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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> OUR COMMUNITY WILL NOT BE PACKED IN A WAY THAT DILUTES OUR REPRESENTATION.

>> CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE AT LOGGERHEADS OVERDRAWING NEW WARD MAPS.

>> AND WITH ONLY HOURS LEFT BEFORE THAT DEADLINE ORGANIZATIONS ARE CALLING FOR CITY LEADERS TO CONSIDER THEIR MAPS.

>> IF I RETRIAL THROUGH WHICH WE PASSED WILL LIGHT US DOWN IN HONOR OR DISHONEST NOR TO THE LATEST GENERATION.

>> A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND ILLINOIS' SAME-SEX MARRIAGE WILL NOT BE SEEKING REELECTION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[♪♪♪] >> REMEMBERING A TRUE GIANT OF MUSICAL THEATRE.

STEPHEN SONDHEIM WITH STAGE DIRECTOR GARY GRIFFIN AND HEDY WEISS.

>> AND GEOFFREY BAER HAS THE STORY OF A FAMOUS CHICAGO NIGHT LUB IN TONIGHT'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL BEGIN A COVID-19 TEST TO STAY PILOT PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS THIS WEEK.

IT IS AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS REQUIRED TO QUARANTINE BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

THE PROGRAM WOULD ALLOW UNVACCINATED STUDENTS TO STAY IN SCHOOL AFTER A CORONAVIRUS EXPOSURE UNDER A STRICT TESTING REGIMENT.

C.P.S.

HAS 5,000 INDIVIDUALS DPAURN TEENING AS OF -- QUARANTINING AS OF MONDAY.

4900 ARE STUDENTS 185 ARE ADULTS.

C.E.O.

PEDOR MARTINEZ SAYS THE DISTRICT WILL BEGIN THE PILOT AT ONE SCHOOL THIS WEEK.

>> THE GOAL IS TO START SMALL AND EXPAND IT THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR BECAUSE I CANNOT PREDICT FOR YOU WHEN COVID WILL BE AT ZERO CASES.

SO NOT KNOWING THAT I WOULD RATHER REALLY PLAN FOR THE LONG-TERM SO THAT WE KEEP BUILDING IT UP THROUGH THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND IF NECESSARY THROUGH THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

>> MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ARRIVES IN WASHINGTON D.C. TODAY TO MEET WITH SENIOR WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS.

THEY ARE EXPECTED TO DISCUSS CHICAGO'S PANDEMIC RECOVERY PLAN AND THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES.

LIGHTFOOT IS SET TO BE IN WASHINGTON D.C.

THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK.

THIS MEANS THE MAYOR WILL MISS THE LAST DAY OF DEBATE ON THE WARD REMAP AND A POTENTIAL VOTE THIS WEEK.

WE'LL HEAR MORE FROM ALDERPEOPLE IN THE PROGRAM.

>> THE STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IS WORKING WITH CVS PHARMACY TO PREVENT ROBBERIES AND REDUCE RETAIL CRIME.

ATTORNEY GENERAL KWAME RAOUL AND REPRESENTS FROM CVS ARE ANNOUNCING NEW TECHNOLOGY IN PLACE AT ALL THE PHARMACY LOCATIONS IN ILLINOIS.

THE COMPANY IS ROLLING OUT NEW TIME DELAY SAFES WHICH DELAY THE TIME IT TAKES FOR PHARMACY EMPLOYEES TO OPEN THEM.

OFFICIALS HOPE THIS WILL DETER ROBBERIES AND KEEP CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES SAFE.

>> SEASON TEND TO RUN IN A PHARMACY AND STEAL A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE AND FLEE WILL BE MET WITH THE SAFES THAT REQUIRE A CODE TO ENTER.

THE CODE BEGINS A TIMER AND THE SAFE WILL NOT OPEN UNTIL THE TIMER EXPIRES PREVENTING THIEVES FROM ACCESSING THE DRUGS.

>> THE MOVE COMES AS PART OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME TASK FORCE WHICH WORKS TO FOSTER COLLABORATION BETWEEN RETAILORS, POLICE AND STATES ATTORNEYS.

THE CLOCK IS RUNNING OUT FOR DRAWING WARD MEMBERS.

FOUR COUNCILMEMBERS JOIN US FOR THE LATEST.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> WITH THE DEADLINE LOOMING TOMORROW TENSIONS ARE RUNNING HIGH OVERDRAWING CHICAGO'S NEW WARD MAP WHICH WILL DETERMINE THE DOES CONTRIBUTION OF POWER IN CITY HALL FOR A DECADE.

IF NOT VOTED ON IT COULD TRIGGER THE REFERENDUM WHERE VOTERS COULD MAKE THE FINAL DECISION.

HERE ARE ALDERMAN SCOTT WAGUESPACK ON THE NORTH SIDE, ALDERMAN GILBERT VILLEGAS OF THE 36TH WARD ON THE NOR WEST SIDE AND CHAIR OF THE LATINO CAUCUS.

STEPHANIE COLEMAN WHO REPRESENTS THE 16TH WARD ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE THE VICE-CHAIR OF THE BLACK CAUCUS AND JASON ERVIN WHO REPRESENTS THE 28TH WARD ON THE WEST SIDE AND CHAIRS THE BLACK CAUCUS.

IT MUST PASS WITH 41 VOTES TOMORROW OR IT TRIGGERS A PUBLIC REFERENDUM WHERE VOTERS COULD CHOOSE ON POTENTIALLY MULTIPLE MAPS AND THERE ARE NO 41 VOTES THERE'S NO AGREEMENT.

ALDERMAN SCOTT WAGUESPACK WHAT IS THE LATEST?

>> I THINK WE'RE MEETING TOMORROW IN HOPES OF CONTINUING NEGOTIATIONS AND WE'VE GOT TWO OF THE MAIN CAUCUS CHAIRS HERE AND THE VICE-CHAIR WOMAN.

AND I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE GOING TRY TO DO IS TO SIT DOWN AND TRY TO WORK THINGS OUT WITH THIS MAP.

THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT MAPS TO WORK ON.

WE JUST WENT THROUGH A MAJOR BUDGET SESSION.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DILIGENTLY WORKING TOGETHER AND I THINK THAT WILL CONTINUE HERE.

I'M HOPING TO SEE WHAT COMES UP TOMORROW BUT WE COULD DO TO REFERENDUM.

I THINK EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO -- >> ALDERMAN THE CENTRAL DISPUTE IS THE LATINO CAUCUS PROPOSED TWO MORE HISPANIC MAJORITY WARDS AT THE EXPENSE OF BLACK MAJORITY WARDS REFLECTING POPULATION LOSS IN THAT COMMUNITY.

DO YOU SEE ANY COMPROMISE HERE?

>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO DIVERT TO OUR CHAIRMAN ERVIN BECAUSE THE PRIORITY IS BASED ON POPULATIONS THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNIFY.

THE SOUTH CENTRAL COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE IN ENGLEWOOD, CHICAGO GAGE PARK BACK TO THE CITY.

AND OUR NUMBERS OUR NUMBER.

AND OUR NUMBER IS OUR NUMBER.

AND I DEFER TO CHAIRMAN ERVIN.

>> YOU CHAIR THE BLACK CAUCUS ALDERMAN ERVIN IS THERE A COMPROMISE WITH THE LATINO CAUCUS THE OUTLINES OF THE PROPOSAL YOU PUT OUT IS NOT TENABLE?

>> WE ALWAYS WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT'S BEST AND WHAT IS FAIR AND EQUITABLE FOR CHICAGO AS A WHOLE.

AND AGAIN IF THERE IS A ROOM TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AS ALWAYS AND A POSSIBILITY OF REACHING AN AGREEMENT HOWEVER THOSE AGREEMENTS CANNOT HARM PROTECTED CLASSES AND UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE NOT FOUND THAT COMMON GROUND AT THIS POINT.

BUT THERE'S TIME FOR US TO GET THERE IF WE CAN HAVE A MEETING OF THE MINDS.

>> 17 AFRICAN-AMERICAN WARDS YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GO BELOW THAT?

>> WE BELIEVE THAT IS THE PROPER NUMBER FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND WE FEEL THE NUMBER OF 14 IS PROPER FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY AND AGAIN, I THINK IF WE LOOK AT WHAT CAN ACTUALLY BE ATTAINABLE FOR BOTH COMMUNITIES I BELIEVE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE FOR BOTH COMMUNITIES.

IN MY OPINION, IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO POTENTIALLY CREATE A WARD THAT ON PAPER MAKES IT ONE THING BUT IN REALITY IT'S SOMETHING ELSE.

I THINK WE NEED TO BE HONEST WITH THE CITIZENS OF OUR CITY AND HONEST WITH OURSELF WHAT IS WE ARE DOING TO NOT MAKE GAINS WITH OUR COMMUNITIES WITH RESPECT TO WHAT WE'RE SAYING AND DOING.

THAT IS WHY I THINK [INAUDIBLE] >> IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WILL BE NO 41 VOTES TOMORROW AND NO AGREEMENT.

GILBERT VILLEGAS IF THAT IS THE CASE WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE LATINO CAUCUS?

BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR THAT THE LATINO CAUCUS AND THE BLACK CAUCUS ARE FAR APART ON WHAT THEY WANT?

>> I SAY WE'RE NOT TOO FAR APART.

THE REALITY IS THAT IF THERE CAN BE REAL CANDID DISCUSSIONS, COMPROMISE WE HAVE A PROBLEM RIGHT NOW WITH THE PROCESS THAT IS OCCURRING WITHIN THE RULES COMMITTEE WHERE THE QUOTE-UNQUOTE SOME ALDERMEN ARE LOCKED IN.

OUR COMMUNITY IS BEING LOCKED OUT.

BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE BEING FORCED TO DRAW WARDS WITHIN BOUNDARIES ARTIFICIAL BOUNDARIES THAT ARE PUT FORWARD BY THE RULES COMMITTEE.

AND THAT IS AN ISSUE.

LISTEN WE WANT TO NEGOTIATE.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITHIN THE CITY COUNCIL.

WE DON'T WANT TO PUT HAVE TO GO TO REFERENDUM IT WOULD COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

WITH POTENTIAL LITIGATION.

THERE'S ALWAYS THE OPPORTUNITY AND I MENTION THAT LATINOS ARE A PROTECTED CLASS AS WELL.

AND THAT IS WHERE YOU SEE THE INTERESTING PATTERN HERE IS YOU HAVE TWO PROTECTED CLASSES THAT ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR COMMUNITIES ARE BEING REPRESENTED FAIRLY.

AND I THINK WE CONTINUE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WE CAN GET THERE.

>> SCOTT WAGUESPACK AN X FACTOR IS MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT WHO CAMPAIGNED ON AN INDEPENDENT PROCESS.

ALTHOUGH SHE HAS NOT SUPPORTED THE SO-CALLED PEOPLE'S MAP, THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN LIKE IT ALWAYS IS BACK ROOM.

HAS THE MAYOR BROKEN HER PROMISE?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK THE PEOPLE'S MAP THEY HAD GOOD IDEAS BUT THEY WENT OFF ON THEIR OWN AND DID THEIR OWN THING.

10 YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT MAKING CHANGES WE ASKED TO PUT GUIDELINES IN AND THAT DIDN'T REALLY HAPPEN.

I DON'T THINK SHE HAS BROKEN HER PROMISE.

THE ALDERMEN HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS.

SHE HAS STAYED ON THE SIDELINES AND WATCHED AND LET US DO OUR PROCESS.

BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME PEOPLE SAID WILL SHE VETO ANY MAP?

I DON'T THINK SHE WILL OR CAN.

ONCE YOU REALIZE ONCE YOU GET TO 34 MEMBERS THAT IS VETO PROOF.

I DON'T THINK SHE IS TINKERING AROUND SHE IS LETTING THE COUPLE DO ITS JOB.

>> AND THERE'S CASUALTY OF INCUMBENTS, ALDERMAN COLEMAN ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THAT?

>> MY CONCERN IS TO CREATE A COMPACT AND CONTINUOUS 16TH WARD SO I CAN PROPERLY FOCUS ON THE INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES AND INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES LIKENING EVENING, CHICAGO LAWN, NEW CITY, GAGE PARK NOT POLITICAL PETTINESS.

WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER TO GET TO 4 BOYNE.

>> AND ALDERMAN ERVIN YOU'VE RELEASED GENERAL ZONES FOR YOUR MAP BUT NO ONE HAS SEEN YOUR SPECIFIC WARD MAP AND IF IT'S VOTED ON THE PUBLIC WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WEIGH-IN.

HOW DOES THAT SQUARE WITH TRANSPARENCY?

>> I THINK IT DOES DEAL WITH THE TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT AREAS OF OUR CITY AND WHAT WE TALK ABOUT ARE THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

WE TALK ABOUT THE SOUTHWEST SIDE.

TALK ABOUT THE NORTHWEST SIDE.

AND WE TALK ABOUT THE CREATION OF AN ASIAN WARD AND THESE THAT HAVE NOT HAPPENED BEFORE.

AND AGAIN WE DON'T WANT TO BE OFFENSIVE TO COMMUNITIES BY DRAWING LINES WE THINK THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE COMMUNITIES NEED TO BE ONES WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS AND DRAW THE LINES AND I THINK THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF THE ACRIMONY STARTED IN THE PROCESS WHEN OTHERS DRAW LINES FOR OTHER PEOPLE THAT DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE WANTED THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED TO DRAW THOSE LINES.

>> WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

AND WE ARE GOING TO PICK IT UP LATER IN THE SHOW.

ALL FOUR WILL BE BACK TO CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION.

FOR NOW OUR THANKS TO SCOTT WAGUESPACK, GILBERT VILLEGAS, STEPHANIE COLEMAN AND JASON ERVIN.

>> AND NOW TO AMANDA WITH A HIGH RANKING STATE LAWMAKER WHO IS ANNOUNCING HE IS STEPPING BACK.

>> A PROMINENT STATE LEGISLATOR IS LEAVING.

GREG HARRIS IS THE HIGHEST RANKING OPENLY GAY LAWMAKER IN ILLINOIS HISTORY.

HE REPRESENTS PARTS OF NORTHWEST CHICAGO, UPTOWN, LINCOLN SQUARE AND WEST RIDGE.

AFTER 15 YEARS HE IS READY TO MOVE ON.

AND JOINING US TO REFLECT ON HIS CAREER IS DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE GREG HARRIS.

WE APPRECIATE YOU'RE JOINING US.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THAT DECISION OF NOT RUNNING FOR REELECTION?

>> WE HAVE TWO-YEAR TERMS EVERY EVERY TWO YEARS IT'S TIME TO SIT DOWN AND THINK IS IT TIME TO GET BACK ON THE BALLOT OR IS IT TIME TO MOVE ON?

AND THIS YEAR I THOUGHT IT WAS TIME TO MOVE ON.

I WILL HAVE SERVED 16 YEARS AT THE END OF MY TERM.

AND THAT'S BEEN A GOOD LONG TIME AND I GOT A LOT OF GOOD THINGS DONE.

>> A CLARIFICATION, YES OR NO, YOU ARE GOING TO SERVE OUT THE WHOLE REMAINDER OF THIS TERM?

>> THAT IS MY PLAN.

>> THAT'S THE PLAN.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU ARE A MAN WHO STICKS TO IT.

YOU WERE A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE 2013 LAW THAT LEGALIZED SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.

IT NARROWLY PASSED THE HOUSE THAT NOVEMBER.

BUT HALF A YEAR EARLIER YOU FACED CRITICISM FROM GAY RIGHTS ADVOCATES FOR NOT BRINGING THE BILL TO THE FLOOR THEN THIS IS HOW YOU RESPONDED.

>> IF I RETRIAL THROUGH WHICH WE PASS WILL LIGHT US DOWN IN HONOR OR DISHONEST NOR TO THE LATEST GENERATION.

>> WHAT WERE YOUR EMOTIONS AS AN OPENLY GAY MAN IT MIGHT HAVE TO BE HARD THAT FACE THE CRITICISM THAT YOU RECEIVED INCLUDING FROM ALLIES?

>> AND THAT RECORDING DID NOT PICK UP ALL THE BOOING OF PEOPLE IN THE GALLERY THAT DAY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED THE BILL TO GO UP ON THE BOARD EVEN IF IT WAS GOING TO LOSE.

AND IT WAS A STRATEGIC CALL.

IN MY OPINION, IT WAS BETTER TO BE SURE SOMETHING LIKE THAT WENT ON THE BOARD TO WIN NOT TO FAIL.

BECAUSE ILLINOIS WAS WIDELY SEEN AS THE LAST STATE THAT COULD POSSIBLY PASS MARRIAGE EQUALITY.

THERE WAS A CASE ON ITS WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT AND THE LOSS COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY AFFECTED THAT AND COULD HAVE A WIN.

IT WAS PRESIDENT OBAMA'S HOME STATE AT THE TIME AND TO LOSE THEN WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD SIGNAL.

SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION.

BUT IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHERE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE' LIVES WOULD BE AFFECTED AND WE DID IT WE WON WHICH IS IMPORTANT AND THE STATE MOBILIZED PEOPLE GOT TOGETHER.

WE WORKED IN EVERYONE OF THE 102 COUNTIES AND THE BILL PASSED IN A BIPARTISAN WAY THAT NOVEMBER AND WAS SIGNED INTO LAW.

>> DO YOU SEE THAT AS YOUR GREATEST LEGACY?

PERHAPS YOU CAN SPEAK TO THREE YEARS EARLIER YOU SPONSORED THE CIVIL UNION PROPOSAL AND THAT BARELY PASSED.

WHAT CHANGED IN THAT QUICK PERIOD?

>> WHAT CHANGED WAS THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF PUBLIC OPINION POLLING AND THE TRACK THE ISSUE OF APPROVAL OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE OVER JUST THE LAST 10, 12, 14 YEARS, IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE MOST RAPID CHANGES ON A MAJOR HOT BUTTON SOCIAL ISSUE THAT PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH HAS TRACKED.

A LOT OF THAT WAS DUE TO JUST AVERAGE PEOPLE IN EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE COMING OUT AND TELLING THEIR STORY IN THEIR OWN WAY NOT NECESSARILY BECOMING BIG ADVOCATES OR ACTIVISTS OR THOSE THINGS ALL TIME.

BUT JUST TELLING A STORY WHO THEY ARE AND WHO THEY LOVE AND WHO THEIR FAMILY IS TO THEIR NEIGHBORS AND TO THEIR FRIENDS AND COWORKERS AND TO THE PEOPLE THEY WORSHIP WITH IN A CHURCH, MOSQUE OR SYNAGOGUE TA AND THAT CHANGED PEOPLE'S MINDS THAT COULD UNDERSTAND ALL ANYONE WANTED WAS TO LOVE THEIR PARTNER, LOVE THEIR FAMILIES AND HAVE A SAFE HOME AND A HAPPY HOME AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> AND THAT CHANGED MINDS.

>> YOU DID RISE IN THE RANKS IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE INCLUDING THE POINT MAN FOR FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN PARTICULARLY ON THE BUDGET.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HIS FALL FROM POWER?

>> OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION.

AND HE LEFT OUR CAUCUS, RALLIED AROUND AND FOUND A NEW DIRECTION.

AND NOW WE'RE SERVING UNDER OUR FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN SPEAKER IN THE 203-YEAR HISTORY OF ILLINOIS CHRIS WELCH.

AND HE IS LEADING US IN A NEW DIRECTION.

IT'S FAR MORE OPEN, INCLUSIVE AND THE CAUCUS IS DOING GREAT THINGS.

THIS YEAR WE PASSED A REALLY TREND SETTING HISTORIC CLEAN ENERGY AND CLIMATE BILL THAT IS A MODEL FOR THE NATION AND IT'S GOING TO HELP US ELIMINATE CARBON IN OUR STATE, ELECTRIFY OUR VEHICLES AND BENEFITS THERE.

WE HAVE MOVED IN ADVANCE OF POTENTIALLY IT WILL HAPPEN IN THE SUPREME COURT TO PROTECT WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.

ILLINOIS CODIFIED A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE PROTECTED IN INTO OUR STATE LAW SO THEY ARE NOT OPPRESSED NATIONALLY.

>> AND YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE BUDGET.

ILLINOIS' BOND RATING IS UP WHAT HARD CHOICES IS ILLINOIS GOING TO FACE AS COVID RELIEF FUNDING DRIES UP?

ARE WE ON A SHORT-TERM SUGAR HIGH?

>> I THINK WE ARE ON A HARD PATH WALKING UP.

WE'VE MADE GREAT SPHRIDS AND OBVIOUSLY -- STRIDES AND YOU MENTIONED WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH COVID.

I DON'T THINK ANY OF US KNOW HOW THAT WILL AFFECT OUR BUDGET.

FOR RIGHT NOW WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.

WE PAID DOWN $3 BILLION IN DEBT.

WE HAVE REDUCED OUR BILL BACKLOG FROM 17 BILLION TO UNDER $2 BILLION.

WE'RE PAYING OUR PENSION FUNDS THE AMOUNT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PAYING THEM AND HAD THE FIRST BOND RATING INCREASES IN QUARTER OF A CENTURY.

PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEIR LIVING ASSESSING RISK AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE HAVE SAID TO ILLINOIS YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH.

OUR CHALLENGE IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS IS STAY ON THE PATH.

>> YOU WILL NOT BE IN SPRINGFIELD.

ONE LAST QUESTION.

YOU DO LIVE OPENLY AS SOMEONE WHO IS HIV POSITIVE AND OF COURSE THERE IS NO CURE.

IN THE BRIEF TIME WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HIV AND AIDS TODAY?

>> THAT IT IS ANOTHER PANDEMIC JUST LIKE COVID AND IT'S ONE THAT HAS BEEN WITH US AND ONE IF YOU ARE TESTED AND IF YOU GET MODERN TREATMENT IT'S JUST THESE DAYS A CHRONIC ILLNESS THAT CAN BE MANAGED.

BUT THERE'S ALSO PREP SO YOU CAN DO PREVENTION AND THERE ARE MANY TOOL AND ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT IT ASK YOUR LOCAL HEALTH CENTER ABOUT PREP AND TESTING AND TREATMENT TO BE SURE THAT YOU'RE LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE.

>> AND ANOTHER BIG PART OF YOUR LEGISLATIVE LEGACY WORKS ON ISSUES RELATED TO HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAID.

WE HOPE YOU STAY WELL THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE GREG HARRIS NOT RUNNING FOR REELECTION NEXT YEAR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE LATE COMPOSER STEPHEN SONDHEIM.

STAY WITH US.

>> STEPHEN SONDHEIM WAS WIDELY CONSIDERED THE MOST REVERED CREATOR OF AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE SINCE THE 1950s.

HE DIED FRIDAY AT THE AGE OF 91 AT HIS CONNECTICUT TOMORROW.

OVER THE YEARS, CHICAGO WAS HOME TO MANY ACCLAIMED PRODUCTIONS OF STEPHEN SONDHEIM'S WORKS INCLUDING ONE INSPIRED BY A PAINTING AT THE ART INSTITUTE.

HERE IS A LOOK AT "SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE" AT THE CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATRE.

[♪♪♪] >> AND JOINING US NOW ARE THE DIRECTOR OF THAT AND OTHER SONDHEIM SHOWS GARY GRIFFIN AND OUR ARTS CRITIC HEDY WEISS WELCOME BACK AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

GARY GRIFFIN LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE.

OBVIOUSLY VERY UNIQUE CHICAGO CONNECTION THERE.

WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU HEAR OR SEE THAT CLIP?

>> WELL, I FEEL REALLY A LOT OF HOMETOWN PRIDE IN IT.

BECAUSE WE GET TO HAVE THE SOURCE MATERIAL FOR ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONDHEIM SHOW AND ONE OF THE GREAT ONES.

I REMEMBER WHEN I SAW THE NUMBER ON THE TONY AWARDS NIGHT BEFORE AND THEY DID WHERE THEY CREATE THE PAINTING.

WITHIN A WEEK I DROVE TO CHICAGO LIVING WITH MY PARENTS AT THE TIME AND GO TO CHICAGO TO SEE THE PAINTING BECAUSE I WANTED TO GET THAT CONNECTION.

IT WAS GREAT TO TWICE WE DID PRODUCTIONS IN CHICAGO KNOWING THAT WAS ONLY THING THAT ON ACROSS THE WAY WAS THE PAINTING AND IN 2006 WE DID A CONCERT IN GRANT PARK WHERE WE ENDED WITH SUNDAY AS WELL.

AND IT'S DONE AMAZING -- FIRST OF ALL IT IS A GREAT WORK OF ART THAT INSPIRED A GREAT WORK OF ART AND I WAS TOUCHED TO VISIT THE PAINTING THAT NOW MENTIONED IN THE COMPANY WORDS ABOUT THE PAINTING IN THE ARTICLE.

>> AND WE HAVE A PICTURE OF YOU WITH Mr. SONDHEIM AS WELL AS CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATRE'S BARBARA GAINS.

WHAT WAS HE LIKE IN PERSON?

>> I MEAN A VERY ARTICULATE AND SMART, VERY FUNNY.

AND VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT ANYTHING.

HE LIKED TO DEBATE.

HE LIKED TO REALLY PROBE THE DEPTHS OF ANY SUBJECT AND IF IT WEREN'T DEPTHS HE WAS NOT INTERESTED IN IT.

HE WAS A INR VERY INSPIRING PERSON TO SPEND SOMETIME WITH BECAUSE YOU CAN THINK YOU CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO AND THEN YOU ARE AROUND HIM AND REALIZE THIS IS SOMEONE WHO THE DEPTHS OF HIS PASSION AND COMMITMENT TO THE ART FORM IS DAZZLING.

>> AND HEDY WE HAVE A CLIP OF SWEENEY TODD AT PARAMOUNT THEATRE IN AURORA.

THIS SHOW HAS BEEN DONE AT LYRIC OPERA.

WHAT DOES THAT TELL US ABOUT THE SCALE OF SONDHEIM'S APPEAL?

>> IT HE OF COURSE MOST OF HIS WORK WAS DEBUTED ON BROADWAY OR AT LEAST IMPORTANT PRODUCTIONS DEBUTED ON BROADWAY.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT YOU COULD DO IT IN A TINY THEATRE AND ALSO HAVING IT DONE ON THE STAGE OF THE PARAMOUNT THEATER IN AURORA OR CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATRE IT HELD ITS OWN AND WHY IS BECAUSE HE CHOSE FABULOUS SUBJECTS.

HE DEALT WITH EVERYTHING ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS.

BUT IT WASN'T JUST YOU KNOW WASN'T JUST A MARRIAGE ALTHOUGH THE MARRIAGE WAS THE SUBJECT OF MANY WORKS.

IT WAS REALLY ABOUT FAME, IT WAS ABOUT SUCCESS, IT WAS ABOUT REVENGE THERE WERE SO MANY THEMES AND SET IN SO MANY PLACES.

THE SHOW THAT GARY REALLY FORGED HIS ASSOCIATION WITH SONDHEIM WITH WAS PACIFIC OVERTURES WHICH I THINK IS UNBELIEVABLY IGNORED AND IT'S BRILLIANT AND IT'S ABOUT A YOUNG JAPANESE BOY WHO SEES COME IN TO OPEN JAPAN IN 19TH CENTURY AND THEN HE IS LOOKING BACK AT IT.

AND YOU KNOW, THE SONGS IN EVERY SHOW ARE JUST SO EXTRAORDINARY.

>> AND ONE OF THE SHOWS TELL US ABOUT HIS LAST MUSICAL ROADSHOW WHICH TRIED OUT AT THE GOODMAN THEATRE?

>> WELL THAT WAS A PROBLEMATIC SHOW WAS ABOUT TWO BROTHERS VERY DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES.

AND TRIED TO FIND SUCCESS AND NOT GETTING ALONG.

I THINK THE SCORE IS ALWAYS IS WONDERFUL.

I THINK MAYBE THE STORYTELLING NEEDED A LITTLE BIT OF TWEAKING OR WHATEVER.

BUT I ALSO THINK THAT GARY FOUND A WAY YOU KNOW TO GET INTO IT.

>> AND GARY, YOU ALSO DIRECTED GYPSY ONE OF SEVERAL EARLY SHOWS INCLUDING WEST SIDE STORY THAT SONDHEIM WROTE THE LYRICS BUT NOT THE MUSIC.

HE HAD TO BE A TEAM PLAYER AND HAD GREAT MENTORS AS WELL.

>> I THINK THE EXPERIENCE OF THEM THEY ARE TWO CLASSICS.

AND THE QUALITY OF THE LYRIC WRITING PARTICULARLY IN GYPSY IS I MEAN AMONG ALL THE ARTISTIC DEPARTMENTS OF THAT PIECE THE LYRIC WRITING IS FIRST RATE AS ANYTHING.

AND I THINK HE WAS WISE AND COUNSELED BY OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN ALTHOUGH HE WANTED TO WRITE MUSIC AND LYRICS TO TAKE THOSE PROJECTS AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AND BE MENTORED FURTHER BY LEONARD BERNSTEIN AND [INAUDIBLE] THEY WERE VERY CRUCIAL TO HIS DEVELOPMENT AS AN ARTIST.

AND AT THE SAME TIME THEY ARE STAGGERINGLY BRILLIANT.

>> AND THE ONE THING I HEARD HIM TALK TO PETTY ABOUT AND HE DOES NOT LIKE BEING INTERVIEWED, HE WAS GRACIOUS WITH PETTY.

AND HE CURSED HIMSELF FOR NOT HAVING THE RIGHT ACCENT ON THE WORD IN ONE OF THE SONGS IN WEST SIDE STORY WHICH IS FASCINATING BECAUSE HE DID NOT BELIEVE IN TWISTING THE SINGING OF THE WORDS WHICH WERE VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM TO MEET THE MUSIC OR TO MAKE A COMIC POINT.

HE WAS SO FASTIDIOUS ABOUT LANGUAGE.

PEOPLE CALLED HIM THE MUSICAL THEATRE SHAKESPEARE HE DID EARN THAT TITLE.

>> AND BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, OBVIOUSLY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HIM BEING THIS SPECTACULAR WORD SMITH.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE LYRIC, GARY?

>> CANDOR WITH CONCERT DISMAY, THE THE I'M SORRY TO SAY, BUT AS HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON WAS EVER RISQUE.

>> IT WAS RIGHT ON THE TIP OF YOUR TONGUE.

>> THAT WAS I JUST WANT TO GO MY GOD HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?

THAT THE ONE I PULL UP.

>> GARY GRIFFIN AND HEDY WEISS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND ON OUR WEBSITE THERE IS MORE FROM HEDY WEISS ON MEMORABLE PRODUCTIONS AT STEPHEN SONDHEIM SHOWS IN CHICAGO.

>> STILL TO COME TON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"...

THE FIGHT OVER THE NEW WARD MAP IS COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE.

COUNCILMEMBERS WEIGH-IN ON THE POWER STRUGGLES.

COMMUNITY GROUPS PUSH LEADERS TO CONSIDER THEIR MAPS AMID THE WARD MAP BATTLE.

>> AND GEOFFREY BAER SHARES THE STORY BEHIND AN ICONIC FOLK MUSIC CLUB IN "ASK GEOFFREY".

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> COOK COUNTY'S HOMICIDE RATE IS THE HIGHEST IT HAS BEEN IN DECADES.

THE COUNTY HAS CONFIRMED 1009 HOMICIDES THIS YEAR ACCORDING TO THE COOK COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE.

THE LAST TIME COOK COUNTY SURPASSED A THOUSAND HOMICIDES WAS IN 1994.

THIS YEAR 81% OF HOMICIDE VICTIMS WERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

15% WERE LATINO.

AND 92% OF HOMICIDES SO FAR HAVE BEEN GUN-RELATED.

CHICAGO OFFICIALS REMOVE CALIFORNIA, NORTH CAROLINA AND GUAM FROM THE COVID-19 TRAVEL ADVISORY.

38 STATES REMAIN ON THE ADVISORY SEEN IN ORANGE.

THAT INCLUDES NEARBY MINNESOTA, MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN WHICH HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY HAD THE HIGHEST RATES OF CONFIRMED CASES.

UNVACCINATED TRAVELERS SHOULD GET TESTED THREE TO FIVE DAYS BEFORE THEY LEAVE AND UPON THEIR RETURN EVEN IF THEY RECEIVE A NEGATIVE TEST THEY SHOULD SELF QUARANTINE FOR SEVEN DAYS AS THE CITY IS BRACING FOR THE OMICRON VARIANT.

>> WE ARE WELL PLACED TO DETECT OMICRON VARIANT AND WE LIKELY WILL SOON.

I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT DETECTING THE VARIANT I'M CONCERNED HOW WE RESPOND TO IT.

NO, THE SKY IS NOT FALLING.

BUT WE NEED TO BE SERIOUS AND WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED NOW.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SIGNS A BILL STRENGTHENING MATERNITY CARE FOR VETERANS.

THE BIPARTISAN PROTECTING MOMS WHO SERVED ACT CREATES A PROGRAM TO SUPPORT MATERNAL CARE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND STUDY WHAT MATERNAL HEALTH ISSUES VETERANS ARE IS FAG.

LAUREN UNDERWOOD LED THIS IFORT IT IS THE FIRST OF 12 IN THE MOMNIBUS PACKAGE PART OF THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT.

THE BLACK CAUCUS CREATED THE LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS PREGNANCY RELATED DEATHS IN THE U.S. THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT BLACK PEOPLE.

>> THE PARKING BAN COVERS 107 MILES FROM 3:00 A.M.-7:00 A.M.

IT'S A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE IN CASE THE CITY NEEDS TO PLOW THE STREETS BUT REMAINS IN EFFECT EVEN IF IT DOES NOT SHOW.

500 MILES OF STREETS PROHIBIT PARKING AFTER SNOWFALLS.

CARS WILL RECEIVE A $60 TICKET A $150 TOW FEE AND FACE A STORAGE FEE OF $25 PER DAY.

PARIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM WE DISCUSSED THE BATTLE OVER THE NEW WARD MAP WHICH WILL DETERMINE THE POWER DISTRIBUTION IN CITY HALL FOR THE NEXT TEN-YEAR AND WE'RE JOINED AGAIN BY ALDERMEN SCOTT WAGUESPACK, GILBERT VILLEGAS, STEPHANIE COLEMAN AND JASON ERVIN.

THE MAYOR IS GOING TO WASHINGTON D.C. AND SHE IS GOING TO MISS THE FINAL HOURS OF THE NEGOTIATION SHE IS NOT GOING TO PRESIDE OVER THE MEETING.

IS THAT PROBLEMATIC?

>> NO I DON'T THINK SO.

ALDERMAN REILLY WILL TAKEOVER THE SEAT AS THE TEMPORARY CHAIR AND THE ALDERMAN WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THE VOTE AND THE DISCUSSION IN THE PUBLIC SETTING.

>> SHOULDN'T THE MAYOR BE A PART OF THIS THIS IS A BIG HISTORIC VOTE AND THE MAYOR RARELY EVER MISSES CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS?

>> I THINK WE'VE GOT THIS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SHORT AND TO THE POINT.

THAT TELLS ME THAT THE MAYOR'S ROLE ISN'T VERY SUBSTANTIVE IN THIS DEBATE AT THIS POINT GOING FORWARD.

ALDERMAN ERVIN, THE PERSON IN THE RULES COMMITTEE LEADING THE DRAWING OF THE MAP MIKE CASPAR LONG TIME COUNSEL TO MIKE MADIGAN AND ALDERPEOPLE ARE CROWING ONE OF CASPAR'S GOALS IS TO PROTECT THE TURF OF MADIGAN PROTEGE MARTY QUINN AND ED BURKE IS THAT WHAT THIS MAP IS GOING TO DO?

>> THAT'S NOT ABOUT THE PROCESS.

THE PROCESS HAS BEEN OPEN AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL THE RULES COMMITTEE HAS BEEN OPERATING IN A VERY OPEN WAY.

ALL OF US HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO COME IN AND DRAW THE DIVOTRATIONS OF THE MAP AND I DO NOT BELIEVE ANYONE IS TRYING TO PROTECT ANYONE.

THESE ARE TWO PREDOMINANTLY LATINO WARDS.

AND I THINK THAT HOWEVER THOSE WARDS ARE DONE, WE'LL WORK TO THE ADVANTAGE OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY AS THEY ARE BOTH LATINO WARDS.

>> GILBERT VILLEGAS DO YOU SEE THAT BEHIND THE SCENES HAPPENING 14TH WARD ED BURKE TRYING TO EXERT INFLUENCE AND 13TH MADIGAN PROPERTY JAY MARTY QUINN TO PROTECT THEIR JOBS?

>> I WOULD SAY OF ALL THE ATTORNEYS IN CHICAGO WE HAVE TO PICK WE HAVE THE COMMITTEE RULES HAS TO HIRE MIKE CASPAR WHO CURRENTLY IS DEFENDING THE STATE IN A LAWSUIT WITH N.A.A.C.P.

AROUND DISCRIMINATION FROM LATINOS FOR SHORTCHANGING THEM OUT OF DISTRICT AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS DOWN IN EAST ST. LOUIS AREA.

ALL THE CON SELL WE PICK MIKE CASPAR AND THOSE ANTICS ARE ON DISCRIMINATION AROUND LATINOS AND I THINK THIS IS JUST A PLOY TO DISENFRANCHISE LATINOS THIS HAS BEEN THE LEAST TRANSPARENT PROCESS PROBABLY IN THE CITY'S HISTORY.

WE WILL SEE A MAP TOMORROW FOR THE FIRST TIME.

14 MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE YET TO SEE A MAP AND WE WILL BE SEE TO GO FOR THE FIRST TIME TOMORROW AND BEING ASKED WHETHER TO SUPPORT IT OR NOT SUPPORT IT.

>> ALDERMAN ERVIN HE IS TALKING ABOUT THE MAP YOU WANT TO UNVEIL.

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

>> I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH THAT.

AGAIN, ALDERMAN VILLEGAS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CAUCUS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS AND THEY DECIDED TO STAND UP THEIR OWN PROCESS.

AND THEN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT DECIDED TO CREATE WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER TO BE A WEAK LATINO WARD IN A WAY THAT IS A WAY TO BE CONSIDERED A MORAL VICTORY BUT ELECTORALLY WOULD MOVE LATINO MEMBERS OF THIS BODY.

I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE PART OF A MAPPING PROCESS THAT REDUCES THE [INAUDIBLE] OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY NOR THAT REDUCES VOTING EXPERIENCE OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

YOU ASKED US TO LOOK AT THE WAY TO CREATE A 15TH WARD WITH PRIMARY AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

BUT EVEN THOUGH IT DID NOT HARM THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES IT HARMED YOUR COMMUNITY SO MUCH THAT YOU CHOSE NOT TO DO THAT AND THAT IS WHY WE BELIEVE THAT 14 IS THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO PUT LATINO MAJORITY WARDS WHICH WE KNOW IS NOT EFFECTIVE MAJORITY WARDS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> THE PROBLEM THERE IS THAT THE MAPS THAT ARE CURRENTLY STOOD UP IN THE BLACK WARDS BEING STOOD UP ARE BEING BACKFILLED ONCE AGAIN ABOUT THE LATINO POPULATION NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO CREE ITS OWN WARD.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CHICAGO LAWN AREA AND MARQUETTE PARK THERE'S 80,000 LATINOS THERE WHICH COULD CREATE A NEW WARD.

54,000 OF THEM ARE BEING USED AS BACKFILL.

>> BASICALLY YOU ARE SAYING THAT THIS COULD BE DILUTING THE LATINO VOTE.

YOU TWO DO NOT DISAGREE.

ALDERMAN COLEMAN DOESN'T LOOK LIKE AGREEMENT THAT IS GOING TO GO TO PUBLIC REFERENDUM WHAT IS BAD ABOUT HAVING VOTERS CHOOSE THEIR MAPS?

>> I KNOW THAT THIS IS VERY CONTENTIOUS TIME DRAWING A MAP IS NEVER EASY.

BUT WE'RE ALL FIGHTING FOR THE SAME THING.

BETTER SCHOOLS, JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND REDUCING VIOLENCE IN THE CITY.

IT HAPPENS ON THE SOUTH SIDE ON THE WEST SIDE AND THE NORTH SITED.

THAT IS THE GOAL HERE.

AND I'M HOPEFUL FOR A SUCCESSFUL MEETING TOMORROW.

>> ON A LOWER LEVEL, SCOTT WAGUESPACK, LINCOLN YARDS THE NEW PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PLAYING INTO THIS IT'S IN THE SECOND WARD.

HOPKINS HAS THAT SEAT RIGHT NOW.

YOU WANT IT IN THE 32rd WARD.

WHY IS THAT?

>> WELL, IT ALWAYS USED TO BE IN THE 32nd WARD IN THE LAST MAP THE SECOND WARD WAS DRAWN UP LIKE A SNAKE AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE OUR WARD CONTIGUOUS AND PART OF THE COMMUNITY IT WAS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THIS JUST DRAWS THE LINES BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE.

AND PROVIDES COMMUNITY INPUT AND COMMUNITY CONTINUITY.

>> WHICH MAP WOULD GIVE THAT TO THE 32nd WARD?

RIGHT NOW IT WOULD BE THE CITYWIDE MAP.

>> NOT THE LATINO CAUCUS MAP?

>> NO, UNDER THAT MAP WE I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WENT TO THE OFFSITE LATINO CAUCUS MAP ROOM AND TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THAT.

AND THEY COULDN'T AGREE THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA I SAID I COULD NOT SUPPORT THAT MAP.

AND BASED ON COMMUNITY PREFERENCES.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE PIECE OF A MUCH LARGER PUZZLE THAT ALDERMEN ARE WORKING ON BUT I THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT ONE BECAUSE OF THE FUTURE OF THE AREA FOR DECADES TO COME.

>> GILBERT VILLEGAS, IF YOU HAD TO WAGER A GUESS HERE IS IT CLEAR THERE NOT BE 41 VOTES TOMORROW?

THIS IS NOT GOING TO GET RESOLVED AND IT WILL GO TO PUBLIC REFERENDUM?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT 41 VOTES ARE NOT THERE.

BUT AS YOU STATED EARLIER, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO COME TO 41 AFTER DECEMBER 1.

BUT THAT WILL HAVE TO HAPPEN REAL QUICKLY.

AND ALSO AGAIN PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO COME TO THE TABLE WILLING TO COMPROMISE.

AND PARIS LET ME CORRECT YOU FOR A SECOND I DID NOT AGREE THOSE WARDS WERE DILUTED THE WAY WE DRAW OUR WARDS STRENGTHENED THE LATINO WARDS AS WELL AS THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN WARDS.

SO AND CREATES THE FIRST ASIAN WARD AT 51%.

SO IT CREATES THREE MAJORITY MINORITY WARDS.

>> AND THAT FIRST ASIAN WARD IS ONE THING THAT YOU AGREE ON.

AND TO CLARIFY, AS I UNDERSTAND EVEN IF THERE IS NO AGREEMENT TOMORROW AND IT GOES TO REFERENDUM YOU CAN FIND 41 VOTES IN THE NEXT FIVE, SIX MONTHS AND THAT REFERENDUM WOULD BE CANCELED IT IS NOT A HARD DEADLINE BUT SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL DO WANT TO WRAP UP BY TOMORROW.

OUR THANKS TO GILBERT VILLEGAS, SCOTT WAGUESPACK, STEPHANIE COLEMAN AND JASON ERVIN THANK YOU ALL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT MERE ON THE WARD REMAP WITH A CRITIC HOW THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN HANDLED.

BUT FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> I'M NOT SURE ANYTHING WAS RESOLVED YOU HEARD THE CONFUSION SURROUNDING TOMORROW'S DEADLINE ON A NEW CHICAGO WARD MAP AND WE SPEAK WITH AN ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS THE CHICAGO ADVISORY REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.

THEY HAVE BLASTED BOTH THE MAYOR AND ALDERPEOPLE FOR FAILING TO ALLOW AN INDEPENDENT REMAP PROCESS.

THE MAP THAT THEY HAVE PROPOSE SECOND CALLED THE PEOPLE'S MAP PROPOSED WARDS THAT KEEP NEIGHBORHOODS TOGETHER BUT IT WOULD RESULT IN A HIGH RATE OF TURNOVER IN CITY COUNCIL AND JOINING US TO COMMENT ON THE BATTLE IS MADELEINE DOUBEK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CHANGE ILLINOIS.

MADELEINE DOUBEK THANK YOU FOR BEING BACK WITH US.

YOU PUT OUT A STATEMENT TODAY NOT MINCING WORDS BLAMING THE MAYOR FOR BREAKING A CAMPAIGN PROMISE SUPPORTING AN INDEPENDENT PROCESS SHE DID NOT GET ONBOARD WITH YOUR MAP.

HOW BIG ARE THE STAKES HERE?

>> THE STAKES ARE VERY BIG THIS IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE DEMOCRACY FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND THE PEOPLE DESERVE TO HAVE A VOICE IN THE VOTE AND THEY ARE NOT GETTING IT FROM THE COUNCIL PROCESS THAT YOU'VE SEEN PLAY OUT HERE.

THE PEOPLE'S MAP CREATES 37 MAJORITY MINORITY WARDS MORE THAN ANY OTHER AND IT WAS THE FIRST TO CREATE THE ASIAN-AMERICAN MAJORITY WARD BUT BEYOND THAT THERE WERE REAL PEOPLE FROM THE CITY OF CHICAGO WHO HAD A STAKE AND A VOICE IN THE PROCESS THAT WAS COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT.

AND YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE CAME TO MEETINGS AT NIGHTS AND ON WEEKENDS THAT WERE ALL LIVE STREAMED EVERY BIT OF IT WAS PUBLIC.

AND THEY WANT TO HAVE A SAY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THIS COMMISSION LISTENED TO THE PEOPLE AND CREATED THIS PEOPLE'S MAP.

IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AT THIS MOMENT NOW FOR ALDERMEN AND ALDERWOMEN AND ALDERPEOPLE TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN REPRESENTING ALL THIS TIME.

>> WE'VE ASKED ALDERPEOPLE ABOUT TRANSPARENCY THE MAP SUPPORTED BY THE BLACK CAUCUS WILL NOT BE SEEN UNTIL TOMORROW AND THAT IS THE DAY THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO VOTE.

LATINO CAUCUS PUT OUT THEIR MAP BUT THEY SAY THE PUBLIC GAVE US INPUT AND WE TOOK THAT INTO ACCOUNT.

IS THAT A TRANSPARENT PROCESS?

THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN A MAP YET IS REPREHENSIBLE.

IT'S SIMPLY REPREHENSIBLE NOT IN THE LEAST TRANSPARENT.

NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN TRANSPARENT.

AS ALDERMAN VILLEGAS SAID IT'S THE WORST TRANSPARENCY EVER THAT IS SAYING SOMETHING THE YEARS THAT HIS PROCESS WAS RUN BY ED BURKE AND DICK MEL.

THE PEOPLE DESERVE MEANINGFUL INPUT.

THESE ARE NOT -- THESE WARDS DO NOT BELONG TO THE ALDERPEOPLE OF THE COUNCIL.

THE WARDS BELONG TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THEY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROCESS.

AND THEY DESERVE TO HAVE A VOTE.

WHEN MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL DRAW THEIR OWN WARDS, THEY ARE RIGGING THE SYSTEM FROM ITS FOUNDATION.

AND THEY ARE SURPRESSING THE VOTES OF THE PEOPLE.

IT'S ABOUT INCUMBENT PROTECTION AND IT'S TIME FOR IT TO END.

>> BESIDES PROCESS WHAT ARE THE THINGS ABOUT THE WARD MAP YOU PUT OUT THAT ARE DIFFERENT?

>> LOOK, THE VERY MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THIS PEOPLE'S MAP TRULY IS COMPACT AND CONTIGUOUS.

THE COMMISSION OF DIVERSE AVERAGE RESIDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY OF CHICAGO WORKED VERY HARD OVER JUNE, JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER TO DRAFT THIS MAP AFTER LISTENING TO PUBLIC INPUT FROM REAL PEOPLE THROUGHOUT CHICAGO.

AND THEY UPLIFTED AND UPHELD THE CONCEPT OF KEEPING COMMUNITIES WHOLE.

AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU WILL SEE IN ANY OF THESE OTHER MAPS.

SO PEOPLE IN ENGLEWOOD, LOGAN SQUARE, AUSTIN BACK OF THE YARDS NOW HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE ONE PERSON TO CONTACT WHEN THEY NEED HELP FROM THE CITY RATHER THAN SIX OR SEVEN AND THAT IS HUGE.

>> AS WE KNOW THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN SPLIT UP INTO MANY WARDS AS MANY AS FIVE WHICH CAUSED ALL KINDS OF CONFUSION.

THIS IS GOING TO GO TO REFERENDUM UNLESS THERE IS A LAST-MINUTE DEAL.

YOU NEED 10 ALDERPEOPLE TO SUPPORT THE MAP YOU HAVE PUT FORWARD IS THERE ANY CHANCE YOU WILL GET THAT?

>> LOOK IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL IT'S OVER.

THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE AND I WOULD CALL UPON EVERY MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO STEP BACK AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO THIS POINT.

THE MAYOR AND MANY OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS RAN ON PROMISES OF INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING, DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY, ENDING THE HISTORY OF CORRUPTION IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO, ENDING THE CHICAGO WAY AND NOW IS THE CHANCE FOR THEM TO DO THAT.

BY SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE'S MAP.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED YOU HAVE A LOT OF MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL THAT CAMPAIGNED ON THESE THINGS.

WANT TRANSPARENCY.

WHY THEN IS IT SO HARD TO GET 10 TO SUPPORT WHAT YOU'VE PUT OUT?

>> YOU KNOW, THE POLL OF SELF PRESERVATION IS VERY STRONG ONE.

YOU KNOW HUMAN NATURE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT YOU KNOW I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT IT'S TIME FOR THE PEOPLE TO HOLD THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE.

AND REMEMBER WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN HERE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR THE ELECTION.

YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE HELD TO ACCOUNT FOR THEIR ACTIONS THAT THEY TAKE.

AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR IS AN ABSOLUTE BLOCK OUT OF MEANINGFUL PUBLIC INPUT IN THIS PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN RUN BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE RULES COMMITTEE.

>> AND AGAIN, IF THERE IS NO 41 VOTES TOMORROW IT GOES TO A REFERENDUM IN THE JUNE MIDTERM PRIMARY THE LATINO CAUCUS WILL PROBABLY TRY AND GET THEIR MAP ON THEIR AND OTHER MAPS.

HERE IS SOMETHING UNUSUAL.

THEY CAN CANCEL THE REFERENDUM IF THEY GET 41 VOTES ANYTIME BETWEEN NOW AND 40 DAYS BEFORE THE PRIMARY.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT WRINKLE IN THE LAW?

>> THERE'S ALWAYS WRINKLES WHEN IT COMES TO ACTIVITIES IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

BUT THERE IS A CHANCE HERE TO DO THE RIGHT THING TO DO RIGHT BY THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO WHO WORKED VERY HARD TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.

YOU KNOW, 10 YEARS AGO WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS THEY DIDN'T GET TO 41 VOTES UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY.

I HOPE THAT THE PEOPLE GET A CHANCE TO CHOOSE WHAT MAP BEST REPRESENTS THEIR NEEDS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.

I BELIEVE THAT IS THE PEOPLE'S MAP.

IT'S BEEN AN OPEN AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS AND THE PEOPLE DESERVE TO HAVE A VOICE.

THESE ARE THEIR WARDS THEY DO NOT BELONG TO THE ALDERMEN.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT PLAYS OUT AND GERRYMANDERING A HOT TOPIC WITH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS IN CHICAGO WITH THE WARD MAPS.

OUR THANKS TO MADELEINE DOUBEK THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, PARIS.

>> AND UP NEXT THE STORY BEHIND AN ICONIC CHICAGO FOLK MUSIC CLUB IN AN ENCORE EDITION OF "ASK GEOFFREY".

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR FOR CHICAGO'S MUSIC VENUES SHUTTERED SINCE MARCH BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

BUT THE CITY'S RICH HISTORY OF LIVE PERFORMANCES LIVES ON.

IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY", WE HAVE THE STORY OF A CHICAGO NIGHTCLUB THAT HELPED LAUNCH THE CAREERS OF ARTISTS LIKE PETER, PAUL AND MARY, AND MANY MORE.

AND JOINING US WITH MORE IS GEOFFREY BAER.

WELCOME BACK GEOFFREY.

>> HI, BRANDIS.

>> THIS QUESTION IS... >> SO WE DID THIS STORY A FEW WEEKS AGO ABOUT SHELL SILVERSTEIN AND WE WANT TO THANK RICK FOR SENDING US THE FOOTAGE BECAUSE ACTUALLY THIS PARTICULAR EPISODE OF THE SERIES WAS MISSING FROM WTTW'S OWN ARCHIVES SO NOW WE HAVE IT.

WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IS A REUNION CONCERT OF PERFORMERS WHO ARE PEERED IN THE OWE HE 0 APPEARED IN THE GATE OF HORN NIGHTCLUB IN CHICAGO.

THIS WAS TAPED ALMOST 50 YEARS AGO.

IN THE STUDIO RIGHT DOWN THE HALL FROM WHERE YOU ARE SITTING RIGHT NOW.

BY THE TIME THIS SHOW WAS MADE, THE GATE OF HORN HAD BEEN CLOSED FOR YEARS.

OUR VIEW ERIC WAS AT THAT CONCERT ALMOST 50 YEARS AGO AND ABLE TO RECORD IT AT HOME WAY BACK BEFORE THE DAYS OF VCR'S BECAUSE HE WAS IN TRAINING FOR HIS FUTURE CAREER AS A BROADCAST ENGINEER IN CHICAGO.

SO IN THE LAST 50s AND EARLY 60s THE GATE OF HORN, HOSTED FOLK LEGENDS BIKE PETER, PAUL AND MARY AND JOAN BAEZ AND GEORGE CARLIN PICTURED IN 1962.

AND LENNY BRUCE MORE ON HIM IN A MINUTE.

THE GATE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST FOLK MUSIC CLUBS ACCORDING TO SOME EVEN THE FIRST FOLK MUSIC CLUB NOT JUST IN CHICAGO BUT IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.

WHEN IT OPENED IN 1956.

FOLK CLUBS BECAME HOTBEDS OF COUNTER CULTURE MOVEMENT IN THE 50s AND 60s.

THE GATE'S FIRST HOME WAS IN THE CRAMPED BASEMENT OF THE OLD RICE HOTEL SHOWN HERE AT CORNER OF CHICAGO AND DEARBORN ON THE NORTH SIDE.

THIS IS A PHOTO OF O'DETTE TA PER FARMING ON NEW YEAR'S EVE IN 1959.

SHE WAS ONE OF THE CLUB'S EARLY REGULARS AND SHE WENT ON TO INFLUENCE EVERYBODY FROM HARRY BELAFONTE TO CARLIE SIMON.

THE SCENE BECAME A TIGHT ANYTHING COMMUNITY AND -- TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY AND WTTW TRIES TO CREATE THAT IN 1972 WITH THE REUNION CONCERT.

HERE ARE GATE REGULARS SHELL SILVERSTEIN AND GEORGE CARLIN REMINISCING.

>> AND THE MUSIC WAS REALLY IMPORTANT BUT IT REALLY WASN'T WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT.

THE PEOPLE IS WHAT IT WAS ABOUT AND THE SAFETY AND THE COMMUNICATION THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

>> THE COUNTER CULTURE DID NOT HAVE A NAME OR ANYTHING IDENTIFIABLE EXCEPT THE MUSIC AND THE COFFEE HOUSES ARE MADE FOR MUSIC.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THAT IS WHERE YOU DID EVERYTHING.

>> SO ONE OF THE KEY FIGURES AT THE GATE WAS LOCAL FOLK SINGER NAMED BOB GIBSON.

HE OFTEN PERFORMED WITH A BIG NAME HAMILTON BOB CAMP AND THEY RELEASED A LIVE ALBUM RECORDED AT THE GATE IN 1961.

>> COOL SOUNDBYTE TO SEE THEM RIGHT THERE.

WHAT WAS BEHIND THE CLUB IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> WELL, THE GATE WAS FOUNDED IN 1956.

THE FOUNDER WAS A MUSIC MANAGER NAMED ALBERT GROSSMAN AND HE FOUNDED THE CLUB TO SHOWCASE HIS CLIENTS AND DISCOVER NEW TALENT.

GROSSMAN WOULD BECOME QUITE THE FIGURE MANAGING A FEW ARTISTS, LIKE BOB DYLAN, JANICE JOPLIN AND MANY MORE.

GROSSMAN WOULD MOVE ON FROM THE GATE OF HORN IN THE LATE 1950s IN APRIL OF 1961, HIS PARTNER ALAN RUBIC OPENED A STAND ALONE VERSION A FEW BLOCKS NORTH OF THE ORIGINAL.

THE NEW ONE WAS 1036 NORTH STATE STREET IT HAD BETTER SOUND AND MORE SPACE BUT THEY HOSTED FOLK ACTS LIKE THE CLANCY BROTHERS SHOWN IN THE KNIT SWEATERS.

BUT SLOWLY SOME OF THE REGULARS FROM THE OLD GATE STARTED TO FADE AWAY.

>> WE ARE ALL GOING TO NEED KNIT SWEATERS SOON.

YOU MENTIONED LENNY BRUCE.

HOW DOES HE FIT INTO ALL THIS?

>> RIGHT.

WELL, YOU'VE HEARD OF THE GATE OF HORN IT'S POSSIBLY BECAUSE YOU'VE HEARD OF LENNY BRUCE.

HE WAS THIS CRASS COMEDIAN FAMOUS FOR HIS WILD JOKES AND SOMETIMES LEWD COMMENTARY IN THE EARLY 1960s, LENNY BRUCE BECAME A TARGET OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

HE WAS CHARGED SEVERAL TIMES WITH OBSCENITY AND INDEANSY AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED ON A NIGHT IN DECEMBER 1962.

WHEN CHICAGO POLICE RAIDED THE CLUB AND ARRESTED BRUCE MID-PERFORMANCE.

AND THAT WAS SORT OF THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR THE GATE OF HORN.

THE CLUB HAD ITS LIQUOR LICENSE REVOKED TEMPORARILY AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THAT ARREST.

THE NEW OWNERS EXPANDED THE FOCUS OF THE CLUB BRINGING IN BLUES AND JAZZ BUT THE MAGIC WAS SORT OF GONE.

THE CLUB CLOSED BY THE MID-1960s.

THE 1972 REUNION SHOW BROUGHT MANY OF THE OLD REGULARS BACK TOGETHER AND A NEW PERSON A FOLK LEGEND JOHN PRIME WHO MISSED THE GATE'S HEYDAY BECAUSE HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL BACK THEN.

I WAS HUGE FAN OF JOHN PRINE AND HE TRAGICALLY PASSED AWAY THIS YEAR FROM COVID-19.

SO LET'S TAKE A LISTEN TO HIM PERFORMING HIS SONG.

[♪♪♪] ♪THERE IS A HOLE IN DADDY'S ARMS WHERE ALL THE MONEY GOES♪ ♪JESUS CHRIST THAT'S ANOTHER HOLE I SUPPOSE♪ ♪LITTLE TOUCHES HAVE BIG EARS DON'T STOP TO COUNT THE EYES SWEET SONG NEVER LASTS TOO LONG BROKEN RADIOS♪ >> AND WE WANT TO GIVE SPECIAL THANKS TO A FORMER FOLK CLUB OWNER ED HOLSTEIN AND ALSO TO THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY'S PAUL FOR HELPING US SO MUCH BY SHARING THEIR EXPERTISE FOR THIS STORY.

>> MY COANCHOR PARIS SCHUTZ IS A BIG FAN OF JOHN PRINE AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE GATE OF HORN AND WHILE YOU ARE THERE SUBMIT YOUR OWN 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 ONE NOTE BEFORE WE GO.

TUESDAY TODAY IS GIVING TUESDAY.

A GLOBAL INITIATIVE THAT INSPIRES PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER TO HELP TRANSFORM THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AS THE NONPROFIT NEWSROOM WE RELY ON THE SUPPORT OF WTTW MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS TO HELP BRING TRUSTED, INDEPENDENT NEWS COVERAGE TO EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY ACROSS OUR TELEVISION AND DIGITAL PLATFORMS MANY ON THIS TUESDAY THERE IS A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FROM AN ANONYMOUS DONOR WHO WILL MATCH YOUR GIFT UP TO $150,000.

PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICE WE PROVIDE BY MAKING A DONATION ON-LINE AT WTTW.COM/GIVING TUESDAY AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

>> PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. >> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

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

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOOD EVENING.

[♪♪♪]