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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> I'M RULING YOU OUT OF ORDER.

A ROLL CALL VOTE.

>> INSIDE TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING THAT FEATURED A TENSE STANDOFF BETWEEN AN ALDERPERSON AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT FOLLOWED BY AN ABRUPT ADJOURNMENT.

>> IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF COUNCIL WARS PART 2?

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM EXAMINES TODAY'S FIREWORKS.

>> I'M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> C.P.S.

IS LOSING THE TOP LEADER AND IS FACING LAYOFFS.

>> THE LIFE EXPECTANCY GAP BETWEEN BLACK AND NONBLACK CHICAGOANS HAS WIDENED.

>> WHAT IS DRIVING THE INEQUITIES?

>> WE CHECK IN ON THE STATE OF THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC IN COOK COUNTY AFTER LAST YEAR'S SPIKE IN OVERDOSES.

>> PART OF CHICAGO'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISTORY OF CARTOONING IN A SHOW AT THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART.

[♪♪♪] >> I REMEMBER THAT INTERVIEW AS PHIL PONCE GETS READY TO MOVE TO SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS WE LOOK BACK AT HIS RAUCOUS CONVERSATION WITH ELMO.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES..., THE PRESIDENT AND U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCED NEW FEDERAL MEASURES TO CRACKDOWN ON GUN VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO AND OTHER CITIES.

PRESIDENT BIDEN HELD A ROUNDTABLE ON GUN VIOLENCE THIS AFTERNOON AND AMONG THOSE TAKING PART WAS CHICAGO ACTIVIST EDDIE.

BIDEN AND ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND SAY THE PLANS CALL FOR A FEDERAL CRACKDOWN ON GUN TRAFFICKING AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WILL CREATE STRIKE FORCES TO DOUBLE DOWN ON ILLEGAL GUN SALES.

>> IF YOU SELL A GUN TO A PERSON WHO IS PROHIBITED FROM PROCESSING IT AND IF YOU WILLFULLY FAIL TO COOPERATE WITH THE REQUESTS OR INSPECTIONS, MY MESSAGE TO YOU IS THIS: WE'LL FIND YOU.

>> PRESIDENT CALLED FOR 350 MILLION DOLLARS OUT OF COVID STIMULUS FUNDS TO BE DIRECTED TOWARD POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

>> A HISTORY MAKING MOMENT BEFORE ALL THE FIREWORKS IN CITY COUNCIL TODAY.

THE COUNCIL CONFIRMED ANNETTE HOLT AS COMMISSIONER OF THE CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO LEAD THAT AGENCY.

NANCE HOLT IS A 30-YEAR VETERAN OF THE DEPARTMENT AND SERVED AS PREVIOUS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER AND THE MOTHER OF BLAIR HOLT KILLED AFTER TRYING TO SHIELD A FRIEND FROM GUNFIRE.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE REST OF TODAY'S COUNCIL MEETING IN A FEW MOMENTS.

>> THE COUNTRY'S SECOND GENTLEMAN PAID A VISIT TO CHICAGO TO PROMOTE COVID-19 VACCINATION.

DOUGLAS EMHOFF HUSBAND OF VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS STOPPED BY A BLACK-OWNED BARBERSHOP IN ENGLEWOOD TO TOUT THE VACCINE TO BOOST RATES IN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.

ENGLEWOOD LAGGED BEHIND THE REST OF THE CITY IN VACCINATION RATES.

EMHOFF MADE A VISIT AT THE HEALTH CLINIC IN THE AFTERNOON.

>> TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING TURNED MESSY AND NEVER FINISHED.

A VOTE TO RENAME LAKE SHORE DRIVE CAME TO A HALT AND THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CITY'S TOP LAWYER WAS BLOCKED.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US WITH MORE.

TODAY WAS TO BE THE DAY THAT THE QUESTION OF RENAMING LAKE SHORE DRIVE WAS TO BE RESOLVED BUT IT GOT DELAYED A SECOND TIME.

LET'S TAKE A LISTEN.

>> I RESPECT MY COLLEAGUES DECISION I WILL NOT ASK THEM TO CHANGE BUT WITH THAT, I MOTION ADJOURN THIS MEETING AND RECONVENE FRIDAY AT 11:00.

>> IS THERE A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>> YOUR MOTION IS TO RECESS?

>> TO RECESS I'M SORRY.

>> MEETING SUSPENDED THEY WILL RECONVENE FRIDAY.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> WELL, IT WENT OFF THE RAILS LESS THAN AN HOUR -- AFTER THE MEETING BEGAN WHEN ALDERMAN RAY LOPEZ AND JEANETTE TAYLOR BLOCKED A VOTE WITH THE PARLIAMENTARY MANEUVER ON CELIA MEZA SET TO BECOME THE CITY'S TOP LAWYER AND WILL BE THE FIRST LATINA TO SERVE IN THAT ROLE.

THEY WERE ANGRY THE WAY THE LAW DEPARTMENT IS HANDLING THE LAWSUIT FILED BY ANJANETTE YOUNG THE SOCIAL WORKER HANDCUFFED WHILE NAKED AS CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS MISTAKENLY RAIDED HER HOME.

THE CITY HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO SETTLE THAT LAWSUIT AND NOW IT'S IN LIMBO AND SEVERAL ALDERMEN ARE ANGRY ABOUT IT BECAUSE MAYOR LIGHTFOOT APOLOGIZED FOR THE OFFICERS' CONDUCT AND SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE DAVID BROWN SAID THAT HER HUMAN RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED.

THAT CASE IS IN LIMBO JUST LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

>> AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT HAD A VISCERAL REACTION TO THE ACTIONS OF RAY LOPEZ AND JEANETTE TAYLOR AND HAS A HEATED ARGUMENT WITH ALDERMAN TAYLOR.

WHAT DID THEY SAY?

>> WE TALKED TO TAYLOR AFTER THE MEETING AND SHE SAID THAT LIGHTFOOT ASKED HER TO ALLOW THE CONFIRMATION VOTE TO TAKE PLACE SHE IS HURTING A FELLOW WOMAN OF COLOR.

AT ONE POINT IT WAS HEATED AND TAYLOR TOLD LIGHTFOOT TO PUT HER HANDS DOWN AND STOP TREATING HER LIKE A CHILD.

IT WAS A WILD AND UNPRECEDENTED SCENE THAT INDICATES THE MAYOR'S RELATIONS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL ARE AT AN ALL-TIME LOW.

AFTER THE MEETING, LIGHTFOOT CANCELED HER PRESS CONFERENCE NORMALLY HELD AFTER THE MEETING AND RELEASED A STATEMENT BLASTING TAYLOR AND LOPEZ SAYING THAT THEY CREATED A SPECTACLE THAT PREVENTED THE CITY COUNCIL FROM DOING THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY.

>> AN UNUSUAL SEEN YOU NEVER SEE THE MAYOR LEAVE LIKE THAT.

ALDERMAN DAVID MOORE WAS FURIOUS BECAUSE OF ANOTHER DELAY IN HIS INITIATIVE TO RENAME LAKE SHORE DRIVE AFTER JEAN BAPTISTE POINTE DuSABLE.

>> I DON'T KNOW ALL I KNOW IS THAT DEMOCRACY WAS TRAMPLED ON TODAY.

WHETHER IT WAS BECAUSE OF DUSABLE OR SOME OTHER REASON, THIS COUNCIL IS NOT A COUNCIL OF ORDER ANYMORE.

IT IS NOT A COUNCIL OF RULES.

ANY AND EVERYTHING GOES.

AND I'M SAD TO SAY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE FIREWORKS IN THIS CITY COUNCIL THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE THAT THE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

BECAUSE I HAVE TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR PEOPLE WHOSE DEMOCRACY IS BEING TRAMPLED ON.

HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DUSABLE BUT PEOPLE NEED A VOICE THAT HAS TO STAND UP FOR THEM AND I WILL.

>> FIREWORKS, HEATHER CHERONE, IS THAT WHAT WE ARE BOUND TO SEE FRIDAY WHEN THEY RECONVENE?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THEY WILL ATTEMPT TO CONFIRM MEZA AND PASS A MASSIVE BUSINESS CHANGE TO THE WAY TO HELP BUSINESSES RECOVER FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND DEAL WITH THE PROPOSAL TO RENAME LAKE SHORE DRIVE.

>> ALL RIGHT A LOT ON THE DOCKET AND A LOT OF TENSION IN CITY COUNCIL.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

HEATHER THANK YOU AND WE'LL SEE YOU LATER WITH SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

>> THANKS, PAIRS R PARIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

AND NOW TO BRANDIS AND A NEW REPORT ON LIFE EXPECTANCY AMONG CHICAGOANS.

>> PARIS, THE LIFE EXPECTANCY GAP BETWEEN BLACK AND NONBLACK CHICAGOANS HAS WIDENED ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM THE HEALTH EQUITY INDEX COMMITTEE AT THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

BETWEEN 2012-2017 THE GAP GREW FROM 8.3 YEARS TO 9.2.

AND THAT WAS BEFORE THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC WHICH WE ALL KNOW HAD A DISPARATE IMPACT ON BLACK CHICAGOANS.

JOINING US ARE YAA SIMPSON AND BLAIR AIKENS.

EPIDEMIOLOGISTS AT THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT'S HEALTH EQUITY INDEX COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

WE KNOW THAT THE REPORT FOUND THAT BLACK CHICAGOANS ON AVERAGE LIVE TO 71.4 YEARS.

WHILE NONBLACK CHICAGOANS LIVE TO ON AVERAGE, 80.6 YEARS.

BLAIR, WHAT DO THE NUMBERS TELL YOU ABOUT HEALTH INEQUITIES IN CHICAGO?

>> YES, THESE NUMBERS SHOW US THAT THERE ARE A GREAT HEALTH DISPARITIES IN CHICAGO.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE LIVES OF BLACK CHICAGOANS COMPARED TO NONBLACK CHICAGOANS.

THIS 9.2 YEAR GAP IS REALLY IDENTIFY SOME OF THE TOP DRIVERS OF THE GAP IN OUR REPORT.

CHRONIC DISEASE, HIV AND OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES SUCH AS COVID, OPIOID OVERDOSE, INFANT MORTALITY AND HOMICIDE.

>> AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET INTO THOSE DEEPER AS WELL.

THE HEALTH EQUITY INDEX TEAM FIVE BLACK WOMEN, WHAT PRECIPITATED THIS RESEARCH AND WHY DID YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON LIFE EXPECTANCY?

>> YES, MA'AM, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

WHAT PRECIPITATED THIS DPA GATHERING THIS IS BECAUSE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WE WANTED TO AMPLIFY OUR VOICES AS BLACK WOMEN.

WE FELT THAT SOME OF THE LEADERSHIP WASN'T REFLECTIVE OF WHAT WE WANTED TO SEE.

SO BY COMING TOGETHER AND MAKING THIS WORK WITH HEALTH EQUITY INDEX COMMITTEE WE WANTED TO DEAL WITH THE VOICES AND THE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF THE BLACK PLIGHT SPECIFICALLY IN HEALTHCARE.

AND SO WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WAS PROVIDE A VOICE FOR US AND THE VEHICLE FOR DOING THAT IS BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE.

WE DECIDED WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THINGS AND THAT IS TO HAVE THE FIRST DATA BOOK EVER TO BE REFERENCED FOR BLACKS TO NONBLACK THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN 200 YEARS OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

AND SPECIFICALLY TO HAVE A RESEARCH TEAM THAT WAS ALL BLACK WOMEN THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN THE 200 YEARS OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENED WE BROUGHT THIS TOGETHER AND THE REASON WE'RE USING LIFE EXPECTANCY IS BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE HEALTH EQUITY AS AN INDEX WE DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC MEASUREMENT.

YOU HAVE TO FIND A PROXY.

AND LIFE EXPECTANCY IS THE ONE VARIABLE THAT CAN BE USED TO COMPARE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE NO MATTER FROM NEW ZEALAND TO GUANA TO SOUTH AFRICA, EVERY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES USES LIFE EXPECTANCY TO GAUGE THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE.

SO IF WE CAN DO THAT AROUND THE WORLD, OBVIOUSLY WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT IN CHICAGO AND WE HAVE NOW BEEN ABLE TO GET THE PRECOVID DATA FOR LIFE EXPECTANCY AS YOU STATED EARLIER.

>> AND YAA IN THE REPORT YOUR TEAM SAYS THE INFORMATION IS RELEVANT NOW YOU WRITE QUOTE UNDERFUNDED COMMUNITY HOSPITALS AND CLINICS, LOWER WAGE JOBS, UNSTABLE OR CROWDED HOUSING, LIMITED GROCERY STORE ACCESS AND LACK OF TECHNOLOGY FOR STUDENTS ARE CAUSING BLACKS AND BLACK COMMUNITIES TO BE ADVERSELY IMPACTED BY THIS DEADLY VIRUS.

BLAIR, THIS REPORT IS BASED ON DATA AS YAA MENTIONED FROM BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

WOULD YOU EXPECT THAT COVID-19 HAS ONLY WIDENED THIS LIFE EXPECTANCY GAP?

>> YES, WE KNOW FROM THE COVID DATA THAT BLACK CHICAGOANS HAVE MORE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY COVID AND COVID MOW AT THAT TIME COMPARED TO -- MORTALITY COMPARED TO NONBLACK CHICAGOANS.

BLACK CHICAGOANS COMPARED TO HAVE MORE THAN OTHER GROUPS.

YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE GAP HAS POTENTIALLY WIDENED AFTER THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19.

>> THE REPORT -- >> BRANDIS I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ONE THING.

NOT ONLY HAS IT WIDENED IN CHICAGO, IT ACTUALLY HAS WIDENED IN FROM THE NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE.

THE GAP FOR BLACKS IN THE NATIONAL FROM THE CDC THEY RELEASED THEIR REPORT OUT FOR 2020 LIFE EXPECTANCY IS OVER 6.5 YEARS THE DIFFERENCE.

NO MATTER IF IF WE'RE NATIONAL OR LOCAL BLACKS THEIR LIFE EXPECTANCY IS WORSE COMPARED TO OTHERS.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED THE REPORT IDENTIFIED FIVE DRIVERS OF THE DISPARITY THEY INCLUDE: CHRONIC DISEASES, HOMICIDE, INFANT MORTALITY, HIV, FLU AND OTHER INFECTIONS AND OPIOID OVERDOSE.

BLAIR, BACK TO YOU.

WHAT DISPARITIES STOOD OUT TO YOU IN YOUR RESEARCH?

>> I THINK REALLY ALL OF THEM.

AND ONE THAT HAS A LARGEST EFFECTS IS CHRONIC DISEASES.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT PLAY INTO POTENTIALLY WHY THE CHRONIC DISEASES ARE HIGHER AMONG BLACK CHICAGOANS AS COMPARED TO THE REST OF CHICAGOANS.

THAT COULD BE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, SAFE COMMUNITIES, RESOURCES, ACCESS TO DOCTORS ALL THOSE THINGS PLAY A WIDE RANGE INTO WHY WE ARE SEEING THE DISPARITIES ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> AND LAST WEEK, THE MAYOR AND CDPH DECLARED RACISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO NAME IT THIS WAY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU CAN'T FIX WHAT YOU CAN'T NAME AND IF YOU DON'T NAME IT YOU CAN'T START TO WORK ON IT.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT NOT JUST NAMING IT AND I'M GRATEFUL THIS MAYOR WAS ABLE TO DO THAT AND WE ARE CALLING IT A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS BECAUSE YOUR HEALTH IS AT RISK.

THIS IS P THE IMPROVEMENT, THE HEALTH EQUITY OF YOUR HEALTH.

AND YOUR LIFE AND LIVING.

WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT CALLING INTO ACTION SO WE CAN GET THOSE RACISM AND ATTACK IT HEAD ON.

AND LET ME BE CLEAR LET'S DEFINE THAT RACISM A LITTLE BIT IT IS THE POWER THAT PEOPLE HAVE UNJUSTLY DISPUTED THE OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO CULTURAL OTHERS AND NOT TO BLACKS JUST BECAUSE OF THE SKIN COLOR.

WE WANT TO DISMANTLE THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS IT THROUGH HEALTH AND HEALTH EQUITY.

SO THIS IS SOME OF THE REASONS THAT WE'RE CALLING RACISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

>> BLAIR WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ADDRESS THE DISPARITIES AND CLOSE THIS GAP?

>> WE SPECIFICALLY LAYOUT CALL TO ACTION IN THE REPORT AND THE REPORT ONE BEING ACKNOWLEDGED RACISM BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND SYSTEMIC RACISM.

ALSO DEMANDING FOR AN INCREASE IN FUNDING SO THAT THESE BLACK COMMUNITIES HAVE HAVE BETTER RESOURCES TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH.

ALSO, JUST ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE ISSUE IN THE DISPARITY AND THAT IS WHAT WE DID HERE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NOT MANY OTHER HEALTH DEPARTMENTS DO, PROVIDE LIFE EXPECTANCY DATA BY RACE.

AND IT'S JUST ABOUT ALL CHICAGOANS COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE A CHANGE.

IT'S NOT JUST BLACK CHICAGOANS IT'S EVERYONE COMING TOGETHER BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO CLOSE THIS GAP.

>> WORK FOR EVERYBODY TO GET IN ON.

BLAIR AIKENS AND YAA SIMPSON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US, YES.

>> JANICE JACKSON WAS A C.P.S.

STUDENT WHO WENT ON TO BECOME A TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL AND STARTING IN 2017 ITS C.E.O.

TODAY WAS HER LAST BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING HER CONTRACT ENDING NEXT WEEK AT A TIME OF CHANGE FOR C.P.S.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

>> YES, BRANDIS.

TODAY MEMBERS OF CHICAGO'S BOARD OF EDUCATION OFFICIALLY FINALIZED JACKSON'S TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT FORMER LEADER OF THE ELGIN SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE ILLINOIS MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY, JOSE TORRES WILL BE TAKING OVER AS INTERIM C.E.O.

BUT FIRST, THE BOARD GAVE JACKSON A RESOUNDING ROBUST SEND OFF.

>> EXEMPLARY PERSON, EDUCATOR, PERSON OF INTELLECT, CHARISMA.

>> SHE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB FOR ALL OF THE CHILDREN, ALL OF THE PARENTS FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

>> PRINCIPAL NETWORK CHIEF, ALL THE WAY UP TO THE C.E.O.

OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

YOU NEVER FORGOT WHERE YOU WERE GOING AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CHILD COUNTED IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> BRANDIS, C.P.S.

HAS BEEN WHAT STICKS OUT TO YOU ABOUT JACKSON?

>> A COUPLE THINGS FIRST SHE IS LEAVING WITHOUT THE CLOUD THAT FOLLOWED THE LAST TWO MAYBE THREE C.E.O.S OUT THE DOOR.

HER PREDECESSOR FORREST CLAYPOOL AND BEFORE THAT WE KNOW THAT BARBARA BYRD BENNETT WENT TO FEDERAL PRISON AND MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL WAS OUSTED AFTER HE -- HIS APPOINTMENT WAS LEFT AFTER THAT C.T.U.

TEACHERS' STRIKE AND SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU MENTIONED, THAT SHE WAS A C.P.S.

STUDENT AND A GRADUATE AND WENT ON TO BECOME A TEACHER, PRINCIPAL, NETWORK CHIEF AN ADMINISTRATIVE POSITION AND THE C.E.O.

AND ALSO A C.P.S.

PARENT WHICH IS SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT SEEN OUT OF A LOT OF C.P.S.

C.E.O.S.

SHE KNOWS THE DISTRICT FROM A LOT OF POSITIONS.

>> BRANDIS, AND THAT MIGHT BE WHY SHE SOUNDED EMOTIONAL WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT MOVING ON.

SHE CALLED THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WACKY BUT SHE IS LEAVING C.P.S.

BETTER THAN SHE FOUND IT.

>> THERE'S SO MUCH THAT WE'RE LEAVING BEHIND THAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT.

BUT YOU KNOW, A LITTLE SAD THAT I WON'T BE HERE TO LEAD.

BUT I KNOW WE'RE LEAVING THE DISTRICT IN GOOD HANDS WITH THE NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM AND THE BOARD SUPPORTING THEM AND THE SUPPORT FROM MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

I'M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> YOU KNOW, WACKY IS AT LEAST FUN WAY TO DESCRIBE THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

C.P.S.

STUDENTS HAD THE LAST DAY OF CLASS YESTERDAY.

BECAUSE OF COVID, MOST SPENT THE YEAR LEARNING VIRTUALLY.

THE DISTRICT'S DEMANDS TO RETURN TO INCLASSROOM LEARNING DURING THE PANDEMIC NEARLY LED THE TEACHERS' UNION TO GO ON ANOTHER STRIKE.

NOW, SO FAR 25 PEOPLE HAVE APPLIED TO TAKE ON THE JOB OF C.P.S.

'S NEXT C.E.O.

AND THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THE FINALIST FOR THAT JOB SELECTED BY THE END OF JULY.

C.T.U.

VICE-PRESIDENT STACY DAVIS GATES HAS A COUPLE OF PRIORITIES.

>> SPECIAL EDUCATION HAS TO BE ONE OF THE TOP ISSUES.

WE HAVE BEEN UNDER STATE CONTROL FOR MULTIPLE YEARS.

THAT IS EMBARRASSING AND AGREJ JUST.

I THINK WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PRIORITIZE ANTIRACIST PRACTICES WITHIN THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONSIDERING THAT 90% OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE STUDENTS ARE [INAUDIBLE] >> SHE SAID SHE HOPES FOR A BETTER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN C.P.S.

AND THE UNION GOING FORWARD.

AND THIS AS C.T.U.

IS FIGHTING PINKSLIPS ISSUED TO HUNDREDS MEMBERS.

A SMALL FRACTION OF THE WORKFORCE.

THE DISTRICT DEEND FENDS AS ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTS.

C.P.S.

SAYS AT LEAST THEY CAN BE HIRED BACK INTO OTHER JOBS BECAUSE THE DISTRICT IS LOOKING TO FILL MORE POSITIONS THAN THE NUMBER ELIMINATED.

BUT GATES AND C.T.U.

MEMBERS SAY THE SHIFT IS UNNECESSARY.

LAID OFF SPANISH TEACHER DULCE ARROYO SAYS THAT IT FEELS LIKE RETALIATION.

>> SIN TEARLY FEELS THERE IS -- SINCERELY FEELS LIKE A WAR FROM C.P.S.

AGAINST ITS TEACHERS AND STAFF MEMBERS TO DEMAND SAFE AND CLEAN SCHOOLS.

WHAT C.P.S.

AND THE MAYOR DID FRIDAY TO 443 OF US, IS CRUEL, SHOCKING AND WRONG.

>> ANOTHER TEACHER, XOCHI INFANTE WAS ONE OF SIX EDUCATORS OF COLOR CALLED TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE AND TOLD THAT SHE WAS LAID OFF.

SHE SAYS THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY FINANCIAL SENSE GIVEN THAT C.P.S.

RECEIVED $1.8 BILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN COVID RELIEF MONEY.

>> HOW CAN YOU JUSTIFY BUDGET CONSTRAINTS WHEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS FLUSH WITH MONEY AND OUR STUDENTS ARE GOING TO LOSE.

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?

HOW IS THIS EQUITY?

>> PARENTS TOO EXPLAINING TO BOARD MEMBERS DURING THIS MORNING'S VIRTUAL MEETING INCLUDING A PULASKI MOM UPSET AT THE GIFTED SPANISH SPEAKING PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE COMBINING KINDERGARTENERS AND FIRST GRADERS.

>> THE OFFICE OF ENROLLMENT IS FAILING OUR SPANISH SPEAKING GIFTED KIDS.

TESTING AND ENROLLMENT HAS BEEN DROPPING FOR YEARS.

COVID MADE IT WORSE AND WE KNOW THIS HIT OUR SPANISH SPEAKING FAMILIES HARD AND YET IT'S OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE PAYING THE PRICE.

>> NOW, BEYOND STAFFING C.P.S.

OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING TO PUT IN PLACE OTHER PLANS FOR WHAT SCHOOL WILL LOOK LIKE NEXT YEAR.

TODAY LAYING OUT PLANSES FOR REACHING OUT TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO REENGAGE THEM AFTER VIRTUAL LEARNING SAW HIGH RATES OF ABSENTEEISM.

JACKSON SAYS IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GIVE THE PARENTS A COMMITMENT TO FIVE DAYS A WEEK OF IN-SCHOOL CLASSES NEXT FALL.

>> A PLACE WHERE THERE IS A DEBATE AROUND WHETHER OR NOT SCHOOL SHOULD REOPEN.

WE'VE LEARNED A LOT HOW TO CONDUCT SCHOOL.

DESPITE THE THREAT OF COVID-19 AND SO I THINK WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE A MORE SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATION HOW WE DO THAT WELL.

>> AND IN REGARDS TO THAT C.T.U.

'S STACY DAVIS GATES SAYS THE DISTRICT NEEDS TO BE MINDFUL OF THE SCIENCE BECAUSE THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE DELTA VARIANT AND C.P.S.

YOUNGEST STUDENTS CANNOT GET VACCINATED.

AS FOR OLDER STUDENTS... >> STUDENTS 12-17 ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PFIZER VACCINE.

WE NEED TO MAKE A BETTER CREATE A BENCHMARK AND GOALS IN WHICH WE MEET.

WE NEED TO TAKE EVERY SCHOOL COMMUNITY AVAILABLE FOR THE FAMILIES THAT NEED IT.

>> ALSO COME NEXT YEAR C.P.S.

WILL BE OPERATING UNDER A REVISED CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT AND THIS ELIMINATES REALLY STRIKES CRIMINAL DESCRIPTIONS LIKE ASSAULT AND BATTERY FROM THE CODE.

AND IT ALSO SPELLS OUT THE RARE OCCASIONS WHEN A SCHOOL NEEDS TO CALL THE POLICE.

YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THAT REVISED CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT WAS APPROVED TODAY BY THE BOARD AND A BOARD THAT IS GOING TO BE IN TRANSITION ITSELF GIVEN THE STATE LEGISLATURE'S RECENT PASSAGE OF A MEASURE THAT WILL TAKE AWAY FROM THE MAYOR POWER TO APPOINT BOARD MEMBERS AND INSTEAD HAVE VOTERS ELECT THEM.

BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU AND WE'LL SEE YOU IN A LITTLE BIT WITH HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ FOR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

>> UP NEXT, EXPLORING THE CITY'S COLORFUL HISTORY OF CARTOONING AT THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART.

STAY WITH US.

>> AND THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD INCLUDING OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM AND DETAILS OF TODAY'S FIERY CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

>> BUT FIRST AS WE KNOW CHICAGO IS WELL-KNOWN FOR COMEDY, THE BLUES AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND LESS KNOWN FOR THE CITY'S ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CARTOONING AND GRAPHIC NOVELS AND ARTISTS EARNED A PLACE IN MUSEUMS.

PRODUCER MARC VITALI HAS A PREVIEW OF A SHOW ABOUT CHICAGO COMICS FROM THE 1960s TO NOW AT THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART.

>> THERE ARE SCARY MONSTERS, COUNTER CULTURE CLASSICS, AND PLENTY OF THINGS THAT ARE FAMILY FRIENDLY.

FROM CHESTER GOULD'S DICK TRACY TO ORIGINAL ART BY LINDA BERRY AND NEW WORKS BY CARRIE JAMES MARSHALL.

WALK THROUGH THE GALLERIES AND IT'S CLEAR THAT THE BIG SUMMER SHOW HAS ARRIVED.

>> CHICAGO COMICS 1960s TO NOW MAKES THE CASE THAT CHICAGO HAS LONG BEEN A MAGNET FOR CREATIVE CARTOONING.

>> EVERY COUPLE YEARS AT THE MCA WE WANTED TO DO SHOWS THAT GO OUTSIDE OF THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF CONTEMPORARY ART AND LOOK AT SISTER GENRES AND DISCIPLINES.

WHETHER IT'S FURNITURE, FASHION DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE AND IN THIS CASE IT FELT PRIMETIME TO LOOK AT COMICS IN CHICAGO AND THE MORE YOU DIG YOU REALIZE THIS TOWN HAS BEEN GROUND ZERO SINCE THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY.

>> THERE ARE HISTORICAL REASONS.

IT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE LATE 19TH CENTURY.

WHERE CHICAGO REALLY BECAME THE HUB OF THE MIDWEST FOR LITHOGRAPHY, BILLBOARD PRINTING AND CHILDREN'S BOOK PRINTING AND HAD GREAT NEWSPAPERS THAT FOSTERED AND NURTURED INDIVIDUALISTIC CARTOONING.

>> THERE ARE GRAPHICS FROM UNDERGROUND NEWSPAPERS OF THE 1960s.

POPULAR COMICS FROM THE 1970s.

AND THE SHOW HAS A STRONG EMPHASIS ON THE MANY AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTISTS WHO HAVE CALLED CHICAGO HOME.

>> I SELECTED THE ARTISTS BASED ON WHO HAD A REALLY UNIQUE VOICE IN THE MEDIUM BOTH WRITING AND DRAWING.

AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SHOMARI LEGGHETTE CASED THE DIVERSITY OF VOICES IN TERMS OF WHERE THEY WERE COMING FROM AND WHAT THEY WERE SAYING AND HOW THEY WERE SAYING IT.

THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF NEW WORK MADE FOR THE SHOW.

MODELS AND INSTALLATIONS BRING SOME TO THREE DIMENSIONAL LIFE.

ANOTHER REASON CHICAGO HAS BEEN A HAVEN IT'S MORE AFFORDABLE THAN LA OR NEW YORK.

>> ARTISTS COULD MAKE WORK THAT IS EXPERIMENTAL AND BE ABLE TO LIVE A DECENT LIFE.

>> AS COMICS BECAME MORE POPULAR, THE CARTOONISTS WERE ABLE TO STAY AND TEACH.

NOW THERE'S A LOT OF CARTOONISTS IN THIS SHOW TEACH AND MAKE COMICS WHICH IS REALLY THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE MEDIUM THAT THAT'S HAPPENED AT A UNIVERSITY LEVEL, I SHOULD SAY.

THAT HAS MADE THE CITY A REAL HUB.

>> REAL COMICS KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN INDIANA CUE BAITER FOR THIS WORK AND THIS IS THE PLACE TO COME TO STUDY AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAS BEEN UNAWARE.

YOU WILL FIND LIKE SOMEONE DANIELLE WROTE MATERIAL HERE LIVING IN CHICAGO AND I FEEL THIS IS A EXHIBITIONS THAT CHICAGOANS CAN BE PROUD OF.

WE KNOW ABOUT CHICAGO'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO JAZZ AND TO SPORTS AND TO THE VISUAL ARTS.

BUT THIS IS A WHOLE OTHER HISTORY OF THE CREATIVE ARTS IN CHICAGO THAT NEEDS TO BE RECKONED WITH.

FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS MARC VITALI.

>> AND THE EXHIBITION IS CALLED CHICAGO COMICS 1960s TO NOW AND JUST OPENED AT THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART.

A SISTER EXHIBIT LOOKS AT THE EARLIER HISTORY OF COMICS IN THE CITY.

YOU CAN FIND MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AFTER LAST YEAR'S SPIKE IN OVERDOSES WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATE OF THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC IN COOK COUNTY?

>> ALL I KNOW IS THAT DEMOCRACY WAS TRAMPLED ON TODAY THAT IS ALL I KNOW.

>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED AT CITY COUNCIL AND WHY SO MANY ARE SO ANGRY.

>> ELMO CAN COME TO MY HOUSE?

>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY FINE YOU CAN COME TO MY HOUSE ANYTIME YOU WANT.

>> WE'RE VISITING PHIL PONCE ADORABLE CONVERSATION WITH THAT RED MONSTER ELMO.

>> FIRST MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

>> THE CITY IS STARTING TO PHASE OUT SOME OF THE MASS VACCINATION SITES.

THE SITE AT THE UNITED CENTER WILL CLOSE AFTER TOMORROW AND WILL BE REPLACED BY A SITE OPEN AT MALCOM X COLLEGE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS THE CITY WILL FOCUS TO HYPER LOCAL AND POP-UP SITES.

THIS SITE AT CHICAGO'S STATE UNIVERSITY IS STILL OPEN FOR WALK IN APPOINTMENTS UNTIL JULY 3.

>> A CHICAGO PASTOR SAYS HE WILL BE WALKING TO WASHINGTON D.C. TO GET THE PRESIDENT'S ATTENTION ON GUN VIOLENCE.

SOUTH SIDE PASTOR ANTHONY WILLIAMS SAYS THE MARCH IS TO GET THE PRESIDENT TO ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER DECLARING VIOLENCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

WILLIAMS LOST HIS SON TO GUN VIOLENCE AND SUCCESSFULLY HELPED LOBBY GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER TO SIGN A SIMILAR EXECUTIVE ORDER IN ILLINOIS.

>> Mr. PRESIDENT, WE WANT TO LIVE HEALTHY AND WE WANT TO LIVE WITHOUT FEAR.

NO AMERICAN CITIZEN SHOULD WALK DOWN AN AMERICAN STREET AND FEAR OF LOSING THEIR LIFE.

>> AND THE LEGENDARY VOICE OF THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS IS ABOUT SET TO CALL IT A CAREER.

THE TEAM ANNOUNCED HALL OF FAME PLAY BY PLAY MAN PAT FOLEY WILL RETIRE FOLLOWING 2021-2022 AND THAT WILL BE HIS 39TH YEAR IN THE BOOTH.

HE GREW UP IN CHICAGO AND CALLED THE JOB A DREAM COME TRUE.

THE BLACKHAWKS ARE SEARCHING FOR A NEW BROADCASTER WHO WILL SHARE SOME OF THE DUTIES WITH FOLEY NEXT YEAR.

>> AND NOW, BACK TO BRANDIS AND A LOOK AT A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> COOK COUNTY SAW A MORE THAN 40% INCREASE IN OPIOID RELATED OVERDOSES LAST YEAR.

WHILE THE SPIKE STARTED IN DECEMBER 2019, THE PANDEMIC ACCELERATED THE TREND NOW THAT CORONAVIRUS CASES ARE SUBSIDING EXPERTS ARE FIGURING OUT HOW THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE CHERYL HULL THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE CHICAGO RECOVERY ALLIANCE AND Dr. KIRAN JOSHI SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER AND COLEAD AT THE COOK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> Dr. JOSHI WHY DO YOU THINK THERE WAS SUCH A BIG INCREASE LAST YEAR.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

WE CAN'T CONCLUSIVELY SAY THIS UPWARD TREND IS DUE TO COVID-19.

AS WE ALSO SAW A SHARP INCREASE IN CASES BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2019 BEFORE ANY OF THE LOCKDOWNS HAD BEGUN.

WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT PEOPLE THAT USE OPIOIDS HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

NATIONAL DATA SHOW PEOPLE WITH OPIOID USE DISORDER WERE MORE THAN 10 TIMES AS LIKELY TO DIE FROM COVID-19.

AND COVID-19 PATIENTS WITH A HISTORY OF ANY TYPE OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER HAVE HIGHER RATES OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATH.

>> AND CHERYL WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU BEING ON THE GROUND AND TALKING WITH PEOPLE DEALING WITH THIS LAST YEAR?

>> WOW.

LIKE I THINK I SHARE WITH YOU EARLIER ME BEING THE OLDEST PERSON AT WORK, I WAS OFF WORK FOR MAYBE THREE MONTHS TWO OR THREE MONTHS.

BUT WHEN I CAME BACK, YOU COULD SEE THERE WAS A LOT OF FEAR IN PEOPLE ABOUT COVID.

STRESS.

PEOPLE WERE SCARED.

IT WAS NOT GOOD, I CAN SAY THAT.

IT WASN'T GOOD IT WAS A FEARFUL TIME.

NOT ONLY FOR US, BUT THE PARTICIPANTS BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM ARE HOMELESS AND YOU KNOW THEY USE DRUGS.

SO BUT WHAT I DID NOTICE THEY WERE REALLY WILLING TO TAKE AS MUCH PRECAUTION AS POSSIBLE AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS GREAT.

>> AND Dr. JOSHI FROM 2019-2020 THE PROPORTION OF TOTAL OVERDOSE DEATHS FOR NON-HISPANIC, BLACK AND HISPANIC LATIN CREASED WHILE THE NUMBER OF WHITE INDIVIDUALS DECREASED.

>> THIS IS A STATE-WIDE TREND AND A NATIONAL TREND AS WELL.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE LOOKING INTO.

WHAT WE DO KNOW AT THIS POINT IS THAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN PATIENTS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE GREATER DIFFICULTY RECEIVING ASSESSMENTS FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND FOR ACCESSING CLINICAL SERVICES SUCH AS MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT WHICH IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED PROVEN TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.

>> AND TREATMENT.

HOW DOES ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE PLAY INTO THOSE NUMBERS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IN MANY WAYS, THE GENERAL TRENDS THAT -- THE GENERAL PATTERNS WE SEE OF ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE WHICH ARE LOWER IN THE SUBURBS AND SPECIFICALLY IN THE SOUTH SUBURBS OF COOK COUNTY, MIRROR AND ARE DRIVING WE BELIEVE SOME OF THE TRENDS IN SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER DEATHS THAT WE'RE SEEING.

AND WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS YEAR'S OVERDOSE NUMBERS?

>> SO THIS YEAR'S DATA IS PROVISIONAL SO I WOULD NOT WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT YET.

WE ARE CONCERNED, THOUGH, GIVEN THE INCREASES THAT WE SAW LAST YEAR.

AND PARTICULARLY THE INCREASE IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> AND CHERYL, IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, ARE YOU SEEING MORE PEOPLE COMING TO THE CHICAGO RECOVERY ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATION AND FOR NARCAN, THE OVERDOSE REVERSER THIS YEAR?

>> YES.

IT HAS REALLY INCREASED THIS YEAR.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT AT THE STAFF MEETING ON MONDAY.

THAT PEOPLE ARE HOW WILLING PEOPLE ARE TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT NARCAN.

THEY COME THEY NEED IT.

THEY WANT IT YOU KNOW.

AND I THINK I SHARED EARLIER ABOUT BEING HONEST SOME PEOPLE ARE SCARED TO USE THE INJECTABLE.

THEY ARE AND I NOTICED THAT YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I WOULD ASK PARTICIPANTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO NARCAN AND THEY WOULD ALWAYS SAY THAT IS THE ONE WITH THE NEEDLE?

AND YEAH, AND THEY WOULD BE TOO SCARED TO TAKE IT.

SO THEREFORE IF YOU WITH SOMEBODY AND YOU OVERDOSE THAT MEANS THAT PERSON WILL DIE AS A POSSIBILITY.

AND SO I WAS SO GLAD THAT WE RECEIVED A PALLET, I THINK WE RECEIVED A PALLET A COUPLE WEEKS AGO OF THE NASAL NARCAN.

>> AND CHERYL, I KNOW THAT FENTANYL HAS PLAYED A ROLE IN OPIOID OVERDOSES.

EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS AND HOW BIG OF A FACTOR IT'S BEEN IN THE INCREASE YOU'VE SEEN.

>> I'M SORRY MY PHONE IS -- >> I WAS ASKING ABOUT FENTANYL AND HOW BIG OF A FACTOR IT IS IN OPIOID OVERDOSES?

>> 99% OF THE REASON THAT PEOPLE OVERDOSE.

IT'S BECAUSE FENTANYL IS ON NOT ONLY HEROIN, NOW IT'S ON CRACK.

I'VE EVEN HEARD THAT PEOPLE ARE PUTTING FENTANYL ON MARIJUANA.

THIS IS WHAT WE ARE GETTING FROM THE PARTICIPANTS.

SO FENTANYL IS THE MAJOR CULPRIT HERE.

>> Dr. JOSHI WHAT IS YOUR REACTION AS A PROFESSIONAL WHEN YOU HEAR THAT FENTANYL IS A MAJOR PROBLEM?

>> I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT THE OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC IS DRIVEN BY FENTANYL.

FENTANYL INVOLVED DEATHS ACCOUNTED FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS IN COOK COUNTY IN 2020.

AT ABOUT 83%.

AND THIS IS TRUE IN BOTH THE SUBURBS AS WELL AS THE CITY.

>> AND NOW THAT WE'RE COVID CASES ARE DECREASING AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING OUT AND ABOUT MORE HOW DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT MIGHT CHANGE THE NUMBER OF OVERDOSES YOU'VE BEEN SEEING?

>> I'M HOPEFUL IT WILL MEAN THAT PEOPLE ARE MORE COMFORTABLE GOING OUT THERE TO POTENTIALLY THE CHICAGO RECOVERY ALLIANCE.

GETTING SOME NALOXONE GETTING A FENTANYL TEST STRIP AND CONNECTED TO SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT PROVIDER.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS ARE ONE OF THE MOST IF NOT ONE OF THE MOST IF NOT THE MOST HIGHLY STIGMATIZED GROUPS IN OUR COUNTRY AND WE IN HEALTHCARE INCREASINGLY VIEWING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AS A CHRONIC DISEASE.

PEOPLE SHOULD BE TREATED WITH THE SAME EMPATHY AS PEOPLE WITH HEART DISEASE.

>> I SEE CHERYL IN AGREEMENT THERE.

THE WAY SHE LOOKS.

>> GOODNESS.

GOODNESS.

>> THANK YOU TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

BEST OF LUCK IN THE WORK YOU DO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WITH WHAT WENT DOWN IN TODAY'S HEATED CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER...

THE FIREWORKS WERE IN FULL DISPLAY DURING TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM IS HERE TO EXAMINE WHETHER THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT COUNCIL WARS.

WELCOME BACK TO AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

THE LAKE SHORE DRIVE RENAMING WAS PUT OFF AFTER CITY COUNCIL ERUPTED OVER PARLIAMENTARY MANEUVERING WHICH CUT SHORT THE REGULAR MEETING.

>> MOTION TO YOUR APPEAL IS DENIED.

>> STANDING UP AND YELLING WITHOUT SEEKING RECOGNITION IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS APPROPRIATE.

I HAVE RULED YOU APPEALED THE RULING AND I HAVE CONSIDERED YOUR APPEAL AND I'VE DENIED IT.

WE ARE GOING TO -- WE'RE GOING TO ALDERMAN HARRIS.

[ALL TALKING AT ONCE] >> HEATHER, IS THIS THE NEXT INCARNATION OF COUNCIL WARS?

>> WELL, I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S EXACTLY COUNCIL WARS.

BUT IT IS REMINISCENT OF THAT.

WHAT WE SAW TODAY WAS JUST A TOTAL BREAKDOWN IN RELATIONS BETWEEN THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR.

AND IT HAS BEEN A LONGTIME COMING.

THERE HAVE BEEN FLASHPOINTS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND ALL BOILED OVER TODAY BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS FEELING SO MUCH PRESSURE ABOUT HOW THIS OUTCOME WILL COME ON THIS VOTE TO RENAME LAKE SHORE DRIVE.

THAT HAS RILED EVERYBODY UP AND THOUGH WHAT HAPPENED TODAY WAS NOT DIRECTLY ABOUT IT THAT WAS THE BACKDROP TO IT.

>> AND EARLIER, WE SAW THE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN ALDERPERSON JEANETTE TAYLOR AND THE MAYOR.

TAYLOR SAYING THE MAYOR TREATING HER LIKE A CHILD.

IS THERE BAD BLOOD THERE?

>> YES.

THE TWO WERE AT ODDS FOR A LONGTIME OVER PROTECTIONS FOR LONG TIME RESIDENTS OF WOODLAWN FEARFUL THAT THE START OF CONSTRUCTION ON THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER WILL MEAN THAT THEY ARE SOON TO BE FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES AS THE AREA GENTRIFIES AND MORE PEOPLE MOVE IN BECAUSE THEY WANT TO LIVE BY THE PRESIDENTIAL CENTER.

THEY WERE ABLE TO REACH A COMPROMISE ON THAT MATTER.

BUT IT'S BEEN TENSE BETWEEN THEM.

JEANETTE TAYLOR WAS ELECTED WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY TEACHERS' UNION AND A HUNGER STRIKER TO REOPEN DYETT HIGH SCHOOL AND WE KNOW THAT THE MAYOR AND THE TEACHERS' UNION ARE OFTEN AT ODDS AS WELL.

>> HEATHER, WHO WOULD YOU SAY WON THIS SKIRMISH?

OR IS THIS GOING TO WORK AGAINST HER ON FRIDAY?

>> IT'S HARD TO TELL BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A COUNCIL PETING AND WE STARTED TODAY AND WE'LL FINISH IT FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

IT'S CLEAR THE MAYOR DOES NOT HAVE THAT CONTROL OF THE CITY COUNCIL THAT WE HAVE SEEN UNDER DALEY AND RAHM EMANUEL AND THERE IS A LOT OF BAD FEELING AND BAD BLOOD AND THERE ARE VERY BIG ISSUES COMING UP FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.

THE 2022 BUDGET AND HOW TO SPEND THE FEDERAL RELIEF PACKAGE IT'S GOING TO MAKE EVERYTHING HARDER BECAUSE THERE'S JUST THIS LEVEL OF ACRIMONY AND ANIMOSITY AND A LACK OF TRUST THAT PEOPLE ARE OPERATING IN GOOD FAITH.

>> ALSO ON THE DOCKET WERE A PACKAGED LIQUOR SALES CURFEW, A SINGLE-USE FOOD WARE BAN AND PROTECTIONS FOR HOTEL WORKERS.

HERE IS THE STATEMENT BY THE MAYOR SAYING QUOTE... >> PARIS, DO THESE DELAYS MEAN ANYTHING POLITICALLY?

DO MOST CHICAGOANS INANOTHER THE INFIGHTING?

>> THE MAYOR HAS HAD A CONTENTIOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY FROM THE MOMENT SHE HAS SWORN IN.

AND YOU HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE OPPOSED TO HER AND OTHERS LIKE RAY LOPEZ THERE, BECAUSE OF PERSONAL TIFS AND PERSONAL STYLE.

WE'VE ASKED THIS QUESTION IS THIS COUNCIL BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WERE MOMENTS WHERE THE WHEELS WERE COMING OFF AND WE'RE ASKING NOW.

DESPITE THIS SHE HAD ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS HER BIG INITIATIVES LIKE BUDGETS.

FRIDAY WILL GO A LONG WAY TO DECIDING WHETHER THIS IS THE START OF COUNCIL WARS.

IF SHE DOES GO THROUGH AND VETO THE LAKE SHORE DRIVE RENAMING, THEN WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT CITY COUNCIL HAS THE VOTES TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY TO OVERRIDE THAT VETO.

IF THEY DO HAVE THE VOTES IT DOESN'T APPEAR THEY HAVE THE VOTES BUT IF THEY DO HAVE THOSE VOTES AGAIN THE GLOVES ARE OFF.

IF THERE IS A SUPER MAJORITY IN CITY COUNCIL THAT GOES AGAINST THE MAYOR, THEN THE FUTURE IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR THE REST OF THE MAYOR'S TERM.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE VOTES ARE THERE FOR THAT.

>> THE ONE THICK THEY DID -- THING THEY DID AGREE IS TO CONFIRM NANCE HOLT THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO LEAD THE FIRE COMMISSION.

>> THE BLACK WOMAN LEADING THE CITY'S FIRE DEPARTMENT AND A FIRE DEPARTMENT EVERYBODY LOVES A FIREFIGHTER BUT THIS IS A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS HAD STRUGGLES WHEN IT COMES TO DISCRIMINATION, SEXISM THERE HAVE BEEN LAWSUITS OVER THIS AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NANCE HOLT PROMISED SHE IS GOING TO DO.

SHE DIDN'T EVER SEE ANYBODY THAT LOOKED LIKE HER AS A FIREFIGHTER WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD WHEN SHE REALIZED THIS WAS HER DREAM.

SHE MADE IT HAPPEN AND ALSO SHE REALLY HAS TOLD THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THAT IS FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR HER HIRING A MORE DIVERSE FIELD OF FIREFIGHTERS AS SOON AS SHE TAKES OVER.

>> ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WAS TABLED BY TWO OF THE MAYOR'S MOST VOCAL CRITICS.

ALDERPERSON RAY LOPEZ AND TAYLOR THEY DEFERRED CELIA MEZA UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING TAYLOR SAYING IT WAS OVER THE ADMINISTRATION'S HANDLING OF THE ANJANETTE YOUNG CASE IS THIS REALLY ABOUT ANJANETTE YOUNG OR A PAYBACK?

>> IT'S CERTAINLY IN PART ABOUT THE ANJANETTE YOUNG CASE.

BECAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER BACK IN FEBRUARY, THE MAYOR APOLOGIZED.

THE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT OFFICERS HAD VIOLATED ANJANETTE YOUNG'S HUMAN RIGHTS BY FORCING HER TO STAND NAKED IN HANDCUFFS AND BEGGING FOR HELP BECAUSE THEY WERE IN THE WRONG PLACE.

ANJANETTE YOUNG HAS THEN SUED THE CITY AND THE CITY THUS FAR REFUSED TO SETTLE THAT CASE.

AND THAT I THINK IS WHAT WAS THE FLASHPOINT THAT TOUCHED OFF ALL OF THE WHEELS GOING OFF THE BUS TODAY BECAUSE THERE IS A SENSE AMONG THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THE CITY SHOULD MAKE THIS RIGHT FOR MS. YOUNG AND END THIS CHAPTER AND HELP HER START TO HEAL.

THE CITY, OF COURSE, MIGHT FEEL DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE IT COULD BE SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IF NOT A MILLION DOLLARS TO SETTLE THIS CASE WHICH IS A STEEP PRICE TAG.

IT'S WRAPPED UP IN THIS SENSE THAT THERE'S SO MUCH BAD FEELING THERE'S SO MUCH ANIMOSITY.

AND A SENSE THAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT REALLY HASN'T ADDRESSED THE FUNDAMENTAL REASONS WHY SHE WAS ELECTED TO REFORM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BRING SUNSHINE TO CITY HALL, ROOT OUT CORRUPTION AND PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED.

>> I SHOULD ADD THE MAYOR BROUGHT THE POINT UP THAT THESE ALDERMEN DID NOT BRING THIS UP IN THE COMMITTEE HEARING FOR CELIA MEZA TO BE CONFIRMED AS A CORPORATION COUNSEL IT SUGGESTS AN ELEMENT OF THEATRE HERE TODAY.

YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T BROUGHT UP IN THE COMMITTEE HEARING.

>> AND WE POINT OUT THAT CELIA MEZA WOULD BE THE FIRST LATINA WOMAN TO SERVE AS CHICAGO'S CORPORATION COUNSEL AS WE LOOK AT A VIDEO OF HER.

I WANT TO GET TO VIOLENCE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THE SUMMER IS OFF TO ANOTHER VIOLENT START.

MAYOR SAYS VIOLENCE AND SHOOTINGS ARE TRENDING DOWN.

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA SAID ON THE SHOW HERE YESTERDAY IN RESPONSE.

>> THE DATA I'VE SEEN SHOWS THAT VIOLENCE IS ACTUALLY HIGHER THAN IT WAS IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WE ARE EXPERIENCING ONCE IN A LIFETIME SITUATION THE PANDEMIC, OF COURSE, SAW A SPIKE IN VIOLENCE NATIONWIDE.

NATIONWIDE.

AND I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY.

>> THE MAYOR SAYS VIOLENCE IS DOWN BUT THE NUMBERS DO NOT ADD UP.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> THIS WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS THEY PARS THE NUMBERS A CERTAIN WAY.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT ONE WAY, HOMICIDES AND SHOOTINGS ARE DOWN IN THE MONTH OF JUNE.

BUT THIS YEAR TO THIS POINT, HOMICIDES AND SHOOTINGS ARE NOT DOWN THEY ARE HIGHER AND LAST YEAR WAS HIGHER THAN THE YEAR BEFORE.

IT'S THE PARSING THE NUMBERS HERE AND HOW YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT.

BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER.

THE KEY IS THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE HIGH THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM.

AND STAKEHOLDERS NEED TO COME TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS.

>> AND HEATHER, PRESIDENT BIDEN'S ADMINISTRATION HAS A PLAN TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE.

WHAT DO WE KNOW?

>> HE IS GOING TO SEND THAT TRIED AND TRUE TACTIC OF STRIKE FORCES AND TASK FORCES AND GOING TO TARGET THE BIGGEST CITIES WHERE THE INCREASE IN VIOLENCE HAS BEEN, NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES LEFT HAND CHICAGO AND USE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BRING GUN CHARGES AGAINST THOSE FUNNELING GUNS INTO CHICAGO.

THIS IS LONG MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S REQUEST.

SHE FEELS THERE IS NOT MUCH THE CHICAGO POLICE CAN DO TO STOP THE FLOW OF ILLEGAL GUNS.

SHE IS HOPING THAT THIS WILL START TO SORT OF STEM THAT TIDE.

BUT PARIS CAN TELL YOU AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY DO ALMOST ANNUALLY IN THE SUMMER.

WHEN VIOLENCE TENDS TO RISE.

IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER IT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> AND GETTING TO OTHER POLITICS BEFORE WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE.

TOMORROW THE SEC IS MEETING TO DETERMINE THE FATE OF ROBIN KELLY AS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR OF ILLINOIS.

MADIGAN WORE A LOT OF HATS WHAT IS THE ISSUE AND WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> THIS WAS BROUGHT UP WHEN KELLY WAS RUNNING FOR THE POST AND PEOPLE IN THE PARTY SAID SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE THE POST BECAUSE UNDER SEC RULES SHE CANNOT RAISE MONEY FOR STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS AND THAT IS AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

SHE IS SAYING WELL THERE IS A WORK AROUND SHE WILL RECUSE HERSELF OR THERE WILL BE A COMMITTEE THAT WILL RAISE MONEY FOR STATE AND LOCAL OFFICE HOLDER AND THE SEC IS GOING TO HAVE TO RULE ON IT.

>> FITCH RATINGS REVISED THE OUTLOOK ON ILLINOIS' BONDS FROM NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE.

ILLINOIS GOES FROM THE NEGATIVE OUTLOOK TO A POSITIVE OUTLOOK.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS?

>> IT IS SIGNIFICANT GIVEN HOW MANY TIMES ON THIS PROGRAM HAVE WE REPORTED THAT ILLINOIS HAS BEEN DOWNGRADED.

SURE, IT IS A WIN AND WHAT FITCH SAYS IT IS A SIGN OF ILLINOIS' ECONOMIC RESILIENCY PARTICULARLY IN THE WAKE OF A PANDEMIC WHEN THE ECONOMY HAS BEEN ROUGH.

LET'S BE CLEAR THIS IS NOT AN ACTUAL CREDIT UPGRADE.

IT IS JUST A CHANGE IN THE OUTLOOK.

THE FORECAST REALLY.

ILLINOIS STILL HAS WHAT IS TANTAMOUNT TO A FAILING GRADE WITH THE WORST IN THE NATION CREDIT RATING.

YOU HAVE DEMOCRATS CELEBRATING SAYING HEY THIS IS WHAT LEADERSHIP DOES.

BY THE WAY, ILLINOIS SIGNIFICANTLY HELPED OUT ONCE AGAIN BY THE FEDS COMING TO THE RESCUE WITH CORONAVIRUS RELIEF MONEY FOR ILLINOIS AND FOR OTHER STATES.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS HOW ILLINOIS IS GOING TO HANDLE THE CLIFF THAT WILL COME WHEN THAT FEDERAL RELIEF MONEY STOPS IN COMING YEARS.

>> AND HEATHER, THE U.S. SENATE COULDN'T BRING THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT TO A DEBATE.

IS THERE ANY HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE DEBATE FOR VOTING PROTECTIONS AND SECURITY?

>> WELL, HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL BUT THE G.O.P.

IS UNITED IN OPPOSING FEDERAL CHANGES TO VOTING RIGHTS LAWS.

THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE NEGOTIATIONS BEHIND THE SCENE WITH WEST VIRGINIA SENATOR JOE MANCHIN WHO IS OPEN TO SOME CHANGES INCLUDING AN END TO GERRYMANDERING AND VOTER IDENTIFICATION LAWS.

BUT IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT THAT PATH FORWARD IS BECAUSE THAT SAME SENATOR JOE MANCHIN IS UNWILLING TO END THE FILIBUSTER WHICH MEANS THAT ANY LEGISLATION WOULD NEED 60 VOTES TO PASS AND THERE ARE ONLY 50 DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE.

>> ANOTHER ONE TO WATCH AS USUAL.

THANKS AS ALWAYS, AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND AS WE'VE MENTIONED ON THIS PROGRAM, PHIL PONCE IS LEAVING HIS TWICE A WEEK SCHEDULE HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AND MOVING TO SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS.

WE ARE TAKING A LOOK BACK AT OUR FAVORITE PHIL PONCE MOMENTS HERE IS PHIL IN 2007 WITH EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE RED MONSTER.

>> FIRST OF ALL, ELMO, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO WHEN YOU ARE IN CHICAGO?

>> WELL, ELMO HASN'T HAD TIME TO DO ANYTHING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE ELMO'S BEEN RUNNING AROUND AND WORKING.

>> WELL, DO YOU WANT SUGGESTIONS?

WE HAVE GREAT PIZZA.

WE HAVE EXCELLENT LIKE ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICHES.

>> REALLY?

>> MILLENNIUM PARK IS FUN TO GO TO.

YOU CAN GO TO THE TOP OF THE SEARS TOWER.

>> THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY IT IS A NICE DAY FOR IT.

CAN YOU HURRY UP WITH THE INTERVIEW.

>> OK.

I DON'T MEAN TO HOG UP THE TIME.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

>> I LOVE TO SING.

I CAN SING SOMETHING FOR YOU, TOO RIGHT NOW.

ELMO'S WORLD DO YOU?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT WE CAN CHANGE ELMO'S WORLD INTO Mr. FIELD'S WORLD.

[♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] PHIL'S WORLD.

YOU LOVE TO BE ON TV AND YOU SMILE GOOD, TOO.

WELCOME TO PHIL'S WORLD [♪♪♪] >> CAN I USE THAT AS A THEME SHOW FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

>> NO.

>> OK. ALL RIGHT.

>> NO, NO.

TOO MANY YOU HAVE TO PAY TOO MANY PEOPLE.

>> ELMO, YOU ARE VERY YOUNG BUT VERY SMART.

>> REALLY.

>> I THINK YOU ARE VERY SMART.

>> WELL, ELMO TRIES.

>> ELMO IS SUCCEEDED.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO ASK YOU, YOU ALWAYS SEEM TO BE IN A GOOD MOOD.

HOW DO YOU ALWAYS STAY IN A GOOD MOOD?

>> BECAUSE ELMO LOVES LIFE.

ELMO LOVES LIVING.

ELMO HAS GREAT FRIENDS AND HIS MOMMY AND DADDY.

WE HAVE A GREAT TIME.

WHAT IS NOT TO LIKE?

>> EVERY NOW AND THEN EVERYBODY GETS IN A BAD MOOD DO YOU EVER GET IN A BAD MOOD?

>> ELMO GETS SAD AND ANGRY AND STUFF BUT IT DOESN'T LAST VERY LONG.

>> ELMO, YOU STRIKE ME AS MENTALLY HEALTHY.

>> THANK YOU!

[LAUGHTER] >> MENTALLY HEALTHY AND SERIOUS ABOUT MAKING SURE HE IS GETTING PAID HIS RESIDUALS.

>> SAVVY.

>> HE DID NOT GET TO BEING A SUPERSTAR.

>> WE HAVE TO GET ABOUT GETTING ELMO ON THE SHOW AGAIN.

>> THAT IS A TOUGH THING TO DO WITH A PUPPET.

I REMEMBER THAT ONE.

I WAS A PRODUCER THEN.

IT WAS MEMORABLE INTERVIEW.

>> A PUP THEN.

>> AND YOU CAN SEE PHIL'S CONVERSATION WITH ELMO ON OUR WEBSITE.

TOMORROW'S PHIL PONCE WILL INCLUDE RITA MORENO AND JEFF GARLAND AND JUDY COLLINS.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW.

SIGN UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK AND YouTube AND WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. >> HOW RESIDENTS IN WOODRIDGE ARE RECOVERING FROM SUNDAY STORMS AND TORNADOES.

>> AND A CHURCH IN BRONZEVILLE THAT BECAME A LANDMARK FOR BLACK CATHOLICS PREPARES FOR ITS FINAL MASS.

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

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

[♪♪♪]