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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRAN HAS THE EVENING OFF.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT A PRO SPORTS FACILITY PLANS ON LAND PROMISED FOR PUBLIC HOUSING.

AND MEET ONE OF THE MUSICIANS SET TO PLAY THE THE CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL, WE START WITH REACTION WHAT TRANSPIRED OVER THE FIRST PRIMETIME TELEVISED HEARING OF THE CONGRESSIONAL SELECT COMMITTEE ON JANUARY 6TH.

THOMPSON AND CHENEY MADE WHAT AAMOUNTED TO PROSECUTORIAL STATEMENTS LAYING OUT THE CASE TO COME ACCUSING PRESIDENT TRUMP AT BEING AT THE CENTER AT A SEVEN PART PLAN TO TRY AND ILLEGALLY OVERTURN THE ELECTION AND SEIZE POWER.

AND FIRSTHAND TESTIMONY FROM CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER CAROLINE EDWARDS AND FILMMAKER.

AND JOINING US FOR REACTION ARE JAMES ROBENALT, PARTNER AND LITIGATION ATTORNEY AT THE LAW FIRST TOMORROW SON HIRE.

HE IS THE AUTHOR OF JANUARY 1973, WATERGATE, ROE VS. WADE AND THE MONTH THAT CHANGED AMERICA FOREVER.

ROBERT PAPE PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND DOMESTIC TERRORISM SPECIALIST.

AND JILL WINE-BANKS WHO SERVED AS A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR DURING WATERGATE AND LATER SERVED AS GENERAL CON SELL OF THE U.S. ARMY.

SHE IS A LEGAL ANALYST AND AUTHOR OF THE WATERGATE GIRL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

ROBERT PAPE WERE YOU ON CAPITOL HILL TESTIFYING ABOUT RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM AND I WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION TO WHAT YOU SAW OVER THE LAST TWO HOURS STARTING WITH THE CASE MADE BY BENNY TOMORROWN AND LIZ CHENEY.

>> THIS WAS INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.

IT WAS POWERFUL IN WAY WE EXPECTED.

THERE WOULD BE TESTIMONY AND FOOTAGE WE HADN'T SEEN BEFORE THAT WOULD SHOW A VIOLENT ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL.

THAT WAS POWERFUL.

BUT MORE IMPORTANT, THIS WAS POWERFUL IN WAYS WE DIDN'T REALLY EXPECT.

LIZ CHENEY LAID OUT CLEARLY THE GOAL OF THIS HEARING AND THE FUTURE HEARINGS WHICH ARE TO PROVE THAT DONALD TRUMP CALLED, ASSEMBLED AND INCITED A VIOLENT REVOLT IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER.

THAT IS SEDITION.

THAT IS AN INSURRECTION, THAT IS EXACTLY PROSECUTABLE IN A CRIMINAL COURT.

THAT IS WHAT THE IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS DID NOT DO AGAINST DONALD TRUMP.

THIS COMMITTEE DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER OF A COURT.

THIS IS TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND THIS IS JOE BIDEN'S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO BRING CHARGES AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP NOT YEARS FROM NOW, BUT PROBABLY BY THE FALL.

>> AND CO-CHAIR MAN CHENEY DID USE THE WORD ILLEGAL AND SAID DONALD TRUMP WAS AT THE CENTER.

LET'S LISTEN.

>> ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY 6TH, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S INTENTION WAS TO REMAIN PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DESPITE THE LAWFUL OUTCOME OF THE 2020 ELECTION AND IN VIOLATION OF HIS CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION TO RELINQUISH WISH POWER.

>> JILL WINE-BANKS THIS IS A ROLE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH.

IT SOUNDED LIKE CHENEY WAS A PROSECUTOR AND OPENED WITH EVIDENCE PROVING THAT DONALD TRUMP KNEW, INDEED, HE LOST THE ELECTION.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE PROSECUTORIAL LIKE STRATEGY?

>> I THINK THAT BOTH CHAIRMAN THOMPSON AND VICE-CHAIR CHENEY DID AMAZING OPENING STATEMENTS.

THEY DID LAYOUT A PLOT TO COMMIT THE END OF DEMOCRACY.

THEY LAID OUT THE THINGS THEY WILL SHOW ABOUT ALL OF THE PARTS OF THAT.

INCLUDING THE FAKE ELECTORS, INCLUDING THE MEMOS AND LEGAL CASES THAT WERE BROUGHT THAT WERE FRAUD LEAPT BUT THEY ALSO LAID OUT AND HAD LIVE TESTIMONY AND I WOULD POINT SPECIFICALLY TO ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR AND TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER IVANKA IN TERMS OF HIS INTENT AND KNOWLEDGE.

AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS A PROSECUTOR.

IS TO BE ABLE TO PROVE THAT HE KNEW THE FACTS AND HE ACTED DESPITE THOSE AND HE TRIED IN EVERY WAY HE COULD WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WOULDN'T DO WHAT HE WANTED HE DID WHAT RICHARD NIXON DID HE WANTED TO FIRE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL EXCEPT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID EVERYONE IS GOING TO QUIT IF YOU DO THAT.

SO HE BACKED OFF OF THAT, RICHARD NIXON DIDN'T.

HE DID FIRE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BECAUSE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WOULDN'T FIRE MY BOSS THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR.

THERE ARE MANY SIMILARITIES TO THEN.

BUT THE DISSIMILARLARITYS ARE REMARKABLE, TOO.

WE HAVE BIPARTISANSHIP.

WE HAD THREE NETWORKS AND THEY HAD THE SAME FACTS.

AND PEOPLE BELIEVED FACTS.

THEY MATTER.

NOW, WE HAVE FOX NEWS, WHICH CAN NO LONGER BE CALLED FOX NEWS, FOX OPINION FOR SURE.

THEY ARE NOT BROADCASTING THIS HEARING.

AND THAT IS A MISTAKE IN EVERY SO MANY WAYS.

>> VERY INTERESTINGLY SOME OF THE EVIDENCE WAS THE FOX PERSONALITY SEAN HANNITY TEXTING KAYLEE BEGGING PEOPLE TO GET TRUMP UNDER CONTROL AND LAND THIS PLANE.

YOU WORKED WITH JOHN DEAN ON THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM WATERGATE.

WOODWARD AND BERNSTEIN WROTE THIS IS WORSE THAN WATERGATE AND TRUMP AND NIXON ARE TWO PRESIDENTS THAT WASHINGTON AND THE FOUNDERS FEARED WHAT APPEARS THEY TRIED TO ILLEGALLY HOLD ON TO POWER.

DO YOU AGREE THIS IS WORSE THAN WATERGATE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THESE WERE TWO AUTHORITARIAN PRESIDENTS WHO WANTED TO TAKE POWER AND BELIEVED IN POWER OVER DEMOCRACY.

CERTAINLY RICHARD NIXON DID EVEN THOUGH HE WAS A LAWYER.

AND TRUMP WHO IS NOT A LAWYER, SAW THIS AS AN AVENUE TO RETAIN POWER FOR POWER SAKE.

SO THIS IS WORSE THAN WATERGATE.

RICHARD NIXON AT LEAST RESIGNED WHEN THE EVIDENCE WAS STACKED AGAINST HIM.

TRUMP JUST DOUBLED DOWN AND CONTINUED TO SAY THE GREAT LIE AND TO THIS DAY HE CONTINUES TO PEDDLE THAT LIE SO IT IS VERY MUCH WORSE THAN WATERGATE.

>> IT'S WORSE BECAUSE HE WAS TRYING TO UNDO DEMOCRACY.

HE WAS TRYING TO TAKE AWAY THE RIGHT TO HAVE THE PEOPLE MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT WHO HOLDS OFFICE.

RICHARD NIXON WAS TRYING TO TAKE DOWN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

HE WAS OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE.

HE WAS INTERFERING WITH THE F.B.I., THE C.I.A.

BUT HE WAS NOT TRYING TO END DEMOCRACY.

>> AND JILL WINE-BANKS YOU BROUGHT UP THE VIDEO FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL BILL BARR.

LET'S HEAR WHAT BILL BARR SAID IN THAT TESTIMONY.

>> I HAD THREE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT THAT I CAN RECALL.

ONE WAS ON NOVEMBER 23, ONE WAS ON DECEMBER FIRST, AND ONE WAS ON DECEMBER 14.

AND I'VE BEEN THROUGH THE GIVE AND TAKE OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS IN THAT CONTEXT I MADE IT CLEAR I DID NOT AGREE WITH THE IDEA OF SAYING THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN AND PUTTING OUT THIS STUFF WHICH I TOLD THE PRESIDENT WAS BULL... >> IMPORTANT TESTIMONY.

ROBERT PAPE YOU WANTED TO JUMP IN?

>> I WANTED TO CALL TO THE ATTENTION OF ANOTHER DIFFERENCE THAN WATERGATE THIS IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN WATERGATE.

AT OUR CENTER, THE CHICAGO PROJECT ON SECURITY AND THREATS WE HAVE BEEN DOING NATIONALLY REPRESENTED SURVEYS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE IN AMERICA BELIEVE THE USE-OF-FORCE TO RESTORE TRUMP TO THE PRESIDENCY IS JUSTIFIED?

NOT BACK ON JANUARY 6, 2001.

BUT NOW OR MOST RECENT SURVEY WAS APRIL A FEW WEEKS AGO.

WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT THE EQUIVALENT OF 18 MILLION PEOPLE IN AMERICA TODAY, 18 MILLION ADULTS BELIEVE NUMBER ONE, JOE BIDEN IS AN ILLEGITIMATE PRESIDENT AND NUMBER TWO THE USE-OF-FORCE TO RESTORE TRUMP TO THE PRESIDENCY IS JUSTIFIED.

THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND PRECARIOUS MOMENT FOR OUR DEMOCRACY.

BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP, HIMSELF, HAS PRESENT SWAY OVER THOSE 18 MILLION PEOPLE.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ISN'T JUST ABOUT HALF.

THIS IS ABOUT THE SUMMER.

SO AS WE GO FORWARD AND LIKELY THERE WILL BE PRESSURE TO PROSECUTE DONALD TRUMP.

UNFORTUNATELY HE WILL HAVE MORE DANGEROUS OPTIONS THAN RICHARD NIXON.

>> A THREAT AGAINST DEMOCRACY.

JIM BENNETT THERE WAS AN AN OP-D SUGGESTING THERE NEEDED TO BE A JOHN DEAN, A KEY WITNESS, IS THERE A DEAN IN TESTIMONY THAT WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO THAT YOU MIGHT SEE COMING UP?

>> JILL AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS.

I THINK THAT TRUMP'S WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL, AND IT WAS KIND OF SAID TONIGHT THAT HE IS GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS HEARING ONE WAY OR ANOTHER MAYBE TO HIS PREVIOUS TESTIMONY OR, HE IS WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL LIKE JOHN DEAN.

HE WAS THERE IN THE LAST MOMENT.

HE TRIED TO STOP TRUMP IN HIS GROUP AS WE WERE TOLD THREATENED TO RESIGN ALTOGETHER IF TRUMP WENT FORWARD WITH WHAT HE WAS DOING.

PAT COULD BE A BIT OF A JOHN DEAN CHARACTER AND HE HOLDS THE SAME OFFICE.

>> I THOUGHT THE SAME THING BUT I NOW THINK THAT THE NARRATOR IS THE COMMITTEE AND THEY ARE NARRATING THIS IN THE SAME WAY THAT JOHN DEAN DID.

IT'S NOT AS GOOD AS HAVING AN INSIDER WHO COMMITTED THE CRIME ADMITTING THEM ON SCREEN.

AND I THINK PAT IS A POSSIBILITY AND MARK SHORTS IS A POSSIBILITY.

>> THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE FORMER VICE-PRESIDENT PENCE.

>> RIGHT.

>> INTENSE FEW HOURS AND WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TO RECAP IT.

AND MORE TO COME OBVIOUSLY.

OUR THANKS TO JAMES ROBENALT, ROBERT PAPE AND JILL WINE-BANKS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND THERE'S MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AHEAD SO PLEASE STICK AROUND.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> EARLIER THIS YEAR CITY OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED BIG PLANS FOR A VACANT SITE ON THE NEAR WEST SIDE.

THE CHICAGO FIRE FOOTBALL CLUB WANTS TO BUILD A PRACTICE AND TRAINING FACILITY NEAR ROOSEVELT AND ASHLAND BUT THE PROPOSAL TO SIGN A LONG-TERM LEASE SPARKED BACKLASH SINCE IT IS THE FORMER SITE OF CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY HOMES THAT THE AGENCY TORE DOWN AND HAS YET TO REBUILD.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PROPUBLICA "CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" NICK BLUMBERG HAS THE STORY.

>> LAURA DONALDSON KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO NOT HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.

>> YOU SHOULD NOT DIE BEFORE YOU GET HOUSING THAT YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO AS A HUMAN BEING.

>> AN ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHO WAS ONCE HOMELESS SHE LIVES IN THE BROOKS HOMES ON THE NEAR WEST SIDE AFTER SPENDING YEARS ON THE AGENCY'S WAITING LIST.

>> THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE TO DECIDE ON EATING TODAY OR TAKING YOUR MEDICINE TODAY.

IF I HAD NOT HAVE ADVOCATED FOR MYSELF WITH THE HELPS OF OTHERS I WOULD NOT HAVE THE HOUSING I DO NOW.

>> WHY SHE HEARD A PLOT OF LAND WAS SET TO BECOME A PRACTICE FACILITY FOR THE CHICAGO FIRE SOCCER TEAM.

>> I'M NOT HAPPY TO PUT IT MILDLY.

HOUSING IS NEEDED EVERYWHERE.

AND THE FIRE DON'T NEED ANYTHING.

>> ON JANUARY 27, THE CITY AND THE CHA ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO LEASE 26 ACRES TO THE FIRE TO BUILD SOCCER FIELDS AND OFFICES.

THE C.E.O.

TRACY SCOTT.

>> THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN SITTING VACANT FOR 20 YEARS.

AND SO IT'S NOW TIME FOR US TO DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE WITH IT.

>> ACCORDING TO E-MAILS, THE VACANT LAND WAS SUGGESTED BY THE MAYOR'S STAFF AFTER A PARCEL ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE FELL THROUGH.

>> IT CAUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE BY SURPRISE.

>> ARE THE ROAR HAS BEEN COVERING PUBLIC HOUSING IN CHICAGO FOR YEARS.

>> AT ONE POINT IN TIME, THE ABBOTT HOMES STOOD BETWEEN A THUS FAMILIES LIVED AND THEY WERE PART OF A BIGGER VICE-PRESIDENT.

CALLED ABLA.

>> MANY UNITS IN THE DEVELOPMENTS, ADAMS, BROOKS, LOOMIS AND ABBOTT WERE DEPOLISHED AS THE SO-CALLED PLAN FOR TRANSFORMATION.

THE AGENCY TORE DOWN HUGE PORTIONS OF THE PROPERTY PORTFOLIO AND PROMISE TO DO WOULD REBUILD AND REHAB THE ONES LEFT STANDING.

>> THE CHA HAS VERY HALTINGLY REBUILT SOME OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY DISMANTLED THROUGH THE PLAN FOR TRANSFORMATION AND THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS THEY PLANNED TO REBUILD AND THEY HAVE NOT MET THE COMMITMENTS.

>> THE ABLA HOMES HAD 3600 UNITS.

IN 2003, THE CHA SAID IT PLANNED TO BUILD 2900.

THEY'VE ONLY COMPLETED 11 HUNDRED.

18 HUNDRED UNITS SHORT AND DESPITE THE SHORTFALL OF HOUSING THE PROPOSED SOCCER FACILITY IS NOT THE ONLY WAY THE CHA USED VACANT LAND FOR PROJECTS OTHER THAN HOUSING.

>> LAND THAT ONCE HOUSED PEOPLE WAS TURNED INTO A POLICE STATION.

AND OTHER PLACES ON CABRINI GREEN, A TARGET STORE WENT IN.

A GROCERY STORE, A CHARTER SCHOOL.

THERE IS A CHINESE CLINIC BUILT ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

>> THE DEAL WITH THE FIRE HAS GENERATED ANGER BECAUSE THE TEAM IS OWNED BY JOE MANSUETO, BILLIONAIRE FOUNDER OF THE RESEARCH FIRM MORNINGSTAR.

A CHICAGO FIRE SPOKESPERSON SAID QUOTE... >> THAT IS HOW THEY DO THE BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITYS.

BRIAN SPENCER GREW UP IN THE ABLA HOMES AND WAS BORN THERE BECAUSE HIS MOM COULD NOT GET TO THE HOSPITAL IN TIME.

>> BACK THEN YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR DOORS OPEN ALL NIGHT.

YOUR WINDOWS OPEN.

WE TALL TOOK TURNS EATING, PICNICKING AND BARBECUING.

WHEN YOU CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL IF YOUR MOM AND DAD WASN'T HOME YOU WENT TO YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE.

>> SPENTER MOVED AWAY BUT IS FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE AND SPENDS TIME IN THE AREA.

HIS MESSAGE... >> KEEP YOUR PROMISE.

KEEP YOUR WORD.

THAT IS WHICH WITH ANYONE.

POLITICIAN OR NOT.

THAT IS ALL YOU GOT IS YOUR WORD.

>> AT THE SAME TIME THE MAYOR AND THE CHA ARE PUSHING FOR THE DEAL WITH CHICAGO FIRE THERE ARE 30,000 PEOPLE ON THE CHA'S WAITING LIST AND THE COMMISSIONER SAYS CHICAGO NEEDS 120,000 AFFORDABLE UNITS TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR?

SAY AYE.

>> THE PRACTICE FACILITY PLAN NEEDS THE NOD FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

LAST MONTH THE CHA BOARD SIGNED OFF ON ASKING FOR THAT APPROVAL.

THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO SIGN OFF AS WELL.

FOR ITS PART, THE CHA SAID THE DEAL WILL CREATE JOBS AND PAY FOR REHAB AT THE BUILDINGS STANDING ON THE ABLA SITE.

QUOTE... >> THE NEED IS THERE.

I MEAN THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

IT'S THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE CITY GOING TO DO.

>> ROD WILSON DIRECTOR OF THE HOPE CENTER HAS BEEN ORGANIZING CHA RESIDENTS TO PROTEST AGENCY DECISIONS INCLUDING THIS PROPOSAL.

>> THE CHA DOES NOT DO A GOOD JOB THEY WILL SAY WE HAD A HEARING.

IT IS A CHECKLIST.

>> CURRENT AND FORMER RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORS EXPRESSED SURPRISE AT THE PROJECT AND SOME ARE HOPING FOR AN ECONOMIC BOOST TO THE COMMUNITY.

THERE'S BEEN PUSHBACK DUE TO THE CHA'S LONGSTANDING FAILURE TO MEET THE PROMISES.

IN A STATEMENT THE AGENCY SAYS OF THE FIRE PROPOSAL QUOTE... WE CANNOT BE A WORLD CLASS CITY IF WE ONLY APPRECIATE THOSE MOST AFFLUENT.

IT'S HOW WE TREAT THE MOST VULNERABLE.

>> LAURA DONALDSON PUT IT IS MORE SIMPLY.

>> THIS IS SHOULD BE USED FOR HOUSING NOT A PRACTICE FIELD.

>> AND NICK BLUMBERG JOINS WITH US MORE.

WHAT HAVE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS SAID ABOUT THE PLAN?

>> WHEN I SPOKE WITH ORGANIZER ROD WILSON, HE SAID SOME MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THEY HAVE SPOKEN WITH ARE RECEPTIVE THAT THE SITE SHOULD HAVE MORE HOUSING INSTEAD OF A PRACTICE FACILITY.

AND OTHER POLITICIANS ARE GETTING ONBOARD.

JASON IRVIN REPRESENTS THIS AREA AND A RESIDENT TOLD OUR COLLEAGUE THAT A COMMUNITY MEETING IRVIN TOLD THOSE GATHERED LOOK THE MAYOR CALLED ME UP AND SHE SEEMS TO BE USING HER POLITICAL MUSCLE TO GET THE DEAL APPROVED SO THE NEIGHBORHOOD MIGHT AS WELL GET WHAT IT CAN OUT OF THE PROJECT.

>> WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS FOR THE SITE?

>> WELL, THE CHA BOARD MOVED AHEAD ON GETTING APPROVAL FROM THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL ALSO NEED TO SIGN OFF ON IT.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND THE CHICAGO FIRE ARE EAGER FOR THE DEAL TO GET APPROVED TO CONSTRUCTION COULD START AS EARLY AS THIS YEAR.

NOW, AS FOR THE REST OF THE VACANT LAND ON THE SITE, THE MAYOR INTRODUCED AN ORDINANCE INTO COUNCIL THIS YEAR THAT WOULD MOVE FORWARD ON FINANCING THE CONSTRUCTION OF 200 NEW HOMES.

BUT EVEN IF THOSE GET BUILT, THE CHA WILL STILL ONLY HAVE COMPLETED HALF THE HOUSING THAT IS PROMISED AT THIS LOCATION TWO DECADES AGO.

>> RUNS AT A DEFICIT.

NICE JOB, NICK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT A LIVE REPORT FROM IRVING PARK HAS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

SO PLEASE, STAY WITH US.

>> IRVING PARK ON CHICAGO'S NORTHWEST SIDE IS A SPACIOUS COMMUNITY AREA WITH A VARIETY OF LOCAL BUSINESSES AND EASY ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION.

AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES" REPORTER JOANNA HERNANDEZ AND PRODUCER ACACIA HERNANDEZ SPENT THE DAY EXPLORING THE AREA.

MORE ABOUT LOCAL GEMS IN THE COMMUNITY... >> AND PARIS, WE'RE RIGHT OUTSIDE OF ONE OF THOSE LOCAL GEMS AND WE'LL TELL YOU WHY LATER ON IN THE PROGRAM WHEN WE SPEAK TO THE OWNER.

WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY THERE'S MULTIPLE NEIGHBORHOODS.

ONE BEING OLD IRVING PARK.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS GOING THROUGH A REVITALIZATION WITH NEW BUSINESSES AND PROJECTS COMING TO THE AREA.

ONE OF THOSE IS A NEW OUTPATIENT MEDICAL CENTER BY NORTHWESTERN ON IRVING PARK ROAD AND NORTH KENNETH AVENUE.

>> IT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED TO BE FIVE STOREY BUILDING.

WE WORKED WITH THE ALDERMEN'S OFFICE TO BRING IT DOWN AND PUT EXTRA PARKING UNDERGROUND TO MAKE IT A FOUR STOREY BUILDING MORE IN LINE WITH OTHER BUILDINGS ON THIS STRETCH.

>> A LOCAL RESIDENT AND PRESIDENT OF THE OLD IRVING PARK ASSOCIATION.

A RESIDENT COLLABORATION THAT 200 RESIDENTS COME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS QUALITY OF LIFE MATTERS.

CHAN SAYS THE GROUP WORKS TO PUSH FOR CHANGE AND THEY COMMITTED TO ADDING PROTECTED BIKE LANES ON MILWAUKEE AVENUE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS PROXIMITY TO TRANSPORTATION.

WE HAVE THE BLUE LINE, TO KENNEDY AND WE HAVE MILWAUKEE AVENUE WHO IS A GREAT DIRECT PATH TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN BIKING.

BOTH DOWNTOWN AND JUST OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS ALONG THE MILWAUKEE AVENUE AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT BE SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO BIKE THROUGH.

>> WHAT ALSO STOOD OUT IS THE NATIVE-AMERICAN PRESENCE IN THE AREA.

CHICAGO HAS A LARGE INDIGENOUS POPULATION WITH MULTIPLE TRIBES.

COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR YEARS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC HOUSING TO NATIVE-AMERICANS IN CHICAGO.

NON-2024, THE FIRST AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEX IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED CATERING TO NATIVE PEOPLE.

>> I FEEL LIKE WE'RE NOT NEWCOMERS TO THIS AREA AND IT FEELS GOOD TO FINALLY HAVE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN MAKE HOME PERMANENT.

>> WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE 45-50 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND GOING THE FIRST FLOOR WILL BE COMMERCIAL AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE RENTING THAT SPACE OUT TO NATIVE-AMERICAN NONPROFITS AND BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

>> HOUSING PROJECT WILL BE BUILT IN IRVING PARK ROAD.

WALKING DISTANCE FROM HORNER PARK AND THE CHICAGO RIVER.

SHELLY TUCCIARELLI AND PAMALA SILAS SAY THE PROCESS HAS BEEN AN EMOTIONAL ONE AND A BIG VICTORY.

>> SEEING COMMUNITY MEMBERS WE LOSE TO OTHER STATES BECAUSE OF AFFORDABILITY.

THESE ARE LIKE THE CORE CULTURE KEEPERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT COULD NOT AFFORD TO STAY WITH US.

I HOPE WE GET A FEW TO COME BACK.

>> JUST A CONCENTRATION OF FAMILIES THAT WOULD GO TO A LOCAL SCHOOL.

WE WOULD HAVE A PRESENCE WHERE OUR COMMUNITY IS VISIBLE.

>> THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS HOME TO NATIVE-AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE ST. KATERI CENTER FOCUS ON PROVIDING OUTREACH FOR THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY IN IN CHICAGO.

>> WE ARE HIGHLY ENGAGE WITH OUR YOUTH TO MAKE THEM CONFIDENT IN THEIR CULTURE AND IDENTITY.

SOMETIMES THE YOUTH ARE THE ONLY NATIVE-AMERICANS IN THEIR CLASS OR SCHOOL.

SO BUILDING THAT CONFIDENCE WHO THEY ARE AND BEING ABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT THEIR CULTURE AND IDENTITY AND NOT SHY AWAY FROM IT.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHAT HAPPENS TO THE YOUTH IS BEING IN AN URBAN SETTING THEY ARE SOMETIMES DISCONNECTED FROM THEIR HOME ROOTS OF THE RESERVATIONS AND TRIBAL LANDS THEY COME FROM.

EMBRACING THAT CULTURE IS IMPORTANT.

>> RESIDENTS THAT WE SPOKE WITH DESCRIBE THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE FAMILY FRIENDLY WITH GREENSPACES AND MANY LOCAL BARS WITH A DIVERSE DINING SCENE.

JT'S SANDWICH SHOP IS NEW BUT CHRIS CUNNINGHAM BROUGHT ROOTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> WE DO CONEY DOGS FROM DETROIT AND TENDERLOINS FROM IOWA AND INDIANA.

SO PEOPLE COME TO GET LIKE A BITE OF COMFORT HERE AND IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE THEM COMING IN AND ENJOYING THEMSELVES IN-PERSON RATHER THAN HANDING A BAG TO SOMEBODY OUT THE DOOR.

>> CUNNINGHAM HAS BEEN A RESIDENT FOR 10 YEARS AND HIS RESTAURANT IS NAMED AFTER HIS TWO CHILDREN.

THE PEOPLE ARE WHAT HAS KEPT HIS FAMILY HERE.

>> GREAT COMMUNITY OF NEIGHBORS AND BUSINESSES.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST PARKS IN THE CITY.

INDEPENDENCE PARK, HOERNER PARK IS WALKING DISTANCE, BEAUTIFUL HOMES AND TREE LINED STREETS.

THE WHOLE PACKAGE.

>> AND I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO CHRIS BECAUSE HE SERVED US LUNCH AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I'VE TRIED A BREADED TENDERLOIN SANDWICH.

IT WAS DELICIOUS.

AND WE SPEAK WITH THE OWNER OF LIZARD LOUNGE COMING UP.

>> FIRST TIME BUT PROBABLY NOT THE LAST TIME.

THANK YOU.

>> HEAR FROM THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES RUNNING IN THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

EARLY VOTE SOMETHING UNDERWAY IN COMMITTEE AND PRIMARY ELECTION DAY IS LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AWAY.

VOTERS IN THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WILL HAVE FOUR CANDIDATES IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

THERE IS ALSO ONE REPUBLICAN RUNNING.

THE NEW DISTRICT WAS DRAWN AFTER THE 2020 CENSUS IT INCLUDES PARTS OF THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF CHICAGO AND SNEAKS OUT TO WESTERN SUBURBS IN DID YOU PACKAGE, GLENALLEN, BARTON AND WHEATON AND IT MAKES IT THE SECOND LATINO CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN THE STATE.

AND JOINING US IN A FIRST OF A SERIES OF CANDIDATE FORUMS ARE THE DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR CONGRESSTH THIS DISTRICT AND THEY ARE IYMEN CHEHADE PROFESSOR AT COLUMBIA COLLEGE OF CHICAGO AND THE SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO AND DIRECT FOR FOR FOREIGN POLICY FOR MARIE NEWMAN'S CAMPAIGN.

JUAN ENRIQUE AGUIRRE A REGISTERED NURSE.

GILBERT VILLEGAS, CURRENT 36TH WARD ALDERMAN IN CHICAGO AND DELIA RAMIREZ CURRENT STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE FOURTH ILLINOIS HOUSE DISTRICT.

AND A NOTE ABOUT THIS FORMAT THIS IS NOT A FORMAL DEBATE THERE WILL BE NO OPENING OR CLOSING STATEMENTS.

CANDIDATES WILL NOT GET THE SAME QUESTIONS AND ANSWER ALSO NOT BE TIMED.

FAIRNESS WILL BE OUR GUIDE.

AND LET'S BEGIN.

MS. RAMIREZ LET'S START WITH GUNS.

THE SENATE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF NEGOTIATIONS ON GUN REFORMS IN THE WAKE OF UVALDE MASSACRE.

WOULD YOU ACCEPT A PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES MOVING THE AR PURCHASE AGE FROM 18 TO 21.

AND NATIONWIDE RED FLAG LAWS?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US ON THIS FORUM.

AND IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE.

I WOULD ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT BOTH.

WE HAVE SECOND SOMETHING AND DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO BAN ASSAULT RIFLE WEAPONS RIGHT NOW.

IF WE CAN GET THE POLITICAL WILL AND DO THE WORK, TO BE ABLE TO INSURE THAT WE GET UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS AND WE INCREASE THE AGE OF YOUNG PERSON BEING ABLE TO PURCHASE TO 21 AND INCORPORATE THE RED FLAGS THAT WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD TO THE WORK WE HAVE TO DO TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE WE GET THE GUNS.

WE HAVE MORE GUNS IN THIS COUNTRY THAN WE HAVE CHILDREN.

WE HAVE TO GET THE GUNS OFF OF THE STREETS.

>> Mr. VILLEGAS PARTS OF THIS DISTRICT SUFFER FROM HIGH RATES OF GUN VIOLENCE.

MANY OF THE GUNS THAT ARE FOUND IN CRIME SCENES IN COOK COUNTY COME FROM OUT OF STATE.

WHAT CAN BE DONE LEGISLATIVELY IN CONGRESS TO STOP THIS FLOW OF GUN VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO?

>> WELL, I GOT TO SAY, AGAIN, THANK YOU, PARIS FOR HAVING US ON AND THANK WTTW.

FOR COMING TO THE TABLE WITH THE WORKERS TO GET A FAIR CONTRACT.

LISTEN, GUN LAWS THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE I'M HEARING PUBLIC SAFETY WITH THE DISTRICT.

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS HAVE THE TOUGHEST GUN LAWS ON THE BOOKS.

BUT WE HAVE NEIGHBORING STATES LIKE INDIANA AND KENTUCKY THAT HAVE LAWS THAT ARE LAX.

THAT IS A PROBLEM.

60% OF THE GUNS THAT RETRIEVED FROM CHICAGO POLICE C.P.D.

ARE COMING FROM OUT OF STATE.

SO THERE IS A PROBLEM HERE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WE ARE DEALING WITH GUN LAWS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE BANNING ASSAULT WEAPONS THERE IS A CORRELATION WHEN THEY BAN AR-15'S AND ASSAULT RIFLES.

AND UNSET AND MASS SHOOTINGS ARE UP.

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO ADDRESS THAT.

INCREASE THE AGE FROM 18 TO 21.

BACKGROUND CHECKS.

RED FLAGS.

CONGRESS ACTED TODAY IN PASSING THE RED FLAG GUN LAW AND YESTERDAY PROTECTING OUR KIDS ACT.

BOTH GARNERED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

THERE IS A WILL BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PUSHING SO THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE MASS SHOOTINGS ARE KILLING KIDS AND WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

I CAN TELL YOU I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BANNING ASSAULT WEAPONS.

WAYS A MARINE, AR STANDS FOR ASSAULT RIFLE THERE IS NO REASON WHY CIVILIANS SHOULD HAVE THESE AND WE ARE PROTECTING THE SECOND AMENDMENT AND PROTECTING SECOND GRADERS AS WELL.

>> THE NEXT MIGHT BE A MAJORITY REPUBLICAN.

WHAT CAN BE DONE ACROSS THE AISLE ON GUN LAWS?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION.

THE REALITY THAT MY COMPETITORS SEEM TO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT REPUBLICANS THE G.O.P.

MOST LIKELY WILL TAKE CONTROL OF CONGRESS FOLLOWING THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

THERE IS, OF COURSE, MAJOR LEGISLATION THAT NEEDS TO BE PASSED BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO GET PASSED IN A REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND TWO, SURE AS HELL NOT GOING TO GET PASSED IN A REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED SENATE OR ONE THAT IS EVENLY SPLIT THAT HAS THE FILIBUSTER WITH 60 VOTES TO PASS MAJOR REFORM.

WHAT I WOULD BE CALLING UPON IN MY FIRST DAY OF OFFICE IS FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TO DECLARE GUN VIOLENCE A NATIONAL EMERGENCY IN THE SAME WAY THAT TRUMP DECLARED A NATIONAL EMERGENCY ON MARCH 13TH, 2020 THAT MOBILIZED THIS NATION TO FIGHT AGAINST AN ININDIVIDUALSABLE EMERGENCY.

WE NEED TO DECLARE A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

GUN VIOLENCE IS THE NUMBER ONE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE SPEWING THE SAME RHETORIC THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT ARE SPEWING THE LEFT IS SPEWING THAT WE NEED ASSAULT RIFLE BANS AND MORE MENTAL HEALTHCARE, YOU HAVE TO CRITICALLY THINK AND I ASKED THE VOTERS TO ASK WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE BAN ASSAULT RIFLES AND A KID CAN 3D PRINT THAT AT HOME?

AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A KID GETS AHOLD OF SEVERAL HANDGUNS AND COMMITS A MASS SHOOTING WHERE EIGHT INDIVIDUALS ARE SLAUGHTERED INSTEAD OF 15 OR 20.

>> YOU ARE ASKING THE PRESIDENT TO BE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER ROUTE.

Mr. IYMEN CHEHADE WHAT DO YOU THINK CAN BE DONE TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE IN CHICAGO?

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE ON ALL LEVELS AND GUN VIOLENCE IS PERHAPS THE MOST VISIBLE ISSUE IS THE FACT YOU HAVE THE LOBBYISTS AND SUPER PACTS WHO LITERALLY BUY POLITICIANS INTO COERCION TO SUPPORT LAX GUN LAWS.

WE SEE THIS A LOT WITH MANY POLITICIANS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WHO DESPITE THE MANY MASSACRES THAT OCCURRED GO ON CAMERA AND SAY THEY SUPPORT THESE LAX GUN LAWS.

AND WHAT THEY DO THEY CONFLATE A PERSON'S AMENDMENT RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS WITH LITERALLY, ALLOWING GUNS TO BE SOLD AS IF IT'S BUBBLE GUM AND WE CAN'T DO THAT.

WE NEED TO GO AFTER THE LOBBYISTS AND AFTER THE SUPER PACTS.

AND CITIZENS UNITE SECOND ONE OF THE WORST DECISIONS THAT THIS SUPREME COURT MADE.

AND AS A PERSON RUNNING FOR OFFICE, I CAN SEE THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT WITH MONEY COMING IN FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO NEVER BEEN IN THIS DISTRICT SUPPORTING CANDIDATES IN ORDER TO GET THEM ELECTED AND GET THE CANDIDATES TO DO WHAT THEY WANT THEM TO DO.

I THINK IT'S A TRAVESTY FOR OUR DEMOCRACY.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT EVERYWHERE.

ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

WITH THE RAMPANT GUN VIOLENCE.

WE HAVE SOME PRETTY STRICT GUN LAWS IN ILLINOIS.

MOST OF THE GUNS THAT ACTUALLY ARE IN CHICAGO COME FROM OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

AND SO WE NEED LEGISLATION ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL AS FAR AS BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE CONCERNED AND MORE THAN THAT, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS LIMIT THE POWER OF SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, LOBBYISTS, LIKE THOSE WHO LOBBY FOR THE NRA THAT ALLOW LAX GUN LAWS.

>> I WANT TO PICK UP ON THAT ISSUE OF SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS.

MS. RAMIREZ YOU HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM PROGRESSIVE GROUPS AND SOME OF THE GROUPS CALLED FOR DEFUNDING THE POLICE, DO YOU BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE LESS FEDERAL FUNDING FOR POLICE DEPARTMENTS LIKE THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT?

>> I BELIEVE WE NEED TO BE INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND I BELIEVE WE NEED TO GET TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF VIOLENCE.

I LIVE IN HUMBOLDT PARK AND I SEE THE DISINVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY ALL THE TIME.

AND IT'S WHY AT THE STATE LEVEL, I HELPED PASS LEGISLATION TO INVEST $200 MILLION INTO OUR COMMUNITIES.

THAT IS THAT SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM.

THAT IS MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.

THREE QUARTERS OF THE CALLS THAT 9-1-1 GETS ARE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

WE HAVE TO GET TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF VIOLENCE AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES IN WE WANT TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUES WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> DOES THAT MEAN INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES AT THE EXPENSE OF PROVIDING FUNDING FOR POLICE DEPARTMENTS?

>> INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING POLICE TRAINING AS I'VE VOTED TO PROVIDE.

INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES BY INVESTING IN MENTAL HEALTH.

THAT IS INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES BY CREATING YOUTH JOBS AND GETTING VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS.

WE NEED ALL OF IT.

IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.

YOU CANNOT JUST DO ONE THING.

IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH SO WE INVEST IN COMMUNITIES AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR IT TO BE A SAFE COMMUNITY FOR YOU WILL AOF US.

>> Mr. VILLEGAS SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN OF THE RESIDENTS.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MORE FUNDING FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR CALLS THAT THE HAVE CALLED TO AT LEAST REMOVE SOME OF THE FUNDING AND INVEST IN OTHER PROGRAMS?

>> LISTEN, YOU KNOW WHAT KNOCKING ON DOORS IN THIS DISTRICT I'VE HEARD PUBLIC SAFETY.

THIS RACE IS ABOUT CHARACTER AND I THINK THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS WHY ME AND MY OPPONENT ARE DIFFERENT.

MY OPPONENTS SIGNED A LETTER SAYING DEFUND THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY.

WHY?

POLITICALLY POPULAR THING TO DO BACK THEN.

AND NOW SHE IS BACKING AWAY FROM THAT POSITION.

I SWORE AN OATH TO DEFEND THIS COUNTRY AND IN CONGRESS I WILL KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.

WE CANNOT HAVE A EITHER OR.

THIS IS A HOLISTIC APPROACH.

THE PRESIDENT SAID IT BEST DURING THE STATE OF THE UNION.

HE SAYS WE ARE NOT GOING TO DEFUND THE POLICE.

WE ARE GOING TO FUND AND TRAIN THE POLICE.

>> MS. RAMIREZ DID YOU CALL FOR DEFUNDING THE POLICE AND HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND ON THAT?

>> I SIGNED ON TO A STATEMENT TO PROTECT YOUNG PEOPLE BEING TASED AND HURT BY OUR OFFICERS AFTER GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED IN PUBLIC.

I SIGNED ON TO THAT AND I BELIEVE TO THIS MOMENT THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE MODELS.

OFFICERS ARE NOT SOCIAL WORKERS.

OFFICERS ARE NOT CLINICAL COUNSELORS THEY ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF MENTAL HEALTH.

WE SHOULD ASK OURSELVES WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

AND WHY IS MY OPPONENT WEAPONIZING A HASHTAG INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT HOW HE IS A COMMON LOBBYIST HE COMES FROM A POLITICAL MENTOR HE HAS NOT RETURNED FROM WHO IS GOING TO PRISON AS A CORRUPTION SUPER SPREADER.

WHAT I HEAR IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE I COME FROM THIS COMMUNITY I'VE SERVED IN THE COMMUNITY THEY WANT SAFE COMMUNITIES.

THEY WANT COMMUNITIES THAT ARE INVESTED IN.

AND THEY NEEDFUL TIME LEGISLATORS.

>> I NEED TO MOVE ON.

>> THIS IS MISINFORMATION THAT MS. RAMIREZ HAS BEEN.

LET ME SAY THAT THE REALITY IS THIS.

WHEN SHE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAND UP TO MICHAEL MADIGAN SHE DIDN'T.

19 STATE LEGISLATORS SAID ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

AND SHE DIDN'T.

THIS IS ABOUT CHARACTER.

THIS IS ABOUT CHARACTER.

>> ISSUES LIKE ABORTION OF THE SHOULD THIS DRAFT OPINION ON ROE VS. WADE BECOME THE FINAL RULING FROM THE SUPREME COURT, WHAT KIND OF ABORTION LEGISLATION WOULD YOU APPROVE IN THE NATIONAL LEVEL?

ABORTION WITHOUT RESTRICTION?

WOULD IT BE ABORTION UP UNTIL THE FETUS IS VIABLE OUTSIDE OF THE WOMB?

>> I GREW UP IN A LATINO HOUSEHOLD AND I GREW UP LEARNING CHRISTIAN VALUES AND SAME-SEX MARRIAGE SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED AND ABORTION SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED EITHER.

BUT ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF MILITIA BEGAN SCHOOL OF NURSING AND BECOMING A NURSE, I WAS EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT PATIENTS.

PATIENTS THAT WERE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR AN ABORTION WHO WERE UNDERAGE IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN AND PATIENTS WERE PART OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND I'M GLAD TO SAY I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM THOSE EXPERIENCES AND I FULLY SUPPORT FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT CO-DIVIDES ROE VS. WADE A WOMAN HAS THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE THE ABORTION IT SHOULD BE UP TO THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AND THE WOMAN NOT THE LEGISLATURE.

>> IYMEN CHEHADE, CONGRESSWOMAN MARIE NEWMAN IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BECAUSE OF A DEAL YOU STRUCK WITH HER IN IF YOU WOULD NOT RUN AGAINST HER SHE WOULD HIRE YOU ON HER STAFF.

THAT NEVER REALLY HAPPENED.

SO YOU SUED.

DID YOU TWO SIGN A DEAL WHERE YOU WOULD DROPOUT OF THE RACE AND SHE WOULD HIRE YOU?

AND TWO, DID SHE VIOLATE THAT CONTRACT?

>> THIS IS ALL MISINFORMATION.

I WAS NEVER A CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS.

I NEVER DECLARED CANDIDACY.

AND I NEVER HIRED ANYBODY.

I NEVER FUNDRAISED.

I NEVER DID ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

I WAS CONSIDERING A RUN.

AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT STATES THAT I DID IN ANYWAY SHAPE OR FORM THAT I RAN.

DID MARIE AND I SIGN A CONTRACT?

YES.

WAS IT FOR ME TO DROPOUT OF THE RACE?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I WAS NOT IN THE RACE.

THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT WAS BROUGHT ON BY A RIGHT-WING ORGANIZATION THAT THE MEDIA HAS LATCHED ON TO.

AND FRANKLY, MARIE AND I HAVE HAD OUR ISSUES IN THE PAST BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS A HIT JOB ON HER.

AND I'M COLLATERAL DAMAGE FOR IT.

READ THE FACTS.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION.

AND THE FACT ALSO COME OUT AFTER THE PRIMARY.

AND YOU WILL SEE THIS IS JUST WHAT IT WAS.

>> YOU HAVE NOT BEEN DECLARED A CANDIDATE.

>> QUID PRO QUO.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT INFLATION, HIGH GAS PRICES HOVERING $6 A GALLON HERE IN CHICAGO.

WHAT CAN BE DONE LEGISLATIVELY TO DEAL WITH THIS?

>> I MEAN IF WE GO BACK TO THE CORPORATIONS AND THE STEEL COMPANIES, THE OIL COMPANIES ARE PART OF THAT.

THEY ARE LITERALLY DECIDING THE DETERMINING HOW MUCH SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE PAYING AT THE GAS STATION.

HERE IN ILLINOIS WE PUT IN A TAX BREAK ON GASOLINE.

BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

THINK ABOUT LONG-TERM.

PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO ABOUT PAIN -- AFFORDING THE ABILITY TO PUT GAS AND GO TO WORK AND CHILDCARE.

A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE AND WE HAVE TO INVEST IN CHILDCARE.

>> Mr. VILLEGAS, AND WE HAVE A SHORT TIME LEFT?

>> SO WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS OIL COMPANIES GOUGING CONSUMERS.

SO CONGRESS HAS TO ACT BRING THEM IN AND FIND OUT WHAT IS IT THAT WE CAN DO AS CONGRESSMEN AND WOMEN TO HOLD THESE BIG OIL COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BRINGING MANUFACTURING BACK TO AMERICA.

THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE HAS COMPOUNDED INFLATION.

WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE AND BRING MICROCHIPS BACK TO AMERICA TO BE MANUFACTURED.

THERE'S MORE TO DO AND THERE IS A CORPORATIONS OUT THERE THAT ARE PREPARED AND READY TO DO LIGHT MANUFACTURING WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE CONGRESS IS ONBOARD.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANKS TO IYMEN CHEHADE, JUAN ENRIQUE AGUIRRE, GILBERT VILLEGAS AND DELIA RAMIREZ.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND ILLINOIS' PRIMARY ELECTION IS LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AWAY.

CHECK OUT OUR 2022 VOTER GUIDE.

AND YOU CAN HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES IN THEIR OWN WORDS WHY THEY WANT YOUR VOTE.

YOU CAN FIND YOUR POLLING LOCATION ON ELECTION DAY.

>> AND WE'RE BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IN JUST A MOMENT.

FIRST A LOOK AT UP COMING CANDIDATE FORUMS.

BACK TO JOANNA HERNANDEZ WHO SPENT THE DAY IN IRVING PARK AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

JOANNA?

>> THANKS, PARIS.

WE ARE HERE WITH LIZ KAVANAGH OWNER OF LIZ WARD LIQUID LOUNGE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I WANT TO START OFF WITH THE MURAL OUTSIDE YOUR BAR.

TELL ME THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE MURAL AND THE BAR?

>> WELL, THAT WOULD BE ME.

IT'S LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE AN IRISH FLAG ON THIS SIDE THE RIGHT SIDE REPRESENTS IRELAND AND THE SCARY LIZARD IN THE MIDDLE IS ME, MY DAD CALLED ME LIZARD AS A KID.

ON THE LEFT SIDE IS CHICAGO AND THE CHICAGO SKYLINE AND LIZARDS ON THE COCKTAILS.

AND IT'S DONE BY OUR LOCAL ARTIST SHE IS AMAZING.

>> MEANINGFUL.

>> VERY.

VERY.

>> AND I WANTED TO BRING THE BAR OUTSIDE WHICH IS FULL OF ARTWORK BY LOADS OF ARTISTS.

>> AND YOU HAVE OWNED THE BAR FOR 14 YEARS.

TELL ME THE HISTORY OF THIS BAR?

>> WELL, I BOUGHT IT WHEN IT WAS LOST AND FOUND THE OLDEST RUNNING LESBIAN BAR IN THE COUNTRY AND A SAFE HAVEN FOR THE LESBIAN COMMUNITY.

AND SINCE 1964, THEY HAD IT BEFORE I WAS BORN.

AND THAT WAS AVA ALLEN AND SHIRLEY AND THEY WERE GROUND BREAKERS.

AVA WAS INDUCTED INTO THE GAY AND LESBIAN HAUL HALL OF FAME.

THE BAR IS IT FULLY INCLUSIVE IT'S NOT GAY ANYMORE IT'S EVERYBODY.

IT IS A WELCOMING PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE LIVE MUSIC 5 NIGHTS A WEEK AND TRIVIA AND BINGO AND.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

BECAUSE I CAN ONLY ASSUME IT FEELS TO HAVE LIVE BANDS COMING HERE.

TELL ME YOU ABOUT YOUR POSITIONS AND HOW THE COMMUNITY HAS SUPPORTED YOU?

>> THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN AMAZING.

ALL LOCAL ARTISTS COME TO ME.

WE'VE HAD ART SHOWS AND CRAFT FAIRS.

AND I'VE HAD MUSIC FESTIVALS HERE.

AND LIVE MUSIC AND ALL THE ARTISTS GO LIZ I LOVE TO PLAY BECAUSE IT IS NOT ONE OF THE BIG VENUES AND IT'S NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE'VE -- IT IS A DOG BAR SINCE I OPENED.

>> AND A STAPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> AND WE'VE HAD DOG BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND FIVE WEDDINGS INCLUDING MY OWN IN NOVEMBER.

>> IT IS MEANINGFUL BAR TO YOU.

HAVE A LOT OF LIVE BANDS COMING UP.

>> YES, I DO.

FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

>> TRIBUTE SMITH BAND THEY ARE IN THERE STOPPED NOW SO THEY CAN WATCH.

I HAD TO STOP THEM.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> I APPRECIATE IT.

>> NOW, THAT IS ALL WE HAVE TONIGHT FROM IRVING PARK.

PARIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> SMITH'S COVER BAND.

MORRISSEY MIGHT SHOW UP.

FUN STUFF HAPPENING THERE.

EARLIER TODAY YOU SPOKE WITH JON EBERSOLE WHO WORKS AT LYDIA HOME.

VIEWERS CAN WATCH THAT INVESTIGATORS R CONVERSATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> THE CHICAGO BLUES FEST STARTED TODAY AND RUNS THROUGH SUNDAY IN MILLENNIUM PARK.

A LOCAL SINGER SONGWRITER HAS BEEN GOING SINCE HER MOTHER TOOK HER IN A STROLLER.

AND NOW SHE WILL BE ON STAGE, MELODY ANGEL ANU HAZARA BLUES IN HER DNA.

MARC VITALI HAS THE STORY.

>> IF YOU REALLY LOVE MUSIC, YOU MUST ALSO LOVE THE BLUES.

IT IS THE BASELINE FOR EVERY FORM OF MUSIC WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY.

EVEN HIP-HOP.

IT'S FAIRLY UNCOMMON TO SEE BLACK FEMALE GUITAR PLAYERS.

I'M FIGHTING FOR THE YOUNG GIRL THAT COMES UP TO ME, THE YOUNG BLACK GIRL THAT COMES UP TO ME ALL THE TIME AND SAYS I WANT TO PLAY LIKE YOU.

I WANT TO DO THIS.

I FEEL IT'S MY JOB TO MAKE THAT EASIER FOR HER.

>> ONE PERSON WHO MADE IT EASIER FOR MELODY ANGEL WAS HER MOTHER WHO IS HER MANAGER AND SOMETIMES STYLIST.

>> IT IS OVERWHELMING SOMETIME TO SEE HER AND ALL SHE CAN DO.

SEEING HER AS A LITTLE BITTY BABY AND GROW.

BUT I SAW THIS SPARK IN HER IT WAS UNDENIABLE.

[♪♪♪] >> ANGEL PLAYS THE GUITAR HER MOTHER BOUGHT HER AT A PAWNSHOP.

>> I WILL NEVER FORGET THE DAY SHE CAME HOME FROM THE PAWNSHOP IT CHANGED MY LIFE.

I CRIED LIKE A BABY.

I REMEMBER THINKING ONE DAY, I WILL BE ON STAGE WITH THIS GUITAR YOU KNOW PAYING FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

[CHEERING] >> THAT HAPPENED.

SO I'M LIKE WHEN LITTLE KIDS SAY THEIR DREAMS OUT LOUD IT IS NOT A SMALL THING.

IT IS A BIG THING.

IT CAN ACTUALLY COME TRUE.

[♪♪♪] >> THE LIFELONG SOUTH SIDER CARRIED HER GUITAR FROM EUROPE TO AUSTRALIA.

SHE HAS ACTED ON STAGE AT COURT THEATRE AND THE GOODMAN.

AND RELEASED HER LP OF ORIGINAL MATERIAL.

[♪♪♪] >> ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED ABOUT WRITING WAS FROM THE ARTISTS THAT I LOVED AND WHEN I LISTEN TO THEM IN THEIR INTERVIEWS THEY ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT BEING TRUE TO THEMSELVES.

AND THAT'S HOW I LOOK AT SONG WRITING.

IT'S A PEACEFUL RELEASE WHATEVER IS ON MY HEART GOOD OR BAD, I CAN RELEASE IT.

>> MELODY ANGEL COMES FROM A MUSICAL FAMILY.

HER MOTHER'S COUSIN WAS OTIS RUSH, THE LATE CHICAGO BLUES MAN INTEREST I DO ADMIT I DIDN'T WANT HER GOING INTO IT BECAUSE I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT THIS INDUSTRY IS.

BUT WHEN YOU COME HERE YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT YOUR PURPOSE TO DO.

SO IT'S NO WAY I WOULD COME IN-BETWEEN THAT.

[♪♪♪] >> I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM IN FRONT OF PEOPLE AGAIN AND THAT IN ITS SELF IS A TRIUMPH FOR ME.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS MARC VITALI.

>> MELODY ANGEL RELEASED HER NEW RECORD FOXY.

SHE PLAYS AT REGGIE'S FRIDAY NIGHT AND SHE AND HER BAND PLAY TWO SETS AT THE CHICAGO BLUES FEST THIS WEEKEND.

SATURDAY THEY WILL BE AT THE PRITZKER PAVILION AND SUNDAY THEY PLAY A NEIGHBORHOOD STAGE IN BRONZEVILLE.

THERE IS MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

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

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW".

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

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

[♪♪♪]