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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> I'M PAUL VALLAS I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN ROSELAND ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE AND I CAN'T STAND SEEING OUR CITY LIKE THIS.

>> FORMER C.P.S.

C.E.O.

PAUL VALLAS ENTERING THE RACE TO BECOMED NEXT MAYOR.

>> THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE SHOT IN CHICAGO THAN SCHOOLS IN TEXAS.

>> THE DEBATE OVER GUN CONTROL FOLLOWING THE DEADLY TEXAS SCHOOL SHOOTING AND CHICAGO'S VIOLENT HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

>> WE WERE ABOUT THE SAME LEVEL OF VIOLENT CRIME THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST DECADE.

>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON CHICAGO'S QUOTE NEW NORMAL LEVEL OF GUN VIOLENCE.

>> DOZEN OF ALDERMEN HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF CRIMES OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS AN EFFORT TO TACKLE ETHICS IN CITY HALL HAS STALLED.

>> A LOOK HOW BOTH SIDES IN THE ABORTION BATTLE ARE GEARING UP FOR THE UPCOMING SUPREME COURT DECISION.

>> SIGNS LIKE THIS DON'T EXIST.

>> HOW AN ILLINOIS AUCTION HOUSE IS HELPING PRESERVE CHICAGO HISTORY ONE NEON LIGHT AT A TIME.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> LATE WORD THAT A CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN SHOT IN ENGLEWOOD.

C.P.D.

SAYS THE FEMALE OFFICER WAS BEING TRANSPORTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO HOSPITAL IN CRITICAL BUT STABLE CONDITION.

DAVID BROWN SAYS THE OFFENDERS WERE STOPPED DURING A TRAFFIC STOP AND TURNED PARALLEL TO THE POLICE CAR AND OPENED FIRE STRIKING THE POLICE OFFICER.

>> THE NUMBER OF HOMICIDES IN CHICAGO THROUGH THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR REMAIN BELOW THE PAST TWO YEARS.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE NEWS COMES AS THIS PAST MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SAW AN INCREASE IN SHOOTINGS FROM THE LAST YEAR.

C.P.D.

DATA SHOWS THERE HAVE BEEN 239 HOMICIDES AND 971 SHOOTINGS THIS YEAR THROUGH THE END OF MAY.

THAT IS AN 8% DECLINE COMPARED TO 2021 AND A 1% DROP FROM 2020.

AND CITYWIDE SHOOTINGS ARE DOWN MORE THAN 15% OVER LAST YEAR.

>> WORKERS IN COOK COUNTY MAKING MINIMUM WAGE WILL START GETTING A BIGGER PAYCHECK NEXT MONTH.

STARTING JULY FIRST, THE MINIMUM WAGE WILL INCREASE TO $THEN.35 FOR NON-TIPPED WORKERS AND $7.40 FOR TIPPED EMPLOYEES THIS APPLIES TO EMPLOYEES OVER THE AGE OF 18 WORKING IN THE COUNTY.

THIS AS THE STATE IS ON TRACK TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $15 BY 2025.

>> ILLINOIS' CONTROVERSIAL PARENTAL NOTIFICATION LAW ENDS TODAY.

THAT MEANS THAT DOCTORS IN ILLINOIS MAY NOW PERFORM ABORTIONS ON MINORS WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE MINOR'S PARENTS.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTED TO REPEAL THE LAW LAST FALL.

THE STAFF ATTORNEY AT THE CCLU SAID QUOTE PRIOR TO TODAY PREGNANT YOUNG PEOPLE COULD MAKE ANY MEDICAL DECISION WITHOUT BARRIERS EXCEPT ABORTION NOW THEY HAVE THE SAME RIGHT TO MAKE A CONFIDENTIAL DECISION ABOUT THEIR HEALTHCARE AS EVERYONE ELSE.

AND IN A AT THE SAME TIME... AND WE'LL HAVE MORE ON HOW A POTENTIAL SUPREME COURT OVERTURN OF ROE VS. WADE COULD IMPACT ABORTION PROVIDERS HERE IN ILLINOIS LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

UP NEXT, ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE LATEST CANDIDATE TO ENTER THE RACE FOR CHICAGO MAYOR.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... A FAMILIAR NAME HAS ENTERED THE 2023 RACE FOR MAYOR.

PAUL VALLAS RAN IN 2019 GARNERING A LITTLE MORE THAN 5% OF THE VOTE.

HE IS CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS C.E.O.

UNDER RICHARD M. DALEY HAS BEEN CRITICAL ABOUT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT CALLING FOR AGGRESSIVE POLICING.

HE IS RECENTLY BROUGHT IN BY THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE TO HELP NEGOTIATE THE NEW LABOR CONTRACT WITH THE CITY.

AND JOINING US NOW IS CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR OF CHICAGO, PAUL VALLAS.

PAUL VALLAS WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

AS WE MENTIONED YOU RAN FOR MAYOR IN 2019 GETTING 9TH PLACE WITH 5.4% OF THE VOTE.

HOW DO YOU THINK YOU CAN PERFORM BETTER THIS TIME?

>> IF YOU RECALL THERE WERE 14, 15, 16 OF US.

SO THERE WAS NO ONE WHO PERFORMED IN A STELLAR WAY.

FIRST OF ALL, EVERY ELECT HONEST IS DEFINED BY IT'S OWN SET OF ISSUES.

AND I THINK THE SITUATION IN CHICAGO IS MUCH MORE DIRE THAN IT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO.

FOUR YEARS AGO CRIME WAS NOT FRONT AND CENTER WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CRIME EPIDEMIC.

AND EVEN PETTY CRIME AND VANDALISM.

THERE'S BEEN A BREAKDOWN OF LAW AND ORDER.

FOUR YEARS AGO WE DID NOT HAVE A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT HAD GONE THROUGH THREE STRIKE AND THREE WORK STOPPAGES.

IT WAS A DISTRICT THAT THE UNION FORCED TO SHUTDOWN FOR 15 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS.

THE SCHOOLS ARE IN FREE FALL.

THEY HAVE A'S LOST 25,000 STUDENTS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS ALONE.

AND FOUR YEARS AGO, WE WEREN'T FACING A SITUATION WHERE WE'VE GOT A BUDGET THAT IS SO STRUCTURALLY UNBALANCED THAT ONCE THE COVID MONEY RUNS OUT THE CITY WILL BE FACING A SERIOUS FINANCIAL CLIFF.

REMEMBER, DESPITE $6 BILLION IN COVID MONEY THEY HAVE RAISED PROPERTY TAXES.

>> CRIME, EDUCATION, FINANCES A BIG PILLARS OF THE CAMPAIGN THIS TIME AROUND.

LET'S TALK ABOUT CRIME.

IN YOUR ROLL OUT VIDEO YOU SAID CHICAGO IS BURNING QUOTE-UNQUOTE.

VIOLENT CRIME HAS BEEN UP NATIONWIDE SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT IS IT THAT WITHIN THE MAYOR'S POWER DO YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN DO TO BRING IT DOWN IN CHICAGO?

>> FIRST OF ALL, VIOLENT CRIME HAS BEEN UP DEFINITELY ACROSS THE BOARD.

BUT I THINK CHICAGO HAS -- WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT THE CITY HAS HAD 10% OF THE MASS SHOOTINGS ACROSS THE -- YOU KNOW ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT THE MURDER RATE IS NOW AT ABOUT 90% OF WHAT OUR PEAK MURDER RATE WAS IN THE EARLY 1990s WHEN YOU HAD THE GANG WARS AND THE DRUG WARS.

COMPARED TO NEW YORK WHERE THE MURDER RATE IS I THINK AT ABOUT 35% OF WHAT IT WAS EVEN LESS THAN WHAT THEY WERE DURING THEIR PEAK YEARS WHEN MURDER HAD BASICALLY WAS AT ITS HEIGHT.

CLEARLY, CHICAGO'S PROBLEMS, I THINK, ARE MUCH GREATER.

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS COMPLETELY DEMORALIZED AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR INITIAL STEPS HAVE TO BE TO REPLACE THE LEADERSHIP TEAM.

BROWN IS INCOMPETENT, THE PEOPLE HIS TEAM ARE SIMPLY INCAPABLE OF DEVELOPING THE STRATEGY AND PROVIDING THE LEADERSHIP THAT CAN MOVE THE DEPARTMENT FORWARD.

I THINK IT HAS TO BEGIN WITH LEADERSHIP CHANGES, PROMOTING OFFICERS WHO HAVE A REPUTATION AND THE SKILLS AND THE SUPPORT OF THE RANK-AND-FILE.

THAT IS FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS.

SECOND YOU HAVE TO RETURN TO THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY POLICING WHERE YOU ARE FORCING POLICE RESOURCES DOWN TO THE LOCAL BEATS.

WE HAVE THE MOST MANY OF THOSE VIOLENT DISTRICTS IN THE CITY AND CWP REPORTED ON THIS, YOU HAVE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE BEEN STRIPPED OF POLICE OFFICERS.

YOU DON'T HAVE COMMUNITY POLICING AS WE KNOW IT.

AND THIRD, YOU'VE GOT TO RESTORE PRO-ACTIVE POLICING.

I'M NOT TALKING STOP AND FRISK.

WHEN YOU HAVE 70% DROP IN ARRESTS SINCE TO 019 DESPITE HISTORIC INCREASES IN CRIME ACROSS THE CITY, THE POLICE ARE SIMPLY RELUCTANT TO BE PRO-ACTIVE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE BROUGHT UP THAT POINT.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE DEPARTMENT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COMPLYING WITH THE FEDERALLY MANDATED CONSENT DECREE TO INCOMPETENTS CONSTITUTE REFORMS HERE BECAUSE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOUND IT ENGAGED IN UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICING.

SO AS MAYOR, WOULD YOU CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S COMMITMENT TO COMPLY WITH THAT MANDATE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

FIRST OF ALL, 80-90% OF THE CONSENT DEGREE INVOLVES PROPER STAFFING, PROPER EQUIPMENT, PROPER SUPERVISION.

80-90% ARE COMMON SENSE THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AND HAD THEY BEEN DONE THERE WOULD NOT BE A CONSENT DECREE.

THE CONSENT DECREE IS NOT RESTRAINING POLICING.

HAVING THE POLICE PRIORITIZE CHASING AND ACCUMULATING AND RECORDING POSITIVE COMMUNITY INTERACTIONS WHICH INCIDENTALLY, THE STATE'S ATTORNEY CRITICIZED WITH THE CONSENT DECREE MONITORS.

TALK ABOUT A DIVERSION OF -- >> THEY DON'T DEFINE WHAT THOSE REALLY ARE.

>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

AT ROLL CALL, THE 11TH DISTRICT, HAD 108 MURDERS WHICH MAKES IT THE MOST VIOLENT DISTRICT IN AMERICA IF NOT ON THE PLANET.

YET THEY WERE CELEBRATED WITH POSITIVE COMMUNITY INTERACTIONS.

ANY COP WILL TELL YOU THAT THE TIME THAT IS SPENT, AT TENSION THAT IS DIVERTED.

THEY HAVE BEEN PULLING DETECTIVES NOT WORKING MURDER CASES TO BASICALLY, BE DISPATCHED IN UNIFORM TO COLLECT POSITIVE COMMUNITY INTERACTIONS.

>> WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME.

I WANT TO GET TO EDUCATION YOU HAVE BEEN AAN ADVOCATE FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS AND ADVOCATING FOR SCHOOL CHOICE.

MY QUESTION IS HOW WOULD YOU DO THAT AS MAYOR CONSIDERING THAT IN THE MEXX MAYORAL TERM THERE WILL BE AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD, THE MAYOR WILL NOT HAVE POWER OVER C.P.S.

ANYMORE?

>> THE SCHOOL DISTRICT -- THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS IN FREE FALL.

THEY HAVE LOST ENROLLMENT FOR 18 YEARS.

AFTER SIX YEARS OF IMPROVED ENROLLMENT THEY HAVE LOST 110,000.

YOU'RE SPENDING $28,000 A KID DESPITE THE FACT THEY LOST 28,000 STUDENTS.

PEOPLE ARE EXITING THE DISTRICT.

PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER EDUCATION ALVIN TILLER TERNE ACTIVES.

UNLESS YOU PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SCHOOL CHOICE, THE CITY IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUFFER AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THE MASSIVE EXODUS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS.

16% OF CITY RESIDENTS ACCORDING TO THE STUDY DONE PRECOVID ARE MIDDLE CLASS.

AND THE BIGGEST EXODUS THE LAST 20 YEARS HAS BEEN BLACK FAMILIES OVERWHELMINGLY FAMILIES WITH MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN.

PEOPLE ARE VOTING WITH THEIR FEET.

THE MAYOR WILL HAVE A TWO-YEAR WINDOW TO MAKE CHANGES TO ESTABLISH A UNIVERSAL PARENTAL CHOICE SYSTEM TO EMPOWER THE SCHOOLS TO BE ABLE TO LOCAL SCHOOL COUPLES TO BE ABLE TO DEMAND THEIR FAILING LOCAL SCHOOL ADOPT A NEW BETTER AND MORE EFFECTIVE MODEL AND THE MAYOR IS GOING TO HAVE TWO YEARS TO RADICALLY DECENTRALIZE A SCHOOL DISTRICT WHOSE BUREAUCRACY GETS ALL THE TAX MONEY AND ALLOCATES 60% TO THE LOCAL SCHOOLS FOR INSTRUCTION.

YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT FOR TWO YEARS.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE FACT THERE HAVE BEEN LABOR ISSUES WITH C.T.U.

AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

C.T.U.

WITHOUT QUESTION WILL BE OPPOSED TO ANY OF THAT.

SO HOW DO YOU AVOID MORE STRIKES AND MORE LABOR STRIVE AND MORE STOPPAGES AND KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL?

>> YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED.

LOOK IF THE MAYOR TOLD THE C.T.U.

WHEN THEY SHUTDOWN SCHOOLS FOR 15 MONTHS AND STRIKING, STRIKING ON COVID ISSUES WOULD HAVE BEEN ILLEGAL IF THE MAYOR HAD SAID IF YOU STRIKE, I'M GOING TO AN GATE THE TEACHER CONTRACT, THE UNION PROBABLY WOULD HAVE THOUGHT TWICE.

THE LEADERSHIP BARELY WON REELECTION.

THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF TEACHERS WHO ARE FRUSTRATED OVER THE LEADERSHIP IN THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION WHO ARE FRUSTRATED AT THE SHUTDOWN OF SCHOOLS.

FRUSTRATED THAT THE UNION LEADERSHIP HAS A TENDENCY TO PUNISH AND SOMETIMES TROLL ANY INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THEIR OWN MEMBERSHIP WHO ARE CRITICAL OF THEM.

AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF SUPPORT.

YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED.

FIRST OF ALL I WON'T DO ANYTHING THAT I CANNOT LEGALLY DO.

IF THE TEACHERS' UNION WANTS THE MEMBERS TO STRIKE THEY HAVE TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE THEY WILL BE STRIKING ILLEGALLY.

>> AND YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THE TEACHERS' UNIONS.

AND WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

PAUL VALLAS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THE U.S. SENATE IS REPORTEDLY HOLDING BIPARTISAN TALKS ON SOME POSSIBLE GUN CONTROL MEASURES IN THE WAKE OF THE UVALDE SCHOOL SHOOTING THAT LEFT 21 DEAD AS CHICAGO REELS FROM ANOTHER VIOLENT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AND AS DEMOCRATS CALL FOR STRICTER MEASURES THAN THOSE BEING CONSIDERED LIKE A NATIONWIDE BAN ON ASSAULT RIFLES.

JOINING US ARE DAN KOTOWSKI PRESIDENT OF C.E.O.

OF KIDS ABOVE ALL.

AND RICHARD PIERSON.

WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

RICHARD, UVALDE, BUFFALO, CHICAGO SEES GUN VIOLENCE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

WE SEE THE TALKS ON RED FLAG LAWS, EXPANDED BACKGROUND CHECKS.

RAISING THE AGE FROM 18 TO 21 TO PURCHASE A SEMIAUTOMATIC WEAPON.

DO YOU SEE GUN RIGHTS ADVOCATES SUPPORTING ANY OF THESE?

>> MAYBE BACKGROUND CHECKS BUT NONE OF THE REST OF THE STUFF, NO.

>> THE RIFLE ASSOCIATION YOU WOULD NOT SUPPORT RED FLAG LAWS OR RAISING THE AGE FROM 18 TO 21?

>> WELL, THEY HAVE RED FLAG LAWS ALREADY IN ILLINOIS.

IT'S LIKE ANY LEGISLATION, YOU KNOW, TO SAY RED FLAGS MEANS ONE THING IN ONE PLACE AND ANOTHER THING IN ANOTHER PLACE YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE LEGISLATION TO SEE WHAT TAKES PLACE DURING THE LEGISLATION.

AND WHAT IT DOES.

HOW FAR REACHING IT IS.

WHAT RIGHTS DO THE PEOPLE ACCUSED HAVE SO FORTH.

IT IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE.

AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL THESE THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS PROTECTED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

>> DAN KOTOWSKI AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WHAT KIND OF RESTRICTIONS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE OFFICIALS TAKE UP?

AND WHAT DO YOU THINK IS POLITICALLY POSSIBLE RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, I THINK WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO PLACE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING IN EDUCATION OF ALL KIDS.

FRANKLY, OUR CHILDREN THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY AND OUR CITY AND OUR STATE AND THROUGH OTHER PLACES IN THE U.S.

THEY ARE BEING MASSACRED.

AND THEY ARE VULNERABLE BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT TAKEN THE STEPS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THEM FROM WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION FROM MILITARY ASSAULT RIFLES AND PISTOLS.

WE HAD A RESTRICTION ON MILITARY STYLE ASSAULT RIFLES AND PISTOLS AND IT WORKED.

IT MADE AN IMPACT.

BUT THE REAL CONSEQUENCES AFTER IT SUNSETTED INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF MASS SHOOTINGS THAT WE SAW.

BECAUSE OF THE ACCESS TO HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES.

BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE HAVE GUNS THAT THEY LOOK EXACTLY LIKE A MILITARY WEAPON.

THEY MAY NOT BE A FULLY AUTOMATIC BUT THEY ARE SEMIAUTOMATIC AND WREAK CARNAGE AND HAVOC AND KILL AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN A SHORT TIME.

WHAT MAKES THEM LETHAL AND DANGEROUS IS HIGH CAPACITY AMMUNITION MAGAZINES MANY AND THE REALITY IS WHEN WE CRACKDOWN ON THAT, WHEN WE FOCUS ON THAT NATIONALLY, IT MADE A DIFFERENCE.

AND AFTER THE BAN SUNSETTED WE SAW A BALLOONING OF THE NUMBER OF SHOOTINGS THAT OCCURRED IN OUR COUNTRY AND WE'VE BEEN SEEING THAT.

I'M NOT HERE TO DEBATE I'M HERE THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW.

THE GUN LOBBY'S WAY FOR DECADES.

NOW THE TIME IS TO DO IT IN A WAY TO HELP OUR KIDS BE SAFE AND SECURE AND PROTECTED.

WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR TEACHERS OUR CHILDREN, OUR FIRST-RESPONDERS.

AND DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REALIZE THAT OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY SHOULD GET THEY DESERVE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

>> THE SUNSET OF THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN.

RICHARD PIERSON, A CNN ANNOUNCED THERE WERE 288 SCHOOL SHOOTINGS IN THE U.S.

IN THE LAST 13 YEARS AND THE NEXT HIGHEST COUNTRY WAS CANADA WITH TWO.

AND THE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE LOW TO NO SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, LOW MURDER RATES, HAVE STRICTER GUN MEASURES.

WOULDN'T ANY REASONABLE PERSON CONCLUDE THAT THE X FACTOR IN THE UNITED STATES IS GUNS AND THE PERMITS OF GUN LAWS?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE SURVEY THE CAUSE OF IT.

I LOOK AT THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE POPULATION MIX WE HAVE.

THE NUMBER OF ACTUALLY FATHERLESS CHILDREN THAT ARE OUT THERE.

THAT DON'T GET GUIDANCE.

THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THE KIDS NEED MENTAL HELP AND THERE IS NO HELP AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO BESIDES TAKING A FIREARMS AWAY FROM LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS.

WE WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE THING ABOUT MAKING SCHOOLS SAFER.

AND THE PLANS ARE OUT THERE.

AND YET WE DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

WE DIDN'T DO THE -- WE DID THE EASY STUFF LIKE LOCK THE DOORS AND THEN THEY LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN.

SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HAVE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.

SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TRAINING FOR THE CHILDREN ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY GET A SHOOTER OR A KILLER OF SOME KIND.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE WITH A FIREARM IN THE SCHOOL.

SO WE HAVE NOT DONE ANY OF THAT STUFF.

>> DAN KOTOWSKI?

>> AS SOMEONE WHO SPONSORED THE LAW THAT REQUIRED SCHOOL SAFETY DRILLS, I'VE WORKED OVER DECADES TO MAKE SURE WE PUT REASONABLE MEASURES IN PLACE TO PROTECT PEOPLE'S INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND WHILE ALSO MAKING SURE OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES ARE SAFE.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HEAR THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THEY STRUGGLE WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.

THEY JUST DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO WEAPONS THAT ARE THIS DESTRUCTIVE.

THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO WEAPONS THAT FIRE 30, 50, 100 ROUND MAGAZINE IT IS DOESN'T EXIST IN THESE PLACES AND TO BLAME MENTAL HEALTH IS AN EXCUSE.

LOOK, I WORK IN AN AGENCY WHERE WE HAVE A CAMP FOR CHILDREN WHO LOST FAMILY MEMBERS TO HOMICIDE.

WE LITERALLY HAVE A CAMP.

MOST OF THE KIDS HAVE LOST THEIR MOMS AND KIDS AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO GUN VIOLENCE.

AND WE PROVIDE THEM WITH ONE-ON-ONE THERAPY, GROUP WORK IN A CAMP WHERE THEY CAN COME TOGETHER AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW ARE THEY GOING TO HEAL FROM THE GRIEF, AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT DEFINED BY THEIR GRIEF.

THE REALITY IS EVERYBODY THROUGHOUT THE PLANET STRUGGLES WITH MENTAL ILLNESS WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTRY ON THE PLANET THAT STRUGGLES WITH EASY AND READY ACCESSIBILITY OF MILITARY STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS.

>> AND YOU DON'T WANT GUNS TAKEN AWAY FROM LAW ABIDING CITIZENS.

THE FREEM SUPREME COURT AFFIRMED THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

ARE THERE REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS THAT THE WOULD NOT INFRINGE ON THE RIGHTS OF LAW-ABIDING GUN OWNERS?

>> WELL, WE TALK ABOUT THE BACKGROUND CHECKS BECAUSE ILLINOIS IS A LITTLE BIT UNUSUAL YOU CAN BUY A FIREARM YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A BACKGROUND CHECK AND TO DO THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN FOID CARD AND TO HAVE AN FOID CARD YOU GO THROUGH A MENTAL HEALTH AND A LEGAL BACKGROUND CHECK EVERY NIGHT OF THE YEAR AND IF YOU HAVE A CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT YOU GO THROUGH TWO OF THEM.

ILLINOIS IS TIGHT COMPARED TO THE OTHER STATES.

I WILL SAY THAT.

AND SO YOU HAVE KEEP AN EYE ON THESE THINGS.

>> YOU ARE SAYING THE OTHER STATES COULD ADOPT POLICIES AND PERHAPS BRING THE OVERALL RATE DOWN?

>> THERE'S BEEN PROPOSALS THAT TALK ABOUT DOING THAT.

BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.

THERE ARE ONLY FOUR STATES THAT DO THIS, ILLINOIS, MASSACHUSETTS, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE OTHER ONE, NORTH CAROLINA MAYBE.

BUT SO TO DO TIGHT BACKGROUND CHECKS AS WE DO.

WE USE THE NATIONAL CHECK SYSTEM BUT ADMINISTERED BY THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE.

TO PURCHASE A FIREARM AND PURCHASE A FIREARM PRIVATELY YOU HAVE TO GET AN APPROVAL NUMBER FROM THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE.

YOU HAVE HAVE THE FOID CARD, THE PERSON'S BIRTHDAY AND IT TELLS YOU UP-TO-DATE WHAT YOUR STANDARD IS.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF LEVELS HERE.

DAN KOTOWSKI ABOUT ILLINOIS STATE POLICE THEY ARE THE UP WITHS CHARGED WITH TAKING GUNS AWAY PERHAPS UNDER THE STATE'S RED FLAG LAWS.

DOES THAT SYSTEM WORK IN ILLINOIS?

>> HERE IS THE THING.

YES, BUT THAT IS AN ARGUMENT THAT WAS POSED BY THE OTHER GUEST HERE FOR UNIFORMITY FEDERALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT DANGEROUS PEOPLE DON'T GET ACCESS TO GUNS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REALIZE THIS YOU CAN ACCESS THROUGH CERTAIN BACKGROUND CHECKS TO GET MACHINE GUNS MADE BEFORE A CERTAIN TIME IN OUR COUNTRY.

BUT YOU NEED TO BE REGISTERED, YOU NEED TO BE FINGERPRINTED AND GO THROUGH ALL THESE MEASURES AND YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF SITUATIONS WITH PEOPLE USING MACHINE GUNS.

YOU SEE THEM USING MILITARY ASSAULT RIFLES THAT ARE NOT REGULATED.

THIS IS A TEDDY BEAR.

TEDDY BEARS ARE MORE STRICTLY REGULATED IN TERMS OF PRODUCTION THAN GUNS.

THEY HAVE TO PASS SHARP ENDS, LOOSE PARTS AND FLAMMABILITY.

A COUPLE YEARS AGO BUILD A BEAR RECALLED 300,000 TEDDY BEARS BECAUSE THE EYES PRESENTED A RISK TO KIDS BECAUSE THEY WOULD CHOKE ON THEM.

THE GUN MANUFACTURERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN A FREE PASS BY CONGRESS FOR TOO LONG.

IT'S CREATED A PROBLEM.

THE GUN USES TODDLERS IN ADS TO MARKET MILITARY STYLE ASSAULT RIFLES.

>> A LOT TO DIG INTO HERE.

>> THEY NEED TO STAND UP AND BE RESPONSIBLE.

>> WE WILL FOLLOW THE TALK THE.

OUR THANKS TO DAN KOTOWSKI AND RICHARD PIERSON.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> UP NEXT HOW BOTH SIDES IN THE ABORTION BATTLE ARE GEARING UP FOR THE SUPREME COURT DECISION.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> IN THE LIKELY EVENT THAT THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS ROE VS. WADE THIS MONTH, ILLINOIS WILL BE AN ISLAND.

A DESTINATION SPOT.

A STATE AT THE CENTER OF THE FIRESTORM OVER ABORTION RIGHTS.

CAROL MARIN AND STUDENTS FROM DePAUL UNIVERSITY'S CENTER FOR JOURNALISM INTEGRITY SPOKE WITH ABORTION PROVIDERS, PATIENTS ABOUT ILLINOIS' STATUS FOR THOSE SEEKING ABORTIONS IN A POST ROE WORLD.

CAROL JOINING US NOW.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU, BRANDIS.

>> WE'VE SEEN THIS DEBATE BEFORE.

IN THE LATE 60s WHEN THE JANE MOVEMENT BEGAN IN CHICAGO, SECRETLY ASSISTING IN ABORTIONS WHEN THEY WERE NOT LEGAL.

WE'VE SEEN IT IN 1973 WHEN ROE VS. WADE WAS DECIDED.

AND NOW WE SEE IT AGAIN IN 2022.

EVERY STATE SURROUNDING ILLINOIS HAS MORE RESTRICTIVE ABORTION LAWS, INCLUDING MISSOURI WHERE IN 2020 A YOUNG WOMAN MAGGIE OLIVIA MADE A DECISION THAT TOOK HER ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

>> I THOUGHT I HAD TO LEAVE THE STATE OF MISSOURI AND GO TO ILLINOIS TO GET AN ABORTION.

>> AND SO MAGGIE OLIVIA CROSSED THE BRIDGE TO ILLINOIS AND AWAY FROM MISSOURI'S MORE RESTRICTION ABORTION LAWS.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO WAIT FOR 72 HOURS IN-BETWEEN MY TWO APPOINTMENTS TO GET MY ABORTION PROCEDURE.

AND RATHER THAN PUT MYSELF THROUGH THAT, I DECIDED TO CROSS THE STATE INTO ILLINOIS.

>> SHE CAME HERE TO THIS PLANNED PARENTHOOD CLINIC IN FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS 15 MILES INSIDE THE ILLINOIS BORDER AND WAS MET BY PROTESTORS OUTSIDE.

ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE HER MIND.

>> THEY ARE ALWAYS PROTESTORS WHO STAND DIRECTLY OUTSIDE OF THE ENTRY WAY AND THEY CARRY SIGNS THAT THEY CHECK IN HERE WITH TRAFFIC VESTS TO TRY AND DIVERT PATIENTS.

AT THE TIME OF HER ABORTION THERE WAS JUST A SINGLE CLINIC OPEN IN MISSOURI.

THE STATE REQUIRED A 72-HOUR WAITING PERIOD AND INFORMED CONSENT PAPERWORK THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO READ, REVIEW AND SIGN BEFORE THE PROCEDURE.

SOME 300 MILES AWAY FROM THE FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS CLINIC IN A CHICAGO SUBURB, AID DEGREE YEN OPENS HER HOPE ARMS AND HOUSE AS A WAY STATION FOR THOSE SEEKING ABORTION.

>> I'VE HAD PEOPLE FROM INDIANA, OHIO, WISCONSIN, IOWA, OKLAHOMA.

>> UP THREE FLIGHTS OF STAIRS AND INTO THE ROOM WITH A DRAGON MURAL AND A BED FOR THOSE SEEKING ABORTION TO FIND COMFORT.

IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, GOLDEN HAS HOSTED TWO DOZEN PEOPLE IN HER HOME THROUGH HER WORK WITH THE MIDWEST ACCESS COALITION.

>> I THINK THE YOUNGEST PERSON I'VE HAD WAS 15 YEARS OLD.

I'VE HAD PEOPLE IN THEIR 40s EVERYONE IN-BETWEEN AGE WISE.

GENERALLY SPEAKING PEOPLE ARE ON THE LOWER END OF THE INCOME SPECTRUM.

>> THE MODERN ABORTION RIGHTS MOVEMENT BEGAN HERE IN CHICAGO IN THE LATE 1960s AND EARLY 70s.

IT WAS CALLED THE JANE COLLECTIVE AND HEATHER BOOTH WAS ITS FOUNDER.

A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, SHE AND OTHERS CREATED AN UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT TO PROVIDE ABORTIONS.

>> THIS WAS 1965.

IT WAS A MORE INNOCENT TIME AND I MAY HAVE BEEN A MORE INNOCENT PERSON.

I KNEW IT WAS ILLEGAL SO I WASN'T TRYING TO BE PUBLIC ABOUT IT.

>> ARE YOU SEEING PARALLELS WITH THE YEARS THAT YOU WERE RUNNING JANE TO NOW?

>> THE OPPOSITION IN SOME WAYS IS EVEN GREATER THAN IT WAS BEFORE.

>> IN CHICAGO TODAY, THAT OPPOSITION IS LED IN LARGE PART BY ERIC SHIED LER.

>> MY ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO CHANGE CULTURE TO ABORTION IS UNTHINKABLE.

>> ROE VS. WADE MADE ABORTION LEGAL ERIC ON THE LEFT, WAS IN THE STREETS WITH HIS LATE FATHER JOE.

FOUNDER OF THE PRO-LIFE ACTION LEAGUE.

>> I GREW UP WITH ABORTED BABY PICTURES AROUND, WITH EGGS THROWN AT THE HOUSE, CRANK CALLS.

SOMETIMES GOING OUT TO PICKETS AND PROTESTS AND THINGS.

>> IF ROE VS. WADE IS OVERTURNED BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT THEN ILLINOIS IS LIKELY TO BE MORE OF AN ISLAND THAN IT ALREADY IS WITH WISCONSIN AND MICHIGAN HAVING TRIGGER LAWS THAT WOULD OUTLAW ABORTION AND OTHER STATES PROMISING MORE RESTRICTIONS AS WELL.

EXPECT, THEREFORE, MORE PEOPLE COMING TO ILLINOIS IN 2020 ALONE THE STATE OF MISSOURI HAD 6500 OF ITS RESIDENTS CROSS THE BORDER TO COME HERE FOR ABORTIONS.

>> IT MEANS THAT WE COULD SEE BETWEEN 20-30 ADDITIONAL, 20,000 ADDITIONAL PATIENTS EACH YEAR FOR ABORTION CARE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

>> JENNIFER WELCH IS PRESIDENT OF ILLINOIS PLANNED PARENTHOOD WHICH RUNS CLINICS LIKE THIS ONE NEAR THE ILLINOIS-WISCONSIN STATE LINE.

>> PATIENTS ARE GOING TO BE FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TRAVELING THOUSANDS OF MILES FOR THE CARE THAT THEY NEED.

OR PURSUING AN ILLEGAL ALTERNATIVE OR KEEPING AN UNPLANNED PREGNANCY.

>> ON A THURSDAY NIGHT AT A HOTEL AT COLUMBUS AND WHACKER, ANTIABORTION PROTESTORS INCLUDING ERIC'S PRO LIVE ACTION LEAGUE GATHERED ON THE STREET AS SUPPORTERS OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD ARRIVED FOR ITS ANNUAL GALA.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE DANGER STATES.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FLOCK HERE.

WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS STOP.

>> WHEN I HEARD TESTIMONIES OF WOMEN WHO WAS RAPED.

AND YET SHE DECIDED TO HAVE THAT MAB BABY AND SHE LIKE A REDEMPTION FOR HER.

>> IN LATE MAY, HEATHER BOOTH RETURNED TO CHICAGO FOR A SHOWING OF AN HBO DOCUMENTARY ON THE JANE COLLECTIVE.

>> WE WERE ORDINARY WOMEN TRYING TO SAVE WOMEN'S LIVES.

BUT WE WERE CRIMINALS.

WE WERE FELONS.

>> THE TIMING OF THE FILM TO BE RELEASED THIS FALL IS NO ACCIDENT.

TODAY, ONCE AGAIN, THE BATTLE LINES ARE CLEARLY AND INTENSITY RLY DRAWN AND IN MANY WAYS THE OLD IS NOW THE NEW WITH ERIC STILL ON ONE SIDE... >> AND AS IF ROE VS. WADE IS OVERTURNED AND STATES NEARBY START TO ENACT GREATER RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THE OUT OF STATE ABORTION RATE CLIMB AND CLIMB AND CLIMB IN THE STATE.

I HOPE THIS WILL BE AN AWAKENING.

>> AND HEATHER BOOTH ON THE OTHER.

>> I'M STILL WORKING FOR FREEDOM, JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY.

WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW IS WE'VE SEEN FROM THE PAST THAT WHEN WE ORGANIZE WE HAVE CHANGED THIS WORLD AND IF WE ORGANIZE NOW, WE WILL CHANGE THIS WORLD.

>> A RULING COULD COME FROM THE U.S. SUPREME COURT ANYTIME FROM NOW TO THE FIRST WEEK IN JULY.

>> ALL EYES ON THE SUPREME COURT FOR THAT ONE.

AND THE WOMAN THAT YOU INTRODUCED US TO AT THE BEGINNING, CROSSED OVER INTO ILLINOIS TO HAVE HER ABORTION, WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?

>> MAGGIE OLIVIA STILL LIVES IN MISSOURI SHE WORKS AS AN ESCORT AT THE SAME CLINIC OFFERING THE SAME SERVICES SHE SOUGHT WHEN SHE HAD HER ABORTION TWO YEARS AGO.

>> AND CAROL TELL US ABOUT YOUR STUDENTS AND THEIR REPORTING PROCESS, WHAT DID THEY COME AWAY WITH IN PUTTING THIS STORY TOGETHER?

>> WE ASKED THEM THAT IN CLASS YESTERDAY.

THEY KNEW THIS WAS A SEQUENTIAL RULING.

THEY KNOW THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE HISTORY.

NOT KNOWING ABOUT THE JANE COLLECTIVE THEY DIDN'T KNOW ERIC, THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE PRO-LIFE ACTION LEAGUE.

ONE SAID IN CLASS YESTERDAY, IT'S THE CONTEXT THAT WAS SO AMAZING AND INTERESTING AND TAUGHT THEM A LOT MORE.

AND THEY DID A GOOD JOB.

>> LEARNING JOURNALISM AND LIKE YOU SAID CONTEXT AND HISTORY.

>> CAROL MARIN THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANKS TO DON MOSTLY AND YOUR DePAUL STUDENTS.

>> OUR PLEASURE, THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW, PARIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS.

AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... AFTER DECADES OF AULD MEN GOING TO PRISON AN EFFORT TAKING AIM AT CITY HALL CORRUPTION STALLED.

WE HAVE DETAILS.

>> WE WERE ABOUT THE SAME LEVEL OF VIOLENT CRIME THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST DECADE.

>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON CHICAGO VIOLENCE LEVELS AND HOW THE GUN DEBATE IS SHAPING THE RACE FOR MAYOR AND GOVERNOR.

>> AND WE GET ONE LAST LOOK AT THE NEON SIGN THAT LIT UP DINKEL'S BAKERY AHEAD OF A AUCTION FRIDAY.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> A CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER SHOT IN ENGLEWOOD IS IN CRITICAL BUT STABLE CONDITION TONIGHT.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN.

HE SAYS THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER TWO OFFICERS ATTEMPTED A TRAFFIC STOP NEAR 64TH.

THE SUSPECT SPED UP PULLED UP PARALLEL TO THE OFFICER'S CAR OPENING FIRE AND STRUCK THE POLICE OFFICER.

MEANWHILE WITNESSES SAY THE SUSPECTS MAY HAVE FLED INTO A BUILDING NEAR THE CRIME SCENE AND POLICE ARE SEARCHING THAT AREA.

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY AND WE'LL SHARE UPDATES AS THEY COME UP.

>> TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF PRIDE MONTH.

AFTER TWO YEARS OF COVID BRINGING PRIDE FEST TO A HALT, MANY ARE COMING BACK THIS YEAR.

THE PRIDE PARADE WILL BE HELD IN THE NORTH HALSTED NEIGHBORHOOD ON JUNE 26 AND PRIDE FEST WILL BE JUNE 18-19 FEATURING DJ'S, DRAG SHOWS AND MUSICIANS.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SPOKE WITH A GROUP OF LOCAL LGBTQ JOURNALISTS TO KICKOFF PRIDE MONTH.

SHE SPOKE ABOUT THE ROE VS. WADE DRAFT MIGHT MEAN FOR THE COMMUNITY.

DISCRIMINATION AND POLICING.

HERE SHE IS RESPONDING TO A QUESTION ABOUT UNEQUAL TREATMENT FROM POLICE TOWARDS TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.

>> CHALLENGES THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM THE TRANSCOMMUNITY PARTICULARLY TRANSWOMEN IS WHEN SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS THE POLICE DO NOT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

MY EARLIER COMMENT WAS ABOUT PUSHING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO TREAT, TRANSWOMEN'S VIOLENCE AGAINST THEM AND HOMICIDES, IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY THAT THEY WOULD FOR THE STRAIGHT COMMUNITY AND NOT IGNORING THIS AND SAYING WELL DANGEROUS LIFESTYLE AND THIS AND THAT AND NOT PUTTING IN THE RESOURCES AND INTENTIONALITY AROUND SOLVING THE CRIMES THAT THEY WOULD ANYBODY ELSE WHO IS VICTIMIZED IN OUR CITY.

>> THE CHICAGO POLICE BOARD -- BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL BE OPERATING IN FULL CAPACITY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY A YEAR.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT APPOINTED COMMUNITY ACTIVIST JOYCE CHAPMAN AS THE SEVENTH MEMBER OF THE BOARD STILLING THE SEAT VACATED.

AND THE BOARD WILL BEGIN TRANSITIONING INTO AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD BEGINNING IN 2024 UNDER LEGISLATION SIGNED INTO LAW LAST YEAR.

NOW TO BRANDIS AND A LOOK AT THE STATUS OF PROPOSED ETHICS REFORMS AT CITY HALL.

>> SINCE 1969, 37 MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME.

AN EFFORT LED BY ONE OF MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S CLOSE ALLIES TOOK AIM THAT THAT CORRUPTION AND THE EFFORT STALLED AT CITY HALL AFTER RECEIVING ZERO SUPPORT FROM THE MAYOR.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINING US NOW WITH MORE.

THIS MEASURE WAS FIRST UNVEILED IN APRIL BY ALDERWOMAN MICHELE SMITH THE CHAIR OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S ETHICS COMMITTEE.

REMIND US WHAT IT WOULD DO.

>> THIS MEASURE IS REALLY DESIGNED TO FILL THE LOOPHOLES THAT EXIST IN CHICAGO'S GOVERNMENTAL ETHICS CODE AND INCREASE THE FINE FOR PEOPLE FOUND GUILTY OF VIOLATING IT FROM $5,000 TO $20,000.

IT WOULD EXPAND THE NUMBER OF COMPANIES THAT WOULD BE LIMITED IN THE AMOUNT OF CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS THEY COULD GIVE TO CITY OFFICIALS TO INCLUDE CONTRACTORS WITH SISTER AGENCIES INCLUDING THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> AND THERE IS NO DOUBT CHICAGO HAS A SIGNIFICANT LEGACY OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION AS WE MENTIONED.

WHY HASN'T IT GOTTEN A HEARING AND VOTE?

>> IT IS NOT CLEAR WHY MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT DIRECTED TWO ALLIES TO PREVENT THIS MEASURE FROM ADVANCING TO MICHELE SMITH'S ETHICS COMMITTEE FOR A HEARING AND POTENTIALLY A VOTE.

THAT IS A HUGE HIGHLY UNUSUAL AND VERY PUBLIC REBUKE OF SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN A CLOSE ALLY OF THE MAYOR AND BACK IN 2019 PRESIDED OVER A SIGNIFICANT REWRITE OF THE GOVERNMENTAL ETHICS ORDINANCE THAT DID NOT GET ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE BOARD WANTED TO CHANGE.

>> YOU ASKED MAYOR LIGHTFOOT WHETHER SHE SUPPORTS THIS MEASURE TAKE A LISTEN... >> I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE ORDINANCE.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT I HAVE NOT RED IT, WE WERE NOT CONSULTED ON IT.

>> WHAT WAS MICHELE SMITH'S REACTION TO THE MAYOR'S RESPONSE?

>> SHE WAS SURPRISED AND CONFUSED.

AND I HAVE TO SAY A LOT OF PEOPLE AT CITY HALL WERE SURPRISED AND CONFUSED.

NOT LEAST OF WHICH BECAUSE ALDERMAN MICHELE SMITH LEFT HER SEAT IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS DURING THE MAY 25TH MEETING TO ASK THE MAYOR ON THE ROSS STRUM WHY THE MEASURE HAS BEEN BLOCKED.

THE MAYOR KNEW THE ISSUES I COULD NOT GET AN ANSWER FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AS TO WHY SHE SAID WHAT SHE SAID DURING THAT PRESS CONFERENCE WE HEARD.

>> WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

>> WELL, MICHELE SMITH SAYS SHE IS NOT GIVING UP.

SHE IS IT GOING TO KEEP WORKING WITH HER COLLEAGUES TO GET A PROPOSAL THAT COULD WIN 26 VOTES.

BUT IT IS ANOTHER TEST AND PERHAPS ANOTHER INDICATION THAT CHICAGO'S NOT QUITE READY FOR REFORM.

>> WHICH THAT IS SOMETHING WE SAY A LOT HERE.

THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE THIS.

VIEWERS CAN FIND YOUR STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

AND DON'T GO ANYWHERE.

BECAUSE THERE IS SPOTLIGHT POLITICS COMING UP.

ANOTHER DEADLY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND WEIGHING IN THE RACES FOR GOVERNOR AND CHICAGO MAYOR.

VIOLENCE AND GUNS AMONG THE TOPICS FOR OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM THIS WEEK.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE, HEATHER CHERONE IS BACK, GUEST PANELIST AND "SUN-TIMES" REPORTER TINA SFONDELES AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

WELCOME EVERYBODY.

SO AS WE SAID, NINE PEOPLE WE SHOULD MENTION AND REMIND YOU ALL THAT A CHICAGO OFFICER HAS BEEN SHOT AND IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION TONIGHT.

THIS IS AS 10 PEOPLE DIED DUE TO GUN VIOLENCE OVER THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AND MORE THAN 50 WERE SHOT.

BUT CHICAGO'S POLICE SUPERINTENDENT TRIED TO SPIN THE NUMBERS WHEN ASKED ABOUT THIS BEING THE MOST VIOLENT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IN FIVE YEARS.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> TO PUT IT IN CONTEXT WE LOOK AT THE LAST DECADE.

AND WE WERE MOST OF THAT DECADE IT WAS NOT UNDER THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND WE WERE ABOUT THE SAME LEVEL OF VIOLENT CRIME THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST DECADE.

>> PARIS, IS THIS THE NEW NORMAL?

ARE WE SUPPOSED TO EXPECT THIS EVERY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND?

>> I REMEMBER A FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHERE 14 WERE MURDERED DUE TO GUN VIOLENCE AND IT'S ALSO THE NORMAL FOR THE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT TO TRY AND SPIN THE NUMBERS TO ASSURE CHICAGOANS THAT IT IS NOT AS BAD AS IT SEEMS.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN FROM POLICE SUPERINTENDENTS GOING BACK TO BEING UNDER RICHARD M. DALEY IT'S THE NEW NORMAL IN THE NATION.

WE HAVE THREE NOW REPORTED DEAD IN THAT TULSA MASS SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS AFTER UVALDE AND BUFFALO.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE THE NEW NORMAL OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR.

THIS IS GOING TO BE THE MAJOR ISSUE AND SEE IF IT IS A MAJOR ISSUE IN THE MIDTERMS.

>> HEATHER REMIND US WHAT SUPERINTENDENT BROWN TOLD CHICAGOANS ABOUT HIS GOAL FOR GUN VIOLENCE REDUCTION.

IS HE GETTING ANYWHERE NEAR IT?

>> NO.

WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE HE PUT FORWARD A MOONSHOT THAT WE HAVE CHICAGO REPORT FEWER THAN 300 MURDERS EVERY YEAR.

AND THAT IS JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

IT DID NOT HAPPEN LAST YEAR.

THROUGH THE END OF MAY THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN 239 MURDERS.

AND IT WAS PARTICULARLY STRIKING TO ME THAT IN 2020 WHEN THERE WAS JUST ABOUT THE SAME LEVEL OF VIOLENCE, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT CALLED IT A BLOOLD BATH AND A FAIL ON SUPERINTENDENT BROWN'S PART.

WE DIDN'T HEAR THAT RHETORIC THIS WEEK.

AND I THINK PARIS IS RIGHT WHEN HE SAYS THAT WE'VE BECOME USED TO THIS LEVEL OF VIOLENCE.

>> WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY UNFORTUNATE FOR US ALL.

TINA, WELCOME TO SPOTLIGHT.

SUPERINTENDENT BROWN, REPEATEDLY TOUTED THEY ARE TAKING LOTS OF GUNS OFF THE STREET.

IS THAT ENOUGH?

OR IS IT A DROP IN THE BUCKET?

>> AGAIN, PARIS YES, THEY HAVE EXAGGERATED FOR SO LONG.

LAST YEAR THEY SAID THEY RECOVERED 12,000 AND IT WAS REALLY 8,000.

THERE WERE 800 MURDERS WHICH IS AWFUL.

I THINK THAT IS A TRUE METRIC IS THE NUMBER OF MURDERS AND THE NUMBERS BEING HIGH AND THE WAY FOR C.P.D.

TO SHOW THAT THEIR OFFICERS ARE DOING SOMETHING AND LIKE THE MILLENNIUM PARK SHOOTING WE HAD THE NUMBER, I DON'T REMEMBER THE SPECIFIC NUMBER BUT WE HAD THE NUMBER OF GUNS RECOVERED FROM THAT PARK.

MAYBE PEOPLE WERE FEELING SAFER AND IT IS A WAY [INAUDIBLE] >> PARIS, YOU NAMED THESE OTHER THREE TRAGIC SHOOTINGS ONE IN TULSA A FEW HOURS AGO AND BUFFALO AND UVALDE.

WOULD NATIONAL GUN LEGISLATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH THE UNENDING GUN VIOLENCE HERE?

DON'T WE HAVE SOME OF THE TOUGHEST GUN LAWS?

>> I THINK THAT IS A MISNOMER.

CHICAGO HAS NOT HAD A HANDGUN BAN FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AFTER THE SUPREME COURT RULED ON THAT.

THERE'S CONCEAL CARRY IN ILLINOIS.

AND 60% OF THE GUNS RECOVERED IN CHICAGO CRIME SCENES COME FROM OUT OF STATE BEING INDIANA WITH LAX GUN LAWS.

AND SO 95% ACCORDING TO THE TRIBUNE OF GUNS RECOVERED WERE IN THE HANDS OF SOMEONE THAT DID NOT ORIGINALLY BUY THEM.

THAT BRINGS UP THE ISSUE OF GUN TRAFFICKING AND SO IF THERE IS LEGISLATION AROUND UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS AT GUN SHOWS FOR PRIVATE SALES, YES THAT DOES DIRECTLY ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT CAUSE CHICAGO GUN VIOLENCE AND CAUSE GUNS TO GET INTO THE HANDS OF FOLKS THAT ARE NOT LEGALLY ALLOWED TO HAVE THEM.

AND THEN THEY COMMIT CRIMES IT COULD MAKE A DIN BUT IT IS A HUGE COMPLEX ISSUE AND THERE WOULD NEED TO BE A MILLION THINGS TO MAKE A BIG IMPACT.

>> DOES IT SEEM LIKE THE MAYOR IS STICKING WITH SUPERINTENDENT BROWN AND STILL HAS FULL FAITH IN HIM?

>> YES.

THE TWO ARE REALLY TIED.

HE WAS HAND PICKED BY HER TO LEAD THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AFTER THE SORT OF SCANDAL RIDDEN TENURE OF FORMER SUPERINTENDENT EDDIE JOHNSON.

IT'S CLEAR SHE SEES HIM AS THE RIGHT PERSON TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT AT THIS TIME.

BUT HE IS DEEPLY UNPOPULAR WITH MANY OF THE RANK-AND-FILE OFFICERS.

AND MANY ALDERPEOPLE ON THE CITY COUNCIL NOT TO MENTION TWO OF THE FOUR ANNOUNCED MAYORAL CANDIDATES HAVE PLEDGED TO FIRE HIM AS ONE OF THEIR FIRST ACTS IF ELECTED.

>> THE MAYORAL RACE IT'S TAKING SHAPE THOUGH THE ELECTION IS NOT UNTIL FEBRUARY BUT IT'S GOING TO SNEAK UP ON US.

TINA, PAUL VALLAS IS RUNNING AGAIN SAYING THAT CHICAGO IS QUOTE IN CRISIS.

BUT HE CAME IN 9TH PLACE LAST TIME HE RAN AS PARIS MENTIONED EARLIER.

WHAT IS HIS PATH TO VICTORY?

JUST THAT LIGHTFOOT CAN'T HANDLE THE VIOLENCE CRISIS?

>> THIS MAN HAS A LOT OF CONFIDENCE AND WE HAVE SEEM THAT THROUGH HIS RUNS.

YES, I THINK HE WANTS TO BE THE PRO POLICE CANDIDATE.

HE WANTS TO CUT SPENDING.

HE IS USED SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN RHETORIC THAT I'M HEARING IN THE REPUBLICAN RACE FOR GOVERNOR ABOUT HANDCUFFING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HEARING A LOT OF THAT.

HE SAID HE HAS GOOD POLLING HE CLAIMS HIS POLLING IS VERY GOOD.

MOST CANDIDATES SAY.

QUIGLEY DID NOT RUN.

AND ARNIE DUNCAN SLATED THEY HAD GOOD NUMBERS AND DECIDED NOT TO.

WE WILL HAVE TO SEE HOW IT WILL TAKE SHAPE.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF HE DID GET LIKE PERHAPS THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE TO ENDORSE HIM.

HE SHOWED UP AT THE CONTRACT TALKS TWO YEARS AGO.

WE KNEW IT WAS COMING HE HAD BEEN WRITING OPPORTUNITY HE HADS.

-- OP-EDS.

>> AND STATE LAWMAKER KAMALA HARRIS OFFERING BUCKNER OFFERING A BLUEPRINT.

>> AGAIN, PARALLELS TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AND FOR US TO SEE A PLAN WITH SPECIFICS WE HAVE NOT SEEN A LOT OF THAT.

AND HE DID E-MAIL THAT OUT TO SUPPORTERS AND GOT THAT IN AN E-MAIL.

BUT IT WAS TO HIS SUPPORTERS.

I WAS IMPRESSED AT SEEING IT SO EARLY ON.

I DON'T SEE ANYTHING SUPER NEW.

I THINK A LOT OF THE THINGS HE IS TRYING TO DO THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO IMPROVE ON LIKE COMMUNITY POLICING.

AN INTERNET INTELLIGENCE UNIT WHICH I'M POSITIVE THE FEDS AND OTHERS HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR.

LIKE I SAID I WAS IMPRESSED THAT THE ACTUAL BLUEPRINT OF THE PLANS ARE OUT THERE ALREADY.

>> AND 0 THE GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN TRAIL THE TRIBUNE IS REPORTING THAT RICHARD IRVIN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE, AND TWO OF HIS AIDES OPENED A BUSINESS THEN GOT A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF AURORA.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THAT CONTRACT WAS WORTH $15,000 TO HELP THE CITY HANDLE COVID DATA.

AND THE TRIBUNE REPORTED THAT EVEN THOUGH RICHARD IRVIN WAS A PART OWNER OF THIS FIRM HE DID NOT INCLUDE ON THE ETHICS FORMS HE WAS REQUIRED TO FILE WHEN HE ANNOUNCED HIS CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR.

AND THEY CASTED IT AS ONE OF A NUMBER OF ISSUES ABOUT ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY DOGGING RICHARD IRVIN AND PARIS HAS DONE QUITE A BIT OF REPORTING ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IRVIN AND HIS DUTIES AS MAYOR AND CONTRIBUTETERS INTO AURORA.

>> THIS IS NOT THE FIRST CONFLICT OF ISSUE FOR THEM.

WHAT DID YOU UNCOVER?

>> MYSELF AND NICK BLUMBERG UNCOVERED A SIMILAR PATTERN THAT THE TRIBUNE UNCOVERED, POLITICAL INSIDERS GETTING BIG CITY CONTRACTS AND MANY CASES CLOSE FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS OF IRVIN IN ONE INSTANCE A CONTRACTOR THAT WAS VERY CLOSE WITH IRVIN GOT UP TO $15 MILLION IN CITY INCENTIVES TO REDO A HOSPITAL.

THEN THAT FIRM HIRED THE EX-WIFE OF RICHARD IRVIN.

SO THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS HERE ABOUT ETHICS AND IT'S A FAMILIAR PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR THAT ILLINOIS RESIDENTS HAVE SEEN FROM SO MANY PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

AND IT GOES IN CONTRAST TO THE PICTURE THAT THE IRVIN CAMPAIGN FUNDED BY $50 MILLION OF THE STATE'S WEALTHIEST RESIDENT'S KEN GRIFFIN MONEY IT GOES AGAINST THE NARRATIVE.

>> DO THESE ISSUES RESONATE WITH VOTERS TO THE ADS THAT PARIS JUST MENTIONED FROM KEN GRIFFIN IS THAT WHAT IS SHAPING VOTERS IMPRESSIONS MORE?

>> YOU CAN KIND OF TELL WHAT THE CAMPAIGNS ARE WORRIED ABOUT BASED ON THE ADS.

IRVIN IS TRYING TO FOCUS ON CRIME AND VIOLENCE.

THERE HAS NOT BEEN A LOT OF POLLING ON THIS.

I DO BELIEVE AS PARIS SAID THERE IS A CONTRACT HERE.

BECAUSE HE IS TRYING TO PAINT HIMSELF AS THE NEW GUY WHO WILL RID THE STATE OF CORRUPTION AND ALL OF THAT AND NOT HAVE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

AND WE'RE SEEING THINGS TRICKLING OUT BUT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME LEFT AND PEOPLE ARE VOTING.

IT IS A MATTER OF TIME TO SEE WHETHER THESE DEMOCRATS AND OTHER ENTITIES CAN CONVINCE PEOPLE.

>> WE WILL SEE SOON.

SPOTLIGHT THANKS TO TINA SFONDELES, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> UP NEXT, A TOUR OF SOME ICONIC NEON SIGNS UP FOR SALE THIS WEEKEND.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> SIGNS ONCE KNOWN FOR LIGHTING UP THE NIGHT ARE NOW FOR SALE AT AN ILLINOIS AUCTION HOUSE.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU SHARES HOW SOME SEE THE REMOVAL AND RESTORATION OF THE SIGNS AS PRESERVING CHICAGO HISTORY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

[♪♪♪] >> IT IS AN ART FORM.

I MEAN SIGNS LIKE THIS DON'T EXIST ANYMORE NOR WILL THEY BECAUSE TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED.

>> LIGHTING UP DONLEY'S AUCTION HOUSE WILL BE SEVERAL NEON LIGHT SIGNS THAT SHINE BRIGHT WITH CHICAGO HISTORY.

>> THE DINKEL'S BAKERY SIGN IS THE PREMIER SIGN OF ALL THAT WE'RE SELLING.

DINKEL'S BAKERY HAS BEEN HERE FOR 101 YEARS AND WE WILL BE SELLING THAT SIGN AND NEAT SIGNS IN THE CHICAGO AREA.

THE HOLLYWOOD CLEANER SIGN IS A WELL-KNOWN SIGN THAT WRAPS AROUND THE CORNER NEAT AS CAN BE.

THE MILL SHIRE HOTEL IS A HUGE SIGN.

>> RUN BY RANDY DONLEY, THE UNION ILLINOIS BASED AUCTION HOUSE HAS BEEN PRESERVING PIECES OF CHICAGO HISTORY FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

>> JUST LIKE THE SIGNS LIKE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE DINKEL SIGNS THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WOULD SAY, OH, YOU'RE TAKING AWAY CHICAGO'S HISTORY.

WHEN IN REALITY, IF SOMEBODY LIKE MYSELF DOESN'T FIND A HOME FOR THIS SIGN, THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE STUFF LIKE THIS ENDS UP IN SCRAP.

I WILL FIND THE RIGHT PERSON THAT WILL LOVE THIS SIGN AND RESTORE IT AND PUT IT IN A LOCATION OF PROMINENCE THAT OTHERWISE IT MIGHT NOT HAVE.

THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID ABOUT WHAT WE DO.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY TAKING THINGS AWAY.

AS MUCH AS IT IS SAVING THEM FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>> WHETHER IT BE GETTING A NEON SIGN UP TO PAR FOR A SALE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DONLEY AUCTIONS OR HELPING SOMEONE RESTORE A HISTORIC GEM ALTOGETHER, THEY ARE ONE OF THE FEW COMPANIES STILL PRESERVING THE DYING ART FORM DESPITE THEIR COSTLY UPKEEP.

>> IN THE OLD DAYS, GENERALLY, THE MOST COMMON WERE WHITE AND CLEAR RED CLEAR GLASS.

THOSE WERE THE GO TOES.

THEY WANTED THE BIGGEST BANK FOR THE BUCK AND NEON WAS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE ILLUMINATED SIGN.

>> NEON SIGNS HAVE GONE UP IN VALUE IN THE LAST SIX YEARS MAKING HISTORIC SIGNS LIKE DINKEL'S BAKERY THAT MUCH MORE MEANINGFUL.

>> THE SIGN WAS PUT UP BY JOSEPH DINKEL IN 1946.

SO THEY PUT IT UP AND AFTER ONLY BEING IN BUSINESS FOR 24 YEARS IT WAS A SIGN FOR THE FAMILY TO SAY LOOK WE'RE GOING TO BE AROUND WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT AND STICK WITH THE BUSINESS FOR A LONGTIME AND STICK WITH THE CITY AND CHICAGO AND THEY WOULD BE HERE.

>> LED SIGNS LEAD THE PACK DUE TO LOW MAINTENANCE AND COST, DONLEY AND CARL BELIEVE HELPING THE LIGHTS FIND NEW LIFE IT'S IMPORTANT TO PRESERVING CHICAGO'S HISTORY.

>> SOMEBODY AGAIN, NEEDS TO KEEP HISTORY ALIVE SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW WE GOT WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY FROM WHERE WE WERE.

>> WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO MISS OUR ROUTINE OF BEING HERE.

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END AND ON TO A NEW CHAPTER.

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

>> THE DINKEL'S BAKERY SIGN ALONG WITH MANY OTHER CHICAGO AREA STAPLES WILL BE ON THE VIRTUAL AUCTION BLOCK THIS FRIDAY AT NOON.

CAN YOU VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION.

AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY 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 ALSO CAN GET THE SHOW ON THE VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. COMMUNITY UNITY AMID SUMMER VIOLENCE ON CHICAGO'S SOUTHWEST SIDE.

WE VISIT WEST ELGIN AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> AND THE OPENING OF AIDS GARDEN.

AND FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

FAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]