>> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT ON BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

A LIVE REPORT FROM BRIGHTON PARK AS RESIDENTS ARE PUSHING BACK ON A PLAN TO BRING A WINTERIZED BASE CAMP MIGRANTS TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

CONTROVERSY OVER THE MAYOR'S DEAL WITH THE POLICE UNION.

THAT AND MORE FROM OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

A KEY FIGURE INVOLVED IN THE SMOKESTACK IMPLOSION IN LITTLE VILLAGE GETS A PROMOTION.

WBTW NEWS EXCLUSIVE.

AND CONFUSION OVER WHEN AND WHERE TO GET THE CITY KEY ID CARD MAY HAVE TO WAIT A BIT LONGER.

ONE ON ONE WITH THE CITY CLERK, WHITE.

>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT, RESIDENTS IN BRIGHTON PARK ARE SOUNDING OFF ON A CITY PLAN TO HOUSE MIGRANTS IN THE AREA.

THE PROPOSAL WOULD TRANSFORM A VACANT LOT AT 38TH STREET IN CALIFORNIA INTO A WINTERIZED BASE CAMP.

THE LOCAL ALDERMAN IS HOLDING A COMMUNITY MEETING TONIGHT TO DISCUSS THE PLAN, BUT WARNS IT MAY ALREADY BE A DONE DEAL WHETHER SHE OBJECTS OR NOT.

WTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM BRIGHTON PARK AHEAD OF TONIGHT'S MEETING.

HEATHER?

>> THANKS, BRAND AS I'M COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE CLASSROOM AT KELLY HIGH SCHOOL WHERE THE AUDITORIUM IS FILLING UP WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD MEAN FOR THEIR COMMUNITY FOR A WINTERIZED BASE CAMP TO BE BUILT AT 38TH AND CALIFORNIA.

JOINING ME NOW IS ALDERMAN JULIO RAMIREZ WHO FOUND HERSELF AT THE CENTER OF THIS CONTROVERSY ALDERWOMAN 5 DAYS AGO.

YOU WENT TO A PROTEST OF THIS INCIDENT AND FOUND YOURSELF ATTACKED AND YOUR AIDE HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED.

ARE YOU DOING AND HOW IS DOING?

YES, I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT WE'RE BOTH DOING REALLY WELL.

AND I WANT TO UPLIFT, YOU KNOW, MY STAFF OR HE'S A YOUNG PERSON.

HE'S IN COLLEGE NOW.

>> AND HE LOVES DOING THIS WORK.

SO I'M THANKFUL FOR GREAT.

WE'RE GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION THAT MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON DIDN'T CONSULT YOU BEFORE EVALUATING THIS SITE FOR A WINTER ICE BASE CAMP, WHICH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SAYS APPEARS VIABLE.

BUT NO FINAL DECISION HAS BEEN MADE.

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE TOLD HIM BEFORE BEGINNING THAT PROCESS?

IF YOU HAD BEEN ASKED, I THINK WHAT YOU KNOW, I CAMPAIGNED ON AND WHAT I WANTED TO BE REALLY DIFFERENT THAN THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION THAT WOULD SIGN CONTRACTS THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, REZONED LOCATIONS FOR BAD ACTORS.

AND SO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A POINT OF MINE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, DEVELOP CONVERSATION THAT WE LET RESIDENTS KNOW, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST AT THE VERY LEAST AND THE RADIUS OF THE LOT, YOU KNOW, BEFORE TO UPHOLD ANYTHING ELSE.

SO WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO LEARN TONIGHT?

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL?

YEAH, WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION.

THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME FOLKS ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE CITY.

IT'S BEEN ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF.

FOLKS ARE VERY CURIOUS AS TO WHY THERE'S, YOU KNOW, TRUCKS ON THE LOT WHY THERE'S BEING WORKED DURING AN ASSESSMENT.

AND SO I REALLY WANT TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

HAVE HAVE THE CITY PROVIDE FACTS?

AND THEN WHAT I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE COMMUNITY IS THAT HOW DOES THIS WORK FOR EVERYONE?

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL LIKE WE'RE ONLY THINKING ABOUT ASYLUM SEEKERS AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT MY WARD AND ASKED THE ADMINISTRATION.

HOW ARE WE THINKING ABOUT BRIGHTON PARK?

BEFORE THE PROTEST SORT ERUPTED?

YOU WOULD ASKED YOUR COMMUNITIES TO SORT OF FOCUS ON HELPING THESE PEOPLE, MANY OF WHOM HAVE COME HERE WITH NOT MUCH MORE THAN THE CLOTHES ON THE BACK AND TO NOT FALL VICTIM TO THAT SORT ANTI IMMIGRANT AND MISINFORMATION THAT YOU SAY IS CIRCULATING OUT THERE.

DO YOU THINK THAT IS MORE DIFFICULT?

BECAUSE THE WAY THE PROCESS HAS UNFOLDED HERE WITH NOT A LOT OF INFORMATION FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

YEAH.

I MEAN, I DO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY OF SOMEBODY WHO LIVES NEARBY OR, YOU KNOW, ONE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO HAS BEEN DISINVESTED IN TO FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE OVERBURDENING US AGAIN AND NOT GIVING US MUCH BACK.

BUT WHAT I REALLY WANT TO MAKE CLEAR TO RESIDENTS IS THAT THIS IS A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

THIS IS HAPPENED LONG BEFORE THIS MOMENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TOSSED AROUND.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT REALLY WHAT THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS WANTS.

IT'S CONSTANTLY POINTING FINGERS AND TOSSING PEOPLE AROUND.

AND I AND I WANT TO STAND UP FOR SOME SOMETHING MUCH GREATER THAN THAT.

AND I REALLY WANT TO MAKE A POINT ABOUT PEOPLE HUMANE AND DIGNIFIED PROCESS IN ORDER TO HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE IN THIS COUNTRY.

WELL, BRANDIS, WE'RE GOING TO LEARN A LOT MORE ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.

>> AND ALL HAVE A FULL STORY LATER ON TONIGHT ABOUT THAT MEETING ON OUR WEBSITE.

BACK TO YOU.

>> WRIGHT HAD A SHARON.

THANK YOU.

OF COURSE.

WE'LL SEE YOU A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE PROGRAM FOR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

AND AS HEATHER MENTIONED, YOU CAN READ HER COVERAGE OF TONIGHT'S MEETING AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS AND FOLLOW ALONG WITH HER AT THE MEETING ON X, FORMERLY KNOWN AS TWITTER AT HEATHER SHARON.

AND NOW TO SOME OF THE MORE SOME MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

A KEY FIGURE INVOLVED IN THE CONTROVERSIAL IMPLOSION OF A SMOKESTACK THAT COVER LITTLE VILLAGE IN A DUST CLOUD.

HE'S BEEN PROMOTED.

WDW NEWS IS THE FIRST TO REPORT.

DAVE GRAHAM IS NOW IN CHARGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL INSPECTIONS AND ENFORCEMENT WITH THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

THE MOVE HAS DRAWN THE IRE OF SOME LOCAL RESIDENTS SINCE THE BOTCHED IMPLOSION LED TO AN INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT WHICH URGED GRAMS TERMINATION.

THE REPORT SAYS GRAHAM COULD HAVE STOPPED THE DEMOLITION BY INFORMING HIS BOSSES AT THE HEALTH RISK.

IT POSED CDPH SPOKESPERSON TELLS US, QUOTE, STRUCTURAL CHANGES NOW IN PLACE WILL ENSURE THAT WE ARE ACTING COLLECTIVELY TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS GOING FORWARD FOR REACTION FROM LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

FUTURE MEMBERS OF CHICAGO'S ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD COULD BE ELIGIBLE TO GET PAID FOR THE JOB UNDER PROPOSAL FROM STATE LAWMAKERS.

STATE SENATOR ROBERT HARTWIG AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE KAM BUCKNER INTRODUCED A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO SET SALARIES ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

MARWICK SAYS PAYING MEMBERS IN CHICAGO WOULD ALLOW MORE PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN CREATE A BOARD.

THAT'S REPRESENTATIVE OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.

>> EVERY VOICE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO FROM EVERY COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE WHO HAVE BEAR THE BURDEN OF DISINVESTMENT IN THEIR SYSTEM OF EDUCATION NEED TO HAVE US AND THOSE PORTS.

AND SUCH, WE CANNOT ASK A PERSON WHO'S WORKING 3 JOBS TO GIVE UP ONE SO THAT THEY CAN SERVE OTHERWISE THEY CAN SERVE THAT.

THAT'S WRONG.

WE NEED TO REMOVE THOSE BARRIERS.

>> PARENTS AND PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH SMALL CHILDREN COULD BENEFIT FROM HAVING JUST ONE STATE AGENCY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES.

WHEN ANNOUNCING THE PLANS FOR THE NEW AGENCY TODAY, GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER EXPLAINED THAT STATE FUNDED EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING UNDER 3 DIFFERENT AGENCIES.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, EARLY CHILDHOOD BLOCK GRANTS ARE MANAGED BY IS EARLY INTERVENTION AND HOME VISITING ARE MANAGED BY DHS AND DAYCARE LICENSING IS MANAGED BY DCFS.

THAT MAKES IT SO MUCH HARDER FOR PROVIDERS AND PARENTS TO NAVIGATE OUR PROGRAMS.

>> TO START THE PROCESS OF CREATING THIS AGENCY PRITZKER SIGNING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER AND WILL WORK WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON LEGISLATION IN THE SPRING OF 2024.

UP NEXT, THE CITY CLERK CHANGES EVENTS WHERE YOU CAN GET A MUNICIPAL ID REASONS WHY RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> PEOPLE WHO ARE PLANNING TO APPLY FOR CITY.

HE ID CARD WILL HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

THE CHICAGO CITY CLERK'S OFFICE HAS CANCELED NEIGHBORHOOD POP UPS WHERE RESIDENTS COULD GET THE CARDS FOR THE REST OF 2023.

CITING HIGH DEMAND THE CITY ISSUED ID CARD GIVES RESIDENTS AND NEWLY ARRIVING MIGRANTS ACCESS TO RESOURCES LIKE THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND TRANSPORTATION.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THIS IN THE FUTURE OF THE PROGRAM IS ON A VALENCIA.

THE CHICAGO CITY KIRK, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

SO REMIND US, IF YOU WOULD, BRIEFLY WHAT THE CITY KEY IS AND HOW IT'S USEFUL.

>> SURE.

SO THE CITY CARD FOUNDED BY ACTUALLY COMMUNITY ADVOCATES.

5 YEARS AGO.

WE HELP BRING IN JULY.

IT IS A GOVERNMENT ID, A LIBRARY CARD TRANSIT GUARD AND PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT CARD.

IT'S FREE.

IT'S ALSO THE FIRST-EVER 90 IN ILLINOIS TO LIE TO SELF-IDENTIFY GENDER OR MARKING NOT BY LATE.

AND IT'S REALLY A CARD THAT WAS SUPPORTED TO HELP COMMUNITIES LIKE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

SURVIVORS, HOMELESS ARE USED TO BE TO REENTRY COMMUNITY AND OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

>> HAVE THE MOBILE CITY HALL EVENTS IS WHAT THEY'VE BEEN CALLED THE NEIGHBORHOOD POP UPS.

WHY THOSE EVENTS BEEN CANCELED.

>> SO THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE OF.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CANCELED.

WE STOPPED 24 EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR THIS YEAR.

SO I THINK THE CONFUSION OR 2 THINGS THAT WE RUN PROGRAM THAT CITI HE AND WE HAVE OUR MOBILE EVENTS THAT WE'VE HAD 280 OF THEM THIS YEAR ALREADY AND WILL HAVE 180 OF THEM BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

AND THEN WE HAVE OUR MOBILE CITY HALL AND OUR OF THE HOLIDAYS ARE 23.

BASICALLY MANY RESOURCE FAIRS WHERE WE BRING OTHER DEPARTMENTS, OUR CITY, HE AND OUR CITY STICKER PROGRAM DOG LICENSING RESIDENT PARKING PASSES TO DIFFERENT REGIONS AROUND THE CITY.

SO THAT DIFFERENT PROGRAM THAT RUNS FROM MAY UNTIL OCTOBER.

AND WE'VE DONE THAT SINCE 2019, THE CITY, POP UP BEING COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.

SHELTERS THAT WE'RE DOING NOW FOR THE NEW ARRIVALS.

WE STILL HAVE 24 OF THOSE EVENTS SCHEDULED THIS YEAR.

>> AND THOSE 24 THAT ARE SCHEDULED, THOSE ARE SPECIFICALLY THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS, CORRECT.

>> YEAH, IN OUR SHELTERS.

SO SINCE LAST AUGUST WE'VE BEEN WITH THE NEW ARRIVALS.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES IN THE STATE TO GO TO THE SHELTERS SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO COME TO US.

WE WANT TO MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE.

THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THE CITY KEY CARD PROGRAM.

AND AS WE TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE CITY, HE YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A DEMAND EVEN BEFORE THE NEW RIVAL STARTED COUNTY.

WE'VE HAD AND THEN ACTUALLY GET TO, WHICH IS WHY THIS YEAR IN OUR BUDGET, WE'RE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO RENOVATE THIS PROGRAM, MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND BUILD CAPACITY THROUGH AN APPOINTMENT APPOINTMENT SYSTEM AND ALSO MAKING SURE ONLINE PLATFORM YOU CAN GET A CITY GET IT ONLINE HAVE IT SENT TO DIRECTLY AT HOME.

>> SO YOU YOU MENTIONED, OBVIOUSLY THE INCREASE YOUR OFFICE REPORTS, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN APPLYING FOR CITY KEY ID'S HAS RISEN IN THE LAST 3 YEARS FROM JUST UNDER 8900 IN THE YEAR 2021.

TO MORE THAN 22,000 THIS YEAR, ALREADY.

AND YOU SAID THAT THAT INCREASE WAS HAPPENING BEFORE THE NEW ARRIVALS BEGAN ARRIVING.

WHERE YOU THINK IS DRIVING THIS INCREASE.

>> WELL, FIRST HERE, WHICH YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS.

IN 2018, WE HAD 24,000 CITY.

HE'S THAT WE DID THAT YEAR.

SO THERE WAS DEMAND BEFORE EVEN HAPPENED.

THIS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

AND I JUST TELL FOLKS WATCHING THIS IS A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THAT WE'RE HAVING WITH.

I'M ON ON THE FRONT LINES ON THE GROUND.

I'M SEEING OTHER MOMS HAVE A 3 YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND I SAW FAMILY WITH A 3 YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER COME THROUGH LAST YEAR THAT WIND THROUGH THE JUNGLE WINTER MOSCOW COUNTRIES TO BE HERE AND IT BREAKS MY HEART THAT WE HAVE TO.

MAYBE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE SEE THE HUMANITARIAN HUMAN SIDE OF THIS THAT, YES, THIS IS RESOURCE THAT WE CAN GIVE CITY HE BUT AT THE WELCOMING CITY, CHICAGO, WE REALLY CANNOT PAINT THEM AS OTHER.

THEY'RE HUMAN BEINGS HERE JUST LIKE ALL OF LOOKING FOR SERVICES.

AND AS A MOM, I JUST WANT TO OUT THERE THAT THESE ARE FAMILIES THAT WE NEED TO HELP.

AND SO WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN EVEN WITH LIMITED RESOURCES THAN EXHAUSTED RESOURCES FRANKLY EXHAUSTED TEAM MEMBERS BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE A TEAM OF 5 IN HOUSE AND THE HOUSE THE AGENCY THAT ARE SUPPORTING THIS EFFORT.

>> YOU MENTIONED, OF COURSE, THAT THESE WILL BE THROUGH YOUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND THROUGH THE SHELTERS ARE SOME OF THOSE SHELTERS WHERE SOME OF THE THE MIGRANTS ARE ARE BEING SHELTERED THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE EVENTS THAT YOU'RE HAVING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AGAIN, SINCE AUGUST, BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY AND THE STATE THAT ALL SHELTERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BE THERE.

NOW, WE CAN'T SERVICE EVERYONE AS OF TOMORROW, BUT WE ARE GETTING TO THEM OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

AND THEN ALSO IN THE NEW YEAR, WE HOPE THAT THEIR HELP THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE BUDGET TEAM IN THE CITY COUNCIL, WE CAN BUILD A NEW ONLINE PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS HAVE APPOINTMENTS NEXT YEAR OR ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN CITY.

HE ONLINE PLATFORM WHERE PEOPLE CAN APPLY ONLINE AND HAVE SENT TO THEM AND WE'LL STILL HAVE OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.

AND AGAIN, WE DID 181 IS THE EVENTS THIS YEAR.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO MEET THE DEMAND AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

BUT IT'S UNSUSTAINABLE RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THAT WE'RE GOING IN WITH ITS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

SO WE HOPE THAT THIS BUDGET SEASON ABLE TO SECURE THOSE BONDS BUILD OUT THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT HE USED TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND HELP US WITH CAPACITY.

>> YOU MENTIONED THOSE YOUR THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD INCREASE, AS YOU SAID, FUNDING FOR THE CITY.

HE PROGRAM BY 40%.

WHAT MORE DO YOU YOU ALSO MENTIONED SOME TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

BUT WHAT MORE DO YOU FOR YOUR OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO MEET THE NEED?

>> FIRST FACT YOU MENTIONED IS BROUGHT OUR BUDGET IS 1.2 MILLION DOLLARS.

IT'S ONLY SEEING INCREASE OF $1500 THIS YEAR SO THAT THERE ONLY INCREASING.

WE'RE HAPPY TO THOSE NUMBERS, TOO, AS WELL.

WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT FOR THE TECHNOLOGY TO BUILD THAT FORM AS WELL TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE IS APPOINTMENT SYSTEM ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO PRESERVE THE CITY CARDS.

WE'VE EXHAUSTED THAT LINE ADDITIONAL TRANSLATORS, BUT ALSO BE HELPFUL.

WE ARE ABLE TO GET THAT THE BEGINNING OF THE CRISIS LAST YEAR, ADDITIONAL TRANSLATORS AND THEN WORKING WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

NOW, I KNOW THEY'RE TRYING TO IDENTIFY VOLUNTEERS AND HOUSE AND GET VOLUNTEERS ON THE GROUND, WHICH WOULD ALSO BE GREAT TO HELP BIGGER EVENTS.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING CITY ON A VALENCIA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UP NEXT, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON CONTROVERSY OVER THE MAYOR'S DEAL WITH THE POLICE UNION.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON ASK CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT A KEY PART OF AN AGREEMENT THAT HE NEGOTIATED WITH THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE JUST DAYS AGO, SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNELLING VOWS TO RID THE DEPARTMENT OF OFFICERS WITH TIES TO EXTREMIST GROUPS AND ILLINOIS.

LAWMAKERS RETURN TO SPRINGFIELD FOR VETO SESSION HERE WITH ALL THAT AND MORE IS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

THE WHOLE GANG HEADER.

TIM VICKIE AND PARA SHOTS COMING TO YOU FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES HEATHER, WANT TO COME TO YOU FIRST BECAUSE YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THE CHANGES TO THE CITY KEY PROGRAM.

CLARIFY FOR US, IF YOU WOULD, WHAT WE JUST HEARD FROM CITY CLERK, VALENCIA ON THAT.

>> SO WHAT HAPPENED WAS IS THAT THERE ARE MOBILE CITY HALL EVENTS, WHICH IS MIGRANTS AND ALL CHICAGOANS BEST CHANCE TO GET A CITY KEY.

AND THOSE ARE THE EVENTS THAT HAVE BEEN CANCELED THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.

THERE WAS ONE EVENT THAT WAS STARTED TO TAKE PLACE IN EARLY OCTOBER.

1000 PEOPLE SHOWED UP AND THE CLERK MADE THE DECISION IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CANCEL THAT EVENT.

THE OTHER 2 EVENTS SCHEDULED IN OCTOBER WERE ALSO CANCELED JUST KNOWING THAT THEY COULD NOT HANDLE THE INFLUX.

NOW, AS SHE SAID ON THE PROGRAM, SMALLER EVENTS THAT ARE NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WILL CONTINUE, BUT THAT WILL BE CATCH AS CATCH CAN FOR MIGRANTS WHO DESPERATELY NEED THIS ID AND TO START PUTTING DOWN ROOTS IN CHICAGO.

OKAY.

HAVE TO THINK, YOU KNOW, ALSO THERE'S A NEWS LATE LAST NIGHT THAT THE MAYOR ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT.

>> A KEY PART OF AN AGREEMENT THAT HE JUST BROKERED WITH FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE FEW DAYS AGO.

AS WE SAID, HEATHER, WHAT'S THE CHANGE UP THERE?

>> WELL, PART OF THIS AGREEMENT WOULD REALLY UP AND THE WAY POLICE DISCIPLINARY CASES HAVE BEEN HANDLED WHEN THE RECOMMENDATION IS EITHER TERMINATION OR A SUSPENSION OF MORE THAN A YEAR NOW THAT NOW HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE CHICAGO POLICE POURED THE CURRENT AGREEMENT WOULD END THAT PRACTICE AND ALLOW OFFICERS TO CHOOSE TO HAVE THEIR PUNISHMENT DECIDED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON LATE LAST NIGHT ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT THAT PROVISION AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE ENTIRE DEAL IS REALLY UNCLEAR.

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SAYS THEY'RE GOING TO SUBMIT TO PROPOSALS TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

THEY HOPE THAT THE FULL DEAL THAT INCLUDES RAISES AND BONUSES FOR CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS WILL PAST.

>> AND THIS SPECIFIC PIECE WITH THE ARBITRATION AND THE POLICE BOARD WILL FAIL FORCING BOTH SIDES BACK TO THE TABLE.

>> PARIS AFP HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ON THE FOP BASICALLY SAID 2 CITY COUNCIL DON'T DO IT.

THE MAYOR SAID IF YOU'RE PRO UNION, THE EU SHOULD SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE THIS IS THE KIND OF PROCESS THAT ALL OTHER UNIONIZED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES GET.

THEY GET THE CHANCE TO GO TO ARBITRATION.

THE DIFFERENCE HERE WITH WITH POLICE MISCONDUCT IS THERE REALLY IS A MULTI-PRONGED DUE PROCESS APPARATUS SET UP SO THE THERE'S INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS, THERE'S COPA, WHICH DOES AN INVESTIGATION.

THE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT GET AWAY AND THEN IT GOES TO THE POLICE BOARD IS WITH THE POLICE BOARD WAS CREATED FOR TO ADJUDICATE THESE CASES OF POLICE MISCONDUCT ULTIMATELY DECIDE WHETHER POLICE OFFICER LOSES THEIR JOB OR KEEPS THEIR JOB.

AND POINT IS IT'S TRANSPARENT.

IT'S IN PUBLIC.

WHAT HOPE HE IS SAYING IS IF YOU GO TO ARBITRATION AND THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY'LL GET MORE FAVORABLE RULINGS OF THIS IS DONE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS BY AN INDEPENDENT ARBITRATOR THAT MORE POLICE WILL GET TO KEEP THEIR JOBS IN THE SCENARIOS.

THEN IN THIS PUBLIC POLICE BOARD PROCESS.

NOW, THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT DEFENDED ITS BUDGET PROPOSAL DURING A CITY COUNCIL HEARING TODAY.

>> HERE'S WHAT SUPERINTENDENT SNELLING SAID IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ON THE TREATMENT, NOT TRAUMA PLAN.

>> THIS IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING I'VE BEEN PUSHING SINCE SENSE STEPPED INTO THIS ROLE.

WE DO WANT TO SHOW UP AS THE POLICE IN THESE SITUATIONS AND HAVE A SITUATION ESCALATE WHERE OFFICERS AND NOT NECESSARILY TRAIN, EVEN THOUGH WE DO HAVE SEE IT ON THE TRAINED OFFICERS.

BUT IF WE CAN GET SOMEONE TO HANDLE JOB AS A CLINICIAN, SOMEONE WHO HAS THE BACKGROUND IT FREES UP OFFICERS FROM THAT JOB, HE GETS THAT PERSON, HELP THAT THEY ACTUALLY NEED AND NOBODY TRAUMATIZING THE SITUATION.

>> HEATHER, BACK TO YOU IS TREATMENT.

NOT TRAUMA.

SOMETHING WE'D SEE IN THIS 2024 >> THERE IS JUST THE START OF TREATMENT, NOT TRAUMA.

THIS BUDGET WOULD MAKE IT AN OFFICIAL PART OF THE CITIES.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO SEND THOSE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELORS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING.

MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IS RATHER JUST OFF THE BAT, SENDING A POLICE OFFICER AND THERE'S MORE MONEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS.

AND THAT IS ALL SORT OF PART OF WHAT TREATMENT, NOT TRAUMA IS, ALTHOUGH IT WILL TAKE A LOT MORE MONEY THAT THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE RIGHT NOW TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN FULLY.

BOTH SUPERINTENDENTS KNOWING AND MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON SAYS THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO EXPAND IN THE 2025 SUPERINTENDENTS KNOWING WE KNOW HE ALSO VOWED TO RID THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF OFFICERS WHO ARE TIED TO FAR-RIGHT EXTREMIST GROUPS LIKE THE PROUD BOYS AND THE OATH KEEPERS.

HEATHER.

>> HOW DOES HE PLAN ON DOING THAT?

>> WELL, HE PROMISED TODAY TO LAUNCH A NEW INVESTIGATION TRIGGERED BY JUST REALLY INCREDIBLE REPORTING BY OUR COLLEAGUES OVER AT WBEZ AND THE SUN-TIMES THAT FOUND 9 CURRENT OFFICERS HAVE TIES TO THE OATH KEEPERS, WHICH IS A FAR-RIGHT EXTREMIST GROUP AND WHOSE LEADERS HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF SEDITION IN CONNECTION WITH THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION AT THE U.S. CAPITOL.

NOW, IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER THAT PROBE WILL BE ANY DIFFERENT THAN A PREVIOUS PROBE THAT INVESTIGATED ONE OF THESE OFFICERS AFTER WHICH THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL URGED HE BE TERMINATED BECAUSE OF THOSE TIES.

THE POLICE BRASS AT THE TIME DECLINED TO DO SO.

SO IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT THIS NEW INVESTIGATION WILL RESULT OR IF THE OUTCOME WILL BE ANY IS THIS, YOU KNOW, A SHIFT IN ATTITUDE WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING EXTREMISM IN IN THE DEPARTMENT, AS WE CAN ALL THINK BACK TO A MAYOR LIKE FOOT DEFENDING THE DECISION TO NOT FIRE AN OFFICER.

>> HAD TO THE PROBLEM.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT REALLY IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT AS IF MAYOR LIGHTFOOT WANTED THE FOLKS WITH EXTREMIST EITHER.

BUT I THINK.

>> AS A LAWYER, SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT HANDS WERE TIED AT THAT TIME.

THAT INTERNAL INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THEY WEREN'T SURE WHAT RULE THAT THIS VIOLATED.

AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S CHANGED.

NOW.

THE CITY MIGHT BE IN TRICKY LEGAL TERRITORY HERE BECAUSE IT YES, THAT'S EXCELLENTLY WORK BY THE SUN-TIMES AND WBEZ.

BUT AS YOU SEE IN THAT STORY, THE OFFICERS SAYING, WELL, I SIGNED UP FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THIS THAT WAS GOING DO SAID THE DECISION BASICALLY AND AND THEY COULD USE THAT KIND OF PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY.

AND THEN THIS IS GOING TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ARBITRATION HERE BECAUSE WE JUST TALKED ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS TO FIRE POLICE OFFICERS.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF LEGAL GROUND THE CITY IS ON.

I THINK THEY'LL SPEND MILLIONS OF ARE BETRAYING THESE CASES AND FINDING OUT AS WE DISCUSS ON ARBITRATION.

AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE GOT JOINING US FROM SPRINGFIELD WHERE YOU'RE COVERING THE VETO SESSION THAT JUST IS IT COMMON FOR GOVERNOR PRITZKER TO BE DO AN ITEM?

>> NO, NOT REALLY.

THAT'S WHERE YOU REALLY, REALLY HAVE HANDFUL OF MEASURES THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS REJECTED.

WHY BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE IS IN CONTROL AND DEMOCRATS AND AS WE ALL KNOW, PRITZKER VERY MUCH A DEMOCRAT.

>> OF COURSE THAT WHAT IS THE OUTLOOK FOR THE BILLS THAT PRITZKER HAS VETOED?

>> SO JUST FOCUS ON A COUPLE OF THEM BRING US INTO THAT ARE REALLY AREN'T, TOO.

THEY'RE GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION.

ONE WOULD DECIDE WHETHER ILLINOIS WILL LIFT THE MORATORIUM ON THE BUILDING OF NEW NUCLEAR PLANTS.

THE GOVERNOR VETOED A MEASURE THAT ONE LIFT THAT MORATORIUM.

HE SAYS THAT HE WENT.

>> THE OKAY WITH SOME TYPES OF NEW PLANS, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM.

WE'LL SEE WHETHER ILLINOIS EXCEPT OR WHETHER THEY DECIDE TO OVERRIDE THE VETO OR POTENTIALLY GO WITH A NEW PLAN THAT AGAIN WOULD BRING MORE NUCLEAR POWER TO THE STATE.

ILLINOIS, ALREADY THE LARGEST PRODUCER OF NUCLEAR ENERGY IN THE NATION AND THEN ANOTHER ONE.

WELL, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE OF INTEREST TO COOK COUNTY RESIDENTS.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT EFFECTS THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.

THIS HAS TO DO WITH A MEASURE THAT WOULD REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAX BURDEN FOR MOST NURSING HOMES IN COOK COUNTY.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THESE FACILITIES SAY IS NECESSARY AS WELL AS THE UNION WHERE A LOT OF THE WORKERS ARE EMPLOYED THAT WORK FOR THESE NURSING HOMES AND THEY SAY IT'S NECESSARY IN ORDER FOR THEM TO STAFF UP AND BETTER TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS AND RESIDENTS.

BUT TO THE COOK COUNTY ASSESSOR AND A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES IN COOK COUNTY SAY, OH, NO, BECAUSE IF THERE IS ONE ENTITY THAT GETS ITS TECH PROPERTY TAX BURDEN LESS AND THAT MEANS IT'S SPREAD OUT AMONG ALL THE REST OF US.

>> SO EARLIER TODAY, ILLINOIS HOUSE EMANUEL CHRIS WELCH SPOKE ABOUT HIS BILL TO ALLOW LEGISLATIVE STAFF TO UNIONIZE.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I CAN RELATE TO THE WORKING PERSON.

BECAUSE I SAW HOUSE EVERY DAY.

TO CATEGORIZE ME AS SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE IN WORKERS RIGHTS.

YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE RIGHT PERSON.

I BELIEVE WORKERS RIGHTS.

FROM MY FOR MY STAFF.

AND FOR EVERY ILLINOIS AND ACROSS THE STATE.

>> AND WHAT WOULD THIS MEAN FOR LEGISLATIVE WORKERS?

>> IT'S REALLY UNCLEAR.

THIS IS SORT OF IN THE ILLINOIS IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF A MOVEMENT.

THIS KIND OF TAKING PLACE ACTUALLY ACROSS THE NATION.

THIS COMES, HOWEVER, IS ILLINOIS IS NOW DEALING WITH A ADDED AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION THAT IS SUPPOSED TO GIVE WORKERS RIGHTS RIGHT NOW.

LAW SAYS THAT PUBLIC EMPLOYEES LIKE THOSE WHO WORK FOR THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THESE LEGISLATIVE STAFFERS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO UNIONIZE.

THIS IS A MEASURE THAT WOULD CLEAR THE PAST TO DO SO.

YOU ARE SEEING SOME HESITANCY, HOWEVER, FROM LEGISLATORS WHO SAY, HEY, WAIT A SECOND, WE CALL SESSION AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE.

YOU KNOW THAT THESE ARE GOING TO BE SOME LONG HOURS.

INTENSE ONE.

IT IS UNCLEAR IF THERE'S FIRST OF ALL SUPPORT FOR THIS MEASURE IN BE IF IT DOESN'T PACK PASS WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

>> OK, THAT IS A SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

WE'VE GOT TEAM COVERAGE TONIGHT.

HUNDREDS IN BRIGHTON PARK.

AMANDA IN SPRINGFIELD PARISH, HERE IN STUDIO THANKSGIVING.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

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YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON FUNDING PUBLIC SAFETY AS HEARINGS ARE UNDERWAY FOR CHICAGO'S POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET AND WE SHOW YOU HOW POLICE OFFICERS TRANSFORMED HIS BACKYARD INTO A PLANT OASIS.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, A BRAND FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT, A AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH WHOSE ATTORNEYS EMBRACE A CULTURE OF PHILANTHROPY AND SERVICE BY VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME