FOR THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE A VENUE RUN FROM THE WAITSTAFF TO THE LIGHTING ENGINEERS WHO PRODUCE LIVE MUSIC.

AND IT'S THOSE SAME BEHIND THE SCENES FOLKS WHO WORK AT THE CONVENTION CENTER WHO MAKEUP A BIG PART OF HIS CUSTOMER BASE.

>> MAINLY THE PEOPLE THAT SETUP AND TEAR DOWN THE SHOWS.

SO MOSTLY THE DECORATORS, THE RIGGERS, THE CARPENTERS AND THE TEAMSTERS, THAT WORK OVER THERE THAT COME IN HERE FOR THEIR LUNCH AND COME BACK AFTER THEIR GIG.

>> GLICK TYPICALLY HAS 50 BANDS A WEEK BETWEEN HIS THREE VENUES BUT THEY ARE NOT UP TO THAT LEVEL YET BUT HE IS EXPECTING IT TO PICK UP IN THE FALL.

TO HEAR LIVE MUSIC IS SOMETHING HIS CUSTOMER BASE REALLY MISSED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT WHEN IT'S GONE LIKE MUSIC IS THERAPEUTIC AND WHEN IT'S GONE AND IT COMES BACK IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE.

PEOPLE MISSED IT.

>> NOW, AROUND THE CORNER AND NORTH OF MOTOR ROW IS RECORD ROW HOME TO CHICAGO'S RICH BLUES HISTORY.

WE STOPPED INSIDE CHESS RECORDS WHERE CHUCK BERRY, WILLIE DIXON MADE THEIR MUSIC AND OTHERS.

WILLIE DIXON'S BLUES HEAVENS FOUNDATION KEEPING THE MEMORY ALIVE HERE AND ABOUT THE WALLS OF CHESS RECORDS AND HOW THEY RESTARTED TOURS THIS WEEK AFTER 16 MONTHSISM I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY OF CHICAGO EMBRACE THE MUSICAL GENRE THEY HAVE.

VERY FEW CITIES CAN CLAIM A GENRE OF MUSIC.

CHICAGO BLUES IS A GENRE IN ITSELF.

AND AS WILLIE DIXON SAID THE BLUES ARE THE ROOTS AND THE REST ARE THE FRUITS.

ABOUT ALL MUSIC DOES STEM FROM BLUES MUSIC.

>> SO THERE'S THE MUSICAL HISTORY ON RECORD ROW.

THERE'S THE CAR HISTORY ON MOTOR ROW.

BUT THERE'S THE ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY IN THE SOUTH LOOP.

WE VISITED GLESSNER HOUSE ONE OF THE ORIGINAL PRAIRIE AVENUE HOMES OF THE LATE 19TH CENTURY.

BUILT IN 1887 BY HENRY RICHARDSON FOR THE GLESSNER FAMILY.

THEY ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER FAMILIES MOVED TO THE AREA AND AT THE TIME IT WAS A GREAT SHOW OF THEIR WEALTH AND SUCCESS.

>> THE SOUTH LOOP WAS POPULAR BECAUSE IT WAS CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN AND EASY TO GET TO THE BUSINESSES AND YOU DID NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT CROSSING THE RIVER IT WAS REALLY THE IMMEDIATE HUB FOR THE FAMILIES TO MOVE TO BY THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, THOUGH, AS THE CITY GREW AND IT WAS EASIER TO GET TO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY PEOPLE LEFT THE SOUTH LOOP AND IT WENT THROUGH A LONG PERIOD OF DECLINE WHICH IS WHY MOST OF THE HOUSES AROUND GLESSNER HOUSE WERE LOST.

>> AND TODAY AT LEAST SEVEN OF THOSE ORIGINAL 90 HOMES ARE STILL STANDARDING.

BUT BILL TYRE WHO WROTE THE BOOK ON PRAIRIE AVENUE AND HISTORY THE HOMES ARE IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE CITY'S HISTORY AND HOW IT GREW SO RAPIDLY WHEN IT DID AND MANY OF THE CHICAGO INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND THE ART INSTITUTE WERE STARTED BY THE GLESSNERS AND THEIR CONTEMPORARIES.

>> BILL TYRE IS WITNESSING THE RETURN OF THE SOUTH LOOP FROM THAT DECLINE THAT HE MENTIONED THAT HAPPENED EARLIER IN THE MID-20TH CENTURY.

BUT THAT RETURN HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE LAST 20-25 YEARS AND HE SAYS IT'S FOR THE SAME REASON AS IT DID 100 YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO THE LAKE AND THE LOOP.

COMING UP, WE ARE GOING TO HEAR MORE FROM PAT DOWELL.

AND LATER WE WILL HEAR FROM THE McCORMICK PLACE C.E.O.

ABOUT THE CHANGES THEY MADE TO RETURN CONVENTIONS TO McCORMICK PLACE.

FOR NOW, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS.

THE CITY'S HOMICIDE AND SHOOTING RATE HAVE RISEN SINCE THE ONSET OF THE COVID PANDEMIC CULMINATING IN A DEADLY FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND WHERE MORE THAN 100 WERE SHOT AND 18 KILLED.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN CONSISTENTLY POINTED THEIR FINGERS IN ONE DIRECTION: COOK COUNTY'S CRIMINAL COURTS.

>> I'M CALLING UPON OUR COUNTY PARTNERS, AND PARTICULARLY THOSE IN THE CRIMINAL COURTS.

OPEN UP THE COURTS.

PEOPLE NEED TO GET THEIR DAY IN COURT.

JUSTICE DELAY SECOND JUSTICE DENIED.

AND YOU'RE HURTING NOT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE CHARGED BUT ALSO THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY, THE VICTIMS, THE SURVIVORS AND THE WITNESSES WHO NEED TO HAVE A MEASURE OF JUSTICE.

>> WHEN YOU ASK THE QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT OUR WORK IS EFFECTIVE, CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS ARE DOING THEIR JOB BY ARRESTING PEOPLE AND CHARGING THEM WITH MURDER.

THAT IS DOING OUR PART.

AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE COURTS IS CREATING THIS UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL OF US.

>> AND THERE IS NO CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE THAT DEFENDANTS OUT ON PRETRIAL RELEASE WHAT SUPERINTENDENT BROWN WAS REFERRING TO THERE, ARE DRIVING THE HIGH VIOLENCE RATE.

AND JOINING US TO RESPOND TO THESE CLAIMS IS CHIEF JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

>> YOU'VE HEARD THE FINGER POINTING TO THE COURTS WHICH YOU LEAD THE ACCUSATIONS FROM SUPERINTENDENT BROWN THAT TOO MANY FOLKS OUT ON PRETRIAL RELEASE ARE COMMITTING VIOLENT CRIMES.

YOUR RESPONSE TO THE ALLEGATIONS FROM THE MAYOR AND THE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT?

>> WELL, NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

AND FIRST WITH RESPECT TO THE QUOTE-UNQUOTE CLOSED COURTS, WE NEVER CLOSED.

AND DURING THE PANDEMIC PERIOD THAT WAS HIGHEST BETWEEN MARCH OF 2020 AND MARCH OF 21, WE RESOLVED 128,000 CASES.

13,000 PLEAS.

A THOUSAND BENCH TRIALS.

27 JURY TRIALS.

SO WE NEVER CLOSED.

WE TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION AND BALANCED SAFETY THE SUPREME COURT, OF COURSE, ASKED US TO DEAL WITH THE EMERGENCIES FOR A PERIOD OF THAT TIME.

BUT WE NEVER CLOSED.

AND THEN SECONDLY WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCUSATIONS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE RELEASED ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING ARE SOMEHOW RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITIES AND WHILE THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN HIT BY TERRIBLE VIOLENCE, THERE IS NO DATA, NO PROOF AT ALL THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE RELEASED ON PRETRIAL ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.

AND I WOULD RUSH TO SAY FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WE HAVE EXAMINED SOMETHING LIKE 86,000 CASES BETWEEN 2017 AND 2020 AND WE HAVE FOUND THAT IN MOST OF THOSE INSTANCES, WE ARE VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THE RESULTS THAT TOOK PLACE.

FOR EXAMPLE, FURTHER, THERE WERE SOMETHING LIKE 181 CASES OF MURDER OR ATTEMPTED MURDER OR EVEN RECKLESS HOMICIDE AND MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE STAYED IN JAIL.

1150 OF THEM STAYED IN JAIL.

>> AND TO THAT EFFECT AS WE CITED THERE ARE STUDIES DONE BY LOYOLA UNIVERSITY AND OTHERS THAT SHOW THERE ISN'T A SPIKE IN CRIME FROM FOLKS OUT ON PRETRIAL DETENTION EITHER FROM BEFORE COVID OR AFTER COVID.

DO YOU BELIEVE LIGHTFOOT AND BROWN ARE SCAPEGOATING THE COURT SYSTEM?

>> WELL, I WOULDN'T CALL IT SCAPEGOATING AS MUCH AS I WOULD SAY THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE WELL-INFORMED.

AND THAT STUDY THAT YOU MENTIONED AND OUR STUDY 94% OF THE PEOPLE RELEASED PRETRIAL WERE NOT ARRESTED FOR ANY NEW CRIME.

AND EVEN THOSE WHO WERE ARRESTED, 99% OF THEM WERE NOT ARRESTED FOR VIOLENT CRIME.

THAT MEANS THAT THIS PARTICULAR POINTLESS THAN 1% PEOPLE RELEASED PRETRIAL IN THAT GROUP ENGAGED IN ANY VIOLENT CRIME AT ALL.

>> AND I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE NUMBERS.

AT THE SAME TIME, JUDGE, ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THERE ARE 3500 DEFENDANTS OUT ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING RIGHT NOW.

72% AWAITING TRIAL FOR VIOLENT CRIME.

101 FOR HOMICIDE.

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY DEFENDANTS CHARGED WITH VIOLENT CRIME AND HOMICIDE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY?

>> WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

FOR EXAMPLE, THIS HOMICIDE FIGURE MURDER, THE STATISTICS THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO WERE DELIVERED BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ABOUT MAY OF THIS YEAR.

AND IT SEEMED THAT HE WAS TALKING MAINLY ABOUT MURDER AS DID THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE.

AND THIS PARTICULAR PERIOD, 1287 PEOPLE CHARGED WITH MURDER ARE IN CUSTODY AT THE JAIL AT 26TH AND CALIFORNIA.

ONLY LESS THAN 100 ARE CHARGED WITH MURDER WHO ARE IN CUSTODY IN HOME CONFINEMENT BEING WATCHED DAY AND NIGHT BY ELECTRONIC MONITORING AND GPS SYSTEMS.

AND PEOPLE THEY NEED TO KNOW WHY THAT TAKES PLACE.

AND LET ME EXPLAIN.

THE LAW SAYS THAT ANYBODY WHO IS ARRESTED IS ENTITLED TO BAIL UNLESS THE PROOF IS EVIDENT AND THE PRESUMPTION IS GREAT THAT THEY DID NOT COMMIT THE CRIME AND IF THEY DON'T POSE A CLEAR AND PRESENT THREAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO BE RELEASED PRETRIAL.

>> AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THE JUDGES ARE WEIGHING IN THE BAIL DECISIONS.

BACK TO THE PERCENTAGES, ACCORDING TO NUMBERS FROM YOUR OFFICE FROM 2017-20203% OF FELONY DEFENDANTS RELEASED PRETRIAL AND 5% OF MISDEMEANOR DEFENDANTS WENT ON TO BE CHARGED WITH ANOTHER VIOLENT CRIME DURING THEIR RELEASE.

THESE ARE SMALL PERCENTAGES.

BUT IN TERMS OF NUMBERS, WE ADDED IT UP AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 2600 INDIVIDUALS OUT ON BOND WHO ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED ANOTHER VIOLENT CRIME, 2600 VICTIMS IS THAT A CONCERNING NUMBER?

>> WELL, I WOULD PUT IT THIS WAY: ANYTIME ANYBODY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HURTING ANYONE ELSE, YES, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

BUT LET'S TAKE THOSE FIGURES.

3%, 5%, THAT MEANS THAT 95% WHO WERE RELEASED DIDN'T DO THAT.

SO WHAT KIND OF SYSTEM WOULD YOU HAVE THAT WOULD KEEP 95% OF THE PEOPLE IN JAIL PRETRIAL WHEN THEY ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT, WHEN 3 OR 5% OF THE PEOPLE ARE VIOLATING THE LAW.

AND WHEN THEY VIOLATE THE LAW, WHILE THEIR CASE IS PENDING AND THEY ARE ARRESTED FOR DOING SO, THEY ARE NOT RELEASED AGAIN.

THEY ARE PUT IN JAIL AND THEY ARE HELD IN CUSTODY UNTIL THEIR TRIAL TAKES PLACE.

SO THAT'S THE HUMANE RESPONSE AND THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

IT SHOULD NOT BE BECAUSE LESS THAN 5% OF THE PEOPLE COMMIT CRIMES THAT MEANS YOU SHOULD LOCK UP 95% OF THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T.

>> WE HAVE A FEW SECONDS LEFT.

AS YOU KNOW IN OCTOBER, THE STATE SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO LIFT ITS SUSPENSION ON THE RIGHT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL.

STARTING IN OCTOBER, DEFENDANTS WILL HAVE TO HAVE A TRIAL BETWEEN 120-160 DAYS AS WE READ THERE ARE 33,000 OPEN CASES.

WILL THE COURTS BE ABLE TO HANDLE GETTING FULLY BACK?

>> YES, I THINK SO.

I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION BECAUSE AS OF THE 16TH OF THIS MONTH, I EXPECT TO ENTER A GENERAL ORDER WHICH WILL CHANGE THE WAY THINGS ARE.

WE ARE SADDLED WITH THE SOCIAL DISTANCING BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS RIGHT NOW OF SIX FEET BECAUSE OF INFORMATION I'M GETTING NOW FROM Dr. RUBEN FROM THE BOARD OF HEALTH WE ARE ABLE TO REDUCE THAT TO THREE FEET AND THAT WILL ENABLE US TO MOVE UP THE CAPABILITY OF HAVING JUST EIGHT JURY TRIALS PER WEEK WE CAN NOW HAVE 76 COURTROOMS THAT WILL BE RESTRIPED FOR THREE FEET.

AND WE WILL HAVE 10 ADDITIONAL COURTROOMS THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR BENCH TRIALS.

86 COURTROOMS FOR BENCH TRIALS AND 76 FOR JURY TRIALS.

AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE DEALING WITH A QUOTE-UNQUOTE BACKLOG OF 159 CASES WHERE THERE'S BEEN A WRITTEN DEMAND AND WE ARE WORKING ON THOSE RIGHT NOW AND WE EXPECT THOSE TO BE KNOCKED OUT BETWEEN NOW AND THE OCTOBER FIRST DATE THAT YOU MENTIONED.

SO WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN POSSIBLY DO TO BE READY AND WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDES THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND THE SHERIFF AND THE CLERK, PRIVATE BAR AND ALL OF THE JUDGES WHO HANDLE THESE CRIMINAL COURT CASES WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN DO TO BE READY.

>> IT WILL BE BUSY.

CHIEF JUDGE EVANS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.

>> AND UP NEXT, HOW A WOOD WORKER IS CUTTING UP THE FURNITURE INDUSTRY.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> MUCH MORE AHEAD INCLUDING LOCAL REACTION TO THE ASSASSINATION OF HAITI'S PRESIDENT.

FIRST, WHEN A CHICAGO ARTIST DECIDED TO STRENGTHEN HIS CRAFT HE TOOK ON A JOB TO HELP HIM REFINE THE LINES.

NOW A DECADE LATER HE IS USING THE SKILLS HE PICKED UP AS AS MILL WORKER TO CREATE CUSTOM WOODEN FURNITURE.

ANG ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU TAKES US TO HIS WORKSHOP.

>> IT WAS SHORTLY AFTER THE PANDEMIC HIT THAT WOODWORKER KEITH SKOGSTROM FOUND HIMSELF MERELY OVERWHELMED WITH ORDERS FOR CUSTOM WOODEN FURNITURE.

>> FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AT HOME THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED.

THEY WERE AT THEIR DINING ROOM TABLE AND WORKING FROM HOME AND THEY NOTICED THE LEGS LOOSE.

FORGET THIS LET'S GET A NEW TABLE.

>> WITH ORDERS UP NEARLY 400%, THE GROWTH HE SAW AND HIS COMPANY GEODESIC DESIGNS GAVE HIM A CHANCE TO FLEX HIS ARTISTIC MUSCLES PROFESSIONALLY.

>> WHEN YOU START TO CREATE A PROCESS WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP?

>> WE CALL IT LIKE A CHAT.

WHEN WE GO OUT AND DO A SITE SURVEY AS INFORMAL AS NOTES JOTTING DOWN BASIC DETAIL.

>> EVERY COMMISSIONED PIECE IS CUSTOM AND THE NUMBER OF HOURS IT TAKES TO COMPLETE ALONG WITH THE COST VARY.

HE SHOWED ME A LITTLE BIT OF THE PROCESS.

>> WHEN WEIGH DID VIOLENT HOUR, WE COME TO IT WITH THE SAME PROCESS.

YOU HAVE TO GET THE DESIGN AND WE HAVE THE BASIC MEETING WITH THE CLIENT.

WE PRESENT THIS TO THE CLIENT.

AND SAY SURE.

YOU CAN DO THAT.

AND WE WILL MANIFEST IT THE WORD FOR T WE'LL CREATE IT OUT OF NOTHING.

THESE ARE INSTALLATIONS AT VIOLET HOUR IT'S SHARPIE ON PLYWOOD PAM AND WE SAND IT.

>> IT MAY SOUND SIMPLE IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WOOD COMES IN AUDIOTAPE SHAPES AND SIZES.

>> WHEN IT COMES IN IT LOOKS LIKE THIS.

>> SO THIS IS WHAT WE BUY.

THESE ARE SHOOT GOODS AND BRING IN.

WE HAVE A TEMPLATE AND WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO THE WOOD AND THAT IS JUST AN INDICATIVE ACT OF WOODWORKING.

YOU HAVE TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT.

>> WOODWORKING REQUIRES A SPECIFIC AND INTENTIONAL PROCESS AND THAT'S WHY HE DOESN'T NECESSARILY SEE HIS PRACTICE TO BE AN ART FORM.

BECAUSE TO HIM, ART HAS NO LIMITATIONS.

>> I'VE ALWAYS BOUNCED BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE WHAT I WORRY ABOUT IS RUNNING UP AGAINST A CREATIVE PROJECT THAT I DON'T HAVE THE TECHNICAL SKILL TO PULL OFF.

EACH TIME I LEARN A NEW WOODWORKING SET OF SKILLS THE ARTWORK GETS THAT MUCH BETTER.

I LIKE IT TO BE IMPRESSIVE AND LOOK DIFFICULT TO MAKE.

FOR ME THAT IS WHERE THE ART AND WOODWORKING OVERLAP.

>> AS HE LOOKS AHEAD AT EXPANDING THE BUSINESS AND A TEAM OF FOUR AS HE MOVES OUT OF THE PANDEMIC BOOM HE PURCHASED A NEW MACHINE TO TAKE HIS WORK TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

>> IT PULLS AND PUSHES IT OUT.

>> IT IS A NEW PLAINER.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> MAN THEY DON'T MAKE IT EASY ON YOU.

DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS.

>> LIKE GEEKING OUT IS PROBABLY THE WORD.

>> I FEEL LIKE A NEWBORN PARENT.

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

>> AND HE SAYS WITH THE HELP OF HIS NEW PLANER HE WILL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE WOODEN PIECES THAT MUCH FASTER.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION HOW TO GET A CUSTOM PIECE OF YOUR OWN.

MUCH MORE ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" INCLUDING THE LATEST ON THE RETURN OF CONVENTIONS TO CHICAGO THAT AND MORE IN OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

AND THE ASSASSINATION OF HAITI'S PRESIDENT THROWS THE NATION INTO POLITICAL CHAOS WE HAVE REACTION.

AND A NEW REPORT FINDS BLACK CHICAGO POLICE CANDIDATES ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE INVITED TO THE POLICE ACADEMY.

FIRST, MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

THE BODY OF A 32-YEAR-OLD CHICAGO RESIDENT HAS BEEN RECOVERED FROM THE WRECKAGE OF THE SURFSIDE, FLORIDA IN FLORIDA.

JUAN MOORE JR. IS CONFIRMED DEAD HE HAD BEEN STAYING WITH HIS PARENTS.

HE IS A GRADUATE OF LOYOLA UNIVERSITY AND WORKED HERE FOR MORTON SALT.

THE DEATH TOLL HAS RISEN TO 64 WITH DOZENS STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR.

>> A RARE TWO FER OF POSITIVE FINANCIAL NEWS.

THE STATE RECEIVED THE SECOND BOND RATING UPGRADE.

S&P'S UPGRADED ILLINOIS DEBT FROM TRIPLE B NEGATIVE TO TRIPLE B REGULAR.

THIS FOLLOWS THE UPGRADE BY MOODY'S.

THE AGENCIES CITE LOWER SHORT-TERM DEBT AND IMPROVING ECONOMY BUT WARN ABOUT THAT EVER PRESENT MASSIVE LONG-TERM PENSION DEBT PROBLEM.

>> AND AT THIS HOUR THERE IS A NEW MILLIONAIRE THANKS TO TODAY'S ILLINOIS VACCINE LOTTERY DRAWING.

BREAKING NEWS IT ISN'T ME.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ANNOUNCES THAT THE $1 MILLION CASH PRIZE WINNER IS FROM CHICAGO.

THERE ARE THREE $150,000 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS, DEKALB COUNTY, AND COOK COUNTY AND IN CHICAGO.

AND THE LOTTERY IS PART OF THE ALL IN TO WIN CAMPAIGN REWARD PROGRAM TO REWARD PEOPLE FOR GETTING THE VACCINE ALL ILLINOISIANS WITH AT LEAST ONE SHOT ARE ELIGIBLE AND I'M SURE THERE ARE DOWN STATE RESIDENTS WONDERING ARE WE GOING TO BE PART OF THIS DRAWING IT'S ALL CHICAGO AREA AT THIS POINT.

AND WE'RE JOINED BY BRANDIS FRIEDMAN WHO SPENT THE DAY IN CHICAGO'S SOUTH LOOP AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> HAD YOU WON THAT MILLION DOLLARS YOU WOULD SHARE IT WITH ME AS I WOULD WITH YOU.

SO PARIS, EARLIER IN THE DAY, I SPOKE WITH THIRD WARD ALDERPERSON PAT DOWELL SHE REPRESENTS THE SOUTH LOOP IN CHICAGO'S CITY COUNCIL AND I BEGAN BY ASKING HER ABOUT THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE HISTORIC MOTTO RHODISS TRICK ON SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE.

MOTOR ROW IS ON A RESURGE AGAINST.

THE CITY HAS PUT IN 10 MILLION TO STREET SCAPING TO ALLOW THE BUSINESSES TO HAVE OUTDOOR CAFES.

WE HAVE ADDED ARTWORK.

UPDATED LIGHT R THE LIGHTS.

AND IF YOU LOOK AROUND YOU WILL SEE MORE PEOPLE WALKING AROUND THERE IS A FEELING OF EXCITEMENT IN THIS AREA.

>> SO THIS PAST WEEKEND, OBVIOUSLY A VERY FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND HOLIDAY VIOLENT ONE FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> YES IT WAS.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS OR IS NOT WORKING WITH THE ANTIVIOLENCE STRATEGY?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS A CONCERN ALL OVER THE CITY EVEN IN THE SOUTH LOOP.

MY SOUTH LOOPERS ARE CONCERNED WITH A LOT OF MOTORCYCLISTS AND THE UNRULY RESIDENTS THAT DRIVE THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS NOT WORK SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO HOW WE DEAL WITH VIOLENCE IN THE CITY.

NOT JUST THE POLICING STRATEGY WHICH WE NEED AND IS VERY IMPORTANT AND WE REALLY PROBABLY NEED TO FORTIFY THAT A LITTLE MORE.

BUT WE NEED TO INVEST IN THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE NEED.

JOBS, EDUCATION, PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> HOW WOULD YOU FORTIFY THE POLICING STRATEGY?

>> YOU KNOW THAT IS NOT FOR ME TO SAY.

THE POLICE ARE THE LEAD IN THAT.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT OUR OFFERS NEED TO BE SUPPORTED.

THE POLICE NEED TO BE SUPPORTED AND WE ALSO HAVE TO WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME MEANING WE HAVE TO INVEST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS IN CRYSTAL LAKE YESTERDAY AND WE KNOW THE MAYOR WAS ABLE TO BEND HIS EAR FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES OR SECONDS.

WHAT COULD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO?

IS IT WORTH IT TO ASK?

IS THERE MORE THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO?

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY GIVEN THE CITY $1.9 BILLION IN COVID RELIEF MONEY WHICH WE ARE GOING TO BE DECIDING IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, OR MONTHS HOW WE SHOULD SPEND THAT.

WE NEED MORE HELP FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

ASSISTANCE WITH TASK FORCES AND STRATEGIES THAT THEY CAN HELP US WITH.

WE HAD SOME HELP BUT WE NEED MUCH MORE.

>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE MAYOR AND SUPERINTENDENT BROWN POINTING CORDS THE COURTS AND SAYING IT'S A BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT FINGER POINTING IS THE ANSWER.

WE ALL ARE IN THIS TOGETHER EVERY COMMUNITY IN CHICAGO IS IMPACTED AND WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.

>> CITY COUNCIL IT LOOKS INTERESTING THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

HAS THE CITY COUNCIL LOST FAITH IN MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S LEADERSHIP?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

SHE HAS GOTTEN MOST OF HER AGENDA ITEMS THROUGH THE COUNCIL.

THEY'VE PASSED.

WE HAD ONE HICCUP LAST WEEK AS IT RELATED TO THE SIGNS.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SUBSTANTIVE THINGS THAT THE MAYOR'S BEEN WORKING ON, HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING, DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, INVEST SOUTHWEST THOSE THINGS ARE MOVING ALONG AND THE COUNCIL IS SUPPORTING HER ON THOSE EFFORTS.

>> AND NOW, AGAIN THAT WAS THIRD WARD ALDERPERSON PAT DOWELL.

WE WILL BE BACK IN A BIT WITH MORE ON THE RETURN OF CONVENTIONS WE WILL BE SPEAKING WITH THE HEAD OF McCORMICK PLACE.

FOR NOW, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS.

>> HAITI IS IN A STATE OF POLITICAL DISARRAY AFTER THE COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT JOVENEL MOISE WAS ASSASSINATED AT HIS HOME.

HIS WIFE WAS CRITICALLY WOUNDED.

AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE KILLED FOUR SUBJECTS APPREHENDED TWO AND ARE PURSUING MORE.

WHO ORGANIZED THE ASSASSINATION AND WHO HAVE THE RIGHTFUL CLAIM TO POWER REMAINS UNCERTAIN.

AND JOINING US ON THIS SITUATION ARE FRANCOIS PIERRE-LOUIS, A POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT QUEENS COLLEGE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK WHO SPECIALIZES IN HAITIAN POLITICS AND ETZER CANTAVE PRESIDENT OF THE DUSABLE HERITAGE ASSOCIATION BASED HERE IN CHICAGO.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

STARTING WITH YOU FRANCOIS PIERRE-LOUIS, WHAT IS THE VERY LATEST YOU ARE HEARING ABOUT THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND IN HAITI?

>> WELL, THE LATEST WE'RE HEARING IS THE WAR BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTER WHO WAS FIRED BY PRESIDENT JOVENEL MOISE A FEW DAYS AGO BEFORE HE WAS KILLED.

AND THEN THE NEW PRIME MINISTER.

AND WE CLAIM THAT -- HE BECAME THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF HAITI.

WE ARE IN A LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL LIMBO BECAUSE THERE'S ACTUALLY NO GOVERNING CIRCUIT.

A LOT OF THE MEMBERS OF JOVENEL'S CABINET ARE IN HIDING.

BASICALLY WE HAVE AN EXPLODING SITUATION.

IT MIGHT DETERIORATE INTO A CIVIL WAR.

>> THERE IS A VACUUM OF LEADERSHIP AND DISAGREEMENT WHO IS IN CHARGE.

ETZER CANTAVE, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM PEOPLE YOU KNOW ON THE GROUND IN HAITI AND WHAT HAS BEEN THE REACTION IN CHICAGO'S HAITIAN COMMUNITY?

>> WELL, WE ARE ALL IN A STATE OF SHOCK BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE WAY WE WANT TO BE MAKING HISTORY.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE THAT DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH US.

AND AS A MATTER OF FACT TONIGHT WE WILL BE HAVING A MEETING WITH A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION AND LOOK AT THE WAY FORWARD.

>> AND PROFESSOR WHAT WE'VE HEARD WHO THE SUSPECTS ARE THEY WERE -- THE FOLKS THAT CARRIED OUT THE ASSASSINATION THEY WERE SPEAKING SPANISH AND ENGLISH AND FALSELY CLAIMED TO SAY THEY WERE D.E.A.

ARE THERE CLUES AS TO WHO MIGHT BE BEHIND THIS?

>> WELL, FIRST, I WOULD SAY WE DON'T KNOW.

BECAUSE ALL THIS OFFICIAL VERSION IS COMING FROM CLAUDE JOSEPH FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

THERE HAVE NOT BEEN OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATORS OR REPORTS.

AND SECONDLY, I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL HOW IT'S GOING BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE THEY ARE CATCHING IN HAITI ARE NOT NECESSARILY PART OF THE PLOT.

I HAVE HEARD REPORTS MEETING WITH PEOPLE IN HAITI IF YOU ARE LIGHT SKINNED, YOU HAVE STRAIGHT HAIR YOU ARE ACCUSED OF BEING A FOREIGNER A COLUMBIAN OR VENEZUELAN AND ACCUSED OF BEING A MEMBER OF THE PLOT OF THE ASSASSINATION GROUP THAT KILLED THE PRESIDENT.

WE HAVE TO QUESTION THAT.

SECOND THING WE HAVE TO REALIZE THERE WAS A HEREBYIAN AMERICAN -- HAITIAN AMERICAN INVOLVED BUT THEY REFUSED TO NAME THAT PERSON.

THERE ARE MANY THINGS UNKNOWN THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT AND I WOULD BE CAREFUL ABOUT ANY OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

>> SO YOU ARE SAYING IT'S HARD TO TRUST THE INFORMATION THAT IS COMING OUT AT THIS POINT.

ETZER CANTAVE YOU MENTIONED GROUPS LOCALLY WILL GET TOGETHER TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION.

WHAT SHOULD THE UNITED STATES, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY BE DOING HERE TO STEP IN?

>> WELL, WE HAVE A HAD A LONG HISTORY OF COOPERATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND WE'VE HAD SPECIAL BONDS GOING BACK TO THE BATTLE OF SAVANNAH IN 1779.

AND WE'VE HAD FREDRICK DOUGLASS BEING A MINISTER RESIDENT AND CONSUL GENERAL OF THE U.S. TO HAITI.

SO WE HAVE STRONG BONDS WITH THE U.S.

I HOPE THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WOULD HELP US IN THE INVESTIGATION AND TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL PERPETRATORS AND BRING THEM TO JUSTICE.

>> PROFESSOR, CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT LED UP TO THE ASSASSINATION?

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A COUNTRY THAT IS SUFFERING MASSIVE RATES OF POVERTY, GANG VIOLENCE, EARTHQUAKE IN 2010, WHAT IS LIFE LIKE?

AND WHAT HAS LIFE LIKE BEEN IN HAITI LEADING UP TO THIS?

>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE GENESIS OF THE CRISIS IT WAS WHEN [INAUDIBLE] WENT TO HAITI AND IMPOSED AS PRESIDENT OF HAITI OVER OTHER CANDIDATES.

AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE ISSUES ESPECIALLY WITH THE CORRUPTION.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE MONEY.

IT'S ALLEGED THAT THE PRESIDENT WANTED THE MONEY AND KIM TOOK THAT MONEY WHICH MADE POVERTY WORSE.

SECONDLY, DURING THE ADMINISTRATION THERE WERE NEVER MIDTERM ELECTIONS TO REPLACE OR RENEW THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

AND THAT WAS UNDER THIS SUPPORT OF OUR U.S.

AMBASSADORS IN THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, WE'VE HAD 2:00 A.M. WAS DOORS IN HAITI AND NONE OF THEM WANTED ELECTIONS.

SUDDENLY, THEY ARE PROMOTING AN ELECTION SO FAST THERE WAS NO REGISTRATION OF VOTERS THERE ARE NO MACHINES, NO LAWS, THERE'S NO PLACE TO HAVE THE ELECTIONS WE DON'T KNOW WHY THE U.S. IS PUSHING AND RUSHING TO HAVE AN ELECTION THAT EVERYONE IS [INAUDIBLE] I THINK THEY SHOULD GIVE TIME FOR THE GROUPS TO WORK TOGETHER TO DIALOGUE WITH THE GROUPS IN HAITI TO BRING CALM AND PEACE, AND WIN BACK THE ECONOMY.

AND STOP THE CORRUPTION AND MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE MASSACRES OF PEOPLE IN THE SLUMS ARE ARRESTED AND BROUGHT TO JUSTICE AND THE GANGS THAT PRESIDENT JOVENEL ARMED ARE DISARMED AND LIFE CAN GO BACK TO NORMAL.

>> CLEARLY, A POLITICAL AND HUMAN MAN CRISIS MIEUX MAN TEARIAN CRISIS.

THANK YOU TO FRANCOIS PIERRE-LOUIS AND ETZER CANTAVE FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

>> UP NEXT CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HIRING PROCESS IS UNDER FIRE FROM THE CITY'S WATCHDOG.

FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>> A NEW REPORT FROM THE CITY'S WATCHDOG FINDS THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S LENGTHY HIRING PROCESS LED TO A DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH ATTRITION RATE FOR BLACK CANDIDATES.

MATT MASTERSON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

MATT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST OF ALL OUTLINE THE HIRING PROCESS FOR C.P.D.?

>> THIS IS QUITE EXTENSIVE APPLICANTS HAVE TO GO THROUGH A NUMBER OF STAGES DURING THIS PROCESS IT TAKES ABOUT A YEAR-AND-A-HALF TO DO THIS.

AND YOU GO THROUGH DIFFERENT PROCESSES TO TEST THEIR PHYSICAL FITNESS, THEIR PERSONAL BACKGROUND, THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH AND OTHER PREDICTORS OF THEIR JOB PERFORMANCE.

AFTER THE 18 MONTHS IS UP THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH PROBATIONARY PERIOD AFTER THEY ARE INTO THE ACADEMY THAT LASTS ANOTHER 18 MONTHS.

SO IT GOES ON FOR SOMETIME.

>> INTENSIVE PROCESS.

AND THE IG REPORT FOUND THAT ALTHOUGH BLACK CANDIDATES MAKEUP 37% OF THE INITIAL OFFICER APPLICANT POOL THEY COMPRISED 18% OF THE CANDIDATES WHO WERE INVITED TO C.P.D.

'S POLICE A CAD ANY.

ACADEMY.

HOW DO THE STATS COMPARE WITH OTHER GROUPS?

AND IS THERE ANY EXPLANATION FOR THIS DISCREPANCY?

>> IT'S JUST THE OPPOSITE FOR THE OTHER RACIAL GROUPS.

WHITE APPLICANTS MADE UP 22% OF THAT POOL BUT 34% OF THOSE WHO WERE ACCEPTED INTO THE ACADEMY FOR LATINO APPLICANTS IT WAS 36 OF THE INITIAL POOL AND THEY MADE UP 42% OF THE A ACADEMY INVITES BOTH GROUPS WERE OVERREPRESENTED COMPARED TO THE GENERAL POPULATION OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO WHEREAS THE BLACK CANDIDATES WERE UNDERREPRESENTED BY A SIGNIFICANT MARGIN.

AND THERE WERE DROPOUT AREAS.

THEY WERE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE RECORD FOR WHERE CANDIDATES WERE GETTING TRIPPED UP AND THE HIGHEST ATTRITION RATES WERE HITTING CERTAIN CANDIDATES.

>> WHAT IS THE REPORT'S RECOMMENDATION HOW TO AMELIORATE THE PROBLEM?

>> THE INSPECTOR GENERAL THEY HIGHLIGHTED 17 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW THE C.P.D.

CAN IMPROVE THIS PROCESS.

THEY SAID THEY SHOULD SHORTEN THE LENGTH OF THIS APPLICATION PROCESS AND REMOVE ADMINISTRATIVE HURDLES AND THEY SHOULD MAKE SURE THERE IS AN EQUITY IN WHO IS GETTING TEST PREP MATERIALS BEFORE EXAMS.

THE C.P.D.

SAID THAT THEY DID ACCEPT ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEY WANT TO WORK ON IMPROVING THIS HIRING PROCESS.

AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS THIS AFTERNOON AND HE SAID HE WANTS TO GO ABOUT THIS IN A TRANSPARENT WAY.

HE DID NOTE THAT THE DATA USED WAS FROM PRIOR TO HIS TENURE AS THE CITY'S TOP COP.

>> WE'LL SEE HOW THINGS CHANGE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> AND CAN YOU FIND MATT'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN READ THE REPORT IN ITS ENTIRETY.

AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> IT'S TIME TO CHECK BACK IN WITH BRANDIS FRIEDMAN WHO SPENT THE DAY IN CHICAGO'S SOUTH LOOP AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> EARLIER IN THE DAY, WE SPOKE WITH LARITA CLARK THE C.E.O.

OF THE METROPOLITAN PIER AND EXPOSITION AUTHORITY WHICH OPERATINGS McCORMICK PLACE AND WE STARTED BY ASKING HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR THE OPERATION.

>> IT'S BEEN DEVASTATING FOR US AS AN INDUSTRY, THE CONVENTION INDUSTRY BUT ALSO FOR ALL OF WORKERS.

JUST TO SEE THE FOLKS THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO WORK ON OUR CAMPUS.

OUR CAMPUS EMPLOYS ALMOST 3,000 PEOPLE.

AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE CONTRACTORS AND THE EVENTS THAT COME IN HERE.

AND WE HAD TO REDUCE THAT STAFF TO ABOUT 300-400 DURING THAT TIME.

MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE FURLOUGHED.

IT JUST WATCHING THIS CAMPUS BE EMPTY WAS PRETTY DEVASTATING FOR US.

>> WHAT HAVE BEEN THE CHALLENGES AND ALSO THE LOGISTICS CHALLENGES WITH GETTING READY TO WELCOME CONVENTIONS BACK AND BRINGING THE EMPLOYEES BACK IN FOR THIS?

>> SO REALLY NO CHALLENGE WE TOOK THIS TIME TO PREPARE FOR THAT.

MPEA OUR ENTIRE CAMPUS, McCORMICK PLACE, THE MARRIOTT MARQUIS CHICAGO, THE HYATT REGENCY, OUR WYNN TRUST ARENA WE ARE ALL G BACK ACCREDITED WHICH IS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR FACILITIES TO BE AVAILABLE AND CLEAN AND PROVIDE A GUARD AGAINST INFECTIONS AND DISEASES.

WE TOOK THAT TIME TO PREPARE FOR THAT AND THEN WE DID A LOT OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS WHICH ALLOWED US TO RETAIN THE 300-400 EMPLOYEES THAT I SPOKE ABOUT.

>> AND BRINGING BACK MORE EMPLOYEES?

>> OUR PLAN IS AS THOSE EVENTS COME IN WE ARE GOING TO RAMP UP OUR EMPLOYEES AND HOPE TO GET BACK UP TO THE 3,000 BY EARLY NEXT FISCAL YEAR WHICH IS JULY FIRST.

>> WE HAVE THE AUTO SHOW NEXT WEEK.

WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT?

>> WE HAVE THE SPECIAL EDITION AUTO SHOW AND THIS IS EXCITING FOR ALL OF US.

IT'S IN JULY.

IT'S ALWAYS IN FEBRUARY WHERE IT'S COLD AND WE HAVE TO BE INSIDE.

WE WORKED WITH THE AUTO SHOW AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR BOTH THE CITY AND THE STATE.

TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A HEALTHY OPERATING PLAN.

SO THEY ARE GOING TO PRODUCE AN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EVENT.

THERE'S GOING TO BE FOLKS WILL SEE FOOD TRUCKS.

THERE'S GOING TO BE OUTSIDE ENTERTAINMENT AND SOME OF THE EVENTS THEY HAVE SEEN INSIDE IN THE PAST WILL BE OUTSIDE.

I THINK IT WILL BE EXCITING.

>> HOW HAVE YOU WORKED WITH THE ORGANIZERS OF THE CONVENTIONS WITH REGARDS TO THEIR CAPACITY AND WHAT RESTRICTIONS AND COVID PROTOCOLS EVERYONE WANTS TO HAVE IN PLACE?

>> INITIALLY WE WERE NOT SURE BECAUSE WHEN WE STARTED I THINK IT WAS WE WERE IN THE BRIDGE PHASE MAYBE OR EVEN IN THE GOVERNOR'S RESTORE ILLINOIS PLAN STAGE THREE OR FOUR.

AND WE WEREN'T SURE WHAT WE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO.

THE NEW EVENTS THAT ARE COMING UP ONE IS THE CHICAGO AUTO SHOW PRIOR TO THAT WE WERE HAVING A NIKI TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS AND HAVING AN ADVERTISING SPECIALTY EVENT A TRADE SHOW ALL OF THOSE EVENTS HAD TO SUBMIT OPERATING PLANS THAT WERE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

SO WE WORKED TOGETHER WITH ALL OF THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'LL HAVE A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE.

>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO THE CITY AND THE CITY'S ECONOMY TO BE ABLE TO REOPEN TO CONVENTIONS AND WELCOME THEM BACK?

>> WELL, PRECOVID, McCORMICK PLACE EVENTS AND CAMPUS BROUGHT IN $1.9 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE CITY AND AS FOLKS COME IN I ALWAYS SAY THAT OUR GOAL AND OUR ROLE IS TO BRING IN CONVENTIONS, TRADE SHOWS AND MEETINGS SO WE CAN BRING PEOPLE IN FROM ALL OVER THAT THEY CAN SPEND THEIR MONEY IN CHICAGO.

AND THAT WILL STIMULATE THE ECONOMY FOR RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS AND FOLKS WILL SPEND THEIR MONEY AND CREATE JOBS.

>> AND AGAIN, THAT WAS LARITA CLARK THE C.E.O.

OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT RUNS McCORMICK PLACE BACK TO YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

McCORMICK PLACE IS VITAL TO THE CITY'S ECONOMY AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP AFTER A PEEK OF SOME THINGS TO DO IN AND AROUND CHICAGO THIS WEEKEND... >> AND BEFORE WE GO ONE LAST CHECK IN WITH BRANDIS FRIEDMAN WHO SPENT THE DAY IN THE SOUTH LOOP AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

BRANDIS, WE'VE GOT THE AUTO SHOW COMING BACK AND WAITING FOR MICHIGAN AVENUE TO BE TRANSFORMED IN A CHICAGO BLUES DISTRICT.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAY?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK MY BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM SPENDING THE DAY HERE IT IS A MIX OF THE OLD AND THE NEW HERE IN THE SOUTH LOOP.

EARLIER TODAY WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE HISTORY, MOTOR ROW AND RECORD ROW AND THE MOST FAMOUS BLUES SONGS WE'VE EVER HEARD, WE TALKED ABOUT THE PRAIRIE AVENUE HOMES.

BUT WHERE I'M STANDING, McCORMICK PLACE I'M SURROUNDED BY NEW AS WELL.

WE HAVE WYNN TRUST ARENA AND HOTELS.

AND PARIS ONE THING I WANTED TO ASK YOU YOU SPOKE WITH JUDGE TIM EVANS IN REGARDS TO THE SPIKE IN VIOLENCE WE'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ABOUT THIS SUBJECT OVER THE WEEK.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKEAWAY THERE?

>> CLEARLY AS YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR AND POLICE SUPERINTENDENT HAVE BEEN ON THE CAMPAIGN AS HOMICIDE NUMBERS SPIKED TO POINT THEIR FINGER AT THE COURTS SAYING TOO MANY ARE OUT ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING AND REOFFENDING AND THE DATA SHOWS THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT DO REOFFEND THE PERCENTAGES ARE SMALL BUT IT'S BEEN CONSISTENTLY THE SAME OVER THE YEARS.

AND THAT IS THE CASE THAT COOK COUNTY CHIEF JUDGE TIMOTHY EVANS TRIED TO MAKE.

IT'S COLD COMFORT FOR ANYONE WHO IS A VICTIM FROM VIOLENT CRIME.

BUT VIOLENCE THERE IS NO ONE ANSWER AND TO SAY THIS ONE THING IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPIKE, WE KNOW THAT IS NOT TRUE.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS AND WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO DIG FOR THE ANSWERS.

THAT IS OUR SHOW.

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.

>> AND YOU WILL GET THE HOE VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

>> AND BE SURE TO JOIN US LIVE 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 SEE YOU TOMORROW.

[♪♪♪]