>> Hello and thanks for joining us on Chicago tonight.

I'm Nick Blumberg.

Brandis Friedman has the evening off.

Here's what we're looking at.

>> When I ran for promise to transform a public education system.

A man of my word.

A news conference terms, contentious as the mayor announces his appointees for the Chicago Board of Education.

>> What it means for Chicago, Public Schools.

>> And that's where we kick things off tonight after a whirlwind several days, Mayor Brandon Johnson announces 6 new CPS board members.

The mayor's new choices for board seats are southeast side.

Environmental advocate old about Kyla blaze, chief of staff for Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar.

West side community activist Mary Gardner, Reverend Michel, a kind of Johnson, former CPS teacher and Chicago Teachers, Union member, Debora pope and former local school council chair Frank Niles.

Thomas, it comes on the heels of the full CPS board that Johnson handpicked stepping down on mask last week.

We'll have much more back story on this coming up and join us tomorrow night where we'll be with the mayor one-on-one here in the studio.

The U.S. Supreme Court turns away an appeal from R Kelly.

The disgraced musician appealed his 2022 conviction in Chicago for enticing minors for and producing images of child abuse.

Kelly's attorneys argue he shouldn't have face those charges because of the statute of limitations for the crimes.

Lower courts have rejected those arguments.

And today the high court declined to take on the case.

City's tourism agency says NASCAR economic impact soared this year.

The report out today from choose Chicago found an estimated 128 million dollars in activity generated by the street race, which it says is a 17% boost from last year.

More than half of that came from out of Towners who travel here for the event that analysis was handled handle rather by Temple University's Sports Industry Research Center and also noted an increase in the number of jobs supported and doing 10 In a statement, Mayor Johnson says he looks forward to the race returning next year.

Local leaders are marking the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel.

Governor JB Pritzker called for today to be a quote day when we all pray for peace, tweeting that it is past time to honor the innocent Palestinian and Israeli lives lost by securing the release of the hostages and implementing a cease-fire.

More than 41,000 people have been killed in Gaza over the past year, according to its Ministry of Health, Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says some 1200 Israelis have died.

The majority during last year's attack, according to the UN, thousands of people are likely buried under rubble in Gaza.

Up next, more details on the new board of Education appointees and what it all means for Chicago public schools.

That's right.

After this.

>> Chicago tonight is made possible in part by the Alexander and John Nichols family.

The gym and K maybe family.

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donors.

>> There are fresh faces coming soon to Chicago's board of Education as Mayor Brandon Johnson today announces a new appointments.

It comes just days after the full board announced their plans to step down and the move happens amid a tumultuous time between Johnson and Chicago.

Public Schools, CEO Pedro Martinez, who says he rejected the mayor's request that he resign and the district is currently negotiating a contract with the Chicago Teachers Union.

Here is a bit from today's fiery news conference with reporters where the mayor announced his picks.

>> Now understand that there are individuals that was to use as a political opportunity to sow seeds of doubt.

But make no mistake about it, I'm going to stand firm left foot to ensure that our students get what they deserve.

>> The city council can have as many hearings as they want.

There's only one person who has the authority by state to make appointments that.

And that's the mayor of Chicago.

And that's me.

>> Here to break down a busy few days are W T Tw News reporters Matt Masterson and Heather Sharon.

Good to see you both.

Matt, what exactly did the mayor announced today that air I was a quick turnaround for him just after Friday, 3 days ago in the full board, the 7 members announced their resignations.

He announced the 6 new names today.

>> Initially the mayor said all 7 would be picked today, but this is going to be the first batch of his going forward.

He said there is a 7th that's going to be named later and then once the bet the board expands, there's going to be more names that come in January.

But these 6, they remain nominees for now.

Johnson still says they're under a vetting process.

They still need to be fully appointed by him in his office before they can actually take over.

By the end of this month.

The board meet on October 24th.

The plan is to have them all in place by then.

>> Heather, as we saw that clip, you know, the mayor at times appearing defiant, frustrated today during this press conference.

Certainly you've covered him quite extensively.

Why do you think that was?

I mean, who who is this frustration directed at?

Well, he was interrupted by 2 different groups of protesters.

One, you know, sort of marking the anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel and calling for a cease-fire.

>> The other group called for Mayor Brandon Johnson to be fired because of his handling of the Chicago Public School district.

That is never an easy situation, especially when you're dealing with somewhat important questions, perhaps from the news media.

No one at least the mayor thought they were.

And the one I think that most seem to sort of frustrate him was about whether it was appropriate for him to now go to London to, you know, sort draw new businesses and go to the Bears game that there will be playing there.

Now, I think that was especially a touchy subject because the mayor has been accused of spending too much of his political capital in recent months to help the Bears get state funding in state subsidies to build a new stadium rather than focusing on what appears to be a very serious financial crisis for the Chicago Public Schools.

Yeah, one touchy issue on top of another.

at what we've been hearing from all the people since Friday's news that the board members intended to resign.

It was a bombshell announcement.

There's been plenty of concerns so far from both Johnsons, progressive allies and from his opponents, many of whom signed on to an open letter over the weekend calling for hearings on those resignations and more transparency from the mayor's office going forward.

>> They have expressed concerns about the district's instability about the wake of those destinations in Mayor Johnson's possible plan to take out the high interest, 300 million dollar loan to try and cover CPS costs.

>> There is currently a hearing on the books for later this week.

But as we heard from the mayor today, he's not very concerned with how that's going to affect his new board going forward, as he pointed out repeatedly, there is one person who can pick these Chicago school board members right It is him.

>> I mean, as you both mentioned, there is this major financial crunch facing the district and this pretty controversial plan to borrow.

There's also the issue of the relationship between Mayor Johnson and CEO Martinez mean Heather, do you think this seals Martinez's fate as the leader of the district will?

The board certainly has the authority to terminate Martinez's contracts and they can do it in one of 2 ways they can either say that they have caused to fire him and then Martinez, this dismissed immediately or they start.

What is the six-month transition to the next CEO now during that 6 months, Martinez would be paid to help whoever the new CEO of the district to sort of get under his or her feet.

It's not clear what the new board will do, but it's clear that even though Johnson and his allies sort of tried to depict the decision of old board to resign, they had so far sort not taking action against Martinez.

Even though Martinez said Johnson asked for his resignation.

And Matt, we mentioned this comes as the district is negotiating a new contract with the Chicago teachers union.

What if we heard from the CTU Union?

President States Navy get Davis.

Gates today said that he, too, is looking forward to working with this new board.

One of the members is a former C to Stafford.

>> But union leaders never really had many issues.

They were intending to stick with the previous board.

They got along.

Well, when they were appointed by Johnson last year in through their tenure, Davis congratulated them on their significant accomplishments during their tenure.

She thanked them for their work.

But as you point out, there are contract negotiations going on.

So much of a response to was pointed at Co Martinez about the issues that he needs to get accomplished to get a deal done about class sizes, staff shortages and the revenue that he's going to need to get this over the goal line contract.

>> And you mentioned, you know, the hope is to have these folks in place by the upcoming board meeting.

Do we know anything about the timeline for finding out who that 7th name is coming to?

Johnson didn't give much on who the other person could be.

If it would be somebody who stays on it doesn't seem like that's going to be the case or another person.

He said plenty of people are interested in this position.

Once the board expands after next month's elections, there will be 21 members.

He's going to pick 11 of those.

So he's going to have another batch of names.

He says he's going to release sometime this month will get the 7th he says they'll all be vetted.

Those 7 before this month's Board of Education meeting.

All right.

Well, much more to come in the coming weeks and months.

I'm sure Matt Masterson, Heather surround, thank you both very much.

And we've got much more on this story online at W T Tw Dot com Slash news.

Plus, we'll have reaction from lawmakers coming up.

So don't go anywhere.

And as we mentioned, mark your calendars for tomorrow night, just one day away where Mayor Brandon Johnson.

>> Will join us for a one-on-one.

>> Well, >> as we've been discussing, all 7 members of the Chicago Board of Education resigned on Friday, just 14 months after taking on the job.

And Mayor Brandon Johnson has already handpicked most of their replacements.

>> Thank you, Mayor.

I want to commend you for your leadership and look forward to continue to partner with you in the Senate.

>> We're going to build a world-class school district.

You will, because the vision of the state is cool is to leave our children behind fire teachers, fire teachers, assistance, fire, custodial workers, fire nurses, that is their vision.

My vision.

Is about building a system that works for everyone.

Imagine our schools down a pathway of new Discovery.

>> And as Heather and match just reported, this news follows growing tensions between the mayor and CPS CEO Pedro Martinez and the school boards in action on removing Martinez from the position.

Joining us with much more about this are Alderman Bill Conway of the 34th Ward, State representative and Williams of Chicago, 6th Ward Alderman William Hall and 25th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez.

Thank you all for joining us here.

A lot to cover mayor.

Johnson says his priority is ensuring stability on the board and sand that as we mentioned, that new hybrid elected appointed board taking over in January.

Alderman Hall.

Do you have any concerns that replacing the board as they're facing down this budget crunch as negotiations are ongoing, might not contribute to I think what will make instability worse is when people jobs this holiday season.

>> I think what will make instability worse and our neighborhoods, people not have an opportunity to make sure that the children have a decent Christmas.

And so for this board to sit there and say, hey, I don't want to participate in the loss of jobs in the back and forth between Pedro in his pandering in the public.

And so I think what we're witnessing right now is the mayor calling time out and doing his job is his job to make sure we have the best schools in the country.

And so if you want to call a timeout, let them into his job.

If he doesn't, then what we say months later when we lose jobs for people need jobs in the times that >> Well, in this conflict between, you know, the mayor and CEO Martinez has been, you know, pretty well out in public view lately.

Alderman Conway, do you expect the new appointees to to fire martinus on that?

It's been a it's been a stunning turn of events in the sense of the of board of Ed that was >> pushed out for not being willing to fire a fiscally responsible CEO.

And now presumably he's replace that board with his loyalists who will probably likely fire that CEO and take out the high interest loan that that he wants and frankly, in this city we've made so many fiscally irresponsible decisions we can't afford to make another one, which is why this is especially during a contract negotiation, such a terrible idea and terrible timing.

But what of that idea that, you know, without making some changes, folks could be facing down, you know, job losses.

We district.

We've spent a lot of time as a city kicking the can down the road here and to do that for a high interest loan, just seemingly doesn't make sense.

But because of all this chaos, we don't really have clear visibility into the books of the Chicago Public schools.

And that's why need to really look at and see how we can run.

This district is officially as we I think that, you know, sounds like high interest loans and emergency this that another listen.

This is what we call a job saving package.

We don't do this.

What do you say to those who lose jobs and again, at the end of the day, I'm listening for the alternative.

Pedro.

>> Pedro is yet to produce a plan that saves jobs and the times with inflation sky, we've got wars going on in the Middle instability in Washington, D.C., so say that to 1200 people.

This potential holiday season lose their jobs that we will bypass.

And we talk about swiping a credit card.

This is a good job saving decision that we don't even know yet.

Who says it is going to be this route again, political pandering and playing on fears is a tactic that we see Unfortunately, Republicans do as well.

>> Well, and you know, Representative Williams, he said shouldn't be any big decisions about the future of CPS until the new board is in place in January.

What are your concerns?

>> Well, since Friday, I've heard from so many constituents who are concerned about what happened with the board resigning en masse.

And yes, the mayor has the authority to appoint until vacancies, but they want to know what happened.

What were the decisions that were made that led us to this point that we lost the board in one fell swoop and more importantly, they want to know how we're going to move forward in a way that stable and minimizes disruptions for the Chicago Public Lopez.

How do you feel about the you know, the way this has played out the process in terms of determining who the new appointees to the board should when the like 7% of Williams mentioned, I think is important to know where what what is going from >> There's this cause the management of partners.

He'll violence in public schools, someone who issue toxic swaps 66666 million dollars in debt.

>> We have not paid to Wall Street.

That's where Wall Street is talking about in honor into that 1.5 billion dollars in debt from some of run for office.

Also things important to know how we got to point and they under funded and that all mentions.

I mean, very clear was an enduring board to begin with.

They would do a join statement.

These board what's got one more session left.

I think the do the right thing to do by allowing the next board.

I'm elected school board.

The Mayor Johnson tonight competing directly things clear because the press is that we have a very different because someone who was son of a public school teacher.

Simon, you know, majority of her students are Latino and black students who because 3,500 cuts for social workers for teachers, for people who need urgent need have direct impact in communities like I do think that is important again.

And I would be cautioned the state even think about with Ron or the 2015 is why would bother?

My whole said 20 take over majority.

Latino Black District I don't think is deeply offensive.

And again, I think is very important that we talk about how we got here.

This solution isolating the unit the November 3% of state income tax for millionaires making 1 million dollars so that we can be a property.

That's just of the solution say I don't disagree with Almond 6, a Lopez, our city clearly has a bad fiscal problem.

And that's exactly the reason why we can't proceed to take out another high interest loan and kick this can further down the road will.

And how about that question of of state oversight?

Representative Williams, what should the state's role be in all this should have won?

Well, first of all, no one said anything about a state takeover except a few of the mayor's allies that's never been suggested.

>> What we have done in the past are things that were like the CTA backed proposal that would provide that there were to be no major changes in school closures until the board was in place.

Likewise, this past session, thus of the Illinois House passed a bill to say no major overhaul.

The selective enrollment process until there is a partially elected board that does not seem unreasonable.

I was also an advocate for the fully elected board and we are moving in the direction of democracy.

This conversation isn't about that.

This is about accountability and communication and that's what voters need to respond to that because is a kind of ability, do think that we have an elected school board that is going to start people should continue to participate.

Parents, people from many teachers.

>> Because that's about accountability.

Something that Mayor Johnson even got arrested for south to some of scent.

to their kids public school.

Someone comes from the classroom like some of us who left the classroom.

Because of responsible decision of the best I do think is important about accountability.

The mayor is just coming up are too nutty and the city council to start cleaning up the mess that up because of station's done.

I do think is responsible to allow transition plan.

woman says I'm glad they're going take the plan because that's what I heard.

And I'm glad that we have given that up I want to mention as well.

You know, we got a statement this afternoon from see to President Stacy Davis, Gates, who said Chicago elected a mayor who promised to transform our school district to break with the failed cuts closings and furloughs of the past.

>> The Chicago teachers union looks forward to collaborating with the new board members to enact the transformation of our public schools that our students and educators need and deserve Alderman Hall.

Do you think that the previous board that the mayor appointed wasn't living up to that vision of transformation thing at the end of the day right now with this board was facing was a failed plan by Pedro, which procrastinated.

Yeah, you have to produce a plan.

>> Again as a son of the educated you sit in the back of Harlan said the back of South Shore again teaches of already sacrificed to the best of the ability you have teachers pay for schools to place a crisis because was trying to rob Peter to pay Paul to make sure the kids have access our walk through the hallways with a drill 2 weeks ago in which 40 year La Cruz was still malfunctioning in schools.

So again, with this board did not want to be responsible along with the mayor is for the 1200 job cuts on the horizon with Angels pandering plan.

>> Alderman Conway, you are among 41 older people who you know is signed on to an open letter calling on the mayor to hold a hearing before he announced any new pics and he responded by saying, you know, he's the one who has the ultimate authority under state law to appoint board members.

What do you hearing, you know, could have accomplished?

Well, I think what >> the mayor needs understand is that he, along with my 2 colleagues here are really on an island.

What we've seen from this administration is really just a lot of failed leadership, of course, especially over the last month from firing.

Is it a team to being rebuffed on the shot spotter votes to pushing back the budget presentation as well everything involving involving CPS.

And it's unfortunate to see that that lack of leadership.

I hope that he will eventually wake up and begin to leave the city respond is important to respond directly.

And got out of the Congolese have because I think what we have and city council these.

>> we had and 80's right is a had to.

29 kind leases to daisha nothing to trying to resurrect.

I think I called my all Conway agrees a majority of the city don't think the mayor has to come up with solutions.

I think that it like you just mentioned posing the mayor every turn even went on issue like these and injuring board.

But it's transitioned.

Are that the school board?

So unlike ultimate calm way, you know, most understand the community like ours will be heard directly.

But is this you things important that these new bird on it?

2029 that is a majority majority of of politics.

People who don't count.

>> It's taken joining us on solutions.

And I do think it's important.

my public talks was a solution people on the ground.

But, you know, I'm not willing to take in terms of that in terms of what the for those 41 people, they are ready to collaborate with this mayor.

He's going out of his way.

>> To do apparent.

It's a hurdle at 29 yards by the Council of my colleagues.

Do you think it is meant to be purely obstructionist in the way that the fertility 29 was or is this merely the council asserting the power the the cows of because I know the cause of have as many here is as we like to half.

>> But they might and pass.

They'll 40 and responsibly to appoint his members.

I think again, what we just talking his obstruction, officer, little truck shuns and distractions from the real issues, which is coming for me.

>> And I'm like to hear from all the state about 40 funded schools.

I would like to hear from Michael Vick's responsible solutions to address the we have.

2000 kids with calf don't have transportation to get to school.

We don't have the same luxury as Alderman Conway, the to come from an affluent family who the means to do it.

We don't do Where is the plane?

Again?

We have not seen a plan say jobs be make campuses investments that allow children to compete again.

Kids in Evanston live in a whole different world than kids.

Let's go back now.

Hallway, the hallways Edition.

remember, we have to take kids up to the other parts of south the shoreline to show them that these are campuses that you deserve and why are we fighting to keep kids from having campuses access to resources and the personnel needed to give them a five-star education and poor and black and brown neighborhoods.

What what's missing?

I think in this conversation tonight and I didn't hear in the press conference today.

>> is an acknowledgement that what happened on Friday with the board resigning en masse with no explanation is a crisis.

It's a crisis of leadership for the Chicago public school Mitchell and constituents.

Schools want in just a few inches tall and kids game what constituents have expressed concern and fear what we need to do pull together those 41 alderman and others have the conversation about how we can build consensus.

>> That is leading organization leading to lockout leak has been consistent with his fiscal could again to our credit woman, Jeanette Taylor has brought down CPS on many occasions to address this question.

Yeah, you have to produce a plan to save jobs, produce resources and make sure that we asked our schools in which he did For the first time you have a mayor that has 3 kids in public schools.

So the first board members are kids because his kids experiences are important to him as a parent.

any pair that has kids in public schools would do anything they can to make sure that the kids can compete.

It just so happens to be a black mayor who's doing whatever you can do to make sure that every kid can compete.

And that was the concern a concern with 50 schools got close.

What and for developing this, that investing in kids.

Nobody was concerned I'm thinking maybe all setback and allowed for the first time.

People got to say that enough is enough.

Let's invest in black and brown neighborhoods.

So the kids up and said I hate to interrupt, but we are running out of time.

We could talk about this for probably another half >> But I really appreciate you all being here and sharing your insights.

Alderman Conway, Representative Williams, Alderman Halderman, 60 Lopez, thank you very much.

Thank you.

And one note before we go, W t Tw is partnering with the Joyce Foundation and the City Club of Chicago for an event tomorrow entitled Teens, Social media and reducing gun violence.

A road map.

You can find more information on the city Club of Chicago's website.

And that's our show for this Monday night.

Be sure to sign up for our e-mail newsletter.

The Daily Chicago in that's a W t Tw Dot Com Slash newsletter and join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10, Randi 3 been will talk one-on-one Mayor Johnson about the situation at the Chicago Public Schools not point and state lawmakers on efforts to improve the Chicago area's public transportation systems and attract more riders.

Now for all of us here in Chicago tonight, I'm Nick Blumberg.

Thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe and have a good night.

>> Closed caption he's made possible by Robert a cliff and Clifford Mall.

This a personal