>>> PARIS, AS YOU KNOW, BIG CONSTRUCTION PROJECT CAN MEAN BIG HEADACHES FOR NEIGHBORS.

RESIDENTS SAY HASSLES FOR DRIVERS AND CTA PASSENGERS.

>> I HOPE SOMEBODY CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I BARELY CAN WALK.

MY BACK HURTS, MY LEG'S MESSED UP AND I CAN'T BE OUT HERE STANDING LIKE THAT FOR NO HOUR JUST TO WAIT ON THE CTA BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING SO TERRIBLE.

>> IT'S CONGESTION BECAUSE ALL THE TRAFFIC.

THEY'VE NARROWED TWO LANES DOWN TO ONE AND WITH THE TWO LANES NARROWED DOWN TO ONE AND THEY'RE CONSTANTLY CHANGING THE WAY THEIR CONES ARE SET UP THEN PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO REALLY GO.

>> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT THE OBAMA FOUNDATION TOLD US WHEN CONSTRUCTION OF THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER IS COMPLETE, WE WILL HAVE CREATED A WORLD CLASS DESTINATION.

WE KNOW TRAFFIC CHANGES ARE NEVER EASY AND WE'RE WORKING WITH CDOT TO BE SURE DRIVERS HAVE PLENTY OF ADVANCE NOTICE AND ALTERNATE ROUTES FOR CHANGES AND THE CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY SAID THE SCHEDULING IMPACT OF PROJECT WORK IS DETERMINED BY THE CONTRACTOR.

CTA WILL ADJUST ITS BUS SERVICES ACCORDINGLY.

RECENT NEARBY PROJECT WORK HAS CREATED SOME INSTANCES OF UNSAFE BOARDING AND LIGHTING CONDITIONS FOR CTA CUSTOMERS RESULTING IN UNPLANNED TEMPORARY BUS STOP CHANGES.

CTA HAS BEEN COORDINATING WITH THE CONTRACTOR TO INSURE ADA ACCESSIBILITY.

FOR HER PART, 20th WARD ALDERWOMAN JEANNETTE TAYLOR SAID THE KEY TO EASING ANY CONSTITUENT CONCERNS, BETTER COMMUNICATION.

>> THERE'S A LOT GOING ON, BUT CLASSIC CITY OF CHICAGO.

WE WORK IN SILOS, SO THE LEFT HAND DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT HAND'S DOING AND THE CONSTITUENT'S GET LEFT OUT IN BETWEEN.

WE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB WORKING WITH CDOT AND THE FOUNDATION TO INFORM PEOPLE HOW TO GET AROUND BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE TO GET TO WORK.

THAT'S HOW THIS CITY RUNS, BECAUSE PEOPLE WORK.

SO WE GOT TO FIGURE IT OUT.

>> Reporter: AS FOR THE NOOSE RECENTLY FOUND AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE, TAYLOR SAYS IT'S HORRIFYING TO SEE THAT DISPLAY OF HATE IN 2022 CALLING IT AN EXAMPLE THAT CHICAGO ISN'T AS PROGRESSIVE AS SOME ASSUME.

>> I WAS SHOOK UP FOR A COUPLE DAYS LIKE A NOOSE?

WHO YOU HANGING?

WHO YOU TALKING ABOUT?

WHO YOU THINKING ABOUT HANGING?

SO IT'S US BEING REAL CAREFUL AND WATCHING ON.

THINK ABOUT THIS.

ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SITE IS A HIGH SCHOOL.

SO DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE BLACK CHILDREN THAT GO TO THIS SCHOOL WHEN YOU THOUGHT TO PUT A NOOSE UP?

JUST SAY YOU ALL HATE BLACK PEOPLE.

SAY YOU HATE POOR PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.

SO WHOEVER DID THAT, THE MESSAGE TO YOU IS YOU'RE GOING TO GET WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IN OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT AND GET AWAY WITH IT.

>> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT THE LAKESIDE ALLIANCE CONSTRUCTION FIRM BUILDING THE CENTER SAID OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS ALL STAFF AND ON-SITE WORKERS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN ANTI-BIAS TRAINING.

ADDITIONAL SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO AUTHORITIES REGARDING THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION TO IDENTIFY THE INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS HORRIFIC ACT.

ANOTHER CONCERN AROUND THE OBAMA CENTER THAT'S STILL TOP OF MIND FOR MANY RESIDENTS WOULD BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PREVENTING THE DISPLACEMENT OF CURRENT RESIDENTS.

THE GROUP SOUTH SIDE TOGETHER ORGANIZING FOR POWER WAS BEHIND THE UNSUCCESSFUL PUSH FOR A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT BUT DID NOTCH A WIN WITH AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORDINANCE FOR WOODLAWN THAT CITY ASIDE VACANT CITY-OWNED LOTS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AMONG OTHER EFFORTS.

SHE WANTS TO SEE ANOTHER CITY-OWNED LOT BECAUSE PART OF THAT EFFORT AS WELL.

>> THERE'S THE LOT THAT IS EMPTY.

THE BIGGEST LOT CITY-OWNED CLOSEST TO THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER WOULD ALLOW FOR THE MOST UNITS TO BE BUILT, MIXED INCOME, 30% OF THEM BEING AFFORDABLE.

IT WOULD CREATE THE BIGGEST SAFETY NET THEN FOR RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO STAY IN WOODLAWN TO BE ABLE TO AS WE SEE HOUSING COSTS CONTINUE TO RISE.

>> Reporter: THEN GATHERING SIGNATURES FOR A BALLOT REFERENDUM CALLING ON THE CITY TO SET ASIDE THAT LAND TO HELP EASE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO EASE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRUNCH.

>> THERE'S NO HOME OPTIONS FOR ME TO BUY THAT ARE AFFORDABLE TO ME AND PEOPLE THAT ARE FORTUNATELY ENOUGH TO BE IN SUBSIDIZED UNITS RIGHT NOW, SHOULD THEY WANT TO GO ELSEWHERE, THERE'S ALL THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT COMING IN.

NOT A LOT OF THEM ARE AN OPTION FOR THEM TO MOVE INTO.

>> Reporter: NOW SHE'S ALSO GATHERING SIGNATURES FOR A REFERENDUM IN NEARBY SOUTH SHORE CALLING AGAIN FOR A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT AIMED AT PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT.

PARIS, COMING UP, WE'LL HEAR MORE FROM WOODLAWN LEADERS INCLUDING ABOUT NEW PROGRAMS AT SOUTH SIDE YMCA AND HOW AN IN- DEMAND FOOD PANTRY IS PREPARING FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

>>> NOW WE GO TO BRANDIS FOR A LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF DACA.

>> PARIS, IMMIGRANTS PROTECTED BY THE DACA PROGRAM OR DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS HAD BEEN IN LIMBO OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AS THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN CHALLENGED IN THE COURTS.

NOW JUST WEEKS BEFORE THE NEXT CONGRESSIONAL SESSION BEGINS AND REPUBLICANS ASSUME CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING TO USE THIS LAME DUCK SESSION TO PROTECT THE PROGRAM.

JOINING US NOW TO DISCUSS ITS STATUS AND FUTURE ARE GLOW JOY, CO-CHAIR OF THE ILLINOIS COALITION FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEE RIGHTS ACTION COUNCIL, KAREN GOMEZ, ATTORNEY, AND RAUL REYMUNDO, CEO OF THE RESURRECTION PROJECT.

THANKS TO THE THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF DACA AFTER SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT IT'S BEEN THROUGH?

>> WELL, IT'S STILL IN THE COURTS.

JUDGE HEANEN IN TEXAS IS OVERVIEWING THE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW THE TIMELINE FOR THE RULING AND WHETHER THAT'S GOING UP TO THE APPEALS OR IF IT'S GOING TO THE SUPREME COURT EVENTUALLY, BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT WE NEED CONGRESSIONAL ACTION NOW MORE THAN EVER.

>> WHILE IT'S TIED UP IN THE COURTS, WHAT HAS THAT MEANT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY APPROVED FOR DACA STATUS AND THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO APPLY?

>> UNFORTUNATELY THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO APPLY AND ARE OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE ARE UNABLE TO AND THE ONLY THING THAT PEOPLE CAN DO NOW CURRENTLY IS RENEWING IT EVERY TWO YEARS.

THEIR LIFE AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE ON TWO-YEAR INTERVALS.

>> RAUL, WHAT DOES IT SAY TO YOU THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE PRIORITIZED DACA IN THIS LAME DUCK SESSION?

>> I THINK IT'S A GOOD SIGN, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST THE DEMOCRATS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET A D.R.E.A.M.

ACT PASSED AND THAT'S WHAT THE CHALLENGE IS RIGHT NOW.

EVEN IN THIS LAME DUCK SESSION, WE NEED NOT JUST THE DEMOCRATS AND SENATOR DURBIN.

WE NEED NATIONALLY TO START PUTTING PRESSURE ON REPUBLICAN SENATORS TO ALSO JOIN IN AND PASS THE D.R.E.A.M.

ACT SO THAT WE CAN FIX DACA ONCE AND FOR ALL.

WE NEED TO PUT PRESSURE PARTICULARLY ON THOSE REPUBLICANS THAT ARE RETIRING.

THERE ARE SEVERAL OF THEM.

THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE AND TO UNDERSTAND THE ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION, THE SOCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ALL DACA INDIVIDUALS ARE DOING, ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE ECONOMY, TO THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY.

WE'VE GOT TO GET THE WORD OUT AND GET BEYOND ILLINOIS AND OUR SENATORS DUCKWORTH AND DURBIN AND GET FOR OTHERS TO PUSH FOR IN THIS LAME DUCK SESSION.

>> KAREN, YOU WERE A FORMER DACA RECIPIENT AND MOST RECENTLY BECAME A CITIZEN.

CONGRATULATIONS!

HOW HAVE YOU FELT, THOUGH, THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AS DACA HAS GONE BACK AND FORTH IN T. >> I MEAN IT WAS ALWAYS THIS LACK OF STABILITY, FEAR, BEING IN LIMBO, FEELING LIKE THIS IS HOME, BUT WE'RE NOT BEING RECOGNIZED AS SUCH.

I'VE BEEN IN LAW SCHOOL WHEN THE -- WHEN TRUMP RESCINDED DACA TWO YEARS INTO LAW SCHOOL NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN AND IT JUST FEELS LIKE -- I MEAN I WAS AN UNDERGRADUATE WHEN THIS SORT OF STARTED, YOU KNOW, WHEN DACA FIRST -- OR SENATOR DURBIN INITIALLY LAUNCHED IT OR INTENDED FOR DACA TO BE PASSED, THE LEGISLATION TO PASS AND JUST 20 YEARS IN THE MAKING.

IT'S JUST ENOUGH.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

I FEEL LIKE WE'VE BECOME -- DACA RECIPIENTS HAVE BECOME PAWNS OF THIS POLITICAL ISSUE.

IT'S NOT AN ISSUE.

WE'RE AMERICANS.

WE JUST CONTRIBUTE.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING HERE.

WE'RE RAISING OUR KIDS HERE.

SO IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING.

I KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE.

MY SISTER HAS DACA.

IT WEIGHS HEAVY ON MY HEART, MY FRIENDS, AND I FEEL THEY'VE LOST HOPE AND THEY JUST SHOULDN'T BE IN THIS POSITION ANYMORE IT.

JUST NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

LIKE I SAID, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

>> RAUL, WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT DACA MIGHT FACE IN CONGRESS?

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE A CHANGE IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE POWER.

THE HOUSE IS CRITICAL.

DEMOCRATS CONTROL IT RIGHT NOW DURING THIS LAME DUCK SESSION, SO THEY NEED TO PUT FORWARD A BILL.

UNFORTUNATELY ON THE SENATE SIDE YOU NEED 60 VOTES TO PASS A BILL AND THE DEMOCRATS ONLY HAVE 50, PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT MORE AFTER THIS SESSION, BUT WE NEED TO GET REPUBLICANS ON BOARD.

THERE ARE A LOT OF MODERATE REPUBLICAN SENATORS THAT NEED TO BE PUT PRESSURE ON SO THAT THEY CAN JOIN THE DEMOCRATS IN PASSING THIS BILL.

OTHERWISE I FEEL FOR MY DACA COLLEAGUE.

THIS IS THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF DACA.

THESE DACA INDIVIDUALS CANNOT CONTINUE TO BE IN LIMBO AND AS MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE SOCIAL FABRIC, TO THE ECONOMY.

THE AMERICAN PUBLIC NEEDS TO SUPPORT THEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST IN ILLINOIS.

IT'S ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT WE NEED TO PUT PRESSURE AND GET THESE SENATORS TO JOIN THE DEMOCRATS AND GET THIS DONE DURING THE LAME DUCK SESSION.

>> GLO, AS AN UNDOCUMENTED PERSON WITHOUT DACA, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THESE CONVERSATIONS HAD IN CONGRESS AND WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE DONE?

>> YEAH.

I THINK THE GOAL OF, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY BASE HAS ALWAYS BEEN CREATING A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR ALL 11 MILLION FOLKS.

THAT INCLUDES DACA RECIPIENTS, THEIR PARENTS, OUR FRIENDS.

THE D.R.E.A.M.

ACT ITSELF COVERS LESS THAN 10% OF THAT.

SO WE HOPE THAT THE D.R.E.A.M.

ACT PASSES WITHOUT QUESTION AND FOR US IT'S ALWAYS BEEN HOW DO WE INCLUDE EVERYBODY IN AS MANY PATHWAYS AS POSSIBLE.

WITH THE LAME DUCK WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT THAT LEGISLATIVE PATH LOOKS LIKE.

IS IT DOING THE D.R.E.A.M.

ACT EXCLUSIVELY AS A STAND-ALONE BILL?

IS IT SEEING IT IN OTHER AISLES?

FOR US WE NEED THE PEOPLE TO GET A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP.

>> KAREN, IF THIS IT MADE PERMANENT THROUGH LEGISLATION AND EVEN THAT LEGISLATION COULD BE CHALLENGED, BUT IF IT IS -- >> I DON'T KNOW, A SENSE OF BEING FULLY EMBRACED BY THIS COUNTRY THAT WE'VE GROWN UP IN.

I KNOW FOR MANY OF US THAT WON'T OPEN THE DOOR FOR OTHERS AND FOR OUR PARENTS, BUT MANY OF OUR PARENTS ARE JUST, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT THAT FOR THEIR CHILDREN BECAUSE THAT'S WHY THEY MAKE THE SACRIFICE THAT THEY MADE, MANY OF THEM, TO COME HERE.

I THINK IT WOULD JUST PUT THIS INSTABILITY AND FEAR TO REST.

THERE'S SO MANY MENTAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF LIVING IN A STATUS WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST SO MUCH FEAR AND SO I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD JUST PUT THIS PART OF OUR LIVES TO REST AND WE CAN JUST MOVE ON AND DEAL WITH ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT LIFE THROWS AT US -- >> GO ON WITH LIVING YOUR LIVES.

SORRY TO JUMP IN, BUT WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

RAUL, WHAT IF CONGRESS FAILS TO PASS THIS?

THAT COULD BE A POSSIBILITY IF THE DEMOCRATS CAN'T GET TEN GOP SENATORS TO JOIN IN WITH THEM.

>> WE GOT TO GET THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT IMMIGRATION IS ECONOMIC SECURITY, FOOD SECURITY.

IT'S JOB SECURITY.

IT BENEFITS ALL THE REST OF THE COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE THE D.R.E.A.M.

ACT PASS, IMMIGRATION REFORM AND SO FOR THE LAST TIME IMMIGRATION REFORM OCCURRED WAS 1986.

WE NEED IMMIGRATION REFORM, BUT AT MINIMUM A DOWN PAYMENT ON IMMIGRATION REFORM TO HAVE DACA, THE D.R.E.A.M.

ACT PASSED THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS IMPORTANT, BUT WE NEED TO PUT PRESSURE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IT'S NOT AN IMMIGRATION BILL ONLY.

IT'S ECONOMIC SECURITY, FOOD SECURITY.

THE NATION DEPENDS ON THE CONTRIBUTION OF IMMIGRANTS.

>> I'M SURE THE THREE OF YOU ALONG WITH MILLIONS OF OTHERS WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS.

MY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> NOW BACK TO PARIS, WITH A FORMER GOVERNOR WHO SURPRISED CHICAGO SPECTATORS TODAY.

>> FORMER GOVERNOR PAT QUINN HAS BEEN CIRCULATING NOMINATING PETITIONS TO RUN FOR CHICAGO MAYOR.

THIS WEEK HE ANNOUNCED HE'D MAKE A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT, ASSEMBLED THE PRESS CORPS THIS MORNING TO ANNOUNCE HE WOULD NOT RUN FOR MAYOR.

JOINING TO US EXPLAIN THE BIG TEASE IS PAT DEFINITELY, FORMER GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS FROM 2009 TO 2015.

GOVERNOR QUINN, WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

>> VERY GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> PLACE YOU'VE BEEN MANY TIMES.

>> YES INDEED.

>> WE PREBOOK YOU ON THE SHOW WITH THE NOTION YOU WERE MAKING A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY.

>> I DID.

>> AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.

WHY GO THROUGH ALL THAT TO ANNOUNCE YOU'RE NOT RUNNING?

>> WELL, I BELIEVE IN CAUSES AND IN PASSING PETITIONS TO TRY AND GET ON THE BALLOT FOR MAYOR, I TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I TALKED TO ALL THE CANDIDATES AND I THINK IT WAS HEALTHY.

I SAID ON MEMORIAL DAY I WAS GOING TO EXPLORE THIS.

IN THE COURSE OF DOING IT, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID WHY DON'T YOU DO REFERENDUMS?

THEY LIKE THE FACT I DID REFERENDUM FOR THE CITIZEN UTILITY BOARD.

I PUT A REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT TO GET RECALL FOR GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS IN 2010.

THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, THERE'S PROBABLY ONLY ONE PERSON THAT CAN PUT TOGETHER THE MOVEMENTS NECESSARY TO PUT REAL ISSUES ON THE BALLOT FOR VOTERS TO VOTE ON IN A BINDING REFERENDUM AND I DECIDED TO FOCUS ON THAT.

>> WHEN DID YOU MAKE THAT DECISION?

>> THIS WEEK.

>> UP UNTIL THIS WEEK YOU WERE THINKING YOU NIGHT JUMP IN.

>> YEAH.

I DID A POLL.

I WAS DOING PRETTY GOOD IN THE POLL AGAINST THE INCUMBENT.

I THINK I HAD 42-31, BUT I TALKED TO MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

I ADMIRE CERTAIN THINGS ABOUT HER.

I WAS AT A GATHERING THIS WEEK AT AN INVESTMENT PROGRAM TO INVEST IN THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE, WHICH I THINK IS EXCELLENT, BUT I DISAGREED WITH HER.

SHE SAID SHE WASN'T GOING TO PUT THE TERM LIMIT REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT.

>> RIGHT.

YOU WERE ASKING FOR THE TWO-TERM LIMIT.

>> THE BIG CITIES IN AMERICA NINE OUT OF TEN BIG CITIES HAVE A TERM LIMIT FOR MAYOR.

CHICAGO IS THE ON ONE THAT DOESN'T.

WE HAD GOTTEN 80,000.

>> YOU'RE ONLY ALLOWED THREE REFERENDUMS ON THE BALLOT.

I HAVE TO SAY, GOVERNOR, YOU CAN PASS PETITIONS FOR REFERENDUM, BUT CAN'T YOU MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT BEING MAYOR AND PROPOSING ORDINANCES TO THAT EFFECT?

>> YOU COULD.

BUT I WAS GOVERNOR SIX YEARS.

I DID A LOT OF THINGS THERE.

ONE THING I DIDN'T DO WAS GET THE POWER OF INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM FOR OUR STATE OR CITIES IN OUR STATE.

I TRIED MIGHTILY, BUT MIKE MADIGAN IN PARTICULAR, HE WASN'T FOR THAT.

I REALLY FEEL WE HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY NOW.

I HOPE GOVERNOR PRITZKER SEES THE VALUE OF HAVING AT LEAST A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PROCESS FOR ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT.

A NUMBER OF STATES PASSED VERY FAR REACHING TOUGH POLITICAL AMNESTY LAWS BY VOTER PETITION AND REFERENDUM.

WE NEED THAT IN ILLINOIS.

SINCE GOVERNOR PRITZKER GOT SWORN IN NINE CURRENT OR FORMER LEGISLATORS HAVE BEEN INDICTED OR CONVICTED OF FELONIES.

IT UNDERLINES WE NEED TO CLEAN THINGS UP IN ILLINOIS.

THE VOTERS CAN DO IT BETTER THAN THE INSIDERS.

>> DID YOU HAVE ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO FILE?

>> WE DID FINE.

I SAID WE GOT 87,000 SIGNATURES, NOT FOR THE MAYOR.

>> BUT FOR THE MAYOR DID YOU GET ENOUGH SIGNATURES?

>> NO.

WE HAD ENOUGH.

WE HAD VOLUNTEERS.

I BELIEVE IN VOLUNTEERISM.

THE HEART OF AMERICA, THE HEART OF ILLINOIS IS A VOLUNTEER AND I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO GET SIGNATURES FOR CAUSES THEY BELIEVE IN.

TODAY I TALKED ABOUT A CAUSE IN CHICAGO AND JEANNETTE YOUNG HAS AN ORDINANCE SHE'S TRYING TO GET PASSED GOT KILLED IN COMMITTEE IN CITY COUNCIL.

I THINK WE NEED TO PUT THAT KIND OF QUESTION ON THE BALLOT IN A BINDING WAY FOR THE VOTERS.

>> THIS IS ABOUT REFORMING THE WARRANT PROCESS?

>> YEAH.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, A WOMAN IN PITTSBURGH REFORMED NO-KNOCK WARRANTS, GOT 60,000 SIGNATURES.

THAT REFERENDUM THERE PASSED BY 80%.

CHICAGO, WE CAN'T EVEN GET IT CALLED IN COMMITTEE OR PASSED IN COMMITTEE.

>> WE HAVE SIGNATURES FILED FOR CANDIDATES AND ANY OTHER ISSUE TO GET ON THE BALLOT STARTING MONDAY.

>> RIGHT.

>> DO YOU HAVE A REFERENDUM YOU WANT TO FILE FOR THIS BALLOT?

>> NOT PROBABLY THIS BALLOT.

NEXT YEAR WE'LL GET SIGNATURES FOR TAXPAYER ADVOCATE.

THAT'S SOMETHING TO REFORM THE PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM.

IT WOULD BE BINDING.

NEW YORK HAS THIS CALLED PUBLIC ADVOCATE THERE.

>> DE BLASIO STARTED -- >> PUBLIC ADVOCATE IS BASICALLY AN OMBUDSMAN, A PEOPLE'S PERSON TO FIGHT FOR TAXPAYERS AND CONSUMERS AND FOLKS LEFT OUT TOO OFTEN.

WE NEED THAT IN CHICAGO.

>> IS THAT A STATEWIDE OFFICE OR -- >> NO.

CITYWIDE.

YOU CAN PUT A BINDING REFERENDUM TO CREATE THE TAXPAYER ADVOCATE.

IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND REFORM.

WE'LL HAVE THREE PROPERTY TAX BILLS IN CHICAGO IN COOK COUNTY THE NEXT SEASON MONTHS.

WE BETTER REFORM THIS SYSTEM.

IT'S OUT OF CONTROL.

>> YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT COMMENT, AN EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT TO BE THE POWER PRIOR.

COMET HAS ADMITTED TO BRIBERY WITH MIKE MADIGAN.

>> THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT, ADVISORY REFERENDUM TO TELL THE CITY NO FRANCHISE AGREEMENT FOR CON ED UNTIL THEY REFUND A LOT MORE MONEY TO THE CUSTOMERS.

THE COMPANY ADMITTED IT WAS LEGISLATIVELY BRIBING FOR TEN YEARS.

I VETOED THEIR BILL.

THEY OVERRODE THE VETO BY BRIBERY.

THEY'VE BEEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EVERYDAY CONSUMERS TEN YEARS, NOT GIVING MONEY BACK THAT SHOULD BE GIVEN BACK TO THE CUSTOMER.

>> IS THERE SOMEONE YOU'RE BACKING IN THE MAYOR'S RACE?

>> I LIKE THEM ALL.

I TALKED TO ALL OF THEM.

I LOOK FOR GOOD IN EVERYBODY AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS EVERYBODY HAS.

I WANT TO SEE HOW THEY COMPETE AND ESPECIALLY INTERESTED ARE YOU FOR INITIATIVES, REFERENDUM?

OTHER BIG CITIES HAVE THIS IN THE MIDWEST.

WHY DON'T WE HAVE IT IN CHICAGO?

MAYBE THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SO MUCH CORRUPTION.

I WANT TO SEE HOW THEY DO IN TALKING TO EVERYDAY PEOPLE ABOUT ISSUES LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION AND HAVING TOUGH ETHICS LAWS.

>> DO YOU WANT TO BE THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE IF THAT HAPPENS?

>> ONE STEP AT A TIME.

YOU GOT TO GET IT ON THE BALLOT.

I GOT THE CITIZENS UTILITY BOARD ON THE BALLOT 40 YEARS AGO.

JANE BYRNE PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.

HAROLD WASHINGTON SUPPORTED IT.

IT'S BEEN AROUND 40 YEARS.

I HOPE WE CAN HAVE THE TAXPAYER ADVOCATE FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS.

THE ONLY WAY YOU'LL GIVE PEOPLE RELIEF THAT NEED IT MOST IS BY BINDING REFERENDUM.

>> I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A GOOD SHOT.

EVERYONE SEEMS TO HAVE AN EQUAL SHOT.

"CHUY" GARCIA IS A FRIEND OF YOURS.

>> HE'S A GOOD MAN.

>> DON'T YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A DECENT PATH TO GET TO A RUNOFF?

>> YES, I DO.

I THINK I CAN DO A GOOD JOB IN THAT OFFICE.

I DID A GOOD JOB WHEN I WAS GOVERNOR SIX YEARS IN A TOUGH TIME, INHERITED A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND WE STRAIGHTENED THEM OUT.

I MADE THIS DECISION.

I THINK A LOT OF MY FAMILY FEELS I'LL BE PASSING PETITIONS WHEN I'M IN A NURSING HOME AND 98 YEARS OLD.

WHY DON'T YOU FOCUS ON SOMETHING YOU LOVE?

>> BETTER FOOD IN THE CAFETERIA MAYBE?

>> YEAH.

NO.

I THINK THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE AUTOGRAPHS OF EVERYDAY PEOPLE ON A PIECE OF PAPER ON A CLIPBOARD TO CHANGE THINGS IN OUR DEMOCRACY, THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRACY'S ABOUT, GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE.

I BELIEVE IN THAT.

I'VE BEEN LIVING IT UP SINCE THEN.

>> GOVERNOR QUINN, WITH YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT YOU ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WORKING ON BEHALF OF REFERENDUM -- >> AND CLIPBOARDS.

>> I'M SURE WE'LL SEE YOU ON THE NEWS AND HERE.

>> I'LL BE IN MILLENNIAL PARK.

>> GOVERNOR QUINN, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>>> UP NEXT, WE SHARE THE STORY OF A LOCAL COUPLE'S FIGHT TO MAKE A DEBILITATING TERMINAL ILLNESS LIVABLE.

>>> STAY WITH US.

>>> OUR CULTURE IS VIBRANT.

IT'S RICH.

IT'S FUN.

>> WE TRY TO FOCUS ON LET ME HELP YOU.

THIS IS WHAT CHICAGO IS.

THIS IS LITTLE VILLAGE.

>>> IT'S AN ILLNESS THAT AFFECTS 500,000 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR, ALS, SOMETIMES KNOWN AS LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE, AND MOST RECENTLY R AND B SINGER ROBERTA FLACK ANNOUNCING HER OWN DIAGNOSIS.

WHEN A LOCAL FORMER OBAMA CAMPAIGNER STAFFER WAS GIVEN HIS DIAGNOSIS, HE WAS GIVEN SIX MONTHS TO LIVE.

NOW FIVE YEARS LATER WHAT THEY'VE DONE GIVES NEW MEANING TO THE ADVICE TO GET YOUR AFFAIR IN ORDER.

>> BRIAN WALLACK IS MAKING NO SMALL PLANS.

>> I FEEL OKAY.

I'M A BIT TIRED, BUT FROM ALL OF THE THINGS, FROM MY MIND IS RACING AT FULL SPEED.

>> AS HIS WIFE OF NINE YEARS, SANDRA TRANSLATES ALMOST HIS EVERY WORD HE SHARES HIS THOUGHTS.

>> Translator: I'M THINKING ABOUT HOW WE DO A SCREENING FOR THE ALS COMMUNITY.

>> THE WORK HE WANTS TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> Reporter: I'M THINKING ABOUT HOW WE IMPROVE OUR CARE DELIVERY FOR SYNAPTIC CARE.

>> AND THE FAMILY HE ADORES.

>> Translator: I'M THINKING ABOUT OUR PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES THIS AFTERNOON.

>> WAIT, WHERE AM I IN THIS EQUATION?

>> IT'S HIS WAY OF RESPONDING TO HIS ILLNESS WHICH MAY HAVE SLOWED HIS BODY BUT NOT HIS MIND.

>> Translator: WITH EVERY STRESSFUL SITUATION MY RESPONSE IS TO GO TO WORK AND I DO THAT BECAUSE IT GIVES ME A SENSE OF PURPOSE THAT ALS IS TRYING TO TAKE AWAY AND IT ALSO GIVES ME A SENSE OF POWER WHEN I HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE DISEASE.

SO FOR ME, I WANT TO GO TO WORK BECAUSE IT ALLOWS ME TO SAY NOT TODAY, ALS.

>> I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ANNOUNCE MY CANDIDACY.

>> BRIAN AND SANDRA MET WORKING ON BARACK OBAMA'S HISTORIC 2008 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

BRIAN SAYS HE AND SANDRA APPLIED THAT ORGANIZING KNOW-HOW TO THEIR FIGHT AGAINST ALS.

MUCH OF THEIR JOURNEY IS DOCUMENTED IN THE FILM "NO ORDINARY CAMPAIGN."

FIRST THE PAIR STARTED THE NONPROFIT I AM ALS WITH THE SUPPORT OF A NUMBER OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND COLLEAGUES.

THEN THEY TOOK THE FIGHT TO THEIR OLD STOMPING GROUND.

BETWEEN 2019 AND 2021 THEY SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIED CONGRESS TO INCREASE GOVERNMENT SPENDING ON ALS RESEARCH FROM 10 MILLION TO $80 MILLION A YEAR.

THEY ALSO CONVINCED CONGRESS TO PASS LEGISLATION ALLOWING PEOPLE WITH ALS IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO BENEFITS FROM SOCIAL SECURITY WITHOUT THE REQUISITE FIVE-MONTH WAITING PERIOD, A TIME WINDOW THAT CAN CLOSE QUICKLY ON AN ILLNESS LIKE ALS.

NEXT THE GROUP PUSHED THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO ALLOW PATIENTS EARLIER ACCESS TO PROMISING BUT EXPERIMENTAL DRUG TREATMENTS.

>> Translator: SO IF YOU CAN TAKE ONE TREATMENT AND SLOW DOWN YOUR PROGRESSION BY 20% AND THEN TAKE ANOTHER TREATMENT AND SLOW IT DOWN BY 10%, YOU'VE TAKEN A DISEASE THAT MOST PEOPLE PASS AWAY FROM IN TWO TO THREE YEARS AND MAKE IT A DISEASE WHERE PEOPLE CAN LIVE SEVEN TO TEN YEARS AND THAT IS EVERYTHING.

AND THAT IS HOW WE END ALS.

>> ONE OF THOSE DRUGS IS RELIVRIO OR AMG35 APPROVED BY X35 APPROVED BY THE FDA.

>> WE MADE CLEAR TO THE FDA TEN MORE MONTHS OF LIFE FOR MANY PEOPLE IS LIVING TWICE AS LONG AS THEIR DIAGNOSIS GAVE THEM.

>> IT'S THE FIRST ALS DRUG TO BE APPROVED IN FIVE YEARS.

ALONG THE WAY JOURNALIST KATIE COURIC JOINED THEIR LIST OF SUPPORTERS BECOMING AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ON THE FILM.

SHE'S ALSO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO CARE FOR A HUSBAND FACING A TERMINAL ILLNESS.

>> THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS AND THEIR EXPERIENCE AS POLITICAL OPERATIVES REALLY GAVE THEM AN IN IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING SORT OF THE TWISTS AND TURNS OF HOW TO GET LEGISLATION PASSED.

THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK THE AVERAGE PERSON WOULD BE OVERWHELMED BY.

>> THIS TEAM SAYS IT'S EVIDENCE OF HOW MUCH FASTER CHANGE IS HAPPENING FOR THE ALS COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT'S REALLY TOUGH IS WHEN YOU HAVE A DEBILITATING ILLNESS LIKE ALS, THERE ARE FEW SURVIVORS.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE A BUILT-IN NETWORK OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ADVOCATING, BUT THEY HAVE BUILT A NETWORK AND THEY HAVE JUST BROUGHT TOGETHER THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY AND WHATEVER HAPPENS, THIS COMMUNITY IS GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING.

>> AND EVERY VICTORY HAS GIVEN BRIAN AND SANDRA HOPE THAT THEY CAN DO MORE THAN BEAT THE ODDS.

>> I THINK BRIAN AND I STILL DO AUTHENTICALLY BELIEVE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO SURVIVE IT AND WE APPRECIATE THAT IT'S JUST A CHANCE, THAT WE COULD BE AMONG THE FIRST SURVIVORS AND SO WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT FOR THAT EVERY DAY FOR OURSELVES, FOR OUR GIRLS AND THEN FOR EVERYBODY ELSE INVOLVED.

>> NOT JUST FOR THEMSELVES, BUT FOR ANYONE FACING A DEBILITATING NEURODEGENERATIVE ILLNESS AND THE TWO DAUGHTERS RYAN DESPERATELY WANTS TO SEE GROW UP.

>> I WANT TO BE THERE TO SHARE WITH THEM HOW WE FOUGHT AND HOW WE MADE ALS A DISEASE THAT PEOPLE CAN LIVE WITH BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY WILL GROW UP TO BE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE AND I WANT TO BE HERE TO SEE THAT.

OH, ARE YOU SAYING I HAVE A LOT MORE BAD DAD JOKES TO TELL?

>> BAD DAD JOKES AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE.

THE COUPLE ALSO STARTED A TELEMEDICINE COMPANY THIS YEAR, SYNAPTIC CURE TO PROVIDE PERSONALIZED CARE TO ALS AND PARKINSON'S PATIENTS.

TV CREATOR, WRITER, PRODUCER PHIL ROSENTHAL MOST WIDELY KNOWN FOR CREATING THE TV HIT "EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND" IS DONATING HIS SHARE OF PROCEEDS FROM HIS COOKBOOK TO I AM ALS.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO GET A LOOK.

PARIS, NOW BACK TO YOU.

>> GREAT STORY.

>>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT," THE SOUTH SIDE YMCA'S NEW TECH HUB ADDRESSES A DIGITAL DIVIDE, THAT AND MUCH MORE FROM WOODLAWN.

>>> MORE FROM OUR RECENT CONVERSATION WITH PATTI SMITH ON HER ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER, THE IMPORTANCE OF POETRY AND HER BRIEF CAREER AS A WAITRESS.

>>> AND WE'VE GOT TEN REASONS YOU SHOULD GET TO KNOW THE CHICAGO ARTIST SETTING BIG TRENDS WITH TINY MASTERPIECES.

>>> BUT FIRST MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, LAKE UNIONS GATHER AT UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO.

>> WE WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE UIC AND UIL HAS A DESTINATION FOR EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE.

SADLY, HOWEVER, IT OFTEN FEELS LIKE MANAGEMENT DOESN'T HAVE OUR BACKS.

>> MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY'S FACULTY UNION RECENTLY VOTED TO AUTHORIZE A STRIKE, IF NECESSARY.

THEY SAY THE ADMINISTRATION HAS REFUSED TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS ISSUES LIKE COMPENSATION, WORKLOAD POLICIES AND JOB SECURITY.

COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS VOTED TO APPROVE AN $8.8 BILLION BUDGET FOR 2023.

THE BUDGET PASSED 16-0.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE 111 MILLION TOWARD INVESTMENTS IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, 71 MILLION TOWARD SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES AND 42 MILLION FOR A GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT.

>>> IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO GET YOUR HANDS ON A VACANT LOT, YOU'RE IN LUCK.

THE CITY IS MAKING 2,000 VACANT LOTS AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE PURCHASE ON SALE FOR SPECIFIC USES INCLUDING SIDE YARDS FOR ADJACENT NEIGHBORS, COMMUNITY OPEN SPACES SUCH AS GARDENS OR PLAZAS, HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS AND OTHER THINGS.

IT'S PART OF THE CITY'S PLANS TO ENCOURAGE PURCHASE AND REDEVELOPMENT OF CITY-OWNED VACANT LAND ACROSS THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

>>> NOW, BRANDIS, WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> NOW WE GO BACK TO NICK BLUMBERG AND OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

>> Reporter: EARLIER TODAY WE SPOKE WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTH SIDE YMCA.

I BEGAN BY ASKING HER WHAT KIND OF PARTNERSHIP SHE HOPES TO CULTIVATE WITH THE NEW OBAMA CENTER BEING BUILT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE Y.

>> I THINK FOR US, IT'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE PRESIDENT OBAMA HAVE ROOTS HERE.

THE BABIES HAVE HAD BIRTHDAY PARTIES HERE.

HE SHOT HOOPS HERE.

HE WAS HERE LAST SEPTEMBER AND DID A SURPRISE FOR THE YOUTH.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY BE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THEM, BUT TO HAVE DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT WAYS WE CAN JOIN FORCES TOGETHER AND REALLY MAXIMIZE OUR IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY THROUGH DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND THROUGH WHATEVER OTHER SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY MAY NEED.

WE HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT REALLY ACTIVATING ON THAT.

SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THEM GETTING THROUGH CONSTRUCTION AND OPENING THE DOORS.

>> Reporter: YOU MENTIONED THE PROXIMITY.

IT'S KITTY CORNER FROM THIS SITE.

I IMAGINE THERE'S EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE INFLUX OF ACTIVITY THAT WILL BRING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE A SPACE IS AMAZING TO HAVE IT ON THE SOUTH SIDE IN A SPACE WHERE A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE JUST PASS THROUGH, BUT TO HAVE WOODLAWN SPECIFICALLY BECOME A DESTINATION PLACE, WE'RE JUST EXCITED AND EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO COMPLEMENT A LOT OF THE SERVICES THAT THEY WILL OFFER FOR THE COMMUNITY AND AGAIN, JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WELL ROUNDED MAKING SURE THE COMMUNITY CAN ACCESS IT ALL.

>> Reporter: YOU SERVE THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES EACH YEAR AND SOME OF THE PROGRAMS YOU OFFER ARE FREE.

WHY IS HAVING A NO COSTS ALTERNATIVE IMPORTANT?

>> OH, MAN, THE Y IS ALL ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS AND ALL ABOUT PROVIDING ACCESS.

EVEN THOUGH WE ARE A NONPROFIT AND STILL HAVE TO BE TABLE TO KEEP OUR DOORS OPEN BY CHARGING FOR SOME THINGS, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT IN OUR QUEST TO PROVIDE ACCESS THAT WE REMOVE BARRIERS FOR FAMILIES AND ESPECIALLY NOW WHEN WITH INFLATION AND GROCERIES AND EVERYTHING BEING EXPENSIVE, WE FIND IT OUR RULE TO MAKE SURE ANYBODY CAN COME IN AND HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT NOT ONLY SAVE THEIR LIVES, BUT JUST GIVE THEM A BIT OF FUN AS A REPRIEVE FROM EVERYDAY LIFE.

>> Reporter: YOU RECENTLY LAUNCHED A TECH HUB.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT OFFERS.

>> THE TECH HUB IS -- AGAIN, I SPEAK A LOT ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS.

THIS YEAR COMCAST SPECIFICALLY CAME IN AND SAW SOME OF THE WORK WE WERE DOING AROUND DIGITAL EQUITY AND THEY DECIDED TO UPGRADE OUR LAB AND IT'S NOW A MUCH MORE BEAUTIFUL SPACE THAT HAS A LOT OF DIGNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, NOT JUST OUR YOUTH, BUT EVERYONE IN BETWEEN CAN COME IN AND LEARN JUST THE BASICS OF LEARNING HOW TO USE A COMPUTER OR MORE ADVANCED LIKE LEARNING 3D PRINTING.

>> YOU MENTIONED YOU'RE A NONPROFIT.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPES AROUND THAT?

>> GIVING TUESDAY IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST FUNDRAISERS OF THE YEAR.

I HAVE A REALLY GREAT AND PASSIONATE BOARD.

THIS YEAR WE'RE LOOKING TO FUNDRAISE FOR $50,000 TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS AND OFFER THESE FREE PROGRAMMINGS AND ALSO BE ABLE TO BE A HUB OF THE COMMUNITY.

OUR GIVING TUESDAY FUNDRAISER IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29th, 6 P.M. AT SUPER SAVER ON 47th, ANOTHER SOUTH SIDE BUSINESS.

>> Reporter: AGAIN, THAT WAS KENIQIA HOWELL.

>>> COMING UP WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE WOODLAWN FOOD PANTRY.

IT OPENED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT AND THEY SAY THEY'VE SEEN DEMAND INCREASING STEADILY.

>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, WE SIT DOWN WITH PUNK POET LAUREATE, PATTI SMITH.

>>> BUT FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

[ MUSIC ] >>> BORN IN CHICAGO, RAISED IN NEW JERSEY, PATTI SMITH IS IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AND WON A NATIONAL BOOK AWARD AND IS COMMONLY CALLED THE PUNK POET LAUREATE.

A FEW WEEKS AGO PATTI SMITH WAS IN TOWN TO ACCEPT AN HONOR FROM THE CHICAGO-BASED POETRY FOUNDATION.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT" SPOKE WITH HER AND AIRED A PORTION OF THAT INTERVIEW RECENTLY.

NOW WE'VE DUG A LITTLE BIT DEEPER.

HERE'S MORE OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH PATTI SMITH.

[ MUSIC ] PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER.

>> IT BELONGS TO EVERYONE.

SO MANY PEOPLE SECRETLY WRITE POETRY WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG ALL THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE.

IT'S BEEN A CONTINUING MODE OF EXPRESSION, A REVOLUTIONARY MODE OF EXPRESSION CONSTANTLY CHANGING THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF HISTORY, THROUGH ROCK AND ROLL, THROUGH HIP-HOP, THROUGH WHATEVER MODE OF COMMUNICATION EACH GENERATION EMBRACES.

IT SORT OF DEMOCRATIZES THIS ELEVATED EXPRESSION.

WHEN I READ "LITTLE WOMEN," THERE WAS A GIRL WHO WAS A BIT LIKE ME, SORT OF A TOM BOY, GANGLY, SOCIALLY INEPT AND A BOOKWORM WHO WROTE.

IT ALMOST GAVE ME PERMISSION TO WRITE, TO BE SORT OF AN AWKWARD GIRL GROWING UP IN A SOCIETY WHERE GIRLS WERE GROOMED TO BE HOMEMAKERS OR HAIR DRESSERS OR SECRETARIES.

YOUR OPTIONS WERE ESPECIALLY IN A LOWER MIDDLE CLASS AREA, THEY WEREN'T VERY EXPANSIVE AND IN READING THAT, I HAD A WHOLE OTHER GOAL, WHICH I HELD FAST TO THE REST OF MY LIFE.

♪ NOW I WANT TO BE A STAR.

>> MY FIRST JOB I GOT AS A WAITRESS, LASTED FOR ABOUT FOUR HOURS.

THEY GAVE ME THIS GIANT PLATTER OF VEAL PARMESAN AND I NEVER HELD SUCH A BIG PLATTER AND I TRIPPED OVER SOMETHING AND THE WHOLE THING WENT ONTO THIS WOMAN'S TWEED SUIT.

SO THAT WAS THE END OF MY CAREER AS A WAITRESS.

I WAS VERY LUCKY WHEN I WAS YOUNG GROWING UP IN THE EARLY '70s, LATE '60s, EARLY '70s AT THE CHELSEA HOTEL.

I MET MANY GREAT ARTISTS AND I HAD WONDERFUL MENTORS.

I MEAN I HAD WILLIAM BURROWS AND ELLEN GINSBURG WHO REALLY DEVOTED A LOT OF TIME AND SUPPORTED ME AND GAVE ME ADVICE AND INVITED ME TO PERFORM WITH THEM.

>> FROM THE PORTABELLA ROSE TO THE PORT OF MARCET TO THE DERVISH TURN WHERE THE WILD GOATS PLAY.

I DON'T PLACE MYSELF IN A POSITION TO ADVISE PEOPLE HOW TO CONDUCT THEIR LIFE, BUT IF I COULD ONLY TELL THEM ONE THING, I WOULD SAY TO WORK HARD, TO WORK HARD EVERY DAY AND KEEP YOUR FOCUS ON THE WORK AND DOING THE BEST WORK THAT YOU CAN AND ALL OF THE PERIPHERAL THINGS, ESPECIALLY IN THE PRESENT CULTURE, SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALL THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS THAT PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN, PUT THEM IN THEIR PROPER PROPORTION.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE WORK.

♪ PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER.

♪.

>> AND ALSO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF EVEN WHEN OTHERS DON'T.

>> PATTI SMITH'S NEW BOOK, "A BOOK OF DAYS" WAS JUST PUBLISHED.

FIND OUT TEN MORE THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT HER ON OUR AND NOW, BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.

>>> WE RETURN TO WOODLAWN WHERE NICK SPENT THE DAY IN OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

>> Reporter: HE SPOKE WITH JAMES McMURRAY, CHAIRMAN OF THE WOODLAWN COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY.

MORE THAN 80% OF THEIR CLIENTS ARE SENIORS, MANY OF WHOM LIVE IN THE AREA AND WALK TO THE PANTRY.

THEY OPENED THEIR DOORS JUST BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT.

I BEGAN BY ASKING WHAT DEMAND HAS BEEN LIKE SINCE THEN.

>> WHEN WE CAME BACK IN JUNE, THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE GROWTH SPURT, YOU KNOW, AND WE UNDERSTAND IT WAS BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE LAID OFF, COULDN'T GET TO WORK AND EVERYBODY WAS SUPPLEMENTING THEIR GROCERY DOLLARS BEST THEY COULD.

SO THAT'S WHEN PANTRIES REALLY STARTED TO FIND OUT JUST HOW IMPORTANT THEY WERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

OUR GROWTH SINCE THEN HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS.

EVERY WEEK THERE ARE NEW CLIENTS.

WE DO 100 PLUS A WEEK FAMILIES AND WHEN YOU EXTRAPOLATE THAT OUT, YOU FIGURE 3.5 MEMBERS IN A FAMILY, THEN YOU REALIZE YOU'RE FEEDING 400, 450 PEOPLE A WEEK.

>> Reporter: AND YOU'RE HEADING INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON HERE WITH THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS, HOW ARE YOU WORKING TO SUPPORT THOSE FAMILIES STILL FACING FOOD INSECURITY?

>> WELL, WE HAVE BECOME A FOOD RESCUE HUB WITH THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY.

SO THAT'S HELPING TREMENDOUSLY BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO WE PICK UP EXTRA FOOD FOR OURSELVES, BUT WE DELIVER TO OTHER PANTRIES ON OUR ROUTE AND EVERYBODY IS REALLY HAPPY TO RECEIVE THE EXTRA FOOD.

EVERYBODY'S NUMBERS ARE GOING UP, YOU KNOW.

WE THOUGHT THAT WHEN THEY CHANGED -- WENT BACK TO REGULAR SERVICE LEVELS FEEDING PEOPLE TWICE A MONTH, THAT OUR NUMBERS WERE GOING TO DROP.

THEY DROPPED FOR MAYBE TWO WEEKS AND JUST I THINK LAST WEEK 101 AND WE'RE STILL HITTING 100 EVERY TWO WEEKS.

SO THAT JUST SHOWS YOU AND THERE'S ALWAYS NEW PEOPLE.

WHEN THEY TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, I COME HERE BECAUSE I CAN GET -- EGGS ARE SO EXPENSIVE, YOU KNOW, MILK IS SO EXPENSIVE, MEAT IS SO EXPENSIVE AND THE FACT I CAN GET IT HERE, I CAN STRETCH MY FOOD DOLLARS.

>> Reporter: YOU ALSO DO SOME WORK AROUND FOOD EDUCATION AND EATING WISE.

WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT?

>> THAT'S IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES BECAUSE OF THE -- I DON'T WANT TO STAY DISEASES -- BUT THE DISEASES THAT DO AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY, DIABETES, HYPERTENSION, DEALING WITH STRESS BECAUSE THERE IS FOOD INSECURITY, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

SO WE TRY TO GET OUR COMMUNITY TO EAT HEALTHIER, TO PUT SOME THOUGHT INTO WHAT THEY'RE PUTTING INTO THEIR BODIES BECAUSE YOU CAN AVOID A POTENTIAL PROBLEM DOWN THE ROAD OR IF YOU ALREADY HAVE THE PROBLEM, MAYBE YOU CAN EASE IT NATURALLY BY EATING HEALTHIER FOOD.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO DO.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE USE THE PROGRAM THAT THE FOOD DEPOSITORY STARTED AND WE LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S GOOD, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE JUST SOMETIMES AND WHAT YOU EAT RARELY.

>> Reporter: AGAIN, THAT WAS JAMES McMURRAY OF THE WOODLAWN COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY AND THEY WILL HAVE A SPECIAL THANKSGIVING MEAL GIVEAWAY THIS SATURDAY IN ADDITION TO THEIR REGULAR FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTION MONDAY.

>> I'M SURE THE RESIDENTS ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THEY'RE DOING THERE.

EARLIER YOU MENTIONED CONSTRUCTION AT THE OBAMA CENTER RESUMED.

WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION INTO LAST WEEK'S INCIDENT?

>> Reporter: AT LAST CHECK, THERE STILL WEREN'T A LOT OF DETAILS AVAILABLE FROM CHICAGO POLICE, ALTHOUGH THEY SAY THIS IS AN ACTIVE AND ONGOING INVESTIGATION.

LAKESIDE ALLIANCE ALSO SAID THEY'RE STILL NOT RELEASING A LOT OF DETAILS ABOUT WHERE THE NOOSE WAS FOUND ON THE SITE OR ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN UNCOVERED, BUT THEY DID SAY THEY UNDERSTAND NO AMOUNT OF ANTI-BIAS TRAINING OR ADDITIONAL SECURITY MEASURES CAN SIMPLY WIPE AWAY THE MEMORY OF FINDING SOMETHING LIKE.

THAT THEY'VE GOT AN AWARD OUT THERE AND FOLKS ARE EAGER TO FIND IT OUT WHAT HAPPENED.

>> I'M SURE IT WAS DISTURBING FOR WHOEVER FOUND IT AND I KNOW SOME FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT WENT DOWN EXACTLY.

NICK BLUMBERG IN WOODLAWN FOR US, THANK YOU.

>>> THOUGH THE CANVAS IS SMALL, INTRICATELY DESIGNED NAIL ART HAS BECOME A BIG PART OF STYLE, BUT THE CREATORS OF THOSE FINGERTIP MASTERPIECES ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED.

CREDIT IS LONG OVERDUE FOR NAIL ARTISTS LIKE THIS ONE WHOSE TREND CITING MANICURES HAS MADE HER A FAVORITE OF CELEBRITIES AND LAUNCHED HER CAREER AS A DESIGNER.

PRODUCER AND EDITOR ERICA GUNDERSON NAILS THIS STORY.

>> COMING HERE IS TO KNOW YOU KIND OF GOT TO SIT BACK AND LET ME DO WHAT IT IS I DO.

AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU'RE HERE FOR THE EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: WHEN IT CAME TO MAKING HER WAY IN THE ART WORLD, TAKARA STARTED OUT SMALL LIKE PINKY NAIL SMALL.

DO YOU FIND LIKE THIS INTERACTION KIND OF PUTS PEOPLE AT EASE?

>> YES.

COMPLETELY.

FIRST THING I THINK IS IT'S ONE THING THAT YOU DO IN YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING WITH YOUR HANDS LIKE YOU'RE COMPLETELY IMMOBILE.

I'M HOLDING YOUR HANDS THE ENTIRE TIME.

HOW OFTEN ARE YOU THIS CLOSE TO SOMEBODY TALKING TO THEM.

GETS PEOPLE OPEN.

>> Reporter: TODAY SUTTON'S BOLD AND BRIGHT NAIL ART HAS HELPED HER REACH DEEP INTO THE DESIGN WORLD WHERE HER ART NOW GRACES APPAREL, HOME DECOR AND MORE, BUT BACK WHEN SHE WAS A TEEN-AGED GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDENT, SUTTON SAYS SHE CREATED HER FIRST DESIGNS ON HER OWN NAILS JUST TO KEEP HERSELF FROM BITING THEM.

>> AT THAT POINT BY DESIGN TOOL OF TO US WAS A SHARPEE MARKER.

I HAD ONE POLISH I HAD BOUGHT FROM WALGREEN'S.

>> Reporter: SOON HER FRIENDS WERE CLAMORING FOR HELP TO SPIFF UP HER NAILS, TOO.

THAT'S WHEN SHE REALIZED HER NAIL DESIGNS COULD GRAB ATTENTION JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE.

>> HOW AM I GOING TO GET MY STUFF OUT THERE?

DOING NAILS, OKAY, I GOT FRIENDS THAT GO TO COLUMBIA IN DIFFERENT SPACES I WOULD LIKE TO BE IN.

IF I CAN'T BE THERE, AT LEAST YOUR NAMES CAN BE THERE.

NOW THE WORD IS STARTING TO CIRCULATE AND A NAME IS STARTING TO BE FORMED AROUND THEM.

>> Reporter: HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED?

IS IT JUST A FEELING?

>> IT'S A FEELING FOR SURE.

IT'S ONLY A FEELING I CAN BRING, WHATEVER MY SOUL WANTS TO DO.

>> Reporter: 15 YEARS LATER SUTTON IS A TREND SETTER IN HER OWN RIGHT AND SHE SEES THE HAND OF BLACK CULTURE IN NAIL DESIGNS EMERGENCE AS AN ART FORM.

>> IT DOES HAVE A VERY BIG INFLUENCE ON NAIL ARTISTS TODAY JUST SEEN A LOT OF NAIL ARTISTS EMBRACING NAIL JEWELS AND STONEWORK AND GROWING UP THAT WAS SEEN AS SOMETHING THAT OH, THAT'S GAUDY.

SHE'S NOT GOING TO GET THE JOB AND NOW YOU'RE SEEING THE WOMEN OUT HERE HEAD OF COMPANIES, THEY GOT STONES ON THEIR NAILS PERFORM.

>> Reporter: THESE DAYS SUTTON IT TURNING HER HANDS TO GROWING HER VISUAL DESIGN PRACTICE THROUGH COLLABORATION.

>> IT'S LAUNCHED ME INTO CONVERSATIONS THAT YOUR AVERAGE NAIL TECH WOULDN'T HAVE LIKE I GOT CEOs OF COMPANIES THAT CONSULT TO ME ABOUT DIFFERENT DESIGN ELEMENTS.

I WANT TO I UNDERSTAND COULD OF EMBRACE THE SEASON OF COLLABORATION.

I KNOW A LOT OF THE BEST OF THE BEST OF WHAT THEY DO AND I'M THE BEST AT WHAT I DO.

SO HEY, LET'S MAKE SOME BETTER STUFF.

>> Reporter: SINCE SHE NOW ONLY SEES A SELECT FEW CLIENTS IN PERSON, I FELT VERY LUCKY TO TAKE HOME MY VERY OWN TEN TINY WORKS OF ART.

OH, MY GOD, THIS IS AMAZING!

THIS IS LITERALLY BETTER THAN I IMAGINED.

>> YES.

THAT'S THE REACTION WE'RE LOOKING FOR ALWAYS.

>> Reporter: HOW DO YOU GET THAT LITTLE -- I'M SORRY.

I'M YELLING.

HOW DO YOU GET THAT LITTLE?

>> THAT'S THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: I GET TO TAKE THESE HOME WITH ME?

>> THEY ARE YOURS.

>> Reporter: FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT," THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON.

>> ERICA STILL HASN'T CHANGED THE ART ON HER LITTLE CANVASS EITHER.

SUTTON'S LATEST PROJECT WAS CREATING PRESS-ON NAILS INSPIRED BY THE WOMEN OF THE WAKANDA MOVIES.

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

>>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS, THE JIM AND KAY MABIE FAMILY, THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

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

DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND OUR WEBSITE NEWS.WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW."

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

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM PLEASED TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH NUMEROUS CHARITABLE INITIATIVES.