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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> PARIS SCHUTZ IS ON ASSIGNMENT AND WILL JOIN US LATER ON IN THE PROGRAM.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING PEDOR MARTINEZ, A SON OF CHICAGO, BACK HOME.

>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS WELCOMES A CHICAGO NATIVE AND ITS FIRST EVER LATINO C.E.O.

TO THE POST WHAT HE FACES THIS SCHOOL YEAR AMID A PANDEMIC.

>> THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE SCARED OF HIM.

>> CHICAGO'S ETHICS BOARD FINDS PROBABLE CAUSE ALDERPERSON JIM GARDINER VIOLATED AN ORDINANCE TWICE.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM DISCUSSES THAT AND MORE.

>> TODAY WE CELEBRATE OUR INDEPENDENCE FROM FOSSIL FUELS.

ILLINOIS IS RECONSTRUCTING THE ENERGY SECTOR.

WHAT IS THAT GOING TO COST YOU?

>> AN ORDINANCE AIMED AT LIMITING THE DISTRIBUTION OF SINGLE-USE FOODWARE PASSES.

>> HOW THE CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE BY ENLE IS WORKING TO REIMAGE VACANT LOTS AROUND THE CITY.

>> IT'S BEEN A LONGTIME SINCE I'VE SEEN THIS SIDE OF YOU AND I LOVE IT.

>> AND SHE IS OUR LOCAL BAD INFLUENCE.

THE CHICAGO PARTY AUNT DEBUTS ON NETFLIX WE HEAR FROM THE CREATOR FROM THE TWITTER ACCOUNT TURNED ANIMATED SERIES.

>> FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> EMBATTLED 45TH WARD ALDERMAN JIM GARDINER FACES NEW ISSUES TODAY THE ETHICS BOARD FOUND PROBABLE CAUSE THAT GARDINER VIOLATED THE ORDINANCE BY USING HIS OFFICE TO RETALIATE AGAINST CONSTITUENTS.

GARDINER CAN CHALLENGE THE BOARD'S DECISION BUT HE FACES FINES RANGING FROM 200 TO $5,000 PER VIOLATION ONE DAY AFTER GARDINER APOLOGIZED FOR TEXT MESSAGES AND AFTER WTTW NEWS REPORTED THAT HE IS THE SUBJECT OF A FEDERAL PROBE INTO ALLEGATIONS OF PAY TO PLAY.

>> THE MOTHER OF 19-YEAR-OLD MIGUEL CISNEROS IS FILING A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT FOLLOWING HER SON'S RECENT DROWNING.

ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE FAMILY SAYS THE LAWSUIT COMES DOWN TO WHAT HE CALLS THE PARK DISTRICT'S RECKLESS DISREGARD FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS.

MIGUEL CISNEROS DROWNED AFTER BEING CAUGHT IN A RIPTIDE AFTER PRATT PIER IN ROGERS PARK.

RESIDENTS INSTALLED LIFE RINGS BUT THEY WERE REMOVED BECAUSE OF LIABILITY FEARS.

THE PARK DISTRICT SINCE INSTALLED THE LIFE RING AT THE PIER BUT MARIA DIAZ IS CALLING FOR THEM ALL ALONG THE LAKEFRONT.

>> I JUST WANT TO GET THIS CLEAR.

I WANT CHANGE.

AND I WANT CHANGE ALL ALONG THE LAKEFRONT NOT JUST WHERE MIGUEL DROWNED.

I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THIS IS NOT ABOUT MIGUEL ONLY IT'S ABOUT ALL THE OTHER FAMILIES AND ABOUT PREVENTING ANOTHER FAMILY TO GO THROUGH THIS TRAGEDY.

>> AN AVIATION MAINTENANCE TRAINING PROGRAM IS TAKING OFF ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE.

THE AVIATION INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES IT'S OPENING A SCHOOL IN AN OLD WAREHOUSE IN MCKINLAY PARK.

THE COMPANY OPERATES 13 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND CHICAGO'S WILL BE THE LARGEST PROGRAM.

IT COMES AS THE COUNTRY FACES A SHORTAGE OF AVIATION WORKERS AND CLASSES ARE SET TO BEGIN LATER THIS MONTH.

>> AND COMING UP, MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT NAMES THE NEW C.E.O.

FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WHO IS HE?

FIND OUT NEXT.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... 'S HISTORIC DAY FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS THE NEW LEADER JOINS THE DISTRICT AS THE FIRST-EVER LATINO C.E.O.

MATT MASTERSON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE DETAILS ABOUT NEW C.P.S.

CHIEF PEDOR MARTINEZ.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT PEDOR MARTINEZ?

>> SO, LIKE HIS PREDECESSOR JANICE JACKSON HE IS A PRODUCT OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVING BEEN RAISED IN CHICAGO AFTER MOVING FROM MEXICO AS A BOY.

UNLIKE JACKSON HE DOES NOT HAVE A HISTORY OF IN CLASSROOM TEACHING EXPERIENCE OR A DEGREE IN EDUCATION AS JACKSON DID.

HE JUMPED RIGHT INTO THE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT SIDE OF THINGS SERVING AS CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER UNDER DUNCAN BEFORE LEADING SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE SOUTH AND WEST OF THE COUNTRY INCLUDING SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE HE HAS BEEN SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

HE IS TAKING OVER A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT IS SEVERAL TIMES LARGER THAN ANYTHING HE HAS LED BEFORE BUT HE MADE CLEAR THE GOAL IS TO INSURE THAT IN-PERSON LEARNING CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AS COVID NUMBERS CONTINUE TO MOVE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

>> TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT MARTINEZ SPOKE ABOUT UNITY.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> THIS IS THE TIME FOR US TO COME TOGETHER.

WE HAVE TO BE UNITED.

WE CANNOT BE FIGHTING WITHIN OURSELVES.

THE ENEMY IS COVID.

THE ENEMY IS THE SYSTEMIC RACISM WE'VE HAD IN OUR COUNTRY, THE ENEMY IS POVERTY THERE ARE MANY ENEMIES WE ARE ON THE SAME SIDE.

>> MATT, WE KNOW THAT MARTINEZ IS COMING IN AT A TIME THAT COVID CASES ARE ON THE UPTICK.

A BATTLE OVER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IS BREWING BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND THE TEACHERS' UNION.

ANY CLUE HOW HE WILL HANDLE THE YEAR AMID THE PANDEMIC?

>> AS I SAID THE MAIN GOAL IS KEEPING IN-PERSON LEARNING CONTINUING.

HE DEMONSTRATED LEWDING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN SAN ANTONIO HE IS WILLING TO TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

WHILE C.P.S.

HAS A MASK MANDATE AND A VACCINE MANDATE FOR THE EMPLOYEES THE MEASURES ARE OUTLAWED IN TEXAS WHEN HE WAS LEADING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HE IMPOSED SIMILAR MANDATES IN THE FACE OF THOSE LAWS WHICH LEGISLATIVE OFFICIALS HAVE TAKEN LEGAL ACTION AGAINST HIM AND THE DISTRICT.

HOW IT WILL HANDLE THE C.T.U.

MARTINEZ SAID AS LONG A THEY HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING THAT CONTINUING IN-PERSON LEARNING IS THE MAIN GOAL, THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HASH OUT WHAT ISSUES MAY POP-UP ALONG THE WAY.

>> AND YOU KNOW, TODAY I SPOKE TO THE TEACHERS GROUP FROM SAN ANTONIO TO LEARN WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT MARTINEZ.

AND I SPOKE WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO ALLIANCE OF TEACHERS AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL AND SHE CALLS MARTINEZ' AGENDA PRO CHARTER HIS ARRIVAL SAW PROJECTS WITH OUTSIDE CHARTER OPERATORS AND OUTSIDE PARTNERS.

HE SERVED FOR SIX YEARS AND LOPEZ SAYS THERE ARE LOTS OF ANTI-WORKER POLICIES SOME THAT SYSTEMICALLY REMOVED POLICIES THAT THEY THOUGHT WORKED FOR WORKERS AND PROTECTED WORKERS.

HERE IS A BIT OF WHAT SHE SAID TO PEE.

>> REALLY, HE HAS CONCENTRATED DECISION MAKING POWER VERY TOP DOWN STYLE.

FOR WORKERS ACROSS THE DISTRICT THAT HAS MEANT MICRO MANAGEMENT IN A LOT OF CASES AND AT THE MOMENT FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE EXPERIENCING A VERY HIGH NUMBER OF VACANCIES BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY WORKERS IN OUR DISTRICT FEEL UNDER VALUED AND UNDER APPRECIATED.

>> LOPEZ SAID THAT HIS EXPERIENCE AS A MANAGER NOT AS AN EDUCATOR WHICH SHE THINKS IS MORE IMPORTANT, THEY HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THE C.T.U.

AND THEY FEEL THE UNION HERE WILL NOT TOLERATE WHAT THEY CALL AUTHORITARIANISM THAT THEY FELT THEY EXPERIENCED.

AND WE DID HEAR FROM THE C.T.U.

AND THEY RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING QUOTE... >> SO, MATT MASTERSON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT YOU AND I WILL BE WATCHING GOING FORWARD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

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

>> NEXT TIME YOU ORDER TAKE OUT YOU MAY NOTICE THAT WILL YOU ONLY RECEIVE SOME SINGLE-USE FOODWARE FROM RESTAURANTS IF YOU ASK FOR THEM.

THAT IS AFTER CITY COUNCIL PASSED A NEW ORDINANCE COVERING EVERYTHING FROM PLASTIC UTENSILS AIMED AT REDUCING PLASTIC WASTE BUT CRITICS SAY IT DOES NOT CUT AS DEEP AS IT SHOULD.

JOINING US IS JORDAN PARKER THE DIRECTOR OF BRING IT CHICAGO AN ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION THAT ADVOCATES FOR REUSABLE PRODUCTS AND WE DID REACH OUT TO SEVERAL SUPPORTERS OF NEW LAW NONE WERE AVAILABLE THIS EVENING.

JORDAN PARKER THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU AND OTHERS WHO OPPOSE IT CALL THIS LAW GREEN WASHING.

TELL US WHAT IS GREEN WASHING?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

GREEN WASHING IS WHEN A PRODUCT OR A POLICY IS DESIGNED TO MAKE PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THEY CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT SUPPORTING THAT POLICY OR THAT PRODUCT.

BUT IN ACTUALITY, THE POLICY IS OFTEN JUST ABOUT TURNING PROFITS.

AND ADVANCING THE AGENDA.

AND MOST CASES GREEN WASHING IS MUCH WORSE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU THINK THIS ORDINANCE DOES THAT?

>> THIS ORDINANCE IS A BY REQUEST ONLY SINGLE-USE FOODWARE FOR TO GO AND DELIVERY.

AND IT SOUNDS GOOD.

WHEN PEOPLE HEAR IT THAT OH, WE ARE GOING TO REDUCE PLASTIC IT SOUNDS GREAT.

BUT IT EFFECTIVELY KILLS ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT ENVIRONMENTALISTS WERE WORKING ON FROM BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

AND THAT WAS THE [INAUDIBLE] GOING THROUGH CITY HALL AND WAS SPONSORED BY WAGUESPACK.

>> AND WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS WITH THIS PARTICULAR LAW?

HOW IS IT GREEN WASHING AS YOU SAY?

>> THIS PARTICULAR LAW DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH BUT IT'S ONLY TO GO AND DELIVERY.

IT'S NOT DINE-IN.

IT IS NOT DRIVE-THRU.

AND AIRPORTS ARE EXEMPT.

THERE IS NO ENFORCEMENT METHOD.

SO IT'S HONOR SYSTEM, RESTAURANTS ARE TOLD WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO IMPLEMENT THIS POLICY BUT THERE IS NO ENFORCEMENT.

AND AGAIN, IT JUST WHAT IT DOES, IT BLOCKS THIS OTHER ORDINANCE WE WERE ADVANCING AND NOW WHAT IT'S DONE IS IT'S REMOVED THE MOMENTUM TO WORK ON SOMETHING THAT IS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

BECAUSE SOMETHING HAS BEEN CAST.

NOW WE'LL MOVE ON AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO REVISIT THIS.

>> SOME SUPPORTERS THEY SAY THAT WHILE THE LAW IS NOT PERFECT IT'S SOMETHING.

WHICH IS PERHAPS THE SPIRIT UNDER WHICH SOME ALDERMEN VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT.

BUT ISN'T SOMETHING BETTER THAN NOTHING?

>> YEAH, I THINK WE NEED TO DO BETTER THAN THIS IS JUST SOMETHING.

BECAUSE WE'RE ALL AWARE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS HERE.

AND ONE THING WE NEED TO KNOW IS THAT PLASTICS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY PIVOTED TO PLASTICS AND THAT IS THEIR NEW FRONTIER.

COAL PLANTS ARE BEING SHUTDOWN BUT POLY ETHYLENE PLANTS ARE BEING DEVELOPED RIGHT NOW.

SO PLASTICS IS WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO FLOOD OUR WORLD WITH.

AND THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN THE BEST THING FOR THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY THAT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY HAPPENED.

BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS HYGIENE THEATRE.

WE GO OUT TO RESTAURANTS AND EVEN IF WE'RE DINING IN EVERYTHING IS ON DISPOSABLES BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT CUSTOMERS ARE GOING TO FEEL BETTER IF EVERYTHING IS DISPOSABLE AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE EXPOSED TO COVID BUT THE CRAZY THING IS WE KNOW THAT COVID IS NOT TRAPS MITTED VIA SURFACES.

IT IS A HYGIENE FEAR THAT IS HAPPENING AND IT IS A BOOM FOR DISPOSABLE PLASTIC.

WE NEED AGGRESSIVE LEGISLATION.

>> AND ONE OF THOSE PIECES OF LEGISLATION, THE PLASTIC FREE WATER ORDINANCE WHICH WOULD HAVE GONE FARTHER.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THAT THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT YOU PREFERRED?

>> THAT WAS MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE.

SO THAT WAS SINGLE-USE BY REQUEST ONLY TO GO, DELIVERY, AND DRIVE-THRU AND DINE-IN.

AND AGAIN, LIKE WHEN WE DINE-IN NOWADAYS, SO MANY TIMES OUR ENTIRE MEAL OUR DRINKS ARE BROUGHT IN SINGLE-USE PLASTIC.

IT ADDRESSED THAT.

IT WAS AN EVENNUAL BAN ON SINGLE-USE PLASTICS.

IT WAS A BAN ON POLY STYRENE KNOWN AS STYROFOAM.

IT HAD AN ALLOWANCE FOR REUSABLES.

NOW RIGHT NOW POST PANDEMIC IF YOU WALK INTO A COFFEE SHOP WITH A REUSABLE MUG THERE'S NO WAY THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE YOU A COFFEE.

THEY WILL PUT IT IN A DISPOSABLE MUG AND YOU CAN POUR IT IN.

THERE WAS ALLOWANCE FOR REUSABLES AND THE ENFORCEMENT SO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WOULD BE HOLDING RESTAURANTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE POLICY AND THERE WERE NO EXEMPTIONS.

>> AND JORDAN, THERE ARE SOME WHO SAY THAT RESTAURANTS HAVE STRUGGLED QUITE A BIT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND SOME OF THE OTHER PIECES THAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR MIGHT HAVE BURDENED THOSE RESTAURANTS FURTHER.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> RIGHT, WELL, I THINK IT'S CLEAR THIS IS ABOUT PROFITS FOR BIG PLASTIC AND BIG OIL.

BECAUSE IN THIS ORDINANCE, AIRPORTS ARE EXEMPT.

THERE ARE NO STRUGGLING MOM AND POPS AT THE AIRPORTS.

SO THAT IS JUST LIP SERVICE.

WE'RE HELPING STRUGGLING RESTAURANTS.

>> OK. FAIR POINT.

>> JORDAN PARKER THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH BRANDIS, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> A HOTLY CONTESTED STATE ENERGY BILL THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING IS NOW LAW.

THE PACKAGE IS WIDE REACHING ON CLIMATE CHANGE, JOBS AT COAL AND NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND INNOVATORS OF WIND AND SOLAR TECHNOLOGY.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW WITH A LOOK AT WHAT IT MEANS FOR THOSE OF US NOT EN MESHED IN ENERGY POLICY WHICH IS THE CASE FOR MOST OF US.

>> YEAH, WE WILL LOOK AT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR CONSUMERS.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THIS LAW, WIDE RANGING FEELS LIKE AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

THE LAW THAT GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNED TODAY IS 956 PAGES LONG.

BUT THE STROKE OF HIS PEN THERE'S BIG STUFF ENSURING EXELON WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE NUCLEAR FLEET IN ILLINOIS IT THREATENED TO SHUT SEVERAL PLANTS DOWN.

IT GUARANTEES THAT POWER PLANTS THAT GENERATE ELECTRICITY WITH COAL AND NATURAL GAS WILL HAVE TO CLOSE.

PUTTING ILLINOIS ON THE PATH TO GOING CARBON FREE WITHIN THE NEXT 30 YEARS.

>> OUR GOAL ALL ALONG WAS TO ENACT RELIABLE, RENEWABLE AND AFFORDABLE ENERGY POLICIES THAT PUT ILLINOIS IN A POSITION TO LEAD THE NATION.

>> BUT JUST HOW AFFORDABLE WILL ELECTRIC BILLS BE?

I POSED THAT TO DAVID KOLATE.

>> WE THINK THIS IS A GOOD DAY FOR CONSUMERS.

THE SIGNING INTO LAW OF THE OMNIBUS ENERGY BILL.

WE THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE STATE, GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

BUT IF IT'S IMPLEMENTED CORRECTLY AND WE BELIEVE IT WILL BE, IT WILL LEAD TO LOWER BILLS FOR CONSUMERS OVER TIME.

>> AND NOW, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HEARD HIM BUT HE SAID IT'S GOING TO BRING LOWERING ELECTRIC BILL COSTS OVER TIME.

AND I WANT TO KEY IN ON THAT PHRASE OVER TIME.

EXELON IS GETTING PAID TO KEEP THE NUCLEAR PLANTS OPEN BY ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS THROUGHOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS.

ALL OF US, ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS WILL BE PAYING A SURCHARGE ON ELECTRIC BILLS THAT IS WORTH $700 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

ALL THAT MONEY GOING TO EXELON.

ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS ARE PAYING A SIMILAR FEE TO BAILOUT EXELON FOR KEEPING OPEN OTHER NUCLEAR GENERATORS.

SOON CUSTOMERS BECAUSE OF THIS LAW ARE GOING TO SEE OTHER CHANGES ON THEIR ELECTRIC BILLS DUE TO THE NEW LAW.

INCLUDING THE FEES TO SUPPORT NUCLEAR -- RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR THOSE LOSING THEIR JOBS THAT WORK AT THE COAL PLANTS AND TO SUPPORT ENERGY COMPANIES OWN YOU HAD BY PEOPLE OF COLOR.

IN ALL, THIS WILL COLLECTIVELY INCREASE THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER'S ELECTRIC BILL BY $3.51 A MONTH.

BUT DAVID KOLATE SAID IT DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT CONSUMERS ARE GOING TO SAVE ON ACCOUNT OF THIS LAW.

THE PACKAGE PUTS MONEY TOWARD ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS.

SO THINGS LIKE GIVING REBATES TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY BUY LED LIGHT BULBS OR APPLIANCES OR WEATHER RISING A HOME.

THE PARTICULAR HOUSEHOLD THAT TAKES THE STEPS SHOULD SEE THEIR ELECTRIC BILL GO DOWN.

BUT DAVID KOLATE SAYS THAT BENEFIT ALSO SPREADS.

>> THE BIG PORTION OF WHAT WE PAY ON OUR MONTHLY ELECTRICITY BILL IS THE COST OF ENERGY AND CAPACITY ITSELF.

AND WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IF YOU CAN LOWER DEMAND, IF YOU CAN LOWER PEAK DEMAND IN PARTICULAR THERE ARE SAVINGS THAT ACCRUE TO EVERYONE.

>> AND ILLINOIS ABE SCARR SAYS AS FAR AS HE CAN GATHER THAT ANALYSIS DOES NOT TAKE SOMETHING ELSE INTO ACCOUNT.

CHANGES TO HOW THE STATE WILL DETERMINE THE DISTRIBUTION RATE CUSTOMERS ARE CHARGED BY ComEd FOR DELIVERING POWER TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

>> YOU'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO BE PAYING MORE.

A BIG PART OF YOUR BILL IS WHAT YOU PAY TO THE UTILITY, THE DISTRIBUTION UTILITY TO GET THE POWER FROM THE SOURCE OF THE ENERGY TO YOUR HOUSEHOLD.

AND THOSE RATES WILL GO UP THEY HAVE BEEN GOING UP BECAUSE THE RATES AND BECAUSE OF THIS BILL, DOESN'T END FORMULA RATES BUT TRANSITIONS FROM ONE FORMULA RATE TO ANOTHER, AND ALSO INCREASING THE PROFIT LEVEL THAT ComEd WILL EARN.

BOOSTING THEIR PROFITS.

WE ANTICIPATE THERE WILL BE A BIG INCREASE ON THE DISTRIBUTION SIDE AS WELL.

>> AND ABE SCARR SAYS THAT IS NOT A JUSTIFIABLE COST ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT ComEd LAST JULY ADMITTED TO A LONG RUNNING BRIBERY SCHEME THAT LED TO THE PASSAGE OF A PREVIOUS ENERGY LAW THAT CHANGED THE RATE FORMULA INCREASING ComEd'S PROFITS.

ABE SCARR SAYS AN ANALYSIS BY THE AARP THAT FACTORS IN THE RATE FORMULA CHANGES GIVES A MORE TRUE COST ESTIMATE OF THE MONTHLY INCREASES CONSUMERS SHOULD EXPECT TO FACE THAT IS OF $15 MORE A MONTH OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

NOW, ABE SCARR SAYS SOME OF THAT COST IS WORTH IT.

>> NOT THE ONLY QUESTION FOR RATEPAYERS ARE YOU GOING TO BE PAYING MORE BUT ARE YOU GOING TO GET VALUE?

AND IN CERTAIN WAYS YOU WILL GET GOOD THINGS OUT OF IT.

TRANSITIONING OFF OF DIRTY POLLUTING FOSSIL FUEL POWER GENERATION IS A GREAT THING IT WILL BE AN IMPROVEMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS OF GLOBAL WARMING.

>> I DID REACH OUT TO THE ILLINOIS COMMERCE COMMISSION WHICH REGULATES ELECTRIC UTILITIES FOR THE TAKE WHAT IT MEANS FOR CONSUMERS AND A SPOKESPERSON SAID GIVEN HOW QUICK THE DYNAMICS OF THIS PACKAGE CHANGED AFTER ALL JUST PASSED ON MONDAY, FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND HOW WIDE RANGING IT IS, THAT THE ICC DOES NOT YET HAVE AN ANALYSIS BUT THEY ARE WORKING ON IT.

WITH THAT, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU TALKS WITH OUR LOCAL BAD INFLUENCE THE CHICAGO PARTY AUNT.

>> CHICAGO'S FAVORITE PARTY ANIMAL IS MAKING HER NETFLIX DEBUT IN A NEW ANIMATED COMEDY SERIES FOLLOWING THE LIFE OF DIANE DUNBROWSKI.

ALSO KNOWN AS THE CHICAGO PARTY AUNT.

>> YESTERDAY WAS OUR ANNIVERSARY.

>> NO.

IT'S WHY I GOT YOU E BEEF.

>> YOU ATE IT ALL.

>> THERE'S A COUPLE OF FRIES IN THE BAG.

>> I DON'T WANT BAG FRIES I WANT MY WIFE TO REMEMBER THE ANNIVERSARY THE SECOND TIME WE GOT MARRIED.

>> PHIL JAKES.

DIANE, I'M GETTING TOO OLD TO LIVE LIKE THIS.

BASED ON MY FAMILY HISTORY AND CHOLESTEROL LEVEL I'M GOING TO DIE FIVE YEARS AGO.

>> COME ON KURT WE DO THIS ALL THE TIME.

>> NOW, IT'S BASED ON AN OUTRAGEOUS WITTY TWITTER PERSONALITY RUN BY A CHICAGO WRITER AND ACTOR.

JOINING US IS THE MAN BEHIND THE CHICAGO PARTY AUNT, CHRIS WITASKE.

HI THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> I'M DOING GREAT THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> LET'S GET RIGHT INTO IT.

FOR VIEWERS WHO MIGHT BE UNFAMILIAR WITH HER, HOW DID THE CHICAGO PARTY AUNT COME ABOUT?

>> SO IT'S BASED ON A COUPLE OF MY ACTUAL CHICAGO PARTY AUNTS.

AND I GREW UP IN THE BURBS AND LIVED IN THE CITY FOR YEARS AND PERFORMED AT SECOND CITY IN OLD TOWN AND AROUND 2014, ONCE I DONE EVERYTHING THERE IS TO DO IN CHICAGO, I DECIDED TO MOVE OUT WEST TO PURSUE MY CAREER FURTHER OUT HERE.

AND WHEN I FIRST GOT OUT HERE, I WAS FEELING HOMESICK AND I HAD A LOT OF TIME ON MY HANDS.

SO I STARTED THIS TWITTER ACCOUNT, WHERE I TWEETED OUT JOKES AS IF I WERE THIS CHICAGO PARTY ANIMAL.

AND THEN IT STARTED TO GAIN POPULARITY AND NOW IT'S GOING TO STREAM ALL OVER THE WORLD STARTING FRIDAY.

>> THAT IS SO EXCITING.

AND A REALLY GREAT WAY TO BRING CHICAGO TO THE WEST COAST.

HOW DID NETFLIX COME INTO PLAY WHEN THEY REACHED OUT TO YOU TO MAKE HER MORE OF A REAL PERSON?

>> SO I PUT TOGETHER A CREATIVE TEAM OF OTHER CHICAGOANS WHO ARE OUT HERE IN LA.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE MORE TV WRITING EXPERIENCE AND A FRIEND OF MINE IKE WHO IS A WELL-KNOWN ACTOR AND CHICAGO GUY HIS BROTHER JOHN, KATIE RICH WHO WROTE ON SNL FOR YEARS.

SO WE TOOK WHAT WE HAD WITH THE TWITTER ACCOUNT AND WE FLUSHED OUT THE WORLD AROUND HER.

HER BEING DIANE DUNBROWSKI.

AND SO WE KIND OF DEVELOPED THESE OTHER CHARACTERS THAT WOULD BE IN HER WORLD AND PUT TOGETHER A PITCH, TOOK IT TO NETFLIX AND THEY LOVED IT, AND BOUGHT 16 EPISODES.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

SO WE SEE SO MANY OF THE CHICAGO ELEMENTS WITHIN THE SHOW.

HOW DID YOU WORK TO MAINTAIN THE CHICAGO ESSENCE ESPECIALLY WHEN WORKING WITH THE CHARACTERS AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I STARTED THE TWITTER IN 2016.

AND SO I HAD LIKE YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS OF BACKLOGGED JOKES THAT WE COULD PULL FROM WHILE WRITING THE SHOW THAT WAS NICE.

WE HAVE A STRONG CHARACTER DEVELOPED.

AND SO THEN ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON IT FOR THE MOST PART HAD CHICAGO ROOTS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE I THINK HAD THEIR OWN CHICAGO PARTY AUNT IN THEIR LIVES THAT THEY COULD PULL FROM.

AND WE WANTED TO MAKE IT A LOVE LETTER TO CHICAGO AND I THINK WE ACHIEVED THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN WE GO FROM AL'S BEEF AND SEE A LITTLE BIT OF SKILLING AND A LITTLE BIT OF CHICAGO MA LOWER.

ARE THERE ANY CHICAGO ELEMENTS WITHIN THE SHOW THAT ARE REFLECTIVE OF YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE?

>> OH, YEAH, I MEAN TONS OF IT.

I LIVED RIGHT BEHIND MURPHY'S BLEACHERS IN WRIGLEYVILLE FOR FOUR YEARS.

I GOT TO SEE A LOT OF PARTYING HAPPENING IN THE CITY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

I THEN WORKED AT MIKE DITKA'S RESTAURANT AND SAW A LOT OF CHICAGO PARTYISTS COME THROUGH THAT PLACE AND WE WANTED TO PACK THE SHOW FULL OF CHICAGO EASTER EGGS.

I WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT HAD TO BE REINED BACK A LITTLE BIT WHEN WE WERE WRITING IT.

I KEPT WANTING TO CRAM MORE AND MORE CHICAGO SPECIFICS IN TO THE SHOW.

>> I THINK YOU DID A GOOD JOB INCORPORATING CHICAGO ELEMENTS.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT FAMILIAR, THE SHOW'S CAST REVOLVES AROUND DIANE DUNBROWSKI, THE NAMESAKE.

AND I WANT TO GIVE VIEWERS A CLIP OF DIANE AND HER SISTER AFTER A TIME AT A CHICAGO'S BEARS GAME.

>> I'M STILL DRUNK BUT ALREADY HUNG OVER.

>> I GOT TO TELL YOU IT'S BEEN A LONGTIME SINCE I'VE SEEN THIS SIDE OF YOU AND I LOVE IT.

>> MOM AND DAD THING REALLY THREW ME FOR A LOOP.

>> ME, TOO.

YOU KNOW THIS WHOLE TIME I WAS SAYING I WAS MADE ABOUT US LOSING THE TAILGATE I THINK I WAS UPSET ABOUT MOM AND DAD SPILTING UP.

>> YEAH.

IT'S GOING TO BE FINE.

THEY WILL BE OUR PARENTS AND THEY WILL STILL ALWAYS LOVE US.

>> YOU DEGENERATES.

>> WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU TWO?

>> FOR CRYING OUT LOUD YOU ARE 100 YEARS OLD BETWEEN BOTH OF YOU AND TO DO THIS TO YOUR POOR FATHER AT HIS LAST TAILGATE.

>> DID YOU STOP AND THINK HOW GETTING DRUNK AT A TAILGATE WOULD MAKE YOUR MOTHER FEEL.

>> I FEEL LIKE IT'S WATCHING LIKE A CHICAGO LOVE LETTER BUT FOLKS NOT FAMILIAR WITH OUR CITY IT IS A GREAT INTRODUCTION INTO OUR HIGHLIGHTS.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE VIEWERS ARE TAKING AWAY FROM THE SHOW WHEN THEY TUNE IN?

CHICAGOANS WILL LOVE IT.

NON-CHICAGOANS MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR.

THIS IS A GREAT LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM?

>> I THINK SO, TOO.

I THINK THAT I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK THAT THERE IS A BETTER CITY IN THE WORLD THAN CHICAGO.

I THINK THAT MAYBE THIS SHOW WILL INSPIRE PEOPLE TO TAKE A TRIP AND SEE WHAT EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT WHEN THEY SAY CHICAGO IS -- I THINK IT GOT VOTED THE SECOND MOST BEAUTIFUL IN THE WORLD BY TIME OUT CHICAGO.

HOPEFULLY IT DRIVES TOURISM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'M SORRY THAT WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME HERE.

BUT IT'S BEEN GREAT TALKING WITH YOU.

OUR THANKS TO CHRIS WITASKE.

>> THANK YOU AND I HOPE PEOPLE CAN CHECK IT OUT ON FRIDAY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU CAN START STREAMING CHICAGO PARTY AUNT BEGINNING THIS FRIDAY ON NETFLIX.

BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> LOOKING FORWARD TO CATCHING THAT ONE.

STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", CREATING A NEW COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE ON VACANT LAND IN ENGLEWOOD ONE OF THE PROJECTS IN THIS YEAR'S CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE BIENNIAL.

>> I PLEDGE TO PEDRO MY FULL SUPPORT.

WE NEED HIM TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> AND CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS NAMES ITS NEXT C.E.O.

THE CHALLENGES FACING PEDOR MARTINEZ.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM DISCUSSES THAT AND MORE.

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

>> FORMER U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER DENNIS HASTERT REACHED A TENTATIVE SETTLEMENT WITH A MAN WHO ACCUSES HIM OF SEXUAL ABUSE WHEN HE WAS A TEENAGER.

THE MAN REFERRED TO AS JAMES DOE IN DOCUMENTS SUED HASTERT FOR FAILING TO PAY THE LAST HALF OF THE $3.5 MILLION HUSH MONEY AGREEMENT.

THE ABUSE HAPPENED BACK WHEN THE VICTIM WAS A HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLER.

THE NOW 79-YEAR-OLD HASTERT WAS CONVICTED IN A RELATED CRIMINAL CASE THAT SPENT HIM TO PRISON FOR OVER A YEAR FOR VIOLATING BANKING LAWS.

THE FIRST LADY VISITED AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN MILWAUKEE TODAY.

JILL BIDEN TRAVELED TO OUR NEIGHBOR TO THE NORTH TO TALK ABOUT KEEPING STUDENTS SAFE AS THEY RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.

BIDEN PARTICIPATED IN A LISTENING SESSION WITH TEACHERS.

>> I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.

TO COME IN TO SHARE YOUR STORIES AND I'LL TAKE THEM BACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE WITH ME.

AND WHEN I SEE MY HUSBAND AND WE'RE HAVING DINNER I WILL SAY THIS IS WHAT I HEARD TODAYFUL AND THIS IS WHAT THE PARENTS NEED OR DON'T NEED OR WHAT THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH OR THIS IS WHAT THE KIDS NEED.

>> AND AFTER 35 YEARS AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AT THE GOODMAN THEATRE ROBERT FALLS IS COMING TO HIS LAST ACT.

>> I THOUGHT FOR A WHILE THAT MY 35TH SEASON WOULD BE THE BEST TIME FOR ME TO ALEVE AND LOU ME TO TAKE ON NEW CHALLENGES IN LIFE AND ART.

I LOVE THE THEATRE WITH ALL MY HEART.

IT'S BEEN AN ARTISTIC HOME AND IT WILL BE A BITTERSWEET DEPARTURE.

>> FALLS SAYS HE WILL STEP DOWN NEXT SUMMER.

IN THE MEANTIME HE WILL PROGRAM THE 2022-23 SEASON AND DIRECT TWO PRODUCTIONS GIVING THE GOODMAN TIME TO FIND THE NEXT LEADER.

THE TONY AWARD WINNERS TENURE INCLUDES BUILDING A $46 MILLION STATE-OF-THE-ART THEATRE COMPLEX, ESTABLISHING THE CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT AND BECOMING THE FIRST THEATRE IN THE COUNTRY TO PRODUCE ALL 10 PLAYS OF AUGUST WILLSON'S WORKS ON THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.

THIS FRIDAY MARKS THE LAUNCH OF THE FOURTH CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE BIENNIAL.

PAST EDITIONS HAVE BEEN BASED AT THE CULTURAL CENTER AND THIS IS FOCUSING ON NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS CHICAGO AND FINDING CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET THE COMMUNITYS' NEEDS.

JOINING US ARE YOSHI TSUKAMOTO COFOUNDER OF THE FIRM WHICH WORKED ON DESIGNING THE ENGLEWOOD BASED ACTIVATION.

ANTON SEALS, JR. COFOUNDER AND LEAD STEWARD OF GROW GREATER ENGLEWOOD ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT PARTNERED WITH THE BIENNIAL AND DAVID BROWN THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND A PROFESSOR AT UIC.

WELL COAL TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

DAVID BROWN LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S BIENNIAL IS THE AVAILABLE CITY REIMAGINING VACANT LOTS FROM AROUND CHICAGO.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO REPURPOSE EMPTY SPACES?

>> WELL, IT STARTS FROM LOOKING AT CITY-OWNED LOTS IN CHICAGO.

A PROJECT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS AND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE VACANT LAND IN THE CITY IS QUITE LARGE CURRENTLY THERE ARE ABOUT 13,000 SPACES VACANT LOTS OWNED BY THE CITY THAT IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

IT'S PRIMARILY IN NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE WEST AND SOUTH SIDE.

AND IT'S MADE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THE FEEL AND CHARACTER OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.

IN TERMS OF A LOT OF BLOCKS ARE ALMOST DEFINED BY VACANCY.

SO TRYING TO THINK THROUGH WHAT WAY IN WHICH THAT LAND COULD ACTUALLY BE POSITIVE WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND SO THINKING OF IT MORE AS A SYSTEM OF COLLECTIVE SPACES THAT COULD BE ORGANIZED BY DIFFERENT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SO IN A WAY HAVE A LANDSCAPE THAT IS EQUAL TO THE SIZE OF THE LOOP WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> WE KNOW THAT ONE OF THOSE COMMUNITIES ORGANIZATIONS IS GROW GREATER ENGLEWOOD.

ANTON ONE OF THE PROJECTS IS THE ENGLEWOOD VILLAGE PLAZA.

ON A PREVIOUSLY VACANT LOT 58TH AND HALSTED.

HOW IS THAT PLAZA GOING TO BE USED?

>> THE PLAZA WILL BE USED NUMBER ONE THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THE PLAZA WILL BE USED PARTICULAR TO HALSTED MARKETPLACES GATHERING SPACE.

WE'VE BEEN HAVING FARMERS MARKETERS THERE IN THE PARKING LOT.

SO WE HAVE BEEN PLACE KEEPING JUST TO MAKE SPACES ACTIVE.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BOTH THE PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO WE'VE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE TO BUILD OUT A UNIQUE AND SIMPLE BUT SO ELEGANT OF A STRUCTURE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS BEAUTIFUL THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL BE DEFINITELY USING.

SO THE FIRST PART OF US BUILDING A COMMUNITY TABLE FOR ABOUT 60 PEOPLE.

WHERE WE CAN SHARE AND BREAK BREAD AND SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT, ANOTHER SPACE THAT BECOMES ACCESSIBLE FOR COMMUNITY THAT ONCE WAS LITTERED WITH GLASS AND WE'RE GROWING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS A COMMUNITY FARM THAT IS BEING STEWARDED BY ONE OF OUR PARTNERS URBAN GROWERS COLLECTIVE.

IT IS AN EXCITING TIME.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS THIS FOR MANY YEARS.

AND I ADD IS THAT IT IS THE FUTURE KIND OF ENTRY POINT TO THE ENGLEWOOD NATURE TRAILER THE NON-606 ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

WHICH IS AROUND CREATING BLACK SPACES AND SENSORY BLACK COMMUNITY IN OUR CULTURE AND THE MAGNIFICENT GREATER ENGLEWOOD, ENGLEWOOD AND WEST ENGLEWOOD COMMUNITIES.

>> AND YOSHI TSUKAMOTO YOU WORKED ON THE DESIGN WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITIES TO HAVE A SPACE TO COME TOGETHER?

>> WELL, IT'S BECAUSE TO HAVE A MORE BETTER ACCESSIBILITY TO LOCAL RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO RECONSTRUCT THE COMMONS TODAY.

BECAUSE COMMONS IS A BIT DIFFICULT NOWADAYS ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY AREA.

AND THE VERY CONSUMER ORIENTED SOCIETY.

BUT PEOPLE HAVE ABILITY TO GROW THINGS AND TO SHARE THINGS AND ENJOY TOGETHER THROUGH THESE EXPERIENCE AND ACTIVITIES.

I THINK IT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT BASIS FOR THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE PEOPLE TODAY.

AND IT'S REALLY HELPED PEOPLE TO KNOW EACH OTHER TO COLLABORATE WITH EACH OTHER AND I THINK OUR FUTURE PROJECTS CAN HELP PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL TO RECONSTRUCT COMMONS IN EACH AREA.

AND ARCHITECTURAL WORK CAN LOWER THE BARRIER FOR THE PEOPLE TO ACCESS GIVEN RESOURCES OR SOMETIMES WE CAN DISCOVER OUR LATENT RESOURCES ALREADY EXISTING THERE BUT NOT ACCESSIBLE NOWADAYS.

AND SO OUR PROJECT IS FOCUSING ON THIS ASPECT OF RESOURCES IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> AND DAVID, THERE ARE 15 DIFFERENT SITES AROUND THE CITY AS PART OF A BIENNIAL.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE COMMUNITY GROUPS LIKE ANTON'S IN REIMAGINING THE SPACES?

>> I THINK IT'S VITAL.

TO ME THE INTEREST IS REALLY IN CREATING SPACES THAT ADDRESS WHAT ARE INTEREST AND NEEDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT LENDS TO A VARIETY OF NO TWO SPACES ARE THE SAME AND THAT IS DRIVEN BY NOT ONLY THE DESIGNERS THAT ARE INVOLVED BUT THAT EACH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION.

HAD A DIFFERENT IDEA OF WHAT SHOULD TAKE PLACE WITHIN THEIR SPACE.

AND I THINK WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO WITHIN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO I THINK THAT IS THE VITAL STEP ONE IN THIS PROCESS.

AND STEP TWO IS TRYING TO MATCH THEM TO A DESIGNER THAT REALLY COMPLIMENTS WHAT EACH ORGANIZATION'S INTEREST MIGHT BE AND MAYBE INTRODUCES ASPECTS THAT ARE EXCEED THOSE EXPECTATIONS AS WELL IN WHAT THAT SPACE CAN DO.

>> ANTON GROW GREATER ENGLEWOOD YOU WORK ON ACCESS TO LOCALLY GROWN FOOD AND MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS A SAY IN HOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S LAND IS USED.

HOW DOES THIS PROJECT PLAY INTO THAT MISSION FOR YOU ALL?

>> WELL, IT BECOMES WHAT IT ALWAYS IS A SPACE GATHERING SPACE FOR COMMUNITIES TO HAVE ACCESS TO SPACES THAT REFLECT ONE, THE KIND OF THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT ANOTHER BIG PART OF IT IS NATURE HAS RECLAIMED SPACES WITH THE AID OF HUMAN HAND AND EMBELLISHING THAT IT GIVES ANOTHER SPACE THAT HAS BEEN LEFT KIND OF FORGOTTEN ABOUT IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DIVESTED IN A BEAUTIFUL SPACE.

SO THE ESTHETIC OF REFLECTING SOMETHING IN A BLACK COMMUNITY THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND THAT IS BEAUTIFUL, IS IMPORTANT.

AND THAT IT'S NOT TIED TO A CONSUMER PIECE AS WELL.

THAT THE NOTION OF THE COMMONS IS THAT EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

>> AND TO THAT END, YOSHI TSUKAMOTO BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME, YOUR WORK TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE BEHAVIOR OF THE NATURAL WORLD OF BUILDINGS AND OF PEOPLE IN ABOUT I APOLOGIZE 20 SECONDS HOW DOES THAT SHAPE THE DESIGNS YOU CREATE?

>> WELL, WE ALWAYS START OUR DESIGN PROCESS FROM UNDERSTANDING OF THE BEHAVIOR OF THE PEOPLE AND ALSO THE BEHAVIOR OF THE NATURE AROUND THAT AND ALSO BEHAVIOR OF THE BUILDINGS IN THE AREA.

THIS TIME, IT'S EMPTY AND WE FOCUS MAINLY ON THE BEHAVIOR OF THE PEOPLE, BEHAVIOR OF THE COMMUNITY.

COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR.

>> SOUNDS LIKE THE COMMUNITY OBVIOUSLY IT COMES BACK TOGETHER, THE COMMUNITY HELPS IN SHAPING THAT.

THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANKS TO DAVID BROWN, ANTON SEALS, JR. AND YOSHI TSUKAMOTO FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND YOU CAN FIND DETAILS ABOUT THE BIENNIAL EVENTS IN DIFFERENT CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS INCLUDING THE ENGLEWOOD PROJECT WE TOLD YOU ABOUT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> UP NEXT, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON THE LATEST WITH EMBATTLED ALDERMAN JIM GARDINER.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS NAMES THE NEXT C.E.O.

THE CHICAGO BOARD OF ETHICS FINDS PROBABLE CAUSE THAT ALDERPERSON JIM GARDINER VIOLATED AN ETHICS ORDINANCE TWICE.

AND ONE MONTH BEFORE THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL LEAVES OFFICE, THE PROCESS TO REPLACE HIM IS UNDERWAY.

HERE WITH THAT AND MORE IS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM, AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

SO, WELCOME BACK TEAM.

AS WE HEARD IN THE SHOW, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCED THAT CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEXT C.E.O.

TO REPLACE JANICE JACKSON WILL BE PEDOR MARTINEZ AND HE WILL START THIS MONTH.

HERE IS A CLIP FROM MARTINEZ FROM EARLIER TODAY.

>> WE KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW AS WE'RE FIGHTING THE PANDEMIC WE GOT TO GIVE OURSELVES SOME GRACE.

THIS LAST YEAR FOR THE ENTIRE NATION FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR OUR FAMILIES, IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR OUR STAFF, IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR OUR CHILDREN.

I JOIN MAYOR LIGHTFOOT IN THANKING THAT WE GOT THE DISTRICT OPEN AND NOW WE HAVE TO NOW KEEP IT OPEN AND WITH THE PRIORITY ON SAFETY AND STABILITY.

>> AMANDA, HE FACES MANY CHALLENGES FROM BUILDING LEADERSHIP TO NAVIGATING COVID OBVIOUSLY.

HOW BIG OF A TASK IS THIS GOING TO BE FOR HIM?

>> HUGE.

HUGE, HUGE.

THIS IS THE BIGGEST TEST THE FINAL OF ALL FINALS FOR PEDOR MARTINEZ.

AS YOU NOTED, IT'S NOT AS IF HE IS COMING IN AND HAS A LOT OF ALLIES AT C.P.S.

BECAUSE THE DISTRICT HAS LOST A LOT OF THOSE WHO WERE AT THE HEM MANY UNDER JANICE JACKSON.

HE IS COMING IN FRESH.

THERE IS A LOT OF TURNOVER.

SPOTS HE HAS TO FILL.

BY THE WAY, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS GOING TO SOON BE CHANGING AS WELL BECAUSE C.P.S.

MOVING TO AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD.

ALL OF THAT IS IN THE WORKS AS YOU MENTIONED AND THEN THE PANDEMIC INCLUDING WITH THAT A FRAUGHT DYNAMIC WITH THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION WHICH THEY CALLED FOR COLLABORATION BUT ALSO SEEMED QUICK TO TAKE TO TASK MART NEEDS FOR -- MARTINEZ FOR EFFORTS HE MADE WHEN HE WAS PREVIOUSLY AT C.P.S.

WORKING UNDER DUNCAN AND DURING HIS TIME IN SAN ANTONIO.

HE HAS A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF HIM.

>> PARIS, MARTINEZ WILL BE THE SEVENTH C.E.O.

IN THE LAST 10 YEARS ENTERING DURING A TUMULTUOUS TIME FOR THE DISTRICT.

WILL HIS APPOINTMENT BRING STABILITY TO THE DISTRICT WHICH HAS SEEN A LOT OF SHAKE UPS AS OF LATE?

>> ONE WOULD HOPE.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT HIS RESUME HE WAS SIX YEARS AS THE LEADER OF SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS.

SO MAYBE HE HAS A HABIT OF STAYING FOR A LONGTIME.

BUT THE CITY IS GOING TO BE TRANSITIONING OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS INTO AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST TIME THE MAYOR HAS A BIG SAY IN WHO THE CHIEF IS AND GOING BACK TO THE MID-90s, EVERYTHING RELATED TO SCHOOLS THE BUCK STOPPED WITH THE MAYOR.

POLICY, THE SUPERINTENDENT BECAUSE THE MAYOR APPOINTED THOSE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND NOW THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE.

AND MARTINEZ SAID IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CHIEF TO HAVE A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAYOR.

THAT MIGHT CHANGE AS THIS SCHOOL BOARD BECOMES INDEPENDENT.

AND LET'S NOT FORGET AT THE TEACHERS' UNION WENT ON STRIKE TWO-WEEK STRIKE TWO YEARS AGO AND THEY HAVE SABER BATTLED ON LABOR ACTIONS SINCE THEN DUE TO COVID.

AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT CONTINUES TO LOSE STUDENTS.

MASSIVE CHALLENGES AS AMANDA SAID ONE OF THE HARDEST JOBS IN THE COUNTRY BUT PEDOR MARTINEZ A CHICAGO NATIVE AN IMMIGRANT FROM MEXICO AND GRADUATED, SEEMS EXCITED TO TACKLE THOSE CHALLENGES.

>> AND HEATHER MARTINEZ IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST LATINO C.E.O., THE FIRST LATINO PERSON TO RUN THE DISTRICT.

DID THE MAYOR FACE PRESSURE TO BE SURE THAT SHE CHOSE SOMEONE FROM THE LATINO COMMUNITY FOR THIS JOB?

>> SHE ABSOLUTELY DID.

THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL'S LATINO CAUCUS PUT THE MAYOR ON NOTICE SAYING LOOK, LATINOS STUDENTS IS THE LARGEST ETHNIC GROUP NOW IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THAT THEY DESERVE TO BE LED BY SOMEBODY THAT THEY CAN SEE THEMSELVES IN.

ALSO THE MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS HAVE LAGGED IN TERMS OF PARITY.

LATINO CHICAGOANS MAKEUP A THIRD OF THE CITY.

BUT THEY MAKEUP JUST ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS TO LEAD DEPARTMENTS AND COMMISSIONS AND SIT ON IMPORTANT BOARDS.

AND ALDERMAN LIKE GILBERT VILLEGAS HAD SAID THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE.

SO THAT IS WHY PEDOR MARTINEZ CHECKED A LOT OF BOXES FOR THE MAYOR.

ALTHOUGH AS AMANDA SAID HE IS GOING TO COME INTO A DISTRICT WITHOUT HAVING BEEN A TEACHER OR ADMINISTRATOR.

AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL LIKED ABOUT JANICE JACKSON.

SO HE WILL HAVE TO GET UP TO SPEED VERY QUICKLY EVEN THOUGH HE IS A NATIVE CHICAGOAN WHICH WILL GIVE HIM A LEG UP.

WE LIKE IT WHEN OUR OWN COME BACK HOME.

>> AND OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT WE'LL ALL BE CURIOUS TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR.

ON TO CITY BUSINESS.

ALDERMAN JIM GARDINER APOLOGIZED AT YESTERDAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE IS A CLIP FROM THE MAYOR ON HIS APOLOGY.

>> I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE ALDERMAN CHOSE THE FLOOR OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND MY VIEW PUT HIS COLLEAGUES AT A AWKWARD POSITION.

I THINK THE BETTER COURSE THAT STILL NEEDS TO HAPPEN HE NEEDS TO STAND AT A PODIUM LIKE THIS, SAY WHAT HE HAS TO SAY AND FACE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA.

>> HEATHER BACK TO YOU HOW DID CITY COUNCIL RECEIVE THIS APOLOGY?

>> IN SILENCE.

THERE WAS NO APPLAUSE.

THERE WAS NO REACTION.

AND I GOT TO SAY THAT I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR ON THIS ONE.

IT WAS AWKWARD.

AND I SHOULD NOTE THAT PARIS AND I HAVE BEEN REPORTING ON THIS STORY ALL WEEK.

AND NEITHER ONE OF US HAS GOTTEN A CALL BACK FROM ALDERMAN GARDINER AND HE IS WELCOME TO COME ON THE SHOW.

HE IS NEVER GIVEN A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT I AM AWARE OF WHILE HE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE.

>> HE IGNORED US YESTERDAY WHEN WE CAUGHT HIM COMING IN AND ASKED HIM QUESTIONS HE DID NOT SAY A WORD.

>> CORRECT.

HE HAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS HE HAS NOW BEEN FOUND TO HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE TO HAVE VIOLATED THE CITY'S GOVERNMENT ETHICS ORDINANCE TWICE.

ONCE BY SEEKING TO LEAK ARREST RECORDS THAT SOUGHT TO SMEAR A CRITIC OF HIS AND HE IS UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE AS WE REPORTED YESTERDAY, THERE IS AN F.B.I.

PROBE EXAM INNING CHARGES OF PAY TO PLAY AND BRIBERY.

SO THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY BY ANY MEANS.

AND PARIS, YOU BOTH HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A COUPLE WEEKS WHAT DID WE KNOW ABOUT THE PROBES?

>> THEY ARE CURRENT.

WE KNOW OF FOLKS THAT HAVE SAID THEY HAVE MET WITH THE F.B.I.

AS RECENTLY AS THIS WEEK.

FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS ARE INTERESTED IN SOME OF THE ASPECTS OF RETALIATION.

BUT WE KNOW THERE IS A BROADER ISSUE HERE OF BRIBERY AND PAY TO PLAY THEY HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.

WE DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF WHAT THOSE ENTAIL WHO THOSE MIGHT ENTAIL BUT A LOT OF FOLKS IN GARDINER'S GROUP SPOKEN TO FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS AND WE KNOW FROM TALKING TO BUSINESS OWNERS AND RESIDENTS THERE IS A PATTERN WHEN THEY DEAL WITH 2K3W5RDER IN.

GARDINER WANTS LOYALTY.

HE WANTS SOMETHING OUT OF THEM.

AND IF THEY DON'T GIVE HIM WHAT HE WANTS ACCORDING TO THE DISPATCHES WE HEAR, THEN THERE'S PUNISHMENT OR THREATS OF PUNISHMENT.

AND IF THEY DO WHICH IS LOYALTY BEING LOYAL TO HIM THERE ARE POTENTIAL REWARDS.

AND THIS IS EVIDENCED IN HIS TEXT MESSAGES AND HE SAYS WELL, THOSE RANTS I NEVER ACTED ON THOSE.

NOT TRUE ACCORDING TO THE SOURCES WE TALKED TO.

HEATHER MENTIONED THE LEAKING OF THE COURT DOCUMENTS THERE WAS A RESTAURANT OWNER FISHMAN'S BAR WHO SAID BECAUSE THE OWNER HAD BEEN CRITICAL OF GARDINER OR SOCIAL MEDIA.

GARDINER HAD CITY WORKERS PUT UP FENCING IN FRONT OF THE RESTAURANT SO PEOPLE COULD NOT GET TO THE RESTAURANT IT'S ISSUES LIKE THIS THAT LEAD -- THERE ARE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE WARD THAT GARDINER HELD UP.

BIG DEVELOPMENTS.

HE THEN GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO AFTERWARDS.

A LOT OF ISSUES.

A LOT OF FOLKS IN THAT WARD COMING FORWARD AND MORE AND MORE NOW THAT THE ISSUES HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWS.

>> AMANDA THERE ARE CALLS FOR GARDINER TO RESIGN.

DOES THAT SEEM LIKELY?

>> THUS FAR YOU HEARD HE HAS NOT ANSWERED ANY QUESTIONS.

SO THAT IS ONE THAT I'M SURE WILL BE POSED BY BOTH REPORTERS AS WELL AS CONSTITUENTS WHO WANT JUST THAT AS YOU NOTED, IT WOULD SAY IN WATCHING THINGS LIKE THIS, SOMETHING A POLITICIAN WOULD BE HESITANT TO DO THAT AS LONG AS THEY ARE IN OFFICE THEY GET A PAYCHECK WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT MAYBE HARD TO DO PARTICULARLY WHEN IT IS VERY PUBLICLY KNOWN THAT YOU ARE UNDER THE F.B.I.

'S SCRUTINY.

FURTHER THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE STAFF AT THEIR DISPOSAL.

AND SO YOU OFTEN WANT TO REMAIN AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

THAT SAID, HE HAS TO DO A LOT OF ATONING ELECTION NOT UNTIL 2023.

OR PERHAPS THE RESULT OF AN F.B.I.

PROBE COULD MAKE THAT DECISION FOR HIM.

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED AIS THAT ROSSANA RODRIGUEZ-SANCHEZ, THE 33rd WARD SHE INTRODUCED A RESOLUTION TO CLARIFY THE RULES OF EXPULSION.

THERE IS A PROCESS TO EXPEL ALDERPEOPLE AND TO CENSURE THEM ALTHOUGH IT IS HAZY WHAT THAT PROCESS IS.

SHE INTRODUCED A RESOLUTION TO HAVE HEARINGS ON HIS CASE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ALLEGATIONS AND TO CLARIFY WHAT ARE THE RULES IN TERMS OF ALDERMEN VOTING TO EXPEL ONE OF THEIR OWN.

>> PARIS, ALSO, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WHO OVERSEES WATCHES OVER THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO, LIGHTFOOT HAD TRIED TO APPOINT ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS WHO WILL CHOOSE FERGUSON'S SUCCESSOR.

REMIND US WHAT HAPPENED.

>> THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT CHECK AND BALANCE OVER THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND THAT OFFICE HAS DONE MAJOR WORK IN TERMS OF OVERSEEING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE WATER DEPARTMENT, ALDERPEOPLE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO CHICAGOANS THAT AN INDEPENDENT PERSON RUN THAT OFFICE.

FERGUSON HAS ANNOUNCED HE IS LEAVING NEXT MONTH.

THE PROCESS TO REPLACE HIM IS THE MAYOR APPOINTS THREE COMMISSIONERS.

THE CITY COUNCIL APPOINTS TWO COMMISSIONERS TO DO AS A SELECTION COMMITTEE TO HIRE A SEARCH AND GO OUT AND FIND A REPLACEMENT.

THEY HAVE BEEN LATE STARTING THAT AND THERE'S BEEN CONFUSION.

MICHELLE SMITH NOMINATED TWO PEOPLE.

AND THE MAYOR HAS YET TO PUT HER PEOPLE THERE.

IT'S IMPORTANT THIS PROCESS IS INDEPENDENT.

THERE'S SOME NOTION THAT LIGHTFOOT WAS TRYING TO CIRCUMVENT SOME OF THE RULES BY NAMING ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BY THE TIME FERGUSON LEAVES SO SMITH WAS TELLING ME AND SAID THIS PUBLICLY.

SHE WANTS INSPECTOR GENERAL FERGUSON TO ANNOUNCE AN INTERIM REPLACEMENT FOR HIM WHILE THEY SORT ALL OF THIS OUT.

>> AND THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL MOVING ON, THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL TO ALLOW THE CITY TO SUE GANGS THAT WAS BLOCKED BY ALDERWOMAN ROSSANA RODRIGUEZ-SANCHEZ.

IT WILL HEAD TO RULES COMMITTEE.

HEATHER, ISN'T THAT WHERE ORDINANCES GO TO DIE?

>> YES, TRADITIONALLY.

IF YOUR PIECE OF LEGISLATION GETS SENT TO RULES IT MEANS IT WILL LANGUISH IN LIMBO FOR AS LONG AS HUMAN MEMORY EXISTS.

HOWEVER THE MAYOR IS GOING TO CALL ON HER ALLIES, MICHELLE HARRIS, TO DISCHARGE THAT ORDINANCE AND SEND IT TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE FOR A HEARING.

THAT COMMITTEE HELD BY TALIAFERRO, A FORMER POLICE SERGEANT IN FAVOR OF THIS MEASURE WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO GO AFTER PEOPLE THEY DEEM TO BE GANG MEMBERS AND TRY TO TAKE THEIR CARS AND THEIR HOMES AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT REFERENCED STACKS OF CASH THEY MIGHT HAVE FLASHED IN SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.

WHETHER IT MAKES IT OUT OF PUBLIC SAFETY I THINK IS YET TO BE SEEN.

THAT COULD HAPPEN AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK.

AND THEN IT WOULD HEAD TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL FOR A VOTE.

AND PROGRESSIVE ALDERMEN AND GROUPS ARE MOBILIZING AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE THEY SEE IT AS A TOOL THAT THE CITY COULD USE TO CRACKDOWN NOT JUST ON GANG MEMBERS BUT ON BLACK AND LATINO CHICAGOANS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN CAUGHT UP IN THIS SORT OF VIOLENT MAELSTROM AND THEY MAY SEE THEIR RELATIVES CARS AND ASSETS TAKEN.

IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG FIGHT.

BUT THE MAYOR IS UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE TO SHOW THAT SHE IS TAKING ACTION ON THE VIOLENCE THAT WAS REALLY SURGING THIS SUMMER AND HAS YET TO SHOW ANY SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN.

>> AND THE MAYOR IS PLANNING TO PRESENT HER 2022 BUDGET MONDAY.

SHE ANNOUNCED LAST MONTH THAT THE CITY FACES A $733 MILLION SHORTFALL.

WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING FROM HER BUDGET?

>> A LOT OF RED INK BUT PROPOSALS TO CLEAN UP THAT RED INK AND A LOT OF THAT ENTAILS USING ABOUT HALF OF THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT THE CITY RECEIVED BECAUSE OF COVID TO SOLVE SOME OF THAT BUDGET GAP AND THEN ALSO TO PAYBACK SHORT-TERM BORROWING THE CITY HAS DONE.

AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE THERE ARE ALDERPEOPLE AND THERE WAS A PROTEST YESTERDAY AT CITY COUNCIL TO INSTEAD USE THAT FEDERAL MONEY FOR PROGRAMS LIKE HOUSING, LIKE HELPING FEED PEOPLE, HELPING FIND JOBS FOR PEOPLE.

HELPING KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOUSING FACING EVICTION.

SO THE QUESTION IS WILL THE MAYOR HAVE 26 VOTES TO PASS HER BUDGET WHICH ENTAILS HALF OF THAT FEDERAL MONEY GOING TO SOLVE THE BUDGET GAP OR A PROTRACTED BATTLE.

>> I'M SURE WE WILL HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU NEXT WEEK.

THANK YOU TO AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

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

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

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

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

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. A NEW COMMUNITY FARM IS COMING TO LITTLE VILLAGE.

WE'RE LIVE IN THE AREA AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> AND A NEW DOCUMENTARY FROM KEN BURNS ON THE LEGENDARY BOXING CHAMPION MOHAMMED ALI.

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

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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