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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> IT'S TRANSFORMATIVE IT'S BIGGER THAN ANYTHING WE'VE EVER DONE.

>> THE HOUSE PASSES THE PRESIDENT'S BUILD BACK BETTER BILL BUT IT FACES A TOUGH FIGHT IN THE SENATE.

THREE LOCAL CONGRESS MEMBERS JOIN US ON THAT AND MORE.

>> NAPERVILLE'S MAYOR CALLS FOR THE END OF ILLINOIS' MASK MANDATE AMID AN INCREASE IN COVID-19 CASES.

>> IF WE ARE GOING TO SURVIVE WE MAY HAVE TO DO IT OUT OF THE CITY, OUT OF THE COUNTY OUT OF THE STATE.

>> ONE-ON-ONE WITH ASSESSOR FRITZ KAEGI AS SOME BUSINESS OWNERS ARE GETTING WOLLUPPED WITH HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES.

>> THIS IS INSTITUTIONAL BETRAYAL.

>> OFF A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME THE RED STARS SEE THEIR COACH DEPART UNDER ACCUSATIONS OF EMOTIONAL ABUSE.

>> AN INVESTIGATION INTO POSSIBLE LABOR AND ANTIDISCRIMINATION LAW VIOLATIONS AT PARLOR PIZZA.

>> I WANTED TO START LADIES OF VIRTUE TO STAND IN THE GAP FOR THE GIRLS WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE POSITIVE ROLE MODELS IN THEIR LIFE.

>> A PROGRAM AIMED AT HELPING BLACK GIRLS ON THE CITY'S SOUTH AND WEST SIDES GO TO COLLEGE.

>> AND GEOFFREY BAER ON PROJECTS THAT POPPED UP DURING THE PANDEMIC IN "ASK GEOFFREY".

SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD CHILD MARKS THE SIXTH PERSON KILLED IN A PARADE IN WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN AFTER THE MAN DROVE THE S.U.V.

INTO A CROWD APPEARS IN COURT TODAY.

PROSECUTORS CHARGED 39-YEAR-OLD DARRELL BROOKS JR. WITH FIVE COUNTS OF HOMICIDE.

THEY ARE NOW CONSIDERING ADDING A 6TH HOMICIDE CHARGE AFTER ANNOUNCING A CHILD'S DEATH DURING COURT.

60 PEOPLE WERE INJURED INCLUDING 17 OTHER CHILDREN AT SUNDAY'S PARADE.

WISCONSIN COURT DOCUMENTS SHOW BROOKS WAS RELEASED ON A $1,000 BOND EARLIER THIS MONTH FOR ALLEGEDLY RUNNING OVER A WOMAN WHO CLAIMS TO BE THE MOTHER OF HIS CHILD.

BAIL WAS SET TODAY AT $5 MILLION.

>> GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNS ILLINOIS' NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP INTO LAW.

THE NEW POLITICAL BOUNDARIES ELIMINATE DISTRICTS WHERE A MAJORITY OF VOTERS VOTED REPUBLICAN.

PRITZKER SAYS THE MAPS REFLECT THE DIVERSITY.

CHANGE ILLINOIS IS AMONG THE GROUPS CRITICIZING THE MAP.

THE NONPROFIT SAYS QUOTE NEVER BEFORE HAVE ILLINOISIANS SEEN A BRAZEN SHOW HOW POLITICIAN LED REDISTRICTING CAN BE FOR VOTERS AND COMMUNITIES PUTTING PARTISAN SELF-INTERESTS ABOVE COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE.

NO REPUBLICAN INPUT WAS NEEDED BECAUSE DEMOCRATS CONTROL THE ASSEMBLY AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

AND WE'LL HEAR FROM CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ON THIS AND THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT AND MORE.

>> ALL KINDS OF CONFUSION OVER THE STATUS OF MATT NAGY.

IT WAS REPORT THAT NAGY IS INFORMED HE WILL BE FIRED AFTER THE TEAM'S THANKSGIVING GAME AGAINST THE DETROIT LIONS.

NAGY DENIED THE REPORT TODAY ADDING HE HAS HAD GREAT COMMUNICATION WITH OWNERSHIP AND IS SOLELY FOCUSED ON THURSDAY'S GAME.

NAGY OLDS A 31-27 RECORD.

THE BEARS ENTER THE THANKSGIVING MATCHUP ON A FIVE-GAME LOSING STREAK AND JAMES BIG CAT WILLIAMS WILL PREVIEW THAT GAME TOMORROW NIGHT.

UP NEXT, THE BATTLE OVER ILLINOIS' MASK MANDATE.

>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY... >> THE MAYOR OF NAPERVILLE IS CALLING FOR THE REMOVAL OF MASK MANDATES IN ILLINOIS AMID AN INCREASE IN COVID-19 CASES IN THE STATE.

LAST WEEK, MAYOR STEVE CHIRICO POSTED ON FACEBOOK SAYING FACT: ILLINOIS IS THE ONLY MIDWESTERN STATE THAT REQUIRES A MASK AND YET AS OF TODAY WE ARE NO BETTER OFF THAN THE SURROUNDING STATES.

AND IT SAYS IN MY VIEW BASED ON THE C.D.C.

INFORMATION AND THE MINIMAL IF ANY IMPACT ON COVID MITIGATION STRATEGIES IT'S TIME TO DROP THE MASK MANDATE IN ILLINOIS.

JOINING US TO EXPLAIN HIS STANCE IS NAPERVILLE MAYOR STEVE CHIRICO AND WE'RE JOINED BY Dr. MIA TAORMINA A SPECIALIST WITH DULY HEALTH AND CARE KNOWN A DUPAGE MEDICAL GROUP.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MAYOR LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE.

IN YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA POST YOU CITE C.D.C.

DATA SHOWING SOUTHERN STATES IN THE U.S.

CURRENTLY HAVE LOWER TRANSMISSION RATES.

TELL US MORE ON WHY YOU THINK THE MASK MANDATE SHOULD BE LIFTED IN ILLINOIS?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

I THINK THAT WHAT IS MORE INTERESTING IS THAT THE SOUTHERN STATES PEOPLE CAN ARGUE THAT IS A DIFFERENT CLIMATE AND DIFFERENT BEHAVIORS TO LEAD TO SAFER ENVIRONMENTMENTS.

IN THE MIDWESTERN STATE WE ARE THE ONLY STATE THAT REQUIRES A MASK.

AND REALLY WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE IN TERMS OF DEATH RATE.

ILLINOIS HAS A LOWER TRANSMISSION RATE THAN THE SURROUNDING STATES.

BUT WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME GROUPING.

AND TRANSMISSION RATES REALLY SURPRISINGLY ARE NOT A DIRECT LINK TO DEATH RATE.

WHICH I USED TO BE BELIEVE IT WAS.

THAT IS WHAT I WAS TOLD.

BUT IT DOESN'T PLAY OUT THAT WAY.

>> COULD THAT LOWER TRANSMISSION RATE NOT BE A REFLECTION OF THE MASK MANDATE?

>> YES.

IT COULD BE.

BUT I THINK THE ULTIMATE MEASURE IS DEATH RATE.

LOOK, PEOPLE GET SICK AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT MASKS CAN HELP A LITTLE BIT.

BUT AT WHAT COST?

RIGHT NOW I BELIEVE THAT -- I DON'T THINK THE DATA IS SUPPORTING AND IT IS NOT A HUGE BURDEN.

TRUST ME I'M NOT BEATING UP THE GOVERNOR ON THIS.

I THINK HE MADE HIS BEST EFFORT TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC.

BUT THE OTHER 44 STATES I DON'T THINK ARE ALL WRONG.

I THINK THAT ILLINOIS RIGHT NOW IS ONE OF THE OUTLIERS.

AND WE'VE WATCHED THIS VIRUS CYCLE THROUGH STATES WITH MASK MANDATES AND WITHOUT.

IN A SIMILAR FASHION.

>> FOR VIEWERS REFERENCE IN DUPAGE COUNTY IS EXPERIENCING A 3.8% POSITIVITY RATE UP HALF A PERCENT IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS.

ILLINOIS' POSITIVITY RATE IS 4.1%.

Dr. MIA TAORMINA SA WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE MAYOR'S ARGUMENT ABOUT LIFTING THE MANDATE?

>> I AGREE WITH HIM ON THE CONTEXT THAT WE ARE THE ONLY MIDWEST STATE AT THIS MOMENT THAT HAS A MASK MANDATE IN PLACE.

I DON'T THINK THAT WILL BE THE CASE VERY LONG.

WE ARE LOOKING AT MICHIGAN, 17% POSITIVITY RATE OVER THE LAST WEEK AND MINNESOTA [AUDIO INTERRUPTION] OVER THE LAST WEEK.

THESE ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE TRENDS.

IT IS MUCH THE BEGINNING OF THE FIFTH WAVE OF THIS VIRUS WHICH CAN GET OUT OF HAPPENED WITH THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS.

I WANT THE MASKS TO BE DONE AND OVER WITH.

AND I THINK WE WILL SEE THAT IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME AS WE PROGRESS WITH BOOSTER DOSES AND VACCINE MANDATES AND VACCINATING OUR CHILDREN.

AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, THE TRENDS ARE NOT FAVORABLE.

WITH A 4.1 POSITIVITY RATE WE ARE APPROACHING THE POSITIVITY TA RATE THAT PUT US BACK INTO THE MASKS IN AUGUST.

>> AND STICKING WITH YOU WHICH FACTOR OR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS AND THE GOVERNOR CONSIDERING WHEN THEY LOOK AT WHEN AND WHETHER TO LIFT THE MASK MANDATE?

>> SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR GETTING OUT OF THE SUBSTANTIAL TO HIGH TRANSMISSION RATE CATEGORY AND WE HAVE BEEN SITTING THERE FOR A LONGTIME.

WE GOT LOW IN SEPTEMBER AND THINGS WERE LOOKING LIKE THEY WERE MAKING STRIDES HERE WE ARE AGAIN WITH OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER BRINGING US INDOORS AND CLOSER TOGETHER AND WE ARE SEEING THE CASES UPTICK AGAIN.

WE HAVE ABOUT A 50% FULLY VAX HAD NATURED RATE IN ILLINOIS THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH.

IT'S NOT GOING TO ACHIEVE WHAT WE NEED STATE-WIDE IN ORDER TO GET US TO A POINT WHERE WE ARE FEELING THAT HERD IMMUNITY EXPERIENCED IN OTHER STATES WITH EITHER HIGHER VACCINE RATES OR WITH THE COMBINATION OF VACCINES AND RECOVERY LIKE WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE SOUTHERN STATES WITH SO MANY PEOPLE BEING INFECTED WITH COVID-19 THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING VERY LOW TRANSMISSION POSITIVITY RATES BECAUSE OF A WIDESPREAD IMMUNITY.

>> AND MAYOR, LAST YEAR, MEMBERS OF NAPERVILLE'S CITY COUNCIL WERE SPLIT ON THE ISSUE OF ENFORCING MASK WEARING AND DECIDING TO REJECT IT.

TELL US ABOUT THE APPROACH THE CITY TOOK AND WHY.

>> I THINK THERE WAS FIRST OF ALL IT WAS A DIFFERENT WORLD WE HAD NO VACCINES THE THERAPEUTICS WERE NOT AS ADVANCED AND WE HAD STRESS ON OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEM AND WE WERE LOOKING FOR TOOLS.

AND ONE OF THE TOOLS WAS THE MASKS.

I THINK THE REASON THAT WE SPLIT WAS IT WAS A 5-4 VOTE I BELIEVE, WAS BECAUSE I THINK A NUMBER OF US MYSELF, HAD VISITED OTHER STATES WHERE THEY WERE NOT HAVE AS STRICT MITIGATIONS AND THEY WERE HAVING SIMILAR RESULTS.

AND SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.

AND SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVE CERTAINLY GAINED A LOT OF TOOLS.

WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN TERMS OF VACCINES AND THERAPEUTICS.

YESTERDAY, OUR LOCAL HOSPITAL HAD 28ICU PATIENTS AND ONLY ONE WAS A COVID PATIENT.

AND WE ARE IN A PERIOD OF ADVANCED ACCELERATED TRANSMISSION.

SO YOU KNOW, FROM THE BEGINNING, WE ALL TALKED ABOUT THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF TRYING TO FLATTEN THAT CURVE WAS TO PROTECT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

WHICH I FULLY SUPPORT AND AGREE WITH.

REALLY THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WAS STRESSED IN THE FIRST WAVE.

LESSER SO IN THE SECOND WAVE.

LESSER SO IN THE THIRD WAVE.

TODAY, FOR COVID AT LEAST, IT'S NOT HAVING THE SAME REACTION.

>> WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

I WANT TO GET BACK TO MIA TAORMINA BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME.

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE PANDEMIC WARY ABOUT MASK WEARING AND VACCINATIONS AND BOOSTERS AS WE HEAD INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND THE COLDER MONTHS?

>> WITH LAYERED STRATEGIES WE HAVE TO INCLUDE VACCINATION, MASK, SOCIAL DISTANCING, HAND WASHING ALL OF THE ABOVE AND THE MORE OF THESE FACTORS WE HAVE AT PLAY, THE SAFER WE ARE GOING TO HAVE EXPERIENCING OVER THE HOLIDAYS.

YOU HAVE NOT HAD YOUR CHILDREN VACCINATED YET NOW IS THE TIME.

WE'RE SEEING THE NUMBERS TICK UP AND WE WANT TO KEEP THE KIDS IN SCHOOL.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE SEVERE ILLNESS IN MOST CASES BUT THE PROLONGED SYNDROMES THAT SOME OF THE KIDS AND ADULTS EXPERIENCE AFTER GETTING COVID IS SORT OF ALTERING THE SENSE OF NORMALCY AND STAYING IN SCHOOL AND GETTING BACK TO THE DAY-TO-DAY.

THE MASKERRING WILL FALL SOON ENOUGH WE HAVE TO HOLD ON THROUGH THE COLDER WINTER MONTHS AND GET THE NUMBERS BACK DOWN AGAIN.

>> Dr. MIA TAORMINA AND NAPERVILLE MAYOR, STEVE CHIRICO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS WITH LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

PARIS?

>> BRANDIS, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S $1.75 TRILLION BUILD BACK BETTER ACT PASSES IN THE HOUSE IT TACKLES CLIMATE CHANGE, AND EXPANDS HEALTHCARE OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

NO REPUBLICANS ARE SUPPORTING IT.

CALLING IT THE BUILD BACK BROKE ACT AND HERE IS WHAT HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI HAD TO SAY IN RESPONSE.

>> IT REDUCES THE DEFICIT AND GROWS THE ECONOMY.

UNLIKE AND I REMIND PERHAPS I NEED TO REMIND YOU, UNLIKE THE REPUBLICAN TAX SCAM WHICH WAS PASSED IN THE DARK OF NIGHT WITH THE SPEED OF LIGHT.

WITH NO HEARINGS WHATSOEVER.

AND IT INCREASED THE DEFICIT BY MORE THAN $2 TRILLION.

>> AND HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE ARE CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY A DEMOCRAT FROM MADISON.

MIKE QUIGLEY A DEMOCRAT FROM CHICAGO'S NORTH SIDE AND SEAN CASTEN A DEMOCRAT FROM DOWNER'S GROVE.

WE INVITED ALL THE REPUBLICANS IN ILLINOIS' CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND NONE ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION AND WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

CONGRESSMAN QUIGLEY THE NEWS OF THE DAY.

PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF 50 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL FROM THE STRATEGIC NATIONAL OIL RESERVE.

WHAT MUST BE DONE TO EASE COST PRESSURES ON AMERICANS AS HOLIDAY SEASON APPROACHES?

>> I THINK PART OF THE GOOD NEWS IS THE ADMINISTRATION WORKED ON THERE WAS GETTING CHINA, INDIA AND THE OTHER BIG ECONOMIC POWERS TO JOIN IN.

TAPPING INTO THE RESERVES, EASING SOME OF THE ECONOMIC PRESSURE DUE TO THE ENERGY COSTS THERE.

LOOK, I THINK IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE THEY ARE WORKING ON THE PORTS.

WORKING ON THE LABOR PRESSURE ISSUES.

POST COVID ECONOMIC GROWTH IS EXTRAORDINARY AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE THIS ALL SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

BUT I THINK THESE ARE GOOD MOVES BY THE PRESIDENT.

>> AND AMID THAT CONGRESSMAN CASTEN PRESIDENT BIDEN IS RENOMINATING JEROME POWELL TO HIS POSITION.

YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

>> I'M PLEASED.

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO SERVE ON THE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE WHERE CHAIRMAN POWELL ADDRESSES US QUARTERLY.

AND HE HAS BEEN A STEADY HAND AND HE IS TRUSTED BY BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

AND HE HAS BEEN TELLING US ON COMMITTEE FOR REALLY THE BETTER PART OF THREE YEARS THAT HE HAS SO MUCH EXCESS AMMUNITION BUT THAT OUR STIMULUS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON MONETARY STIMULUS AND NOT FOCUSED ON FISCAL STIMULUS AND HE HAS BEEN ASKING US TO REBALANCE.

WE ARE MAKING THE EFFORT TO REBALANCE AND I'M GLAD TO SEE HIM RENOMINATED AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN THERE AND IS TRUSTED BY FOLKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY LET'S GET TO THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT IT BARELY PASSED IN THE HOUSE THANKS TO HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI WRANGLING ENOUGH VOTES.

DO YOU BELIEVE SHE GOT AIS YOUR RENSES FROM TWO HOLDOUTS IN THE SENATE SINEMA AND MANCHIN TO ULTIMATELY VOTE FOR IT?

>> I DO BELIEVE THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION I'M NOT SURE IF SHE RECEIVED ASSURANCES.

I'M SURE CHUCK SCHUMER AND OTHERS ARE WORKING WITH SINEMA AND MANCHIN TO TALK TO THEM OR TRY TO GET THEM TO SUPPORT THE BILL.

AND HOPEFUL THEY WILL.

I DON'T THINK THEY WANT TO GO DOWN AS BEING THE TWO PEOPLE THAT STOPPED A HISTORIC BILL, A BILL THAT HAS SOMETHING IN IT FOR EVERYONE.

>> AND SPEAKING OF SOMETHING IN IT FOR EVERYONE, MIKE QUIGLEY, IT HELPS PRE-K KIDS COLLEGE KIDS AND THE ELDERLY.

TELL US WHAT IS IN HERE FOR ILLINOISIANS?

>> LOOK, I HAVE TO TOUCH ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WHEN IT COMES TO ILLINOISIANS WE GOT IT DONE AND THAT IS NO LONGER THE THEORETICAL AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

$4 BILLION FOR METRA AND PACE AND THE CTA.

THEY GOT A 14 BILLION BACKLOG.

1.7 BILLION FOR ILLINOIS FOR CLEAN, SAFE DRINKING WATER.

MONEY FOR ACCESS TO THE INTERNET FOR EVERYONE BELOW POVERTY IN THIS STATE OF ILLINOIS.

1.3 BILLION FOR BRIDGE REPAIR.

AND 9 BILLION FOR HIGHWAY PROJECTS.

THAT'S THE REALITY THAT BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT BUILD BACK BETTER, INFRASTRUCTURE'S GOING TO START ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS.

I THINK FOR THOSE WHO SAY WHY JUST PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE?

BUILD BACK BETTER WILL MEAN AS CONGRESSMAN KELLY SAID SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE BUILDING OUR HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE.

JUST LIFTING SOME THAT YOU MENTIONED.

>> AND CONGRESSMAN CASTEN, YOUR BIG FOCUS HAS BEEN CLIMATE CHANGE.

WHAT IS IN THIS BILL TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND IS IT ENOUGH?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE LESSON OF THIS BILL AND THE LESSON OF COP 26 IN GLASGOW WE HAVE PASSED INTERNATIONALLY AND DOMESTICALLY, THE SINGLE LARGEST CLIMATE BILLS EVER IN OUR HISTORY.

AND NO, THEY ARE NOT ENOUGH BECAUSE THE SCALE OF THE PROBLEM IS HUGE BUT WE CAN KEEP PUSHING.

WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT AND INVESTMENTS IN TAX CREDITS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

IF YOU BUY AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE YOU MIGHT GET $12,000 IN TAX CREDITS MONEY TO BUILD CHARGING STATIONS FOR THE VEHICLES NOT JUST ALONG THE HIGHWAYS BUT ALSO IN HOMES AND COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T NECESSARILY OWN THEIR HOME OR HAVE AN ATTACHED GARAGE.

AND IN TOTAL THAT IS ABOUT 550 BILLION DOLLARS OVER 10 YEARS.

WHICH IS HUGE.

IT'S NOT NEARLY AS BIG AS THE AMOUNT WE CONTINUE TO SUBSIDIZE THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY BUT IT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT DOWN PAYMENT AND I THINK IT'S FORECAST TO REDUCE EMISSIONS BY 30-40% WHICH IS ENORMOUS.

>> A DOWN PAYMENT BUT A LONG WAYS TO GO.

THERE HAVE BEEN LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WE MENTIONED INFRASTRUCTURE, BUILD BACK BETTER PASSES THE HOUSE AND YET PRESIDENT BIDEN'S APPROVAL RATING IS LOW.

AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS OR REPUBLICANS IN GENERAL ARE WIDELY FAVORED TO WIN BACK THE HOUSE IN 2022.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

>> I THINK IT'S EARLY YET.

AND I THINK WHEN AMERICANS START FEELING THE EFFECTS OF THE BILLS THAT WE HAVE PASSED THEY FELT THE EFFECTS OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AS MY COLLEAGUE SAID THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THINGS WILL START ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND WITH BUILD BACK BETTER WHEN THE GAS PRICES GO DOWN AND INFLATION CORRECTS ITSELF AND OTHER THINGS START HAPPENING KICKS IN -- KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, I DO THINK THINGS WILL IMPROVE.

PEOPLE STILL SUFFERING SOME FOOD IS HIGH.

BUT I THINK AS WE MOVE ALONG AND AS THE SUPPLY CHAIN WE GET THAT STRAIGHT AND THINGS ARE DELIVERED I THINK THAT THINGS WILL CHANGE.

I'M STILL AN OPTIMIST WHEN IT COMES TO 2022 BECAUSE FRANKLY DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN DELIVERING.

>> CONGRESSMAN QUIGLEY ARE YOU AN OPTIMIST WHEN IT COMES TO THE CLIMATE IN CONGRESS?

YOU HAVE LOTS OF CONGRESS PEOPLE BEING THREATENED WITH THEIR LIVES.

YOU HAVE SEVERAL DECIDING THEY ARE NOT GOING TO RUN AGAIN BECAUSE THEY FEEL IT'S UNSAFE AND THE TENOR IS TOXIC.

HOW BAD IS IT?

>> I THINK THE SHORTEST TO SAY IT WE HAVE METAL DETECTORS AS YOU ENTER THE HOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY.

THAT SAYS A LOT.

AND AS ONE OF THOSE WHO WAS IN THE CHAMBERS ON JANUARY 6, WHEN THERE WAS THE ASSAULT ON OUR DEMOCRACY, TO HAVE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES SUGGEST THAT IT NEVER HAPPENED JUST WEEKS AFTER IT TOOK PLACE.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE THINGS WE SAW FROM REPRESENTATIVES SO REPREHENSIBLE AND THE FACT THAT WHAT MADE IT WORSE WAS LEADER McCARTHY WHO SHOULD HAVE VOTED TO CENSOR HIS OWN MEMBER IN ANY OTHER WORKPLACE HAD YOU POSTED A MEME LIKE THIS, WHERE YOU ACTUALLY KILLING A COLLEAGUE, NO ONE WOULD HAVE TOLERATED THAT YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED.

I THINK THAT A FLAVOR OF HOW MUCH MORE DIFFICULT IT IS TO ACT APPROPRIATELY IN THIS BODY.

>> A LOT OF CONCERNS OF THINGS LIKE THAT LEADING TO ACTUAL VIOLENCE.

CONGRESSMAN CASTEN SPEAKING OF ELECTIONS YOU WILL BE CHALLENGED BY CONGRESSWOMAN MARIE NEWMAN WHO WILL RUN IN THE NEW DISTRICT.

YOUR NEW DISTRICT.

ARE YOU DISAPPOINTED THAT SHE IS GOING TO CHALLENGE YOU?

>> LOOK, OBVIOUSLY YOU NEVER WANT TO RUN AGAINST A FRIEND.

BUT EVERYBODY IS ENTITLED TO RUN FOR CONGRESS.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS YOU RUN FOR CONGRESS BECAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT BIG THINGS THAT MATTER NATIONALLY AND YOU REPRESENT A CERTAIN COMMUNITY AND IT'S FUN TO EXPAND THE COMMUNITY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE AND TO CONSISTENTLY BE REMINDED WHAT MATTERS IN THIS MOMENT AND WHAT MIKE WAS SAYING, WE ARE GOOD WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.

WHEN WE FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT UNITE US.

IT'S THE PROUDEST MOMENTS IN OUR HISTORY.

WE ARE AT A MOMENT WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO DIVIDE US.

AND I THINK IT CALLS FOR ALL OF US NOT JUST ELECTED OFFICIALS BUT ANYONE IN LEADERSHIP TO POINT TO THAT GOODNESS AND DECENCY AT THE HEART OF OUR CHARACTER AND GO FORWARD I'VE ENJOYED DOING THAT FOR THE LAST TWO TERMS AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE DOING IT.

>> AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER DID SIGN THOSE NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS INTO LAW JUST THIS AFTERNOON.

CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY VOTING RIGHTS HAS LONG BEEN A BIG CONCERN AMONG DEMOCRATS AND AMONG THEIR VOTING BASE.

YOU HAVE STATES HERE PROPOSING OR PASSING LAWS THAT WOULD GIVE LEGISLATORS PARTISAN LEGISLATORS OR PARTISANS THE POWER OVER ELECTIONS.

WHAT CAN BE DONE AT THE CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL TO COUNTER SOME OF THAT?

>> AS YOU KNOW WE HAVE TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT WE PASSED IN THE HOUSE AND THEY HAVE NOT PASSED YET IN THE SENATE.

AND WE HAVE TO GET THOSE BILLS PASSED.

AGAIN, WE DON'T WANT OUR DEMOCRACY TAKEN AWAY AND THE BIG LIE TO BE EXTENDED OR PERPETUATED OVER AND OVER WHEN WE KNOW THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE SAFE AND WE SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE STATES LIKE TEXAS AND GEORGIA AND PLACES LIKE THAT.

AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITH THE LAWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITH THE REDISTRICTING OF THE COLLEAGUES WILL BE RUNNING AGAINST EACH OTHER BECAUSE THEY ARE TAKING AWAY DISTRICTS.

WE HAVE TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR THOSE VOTING RIGHTS LAWS.

WE CANNOT GIVE UP.

AND WE PASSED THEM IN THE HOUSE BUT WE HAVE TO GET THEM PASSED IN THE SENATE.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE THANKS TO ROBIN KELLY, MIKE QUIGLEY AND SEAN CASTEN THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT A LOCAL MENTORING PROGRAM AIMED AT HELPING YOUNG BLACK GIRLS GO TO COLLEGE.

STAY WITH US.

FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS A WOMAN MADE IT HER MISSION TO HELP YOUNG BLACK GIRLS GO TO COLLEGE.

JOANNA HERNANDEZ TELLS US MORE ABOUT HER PASSION TO UPLIFT GIRLS ON THE CITY'S SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

>> I SEE MYSELF IN THE GIRLS THAT I SERVE.

>> JAMILLA TRIMUEL FOUNDED LADIES OF VIRTUE 10 YEARS AGO, A MENTORING PROGRAM AIMED AT PREPARING YOUNG BLACK GIRLS FOR COLLEGE.

NAVEAH ENGLISH STARTED THE PROGRAM WHEN SHE WAS A SOPHOMORE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

>> I WANTED TO BE AROUND FEMALES THAT WAS AROUND MY AGE.

>> AS PART OF THE PROGRAM ENGLISH AND OTHERS PARTICIPATE IN CAREER WORKSHOPS ACROSS THE CITY.

>> YOU NEED TIME TO LIKE SOCIALIZE WITH PEOPLE AND LEARN ABOUT OTHER CAREERS OTHER THAN THE MEDICAL FIELD.

SO AGAIN OPEN UP TO DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> A CALLING SHE HAD WHEN SHE PURSUED HER DEGREE.

>> WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND MY PARENTS DIVORCED AND HAD DIFFICULTIES I FACED I DID NOT HAVE A BIG SISTER TO TALK TO.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY TO TALK TO.

I FELT I WAS DEALING WITH IT BY MYSELF.

THAT IS WHY I LOVE MENTORING.

>> WHAT STARTED WITH SIX PARTICIPANTS EVOLVED TO SERVING 2,000 GIRLS PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, MENTORSHIP AND SUPPORT FOR YOUNG BLACK GIRLS AND WOMEN ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

>> RESEARCH SHOWS THAT BLACK GIRLS ARE VIEWED AS NEEDING LESS SUPPORT AND NURTURING AND WE KNOW THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

THAT IS WHY WE'RE PROVIDING MENTORING AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES SO THAT OUR GIRLS FEEL SEEN THAT THEY FEEL SUPPORTED AND COMFORTED AND NURTURED EVERY EXCEPT STEP OF THE WAY.

>> ERIN EBERHARDT HAS BEEN PART OF LADIES OF VIRTUE SINCE SHE WAS 9.

>> I LOVE THE PEOPLE AND HOW I KNOW IF I EVER FALL BEHIND ON SOMETHING AND IF I EVER NEED HELP HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE TO TALK TO AND NOT JUST TALKING TO A FAMILY MEMBER.

>> EVERY STUDENT IS PARTNERED WITH A MENTOR TO LEARN FROM AND LOOK UP TO.

>> I FEEL LIKE I CAN DO MORE THAN WHAT I DONE WHEN I STARTED.

I'M OUT OF MY SHELL.

WHEN I STARTED I WAS QUIET.

>> AND THIS SENIOR HAS DREAMS OF BECOMING A NURSE AND TRAVELING THE COUNTRY JUST LIKE HER MENTOR.

>> WHEN I GRADUATE I WANT TO BE IN THE PROGRAM AND HAVE MY OWN MEN TEE.

>> THE SERVES GIRLS 9-18 AND RUNS PROGRAMS AT SCHOOLS AND WEEKEND GATHERINGS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> I LIKE TO SAY YOU HAVE TO BE THE CHANGE THAT YOU WANT TO SEE AND I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE MY PEERS AND COLLEAGUES LEAVING THE 9-5 SECTOR AND STARTING OUR OWN NONPROFITS BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS TO BECOME FULLY FUNDED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO THE YOUTH WE SERVE.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> AND SEVEN MONTHS AGO LADIES OF VIRTUE MOVED INTO A SPACE IN NORTH LAWNDALE.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS COMPLAIN OF SOARING PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS WE TALK WITH FRITZ KAEGI.

>> THIS WEEKEND THE CHICAGO RED STARS PLAYED IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AND TODAY THE TEAM IS IN TURMOIL AS ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE COME TO LIGHT.

AN INVESTIGATION INTO POSSIBLE LABOR AND ANTIDISCRIMINATION LAW VIOLATIONS AT PARLOR PIZZA.

WE HEAR FROM ONE OF THE REPORTERS WHO HELPED BREAK THE STORY.

>> AND GEOFFREY BAER ON THE LATEST ADDITIONS TO CHICAGO'S EVER GROWING SKYLINE IN TONIGHT'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> THE FAMILIES OF TWO NAPERVILLE NATIVES WHO DIED AT THE ASTROWORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL ARE FILING LAWSUITS AGAINST TRAVIS SCOTT AND EVENT ORGANIZERS.

20-YEAR-OLD JACOB JURINEK AND FRANK DIED IN A STAMPEDE AT THE CONCERT IN HOUSTON.

THE CHICAGO LAW FIRM REPRESENTING THE FAMILIES CLAIMS THAT SCOTT AND EVENT ORGANIZERS WERE AWARE OF THE CHAOS THAT UNFOLDED AND DID NOT STOP THE CONCERT UNTIL 40 MINUTES AFTER OFFICIALS DECLARE TO DO A MASS CASUALTY EVENT.

>> CHICAGO POLICE ARE SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT A PAIR OF MISSING TEENS WHO WERE LAST SEEN OUTSIDE AMUNDSEN HIGH SCHOOL FRIDAY.

THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT ISSUED MISSING PERSONS ALERT FOR 15-YEAR-OLD IZABELLA DELEON AND SUJEILY ZEPEDA BOTH OF WHOM ATTENDED THE NORTH SIDE CHICAGO PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL N A LETTER TO THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY, AMUNDSEN HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL SAYS QUOTE... EVENTS LIKE THESE CAUSE TREMENDOUS ANXIETY ABOUT THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF ALL STUDENTS.

KNOW THAT AT THIS TIME BEYOND BEING AMUNDSEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT THIS DISAPPEARANCE HAS ANY DIRECT CONNECTION TO OUR SCHOOL OR OTHER STUDENTS.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEENS IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE POLICE.

>> AND NOW PARIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS ARE OUT TODAY FOR MUCH OF CHICAGO'S NORTH SIDE AND THEY SHOW A 14% RISE FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES AND NEARLY 50% FOR NONRESIDENTIAL INCLUDING COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAXES ONE PAYS IS BASED ON THE ASSESSMENT SO THIS POTENTIALLY MEANS HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES FOR A LOT OF PROPERTY OWNERS ACROSS THE CITY.

COOK COUNTY ASSESSOR FRITZ KAEGI VOWED TO FIX WHAT HAS BEEN A BROKEN SYSTEM BUT IT'S CAUSED PUSHBACK FROM BUSINESS OWNERS WHO FEAR IT COULD PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS.

AND JOINING US NOW IS COOK COUNTY ASSESSOR FRITZ KAEGI.

THANK YOU FOR BEING BACK HERE.

WE MENTIONED THE SYSTEM UNDER YOUR PREDECESSOR AUDITS FOUND IT TO BE INACCURATE.

HOW HAVE YOU CHANGED THE SYSTEM?

>> FIRST OF ALL THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

WE HAD A STUDY PUBLISHED BY THE GOLD STANDARD IN OUR FIELD, THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ASSESSING OFFICERS AND THEY LOOKED AT THE FIRST PHASE OF OUR REASSESSMENTS IN THE NORTH SUBURBS AND FOR THE FIRST TIME OUR ASSESSMENTS ARE WITHIN INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR EQUITY, ACCURACY AND UNIFORMITY AND THAT MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR FOLKS WHERE PROPERTY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES ARE UP MUCH LESS THAN THEY HAVE BEEN AND THE PREVIOUS DECADE.

AND WE'RE BUILDING CONFIDENCE A LOT OF STUDIES SHOWN OUR NUMBERS ARE BEING MUCH MORE ACCURATE AND THAT IS THE POINT OF ASSESSMENTS THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AN ACCURATE SNAPSHOT.

WE DIVIDE UP THE TAX PROPERTY BURDEN FAIRLY.

>> AND YOU'VE SHIFTED SOME OF THE BURDEN FROM RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL AND THE NUMBERS IN CHICAGO THIS YEAR.

BECAUSE THIS IS THE YEAR THAT THE CITY IS GETTING REASSESSED.

IT HAPPENS EVERY THREE YEARS.

FOR COMMERCIAL IT'S UP 82.5%.

DOES THAT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THESE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES WILL PAY THAT MUCH HIGHER IN TAXES?

>> IT DOES NOT.

BECAUSE ASSESSMENTS ARE DIVIDING UP A PIE.

SO THE OVERALL BASIS CHICAGO BY 44% SO FAR.

SO BECAUSE THE PIE IS GROWING YOU SHARE EVEN THOUGH ASSESSMENTS GO UP PROPERTY TAX BILL ALSO NOT GO UP AS MUCH.

WE SAW SIMILAR SHIFTS WHEN WE REASSESSED THE NORTH SUNS THAT PASSED THE GRADE FOR INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TAX BILLS WERE UP 8-10%.

WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW A CHANGE IN YOUR ASSESSMENT DOESN'T INVOLVE THE SAME CHANGE IN YOUR TAXES.

AND IT CAN OFTENTIMES GO IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHOSE ASSESSMENTS WENT UP BUT PAID LOWER TAX BILLS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SMALLER SHARE OF THE BURDEN AND STUDIES ARE SHOWING THAT OUR ASSESSMENTS ARE MORE ACCURATE.

>> AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE HEARD FROM SOME COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS ONE OWNER IN ALBANY PARK SAID HIS ASSESSMENTS TRIPLED IN THIS YEAR'S ASSESSMENT AND LET'S HEAR FROM TWO BUSINESS OWNERS IN THAT PROPERTY ONE ULTIMATE NINJA AND TWISTED HIPPO BREWERY.

>> IF WE ARE GOING SURVIVE WE MAY HAVE TO DO IT OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, THE COUNTY ON THE STATE.

WE'VE SPENT TWO YEARS PLUS IN SURVIVAL MODE AND PIVOT MODE AND THIS IS JUST ONE MORE POTENTIAL MOVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE.

>> WE BROUGHT A HUGE VALUE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT THE PROBLEM IS IT'S NOT -- WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO STAY IF THE TAXES WENT UP THAT MUCH.

>> YOUR RESPONSE TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO SAY THEIR ASSESSMENTS IN THIS CASE TRIPLED BUT HAVE GONE UP SO MUCH IT PUTS THEIR BUSINESS IN JEOPARDY?

>> WELL, REMEMBER PART OF AN ASSESSMENT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE AN ACCURATE SNAPSHOT OF THE VALUE OF BUILDINGS OUT THERE.

AND I EMPATHIZE THAT THE IMPACTS OF COVID IMPACTED SMALL BUSINESSES AND HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS AND WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THOSE AFFECTS.

BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE LAST TIME THAT CHICAGO WAS REASSESSED UNDER THE BARRIOS ADMINISTRATION STUDIES SHOWED THAT COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES WERE 50% UNDER ASSESSED.

THE BIGGEST ONE AND THAT MEANT THAT SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE THEIRS AND HOMEOWNERS WERE SHOULDERING TOO MUCH OF THE BURDEN FOR THE BIG CORPORATE BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN.

AND BECAUSE THEY LOOKED AT THE REVALUATION AND SHOWN THAT OUR NUMBERS ARE NOT ONLY ACCURATE BUT CONSERVATIVE THAT WILL REDUCE SOME OF THE BURDEN OF HIGHER ASSESSMENTS ON SMALL BUSINESSES AND IT IS A REMINDER THAT A RISE IN YOUR ASSESSMENT DOES NOT INVOLVE THE SAME CHANGE IN TAXES.

AND WE KNOW THAT SMALL BUSINESSES UP NORTH IN THE NORTH SUBURBS WERE SHOCKED BY INCREASED COMMERCIAL ASSESSMENTS BUT WHEN THEY GOT THE BILLS, THE CHANGE WAS NOT NEARLY AS LARGE.

AND THE KEY THING IS WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT HOME OPENERS INTO NOONS THAT -- IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT EXPERIENCED DEPOPULATION THEY HAVE HAD TO SHOULDER THE BURDEN OF THE DISTORTIONS THERE BEFORE AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FAIRNESS TO EVERYONE.

>> REITERATING THE POINT THAT FOLKS MAY HAVE SEEN GIANT LEAPS, IT DOESN'T PREDICT THE CORRESPONDING RISE IN PROPERTY TAXES.

A LOT OF BUSINESS OWNERS TOLD ME THEY UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO RIGHT SIZE THE SYSTEM TO FIX THE SYSTEM BUT DOES IT HAVE TO HAPPEN AT ONCE?

CAN IT BE PHASED IN FOR THE COMMERCIAL OWNERS THAT ARE SEEING HIGHER ASSESSMENTS?

>> WELL, PARIS, DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YEAR I WAS ELECTED?

>> I DON'T REMEMBER.

2018.

>> IT WAS 2018.

AND IT'S NOW 2021.

AND THE REASSESSMENT ONLY AFFECTS PEOPLE'S TAXES IN 2022.

SO REALLY THIS HAS BEEN FOUR YEARS COMING.

AND ALL OF THOSE YEARS WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT PEOPLE WERE SHOULDERING THE DISTORTIONS IN THE SYSTEM THAT EXISTED ON THE ASSESSMENTS OF THE BARRIOS ADMINISTRATION.

THE STUDIES DONE AND CRAIN'S DID A GOOD LOOK AT OUR COMMERCIAL ASSESSMENTS AND SAID THEY ARE NOT ONLY ON THE MONEY BUT COULD BE SAID TO BE CONSERVATIVE.

WE ARE GETTING WITHIN INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE WANT TO GET ASSESSMENTS WRONG AND THAT IS WHY THE APPEALS PROCESS EXISTS FOR SMALLER BUSINESSES WHERE WE HAVE TO DIFFERENTIATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES FROM THE BIG ONES.

>> AND WE NOTE THE STUDIES THAT SAID THE SYSTEM HAS PRODUCED MORE ACCURACY.

YOU MENTIONED THE APPEALS PROCESS THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS TO APPEAL AND MULTIPLE TAX PROPERTY APPEALS LAWYERS NAMELY ED BURKE AND MIKE MADIGAN DOES THIS MEAN THEY WILL GET A LOT OF BUSINESS RIGHT NOW TRYING TO APPEAL THE NUMBERS?

>> WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT BECAUSE WE'RE WITHIN INDUSTRY STANDARDS, IN PLACES LIKE THE NORTH SUBURBS WHERE WE DID OUR FIRST REASSESSMENT WE ARE STARTING OFF MORE ACCURATELY.

HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES DON'T HAVE TO PAY EXTRA FEES JUST TO CORRECT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE RIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE RESULTS APPEALS ARE ON TRACK TO BE DOWN FOR THE THIRD YEAR.

AND ALLOWS US TO CONCENTRATE ON THE CASES WHERE WE ARE OFF THE MARK AND WE REMIND PEOPLE YOU DON'T HAVE TO HIRE A LAWYER.

WE PUT IN PLACE A SYSTEM APPEALS FOR OUR OFFICE ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE ARE ANONYMOUS.

AND THIS IS ALL PART ABOUT BUILDING CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM OVERALL.

AND BEING ACCURATE AT THE OUTSET IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO.

>> PART OF THE ISSUE WITH COMMERCIAL OWNERS IS THAT COOK COUNTY IS THE ONLY COUNTY IN THE STATE THAT TAXES COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AT TWO-AND-A-HALF TIMES RESIDENTIAL.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD CHANGE?

>> WELL, WHAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THIS IS COMMON IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

IN THE NEIGHBORING STATE OF INDIANA PART OF THE CONSTITUTION, IN PLACES LIKE MINNESOTA, THAT HAVE A THRIVING ECONOMY OUR PEERS ARE DIFFERENTIAL RATE IT IS NOT AN ON STA DELL TO HAVING A GOOD INVESTMENT IN FIREMEN.

I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN THE STATE IS REDUCE THE BURDEN ON ALL PROPERTY OWNERS AND SHOULDERING THE COST OF EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN.

WE ARE DEAD LAST IN THE UNITED STATES FOR SCHOOL FUNDING AT THE STATE LEVEL.

25 OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FUNDING COMES FROM THE STATE AND MOST STATES LIKE INDIANA IT'S CLOSER TO 50%.

AND IF OUR STATE WAS CHIPPING IN OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS CHIPPING IN MORE FOR EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN THE PROPERTY TAX BURDENS WOULD BE LOWER FOR EVERYONE AND THAT IS IMPORTANT AT THE TIME WITH THE DIGITAL ECONOMY GROWING WHICH GETS A PASS HAVING TO SHOULDER THE EDUCATION OF OUR KIDS WHICH IS WHAT MOST PROPERTY TAXES ARE FOR.

>> DIGITAL ECONOMY YOU MEAN TAXING ON-LINE SALES?

>> SURE WE ARE DOING IT ON ZOOM I AM NOT THE AWARE IF THE STATE COLLECTS INCOME FROM ZOOM AND THINGS LIKE THIS NEED TO BE SHOULDERING THE COST.

AS OUR ECONOMY GETS MORE DIGITAL THERE ARE MORE AND MORE THINGS THAT ARE GENERATING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND WE DON'T WANT THE BURDEN TO BE ON PEOPLE WHO OWN PROPERTY.

>> SOMETHING MORE TO LOOK INTO.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> THE LONG TIME COACH FOR CHICAGO'S PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER CLUB IS OUT.

AMID ALLEGATIONS OF SYSTEMIC ABUSE THAT PLAYERS SAY WENT IGNORED FOR YEARS.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW WITH THE LATEST.

>> PARIS, THE CHICAGO RED STARS COMMUNITY SHOULD BE CELEBRATING A SEASON.

THE TEAM WAS IN LOUISVILLE PLAYING IN THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

THE RED STARS LOST THE TITLE MATCH TO THE WASHINGTON SPIRIT UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF COACH RORY DAMES WHO RESIGNED SUNDAY.

IN A STATEMENT THEN THE TEAM COMPLIMENTED RORY DAMES' LEADERSHIP FOR THE CONSISTENCY AND LEADERSHIP ON THE FIELD.

FOR 11 YEARS I HAVE DEDICATED MYSELF TO HELP BUILD THE CHICAGO RED STARS INTO ONE OF THE TOP INTERNATIONAL CLUBS EFFECTIVE TODAY HE SAID IN THAT STATEMENT I'M REFOCUSING MY ATTENTION TO MY FAMILY AND FUTURE ENDEAVORS NO INDICATION THEN OR SINCE OF ISSUES WITH DAMES.

AND THE TEAM KNOWS THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION IN THE "WASHINGTON POST" DETAILING HOW BIG NAMED FORMER RED STARS PLAYERS HAD AS FAR BACK AS 2014 TOLD HIGHER UPS AT THE SOCCER FED VACCINATION DAMES WAS VERBALLY ABUSIVE.

SOCCER IS THE BIGGEST FORCE IN THE SPORT IN AMERICA.

>> SOCCER OVERSEES YOUTH SOCCER AND THE NATIONAL TEAMS.

AND KRISTEN PRESS ONE OF THE STARS OF THE U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM SHE HAS BEEN VOCAL ON EQUAL PAY ISSUES SHE WAS AN EMPLOYEE OF U.S. SOCCER WHEN SHE PLAYED FOR THE RED STARS AND RORY DAMES.

SO MY STORY SAYS THAT IN 2014 KRISTEN WENT TO THE LEADERS OF U.S. SOCCER TO THE PRESIDENT AND U.S. SOCCER IS BASED IN CHICAGO, SHE WENT TO HIM AND SHE FELT THAT RORY DAMES' COACHING WAS INAPPROPRIATE.

SHE RECALLS USING THE WORD HARASSMENT AND TELLS ME THAT HE WAS VERY DISMISSIVE OF HER AND HER CLAIMS.

>> OTHER PLAYERS BACKED THAT UP AND THAT PROMPTED AN INVESTIGATION OF DAMES BUT IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT CAME OF IT.

>> I KNOW THAT THE OWNER OF THE RED STARS WAS AWARE OF THIS INVESTIGATION IN 2018.

I KNOW HE WAS BRIEFED ON SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS BY PLAYERS AS PART OF AN INTERVIEW PROCESS TWO SOURCES TOLD ME THAT.

WHAT THE TEAM SAYS IS THAT THEY NEVER GOT ANY FORMAL RECOMMENDATIONS OR ANY FORMAL REPORT FROM U.S. SOCCER AND THAT DOES SEEM TO BE TRUE.

>> DAMES KEEP HIS JOB AND IN LIEU OF THE FORMAL RECOMMENDATIONS THE RED STARS MODIFIED HIS COACHING DUTIES AND OTHER COACHING STAFF THAT IS NOT ENOUGH, HOWEVER, FOR LOYAL RED STARS FANS HEARING ABOUT THIS.

LIKE ANGELA SULLIVAN AN ORGANIZER WITH THE TEAM'S INDEPENDENT SUPPORTER GROUP.

THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A RECKONING FOR THE MWSL WITH FIVE MALE COACHES LEAVING ONE OVER CLAIMS OF SEX ABUSE.

AND SULLIVAN SAYS IT IS CLEAR NOW THAT THE RED STARS ARE PART OF WHAT SHE CALLS INSTITUTIONAL BETRAYAL.

>> PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE TRUSTED TO KEEP THE PLAYERS SAFE AND GIVE THEM A HAPPY AND HEALTHY PLACE TO GROW AND REALLY THRIVE, HAS IT FEELS LIKE A SHAM.

IT FEELS LIKE IT WAS ALL BEING DONE UNDER THE COVER OF NIGHT AND BEHIND OUR BACK AND USING OUR GOODWILL TO THEIR ADVANTAGE.

>> NATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO THIS CULTURE OF ABUSE AND THE LEAGUE ARE ONGOING AND RED STARS ISSUING A NEWER STATEMENT YESTERDAY UPDATING IT SAYING THAT THE TEAM HAD PREVIOUSLY ACTUALLY INITIATED IN THE WAKE OF THIS NATIONAL TURMOIL AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF PLAYER SAFETY AND THAT IS ONGOING.

THE TEAM SAYS IT WILL IMPLEMENT ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COME OF THAT REVIEW AND THAT WE STAND WITH THE PLAYERS WHO ARE FIERCELY ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING OUR PART TO INSURE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE LEAGUE'S PLAYERS; STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND FANS.

THE NATIONAL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION YOU CAN THINK OF THAT AS LIKE THE WOMEN'S SOCCER UNION MADE DEMANDS OF THE LEAGUE.

SULLIVAN'S GROUP HAS DEMANDS FOR THE RED STARS LIKE GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND A SYSTEM WHERE PLAYERS CAN REPORT ANONYMOUSLY ANY ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE AND IF THOSE DEMANDS ARE NOT MET SHE SAYS THEY ARE GOING TO HIT OWNERS WHERE IT HURTS IN THE POCKETBOOK BY BOYCOTTING GAMES AND PICKETING AT THE CHICAGO BASED LEAGUE.

FANS SAY THAT, YES, DURING GAMES FROM THE SIDELINES YOU COULD HEAR COACH DAMES YELLING.

BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

MALE PLAYERS ARE YELLED AT TOO AFTER ALL.

>> WHAT THEIR COACHES DON'T DO IS SEEK TO CONTROL THEM THE WAY THAT RORY DID TO CONTROL THEIR MOVEMENTS KEEP THEM SEEING THEIR FAMILIES.

AND THEY ALSO DON'T RORY INITIATED THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PLAYERS WHERE HE WAS TEXTING THEM AT ALL HOURS.

HE WAS HAVING 22-YEAR-OLD GIRLS GO TO LUNCH AND DINNER WITH HIM AND TELLING THEM IF YOU DON'T GO TO DINNER WE'RE GOING TO LOSE.

THERE WAS AN ELEMENT OF MANIPULATION GOING ON.

YOU CAN BE A TOUGH COACH AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN ABUSIVE COACH.

>> NO RETURN FROM MY CALL TO COACH DAMES.

HE IS STILL A COACH.

HE IS OWNER OF THE ECLIPSE SELECT SOCCER CLUB AND THAT IS A FORMIDABLE CHICAGO AREA CLUB IN YOUTH SOCCER AND HENSLEY THAT REPORTER SAYS THAT IS WHAT SHE IS LOOKING INTO NEXT.

BACK TO YOU.

>> STILL MORE TO GO ON THIS.

AMANDA THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT, A LOOK INTO INVESTIGATIONS AT PARLOR PIZZA.

FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... FORMER EMPLOYEES OF PARLOR PIZZA SAY THEY WERE FORCED TO WORK OVERTIME WITHOUT PAY AND CUSTOMERS OF COLOR WERE SEATED IN THE BACK OF THE RESTAURANT IN THE REJECTION SECTION.

IT IS UNDER CITY INVESTIGATION AFTER BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO REPORTED.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS IS BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO REPORTER QUINN MYERS.

WHO HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY SINCE HE FIRST HELPED BREAK NEWS ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS.

WE DID REACH OUT TO PARLOR PIZZA FOR A RESPONSE WHICH WE WILL HEAR IN JUST A BIT.

QUINN MYERS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

WELCOME BACK.

TWO AGENCIES ARE LOOKING INTO THE ALLEGATIONS.

WHICH ONES AND WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THEIR INVESTIGATION SO FAR?

>> SURE.

THEY'VE JUST LAUNCHED THIS INVESTIGATION THE BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY AT THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND THE CHICAGO COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS.

THE BACP IS LOOKING INTO ALLEGATIONS THAT LABOR WAS PERFORMED AT PARLOR AT THE BEHEST OF MANAGEMENT AND THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS IS LOOKING INTO WHAT YOU REFERRED TO AS THE ALLEGED REJECTION SECTION THAT ALLEGEDLY CUSTOMERS OF COLOR WERE SAT IN SPECIFIC LOCATIONS AT PARLOR'S RESTAURANT AT THE RIVER NORTH LOCATION.

THOSE TWO AGENCIES ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO REACH OUT FORMER PARLOR EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS WHO BELIEVES THAT THEY POSSIBLY WERE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AT THESE RESTAURANTS AND THAT'S ALL WE KNOW ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION SO FAR.

>> AND QUINN, YOU WRITE ABOUT HARASSMENT AND WE MENTIONED OVERTIME WITHOUT PAY.

DESCRIBE SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS FROM THE FORMER EMPLOYEES FOR US?

>> SURE, WE SPOKE TO SEVERAL FORMER PARLOR EMPLOYEES WHO TALKED ABOUT THE REJECTION SECTION ALLEGEDLY THIS WAS A SPECIFIC LOCATION IN THE RIVER NORTH RESTAURANT WHERE PEOPLE OF COLOR WERE SAT LESS VISIBLE LOCATION AND WE HEARD ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND A CULTURE OF RETALIATION WHERE IF SPECIFICALLY FEMALE SERVERS DID NOT LOOK A CERTAIN WAY OR UP TO STANDARDS THEY COULD NOT BE SCHEDULED THE NEXT WEEK OR SCHEDULED BUT ONLY IN A CERTAIN SECTIONS THAT WERE NOT AS PROFITABLE.

WE HEARD ABOUT ALLEGATIONS THAT AFTER SERVERS WORKED A FULL SHIFT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CLOCK OUT AND ROLL SILVERWARE UNPAID AND WE HEARD FROM EMPLOYEES THAT THEY SAY THEY HAD TO WORK MANY DOUBLES IN A ROW AS MANY AS 11 DOUBLES IN A ROW.

AND AGAIN, PARLOR DENIED ALL OF THE ALLEGATIONS AND SAID THEY ARE NOT TRUE.

>> SPEAKING OF PARLOR WE WERE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH THE NEW CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER FORMER WVON RADIO HOST MAYS JACKSON.

>> WE STRONGLY PUSHBACK AGAINST OUR COMPANY BEING HAVING RACE -- BEING A RACIST COMPANY I WILL TELL YOU WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT SOMETIMES THINGS HAPPEN SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS DO A SELF EXAMINATION AND CHECK MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLICIES, PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES ARE IN PLACE TO INSURE THAT NOTHING LIKE THIS IF IT EVER WAS TO HAPPEN, DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> AND QUINN WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME BUT YOU SPOKE TO A MANAGER WHAT WAS HER RESPONSE?

>> SURE.

WE SPOKE TO TANYA, THE GENERAL MANAGER AT WICKER PARK AND SHE SAID WHAT MAYS IS SAYING THAT THERE'S NO TRUTH TO THE ALLEGATIONS AND THAT SHE AS A WOMAN OF COLOR WOULD NOT HAVE TOLERATED THAT AND SAID THERE WAS ONE ALLEGATION WHERE FORMER SERVERS SAID THAT MANAGEMENT OFTEN KEPT COVID CASES HUSH HUSH THAT IF SOMEONE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIND OUT FROM THEIR FELLOW STAFF MEMBERS THEY DID NOT HEAR FROM MANAGEMENT.

PARLOR PUSHED BACK ON THAT AND TANYA SAID THAT WASN'T TRUE THEY NOTIFIED STAFF MEMBERS IF THEY HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID.

>> IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT COMES OF THE INVESTIGATIONS.

QUINN MYERS OF BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, BRANDIS.

>> UP NEXT, DETAILS OF NEW DOWNTOWN ARCHITECTURE IN AN ENCORE EDITION OF "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> YOU MAY HAVE BEEN STUCK AT HOME FOR THE PAST 15 MONTHS BUT THE CITY'S EVER GROWING SKYLINE DID NOT SKIP A BEAT.

NEW BUILDINGS SPROUTED UP ALL OVER DOWNTOWN CHICAGO INCLUDING SOME PROJECTS THAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU.

GEOFFREY BAER JOINS US FOR A TOUR OF WHAT WE MIGHT HAVE MISSED IN TONIGHT'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE LAST TIME YOU WENT TO THE LOOP WAS I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THE BUILDINGS WERE A SURPRISE FOR YOU.

>> TOTALLY A SURPRISE ABSOLUTELY.

>> THIS QUESTION... >> YOU KNOW IT FEELS A LITTLE BIT LIKE MANY OF US DURING THE PANDEMIC WERE IN SUSPENDED ANIMATION THE BUILDINGS SEEM TO HAVE GONE UP IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.

LET'S START WITH ONE THAT IS HARD TO MISS.

IT'S THE ST. REGIS CHICAGO FORMERLY KNOWN AS VISTA TO YOUR BY JENNY GANG.

YOU KNOW JEANNIE GANG FOR THE TOWER CALLED AQUA WITH THE BALCONIES.

THE SOARING ST. REGIS WITH THE ZIG-ZAG PROFILE INSPIRED BY A FORM IS THE THIRD TALLEST BUILDING IN CHICAGO AND IT'S THE WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDING DESIGNED BY A WOMAN.

ONE CURIOUS DETAIL IS THE 83rd FLOOR IT'S COMPLETELY EMPTY AND OPEN TO THE ELEMENTS.

THAT IS BECAUSE IT'S KNOWN AS A BLOW THROUGH FLOOR AND IT WAS ADDED TO THE DESIGN TO REDUCE SWAY IN THE STRUCTURE AFTER WIND ACTUALLE -- TUNNEL TESTS.

>> AND A DEVELOPMENT IS DOWN THE RIVER AT WOLF POINT WHAT IS THE LATEST ON THAT PROJECT?

>> WOLF POINT IS THE CONFLUENCE OF THE THREE BRANCHES OF THE CHICAGO RIVER, NORTH, SOUTH AND THE MAIN BRANCH.

TODAY IT'S JUST WEST OF THE MERCHANDISE MART.

OVER THE PAST DECADE, IT'S BEEN TOTALLY TRANSFORMED FROM A SURFACE PARKING LOT BY THREE TOWERS TWO OF WHICH ARE NEW SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

THE 60 STOREY WONDERFUL POINT EAST WAS COMPLETED LAST YEAR AND IS HOME TO 700 RESIDENTIAL UNITS.

AND A SOARING OFFICE BUILDING AT THE CENTER OF THE COMPLEX SET TO BE COMPLETED IN EARLY 2023.

AND IS IT KNOWN AS SALES FORCE TOWER AFTER THE TECH COMPANY.

BOTH NEW TOWERS ARE DESIGNED PELE CLARK PELE.

ANOTHER SUPER TALL PROJECT YOU CAN SEE IT FROM THE EXPRESSWAY, CALLED 1 CHICAGO.

AND IT'S ACROSS THE STREET FROM HOLY NAME CATHEDRAL ON THE NEAR NORTH SIDE ON THE OTHER SIDE FROM THE EXPRESSWAY BUT IT'S SO TALL.

THE RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX INCLUDING TWO TOWERS 49 AND 76 STOREYS DESIGNED IN PARTNERSHIP BY GOETTSCH PARTNERS AND HARD SHORE AND PLUNGE ARD ARCHITECT AND CONNECTED BY RETAIL AND OFFICE SPACE WITH TENANTS EXPECTED TO MOVE IN LATER THIS YEAR.

GOETTSCH PARTNERS DESIGNED A NEW TOWER ON THE CHICAGO RIVER'S SOUTH BRANCH 110 NORTH WACKER IS PARTLY SUPPORTED BY GIGANTIC METAL TREES TO OPEN UP THE BASE FOR A RIVERWALK.

GOETTSCH HAS DONE DRAMATIC THINGS LIKE THIS AT THE BASES OF SEVERAL RECENT BUILDINGS.

RIGHT ACROSS THE RIVER AT 150 NORTH RIVERSIDE WHICH OPENED A FEW YEARS AGO, THAT BUILDING SORT OF SEEMS TO COME TO A POINT AT THE BOTTOM AND THEN THERE'S A BUILDING 111 SOUTH WACKER BY GOETTSCH.

WHERE THE CEILING OF THE LOBBY IS THE UNDERSIDE OF THE SPIRAL RAMP TO THE PARKING GARAGE.

>> IMPRESSED WITH ARCHITECTURE IN CHICAGO.

AND NOT EVERY NEW ADDITION IS A NEW BUILDING.

>> RIGHT, YES.

THERE'S ONE THAT YOU WON'T SEE FROM LAKE SHORE DRIVE.

THE RENOVATED BASE OF THE SEARS 0 -- I MEAN WILLIS TOWER.

OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS THE LOBBY AND GROUND LEVELS HAVE UNDERGONE A EXRET OVERHAUL.

FEATURING A SOARING ATRIUM AND NEW ENTRANCE WAYS AND SHOPS, RESTAURANTS AND AN OUTDOOR GREENSPACE.

IT'S ALL DESIGNED TO CONNECT THE BUILDING MORE WITH THE STREET INSTEAD OF IT BEING A FORTRESS.

AND AS PART OF THAT WHOLE PROJECT THERE IS AN EYE CATCHING NEW PIECE OF PUBLIC ART ON JACKSON STREET BY ICE LAND DICK ARTIST.

IT'S INSPIRED BY WAVES ON LAKE MICHIGAN.

AND THEN THE $800 MILLION TRANSFORMATION OF THE OLD POST OFFICE INTO 2.5 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE SPACE IS FINISHED AND IT INCLUDES A 3.5 ACRE ROOFTOP PARK COMPLETE WITH A RUNNING TRACK.

THAT PARK IS ONLY OPEN TO THE BUILDING'S TENANTS BUT IT CAN BE RENTED FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.

KEEP THAT IN MIND.

THERE ARE JUST THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE TRANSFORMATIONS THAT YOU WILL NOTICE WHEN YOU RETURN TO THE LOOP THIS SUMMER FOR WORK OR PLEASURE.

AND IF YOU CAST YOUR GAZE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION OUT TO SEA, YOU WILL SEE THE NEW SABLE HOTEL AT THE EAST END OF NAVY PIER WHICH HAS IMPROVED THE LOOK OF THE PIER WHEN YOU VIEW IT FROM THE SOUTH.

MARKETED AS THE FIRST HOTEL EVER BUILT ON TOP OF LAKE MICHIGAN.

>> AND ONE FINAL NOTE.

BEFORE WE GO.

WE RECENTLY DID A STORY ON THE SEARCH FOR A CHICAGO ANTHEM BACK IN THE 1980s.

AND AFTER THE STORY AIRED, THE WINNER OF THE CONTEST JEFF JAKE COULD BEES CONTACTED US AND GAVE US A RECORDING OF HIS ANTHEM AND CONTRARY TO WHAT I REPORTED, JACOBS TOLD US THAT HE DID IN FACT RECEIVE THE PRIZE MONEY AFTER A YEAR OF QUOTE WRANGLING WITH THE CITY.

YOU CAN LISTEN TO HIS SONG ON OUR WEBSITE AND IT IS WELL WORTH IT.

>> TOUGH TO GET MONEY OUT OF THE CITY.

THAT IS GREAT THAT HE REACHED OUT TO US AND HE DID GET THE PRIZE MONEY FROM THE CITY.

GEOFFREY BAER THANK YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT NEW BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN AND WHILE YOU ARE THERE SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION TO GEOFFREY BAER.

>> 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 TUESDAY NIGHT.

>> JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. A PUSH FOR BOOSTER SHOTS AS COVID-19 CASES RISE AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

>> AND ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU TAKES US ON A TRIP TO A TUITION FREE ART SCHOOL SOUTH OF THE CITY.

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

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

[♪♪♪]