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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ IS ON ASSIGNMENT.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THIS IS THE FIRST DAY WE HAVE WELCOMED STUDENTS TO THIS BUILDING IN A YEAR.

>> IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

SORT OF.

THOUSANDS OF C.P.S.

STUDENTS ARE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM BUT MANY MORE ARE REMOTE LEARNING.

UNDELIVERED MAIL AND DELAYS FOR LETTERS AND PACKAGES THAT DO ARRIVE.

WHAT IS GOING AT THE U.S. POST AT SERVICE IN CHICAGO?

>> A HOTEL FACES A FORECLOSE LAWSUIT AND THAT AND MORE FROM CRAIN'S.

>> PEOPLE ARE BLOWING RED LIGHTS I HATE TO PUNISH PEOPLE I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE COULD DO.

>> AND NEW STRICTER RULES FOR RED LIGHT AND SPEED CAMERAS GO INTO EFFECT.

CAROL MARIN IS BACK WITH A NEW REPORT.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... CHICAGO MAYOR MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAYS SHIPMENTS OF VAUGHN'S COVID VACCINE ARE EXPECTED TO ARIFE IN THE CITY TODAY OR TOMORROW.

>> I DON'T HAVE A FIRM LOCK ON THE DOSES BUT WE EXPECT IT HERE THIS WEEK AND WE WILL PUT IT TO WORK AS SOON AS WE GET IT.

CDPH HAS BEEN PREPARING NOW FOR SOMETIME AS WE SAW THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE MOVING THROUGH THE REGULATORY APPROVAL PROCESS.

>> THE SINGLE-DOSE VACCINE WAS GIVEN EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION IT JOINS PFIZER AND MODERNA'S SHOTS AS THE THIRD CORONAVIRUS VACCINE APPROVED SO FAR IN THE UNITED STATES.

JOHNSON & JOHNSON SAYS IT EXPECTS TO DELIVER 20 MILLION DOSES TO THE U.S. BY THE END OF MARCH AND 100 MILLION BY THIS SUMMER.

>> THIS COMES AS ILLINOIS REPORTS MORE THAN 1100 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 STATE-WIDE AND 20 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THE STATE IS REPORTING A TOTAL OF 1.2 MILLION TOTAL CASES 225036 DEATHS.

THE STATE POSITIVITY RATE IS 2.7%.

>> A SURVEY OF ILLINOIS SCHOOL DISTRICTS FINDS THAT 77% OF SCHOOLS ARE STRUGGLING TO HIRE AND RETAIN TEACHERS.

THE ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS STUDY SAYS NEARLY A THOUSAND TEACHING POSITIONS AS OF FALL 2020 WERE UNFILLED OR FILLED BY SOMEONE UNQUALIFIED FOR THE JOB.

NEARLY 200 WERE SPECIAL EDUCATION POSITIONS.

THE SURVEY FOUND THAT VACANCIES WERE EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC WHICH MADE IT HARDER TO HIRE SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS.

>> AND CHICAGO'S BRONZEVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD COULD BE GETTING SPECIAL RECOGNITION.

SENATORS DICK DURBIN AND TAMMY DUCKWORTH INTRODUCED A BILL TO TURN THE COMMUNITY INTO A NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

KNOWN AS THE BLACK METROPOLIS, BRONZEVILLE IS WHERE MANY MOVES DURING THE GREAT MIGRATION.

TO ACCESS SPECIAL FUNDS AND PROGRAMS FOR PRESERVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> 37,000 CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE BACK IN CLASSROOMS ACROSS THE CITY TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE SCHOOLS WERE SHUTDOWN NEARLY A YEAR AGO.

THE RETURN COMES AFTER WEEKS OF DEBATE BETWEEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION OVER HOW TO SAFELY REOPEN SCHOOLS.

BUT SOME ARE STILL [INAUDIBLE] REMOTE LEARNING.

>> WITH BACKPACKS AND LUNCH BOXES IN HAND, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS FILE INTO THEIR BUILDINGS WHERE A NEW REALITY AWAITS THEM.

DESKS SOCIALLY DISTANCED.

MASKS ALL THE TIME AND FAR FEWER STUDENTSISM THIS IS THE FIRST STEP ON A ROAD TO NORMALCY.

WE ARE GOING INTO THE RECOVERY PHASE AND THIS IS A IMPORTANT PHASE NOT JUST FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE BUT FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR FUTURE.

>> SCHOOL C.E.O.

JANICE JACKSON AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT TOURED HAWTHORNE ELEMENTARY SCHOLASTIC ACADEMY IN LAKEVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD THIS MORNING WHERE TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE EXPECTING 57% OF THEIR ENROLLMENT TO RETURN.

KINDERGARTEN-FIFTH GRADES THIS WEEK, AND SIX-EIGHT NEXT WEEK.

>> THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY SOME STUDENTS WERE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH BADLY.

AND FELT LIKE THEY JUST NEEDED TO BE IN PERSON BECAUSE THAT WAS AN ISSUE.

AND SOME WERE STRUGGLING ACADEMICALLY.

>> ACROSS THE DISTRICT NOT ALL SCHOOLS ARE EXPECTING AS MANY STUDENTS TO RETURN.

PART OF THE REASON THE TEACHERS' UNION AND PARENT GROUPS CALLED ON THE DISTRICT TO IMPROVE REMOTE LEARNING.

>> THERE NEEDS TO BE OPTIONS FOR IN-PERSON THAT ARE BETTER WHAT PARENTS ARE OFFERED RIGHT NOW.

AND THERE NEEDS TO BE IMPROVEMENTS TO REMOTE LEARNING THE HYBRID KIDS ARE REMOTE THREE DAYS A WEEK.

>> STUDENTS WHO DO RETURN ARE AND IN THE BUILDINGS TWO DAYS A WEEK, MONDAY AND TUESDAY OR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

EVERYONE LEARNS REMOTELY ON WEDNESDAY.

ONE GROUP OF PARENTS WAS SO DISMAYED BY THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THEY ORGANIZED A SICK OUT KEEPING KIDS HOMES FOR THE DAY TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.

>> IT SENDS A MESSAGE THAT WE DO HAVE A POWER AND A CHOICE AS A PARENT.

>> AND ACROSS C.P.S., THE MAJORITY 63% OF PREKINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8TH GRADE STUDENTS AND SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS ELECTED TO CONTINUE REMOTE LEARNING.

30% CHOSE THE HYBRID MODEL.

AND MORE THAN 7% DID NOT RESPOND TO SURVEYS.

STARTING THIS WEEK, THE DISTRICT AND THE UNION PLAN DISCUSSIONS ON FIGURING OUT HOW TO INVITE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BACK INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS AS WELL.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY TRY TO GET A ACCOUNTING A CAREFUL, A CAREFUL TAKE ON WHICH STUDENTS ARE HAVING THE HARDEST TIME WITH REMOTE LEARNING.

>> AND JACKSON SAYS PARENTS CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE A SURVEY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING IN THE FOURTH QUARTER IN MID-APRIL.

THE PRINCIPAL AT HAWTHORNE ELEMENTARY HEARD FROM PARENTS EXPRESSING INTEREST.

>> MANY CHICAGOANS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MAIL DELAYS FOR MONTHS.

SOME ARE IRRITATING LIKE CHRISTMAS CARDS BEING DELIVERED IF FEBRUARY.

OTHER DELAYS CAN BE MORE CONSEQUENTIAL FROM LATE UNEMPLOYMENT CHECKS TO PRESCRIPTIONS.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AT THE POST OFFICE ARE SOUTH SIDE RESIDENT GROVENA GALBREATH WHO SAYS SHE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING MAIL PROBLEMS FOR MONTHS.

40TH WARD ALDERMAN, ANDRE VASQUEZ AND MACK JULION PRESIDENT OF THE CHICAGO POSTAL WORKERS UNION, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS LOCAL 11.

WE DID INVITE THE USPS IN CHICAGO TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE BUT THEY WERE NOT GRANTING INTERVIEWS AT THIS TIME.

ALDERMAN VASQUEZ WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN HEARING FROM RESIDENTS IN YOUR WARD ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE MAIL?

>> WE HAVE HAD COMPLAINTS FROM NEIGHBORS BEFORE COVID OF LONG SPANS OF TIMES WEEKS NOT GETTING MAIL AND A DAY WITH A PILE OF MAIL FROM MONTHS BEFORE.

PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING THE RESOURCES TO COME TO THE MAIL CHECKS AND IT KEEPS INCREASING.

>> WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE OF USPS WHEN YOU BROUGHT THE PROBLEMS TO THEIR ATTENTION?

>> THERE HASN'T REALLY BEEN A RESPONSE.

WE UNDERSTAND WITH COVID THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES BUT THE FACT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO BE RESPONSIVE AND COME OUT IN FRONT.

I THINK PUTS THEM AT A DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IT'S DIFFICULT BUT IF YOU ARE NOT SPEAKING IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE HIDING SOMETHING.

>> THEY APOLOGIZED FOR THE DISRUPTION IN SERVICE SAYING IN PART QUOTE... >> MACK JULION, WOULD YOU EXPECT THAT ANOTHER 200 LETTER CARRIERS WOULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE?

AND HOW QUICKLY COULD THEY GET THE FOLKS HIRED AND ON THE JOB?

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

200 LETTER CARRIERS CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE'VE BEEN TELLING THEM ABOUT THIS SHORTAGE FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.

I'M SURE MANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS WILL SAY THAT THE ISSUES THEY ARE HAVING WITH THE MAIL STARTED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC ONLY BECAME WORSE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SO, YES, 200 WILL GO A LONG WAY.

THAT WOULD PUT US ABOUT A FEW MONTHS OUT FROM THEM BEING ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED AND ABLE TO HELP OVER THE PAST WEEK, PARTICULARLY THIS WEEKEND AND MAYBE THROUGH NEXT WEEK WE HAVE HAD ADDITIONAL RESOURCES COME IN FROM OUT OF TOWN TO ASSIST WITH MAIL DELIVERY.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN HEARING FROM YOUR MEMBERS ABOUT WHAT THE WORKLOAD HAS BEEN LIKE FOR THEM AND WHAT SUPPORT THEY ARE GETTING?

>> WELL, FOR THEM IT'S TOTALLY FRUSTRATING.

BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF WORK ON THEM FOR THOSE WHO ARE AT WORK.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.

THEY ARE CUSTOMERS, TOO.

SO THEY UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION OF THE CUSTOMERS OUT THERE.

AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES THEY GET SOME OF THE BACKLASH ON OUT THERE ON THE STREETS WHEN THEY ARE DELIVERING BECAUSE THE CUSTOMERS ARE UPSET THEY ARE NOT GETTING THEIR MAIL.

BUT OUR MEMBERS ARE NOT TO BLAME.

>> GROVENA GALBREATH YOU FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM IN OCTOBER.

WHAT PROBLEMS HAVE YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS BEEN EXPERIENCING?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'M JUST AS ALDERMAN VASQUEZ STATED, JUST THE LACK OF CONSISTENT MAIL DELIVERY.

WE CAN GO WEEKS AT A TIME NOT GETTING REGULAR FIRST CLASS MAIL.

PACKAGES WITH TRACKING INFORMATION.

IT'S NOT KEPT UPDATED.

I PROBABLY HAVE 20 PACKAGES WITH TRACKING INFORMATION THAT IS SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SYSTEM BUT THEY SAY THEY ARE OUT FOR DELIVERY AND THEY DON'T SHOW UP OR THEY ATTEMPTED A DELIVERY AND SOMEONE IS HOME AT MY RESIDENCE ALL DAY EVERYDAY.

AND THE PACKAGES ARE JUST NOT ARRIVING OR THEY HAVE BEEN LOST.

AND THIS ISSUE FOR ME ISN'T ABOUT ECONOMICS, ABOUT WAITING FOR CHECKS OR SUCH.

IN THAT WAY I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC IN THAT WAY.

BUT I AM AN ON-LINE SHOPPER TRYING TO SUPPORT BRICK AND MORTAR BUSINESSES THROUGH THE E-COMMERCE AND MY LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN RECEIVING MY MERCHANDISE MAKES WE QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT I SHOULD BE PATRONIZING THOSE BUSINESSES.

IT CREATES A RIPPLE EFFECT BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE AN ECONOMIC DOWNWARD AWAITING A PANDEMIC AND STORES STRUGGLING TO STAY OPEN AND THE LOSS OF JOBS.

IT'S MULTIFACETED.

THE MOST VULNERABLE OF US ARE IMPACTED BY THIS ELDERLY THE DISABLEDDED AND THE SICK AND THE SHUT IN.

PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET AS EVIDENCED FROM THE ISSUES WITH ON-LINE LEARNING.

BE ABLE TO RECEIVE DIRECT DEPOSITS THAT IS A PRIVILEGE NOT A RIGHT.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN TO THE POST OFFICE A BRICK AND MORTAR POST OFFICE?

>> I HAVE.

I HAVE BEEN TO MY LOCAL BRANCH, THE JACKSON PARK BRANCH.

I HAVE WAITED IN LINE IN EXCESS OF FOUR HOURS TO TRY TO RECEIVE MAIL AND NOT GIVEN MY MAIL.

I'VE BEEN TOLD THEY CAN'T GIVE MAIL OUT OVER-THE-COUNTER.

I HAVE LODGED COMPLAINTS WITH THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE.

I HAVE CONTACTED CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICE DOWNTOWN.

AND I'M NOT GIVEN ANY SORT OF RESOLUTION OR ANY INSIGHT AS A MAIL DELIVERY HAS BEEN ARBITRARY.

>> MACK JULION AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF LETTER CARRIERS WHO DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU HEAR GROVENA GALBREATH'S STORY AND GIVE ME A SENSE HOW UNDERSTAFFED WOULD YOU SAY THE CHICAGO AREA IS?

>> WELL, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU IT IS TOTALLY DISAPPOINTING.

YOU CAN'T WORK FOR THE POSTAL SERVICE AS WE HAVE OVER THE YEARS MANY OF MY MEMBERS.

WE ARE NOT JUST HIRED.

WE TAKE AN OATH AND THEN WE FALL INTO BELIEVING TRULY THE MISSION THAT WE ARE OUT TO ACCOMPLISH EVERYDAY.

BUT NOT HAVING THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO YOU TO GET THAT JOB DONE IS FRUSTRATING BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE COUNTING ON YOU.

YOU KNOW THERE'S MEDICATION AND MAIL IS PERSONAL TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND TO OURSELVES AS WELL.

AGAIN WE ARE CUSTOMERS.

HOW SHORT ARE WE?

YOU KNOW IT'S HARD TO SAY BECAUSE AS INDICATED IN THE OIG REPORT THAT CONGRESSMAN RUSH REFERENCED LAST WEEK, A LOT OF THE INFORMATION ON THE DATA THE POSTAL SERVICE HAS IS DISTORTED.

I CAN GO INTO AN OFFICE IF THEY HAVE 50 ASSIGNMENTS AND MAYBE THEY ARE DOWN 20, 30 ASSIGNMENTS.

THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FLEXIBLE RESOURCE TO SEND AROUND THE CITY THAT IS WHY CARRIERS ARE COMING IN AS FAR AS FROM IOWA, AND INDIANA TO HELP OUT IN CHICAGO.

I DO TRUST AND BELIEVE WITH THE HIRING OF THESE CARRIERS AND THE NEW CONTRACT THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE IMPLEMENTED, THAT IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS YOU WILL SEE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

ALDERMAN VASE QEDZ, BOBBY RUSH CALLED FOR THE RESIGNATION OF THE LOCAL POSTMASTER.

DO YOU SUPPORT THE CALL FOR HER RESIGNATION?

>> I JOINED WITH 29 OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ASKING FOR THE SAME AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGE BUT IT'S HOW YOU ADDRESS IT.

I HAVE BEEN IN MAG MANAGEMENT FOR A DECADE AND YOU HAVE TIMES THAT ARE TOUGH BUT YOU HAVE TO TALK TO PEOPLE AND EXPLAIN THE CHALLENGES AND HOW YOU ARE GOING TO WORK THROUGH IT.

>> MORE TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

ALDERMAN ANDRE VASQUEZ AND MACK JULION AND GROVENA GALBREATH THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> BOEING PREPARES FOR AIR TRAVEL TO INCREASE.

THAT AND MORE BUSINESS HEADLINES.

STAY WITH US.

EVANSTON EOTHERRING TON HOTEL FACES A FORECLOSE LAWSUIT.

BOEING INCREASES THE MAX ORDER AHEAD OF THE EXPECTED TRAVEL REBOUND AND THE BIGGEST HYDROGEN FUEL CELL MANUFACTURER IN THE U.S. IS COMING TO BOLINGBROOK.

HERE IS ANN DWYER.

THE HOTEL FACING THAT FORECLOSE LAWSUIT WHERE DOES IT STAND?

>> WELL, THE OWNER IS SET TO WALK AWAY, WE THINK, BECAUSE THEY APPARENTLY SEE NO WAY THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GET CAUGHT UP ON THE MORTGAGE PAYMENTS IN ARREARS SINCE AUGUST.

THAT IS WHY DEUTCH BANK DID FILE THIS FORECLOSE LAWSUIT THEY ARE THE PROPERTY'S LENDER.

AND THEY BASICALLY ARE SAYING THAT THIS NEW YORK-BASED REAL ESTATE FIRM THAT OWNS THE PROPERTIES NEEDS TO PAY UP OR HAND OVER THE HOTEL.

AND IT IS THE LATEST EXAMPLE HOW HARD HIT THE HOSPITALLALITY INDUSTRY HAS BEEN IN THE PANDEMIC.

>> RIGHT.

UNITED AIRLINES EXPANDING ITS ORDER OF THE 737 MAX JETS FROM BOEING SPEEDING UP DELIVERIES.

UNITED EXPECTING A BOOST IN TRAVEL?

>> THEY ARE.

AND SPEAKING OF INDUSTRIES HARD HIT UNITED IS SEEING SOME LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

THEY ARE BETTING THAT DEMAND WILL REBOUND AND THESE ARE LONG-TERM MOVES.

BASICALLY, UNITED IS CALLING FOR SPEEDIER DELIVERY OF SEVERAL 737 MAX JETS THAT IT HAD ON THE ORDER BOOKS.

MORE OF THOSE PLANS WILL BE READY TO FLY BY 2022 AND THEY ARE ADDING ANOTHER BATCH OF THESE JETS TO THEIR LIST BY THE END OF 2023.

THEY ARE FIGURING THEY ARE GOING TO NEED THEM BECAUSE THEY EXPECT DOMESTIC TRAVEL TO REBOUND QUICKLY AND THAT IS WHAT THE 737 MAX JETS ARE MADE FOR.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL MIGHT TAKE LONGER.

UNITED HAS BEEN SAYING THEY SEE IT REBOUNDING NOT UNTIL 2024.

>> THAT PENT UP DEMAND.

HYZON MOTORS OPENING THE LARGEST FUEL CELL FACTORY IN THE U.S.

IN BOLINGBROOK AND WHAT IS THE SCALE OF THE PRODUCT AND HOW DO THE HYDROGEN POWERED VEHICLES COMPARED TO ELECTRIC?

>> MY UNDERSTAND SOMETHING THAT A HYDROGEN FUEL CELL IS A BATTERY THAT MAKES ELECTRICITY ON THE FLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING UNLIKE OTHER TYPES OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES WHERE YOU HAVE TO PLUG THEM IN AND RECHARGE.

>> THE NEWS TODAY IS THIS COMPANY HYZON MOTORS THEY MAKE BATTERIES FOR HYDROGEN FUELED TRUCKS.

AND THEY HAVE CHOSEN BOLINGBROOK AS A LOCATION FOR A COMPONENTS FACTORY FOR THESE TYPES OF BATTERIES.

IT WILL BE THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND IN THE U.S.

ADOPTION OF HYDROGEN FUEL VEHICLES IS LAGGING BEHIND ADOPTION HERE IN THE U.S. OF OTHER TYPES OF ELECTRIC CARS.

BUT HYZON IS BETTING THERE'S GOING TO BE INTEREST ESPECIALLY WITH SO MANY COMPANIES ALREADY DEDICATING THEMSELVES TO LONGER TERM AND NEAR TERM GREEN TARGETS.

SO THIS FACTORY WE'RE TOLD IS GOING TO START CONSTRUCTION NEXT YEAR AND IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ONE AND WE'RE WATCHING IT CLOSELY.

>> IT WILL BE ONE TO WATCH FOR SURE.

ANN DWYER AT CRAIN'S THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> STARTING TODAY, THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS JACKING UP FINES.

IF YOU DRIVE EVEN SIX MILES OVER THE SPEED LIMIT NEAR SCHOOLS AND PARKS THE CITY WILL SLAP YOU WITH A TICKET AND THAT HAS THE MAYOR AT ODDS WITH SOME ALDERMEN.

CAROL MARIN AND STUDENTS FROM DePAUL UNIVERSITY'S CENTER FOR JOURNALISM INTEGRITY AND EXCELLENCE HAVE THE STORY.

CAROL WELCOME BACK GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> IT'S IRONIC EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE FEWER CARS ON THE ROAD MORE PEOPLE ARE DYING.

TRAFFIC DEATHS IN CHICAGO ROSE 77% LAST YEAR ACCORDING TO THE CITY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

STARTING TODAY, DRIVERS WILL HAVE TO BACK OFF THE GAS PEDAL OR OPEN UP THEIR WALLETS.

CHICAGO IS NOW FINDING DRIVERS FOR GOING JUST SIX MILES OVER THE SPEED LIMIT.

AND YOU COULD BE CAUGHT IN THE BLINKING OF AN EYE.

HOW?

SPEED CAMERAS.

161 OF THEM NEAR SCHOOLS AND PARKS AROUND THE CITY.

A FLASH OF WHITE LIGHT MEANS YOU'VE BEEN NAILED.

ONE OF THE CAMERAS WITH THE MOST VIOLATIONS IN THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF JANUARY WAS IN THE 38TH WARD ON FOREST PRESERVE AVENUE WITH MORE THAN 1250 CAUGHT SPEEDING.

NIX SPOSATO IS THE ALDERMAN.

>> I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT IT PEOPLE ARE OUT OF CONTROL WITH DRIVING HABITS WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

I GET CALLS EVERYDAY ABOUT PEOPLE ARE SPEEDING AND OBEYING STOP SIGNS AND BLOWING RED LIGHTS.

>> 92 PEOPLE DIED IN MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS LAST YEAR IN CHICAGO.

THAT IS UP FROM 52 DEATHS IN 2019.

CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FIGURES INDICATE HIGHER SPEEDS NO SURPRISE HERE CONTRIBUTE TO MORE DEATHS.

>> WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CHICAGO IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

IN A STUDY CONDUCTED BY A TRAFFIC AN LATINO PARTICULARS -- ANALYTICS FIRM, PEOPLE WERE DRIVING LESS BUT THEY WERE DRIVING FASTER CONTRIBUTING TO A 31% INCREASE IN TRAFFIC DEATHS FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.

HAS RAISING THE COST AND THE THRESHOLD FOR SPEEDING TICKETS WORKED IN THE PAST IN REDUCING FATALITIES AND ACCIDENTS?

>> IT REALLY HAS WORKED.

>> JOSEPH SWEETER MAN IS A RECOGNIZE THE TRANSPORTATION EXPERT.

HE BELIEVES TICKETS AND FINES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HOW PEOPLE DRIVE.

>> AND THE PRICE INCENTIVES ARE THE EASIEST WAY TO MAKE A DENT IN THIS.

YOU GET ONE OR TWO OF THESE $35 TICKETS AND YOUR BEHAVIOR IS FOREVER CHANGED.

>> IN OCTOBER MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT PROPOSED A NEW FINE FOR GOING JUST SIX MILES OVER THE SPEED LIMIT IN SAFETY ZONES.

CITING PUBLIC SAFETY BUT ACKNOWLEDGING THE CITY IS IN THE RED IN AN NBC5 INTERVIEW HERE IS WHAT THE MAYOR SAID.

>> SOMEBODY'S GOT A BETTER IDEA HOW TO CLOSE A $1.2 BILLION BUDGET DEFICIT WE'RE OPEN TO IT.

>> UNDER THE NEW RULE, PEOPLE CAUGHT BY SPEED CAMERAS DRIVING 6-10 MILES OVER THE LIMIT ARE FINED $35.

WHEN DRIVING 11 MILES OVER THE LIMIT, SPEED CAMERA FINES AS IN THE PAST REMAIN AT $100.

>> THE FINES ARE REASONABLE LEVEL WHERE IT'S FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE A SLAP ON THE HAND RATHER THAN A MAJOR FINANCIAL BURDEN.

>> BUT... NOT SO FAST SAYS ALDERMAN BEALE.

>> YOU KNOW TELL THE PEOPLE THAT CAN LEAST AFFORD IT THAT IT'S MODEST.

>> HIS 9TH WARD IS ON THE FAR SOUTH SIDE.

>> THAT IMPACTFUL IN MY COMMUNITY IT HURTS PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY.

>> ONE OF THE CAMERAS WITH ONE OF THE HIGHEST VIOLATIONS IS IN THE 20TH WARD ON EAST MORGAN DRIVE.

>> THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES ALDERMAN TYLER.

>> JENNETTE TAILOR IS THE ALDERMAN.

>> DON'T TELL ME IT'S CAKE.

WE ARE IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND THERE IS NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT WE SHOULD BE BALANCING THIS BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF TAXPAYERS.

WE SHOULDN'T BE INCREASING ANY FINES.

>> THE SPEED LIGHT CAMERAS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS HAVE THEY NOT THESE COMPANIES?

>> YOU MENTIONED RED LIGHT CAMERAS AND PEOPLE'S BLOOD PRESSURE GOES UP BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEEN THE COVERAGE.

THERE IS NO SUGGESTION THIS RESULTS IN TICKETS NOT BEING ISSUED IN A PROPER WAY.

>> PEOPLE ARE OBEYING STOP SIGNS, PEOPLE ARE BLOWING RED LIGHTS.

SO I HATE TO PUNISH PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE COULD DO.

>> SO READY OR NOT THE NEW FINES ARE HERE.

DRIVERS BE AWARE.

>> IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TICKETS OBEY THE LAW.

PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

>> SO USING THE CITY'S INFORMATION WE LOOKED FOR THE TOP FIVE LOCATIONS FOR THE MOST VIOLATIONS FOR THE FIRST THREE WEEKS IN JANUARY.

BRANDIS, THE WINNERS OR THE LOSERS AND THE WARDS THEY ARE IN, THE 20TH, THE 9TH, THE 10TH, THE 38TH AND THE 39TH.

YOU KNOW WHICH WARD WE'RE SITTING IN RIGHT NOW?

>> I SHOULD KNOW THIS BUT I DO NOT.

>> 39TH.

>> THERE IS A CAMERA DOWN THE STREET FROM HERE.

>> AND I KNOW YOU HAVE A BIT OF A LEAD FOOT.

IF YOU ARE ZIPPING BY 4124 WEST FOSTER DO NOT ZIP SO MUCH.

>> NOTE TO SELF.

I THINK I MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN A WARNING.

I WILL EASE BACK.

CAROL YOU'VE BEEN RETIRED FOR A FEW MONTHS, HOW IS IT GOING?

>> IT'S GOING REALLY WELL.

I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW HOW I DID ALL THE OTHER STUFF.

I LOVE THIS DePAUL JOURNALISM CENTER THAT WE'RE RUNNING AND I LOVE THE STUDENTS WHO PRODUCE THIS.

THEY PRODUCED IT IN RECORD SPEED.

AND THEY ARE JUST ABOUT TO JUMP INTO THE PROFESSION LOOKING FOR MY OLD JOB POSSIBLY.

>> AND PROBABLY MINE.

>> BUT IT'S BEEN GREAT.

IT HAS.

>> RECORD SPEED WAS THAT PUN INTENDED.

>> KIND OF.

IT'S NICE TO BE HOME.

>> IT IS GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK WE'VE MISSED YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

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

ABBREVIATED TO BRING YOU SPECIAL PLEDGE PROGRAMMING AND SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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

>> AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.

THE LATEST ON THE ROLLOUT OF THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE AS SHIPMENTS BEGIN TO ARRIVE IN CHICAGO.

AND LONG TIME LINCOLN PARK ZOO HEAD AND CHICAGO TELEVISION PERSONALITY Dr. LESTER FISHER TURNS 100.

HE WILL BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT HIS CAREER.

>> AND IMAGES ARE BROOKFIELD ZOO REOPENED TODAY.

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

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]