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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HERE IN OUR NORTHWEST SIDE STUDIO.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ REPORTING LIVE FROM NORTH HALSTED IN THE EAST LAKEVIEW COMMUNITY.

>> ON THE HOE TONIGHT... >> FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR I WILL SIGN INTO LAW ANOTHER BALANCED BUDGET.

>> ONE-ON-ONE WITH GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ABOUT THE BUDGET, REDISTRICTING, THE STATE REOPENING AND MORE.

>> THE GOVERNOR SAID HE IS NOT GOING TO SIGN A BILL THAT DOES NOT DO SIGNIFICANT STEPS ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> THE FUTURE OF THE GOVERNOR'S GREEN ENERGY BILL THAT HAS STALLED IN SPRINGFIELD.

>> PRIDE SNUCK UP ON US AS THE SAME MONTH THAT THE PANDEMIC COMES TO AN END.

>> HOW ONE OF CHICAGO'S LGBTQ NEIGHBORHOODS IS CELEBRATING PRIDE AS THE CITY PREPARES TO FULLY REOPEN.

>> I LIKE SKATEBOARDING.

I THINK YOU SHOULD LEARN TO TRY IT.

>> A NEW SKATEBOARD PROGRAM GIVES YOUNG CHICAGOANS TO LEARN SKILLS AND LIFE LESSONS.

[♪♪♪] AND GEOFFREY BAER ON CHICAGO'S ELUSIVE SEARCH FOR AN OFFICIAL SONG IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

FIRST, WE ARE IN NORTH HALSTED BUT IT USED TO BE CALLED BOYSTOWN.

WE'LL GET INTO THE NAME CHANGE AND WHY IT HAPPENED.

AS YOU MENTIONED, FULL REOPENING HERE IN CHICAGO STARTING NEXT FRIDAY.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF PRIDE MONTH AS WELL.

UNDERSTANDABLY BUSINESSES ARE MORE OPTIMISTIC HERE THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN OVER A YEAR.

WE'LL GET INTO THAT AND MORE IN A BIT FIRST WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, SEE YOU SOON.

>> AND FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES..., MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAYS CHICAGO IS ON TRACK TO REOPEN NEXT WEEK THAT PUTS THE CITY IN LINE WITH THE STATE'S PLAN TO LIFT ALL RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESSES AND GATHERINGS JUNE 11TH A WEEK FROM TOMORROW, FOLKS, AND AHEAD OF THE AANNOUNCED JULY 4TH REOPENING.

>> NOW IS THE TIME TO DO THIS.

THESE NUMBERS ARE LOOKING SO GOOD RIGHT NOW.

WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHAT THE FUTURE WILL HOLD AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT COULD WE HAVE A SURGE IN THE FALL?

COULD WE HAVE A SURGE IN THE WINTER?

IF WE DID IT WILL SHOW UP IN PEOPLE NOT VACCINATED BUT THE WAY THIS IS HEADING I AGREE WITH YOU.

>> MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND ALLISON ARWADY SAY ALL THE METRICS PARTICULARLY HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND ADD IT IS IMPORTANT FOR CHICAGO'S VACCINATION RATE TO CONTINUE INCREASING.

>> MEANWHILE, STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE 600 NEW CASES OF COVID-19.

INCLUDING 24 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

ILLINOIS HAS SEEN A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 1.3 MILLION RECORDED CASES OF CORONAVIRUS AND 22,865 DEATHS.

11.3 MILLION DOSES HAVE BEEN GIVEN OUT ACROSS THE STATE.

>> COUNCILMEMBERS DISCUSS WHETHER TO MAKE E-SCOOTERS PERMANENT IN CHICAGO.

THEY HAD NEW REQUIREMENTS LIKE LOCKING SCOOTERS UP WHEN NOT IN USE SO THEY WOULD NOT BLOCK SIDEWALKS.

ALD PEOPLE AND ADVOCATES DEBATED THE VALUE OF ALLOWING THE SCOOTERS IN THE CITY FOR GOOD AND ESTABLISHING RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR OPERATING THE SCOOTER PARTICULARLY AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE BUY THEIR OWN.

>> THERE NEEDS TO BE RULES.

IF THERE'S NO RULES PEOPLE ARE GOING TO REGULATE THEMSELVES.

WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THAT.

I DO THINK SCOOTERS IS EXCELLENT MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.

IT CAN GET PEOPLE SOMEWHERE IN A SHORT DISTANCE, FAST, CHEAP.

SO I MEAN AND I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS I SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN WE HAD THE PILOTS A LOT OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY RIDING THEM.

>> BUT SOME PUSHED FOR ALLOWING THE WARDS IF THE ALDERPERSON SUPPORTS THEM.

THE MEETING ENDED WITH THE CALLING OF A HEAR ON SAFETY ISSUES.

>> THE BUD BILLIKEN PARADE IS BACK THE EVENT ON THE SOUTH SIDE WAS CANCELED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

ORGANIZERS ARE PLANNING FOR AN AUGUST 14TH PARADE WITH A SHORTENED ROUTE AND FEWER PERFORMERS.

IT WILL END IN A FREE COMMUNITY FESTIVAL IN WASHINGTON PARK.

>> AND TO AMANDA VINICKY FOR A ONE-ON-ONE WITH ILLINOIS' GOVERNOR.

AMANDA?

>> IT'S BEEN A BIG WEEK IN SPRINGFIELD AS THE SPRING LEGISLATIVE MOSTLY WRAPPED UP.

$42 BILLION BUDGET IS HEADED TOWARD GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S DESK.

THERE'S CONTENTION IN THE ASSEMBLY OVER BILLS RANGING FROM REDISTRICTING MAPS TO ELECTED SCHOOL BOARDS.

ILLINOIS SET TO REOPEN JUNE 11TH AS COVID CASES FALL.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND MAYOR IS GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER WE APPRECIATE YOUR BEING WITH US.

SESSION HAS MOSTLY ADJOURNED, WHAT BILL ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT GIVING YOUR SIGNATURE TO?

>> WELL THERE IS A LOT TO WORK WITH.

IT WAS A PRODUCTIVE SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

I WILL SAY THAT ONE OF THE BIG BILLS THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO SIGNING IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE UP OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THAT IS OUR ENERGY LEGISLATION.

FIGHTING AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE, MAKING ILLINOIS A LEADER IN DOING SO, KEEPING OUR NUCLEAR PLANTS OPEN AND KEEPING THE JOBS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING OUR STATE HEALTHY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.

>> BANKING ON AN ENERGY DEAL THAT THUS FAR PROVED ELUSIVE TO GET DONE.

SOMETHING THE ASSEMBLY DID DO IS PUT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT THAT PROTECTS UNION RIGHTS YOU ARE GOING TO TRY TO TRY TO AMENDMENT THE CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW FOR A GRADUATED INCOME TAX?

>> I AM NOT LOOKING TO DO THAT ON NEXT YEAR'S BALLOT.

I THINK WE NEED A MORE FAIR TAX SYSTEM WE MADE IT A LITTLE BIT FAIRER IN THIS BUDGET THIS YEAR BY CUTTING THOSE CORPORATE LOOPHOLES AND CORPORATE WELFARE AND THOSE ARE THE WEALTHIEST COMPANIES IN THE STATE.

THE ONES WHO BENEFITED GREATLY DURING COVID-19 DURING THE PANDEMIC OVER THE LAST YEAR.

AND WE'RE ASKING THEM TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE.

WE DID THAT 656 MILLION DOLLARS OF STRUCTURAL DEFICIT NOW CUT FOR THE STATE.

SO WE ARE IN MUCH BETTER FINANCIAL SHAPE.

>> WHY NOT AN EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR LOWER INCOME ILLINOISIANS?

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ON THAT AS WELL.

WE HAVE A FEDERAL EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT AND I THINK WE CAN DO THE SAME THING AT THE STATE LEVEL.

>> LAST NIGHT WE HAD SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER DAN McCONCHIE AND HE HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT DEMOCRATS' REDISTRICTING EFFORTS.

>> WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING THE GOVERNOR TO FOLLOW THROUGH, MAKE SURE THAT GOVERNOR PRITZKER IS REMINISCENT OF CANDIDATE PRITZKER ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL HE PROMISED TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO SUPPORT AN INDEPENDENT MAP DRAWING PROCESS AND VETO MAPS DRAWN BY POLITICIANS PICKING THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

THIS IS HIS GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO PROVE THAT HE WASN'T LYING TO THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS.

>> I KNOW YOU SAID YOU HAVE NOT REVIEWED THE MAPS, REGARDLESS BY VIR USE HOW THEY WERE DRAWN HOW ARE YOU NOT BACKING AWAY FROM A PROMISE?

>> LET'S START WITH THE FACT THAT WHAT I REALLY WANT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO DRAW THE MAPS.

THAT IS WHAT THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD HAVE DONE, DIDN'T DO.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO HAVE A LEGISLATION PASSED FOR AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION UNCLEAR WHETHER THAT IS CONSTITUTIONAL OR NOT.

THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A WAY TO DO IT AND REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WORKING TOGETHER IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER WAY TO GET A FAIR MAP.

I WILL REMIND YOU THAT THE REPUBLICANS DO NOT WANT TO SEEM TO DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

THEY HAVE ARGUED THAT THEY WANT AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION.

BUT THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

>> WELL, THEY INTRODUCED LEGISLATION.

>> AND FRANKLY THEY WANT TO RUN OUT THE CLOCK.

I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THE LEADER IN THE HOUSE OF THEIR REDISTRICTING EFFORTS THE REPUBLICANS' REDISTRICTS EFFORTS TIM BUTLER SAID THAT HIS DEFINITION OF A FAIR MAP IS ONE IN WHICH REPUBLICANS MORE REPUBLICANS ARE ELECTED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THAT IS NOT THE DEFINITION OF A FAIR MAP.

>> WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION.

THREE CRITERIA, THREE BULLET POINTS OF YOUR CRITERIA.

>> WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE MAPS FOLLOW THE ILLINOIS VOTES RIGHTS ACT, THE U.S. VOTING RIGHTS ACT, THE SUPREME COURT RULINGS ON MAJORITY-MINORITY DISTRICTS THOSE ARE BASIC THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN AND IT'S EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAINTAIN THE DIVERSITY OF OUR STATE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

IT MEANS THAT THERE ARE PLURALITY MINORITY COMMUNITIES IN MANY OF DISTRICTS THAT COULD PUT FORWARD CANDIDATES THAT COULD WIN THOSE DISTRICTS.

AN EXAMPLE OF LAUREN UNDERSTAND WOOD WHO WON IN A DISTRICT THAT IS OVERWHELMINGLY WHITE AND SHE WON THAT DISTRICT AND WON ACROSS PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT COULD HAPPEN ESPECIALLY WHERE THERE IS A PLURALITY OF A MINORITY COMMUNITY.

SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I LOOK AT WHEN I THINK ABOUT FAIRNESS.

>> IN TERMS OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF REPORTING ON THE CHICAGO ON TRACK FOR A BRUTALLY DEADLY YEAR WITH VIOLENCE.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO QUELL VIOLENCE IN THE CITY?

>> SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED OUR FUNDING OF VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION PROGRAMS AND PROVIDING SUM FUNDING FOR SUMMER EMPLOYMENT AND ADDRESSING THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF VIOLENCE ACROSS THE STATE.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

ROCKFORD, CARBONDALE AND PLACES IN THE STATE NEED HELP, TOO.

AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FROM DAY ONE.

YOU ALSO KNOW THAT THE PANDEMIC BROUGHT ON MORE VIOLENCE MORE CRIME ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

MAINLY BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN UNEMPLOYMENT RISE, WE'VE SEEN CHALLENGES FOR MANY COMMUNITIES LEFT OUT AND LEFT BEHIND.

WE NEED TO LIFT THEM UP AND THAT WILL HELP US DEAL WITH VIOLENT CRIME AND OVERALL CRIME PROBLEM IN ILLINOIS.

>> ANOTHER CHALLENGING AND TRAGIC QUESTION, YOU BLASTED YOUR PREDECESSOR FOR VETERANS DEATH AT THE QUINCY STATE RUN VETERAN'S HOME AND AN AUDIT BLASTS YOUR ADMINISTRATION FOR GRAVE ERRORS THAT LED TO MORE COVID DEATHS THAN NECESSARY IN THE HOME IN LASALLE.

WHY SHOULD FAMILIES TRUST THE STATE TO CARE FOR THEIR LOVED ONES AT ILLINOIS VETERANS HOMES?

>> WE HAVE HAD A GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT HAS HAD NO MERCY PARTICULARLY THOSE ELDERLY AND NURSING HOMES AND WE'VE HAD NURSING HOME DEATHS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SECONDLY I WILL POINT OUT THAT THE REPORT THAT YOU'RE REFERENCING IS ONE THAT I ASKED AN INDEPENDENT IG TO DO INSPECTOR GENERAL TO REVIEW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE VETERANS HOME AND GIVE US A REPORT OF ANY OF THE CHALLENGES OR FAILURES THAT OCCURRED THERE.

AND THERE WERE SOME VERY SURPRISING, SHOCKING THINGS THAT OCCURRED THAT WERE IN THAT REPORT.

THAT IS NOT THE FIRST REPORT.

WE GOT THE V.A.

INVOLVED.

THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNITED STATES.

AS WELL AS OUR OWN IDVA, THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN ILLINOIS.

WE'VE BEEN TRANSPARENT FROM DAY ONE.

THIS IS REALLY CHALLENGING WHEN PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE THAT VETERANS HOME RESIDES ARE NOT WEARING MASKS AND THEY HAVE A HIGH RATE OF INFECTION, CASE POSITIVITY, PEST OF TEST POSITIVITY IN THAT AREA, PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK AT THE HOME WERE BRINGING THAT INTO THE HOME.

SO THESE ARE ERRORS THAT WERE MADE GRAVELY.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT -- >> BEYOND -- >> OF THE VETERANS IN THOSE HOMES I TALKED TO THEM THIS IS A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

BUT WE'VE BEEN TRANSPARENT FROM DAY ONE AND THAT IS VASTLY DIFFERENT THAN MY PREDECESSOR WHO TRIED TO HIDE WHAT HAPPENED AT THE QUINCY VETERANS HOME.

>> ANY INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES AT THOSE VETERANS HOMES IN LIEU OF WHAT YOU SAID WAS SURPRISING APPARENTLY CHECKS THAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE?

>> WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.

FIRST THING I POINT OUT WE HAVE A NEW LEADER FOR OUR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

SOMEONE WHO RAN THE HOMES IN OHIO AND DID SO SUCCESSFULLY.

HE HAS DONE A TERRIFIC JOB SINCE HE CAME IN A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

REVIEWING ALL THE PROCEDURES AND TIGHTEN THOSE UP.

AND HIRING IN SENIOR POSITIONS.

I FIRED THE PEOPLE THAT CAUSED SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES.

PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS ACROSS THE BOARD AND WE NEEDED TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS.

A LOT HAS BEEN DONE TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE STAND UP AND PROTECT OUR VETERANS IN OUR STATE.

>> LET'S LOOK TO THE FUTURE NOW.

THERE ARE ALREADY SEVERAL REPUBLICANS LINING UP TO RUN AGAINST YOU IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THUS FAR OF YOUR COMPETITION?

>> WELL, I HAVE NOT DECIDED WHETHER I'M RUNNING THAT IS SOMETHING I'M GOING TO TALK TO MY FAMILY ABOUT AND MAKE A DECISION HOPEFULLY REASONABLY SHORTLY.

I WILL SAY THAT REPUBLICANS WHO ARE THINKING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR MANY OF THEM HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST THE MITIGATIONS, HAVE SUED ON THE SIDE OF DONALD TRUMP AND HIS LIES, THESE ARE FOLKS WHO REALLY SHOULDN'T RUN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THE WORKING FAMILIES OF ILLINOIS.

THEY HAVEN'T OVER THE LAST YEAR AS A RESULT OF THEIR FAILURE TO PUSH MITIGATIONS FORWARD, TO STAND UP FOR THE MITIGATIONS.

A COUPLE OF THEM NOT WEARING MASKS AND TELLING OTHER PEOPLE NOT TO.

I JUST THINK THAT THEY ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO BE GOVERNOR AS A RESULT OF HOW THEY REACTED TO THE PANDEMIC.

>> YOU PUT $35 MILLION IN YOUR CAMPAIGN FUND AND YOU'VE BEEN BUSY DURING THE PANDEMIC BUT PRESUMABLY MORE TIME WITH FAMILY THAN BEFORE.

YOU HAVE NOT TALKED THIS OVER AND MADE A DECISION YET, REALLY?

>> NOT AS A FAMILY.

I THINK YOU PROBABLY KNOW I HAVE NOT HAD A VACATION AND HAVE NOT HAD MUCH TIME OFF.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO ENGAGE MY FAMILY AT THE SAME TIME.

AND SO THAT IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE WILL BE HAVING.

>> WHEN?

>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE THE DECISION THE RIGHT WAY.

I HAVE TWO TEENAGE KIDS.

AND SPENDING TIME WITH THEM IS EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT TO ME AND OF COURSE MY WIFE.

THE IMPACT OF BEING GOVERNOR ON THEM WEIGHS ON ME.

THERE HAVE BEEN UNFAIR ACCUSATIONS AGAINST MY DAUGHTER.

THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE WEIGH-IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING DECISIONS.

>> WHEN DO YOU THINK YOU WILL REACH A DECISION?

>> SHORTLY.

I NEED TO, AGAIN, HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH MY FAMILY AND SO I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE TOO LONG.

>> QUICK QUESTION: YOU SIGNED A MEASURE THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO TAKE THEIR VACCINE CARDS IF THEY HAVE GOTTEN THE COVID SHOT TO GET A FREE SHOT.

IF YOU WERE GOING TO DO THE SAME GO TO A LOCAL WATERING HOLE WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE FOR YOUR FREE SHOT?

>> YOU'RE ASKING ME WHAT I WOULD DRINK OR WHERE I WOULD GO?

>> BOTH.

>> I SAID IN A PRESS CONFERENCE I PROBABLY WOULD CHOOSE A SHOT AND A SHOT.

AND I'M PARTIAL TO TEQUILA.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL IT IS WONDERFUL NEWS TO SEE THE COVID CASES GOING DOWN WE'RE GLAD ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR ALL OF THAT J.B. PRITZKER.

>> THANK YOU AMANDA.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> JUNE IS PRIDE MONTH WHICH IS BEING CELEBRATED ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

BUT NOWHERE IS IT CELEBRATED MORE THAN IN CHICAGO'S NORTH HALSTED NEIGHBORHOOD FORMERLY KNOWN AS BOYSTOWN.

THE TOWN IS KNOWN AS THE CENTER OF LGBTQ LIFE IN CHICAGO AND JUST STARTED TO RECOVER THE CHARACTER THAT MADE IT FAMOUS NOT WITHOUT A HOST OF STRUGGLES THE COMMUNITY FACED OVER THE LAST YEAR AND CIVIL UNREST.

PARIS SCHUTZ SPENT THE DAY THERE AND JOINS US FROM NORTH HALSTED STREET.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> SIGNS OF LIFE ALL AROUND US.

A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AS YOU KNOW THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED CHICAGO WILL FULLY REOPEN NEXT FRIDAY.

THIS COINCIDING WITH PRIDE MONTH AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT MADE CLEAR PRIDE IS NOT EXCLUSIVE TO ANY ONE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT NORTH HALSTED IN LAKEVIEW IS THE HEART BEAT OF CHICAGO'S LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS RELIED OVER THE YEARS ON ITS SMALL LOCAL MERCHANTS NOT JUST THE BARS BUT STORES AND HAIR SALONS AND THOSE BARS AND CLUBS THEY JUST STARTED EXPERIMENTING WITH FULLY REOPENING THIS PAST WEEKEND.

AND NORTH HALSTED CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPORTS THAT EVERY SINGLE BUSINESS ON THIS STRIP HAS SURVIVED THE SHUTDOWN AND THE PANDEMIC OF LAST YEAR.

SAVE FOR ONE THAT MOVED TO ANOTHER LOCATION.

THAT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY FEAT WHEN YOU CONSIDER SOME OF THE BIG CLUBS LIKE SIDETRACKS AND THE PLAYGROUND THEATRE.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OPERATE AT ALL.

BUT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS NO STRANGER TO ADVERSITY AND IT WAS A COMMUNITY APPROACH THAT KEPT ONE ANOTHER AFLOAT.

>> THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PARTNERED WITH THE SSA OUR TAXING BODY TO ASSIST BUSINESSES IN RETROFITTING THEIR PATIOS, HVAC SYSTEMS SO THEY COULD HELP MITIGATE VIRUSES INSIDE AND MAKE WARMING STATIONS OUTSIDE.

HAVING AN OUTDOOR PATIO IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER IS NOT FUN IN CHICAGO.

>> AND ONE OF THE BARS AND CLUBS IS ROSCOE'S.

THEY OPENED THEIR DANCE FLOOR FRIDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A YEAR.

THE CLUB MANAGER SAYS THERE WAS A LOT OF EXCITEMENT BUT TO GET TO THAT DANCE FLOOR AND TO SHAKE YOUR TAIL A LITTLE BIT YOU HAD TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION.

>> EVERYONE AT HAD TO SHOW THEIR CARD, A COPY OF THEIR CARD OR A PICTURE OF THEIR CARD ON THEIR PHONES WHICH ARE POPULAR RIGHT NOW.

>> HOW DID THAT GO OVER?

>> VERY WELL.

PEOPLE ARE EXCITED IT IS A BADGE OF HONOR TO SHOW THAT YOU GOT THE VACCINE AND SHOW OFF THAT YOU ARE BACK OUT AND ENJOYING THE WORLD AGAIN.

>> WE REFERRED TO THE STRIP AS NORTH HALSTED IT USED TO BE CALLED BOYSTOWN THERE WAS A NAME CHANGE AND THE BANNERS SAY NORTH HALSTED AND FROM THE BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE LAKE ALEN WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR BOYSTOWN CAUGHT ON AS A NICKNAME.

BUT THEY DID A SURVEY AND A MAJORITY OF THE BUSINESSES SUPPORTED THE NAME CHANGE.

>> IT WASN'T SO MUCH WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE THOUGHT THE NAME SHOULD BE THE SAME OR CHANGE IT WAS DID THE NAME EVERYONE FEEL WELCOME?

AND THERE WAS A SUBSEGMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY THE TRANS, LESBIAN AND QUEER PORTIONS THAT FELT THERE COULD BE A MORE INCLUSIVE NAME.

WE REVERTING OUR RENAMING TO NORTH HALSTED.

>> AND WE MET ONE OF THE ACTIVISTS WHO LED THE CHARGE FOR THE CHANGE AND DESPITE AT PEER RENS OF INCLUSIVITY THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS STRUGGLED WITH TOLERANCE ISSUES SPECIFICALLY WITH FOLKS OF COLOR AND IN THE TRANSOR NONBINARY COMMUNITY.

>> BUSINESSES MARKET FROM WRIGLEYVILLE TO COME OVER AND SPEND MONEY.

BUT IT INVITES IN PEOPLE THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND MAYBE WHO THEY ARE TALKING TO.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT A TRANSPERSON IS.

AND WHEN THEY WALK DOWN THE STREET AND SEE SIGNS OF BOYSTOWN THEY ARE EXPECTING TO SEE BOYS PARTYING AT THE CORPORATE PRIDE PARADE.

>> AND ONE OF THE ANCHORS IS A PUBLIC RESOURCE FOR LGBTQ FOLKS ACROSS THE CITY.

AND JULIET DE JESUS ALEJANDRE AGREED THAT -- JEWEL JEWEL AGREED JOLIE HOLLIMAN, AGREES WHETHER THE SUBSECTION, THEY SUFFER A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION.

>> REALLY BEING ABLE TO BRING ALL DIFFERENT PARTS OF YOURSELF, BLACK, LESBIAN, BI, PAN, SEXUAL ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF YOURSELF TO A SPACE THAT INTERSECTIONALITY IS REAL.

VERSUS JUST BRINGING ONE PART AND THAT PART BEING ACCEPTED BUT YOU GOT TO HIDE EVERYTHING ELSE.

AS A YOUTH, HAVING SPACE THAT YOU CAN DO THAT IN YOUR AREA VERSUS HAVING TO GO TO ANOTHER SIDE OF THE CITY IS IMPORTANT.

>> STILL LOTS OF SIGNS OF PRIDE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THERE WAS THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THE AIDS GARDEN LOCATED THE FORMER BELMONT ROCKS AREA ALONG THE LAKEFRONT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT WAS THERE SAYING THAT AREA WAS PERSONAL THIS NEIGHBORHOOD PERSONAL TO HER.

AND WE WILL BE BACK WITH THE AREA'S LONG TIME ALDERPERSON, TOM TUNNEY IN JUST A BIT.

>> UP NEXT, A NEW SKATEBOARD PROGRAM THAT GIVES CHICAGO YOUTH THE CHANCE TO SHRED AT LOCAL BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS.

STICK AROUND.

>> THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD INCLUDING A LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF THE GOVERNOR'S GREEN ENERGY BILL.

FIRST, SKATEBOARDING HAS BEEN CONSIDERED A SPORT, ART FORM AND A LIFESTYLE BY PEOPLE DEVOTED TO THE ACTIVITY.

HERE IN CHICAGO, A NEW SKATEBOARD PROGRAM IS HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE BREAK OUT OF THE PANDEMIC BLUES BY LEARNING THE BASICS WHILE PICKING UP VALUABLE LIFE LESSONS ALONG THE WAY.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" EVAN GARCIA RECENTLY SKATED OVER TO THE SOUTH SIDE TO LEARN MORE.

>> GO!

>> THE SECOND WEEK OF A YOUTH SKATEBOARD PROGRAM IN CHICAGO STARTS SLOW WITH PARTICIPANTS SEATED ONBOARDS DURING A RACE.

BY THE END OF THE SESSION, THE YOUNG SKATERS ARE ALREADY LEARNING TRICKS.

>> IT'S REALLY FUN AND I THINK I'M GETTING BETTER AND I'M LEARNING TO DO IT NOW.

THE OTHER SKATEBOARD AND JUMP OVER IT WHILE YOU ARE RIDING AND THEN YOU LAND.

>> THE LESSONS ARE A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF CHICAGO AND THE CHILL ORGANIZATION.

>> OUR MISSION IS TO TEACH KIDS HOW TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES THROUGH BOARD SPORTS.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT IN CHICAGO THERE MAY BE A LOT OF CHALLENGES DIFFERENT ECONOMIC SITUATIONS OR SOCIOECONOMIC THINGS THAT MAY BE CHALLENGING.

BUT HERE AT CHILL OUR GOAL IS TO HELP THEM PUSH THROUGH THAT IF THEY CAN SEE THAT THEY CAN DO THAT ON THE BOARD WHY CAN'T THEY DO THAT IN LIFE?

>> THE SPRING SESSION IS TAKING PLACE AT BRIDGEPORT AT THE LOUIS L. VALENTINE.

>> THEY DO LOOK TO ADULTS FOR INSPIRATION AND SEEING ME BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO ATTEMPT TO GET ON THE BOARD IT WILL HELP THEM GET ON THE BOARD.

IF HE IS DOING IT I WILL DO IT TOO.

>> THE SKATEBOARD PROGRAM STARTED IN EAST GARFIELD PARK AT THE Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB.

CLASSES BEGAN IN THE FALL DURING A SURGE IN COVID-19 CASESSISM IT WAS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR.

COVID-19 HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUTH'S PHYSICAL, MENTAL, SOCIAL HEALTH AND CHILL REALLY HAD GAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH TO BE OUTSIDE, SOCIAL DISTANCED AND LEARN A SKILL AND SOCIALIZE WITH THEIR PEERS.

>> TWO YEARS AGO, I SPOKE WITH INSTRUCT AUTHORIZE KRISTOPHER LONG FOR A STORY ON A CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT SKATEBOARD PROGRAM.

THROUGH THE CHILL FOUNDATION HE IS CONTINUING TO TEACH THE LESSONS HE LEARNED.

>> LEARNING ABOUT MYSELF, PICKING MYSELF UP TO BE PERSISTENT ALL THE THINGS WE PRACTICE IN CHILL AND THE SOFT SKILLS WE DEVELOP THROUGH SKATEBOARDING ARE INHERENT TO OUR PERSONAL SUCCESS AND HOW CAN WE EMPOWER YOUTH TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS TO LEAD TO SUCCESSFUL FUTURE ON AND OFF THE SKATEBOARD.

>> NINE-YEAR-OLD TONI IS PICKING UP ON THE IMPORTANT VALUES.

>> IT HELPS ME A LOT TO BECOME MORE BRAVE BECAUSE AT FIRST I KEPT ON FALLING OFF THE SKATEBOARD AND I WAS SCARED.

ONE OF THE TEACHERS TOLD ME THAT FALLING IS PART OF LEARNING.

I FEEL GOOD NOW.

AND I KNOW HOW TO SKATEBOARD PROPERLY.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M EVAN GARCIA.

>> SKATEBOARD SOMETHING NOT BAD.

THE PROGRAM KICKED OFF IN NOVEMBER WITH A DONATION OF 25 CUSTOM SKATEBOARDS BY ROCKFORD .THE CHILL FOUNDATION PLANS TO BRING SKATEBOARD LESSONS BACK THIS SUMMER.

STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", WE TALK WITH ALDERPERSON TOM TUNNEY OF THE 44TH WARD ABOUT CITY BUSINESS.

>> GOVERNOR PRITZKER'S CLEAN ENERGY BILL COULD TRANSFORM ENERGY PRODUCTION IN ILLINOIS BUT A FIGHT OVER A DOWN STATE COAL PLANT STALLED THE DEAL.

A MAYORAL TIF, INDICTED ALDERMAN AND ROCK HUDSON.

GEOFFREY BAER IS HERE WITH AN OFFICIAL SEARCH FOR A CHICAGO SONG.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES..., EFFORTS TO LANDMARK THE NORTH KENWOOD HOME OF MUDDY WATERS MOVED AHEAD TODAY.

SUPPORTERS MADE THEIR CASE TO THE COMMISSION.

ION DRA COOPER AND THE OWNER OF THE HOME PLANS TO OPEN THE MO-JO MUSEUM AND LANDMARK STATUS IS KEY TO PRESERVING CHICAGO'S BLACK CULTURAL HERITAGE.

>> MUDDY WATERS IS AS WE'VE SAID MANY TIMES HERE IS CONSIDERED THE FATHER OF CHICAGO BLUES.

AND AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD COME TODAY TO THE CITY AND VISIT THAT HOUSE ON A YEARLY BASIS.

>> THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A LANDMARK RECOMMENDATION AND IT STILL NEEDS FINAL APPROVAL AND WILL NEED TO PASS CITY COUNCIL THERE IS A COMMUNITY MEETING SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK.

THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF THE POPULAR NIGHT OUT IN THE PARK SERIES.

THIS YEAR'S SEASON WILL MARK A RETURN TO IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING WITH MORE THAN 450 ARTS AND CULTURE EVENTS ACROSS 77 OF CHICAGO'S COMMUNITY AREAS.

THE EVENTS WILL FEATURE MODIFICATIONS INCLUDING DISTANCED AUDIENCES.

THE THEMES INCLUDE COMMUNITY HEALING THROUGH ART, NATURE AND THE CITY'S QUEER COMMUNITY.

AND NOW WE CHECK BACK IN WITH PARIS WHO SPENT THE DAY REPORTING IN THE NORTH HALSTED NEIGHBORHOOD PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> IN JUST A BIT AGO WE SPOKE WITH THE LONG TIME ALDERMAN ALDERPERSON 44TH WARD'S TOM TUNNEY.

I BEGAN BY ASKING HIM ABOUT THAT AIDS GARDEN THAT BROKE GROUND YESTERDAY AT BELMONT.

>> IT IS HISTORICAL.

IT'S THE MAYOR AND I SAID IT'S SOMEWHAT SACRED GROUND IN THE 70s, 80s, IT WAS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES TO BE OUT IN PUBLIC.

AND ENJOYING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

HISTORICALLY, SINCE THERE WAS NO BEACH IT WASN'T THAT POPULAR OF A PLACE TO GO AND IT WAS NORTH OF THE RIFLE CLUB.

IT WAS AN AREA THAT NO ONE WENT TO.

AND SO I THINK AND IT WAS BEFORE ME, BUT THIS WAS A SAFE SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE OUT AND PROUD.

>> IT'S GOOD TO MEMORIALIZE THAT AND BEING OUT AND PROUD WHEN YOU WERE ELECTED YOU WERE THE LONE WOLF AS OPENLY GAY MAN.

YOU HAVE AN OPENLY LESBIAN MAYOR.

>> I THINK WHAT'S HAPPEN SECOND THANK GOD THAT YOUR SKILL SET, YOUR PART OF A COMMUNITY, YOUR ORIENTATION IS NOT THAT MUCH OF A BIG DEAL.

THAT IS ACTUALLY KIND OF THE BEST PART OF IT.

AND WE HAVE THE FIRST OPENLY GAY LESBIAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE ALDERMAN EVER, I DON'T KNOW IN TERMS OF THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF BIG CITIES SHE MADE HISTORY.

>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

>> MAYOR LIGHTFOOT, OF COURSE.

AND SO IT'S A GREAT MONTH TO BE PROUD AND OUT.

BUT I DON'T WAIT UNTIL JUNE.

WE'RE OUTDOING OUR JOB EVERYDAY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> AND SPEAKING OF BEING -- >> THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

>> WE WERE ON NORTH HALSTED TODAY AND THE NEWS THAT CHICAGO WILL FOLLOW THE STATE AND FULLY REOPENING JUNE 11TH YOU HAVE BARS AND RESTAURANTS THAT HAVE BEEN FULLY OPENED SHOWING PROOF OF VACCINATION WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY?

>> SURVIVAL.

HONESTLY, MOST BUSINESSES CANNOT OPERATE SUCCESSFULLY OR PROFITABLY WITH 50% OF CAPACITY.

IT DOESN'T WORK.

THE HARD COSTS OF OPENING YOUR BUSINESS EVERYDAY MEANS YOU HAVE TO GET CLOSE TO 100%.

SO THERE HAVE BEEN LIFELINES WITH PPP AND CITY GRANTS AND STUFF BUT YOU WILL NOT BE TRULY INDEPENDENT UNTIL YOU GET BACK TO 100%.

AND WE HAVE THE THEATRE DISTRICT.

LAKEVIEW IS FULL OF THEATERS AND HONESTLY THEY HAVE BEEN SHUTDOWN.

>> ARE THEY COMING BACK?

>> WE LOST A FEW.

AND TIME WILL TELL.

IT'S NOT BEEN A GOOD YEAR.

>> LET'S TALK TURKEY.

CONTENTIOUS ISSUE IS THE RENAMING OF LAKE SHORE DRIVE DUSABLE DRIVE.

ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE?

DO YOU STILL HAVE CONCERNS WHETHER PEOPLE -- >> I WILL BE STRAIGHTFORWARD.

I HAVE NOT BEEN A SUPPORTER BECAUSE MY RESIDENTS 90% DO NOT WANT TO SEE A NAME CHANGE.

THEY THINK THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO EDUCATE, TO CELEBRATE DUSABLE.

AND EVEN IF IT WAS BARACK OBAMA OR GEORGE WASHINGTON THEY DON'T WANT TO CHANGE IT.

IT IS ICONIC AS YOU PROBABLY REPORTED ON.

>> IS THE ORDINANCE A FAIT ACCOMPLI?

>> I SAW THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL SHE IS GOING TO HAVE TO WORK HARD.

I THINK DAVID MOORE HAS THE VOTES THAT HE THINKS.

BUT PEOPLE MIGHT TO FIND A COMPROMISE.

THERE ARE SOME MEMBERS THAT WANT TO DO BOTH EVERYTHING THE MAYOR WANTS TO DO AND RENAME >> AND THE MAYOR IS TALKING ABOUT A FESTIVAL AND FINISHING DUSABLE PARK AND THE RIVERFRONT.

>> IT IS NOT ONLY A FESTIVAL IT'S EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE DUSABLE STORY.

I THINK THAT THAT'S GOOD AND I THINK IMPORTANT.

WILL WE BE ABLE TO AS DAVID MOORE WITH LIKE TO DO AND OTHERS TO DO EVERYTHING INCLUDING RENAME IT AND EVERYTHING ON THE RIVERWALK.

I THINK THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A COMPROMISE WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> OUR CHAT WITH 44TH WARD ALDERPERSON TOM TUNNEY AND WE WILL BE BACK WITH A COMMUNITY STAPLE THE HOWARD BROWN HEALTH CENTER NOW BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PHIL PONCE WITH A LOOK AT AN ENERGY BILL CONSIDERED IN ILLINOIS.

PHIL?

>> BRANDIS, THE DEAL ON GOVERNOR PRITZKER'S PUSH TO MAKE ILLINOIS A GREEN POWERED STATE HAS BEEN CLOSE FOR WEEKS.

AMONG THE KEY ELEMENTS ARE A PLAN TO PHASE OUT FOSSIL FUELS, A GOAL TO HAVE 40% OF THE STATE'S ENERGY COME FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES BY 2030.

AND 100% FROM RENEWABLES BY 2050.

THERE IS AN EQUITY COMPONENT AIMED AT INSURING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM OPPORTUNITIES AND JOBS.

BUT THE BILL STALLED IN THE SENATE THIS WEEK.

JOINING US NOW TO DISCUSS THE BILL AND PROSPECTS FOR PASSAGE ARE MARK DENZLER PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE ILLINOIS MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION.

DELMAR GILLUS, HE IS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT ELEVATE ENERGY A NONPROFIT THAT AIMS TO INSURE ALL COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN AND AFFORDABLE HEAT, POWER AND WATER.

JENNIFER WALLING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL.

AND JACK DARIN DIRECTOR OF THE SIERRA CLUB'S ILLINOIS CHAPTER.

WE DID INVISIT REPRESENTATIVES FROM EXELON AND ComEd AND THE STATE'S LARGEST COAL PRODUCER PRAIRIE STATE ENERGY CAMPUS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION BUT THEY DECLINED.

FIRST OF ALL, JACK DARIN, EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM AMANDA VINICKY TALKED TO GOVERNOR PRITZKER AND THE FIRST THING HE MENTIONED WAS HOW IMPORTANT THIS ENERGY BILL WAS TO HIM.

WHY IS THIS ENERGY BILL SUCH A BIG DEAL?

>> WELL, THANKS, PHIL.

WE WANT TO APPLAUD GOVERNOR PRITZKER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP HERE.

HE IS NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDGING THE SCIENCE THAT IS TELLING US THE URGENCY OF DECARBONIZING OUR POWER GRID TO AVERT THE WORST CONSEQUENCENESS OF CLIMATE CHANGE BUT I R HE IS REALIZING THE TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC POTENTIAL FOR OUR ECONOMY BY MOVING BOLDLY INTO THE CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY AND PARTICULARLY FOR COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT MOST BY CENTERING EQUITY NOT ONLY THOSE FOR WHOM WE'RE CREATING THE JOBS BUT THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND WEALTH WE ARE HOPING TO CREATE IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

SO I THINK HE IS SEEING IT AS BOTH AN IMPERATIVE TO ACT ON SCIENCE AND A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR ILLINOIS.

>> JENNIFER WALLING, ACCORDING TO REPORTS, THIS BILL HAS BEEN INCHING CLOSER TO FINALIZATION.

BUT IT JUST HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> I THINK THAT WITH ALL THE LEADERSHIP, ALL OF THE PARTIES INVOLVED THERE IS URGENCY AROUND GETTING THIS ENERGY BILL DONE.

I THINK THAT THE DETAILS JUST NEED TO BE IRONED OUT AND BRING IT TO A VOTE.

ALL OF THE ITEMS ARE THERE TO GET IT DONE AND QUICKLY.

AND WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING IT WITHIN THE MONTH.

>> JACK DARIN MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE PRAIRIE STATE ENERGY CAMPUS THAT PROVIDES ENERGY TO SUBURBS INCLUDING NAPERVILLE, WINNETKA AND GENEVA, SOME SENATE DEMOCRATS BALKED AT VERSIONS THAT WOULD PHASE OUT COAL BY 2035.

HOW DO YOU GET BEYOND THAT OPPOSITION THAT THAT CONTINUED EMBRACE OF WHAT SOME PEOPLE CALL THE STATE'S BIGGEST POLLUTE SENATOR.

>> IT IS THE STATE'S EMITTER OF CARBON THE 7TH LARGER SOURCE OF CARBON IN THE UNITED STATES AND FOR THIS COAL PLANT TO COME IN AND TRULY THE 11TH HOUR AND THREATEN TO BLOCK A DEAL TO DELIVER SO MUCH FOR SO MANY IN TERMS OF JOBS AND ENERGY AND ACCESS TO CLEAN TRANSPORTATION, IS JUST OUTRAGEOUS.

I DON'T THINK IT IS A MAJORITY THAT HAVE THAT VIEW.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY A FEW WERE ABLE TO HOLD THE BILL UP ON MONDAY.

PGH WE HAVE SEEN BROAD SUPPORT FOR DECARBONIZING OUR GRID AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN OVERCOME THE OBJECTIONS OF THIS ONE COMPANY AND SET ILLINOIS ON THE PATH TO THE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE HOPEFULLY IN THE WEEKS TO COME IF LEGISLATORS CAN RETURN TO VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP IN JUNE.

>> MARK DENZLER HOW DO YOU SEE WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF WANTING TO BALANCE THE NEED FOR JOBS, THE INTEREST OF EXISTING COMPANIES AND SO FORTH WHAT IS YOUR TAKE?

>> THANKS, PHIL FOR HAVING ME.

AND THE ENERGY ISSUE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR.

WE CONSUME ONE-THIRD OF ALL ENERGY IN THE UNITED STATES ANY CHANGES IN THE ENERGY MARKETPLACE HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE STATE'S INDUSTRIAL SECTOR THAT EMPLOYS 55,000 MEN AND WOMEN IN JOBS THAT AVERAGE $80,000 A YEAR.

TWO OR THREE OF THE MAGIC WORDS THAT YOU DON'T HEAR A LOT IS WHAT IS THE COST IMPACT?

THE IMPACT ON RELIABILITY OF THE GRID?

AND WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON JOBS IN THE STATE?

AND THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED AS THE GOVERNOR AND LAWMAKERS DEBATE THIS ENERGY POLICY THAT IS GOING TO HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE STATE'S RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.

>> MARK DENZLER, DO YOUR MEMBERS SEE THIS ATTEMPT TO TRANSITION TO GREEN POWERED ENERGY, DO THEY SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY?

DO THEY SEE IT AS A THREAT?

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT?

>> I THINK, PHIL, A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

MANUFACTURERS HAVE BEEN LEADERS IN REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION FOR DECADES.

THEY ARE THE LARGEST USERS OF ENERGY AND OVER THE LAST DECADE WE'VE SEEN MANUFACTURERS REDUCE THEIR EMISSIONS BY NEARLY 20% WHILE AT THE SAME TIME INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY BY LIKE AMOUNT.

AND OUTSIDE OF PERSONNEL COSTS ENERGY THE MOST EXPENSIVE LINE ITEM FOR ANY MANUFACTURER.

FOR DECADES MANUFACTURERS HAVE BEEN TAKING STEPS TO REDUCE THEIR ENERGY USAGE AND AS I LIKE TO SAY, PHIL, MANUFACTURERS NOT ONLY USE THE TECHNOLOGY WE BUILD IT AND CREATE IT.

AND THERE'S AMAZING AND INNOVATIVE COMPANIES AND PRODUCTS THAT YOU SEE AROUND THE STATE.

THERE ARE DEFINITELY OPPORTUNITIES AND ALSO CONCERN THAT IF WE LOSE BASE LOAD CAPACITY WHAT IS THAT GOING TO DO TO THE COST AND RELIABILITY OF ILLINOIS' ENERGY SECTOR.

>> DELMAR GILLUS GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER IS SAID TO BE BEHIND A PUSH FOR EQUITY IN HOW THIS ENERGY BILL WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED ASSUMING IT'S PASSED.

WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES YOU HAVE?

>> YES.

AND THANK YOU, PHIL.

WE ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON EQUITY THROUGH THE CLIMATE ACTION AND WHAT WE TRY TO DO WITH THE BILL IS BAKE EQUITY IN.

AND WE LOOKED AT IT FROM THREE MAIN AREAS: THE FIRST IS ACCESS TO PROGRAMS LIKE OUR ILLINOIS SOLAR FOR ALL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO SOLAR FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

THE SECOND IS THROUGH JOB CREATION.

AND WE'RE DOING THAT THROUGH THE CREATION OF WORKFORCE AND JOB PLACEMENT HUBS ACROSS THE STATE.

AND LASTLY WE'RE DOING IT THROUGH COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING LOOKING TO BUILD A GREEN BANK AND SUPPORT DIVERSE CONTRACTORS IN GETTING ACCESS TO INCENTIVES SO WE'LL SEE COMMUNITY SOLAR IN EVERY COMMUNITY ACROSS THE STATE.

>> DELMAR GILLUS, SO MANY GOALS ABOUT INCLUSION.

SEEM TO BE ASPIRATIONAL AND SUGGESTIONS.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS BILL WOULD BE ENFORCEABLE IN TERMS OF MEETING THE GOALS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT?

>> WELL, WE'VE DONE A COUPLE OF THINGS IN THE BILL THAT I THINK WILL CHANGE THAT DYNAMIC THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

THE FIRST IS WE ARE REALLY LOOKING TO HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE IF YOU WANT TO ACCESS STATE INCENTIVES YOU HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN DIVERSITY TARGET.

YOU HAVE TO BE THIS TALL TO RIDE THIS RIDE.

THE SECOND THING THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WE'RE GOING TO BE COLLECTING AND TRACKING DATA AROUND DEMOGRAPHICS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING OUR GOALS AND TARGETS FOR THE PROGRAMS.

AND THROUGH THOSE TWO PRIMARY MEASURES, WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY-BASED DIVERSITY THAT WE WANT TO SEE THROUGHOUT THE BILL AND ACROSS THE STATE.

>> JENNIFER WALLING THERE ARE REPORTS THAT GOVERNOR PRITZKER REACHED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH EXELON FOR INCREASED TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES TO PREVENT THE CLOSURE OF THREE NUCLEAR PLANTS.

IS THAT A GOOD IDEA?

>> WELL, I THINK IN TALKING ABOUT EXELON IN THIS PORTION OF THE BILL, IT HAS SO MANY BENEFITS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY REACHING 100% TURNING OFF THE COAL PLANTS WITH RECEIVING $1.1 BILLION SUBSIDIES FROM THE CAPACITY MARKET AND OTHER THINGS THAT DISCUSSION IS A TINY PART OF IT.

TO GET AN ENERGY BILL TO COMPLETION.

>> AND JACK DARIN, EXPECTATIONS FOR PASSAGE IN THE GOVERNOR SEEMS TO BE CONFIDENT AS HE TALKED TO AMANDA VINICKY THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

HOW ARE YOU READING THE TEA LEAVES?

>> WE'RE OPTIMISTIC IF LEGISLATORS CAN GET BACK TO SPRINGFIELD IN JUNE WE ARE CONFIDENT THIS CAN GET DONE.

THERE ARE SO MANY BENEFITS.

THE GOVERNOR'S BILL IS LIKE THE CLEAN ENERGY JOBS ACT WHICH HAS CLOSE TO THE MAJORITY OF THE ASSEMBLY SUPPORTERS.

THERE'S SUPPORT IF WE LISTEN TO COMMUNITIES AND DO NOT LET UP ON THE STATE'S BIGGEST POLLUTER WE CAN GET THIS DONE.

>> MARK DENZLER HOW DO YOU SEE THE ODDS OF THIS BILL COMING TO PASS?

>> I THINK IT WILL BE A TIGHT VOTE AND I THINK THAT LEGISLATORS WILL CONSIDER THE RATE IMPACT IS ONE OF THE THINGS, PHIL.

AND THEY ARE LOOKING AT 12-20 A MONTH FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER AND FOR BUSINESSES, AGAIN, IT MAYBE A 15% INCREASE IN THEIR RATES.

SO AGAIN, I THINK LEGISLATORS HAVE TO TRY TO BALANCE THE COST, THE RELIABILITY AND THE IMPACT ON JOBS HERE.

BUT I THINK WE'LL HAVE AN ANSWER IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS.

>> AND WE SHALL BE WATCHING.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

MARK DENZLER, JENNIFER WALLING, JACK DARIN AND DELMAR GILLUS.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> PHIL, THANK YOU.

NOW WE GO BACK OUT TO PARIS SCHUTZ WHO SPENT THE DAY REPORTING IN LAKEVIEW PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

PARIS?

>> WE'RE HERE WITH KEN GRIFFIN THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE HOWARD BROWN HEALTH CENTER.

HOWARD BROWN OPERATES HERE IN BOYSTOWN IN UPTOWN IT'S CRUCIAL FOR THE LGBTQ POPULATION TALK ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT IS IN GENERAL FOR ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AMONG THE LGBTQ POPULATION?

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE HAVE HERE IN CHICAGO AND AROUND THE COUNTRY IS ACCESS TO CARE FOR THE LGBTQ POPULATION.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, HOWARD BROWN SPECIALIZES IN THAT CARE.

WE ARE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE CENTER THAT SEES PATIENTS UNDER INSURED INNED AND NO INSURANCE AT ALL TO HAVE A PLACE TO COME AND RECEIVE CARE.

>> TALK ABOUT HOW YOU'VE BEEN TREATING THE COMMUNITY IN COVID?

HAS IT BEEN HARD TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED?

HAVE THEY BOUGHT INTO THE VACCINATIONS?

>> FOR US IT'S BEEN A FAIRLY INTERESTING TRIP WITH VACCINATIONS.

WE WERE THE FIRST ONES TO HOST A MASS VACCINATION EVENT HERE IN CHICAGO.

AND ON FEBRUARY 13TH WE VACCINATED 2,000 INDIVIDUALS HOWARD BROWN PATIENTS AND COMMUNITY.

TO DATE WE ARE AT 60,000 PATIENTS VACCINATED.

WE ARE VACCINATING SO WE'VE HAD A GOOD CHANCE AT VACCINATING INDIVIDUALS.

>> DO YOU SEE HESITANCY AMONG COMMUNITIES OR FOLKS THAT YOU HAVE TO DEMYSTIFY THE PROCESS TO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BECAUSE OF THE VACCINATION ROLL OUT AND HOW QUICK PEOPLE THINK IT ROLLED OUT, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS KNOW THAT VACCINES WERE NOT PREPARED OVERNIGHT.

WE DO SEE HESITANCY.

HOWEVER WE DO EDUCATE THE INDIVIDUALS ON WHEN THE VACCINE WAS PREPARED, HOW IT WILL DO GOOD FOR YOU AND WHY YOU SHOULD RECEIVE IT.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, WHAT ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY?

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN THERE SPECIFICALLY IN FOLKS THAT MIGHT IDENTIFY AS NONBINARY OR TRANSGENDER.

>> PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING MORE BECAUSE OF THE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

AT HOWARD BROWN WE PROVIDE PRIMARY CARE TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO DENTAL AND OTHER SERVICES.

IF INDIVIDUALS FEEL THEY NEED TO COME INTO HOWARD BROWN OR 11 HEALTHCARE CENTERS AROUND CHICAGO WE ARE AVAILABLE AND SEEING PATIENTS.

WE HAVE GONE BACK TO PRECOVID HOURS AND WE'RE SEEING MORE PATIENTS NOW THAN WE DID A YEAR AGO.

>> HOWARD BROWN LAUNCHED A STUDY INTO THE IMPACT OF COVID AND THE LGBTQ POPULATION.

WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OUR STUDY IS TRYING TO GET 45,000 LGBTQ MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT COVID HAS DONE TO THESE INDIVIDUALS.

BECAUSE COVID HAS RAVAGED OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR POPULATION WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING THE BEST SERVICE FOR THE LGBTQ POPULATION.

>> NO RESULTS YET?

>> NO RESULTS YET AUTO.

WE'RE EXPECTING TO FIND THE SAME THING WE FIND WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES.

THAT BECAUSE OF CO-MORBIDITIES THE PREEXISTING CONDITIONS AND ELEMENTS WE MAY HAVE AS PART OF A COMMUNITY THAT IT HAS PLAGUED US IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING THE CARE FOR THE INDIVIDUALS.

IF WE HAVE ANOTHER PANDEMIC, WE WILL BE SAFE AND READY TO GO.

>> LEARN LESSONS FROM THIS YEAR.

KEN GRIFFIN.

>> KEN JA GRIFFIN.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE OTHER KEN GRIFFIN.

UP NEXT, AN ALL NEW "ASK GEOFFREY".

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> A CONTEST MEANT TO INSPIRE CIVIC PRIDE GETS KNOCKED OFF COURSE AFTER ACCUSATIONS OF POLITICAL SCHEMING.

THIS IS CHICAGO.

A RESIDENT CROONER GEOFFREY BAER IS HERE WITH MORE ON THE CITY'S ROCKY SEARCH FOR AN OFFICIAL SONG IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

THIS ONE SHOULD BE GOOD I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>> YOU WILL NEVER GET THIS SONG OUT OF YOUR HEAD.

>> GREAT.

WHEN MAYOR JANE BYRNE WAS IN OFFICE, I COMPOSED A SONG FOR AN ANTHEM CONTEST HELD BY THE CITY.

LAST YEAR I CREATED A RECORDING TO GIVE CHICAGOANS A BOOST.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE ORIGINAL CONTEST AND THE SEARCH FOR CHICAGO ANTHEM AND THAT QUESTION COMES TO US FROM EDGEWATER?

>> OK. LET'S LISTEN TO THE SONG WHO DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS A RETIRED ONION PEDESTRIAN DELLER PEDDLER FROM EDGEWATER ♪WHEN TWILIGHT FALLS ON THE PRAIRIE♪ ♪YOU TWINKLE LIKE THE STARS♪ ♪OH, SO HEAVENLY BY YOUR INLAND SEA♪ ♪CHICAGO YOU'RE OUR HOME♪ >> WHAT HARMONY.

I GOT GOOSE BUMPS.

>> BEAUTIFUL.

>> SO THE STORY OF THE ANTHEM CONTEST BEGINS IN 1982 WHEN 36TH WARD ALDERMAN STEPPED UP TO THE PODIUM AT AN OFFICIAL CITY LUNCHEON AND THIS WALK UP MUSIC WHICH WAS NOT CHOSEN BY HIM WAS FRANK SINATRA'S RENDITION OF MY KIND OF TOWN WHICH IS A NIGHTCLUB TONE.

THE EMBARRASSED ALDERMAN DECIDED THE CITY NEEDED SOMETHING MORE DIGNIFIED.

SO HE PUSHED A RESOLUTION THROUGH CITY COUNCIL TO LAUNCH AN OFFICIAL SEARCH WHICH WAS BACKED BY THE MAYOR JANE BYRNE.

SHE ASSEMBLED A SEARCH COMMITTEE OF 20 LOCAL COMPOSERS AND MUSICIANS AND TV PERSONALITIES AND PUT UP $5,000 FROM HER OWN CAMPAIGN FUND AS A PRIZE.

AND THE RULES WERE SIMPLE.

WRITE A SONG THAT EMBODIES THE HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

THE WINNER WAS GOING TO GET TO PERFORM IN FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL AND HAVE THEIR ANTHEM IMMORTALIZED AT CITY LUNCHES AND EVENTS.

>> WHAT RESPONSE DID THE CITY GET?

>> OVERWHELMING.

IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT THE CITY ENDED UP RECEIVING MORE THAN 2,000 SUBMISSIONS RANGING FROM POLKA TO BLUES AND THERE WAS QUITE A RANGE OF QUALITY AS WELL.

FINALLY IN JULY 1983 THE JUDGES NAMED A WINNER.

FREELANCE MUSICIAN FROM HE WASSTON INVEST JACOBS FOR HIS ENTRY CALLED SONG OF CHICAGO ALIVE.

NOW, UNFORTUNATELY WE COULDN'T FIND ANY RECORDINGS OF THAT SONG OR GET IN TOUCH WITH JACOBS.

BUT WE DID FIND SOME LYRICS.

THE SONG ENDS WITH THESE LINES "STAND WITH THE STRENGTH OF THE OLD WATER TOWER THROUGH HARDSHIP AND VICTORY TALL AS THE SKYLINE AND PRIDE AND POWER, CHICAGO IS HOME TO ME♪ >> OF COURSE, SOMETHING TELLS ME THAT IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AS YOU CAN TELL BY THE FACT THAT WE COULDN'T FIND ANY RECORDINGS OF SONG THE STORY DOES NOT HAVE A HAPPY ENDING THIS IS CHICAGO AFTER ALL EVEN A FEEL GOOD SOCK CONTEST BECOMES POLITICAL.

ONE CHALLENGE WAS THE SPONSOR WAS CONVICTED OF EXTORTION IN 1983 AND SPENT 13 MONTHS IN JAIL.

SO MUCH FOR DIGNITY.

A BIGGER PROBLEM WAS THAT MAYOR JANE BYRNE LOST REELECTION THAT SAME YEAR TO HAROLD WASHINGTON WHO BECAME CHICAGO'S FIRST BLACK MAYOR AND ACCORDING TO REPORTS AT THE TIME, WASHINGTON WAS NOT A FAN OF THE WINNING SONG AFTER HEARING IT TWICE, HE REPORTEDLY SAID I AM NOT MOVED.

AND THE SONG WAS DISCARDED.

THE MAYOR'S PRESS SECRETARY TOLD "THE NEW YORK TIMES" THAT WASHINGTON WANTED A SONG TO CAPTURE CHICAGO'S HISTORY AND DIETERSTY WANTING -- DIVERSITY WANTING TO HEAR A SONG WITH JEAN BAPTISTE POINTE DuSABLE.

BUT THE CONTEST NOW JILTED WINNER SPECULATED THE DECISION WAS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

ONE OF THE ANTHEM'S DEFENDERS WAS NONE OTHER THAN ALDERMAN ED BURKE ONE OF THE RINGLEADERS OF THE COUNCIL WARS THAT PITTED 29 MOSTLY WHITE ALDERMEN AGAINST WASHINGTON'S AGENDA.

JACOBS NEVER RECEIVED THE $5,000 PRIZE AND MOST OF THE JUDGES RESIGNED IN PROTEST BUT THE CONTROVERSY DID GET THE SONG PLAYED ON RADIO STATIONS AS FAR AWAY AS CALIFORNIA.

>> THE WHOLE THING THEN SEEMS LIKE A DEBACLE?

>> YES, INDEED.

AND I SHOULD NOTE THIS WASN'T THE LAST SEARCH FOR A CHICAGO ANTHEM.

IN 1985, CHICAGO'S TOURISM BOARD SPONSORED A CONTEST THE WINNER TITLED CALLING ME HOME CHICAGO BY PAUL DAVID WILLSON, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL PLAY ON THE RADIO AS A SINGLE AND IT WAS FEATURED IN A CITY COMMERCIAL STARRING THE ONE AND ONLY ROCK HUDSON.

YOU HAVE GOT TO SEE THIS.

♪CHICAGO AND NO MATTER WHERE I'VE BEEN WHERE I GO, YOU KEEP CALLING ME HOME♪ ♪CALLING ME HOME CHICAGO♪ ♪.

>> NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE FROM IN AMERICA CHICAGO IS YOUR HOMETOWN.

COME HOME.

♪IT'S A FEELING THAT CALLS ME -- I WILL LITTLE ROY.

♪CITY IS CALLING ME HOME♪ >> SO THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER ATTEMPTS TO ESTABLISH A SONG AFTER THAT THAT WENT NOWHERE.

BOTTOM LINE WE ARE HOPING WE FULFILLED OUR QUESTIONER MJ'S HOPE OF GIVING PANDEMIC WARY CHICAGOANS AN UPLIFT WITH HIS SONG.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I WAS UPLIFTED BY THIS SEGMENT.

THANKFULLY CHICAGO HAS A LOT OF SONGS THAT HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> AND YOU CAN HEAR THE SONG IN FULL ON OUR WEBSITE AND FIND MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE SEARCH FOR AN OFFICIAL CHICAGO ANTHEM.

AND SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION TO GEOFFREY BAER.

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

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY US BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" >> NOW, FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

[♪♪♪]