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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> INFORMATION ON A FOREIGN NATION'S NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES RECORD R ROTHERREDLY CEASED AT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MAR-A-LAGO ESTATE AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR THE INVESTIGATION.

>> R. KELLY CO-DEFENDANT TESTIFIES ABOUT EARLY ALLEGATIONS MADE AGAINST THE R&B SINGER AND UPDATES FROM THE CHICAGO TRIAL.

>> THE GREAT RESIGNATION DID NOT PASS US BY.

>> TWO MORE LONG TIME CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY THIS WEEK THEY WON'T RUN FOR REELECTION OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM LOOKS THE THE EXODUS AND MUCH MORE.

>> DISPENSARY OWNERS AND ADVOCATES WANT ILLINOIS TO BE MORE EQUITABLE IN DECIDING WHO CAN SELL AND GROW WEED IN ILLINOIS.

>> HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ELEVATE COMMUNITY CONCERNS.

>> MEET THREE MEMBERS OF THE POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD AND THEIR GOALS TO REBUILD TRUST IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

[♪♪♪] >> AND FAMOUS DISASTER REIMAGINED ON CANVAS WE INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL ARTIST INSPIRED BY HISTORY AND CATASTROPHE.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> AROUND 25% OF THE CITY WILL BE SEEING NEW LEADERSHIP NEXT YEAR AS THE EXITS AT CITY HALL KEEP COMING.

ALDERMAN HOWARD BROOKINS IS THE LATEST TO ANNOUNCE HE WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION.

IN A STATEMENT HE SAYS AFTER 20 YEARS LEADING THE SOUTH SIDE'S 21 WARD HE IS QUOTE READY TO HAND THE REINS OVER TO A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP.

HE IS THE NINTH COUNCILMEMBER TO ANNOUNCE THEY WILL NOT RUN FOR REELECTION WITH THREE ANNOUNCES BIDS FOR MAYOR.

WE WILL HAVE MORE IN SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

>> BUN OF R. KELLY'S CO-DEFENDANTS AND FORMER BUSINESS MANAGER TOOK THE STAND AT THE TRIAL TODAY.

ANDERSONVILLE SAID HE DID NOT BELIEVE ALLEGATIONS THAT KELLY ABUSED MINORS IN THE 1990s AND NOT ONLY DID HE THINK THE CLAIMS WERE FALSE BUT THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.

AND THE JUDGE RULED THAT MUSIC REPORTER JIM DeROGATIS WILL NOT HAVE TO TAKE THE WITNESS STAND.

WE'LL HEAR MORE DETAILS ON THAT AND McDAVID'S TESTIMONY LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

>> MORE THAN 100 IMMIGRANTS ARRIVED IN CHICAGO TODAY BY BUS FROM TEXAS.

THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS BUSSED TO CHICAGO BY TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT TO 228 PEOPLE.

A STATEMENT FROM MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S OFFICE SAYS QUOTE... >> CITY OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED A WEBSITE FOR DONATIONS AND VOLUNTEERING TO HELP.

>> THE LATEST ON THE INVESTIGATION INTO DOCUMENTS CEASESSED AT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MAR-A-LAGO ESTATE.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS THIS WEEK IN THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S HANDLING OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS AT HIS PRIVATE COUNTRY CLUB.

A JUDGE GRANTED DONALD TRUMP'S REQUEST FOR AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW ON THE GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS SEIZED FROM MAR-A-LAGO LAST MONTH AND THE "WASHINGTON POST" IS REPORTING THAT AMONG THOSE DOCUMENTS THERE WAS INFORMATION DESCRIBING A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT'S MILITARY DEFENSES INCLUDING ITS NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES.

AND JOINING US WITH MORE IS JOE WALSH A FORMER REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN FROM ILLINOIS AND HOST OF THE WHITE FLAG WITH JOE WALSH PODCAST.

AND JULIET SOPRENSEN, PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND ALSO A FORMER ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY.

WE WELCOME BOTH OF YOU BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

JULIET SOPRENSEN TO THAT "WASHINGTON POST" REPORT, SAYING THE DOJ RECOVERED THE TOP SECRET INFORMATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS CAPABILITIES OF AN UNNAMED COUNTRY HOW SERIOUS OF A POTENTIAL CRIME IS IT TO BE IN POSSESSION OF SUCH A DOCUMENT?

>> THE POTENTIAL TO BE EXTREMELY SERIOUS.

NOW, WE DON'T KNOW PRECISELY WHAT THE DOCUMENTS WERE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE MIGHT BE THAT MIGHT IMPLICATE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

BUT DOCUMENTS RELATED TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS, IT RAISED THE SPECTER OF POTENTIAL ESPIONAGE, TREASON AND TREATY VIOLATIONS BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES IS PARTY TO A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL TREATIES RELATED TO THOSE NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

>> THESE ARE MAJOR STATUTES THAT PERHAPS THIS INVESTIGATION IS LOOKING INTO.

JOE, DOES THIS REVELATION GIVE THIS INVESTIGATION MORE URGENCY IN YOUR MIND?

>> YES, PARIS, IT SURE DOES.

AND AGAIN, EVERY REPUBLICAN SHOULD BE UPSET WITH WHAT IS BEING FOUND DOWN THERE.

JULY YET IS RIGHT, THESE COULD BE VERY SERIOUS VIOLATIONS.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD BE ANGRY AND, YET, REPUBLICANS, PARIS, GENERALLY CONTINUE TO STAY QUIET.

LOOK, TRUMP WANTS TO DELAY.

THAT IS ALL THIS IS ABOUT.

THE SPECIAL MASTER NOW BEING APPOINTED BY THIS JUDGE.

THIS WILL ENABLE TRUMP TO KICK THIS DOWN THE ROAD AND THAT IS ALL HE IS TRYING TO DO.

>> LET'S GET INTO THAT SPECIAL MASTER IT WAS APPOINTED BY A TRUMP APPOINTED JUDGE IN FLORIDA, AILEEN CANNON GRANTING THAT REQUEST.

SO THE SPECIAL MASTER IS THERE TO SIFT THROUGH THE DOCUMENTS SEIZED.

REMIND US JULIET SOPRENSEN THE ROLE OF A SPECIAL MASTER AND WHO THAT PERSON MIGHT END UP BEING.

>>ED TRUE SPECIAL MASTER IS ONE OF THE LEGAL TERMS SOUNDS FANCIER THAN IT IS.

IT IS NOT AN UNCOMMON SITUATION FOR A COURT TO APPOINT SOMEONE WHO IS INTENDED TO BE A NEUTRAL THIRD PARTY TO CONDUCT A REVIEW OF DOCUMENTS FOR A SPECIFIC REASON.

AND IN THIS COURSE THE SPECIAL MASTER IS REVIEWING DOCUMENTS SEIZED BY THE F.B.I.

WHEN THEY CONDUCTED THE SEARCH OF MAR-A-LAGO TO DETERMINE IF THERE ARE ANY DOCUMENTS THERE THAT ARE PROTECTED BY A LEGALLY APPLICABLE PRIVILEGE, EITHER ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE OR EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE.

>> DOES IT MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND AN APPROPRIATE PERSON TO BE A SPECIAL MASTER WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE DOCUMENTS CAN ONLY BE SEEN BY A HANDFUL OF HIGH CLEARANCE INDIVIDUALS IN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY HANDFUL, BUT, YES, THE SPECIAL MASTER NEEDS TO MEET THE QUALIFIATIONS.

THAT PERSON NEEDS TO BE APPROVED BY THE JUDGE AND IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING SOMEONE OF IMPECCABLE INTEGRITY IN A CASE AS SENSITIVE AS THIS ONE.

>> JOE WALSH YOU GOT INTO THE POLITICS, REPUBLICANS HAVE SEEMED TO SETTLE INTO THE MEMBER MESSAGING STRATEGY DEFENDING TRUMP.

DO YOU THINK ANYTHING ELSE WOULD COME OUT THAT WOULD GET MORE REPUBLICANS TO JUMP?

>> NO, I DON'T, PARIS.

UNFORTUNATELY.

AND LET'S PUT TO BED, PUT TO REST THE NOTION THAT MY FORMER POLITICAL PARTY, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS THE PARTY OF LAW AND ORDER.

THINK ABOUT THIS, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TOOK ILLEGALLY TOOK TOP SECRET DOCUMENTS DOWN TO HIS HOME AT MAR-A-LAGO.

AND REPUBLICANS WANT THE F.B.I.

INVESTIGATED.

THEY ARE GOING AFTER LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR JUST DOING THEIR JOBS HERE.

THEY ARE GOING TO PROTECT DONALD TRUMP AS LONG AS THEY CAN.

>> JOE, ONE OF THOSE EXCEPTIONS IS THE FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY CONSERVATIVE BILL BARR SAYING HE THINKS THE DOJ MAYBE CLOSE TO HAVING EVERYTHING HE NEEDS TO INDICT.

HE DISAGREED WITH THE JUDGE'S RULING AND GONE ON FOX NEWS WHICH HAS A LOT OF TRUMP SUPPORTING VIEWERS TO MAKE THAT CASE.

DO YOU THINK THAT THAT HAS ANY IMPACT?

>> NO.

BILL BARR IS NOT A REPUBLICAN RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

LOOK, LET'S NOT FORGET THAT BILL BARR ENABLED DONALD TRUMP WHILE HE SERVED AS ATTORNEY GENERAL.

BILL BARR HAS ALSO, PARIS, MADE IT CLEAR THAT IF DONALD TRUMP IS THE 2024 REPUBLICAN NOMINEE HE WILL STILL VOTE FOR HIM.

SO I DON'T REALLY GIVE BILL BARR MUCH ATTENTION WITH WHAT HE IS SAYING.

I WOULD PAY ATTENTION, PARIS, IF ACTUAL REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR OFFICE STOOD UP AND SPOKE OUT AGAINST WHAT TRUMP HAS DONE ILLEGALLY.

>> AND CERTAINLY DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE'VE SEEN THAT YET.

JULIET SOPRENSEN JOE MADE THE POINT HE BELIEVES THIS SPECIAL MASTER BATTLE IS A WAY TO DELAY THIS INVESTIGATION.

DOES THE JUDGE'S RULING DELAY THE DOJ'S ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE THESE SERIOUS POTENTIAL CRIMES YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT?

>> YOU KNOW, PARIS, IT DOES.

BUT ONLY DELAYED ON THE MARGINS BY A MATTER OF WEEKS.

TRUTHFULLY IS IT DELAYED IN THE NAME OF GETTING IT RIGHT, LEGALLY APPLICABLE PRIVILEGES?

THAT IS A GOOD THING.

THINK OF IT THIS WAY YOU DON'T WANT SOMETHING OVERTURNED ON APPEAL AFTER RESOURCES HAVE BEEN SPENT AT THE TRIAL COURT LEVEL.

BETTER TO GET IT RIGHT ON THE FRONT END THAN YOU HAVE IT UPENDED AND HAVE MATERIALS SUPPRESSED OR DEEMED A VIOLATION OF PRIVILEGE ON THE BACK END.

>> AND THERE'S TALK THAT THE DOJ MIGHT APPEAL THIS DECISION TO APPOINT THE SPECIAL MASTER.

DO YOU THINK THEY WILL DO THAT?

AND WILL THAT ACTION DELAY INVESTIGATIONS?

>> AN APPEAL WOULD DELAY IT.

THEY CAN TAKE AN APPEAL AND INTERLOCUTORY APPEAL IT'S CALLED.

I'M SURE THAT THE DOJ IS WEIGHING THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS ON APPEAL UNCERTAIN IN MY VIEW.

THE DELAY ITSELF, AND ALSO THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY CAN BUY THEIR TIME WITH OTHER ASPECTS OF THE INVESTIGATION WHILE THEY WAIT FOR THE SPECIAL MASTER TO BE APPOINTED AND COMPLETE THE REVIEW.

>> THE JOE WALSH YOU MADE THE POINT YOU BELIEVE THE G.O.P.

IS FIRMLY DONALD TRUMP'S PARTY NO MATTER WHAT HE IS CAMPAIGNING IN PLACES LIKE PENNSYLVANIA, OHIO FOR THE MIDTERMS.

DO YOU THINK THIS INVESTIGATION HAS ANY IMPACT ON REPUBLICANS' CHANCES IN THE MIDTERMS?

>> YEAH, PARIS.

BECAUSE I THINK AS LONG AS DONALD TRUMP IS THE TOPIC, IT WILL TURN INDEPENDENTS AND MODERATE VOTERS TOWARD THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

LOOK, TRUMP'S A GREAT GET OUT THE VOTE TOOL FOR DEMOCRATS.

HE GETS THE REPUBLICAN BASE OUT BUT AS LONG AS TRUMP IS THE ISSUE, THE REST OF AMERICA COMES OUT AGAINST HIM.

SO THE DEMOCRATS NOW HAVE A GREAT CHANCE TO RETAIN CONTROL OF ONE OR BOTH HOUSES WHEREAS A COUPLE MONTHS AGO THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN THE CASE.

>> THERE'S DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS EVERYDAY.

WE'LL KEEP FOLLOWING IT.

THANKS TO JOE WALSH AND JULIET SOPRENSEN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO BRAN KISS AND CALLS FOR MORE EQUITY IN THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY.

>> AND PARIS, IT'S BEEN OVER TWO YEARS SINCE ILLINOIS SIGNED WHAT IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST EQUITABLE LAWS TO LEGALIZE THE USE OF CANNABIS.

AND EVEN THOUGH JUST LAST MONTH, THE STATE ISSUED A SECOND ROUND OF CONDITIONAL DISPENSARY LICENSES, SOME ADVOCATES SAY THE STATE IS STILL MAKING IT HARDER FOR SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANTS TO BUILD AND GROW THEIR CANNABIS BUSINESSES.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THOSE REGULATIONS AND AND THE PUSH TO CHANGE THEM ARE KIANA HUGHES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CHICAGO NORML.

THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR REFORM OF MARIJUANA LAWS.

AND CHRISTIAN MITCHELL, ILLINOIS DEPUTY GOVERNOR.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

KIANA HUGHES LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE.

YOUR ORGANIZATION ALONG WITH TWO OTHERS THE CANNABIS EQUITY ILLINOIS COALITION AND WEST SIDE VISIONARIES, SAY THAT THE STATE'S REGULATIONS ARE ACTUALLY HURTING EFFORTS TO GROW YOUR BUSINESSES.

TELL US HOW, PLEASE?

>> SURE, FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AND BRINGING LIGHT TO THIS REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

WE CAME TOGETHER SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY TO BRING TOGETHER ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF LICENSE HOLDERS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE HEAR SOMETHING THAT ON EVERY LEVEL, LICENSE ES ARE HIT -- LICENSEES ARE HITTING OBSTACLES OR LEFT IN PLACE WHETHER IT'S BY LEGISLATION, WHETHER IT'S BY THE RULES OR THE INTERPRETATIONS OF THE LAW.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MIGHT HAVE THERE ARE DISPENSARY OWNERS THAT ARE ALL DISPENSARY OWNERS ALL YOU GET WITH A LICENSE IS A CONDITIONAL LICENSE.

YOUR LICENSE IS NOT REAL UNTIL YOU ARE ABLE TO OPEN YOUR DOOR.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE A LOT OF SOCIAL EQUITY LICENSEES ARE TRYING TO RAISE CAPITAL TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY OPEN THEIR DOORS.

ONE OF THE RULES IS BEING INTERPRETED AS SAYING THAT YOU CANNOT SELL OR EXCHANGE ANY PORTION OF OWNERSHIP OR EQUITY IN YOUR COMPANY IN ORDER TO GET INVESTORS FOR YOUR BUSINESS.

SO IT'S MAKING IT VERY HARD FOR THEM TO RAISE CAPITAL.

PEOPLE ON THE CRAFT GROW SIDE WHO ARE HAVING A HARD TIME BEING ABLE TO RAISE CAPITAL TO JUST OUTFIT A 5,000 SQUARE-FOOT SPACE WITH THE POTENTIAL TO GROW TO 14,000 SQUARE FEET IN THE FUTURE.

WE'RE HEARING A LOT WHERE THEY ARE SAYING INVESTORS ARE SAYING THAT IS NOT ENOUGH OR THAT WILL NOT BE LUCRATIVE ENOUGH OR YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PRODUCE ENOUGH TO BE COMPETITIVE IN THIS MARKET AT SUCH A LOW CANOPY SPACE.

WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO WAIT AND APPLY FOR EXTENSIONS 3,000 SQUARE FEET AT A TIME.

AND THERE IS A MECHANISM IN PLACE TO ASK FOR THAT OR ALLOW THAT IF YOU WERE IN A PLACE TO GET IT.

>> SO, IT SOUNDS LIKE SOME BARRIERS YOU ARE SAYING THAT YOU BELIEVE.

>> LOTS OF THEM.

>> CHRISTIAN MITCHELL, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS DEPUTY GOVERNOR?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AND THANKS TO KIANA HUGHES FOR TALKING ABOUT THIS.

A COUPLE THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL EQUITY IS MULTIFACETED.

WE HAVE 1112 IN TAX REVENUE RETURNED TO COMMUNITIES AND 8,000 RECORDS EXPUNGED GIVING FOLKS A NEW LEASE ON LIFE.

THE BUSINESS SIDE.

FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE SEEING SOME OF THESE AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY FROM THE SHEET WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN.

AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS ALREADY PUBLICLY SAID WE SUPPORT.

THE REQUIRE LEGISLATIVE CHANGE.

WE BELIEVE GOING TO 14,000 FEET IS A GOOD IDEA.

WE BELIEVE THAT MAKING SURE THAT BANDAGING IS CONSISTENT ACROSS CATEGORIES IS A GOOD IDEA.

WE THINK THOSE ARE GOOD THINGS AND THEY REQUIRE CHANGES IN THE LAW.

SO THE THING THAT WAS JUST BEING DISCUSSED RELATIVE TO PRINCIPLE OWNERS WE'RE HEARING TWO SIDES.

YOU HAVE OWNERS SAYING WE WANT TO CHANGE PRINCIPLE OFFICERS SO WE CAN RAISE CAPITAL.

AND YOU HAVE AN EQUAL NUMBER OF FOLKS SAYING WAIT A SECOND WE HAVE PRINCIPLE OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN PULLED IN THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WE WANT THAT GROWTH IN THE INDUSTRY.

WE DON'T WANT THE PREDATORY FOLKS COMING IN AND SAYING I WILL GIVE YOU CASH BUT YOU GIVE ME A MAJORITY STAKE IN THE BUSINESS.

IS THAT TRUE SOCIAL EQUITY IF A MAJORITY PERSON BOUGHT IN AND HAS THE STAKE AND IS NOW SAYING I AM A SOCIAL EQUITY LICENSE.

THESE ARE ALL DEBATES WE NEED TO HAVE.

MY OFFICE DOOR IS OPEN AS IS THE GOVERNOR'S.

OUR PHONE LINES ARE OPEN AND WE HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A NUANCED CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS AND THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL EQUITY IN THE DISPENSARY AND CRAFT GROW SPACE.

>> WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT OF REGULATIONS PEOPLE HAVE SPENT TIME AND MONEY UP TO THIS POINT TO FIND THEMSELVES LIMITED?

>> WELL, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS.

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET THESE LICENSES SINCE WE APPLIED.

IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET THE LICENSES BACK IN 2020.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DID NOT GET LICENSES UNTIL 2022 TALKING ABOUT THE DISPENSARY LICENSES AND THAT.

THEY HAVE ALREADY SPENT COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO KEEP THINGS GOING IN THE MEANTIME.

NONE OF THIS HAS MET ANYONE'S EXPECTATIONS IN TERMS OF HOW IT WAS GOING TO GO OR WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE EXPLAINED TO YOUR INITIAL INVESTORS TO YOUR INITIAL PEOPLE.

SO WE'RE HAPPY TO FINALLY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND HAVE AN AUDIENCE WITH CHRISTIAN AND THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR MITCHELL AS WELL AS GOVERNOR PRITZKER AND ANYONE WHO CAN HELP US.

WE HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN BEATING THIS DRUM AND SOUNDING OFF A LOT OF THESE ISSUES FOR AT LEAST THE PAST YEAR.

AND NOW WE'RE JUST GETTING MORE LICENSES ARE BEING RELEASED WE ARE JUST GETTING MORE AND MORE ISSUES AND ROADBLOCKS.

>> DEPOSITLY GOVERNOR WHO MORE CAN THE STATE DO TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS AND CHANGES THAT CAN BE MADE THROUGH THE STATE'S REGULATING AGENCY AND THROUGH LEGISLATORS?

>> LOOK, WE'VE GOT TO ALL COME TOGETHER AND WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

THE CANOPY SPACE ONE IS OBVIOUS.

WE NEED TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT SOCIAL EQUITY IN THE CONDITIONAL LICENSING SPACE.

THERE IS THE ONE SIDE THAT SAID LET US ADD OWNERS AND CASH AND THE OTHER SAYS IF THAT MEANS REDUCED BLACK AND LATINO OWNERSHIP IS THAT THE RIGHT OUTCOME FOR THE STATE?

THOSE ARE TWO SIDES FOR DEBATE.

WE HAVE TO COME TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN DO SOMETHING THAT MEETS THE ORIGINAL DEFINITION OF SOCIAL EQUITY AND THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE PEOPLE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

ON THE TECHNICAL ISSUE, TRANSPORTERS, INFUSERS MANY OF THOSE THINGS ARE IN THE LEGISLATION WE HAVE TO NEGOTIATE THAT WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

AGAIN, OUR OFFICE DOOR IS OPEN AND WE ARE READY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING WITH DCO TO GET LOAN FUNDS OUT TO SOME OF THE OWNERS WHO QUALIFY FOR SOCIAL EQUITY LOANS THAT WILL HELP WITH THE ISSUE IMMEDIATELY.

WE ARE WORKING ON THAT NOW.

WE HAD A MEET BEING THAT TODAY.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP PUSHING THESE THINGS THROUGH AND WE WANT TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNER TO ADDRESS THE MORE COMPLICATED ISSUES IN A WAY THAT MAKES SURE WE CAN GET EVERYTHING MOVING SO WE ARE MEETING THE EXPECTATIONS OF CANNABIS INDUSTRY IN THE COUNTRY.

>> MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

WE WILL BE HEARING FROM YOU AFTER YOU DISCUSS IT ON YOUR OWN.

KIANA HUGHES AND ILLINOIS DEPUTY GOVERNOR CHRISTIAN MITCHELL THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, FAMOUS DISASTER REIMAGINED ON CANVAS.

STAY WITH US FOR A LOOK.

>> A WORD OF WARNING OUR NEXT STORY CONTAINS IMAGES THAT ARE AS FRIGHTENING AS THEY ARE FASCINATING.

A CHICAGO ARTIST PAINTS PICTURES OF TRAGEDIES AND DISASTERS THAT TOOK PLACE IN CHICAGO AND ELSEWHERE.

MARC VITALI MET A PAINTER INSPIRED BY HISTORY AND CATASTROPHE.

A RAILWAY DISASTER IN OHIO AT 1867.

A CIRCUS FIRE IN CONNECTICUT IN 1944.

AND THE SINKING OF THE LADY ELGIN IN LAKE MICHIGAN IN 1860.

THESE DEPICTIONS OF CALAMITY WERE MADE BY LOCAL ARTIST ERIC EDWARD ESPER WHOSE WORK HAS BEEN FEATURED ON WTTW'S CHICAGO STORIES.

HERE IS THE IROQUOIS THEATRE FIRE OF 1903.

IT MAKES SENSE HIS WORK ENDED OCCUPY ON PBS.

>> I BECAME INTERESTED IN HISTORY FROM READING WAR HISTORY WHICH IS VERY, YOU KNOW, DISASTROUS ITSELF.

AND I BECAME INTERESTED IN HISTORICAL DISASTERS FROM WATCHING DOCUMENTARIES AND CHANNEL 11 WTTW.

THE FIRST ONE WAS THE EASTLAND DISASTER WHICH INSPIRED ME TO MAKE A PAINTING OF IT.

AND I PAINTED THAT AND IT SOLD RIGHT AWAY.

AND I DECIDED THAT WOULD BE A GOOD BODY OF WORK TO CONTINUE WITH.

>> THEY RANGE FROM THE LOOP L TRAIN DERAILMENT TO THE 1909 CHICAGO WATER CRIB FIRE WHICH TOOK PLACE TWO MILES OFFSHORE.

THERE IS AN EMPHASIS ON THE MIDWEST.

THE 1896 TORNADO THAT STRUCK DOWN ST. LOUIS AND THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE.

>> REFERENCES FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES.

>> LONG BEFORE HE APPLIES OIL PAINT TO CANVAS HE DOES HIS HOMEWORK.

>> A LOT OF RESEARCH, YEAH.

I WATCH AS MUCH INFORMATION ON TV I CAN FIND.

LOTS OF INTERNET SEARCHES FOR PHOTOGRAPHS, LOTS OF THAT.

AND I READ TWO OR THREE BOOKS IF I CAN FIND THAT MANY ON THE EVENT THAT IS IMPORTANT TO TRY AND GET THE DETAILS RIGHT.

IT TAKES A LONGTIME.

SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR PER PAINTING USUALLY.

>> ESPER WORKS AS AN ART INSTALLER AT GALLERY VICTOR WHICH REPRESENTS HIM.

WHEN HE MOVED TO CHICAGO FROM MICHIGAN HE WAS A LANDSCAPE PAINTER.

HIS PAINTING ARE OVER DONE FROM A BIRD'S EYE POINT OF VIEW.

>> MY OBJECTIVE WAS TO SHOW AS MUCH AS I COULD TO NOT JUST ZOOM IN ON I PORTION BUT TO CAPTURE THE SCENE AND THE BIRD'S EYE VIEW HAS THAT EARLY AMERICAN ILLUSTRATION QUALITY TO IT.

>> SOMETIMES HE PAINTS LANDSCAPES IN PLACES RELATED TO NOTORIOUS MOMENTS.

THIS IS THE SPAHN RANCH IN CALIFORNIA HEADQUARTERS TO CHARLES MANSON AND HIS FAMILY.

AND THIS IS THE COMPOUND IN WACO TEXAS.

OTHER DARK DAYS IN CHICAGO HISTORY INCLUDE THE FIRE AT OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS AND THE ILL-FATED FLIGHT 191.

>> I TRY AND KEEP IT TASTEFUL WITHOUT TRYING TO DEPICT DEATH IT IS MORE REALIZING THAT IS HAPPENING THAN IT IS DEPICTING IT.

>> A LOT OF THINGS HAVE INSPIRED ME TO PAINT THESE.

I USED TO DO POSTER RESTORATIONS I WAS INTO THE OLD ILLUSTRATION POSTERS AND THEN I GOT INTO THE HISTORY FROM WATCHING DOCUMENTARIES AND INSPIRED ME TO PAINT THESE MOST DRAMATIC SCENES I COULD IMAGINE.

THEY ARE NOT A SUNNY DAY AT THE BEACH IN THESE.

SO I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING STORY THAT BEHIND EVERYONE OF THESE INCIDENTS THAT WOULD DRAW PEOPLE IN TO THINK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MORE WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT.

IT'S SOMETHING TO TRY TO REMEMBER.

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

>> AGAIN THE ARTIST IS ERIC EDWARD ESPER AND YOU CAN SEE MORE OF HIS WORK ON OUR WEB SITE.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... R. KELLY'S CO-DEFENDANT TESTIFIES ABOUT EARLY ALLEGATIONS MADE AGAINST THE R&B SINGER AND UPDATES FROM THE CHICAGO TRIAL.

>> AN TWO MORE ALDERPEOPLE SAY THEY'VE HAD ENOUGH WHAT IS BEHIND THE GROWING EXODUS FROM CITY HALL OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THAT AND MORE.

AND THREE MEMBERS OF CHICAGO'S FIRST CIVILIAN POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD TELL US HOW THEY HOPE TO REBUILD TRUST IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> A NEW REPORT FINDS 800 ILLINOIS RESIDENTS WITH WERE INCLUDED ON LEAKED MEMBERSHIP ROLES FOR THE OATH KEEPERS.

OF THOUGHT, 21 ARE BELIEVED TO BE LAW ENFORCEMENT, TWO BELIEVED TO BE MILITARY AND THREE ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

THE REPORT FROM THE ANTIDEFAMATION LEAGUE CENTER ON EXTREMISM EXAMINED A LEAKED POLL OF THE GROUP THAT IS ACCUSED OF PLAYING A LARGE ROLE IN THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION.

IT DOES NOT IDENTIFY THE RESIDENTS BUT THEY NOTE A PERSON'S INCLUSION IN THE DATABASE DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THEY ARE AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE GROUP.

>> SEVERAL ADVOCACY GROUPS BIKED DOWN BELLMOND DEMANDING THAT BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE BE ADDED BETWEEN SOUTHPORT AND DUSABLE LAKE SHORE DRIVE.

THEY SAY THE CITY IS FAILING TO UTILIZE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE STREET SAFETY BY NOT PLANNING TO ADD PROTECTED BIKE LANES AND BUS IMPROVEMENTS TO THE STRETCH.

THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST FOR COMMENT.

>> FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND MICHELLE OBAMA WERE BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE FOR THE UNVEILING OF OFFICIAL PORTRAITS IT'S HAPPENING LATE DUE TO FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP NOT HOLDING A CEREMONY.

INSTEAD, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS HOSTING THE EVENT FOR HIS FORMER BOSS.

THE PORTRAIT WILL BE DISPLAYED IN THE WHITE HOUSE, WHERE PORTRAITS OF THE TWO MOST RECENT PRESIDENTS ARE PLACED.

AND MICHELLE'S WILL BE ALONG THE HALLWAY ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE WHITE HOUSE ALONGSIDE SOME OF THE PREVIOUS FIRST LADIES.

>> NEW TESTIMONY TODAY IN THE CHICAGO TRIAL OF R. KELLY THIS TIME FROM ONE OF THE SINGER'S CO-DEFENDANTS.

MEANWHILE LONG TIME MUSIC JOURNALIST JIM DeROGATIS GETS OUT OF TESTIFYING.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER MATT MASTERSON HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THIS CASE AND JOINS US NOW.

MATT, IN THIS SEXUAL ABUSE AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY TRIAL OF R. KELLY THERE ARE TWO CO-DEFENDANTS ONE OF THEM TESTIFIED TODAY.

WHO IS THIS PERSON AND WHAT WAS THAT TESTIMONY LIKE?

>> SO TODAY IT WAS DERREL McDAVID, WHO TESTIFIED FOR MOST OF THE DAY HE TESTIFIED ABOUT A WIDE RANGE OF THINGS.

LARGELY ABOUT HOW HE DID NOT BELIEVE EARLY ALLEGATIONS MADE AGAINST KELLY THAT HE HAD SEX WITH MINORS BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THE ACCUSERS WERE TRYING TO GET A PAY-OUT.

KELLY'S ATTORNEY TOLD HIM THIS WAS THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY AND IT WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL TO KELLY AND CAREER AND PUBLIC IMAGE TO SETTLE THE CLAIMS WITH A PAYMENT RATHER THAN LETTING THEM GO PUBLIC EVEN IF THEY THOUGHT THE CLAIMS FROM FALSE.

THAT EXTENDED TO JANE, KELLY'S GOD DAUGHTER WHO TESTIFIED THAT KELLY ABUSED HER HUNDREDS OF TIMES.

KELLY SAID HE NEVER ABUSED JANE AND THE ALLEGATIONS WERE BEING PUSHED BY THE AUNTD AND OTHERS WHO HAD A FALLING OUT WITH KELLY OVER THE YEARS.

>> DERREL McDAVID WHAT STANDS OUT ABOUT HIM?

>> WELL, HE IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE THREE THAT IS EXPECTED TO TESTIFY HERE.

BUT THERE HAS BEEN TESTIMONY ABOUT HIM.

CHARLES FREEMAN ANOTHER ASSOCIATE TESTIFIED THAT DERREL McDAVID AND ANOTHER MAN RECRUITED HIM TO RECOVER A SEX TAPE WITH KELLY AND A MERE.

McDAVID TESTIFIED CLAIMED THAT WAS FALSE HE WAS TRYING TO EXTORT KELLY DEMANDING A PAYMENT OTHERWISE HE WAS GOING TO SELL IT.

LISA VAN ALLEN TESTIFIED McDAVID MADE A STATEMENT ABOUT KILLING HER HE IS EXPECTED TO SPEND MORE TIME ON THE WITNESS STAND IN THE COMING DAYS.

>> ALSO TODAY, A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE EFORT D FROM MUSIC JOURNALIST JIM DeROGATIS TO NOT TAKE THE WITNESS STAND.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

>> JIM DeROGATIS WAS SUBPOENAED TO TESTIFY ABOUT THE VHS TAPE HE HAD BEEN GIVEN IN 2002 THAT ALLEGEDLY SHOWED KELLY ABUSING ONE OF THE MINORS.

HE FILED A MOTION CHALLENGING THAT SUBPOENA AND THE JUDGE THIS MORNING AGREED THAT HIS TESTIMONY WAS RATHER UNNECESSARY AFTER THE GIRL WHO WAS IN THAT TAPE HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS JANE ALREADY TESTIFIED ABOUT THE VALIDITY OF THAT VIDEO SHOWN TO JURORS.

>> AND YESTERDAY, LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE OF THE DELAY ON TUESDAY, THE HOLIDAY MONDAY, THIS CASE MIGHT DRAG INTO NEXT WEEK BEFORE THE JURY GOES INTO DELIBERATIONS IS THAT WHAT IT'S LOOKING LIKE?

>> THERE'S LIKELY MUCH MORE TESTIMONY FROM DERREL McDAVID AND IT MIGHT TAKE ALL DAY TOMORROW AS WELL.

WHILE THE CASE WAS EXPECTED TO BE WRAPPED UP WITH THE DELAY AND THE LONG TESTIMONY IT'S POSSIBLE THIS DRAGS INTO NEXT WEEK.

>> WE KNOW YOU WILL BE FOLLOWING IT AND THANK YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

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

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

>> PARIS, THANKS AND STAY RIGHT THERE.

THE ALDERMANIC EXODUS FROM CITY HALL GATHERS PACE AS TWO PORE VETERAN MEMBERS CALL IT QUITS.

THE FEUD BETWEEN MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND TEXAS' GOVERNOR GROWS AS MORE MIGRANTS ARE BUSSED TO CHICAGO.

AND THE CHICAGO BEARS ARE TACKLING PLANS TO MOVE TO ARLINGTON HEIGHTS JOINING US IS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM, AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

THE EXODUS CONTINUES.

ALDERWOMAN SUSAN SADLOWSKI GARZA ANNOUNCED SHE IS NOT RUNNING FOR REELECTION ON MONDAY AND WE HEARD FROM ALDERMAN HOWARD BROOKINS TODAY SAYING HE IS NOT RUNNING AGAIN.

HERE IS A LITTLE OF WHAT SUSAN SADLOWSKI GARZA AND THE MAYOR HAD TO SAY ON THIS RECENTLY.

>> I'VE SPENT MY ENTIRE LIFE GIVING BACK TO PEOPLE IN THE 10TH WARD, 32 YEARS TO BE EXACT AS A COUNSELOR, AN EDUCATOR AND ALDERWOMAN.

AND IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GIVE BANG TO MY FAMILY -- BACK TO MY FAMILY AND MY FRIENDS AND MYSELF.

>> THE GREAT RESIGNATION DIDN'T PASS US BY.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT AGAIN WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILY.

THIS IS A TOUGH ENVIRONMENT TO BE AN INCUMBENT TO BE A PUBLIC SERVANT AND PEOPLE ARE MAKING THE DECISION IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO MOVE ON AND DO SOMETHING ELSE.

>> IS THAT THE WHOLE STORY FOLKS NEED MORE FAMILY TIME?

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS BEHIND THE GROWING NUMBERS WALKING OUT THE DOOR?

WHO IS TOMORROW?

>> THAT IS THE BIG QUESTION.

AND IT'S CERTAINLY TRUE A LOT OF ALDERPEOPLE HAD A REALLY ROUGH TIME DURING THE PANDEMIC.

MANY STRUGGLED TO ADAPT TO VIRTUAL MEETINGS AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT SOME ALDERPEOPLE LIKE ALDERMAN HOWARD BROOKINS WHO SERVED 20 YEARS IS READY FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER.

BUT HOWARD BROOKINS AND SUSAN SADLOWSKI GARZA HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON.

THEY ARE BOTH COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND IT USED TO BE IF ONCE YOU GOT TO BE A COMMITTEE CHAIR YOU HUNG ON TO THAT PERCH AS LONG AND HARD AS YOU COULD.

BECAUSE IT MEANT YOU HAD A SWEET BUDGET AND THE ABILITY TO PUSH YOUR LEGISLATION THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL.

THAT IS WHAT TELLS ME THIS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WANTING TO SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

AND AN INDICATION THAT CITY HALL IS A VERY, VERY HARD PLACE TO WORK RIGHT NOW.

>> AMANDA THERE'S BEEN CRITICISM OF THE MAYOR RUBBING FOLKS THE WRONG WAY WITH HER LEADERSHIP STYLE.

DO YOU THINK THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE WERE TALKS ABOUT THIS BUT FOLKS NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT.

IT IS NOT AS IF HER PREDECESSOR WAS KNOWN FOR BEING A HAPPY GO LUCKY GUY.

HE DID HAVE THE CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP STYLE.

AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT WHILE SHE HASN'T NECESSARILY, I THINK UNARGUABLY SOLID ON PROMISES WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPARENCY SHE HAS BEEN MORE FOLLOWING THROUGH ON NOT NECESSARILY WHEELING AND DEALING WITH ALDERPEOPLE TO GET WHAT THEY WANT IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR VOTE AS MUCH AS HER PREDECESSORS.

I THINK AS HEATHER NOTED THERE'S SOMETHING DEEPER BEHIND THIS BUT THE GREAT RESIGNATION IS DEEP IN ALL SORTS OF WAYS.

AND JUST HOW HARD IT IS TO BE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WHEN YOU THINK OF THE PRESSURE, THE DECISIONS AND PARTICULARLY BUDGET PRESSURES THAT ARE COMING DOWN THE PIKE.

>> PARIS, WITH SO MANY ALDERMANIC OPENINGS PRESUMABLY NO SHORTAGE OF CANDIDATES.

HOW MUCH COULD THIS NEXT ELECTION CHANGE THE DYNAMICS AT CITY HALL?

>> IT WILL CHANGE IT TREMENDOUSLY.

WE'RE LOOKING AT MORE THAN A FIFTH OF CITY COUNCIL TURNING OVER IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.

AND I MEAN I THINK THERE'S TRUTH TO THE GREAT RESIGNATION THINGS.

I SPOKE WITH ONE ALDERMAN WHO SAID THE SCUTTLEBUTT IS NO ONE IS HAVING FUN.

IT IS A SERIOUS JOB.

BUT THERE WERE ASPECTS OF THE JOB THAT THEY DID ENJOY.

ESPECIALLY MEETINGS THAT WERE IN-PERSON AND MIXING IT UP.

THERE WAS A LOT OF ACTION.

AND THE CHAOS OF 2020, COVID, THE HIGH CRIME HAS BEEN A DRAG THESE ARE BEEN DIFFICULT JOBS LET'S NOT DENY THAT.

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> LET'S ALSO SAY I THINK A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY ARE NOT RUNNING MIGHT HAVE FACED TOUGH REELECTION BATTLES ESPECIALLY IF ALIED WITH THE MAYOR.

THE APPROVAL RATINGS ARE IN THE 20s.

SO YOU WILL HAVE NO SHORTAGE OF CANDIDATES OPPOSED TO THE MAYOR THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN TOUGH RACES THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE STOMACH TO RUN.

>> AND THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF CANDIDATES OPPOSED TO THE MAYOR.

I WANT TO GET TO THIS, COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER BRANDON JOHNSON IS EXPLORING A POSSIBLE RUN AND A PAID ORGANIZER FOR THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION AND THAT SEEMS TO SET HIM UP FOR THE UNION'S BACKING.

HEATHER WHO CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT BRANDON JOHNSON AND HIS EXPERIENCE?

>> HE IS A FIRST TERM COMMISSIONER ON THE COOK COUNTY BOARD AND THE TWO MOST HIGH PROFILE THINGS HE HAS DONE WAS PUSHING THROUGH A RESOLUTION THAT WAS NONBINDING THAT CALLED FOR THE COUNTY TO MOVE MONEY FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT TO SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS IN THE WAKE OF THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS AND UNREST.

AND THAT, OF COURSE, IS DEFUND THE POLICE.

HE ALSO PUSHED THROUGH A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT MAKES IT ILLEGAL FOR LANDLORDS TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST POTENTIAL REPRESENTATIVERS WHO HAVE CERTAIN CRIMINAL RECORDS.

AND THAT HE SAID WAS AN EFFORT TO HELP PEOPLE RETURNING FROM JAIL, RETURNING FROM PRISON REBUILD THEIR LIVES.

THAT IS A GOOD SENSE OF WHAT KIND OF CANDIDATE HE WOULD BE, VERY PROGRESSIVE.

AND WHOEVER GETS THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION WILL BE A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH AS SORT OF THE ANOINTED PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE IN THE RACE.

WILL THAT BE ENOUGH TO DEFEAT LORI LIGHTFOOT?

TIME WILL TELL.

>> PARIS, BEYOND THOSE C.T.U.

CONNECTIONS WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT JOHNSON'S POLITICS?

>> HEATHER BROUGHT UP THE MAJOR THINGS HE WAS SUPPORTIVE OF DURING HIS CURRENT TENURE AS COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

HE IS VERY PROGRESSIVE.

HE IS A MEMBER OF THE TEACHER UNION, A FORMER TEACHER.

THE DEFUND THE POLICE THING MIGHT HAUNT HIM IT SEEMS THE CYCLE IS SETTING ITSELF UP TO BE ONE THAT THOSE THAT ARE MAYBE PRO PUBLIC SAFETY, PRO LAW ENFORCEMENT, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT HAS TAKEN A MORE PRO LAW ENFORCEMENT STANCE WE'LL SEE HOW THAT SHAPES UP.

THE PROGRESSIVE LANE WILL BE CROWDED IN THIS RACE.

BUT THE C.T.U.

HAS TREMENDOUS RESOURCES ALTHOUGH THOSE RESOURCES DID NOT HELP TONI PRECKWINKLE WIN FOUR YEARS AGO.

WE'LL SEE.

>> HEATHER WHY ANNOUNCE AN EXPLORATORY RUN?

WHY NOT SAY YOU ARE RUNNING?

>> HE WANTS TO TEST THE WATERS AND MAKE SURE THAT IF HE DOES RUN FOR MAYOR HE WILL HAVE THE SUPPORT OF TRULY A COALITION OF PROGRESSIVE GROUPS.

AND PARIS IS RIGHT.

HE WILL FACE CRITICISM OF THAT DEFUND THE POLICE POSITION BUT HE IS GOING TO LOOK AT THE SUCCESS OF STATE REP RAMIREZ IN THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL RACE TO SAY THAT IS NOT TOXIC.

PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THERE IS A NEED TO RETHINK PUBLIC SAFETY, TO RETHINK LAW ENFORCEMENT, TO RETHINK VIOLENCE REDUCTION IN CHICAGO AND HE WANTS TO MAKE THAT CASE BEFORE SORT OF GOING FULL BORE INTO AN ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

>> [INAUDIBLE] HIS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HIM NOW AND IF HE DECLARES THEN THAT PRESSURE BUILDING.

PART OF THAT CAN BE STRATEGY ON THE CANDIDATE'S PART.

>> AMANDA, ALSO SAYING HE IS MULLING A RUN FOR MAYOR IS FORMER GOVERNOR PAT QUINN WHO SAYS THE CITY NEEDS RESCUING AND BELIEVES HE IS THE MAN FOR THE JOB AND SAYS HE HAS DONE HIS OWN POLL AND IT GIVES HIM 42% OVER LIGHTFOOT'S 31%.

HOW STRONG A CANDIDATE DO YOU THINK HE WOULD BE?

>> WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT POLL.

DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE IT IS IF IT IS A ONE TO ONE MATCH AND WE KNOW UNTIL AND IF THERE IS A RUNOFF THIS RACE WILL NOT BE THAT.

I THINK IT'S TELLING THAT YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT HAD STATE-WIDE RECOGNITION AS HE DID AS A FORMER MAYOR.

HE DIDN'T WIN THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

INSTEAD HE CAME IN SECOND.

FORMIDABLE, YES, BY WAY OF NAME RECOGNITION BUT THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY AN ALDERMANIC OR A STATE RACE.

THIS IS A RACE FOR MAYOR.

SO WHILE YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT NAME RECOGNITION, THE FOLKS WHO BUBBLE UP TO THE TOP, AND ARE NOT GOING TO BE WORRYING ABOUT THAT.

I THINK THAT QUINN IS SOMETHING WHO LOVES TO RATTLE CAGES AND PASS OUT PETITIONS HE LIKES TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

MIGHT HE DO IT?

I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED.

WILL I BE BULLED OVER IF HE WINS?

YES.

>> OF THE CANDIDATES THAT ANNOUNCED OR MAY ANNOUNCE SHORTLY, THAT THEY ARE RUNNING, WHICH OF THEM DO YOU THINK MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT AND WHO ARE WE WAITING TO HEAR FROM?

>> WELL, WE'RE STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM CONGRESSMAN CHEWY GARCIA HE SAID AT A NEWS CONFERENCE TO ENDORSE HIS PICK FOR THREE ALDERMANIC RACES THAT HE WOULD STILL CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR MAYOR.

HE SAID HE HAD NOT COME TO A DECISION YET.

AND LOVED BEING IN CONGRESS AND WAS ENJOYING HIS WORK THERE.

BUT IF HE RUNS, HE IS CERTAINLY SOMEBODY WHO HAS THAT NAME RECOGNITION THAT AMANDA WAS TALKING ABOUT TO SORT OF VAULT HIMSELF INTO THAT TOP TIER.

I HONESTLY WOULD BE SURPRISED TO SEE BOTH GARCIA AND JOHNSON RUN AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE, OF COURSE, GARCIA WAS A COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER WHEN THE C.T.U.

TAPPED HIM TO RUN FOR MAYOR AGAINST RAHM EMANUEL IN 2015.

HE FORCED RAHM EMANUEL TO THE CITY'S FIRST EVER MAYORAL RUNOFF.

AND I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF TWO SUCH CLOSE C.T.U.

ALLIES WOULD GO HEAD-TO-HEAD.

>> SO THE BEARS, THIS WEEK THEY RELEASED RENDERINGS OF A PROPOSED ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT ANCHORED BY THE STADIUM IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS.

PARIS, DO YOU THINK THE BEARS MADE THEIR DECISION OR IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE TEAM COULD STAY IN CHICAGO?

>> I ABSOLUTELY THINK THEY HAVE MADE THEIR DECISION AND I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD KEEP THIS FROM BECOMING A REALITY IS IF THE McCASKEY'S CANNOT FIND THE FINANCING TO PUT THIS MEGA PROJECT TOGETHER.

AND YOU HEARD THE BEARS SAYING BY THE WAY WE DO WANT PUBLIC FINANCING JUST FOR EVERYTHING BUT THE STADIUM PORTION OF THIS.

ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS THE ENTERTAINMENT PART THE MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENTS WE WANT HELP WITH THEM.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF POLITICAL CLIMATE THERE IS RIGHT NOW OR WHAT THERE WILL BE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS AND WHETHER OR NOT ANYONE WILL SUPPORT THAT.

WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

THERE'S GROUPS SAYING THE BEARS ARE VALUED AT $5 BILLION.

THEY DON'T NEED THE POLITICAL HELP.

IF THEY CAN'T GET TOGETHER THE FINANCING MAYBE THERE IS A CHANCE.

I THINK THERE IS NO CHANCE THEY ARE STAYING IN SOLDIER FIELD.

I'VE THOUGHT THE ONLY CHANCE THE BEARS HAVE TO KEEP THE BEARS IS OFFER THEM ANOTHER PIECE OF LAND WHERE THEY CAN BUILD THE STADIUM.

AND CHICAGO HAS PLENTY OF THAT.

THERE'S THE SOUTH WORKS SITE WHERE THE U.S. STEEL USED TO BE.

THE 78.

THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT THE MAYOR HAS OFFERED ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S PUTTING THIS DOME OVER SOLDIER FIELD WHICH I DON'T THINK IS EVER GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> HERE IS WHAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT DID SAY ABOUT THE BEARS PLANS YESTERDAY.

>> WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSIONS.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE LEAGUE.

BUT AS YOU KNOW, I'M SOMEBODY WHO LIKES TO PLAN.

SO WE'VE GOT PLAN B AND C AND OTHERS IN THE WORKS AS WELL.

IF THE BEARS DECIDE THEY ARE GOING TO ABANDON THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

WE HOPE THEY DON'T AND WE WILL CONTINUE FIGHTING THE FIGHT.

>> HOW POLITICAL DAMAGING COULD IT BE FOR THE MAYOR IF THE BEARS WALK ON HER WATCH?

>> IF SHE IS NOT SEEN DOING EVERYTHING SHE CAN IT MIGHT BE DAMAGING.

BUT I DO THINK THE SENT.

RIGHT NOW IS THIS ARLINGTON HEIGHTS DEAL IS THE BEST DEAL FOR THE BEARS.

AND FANS UNDERSTAND THAT.

THEY UNDERSTAND SOLDIER FIELD IS OUTDATED.

THEY UNDERSTAND THE BEARS CANNOT COMPETE WITH THE STADIUM REVENUE OF SOME OF THE NEWER STADIUMS AND MARKETS LIKE LOS ANGELES.

SO THIS MIGHT BE A FAIT ACCOMPLI AND IT MIGHT NOT REST AT THE MAYOR'S FOOTSTEPS.

BUT DID YOU DO EVERYTHING TO TRY AND KEEP THEM?

DID YOU SAY BIG YOUR STADIUM ON THE LAKEFRONT OR AT THE 78?

SO THAT IS GOING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT SHE IS AFFECTED POLITICALLY.

>> AMANDA, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE FROM ARLINGTON HEIGHTS FOR US TOMORROW.

HEATHER I WANT TO PIVOT TO TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT BUSING 103 MIGRANTS FROM TEXAS TO CHICAGO.

A TOTAL OF 228 IN SEVEN DAYS.

IS THERE A SENSE IN WHICH THIS IS A STORY THAT WORKS WELL FOR ABBOTT AND LIGHTFOOT, BOTH PLAYING TO THE BASES OVER THIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT HAS RELISHED THE CHANCE TO CHAMPION CHICAGO'S IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

SHE WENT TO UNION STATION TWICE THIS WEEK AND ONCE TO THE SALVATION ARMY WHERE MANY OF THE MIGRANTS TAKEN SHELTER.

SHE WANTS CHICAGO TO BE KNOWN AS THE SANCTUARY CITY AND HAS MINCED NO WORDS IN CRITICIZING TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT AS UNAMERICAN, UNCHRISTIAN AND UNFEELING FOR SENDING THESE PEOPLE INCLUDING VERY SMALL CHILDREN FROM TEXAS TO CHICAGO.

I SHOULD SAY HE HAS SENT OTHER BUSTOS WASHINGTON D.C. AND NEW YORK CITY AS WELL, THIS IS PART OF A STRATEGY FROM GOVERNOR ABBOTT WHO IS UP FOR REELECTION.

>> AMANDA A MINUTE.

THE DAY AFTER LABOR DAY GOVERNOR PRITZKER AND G.O.P.

CHALLENGER DARREN BAILEY SPARRING OVER CRIME.

WITH BAILEY CRITICIZINGS BAIL REFORM AND CALLING COOK COUNTY'S STATE'S ATTORNEY FOX THE THREE MUST TEARS OF CRIME, CHAOS AND TRAGEDY THAT IS A QUOTE.

BAILEY CALLED CHICAGO A HELL POLL AND POLLS HAVE HIM DOWN BY 20 POINTS.

HOW IS THIS GOING TO FLY WITH VOTERS?

>> SO, BRANDIS, DARREN BAILEY RECENTLY TRYING TO HAMMER THIS NOTION HOME.

HE CAME OUT WITH HIS PLANS FOR SAFETY THAT HE SAYS INCLUDES GIVING BASICALLY ADDITIONAL MONEY TO POLICE ACROSS THE STATE.

REINSTATING THE DEATH PENALTY.

SOMETHING HE CALLED FOR PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO KILL POLICE OFFICERS.

SO IT'S SOMETHING HE IS TRYING TO HAMMER HOME.

HE HELD THAT PRESS CONFERENCE IN SPRINGFIELD.

HE HASN'T DONE A LOT FOR A GUY WHO DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND ON CAMPAIGN ADS HE HAS NOT BEEN PARTICULARLY PRESENT HOLDING PRESS CONFERENCES GETTING THAT FREE MEDIA AND TRYING TO HAMMER THIS HOME.

HE IS HAVING A TOUGH TIME.

WHILE, BY THE WAY, PRITZKER HAVING A NATIONAL MOMENT YET AGAIN.

HE GOT THE TREATMENT POSITIVE WRITE UP.

>> THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO CHECK OUT OUR COPIES OF "VANITY FAIR" AND MORE ON SPOTLIGHT.

THANK YOU AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> UP NEXT, WE TALK WITH THREE MEMBERS OF CHICAGO'S FIRST CIVILIAN POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD IN A CONVERSATION THAT FIRST AIRED ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE SEVEN INTERIM COMMISSIONERS WHO WILL MAKEUP THE COMMUNITY COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

CHICAGO'S FIRST CIVILIAN POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD AND CHARGED WITH A TALL ORDER: REBUILDING PUBLIC TRUST IN THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IT ANNOUNCEMENT COMES SEVERAL MONTHS BEHIND SCHEDULE WHICH MEANS IT WAS A LONG WAIT FOR A SHORT-TERM.

BECAUSE THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION MUST BE ELECTED THIS INTERIM COMMISSION HAS ONLY MONTHS UNTIL AN ELECTION OF TWO MEMBER COUNCILS FOR EACH OF THE CITY'S 22 POLICE DISTRICTS IS HELD.

HERE IS MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SPEAKING ON THE COMMISSION.

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT STEPS THAT WE CAN TAKE IN BRINGING PEACE, LASTING PEACE AND SAFETY TO OUR COMMUNITIES, IS BY GETTING THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED AND ENGAGED AND FEELING LIKE THEY'VE GOT A STAKE.

>> JOINING US NOW ARE THREE OF THE INTERIM COMMISSIONERS, CLIFF NELLIS FROM THE CHRISTIAN LEGAL CENTER.

ANTHONY DRIVER, JR. COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST AND REMEL TERRY SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE CHICAGO WEST SIDE N.A.A.C.P.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST I'M CURIOUS WHY YOU WANTED TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMISSION, REMEL TERRY I WILL START WITH YOU, PLEASE?

>> THANK YOU, BRANDIS FOR HAVING US.

SO I AM A LIFELONG CHICAGOAN AS WELL AS A WEST SIDER.

AND MY LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT IN THIS ISSUE IS THAT AND I AM A BELIEVER THAT IF YOU DO NOT INVOLVE TO EFFECT CHANGE WHO WILL?

WE CANNOT SIT ON THE SIDELINES AND EXPLAIN.

WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT LEAP FORWARD AND TAKE ACTION TO SEE THE CHANGE THAT WE DESIRE.

>> CLIFF NELLIS SAME QUESTION TO YOU?

>> YES, THANK YOU BRANDIS.

THIS IS PERSONAL FOR ME.

I MOVED INTO NORTH LAWNDALE 13 YEARS AGO.

AND STARTED THE LAWNDALE CHRISTIAN LEGAL CENTER WITH LAWNDALE COMMUNITY CHURCH FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS I'VE SPECIALIZED IN REPRESENTING YOUNG PEOPLE IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW.

YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER 25 YEARS OLD.

AND I'VE SEEN SOME GOOD POLICING AND NOT SO GOOD POLICING.

AND I THINK THIS COMMISSION THE IMPORTANCE OF IT AND WHY I WANT TO BE A PART OF IT IS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY NEED TO PLAY A BIGGER ROLE IN THE CHICAGO AND A COMMUNITY VOICE IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF A GOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> ANTHONY DRIVER, JR. WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMISSION?

>> YES.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS PERSONAL TO ME.

AS A LIFELONG SOUTH SIDER, I AM A PERSON WHO IS DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY VIOLENCE.

I'VE LOST 21 FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO GUN VIOLENCE IN THE CITY.

AND ALSO IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN AROUND AND THE CALL FOR CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE ASSASSINATION OF CHAIRMAN FRED HAMPTON IN THE DAYS OF MAYOR WASHINGTON.

FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS I'VE WORKED TO TRY TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE AND TO BE BLESSED TO SERVE ON THE COMMISSION I'M GRATEFUL FOR IT.

>> 21 FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.

SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF ATTEMPTS TO INCREASE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BEFORE WHY DO YOU THINK CIVILIAN INPUT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE THIS TIME?

>> I THINK CIVILIAN INPUT ALLOWS FOR THERE TO BE EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS THAT BENEFIT THE WHOLE.

LIKE OFTENTIMES DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE IN A SILO BUT HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ELEVATE COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND THEIR VOICES TO THE FOREFRONT.

ALLOWING THEM TO HAVE BUY IN TO THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE AND OFTENTIMES THEY ARE BEING DICTATED TO AND HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO HAVE POWER IN WHAT IS ACTUALLY BEING DETERMINED.

AND EVERYTHING IS OUT IN THE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT.

SO WHAT BETTER TIME THAN ANY FOR ALL OF THIS HARD WORK THAT WENT INTO CREATING THIS LEGISLATION TO HAPPEN NOW.

>> CLIFF NELLIS WHAT ARE THE TOP PRIORITIES MAYBE JOB ONE FOR YOU AND YOUR FELLOW INTERIM COMMISSIONERS?

>> WELL, WE ARE JUST STARTING.

SO WE'VE KIND OF AGREED THAT WE WOULDN'T WANT TO START TO TALK ABOUT ANY INITIATIVES OR POLICY RIGHT OUT THE GATE WITHOUT GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER FIRST AND HAVE CONSENSUS ON OUR COMMISSION WITH THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO WANT TO PUT A PLUG IN IS THIS HYPER LOCAL APPROACH REQUIRES MASSIVE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND STEP ONE IS THE DISTRICT COUNCILS THAT WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME ON OUT AND RUN FOR THESE POSITIONS.

AS YOU MENTIONED THERE'S THREE PER PRECINCT THIS IS 66 TOTAL THE FIRST TIME CHICAGO HAD A DEMOCRATIC HYPE LOCAL PROCESS TO GET COMMUNITY VOICES FROM EVERY COMMUNITY.

NOT JUST SOME COMMUNITIES BUT EVERY COMMUNITY BY HAVING THESE LOCAL DISTRICT COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

OUR FIRST, I THINK WE CAN SAY OUR FIRST GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS DISTRICT COUNCILS ARE OPEN AND PLEASE APPLY AND RUN FOR THAT OFFICE.

>> OK. ANTHONY DRIVER, JR., IN A CITY LIKE CHICAGO IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL COMMUNITIES TO BE POLICED EQUITABLY AND THE SAME?

>> I THINK THAT THE JURY IS STILL OUT ON THAT.

MY HOPE IS THAT THE ANSWER IS YES.

BUT TO BE HONEST, I'M NOT SURE.

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY I DO HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN THIS COMMISSION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY I HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN THE RESIDENTS OF CHICAGO WHO WILL SERVE ON THESE DISTRICT COUNCILS TO TRY TO RIGHT THE WRONGS IN THE PAST.

CHICAGO HAS A HISTORY FROM THE LIKES OF POLICE OFFICERS LIKE JOHN BURGE AND YOU KNOW, BEING ONE OF THE TORTURE CAPITALS OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND AS A LONG WAY TO GO BUT I HAVE FAITH IN THE RESIDENTS OF CITY AND THE FOLKS WHO WILL SERVE ON THE COUNCILS AS WELL AS MYSELF AND THE INTERIM COMMISSION TO DO OUR BEST TO TRY TO RIGHT THE WRONGS AND GET TO AN EQUITABLE PLACE.

>> TAKING THE THREE OF YOU AS A CROSS-SECTION OF THIS COMMISSION IT IS RACIALLY, GEOGRAPHICALLY, AGE DIVERSE, PROFESSIONALLY DIVERSE.

REMEL TERRY DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE A DIVERSITY OF PERSPECTIVES HAVING A DIVERSE COMMISSION NOW AND DOWN THE ROAD ONCE IT'S ELECTED?

>> I THINK THERE WILL BE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

WE ALTHOUGH WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK NONE OF US HAVE WORKED THAT CLOSELY TOGETHER.

I THINK MAYBE TWO OF US WORKED CLOSELY TOGETHER.

I THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DIVERSITY AND I'M EXCITED FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE ALL BRING DIFFERENT TALENTS TO THE TABLE AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIPS WHICH WILL ALLOW US WITH THAT COMMUNITY BUY IN TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

>> CLIFF, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU MENTIONED AS FAR AS RAISING AWARENESS SO PEOPLE KNOW TO RUN.

HOW DO YOU INSURE THE CORRUPTION OF POLITICS THAT CAN EXIST SOMETIMES IN CHICAGO DOESN'T BREED INTO THE ELECTION SYSTEM BUT AT THE SAME TIME BALANCE THAT AGAINST MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE 66 SEATS THAT ARE FILLED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN DOING THE JOB, VERSUS COMPARED TO THE EDUCATION THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS LCS'S THAT STRUGGLE TO GET PEOPLE TO RUN AND FILL POSITIONS?

>> THAT IS ONE OF OUR FIRST AND HIGHEST PRIORITIES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I BELIEVE ALL OF US WAS SELECTED FOR THIS POSITION FOR BY MAYOR LIGHTFOOT WAS BECAUSE OF OUR CONNECTIONS TO LOCAL COMMUNITY.

SO IT WILL BE UPON ALL SEVEN OF US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING INTO THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY AND THE SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPORTANCE OF IT AND THE VALUE IT CAN BRING TO THEIR FAMILY TO THEIR BLOCK AND NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE CITY AND CHICAGO AND POLICING IN GENERAL.

I TOO THINK WE HAVE A GREAT COMMISSION.

I'VE BEEN PLEASED WITH MY SEVEN COLLEAGUES.

AND I THINK WE'RE UP FOR THE TASK.

>> ANTHONY DRIVER, JR., WHAT DOES SUCCESS FOR THIS INTERIM COMMISSION LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

>> SUCCESS IN THE INTERIM COMMISSION LOOKS LIKE AN EMPOWERED COMMUNITY.

A COMMUNITY THAT KNOWS WHEN THIS COMMISSION IS MEETING PUBLICLY.

IT'S WHEN WE ARE HAVING THE MEETINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY SHOWS UP EN MASS AND THEY HAVE A VOICE AT THE TABLE THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE TO BALANCE STRONG COUNCIL WEAK MAYOR, STRONG MAYOR WEAK COUNCIL.

NOW THE RESIDENTS HAVE A DIRECT VOICE IN HOW THEIR COMMUNITIES ARE POLICED.

FROM C.O.P.A.

TO THE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT, TO THE CAPS PROGRAM, YOU NAME IT.

YOU NOW HAVE A VOICE AND A ROLE IN THE PROCESS.

ALL THOSE THINGS ARE NAMED AS WELL AS THE POLICE BOARD.

A SUCCESS FOR ME IS WHEN THE EVERYDAY RESIDENTS NOT JUST THE PRIVILEGED FEW KNOW THEY HAVE A VOICE IN THE PROCESS AND FEEL HEARD AND SEEN AND EMPOWERED.

>> CONGRATS ON YOUR APPOINTMENTS AND BEST OF LUCK.

REMEL TERRY, CLIFF NELLIS AND ANTHONY DRIVER, JR.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. A STOP THE THE OLD RACETRACK THAT THE CHICAGO BEARS PLAN TO TRANSFORM INTO A NEW STADIUM.

WE WILL HAVE A LIVE REPORT FROM ARLINGTON HEIGHTS.

>> AND JAMES BIG CAT WILLIAMS PREVIEWS THE TEAM'S IN ADVANCE OF THE KICKOFF.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

[♪♪♪]