>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

DELTA-T HEMP HAVE SEEN A SURGE OF POPULARITY BUT A CHICAGO ORDINANCE COULD MEAN A BUZZ KILL FOR THE BUDDING INDUSTRY.

>>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON A DEAL THAT WOULD PHASE OUT TIPPED MINIMUM WAGE IN CHICAGO.

>> SHOWING MY CULTURE TO EVERYONE.

>>> AND MEET A LOCAL MOM KEEPING A MEXICAN TRADITION ALIVE , ONE STEP AT A TIME.

>>> NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

THE CITY IS SUING CHEMICAL GIANT MONSANTO FOR ALLEGEDLY POISONING CHICAGO'S GROUNDWATER AND AIR.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON ANNOUNCED THE LAWSUIT TODAY, PAINTING ON CENTO IS RELEASING PCBS INTO THE AIR, SOIL AND WATERWAYS OF THE CITY.

PCBS ARE TOXIC CONTAMINANTS THAT CAUSE DAMAGE AND HUMAN HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

JOHNSON ALLEGES MONSANTO KNEW ABOUT THE HEALTH RISK AND MISLED THE PUBLIC AND IS SEEKING DAMAGES TO COVER CLEANUP COSTS FOR GETTING THOSE CHEMICALS OUT OF CHICAGO'S WATERWAYS.

>>> SOUTH SUBURBAN NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCED A SO-CALLED 500 YEAR FLOOD EVENT DURING STORMS OVER THE WEEKEND, LEAVING THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE STRETCHED THIN.

THE CALUMET CITY ENGINEER SAYS THE CITY SAW 9.5 INCHES OF RAIN IN JUST OVER 2 1/2 HOURS IN A VERY LOCALIZED AREA.

AS A RESULT, RAINFALL CAUSED SUBMERGED VEHICLES AND FLOODED BASEMENTS.

THE CALUMET CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT RESPONDED TO 87 CALLS FOR HELP AND CITY OFFICIALS DETAILED NEXT STEPS IN RECOVERY AND A TRADES.

MAYOR THADDEUS JONES WAS CRITICAL OF CITY OLDER PEOPLE.

>> TODAY IS ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDED TO OUR RESIDENTS AND IN SOME CASES FREE TOWING.

IN A LOT OF CASES OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT GOING OUT, SAVING OUR RESIDENTS, BUT THAT'S WHAT THIS CITY IS ABOUT.

>> A CHICAGO BUSINESS AND PHILANTHROPIC LEADER IS NOW A U.S. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR UKRAINIAN ECONOMIC RECOVERY.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN APPOINTED FORMER OBAMA COMMERCE SECRETARY PENNY PRITZKER TO THE NEW POST.

PRITZKER WILL BE IN CHARGE OF BUSINESS INVESTMENT IN UKRAINE AS WELL AS WORKING WITH UKRAINE'S GOVERNMENT ON ITS RECOVERY.

THE APPOINTMENT WAS MADE LAST WEEK BY THE PRESIDENT BUT TODAY UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY THANKED PRITZKER AND CONGRATULATED HER ON THIS NEW POST.

>>> PUBLIC SCHOOLS EMPLOYEES ARE STARTING THE SCHOOL YEAR OFF WITH UP TO 12 WEEKS OF PAID PARENTAL LEAVE FOR BOTH BIRTHING AND NON-BIRTHING PARENTS.

THE CHICAGO BOARD OF EDUCATION IS SENT TO APPROVE A PLAN NEXT WEEK NOW THAT A JOINT WORKING GROUP BETWEEN THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION AND CPS HAS TWEAKED THE POLICY.

UNTIL NOW, BIRTHING PARENTS RECEIVED 6 TO 8 WEEKS OF SHORT-TERM DISABILITY LEAVE AND NON-BIRTHING PARENTS SUCH AS ADOPTIVE PARENTS RECEIVED TWO WEEKS OF PAID LEAVE.

THE CHANGE BRINGS CPS EMPLOYEES UP TO PAR WITH OTHER CITY WORKERS.

>>> THE BEARS, MY GOODNESS.

THE BEARS.

MORE TURMOIL ABOUT HOW THIS ALL.

AFTER A DISASTROUS 0-2 START TO THE SEASON, THE TEAM CONFIRMS THAT DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR ALAN WILLIAMS HAS RESIGNED EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

WILLIAM SUBMITTED HIS RESIGNATION IN A LETTER, CLAIMING HE NEEDED TO STEP BACK TO TAKE CARE OF HIS HEALTH.

WILLIAMS MISSED LAST WEEK'S GAME IN TOWN OF.

HEAD COACH MATT EBERFLUS TOOK OVER DEFENSIVE PLAYCALLING BUT THE RESULTS WERE STILL THE SAME.

>> POUR BEARS FANS.

>>> COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THE FUTURE OF TIPPING AND RESTAURANTS.

>> FIRST THE BATTLE BETWEEN LEGAL CANNABIS AND THE UNREGULATED, SO-CALLED DELTA-T. THAT'S RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS, THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY, THE KOCH BROTHERS FOUNDATION, AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> TO OPEN A Wii DISPENSARY, ONE MUST PAY FOR A LICENSE, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN FEES AND RIGOROUS REGULATION.

NOT SO FOR SOME ALTERNATIVE CANADA SHOPS THAT ARE OPENING UP ACROSS THE CITY, AND SORT OF OPERATING OUTSIDE THE BOUNDS OF THE LAW.

THAT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE SELLING A PRODUCT DERIVED FROM HEMP CALLED DELTA-T, WHICH HAS ALL THE SAME PROPERTIES AS THC MARIJUANA, TO BE PURCHASED IN CONVENIENCE STORES AND THERE ARE NO WAGE MINIMUMS FOR PURCHASE, UNLIKE TOBACCO OR ALCOHOL.

THERE REALLY ISN'T MUCH IN THE WAY OF REGULATION ON IT YET SO IT'S LIT UP A DEBATE ABOUT WHO CAN AND CAN'T SELL THESE PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES IN ILLINOIS.

HERE WITH MORE OUR SECOND WARD ALDERMAN BRIAN HOPKINS, SPONSOR OF AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD RESTRICT SALES OF DELTA-T TO LICENSED MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES, DEMOCRATIC LASHAWN FORD FROM THE EIGHTH DISTRICT INCLUDING THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO AND SOUTHWEST SUBURBS, CHARLES, OWNER OF THE WICKER PARK CAFE WHICH SELLS ITEMS FEATURING DELTA-T, AND KAREEM KENYATTA, CO-OWNER OF STAR BUDS MARIJUANA DISPENSARY IN RIVERSIDE AND BURBANK.

FASCINATING DEBATE.

CHARLES WU, YOU HAVE THIS BUCKTOWN SHOP.

YOU SELL DELTA-T INFUSED ROCKS LIKE SWEETS.

WHAT IS DELTA-T?

>> DELTA-T NOW STANDS FOR A VARIETY OF MINOR CANNABINOIDS THAT COME FROM THE PLANT AND IT IS VARIOUS FORMS OF THC .

YOU CAN IMAGINE NORMAL THC VODKA, AND WE HAVE WINE, WE HAVE SULSER, WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

>> IT'S COMING FROM HEMP AND OTHER THC CANNABIS IS COMING FROM MARIJUANA, BUT THE SAME PROPERTIES HERE.

ALDERMAN HOPKINS, DELTA-T GETS ONE HIGH LIKE LEGAL WEED WOULD SO WHY NO REGULATIONS FOR THESE PRODUCTS YET?

>> BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE LESS THAN .3% OF THE ACTIVE PSYCHO PRODUCT IN WHATEVER IT IS YOU'RE SELLING, IT SHOULDN'T GET YOU HIGH.

IT'S A MICRO DOSE AND IT SHOULDN'T GET YOU HIGH.

THE PROBLEM IS A LOT OF THESE UNREGULATED PRODUCTS HAVE FOUND WAYS TO ENHANCE THE TOXIC EFFECT OF THEIR PRODUCT AND PEOPLE ARE BUYING THESE THINGS, NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT THE ADDITIVES MIGHT BE.

>> THIS IS WHAT'S NOT REGULATED YET, THAT KAREEM KENYATTA IS SELLING, WHO HAD TO GO THROUGH ALL THE HOOPS TO OPEN A LEGAL CANNABIS DISPENSARY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SOME OF THESE DELTA-T SHOPS?

>> SINCE CANNABIS HAS CHANGED EFFECTIVE IN 2020, AS AN OPERATOR WE'VE HAD TO OVERCOME OBSTACLE AFTER OBSTACLE AND PAY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BEFORE WE WERE EVEN ABLE TO OPEN OUR DOOR, TO MAKE OUR FIRST SALE.

SO AS WE SIT HERE TODAY AND WE TALK ABOUT THESE DELTA-T SHOPS WHO CAN OPEN BASICALLY BY JUST PAYING A FEE TO THE CITY, AND DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH ANY OF THE REGULATIONS, DON'T HAVE TO COMPLY WITH ZONING OR INSTALL SECURITY SYSTEMS THE SAME WAY WE DO, IT REALLY SETS UP A DISADVANTAGE FOR THE SAME OPERATORS, THAT WHEN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS PAST OF THIS, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE.

THESE ARE OPERATORS THAT CAME FROM DISPROPORTIONATE LY IMPACTED AREAS, AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE WAR ON DRUGS, AND NOT TO MENTION A THIRD OF OUR TAXES GO BACK INTO THESE COMMUNITIES THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS.

>> YOU'RE TRYING TO KIND OF SET UP A FRAMEWORK WHERE THESE DELTA-T SHOPS CAN COEXIST WITH LEGAL WEED, SO WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> WE CAN'T HAVE POOR VISION.

WE KNOW POOR VISION JUST DOESN'T WORK AND I THINK THAT KAREEM WOULD WANT TO ACTUALLY BAN IT, AND WE DON'T WANT TO BAN IT.

WE WANT TO REGULATE IT SO THAT IT'S SAFE, SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY TAX IT AND REGULATE ITS.

THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT.

THIS IS A FREE ENTERPRISE.

GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO SET UP REGULATIONS FOR THE BUSINESSES TO THRIVE, LIKE CHARLES.

>> IS THIS PRODUCT SAFE?

MENTIONING THAT THERE ARE ADDITIVES AND THINGS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT SO THEY'RE GOING TO YOUR STORE, ARE THEY GETTING A PRODUCT THEY KNOW IS SAFE, EVEN THOUGH THERE REALLY ISN'T STATEWIDE REGULATION ON THAT?

>> IN OUR CASE WE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FROM 2021 TO PUT IN ROBUST REGULATIONS, WHICH INCLUDE MINIMUM AGE, TESTING, AND LABELING TO PREVENT MINORS FROM BEING -- FROM BUYING THE PRODUCTS.

IN OUR CASE WE RUN THROUGH A VERY RIGOROUS TESTING PROCESS.

OUR TESTING STANDARDS ARE SIMILAR, PERHAPS MORE STRINGENT THAN WHAT CANNABIS HAS DONE, AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE ARE BIG OPPONENTS AND SUPPORTERS OF REP FORD'S BILL IS IT LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD SO THAT PEOPLE LIKE KAREEM CANNOT COMPLAIN THAT WE HAVE UNFAIR ADVANTAGE OVER THEM IN THE MARKET.

>> TRYING TO INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE AT THE CITY LEVEL, WHAT WOULD YOUR REGULATIONS DO?

>> MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO OUTRIGHT BAN THESE PRODUCTS BUT INSTEAD WHAT I'M DOING IS SUGGESTING THAT THESE PRODUCTS CAN ONLY BE SOLD IN A LICENSED DISPENSARY.

IF YOU'RE A LICENSED DISPENSARY IT MEANS YOU WENT THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS.

IT MEANS YOU APPLIED WITH 650 PAGES OF STATE REGULATIONS.

YOUR PRODUCT IS INSPECTED EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, FROM THE SEED, TO THE PLANT, TO DISTRIBUTION.

WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S IN IT AND IT'S HEAVILY TAXED, AS MOST REGULATED BUSINESSES ARE, AND YOU HAVE TO COMPLY WITH ALL OF THE RULES FOR REMOVING THESE DELTA-T PRODUCTS, UNDER MY ORDINANCE, INTO THAT REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT, AND I BELIEVE IT WILL BE A DE FACTO BAN BECAUSE MOST OF THE LICENSED DISPENSARIES WHO WENT THROUGH ALL OF THIS TROUBLE TO GET THEIR PERMITS AND THEIR LICENSE WON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THESE DELTA 8 PRODUCTS.

>> YOU BROUGHT SOME SAMPLES BECAUSE YOU ARE UPSET ABOUT THE MARKETING HERE OF THESE PACKS.

CHEETOS, SKITTLES, IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING KIDS WOULD WANT TO BUY AND MAYBE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE EATING INTO.

>> IT ABSOLUTELY DOES AND THIS IS HOW THE ISSUE FIRST CAME TO MIND.

I HAVE NEW -- TWO EMERGENCY ROOMS IN MY WARD AND I'M HEARING FROM DOCTORS AND NURSES WHO ARE SEEING A DISTURBING INCREASE IN CHILDREN WHO ARE REPORTING TO THEIR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS WITH CANNABIS TOXICITY.

THEY'VE CONSUMED TOO MUCH OF THIS PRODUCT, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IF YOU'RE A CHILD, YOU'RE A 12-YEAR-OLD, YOU THINK THIS IS CANDY.

YOU THINK THIS IS A GAME, AND BECAUSE IT'S AN EDITABLE PRODUCT, THE DELAY AFTER YOU TAKE ONE OR TWO, YOU DON'T FEEL ANY INTOXICANT IN EFFECT UNTIL A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER AND YOU MIGHT BE TAKING MORE, AND YOU WIND UP IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

>> I THINK YOU SAID BEFORE WE WENT ON THAT YOU THINK THERE SHOULD BE REGULATED AND OUTLAWED, TOO.

KAREEM KENYATTA, FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE LEGAL CANNABIS STORES, WHAT WOULD YOU TOLERATE IN TERMS OF DELTA 8 BEING ALLOWED TO BE SOLD?

>> I THINK WE'VE ALREADY CREATED THE CANNABIS REGULATION AND TAX ACT IN ORDER TO SELL PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN THC, AND TO ME, WE DON'T NEED TO CREATE A SECONDARY MARKET.

THE POINT OF CREATING THE CANNABIS REGULATION AND TAX ACT WAS TO CAPTURE THESE PRODUCTS, TO SAY THAT WE NOW NEED TO CREATE A SECONDARY MARKET AND GO AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE BUILT INTO SOCIAL EQUITY AND ALL THIS DIVERSITY THAT'S BEEN CREATED, WE NOW HAVE BLACK AND BROWN OPERATORS THAT HAVE JUST BECOME OPERATIONAL.

AND AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS OUR BIGGEST THREAT BECAUSE IT TAKES US ALMOST $1 MILLION JUST TO OPERATE AND OWN ONE STORE.

THESE OPERATORS CAN OPEN UP A TOBACCO SHOP RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM MINE FOR A FRACTION OF THE PRICE, AND I DON'T THINK ANY AMOUNT OF REGULATION WILL CHANGE THAT, AT THIS POINT.

>> YOU GUYS ARE OPENING A DELTA-T SHOP IN BURBANK, RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE TOWN NEXT TO OUR SHOP IN BRIDGEVIEW.

>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS, WOULD YOU FIND IT FAIR IF YOU AND OTHER DELTA 8 OPERATORS HAD TO GO THROUGH ALL THE HOOPS, GO THROUGH A LOTTERY, PAY THE KIND OF LICENSE FEES, IS THAT A FAIR SOLUTION?

>> THE REGULATION THAT WE SUPPORT, THAT REP FORD HAS PUT TOGETHER, PUTS TOGETHER A VERY STRINGENT REQUIREMENT FROM A TESTING, FROM A LABELING, AND FROM A COMPLIANCE PERSPECTIVE.

THAT PUTS THEM ON PAR.

>> ANY OPERATOR -- >> WE DON'T SUPPORT THAT.

>> KAREEM, WE HAVE COME SO FAR IN AMERICA AND ILLINOIS, WHEN WE LIFTED THE BAN ON CANNABIS.

WE WANT TO GO BACK AND TURN BACK THE HANDS OF TIME AND START CRIMINALIZING, CREATING AN UNDERGROUND MARKET FOR DELTA.

JUST BECAUSE YOU BAN IT DOESN'T MEAN IT GOES AWAY.

WE NEED TO REGULATE IT AND TAX IT AND MAKE SURE -- >> ARE YOU SAYING IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT HIS INDUSTRY?

HE'S SAYING THEY HAD TO JUMP THROUGH SO MANY HOOPS TO GET STARTED.

>> FREE ENTERPRISE.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING TO AMERICA NOW, CROSSING AND WALKING MONTHS BECAUSE AMERICA IS A GREAT COUNTRY WHERE YOU CAN SET UP SHOP.

>> THEY AT LEAST HAD TO GO THROUGH THE SAME KIND OF APPARATUS.

>> IT HAPPENED IN OTHER STATES.

YOU LOOK AT FLORIDA.

FLORIDA IS LIKE ILLINOIS.

YOU'VE GOT 20 WHITE GUYS THAT ON THE FLORIDA MARKET.

IT'S A $2 MILLION MARKET.

YOU'VE GOT DELTA HAD MARKET THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

THERE ARE 10,000 BUSINESSES IN THERE AND THEY PROVIDED $4 BILLION OF ECONOMIC IMPACT.

MANY OF THOSE 10,000 BUSINESSES ARE MINORITY BUSINESSES, ARE SMALL BUSINESSES WHO STARTED, AND GUESS WHAT, THE 20 RICH GUYS THAT OWN THE CANNABIS MARKET, THEY ARE STILL GROWING.

THE GUYS IN CHARGE THAT RUN THIS BUSINESS, HE CAN STILL MAKE HIS MONEY.

CLEARLY HE DIDN'T DEBATE ALDERMAN HOPKINS WHERE THIS IS GOING TO GO IN THE CITY COUNCIL, WHERE THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR SUPPORT?

>> I TALKED TO THE CHAIRWOMAN OF THE HEALTH COMMITTEE.

SHE'S GOING TO HOLD A HEARING ON IT.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THIS AND THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES TO SORT OUT.

AT THE MEANTIME, SHOULD CONTINUE TO PRESENT AT THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WITH CANNABIS TOXICITY AND RELATED ADVERSE FAX FROM TAKING THESE SUBSTANCES.

I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE STOPPED FOR SOMEBODY DIES, WHICH ACTUALLY THERE WERE TWO CHILDREN WHO RECENTLY DIED IN PENNSYLVANIA FROM INGESTING THESE COMINGS AND IT IS PROBABLY JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS HERE.

WE HAD SOME SERIOUS MEDICAL REACTIONS TO THIS.

WE NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS NOW.

>> IF A KID HAS CANNABIS FROM THE SHOP THEY WILL HAVE THE SAME REACTION.

YOU CANNOT LET KIDS GRAB CANNABIS COUNTIES.

THEY WILL BE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, AS WELL.

IT'S A FACT THAT WE MUST REGULATE DELTA 8.

>> SINCE 21 THERE HAVE BEEN LAWS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO REGULATE THIS STUFF.

HIS BUSINESS PARTNER, WHO REPRESENTS THE CANNABIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, KILLED THE BILL IN '21, KILLED THE BILL IN 2022, KILLED THE BILL IN 2023.

THEIRS LEGISLATIVE MANEUVERINGS GOING ON.

>> IF WE SELL THOSE PRODUCTS IN OUR SHOP WE WOULD LOSE OUR LICENSE.

>> I APPRECIATE THE SPIRITED DEBATE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO KEEP FOLLOWING.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>>> AND UP NEXT, MAYOR JOHNSON CALLED A SPECIAL MEETING TO CONFIRM HIS PICK TO LEAD THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM UNPACKS THAT AND MUCH MORE AHEAD.

>> TIPPED WORKERS IN CHICAGO ARE NOW ONE STEP CLOSER .

MAYOR JOHNSON CONFIRMS A SPECIAL MEETING TO CONFIRM LARRY SNELLING AS CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT AND HOW THE CITY PLANS TO PROTECT SOUTH AND WEST SIDES FROM POLLUTION.

HERE WITH ALL THAT AND MORE IS OUR SPOTLIGHT HARRIS TAKES TEAM.

ENDORSING THE TIPPED MINIMUM WAGE PLAN WHERE ALL CHICAGO BUSINESSES ARE REQUIRED TO PAY THEIR WORKERS THE SAME MINIMUM HOURLY WAGE BY JULY 2028 REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY EARN TIPS.

THIS IF APPROVED BY THE FULL CITY COUNCIL NEXT MONTH, WHAT WAS THE COMPROMISE HERE?

>> ESSENTIALLY THE FIRST PROPOSAL FROM MAYOR JOHNSON AND HIS ALLIES WERE TWO-YEAR PHASE IN BUT THAT WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY PUSH RESTAURANTS OUT OF BUSINESS AND COST JOBS.

SO THE COMPROMISE IS THE FIVE-YEAR PHASE IN EACH YEAR STARTING IN 2024, TIPPED WORKERS WILL SEE THEIR PAYCHECK RISE BY AT LEAST 8%.

SO THAT IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT WAY FOR PEOPLE THAT MAYOR JOHNSON SAYS ARE UNDERPAID AND SUBJECT TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND OTHER ABUSE FROM CUSTOMERS.

SO THEY GET TIPS THAT MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MINIMUM WAGE OF $15 IN EACH SENSE AND THE TIPPED MINIMUM WAGE, WHICH IS ONLY $9.48.

>> WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT THE MAYOR'S COLLABORATIVE APPROACH?

>> IF IT IS APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 4th IT WILL REPRESENT A MAJOR VICTORY OF HIS APPROACH TO GOVERNANCE OVER COLLABORATIONS, OVER CONFRONTATION.

MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE HE HAD THE VOTES FOR THAT TWO-YEAR PHASE IN BUT IT WOULD'VE MEANT A KNOCKDOWN, DRAG OUT FIGHT WITH INDUSTRY.

INSTEAD HE AGREES TO A FIVE-YEAR PHASE IN.

EVERYBODY SINGS COMBINED.

EVERYBODY IS HAPPY AND THE MAYOR GETS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT HE'S GOING TO GOVERN DIFFERENTLY THAN ANY OTHER MAYOR IN THE PAST, COLLABORATIVELY, NOT AS A DICTATOR.

>> HOW ARE TIPPED WORKERS, RESTAURANTS, HOW ARE THEY FEELING ABOUT THIS?

>> RESTAURANTS IDEALLY DON'T WANT THESE CHANGES TO TAKE PLACE.

HEATHER SAID THEY ARE HAPPIER ABOUT THE LONGER PHASE IN AND IT IS A NICE JOB THAT HE GAVE TO THEM TO PERHAPS CREATE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP GOING FORWARD WHEN OTHER THINGS COME UP .

TIPPED WORKERS PROBABLY ARE IN FAVOR, ALTHOUGH I THINK WE HEARD ONE TIPPED WORKER TESTIFY IN CITY COUNCIL THAT WASN'T IN FAVOR, SAYING HEY, I WORK REALLY HARD FOR MY TIPS.

I DON'T WANT SOMEONE COMING HERE THINKING THAT NOW I MAKE THIS HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ME SO MUCH.

I DON'T WORK FOR MINIMUM WAGE.

I WORK FOR TIPS AND I MAKE LOTS OF THEM.

COULD THIS CONVERSELY LEAD TO PEOPLE TYPING LESS AND WITH RESTAURANTS COULD IT LEAD TO PASSING ON THE COST TO CUSTOMERS?

WE HAVE FIVE YEARS TO REALLY ABSORB IT AND FIGURE IT OUT.

>> IN OTHER BIG CITY COUNCIL NEWS, HEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTING THAT JOHNSON HAS CALLED A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY TO CONFIRM CHICAGO POLICE CHIEF LARRY SNELLING TO LEAD THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BEFORE THAT, SNELLING HAS A CONFIRMATION HEARING THIS FRIDAY.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT THERE?

>> HE'S GOING TO FACE POINTED QUESTIONS ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES, BUT THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST CHANCE FOR PROGRESSIVE ALDER PEOPLE TO PUSH HIM ON HOW HE'S GOING TO COMPLY WITH THIS CONSENT DECREE, WHICH OF COURSE REQUIRES THE CITY TO REFORM ITSELF AND IS FAR BEHIND SCHEDULE.

HE'S ALSO GOING TO FACE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET, WHICH WAS $1.9 BILLION IN 2023.

HE'S ALSO GOING TO FACE QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS OWN DISCIPLINARY HISTORY AND WHETHER THAT WILL BE A STUMBLING BLOCK, I THINK POTENTIAL FOR SAMA ALDER PEOPLE, BUT THERE IS NOT A REASON JOHNSON CALLED A CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR WEDNESDAY AFTER THE FRIDAY.

NOBODY EXPECTS ANY SIGNIFICANT OPPOSITION TO LARRY SNELLING, WHO IS WELL LIKED AND WELL KNOWN TO THESE ALDER PEOPLE.

>> WHAT WILL TODAY'S MEETING CONSIST OF?

>> THAT VOTE.

JUST THE CONFIRMATION OF LARRY SNELLING.

VERY UNUSUAL FOR A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO BE CALLED FOR JUST ONE ITEM, BUT PERHAPS MAYOR JOHNSON MISSED THEM AND WANTS TO SEE THEM AGAIN.

>> SINCE GOVERNING IS GOING SO WELL.

THIS IS THE FIRST OFFICIAL WEEK OF ILLINOIS COURTROOMS IMPLEMENTING THE ELIMINATION OF CASH BAIL UNDER THE PRETRIAL FAIRNESS ACT .

>> WE HEARD FROM COOK COUNTY STATES ATTORNEY KIM FOX, WE HEARD FROM LAKE COUNTY STATES ATTORNEY ERIC RINEHART ON THIS PROGRAM ON MONDAY AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE AN EXTRA NINE MONTHS NOW FROM WHEN THEY ORIGINALLY WERE PREPARED TO ROLL THIS OUT SO THAT'S NINE MORE MONTHS AS THESE COURT CHALLENGES PLAY OUT TO REALLY FULLY PREPARE AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANY REAL STORIES, DELAYS IN BOND COURT.

THERE'S THIS EXTRA STEP NOW THAT IF YOU ARE RECOMMENDING DETENTION WITHOUT BAIL THAT YOU HAVE TO GO TO THAT DETENTION HEARING.

THEY HAVE STAFFED UP FOR THAT.

THEY'RE READY FOR IT.

WE ARE NOT HEARING THAT THINGS ARE GETTING DELAYED BUT THIS IS THE VERY BEGINNING OF A VERY LONG PROCESS TO IMPLEMENT THIS, SO WE HAVE TO KEEP WATCHING IT.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT CUMULATIVE IMPACT.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT 45 SECONDS.

CHICAGO RELEASED ITS FIRST CUMULATIVE IMPACT ASSESSMENT THIS WEEK, ANALYZING THE BURDEN THAT AIR, WATER, SOIL POLLUTION INFLUENCE PARTICULARLY ON SOUTH AND WEST SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS.

IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS WHAT IS JOHNSON GOT TO DO ABOUT IT?

>> IT WASN'T A SURPRISE TO ANYONE.

OF COURSE THE SOUTH AND THE WEST SIDE IS HEAVILY BURDENED BY AIR AND WATER POLLUTION.

THIS REPORT WAS REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT OF CHARGES THAT RESULTED FROM THE GENERAL IRON MOVED FROM LINCOLN PARK TO THE SOUTHEAST SIDE, SO THIS NOW GIVES JOHNSON AMMUNITION TO GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND ASK FOR MORE TOUGHER RULES FOR POLLUTING BUSINESSES.

>> ENVIRONMENTALISTS, ACTIVISTS, WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN SAYING ABOUT THIS?

WHAT'S THEIR REACTION?

>> POSITIVELY MORE MONEY FOR MEDICATION AND PERHAPS ZONING DECISIONS THAT DON'T PUT RESIDENTIAL AREAS IN THESE INDUSTRIAL AREAS.

THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH, ESPECIALLY ON THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST SIDE, THAT I'M SURE THEY'RE NOT READY TO PUT ALL THE TRUST IN GOVERNMENT QUITE YET AND THEY HAVE TO SEE WHAT THIS COMES OUT WITH.

>> SPOTLIGHT, HEATHER, PARIS, THANKS Y'ALL.

>>> UP NEXT, KEEPING A MEXICAN TRADITION ALIVE, ONE STEP AT A TIME.

BUT FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>>> AS PART OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH WE ARE TAKING YOU INSIDE A LOCAL DANCE STUDIO WORKING TO KEEP A MEXICAN TRADITION ALIVE.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT"'S EDWIN HERNANDEZ VISITS THE CITY'S NORTHWEST SIDE TO CHECK IT OUT .

>> Reporter: THEY ARE CARRYING ON THEIR TRADITION.

THIS GROUP OF YOUNG DANCERS ARE FILLED WITH JOY THROUGH EVERY STEP AND TURN.

>> IT'S LIKE SO SPECIAL BECAUSE LIKE ALL THESE DRESSES AND STUFF, THEY ARE LIKE SO BEAUTIFUL.

>> Reporter: ARIANNA HYMAN IS ONE OF 400 STUDENTS OF ALL AGES TAKING CLASSES AT THE BULLETS O'DELL FLORIDA CHICAGO.

>> PUTTING ON A SHOW FOR GREAT PEOPLE AND I LOVE THE STEPS THAT WE DO, AND I LOVE PERFORMING WITH MY GROUP.

>> Reporter: IT ALL STARTED AS AN IDEA FOR OWNER BELLA GUERRA.

>> WE WERE PREVIOUSLY LOOKING FOR A STUDIO AND WE REALIZED THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF CHICAGO, SO I STARTED IT OFF AS A KIDS ORGANIZATION.

AND WE QUICKLY OUTGREW IT SO WE ARE NOW IN THE STOREFRONT HERE.

>> THE TRADITIONAL FOLKLORIC DANCE IS MEANT TO EXPRESS THE SPIRIT AND MEXICAN CULTURE OF PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MOVEMENTS AND IS A.

>> IT'S A COMBINATION OF BALLET STEPS AND FOLKLORIC TRADITIONS FROM OUR COUNTRY, WHICH IS INFLUENCED BY THE EUROPEANS AND THE AFRICAN AND INDIGENOUS.

>> Reporter: THE DANCE STYLE CONSIST OF A LOT OF FOOTWORK, WORK THAT 12-YEAR-OLD LULU VASQUEZ SAYS SHE HAS FUN LEARNING.

>> I FEEL PROUD OF MYSELF AND I ALSO FEEL LIKE THAT CONFIDENCE IN ME.

I FEEL LIKE IF I'M IN THE FRONT I SMILE AND I JUST DO MY THING.

>> Reporter: THE DANCE ORGANIZATION HAS GIVEN THESE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM ALL ACROSS THE CITY AND STATE.

>> I CAN EXPRESS MY CULTURE HERE IN CHICAGO, LIKE WE COULDN'T BEFORE, BUT NOW I COULD.

>> Reporter: IT WAS TIME FOR A LESSON.

IT LOOKS EASIER THAN IT IS.

IT TAKES COORDINATION AND PRACTICE TO GET THE TECH WEEK DOWN.

AFTER A FEW DRILLS IT WAS TIME TO DANCE.

MEXICAN TRADITION ALIVE IS WHERE SHE SAID SHE FOUND HER PASSION TO GROW THE DANCE ORGANIZATION.

>> IT'S A LOT OF FUN AND I DO THIS OUT OF A LABOR OF LOVE, AND I KNOW ALL THE TEACHERS DO, TOO.

WE HAVE FIVE TEACHERS HERE.

IT'S JUST AMAZING THE WAY THE CULTURE HAS BROUGHT EVERYBODY TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: HOPING HER DAUGHTERS PASS IT DOWN TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

>> I'M GLAD THAT SHE MADE THIS ORGANIZATION AND SHE MADE IT SO EVERYONE CAN GET TOGETHER IN THE COMMUNITY.

TO SHOW YOUR CULTURE TO THE WORLD.

>> Reporter: FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT", I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> BALLET FOLKLORE DAY CHICAGO IS GOING ON IT WITH YOUR WITH MORE STUDENTS ENROLLING.

THE OWNER IS SEARCHING FOR A BIGGER STUDIO ON THE CITY'S NORTH SIDE .

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

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5:30 AND 10:00.

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

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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