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

EMPARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN IS ON ASSIGNMENT.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>> I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS BEST.

>> ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HER TWO YEARS IN OFFICE MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCES A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PLAN AND ALDERMEN ARE HERE TO SHARE THEIR HALF TERM REPORT.

>> THE NEIGHBORS LIKE THEY ARE NOT THERE ANYMORE.

>> WE VISIT LOGAN SQUARE FOR MORE ON GENTRIFICATION CONCERNS AND COVID IMPACTS ON THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND MUCH MORE.

>> SHE WAS THE ULTIMATE AGITATOR AND FEARED BECAUSE OF IT.

>> THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF IDA B.

WELLS.

A NEW DOCUMENTARY DETAILS THE GROUNDBREAKING JOURNALIST AND CIVIL RIGHT ICON'S PURSUIT OF JUSTICE.

>> YOU CAN HAVE A TRIP TO THE UNIVERSE IT IS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

>> ART ON THE MART IS IN FULL SWING AND WE HAVE A PREVIEW OF THE SUMMER LINEUP.

>> AND A CAL LA CONTRIBUTION ON THE LOOSE IN LAKEVIEW.

WE HAVE DETAILS IN TONIGHT'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> AND PARIS, AS YOU'VE MENTIONED I AM IN LOGAN SQUARE AS PART OF OUR LATEST "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST ON THE PROTEST HAPPENING RIGHT NOW NEAR MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S HOME ON THAT TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HER BECOMING MAYOR.

ALSO SPEAKING WITH SOME COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO WANT GREATER PROTECTIONS AGAINST DISPLACEMENT.

SOMEBODY FROM AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT THAT IS BEING BUILT HERE AND ALSO A BRAND NEW BUSINESS OWNER ON WHAT THAT POST COVID RETAIL WORLD MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

FIRST, TOSSING IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

THE MAYOR DOUBLES DOWN ON HER MOVE TO GIVE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS TO JOURNALISTS OF COLOR.

IT CAUSED CONTROVERSY AND MIXED REACTION WITH SOME GROUPS PRAISING THE DECISION TO ELEVATE THE ISSUE OF MORE DIVERSITY IN JOURNALISM.

OTHERS ARE QUESTIONING THE TACTICS AND TIMING AND CRITICIZING HER PICKING REPORTERS BASED ON SKIN COLOR.

LIGHTFOOT WANTED TO SEND A MESSAGE TO COMPANIES TO HIRE MORE DIVERSE JOURNALISTS.

ONE DAY OUT OF 365 I SAY I'M GOING TO MARK THE ANNIVERSARY OF MY TWO YEARS IN OFFICE BY GIVING EXCLUSIVE ONE-ON-ONES TO JOURNALISTS OF COLOR AND THE WORLD LOSES ITS MIND.

HOW ABOUT WE FOCUS ON DOING WHAT IS NECESSARY TO STEP UP, MAKE DIFFERENT AND BETTER HIRING DECISIONS TO DIVERSIFY THE RANKS OF THE CHICAGO PRESS CORPS AND.

>> AND MORE ON THE REACTION TO THE MAYOR IN A FEW MINUTES.

ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS 1500 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 WITH 42 DEATHS.

THAT MAKES FOR A TOTAL OF 1.37 MILLION CASES.

AND 22,536 DEATHS.

THE SEVEN-DAY POSITIVITY RATE RIGHT NOW IS DOWN TO 2.7%.

>> IT'S OFFICIAL.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO HAS A NEW NAME FOR THE LAW SCHOOL.

WHAT WAS THE UIC JOHN MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW WILL BE CALLED THE UIC SCHOOL OF LAW.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVED THE NAME CHANGE AND IT WILL TAKE EFFECT IN JULY.

THE JOHN MARSHALL WAS INDEPENDENT WAS INDEPENDENT WHEN IT MERGED WITH THE UNIVERSITY.

IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO TODAY THAT CHICAGO GOT A NEW MAYOR, LORI LIGHTFOOT WAS SWORN INTO OFFICE BECOMING THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO HOLD THE TIME.

WE VISIT LIGHTFOOT'S HOME NEIGHBORHOOD, LOGAN SQUARE ON THE CITY'S NORTHWEST SIDE.

OUR AMANDA VINICKY AND QUINN MYERS SPENT THE DAY IN THE AREA AND AMANDA JOINS US NOW FROM THE SQUARE ON KINSIE AVENUE.

ARE PROTESTS BUBBLING UP RIGHT NOW?

>> PROTESTORS ARE NEARBY HERE, YES.

LOGAN SQUARE IS A HIP NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'S GOT SHOPS AND BUSINESSES ALONG MILWAUKEE AVENUE AND THE NEARBY BOULEVARD AS WELL AS SOME STATELY HOMES AND GREENSPACE AND YES BECAUSE IT IS WHERE MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT LIVES, IT HAS ALSO BECOME A FREQUENT SPOT FOR PROTESTS.

DOZENS OF COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUPS RIGHT NOW SHOULD BE NEARING THE MAYOR'S HOME AS THEY CALL ON HER TO ENACT A WIDE RANGE OF POLICIES LIKE COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT OF POLICE.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THAT LATER.

EARLIER TODAY, ALSO, JUST BLOCKS FROM THE MAYOR'S HOME, WE CAME ACROSS A SMALLER ACTION IN UNITY PARK.

THIS WAS ORGANIZED BY THE LOGAN SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND A COUPLE OTHER GROUPS CALLING FOR AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SAYS IT IS ABOUT INSURING THAT THERE ARE COMMUNITY VOICES HEARD IN EDUCATION POLICIES.

ONE OF THE MANY ISSUES THEY HAVE TAKEN ON IN LOGAN SQUARE.

ANOTHER IS MUTUAL AID DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE ASSOCIATION'S LEADER SAY IT'S PROVIDED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO RESIDENTS IN NEED.

>> WHEN THE GOVERNMENT FAILED TO REALLY PROVIDE SAFETY NETS ESPECIALLY AROUND UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS OUR MOTHERS AND OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WE STARTED RAISING FUNDS AND STARTED GETTING FAMILIES EMERGENCY CASH ASSISTANCE, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, SOMETIMES BURIAL ASSISTANCE.

GETTING CLOSE TO THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS THROUGH OUR ORGANIZATIONS HAS BEEN FUNNELED THROUGH US THROUGH OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR SCHOOLS.

>> MONICA ESPINOZA COORDINATES THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION'S PARENT MENTORSHIP PROGRAM AND STILL HAS HOPE AND BELIEVES IN MAYOR LIGHTFOOT CONSIDERING HER A STRONG BLACK WOMAN.

AND SHE TOLD THE MAYOR WHERE SHE LIVES THEY ARE NEAR NEIGHBORS AND THE MAYOR CALLED HER HOMEY AND HOPES THAT LIGHTFOOT REMEMBERS THAT.

MONICA ESPINOZA WANTS TO BE SURE THERE IS NOT ONLY AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD BUT ONE THAT ALLOWS FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS LIKE HERSELF, TO RUN FOR BOARD SEATS.

S OPINION KNOW SA HAS LIVED IN LOGAN SQUARE ABOUT 23 YEARS.

THE AREA HAS CHANGED IN THAT TIME.

THREE STORY HOMES HAVE GONE UP WHEN THERE USED TO BE VACANT LOTS.

NEIGHBORS COULD NOT AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.

>> IT'S SUPER HARD LIKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS CHANGING AND BECOMING VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IT USED TO BE.

BUT YOU CAN STILL HEAR GUNSHOTS IN THE CORNER OF MY HOUSE AND WE HAVE THE WONDERFUL BEAUTIFUL HOUSES, PEOPLE ARE STILL GETTING MURDERED DAY BY DAY THAT HAS BECOME SO LIKE I DON'T WANT TO SAY NORMALIZED BUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS ALMOST ALL THE TIME THAT YOU CANNOT GET USED TO THAT.

>> LIBBY JULIA-VAZQUEZ, ALSO GREW UP IN LOGAN SQUARE.

THOUGH SHE COULDN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE AGAIN AFTER SHE HAD MOVED AWAY FOR A JOB.

SHE NOW WORKS FOR BICKERDIKE REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, WHICH MANAGES MORE THAN A DOZEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEXES IN HUMBOLDT PARK, WEST TOWN AND HERE IN LOGAN SQUARE.

LATEST PROJECT TRANSFORMING A PARKING LOT IN LOGAN SQUARE INTO A 100-UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING.

EVERYONE OF THOSE UNITS WILL BE AFFORDABLE.

BICKERDIKE REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION EXPECTS TO SOON OPEN APPLICATIONS TO POTENTIAL RESIDENTS THEY HAVE TO BE WITHIN THE 60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME THAT IS 55,000 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.

THE EMMITT STREET APARTMENTS WILL NOT JUST BE AFFORDABLE, WHEN THEY OPEN, THEY WILL BE NICE.

WITH A MAIL ROOM, BIKE RACKS, MANAGER AND JANITOR.

AND THEY ARE RIGHT IN THE HEART OF LOGAN SQUARE WITHIN SPITTING DISTANCE OF THE BLUE LINE STATION.

>> THE PEOPLE THE 100 FAMILIES THAT WILL LIVE IN LOGAN SQUARE ARE IN EMMITT TREE APARTMENTS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO EVERYTHING THAT IS AROUND HERE.

SO THEY WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT PAUSE THEY HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO TRAINS AND BUSES.

THEY WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TO GROCERY SHOP, TO SHOP.

THERE WILL BE ON SIGHT RETAILORS.

>> ONE BUSINESS THAT HAD LONG BEEN A STAPLE IN LOGAN SQUARE CITY LIT BOOKS WAS CLOSED BUT IS POISED TO REOPEN MID-JUNE.

STEPHANIE KITCHEN SAYS THE PANDEMIC MADE HER REALIZE YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE AND IT'S BEEN HER DREAM TO OWN A BOOK SHOP.

EVEN IF IT IS A DICEY TIME TO OPEN A BUSINESS, SHE HOPES PEOPLE NEED TO SUPPORT THEIR LOCAL STORES IF THEY WANT SOMEWHERE TO WALK TO, TO VISIT, TO DISCOVER.

>> JUST HAVE LIKE A PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THAT IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

BUILDING COMMUNITY AND HAVING PEOPLE JUST GET TOGETHER, A PLACE TO HANGOUT ONCE WE GET EVENTS GOING AGAIN OR BOOK CLUBS, STORY TIME FOR KIDS.

JUST A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GATHER AND ENJOY SOME FREE EVENTS AND ALSO YEAH, HOPEFULLY MAKE NEW DISCOVERIES.

>> BOTH CITY LIT AND EMMITT STREET APARTMENTS ARE CLOSE TO THE CAN'T MISS THE EMBLEM OF LOGAN SQUARE THE MONUMENT CELEBRATING ILLINOIS' 1918 CENTENNIAL IS AMONG THE 500 PLAQUES UNDER REVIEW AMONG THE CHICAGO PROJECT.

THIS IS ALSO WHERE TONIGHT'S PROTESTS KICKED OFF AND WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT COMING UP.

FIRST, PARIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> AMANDA THANK YOU.

GOOD JOB AS ALWAYS OUT THERE IN LOGAN SQUARE.

AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SHE SURGED FROM UNKNOWN STATUS TO BECOME THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND OPENLY GAY MAYOR OF CHICAGO AND VOWED A NEW ERA OF TRANSPARENCY AND CURBING THE PRIVILEGE -- WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO MORE OF ALDERMANIC REACTION WE WILL BE BACK WITH ANOTHER IN JUST A SECOND.

A COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROJECT PLUS REFLECTIONS ON A YEAR OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND RACIAL RECKONING, HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON HOW MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT CELEBRATED HER TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN OFFICE.

HEATHER, THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED THE CHICAGO WORKS COMMUNITY CHALLENGE TODAY AS PART OF THIS PRESS CONFERENCE MARKING THEIR TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> IT'S GOING TO TAKE $1.5 MILLION IN EACH OF THE CITY'S SEVEN PLANNING AREAS TO SPRUCE UP CITY FACILITIES LIKE LIBRARIES OR COMMUNITY CENTERS OR TO FILL IN VACANT LOTS OWNED BY THE CITY.

THE MONEY IS GOING TO COME FROM THE CITY'S FIVE-YEAR $3.7 BILLION INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN THAT LAUNCHED LAST MONTH.

THIS IS A SMALL PART OF THAT OVERALL EFFORT.

BUT THE MAYOR WAS IN AUBURN GRESHAM TODAY TO RENEW HER CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO AREAS OF THE CITY LIKE AUBURN GRESHAM WHICH HAVE SUFFERED FOR DECADES FROM DISINVESTMENT AND SYSTEMIC RACISM.

>> AND PART OF THAT SHE LISTED WHAT SHE SEES AS ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM THE LAST YEAR.

>> THESE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT WHAT I WOULD HAVE ANTICIPATED BUT IN MANY WAYS I WOULD NOT TRADE A SECOND OF IT.

IT'S BEEN HARD.

IT'S BEEN TOUGH.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I'VE FELT DESPAIR.

>> WHAT IS YOUR TAKEAWAY AFTER LISTENING TO THAT?

>> SHE HAS A LOT OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

BUT SHE WAS VERY CLEAR THAT MANY OF HER PLANS WERE OUT RIGHT DERAILED BY THE COVID-19, THE ECONOMIC CATASTROPHE AND THE CIVIL UNREST THAT SWEPT THE CITY JUST ABOUT A YEAR AGO AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD IN MINNEAPOLIS POLICE CUSTODY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS UNDONE.

AND THE MAYOR TRIED TO PAINT A PICTURE TODAY OF BETTER DAYS AHEAD AND MORE ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO COME.

>> AND WE'RE JUST ABOUT TO HEAR FROM ALDERMEN AND THEIR TAKE ON ALL THIS.

HEATHER CHERONE THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SORRY ABOUT THAT MIX-UP.

LORI LIGHTFOOT SURGED FROM NEAR UNKNOWN STATUS TO BECOME THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN AND OPENLY GAY MAYOR OF CHICAGO SHE VOWED A NEW ERA OF TRANSPARENCY AND CURBING THE PRIVILEGES THAT ALDERMEN HAD BEEN USED TO IN THE WAKE OF THE SCANDAL INVOLVING ED BURKE.

SHE TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE TWO YEARS AGO TODAY.

HISTORIC TEACHERS' STRIKE, SKYROCKETING HOMICIDE RATES AND A ONCE IN A GENERATION GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

AND JOINING US TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ARE ALDERMAN RAY LOPEZ OF THE 15TH WARD ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE.

ALDERMAN BRIAN HOPKINS WHO REPRESENTS THE NORTH SIDE SECOND WARD.

ALDERMAN ANTHONY BEALE WHO REPRESENTS THE 9TH WARD ON THE FAR SOUTH SIDE AND GEORGE CARDENAS ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE.

GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU.

ALDERMAN BEALE YOU HEARD THE INTRODUCTION, HAS MAYOR LIGHTFOOT LED THE CITY IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION HERE AT HER MIDWAY POINT.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FAILED POLICIES PUT IN PLACE AND THE LOOTING THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE, AND CRIME AND MURDER AND CARJACKINGS.

AND SO I'M VERY, VERY DISCOURAGED THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PENNIES PUTTING IN WARDS WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE DIEING IN THE STREET AND NOBODY IS SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

THEY ARE TAKING OUR POLICE AND SENDING THEM TO DOWNTOWN TO STAND AROUND AND DO NOTHING.

I'M DISCOURAGED ON WE'RE TRYING TO DEFLECT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE CITY.

INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THE REAL ISSUES THAT IS PLAGUING US EVERYDAY.

>> ON THE ISSUE OF CRIME MURDERS ARE UP 22%.

THEY WERE UP LAST YEAR IN THE 700'S.

SHOOTINGS UP 33%.

BRIAN HOPKINS, DOES THE MAYOR WEAR THE HAT FOR THIS?

>> EVERY MAYOR WOULD.

THAT'S ONE OF THE TOP QUESTIONS THAT I GET ASKED IT IS A CONCERN TO THE RESIDENTS IN MY WARD I LEARNED EARLY ON THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS DISMISS PEOPLE'S FEAR WHEN THEY ARE AFRAID FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY AND THEY HEAR THE STATISTICS THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO, IS LESSON IT.

IT WILL SOUND LIKE YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO IN RESPONSE TO IT AND YOU'RE TRYING TO DENY THAT IT IS A PROBLEM.

SHE MADE THAT MISTAKE TODAY AT HER PRESS CONFERENCE AND I KNOW THAT DID NOT GO OVER WELL WITH THE PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY.

>> TALK ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALDERMAN RAY LOPEZ YOU'VE SEEN THE RESIGNATION OF EDDIE JOHNSON AND THE INTERIM TERM OF CHARLIE BECK AND DAVID BROWN AND RETIREMENTS IN THE TOP RANKS.

WHAT ABOUT HER HANDLING OF THE DEPARTMENT?

>> I THINK NOT JUST THE ISSUE OF THAT DEPARTMENT IT'S THE CITY GOVERNMENT.

OUR GOVERNMENT THE BRAIN TRUST OF CITY HALL IS RUNNING AROUND ON EMPTY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT WANT TO BE A PART OF CITY GOVERNMENT ANYMORE.

THEY ARE TIRED OF ABRACE I HAVENESS AND THE ABUSE AND DYSFUNCTIONALITY THAT IS LORI LIGHTFOOT.

BEFORE PANDEMIC SHE CAME IN WITH SO MUCH HOPE AND PROMISE THAT PEOPLE BELIEVED IN SOMETHING DIFFERENT KEMPING TO CITY GOVERNMENT AND SHE HAS FAILED AT EVERY TURN MOST OF THE TIME FROM SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS AND ALL WE GET ARE BUZZWORDS AND THE KEY PHRASES THROWN AT US TO THE POINT THEY ARE MEANINGLESS.

AND THE ONLY THING THAT HAS BEEN EQUITABLE IN THE CITY IS THE FACT THAT WE'RE ALL NOW LIVING IN FEAR OF BEING SHOT OR CARJACKED IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS SHE DID WAS TURNED AROUND AND LOOKING AT YOU AND POINTING HER FINGER SAYING ALDERMANIC PRIVILEGE IS GONE AND THE LIFE IS GOING TO CHANGE.

WHAT ABOUT THE ISSUE ON POLICE REFORM, GEORGE CARDENAS, THERE SEEMS TO BE A MAJORITY SUPPORT FOR A CIVILIAN POLICE REVIEW BOARD.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT DOESN'T SUPPORT THIS PLAN.

SHE SAID FOR MONTHS SHE IS GOING TO HAVE HER OWN PLAN.

HOW HAS SHE DONE ON POLICE REFORM?

>> MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE I HEARD MY COLLEAGUES TALK ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE MAYOR WEARS THE JACKET FOR VIOLENCE IN THE CITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EVERYTHING YOU CAN THROW IN THERE.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR.

THIS PANDEMIC REALLY TOOK US DOWN IN A BIG WAY.

AND SO SHE IS ACCOUNTABLE TO CONSTITUENTS ON POLICE AND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND I THINK SHE IS SAYING THAT SHE WANTS A BILL OR ORDINANCE THAT REFLECTS THAT.

SO WE'RE ALL ON THAT TOGETHER.

MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.

SHE CAME IN AS AN ANTICORRUPTION, NON-STATUS QUO AND THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE GETTING.

A LOT OF FOLKS ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.

BUT THAT IS WHAT SHE CAME IN AND SAID SHE WAS GOING TO DO.

I DON'T LIKE THE ALDERMANIC PRIVILEGE STAMP THERE IS MORE THAT WE WEIGH-IN AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR CONSTITUENTS TO HAVE THEIR ALDERMEN WEIGH-IN.

I DISAGREE ON THAT.

BUT I DEGREE ON HER ON ONE THING NOT THE STATUS QUO CAN NO LOCKERBIE HELD IN THE CITY.

AND YOU ARE SEEING AN EARTHQUAKE IN SO MANY WAYS.

A LOT OF IT IS RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC.

A LOT IS RELATED TO THE AFTERMATH OF THAT BUT THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD THINGS IN THE CITY.

I WAS WATCHING THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

PROJECTS IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, INVESTMENT IN THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE WHICH WAS NEVER ATTENDED TO BY PREVIOUS MAYORS.

AND THE GOVERNMENT I KNOW THERE'S CRITICS BUT THE GARBAGE IS BEING PICKED UP.

POLICE ARE DOING REALLY NOWADAYS THEIR BEST JOB IN SOME OF THE DISTRICTS THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING RESOURCES.

AND I LOOK AT IT HALF FULL VERSUS HALF EMPTY DEPENDING WHERE YOU ARE AT.

IF YOU PUT YOUR HANDS TO IT, IF YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF IT AND WORK TO MAKE THE CITY BETTER, THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN AND THAT IS -- >> YOU'RE MENTIONING SOME OF HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

MAKING A LOT OF NEWS ABOUT INVESTING IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE AUBURN GRESHAM, ALDERMAN BEALE, YOU REPRESENT ROSELAND THERE WAS INVESTMENT IN YOUR WARD UNDER THE PREVIOUS MAYOR.

DO YOU THINK THAT THIS MAYOR HAS AMPED UP THOSE INVESTMENTS?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT PROJECTS THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING TO THE TABLE, SOME OF THEM HAVE TRIED TO BE DERAILED.

I TRIED TO WORK WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF PLANNING AND HE IS NOT REEXCEPTSIVE TO OUR -- RECEPTIVE TO OUR IDEAS.

HE WANTS TO WORK AROUND US BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT COMES FROM THE TOP.

I HAVE INVESTED OVER A BILLION DOLLARS IN PUBLIC PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN MY COMMUNITY WE ARE DOING A GREAT JOB IN THE 9TH WARD AND SOME OF THE THINGS I'M TRYING TO DO.

WHEN I BROUGHT AMAZON TO THE CITY, THEY WENT TO THE MAYOR AND SAID ALDERMAN BEALE SAID HE HAS AMAZON AND SHE SAID I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT AMAZON AND IT IS NOT A DONE DEAL INSTEAD OF EMBRACING ME BRINGING AMAZON TO MY WARD.

>> EYE TO EYE WHO DESERVES CREDIT TO BRINGING DEVELOPMENT TO YOUR WARD.

ALDERMAN HOPKINS SHE FACED CRITICISM BEING VINDICTIVE OR BULLYING IN HER PERSONAL STYLE WHAT IS YOUR WORKING RELATIONSHIP BEEN LIKE WITH HER?

>> I DON'T HAVE A VERY PRODUCTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH HER.

DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A RELATIONSHIP AT ALL.

A HANDFUL OF CONVERSATIONS WITH HER IN THE PAST TWO YEARS THAT SHE'S BEEN MAYOR.

I WILL SAY THAT ONE OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS WAS DECIDEDLY UNCIVIL AND THE OTHERS WERE VERY CIVIL AND I ARGUE SOMEWHAT PRODUCTIVE.

BUT OVERALL, SHE JUST LACKS THE ABILITY TO FORM THOSE TYPES OF RELATIONSHIPS AND POLITICS.

SHE WAS NOT A POLITICIAN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE PRESENTED TO THE VOTERS OF CHICAGO AS AN ASSET WHEN SHE RAN.

LOOK I'M NOT A POLITICIAN SO I'M DIFFERENT AND VOTE FOR PEE.

THERE IS A FLIP SIDE.

YOU LACK THE POLITICAL EXPERIENCE THAT YOU NEED TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS YOU NEED TO BUILD COALITIONS YOU NEED TO ADVANCE YOUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND YOU NEED TO HAVE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMPANION PIECE OF GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

SHE CAME IN WITH THE ASSUMPTION SHE DIDN'T NEED ANY OF THAT IT WAS NOT A SKILL SHE HAD AND WAS NOT A SKILL SHE WAS INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING AND WE ARE TWO YEARS LATER AND SHE HAS NOT DEVELOPED IT.

>> TWO BUDGETS AND THEY HAVE PASSED NOT GIANT MAJORITIES ALL YOU NEED IS A MAJORITY S THAT EVIDENCE THAT PERHAPS THAT MAY BE MORE STICK APPROACH IS WORKING?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

BECAUSE ONLY LEADERSHIP QUALITY THE MAYOR HAS BROUGHT IS DIVISION AND THE FACT THAT SHE PRIDES HERSELF TO ONLY HAVE TO REACH 26 AS OPPOSED TO BUILDING TO 50 WHICH IS THE ENTIRE CITY OF CHICAGO SHOWS SHE IS NOT ABOUT TRYING TO BE A COALITION BUILDER.

SHE WANTS TO GET THROUGH IT AND GET THROUGH IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

AND I HOPE THAT SHE FIGURES OUT HOW TO RIGHT THIS SHIP WITH HER LEADERSHIP STYLE BECAUSE AS MUCH AS I DISAGREE WITH HER, HER FAILING IS CHICAGO'S FAILURE.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN ALL AGREE ON.

NONE OF US WANT TO SEE THE CITY FAIL.

AND ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WE WILL MAKE THIS RIGHT AND I THINK THAT REQUIRES A CITY COUNCIL TO START STEPPING UP AND FILLING THE LEADERSHIP VACUUM SHE HAS ALLOWED TO EXIST FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS AND HOPEFULLY STOPS IN THE NEXT TWO.

>> YOU WANT TO JUMP IN, DO YOU SEE THAT HAPPENING WHERE CITY COUNCIL MIGHT OVERRIDE SOME OF HER INITIATIVES NOW THAT THERE IS A MAJORITY IN OPPOSITION TO WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO?

>> I THINK YOU ARE STARTING TO SEE THE BUILDING OF COALITIONS THAT ARE AROUND ISSUES AND THAT ARE COMING TOGETHER TO SHOW SUPPORT AND UNITY FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY OF THE CHICAGO.

UNLIKE WHAT PEOPLE WOULD CALL THE COUNCIL WARS OF THE PAST THIS IS NOT ABOUT RACE THIS IS ABOUT OUR CITY OUR FUTURE.

SOMETHING TO TURNOVER TO OUR CHILDREN.

>> ALDERMAN CARDENAS WHAT ABOUT CITY FINANCES, ALWAYS A BIG ISSUE.

THE BUDGET AND YOU ALL WANT THAT FEDERAL RELIEF MONEY TO PAYBACK SOME OF THE BORROWING HAS SHE IMPROVED THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE CITY, HAVE YOU IMPROVED THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE CITY?

>> I THINK WE DO HAVE HELP FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMING IN AND IT WILL ALLEVIATE PRESSURES AND INCREASED TAXES AND FEES.

THAT IS A DEBATE THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY COUNCIL AND I WOULD LOVE TO GET THERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SEPTEMBER WE SET A DEADLINE FOR RELEASING PARTS OF THE BUDGET TO GET STARTED ON SEEING HOW THIS MONEY IS GOING TO BE USED.

I EXPECT A HEALTHY DEBATE FROM MY COLLEAGUES.

YOU HEAR THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT HAPPY WITH ASPECTS OF OUR ADMINISTRATION.

I'VE TALKED TO THE MAYOR.

I THINK THAT IN THE COUNCIL, MUCH NEEDS TO BE DONE TO COLLABORATE.

I AM A COLLABORATOR, I GOT ALONG WITH DALEY VERY, VERY WELL.

I GOT ALONG WITH RAHM EMANUEL AND LIGHTFOOT.

THAT'S MY APPROACH WORKING FINDING A WAY TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE PERSON IN THE FIFTH FLOOR IT BENEFITS MY COMMUNITY AND BENEFITS THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND I WILL TALK TO MY COLLEAGUES HOW DO WE COLLABORATE AND GET ACROSS AND SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE.

>> YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAYOR THAN SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES HERE ON THIS PANEL.

ALDERMAN BEALE WHAT ABOUT HER HANDLING OF COVID, YOU SEE THE RATES DOWN AND VACCINATIONS UP, YOU DO SEE AN EFFORT TO TRY AND HAVE VACCINE EQUITY.

HOW HAS SHE HANDLED THIS ONCE IN A GENERATION CRISIS?

>> I MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE ADMINISTRATION NOT TO USE CHICAGO STATE BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD LOCATION AND THEY MADE THE DECISION FOR CHICAGO STATE.

AND RIGHT NOW THEY ARE AVERAGING 53 PEOPLE A DAY AND THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING OVER 2,000.

I TOLD THEM IT WAS A BAD SIGHT THEY WENT IN ANYWAY AND NOW YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON AND IT GOES BACK TO WHAT WE TALK ABOUT.

THIS ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT LISTEN TO US.

THEY DO NOT.

THEY SAY THAT THEY DO BUT THEY DON'T LISTEN TO US AND THAT IS WHY YOU SEE THE CITY IN THE SITUATION IT'S IN.

ALDERMAN LOPEZ AND I WARNED THE MAYOR ABOUT THE LOOTING AND TOLD HER IT WAS COMING AND SHE TOLD US I DON'T HAVE TIME TO CHASE RUMORS.

>> AFTER THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE TRIED WE TRIED.

WE ALL TRY TO HELP THIS ADMINISTRATION AND WE ALL FAILED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AND AGAIN YOU'RE GOVERNING FOR 26 WHEN YOU GET TO 25, YOU WILL HAVE PROBLEMS.

SO WE'RE COMING TOGETHER AS A CITY COUNCIL AND WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT BY THE CITY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO RIGHT THE WRONGS.

YOU CANNOT TELL PEOPLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD BUT THEN YOU TELL THEM DON'T ASK ME FOR YOU KNOW WHAT FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS IF YOU DON'T VOTE FOR MY BUDGET.

WHAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP IS THAT?

I DON'T HAVE TO LIKE YOU TO HELP YOUR PEOPLE PROVIDE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> A LOT OF CHALLENGES THAT YOU ALL FACE AND TWO MORE YEARS IN THIS TERM.

WE HAVE THE ECONOMY OPENING UP AGAIN AFTER COVID WE'LL SEE HOW CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR WORKS TOGETHER TO TACKLE THE CHALLENGES AND HOPE YOU SEE YOU SOON.

THANK YOU TO RAY LOPEZ, BRIAN HOPKINS, ANTHONY BEALE AND GEORGE CARDENAS.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, PARIS.

>> UP NEXT A SUMMER PREVIEW OF A PUBLIC ART DISPLAY SO PLEASE STICK AROUND.

>> THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD INCLUDING AN INSIDE LOOK INTO A NEW DOCUMENTARY ABOUT IDA B.

WELLS.

BUT FIRST ONE OF THE CITY'S FREE PUBLIC ART EXPERIENCES IS BACK WITH A TRIP THROUGH THE UNIVERSE.

ATRS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU SHARES HOW ART ON THE MART IS WORKING WITH CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS TO BRING THEIR WORK TO WACKER DRIVE.

[♪♪♪] >> YOU'RE WALKING DOWN WACKER AND YOU CAN HAVE A TRIP THROUGH THE UNIVERSE.

>> IT IS A LIGHT SHOW UNLIKE ANY OTHER.

IT FEATURES WORK FROM THE ADLER PLANETARIUM AND WORK FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO FEATURING WORK FROM ARTIST LISA BUTLER.

>> IT HIGHLIGHTS WHAT WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT WE CAN BE A PLATFORM TO AMPLIFY THE WORK THAT OTHER CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR GREAT CITY HAVE BEEN CREATING IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC.

>> THE LOCATION PROJECTED ACROSS THE FACE OF THE BUILDING FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE MERCHANDISE MART MAKES FOR OPTIMAL VIEWS AND THE SKYLINE THAT MAKES THE ADLER PLANETARIUM'S CURRENT TRIP THROUGH THE UNIVERSE THAT MUCH MORE EXCITING.

>> THE VISUALS GO THROUGH FOUR SEQUENCES, IT STARTS WITH EARTH THAT IS BEHIND ME.

AND IT MOVES INTO PLANETS AND SHOWS DIFFERENT WORLDS TAKES PEOPLE TO DIFFERENT WORLDS LIKE SATURN AND MARS.

AND WE GO TO THE STARS.

WE SHOW PEOPLE HOW STARS EVOLVE AND CHANGE THROUGH TIME.

AND GO TO BEYOND WE GO INTO SPECULATIVE REALMS WE SHOW PEOPLE THE SCALE OF THE UNIVERSE AND HOW IT CAME TO BE THE WAY IT IS NOW.

>> THE EXOCCURS IS PAIRED WITH TUNES PROVIDED BY SUN RA, A JAZZ COMPOSER KNOWN FOR HIS COSMIC SOUND WHICH CAN BE HEARD FROM SPEAKERS ON THE RIVERWALK.

>> SUN RA IS FROM OUTERSPACE HE ARRIVED ON THE PLANET AND THE PLAN WAS TO BRING HIS PEOPLE BACK INTO OUTERSPACE WITH THE POWER OF MUSIC BUILDING A SPACESHIP OUT OF HIS MUSIC HIS MUSIC IS REALLY ECLECTIC.

>> THIS TRIPPY SPACE IS ONE OF MANY PROJECTIONS SHOWCASED ON THE MERCHANDISE MART.

THE 30-MINUTE SHOWS FEATURE WORK FROM CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THE OBAMA PORTRAITS.

AND WHILE ART ON THE MARTINS TO PARTNER WITH EXISTING INSTITUTIONS, THEY ALSO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF SHOWCASING LOCAL ARTISTS.

THAT'S WHY THEY ARE ALWAYS TAKING PROPOSALS.

>> OVER THE LONG DURATION OF THIS PROJECT WE WILL BE ABLE TO SHOW A GREATER AND MORE DIVERSE RANGE OF PROJECTIONS.

WE INVITE EVERYONE'S PARTICIPATION.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> STUDENT PROJECTS FULLY JOINED THE LINEUP AND WE HOPE THAT HE ENJOYED THAT PEEK OF THE OBAMA PORTRAITS THEY JOIN THE LINEUP STARTING JUNE 17TH.

AND CATCH ART ON THE MART EVERY NIGHT AT 9:00 P.M. AND 9:30.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... WE'RE LIVE FROM LOGAN SQUARE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S ALDERMAN AND THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON A PROTEST NEAR MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S HOUSE.

>> A NEW DOCUMENTARY DETAILING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF CIVIL RIGHTS ICON IDA B.

WELLS THAT AIRS TOMORROW NIGHT ON WTTW BUT WE GIVE YOU A PREVIEW.

AND A CAL BOSS ON THE LOOSE IN LAKEVIEW.

>> EMS OF THE FOP POLICE UNION ISSUED THE VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE MAYOR AND SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN AND ERIC CARTER.

FOP LODGE 7 PRESIDENT JOHN CATANZARA SAYS THE MEMBERSHIP SPOKE LOUD AND CLEAR WITH THE VOTE BUT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SHRUGGED IT OFF.

>> GETTING A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE FROM THAT GUY IS A BADGE OF HONOR.

ACCEPTED.

THERE'S GOING TO BE CRITICS THAT GOES WITH THE TERRITORY.

>> AND CHICAGO OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL ALLOW FULL CAPACITY BLOCK PARTIES TO RETURN TO THE CITY STREETS AND NEIGHBORHOODS STARTING JULY FIFTH AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC OPINIONS TO WANE BUT THE CITY WILL NOT ALLOW THE PARTIES TO FEATURE BOUNCE HOUSES.

THE PARTIES WERE BANNED THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER OF 2020.

CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WILL START ACCEPTING ' KA INDICATIONS TO CLOSE-UP TO TWO BLOCKS OF STREETS STARTING JUNE 6.

>> AND NOW WE CHECK BACK IN WITH AMANDA VINICKY WHO SPENT THE DAY IN LOGAN SQUARE AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

AMANDA, WHAT DO YOU GOT?

>> PARIS WE ARE JOINED BY 35TH WARD ALDERMAN CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

YOU HAVE BEEN A FREQUENT CRITIC OF MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND THERE WAS A SIZABLE PROTEST NEAR HER HOME.

WHAT SHOULD HER PRIORITY BE NOW IN THE SECOND HALF OF HER TERM?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF GROUND TO BE MADE IN REBUILDING TRUST WITH THE PUBLIC.

I'VE BEEN A MAYOR AND PARTNERED WITH HER ON A NUMBER OF THINGS.

THEY WERE OUT HERE GIVING HER A REPORT CARD I GIVE HER C'S AND C PLUS' ON HOUSING.

BUT THERE IS A LOT OF BROKEN PROMISES AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD, CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT OVER THE POLICE WE HAVE TO GET THOSE THINGS DONE.

>> AND YOU DO THAT CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICE IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU FORESEE HAPPENING WHILE MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT IS IN OFFICE?

>> THE MAYOR PROMISED TO GET IT DONE IN HER FIRST 100 DAYS AND WE DO NOT HAVE AN ORDINANCE AND THE ORDINANCE THAT HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE CAUCUSES RIGHT NOW INCLUDES THE PROVISIONSES THAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT CAMPAIGNED ON AND INCLUDES EXPERTS ON POLICE REFORM SAID WE NEED TO HAVE.

FRANKLY I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE MAYOR IS OPPOSING THIS ORDINANCE.

WE NEED HER TO JOIN WITH THE COMMUNITY GROUPS WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITIES.

AND TO SUPPORT THE CAUCUSES AND THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL THAT WANT THIS ORDINANCE TO PASS.

>> ONE OF THE AREAS SHE HAS DONE WELL IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WE SPOKE WITH SOMEONE EARLIER WHO IS PART OF THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEX.

100 UNITS THAT WILL BE GOING UP.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT FOR THIS AREA?

>> LOOK WE HAVE SEEN SO MUCH DISPLACEMENT IN LOGAN SQUARE.

CHICAGO HAS SUCH AN UGLY HISTORY OF SEGREGATION WE NEED TO CREATE INTEGRATED NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE DIVERSITY IN LOGAN SQUARE WE WANT TO BUILD UPON THAT AND PRESERVE THAT AND IT SHOULD BE A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE CITY.

IF WE ARE GOING TO PRESERVE THAT DIVERSITY AND INTEGRATION WE NEED TO DO MORE THINGS LIKE THE 100 UNIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILDING.

>> MORE CHANGES COMING INCLUDING HERE TO THE I WAS GOING TO CALL IT A SQUARE BUT IT IS A CIRCLE CHANGE IS COMING CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT IS GOING ON.

>> WE ARE IN LOGAN SQUARE MILWAUKEE CUTS THROUGH THE SQUARE PROPER WE ARE GOING TO CLOSE THAT OFF AND CREATE A ROUNDABOUT.

AND WE WILL REROUTE KINSIE AVENUE THIS WAS A PROJECT INITIATED BY THE COMMUNITY WE WILL CREATE A PLAZA AND REROUTE KINSIE THROUGH THE BUS TURN AROUND AT THE LOGAN SQUARE TRAIN STOP KINSIE WILL GO IN FRONT OF OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILDING.

IT IS A GREAT PROJECT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR YEARS.

WE HAVE THE FUNDING IN PLACE AND WE'RE HOPING THAT CONSTRUCTION WILL START THIS FALL.

>> AS YOU AND I TALK IT SEEMS WILL BE RESTAURANTS AND BARS NEARBY THAT ARE BUSTLING AND WE ARE HOWEVER IN A PANDEMIC AND SPOKE WITH A NEW BUSINESS OWNER WHO SAYS IT'S SCARY TO BE OPENING UP RIGHT NOW.

WHAT CAN THE CITY COUNCIL DO TO BOOST RETAIL?

TO BOOST ACTIVITY IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THIS ONE?

>> YOU KNOW THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE PANDEMIC HURT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.

I THINK WE NEED TO USE THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND THE MONEY THAT IS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND WE HAVE TO CONVENE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, WORKER GROUPS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT PROVISIONS WE CAN PUT IN PLACE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE AND OUR ECONOMY IS WORKING FOR EVERYONE.

I THINK WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF LOW WAGE JOBS ARE NOT GOOD JOBS PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH THE LIVING WAGES.

PARTICULARLY IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY WE'VE BEGUN TO SEE SOMEPLACES LIKE MCDONALD'S OFFER $18 AN HOUR.

WE NEED TO SEE MORE SUPPORT FOR WORKERS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE THINGS THEY NEED TO THRIVE IN THE WORKFORCE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ONE AGAIN THAT WAS 35TH WARD ALDERMAN CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA.

WE WILL BE BACK WITH MORE COMING UP.

BACK TO YOU GUYS.

>> FOR DETAILS ON A NEW DOCUMENTARY ABOUT A TRAIL BLAZING JOURNALIST.

PHIL?

>> PARIS, IT IS [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE] >> AS WELL AS HER ONGOING LEGACY TODAY.

IN HER EARLY 30s SHE MOVED TO CHICAGO AFTER RACIST MOBS DESTROYED HER MEMPHIS PRINTING PRESS.

>> SHE HAD LOST EVERYTHING AT AGE 30.

NOT ONLY HER PHYSICAL PROPERTY AND HER PRINTING PRESS BUT HER FRIENDS WHICH IS NO SMALL THING.

>> HAVING LOST MY PAPER, HAD A PRICE PUT ON MY LIFE, AND BEING MADE AN EXILE FROM HOME FOR HINTING AT THE TRUTH I FELT I OWED TO MYSELF AND TO MY RACE TO TELL THE WHOLE TRUTH NOW THAT I WAS WHERE I COULD DO SO FREELY.

>> AND JOINING US IS THE WRITER AND PRODUCER OF THE DOCK MENMY, STACY ROBINSON WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AND CONGRATULATIONS ON AN OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY ABOUT A WOMAN "THE NEW YORK TIMES" CALLED THE MOST FAMOUS BLACK WOMAN IN THE UNITED STATES OF HER TIME.

WHY DON'T MORE PEOPLE KNOW THAT?

I CERTAINLY DIDN'T.

>> PHIL THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THAT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK MOST OF US HAD HEARD THE NAME IDA B.

WELLS.

WE'RE STARTING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HER NOW.

I THINK SOME OF IT HAS TO DO WITH PERHAPS HOW OUTSPOKEN SHE WAS IN HER OWN DAY THAT SHE WAS KIND OF WRITTEN OUT OF HISTORY AND POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF HOW WE THE LACK OF INTEREST OR EMPHASIS THAT WE HAVE ON WOMEN IN HISTORY AND ESPECIALLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN IN HISTORY.

>> AS A WRITER SHE IS PROBABLY BEST KNOWN FOR THE INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM SHE DID INVESTIGATING AND REPORTING ON LYNN ANDINGS IN THE SOUTH AND THERE WAS A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN HER LIFE WHICH YOU DESCRIBE IN THE DOCUMENTARY, TELL US WHAT THAT MOMENT WAS?

>> WELL, REALLY, SHE HAD WHAT HAPPENED WAS THERE WAS A LYNCHING IN MEMPHIS.

AND IT OCCURRED IN AN AREA KNOWN AS THE CURVE.

AND THERE WERE THREE GENTLEMEN THAT WERE LYNCHED THEY WERE MURDERED AND ONE OF THEM WAS ACTUALLY A VERY, VERY GOOD CLOSE FRIEND OF IDA B.

WELLS.

SHE FELT HE WAS LIKE FAMILY.

AND I THINK THAT THAT REALLY THAT ACTIVATED HER IN A WAY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

I THINK SHE HAD IN SOME WAYS BOUGHT INTO THIS FALSE NARRATIVE THAT WAS PERVASIVE AT THE TIME OF THE REASONS BEHIND LYNCHING WHICH WAS USUALLY THERE WAS A CRIMINAL ACT OR THAT BLACK MEN HAD RAPED WHITE WOMEN THAT WAS TYPICAL N THIS CASE SHE KNEW THAT WAS NOT TRUE.

AND IT ACTIVATED HER.

AND I THINK IT CHANGED HER IN A WAY AND SHE DECIDED TO USE ALL HER JOURNALISM EFFORTS TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE LYNCHING.

>> AND SHE WENT ON TO DO THAT WITH INVESTIGATIVE PIECES AND SHE INVESTIGATED LYNCHING THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH AND REPORTED ON THEM AND BROUGHT THEM TO PUBLIC CONSCIOUSENCE.

HOW DANGEROUS WAS THAT WORK FOR HER TO LOOK INTO THE INCIDENTS AND ACTS OF VIOLENCE?

>> I HAVE TO IMAGINE THAT IT WAS I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW DANGEROUS IT WAS.

CERTAINLY WAS NOT COMMON FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN IN THE 1880s AND 1890s TO BE TRAVELING ALONE IN THE SOUTH, MUCH LESS KIND OF LOOKING INTO THE TRUTH BEHIND THESE ATROCITIES.

SHE HAS BEEN ROUGHERRED TO AS A MUCK BREAKER AND I BELIEVE SHE WAS.

SHE PUT HER LIFE AT RISK THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE BEING LYNCHED IN THE SOUTH.

AND SHE WAS AT RISK OF THAT RETRIBUTION.

BUT SHE WAS UNSTOPPABLE.

SHE WAS DETERMINED.

I SAY THAT I DON'T THINK THAT SHE PROBABLY THOUGHT HERSELF TO BE SOME SORT OF A HERO OR MARTYR IN ANYWAY.

I THINK SHE JUST BELIEVED IT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND SHE WAS GOING TO DO IT.

I THINK IT WAS MORE OF DETERMINATION THAN ANY DESIRE TO BE PLACED ON A PEDESTAL.

>> CONNECT THE DOTS WOULD YOU PLEASE, BETWEEN HER LIFE AND THE WORK OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN ACTIVISTS TODAY.

HOW DIRECT IS THE LINK?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK DURING THE MAKING OF THE FILM OF THIS DOCUMENTARY, WE SAW A VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT THROUGH LINE WE KNEW IT WAS THERE BUT I THINK THAT IDA B.

WELLS SHE LAYS THE BLUEPRINT FOR THE THINGS THAT WE ARE FIGHTING TODAY.

THERE IS A LOT TO BE LOOKED AT.

THE WAY THAT SHE EXCUSE ME -- THERE'S NOISE NEXT DOOR.

FOR ONE OF THE WAYS SHE WAS WILLING TO USE RESEARCH AND KIND OF DATA INVESTIGATION TO FIGHT AGAINST THIS FALSE NARRATIVES GOING ON.

THAT IS VERY MUCH SIMILAR TO THINGS WE SEE IN THE BLACK LIVES MATTER AND SAY THEIR NAME AS WELL, WHERE WE BRING TO LIFE THE FACTS BEHIND SOME OF THESE ATROCITIES.

AND THAT IS WHAT SHE DID.

I THINK THAT THAT IS PERTINENT IN THE BLACK LIVES MATTER AS WELL.

AND ALSO IT'S KIND OF A -- IT'S A MOVEMENT THAT ORDINARY PEOPLE CAN BECOME ACTIVATED AND THEN MAKE EFFECTIVE CHANGE THAT CHANGES OUR WORLD FOR THE BETTER.

IT'S JUST AN ORDINARY PERSON WHO WAS WILLING TO FIGHT.

>> STACY WHAT IS IT IT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE VIEWERS TO TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR DOCUMENTARY?

>> I WOULD LIKE THEM TO FOR ONE, HAVE A INCREASED APPRECIATION FOR IDA B.

WELLS BECAUSE SHE WAS PHENOMENAL, SHE IS TERRIFIC I AM A BIG FAN NOW.

BUT I'D ALSO THINK I WOULD THEM TO TAKE AWAY A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, A MORE WIDER PERSPECTIVE OF AMERICAN HISTORY FROM A VOICE THAT WE HAVE NOT HEARD BEFORE.

I THINK, I THINK THAT REPRESENTATION MATTERS.

WE NEED TO HEAR STORIES MORE STORIES FROM A WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE.

IDA B.

WELLS IS THE A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY.

AND IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

>> STACY ROBINSON THANK YOU SO MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS ON A REALLY OUTSTANDING PIECE OF WORK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND IDA B.

WELLS A CHICAGO STORY SPECIAL AIRS TOMORROW NIGHT AT 8:00 P.M.

HERE ON WTTW.

>> AND NOW PARIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT PHIL WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

AND BACK TO AMANDA VINICKY WHO HAS SPENT THE DAY REPORTING IN LOGAN SQUARE AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

HOW IS IT GOING OUT THERE?

>> WELL, PARIS, JUST A LITTLE BIT AGO WE SPOKE WITH REVEREND MARCUS GUR RA AND TANYA WALKINSES ONE OF THE GROUPS THAT ORGANIZED THE PROTEST AND I STARTED OFF BY ASKING THEM WHAT THEY THINK OF HOW MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT HAS DONE THESE PAST TWO YEARS?

>> HOW HAS SHE DONE?

SO ON THIS TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHE MADE CAMPAIGN PROMISES SHE WAS GOING TO CARE FOR LATINX COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND SHE HASN'T DONE SO.

INSTEAD SHE TAKES THE MONEY THAT SHE SAYS SHE IS GOING TO PUT INTO THOSE COMMUNITIES, PUTS THEM INTO THINGS UNDER THE GUISE OF COMMUNITY CENTERS SUCH AS THE NEW DISCOVER CALL CENTER IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS THERE.

AND REALLY IT'S JUST A PLOY TO BUILD THE CITY'S REVENUE CLOSE THAT $1.2 BILLION DEFICIT IN THE BUDGET.

AND SO REALLY SHE HAS PROVEN THAT SHE IS NOT CARING FOR THE COMMUNITIES SHE SAYS SHE IS GOING TO CARE FOR.

>> ANYTHING TO ADD?

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE.

COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THE PASTOR.

WE NEED A MAYOR WHO IS FOCUSED ON EQUITY.

SHE COMMITTED TO REFORMING THE POLICE.

THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED IN FACT THEY ARE WORSE IN CHICAGO.

SHE COMMITTED TO INVESTING IN SCHOOLS AND NOW FIGHTING AGAINST AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD INTEREST LIKE WE NEED A MAYOR THAT CAN SHOW UP FOR THE MOST MARGINALIZED FOLKS AND LORI LIGHTFOOT HAS NOT DONE THAT IN CHICAGO.

>> NO.

>> WHY COME TO LOGAN SQUARE TO SPREAD THAT MESSAGE?

>> IT'S HEAR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> IT'S HER NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE FEEL THE TRAUMA IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE SOUTH SIDE WE NEED TO SPEAK TO YOU WHERE YOU LIVE.

>> HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY SIGN BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST PROTEST OR ACTION IN LOGAN SQUARE, BUT SHE HAS HEARD THAT MESSAGE?

>> I WOULD SAY 0 NO.

NO.

JUST FLAT OUT NO PERIOD BECAUSE IF SHE HAD HEARD THAT SHE WOULD HAVE COME TO THE TABLE WHEN C.T.U.

WAS STRIKING AND COME TO THE TABLE WHEN WE'RE CALLING TO DEFUND THE POLICE INSTEAD SHE SAYS SHE IS GOING TO REFORM THE POLICE INSTEAD THEY ARE WORSE THAN WHEN THEY STARTED.

WHEN SHE CAME IN.

SHE STARTED THIS NEW TICKETING PROGRAM WHERE IF YOU GO 6-MILES-PER-HOUR OVER THE SPEED LIMIT YOU GET A TICKET.

NOBODY IS SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO BE SAFE IN THE COMMUNITIES.

BUT THE DATA HAS SHOWN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT SPEEDING TICKETS, THE CAMERAS DON'T ACTUALLY SLOW ANYBODY DOWN ALL THEY DO IS CREATE REVENUE FOR THE CITY AND THAT IS WHAT SHE IS DOING IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC WHEN PEOPLE ARE HURTING THE MOST.

>> A LOT OF HOPES WERE PINNED ON MAYOR LIGHTFOOT BY SOME PROGRESSIVES EARLY ON PARTICULARLY.

WHAT SHE RAN ON, SHE IS A BLACK WOMAN, WHO IS GAY, SOMETHING THAT SHE SAYS SHE HAS MADE A LOT OF INROADS IN THE AREAS THAT YOU TALK ABOUT.

ANYTHING THAT YOU APPLAUD?

>> WHAT IS UNFORTUNATE, EVEN ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION, BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH TRY WHAT TYPE OF [INAUDIBLE] THIS IS SOMEBODY WHO WAS LEADING THE POLICE BOARD.

WHEN THEY WERE DOING SOME OF THE MOST EGREGIOUS ACTS TO BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS AROUND THE CITY.

THERE WERE FOLKS WHO ABSOLUTELY KNEW WHAT TYPE OF PERSON LORI LIGHTFOOT WAS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, PEOPLE JUST DIDN'T GET IT.

SO NOW LIKE WE HAVE TO EXPOSE WHAT IS HAPPENING AT CITY HALL AND EXPOSE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN COMMUNITIES AND GET FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND WE NEED A MAYOR THAT WORKS WITH US AND NOT AGAINST US.

>> AND AGAIN, THAT WAS TONYA WALKINSES AND REVEREND MARCH GUS GUR REMEMBER GUERRERO.

ORGANIZERS OF THE PROTESTS HERE IN LOGAN SQUARE.

BACK TO YOU.

>> HARSH GRADES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND WE DID INVITE MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ON FOR A ONE-ON-ONE TONIGHT TO MARK HER TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY AND SHE DID DECLINE OUR REQUEST.

NEXT, BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND GEOFFREY BAER IN AN ENCORE PRESENTATION OF "ASK GEOFFREY".

BUT FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>> HISTORY BUFFS ARE BIG FANS OF HISTORICAL MARKERS THOSE OFTEN OVERLOOKED PLAQUES THAT TELLTALES OF EVENTS FROM YEARS PAST.

OUR HISTORYRY BUFF GEOFFREY BAER IS HERE TO TELL US ABOUT HISTORICAL MARKERS AROUND CHICAGO THAT DO NOT HIT THE MARK IN TONIGHT'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> HI.

>> THIS QUESTION COMES FROM LARRY... >> I WAS SO EXCITED TO GET THIS QUESTION BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHICAGO ODDITIES, THIS IS A 1937 CHICAGO CHARTER JUBILEE MARKER.

THESE WERE HISTORICAL PLAQUES THAT WERE INSTALLED ALL OVER THE CITY TO CELEBRATE CHICAGO'S 100TH BIRTHDAY AND MOST ARE LONG GONE NOW.

>> WHEN YOU SAY CALABOOSE, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

>> YES, WELL, I HAD TO LOOK THIS UP MYSELF.

IT TURNS OUT CALABOOSE IS AN OLD TERM FOR A JAIL.

SO THIS PLAQUE MARKS THE SITE OF THE JAIL FOR THE TOWN OF LAKEVIEW WHICH OF COURSE IS NOW A NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT WAS ANNEXED TO CHICAGO IN 1889.

AS WITH MANY OF THE JUBILEE MARKERS, YOU MENTIONED THIS, THE HISTORY IS QUESTIONABLE.

EVEN THOUGH EACH MARKER BEARS THE INSCRIPTION AUTHENTICATED BY THE CHICAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

I WILL SAY OFF THE BAT WE HAVE NOTHING BUT THE HIGHEST RESPECT FOR OUR FRIENDS AT THE CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM WE HAVE COLLABORATED WITH THEM FOR YEARS.

BUT TOWN OF LAKEVIEW RECORDS PUT THE ORIGINAL CALABOOSE IN THE TOWN HALL A MILE AWAY FROM THIS MARKER AT ADDISON AND HALSTED.

IT IS POSSIBLE THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN EARLIER JAIL HERE.

ANOTHER PLAQUE THAT YOU CAN STILL SEE IN CHICAGO WITH DUBIOUS HISTORY IS ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE IN THE SAWING NASH NEIGHBORHOOD TONIGHT MARKS THE OLD TREATY ELM WHICH STOOD UNTIL 1933 AND CLAIMS THIS WAS THE SITE OF THE INDIAN TREATY OF 1835 THAT IS WHAT IT SAYS ON THE PLAQUE.

THE TROUBLE THERE WAS NO INDIAN TREATY OF 1835.

THE TREATY OF CHICAGO TOOK PLACE IN 1833 AND IT WAS NOT SIGNED HERE IT WAS SIGNED AT FORT DEARBORN NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE CHICAGO RIVER.

>> ANY IDEA WHY IT WAS PLACED THERE?

>> YES THE PLAQUE DOES CORRECTLY STATE THIS PROPERTY BELONGED TO A MIXED RACE NATIVE NAMED BILLY CALDWELL.

THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAD GIVEN HIM THIS LAND IN EXCHANGE FOR HELP IN NEGOTIATING TREATIES WITH NONNATIVE SETTLERS MAY BE THAT IS WHERE THE CONFUSION CAME N BILLY CALDWELL HAD TO LIVE WAY OUT HERE BECAUSE OF SOMETHING CALLED THE INDIAN BOUNDARY LINE AND THAT IS MARKED BY ANOTHER PLAQUE THAT IS AT ROGER AND CLARK STREETS.

THIS LINE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1816 TO KEEP NATIVE-AMERICANS FAR FROM CHICAGO.

AS YOU CAN SEE THE PLAQUE WAS OBSCURED BY A TRAFFIC CONTROL BOX EVIDENCE THAT IT LOST INTEREST IN THE MARKERS AFTER A WHILE.

>> YOU CAN BARELY SEE THAT ONE.

HOW MANY OF THESE PLAQUES WERE PUT UP?

>> THE CHICAGO CHARTER JUBILEE COMMITTEE INSTALLED MORE THAN 70 OF THEM AS PART OF A MONTH'S LONG CELEBRATION THE CENTENARY OF CHICAGO'S 1837 INCORPORATION AS A CITY AND ONLY A DOZEN ARE LEFT.

MANY WERE STOLEN OR JUST SCRAPPED WHEN THE BUILDING WAS TORN DOWN.

DESPITE THEIR WOBBLEY ACCURACY IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA WHAT CHICAGO WAS LIKE AND MORE INTERESTINGLY THEY REFLECT ATTITUDES IN 1937 WHEN INSTALLED.

AN EXAMPLE, IS THE MARKER FOR THE KENZIE MANSION WHICH RECENTLY DISAPPEARED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE APPLE STORE AT MICHIGAN AVENUE AND THE RIVER.

IT READ HERE WAS BORN IN 1805, THE CITY'S FIRST WHITE CHILD ELLEN MARIAN KENZIE.

AND ALL BUT IGNORED THE FACT THE HOME'S FIRST OWNER WAS A PERSON OF COLOR AND CHICAGO'S FIRST RESIDENT JEN BAPTIST DID YOU STAB AND THEY GOT THE DATE WRONG ELLEN WAS BORN IN 1804.

ANOTHER LOST PLAQUE THAT IDENTIFIED AND EARLIER HOME OF BILLBY CALDWELL DESCRIBES HIM AS A QUOTE HALF-BREED.

>> MAYBE IT'S JUST AS WELL THOSE OTHERS ARE GONE.

WERE OTHERS MORE ACCURATE OR LESS OFFENSIVE?

>> YES.

MANY OF THEM MARKED FIRSTS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE FIRST DRAW BRIDGE ACROSS THE CHICAGO RIVER AT DEARBORN STREET THIS WOODEN CONTRAPTION GOT STUCK SO OFTEN THAT CITIZENS HACKED IT TO PIECES WITH AXES.

>> AND IN ADDITION TO THE DOWNTOWN PLAQUES, MANY WERE OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL?

>> YES.

THAT IS TRUE.

AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY STILL SEE ONE I LOVE THIS.

IT MARKS THE FIRST HOME WITH A TELEPHONE IN THE LAKEVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE HOME BELONGED TO JOHN N. HILL.

THE ONLY TWO OTHER PHONES HE COULD CALL WERE IN THE TOWN HALL AND IN THE LOCAL BAR.

OTHERS MARKED PLANK ROADS ON THE WEST SIDE AND THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO.

WOODEN ROADS THAT WARMED AND ROT OWE WARPED ON THE PRAIRIE, THEY WERE SO BUMPY THEY SOMETIMES STOLE THE PLANKS TO USE THEM FOR FIREWOOD.

OTHER PLAQUES MARKED AN 18TH CENTURY FRENCH MISSION IN ALBANY PARK.

A CIVIL WAR POW CAMP ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

AND EVEN AN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD STOP IN BEVERLY.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED THE PLAQUES WERE ONLY PART OF THE 1937 CELEBRATION?

>> YES.

THERE WERE PARADES AND PAGEANTS AND A PRESIDENTIAL VISIT WAY MORE THAN WE HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT.

BUT WE HAVE LOTS MORE ABOUT THE CHARTERED JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> LOTS OF FUN FACTS INTERESTING.

THANK YOU.

>> SURE.

>> AND HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE CHARTER JUBILEE CELEBRATION AND OTHER "ASK GEOFFREY" QUESTIONS.

AND GET YOUR CAL LOOSE IN GEAR AND SENT IN -- CALABOOSE IN GEAR AND SEND YOUR OWN QUESTIONS TO GEOFFREY.

BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" WHERE WE WILL DIG INTO THE MAYOR'S MIDTERM REPORT CARD.

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

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND ENJOY THAT WARM WEATHER OUT THERE TONIGHT.

[♪♪♪]