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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>> WHEN DOES THIS REALLY STOP?

WHEN DOES THE PUNISHMENT STOP?

>> THE THIRD INSTALLMENT OF OUR PUNISHMENT SERIES ON HOW GETTING WORK IS HARDER FOR PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS.

> >> A NEW REPORT GIVES US A BETTR A BETTER LOOK INTO THE STATE OFS OF HOMELESSNESS IN CHICAGO, AND HOW THAT CAN TAKE ON DIFFERENT.

> >> A BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO STOP E STOP FUTURE ATTEMPTS AT OVERTURNING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

WE EXPLORE THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE ELECTORAL COUNT ACT.

> >> BUDGETS ARE NOT JUST MATH PR, THEY ARE AND MUST BE VALUE STATEMENTS.

>> COULD MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S BUDGT LIGHTFOOT'S BUDGET PROPOSAL HELP HER SECURE A SECOND TERM?

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM DIGS IO DIGS INTO THAT AND MORE.

> >> AND DECADES OF MEMORIES OF TE OF THE CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST IN A NEW MEMOIR.

WE SPEAK WITH THE FESTIVAL'S FOUN.

> >> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TP TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

CHICAGO POLICE HAVE SHOT A PERSON INSIDE A WESTSIDE POLICE STATI.

THE SHOOTING HAPPENED INSIDE CPS INSIDE CPD'S 10th DISTRICT STATION ON OGDEN AVENUE.

SUPERT AVENUE.

SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN SAYS THREE OFFICERS FIRED AT THE OFFENDER, HITTING THE PN THE PERSON AT LEAST ONCE.

OFFICS ONCE.

OFFICERS SAY THEY RECOVERED A FIREARM AT THE SCENE.

>> ONE OF THE OFFICERS RECEIVEDT RECEIVED WHAT APPEARS TO BE A BL A BARREL OF A GUN THAT THE OFFENDER IS HOLDING IN HIS HAN.

>> BROWN SAYS THE PERSON IS IN D IN HAD STABLE CONDITION, AND NOS NO OFFICERS WERE INJURED.

THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOY POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IS INVESTIGATING THE SHOOTING.

ITS THE SECOND TIME IN TEN DAYS A SHOOTING HAS OCCURRED INSIDE AT A DEPARTMENT FACILITY.

> >> ANOTHER WELL-KNOWN COMPANY IS MOVING JOBS OUT OF CHICAGO.

TYS CHICAGO.

TYSON'S FOODS SAYS IT'S MOVING ABOUT 500 CORPORATE JOBT JOBS OUT OF ITS OFFICES IN CHICAGO AND DOWNERS GROVE TO ITS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

S ARKANSAS.

TYSON'S TIME IN CHICAGO BEGAN IN 2014, WHEN THE COMPANY ACQUIRED HILLSHIRE BRAND.

IT COMES AS CAT PILLAR AND BOEING ALL ANNOUNCED MOVES OUT OF THE CITY THIS YEAR.

> >> MORE THAN 40,000 RUNNERS ARED ARE EXPECTED TO RACE IN THE BANK OF AMERICA CHICAGO MARATHON ON.

AND THIS YEAR, THE MAY AUTHOR IG IS INCLUDING A DIVISION FOR NONY FOR NON-BINARY RUNNERS.

THAT MAKES IT THE SECOND MAJOR MARAN MAJOR MARATHON TO INCLUDE SUCH .

HOWEVER, AS THE CHICAGO SUN TIMS SUN TIMES REPORTS, THE CHANGE WAS MADE WITHOUT A PUBLIC ANNOT PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OR STATEMENT.

> >> AND COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM, WE'LL EXPLORE A NEW REPORT ON THE STATE OF HOMELESSNESS IN CHICAGO.

> >> BUT UP NEXT, THE THIRD PART N PART IN OUR PUNISHMENT SERIES, E BATTLE FOR PEOPLE WITH A CRIMINL A CRIMINAL RECORD.

STAY WITH US.

US.

> >> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POE MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THM NICHOLS.

THE JIM AND KAY NAVY FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF E DONORS.

> >> EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE TOLD YU WE TOLD YOU HOW THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 1,300 PERMANENT PUNISHMENT.

LAWS, RULES, POLICIES, THAT APPLY TO PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS IN ILLINOIS.

THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE LABOR RELATED, MAKING IT HR MAKING IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE WITH RECORDS TO GET HIRED.

FOR EXAMPLE AN OBSCURE ONE.

THE PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGIST LICENSIG GEOLOGIST LICENSING ACT SAYS THT THE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL N PROFESSIONAL REGULATION CAN REFUSE TO ISSUE OR RENEW A LICE A LICENSE FOR ANY CONVICTION OR GUILTY PLEA FOR A FELONY OR SEPARATELY A MISDEMEANOR RELATED TO THE PROFESSION.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE MET THOUGH ART THOUGH AREN'T AIMING TO BE GEOLOGISTS, BUT SOME MIGHT SAY THE HURDLES THEY HAVE TO LEAP TO EARN INCOME ARE JUST AS HIGH.

KIMBERLY MOSS HAS HIGH HOPES, LITERALLY.

>> I WANT TO BE A CRANE OPERATO.

I'M NOT AFRAID OF HEIGHTS.

>> YEESH.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> >> SHE'S WORKING ON GETTING THES THE SKILLS SHE NEEDS FOR THE TRG THE TRAINING PROGRAM.

>> I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THE .

I LOVE HOW THEY PUSH YOU.

>> IT'S A SOLID POSITION TO BE N BE IN AFTER HER PREVIOUS STRUGGLE FINDING WORK.

>> I WAS WORKING AT THE POST OF.

AND BECAUSE OF MY BACKGROUND, TY BACKGROUND, THEY FIRED ME.

>> HOW DID THAT FEEL?

>> IT BROKE ME DOWN.

IT PUT ME INTO A DEPRESSION, HONESTLY.

TE A DEPRESSION, HONESTLY.

THE WAY THEY WENT ABOUT IT, IT COULD HAVE CHANGED, BUT I MEAN, I GUESS IT IS WHAT IT IS.

>> HER BACKGROUND INVOLVES A CRL A CRIMINAL RECORD AND TIME SPENN SPENT IN AND OUT OF PRISON.

MOS, PRISON.

MOSS, LIKE MANY PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS, BATTLES TO KEEP A TASK FROM HOLDING HER BACK.

INCLUDING HE, HER CLASSMATE, CURRY.

>> I WANT TO DO STUFF, BUT IT'SE EVERY TIME I TRY TO DO IT, IT'SE IT, IT'S LIKE THE BACKGROUND JUST -- JUST MESSES ME UP, YOU KNOW?

SO THAT'S WHY I TOOK THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> THE CHICAGO WOMEN AND TRADESM TRADES PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ALL WOMEN, BUT IS ESPECIALLY HELPFUL FOR WOMEN LIKE CURRY AND MOSS.

>> THE TRADES ARE VERY FELONY F. THEY CERTAINLY DO SOME BACKGROUD SOME BACKGROUND CHECKS WITH CERTAIN JOB SITES.

SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, AIRPORT, THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHE WHO HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND HISTORIES THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO COME INTO THE TRADES AND EARN REALLY GREAT WAGES AND REALLY GREAT BENEFITS.

>> BUT IT'S JUST ONE SOLUTION TA TO A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM.

>> IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THS ILLINOIS, THERE'S OVER 500 EMPLOYMENT LAWS, POLICIES, OR SANCTIONS, RESTRICTIONS ON THE KINDS OF JOBS PEOPLE CAN HAVE.F HAVE.

IF YOU INCLUDE BUSINESS, , BUSINESS, LICENSES, AND PROPERTY RIGHTS, THAT NUMBER JUMPS UP TO CLOSE TO 900.

THAT'S ONE STATE, 900.

THAT MEANS THEIR ENTIRE CATEGORY OF EMPLOYMENT FOR WHICH NEED NOT APPLY.

>> ONE THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVN HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM SAY THEY FACE FREQUENTLY.

WHAT OTHER KINDS OF JOBS HAVE YOU BEEN DENIED BECAUSE OF YOUR BACKGRO?

>> AMAZON, UPS, OF COURSE, BANKD BANKS AND ALL THAT.

>> I FILLED OUT 32 APPLICATIONSN APPLICATIONS IN A WEEK.

32 APPLICATIONS IN A WEEK.

>> DID YOU GET ANY OF THOSE JOB?

>> NO.

>> THEY SHOOT ME DOWN ALL THE TE THE TIME BECAUSE IT WAS TWO FEL.

SO WHEN THEY SEE IT, THEY DENY .

>> TO GET AROUND THE REGULAR RE, REGULAR REJECTIONS, MANY APPLY FOR JOBS THROUGH TEMPORARY STAFFING AGENCIES.

>> IF THEY'RE WORKING WITH A TEP A TEMP AGENCY, THEY CAN GET THAE THAT IMMEDIATE APPOINTMENT IN FAST.

>> ONLY TO BE LET GO ONCE THE BD THE BACKGROUND CHECK REVEALS A L A CRIMINAL RECORD.

>> I WENT THROUGH AN AGENCY TO T TO GET THE JOB, WHICH YOU TELL THEM YOU'RE A FELON, WHICH THEY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM PLACING YOU.

BUT WHEN THE COMPANY WANTS TO HIRE YOU ON, THEY WANT TO DO AN INDIVIDUAL BACKGROUND CHECKD BACKGROUND CHECK.

AND WHEN THEY FOUND OUT I WAS A FELONY, THEY WERE LIKE HEY, YOU DID A GREAT JOB AT THE WAREHOUSE AT SHIPPING AND RECEIVING, BUT YOE BUT YOU'VE GOT TO GO.

>> ILLINOIS LAW PLACES MYRIAD RS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT ON PEOPLE WITH RECORDS ESPECIALLY IN SCHOOL AND HEALTE AND HEALTHCARE SETTINGS.

>> I'M VERY SENSITIVE ABOUT HOWI HOW I SAY THIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO STIGMATIZE IT AT ALL.

PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

BUT IT COMES LIKE A SOCIAL DISABILITY.

AND IT BECOMES A SOCIAL DISABILITY BECAUSE OF ALL THE RESTRICTIONS THAT PEOPLE PUT IN FRONT OF THEM.

>> AND WHERE THEY AREN'T ABSOLUY AREN'T ABSOLUTELY BARRED FROM E, FROM EMPLOYMENT, IT GETS COMPLI.

BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE REQUIRED R REQUIRED FOR MOST OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES.

FOR EXAMPLE, EVEN TO WORK IN A CASINO.

IN SOME CASES, THE CONVICTION HAS TO BE MORE THAN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEARS OLD TO BE CONSIDERED FOR LICENSING.

CERTAIN CONVICTIONS COULD MEAN THE EMPLOYEE IS ELIE IS ELIGIBLE FOR A WAIVER TO HAVE CERTAIN JOBS.

AND IN DIFFERENT STATES, REGULATORY AGENCIES ARE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DECIDING WHETHER DIFFERENT LICENSES ARE GRANTED.

>> THAT'S IT.

>> IT ALL TOOK MARIA GARZA SIX S SIX MONTHS TO GET A HEALTHCARE R HEALTHCARE WAIVER TO WORK AS A RECEPTIONIST AT A CLINIC.

>> YOU GO THROUGH A WHOLE PROCES WHOLE PROCESS OF APPLICATIONS AND ESSAYS AND STORY WRITING.

E WRITING.

LIKE CHANGING THE NARRATIVE OF THE CHARGE OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY AND WHY I SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.

>> IT CAN BE A TOUGH PROCESS TOE TO NAVIGATE FOR SOMEONE RETURNING HOME FROM PRISON WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO RESOURCES OR JOB TRAINING.

ALL OF THAT SAID, ILLINOIS HAS MADE CHANGES.

>> IN MARCH OF 2021, THE ILLINOS THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATORS CREATED A NEW AMENDMENT TO THE HUMAN RS HUMAN RIGHTS ACT, SPECIFICALLY , SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITING, GENERALLY PROHIBITING EMPLOYERS FROM TAKING ADVERSE ACTION AGAINST JOB CANDIDATE OR AN EMPLOYEE FOR A CRIMINAL CONVICTION UNLESS CERTAIN PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES WERE IN PLACE.

>> LABOR ATTORNEYS SAY THOSE PRS THOSE PROCEDURES ARE MEANT TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR AN EMPLOYER TO DENY A JOB BASED SOLELY ON THE EXISTENCE OF A RECORD, WHICH, BY THE WAY, IS CONSIDERD IS CONSIDERED A CRIMINAL RIGHTS.

>> WHAT KIND OF REHABILITATION E REHABILITATION HAVE THEY HAD?

AE HAD?

ARE THEY WORKING?

ARE THEY A GOOD STEWART?

WE THINK WE HAVE SEEN IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ABLE TO GET THE LICENSES.

>> EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEY JEFF RISH JEFF RISCH ARGUES SOME EMPLOYERD EMPLOYERS WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HIRE NON-TRADITIONAL CANDIDATES FOR JOBS, ESPECIALLY IN A LABOR MARKET WHERE IT'S TOUGH TO FIND WORKERS.

HE HAS AN IDEA OF WHAT'S HOLDING THEM BACK.

>> WE WANT TO HIRE THIS INDIVID, THIS INDIVIDUAL, BUT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT CIVIL IMMUNITY IN HIRING THIS INDIVIDUAL, IT'T INDIVIDUAL, IT'S JUST TOO MUCH OF A RISK.

>> THAT CIVIL IMMUNITY WOULD PROTECT EMPLOYERS FROM LIABILI, FROM LIABILITY, A LAWSUIT IF ANE AN EMPLOYEE DOES COMMIT ANOTHERE ANOTHER CRIME ON THE JOB.

>> FINGERS WILL BE POINTED AT T, AT THEM, SECOND GUESSING, WELL Y DID YOU HIRE THIS INDIVIDUAL INE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

WHY DID YOU TAKE THAT RISK?

>> MANY EMPLOYERS ARE AVOIDING E AVOIDING THE RISK BY SIMPLY NOT HIRING PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS.

>> WE THROW MILLIONS, IF NOT, BS NOT, BILLIONS AT ALTERNATIVE SO, ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS, POLICING, AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS, AND WE KNOW THAT'S NOT WORKING BECAUSE WE SEE IT.

IT'S TIME TO GO FOR AN APPROACH, WHERE WE ARE INVESTING NOT ONLY IN PROPERTY, BUT PEOPLE.

>> KIMBERLY MOSS SAYS SHE DOESNT SHE DOESN'T DWELL ON HER CRIMINAL RECORD.

>> I JUST TRY TO STAY OUT OF TR.

I LET THE PAST BE THE PAST.

I DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT STUFF.

>> INSTEAD, SHE FOCUSES ON THE E THE FUTURE SHE CAN BUILD WITH HELP FROM A PROGRAM LIKE THIS.

>> FIVE YEARS.

KIM MIGHT HAVE HER OWN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

M COMPANY.

KIM MIGHT HAVE HER OWN YOUTH ORGANIZATION TO HELP INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE EITHER INCARCERATED OR GOING DOWN THAT ROUTE.

I PLAN ON BUILDING MY OWN SHELTER FOR CHICAGO.

I JUST REALLY HOPE AND PRAY THAT I'M ABLE TO BLESS OTHERS AS WELL AS I'M BEING BLESSED.

>> AND TO BE CLEAR, THE CHANGESO CHANGES TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT ALLOW A CANDIDATE WHO FEELS AN EMPLOYER HAS TAKEN AN ADVERSE ACTION AGAINST THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR BACKGROUND TO FILE A DISN A DISCRIMINATION CHARGE WITH THS THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMA.

SOME EMPLOYERS FOCUS SPECIFICALY FOCUS SPECIFICALLY THOUGH ON HIRING PEOPLE WHO ARE REENTERING SOCIETY AFTER PRISON.

NOT ONLY DO THEY OFFER, OFFER EMPLOYMENT, BUT SOME OFFED OFFER NEEDED WRAP-AROUND SERVICES LIKE ASSISTANCE WITH CHILDCARE OR TRANSPORTATION.

SG OR TRANSPORTATION.

SO JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT PROVIDING SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE REENTERING ARE MELISSA ODELL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FIVE VENTURES ILLINOIS TEAM.

JEFF CORSINICK, CHIEF STRATEGIST OF ZESTER BANK, AND DIRECTOR OF EE OF EMPLOYEE TRAINING WITH GROWIG HOMES.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

SO YOU KNOW, WE JUST HEARD FROM JAVIER REYES IN THAT PIECE THAT HE APPLIED FOR 32 JOBS IN ONE WEEK, YET HE WAS NOT ABLE TO GAIN EMPLOYMENT.

WT EMPLOYMENT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BARRIERS THAT YOU HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHEN IT COMES TO APPLYING FOR JOBS?

>> SOME OF THE BARRIERS INCLUDE, BARRIERS INCLUDE HOMELESSNESS, TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, CHILDCARE ISSUES, HEALTH CARE ISSUES.

MOST PEOPLE RETURNING CITIZENS AREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS.

SO THEY RUN INTO, YOU KNOW, HEALTH PROBLEMS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS OBTAINING AN I.D.

CAN BE A CHALLENGE FOR THEM.

>> JEFF, YOU KNOW, FROM AN EMPLT AN EMPLOYMENT MARKET PERSPECTIVE, WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EMPLOYERS TO HIRE PEOPLE WHO ARE REENTERING?

REENTERING?

>> WELL, IT'S IN BUSINESSES OWN.

WE HAVE A LABOR SHORTAGE OF HISC OF HISTORIC PROPORTIONS THAT'S NOT GOING AWAY.

WE'RE STILL LOSING BABY BOOMERS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE AT BIRTHS 20, 30 YEARS AGO TO REPLACE THEM.

SO WE CAN'T, IN THE BUSINESS COMM, BUSINESS COMMUNITY, OVERLOOK TECH TALENT ANYWHERE IT CAN BE FOUND.

BUT YOU NEED TO PROCESS FOR HOW YOU FIND WHO WILL BE A GOOD FIT, AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP THEM THRIVE.

SO IT'S A TALENT MODEL, BUT THAT HAS TO BE TARGETED TO THIS POPULATION.

THIS POPULATION.

>> MELISSA, THE FIVE VENTURES SS FIVE VENTURES STARTS WORKING WITH PEOPLE ON JOB SKILLS WHILE THEY'RE STILL IN PRISON.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR WORK AND THE BENEFIT OF STARTING WIH STARTING WITH FOLKS WHILE THEY'RE STILL INCARCERATED.

>> YES, THANK YOU.

SO WE HAVE A PROPRIETARY CURRICULUM CALLED CEO OF YOUR NEW LIFE.

AND SO IT'S REALLY FOCUSED ON EMPLOYMT ON EMPLOYMENT READINESS, PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND WELL BEING.

REENTRY SUPPORT AND ENT.

WHAT WE FOUND IS IF YOU START BG START BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE WHILE THEY'RE INSIDE, AND YOU START CHANGING THINKING, YOU'LL ULTIMATELY CHANGE BEHAVIORS.

THE OTHER ASPECT IS WE INVITE MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO COME INSIDE AND ACTUALLY MEET OUR FOLKS AND GET TO KNOW THEM, AND HAVE MORE OF AN EMPATHETIC EXCHANGE.

IT'S HARDER TO STIGMATIZE SOMEONE OR CONDEMN SOMEONE WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GET O GET TO KNOW THEM AND HEAR THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES THAT BROUGHT THEM INTO THE SYSTEM IN THE FIRST P. I THINK WE KNOW IT'S NOT REALLYE REALLY THE MOST EQUITABLE SYSTEM, AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM CAN REALLY PENALIZE PEOPLE ANDT AND HURT THEM IN WAYS THAT ARE LONG LASTING.

>> YOU HAVE A HOME IN ENGLEWOODT IN ENGLEWOOD.

WHAT ARE THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE RE-ENTERING?

>> SO WE HAVE A 12-WEEK PAID JOS TRAINING PROGRAM.

AND WHAT'S UNE WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT OUR OPPORTU, THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORN WORK ON THE FARM, THE ONLY USDAD USDA CERTIFIED FARM IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THEY'RE LEARNING ABOUT AGRICULTURE, ALL THE JOBS JOB READINESS SKILLS.

WE PARTNER WITH CGLA TO HELP THEM TO GET THEIR RECORDS SEALED AND EXPONGED.

WE PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES, DIRECT SUPPORT SERVICES THAT COULD PROVIDE SOME OF THOSE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, EVEN IF THEY HAVE A CAR THAT BREAKS DOWN, WE CAN SUPPORT THEM IN GETTING THOSE VEHICLES FIXED, SO THEY CAN RETURN TO WORK.

WE ALSO PROVIDE -- ONCE THEY'RE PLACED INTO EMPLOYMENT, WE PROVIDE 30/60/90 AND ONE YEAR SUPPORT FOR THEM WITH THE PAID INCENTIVES IF THEY REACH THOSE MILESTONES.

SO WE PROVIDE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES TO THEM.

ONCE THEY BECOME A MEMBER OF OUR PROGRAM, THEY'RE A MEMBER FOR LIFE.

WE DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO SUPPORT THEM AND THEIR EMPLOYMENT.

>> ZANOBIA, WHAT KIND OF WRAP-AD OF WRAP-AROUND SERVICES?

YOU JUST NAMED THE ONES YOU PROVID.

BUT WHAT SHOULD EMPLOYERS BE CO?

>> YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHE WHO ARE GOING BACK INTO THE WORE HAS BEEN PROBABLY OUT OF WORK FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

THEY DON'T HAVE HOUSING.

THEY DON'T HAVE CHILDCARE.

THEY ARE RECONG ARE RECONNECTING BACK WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIESE CAN ASSURE THEM THAT WE CAN PROE CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES TO.

SOME OF THOSE WORRIES AND THINGY STRUGGLE WITH TO GET TO WORK, AND TO MAINTAIN HOUSING, WE CAN PROVIDE THAT FOR THEM.

EVEN IF THERE IS SOME DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS THAT HAPPEN WITH THEM BEING TARDY OR HEALTH ISSUES, THINGS THAT MAY ARISE.

WE'RE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM, AND LET THE COMPANY KNOW WE'RE GOING TT GOING TO SUPPORT THEM IN EVERY WAY THAT WE CAN.

>> JEFF, YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT HW ABOUT HOW THERE ARE SOME PRACTICES THAT BUSINESSES HAVE USED THAT DON'T WORK.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE?

TELL US WHATNOT TO DO.

>> I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT TG IMPORTANT THING NOT TO DO IS THINK THIS IS A LABOR SOURCE OF LAST RESORT.

IF YOU DON'T GO LOOKING FOR TALENT, YOU WON'T FIND TALENT.

AND MANY BUSINESSES HAVE SEEN A MODEL THAT REALLY IS JUST LOOKING FOR CHEAP LABOR INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR QUALITY.

SO THAT'S A REAL CRITICAL ELEMENT.

THE OTHER IMPORTANT FACTOR, EVEN IF YOU ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHO IS GOG WHO IS GOING TO BE -- WHO CAN BE A GOOD FIT FOR YOUR COMPANY, YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR THESE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES FOR MANY PEOPLE.

IT OFTEN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD, EVERYTHING TO DO WITH DEEP POVERTY AND LACK OF KNOWLE OF KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO WORK.

PEE WORK.

PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO WORK, BUT THEY NEED A LITTLE BIT OF HELP TO GET THERE, TO KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE, AND HOW TO PERFORM APPROPRIATELY.

N PERFORM APPROPRIATELY.

WHEN YOU OFFER THAT, YOU GET AN EXCEPTIY AN EXCEPTIONALLY ENGAGED AND LOYAL EMPLOYEE.

THAT'S WHAT EVERY BUSINESS IS LOOKING FOR.

>> MELISSA, TELL US ABOUT THE IE THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING RELAS CREATING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BUSINESS OWNERS AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INSIDE PRISON.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, WHAT REALLY MAS REALLY MATTERS IS WHEN PEOPLE CAN SEE EACH OTHER AS HUMAN BEINGS, RIGHT?

AND THAT'S WHY R WHY OUR MODEL STARTS INSIDE, AND WE'RE INVITING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO COME IN AND REALLY GET TO KNOW THE PEOPLE AND THEIR STORIES, AND GIVE THEM SUPPORT AND COACHING ALONG THE WAY.

SO WHILE INDIVIDUALS ARE IN OUR PROGRAM, WE CALL THEM EITs OR ENTREPRENEURS IN TRAINING, THEY'RE LEARNING ALL NEW SKILLS.

THEY'RE LEARNING ALSO HOW TO VIEW THEMSELVES AS NOT JUST A NUMBER, BUT ACTUALLY AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS SKILLS AND, AND TALENTS, AND THEY CAN BRING.

WHEN THE BUSINESS VALIDATES THAD THAT AND GIVES THEM COACHING ANP AND MENTORSHIP ON THEIR RESUME,L THEIR RESUME, PERSONAL STATEMENT, AND THEIR BUSINESS IDEAS.

I MEAN YOU START SEEING THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WHOLENESS, FOR RECONCILIATION.D RECONCILIATION.

AND THAT'S REALLY POWERFUL.

>> HOW CAN EMPLOYERS CREATE SUPE CREATE SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS FOR PEOPLE AFTER INCARCERATION?

INCARCERATION?

>> SURE.

THEY CAN -- WELL ONE THING THAT GOING HOME DOES, OUR TRAINING PROGRAM PROVIDES SOME OF THOSE SKILLS THAT WERE MENTIONED EARLIER.

SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO WORK FULL TIME AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OR THINGS THEY GO THROUGH.

WE PROVIDE CERTIFICATIONS FOR THEM ALREADY IN ADVANCE, SO WHEN THEY GO TO THE JOB, THEY'RE ALREADY PREPARED AND CERTIFIED TO DO THE WORK.

I THINK WHEN YOU PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES -- OR WHEN THE EMPLOYER PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN INCARCERATED AND THEY'RE G THEY'RE RETURNING CITIZENS, I THINK PATIENCE IS ONE THING.

AD THING.

AND UNDERSTANDING THAT YES, THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS.

>> JEFF, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 SECS 30 SECONDS LEFT.

YOU KNOW, WE JUST HEARD FROM ANOTHER JEFF IN THE PIECE SPEAKING ABOUT CIVIL IMMUNITY.

I KNOW YOU'RE NOT AN ATTORNEY NECESSARILY, BUT DO YOU THINK EMPLOYERS CARRY ANY RESISTANCE BECAUSE OF THE RISK?

RISK?

>> THEY CARRY A LOT OF RESISTAN.

OFTEN IT'S OBJECTIONS THAT HAVEO BE RAISED, BUT CAN BE EFFECTIVEY BE EFFECTIVELY DEALT WITH IN THE THE CASE OF NEGLIGENT HIRING LI, HIRING LIABILITY, WHICH IS THE E THE REFERENCE THERE.

THE PROCESS IS YOUR PROTECTION.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO HIRE EVERYONE THAT COMES THROUGH YOUR DOOR, YOU JT DOOR, YOU JUST HAVE TO BE OPEN TO FINDING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE .

AND IF YOU HAVE A PROCESS THAT S PROCESS THAT DOCUMENTS YOU HAVE EXAMINED THE RISKS, YOU HAVE EXAMINED THE SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS, YOU HAVE A GREAT DEGREE OF PROTECTION.

>> OKAY, THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TE IT.

MY THANKS TO THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

> >> IN THE INTEREST OF FULL DISC, FULL DISCLOSURE, WE SHOULD NOTE FIFTH THIRD IS A SUPPORTER OF WTTW NEWS.

> >> UP NEXT THE STATE OF HOMELESS OF HOMELESSNESS IN CHICAGO.

STAH US.

> >> PREVIOUS TALENTS HAVE PUT CHS HOMELESS POPULATION AT AROUND 5,000 PEOPLE.

BUT A NEW REPORT BY THE CHICAGO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, SAYS THE REAL NUMBER IS CLOSELY TO NEARLY 66,000.

STATEWIDE, ALMOST 110,000 PEOPLE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS BY TEMPORARILY STAYING WITH OTHERS.

AND NEARLY 40,000 ILLINOIS PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS AS WELL.

JOINING US ARE SAM CARLSON, MANAGER OF RESEARCH AND OUTREACH AT CHICAGO COALITION FOR THE HOME.

AND HONEY HARRIS, MEMBER OF THEG THE BRING CHICAGO HOME COALITION.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

SAM CARLSON SAID DISCREPANCY, THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AGENCY HAD PUT THAT NUMBER AROUND 5,300.

YOUR STUDY SAYS IT'S ACTUALLY CLOSER TO 66,000K 66,000.

BREAK THAT DOWN FOR US.

>> SO HIGH DEMAND DATES, ANNUALE ANNUAL TIME COULD WANT, WHICH USUALLY HAPPENS IN JANUARY OF EVERY YEAR.

IT'S CAPTURING HOMELESSNESS AT A MOMENT IN TIME.

CHICAGO COALITION FOR THS THE HOMELESS DOESN'T SEE THAT AS A REFLECTIVE OF THE TOTAL SCOPE OF HOMELESSNESS.

SO FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, LOOKINGT PERSPECTIVE, LOOKING AT IT FROME FROM THE -- OVER THE COURSE OF E OF THE CALENDAR YEAR AND INCLUDING PEOPLE THAT ARE TEMPY ARE TEMPORARILY STAYING WITH OTHERS OR COUCH SURFING.

WE HAVE SEEN AS THE MOST COMMON FM COMMON FORM OF HOMELESSNESS IN .

>> AND SO THAT REPRESENTS ABOUTS ABOUT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FOLK.

ANOTHER TERM I'VE HEARD FROM TH, FROM THIS, HONEY HARRIS, IS DOUBLING UP.

THAT'S THE WAY YOU'VE BEEN FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, YOU'VE BEEN STAYING WITH YOUR SISTER, YOU'VE STAYED AT A SHELTER, AND NOW WITH YOUR SONT SON.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOLKS TO KNOW ABOUT THAT KIND OF LIVING?

>> IT IS VERY DIFFICULT.

JUST IMAGINE YOU ARE AN ADULT, AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT TEXT.

YOU HAVE TO DO IT TWO WEEKS BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO GET A DREAD TO HEAR MY OLDER SISTER HAS TO HELP ME AGAIN.

AND SOMETIMES IT IS WHEN MY BOYS WERE SMALLER.

E SMALLER.

WE WOULD ALL HAVE TO SP TO SLEEP ON HER FLOOR AND GET UP IN THE MORNING.

NEVER FEELING QUITE AT HOME.

LIKE SHE WAS NEVER HORRIBLE TO US, BUT YOU KNOW, IT WEARS OUT.

SHE WANTED HER PLACE BACK.

SO IT WAS ALWAYS RELIEF WHEN I COULD GET MY OWN PLACE.

AND THEN I HAD TO LIVE WITH HER DURING COVID, AND THAT WAS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO LEAVING OUT.

EVERYBODY HAD TO STAY IN.

SO ANY TIME SHE CAME HOME FROM WO, FROM WORK, I WOULD JUST FEEL LIKE I WANTED TO CLIMB ON THE WALL.

WHEN SHE WOULD GET READY FOR WORK, I WOULD LAY THERE SIY BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR HOME.

I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOUR R. SO EMOTIONALLY IT'S HORRIBLE.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED DOUBLING UPU CAN'T STAY IN ANY ONE PLACE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE AT SOME POINT, THE PATIENCE OF THE PERSON IS GOING TO RUN OUT.

OUT.

>> YES, AT THE LEAST.

BUT LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO GET AN APARTMENT MAY OF 2020.

MY OLDEST SON HAD VISITED FROM NEW YORK, HE'S A PHOTOGRAPHER.

AND THEN THE WORLD JUST SAID HEY, YOU CAN'T GO ANYWHERE.

SO WE ENDED UP GETTING AN APARTMENT IN MAY.

I'VE BEEN WITH HIM EVER SINCE GRATEFULLY.

HE'S TAKING CARE OF THE BILLS.

>> AND SAM CARLSON, THE MAYOR TS MAYOR THIS WEEK PROPOSED AN EXTRA $10 MILLION FOR FUNDING R HOMELESSNESS.

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW IT BREAKS DOWN FOR SERVICES.

IS THAT ENOUGH?

>> DEFINITELY NOT.

THERE'S 65,000 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW.

THERE HAVE BEEN SMALL INVS SMALL INVESTMENTS LIKE THIS FROM YEAR TO YEAR, BUT WHAT WE NEED IS MORE THAN THAT.

WE NEED DEDICATED FUNDING TOWARD HOMELS TOWARD HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING SOLUTIONS.

$10 MILLION ISN'T IT.

>> AND HONEY, WHAT DOES THAT LOK DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF DEDICATED FUNDING?

WHAT DOES IT NEED TO GO TOWARDS?

>> IT NEEDS TO GO TO FINDING PEE FINDING PEOPLE STABLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PLUS WRAPAROUND SERVICES.

SO BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY GET HOUSING, BUT WRAPAROUND SERVICS WILL MAKE SURE YOU KEEP YOUR HOUSING.

LIKE IN MY SITUATION, I WORKED, BUT BECAUSE THE WEIGHT GAIN AND ARTHRITIS, I CAN NO LONGER DO THE JOBS I USED TO DO.

SO SOMEONE LIKE ME, I WOULD NEED COMPUTER TRAINING BECAUSE MY FIELD WAS THE FOOD INDUSTRY.

AND EVEN ME TRYING TO GET MANAGERIAL JOBS, YOU HAVE TO BE PROFICIENT IN MICROSOFT.N MICROSOFT.

WHEN I STARTED, EVERYTHING WAS ON PAPER, AND YOU CAN'T FAKE COMPUTER WORK.

U WORK.

YOU HAVE TO REALLY KNOW THIS.

SO IT WOULD TAKE SOMEBODY LIKE ME, FINDING TRAINING, YOU KNOW, I KNOW HOW TO WRITE A RESUME, AND HOW TO GIVE GREAT .

BUT IF I DON'T HAVE THOSE SKILL, THOSE SKILLS, I'M STILL WITHOUT.

>> JOB TRAINING IS A HUGE PART OF IT.

SAM CARLSON, THERE'S BEEN A PROPOSAL TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL TAX ON HIGH-END PROMPTS AND ADDITIONAL REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX THAT WOULD BRING IN $160 MILLION PER YEAR FOR THE CITY TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.

WHAT KIND OF IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE?

>> THAT COULD EFFECTIVELY END HS END HOMELESSNESS IN TEN YEARS.

O YEARS.

SO HOUSING 65,000 PEOPLE FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT IS A PRETTY BIG FEET.

BUT OVER THE COURSE OF TEN YEARS, WE COULD Y COULD EFFECTIVELY END HOMELESSNS IN CHICAGO WITH $160 MILLION A .

>> AND HONEY HARRIS, THESE STUDS THESE STUDIES WE'RE LOOKING AT WERE OUT IN 2020.

THEY LOOKED AT 2020, NOW WE'VE HAD THE PANDEMIC.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE PANDEMIC AND SHUTDOWN HAVE EXACERBATED HOMELESSNESS?

>> IT IS ACTUALLY WORSE BECAUSEU BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAVE HOMELESS PEOPLE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MENTALLY DEALING WIH DEALING WITH STUFF, AND HAVE HAO HAD TO BE ALONE, NOT HAVE PEOPLD PEOPLE AROUND THEM.

A LOT OF JOBS ARE NO LONGER.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE MORE PEOPLE .

THATS PEOPLE .

THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THE MAYOR PUTS THIS ON THE BALLOT.

IT'S SIMPLE, WE JUST NEED HER TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.

>> THIS IS A REFERENDUM.

A PROPL WOULD BE TO PUT THIS ON THE BALT THE BALLOT AND VOTERS WOULD CHOE TO HAVE THIS EXTRA REAL ESTATE R REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX FOR HO.

WHAT ABOUT THE 10,000 OR SO ILL, SO ILLINOIANS, ACCORDING TO THI, ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT REALLY DO NOE NOT HAVE ANY PLACE TO STAY.

ARE THERE ENOUGH BEDS FOR THEM?

>> THERE CERTAINLY AREN'T ENOUGS ENOUGH BEDS FOR THEM.

AND THE BRING CHICAGO HOME CAMPAIGN WOULD IMPACT CHICAGO SPECIFICA.

THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE WORK DOE WORK DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

>> YOU SAY BRING CHICAGO HOME, T HOME, THAT ORDINANCE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> YEAH, YEAH.

BRING CHICAGO HOME WOULD RAISE THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX BY 1.9 PERCENTAGE POINTS AND DEDICATE THAT REVENUE YEARLY TO FUND HOG FUND HOUSING SOLUTIONS.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE WILL KEEP WATCG KEEP WATCHING THAT PROPOSAL.

WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, SAM N SAM CARLSON AND HONEY HARRIS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS, WE TOSS IT K IT BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

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

THE ELECTORAL COUNT ACT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1887.

AND TODAY, A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LAWMAKERS SEEK TO MAKE CHANGES.

THE LATINO LEADERSHIP COUNCIL WANTS CONGRESSMAN GARCIA TO RUN FOR MAYOR, BUT DOES HE WANT TO?

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WEIGHS IN.

> >> AND THE FOUNDER OF THE CHICAO THE CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FILM L FILM FESTIVAL ON 57 YEARS OF MOVIE PREMIERS AND STAR GAZING HERE IN CHICAGO.

> >> BUT FIRST, SOME MORE OF TODAS OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

A 22-YED A 22-YEAR-OLD MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED FOR A SHOG A SHOOTING THAT INJURED A 7-YEAD INJURED A 7-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO WAS ON HIS WAY TO CHURCH WITH HIS FAMILY.

THE BOY WAS IN A VEHICLE WITH SIX OTHER PEOPLE INCLUDING HIS PARENTS.

POLICE SAY KENTRELL GAYDEN FIRED MULTE FIRED MULTIPLE SHOTS USING A RIE A RIFLE-STYLE FIREARM, HITTING THE VEHICLE AND STRIKING THE CHILD IN HIS LOWER BODY.

PROSES BODY.

PROSECUTORS SAY THE BOY HAS A LONG RECOVERY AHEAD.

GAYN AHEAD.

GAYDEN IS DUE BACK IN COURT NEXT WEEK.

> >> REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING AGAIT PUSHING AGAINST THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SAFETY ACT SET TO TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1, SAYING IT ADDS TO THE BURDEN ALREADY ON ILLINOIS TAXPAYERS.

>> ILLINOIS ALREADY HAS THE SECD THE SECOND HIGHEST PROPERTY TAXS PROPERTY TAXES IN THE NATION.

AD NATION.

AND NOW WITH THE HIGHESN THE HIGHEST INFLATION IN 40 YEARS, THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO ADD TO OUR HIGHEST IN THE NATION OVERALL TAX BURDEN.

>> ILLINOIS HOUSE REPUBLICANS IG LEADER JIM DURKIN ARGUE THE LAW PUTS A FINANCIAL STRAIN ON SMALLER COMMUNITIES AND THE INVESTMENTS NEEDED TO KEEP UP WITH THE LAW WITH STRAIN SAFETY BUDGETS FOR LOCAL MUNICIPALITIS LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES.

THE SWEEPING CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND POLICE REFORM PACKAGE INCLUDES AMONG OTHER ITEMS, THE ENDING OF CASH BAILS.

FOR MORE ON THE POLITICAL FIGHT OVER THE LAW, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

> >> ANOTHER WELL-KNOWN CORPORATIN WELL-KNOWN CORPORATION IN CHICAGO IS HITTING THE ROAD.

TS ROAD.

TYSON'S FOOD SAYS IT'S MOVING ABOUT 500 CORPORATE JOBS OUT OF ITS OFFICES IN CHICAGO D DOWNERS GROVE.

THE COMPANY KNOWN FOR ITS CHICKEN PROCESSING AND PACKAGING FOOD BRANDS SAYS IT IS MOVING ITS JOB TO ITS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSOS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS HEADQUARTERS IN ARKANSAS.

TYSONS EXIT COMES AS CITADEL, BOEING, AND CATERPILLAR ALL ANNOUNCE MOVES OUT OF THE CITY THIS YEAR.

> >> DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE THE NEXT SINGING SN SINGING SENSATION IN CHICAGO?

AA WAY TO GET OUT OF THE PANDEMIC FUNK, OFFICIALS ARE ANNOUNCING A CITY WIDE KARAOKE CONTEST TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VISIT BARS AND CLUBS.

21 AND OVER, PLEASEE PLEASE.

THE "CHICAGO SINGS KARAOKE" COMPETITION KICKS OFF OCTOBER 29.

EACH LOCATION WILL CHOOSE A SEMI FINALIST TO ADVANCE AT A NEXT ROUND ON OCTOBER 23, AND THE FINAL ROUND WILL TAKE PLACE NOVEMBER 6.

THR 6.

THE WINNER GETS $5,000 AND, OF COURSE, BRAGGING RIGHTS.

IF YOU NEED SOME INSPIRATION, HEAR TO OUR WEBSITE FOR A RANKING OF TIME-OUTS, BEST KARAOKE SONGS EVER.

> >> AND NOW TO PARIS AND THE MOVE TO STOP FUTURE EFFORTS TO OVERN TO OVERTURN ELECTIONS.

PARIS?

> >> BRANDIS, A BIPARTISAN GROUP F GROUP OF LAWMAKERS IS PROPOSING TO PROTECT FUTURE ELECTIONS.

TS ELECTIONS.

THIS AFTER THE NUMEROUS REVELATIONS OF A FAKE ELECTORS SCHEME LEADING UP TO THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION AT THE CAPITOL AND AS ELECTION DENIERS IN MANY RACES AIM TO WIN POSITIONS OF POWER.

IN THE SENATE, THE BILL IS BEING LED BY REPUBLICAN SENATOR SUSAN COS SUSAN COLLINS AND DEMOCRAT JOE .

IT HAS WON A KEY ENDORSEMENT FRM MITCH MCCONNELL.

JOINING US TO BREAK DOWN WHAT THE ELECTORAL COUNT REFORM ACT IS AND WHAT THIS ALL MEANS IS PROFESSOR MICHAEL KANG OF NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW.

PROFR LAW.

PROFESSOR KANG, WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

FIRST OF ALL, REMIND US THE LOS THE LOOPHOLES IN THE CURRENT ELECTORAL COUNT ACT AS THE FORMER PRESIDENT TRIED TO EXPL, TO EXPLOIT, AND WHAT THIS BILL D BILL WOULD ADDRESS.

>> I THINK THE MAIN LOOPHOLE THT LOOPHOLE THAT DONALD TRUMP TRIEO EXPLOIT IS THAT THE VICE PRESIDT VICE PRESIDENT SEEMED TO HAVE PY HAVE POTENTIALLY SOME DISCRETION IN DECIDING WHICH VOTES TO COUNT.

I THINK TRUMP WANTED PENCE TO EXERCISE THE DISCRETIONS, TO TURN THE ELECTION OVER TO HIM.

THE REFORM BILLS TRIED TO SEAL UP E SEAL UP SOME OF THAT DISCRETION, AND MAKE CLEAR THE VICE PRESIDENT'S AUTHORITY WOULD ONLY BE MINIMAL.

>> CLEARING THAT UP, EVEN THOUGE EVEN THOUGH THE VICE PRESIDENT'S READING OF THE LAW AT THAT TIME WAS THAT IT WAS MINISTERIAL, BUT THIS IS BASICALLY SOLIDIFYING THAT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER MAIN COMPONENTS OF THE BILL?

>> THERE'S A FEW DIFFERENT THINS DIFFERENT THINGS THAT TRIED TO CLEAR UP SOME AMBIGUITIES.

ONE IS TO RAISE THE THRESHOLD FOR OBJECTIONS.

THERE WAS POTENTIALLY A PROBLEM WHERE ONE MEMBER OF EACH HOUSE RAISED AN OBJECTION ON THE PROCESS, THE COUNTY, THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.

DEPENDING ON THE BILL, THE THRESHOLD IS MUCH HIGHER NOW.

IT ALSO LIMITS THE EXTENSION OF A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION TO CATASTROPHIC EVENTS.

I THINK IN THE PAST, THERE'S POTENTIALLY AN INTERPRETATION OF THE ELECTORAL COUNT ACT AND SOME OTHER FEDERAL LAW THAT WOULD HAVE OPENED UP THE POSSIBILITY THAT STATE LEGISLATURES COULD JUMP IN AND OVERRIDE THE OUTCOME OF AN ELECTION.

WHILE THAT WAS A LONG SHOT, I THINK THE REFORM BILLS ARE TRYING TO SEAL UP SOME OF THOSE POTENTIAL LOOPHOLES.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT THE NOTION OFG WITH ALTERNATE ELECTORS, FAKE ELECTORS, AND CERTIFYING THE ACTUAL ELECTORS THAT REPRESENT THE RESULTS IN THE STATE?

>> YEAH.

I THINK THE ELECTORAL COUNT ACT IS REALLY DENYING TO CLARIFY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'VE GOT MULTIPLE SLATES OF ELECTORS.

AN ELECTORAL COUNT ACT IS LESS AMBIGUOUS WITH RESPECT TO THAT.

BUT I THINK CLARIFYING WHAT THE VICE PRESIDENT'S AUTHORITY IS, CLARG IS, CLARIFYING THE OBJECTIONS WL GO A PRETTY LONG WAY TOWARDS CLG TOWARDS CLEANING UP THAT PROCESS AND MAKING SURE IF YOU GOT MULTIPLE SETS OF ELECTORS, IT Y IT REALLY IS THE SLATE THAT IS CERTIFIED BY THE GOVERNOR, THES GOVERNOR, THERE'S A PROVISION IN SOME OF THE REFORM BILLS FOR A REVIEW OF SOME OF THOSE DECISIONS.

IT WASN'T AS CLEAR BEFORE.

SO I THINK THE PROBLEM OF POTENTIALLY HAVING MULTIL BS BE SLATES OF ELECTORS COMING TOS ELECTORS COMING TO CONGRESS AND TO THE VICE PRESIDENT HAVE IMPROVED AND BEEN CLARIFIED.

TE BEEN CLARIFIED.

THERE WAS SOME FUZZINESS AND EXACTLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, SOME OF THOSE RULES HAVE BEEN HARDENED UP AND MADE CLEAR ON WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN.

>> THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT VERSIO.

ARE THERE MAJOR DISCREPANCIES BN DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THESE TWO BILLS?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S REALLY MAJOR DISCREPANCIES.

THEY KINDF KIND OF COVER A LOT OF THE SAME BASIS.

YOU CAN KIND OF TALK ABT TALK ABOUT WHICH ONE YOU LIKE MORE.

OBJECTIONS OUGHT TO BE 20% OF EACH HOUSE OR A THIRD OF EACH HOUSE.

BUT I THINK THEY KIND OF HIT THE MAIN POINTS, WHICH IS TO CLARIFY THE RULES, MAKE SURE THE VICE PRESIDENT'SS VICE PRESIDENT'S AUTHORITIES ARL ARE MINISTERIAL AND DOESN'T EXERCISE A BUNCH OF DISCRETION, AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR STATE LEGISLATORS OR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WITHOUT WIDER SUPPORT OR SOME KIND OF CASH STRUCK EVENT THAT WOULD REALLY JUSTIFY A DEEPER INTERVENTION.

TRY TO MAKE THE PROCESS GO SMOOTHER AND LESS PRONE TO KIND OF FRIVOLOUS OBJECTIONS.

KIND OF MARGINAL CLAIMS OF ELECTION FRAUD, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, I THINK THE DOOR IS A LOT TIGHTER AND HARDER TO BRING UP THOSE KINDS OF CLAIMS FOR JANUARY 6.

>> AND THIS BILL DEALS LARGELY H LARGELY WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL ROLE HERE, BUT WE KNOW EACH STATE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING ITS OWN ELECTIONO ELECTION.

SO WHAT POTENTIAL PROBLEMS DO YOU SEE UPCOMING EITHER IN 2023, 2024 AT THE STATE LEVEL IN WAYS THE PROCESS MIGHT BE SUBVERTED AT THE STATE LEVEL?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTT AN IMPORTANT POINT, ALL THIS REFORM TO ELECTORAL COUNT ACT REALLY ONLY AFFECTS THE FEDERAL PROCESS FOR COUNTING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.

AND IT REALLY DOESN'T TOUCH ANY OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WE'VE SEEN IN 2020 AND WE ANTICIPATE IN 2024 UNDER STATE LAW.

I THINK THE BASIC PROBLEM IS THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM FOR DISCRETION FOR DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THE PROCESS.

DIFFERENT DECISION MAKERS IN THE PROCESS TO RAISE OBJECTIONS, CLAIMS OF VOTER FR.

REALLY WE HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OFT OF IMPROVEMENT AT THE STATE LEVEL THROUGH THE LAWS.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WORRY AMONG ACADEMICS, ADVOCATES, PEOPLE WHO WORK IN ELECTION ADMINISTRN ELECTION ADMINISTRATION THAT 2020 WAS THE KIND OF DRESS REHEARSAL.

AND NOW WE SEE EXACTLY WHAT WERE THE KEY DECISIONS IN 2020, AND THOSE MIGHT BE VULNERABLE POINTS WHEE POINTS WHERE IF YOU GET THE RIGHT PERSON TO CLAIM ELECTION FRAUD OR OBJECT OR NOT CERTIFYING ELECTIONS, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE UP IN THE PROCESS, IT COULD CREATE BIG PROBLEMS IN 2024.

THEY WEREN'T PROBLEMS IN, BUT NOW THAT WE'VE HAD A LITTLET LITTLE BIT OF AN EXPERIENCE WITH THE ELECTION PROCESS AND WHAT THE WEAK POINTS ARE, SOMEONE COULD REALLY RAISE PROBLEMS BYG BY AFFECTING THAT PROCESS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY IN 2024 THAN THEY DID IN 2020.

>> AND AGAIN THE BILL SAYS THE R THE GOVERNOR IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR CERTIFYING THE, THE ELECTION, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT SAY THE GOVERNOR OF A CERTAIN STATE DOESN'T WANO CERTIFY THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION BASED ON THE WAY THE VOTE WENT.

WHAT ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE COURTS IN THIS PROCESS?S PROCESS?

DOES THE BILL SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH.

THE BILLS MAKE CLEAR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE JUDICIAL REVIEW AS A PART OF THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.

I THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME QUESTIONS POTENTIALLY WHERE THE COURTS ARE GOING TO BE HESITANT TO JUMP IN BASED ON ESSENTIALLY KIND OF SEPARATION OF POWERS W. BUT WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS CONGRES IS CONGRESS TRYING TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THERE IS JUDICIAL REVIEW , REVIEW AVAILABLE, BOTH AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, FOR A LOT OF THESE KINDS OF OBJECTIONS.

SO IT'S TRYING TO HEDGE AGAINST THE WORRY THAT STATE LEGISLATORS THAT THEY DID IN 2020 ARGUE THAT THEY HAVE AN AUTONOMY WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTION RULES AND REALLY SHOULDN'T HAVE COURTS BUTTING IN AND OTHER LEGAL RESTRICTIONO KIND OF DECIDE WHAT SHOULD HAPPN SHOULD HAPPEN WITH THE ELECTIONS ELECTION.

THIS BILL DEALS A LITE A LITTLE BIT WITH THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE COUNTING OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.

IT DOESN'T REALLY TOUCH THE REST F REST OF ELECTIONS, WHETHER IT'S, WHETHER IT'S CONGRESSIONAL, STATE, LOCAL ELECTIONS.

ALL OF THOSE ELECTIONS ARE STILL CLEA, STILL CLEAR, STILL OUT THERE.

AD THERE.

AND SOME MAYBE, ARGUABLYR ARGUABLY OR NOT, REVIEW DEPENDING ON HOW FAR YOU WANT TO TAKE THEM.

>> THE STATE ADMINISTRATION OF , OF ELECTIONS, AN ISSUE GOING BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT.

WE'LL WATCH ALL OF THAT.

THANKS TO MICHAEL KANG FROM NORTHWESTERNE FROM NORTHWESTERN.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

> >> AND UP NEXT, OUR SPOTLIGHT PS SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL.

BUT FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE W. A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

> >> MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT PROPOSES A BUDGET SHE HOPES WILL CARRY HER TO A SECOND TERM.

IN AN EFFORT TO ENSURE PEOPLE ARRESTED GET A PHONE CALL WITHIN THREE HOURS.

HERE WITH ALL THAT AND MORE IS OUR SPOTLT IS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM,S TEAM, PARIS SCHUTZ, AMANDA VINICKY, LIVE IN LIVING COLOR.E COLOR.

WELCOME BACK, GANG.

BEFOE GANG.

BEFORE WE GET INTO THE BUDGET, LET'S JUST HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT HAD TO SAY WHEN SHE UNVEILED THE PROPOSAL.

>> BUT AS YOU KNOW, BUDGETS ARET ARE NOT JUST MATH PROBLEMS.

THEY ARE AND MUST BE VALUE STATEMEN.

VALUE STATEMENTS ABOUT HOW AND Y AND WHY WE INVEST.

IMPORTANTLY IN THIS CITY, WHERE WE INVEST.

>> SO HEATHER, YOU WERE AT CITYL CITY HALL FOR THE MAYOR'S BUDGES BUDGET ADDRESS ON MONDAY.

WHAT STOOD OUT FOR YOU?

>> WELL THAT THERE IS NO PROPERY NO PROPERTY TAX HIKE, NO FEE IN, FEE INCREASES, NO FINE INCREASES.

THIS IS CLEARLY AN ELECTION YEAR BUDGET THAT SHE WANTS TO GET THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL AS SMOOTH AS SILK, SO EVERYBODY CAN TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO THE ELECTIONS IN FEBRUARY, WHICH MIGHT SEEM LIKE IT'S A LONG WAY AWAY.

I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT.

>> SEEMS A LITTLE CONVENIENT, DT CONVENIENT, DOESN'T IT?

WERE THERE ANY SURPRISES?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A BIG SUE BIG SURPRISE THAT THE MAYOR WANTS TO MAKE PENSION PAYMENT OF NEARLY $200 MILLION TO BASIY TO BASICALLY PAY DOWN THE HIGH-INTEREST CREDIT CARD DEBT THAT THE CITY HAS TAKEN OUT OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES TO START GETTING AHEAD OF THE CITY'S PENSION DEBT.

AND THAT'S AFTER CLIMBING THE PENSION RAMP.

I MENTION ALL THE TIME, FORMER MAYOR, EMANUEL, THOUGHT THE CITY NEEDED TO BORROW $10 MILLION TO GET AHEAD OF.

THE CY HAS PAID WHAT IT IS REQUIRED TO PAY, AND THE MAYOR SAYS IT IS TIME TO GET AHEAD OF THAT.

THAT IS GOING TO BE A BIG SUBJECT OF DEBATE BECAUSE YOU CAN EITHER SPEND THAT $200 MILLION ON PENSIONS OR YOU CAN SPEND IT ON DIRECT SERVICES.

THE KIND THAT PEOPLE WILL VOTE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS ON ELECTION DAY.

>> SO PARIS, AS HEATHER SAID, IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR BUDGET.

F BUDGET.

OF COURSE, IT SHOWS WITH THE PREVIOUS PLANNED PROPERTY X HIKE STRIPPED OUT.

IS THIS A BUDGET THAT, YOU KNOW, MOST MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL WIL COUNCIL WILL FIND EASY TO BACK?

>> WELL, THERE'S TWO THINGS THOSE MEMBERS DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO VOTE FOR, TAX HIKES AND BIG TIME BUDGET CUTS.

SO AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THIS BUDGET INCLUDES NONE OF THOSE THINGS.N THOSE THINGS.

IN FACT, IT'S A GOOD NEWS BUDGET.

THERE'S A SURPLUS OF REVENUE GOING TO ALL KINDS OF PROGRAMS.

SO THE MAYOR HAS HAD SOME DIFFICULTY PASSING MUCH MORE DIFFICULT BUDGETS IN THE PAST, BUT SHE HAS GOTTEN THEM THROUGH NARROWLY.

I WOULD ASSUME THIS WILL NOT BE A BIG CHALLENGE.

>> I MEAN WE'RE NOT GOING TO FOT GOING TO FORGET SHE ORIGINALLY CALLED HER PROPERTY TAX INCREASE AND THEN STRIPPED IT OUT.

BUT VOTERS WILL.

I MEAN THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHIG BE SOMETHING THAT COMES UP AT EN AT ELECTION TIME.

I DO THINK HEATHER HIT ON IT.

THE BIG FIGHT IS GOING TO BE WHETHER TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO THESE SOCIAL SERVICES BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT SITS WELL WITH VOTERS.

THAT'S SOMETHING MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE RAN ON AND ARE REY ARE REALLY GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR.

AND IN A WAY LIGHTFOOT HERSELF HAS PROMISED.

>> THE FISCAL WATCHDOGS WILL THK ABOUT IT.

IT IS A VERY SMART AND PRUDENT MOVE.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS NOT A POLITICAL DECISION.

IS DECISION.

IT'S A DECISION THAT'S THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY.

>> WHICH POLITICIANS DON'T OFTE.

>> RIGHT?

THAT'S WHY WE'RE IN T. >> AND WITH ALL THAT SAID, HEAT, SAID, HEATHER, WILL THIS HELP LT HELP LIGHTFOOT GET RE-ELECTED?

>> SHE IS CERTAINLY HOPING THATT THAT IT WILL.

SHE WANTS TO DEMONSTRATE SHE CAN GET ALONG WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

I WILL, YOU KNOW, WHO IS TO FORGET AFTER SHE PASSED HER FIRST BUD, FIRST BUDGET, SHE PUT UP A WEBSE A WEBSITE SAYING HEY, THESE PEOPLE VOTED AGAINST MY BUDGET, SEND THEM AN E-MAIL AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THEME THEM.

SHE WANTS THE ABILITY TO SORT OF PUSH THIS THROUGH AND TO SHOW SHE CAN GET ALONG WITH THESE ALDER PEOPLE, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO ERUPT INTO A SCREAMING MATCH, WHICH HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE ON THE FLOOR OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> DESPITE THE FACT THAT, OF CO, OF COURSE, ALL IS COMPLICATED BW MANY MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL ARE RUNNING AGAINST HER FOR THE VERY JOB.

THEY COULD USE THIS OPPORTUNITY, FRANKLY EVERY OPPORTUNITY THEY CAN TO MAKE A BIG STAKE.

>> AND SEPARATELY DURING THE BUDGET ADDRESS EARLIER THIS WE, THIS WEEK, HEATHER, THERE WERE PROTESTS FROM HOMELESS ADVOCAT.

WHAT WAS THE SCENE THERE AND WHT AND WHAT WERE THEY CALLING FOR?

>> THEY REALLY WANT THE MAYOR TL TO FULFILL HER 2019 CAMPAIGN PLE TO CHANGE THE CITY'S REAL ESTATR ESTATE TRANSFER TAX.

SO WHEN YOU BUY OR SELL A HOME, YOU PAY A TAX TO THE STATE, AND THE CITY GETS A LITTLE BIT, THE COUNTY GETS A LITTLE BIT.

RIGHT NOW EVERYBODY PAYS THE SAME AMOUNTF AMOUNT.

IF YOU BUY A $300,000 HOME, IT'S THE SAME TAX IF YOU BUY A $1 MILLION HOME.

THESE ADVOCATES WANT WEALTHY PEOPLE WHO ARE BUYING MASSIVE HOMES TO PAY MORE, AND TO USE THAT EXTRA REVENUE TO HELP PEOPLE GET OUT OF HOMELESSNESS, ADDRESS THEIR MENTAL HEALTHCARE.

ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT ISSUES.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE CALLING FOR.

THE MAYOR DROPPED THAT PROMISE AS SOON AS SHE TOOK OFFICE, SAYING THERE WERE JUST OTHER NEEDS IN THE CITY, THAT THE CITY NEEDEDE THE CITY NEEDED.

THE ADVOCATES SAY NOW IS THE TIME.

THEY POINO POINT TO THE RED HOT REAL ESTATE MARKET THAT HAS SENT LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THE CITY'S TREASURY.

THEY SAY THAT MISSED OPPORTUNITY SHD OPPORTUNITY SHOULD STOP NOW.

>> SO MOVING FROM THE BUDGET TOE TO THE MAYOR'S RACE, THE LATINOP LATINO LEADERSHIP COUNCIL IS ENG IS ENCOURAGING U.S. HOUSE OF REE OF REPRESENTATIVE JESUS GARCIA TO JOIN THE RACE FOR MAYOR.

THS MAYOR.

THIS IS DESPITE DONATING TO LIGHTFOOT'S REELECTION CAMP.

HEATHER, WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?E THERE?

ARE THEY HEDGING BETS?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A PARTF PART OF THAT AND ALSO A SENSE THAT GARCIA IS SOMEBODY THAT COULD UNITE THE CHICAGO LATINO.

HE WOULD, OF COURSE, BE THE FIRT THE FIRST LATINO MAYOR.

LOPEZ WOULD BE THE FIRST LATINO MAYO.

BUT CHEWY IS A BIG NAME.

EVERYBY NAME.

EVERYBODY LOVES THE MUSTACHE.

AND, YOU KNOW, HE IS A PROGRESSIVE WHO CAN SORT OF GO BACK TO HIS FRIENDSHIP WITHD WITH HAROLD WASHINGTON, AND SORT OF, YOU KNOW, BRING ALL THOSE GOOD FEELINGS BACK.

>> NOW, IS HE GOING TO RUN?

WE DON'T KNOW YET.

A MONTH AGO HE SAID IT WAS 50/50, AND MAYBE HE WOULD DECIDE BY THE MIDDLE OF .

WELL, WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO THEE OF OCTOBER, SO HE'S GOING TO HAE TO DECIDE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.T THE OTHER.

BUT I THINK IT SPEAKS TO A LARGER DISSATISFACTION IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY WITH LORI, LORI LIGHTFOOT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE WARD REMAP WHERE LATINO ALDERMAN TRIED, TRIED, AND FAILED TO GET REALLY THE NUMBER OF WARDS OF THE CITY'S LATINO POPULATION SHOUL.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, WHEN CHEWYN WHEN CHEWY RAN BACK IN 2015, HET HE LOST TO THE FORMER MAYOR, OF COURSE.

BUT HE HAD THE BACKING AT THE TIME OF CTU.

WE ALREADY KNOW CTU HAS ALREADY BACKED OR ENDORSED BRANDON JOHNSON.

>> HE'S NOT DECLARED A CANDIDAT.

>> YES, NOT OFFICIALLY DECLARED YET.

YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH HE'G HE'S FEELING THE PRESSURE, PARIS, HAVE WE GOTTEN THE INDICATION THAT HE WANTS TO RUN FOR MAYOR?

>> I THINK THERE IS SOME PERSONL SOME PERSONAL CONSIDERATIONS HE'S WEIGHING.

HE MIGHT BE WEIGHING THE FACT THE CONGRESSIONAL MIDTERMS ARE COMG ARE COMING UP.

MAYBE HE WANTS TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THAT.

BUT THEN THERE'S THREE WEEKS TO GO UNTIU UNTIL YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR PETIS YOUR PETITIONS IN, SO HE'S GOT TO PUT THOSE PETITIONS OUT THERE, GET 12,500 VALID SIGNATURES.

THAT'S A LONG PROCESS BECAUSE YOU REALLY NEED TO GET THREE TIMES THAT AMOUNT FOR THEM TO BE GOOD.

AND AS FAR AS WE KNOW, HE DOESN'T HAVE THOSE CIRCULATING RIGHT NOW.

IE NOW.

IF HE DOESN'T RUN, THERE'S FOLKS WAITING IN THE WINGS LIKR GOVERNOR PAT QUINN, WHO IS CIRCG IS CIRCULATING PETITIONS.

HE HAS NOT MADE A DECISION YET, BUT THERE ARE PETITIONS AND SIGNATS AND SIGNATURES THAT HE'S OUT THERE GATHERING IN CASE HE DECIDES TO GET INTO THE RACE.

>> AND GARCIA'S TASK IS CERTAINY IS CERTAINLY MORE DIFFICULT WITHOUT THE BACKING OF CTU.

BOH CTU.

BOTH MONEY AND THEN THE SO, THE SOLDIERS, KIND OF THE FOOT S FOOT ARMIES THAT YOU NEED TO GO AND GET AND COLLECT ALL THOSE .

THAT SAID, HE HAS THEM SORT OF E OF THE KING MAKER ON THE PROGREE THE PROGRESSIVE FRONT.

YOU LOOK BACK TO ELECTIONS IN 2018, 2020 IN THIS PAST ELECTION, EVEN IN THE PRIMARY, WHERE HE HAS REALY HAS REALLY HELPED GET SOME PEOPLE IN OFFICE.

SO HE'S GOT SOME FOLKS THAT OWE HIM.

[ INAUDIBLE ] >> THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

ABOUT THAT.

>> I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, HEATHE.

IT'S NOT JUST WITH THE WARDS, BT WARDS, BUT CERTAINLY SOME IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SORT OF PUSHED ASIDE, LOOKING AT IT AGAIN, LOOKING AT THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT, WHERE THERE IS FRUSTRATION BY THE LATINOS THAT ANOTHER BLACKE BLACK JUSTICE WAS APPOINTED INSTEAD OF A LATINO.

THERE IS A RACIAL DIVISION GOING ON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AMANDA, WE ALSO HAD NEWS THIK THIS WEEK THAT IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE YEAR, THE VALUE OF ILLINOIS' ECONOMY PASSED $1N $1 TRILLION WITH A T, DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

SO IF THE ECONOMY IS STRONGER THAN EVER POST PANDEMIC, WOULDN'T THAT SEEM TO BENEFIT THE INCUMBENTS LIKE GOVERNOR PRITZKER AND THE MAYOR?

>> IT WOULD.

I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION ON THIS.

IT CAME FROM A GROUP THAT IS A BIT LEFT LEANING.

ILLINOIS IS NOW THE FIFTH STATE TO CROSS THAT MARKD THAT MARK.

AND SURE, IT SOUNDS .

COULD WE SEE IT IN A CAMPAIGN C?

SURE.

WE ALSO KNOW, HOWEVER, ILS HOWEVER, ILLINOIS IS LAGGING BEHIND OTHER STATES NATIONALLYO IT IS SORT OF -- YOU CAN CELEBRE CAN CELEBRATE A WIN, BUT THE DES THE DETRACTORS HAVE PLENTY TO SAY ABOUT ILLINOIS' ECONOMY, M, ECONOMY, MANUFACTURING, AND PARTICULARLY DOWN STATE.

THAT'S WHERE WE SEE -- WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS COME TO THE FOREFRONT PARTICULARLY IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE WHERE DARREN BAILEY IS GOING TO DO GREAT DOWN STATE.

R DOWN STATE.

PRITZKER WILL BE THE OPPOSITE.

HE'S GOING TO CARRY CHICAGO.

YOU SEE THAT DIVISION OF ILLINOIS REALLY PLAYING OUT IN STARK TERMS IN ECONOMIC REPORTS SUCH AS THIS.

>> SO HEATHER, MOVING ON TO POL.

UNDER THE TERMS OF THE CONSENT , CONSENT DECREE, THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS AGREED TO ENSURE PEOPLE WHO ARE ARRESTED ARE GIVEN ACCESS TO A PHONE WITHIN THREE HOURS.

COOK COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER, CHARON MITCHELL DESCRIBED THIS AS HISTORIC AND HARD ONE.

WHY ISN'T THIS SO DIFFICULT?

>> WELL BECAUSE CHICAGO POLICE E CHICAGO POLICE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF NOT GIVING PEOPLE ACCESS TO A TELEPHONE CALL AFTER THEY'VE BEEN ARRESTED.

IF YOU TALK TO POLICE REFORM ADVOCATES, THEY WILL TELL YOU T YOU THAT THIS HAS LED DIRECTLY TO CHICAGO'S WRONGFUL CONVICTION CRISIS.

BECAUSE IF YOU ARE HELD IN AN INTERROGATIN AN INTERROGATION ROOM, AND YOU ARE SORT OF PRESSURED, PERHAPS BY A POLICE OFFICER, THERE'S NO WAY FOR YOU TO REACH OUT TO A LAWYER FOR HELP IF YOU CAN'T USE A TELEPHONE CALL.

AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR THIS IS A SEPE A SEPARATE CONSENT DECREE AS OPD AS OPPOSED TO THE ONE ISSUED IN.

SO THAT TELLS YOU JUST HOW DEEPY HOW DEEPLY THESE ISSUES RUN.

AND THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT ONLY RE ONLY REQUIRE PEOPLE TO GET ACCESS TO A PHONE CALL NO LATER THAN THREE HOURS AFTER THEY'RE DETAINED.

THEY'LL GET THREE PHONE CALLS IN THAT THREE-HOUR PERIOD BECAUSE THAT'S A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.

THAS OF TIME.

THAT'S A PART OF THE NEW CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAW.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, NOT JUST, JUST CHICAGO, BUT THIS WILL BE E CHANGE AS A PART OF THE SAFETY .

>> RIGHT.

THIS REALLY COMES AS A RESULT OF THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS IN JUNE OF 2020.

THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ARRESTED AND HELD WITHOUT ACCESS TO A PHONE CALL.

THE COOK COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDERS OE DEFENDERS OFFICE WAS ABLE TO DOCUMENT THAT.

THEY BROUGHT THE CITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THE TABLE ON THIS.

>> AND IN THAT DOCUMENTATION, P. HOW WILL THIS BE MONITORED?

HOW WILL WE KNOW IF CPD IS IN COMPE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THAT?

>> THAT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTIONS GOOD QUESTION.

IT'S SOMETHING THE INSPECTOR GENERAL HAS BEEN FOLLOWING.

WE INTERVIEWED SOMEONE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.S YEARS AGO.

WAS COERCED INTO A FALSE CONFESSION AND THEY NEVER GOT A PHONE CALL WITHIN THE FIRST 48 HOURS.

THAT'S YOUR BASIC RIGHT.

BUT ALSO YOU'RE TAKEN AWAY, YOU MIGHT HAVE FAMILY, YOU NEED TO CHECK IN O.

THERE'S SO MANY REASONS WHY THIS THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.

I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE.

I THINK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS TO REPORT THIS.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT WHAT IS THE RESOURCE IF S IF IT'S NOT FOLLOWED?

>> WELL NOW THEY CAN GO TO A JUE A JUDGE AND SAY LOOK, THEY'RE NOT LIVING UP TO THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT, SANCTION THEM, ORDER THEM TO DO BETTER.

THAT'S THE MECHANISM OF A CONSENT DECREE.

IT IS REALLY ADVOCATES, REFORM ADVOCATES BEST SHOT AT MAKING CHICAGO POLICE LIVE UP O UP TO THE LETTER OF WHAT THEY'VE AGREED TO DO.

>> AND A PART OF THIS HEATHER AD HEATHER AND I WERE TALKING ABOU, A PART OF THE BILL IS YOU HAVE TO PUT A SIGN UP IN POLICE STATIONS INFORMING YOU OF YOUR RIGHTS.

>> A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL.

>> A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL FOR AC A PUBLIC DEFENDER, ALL THAT STU.

>> YES, IF OFFICERS ARE NOT CONY ARE NOT CONVENIENTLY GIVING IT TO THEM.

AMANDA, A LITTLE BIT OF TIME LEFT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT.

DEMOCRATS HOLD A 4-3 EDGE.

POLITICAL OBSERVERS THINK REPUBLICANS MIGHT WIN A MAJORITY OF COURT IN NOVEMBER.

IN 45 SECONDS, WHY DO YOU THINK THE MAJORITY IS VULNERABLE?

>> AND THERE IS MORE ON THIS ONO ON CHICAGO TRYING TO COVER THES.

TRYING TO COVER THESE THINGS.

BUT LONG SHOT IS THERE IS A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO ESSENTIALLY WIN.

THEY JUST HAVE TO RUN FORN FOR RETENTION VERSES A MORE CAN, MORE CANDIDATE, THE CANDIDATE F. AND SO THAT IS WHERE THERE IS AE A RARE OPPORTUNITY.

YOU REALLY JUST HAVE TO WIN THESE TWO SEATS IN SORT OF PURPLE AREAS.

>> GOT IT.

THANKS, EVERYBODY.

GD EVERYBODY.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

PARIS, HEATHER, AMANDA IN THE CHICAGO STUDIO.

> >> HE WAS JUST 22 YEARS OLD WHEN HE LAUNCHED THE CHICAGO INTERNL CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTL FILM FEST.

MICHAEL KUTZA WAS ASKED TO LIE ABOUT HIS AGE TO E TO MAKE HIM SEEM OLDER AND MORE EXPERIENCED.

WITH THE HELP OF T A SILENT FILM STAR AND LATER WITH A LITTLE ASSISTANCE FROM A FROM SOPHIA LORIN, JACK NICHOLSON, OTHERS, HE CREATED A FILM FESTIVAL THAT BROUGHT THE WORLD TO CHICAGO.

NOW HE'S WRITTEN HIS LIFE STORY IN A NEW MEMOIR.

PRODUCER MARK VITALE MET HIM ON HOW HE TRANSFORMED THIS DESTINATION FOR FILM MAKES AND FANS.

>> Reporter: THE 1975 FILM TOOKE TOOK PLACE AT THE GRENADA THEATER WITH ALL THE STARS PRESENT.

IT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE VISION AND DETERMINATION OF ONE MAN WHO GREW UP ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE.

>> I WAS OBSESSED.

BEING A ONE-MAN SHOW, WHICH WAS WHAT I WAS, SAVING A LOT OF MONEY.

BUU OF MONEY.

BUT YOU GOT IT DONE THE WAY YOU WANTED TO GET IT D. IT TOOK A WHILE FOR ME TO LET TS GO.

BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE PERFECT AS I SAW IT TO BE PERF.

>> Reporter: THE WORLD PREMIERSD PREMIERS AND VISITS FROM SUPER STARS OF CINEMA ALL STARTED WITH HELP FROM SILENT FILM STAR COLLEEN MOORE, WHO HAD RETIRED IN CHICAGO.

COLUMNIST HERB INTD THEM.

THAT'S COLLEEN MOORE ON TE ON THE LEFT AT PUMP ROOM WITH MICHAEL AND THE LEGENDARY ACTRS LEGENDARY ACTRESS LILLIAN GISH.

>> SOME OF THE EARLY DIRECTORS D DIRECTORS AND THE STARS FROM COLLEEN.

I PUT A NEW SPARK IN HER LIFE.

THAT IS HOW I WOULD BE, I WOULD MEET LILLIAN GISH AT LUNCH.

>> KUTZA DOESN'T LEAVE MANY STOS MANY STORIES IN HIS MEMOIR, "STAR STRUCK."

HE SHOWED US AROUND HIS HOME OF MEMORABILIA, AND HOW TO HANDLE UNPREDICTABLE MOVIE STARS.

>> YOU TAKE SIX MONTHS, YOU FINE FIND THE FILMS, ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THEN YOU PUT THEM TOGETHER, AND YOU PUT IT TOGETHER.

AND THEN YOU'RE FACED WITH THESE DIRECTORS THAT YOU INVITED HERE.

AND THEN SUDDENLY YOU REALIZE IT IS MORE THAN JUST INVITING THEM TO CHICAGO.Y NEED A CERTAIN KIND OF WINE IN THE CAR.

THEY NEED PEPSI-COLA., PEPSI-COLA.

WELL, YOU KNOW, JACK NICHOLSON IS ALWAYS SMOKING A JOINT, SO HE IS ALWAYS HIGH.

HS HIGH.

HE'S EASY TO DEAL WITH BACK IN THOSE DAYS.

I RESPECT THE TALENT, I'M A FAN.

AND I BELIEVE IN HONORING THE TALENTS AND THE FILM INDUSTRY.

WE BROUT THEM ALL HERE.

>> Reporter: HE DESIGNED THE FIT THE FIRST FILM GRAPHICS AND HIRD VICTOR SCREBNISKY TO ADD SEX AP.

KUTZA REMAINS THE CEO OF THE FEL THE FESTIVAL HE FOUNDED MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO.

HE'S HAD HIS HAND IN MANY FESTIVALS AROUND THE WORLD.

>> I WAS WORKING FOR BERLIN FOR2 FOR 12 YEARS, AND ITALY IN 10 YEARS, AND THE VENICE FESTIVALI FESTIVAL.

I HELPED PROGRAMMERS GET A STAR THERE.

I TOOK ROGER EBRIS TO HIS FIRST FILM FESTIVAL IN IRAN BECAUSE I WAS WORKING IN IRAN.

>> JOHN WICK CAN BE PRETTY NASTO NASTY TOO WHEN YOU WANT HIM TO BE.

>> Reporter: THE CHICAGO FILM FL FILM FESTIVAL HAS PRESENTED FIRT FILMS FROM FILM MAKERS FROM ALLR ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AND MICHAEL KUTZA HAS MADE A LOT OF FAMOUS FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY.

HIS LIFE STORY WOULD MAKE A HECK OF A MOVIE.

>> THE BOOK IS A LEGACY.

THE BOOK IS MY STORY.

I'VE CERTAINLY ENJOYED THE RIDE, AND I WANT OTHERS TO KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE.

THE UPS AND DOWNS OF PUTTING TOGETHER SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE DREAMS OF PUTTING TOGETHER SOMETHING.

WHETHER IT IS THEATER, DANCE, OPERA, OR FILMT FILM.

IT ISN'T EASY, BUT IT'S WORTH IT.

>> Reporter: FOR "CHICAGO TONIG" "CHICAGO TONIGHT," THIS IS MARK.

>> MICHAEL KUTZA'S BOOK, úSTAR " úSTAR STRUCK" WAS JUST RELEASEDE RELEASED.

THE FILM FESTIVAL LAUNCHES ONE WEEK TONIGHT WITHA WITH A BLOCK PARTY IN FRONT OF THE MUSIC THEATER.

THERE IS MOE THERE IS MORE TO SEE ON OUR WEBE OUR WEBSITE INCLUDING KUTZA'S SS KUTZA'S STORIES ABOUT HIS ENCOUNTERS WITH MAYOR RICHARD DALY AND MARGARET AND TOM CRUISE AMONG OTHERS.

WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER .

THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

> >> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POY MADE POSSIBLY IN PART BY ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE JIM AND KAY NAVY FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION, AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DOE NO, S. OF THESE DOE NO, SIR.

> >> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THISY THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORT NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING.

YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW ONT ON PODCAST OR THE PBS PODCAST APP.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00.

A LOOK AT HOUSING AND PRESERVATION EFFORTS IN THE HYDE PARK COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A LIVE REPORT AS A PART OF IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

> >> AND THE FOURTH INSTALLMENT OF OUR PERMANENT PUNISHMENT SERIES ON GETTING CRIMINAL RECORDS CL.

> >> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CO AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT,."

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

HAVE A GREAT.

SAFE.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.