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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> A MAJOR, MAJOR TRANSMOREMATION IN THE CHICAGO REGION.

>> THE POLITICAL STARS MAY BE ALIGNED.

>> BOARD PRESIDENT IS RESIGNING UNDER FIRE.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THAT AND MUCH MORE.

>> THE PUSH FOR GREATER ASIAN-AMERICAN POLITICAL REPRESENTATION ON CHICAGO'S CITY COUNCIL AND BEYOND.

>> A REPORT FROM WBEZ REVEALS CHICAGO LEADERS FOR DECADES TURNED THE CITY'S WATER SUPPLY INTO A REVENUE STREAM LEAVES THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS DROWNING IN DEBT.

>> HELLO, I SEE YOU.

I ACKNOWLEDGE YOU.

>> COMEDIAN JEFF GARLIN JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT THE NEW SEASON OF "CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM" AND HIS NEW PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW OPENING SOON IN CHICAGO.

>> IT IS A NORMAL FAMILY JUST TRYING TO LIVE THEIR LIFE LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.

>> AND WE TAKE YOU TO ANOTHER PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW THAT EXPLORES THE LATINO IDENTITY.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> MORE FALLOUT OVER THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT'S SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL.

PARK DISTRICT BOARD PRESIDENT AVIS LAVELLE RESIGNED AFTER MOUNTING PRESSURE OVER HER HANDING OF ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT BY LIFEGUARDS.

LAVELLE SAID QUOTE... >> LAVELLE'S RESIGNATION COMES A MONTH AFTER THE PARK DISTRICT'S C.E.O.

MICHAEL KELLY RESIGNED AND LAST WEEK THE INTERIM C.E.O.

FIRED THREE OTHER OFFICIALS.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WILL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THE STORY LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

KYLE RITTENHOUSE TOOK THE STAND AT HIS MURDER TRIAL IN REN SHAH TODAY AND DEFENSE CORNERS ARE CALLING FOR A MISTRIAL.

THE 18-YEAR-OLD IS FACING MURDER CHARGES AFTER SHOOTINGS HE COMMITTED DURING THE UNREST IN KENOSHA IN 2020.

RITTENHOUSE TOOK THE STAND SAYING THE KILLINGS WERE ACTS OF SELF-DEFENSE.

HIS LAWYERS ARE ASKING FOR A MISTRIAL CLAIMING THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR WAS ASKING OUT OF BOUNDS QUESTIONS.

>> THE DEFENSE IS GOING TO BE MAKING A MOTION FOR A MISTRIAL.

HOWEVER THAT MOTION IS GOING TO BE REQUESTED WITH PREJUDICE.

I'M AWARE THAT THE COURT IS AWARE THAT NORMALLY, A DEFENSE MOTION FOR A MISTRIAL DOES NOT PRECLUDE A RETRIAL.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS TO THAT, HOWEVER.

>> AND ASKING FOR A MISTRIAL WITH PREJUDICE MEANS THAT IF ONE IS GRANTED RITTENHOUSE CANNOT BE RETRIED.

THE JUDGE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY RULE ON THE REQUEST.

>> HYDE PARK COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE CALLING FOR OFFENDER TO BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE AFTER SHOOTINGS LEAVING TWO DEAD THIS WEEKEND.

THIS WEEK.

ALDERPERSON SOPHIA KING WHOSE WARD REPRESENTS HYDE PARK SPOKE ABOUT THE INCIDENTS TODAY.

>> JUST REALLY BRAZEN, CALLOUS AND RECKLESS THOSE OFFENDERS MUST BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE SWIFTLY AND QUICKLY.

AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY DID.

>> ON TUESDAY, A 24-YEAR-OLD UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO GRADUATE WAS KILLED IN A ROBBERY NEAR THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.

THAT SAME DAY CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE AND ANTIVIOLENCE ACTIVIST JAHMAL COLE WAS SHOT AT BUT HE SAYS HE WAS NOT HURT.

CHICAGO POLICE REPORT ANOTHER INCIDENT WHERE A 31-YEAR-OLD MAN DIED AFTER BEING STABBED IN THE LEG IN WASHINGTON PARK.

AND UP NEXT, A NEW VISION FOR THE EISENHOWER EXPRESSWAY SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE BY IN PART BY... >> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS READY TO SIGN A $1 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE BILL INTO LAW.

ILLINOIS IS SET TO RECEIVE $17 BILLION FROM IT.

ABOUT HALF WILL GO TO REPAIRING WATER SERVICE LINES BRINGING BROADBAND INTERNET TO RURAL AREAS AND IMPROVING AIRPORTS.

BUT MORE THAN $10 BILLION IS SLATED FOR FEDERAL HIGHWAY PROJECTS AND BRIDGE REPLACEMENTS.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH A PUSH TO PAVE A PARTICULAR ROAD PROJECT AN EXPRESSWAY THAT IS THE CAUSE OF MANY A TRAFFIC HEADACHE.

>> IF YOU'VE DRIVEN IN AND AROUND CHICAGO CHANCES ARE YOU'VE BEEN STUCK IN A TRAFFIC JAM ALONG UNONE OF CHICAGO'S INTERSTATE A 13 MILE STRETCH OF EXPRESSWAY COMPLETED IN 1960 THE EISENHOWER NAMED AFTER THE PRESIDENT WOULD CONCEIVED OF AUDREY FRANCIS WHATEVER TV INAPPROPRIATE NAME YOU MAY CALL IT IF YOU ARE STUCK ON IT DURING RUSH-HOUR.

>> 290 A MAJOR, MAJOR TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR IN THE CHICAGO REGION.

IT IS THE DIRECT CONNECTION INTO THE CITY FROM THE WESTERN SUBURBS DIRECTLY EAST-WEST GOING INTO THE LOOP.

AND IT'S PROVIDING THAT IMPORTANT CONNECTION FOR THOSE COMMUTERS COMING FROM THE WESTERN PART OF CHICAGO.

IT'S PROVIDING CONNECTIONS FOR RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG 290 IN SOUTHERN COOK COUNTY PARTICULARLY TO GET TO JOB CENTERS ALONG I88 OR O'HARE.

>> AS TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTE, MARY TYLER AUTHORED A STUDY EXAMINING THE EISENHOWER AND I290 AVERAGED TWO FATAL CRASHES A YEAR A HIGHER RATE THAN COMPARABLE ROADWAYS THE DESIGN IS OUT DATED WITH 86% OF BRIDGES DEEMED FUNCTIONALLY ON LET.

THE INTERSECTIONS ARE TOUGH FOR PEDESTRIANS TO NAVIGATE AND REACH THE BLUE LINE AND WHILE THAT TOP PAVEMENT HAS BEEN RESURFACED MUCH OF THE UNDERLYING SUBBASES ORIGINAL THAT FROM THE 50s.

NOT TO MENTION ALL THAT CONGESTION WHICH IS WHY SHE SAYS ILLINOIS SHOULD MAKE REBUILDING THE IKE A TOP PRIORITY.

HERE IS A CLIP FROM LAST NIGHT WHEN PARIS ASKED CONGRESSMAN RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI ABOUT IT.

>> I HOPE SO.

THE 290 GOES THROUGH MY DISTRICT AND THE ELGIN O'HARE EXPRESSWAY WHICH NEITHER REACHES ELGIN OR O'HARE, PARIS, I WOULD PUT THAT ON THE TOP 10 IF WE CAN GET TO THAT.

>> KRISHNAMOORTHI'S ANSWER HINTS HOW EFFORTS TO REDO 290 HIT A TRAFFIC JAM ITSELF.

HE HAS AN EYE ON A COUPLE OF PROJECTS AS YOU HEARD.

POLITICIANS FROM THROUGHOUT ILLINOIS WILL BE CLAMOURING FOR FUNDING TO GO TO THEIR AREAS.

ILLINOIS IS POISED TO CAPITALIZE ON THIS FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

THE STATE RAISED THE GAS TAX AS PART OF THE BIPARTISAN REBUILD ILLINOIS PROGRAM IN 2019.

SO HAS MONEY AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR THE REQUIRED MATCHING FUNDS.

EVEN SO... >> THE NEEDS ARE MASSIVE ACROSS THE STATE AND REBUILD ILLINOIS DID A GREAT JOB TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT.

BUT THE NEED IS SO LARGE THAT IT STILL CAN'T EVEN SCRATCH THE SURFACE AND ADDRESS A LOT OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS.

IT'S JUST THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FUNDING TO GO AROUND IS THE ANSWER UNFORTUNATELY.

>> AND COMPLETING THAT 290 PROJECT WOULD EAT UP SEVERAL BILLION DOLLARS.

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION EXPERT JOSEPH SCHOFER IS TROUBLED BY THE NOTION THAT WHENEVER THERE'S CONGESTION, THE GO TO RESPONSE IS INCREASING ROAD CAPACITY.

>> I THINK IT'S ALL TOO EASY TO SAY GEE WE HAVE A LOT OF CONGESTION AND WE HAVE TO FIX THAT.

WITH OUT STEPPING BACK AND SAYING MIGHT THERE BE DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS A DIFFERENT MIX NOT NECESSARILY TO WALK AWAY FROM THE PROJECT BUT MAYBE TO ADAPT THAT PROJECT FOR EXAMPLE, TO ADDRESS THE IMPACT THAT THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE EISENHOWER EXPRESSWAY HAD ON COMMUNITIES ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO.

AND IS THIS AN OPPORTUNITY NOT JUST TO ADD CAPACITY OR RENEW THE INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT TO RENEW THE COMMUNITIES THEMSELVES.

>> HE SAYS THAT LEADERS COULD CONSIDER OPTIONS LIKE METERING DEMAND WITH CONGESTION PRICING.

THE PROJECT THAT IS BACKED BY LABOR AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND POLITICIANS AND GROUPS WOULD TAKE A SIMILAR APPROACH TO WHAT HE IS SUGGESTING.

ONE OF THE BIG BOTTLENECKS ON 290 IS WHEN IT GOES FROM FOUR TO THREE LANES AND THE PARTICULAR PLAN THAT TYLER'S STUDY FOCUSED ON WOULD ADD A FOURTH LANE GOING IN EACH DIRECTION AND THOSE LANES WOULD CHARGE A TOLL TO ANY VEHICLE WITH FEWER THAN THREE PASSENGERS.

NOW, THE PLAN ALSO CALLS FOR A NEW PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE PATH AND CROSSWALKS TO BLUE LINE STATIONS.

>> WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST YOU KNOW, PAVING A ROAD AND IMPROVING BRIDGES.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT MANAGED LANE WHICH WILL BE THE FIRST IN THE CHICAGO REGION WHICH IS GOING TO ALLOW FOR TRANSIT ACCESS AND PROMOTE CAR-POOLING WE ARE IMPROVING PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES AND IMPROVING ACCESS TO THE TRANSIT STATIONS.

IT'S TRULY A PROJECT THAT IS IMPROVING ALL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION.

>> THE CONCEPT OF REBUILDING THE IKE HAS CLOUT GIVEN WHO IS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

STATE SNAP DON HARMON IS FROM -- SENATE PRESIDENT IS AND DISTRICTS AND CONSTITUENTS LIVE ALONG 290.

THEY HAVE CALLED FOR ILLINOIS TO GET BEHIND THIS REBUILD PROJECT.

BUT GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CONFIRMS THAT REBUILDING 290 THROUGH THE YEAR 2027.

MEANWHILE, THE CTA SAYING THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL STUDIES OR PLANS TO EXTEND THE FOREST PARK BRANCH OF THE BLUE LINE.

BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> AMANDA, THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS AND ANOTHER OF THE MANY STORIES EMERGING FROM THE REMAPPING OF FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL POLITICAL DISTRICTS.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

CHICAGO COULD SOON HAVE THE FIRST MAJORITY ASIAN-AMERICAN WARD THE HOPE OF MANY COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO WANT TO SEE CHINATOWN INCLUDED IN A SINGLE WARD AS PART OF THE CITY'S REMAP THEY ARE CALLING FOR ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES TO STAY TOGETHER IN THEIR RESPECTIVE WARDS TO INSURE THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD.

AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE REMAP PROCESS AND POLITICAL REPRESENTATION ARE KATHLEEN YANG-CLAYTON CLINICAL ASSOCIATE WITH UIC'S GREAT CITY IS ITS INSTITUTE AND GRACE PAI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF [INAUDIBLE] YOU ARE ONE OF THE GROUPS ADVOCATING FOR A MAJORITY ASIAN-AMERICAN WARD CENTERED AROUND BRIDGEPORT AND CHINATOWN.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT REPRESENTATION IN THE CITY?

>> ASIAN-AMERICANS ARE THE FASTEST GROWING ETHNIC GROUP IN THE U.S. AND IN CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS.

WE'RE NEARLY 7% OF THE POPULATION IN CHICAGO.

AND WE DON'T HAVE A SINGLE MAJORITY ASIAN-AMERICAN WARD IN THE CITY.

I THINK IT'S TIME NOW TO CREATE THAT WARD, THE CENSUS 2020 NUMBERS SHOW IT IS POSSIBLE TO CREATE A MAJORITY ASIAN-AMERICAN WARD AND IT WOULD BE SYMBOLIC AND SIGNIFICANT TO THE ENTIRE ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO CREATE THE WARD AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ELECT A REPRESENTATIVE THAT REFLECTS OUR COMMUNITY.

>> IT'S NOT JUST CHINATOWN BUT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT POPULATIONS IN ARGYLE AND WEST TOWN, ALBANY PARK WHAT ABOUT REPRESENTATION FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES?

>> I MEAN, BASED ON WHAT I'M HEARING FROM GRACE THEY ARE ADVOCATING TO KEEP THOSE COMMUNITIES AT LEAST WHOLE SO YOU DO NOT SPLIT THEM DURING THE REMAPPING PROCESS.

YOU KNOW THAT'S AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF IT.

THE OTHER PART IS ACTUALLY REACHING OUT AND REGISTERING AND EDUCATING AND MOBILIZING VOTERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES AROUND POLICY ISSUES THAT MATTER TO THEM.

>> AND GRACE PAI, WE'VE COVERED THE REMAP FIGHT AFRICAN-AMERICAN ALDERMEN, LATINO ALDERMEN ARE ARM WRESTLING HOW MANY MAJORITY WARDS THAT THOSE GROUPS SHOULD HAVE.

HOW MUCH TRACTION IS THIS FIGHT THAT YOU ARE WAGING GETTING AMONG ALDERPEOPLE?

>> [NO AUDIO] IT'S IMPORTANT FOR NOT JUST ASIAN-AMERICANS TO KNOW ABOUT OUR HISTORY BUT OTHER PEOPLE TO KNOW WE HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONGTIME.

IN TERMS OF THE GROWTH, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT COOK IS IMPORTANT BUT THERE'S BEEN AMAZING GROWTH IN DUPAGE AND LAKE COUNTIES A LOT.

THOUGH WE ARE FIXATED ON CHICAGO RIGHT NOW, THE NEED STATE-WIDE OR AT LEAST IN THE COLLEGE TO THINK ABOUT LANGUAGE BARRIERS.

80% OF ASIAN-AMERICANS 2018, AS OF 2018, 80% OF ASIAN-AMERICANS ARE ENGLISH IS NOT THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE.

SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT KNOCKING ON DOORS, TEACHING PEOPLE ABOUT CIVICS, GETTING THEM TO THINK ABOUT POLICY ISSUES, HAVING TO DO THAT IN FIVE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES IS CHALLENGING.

>> AND KATHLEEN YANG-CLAYTON YOU MENTIONED IT IS NOT JUST COOK COUNTY BUT OTHER COUNTIES WHAT ARE ARE THE AREAS THAT HAVE SEEN THE MOST ROBUST GROWTH IN ASIAN-AMERICANS?

>> I MEAN OVERALL, RIGHT THERE'S 800,000 ASIAN-AMERICANS.

AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR REDISTRICTING IS LOOK AT CITIZEN VOTING AGE POPULATIONS AND AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS GROWTH IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE NUMBERS BUT WHAT ACTUALLY COUNTS ARE CITIZEN VOTING AGE POPULATIONS.

SO HALF OF THE ASIAN-AMERICANS IN ILLINOIS ARE CITIZENS.

THERE'S ALSO THE SECOND ISSUE WHICH IS THE NEED FOR PATHWAYS TO CITIZENSHIP.

OUR COMMUNITIES ARE IMPACTED BY UNDOCUMENTED ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC IT WAS TERRIBLE.

SO OUT IN THE COLLAR COUNTIES IN METROPOLITAN AREAS SO IN SCHAUMBURG IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN OUT THERE THERE IS A VIBRANT HUGE SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY.

SO PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE SUBURBS AS BEING MONOLITHIC OR OF ONE RACE, LATINOS, AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS THAT THE GROWTH THAT THOSE COUNTIES MOST MUNICIPALITIES HAVE SEEN AND THE RESOURCES COMING TO THEM, IS LARGELY BASED ON IMMIGRANT AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN GROWTH.

>> CERTAINLY NOT AN ISSUE CONFINED TO THE CITY BUT TO OUR REGION.

THANKS TO KATHLEEN YANG-CLAYTON AND GRACE PAI.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AND LATER IN THE PROGRAM WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE CITY'S WARD REMAP BATTLE IN SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

FIRST, TO BRANDIS AND A LOOK AT THE ALARMING COST SOME HOMEOWNERS PAY FOR WATER.

>> PARIS, SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS FILLING A GLASS OF WATER HAS LEFT TENSE OF THOUSANDS OF CHICAGO HOMEOWNERS IN A POOL OF DEBT.

REPORTING FROM WBEZ SHOWS HOMEOWNERS WRACKED UP $421 MILLION IN WATER COSTS AND FEES.

AND 60% OF THOSE HOMEOWNERS ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE CITY'S MAJORITY BLACK ZIP CODES.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY'S WATER DEBT CRISIS IS MARIE INES WBEZ'S RACE, CLASS AND COMMUNITIES REPORTER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LET'S START WITH HOW SOME OF THE HOMEOWNERS CAME TO FIND THEMSELVES DELINQUENT ON THEIR WATER BILLS.

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

SO OUR INVESTIGATION UNCOVERED THAT FOR YEARS CHICAGO LEADERS HAD ESSENTIALLY USED THE WATER DEPARTMENT TO BE A SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR THE CITY.

AND AS A RESULT THE COST OF WATER TRIPLED IN CHICAGO.

AND CHICAGO HOMEOWNERS WENT INTO DEBT OVER A RESOURCE THAT ALL OF US NEED.

WHAT WE LOOKED AT IS DATA OVER THE LAST DECADE AND WE FOUND THAT CHICAGO HOMEOWNERS WRACKED UP $421 MILLION IN DELINQUENT WATER FEES AND THIS WATER DEBT CRISIS IS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS BLACK CHICAGOANS.

EVERYWHERE WE LOOKED AT IT.

WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE DEBT CONCENTRATION WE FOUND THAT ZIP CODES OF THE HIGHEST DEBT BURDEN ARE IN MAJORITY BLACK ZIP CODES.

AND THE AREAS WITH THE LEAST DEBT BURDENS WERE IN WHITE ZIP CODES.

AND SO THIS REALLY OUTLINES THE CURRENT SYSTEM FOR HOW THE CITY COLLECTS DEBT.

AND THAT SYSTEM OFTEN PUNISHES HOMEOWNERS.

>> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A WATER BILL BECOMES DELING WENT.

TELL US ABOUT THE PROCESS.

>> LET ME EXPLAIN BY USING ONE EXAMPLE.

ONE OF THE WOMEN WE FEATURED IS CARLA.

IN 2011 CARLA HER WATER BILL WAS JUST UNDER $500 FOR EVERY SIX MONTHS.

SHE HAS AN UNMETERED PROPERTY AND THAT PROPERTY IS BILLED BY THE SIZE OF THE PROPERTY AND THE NUMBER OF WATER FIXTURES ON THE PROPERTY INSTEAD OF THE NUMBER OF GALLONS USED.

AND SO BY 2019 THAT BILL ALMOST TRIPLED.

SHE WAS MAKING PAYMENTS JUST NOT ENOUGH TO COVER THE ENTIRE BILL.

SO THE BILLS KEPT COMING SHE COULD NOT COVER THE ENTIRE BILL AND THE DEBT KEPT GROWING.

AFTER SHE STARTED GETTING DEBT, PENALTIES WERE ADDED AND INTEREST WAS ADDED AND THE DEBT CLIMBED.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE STATE TURNED HER WATER BILL TO CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATIONS.

SO THOSE CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATIONS WENT TO ANOTHER STATE DEPARTMENT.

THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING DEPARTMENT AND HER CASE WAS ADJUDICATED THERE.

BUT IT WAS ADJUDICATED THERE ADDING HUNDREDS IN FEES.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT HOMEOWNERS ARE FACING.

ONCE THAT CASE IS ADJUDICATED, IT GOES TO DEBT COLLECTORS AND WHEN SHE STARTS GETTING THE CALLS.

>> SO IN 2016 FORMER MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL PUSHED FOR THE WATER SEWER TAX WHICH ADDED ON TO THIS WATER DEBT ISSUE LET'S TAKE A LISTEN.

>> THERE IS A COST TO DOING NOTHING.

IN 2007 THERE WAS A REPORT IT WAS 467 MILLION TO FIX, AND ROSE TO A BILLION.2.

BECAUSE WE DID NOTHING.

>> SO THE FORMER MAYOR IS REFERRING TO FIXING THE PENSION FUND BY ADDING THE WATER SEWER TAX EXPLAIN HOW THIS TAX CONTRIBUTED TO THE HIGH WATER COSTS?

>> IN 2017 THIS NEW WATER TAX WAS ADDED ON TOP OF YOUR USUAL WATER BILL.

AND SO I THINK PROFESSOR EXPLAINS IT BETTER.

HE TALKS ABOUT HOW WATER AFFORDABILITY ISSUES ARE REALLY ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT PEOPLE SPEND FROM THE PAYCHECKS ON WATER.

AND SO HE STUDIES THE WAY THAT MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE OR ISSUE ADDITIONAL TAXES ON WATER TO FUND OTHER SERVICES.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE UNFUNDED [INAUDIBLE] HE TALKS ABOUT HOW THIS IS A HARMFUL PRACTICE BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS TO USE WATER.

SO THIS BECOMES A TAX THAT IMPACTS POOR AND WORKING CLASS FAMILIES IN A HIGHER RATE THAN OTHER FAMILIES.

SO THIS HE DESCRIBES THE TAX AS REGRESSIVE.

>> AND BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, 25 SECONDS, BUT WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE FROM THE CITY OR THE WATER DEPARTMENT TO YOUR REPORTING?

>> MAYOR MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT INHERITED THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME WHAT THE PRESS SECRETARY SAID THIS IS A PRIORITY TO HER.

SHE LAUNCHED A PROGRAM TO HELP LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS.

THE STATE ALLOCATED $12 MILLION TO THIS PROGRAM.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE $421 MILLION THAT WE HAVE IN DEBT, THAT IS ONLY A SMALL FRACTION.

IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING IT IS A SMALL BEGINNING.

>> SOMETHING I'M SURE YOU WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON.

MARIE INES THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, A LOOK INSIDE A NEW EXHIBIT EXPLORING LATINO IDENTITY IN CHICAGO.

STAY WITH US.

>> THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD INCLUDING A ONE-ON-ONE WITH FUNNY MAN AND CHICAGO NATIVE JEFF GARLIN.

FIRST THERE IS A CITYWIDE EXHIBITION FEATURING 29 MACK ARTHUR FELLOWS ONE IS EXPLORING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LATINO IN CHICAGO.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU SHARES HOW THE ARTISTS EXPLORATIONS OF CULTURE THROUGH HISTORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY REVEAL HOW THE LATINO STORY IS THE AMERICAN STORY.

>> FOR DECADES WENDY EWALD HAS FOUND THE BEST METHOD OF STORYTELLING TO BE THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY AND WITH THE HELP OF CHILDREN.

>> I STARTED SORT OF MY WORK IN THAT WAY.

BECAUSE I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THEIR FRESHNESS AND THEIR HONESTY.

>> DURING THE PANDEMIC IN THIS PAST SUMMER SHE WORKED WITH STUDENTS FROM THE CENTRO ROMERO YOUTH PROGRAM VIRTUALLY TO USE PHOTOGRAPHY AND AN ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A FIRST GENERATION LATINO IN CHICAGO.

IT IS A PART OF THE SOCIAL CHANGE SERIES TITLED DAILY LIFE AND DREAMS IN THE PANDEMIC.

>> THEY BRIDGED THE PARENTS EXPERIENCE AND THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE.

>> ONE OF THE STORIESES 18-YEAR-OLD ADRIANA SHE TELLS HER MOTHER'S STORY MOVING TO THE UNITED STATES ALONE AT 15 YEARS OLD.

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL HER STORY BECAUSE THERE IS A STEREOTYPE THAT THEY COME HERE FOR THE WRONG REASONS.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO FOR THEM TO COME HERE AND MAKE MONEY TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY.

AND FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IT'S SOMETHING THAT IT TAKES A LOT OF GUTS.

AND I'M GLAD THAT HER STORY IS BEING SHOWN AND I'M PART OF IT.

>> NAILA SHOWS WHAT IT WAS LIKE GROWING UP IN LATINO AND ASIAN HOUSEHOLD.

HER PARENTS ARE FROM MEXICO AND LAOS.

>> THE DAY OF THE DEAD WE ARE LIKE SHIRTS OR DRESSES THAT HAVE FLOWERS ON THEM.

AND LIKE ARE REALLY BRIGHT COLORS.

AND MY DAD'S PART OF THE FAMILY, WE HAVE LIKE SKIRTS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT PATTERNS AND DESIGNS.

>> THE EXHIBIT FEATURES WORK BY AMALIA MESA-BAINS WHICH EXPLORES HER FAMILY'S STORY TO CHICAGO IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY.

>> MY FAMILY HAD WORKED IN THE STEEL MILLS AND THE PACKING PLANTS AND STARTED THINKING ABOUT THE OFFICES DOWNTOWN AND REALIZING MEXICAN PEOPLE WORK IN THE STEEL MILLS AND SO THEY ARE AN INVISIBLE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY.

>> THE STORIES EXPLORED IN THIS EXHIBIT ARE DECADES APART THE ARTISTS ARE UNITED IN THE HOPE THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE THEMSELVES AND THEIR WORK.

>> IT IS A NORMAL FAMILY JUST TRYING TO LIVE THEIR LIFE LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.

>> THE THING I THINK MAKES OUR SHOW REALLY BALANCE OUT IS I'M TALKING ABOUT A WAY OF 100 YEARS AGO AND THE COMMUNITY THEY BEGAN.

SHE IS TALKING ABOUT CONTEMPORARY CURRENT ISSUES.

HOW THE YOUNG PEOPLE SEE THEMSELVES AND THAT IS OUR JOB.

OUR JOB AS ARTISTS WE CREATE IMAGERY, WORDS, POETRY, DANCE AND UPLIFT YOUNG PEOPLE.

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

>> THE EXHIBIT IS CALLED TOURED COMMON CAUSE, ART, SOCIAL CHANGE AND THE MACK ARTHUR'S FELLOW PROGRAM.

AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ON EXHIBITS BY OTHER FELLOWS.

BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... COMEDIAN AND ACTOR JEFF GARLIN TALKS ABOUT THE NEW SEASON OF "CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM" AND HIS NEW PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW OPENING IN CHICAGO.

>> I FULLY SUPPORTED A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION.

>> AND OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON MORE POLITICAL FALLOUT AT THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT OVER THE SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> KYLE RITTENHOUSE TAKES THE STAND TODAY IN HIS MURDER TRIAL.

THE 18-YEAR-OLD SAYS HE WAS ACTING IN SELF-DEFENSE WHEN HE FATALLY SHOT TWO MEN AND WOUNDED ANOTHER DURING PROTESTS AGAINST RACIAL INJUSTICE IN KENOSHA.

RITTENHOUSE BROKE INTO SOBS AND THE JUDGE CALLED A BREAK.

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> LATER DURING TESTIMONY, THE JUDGE LASHED OUT AT PROSECUTOR FOR QUESTIONING RITTENHOUSE ABOUT WHETHER IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO USE DEADLY FORCE TO PROTECT PROPERTY.

THE JUDGE ACCUSED HIM OF IMPROPERLY TRYING TO INTRODUCE TESTIMONY THAT HE HAD EARLIER SAID HE WAS INCLINED TO PROHIBIT.

>> WHY WOULD YOU THINK THAT THAT MADE IS OK FOR YOU WITHOUT ANY ADVANCE NOTICE TO BRING THIS MATTER BEFORE THE JURY?

YOU ARE ALREADY -- I WAS ASTONISHED WHEN YOU BEGAN YOUR EXAMINATION BY COMMENTING ON THE DEFENDANT'S POST ARREST SILENCE.

THAT'S BASIC LAW IT'S BEEN BASIC LAW IN THIS COUNTRY FOR 40, 50 YEARS.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHY YOU WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> THE CURVE ASKED FOR A MISTRIAL WITH PREJUDICE MEANING THAT IF ONE IS GRANTED, RITTENHOUSE CANNOT BE RETRIED.

THE JUDGE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY RULE ON THAT REQUEST.

RITTENHOUSE COULD RECEIVE A LIFE SENTENCE IF CONVICTED ON THE MOST SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST HIM.

CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN SAYS THE SERGEANT WHO LET THE BOTCHED RAID ON ANJANETTE YOUNG SHOULD BE FIRED.

ACCORDING TO THE CHARGES FILED BY BROWN, ALEX WOLINSKI VIOLATED EIGHT DEPARTMENT RULES WHEN AND SIX OTHERS RAIDED HER HOME HANDCUFFING HER WHILE NAKED AND IGNORED HER PLEAS THAT OFFICERS WERE IN THE WRONG HOME.

ELECT SELECT THE FIRST MEMBER TO FACE PUBLIC DISCIPLINE.

THE POLICE BOARD WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS IN A HEARING ON DECEMBER THIRD.

>> THE HYDE PARK ARTS CENTER IS DROPPING TUITION AND CALLING THEMSELVES THE FIRST-EVER TUITION FREE ART SCHOOL.

THE CENTER WILL SHIFT TOWARDS A CONTRIBUTE WHAT YOU CAN MODEL FOR THE CURRICULUM EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

THE CENTER SAYS THIS MOVE WILL HELP INSURE MORE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ART MAKING, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

>> AND TO PARIS WITH THE STAN UP COMEDIAN AND ACTOR WHO BRINGS A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM.

PARIS?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

COMEDIAN AND CHICAGO NATIVE JEFF GARLIN STARS IN TWO HIT TV SHOWS.

"CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM" ON HBO AND "THE GOLDBERGS" ON ABC AND HAS A PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW ABOUT TO OPEN IN CHICAGO.

FIRST A WORD OF ADVICE FROM HIS CHARACTER JEFF GREEN IN THE NEW SEASON OF "CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM".

>> DOESN'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT SHE IS GOING TO BE AN ACTRESS.

>> YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN IN SHOW BUSINESS A LONGTIME AND I WILL TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT I TELL EVERY PARENT.

DON'T DO IT.

DON'T ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO BE AN ACTRESS.

>> REALLY?

>> I'VE MET A GOOD YOUNG ACTRESS WHOSE LIFE HAS BEEN RUINED BY THE BUSINESS.

>> AND WE'RE PLEASED TO WELCOME BACK JEFF GARLIN TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> BY THE WAY THAT IS A SOMBER CLIP.

YOU KNOW.

>> YOU MEANT EVERY WORD OF IT, RIGHT?

>> WELL, BY THE WAY, TO A DEGREE YES.

HAVE YOUR CHILDREN GET INTO SHOW BUSINESS IF YOU HAVE A STABLE FAMILY.

BECAUSE I KNOW NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE AND I DID DADDY DAYCARE AND KIDS STUFF I'VE WORKED WITH KIDS AND DRAMA STUFF.

ALL THE ONES WITH STABLE FAMILIES NO PROBLEM.

WHEN THERE IS AN UNSTABLE FAMILY, YOU KNOW DRUGS ARE COMING AND SHOPLIFTING WHATEVER.

IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW STABLE THE FAMILY IS.

YOU TELL THAT TO A PARENT AND THEY THINK THEY ARE GREAT.

THE PARENT DOES.

IT'S ALL BASED ON THE PARENTS THAT WAS THE PREMISE OF THAT WAS COMEDIC AND I WAS EXTRA DRAMATIC BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO GET THE GUY TO NOT USE HIS DAUGHTER IN LARRY AND MY PRODUCTION THIS SHOW WE ARE DOING.

>> WE'LL GET TO THAT.

WE GOT TO GET TO YOUR PHOTO EXHIBIT THE REASON WHY YOU ARE HERE YOU HAVE THE EXHIBIT OF YOUR PHOTOS IT'S CANDID SHOTS.

THERE IS IS JB SMOOVE.

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO CAPTURE WITH THESE PHOTOS?

>> TRYING TO CAPTURE THE MOMENT OF JUST WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR ME WHAT I SEE.

I'M HANGING OUT.

COMEDY, IN COMEDY CLUBS, THEATERS, AND ONSET.

SO IT'S WHAT I GET TO SEE AND I DISCOVERED I SHOT FOR 10 YEARS NEVER SHOWING ANYONE MY PHOTOGRAPHY I FIGURED I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING AND I LEARNED THIS FILM WORKSHOP AND I WAS GETTING APPLAUSE FOR MY PHOTOS AND I THOUGHT WOW AND I LEARNED THAT I HAVE AN EYE.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN EYE OR YOU DON'T.

I'VE SEEN PHOTO SHOWS WHERE THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE OF SOMEONE WHO HAS ACCESS LIKE ME TO A REALLY COOL WORLD.

BUT THEY HAVE NO EYE.

I AM LUCKY THAT I HAVE AN EYE.

THAT IS ALL.

AND BY THE WAY I'M NOT SAYING YOU WILL ENJOY THE PICTURES.

>> WE SAW LARRY DAVID AND JOHN MULANEY WHO IS MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATE DID ANY GET ANNOYED TAKING THESE PHOTOS OF THEM?

>> LET'S USE LARRY AS AN EXAMPLE.

LARRY DAVID YOU WOULD THINK BUT THAT IS WHY I GET THESE MOMENTS BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS COMFORTABLE WITH ME.

I'M WORKING WITH THEM.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE WHO IS THIS?

WHAT?

OR WHERE IS THE PHOTO GOING TO GO.

LARRY CAME TO MY -- I HAD ONE SHOW IN LOS ANGELES.

LARRY CAME TO THE SHOW.

I MEAN, HE'S TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE.

THE ONLY PERSON WHO CONSISTENTLY GETS ANGRY IS BILL BURN.

BILL BURN GETS FURIOUS THAT I THINK HE IS GOING TO HIT ME.

WE'RE FRIENDS AND IT'S COOL.

BUT NOT SO COOL.

BY THE WAY... >> THEY MAKE FOR CANDID PHOTOS.

>> THEY DO.

I LIKE -- I WANT TO SAY THIS.

I NEVER IN MY WILDEST IMAGINATION THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE ON SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS SHOW AS WTTW'S "CHICAGO TONIGHT" BEING INTERVIEWED HOLDING AN iPHONE.

>> WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE YOU ANYWAY.

>> I KNOW BUT IT'S CRAZY.

I'M ON THE SHOW BECAUSE OF THESE TIMES THIS IS THE WAY IT HAS TO BE SOMETIMES.

I AM IN CHICAGO I WOULD BE AT THE STUDIO.

>> I KNOW.

TALKING TO THE CREW.

AND YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR INTEREST OF PHOTOGRAPHY YOU WERE ON HERE TALKING ABOUT COPRODUCING THAT DOCUMENTARY FINDING VIVIAN MEYER.

>> I EXECUTIVE PRODUCED IT.

I HELPED PUT IT TOGETHER.

AND BY THE WAY YOU KNOW I DISCOVERED VIVIAN MEYER WATCHING "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

>> JAY SHEFSKY OUR GREAT PRODUCER DID THAT STORY ON VIVIAN MEYER.

>> YES HE DID AND I THANKED HIM.

IT WAS SO WONDERFUL.

>> WAS THAT YOUR ENTREE INTO THE WORLD OF PHOTOGRAPHY?

>> NO, I HAD A FASCINATION AND SAW HER GREATNESS BUT I ALREADY WAS INTO PHOTOGRAPHY.

BUT IT WAS SO JOYFUL THE EXPERIENCE OF MAKING THAT FILM AND IT GOT NOMINATED FOR AN AN ACADEMY AWARD.

>> AND NOMINATED FOR AWARDS YOU ARE ON SEASON 11 OF CURB.

I WAS READING THAT LARRY DAVID AND YOU ARE LIKE WE DON'T WANT TO TOUCH COVID.

THE CASUAL VIEWER MIGHT THINK THERE IS A LOT OF COMEDY.

>> THE CASUAL VIEWER DOESN'T MAKE A SHOW LIKE "CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM".

IF THEY COULD, THEY WOULD.

ALL I'M SAYING IS I FELT PRIOR TO US GOING INTO PRODUCTION AS I WAS LOOKING AROUND THE LANDSCAPE, AND ALL I THOUGHT WAS ANYONE WHO UNLESS THEY HIT A 10 OUT OF 10 SCORE, WHO ATTEMPTS ANY COMEDY ABOUT THE CURRENT SITUATION, IS GOING TO FAIL.

AND FAIL MISERABLELY.

SO WHEN I SAW PEOPLE ASKED ME LARRY HAS NOT SENT ME THE OUTLINES YET.

AND WHEN HE SENT ME THE FIRST OUTLINE AND TOLD ME THAT IS ALL WE'LL DO IS TOUCH ON IT.

WE HAVE TWO SCENES THAT TOUCH ON IT.

AND ONE OF THE SCENES WE CUT.

SO THERE YOU GO.

AND THEY WERE LIGHT TOUCHING.

ALTHOUGH THE PUNCHLINE FOR THE FIRST EPISODE IS A BIG COVID PUNCHLINE BUT NONETHELESS IT IS NOT SOMETHING THE POST COVID WORLD THE WAY WE DEALT WITH IT.

>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE FLOPPING IN THE FIRST -- PLOPPING ON THE COUCH?

>> NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT ALBERT BROOKES.

>> OK. >> HIS I DON'T AWANT TO RUIN IT, BUT HE THREW A FUNERAL FOR HIMSELF WHILE HE WAS STILL ALIVE.

AND LIVING FUNERAL.

YES, HE HAD THE PUNCHLINE WHICH WAS THE END OF THE EPISODE WAS SOMETHING COVID RELATED.

>> OTHER THAN YOUR TALENT WITH PHOTOGRAPHY, I RAN INTO YOU A COUPLE YEARS AGO AT CHICAGO MUSIC EXCHANGE YOU ARE A GUITAR BUFF.

>> BUT YOU CANNOT SAY I HAVE A TALENT FOR BEING A GREAT GUITARIST.

>> YOU BROUGHT A CUSTOM GIBSON ARE YOU WORKING ON IT?

>> YES, YES I TAKE LESSONS AND YES, I WORK ON IT.

I LOVE IT.

I'M HOPING I'M DOING MY FIRST EUROPEAN TOUR WHICH WE WILL TALK ABOUT NEXT TIME I AM ON THE SHOW THIS COMING SUMMER AND I'M SURE I WILL DO A BLUES SONG STRAIGHT.

>> NICE.

>> LIKE I'M THINKING OF BOOGIE KILLING BY JOHN LEE HOOKER AND THE GUITAR WILL BE SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE STAGE AND I WILL NOT DO IT UNTIL I WALK OFF I WILL COME BACK OUT AND WHOEVER IS LEFT A THIRD OF THE AUDIENCE I WILL GO INTO THE SONG AND PLAY IT STRAIGHT AND GET OFF THE STAGE AGAIN.

>> WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH BEEN TO PERFORMING LIVE IN CLUBS AND IN THEATERS DURING POST COVID?

>> AS LONG AS THE AUDIENCE IS THOROUGHLY CHECKED FOR BEING INOCULATED OR TESTS AND I KNOW ALL OF THOSE AREN'T GOING TO WORK I HAVE TO RELY ON COMMON SENSE LIKE DON'T HANG WITH THE AUDIENCE.

AND I'VE HAD MY BOOSTER.

I'M THREE DOWN.

SO YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY I WON'T GET IT.

BUT HAVING THE SHOTS IF I DO GET IT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE I'M IN THE HOSPITAL.

AND BY THE WAY FOR ALL THE DENIERS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE SKEPTICAL, PLEASE USE THIS VIDEO IF I DIE OF COVID.

>> THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> HE WAS ARROGANT AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED.

>> IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

>> BY THE WAY, YOU THINK IT'S LIKE I WILL GET THE SHOT I WON'T GET IT.

NO!

YOU WON'T HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

NO!

YOU WON'T PUSH THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM TO THE BRINK.

AS HAS HAPPENED.

>> REMIND US AGAIN WHAT GALLERY IS THIS AT?

>> THE TAMARKIN CAMERA GALLERY ON SUPERIOR LIKE SUPERIOR AND NEW ORLEANS AROUND THERE.

GO TO JEFF GARLIN.COM.

IT'S ON THERE AND TAMARKIN CAMERA GALLERY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

JEFF GARLIN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND I HOPE WE -- >> IT WAS AN HONOR, PARIS THANK YOU ENJOY AND I DIDN'T SEE YOU BUT ENJOY YOUR GOOD LUCKS.

>> YOU AS WELL.

THE HEAD OF CHICAGO'S PARK DISTRICT BOARD IS OUT.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THAT AND MUCH MORE.

FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT BOARD PRESIDENT IS OUT AFTER TWO REPORTS DETAILING THE LEADERSHIP'S MISHANDLING OF A SEX SCANDAL AT THE POOLS AND BEACHES.

PLUS, A LOOK AT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WRESTLING HOW TO DRAW NEW WARD MAPS IN TONIGHT'S SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

HERE ARE AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

LET'S START WITH THIS.

AFTER WEEKS OF PRESSURE CHICAGO BOARD PARK DISTRICT PRESIDENT AVIS LAVELLE IS OUT.

LOOK WHAT SHE SAID AT TODAY'S BOARD MEETING.

>> THIS WILL BE MY LAST MEETING.

MY LAST DAY AS PRESIDENT AND AS A MEMBER OF THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

LET ME BE CLEAR I'M NOT BEING FORCED OUT.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT DID NOT ASK ME TO RESIGN.

SHE HAS BEEN RESOLUTE IN HER SUPPORT OF ME PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY AND FOR THAT I AM GRATEFUL.

>> HEATHER, TELL US WHAT HAPPENED TODAY AND WHAT WE BELIEVE AVIS LAVELLE KNEW?

>> WELL, SO THIS WAS REALLY QUITE AN EXPLANATION POINT TO 30-YEAR PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER.

AVIS LAVELLE WAS ONCE MAYOR RICHARD M. DALEY'S PRESS SECRETARY AND SERVED ON THE CHICAGO SCHOOL BOARD AND OTHER POSITIONS.

SHE ACKNOWLEDGED A WEEK AGO THAT SHE TRUSTED NOW OUSTED PARKS BOARD SUPERINTENDENT MIKE KELLY TO PROPERLY INVESTIGATE JUST SEVERAL DOZEN COMPLAINTS FILED BY TEEN LIFEGUARDS AND YOUNG ADULT LIFEGUARDS AT CHICAGO'S BEACHES AND POOLS SAYING THEY WERE BEING ROUTINELY HARASSED AND ABUSED AND ASSAULTED IN SOME CASES.

SHE TRUSTED KELLY TO MAKE THOSE INVESTIGATIONS.

BUT SHE ACKNOWLEDGED SHE SHOULD HAVE PAID CLOSER ATTENTION.

LAST WEEK SHE INSISTED DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE SHE WOULD NOT RESIGN AND IT IS NOT CLEAR WHAT CHANGED BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

I SHOULD SAY I ASKED THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO CONFIRM THAT SHE DID NOT ASK AVIS LAVELLE TO RESIGN.

OF AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE VERY POINTEDLY DID NOT MERELY THANKING HER FOR HER DECADES OF CITY SERVICES.

BUT IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE CRITICISM OF HER LEADERSHIP OF THE PARK DISTRICT WAS NOT GOING AWAY.

AND THERE WERE REAL QUESTIONS WHETHER THE PARK DISTRICT COULD MOVE ON FROM THE SCANDAL AS THE MAYOR WANTS IT TO DO WITH HER STILL IN THAT POSITION AS BOARD PRESIDENT.

>> AND PARIS AS HEATHER SAID THE MAYOR DID NOT CALL FOR AVIS LAVELLE TO RESIGN AS SHE DID FOR SUPERINTENDENT MIKE KELLY.

WHY?

>> WELL, A NUMBER OF ALDERMEN CALLED FOR IT AND AVIS LAVELLE HAS HAD A LONG CAREER IN CHICAGO POLITICS AND LORI LIGHTFOOT HAS KNOWN HER FOR A WHILE SHE WAS THE PRESS SECRETARY AND ONE COULD SURMISE THAT LIGHTFOOT HAD A DISCUSSION SAYING RESIGN ON YOUR OWN ACCORD TO GIVE YOURSELF A MORE DISTINGUISHED EXIT THAN HAVING ME PUBLICLY FIRE YOU.

KEEP YOUR DIGNITY AND AT THE SAME TIME AVIS LAVELLE IS NOT ACCUSED OF ANY WRONGDOING BUT SHE DID LEAD THE BOARD THAT SORT OF FAILED TO STEP IN AND DO ANYTHING AS ALL THIS WAS HAPPENING.

THAT COULD BE WHY AS HEATHER SAID LIGHTFOOT DID NOT CONFIRM LAVELLE'S STATEMENT THAT LIGHTFOOT SAID DON'T RESIGN I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS.

ONE COULD SURMISE THAT KIND OFFINGS DISCUSSION.

>> AND HOW IS THE PARK DISTRICT MOVING TOWARDS THIS SORT OF TREATMENT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN?

>> WELL, SO IN PART IT IS WITH LAVELLE'S MOVING ON THEY HOPE TO DO JUST THAT.

THERE'S REPORTING OF BOARD MEMBERS WHO SAY THEY ARE FRUSTRATED THAT LAVELLE DID NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THEM THIS SITUATION.

IN HER RESIGNATION LAVELLE SAID IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE REST OF THE BOARD.

SHE SAID I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY THOUGH SHE DID SAY SHE BELIEVES GOING FORWARD THE INVESTIGATION WILL PROVE THAT SHE ACTED IN A RESPONSIBLE FASHION WITH INTEGRITY.

SHE MADE A POINT TO SAY THE REST OF THE BOARD DIDN'T KNOW AND THE BOARD MEMBERS, AGAIN, SEEMED TO BE FRUSTRATED THAT THEY WERE CAUGHT UNAWARE OF ALL THAT WAS GOING ON.

ALSO CHANGES RIGHT NOW IN INTERIM LEADER AND NEW C.E.O.

IN PLACE FOR KELLY.

AND THE NEW OFFICE OF PROTECTION GOING FORWARD THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE HANDLING ANY SORT OF ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE, DISCRIMINATION, COMPASSIONATE CULTURE IS WHAT THE INTERIM C.E.O.

IS CALLING FOR AND MORE TRAINING.

>> MOVING ON TO CITY COUNCIL, THE LATINO AND BLACK CAUCUSES THEY ARE BATTLING IT OUT OVER THE REMAP.

HEATHER PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE BEING HELD BUT NOT A ROBUST DEBATE FROM THE PUBLIC?

>> NO.

THERE HAS SO FAR BEEN ONLY EIGHT PEOPLE WHO HAVE TESTIFIED AT THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

THERE'S ONE MORE SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY AT 3:00 P.M. AND I THINK THERE ARE REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THERE HAS BEEN AN AMPLE PUBLIC PROCESS.

THE ALDERMEN HAVE BEEN MEETING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS SINCE JULY 26 TO USE VERY SPECIALIZED SOFTWARE TO BEGIN DRAWING THE MAPS.

AND WE ALL GOT THE CENSUS FIGURES IN AUGUST.

SO THIS IS NOT ANYBODY'S SORT OF SURPRISE AND THE DEADLINE IS DECEMBER FIRST.

BUT IT WAS JUST YESTERDAY THAT THE CITY MADE AVAILABLE A TOOL FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO CRAFT THEIR OWN MAPS AND TO SUBMIT THEM.

SO WE ARE THREE WEEKS AWAY FROM THE DEADLINE AND IF AT LEAST 41 ALDERMEN DON'T VOTE TO ENDORSE A SINGLE MAP WE WILL BE HEADED TO REFERENDUM AND IT WILL BE A NO HOLDS BAR BATTLE TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF CHICAGO POLITICS FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

>> CHICAGO'S ASIAN COMMUNITY PUSHING FOR AN ALDERPERSON FOR THE FIRST TIME.

PARIS YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PROGRAM.

ASIAN POPULATION CENSUS NUMBERS ARE UP IN CHICAGO AND ADDING AN ASIAN WARD FALLS TO THE PEOPLE ON THE COUNCIL NOT NECESSARILY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF CHICAGO'S ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

ACTIVISTS WANT IT BUT HOW IS IT PLAYING IN THE BACK ROOM?

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS SIGNIFICANT MOMENTUM FOR THIS.

THE LATINO CAUCUS HAS PROPOSED AN ASIAN-AMERICAN WARD IN THEIR MAP.

THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAUCUS PROMISED SOME OF THESE AAPI GROUPS THEY WOULD DO THE SAME THING.

IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE MAP IS GOING TO WORKOUT.

BECAUSE THE BLACK CAUCUS WANTS TO KEEP THE SAME AMOUNT OF AMAJORITY BLACK WARDS THOUGH THE POPULATION HAS GONE DOWN AND THE LATINO CAUCUS THE POPULATION HAS GONE UP AND WAY WANT TO GAIN WARDS AND IT'S HARD TO KNOW AT WHOSE EXPENSE HOW THAT IS GOING TO WORKOUT.

AND THE SAME THING 10 YEARS AGO, THE LATINO POPULATION HAD GONE UP AND THEY DID NOT GET AN INCREASE IN LATINO MAJORITY WARDS COMMENSURATE TO THE POPULATION INCREASE.

SO THIS IS AN ARM WRESTLE AS YOU'VE SEEN ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" WE'VE HAD SOME OF THE ALDERPEOPLE ON DISCUSSING IT.

AND LET'S MENTION THERE'S THAT PEOPLE'S MAP IF 10 ALDERPEOPLE DECIDE THIS OUTSIDE GROUP THAT DID THIS, GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS DIDTIES, IF THEY SUPPORT THIS THAT GOES TO REFERENDUM.

AND YOU KNOW, THE AAPI GUESTS TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT BREAKING UP NEIGHBORHOODS AND THAT IS WHAT THE PEOPLE'S GROUP TAKES INTO ACCOUNT.

ENGLEWOOD IS SPLIT UP INTO FIVE WARDS THAT IS NOT GOOD PUBLIC POLICY.

THAT IS HARD FOR CONSTITUENTS TO KNOW WHO THEIR REPRESENTATIVE IS AND FOR ANYTHING TO GET DONE.

>> MEANWHILE SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE STATE'S WEALTHIEST MANNEQUIN GRIFFIN PROMISED TO HELP FUND WHOEVER CAN BEAT GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER.

AMANDA BOTH MEN ARE BILLIONAIRES WHAT MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT AND WHAT IS GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S RESPONSE?

>> MONEY THAT I CAN'T FATHOM IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THIS MEANS.

PRITZKER IN ORDER TO BECOME GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS SPENT $170 MILLION.

AGAIN THAT DOESN'T MEAN MUCH TO ME.

THAT'S JUST A WHOLE CHUNK OF CASH.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT IS WHAT EXACTLY KEN GRIFFIN MEANS BY GOING ALL IN.

HE HAS MORE BILLIONS THAN PRITZKER ACCORDING TO FORBES IN THEIR RANKINGS OF THE RICHEST INDIVIDUALS IN THE UNITED STATES INCLUDING GRIFFIN AND PRITZKER AMONG THEM.

BUT WILL HE GO DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR WITH PRITZKER?

WILL PRITZKER NEED TO SPEND THE MONEY HE DID THE LAST TIME AROUND HE HAS THE ADVANTAGE, NAME RECOGNITION AND HE IS AFTER ALL THE GOVERNOR.

AND FURTHER WE DON'T OF COURSE KNOW AT THIS POINT WHO THAT G.O.P.

CANDIDATE IS GOING TO BE.

LET ALONE THE REPUBLICAN FIELD THAT IS GOING TO BE TRYING TO TAKE ON PRITZKER.

MY GUESS IS THAT HOW MUCH MONEY GRIFFIN IS WILLING TO SPEND WHO WILL BE THE G.O.P.

NOMINATE AND IS GRIFFIN GOING TO GET BEHIND ONE OF THE CONTENDERS PERHAPS A CONTENDER WHO WE DON'T KNOW IS GOING TO TRY TO MAKE A BID FOR THE BALLOT.

>> CLEARLY HE IS NOT GOING ALL IN ON THE THREE CONTENDERS THAT HAVE ANNOUNCED.

AT LEAST NOT YET WHICH LEADS ONE TO BELIEVE -- SO THAT BEGS THE QUESTION IS THERE SOMEONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO GET IN.

RODNEY DAVIS WAS ON THE SHOW LAST THAO NIGHT SAYING HE IS GOING TO MAKE A DECISION WHETHER HE RUNS FOR GOVERNOR OR CONGRESS AGAIN AS SOON AS GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNS THE MAPS COULD THAT BE THE CANDIDATE THAT GRIFFIN WANTS TO BACK AND RUMORS OF KURT DILLARD FORMER STATE SENATOR.

SO YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO BE IRONED OUT.

>> GOT TO LOVE THE BILLIONAIRES.

MOVING ON, THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT CANCELING DAYS OFF FOR C.P.D.

AS IT BRACES FOR CIVIL UNREST SHOULD THERE BE A KYLE RITTENHOUSE VERDICT.

ANY WORD ABOUT DOWNTOWN SECURITY PLANS AND ARE THEY GOING TO LOOK LIKE LAST SUMMER?

>> IT'S HARD TO TELL.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE JURY WON'T GET THE CASE IN THE KYLE RITTENHOUSE CASE AT LEAST UNTIL TUESDAY.

AND I THINK THAT THE MAYOR AND THE POLICE CHIEF WERE WORRIED THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN OVER THE WEEKEND AND OF COURSE THERE ARE ALWAYS DIFFERENT SAFETY CONCERNS OVER THE WEEKEND.

YOU KNOW I THINK THAT THE MAYOR LEARNED THE LESSONS OF 2020 AND THAT SHE WOULD RATHER OVERPREPARE THAN UNDER PREPARE AS SHE HAS BEEN ACCUSED DOING.

SHE WILL BE WATCHING WHAT THE JURY DOES VERY, VERY CLOSELY AS WILL THE REST OF THE NATION IT SEEMS LIKE.

>> MEANWHILE, CHICAGO'S POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN WANTS THE SERGEANT WHO LED THAT BOTCHED RAID IN ANJANETTE YOUNG'S HOME WANTS THAT SERGEANT FIRED.

PARIS, IF THE SUPERINTENDENT WANTS SERGEANT ALEX WOLINSKI OUT, IS THAT THE LAST WORD?

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

>> NO, THERE IS ADIEU PROCESS HERE.

THAT SERGEANT GETS TO APPEAL TO THE POLICE BOARD AND PERHAPS HIS UNION MIGHT BACK HIM UP AND LAWYERS MIGHT SAY WE DISAGREE WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT'S FINDING HE VIOLATED EIGHT DIFFERENT POLICE CODES WHEN IT DEALT WITH THIS UNLAWFUL RAID HERE ON THE HOME OF SOCIAL WORKER ANJANETTE YOUNG.

THERE IS A LOT OF DUE PROCESS HAS TO GO BEFORE THE POLICE BOARD AND THE POLICE BOARD HAS TO DETERMINE THAT.

>> 20 SECONDS.

WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE RAID?

>> WELL, THE REPORT FROM THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY CIVIL RECOMMENDS DISCIPLINE FOR A NUMBER OF THEM INCLUDING THE OFFICER WHO FIRST OBTAINED THE WARRANT AND COPA FOUND THAT HE DID NOT DO ENOUGH DILIGENCE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE PERSON THEY WERE LOOKING FOR ACTUALLY LIVED WHERE THEY WERE RAIDING AND THAT REPORT DETAILS THAT EVEN THOUGH THE POLICE DID NOT HAVE A SO-CALLED NO KNOCK WARRANT, THEY DID NOT KNOCK AND ANNOUNCE THEMSELVES AND BASICALLY BUSTED INTO ANJANETTE YOUNG'S HOME WHERE SHE WAS CHANGING AFTER GETTING HOME FROM WORK AND SHE WAS LEFT NAKED AND HANDCUFFED FOR SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 20 MINUTES WHILE PLEADING FOR HELP WHICH ROILED POLITICS IN CHICAGO AND CONTINUES TO DO SO.

>> ABSOLUTELY ALL OF US REMEMBER THAT EMOTIONAL VIDEO THAT WAS CAPTURED ON POLICE BODY-CAMS.

AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ THANKS, TEAM.

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

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

>> PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. LIVE FROM NAVAL STATION GREAT LAKES HOME OF THE NAVY'S ONLY BOOTCAMP FOR THIS WEEK'S "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> A LOCAL SPIN ON SQUID GAMES THEY HOST A FAMILY FRIENDLY NONLETHAL SERIES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ [♪♪♪]