CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

ONE-ON-ONE WITH CHICAGO.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CEO PEDRO MARTINEZ ON THE DISTRICT'S LATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CHALLENGES.

ADDRESSING AN INCREASE IN ANIMAL EUTHANASIA RATES IN CHICAGO.

THIS ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL CLOCKED IN AT A STAGGERING 12 STORIES AND 180 FEET.

AND LOOKING AT CHICAGO'S LOCKED PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF THE SKYSCRAPER.

AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

IF YOU HAVEN'T FELT THE HEAT ALREADY, YOU WILL.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS FORECASTING HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS ALL WEEK.

TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO SOAR INTO THE UPPER 90'S WITH THE DAYTIME HEAT INDEX TOPPING 100 LOWS WILL ONLY BE IN THE 70'S AND 80'S.

NOW THE GOOD NEWS, ALL OF THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT POOLS, SPLASH PADS AND WATER PLAYGROUNDS ARE OPEN.

CLEARLY THE BEACHES TOO.

FOR MORE ON SCHEDULES, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

CANDIDATES IN THE RACE FOR CHICAGO'S ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD BEGAN LINING UP TODAY TO FILE NOMINATING PETITIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER UNDER THE NEW STATE LAW CANDIDATES FOR THE FIRST 10 SEATS ON THE CHICAGO BOARD OF EDUCATION MUST FILE A STATEMENT OF CANDIDACY.

1000 REQUIRED SIGNATURES, NOTARIZED SIGNATURES OF PETITION CIRCULATORS AND A STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS.

CHICAGO BOARD OF ELECTIONS STAFF WILL NOT BE CHECKING THE VALIDITY OF THOSE SIGNATURES.

FILING RUNS TODAY THROUGH MONDAY, JUNE 24TH, THE LAST DAY TO FILE OBJECTIONS TO CANDIDATES IS MONDAY, JULY 1ST.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON IS LAUNCHING A TASK FORCE TO EXPLORE A REPARATIONS PROGRAM FOR BLACK CHICAGOANS.

JOHNSON SAYS THE COMMISSION WILL STUDY POLICIES THAT HAVE HARMED BLACK CHICAGOANS FROM THE SLAVERY ERA TO PRESENT DAY AND MAKE REMEDY RECOMMENDATIONS.

$500,000 IS EARMARKED IN THE CITY'S BUDGET TO STUDY THE ISSUE.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AS THIS WEEK MARKS THE 3RD YEAR SINCE JUNETEENTH WAS PROCLAIMED A FEDERAL HOLIDAY JUNETEENTH HONORS THE DAY IN 18.

65 WHEN ENSLAVED BLACK PEOPLE IN GALVESTON, TEXAS, LEARNED ABOUT THEIR EMANCIPATION 2 YEARS AFTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WAS ISSUED.

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS CEO WAS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART WHY THE ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS FAMILY.

THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE MAKING ACADEMIC GAINS THIS YEAR.

DISTRICT OFFICIALS SAY CPS STUDENTS OVERALL SAW A 5 PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE IN LANGUAGE ARTS AND A 2 PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE ON THEIR MATH SCORES COMPARED TO 2023.

MEANWHILE, THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION HELD ITS FIRST EVER PUBLIC BARGAINING SESSION WITH THE DISTRICT LAST FRIDAY.

IT ALL COMES AMID SOME PHYSICAL CHALLENGES WITH THE 2025 AT FULL DISTRICT BUDGET.

STILL WAITING TO BE PUBLISHED.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THAT AND MORE IS CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CEO PEDRO MARTINEZ.

WELCOME BACK.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK THANK YOU HAVING ME.

SO LET'S START WITH THE ASSESSMENTS.

THE LATEST STATE ASSESSMENTS SHOW MAJOR PROGRESS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND MATH.

3RD THROUGH 8TH GRADER SAW 5 POINT INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR WITH HIGHER PROFICIENCY IS THAN PRE-PANDEMIC TIMES.

WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE ALL THIS TO YOU?

WELL, FIRST, SO PROUD OF OUR STAFF AND OUR STUDENTS.

AND SO AS YOU SAID, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED, WE'RE NOW EXCEEDING PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS IN READING.

AND WE KNOW THAT WE IN THIS FOUNDATIONAL FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING SOME GREAT INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE AND WE'RE SEEING THE REALLY THE RESULTS FROM IT.

WE'VE YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN INVENTION, TEACHERS THAT ARE SCHOOLS WITH THE HIGHEST POVERTY RATES WE HAVE SEEN OUR BLACK STUDENTS WAS OF THE BIGGEST GAINS IN OUR DISTRICT BITE WITH 6 POINTS.

AND SO THESE ARE SCHOOLS THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE SUFFICIENT RESOURCES IN THE PAST.

IN ADDITION, WE ALSO ARE YOU KNOW, RESULTS FROM OUR TUTORS THAT WE HAVE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

COURSE, YOU CAN JUST THE HARD WORK OF OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS THAT 6% FOR BLACK STUDENTS AT THAT IS IN LARGE LEAD.

A 6%, WHICH IT INDICATES TO ME THAT THEY HAD SOME ROOM TO GROW, THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF ROOM TO GROW.

SO ALL OF THAT SAID, 31% OF STUDENTS BEING PROFICIENT ELA ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS.

THAT STILL MEANS THAT 69% OR NOT HER FISH.

WHAT'S THE PLAN TO CONTINUE TO PROGRESS, THIS GROWTH THAT YOU'VE SEEN AND ARE?

ABSOLUTELY SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS AN OPEN THIS IS THAT THESE THIS YEAR'S GAINS BUILD ON LAST YEAR'S GAINS, WHICH ALSO SAW 6 POINT GAME IN READING 2 POINT GAIN IN MATH.

AND WE KNOW FROM A STUDY FROM HARVARD AND STANFORD THAT WE WERE NUMBER ONE IN THE COUNTRY, NEW RECOVERY, NUMBER ONE.

AND WE BECAUSE BLACK STUDENTS.

NUMBER 2 FOR LATINO STUDENTS IN THE COUNTRY.

SO THIS BUILDS ON THESE GAMES.

THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, CONTACTS THAT WE GIVE YOU IS THAT IN OUR STATE PROFICIENCY, WAIT ANOTHER.

THEY HAVEN'T RELEASED THE RECENT RESULTS.

BUT FOR 2023, THEIR WITH 35% IN READING.

AND SO IN 27%.

AND THAT'S OUR STATE OVER OZ.

ALSO DOESN'T HAVE HIGH RATINGS.

BUT REMEMBER, WE HAVE A VERY RIGOROUS ASSESSMENT.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT I SAW WAS STUDENTS ACROSS EVERY GRADE LEVEL GROWING.

AND SO AS WE SEE THIS GROW UP, WE ALSO I ALSO HAVE TO REMIND OUR COMMUNITY OUR HIGH SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW HAVE HAVE MET, YOU KNOW, COULD BE STRONGER.

WE'VE SEEN RECORD GRADUATION RATES, RECORD SCHOLARSHIPS, RECORD NUMBERS OF COLLEGE BEEN SO I SAY TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS WAS A MATCH.

AND IS THE STUDENTS MOVE ON THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL?

WE'RE GOING TO SEE EVEN STRONGER RESULTS LAST WEEK THE DISTRICT ANNOUNCED THAT THE CPS BUDGET FOR THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR WOULD BE RELEASED IN JULY INSTEAD LAST WEDNESDAY, WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL PLAN.

WHY THE DELAY?

WHAT WE'RE WORKING SO WE WANT TO REALLY FROM A PART OUR BUDGET.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAID BRANDS AND THIS IS AGAIN, TO PROTECT THE GAINS THAT WERE SEEN IS THAT WE WANT TO PROTECT THE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE SCHOOLS.

YOU KNOW, WE WORK WITH THE PRINCIPLES.

WE MADE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS AND SAW WERE FINDING EFFICIENCIES AND REDUCTIONS IN OUR CENTRAL OFFICE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FROM THOSE UP.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT I FEEL CONFIDENT WE'RE GOING TO BALANCE BUDGET FOR THE JULY BOARD MEETING.

WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAVE OFF THE CUTS FROM THE SCHOOLS.

IT DOES MEAN THOUGH, THAT USE SOME CHALLENGES CENTRALLY.

PLUS, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE SOME MORE CHALLENGES IN IN THE COMING YEAR.

YOU KNOW, WE IN SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES ARE, OF COURSE, THAT 400 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC MEASURES THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED TO ADDRESS THIS DEFICIT WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT COMPROMISING THAT, OF COURSE, THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS.

SO FOR US, YOU KNOW, IS THE MAIN THING WE'RE LOOKING AT IS AND AND I REALLY AM GRATEFUL TO OUR WHETHER TIME VENDORS OR OTHER PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE.

WE'VE ASKED THEM TO GIVE US CONCESSIONS THAT WE'VE ASKED HIM TO GIVE A SAVINGS.

WE FOUND DEFICIENCIES WERE DOING THE HIRING FREEZE ACROSS THE ACROSS THE DISTRICT AS WELL.

MAKING SOME TOUGH DECISIONS, BUT WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO PRESERVE OUR CORE SERVICES BECAUSE THE CHALLENGE THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE'VE MADE SO MANY INVESTMENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS AND WE JUST NEED A CERTAIN LEVEL OF INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT.

BUT WHAT I LOVE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR TEAM IS REALLY WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE SCHOOLS ARE PROTECTED BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE'RE SEEING THE EVIDENCE AND THE STUDENT GAINS.

IT FEELS LIKE WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE WITH CPS BEFORE YOUR TIME.

I'M WITH, YOU KNOW, A MASSIVE BUDGET DEFICIT.

REMEMBER, IT WAS ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS, MAYBE 7 OR 8 YEARS AGO.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THE STATE PASSED THE EVIDENCE BASE FUNDING MODEL WITH A RAMP TO FULLY FUND THAT WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

BUT THAT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN OVER TIME.

AND OF COURSE, THE DISTRICT RECEIVED A LOT MORE MONEY DURING THE COVID YEARS.

THAT MONEY IS STARTING TO RUN OUT.

ARE WE HERE?

AGAIN?

AROUND.

SO ONE OF THINGS WE DID IS WE WE PHASE THEN THE FEDERAL FUNDING OVER 3 YEARS.

SO YEAR 3 IS NEXT YEAR.

WE'VE HAD A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT OF 6 TO 700 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

IT'S ABOUT HALF OF THAT USE THAT 400 MILLION FOR NEXT YEAR.

AND THAT SAYS WE HAVE A LAST ROUND FEDERAL FUNDING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE.

SO THAT'S WHEN THE TEMPS WILL BE BIGGER IN 2026, I MEAN, ISSUE IS THAT IN OUR STATE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN ADDING FUNDING.

BUT AS I SAID PUBLICLY, OUR NEEDS ARE OUTPACING OUR THE FUNDING WE'RE GETTING FROM THE STATE.

I HAVE MORE STUDENTS THAN EVER THAT THEY NEED THAT HAVE IEP STUNNED ACQUIRE SPECIAL SERVICES.

WE HAVE MORE MIGRANT STUDENTS THAN EVER.

IN FACT, OUR NORMAN IS ACTUALLY UP.

WE'RE ALMOST AT 329,000 STUDENTS AS WE FINISH LAST YEAR.

THAT'S UP FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.

AND SO FOR US, WE'RE SEEING MORE STUDENTS MORE NEEDS AND THE FUNDS.

THIS IS NOT KEEPING UP.

AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE STATE, EVEN FROM THEIR OWN FUNDING FROM THE SHORT ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS WITH A B, JUST WHAT CHICAGO ALONE.

AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT OUR LEADERS IN THE YOU KNOW, CREATED THE INHERITED.

BUT I REALLY WANT TO WORK WITH THEM BECAUSE WE'RE SEEN THE EVIDENCE.

WHAT COULD HAPPEN WHEN WE INVEST INVEST IN OUR DISTRICT.

YOU MENTIONED THAT 6,000 STUDENT THIS YEAR OVER THE YEAR BEFORE TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT SO MUCH?

SO 2 THINGS WE'RE SEEING BRAND IS ONE IS OUR ENORMOUS STABILIZING.

SO WE SEEM THE LEAST AMOUNT OF STUDENTS FROM EVERY GROUP LEAVING IN THE PAST.

WE'VE SEEN LARGE NUMBERS OF OUR BLACK STUDENTS AND LATINO STUDENTS LEAVING US.

WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT ANYMORE.

SO WE SAW STABILIZATION JUST IN TIME FOR US TO RECEIVE THOUSANDS OF MIGRANT STUDENTS, MANY OF THEM, WHICH CAN BE VERY MOBILE.

BUT THEY'RE ALSO STENA.

MANY ARE SUSTAINING OUR CITY.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'RE SEEING THAT INCREASE ENROLLMENT.

AND THEY ALSO, AS WE KNOW, THEY PROBABLY COME WITH WITH SOME ADDITIONAL NEEDS WITH REGARDS TO LANGUAGE BARRIERS, BUT ALSO MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND WHATEVER MEDICAL THEY MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED.

WANT TO SHIFT A LITTLE BIT TO THE NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THE CTU CONTRACT WITH THE DISTRICT EXPIRES AT THE END OF THIS LAST WEEK, YOU ALL, AS WE MENTIONED, YOU HELP YOUR FIRST EVER PUBLIC BARGAINING SESSION.

HERE'S A BIT OF THAT.

SO WE'RE GOING ABOVE OUR GUN.

THE COMMON GOOD OF THIS CONTRACT.

WELL, ON THE FRONT YARD OF CHICAGO WITH THE VERY PEOPLE WHO DESERVE TO HAVE THE MOST POINTS BECAUSE THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO DEAL WITH THE MOST IMPACT OF ALL OF THE DECISIONS THAT WE GET.

SO WE MEAN IT WHEN WE SAY THAT WE WANT PARTNERSHIP TO TRANSFORM THE ONLY THING RIGHT NOW THAT I'M DISAPPOINTED ABOUT IS THAT I DO NOT SEE THE LEADERSHIP.

OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HERE.

AND I DO NOT SEE THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT HERE.

IT'S NOT WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

OF COURSE, CTU PRESIDENT STACY DAVIS.

GATES, WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO HER COMMENTS?

YES, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, BY DESIGN AND BY AGREEMENT PLANNED THIS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A CORE NEGOTIATION TEAM THAT ACTUALLY IS MADE UP OF MY SENIOR LEADERS.

IT IS NEVER BEEN COMMON FOR THE CEO OR MEMBERS ON THE BOARD TO BE PART OF NEGOTIATION.

EVENTS, FRANKLY CREATES A WE'RE POWER STRUGGLE MANY WAYS.

SO THIS IS BY DESIGN.

I SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY PROUD HOW MANY TEAM PERFORMED ON WE PRESENTED OUR DATA.

WE MISS HIM TO TO THE CRC, 2 PARTNERS IN JUST LISTENING TO THEIR CONCERNS AND AND FRANKLY, I WHAT I FOUND WAS JUST COULD CONVERSATIONS WERE TRYING PACK SOME COMPLEXITIES THAT EXIST IN OUR DISTRICT.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO TO THE FUTURE ONES.

BUT BY BY DESIGN, WE HAVE A CORE TEAM MADE UP SENIOR LEADERS AND THEN ASK OF CONTENT EXPERTS THAT ATTEND EVERY ONE OF THE SESSIONS BASED ON THAT WHEN THE TOPIC THAT'S BEEN DISCUSS PENDING.

SO I'M LOOKING FOR FOR THIS PROCESS TO EVOLVE.

CTU HAS BEEN CALLING FOR OPEN NEGOTIATIONS FOR SOME TIME.

WHY DID THE DISTRICT AGREED TO THEM THIS TIME?

YOU KNOW, WE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE TAKEN, ALISON, I FINISHED MY 3RD SCHOOL YEAR.

THERE'S SO MANY COMPLEXITIES IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHETHER IT'S OUR BUDGET, YOU KNOW, THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE AND WHY WE'RE MAKING THE INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S ALWAYS A CHANCE EXPAND THAT THE FAMILIES, WE HAVE LARGE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET.

WE HAVE SO MANY SCHOOLS ARE SO LARGE.

SO MY HOPE IS THAT IN THIS PARTNERSHIP, YOU KNOW, WE HEAR BOTH WHAT THE CONCERNS ARE CTU AS WELL AS WHAT OUR RESPONSES.

AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS IT THAT WE CAN PRIORITIZE?

I WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR FAMILIES KNOW THAT THINGS THAT THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO PROTECT AND WILL HOPEFULLY AND THINGS THAT WE CAN ALSO COME TO AGREEMENT WITH WITH SEAT.

RAN TO THAT POINT.

WHAT ARE THE DISTRICT'S MAIN PRIORITIES GOING INTO NEGOTIATING?

YEAH.

SO SO A FEW AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS, FIRST OF ALL, I'M SO PROUD THAT OVER TIME NOW, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST PAY SCHEDULES FOR TEACHERS IN THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGH STARTING SALARIES, AVERAGE TEACHER SALARIES OVER $100,000.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR STAFF AND TEACHERS THAT I'VE SEEN BENEFITS OF, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LESS TEACHER TURNOVER.

WE DON'T HAVE THE SHORTAGES THAT OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE.

SO THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE.

ANOTHER IS MAKING SURE WE PROTECT THE, YOU KNOW, THE THE SUPPORTS FOR BOTH OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS.

WE HAVE ACADEMIC COACHES.

WE HAVE INTERVENTION, TEACHERS AND TUTORS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NOW IS THAT THAT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE BASED ON OUR RECENT RESULTS.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WANT TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN ENRICHMENT, THE FINE YOU KNOW, SPORTS PROGRAMS.

THESE ARE ALL PRIORITIES FOR US.

SO I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN FIND COMMON GROUND WITH 2 PARTNERS.

BUT THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE AREAS THAT WE'VE SEEN AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE JUST ACCESS TO STRONG INSTRUCTION, STRONG CONTENT.

BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, CANDIDATES TODAY BEGAN FILING FOR BALLOT POSITION FOR WITH THE BOARD ELECT MAIN STRUGGLE BOARD OF ELECTIONS FOR THE CHICAGO BOARD OF EDUCATION.

THAT ELECTION, OF COURSE, IS IN NOVEMBER.

YOU HAVE SERVED WITH ELECTED SCHOOL BOARDS IN THE PAST.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT 45 SECONDS.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO BE DIFFERENT?

YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEEN MY HISTORY AND THIS IS MY 3RD SUPERINTENDENT.

SEE.

SO WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IS JUST MEETING, YOU MEETING OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, JANUARY, FINDING ADVOCATES THAT WILL ACTUALLY GO AND SPEAK ABOUT ARTISTRY.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

ADDITION, IT'S A GREAT WAY FOR US TO JUST KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE GROUND IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'M GOING TO BE OPTIMISTIC THAT IT'S GOING TO CREATE A NEW SENSE OF ENERGY.

AND ALSO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISTRICT, FRANKLY, BECOMING MORE INDEPENDENT.

THE BOARD ALSO GOING TO GROW TO 21 SEATS LATER WHICH IS A LOT.

HAVE YOU EVER WORKED WITH THE BOARD THAT BIG BEFORE?

I'M NOT BANNED THIS.

BUT YOU KNOW, I'M WILLING TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE BECAUSE ALWAYS WORK WITH ANYBODY WHO'S GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR DISTRICT, OK, CEO SCHOOLS, CEO PEDRO MARTINEZ, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

OF COURSE.

UP NEXT, WHAT'S BEING DONE TO ADDRESS A SPIKE IN PET EUTHANASIA SAY WITH US?

CHICAGO IS ON TRACK TO SURPASS LAST YEAR'S RECORD.

HIGH EUTHANASIA RATES.

THE CITY SHELTER HAS SEEN A 24% INCREASE IN THE FIRST 5 MONTHS OF 2024, THAT IS ACCORDING TO CITY DATA, WHICH ALSO SHOWS THE EUTHANASIA RATES HAVE INCREASED EVERY YEAR SINCE 2021.

ADVOCATES SAY A RISE OF INTAKE AND LACK OF ADOPTION IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ISSUE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS HEATHER OWEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER OF ONE TAIL AT A TIME.

WE ALSO INVITED CHICAGO ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL AND PAUSE CHICAGO, BUT THEY DECLINED AND WE WELCOME YOU.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

SO REMIND US FIRST, PLEASE, WHAT KIND OF WORK YOUR ORGANIZATION DOES.

SO UNTIL THE TIME IS A NONPROFIT WE TAKE DOGS, CATS AND CRITTERS THAT ARE FROM SHELTERS OR OWNER SURRENDERS THAT NEED HELP GETTING REHOMED.

WE ALSO HELP PEOPLE KEEP THEIR PETS ARE A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAMS CENTER THEM OR HAVE A CENTER WHERE YOU KEEP THEM ARE MOSTLY WORKING WITH FOSTER VOLUNTEERS.

SO MOST OUR ANIMALS ARE IN FOSTER HOMES.

WE HAVE ALMOST 400 ANIMALS RIGHT BUT WE ALSO HAVE A DOG ADOPTIONS 100 BUCK.

TOM REED LOVE PEOPLE TO COME IN AND ADOPT A DOG, OK?

SO WHAT HAVE YOU ALL SEEN THEN AS THE CAUSE OF MORE PET OWNERS HAVING TO SURRENDER THEIR ANIMALS?

AND THEY I MEAN, IT'S A VARIETY OF THINGS.

SO THIS ISN'T A SIMPLE PROBLEM WITH A SIMPLE SOLUTIONS.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT A LOT OF THINGS.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN LATELY IN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, WE'VE SEEN A DECLINE IN ADOPTIONS WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL ACQUIRING PETS AND SOME DATA THAT WE SAW RECENTLY SHOWED US THAT PEOPLE ABOUT A 3RD OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO GET DOGS THIS YEAR, PROBABLY GOING TO GET THEM FROM BREEDERS PET STORE'S BACKYARD BREEDERS, PLACES LIKE THAT.

SO WE'RE HOPING THOSE PEOPLE WILL COME TO THE SHELTERS BECAUSE IF WE GOT A PORTION OF THEM TO COME TO THE SHELTERS, WE CAN WE CAN STOP THIS PROBLEM IS ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO SURRENDER THEIR PETS.

IT IS IT AND WE DON'T KNOW.

IT'S SOMETHING WE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHY THEY'RE THEY'RE SURRENDERING ECONOMIC OR OR IT'S A SHIFT IN ATTITUDES ABOUT HAVING.

YEAH.

I THINK IT'S A VARIETY OF THINGS WE DO KEEP DATA AND I'M ONE OF THE TOP THINGS THAT WE SEE.

IT IS IT'S A HOUSING PROBLEMS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN INTERSECTIONAL ISSUE.

AND SO IF WE ADDRESS THINGS LIKE HAVING AFFORDABLE SAFE HOUSING THAT PEOPLE CAN GO, THAT DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PETS, THEN WE WOULD SEE A BIG DECLINE IN PEOPLE SURRENDERING THEIR PETS.

WE ALSO SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO ANIMAL CONTROL WHO NEED HELP CARING FOR THEM, WHETHER IT BE VETERINARY BILLS OR HELP WITH FOOD.

WE'RE REALLY LUCKY IN CHICAGO.

WE HAVE A LOT OF THAT ARE OUT THERE HELPING PEOPLE KEEP THEIR PETS.

SO THERE'S ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT IT AND PEOPLE SHOULD REACH OUT IF THEY WANT IT.

BUT OTHERWISE, I THINK WE'RE SEEING A VARIETY OF HARDSHIPS ON ECONOMIC ISSUES, HOUSING ISSUES AND THAT'S WHY PEOPLE ARE SURRENDERING.

HISTORICALLY THE SUMMER MONTHS HAVE SEEN A HIGHER RATE OF THOSE KINDS OF INTAKE AS WHAT ARE YOU ALL EXPECTING TO SEE THIS YEAR?

SO WE ARE VERY NERVOUS UP HOW THE JULY 4TH HOLIDAY WE ALWAYS SEE AN UPTICK IN STRAY ANIMALS.

SO WE REALLY HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL MICROCHIP THEIR PETS, PUT A TAG ON THEM, KEEP THEM INSIDE BECAUSE FIREWORKS CAN BE VERY SCARY.

ALSO, THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU KEEP YOUR JULY AND GENERALS A REALLY HARD TIME FOR THEM TO BE AT THE SHELTER.

IT'S NOT A SAFE PLACE FOR THEM TO BE SO PEOPLE CAN FINDING ALTERNATIVE.

THAT'S WHAT WE RECOMMEND TO YOU.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO IS ANYTHING THAT YOU DO TO PREPARE FOR THAT RISE IN INTAKES, PARTICULAR LIKE YOU SAID AROUND THE 4TH OF JULY.

YEAH.

I MEAN, WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS MANY ADOPTIONS AS WE CAN RIGHT NOW TO MAKE ROOM SO THAT THE NONPROFITS THAT ARE HELPING CCC CAN TAKE AND MORE ANIMALS AND SAVE MORE.

SO IF YOU CAN FOSTER, IF YOU CAN VOLUNTEER, IF YOU CAN DONATE, YOU CAN ADOPT.

YOU'LL HELP US GET PREPARED FOR THAT FOR SURE.

HOW DOES ALL THIS IMPACT THE DECISION THAT IS MADE WHEN YOU KNOW, WHEN A SHELTER HAS TO THAT?

YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN A VERY LONG TIME.

AND I THINK CHICAGO ANIMAL CARE CONTROL SPECIFICALLY.

I'VE BEEN HELPING THEM FOR 16 YEARS.

AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN IT'S BEEN THIS BAD.

AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE INTAKE IS ACTUALLY UP A BIT LOWER THAN IT WAS PRE PANDEMIC.

AND WE'RE NOT AT THE 2019 PRE 9 2019 LEVELS YET.

BUT THE PERCENTAGE OF ANIMALS BEING EUTHANIZED IS HIGHER.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

SO WE'RE WONDERING WHY AREN'T THERE MORE OUTCOMES?

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY HAVE ASK IS WHY ARE THEIR OPEN POSITIONS AT CHICAGO ANIMAL CARE CONTROL?

WHY DON'T THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC?

AND SO WE LOVE FOR THE CITY AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE OPEN APPOINTED POSITIONS LIKE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR.

SEE IF WE CAN GET PEOPLE IN THERE TO HELP.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS BECAUSE IT'S VERY HARD TO DECIDE WHO EUTHANIZE.

YOU GET THE SENSE THAT THE CITY IS PRIORITIZING THIS ISSUE?

BUT LIKE I SAID, IT'S INTERSECTIONAL.

SO ANYTHING THEY DO WITH THEIR HOUSING ARE HELPING THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO HELP THE ISSUE.

I THINK THAT ADVOCATES RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING MORE.

WE KNOW THAT MONEY IS TIGHT.

WE KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE BIGGER BUDGET, BUT WHAT WE WOULD LIKE IS FOR THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE TO BE FULFILLED.

SO IF WE CAN GET THOSE PEOPLE IN THE JOB IN THE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS THAT CAN HELP CHICAGO, ANIMAL CARE DO WHAT THEY DO.

NO ONE THERE WANTS EUTHANIZE ANIMALS.

I THINK THAT'S VERY CLEAR EVERYONE THAT WORKS THERE WANTS TO DO THE BEST THING FOR THE ANIMALS, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO DO IT.

HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE ADOPTION?

WE TRY TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR PART.

WE EVERYONE HAS TO DO THEIR PART.

SO RESCUES, SHELTERS SHOULD MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.

SO IF YOU COME TO ONE, TELL TIME IT IS SO EASY.

YOU CAN LOOK AT THE ANIMAL SAME DAY, YOU CAN GO HOME WITH AN ANIMAL THAT THEY WILL MATCH YOU UP WITH A DOG OR CAT OR CRITTER.

THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOUR FAMILY.

YOU CAN FOSTER TO ADOPT.

THERE'S LOTS OF WAYS YOU CAN GET INVOLVED AND FIND THE RIGHT PATH FOR YOU.

ARE YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, SORT SOME FOLKS GOING TO A BREEDER, FOR EXAMPLE, VERSUS COMING TO SOMEONE LIKE YOU ARE AN ORGANIZATION LIKE YOURS ARE PROSPECTIVE PET OWNERS.

ARE THEY STILL CHOOSING TO MAYBE BUY A PUPPY RATHER THAN ADOPTING A DOG.

THAT'S AN ADULT.

YEAH.

I THINK THAT'S PART OF IT.

AND IT'S INTERESTING TO ME BECAUSE THERE ARE ECONOMIC CONCERNS AND BREEDERS ARE SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE IF YOU COME TO US, IT'S CHEAPER.

THEY'RE SPAYED AND NEUTERED.

THEY'RE VACCINATED THEIR HEALTHY, KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING LIKE.

YOU'RE READY TO GO TO GO TO ANIMAL CONTROL.

IT'S $65 ADOPT A DOG LIKE THAT'S A GREAT DEAL IS SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SOMETIMES THINK THAT IF THEY GET A PUPPY OR IF THEY GO SOMEWHERE, THEY KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING.

THE REALITY IS ADULT DOGS.

YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE GETTING.

SO AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HOUSE BREAKING OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I VERY MUCH ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LOOK AT ADULT DOG.

WE ALSO HAVE PUPPIES AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION AND THEY'RE STAYING LONGER THAN THEY EVER HAVE BEFORE.

THAT MAKES US NERVOUS FOR PEOPLE SORT OF CONCERNS THAT OKAY TO START AS AN ADULT.

BUT DOES IT COME WITH SOME TRAUMA BECAUSE IT WAS A STRAY OR ABUSED OR MIGHT HAVE HEART ISSUE OR SOME ILLNESS THAT HAS DEVELOPED.

I MEAN, I THINK IT WOULD BE NAIVE TO SAY THAT THERE'S NO ANIMALS THAT COME IN WITH THOSE THINGS.

BUT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF ANIMALS THAT WE SEE, WE'RE LOVED POTS AND YOU SOMEONE JUST NEEDED TO REHOME THEM FOR WHATEVER REASON.

SO MOST OF THEM ARE GOING TO MAKE GREAT FAMILY.

PETS ARE COMPANIONS FOR PRETTY MUCH ANYONE.

HOW DO YOU EDUCATE FIRST TIME PET BEFORE THEY ADOPT?

I THINK THE NICE THING ABOUT GOING TO RESCUE SHELTERS ARE GOING TO GET TONS OF SUPPORT.

UNTIL THAT TIME WE HAVE TRAINERS ON STAFF AND PEOPLE THAT CAN WALK YOU THROUGH PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING.

WE ARE THERE FOR YOU FOR THE LIFE OF YOUR PET.

HEATHER OWEN AT ONE TAYLOR TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

OF COURSE.

UP NEXT, WE EXPLORE CHICAGO'S SKYSCRAPER HISTORY.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

CHICAGO EYESORE IS BEING FIXED.

ONE SHOVEL AT A TIME.

DEVELOPERS TODAY BEGAN FILLING IN THE GIANT HOLE LEFT BEHIND FROM THE FIELD.

CHICAGO SPIRE PROJECT.

THE SPIRE WAS SUPPOSED TO BECOME THE WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDING, BUT MONEY PROBLEMS STALLED ITS CONSTRUCTION IN 2008, WE'VE BEEN BEHIND A BIG HOLE FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS NOW.

2 TOWERS ARE SET TO BE BUILT ON THE SITE, INCLUDING A RESIDENTIAL BUILDING CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

IT WILL BE 72 STORIES AND IS EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED IN EARLY 2027.

ALL THIS GOT US THINKING ABOUT CHICAGO'S PREEMINENT PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF THE SKYSCRAPER.

NICK BLOOMBERG HAS THE STORY IN OUR LATEST EDITION OF WT TW NEWS EXPLAINS.

CHICAGO IS A CITY OF FIRSTS.

EVERYTHING FROM THE FIRST FERRIS WHEEL TO THE FIRST BROWNIE AND THE WORLD'S VERY FIRST SKYSCRAPER IN 18.

85, THE HOME INSURANCE BUILDING WENT UP ON THE CORNER ADAMS AND WAS SOUND.

THIS ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL CLOCKED IN AT A STAGGERING 12 STORIES AND 180 FEET.

OKAY.

MAYBE NOT A SKYSCRAPER BY MODERN STANDARDS, BUT FOR A TIME IT WAS AN IMPRESSIVE FEAT SUPPORTED BY A STEEL FRAME, REINFORCED CONCRETE AS THE YEARS TO BUY THE CITY OF BIG SHOULDERS BECAME A CITY OF BIG BUILDINGS.

BUILDERS GOT MORE AMBITIOUS AND THE HEIGHTS JUST KEPT ON GETTING HIGHER.

THE WRIGLEY BUILDING TRIBUNE TOWER, CARBON CARBON LESS THAN 50 YEARS AFTER THE HOME INSURANCE BUILDING AND MORE THAN 3 TIMES AS TALL, THE ICONIC CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE BUILDING RISES AND REIGNS AS THE CITY'S TALLEST FOR MORE THAN 3 DECADES LATER ON THE STANDARD OIL BUILDING NOW KNOWN AS THE AON CENTER HELD THE TITLE FOR A YEAR BEFORE BEING BEATEN OUT IN 1974.

BY THE MASSIVE SEARS TOWER AT MORE THAN 1400 FEET, IT BECAME THE TALLEST BUILDING, NOT JUST IN CHICAGO, BUT THE WORLD THE WINDY CITY SKYLINE HAS CHANGED A LOT OVER THE YEARS ON IS NOW ONLY THE CITY'S 4TH TALLEST STILL FOLLOWED BY THE BUILDING, GET THRONE IN 1973.

THE JOHN HANCOCK CENTER NOW CALLED 8.75 NORTH MICHIGAN THE SAINT REGIS COMPLETED IN 2020 IS THE CITY'S 3RD TALLEST AND TRUMP TOWER COMPLETED IN 2009, 6 AND THE NUMBER 2 SPOT.

THE WILLIS TOWER AS WE HAVE RUSHING, WE CALL IT STILL HOLDS THE TITLE OF TALLEST IN CHICAGO BUT WAS LONG AGO KNOCKED OFF ITS PERCH AS THE TALLEST IN THE U.S. AND THE WORLD.

ACCORDING TO THE COUNCIL ON TALL BUILDINGS AND URBAN HABITAT.

NEW YORK'S ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER IS NOW TOPS IN THE COUNTRY.

YEAR-OLD WILLIS 3RD TALLEST IN THE U.S. AND 23RD WORLDWIDE.

BUT EVEN THOUGH WE LOST THE TOP SPOT, CHICAGO'S PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF THE SKYSCRAPER, STILL TOWERS ABOVE EVERYONE ELSE.

CHICAGO STILL TOPS THOUGH.

YOU CAN SEE THIS AND OTHER EPISODES OF OUR EMMY AWARD-WINNING SERIES W T TW NEWS EXPLAINS ON OUR WEBSITE.

OF COURSE THAT'S W T TW DOT COM SLASH EXPLAINS.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED, BUT THAT'S BY SIGNING UP FOR A DAILY BRIEFING.

YOU CAN ALSO GET CHICAGO TONIGHT STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND OUR WEB SITE W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS.

YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 CANDIDATES FOR CHICAGO'S ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD BEGAN FILING PAPERWORK, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM THAT AND MORE.

PLUS, A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO SPENT YEARS DOCUMENTING THE REALITY OF LIFE ALONG THE FAMED ROUTE.

66.

THERE FOR ALL OF US HERE CHICAGO BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

CLOSED CAPTION WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFF AND CLIFFORD WHICH IS PROUD TO HONOR FOUNDER AND SENIOR PARTNER ROBERT CLIFFORD, WHO IS NAMED IN