>>> THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN WILL JOIN US IN A MOMENT.

>>> IT WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE WHEN OFFICIALS CLOSED 50 PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 2013.

WE LOOK BACK AT ITS IMPACT TEN YEARS LATER.

>>> WTTW NEWS FINDS FORMER ALDERMAN COLLECTING A PENSION WORTH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AS HER SPHERAL TRIAL APPROACHES.

>>> STATE LAWMAKERS ARE SET TO RESUME BUDGET TALKS AFTER MISSING LAST WEEK'S DEADLINE.

>>> THE POPULARITY OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS GROWING AS ARE FEARS OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS.

>> I JUST NEED A LITTLE MINUTE OF YOUR DAY TO TALK TO YOU.

>> AND TALKING TRASH WITH AN AWARD WINNING GARBAGE COLLECTOR.

>>> NOW TO BRANDIS FOR OUR TOP STORY.

>> IT WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED AND CONTROVERSIAL MOVE IN CHICAGO'S HISTORY.

TEN YEARS AGO TODAY CHICAGO BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS VOTED TO CLOSE 50 OF THE CITY'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO HELP ADDRESS THE BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET DEFICIT.

THIS HAPPENED DESPITE STRONG OPPOSITION FROM EDUCATORS, PARENTS, AND STUDENTS.

TONIGHT WE LOOK BACK AT THAT DECISION WHICH BECAME THE LARGEST MASS SCHOOL CLOSURE IN U.S. HISTORY AND THE IMPACT FELT IN COMMUNITIES A DECADE LATER.

JOINING US NOW ARE ALDER PERSON JEANETTE TAYLOR, ALSO THE NEWLY APPOINTED CLAIRE OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

AND A MEMBER OF THE CHICAGO BOARD OF EDUCATION WHEN THIS VOTE WAS TAKEN IN 2013.

HE'S BEEN A TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL IN THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND SERVED AT AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF EDUCATION.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

SO, ALDER PERSON TAYLOR, LET'S START WITH YOU.

YOU MADE HEADLINES SOME YEARS AGO DURING A MONTH LONG HUNGER STRIKE BEFORE YOU BECAME ALDER PERSON.

ONE OF THE SCHOOLS WAS SAVED IN THAT ROUND.

HOW HAS THAT CLOSURE IMPACTED?

>> THE SCHOOLS ARE THE LAST STABLE FOUNDATION WE HAD IN THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN THEY CLOSED, WE'VE LOST A LOT OF FAMILIES.

WE LOST A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

I CAN'T TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN SCHOOL.

THE COMMUNITIES FEEL THIS.

WE HAVEN'T DECIDED WHAT TO DO WITH THEM.

THE COMMUNITY IS VERY ACCEPTS ACTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO.

THERE MA TO BE A REAL COMMUNITY PLAN.

>> YOU WERE ONE OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS WHO MADE THAT DIFFICULT DECISION TO VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL.

HOW DID YOU APPROACH THAT VOTE?

>> THIS WAS VERY DIFFICULT.

I'M A COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PRINCIPAL, AND I HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO COMMUNITIES.

WE HAD 85 SCHOOLS ON THE LIST.

WE ALSO HAD A FIDUCIARY DUTY AS A BOARD MEMBER AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU WANT TO HAVE EDUCATIONAL QUALITY.

MANY OF THE SCHOOLS HAVE VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF STUDENTS.

THEY NEEDED A LOT OF WORK.

PERSONAL I VISIT MANY OF THESE SCHOOLS.

THE CLOSURES, AS WELL AS THE RECEIVING ONES.

JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT RESOURCES WERE WITH THE TEACHERS.

THEN WE HAD TO TAKE THAT VOTE.

THIS HAPPENS SOMETIMES NATIONWIDE WHERE YOU HAVE TO MAKE HUGE DIFFICULT DECISIONS.

BUT I CAN TELL THAT YOU IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT I THINK DURING MY TIME.

IT WAS TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS.

WE VOTED 46.

SOME OF THEM WERE DELAYED.

AND I VOTED NO ON A FEW OF THEM AFTER HAVING WALKED THEM AND TAKEN A LOOK AT WHERE THE STUDENTS WERE GOING.

>> SO WHEN THE CLOSURES HAPPENED, THE CITY PROMISED THAT STUDENTS WOULD BE BETTER.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A VIDEO CLIP THAT WAS POSTED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ITSELF OF THEN CEO TALKING ABOUT WHAT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES CAN EXPECT.

>> THE OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE HAVE A STEM SCHOOL.

I THINK THAT WHAT WILL HAPPEN AND WHAT OUR PARENTS WILL TAKE BACK AND SAY MY CHILD HAS A BETTER OPPORTUNITY.

>> VIDEO THERE FROM CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT BARBARA BERG-BENNETT WOULD LATER END UP IN PRISON FOR CORRUPTION.

BUT RESEARCH SHOWED THAT STUDENTS ONLY DID MARGINALLY BETTER.

PROFESSOR, DID YOU THINK STUDENTS WERE BETTER OFF?

>> AT THE BEGINNING, WE TRACED BACK.

HOW THE STUDENT WERE DOING.

THEY WERE DOING WELL AT THE BEGINNING BECAUSE THEY HAD MORE RESOURCES.

OF COURSE, THAT'S MORE OF A LONGITUDINAL DECISION.

BUT AT THE BEGINNING THERE WAS POSITIVE FEEDBACK.

WE ALSO RECOMMENDED, I MYSELF, THAT MANY OF THESE SCHOOLS WOULD BECOME COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.

SOME OF THEM HAVE BECOME THAT, BUT IT'S PROCESS THAT HAS MOVED TOO SLOW.

>> ALDER PERSON TAYLOR, RESIDENTS WERE PROMISED THAT BUILDINGS WOULD BE TRANSFORMED.

OUR COLLEAGUES REPORT THAT LESS THAN HALF THE BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN REFURBISHED AT ALL.

IS THIS ENOUGH AFTER TEN YEARS?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WE FAILED AND WE DIDN'T KEEP OUR COMMITMENT.

THE COMMUNITY PROMISED THESE BUILDINGS WOULD TAKE ON THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE.

CPS AND THE CITY OF CHICAGO HAVE MOVED WAY TOO SLOW.

>> AS NOW THE CHAIR HOW DO YOU PLAN ON ADDRESSING THAT?

>> WE DON'T AFTER REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT ASSETS WE ACTUALLY OWN AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE.

WE NEED TO ENABLE TO HONOR THOSE SPACES AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REMEMBER THAT PEOPLE WANT SCHOOLS AND YOUNG PEOPLE CAN'T GO BACK.

YOU CAN'T GO BACK TO YOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

YOU TAKE AWAY A PIECE OF MY CHILDHOOD.

WE HAVE TO MAKE GOOD WITH THE COMMUNITY BUT ALSO MOVE FORWARD.

NOT CPS, NOT THE CITY OF CHICAGO BUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE.

>> PROFESSOR, LOOKING BACK, WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING?

>> PERHAPS WE WOULD NOT CONSIDER AS MANY.

WE WOULD TAKE MORE TIME.

EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND WE HEARD A LOT OF TESTIMONY, BUT PERHAPS IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN A SMALLER SECTION.

AND THEN MADE SURE THAT THOSE SCHOOLS WOULD HAVE REALLY BECOME COMMUNITY CENTERS SERVING STUDENTS, EVEN IN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

>> WE'VE HEARD THE WORD COMMUNITY A LOT.

WE LEARNED BOTH OF YOU ARE BIG FANS OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.

WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

>>> AND NOW TO PARIS FOR MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

A DISTURBANCE AT A SUBURBAN GROCERY STORE TODAY.

EVANSTON POLICE HAVE SINCE ISSUED AN ALL-CLEAR AFTER A DOWNTOWN WHOLE FOODS GOT A ANON MOUSE BOMB THREAT.

POLICE NOW SAY THEY INVESTIGATED THE STORE WITH THE COOK COUNTY BOMB SQUAD BEFORE DEEMING IT SAFE.

THEY'RE INVESTIGATING THE ORIGINS OF THE CALL.

>>> CHICAGO POLICE SAY THEY'RE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR 18 MEN WHO ATTEMPTED TO BREAK INTO THE POST OFFICE THIS MORNING.

POLICE SAY THE GROUP OF MORE THAN A DOZEN ENTERED JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT.

POLICE SAY NOBODY IS IN CUSTODY AND A SPOKESPERSON DID NOT IMMEDIATELY RETURN A REQUEST FOR COM P MEANT.

,A LOCAL EVIDENT TO GET GUNS OFF OF CHICAGO STREETS.

A GUN TURN-IN EVENT OUTSIDE A SOUTH SIDE CHURCH.

>> COUNTRIES THAT HAVE GOTTEN RID OF GUNS OR PUT RESTRICTIONS ON THEM SHOW THAT VIOLENCE GOES DOWN.

I'M GOING TO CONTINUE, AS LONG AS I'VE GOT BREATH TO USE MY VOICE TO DEAL WITH THIS GUN ISSUE.

>> PEOPLE WHO TURNED IN WORKING HANDGUNS WERE GIVEN $100 CASH, $200 FOR WORKING ASSAULT WEAPONS.

>>> UP NEXT, NEW DETAILS ON PENSION PAYMENTS FOR INDICTED FORMER ALDERMAN KERRY AUSTIN.

HEATHER CHERONE HAS THAT STORY RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FAMILY.

THE POKE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> COLLECTING A PENSION OF MORE THAN 1-DZ 14,000 A YEAR.

THAT'S BASED ON RECORDS OBTAINED BY WTTW NEWS.

OUR REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US.

FORMER ALDER WOMAN RESIGNED IN MARCH.

HOW HAS HER PENSION BEEN CALCULATED?

>> THIS PENSION WOULD AMOUNT TO 9500 PER MONTH THE DAY AFTER SHE RESIGNED FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.

IT'S CALCULATED ON AN AVERAGE OF WHAT SHE EARNED IN HER FINAL FOUR YEARS OF WORK.

SHE CAN GET UP TO 80% OF HER SALARY.

NOW THAT IS BASED ON HER WORKING 20 YEARS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.

ON BOTH ACCOUNT THAT IS MORE GENEROUS THAN OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES WILL GET, AND IT MEANS THAT SHE WILL HAVE A NICE NEST EGG TO CARRY HER THROUGH HER RETIREMENT.

>> DOES IT MATTER THAT SHE'S FACING FEDERAL CHARGES?

>> IT DOES NOT.

SHE'S INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.

SHE WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL TRIAL ON THESE CHARGES WHICH ACCUSE HER OF ACCEPTING BRIBES AND THEN LYING ABOUT IT.

>> NOW, SHE TOLD THE FEDERAL JUDGE IN HER CASE THAT SHE IS TOO ILL TO STAND TRIAL.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PENSION IF SHE DOES NOT?

>> IF SHE DOES NOT STAND TRIAL SHE WILL DRAW THAT PENSION UNTIL HER FINAL DAY.

AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT ANYBODY CAN DO ABOUT IT IF SHE IS CONVICTED.

THE BOARD CAN DECIDE TO REVOKE IT BECAUSE SHE IS ACCUSED OF OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT WHILE IN OFFICE.

>> WHAT'S NEXT FOR HER?

>> SHE IS DUE IN COURT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HER INDICTMENT SINCE JULY 2021 IN AUGUST.

IN THE MEANTIME, HER 34th WORD HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REDRAWN AFTER THE CENSUS.

IT'S NOW LOCATED IN THE WEST LOOP AND THE AREA SHE REPRESENTED IS NOW PART OF THE 21st WARD AND, OF COURSE, WE'VE REPORTED A LOT ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT POPULATION DROP ON THE FAR SOUTH SIDE, WHICH IS WHY THE 34th WARD, AS AUSTIN KNEW IT FOR MORE THAN 28 YEARS, DOESN'T EXIST.

>> HEATHER CHERONE, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> AND YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> UP NEXT WHAT MATE WE EXPECT FROM STATE LAWMAKERS IN THEIR BUDGET TALKS THIS WEEK?

STAY WITH US.

>> WHAT DOES JUSTICE FOR EMMETT TILL LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

>> BLACK STORY TELLING IS A HUGE PART OF OUR CULTURE, AND SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GAVE YOUNG WRITERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR STORIES.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE FEEL EMPOWERED.

WHETHER IT'S ART OR NOT, I THINK THAT'S THE TYPE OF THING THAT CHANGES THE WORLD.

>>> ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE OFF FOR SUMMER BREAK.

INSTEAD, THEY'RE SET TO RETURN TO THE CAPITAL THIS WEEK TO TAKE CARE OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW.

WHEN AND WHY ARE LAWMAKERS GOING BACK WHEN THEY HAD HOPED THAT FRIDAY WOULD BE THE LAST DAY?

>> LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO BE RECONVENING AT THE CAPITOL ON WEDNESDAY.

THIS TIME THEY ARE GOING TO PASS A BUDGET.

BY GOLLY, THEY MEAN IT.

PASSING A BUDGET IS ARGUABLY THE SINGLE LARGEST TASK FOR LAWMAKERS.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE BY FRIDAY.

HENCE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S RETURN.

>> WHY COULDN'T THEY GET IT DONE BY THAT ARBITRARY DEADLINE, AND WHAT IS EXPECTED?

>> DEMOCRATS WHO CONTROL THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SAY THAT NEGOTIATIONS WERE HAPPENING.

THEY JUST DIDN'T FINISH.

AND SO THEY ARE STILL COMING TAG.

MAIN POINT OF CONTENTION IS HOW MUCH THE STATE CAN AFFORD TO SPEND ON HEALTHCARE FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

IF GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER AND LEADERS HOLD TRUE, WHILE ILLINOIS ISN'T IN TOTAL PENNY PINCHING, THE HEALTHCARE PROGRAM EITHER NEEDS TO BE CURTAILED OR CUTS WOULD HAVE TO CUT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AS FOR WHAT CHANGES, THE FRIDAY DEADLINE, THAT WAS ALWAYS AN EARLY THREAT.

>> SO WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT?

>> THAT IS WHEN IT GETS TOUGHER, PARIS TO PASS A BILL COME JUNE.

IT REQUIRES A SUPER MAJORITY VERSUS A SIMPLE ONE.

GRANTED, DEMOCRATS HOLD HISTORIC NUMBER OF SEATS, SO THE PRESSURE, NOT AS INTENSE AS WOULD BE UNDER DIVIDED GOVERNMENT, BUT IT IS STILL A DATE THAT IS CIRCLED IN BIG RED MARKER ON THE CALENDARS OF STATE LEADERS.

NOT GETTING IT DONE BY THEN WOULD BE REALLY A BLACK EYE FOR LAWMAKERS.

>> I DO SEEM TO REMEMBER A VERY PESKY EXCHANGE LAST WEEK ABOUT BATHROOMS.

WHAT ELSE DID LAWMAKERS DO?

>> BILLS GALORE ON BATHROOMS AND BEYOND.

PRITZKER IS GOING TO BE ASKED TO SIGN INTO LAW MEASURES THAT WOULD PAVE THE WAY FOR AN AIRPORT, ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE LITERACY PROGRAM, GIVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE ABILITY TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION FOR THE PRICE GAUGING OF PRESCRIPTIONS, BUT ALSO ONE THAT GIVES VICTIMS THE ABILITY TO FILE A LAWSUIT.

DOXING INVOLVES INFORMATION ABOUT SOMEONE ONLINE WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT.

>> I KNOW THAT LAST ONE YOU MENTIONED, LOT OF CIVIL LIBERTIES GROUPS ARE WORRIED ABOUT.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT AI AND THAT ASPECT OF IT IN A BIT.

BUT BESIDES THE BUDGET, WHAT ELSE?

>> THERE IS A BILL WORTHY OF MENTION IN TERMS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH.

ONE OF THOSE ELEMENTS DEALS WITH ILL'S LAW FOR BIOMETRIC INFORMATION.

FINGERPRINTS.

BUSINESSES SAY THE LAW GOES TOO FAR AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR IT TO BE SCALED DOWN.

>> FEDERAL 2,000 CASES THAT CAN BE FILED OR SETTLED.

NOT A SINGLE CASE, NO DATA BREACHES, NO LOST INFORMATION.

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAID OUT WITH MORE ON THE WAY.

>> A BILL THAT SURFACED FRIDAY, INSTEAD OF CURTAILING, BUSINESSES SAY DOES IT THE OPPOSITE AND WOULD MAKE IT MORE EXPENSIVE.

OTHER MEASURES WOULD REGULATE RED LIGHT CAMERAS, GET ILLINOIS MOVING TO A RANKED CHOICE VOTING PROGRAM, AND REGULATE CANNABIS BUSINESSES.

PARIS, THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT HAS TO HAPPEN BY THAT DEADLINE.

LEGISLATORS HAVE TO GET DONE DRAWING THE BOUNDARIES.

ADVOCATES ARE REALLY UNHAPPY.

>> THAT IS PROVING NO EASY TANK.

IT LOOKS LIKE A DRIVE DOWN I-55 IS IN YOUR IMMEDIATE FUTURE.

BE SAFE.

UP NEXT, AS WE ALLUDED TO THE PROS AND CONS OF A I TECHNOLOGY, SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>>> AI TECHNOLOGY IS RAPIDLY GROWING.

SO IS CONCERN ABOUT WHERE THIS TECHNOLOGY SHOULD GO.

AN APPARENT AI GENERATED PHOTO GOING VIRAL SHOWS A BIG EXPLOSION NEAR A U.S. SYNAGOGUE.

ARE SOME OF THE BIG CONCERNS REAL OR THE STUFF OF OVERBLOWN?

JOINING US LIVE IN PERSON, KRISTEN HAMMOND, PROFFER.

WE ARE TWO REAL PEOPLE, NOT AI GENERATED.

GIVE OUR VIEWERS A RUNIS DOWN IN GENERAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, HOW IT WORKS.

>> IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT, I DON'T KNOW, 20, 30, 40, 100 MILLION DOCUMENTS, YOU GET TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE DIFFERENT WORDS FOLLOW EACH OTHER.

ALL THE LANGUAGES, THE LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS, ARE REALLY DESIGNED AROUND THIS.

A WHOLE BUNCH OF DOCUMENTS.

THEY DO ONE THING UNBELIEVABLY WELL.

AND THAT IS GUESS THE NEXT WORD.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DO FOR A LIVING.

THE IMAGE-BASED ONES ARE IN A SIMILAR VEIN, BUT THEY AREN'T AS EASY TO CONTROL.

THEY HAVE ALSO SEEN MILLIONS OF IMAGES.

WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS REPRODUCING.

>> MAKING PROGRESS AT AN ENORMOUSLY FAST PACE.

I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH CHAD AN -- WITH CHAT G PT, AND CHAT G PT GAVE ME SOME AT VICE.

>> I THINK THE THING THAT'S STUNNING SIM IMAGINE THAT YOU HAD A COPYRIGHT, SOMEONE WHO YOU COULD DESCRIBE WHAT YOU WANT, AND THEY COULD WRITE IT OUT FOR YOU AND WRITE IT OUT INCREDIBLY W. FLUENTLY, FLUIDLY.

THEY COULD SAY, MAKE IT MORE POETIC, MORE LIKE HEMINGWAY, I NEED IT TO BE OFFICIAL, SHORT AND TO THE POINT.

YOU CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION.

IT WILL ALWAYS CHANGE THE TEXT.

AT THE END OF THAT PROCESS YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TRANSFORM YOUR IDEAS INTO LANGUAGE THAT CAN BE USED, AND THAT IS A POWERFUL MOMENT.

THE ONLY THING, AS COPY WRITER THAT DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING.

>> RELYING ON ALGORITHMS, RECENTLY THE QUOTE, UNQUOTE GODFATHER OF AI WARNED ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT MISINFORMATION, CONCERNS ABOUT REPLACING FOLKS IN JOBS, AUTOMATION, THAT KIND OF THING.

BUT THESE BIGGER, BROADER CONCERNS, ARE THESE THINGS WE SHOULD ALL BE CONCERNED WITH?

>> I WOULD SAY NO, NOT TODAY.

NOT TODAY.

I THINK WHAT HE DID WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF, YOU'RE OUT AT A BAR WITH A BUDDY, AND HE GETS REALLY, REALLY DRUNK, ANTICIPATED SAYS I'M GOING TO GO DRIVE HOME NOW, AND YOU DECIDE, OH, I'M GOING TO PIN HIM DOWN AND EXPLAIN THE PROBLEMS OF ALCOHOLISM AND THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS ON HIS BODY, ALL THESE HORRIBLE THINGS THAT ALCOHOL CAN DO, WHEN WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE DOING IS TAKING AWAY THE KEYS.

THERE ARE PROBLEMS NOW.

THIS IS THEIR BIAS AND PREJUDICIAL IMPROVEMENT.

SYSTEMS THAT ARE -- THAT EXCLUDE, SYSTEMS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO ACTUALLY BE SOMEWHAT ADDICTIVE.

SYSTEMS THAT WILL CAUSE DEPRESSION IN WOMEN AGE 13 TO 23.

THESE ARE ALL REAL PROBLEMS.

I CAN POINT THE FINGER AND SAY THIS IS WHERE THE PROBLEM COMES FROM.

WE DON'T SEEM TO BE RESPONDING TO THOSE WELL.

AND I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW THERE ARREST WHOLE BUNCH OF HARM THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY, BUT WE DON'T.

HAS LIVED IN THIS WORLD HIS WHOLE LIFE.

HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE.

WHY HE HAS DECIDED TODAY TO COME OUT AND SAY, HEY, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LONG-TERM -- >> THAT MIGHT BEA QUESTION I NEED TO ASK CHAT GPT.

THOSE SYSTEMS GET USED IN ALGORITHMS, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT LAWMAKERS HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET A HANDLE ON.

SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AND UP NEXT, WE MEET THE DRIVER OF THE YEAR.

THE DRIVER OF THE YEAR.

WE EXPLAIN RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE AWAY YOUR GARBAGE?

YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET TO KNOW THEM AFTER THIS NEXT STORY.

EVERY YEAR THE NATIONAL WASTE AND RECYCLING ASSOCIATION SELECT A DRIVER OF THE YEAR FROM 80,000 GARBAGE TRUCKDRIVERS.

THE DRIVER WHO ROSE TO THE TOP OF THE HEAP THIS YEAR IS FELIX MARTINEZ WHO DRIVES A COLLECTION ROUTE UNMOUNT PROSPECT FOR REPUBLIC SERVICES AND IS KNOWN ALL AROUND THE CUL-DE-SAC FOR HIS FRIENDLY NATURE.

OUR PRODUCER MET UP WITH THE TRASH MAN WHO CUSTOMERS SAY IS A COMMUNITY TREASURE.

>> I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, TRASH SMELLS LIKE MONEY TO ME.

AND IT SURE DOES.

>> Reporter: MOST NEIGHBORHOODS DON'T EAGERLY ANTICIPATE THE ARRIVAL OF THEIR SANITATION ENGINEER, KNOWN AS THE GARBAGE MAN.

>> IT'S A HARD JOB TO DO.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> Reporter: WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE NAMED RESIDENTIAL SANITATION DRIVER OF THE YEAR?

SAFETY COMES FIRST IN WHAT CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS JOB.

>> ARE YOU RICH?

ARE YOU POOR?

BACK IN THE DAY, JUST GRAB IT AND THREW IT.

>> Reporter: AND, OF COURSE, PUNCTUALITY SA VIRTUE.

>> I TRY TO GET IN HERE 5:15, HALF HOUSE, GET A CUP OF COAST.

>> Reporter: BUT WHERE MARTINEZ REALLY CLEANS UP IS IN CUSTOMER SERVICE.

HE SPOTTED WATERLOGGED ITEMS OUT OF HER FLOODED BASEMENT.

>> HE JUMPED RIGHT OUT OF THE TRUCK AND RAN TO ME.

HE AUTOMATICALLY GOES OUT OF HIS WAY.

THAT'S HOW OUR RELATIONSHIP STARTS.

AND THEN I WROTE A LETTER TO REPUBLIC AND I TOLD THEM HOW WONDERFUL FELIX WAS.

NEVER WOULD I HAVE DREAMED THAT HE WOULD WIN THIS HONOR.

>> Reporter: WHEN FRED INJURED HIS BACK, HE SAYS MARTINEZ WENT THE EXTRA MILE.

>> IT'S TAKEN A LOT OF YEARS TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER CONSIDERING OUR RELATIONSHIP IS THREE MINUTES A DAY, THREE MINUTES ONCE A WEEK.

>> Reporter: MARTINEZ SAYS HE BEGAN WORKING IN TRASH COLLECTION RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

>> MY UNCLE, JOSE MARTINEZ.

MAYBE I WAS GOOD AT IT.

WHAT'S GOING ON, BUDDY?

>> Reporter: BUT HE SAYS A GREGARIOUS COWORKER NAMED LEROY SHOWED US HE COULD COLLECT FRIENDS ALONG WITH THE TRASH.

IN HIS 26 YEARS, MARTINEZ SAYS FOUND ALL KINDS OF WAYS TO HELP AND CONNECT WITH PEOPLE ON HIS ROUTE.

>> I'M TELLING THIS ELDERLY LADY, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE MOVING THAT TOO FAST.

I'LL GRAB IT FROM HER.

I'LL MAKE FUN OUT OF IT.

>> Reporter: AND HE SAYS TAKING A MOMENT TO MAKE A FRIEND NEVER A WASTE OF TIME.

>> I JUST NEED A LITTLE MINUTE OF YOUR DAY TO TALK TO YOU.

>> Reporter: IRIKA GUN DEER SON.

>> MARTINEZ SAYS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD COLLECTOR BETTER, OFFERING A COLD DRINK ON A HOT DAY IS ALWAYS A GOOD STARTER.

>> GREAT ADVICE.

IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

ENGINE US TOMORROW NIGHT AT HE 5:30 AND 10:00.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CLAY CHI CHI, I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLOISTER AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES.

A PROUD SPONSOR OF DIVERSITY,