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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THEY SET US UP FOR FAILURE.

>> BLACK AND BROWN CANNABIS ENTREPRENEURS SAY THE STATE'S STANDING IN THE WAY OF THEIR BUSINESSES.

>> A CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ENCRYPTING ITS RADIO COMMUNICATIONS DELAYING INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON POLICE SCANNERS.

>> PLUS A NEW RULING FROM THE STATE SUPREME COURT ON CHICAGO WITHHOLDING NEARLY 50 YEARS OF POLICE MISCONDUCT FILES.

>> MY NAME IS NYDIA GONZALEZ-CRSON.

THIS COMMERCIAL IS INFORMATIONAL FOR YOU AND YOUR FUTURE CHILDREN.

>> THE MOTHER OF A TEEN KILLED IN A SHOOTING IS TEAMING UP WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS IN HOPES OF ENDING GUN VIOLENCE.

>> A PART OF WTTW'S FIRSTHAND SEGREGATION SERIES, WE LOOK AT WHY BLACK AND LATINO RESIDENTS DISPROPORTIONATELY THE SEVERALS OF THE LEAD PIPE PROGRAM.

>> PUERTO RICO IS THE FOCUS OF AN ART SHOW MAKING A RARE VISIT TO CHICAGO FROM THE ISLAND.

>> GEOFFREY BAER TO TALK TRASH IN TONIGHT'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> WE HAVE A PURPOSE.

AND IT IS TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY.

>> AND COFFEE, TACOS AND ART ARE WHAT A LOCAL COUPLE IS SERVING FROM INSIDE A MEXICAN GROCERY STORE.

BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> THE HOUSE COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING THE JANUARY 6TH ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITOL IS POSTPONING ITS NEXT HEARING THAT WAS SET FOR TOMORROW.

THE COMMITTEE SAYS THE POSTPONEMENT IS DUE TO HURRICANE IAN HEADING TOWARDS FLORIDA AFTER THE STORM MADE LANDFALL IN CUBA.

TOMORROW'S HEARING WAS EXPECTED TO REVEAL SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT THE COMMITTEE SAID THEY LEARNED THIS SUMMER.

A NEW DATE HAS NOT YET BEEN ANNOUNCED.

>> PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF ILLINOIS IS SOUNDING ALARMS OVER REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

THE ORGANIZATION AS WELL AS ILLINOIS DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS SAY THE REPUBLICANS' AGENDA FOR THE 118TH CONGRESS INCLUDES PLANS TO FEDERALLY CRIMINALIZE ABORTION.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD ILLINOIS PRESIDENT JENNIFER WELCH SAYS THE BAN WOULD SUPERSEDE THE ILLINOIS REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACT MEANING THEY WOULD NO LONGER BE ABLE TO OFFER ABORTION SERVICES.

>> OUR OPPONENTS DEMONSTRATED THIS IS NOT ABOUT STATE'S RIGHTS AS THEY CLAIMED ALL ALONG.

THIS IS ABOUT CONTROL.

THEY'VE PROMISED THAT THEY WON'T STOP UNTIL ABORTION IS BANNED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> WELCH SAYS PLANNED PARENTHOOD SERVED MORE OUT OF STATE PATIENTS IN AUGUST THAN EVER BEFORE.

>> FLIGHT ATTENDANTS PROTEST OUTSIDE TWO AIRPORTS TODAY DEMANDING BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS AND A FAIR CONTRACT.

SOUTHWEST FLIGHT ATTENDANTS ARE CALLING FOR A NEW CONTRACT THAT THEY SAY WOULD INSURE BETTER PAY AND WORKING CONDITIONS.

>> WE'RE TIRED.

WE DO NOT WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE TO WONDER IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HOTEL WHEN WE FLY 14 HOURS A DAY.

WE NEED SUPPORT WHEN WE ARE ARE ASSAULTED ON THE AIRCRAFT.

WE HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO CONDITIONS IN THIS ECONOMY AND IN THE INDUSTRY THAT ARE UNPRECEDENTED AND WE WANT SOUTHWEST TO COME TO THE TABLE AND WORK WITH US.

>> IN A STATEMENT FROM SOUTHWEST AIRLINES IT READS IN PART QUOTE... >> SOUTHWEST LOOKS FORWARD TO INITTING NEGOTIATIONS SO WE CAN REWARD OUR FLIGHT ATTENDANTS AND CONTINUE ATTRACTING GREAT TALENT.

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS WITH UNITED AIRLINES ALSO PICKETED OUTSIDE O'HARE AIRPORT.

THE UNION SAYS STAFFING FAILURES BY MANAGEMENT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO HIGH LEVELS OF DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS.

IN A STATEMENT UNITED AIRLINES SAYS QUOTE... >> COMING UP, A LOOK AT THE NEXT STEPS IN THE STATE'S CANNABIS PROGRAM.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> ILLINOIS' MADE HEADWAY ON EXPANDING THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY AND THOSE WHO PROFIT FROM IT.

BUT CRITICS SAY NOT ENOUGH.

THEY HAVE A LAUNDRY LIST OF ISSUE THEY SAY NEEDS FIXING AND WITHOUT PROMISES OF SOCIAL EQUITY WILL GO UNFULFILLED.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE.

>> PARIS, ILLINOIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE NATIONAL MODEL WHEN GOVERNMENT LEADERS PROMISED THAT THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA WOULD BE USED TO RIGHT WRONGS OF THE WAR ON DRUGS THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY HARMED BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES.

THREE YEARS LATER, THOSE POISED TO BENEFIT SAY THEY ARE STILL STYMIED.

>> TO OUR GOVERNOR, TO OUR LAWMAKERS, WE ARE IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY RIGHT NOW.

WITHOUT GETTING THESE FUNDS AND GETTING THESE RULES CHANGED IN THE LEGISLATION CHANGED ALL THESE PEOPLE BEHIND ME WHO HAVE BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO SUFFER TO THE BRACK AND LATINO CAUCUS -- BLACK AND LATINO CAUCUS, PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS WE ALL MUST COME TOGETHER TO WIN THIS WAR.

>> THIS SUMMER MARKED WHAT WAS TO HAVE BEEN A TURNING POINT AFTER LONG DELAYS DUE TO LAWSUITS IN THE STATE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE SOCIAL EQUITY PROCESS, ILLINOIS FINISHED AWARDING 185 LICENSES FOR CANNABIS DISPENSARIES.

IT WAS NEVER EXPECTED THEY WOULD OPEN RIGHT AWAY SO NONE HAVE AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

THE LICENSES ARE ONLY CONDITIONAL AND THE BUSINESSES THAT WON SOCIAL EQUITY LICENSES HAVE 180 DAYS TO GET UP AND RUNNING.

BUT MANY OF THESE LICENSE OWNERS SAY THEY ARE HAVING A ROUGH GO OF IT.

THINGS CHANGED DURING THE LONG WAIT AND ORIGINAL FUNDERS AND PARTNERS MOVED ON.

AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO SECURE NEW PARTNERS, NEW INVESTORS, MORE CAPITAL BECAUSE ILLINOIS DOESN'T ALLOW IT.

CONCERNS FROM GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S ADMINISTRATION AND OTHERS INCLUDE THAT PREDATORY LENDERS WILL TRY TO SWEEP IN AND NEW PARTNERS WILL DILUTE THAT SOCIAL EQUITY OWNERSHIP.

FORMER STATE SENATOR RICKEY HENDON WHOSE GROUP WON A RETAIL LICENSE FOR DOWNTOWN CHICAGO SAID THAT HE HAS SECURED A DEAL AND IT'S WRONG THAT THE STATE WON'T LET HIM FINALIZE IT.

>> IT'S WRONG FOR ANYBODY IN RULE MAKING OR IN THE PEOPLE INTERPRETATION'S OF THE LAW SAY WE CAN'T DO BUSINESS WITH WHITE FOLKS.

I LIKE WHITE PEOPLE.

WHY CAN'T I DO BUSINESS WITH A WHITE PERSON WHO WANTS TO GIVE ME A FAIR DEAL?

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT?

THAT'S THE AMERICAN WAY.

>> HENDON SAYS HE DID NOT GO INTO THE CANNABIS TO SELLOUT BUT BANKS OFFERING LOANS AT 18, 19% THAT IS JUST TOO HIGH.

AND HE OTHER SOCIAL EQUITY LICENSEES SAY COMPANIES ARE GREEDY AND TRYING TO KEEP SOCIAL EQUITY LICENSEES OUT.

OUT OF THE RETAIL BUSINESS AS WELL AS WAS KNOWN AS CANNABIS CRAFT GROW.

COMPANIES THAT ARE GROWING MARIJUANA MANY OF THEM HAVE LARGE LOCATIONS.

SOME TOPPING 200,000 SQUARE FEET.

BUT ILLINOIS' CRAFT GROW NEWER SOCIAL EQUITY LICENSES THEY ARE LIMITED TO 5,000 SQUARE FEET OF CANOPY.

CRAFT GROWERS SAY THAT THAT IS TOO SMALL GIVEN HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS TO BUILD A CULTIVATION FACILITY AND THEY TOO SAY INVESTORS ARE FLEEING AND WANT THE LEGISLATURE TO ALLOW THEM TO EXPAND THE GROWING SPACE.

HERE AGAIN THEY BLAME THE BIG MARIJUANA COMPANIES KNOWN AS MULTISTATE OPERATORS OR MSO'S FOR STUNTING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THAT.

>> I'M TIRED OF GROUPS COMPOSED OF PEOPLE WHO DID NOT LOOK LIKE US REPRESENT US, OR OUR INTEREST DICTATE WHAT WE NEED.

LET ME SAY THIS...

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SUPPORT THE INCLUSION OF MINORITY ENTREPRENEURS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY OPPOSING LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO ATTRACT INVESTORS AND MAKE CRAFT GROWERS AND CANNABIS ENTERPRISES ECONOMICALLY VIABLE.

>> THE CANNABIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS REPRESENTS MANY OF THOSE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE LONG BEEN OPERATIONAL IN ILLINOIS.

ITS DICK FOR DISPUTES THE CLAIMS THAT THEY TRIED TO KILL THE LEGISLATION.

SHE SAYS THAT ACTUALLY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING A STUDY ON THE DEMAND FOR MARIJUANA AND THAT THE ASSOCIATION ACTUALLY LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR NEWER COLLEAGUES AND MAKING THE INDUSTRY SUCCESSFUL AND IN BEING A PARTNER.

WHEN IT COMES TO ALLOWING SOCIAL EQUITY LICENSEES TO SWITCH UP PARTNERS AND INVESTORS THAT IS A DECISION UP TO REGULATORS AND LEGISLATORS.

SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANTS SAY THE STATE WAS SUPPOSED TO COME THROUGH WITH GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO HELP THEM GET ON THEIR FEET BUT SO FAR NO MONEY HAS BEEN AWARDED FROM THE STATE.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CANNABIS SOCIAL EQUITY LOAN PROGRAM BUT DID SEND A STATEMENT SAYING OVERCOMING STRUCTURAL INEQUITIES THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS HAS BEEN CHALLENGING DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY OF NAVIGATING A NEW INDUSTRY THAT REMAINS ILLEGAL UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

AND THAT STATEMENT SHE SAID THAT DCEO IS COMMITTED TO ITS MISSION AND IS EVALUATING HOW IT CAN IMPROVE THE PROGRAM TO EXPEEDIATE GETTING ACCESS TO CAPITAL GOING FORWARD.

WITH THAT BACK TO YOU.

>> STILL KINKS TO WORKOUT.

>> NOW TO BRANDIS AND A MOM PUSHING TO END GUN VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO.

>> IT WAS A STORY THAT SHOOK THE NATION.

A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO HAD PERFORMED JUST DAYS EARLIER AT PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SECOND INAUGURATION SHOT AND KILLED IN A PARK BLOCKS FROM HER SCHOOL.

NINE YEARS AFTER HER DEATH, HER MOTHER CLEOPATRA COWLY PENDLETON IS STILL FIGHTING TO END GUN VIOLENCE AND SHE JOINS US TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT HER PARTNERSHIP WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS AND MORE.

CLEOPATRA COWLY PENDLETON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SO TODAY WE KNOW THE ROLE OF CHARTER SCHOOL ON COMBATING GUN VIOLENCE.

AND PEED YEAH WENT TO KING COLLEGE PREP.

WHAT DO YOU SEE IS THE ROLE OF CHARTERS IN ADDRESSING VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY?

>> I THINK THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE PIONEERING THINGS LIKE THEY DEFINITELY WORK WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AND ALWAYS OPEN TO PARTNERING WITH OTHER SCHOOLS AND OR OFFICIALS WITH ANYTHING THAT DIRECTLY IS RELATED TO THE BETTERMENT OF ITS STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> YOU MENTIONED PIONEERING, OF COURSE.

ARE CHARTER SCHOOLS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO TEST OUT DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT DISTRICT OPERATED?

>> I THINK THAT THEY ARE RUN DIFFERENTLY AND THEREFORE THEY HAVE MAYBE SOME FLEXIBILITY THAT THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS DO NOT HAVE.

BUT IT WAS A PUBLIC SCHOOL, OBVIOUSLY MY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL.

SO STILL NEIGHBORHOOD STUDENTS AND DEFINITELY ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE IN THE DIFFERENT REQUESTEDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE STUDENTS.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE, I GUESS, DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES OR DIFFERENT WAYS THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE WORKING TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR STUDENTS TO REDUCE THAT GUN VIOLENCE AND ADDRESS THAT TRAUMA?

>> I MEAN, I CAN'T SPEAK TO ALL OF THEM.

I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF.

BUT THE THING I WITNESSED AS A PARENT OF A CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENT WAS THAT THEY DEFINITELY PUT THEM IN POSITIONS WHERE THEY WOULD THINK FOR THEMSELVES.

AND HAVE OPINIONS AND BE SEEN AND BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT PRESENT THEMSELVES AT THE SCHOOL AND WHETHER OR NOT IT BENEFITED THEM IN TERMS OF THEIR AREA OF INTEREST.

>> OF COURSE LIKE MANY C.P.S.

SCHOOLS ANDAL ALL C.P.S.

SCHOOLS ARE DEALING WITH THIS NOT JUST CHARTER SCHOOLS BUT THE DISTRICT'S CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE OVERWHELMINGLY BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS, OVERWHELMINGLY LOW INCOME.

THIS BRIEF FROM THE ILLINOIS NETWORK OF CHARTER SCHOOLS SAYS 80 CHARTERS HAVE REPORTED AT LEAST ONE GUNSHOT WITHIN ONE BLOCK OF CAMPUS, 64 CHARTERS REPORTED AT LEAST 100 GUNSHOTS WITHIN FIVE BLOCKS OF CAMPUS.

AS A MOTHER, WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU HEAR THAT?

>> EVERYTHING, RIGHT?

BECAUSE AS I SHARED TODAY WHEN I MET WITH THE OTHER ATTENDEES AT THE CONFERENCE TODAY, THERE'S THINGS I HAD TO THINK ABOUT AND I THINK IT'S SO TERRIBLE THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY ARE BEING ROBBED OF THEIR YOUTH AND HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE SAFETY AND THE CAPACITY OF WHETHER OR NOT I WILL SEE MY CLASSMATE AND OR FRIEND AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY OF GUN VIOLENCE.

IT'S FRIDAY WILL YOU SEE YOU ON MONDAY, IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT I THINK STUDENTS, YOUNG PEOPLE NEED?

WHAT ARE THE RESOURCES THEY HAVE ACCESS TO ALREADY?

>> WELL, I MEAN THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT RESOURCES THEY HAVE ACCESS TO ALREADY.

HOWEVER, WE ALL HAVE TO STEP UP WHAT THE ROLES WE PLAY AS IT RELATES TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN OUR LIVES.

IF WE SEE THEM DOING RIGHT, GREAT, LET'S REACH OUT AND TELL THEM GREAT JOB.

SEE THEM DOING WRONG, WE APPROACH THEM DIRECTLY OR MAKE THEIR FAMILIES AND TALK ABOUT THAT.

WHAT WE CANNOT DO IS ACT LIKE THE ISSUES THAT ARE HAPPENING ARE NOT AN ISSUE FOR EVERY HOUSEHOLD.

IT IS NOT JUST UNIQUE TO BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

AND IF IT IS AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT BEFORE LONG BEFORE IT HITS YOUR COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK ONCE EVERYONE REALIZES THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT EVERYBODY IS SUFFERING FROM, WE'RE ABLE TO STAND UP AND SEE A LOT MORE URGENCY FOR A RESOLUTION OF OUR STUDENTS AND THINGS LIKE THIS.

>> WE HEAR TALK ABOUT POLICING IN AND AROUND SCHOOLS WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE ROLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN OUR SCHOOL?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS ITS PLACE.

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY THERE ARE MANY OF THE LEVELS OF INVOLVEMENT THAT CAN BE EXECUTED OR INHERITED BEFORE WE GET TO POLICE.

UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES THE POLICE BRING ABOUT A FEAR FOR OUR YOUTH.

BACK WHEN I WAS COMING UP, WE LOOKED UP TO THE POLICE.

NOWADAYS SO MUCH STUFF HAS HAPPENED AND THERE IS A LACK OF EMPATHY AND MIND YOU I'M NOT SAYING THAT ALL POLICE ARE WRONG BECAUSE BY NO MEANS.

I'M SAYING I HAVE SO MANY RELATIONSHIPS AND A LOT OF CAPACITIES WITH OUR MEMBERS OF THE POLICE FORCE.

HOWEVER, I THINK THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT CAN STEP UP AND BECOME MORE INVOLVED AND OR ENGAGED WITH OUR YOUTH BEFORE WE REACH OUT TO THE POLICE.

>> WHAT MORE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DONE IN SCHOOLS?

AGAIN WE TALK ABOUT POLICE POLICING BUT WE'VE HEARD WE CANNOT POLICE THE WAY OUT OF OUR VIOLENCE PROBLEM.

WHAT OTHER STEPS CAN BE TAKEN?

>> NOT TO POLICE IS THE PROBLEM BY ANY MEANS.

I THINK AS IT RELATES TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WE THINK WE NEED TO PUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVESTED IN OUR YOUTH WHO DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE THEM DO BETTER AND WHAT IS BEST FOR THEMSELVES.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE RIGHT OTHER THAN VIOLENCE.

AND IF WE HELP THEM IDENTIFY THOSE THINGS, [INAUDIBLE] WE'LL SEE SOME CHANGE OCCUR IN THE VIOLENCE THAT IS HAPPENING HERE.

I'M NOT SAYING YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE AN EASY THING BUT MORE PEOPLE BECAME INVOLVED AND OR ENGAGED IN THE DESIRE TO RESOLVE THE VIOLENCE THAT IS HAPPENING HERE, I THINK WE WOULD FIND OURSELVES IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE.

>> LONG ROAD AHEAD AND A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

CLEOPATRA COWLY PENDLETON WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF A CHANGE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNICATION.

PARIS?

>> ACROSS CHICAGO REPORTERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA OBSERVERS KEPT A CLOSE EAR ON POLICE SCANNERS OFTEN OFTEN RELAYING THAT INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.

NOW REALTIME INFORMATION WILL BE DELAYED BY 30 MINUTES AND WILL STREAM FROM A SINGLE ON-LINE FEED.

AS THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" REPORTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS OFFICIALLY GOING TO ENCRYPT ITS DISPATCH CHANNELS TO AVOID DISRUPTIONS FROM OUTSIDE THE POLICE SYSTEM BUT SOME ARE CALLING INTO QUESTION THE NEED FOR THE CHANGE AND CITE THE ISSUES OF TRANSPARENCY.

JOINING US ARE ED YOHNKA DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC POLICY FOR THE A.C.L.U.

OF ILLINOIS AND MAIRA KHWAJA AT THE NONPROFIT FOCUSED ON TRANSPARENCY AND RELEASING INFORMATION.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE WILL SHARE A STATEMENT IN JUST A MOMENT.

FIRST, ED, REMIND US ALL WHY THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS MOVING TO ENCRYPT ITS RADIO COMMUNICATIONS AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR POLICE WHO LISTEN THE POLICE SCANNER AND WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT AWAY?

>> WELL, I THINK, PARIS, FIRST OF ALL IN EARN ITS OF WHY THEY ARE DOING IT I THINK THAT IS AN OPEN QUESTION.

I THINK THERE'S NOT BEEN A LOT OF EVIDENCE PRESENTED THAT THERE IS A NEED TO DO THIS, NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO, THERE'S BEEN NO PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF THIS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS SIMPLY HAPPENING IN THE CITY AND AROUND POLICING WITHOUT A DEBATE, WITHOUT A CONSIDERATION, WITHOUT ANY OF US HAVING A CHANCE AS RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS TO BE ABLE TO WEIGH-IN ON IT.

I THINK IN TERMS OF THE CONCERNS, IS PEOPLE OFTEN LIKE TO FOLLOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITY IN REALTIME.

AND FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, THERE ISN'T A REASON THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

THE POLICE AFTER ALL ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS.

THEY SERVE THE PUBLIC.

THEY SERVE ALL OF THE RESIDENTS OF CHICAGO.

AND THE NOTION THAT THEIR COMMUNICATIONS BACK AND FORTH WHICH ARE OFTEN DONE IN CODE AND INCLIP WAYS SUDDENLY NEED TO BE ENCRYPTED IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY HASN'T BEEN EXPLAINED TO THE PUBLIC I THINK IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

>> IT DID SEEM TO COME OUT OF THE BLUE VERY INTERESTING WELL DONE ARTICLE DESCRIBING ALL THIS.

MAIRA KHWAJA WHAT ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS AND HOW IT MIGHT IMPACT TRANSPARENCY AND YOUR ORGANIZATION THAT TRY TO COLLECT DATA TO KEEP WATCH OVER THE C.P.D.?

>> WELL, PARIS THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THIS IS A WORRISOME CHANGE FOR ME, BECAUSE IT'S INDICATIVE OF HOW THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN MOVING BACKWARDS ON TRANSPARENCY OVERALL WHICH INCLUDES THE CITY'S FIGHTING BACK AGAINST FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUESTS.

AS SOMEBODY WHO POLICE ENS TO THE POLICE SCANNER TALKING WITH JOURNALISTS KNOWING LIKE WHY ARE POLICE OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE, OR A BLOCK AWAY, I THINK WHAT IS WORRISOME IS THAT WE KNOW THAT HAVING ENCRYPTED IN 30-MINUTE DELAYED INFORMATION OF REDACTED AUDIO TAKES AWAY A LOT OF THE UTILITY OUT OF THE BASIC PUBLIC TOOL.

LIKE ED WAS SAYING, WE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT OUR POLICE ARE DOING TO KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AT.

AND THIS GIVES THEM MORE OPPORTUNITY TO OBSCURE OR CRAFT NARRATIVES WITHOUT OVERSIGHT.

IT IS A HUGE STEP BACK.

>> AND THEY ARE GOING TO ENCRYPT IT AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE AFTER 30 MINUTES AND EVERYONE CAN FIND IT ON BROADCASTFY THE WEBSITE THAT HAS ALL OF THE POLICE SCANNERS COMMUNICATIONS.

ED, WE GOT A STATEMENT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHICH READS IN PART... YOU MENTIONED YOU THOUGHT THESE CONCERNS WERE OVERBLOWN AND OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE TO ENCRYPTED COMMUNICATIONS, IS THERE SOME VALIDITY TO THE CONCERNS?

>> I THINK WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE EVIDENCE OF IT AND A PUBLIC DIALOGUE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT EVIDENCE MAKES THE CASE TO MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

THIS IS A NEW TOOL.

THIS IS A NEW DEVICE THAT'S BEING ADOPTED BY POLICE AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BUT I THINK WE SHOULD STOP AND ASK OURSELVES: IS IT THE RIGHT ONE FOR CHICAGO?

PARIS, I FEEL LIKE EVERY TIME I COME ON HERE I SAY THESE WORDS: WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AFTER THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ISSUED A SCATHING REPORT ON THE WAY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OPERATED.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THAT REPORT TO TAKE HOLD IS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND FOR PUBLIC TRUST.

THIS MOVES BACKWARDS.

THIS MOVES BACK TO THE DAY WHEN THE POLICE CAN CRAFT NARRATIVES ON THE SCENE THAT WE DISCOVER LATER ON ARE NOT WHAT HAPPENED.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S JUST THIS IS THE WRONG TIME TO USE THE WRONG TOOL.

>> MAIRA KHWAJA WITH ED AND OTHER CITIES HAVE GONE TO THIS PRACTICE DO WE KNOW HOW IT'S IMPACTED TRANSPARENCY OR REPORTERS OR GROUPS TRYING TO MONITOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THOSE AREAS?

>> YEAH, WELL, I THINK WE KNOW FROM OTHER CITIES AND CHICAGO THAT THE POLICE SCANNER IS NOT THE BEGINNING AND END OF ANY STORY.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY AFFECTED THE WAY PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO KNOW WHERE THEIR OFFICERS ARE OR RESPOND THEMSELVES WHETHER THAT BE SENDING A REPORTER TO THE SCENE, RIGHT?

AND SO, I ALSO DON'T THINK THAT WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN WHETHER THE CONCERNS ARE LARGE ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE TECHNOLOGY AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A PUBLIC PROCESS TO KNOW THAT IT MAKES SENSE FOR OUR CITY.

>> YOU SAID THERE HASN'T BEEN PUBLIC PROCESS.

IS THERE A COMPROMISE THAT MIGHT BE AMENABLE TO A.C.L.U.

AND OTHER GROUPS IF THE C.P.D.

BROUGHT YOU TO THE TABLE AND SAID LET'S FIGURE OUT A BETTER SYSTEM.

>> WHY ISN'T THERE A PUBLIC HEARING AND A HEARING IN THE CITY COUNCIL WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AN EXPLANATION WHY IT'S NECESSARY AN EXPLANATION HOW IT WILL WORK?

WHAT OTHER STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN FOR EXAMPLE, HELP IN TERMS OF MEDIA COVERAGE AND THE ABILITY OF MEDIA TO BE SPOT REPORTING IN A WAY SO IMPORTANT TO THE CITY FOR SO LONG.

THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE.

INSTEAD THIS IS BEING ROLLED OUT ALREADY WITHOUT ANY OF THOSE STEPS BEING TAKEN.

AND AGAIN, I THINK TO UNDERSCORE WHAT MYRA SAID THIS IS MOVING BACKWARDS ON A PROCESS OF TRANSPARENCY THAT NEEDS TO BE MOVING FORWARD.

>> IS THERE A LEVER TO PULL TO GET CITY COUNCIL TO PERHAPS WEIGH-IN OR RECONSIDER?

OR IS THIS BAKED AT THIS POINT?

>> WELL, I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S BAKED BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN FINISHED AND I PUSH US FROM EVER THINKING THAT.

I DO THINK PUBLIC OUTCRY AND PUSHING ON THE MAYOR WE'RE COMING UP INTO AN ELECTION AND IF TRANSPARENCY IS REALLY AN ISSUE THAT WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT ACROSS THE CITY, THEN IT'S FULLY WITHIN OUR RIGHT TO SPEAK UP AND DEMAND THAT WE HAVE FULL ACCESS TO THE BASIC TOOLS WE NEED TO HOLD OUR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE.

>> WE'LL WATCH HOW THIS UNFOLDS.

OUR THANKS TO ED YOHNKA AND MAIRA KHWAJA THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>> UP NEXT, PUERTO RICO TAKES CENTER STAGE IN AN ART EXHIBIT VISITING CHICAGO FROM THE ISLAND SO PLEASE STAY WITH US FOR ANOTHER LOOK.

EARLIER THIS MONTH WEEKS BEFORE HURRICANE FIONA HIT PUERTO RICO, A VALUABLE COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS ARRIVED IN CHICAGO FROM THE ISLAND.

THEY ARE OWN LOAN FROM A ART MUSEUM ON THE SOUTHERN COAST.

NOW THE MUSEUM IS THE TEMPORARY HOME TO A SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT EXHIBIT.

PRODUCER MARC VITALI VISITED THE MUSEUM IN HUMBOLDT PARK.

>> [♪♪♪] >> THIS COLLECTION COMES FROM THE MUSEO DE ARTE DE PONCE, THE MUSEUM OF PONCE.

IT'S THE FIRST MUSEUM TO OPEN UP IN THE CARRIBBEAN AND THE FIRST ONE TO GET ACCREDITED BACK IN 1959.

>> MUCH OF THE MUSEUM REMAINS CLOSED FOLLOWING AN EARTHQUAKE IN 2020.

>> THE THING WAS THEY HAVE THIS COLLECTION THE BIGGEST COLLECTION IN THE CARRIBBEAN.

THEY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT.

THEY WANT TO STAY RELEVANT AND REACH OUT TO DIFFERENT PLACES SO THEY REACHED OUT TO US AND I SAID I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE AN ART COLLECTION AN ART EXHIBIT MADE UP OF PUERTO RICAN ARTISTS.

IT IS HISTORICAL ARTWORK DATING AS FAR BACK AS THE 1700'S.

INCLUDING PAINTINGS DURING THE COLONIAL ERA.

MOST FOCUS ON THE LANDSCAPE AND THE PEOPLE.

CALLED NOSTALGIA FROM MY ISLAND.

NOT ONLY WILL YOU FEEL NOSTALGIC BUT IT HAS YOU DREAMING AND THINKING OF DIFFERENT SORTS OF THINGS.

THE EXHIBIT DEALS WITH THREE ISSUES.

IT DEALS WITH MY PEOPLE, MY ISLAND, MY HOME.

THESE PIECES AS A WHOLE HAVE NEVER LEFT THE ISLAND.

THESE ARE PIECES THAT WE AS PUERTO RICANS WE'VE SEEN IN BOOKS.

WE MAY HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF THEM BUT WE HAVE NEVER REALLY SEEN THEM IN PERSON.

FOR US TO HAVE THIS COLLECTION HERE IS JUST A REMARKABLE THING.

[♪♪♪] THE MUSEUM IN HUMBOLDT PARK UPGRADED ITS GALLERIES TO SECURE AND PROTECT THESE RARE WORKS.

MOST OF WHICH WERE PAINTED IN OIL.

WE MET A VOLUNTEER WHO IS AN ARTIST AND HE GREW UP IN THE TOWN OF PONCE.

>> IT'S EMOTIONAL LIKE THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE THIS TYPE OF EXHIBITION IN CHICAGO AND THE U.S. AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE SUPER PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SEE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE MUSEUM IN PONCE, BE ABLE TO SEE THIS WORK HERE THEY WILL BE OVERWHELMED FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

BUT IT WILL BE GREAT.

YOU SEE SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERY PIECE.

>> SOMETHING THAT DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF PUERTO RICO BEFORE THE HURRICANE, MOST OF THE CATALOGS REMAIN ON THE ISLAND.

>> WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO TAKEAWAY IS THERE IS A HISTORY BEHIND THE PUERTO RICAN PEOPLE.

WE ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS BUT YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT WHO WE ARE.

PUERTO RICANS ARE ONE-THIRD SPANIARD, ONE-THIRD AFTER CAN AND ONE-THIRD INDIA.

THIS EXHIBITS EXPLAINS WHO WE ARE AS PUERTO RICANS.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS MARC VITALI.

>> THE EXHIBITION IS CALLED NOSTALGIA FROM MY ISLAND AND IT OPENED IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF PUERTO RICAN ARTS OF CULTURE.

TOMORROW IS AN EVENT CALLED CHICAGO CHEFS COOK FOR PUERTO RICO A FUNDRAISER FOR HURRICANE RELIEF EFFORTS.

MORE IS ON OUR WEBSITE.

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

THE STATE SUPREME COURT HANDS DOWN A RULING ON CHICAGO WITHHOLDING NEARLY 50 YEARS OF POLICE MISCONDUCT FILES.

WE SHARE THE DETAILS.

NEW ANALYSIS FINDS NEIGHBORHOODS WITH MAJORITY BLACK AND LATINO RESIDENTS FACE HIGHER AMOUNTS OF LEAD LEVELS IN THEIR WATER.

GEOFFREY BAER WHY CHICAGO SAID GOOD RIDDENS TO BAD RUBBISH BOXES.

>> AND MEET A HUSBAND AND WIFE DUO WITH COFFEE, TACOS AND ART.

BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> A LAWSUIT FILED IN INDIANA SEEKS TO BLOCK PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PLAN IT CLAIMS THE PLAN IS ABUSE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER AND WOULD HARM BORROWERS IN SOME STATES.

ONE OF THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT LEGAL CHALLENGES TO BIDEN'S PLAN.

REPORT RELEASED BY THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATES THE PLAN COULD COST $400 BILLION.

COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE CALLING ON OFFICIALS TO DO MORE TO ADDRESS ABDUCTIONS AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN CHICAGO.

THIS FOLLOWING THE ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING OF A WOMEN IN THE WEST LOOP NEIGHBORHOOD OVER THE WEEKEND.

>> AND THE YOUNG LADY THAT WAS ALMOST ABDUCTED, HAS TO KNOW THAT SHE HAS A SUPPORT SYSTEM AROUND HER AND WE ARE GOING TO BE THAT SUPPORTER AS A COMMUNITY AND A CITY AND WE WANT HER TO KNOW IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO ADVOCATE WITH YOU AND FOR YOU.

>> LEADERS ARE CALLING FOR THE CREATION OF A TASK FORCE TO ADDRESS ABDUCTIONS AND MISSING WOMEN IN ADDITION TO HIRING VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS TO DETER CRIME IN THE CITY.

>> CONSTRUCTION IS KICKED OFF FOR A $14 MILLION CULINARY HUB IN ENGLEWOOD.

THE HUB INVOLVES THE RESTORATION OF A LANDMARK FIREHOUSE AS A CULINARY CENTER AND COMMUNITY SPACE IN THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE MUST CONTINUE TO TELL THE TRUE STORY OF THE VIBRANCY OF THIS COMMUNITY.

AND THESE INVESTMENTS ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ENGLEWOOD RESIDENTS CAN RECLAIM THEIR OWN NARRATIVE AND GARNER MORE SUPPORT FROM PRIVATE, PHILANTHROPIC AND CITY INVESTMENTS.

>> PART OF THE LARGER INVEST SOUTHWEST INITIATIVE THAT IS AIMED AT INVESTING IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

>> AND NOW TO BRANDIS FOR DETAILS INTO A STATE SUPREME COURT RULING ON POLICE MISCONDUCT FILES.

>> A LEGAL ODYSSEY THAT LASTED NEARLY SEVEN YEARS ENDED TODAY WITH A RULING BY THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT.

IT SAYS CHICAGO OFFICIALS DID NOT VIOLATE THE ILLINOIS FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT WHEN THEY REFUSED TO TURNOVER FIVE DECADES' WORTH OF SECRET FILES DETAILING ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT BY OFFICERS.

BUT THE FIGHT OVER POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY RAGES ON.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE AND HEATHER THIS LAWSUIT WAS BROUGHT BY A MAN NAMED CHARLES GREEN.

TELL US ABOUT HIM?

>> WHEN HE WAS 16 IN 1985, HE WAS CONVICTED OF A QUADRUPLE MURDER N2009 HE WAS RELEASED AND EVER SINCE HE'S BEEN TRYING TO PROVE HIS INNOCENCE.

AS PART OF THAT EFFORT, HE ASKED THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT TO RELEASE EVERY COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST THE CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER BETWEEN 1967-2011.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REFUSED TO DO SO TRIGGERING THIS COURT FIGHT THAT AS YOU SAID LASTED THE BETTER PART OF A DECADE.

>> WHY DID THE CITY RESIST HIS REQUEST FOR MORE THAN 48 YEARS WORTH OF POLICE COMPLAINT RECORDS?

>> WELL, IN ANOTHER CASE, A JUDGE HAD RULED THAT THE CITY WAS NOT ALLOWED TO RELEASE THOSE RECORDS AND THE CITY SAID LOOK, THERE IS AN INJUNCTION THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO EVEN THOUGH A YEAR AFTER GREEN MADE HIS REQUEST, THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT IN A SEPARATE RULING THAN THE ONE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, SAID THESE RECORDS ARE PUBLIC AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ENTITLED TO GET THEM.

THAT DIDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO THE CITY.

AND THE SUPREME COURT UPHELD THAT DECISION TODAY.

>> SO THE CITY COUNCIL NEARLY SETTLED THIS CASE BEFORE IT TOUCHED OFF A POLITICAL FIRESTORM.

WHERE DOES THE FIGHT STAND NOW?

>> IN LIMBO.

THE CITY'S LAWYERS RECOMMENDED THE CITY PAY CHARLES GREEN $500,000 TO RESOLVE THE LAWSUIT BUT THE CITY COUNCIL BASICALLY REJECTED IT SAYING IT SMACKED OF QUOTE HUSH MONEY AND THAT BECAUSE IT INCLUDED NO AGREEMENT TO RELEASE THESE RECORDS, IT WAS INAPPROPRIATE.

IT REMAINS IN LIMBO TODAY.

>> AND IN SHORT THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT RULING ENDS GREEN'S LAWSUIT.

IS THIS FIGHT OVER?

>> IT DOES NOT HOURS AFTER THE RULING, HE AND HIS LAWYER SENT THE CITY A NEW FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST SO WE'RE RIGHT BACK IN THE BEGINNING WHERE WE WERE IN 20 NINETEEN I'M SURE THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME.

HEATHER CHERONE THANK YOU.

>> THANKS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S FULL STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS AND ALARMING FINDINGS ON LEAD IN WATER FOR SOME CHICAGO HOUSEHOLDS.

PARIS?

>> ONE IN 20 TAP WATER SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THOUSANDS OF CHICAGOANS FOUND LEAD AT OR ABOVE FEDERAL LIMITS.

THIS ACCORDING TO AN ANALYSIS BY THE GUARDIAN AND FOUND THAT 9 OF THE TOP 10 ZIP CODES WITH THE LARGEST PERCENTAGES OF HIGH RESULTS WERE IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH MAJORITY BLACK AND LATINO RESIDENTS.

AS PART OF WTTW'S FIRSTHAND SEGREGATION INITIATIVE, WE DIG INTO THIS TOPIC DEEPER WITH GINA RAMIREZ, MIDWEST OUTREACH MANAGER WITH THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL.

TAYLOR MOORE A FREELANCE REPORTER BASED IN CHICAGO WHO WROTE THE STORY ABOUT CHICAGO TAP WATER FOR THE GUARDIAN AND Dr. SUSAN BUCHANAN CLINICAL ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SCIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO.

WE REACHED OUT TO CHICAGO'S DEPARTMENT OF WATER MANAGEMENT AND THE COMMISSIONER WAS NOT AVAILABLE THEY DID PROVIDE A STATEMENT WHICH WE WILL GET TO IN A MOMENT.

FIRST, TAYLOR MOORE, TO THAT ONE STATISTIC, WHY IS IT THAT 9 OF THE TOP 10 AREAS WITH THE HIGHER RATES OF LEAD IN WATER ARE IN BRACK AND LATINO NEIGHBORHOODS?

U -- BLACK AND LATINO NEIGHBORHOODS?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

WE FOUND THAT MANY OF THE HOMES WITH THE HIGHEST LEAD LEVELS WERE IN PREDOMINANTLY LOW INCOME BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

I THINK A LOT OF THE REASON IS BECAUSE THIS IS AN OCCURRENCE WITH OLDER HOMES, PARTICULARLY HOMES THAT WERE BUILT BEFORE 1986.

AND WE SEE THAT WITH RESIDENTS WITH OLD HOMES A LOT OF THE PIPES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED OR MAINTAINED VERY WELL DUE TO THERE WAS A REQUIREMENT UP UNTIL 1986 THAT ALL LEAD PIPES INSTALLED IN CHICAGO HAD TO HAVE BEEN MADE OF LEAD.

THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR REALLY A CENTURY.

>> AND ESPECIALLY FELT MOST ACUTELY IN THE OLDER HOMES WHICH THERE ARE SO MANY IN CHICAGO.

Dr. SUSAN BUCHANAN LET'S LOOK AT THE OTHER STATISTICS.

LESS THAN A THIRD OF TESTED WATER SAMPLES SHOWED LEAD ABOVE THE BOTTLED WATER LIMIT AND THAT IS 5 PARTS THEIR BILLION.

AND THEN A THOUSAND OF THE 24,000 TESTS SHOWED LEAD LEVELS ABOVE THE FEDERAL LIMIT OF 15 PARTS PER BILLION.

DOCTOR WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ABOVE THE TWO THRESHOLDS WITH LEAD?

>> WELL, FIRST THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS THAT YOU CAN'T ASSUME THAT THAT PERCENTAGE PERTAINS TO RESIDENCES BECAUSE THERE WERE DUPLICATE SAMPLES NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE STUDY WHICH IS A BIG SHORT COMING OF IT.

AND IF YOU WORKOUT THE PERCENTAGES WHAT THE RESULTS ACTUALLY SAID WAS THAT 4% OF THE -- NOT 4% OF THE HOMES 4% OF THE SAMPLES SOME WERE REPEATED IN THE HOMES BUT THIS WAS NOT OUTLINED IN THE REPORT THAT WAS IN THE GUARDIAN ARTICLE WERE ABOVE THE 15 PARTS PER BILLION.

4% IS A LOW NUMBER.

>> YOU'RE SAYING THIS SHOWS YOU THE LEVEL IS SAFER THAN WHAT IT INITIALLY APPEARED TO BE?

THE AMOUNT OF HOMES?

IT IS A SMALLER PERCENTAGE?

>> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PERCENTAGE IS.

I AM A SCIENTIST AND I READ ARTICLES WITH SKEPTICISM.

I SPENT SOMETIME ON THIS ARTICLE AND FOUND THAT 4% OF THE LEVELS WERE ABOVE THE EPA LIMIT WHICH IS IN COMPLIANCE.

BUT I DO WANT TO CERTAINLY CONFIRM THAT ANY LEAD THAT A CHILD IS EXPOSED TO CAN CAUSE HEALTH EFFECTS.

SUBTLE NEUROCOGNITIVE DELAYS.

NEURODEVELOPMENTAL EFFECTS EVEN AT LOW LEVELS THE SCIENCE IS CLEAR ON THAT.

THEREFORE THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY LEAD IN THE WATER.

I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN FINDINGS ARE HE EXAGGERATED AND THE COMMENT THAT THERE ARE MORE OF THE AREAS MORE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE NONWHITE THAT EXPERIENCE THESE HIGHER LEVELS, I HAVE TO SAY AS AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST MOST OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN CHICAGO ARE NONE WHITE THAT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT MOST OF THE LEVELS THAT WERE FOUND THAT WERE ELEVATED WERE IN NONWHITE NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHITES ARE A MINORITY IN CHICAGO.

ONLY 30%.

>> WHATEVER PERCENTAGE THE HOMES THAT LEAD DOES APPEAR ABOVE THAT THRESHOLD AND IT IS DANGEROUS AS YOU MENTIONED.

I WANT TO GET TO A STATEMENT THE CITY WATER DEPARTMENT GAVE US.

THEY SAID THAT CHICAGO TAKES ITS DRINKING WATER QUALITY SERIOUSLY.

GINA, IN ADDITION TO BEING WITH THE NRDC YOUR MOTHER SHE QUALIFIES FOR MAJOR ASSISTANCE TO REPLACE THEIR LEAD LINES.

SHE HAS HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE GETTING THAT GOING.

EXPLAIN WHY?

>> SO MY MOM QUALIFIES FOR THE EQUITY LINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.

SHE IS DISABLED, SHE IS RETIRED.

HER HOUSE IS OVER 100 YEARS OLD.

AND DURING THE PANDEMIC SHE WAS REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE WE GREW UP DRINKING BOTTLED WATER AND THEY NEEDED TO THE DEED TO HER HOUSE, REAL ESTATE FORMS.

MY NEPHEW RESIDES WITH HER AND THEY NEEDED HIS CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL REPORT CARD AND THEY NEEDED A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE.

THERE WAS A MORATORIUM ON EXPIRED LICENSES BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC WE HAD TO DRIVE HER DOWNTOWN, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT SHE COULD GET A VALID LICENSE AND STILL THIS IS NOT ENOUGH PAPERWORK FOR THE CITY.

MY SISTER EXPERIENCED THE WEBSITE CRASHING.

IT'S JUST BEEN SUCH A HEADACHE.

>> AND TAYLOR WE HAVE KNOWN THIS LEAD PIPE REPLACEMENT PROBLEM HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR YEARS UNDER RAHM EMANUEL, UNDER MAYOR LIGHTFOOT THEY HAVE SPOKEN TO THIS, THE URGENCY TO REPLACE ALL THE LEAD SERVICE LINES AND YET ONLY 180 HAVE BEEN REPLACED OUT OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

WHY IS THIS SO SLOW TO GET OFF THE GROUND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER IN THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THERE WAS $15 MILLION EARMARKED TO HELP CHICAGO GET STARTED ON THIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT IT HAS BEEN REALLY MOST AGREECIOUS HOW SLOW THE PROCESS HAS BEEN.

THE PROMISE OF REPLACING 650 LEAD PIPES MADE BY MAYOR LIGHTFOOT WAS MADE TWO YEARS AGO.

I THINK A LOT OF WHAT SHE CHALKS IT UP TO IS NEEDING FUNDING AT THE CITY AND STATE LEVEL TO GO ABOUT THIS MASSIVE UNDERTAKING OF REPLACING 400,000 LEAD PIPES.

I THINK IT'S ALSO A BUREAUCRACY ISSUE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER MANAGEMENT.

IT IS A LOT OF FACTORS AND I DO BELIEVE THE FUNDING FROM THE BILL IN CONGRESS WILL HELP.

THAT $15 BILLION.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN DISPERSED TO THE CITY IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW MUCH CHICAGO WILL BE GETTING.

>> AND DOCTOR FOR THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LEAD CONTENT IN THEIR WATER THERE ARE TIPS THE CITY PUTS OUT.

LIKE RUNNING YOUR WATER FOR A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO FLUSH IT OUT.

REMIND US SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES HERE, IF YOU DO WANT TO DRINK YOUR TAP WATER AND BE SAFE?

>> IF YOU HAVE LEAD PIPES, THEN OVERNIGHT OR WHATEVER THERE IS A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WHEN THE WATER IS SITTING IN THE PIPES, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME LEECHING OF THE LEAD INTO THE WATER.

IT IS THIS FLUSHING FOR FIVE MINUTES, WHICH WILL BRING THE WATER FROM THE WATERMAIN AND FLUSH OUT ALL THAT LEADED WATER THAT COLLECTED OVERNIGHT.

SO THAT WILL HELP.

NOT COOKING WITH TAP WATER IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE'S HIGHER LEAD LEVELS IN THE HOT WATER.

NOT USING WATER FROM LEAD PIPES TO CONSTITUTE BABE BOTTLES AND THE CITY DOES PROVIDE FREE WATER FILTERS FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO USE THEM AND DOES STATE THAT PREGNANT WOMEN MAY WANT TO CHOOSE BOTTLED WATER OVER TAP WATER.

>> AND GINA RAMIREZ TELL US WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM THE CITY TO FIX THIS PROCESS FIRST FOR FOLKS THAT QUALIFY FOR ASSIST TONES TO REPLACE LEAD PIPES?

>> I THINK THAT THE MAYOR IS DRAGGING HER FEET AND SHE NEEDS TO MAKE THIS A MORE EQUITABLE PROCESS FOR MOTHERS LIKE MINE WHO ARE RETIRED AND JUST TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS THAT THE CITY ISN'T REALLY OWNING UP TO.

SO I THINK THEY SHOULD REALLY CATER TO LOW INCOME MINORITY RESIDENTS FIRST WHO LIVE IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES AND PRIORITIZE LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT IN THOSE HOMES FIRST.

>> A LOT TO THINK ABOUT AND WE'RE TRYING TO PIN DOWN THE MAYOR.

HEATHER CHERONE ASKED HER MANY TIMES.

FOR NOW OUR THANKS TO GINA RAMIREZ, TAYLOR MOORE AND Dr. SUSAN BUCHANAN.

THANKS A LOT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, AN ENCORE ED YOHNKAION OF "ASK GEOFFREY".

FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> LONG TIME CHICAGO ALDERMAN ONCE SAID THERE'S NOTHING AS CRUCIAL TO AN ALDERMAN AS GARBAGE.

HOW DID GARBAGE CANS BECOME A SOURCE AND SYMBOL OF POLITICAL POWER IN THE CITY.

GEOFFREY BAER IS HERE WITH TRASHY HISTORY IN TONIGHT'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

HEY, GEOFFREY?

>> HI, TRASH TALK TONIGHT.

>> THAT IS ME AND YOU!

THIS QUESTION COMES FROM... >> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE OBJECT OUR VIEWER IS TRASH TALKING ABOUT.

AND SHE'S RIGHT.

THIS IS BASICALLY AN OLD TRASH RECEPTICAL WHICH PEOPLE USED AS PRIVATE INCINERATORS MADE OF CONCRETE AND METAL MANUFACTURED FROM THE 1920s THROUGH THE 1940s.

ON THE LID YOU CAN SEE THE NAME OF THE MANUFACTURER, SANITARY GARBAGE BOX COMPANY.

THIS IS ONE OF A HANDFUL OF LOCAL GARBAGE BOX MAKERS.

RESIDENTS WOULD THROW THEIR TRASH IN THE TOP OPENING AND THEY COULD BURN IT AND SANITATION WORKERS WOULD SHOVEL OUT THE ASHES OR THE TRASH THROUGH A SECOND OPENING NEAR THE BOTTOM ON THE ALLEY SIDE.

HERE IS A LOOK AT A DIFFERENT BOX THAT WE FOUND IN A NORTHWEST SIDE ALLEY.

THIS HAS BEEN PAINTED SO IT LOOKS SILVER.

>> THAT IS FASCINATING.

IF A FEW SURVIVED, THEY MUST HAVE BEEN STURDY?

WHY DON'T WE USE THEM ANYMORE?

>> BEGINNING IN THE 1950s, THE CITY PHASED THEM OUT BECAUSE THEY WERE SMALL AND DIFFICULT TO EMPTY WITHOUT LEAVING A TRAIL OF DEBRIS MAKING THEM A FAVORITE DINING SPOT FOR RATS AND IT TOOK A DEMOLITION CREW WITH SLEDGEHAMMERS TO TEAR DOWN THE BOXES AND SO SOME WERE NOT ATTORNEY DOWN.

THE CITY REQUIRED THE RESIDENTS TO SUPPLY GARBAGE CANS AND MANY CITIZENS BALKED AT THE EXPENSE.

THE ALDERMEN AND OTHER WARD BOSSES SAW THE SERVICE AS A WAY TO WIN FAVOR AND WIN VOTES FROM CONSTITUENTS.

SO IN SOME WARDS, THEY BEGAN PROVIDING 55 GALLON STEAL DRUMS FREE OF CHARGE BUT, OF COURSE, WITH THE NAME OF THE RESPONSIBLE STENCILED ON THE SIDE.

THE TURQUOISE BARREL IS EMBLAZONED WITH THE WORDS KELLY CANS FOR 47TH WARD COMMITTEEMAN ED KELLY.

MY FORMER NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR IN CHICAGO WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS AND SAND AND HE REMEMBERS BERNIE CANS STENCILED WITH THE LINE COMPLIMENTS OF ALDERMAN BERNIE HANSON.

OTHER BARRELS CARRIED THE NAME OF THE 43rd WARD SUPERINTENDENT WHO OWNS DEMON DOGS AND MANAGED THE ROCK BAND CHICAGO.

A TRIFECTA OF CHICAGO CRED.

>> AND THAT IS WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS IS THEIR NAME ON A TRASH CAN.

WHEN DID THE PLASTIC CARTS THAT WE USE NOW BECOME THE STANDARD?

>> THOSE BEGAN APPEARING DURING HAROLD WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATION IN 1985.

THEY SAVED MONEY.

BECAUSE JUST ONE SANITATION WORKER IS ALL YOU NEED TO ATTACH THE CART TO THE ARM.

NOW ALDERMAN GENE SHULTER WAS AN EARLY ADOPTER OF THESE BECAUSE THE CARTS REPLACED THE KELLY CANS OF HIS RIVAL ED KELLY.

>> OK.

THE TRASH HAS BEEN PICKED UP.

THEN WHAT HAS CHICAGO DONE WITH IT?

>> THE OPTIONS HAVE BEEN YOU EITHER BURN IT OR YOU DUMP IT.

I REMEMBER AS A CHILD MY GRANDMOTHER'S SOUTH SIDE HIGH-RISE APARTMENT BUILDING HAD A TRASH CHUTE AND IT EMPTIED INTO THE BUILDING'S OWN INCINERATOR.

SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND OTHER LARGE BUILDINGS TYPICALLY HAD THEIR OWN INCINERATORS AND THERE WERE CLEANER BURN EGG INCINERATORS, TOO.

BY THE 1980s, THE TRASH HAD MORE PLASTICS AND ELECTRONICS AND TOXIC CHEMICALS WHICH CREATED POLLUTION WORRIES AND THAT ENDED INCINERATION.

THE LAST CLOSED IN 1996.

>> AND THAT LEAVES US WITH THE DUMPING OPTION?

>> YES.

AND MANY PLACES IN THE CITY, BRANDIS, ARE LITERALLY BUILT ON TRASH.

DECADES OF DUMPING THOUSANDS OF TONS OF TRASH DAILY INTO LAND TILL FILLS.

LANDFILLS.

LITERALLY CHANGED THE TOPOGRAPHY.

CREATING MOUNTAINS AND FILLING UP QUARRIES AND CLAY PITS USED FOR BRICK MAKING.

NO ONE WANTED LANDFILLS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE FOUND THIS PICTURE OF AN AREA AROUND 47TH STREET AND DAY MON AVENUE WHEN IT WAS A DUMP IN 1906.

AND ALL THE DUMPS WERE FILLED UP ANYWAY.

TODAY, THERE ARE NO ACTIVE LANDFILLS WITHIN CITY LIMITS AND CHICAGO'S NONRECYCLABLE TRASH ENDS UP 100 MILES AWAY IN ONE OF FOUR LANDFILLS TWO IN ILLINOIS AND TWO IN INDIANA.

BUT THAT WASTE DOESN'T GO ENTIRELY TO WASTE.

THE GAS CREATED AS THE TRASH DECOMPOSES IS CAPTURED AND SENT TO ENERGY PLANTS WHICH THEN SELL IT IS TO UTILITY COMPANIES.

>> AND REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ALWAYS GOOD TALKING TRASH WITH YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> THANKS.

>> AND YOU CAN FIND MORE ON THIS AND OTHER "ASK GEOFFREY" QUESTIONS ON OUR WEBSITE AND WHILE YOU ARE THERE TOSS IN YOUR OWN QUESTIONS ABOUT CHICAGO TO GEOFFREY BAER.

AND WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS BEEN FAR FROM EASY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

MANY OF THEM HAVE HAD TO GET CREATIVE AND REINVENT THEMSELVES.

JOANNA HERNANDEZ VISITEDDED A GROCERY STORE IN WAUKEGAN SERVING MORE THAN FRESH PRODUCE.

HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

>> ADAM CARSON AND NYDIA GONZALEZ-CARSON ARE ARE THE OWNERS OF THE STORE.

>> HOW ARE ARE YOU?

>> IT IS A MEXICAN SUPERMARKET THAT THE PARENTS OPENED IN THE 90s.

THE MARRIED COUPLE TOOK OVER MANAGEMENT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> I LOVE GROWING UP WITH MY PARENTS AND IN THIS STORE JUST LIVING A VERY ENTREPRENEURIAL LIFE AT A YOUNG AGE.

I REMEMBER ONE OF MY BIGGEST PURCHASES WAS PINATAS.

>> THE STORE IS ONE PART OF THEIR JOURNEY.

WHEN CUSTOMERS MAKE THEIR WAY TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE STORE THEY WILL FIND A COFFEE SHOP CALLED DRIP AND CULTURE.

>> THE FACT THIS IS A BLACK AND BROWN OWNED COFFEE SHOP IN THE SUBURBS IN LAKE COUNTY IS INCREDIBLY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.

WE CANNOT UNDERSCORE THAT.

THERE IS NOT A LOT OF US.

>> IT'S NOT WHERE YOU WILL TYPICALLY FIND A COFFEE SHOP.

BUT THE OWNERS SAY IT'S PART OF THE REBRANDING AND BRINGING NEW ENERGY TO THE STORE.

>> MY DAD ALWAYS SAYS LIKE, YOU GOT TO GIVE IT NEW BLOOD, GIVE IT LOVE LIKE A BUSINESS NEEDS ATTENTION AND LOVE AND ALL OF THESE THINGS.

SO US COMING BACK AND DOING ALL OF THESE CHANGES HELPED TO ADD VIBRANCE TO THE STORE.

>> ALONG WITH COFFEE, NYDIA GONZALEZ-CARSON OPENED A BOUTIQUE AND ART STUDIO ON THE SECOND FLOOR CALLED GATHR WHERE SHE HOSTED YOGA AND CLASSES.

>> FOR ME IT IS A COMMUNITY CENTER IT IS A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN AND GATHER AROUND SIMILAR INTERESTS.

THE LOVE OF CUTE STUFF.

THE LOVE OF ART.

HANDMAKING AND THE PLACE TO PEOPLE TO COME IN AND LEARN THOSE THINGS.

>> LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL BRACELET WE'RE MAKING TOGETHER.

I WANTED THIS TO BE A SAFE PLACE THAT PEOPLE CAN COME TO AND BE VULNERABLE.

SHARE IN THIS SPACE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A LATINA AND NOT QUITE SO MEXICAN AND NOT QUITE SO AMERICAN.

>> THE EVOLUTION OF THE STORE IS PART OF A BIGGER MISSION FOR THE CARSONS.

A SPACE WHERE OTHER ENTREPRENEURS HAVE A CHANCE TO LEARN AND SHOWCASE THEIR PASSIONS.

>> FOR US IT'S VERY MUCH ABOUT HOW DO WE TAKE OUR EXPERIENCE AND BRING THAT INTO THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS AND BRING IT INTO HOW WE THINK ABOUT RUNNING THE BUSINESS, HOW WE THINK ABOUT TEACHING OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY HOW TO RUN THE BUSINESS AS WELL.

>> ONE OF THE LATEST VENTURES IS THE CREATION OF ENTREPRENEURS COLLECTIVE.

A PROGRAM AIMED AT SUPPORTING PEOPLE WHO WANT TO OPEN A BUSINESS.

>> AND WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO TALK ABOUT PRICING STRATEGIES AND WEB DESIGN AND PRODUCT PLACEMENT AND MARKETING ALL THOSE THINGS THAT THESE GUYS NEED TO REALLY FORM THE FOUNDATION FOR A SOLID BUSINESS.

>> AS THE COUPLE CONTINUES TO EVOLVE THEIR BUSINESS THEIR GOAL REMAINS THE SAME TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.

>> IT IS A MULTILEVEL PLACE WHERE YOU WILL BE IMMERSED IN DIFFERENT CULTURES AND HAVE THE GREAT EXPERIENCE.

I DON'T KNOW THE WORD.

>> A MELTING POT.

>> MELTING POT.

>> MELTING POT IN ONE BUILDING.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COFFEE SHOP OR THE ART STUDIO YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE.

00 WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

>> YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.

TENSION IN SPRINGFIELD AS TWO LAWMAKERS IGNORE GOVERNOR PRITZKER'S CALLS FOR RESIGNATION.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THAT AND MUCH MORE.

AND HOW A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT IS HELPING OTHERS NAVIGATE CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE.

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

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

[♪♪♪]