>> THE >> YEARS LONG FIGHT AGAINST GENTRIFICATION IN SOUTH SHORE IS FAR FROM OVER.

THERE'S A RENEWED PUSH BY LONGTIME HOMEOWNERS TO FIGHT RISING COSTS SPARKED BY THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER.

NOW ADVOCATES ARE LOOKING TO THE VOTING BOOTH TO EXPAND PROTECTIONS.

WTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON HOW A NON-BINDING BALLOT QUESTION COULD DO JUST THAT.

HEATHER.

SO IT GOOD TO SEE YOU.

FIRST OF SO YOU EFFORT TO EXPAND DITCH GENTRIFICATION PROTECTIONS TO INCLUDE SOUTH SHORE IS STALLED, BUT ADVOCATES ARE NOT GIVING UP.

WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO DO?

WELL, THE COALITION THAT HAS LONG BEEN PUSHING FOR PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND THE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER SAY SOUTH SHORE HAS BECOME, QUOTE, GROUND 0 FOR CHICAGO'S HOUSING CRISIS.

>> THEY'RE FRUSTRATED THAT A MEASURE THAT WOULD EXTEND PROTECTIONS TO THOSE HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS HAS STALLED IN THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO THEY'RE HOPING THAT VOTERS GO TO THE POLLS ON MARCH 19TH AND VOTE YES ON THIS NONBINDING QUESTION THAT WILL GIVE THEIR PUSH NEW MOMENT WHAT EXACTLY WILL VOTERS BE ASKED TO WEIGH IN SO THIS MEASURE TARGETS MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON AND 7TH WORD ALDERMAN GREG MITCHELL.

THEY WANT VOTERS TO TELL THEM THAT THEY SUPPORT PROTECTIONS FOR RENTERS FROM EVICTIONS, HELP FOR A LONG TIME.

HOMERS FIXING THEIR HOUSE AND RELIEF FROM SKY-HIGH PROPERTY TAXES.

NOW WE'VE SET THIS MEASURE DOES NOT HAVE THE FORCE OF LAW.

SO THIS WON'T MEAN ANYTHING WILL IMMEDIATELY GO INTO EFFECT.

BUT THIS IS A WAY TO TELL THE MAYOR AND ALDERMEN, HEY, YOU BETTER GET ON BOARD OR YOU COULD SUFFER AT THE BALLOT BOX WHEN YOU ARE UP FOR RE-ELECTION NEXT AND WHERE DOES ALL THE MEN, GREG MITCHELL STAND ON THIS ISSUE?

WELL, I ASKED HIM TODAY WHERE HE STOOD ON THIS BALLOT MEASURE.

WOULD HE VOTE FOR IT?

AND HE SAID HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT WAS ON THE MARCH 19TH BALLOT.

NOW HE HAS NOT SIGNED ON TO THE MEASURE THAT WAS INTRODUCED BY 5TH WARD ALDERMAN DOES BEN YANCEY THAT WOULD EXTEND THE PROTECTIONS TO THE PARTS OF SOUTH SHORE THAT ARE IN HIS 5TH WARD.

BUT BECAUSE OF ALDERMANIC PREROGATIVE.

CHANGES AREN'T GOING TO BE MADE.

THAT TAKES EFFECT THE 7TH WARD UNLESS ALDERMAN MITCHELL SIGNS WHAT ABOUT THE OBAMA FOUNDATION WHERE THEY STAND.

SO THEY ARE COMPLETELY NEUTRAL ON THIS ISSUE.

THEY SAY IF THE CITY WANTS TO TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT LONGTIME HOMEOWNERS, THEY WON'T STAND IN THE WAY.

HOWEVER, FOR YEARS THEY RESISTED EFFORTS FORCE THE OBAMA FOUNDATION TO SIGN A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT WHICH WOULD SORT OF VOLUNTARILY PUT SOME OF THESE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE.

THAT'S AND THIS ISN'T A NEW TACTIC, RIGHT?

IT'S NOT THIS IS A TACTIC THIS COALITION HAS USED OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO SIGNAL TO CITY OFFICIALS THAT VOTERS ON THE SOUTH SIDE ARE THRILLED ABOUT THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER WHICH COULD OPEN NEXT YEAR FINALLY, BUT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IT WILL MEAN FOR LOW INCOME AND WORKING CLASS CHICAGOANS WHO HAVE LIVED IN SOUTH SHORE AND WOODLAWN FOR TECH.

IT'S YES, THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

HAD A THANKS SO MUCH.

THANKS, BRANDIS.

AND