>> THERE'S A RENEWED PUSH TO EXPAND PROTECTIONS FOR LONG-TERM HOMEOWNERS IN SOUTH SHORE FROM GENTRIFICATION.

NOW IT COMES AS CONSTRUCTION ON THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER CONTINUES.

AND JACKSON PARK ADVOCATES ARE HOPING THE PASSAGE OF A NON-BINDING BALLOT QUESTION WILL BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO YEARS-LONG FIGHT REPORTER HEATHER SURE AROUND JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

ALL RIGHT.

SO HAVE WALK ME THROUGH IT.

NEARLY 80% OF VOTERS IN 2 PRECINCTS OF THE 7TH WARD ENDORSED AN ADVISORY REFERENDUM ON THE PRIMARY BALLOT.

THAT WAS AIMED AT ALDERMAN GREG MITCHELL AND MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON.

WHAT EXACTLY DID VOTER SUPPORT?

>> SO THIS MEASURE WAS CRAFTED BY A COALITION OF GROUPS WHO HAVE LONG BEEN CONCERNED THAT SOUTH SHORE AND WOODLAWN IS NOW GROUND 0 FOR CHICAGO'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.

AND THEY'RE HOPING THE RESULTS OF THIS ADVISORY REFERENDUM WILL CONVINCE ALDERMAN MITCHELL AND MAYOR JOHNSON TO PUT THE FULL FORCE BEHIND A PROPOSAL FROM ALDERMAN DESMOND NANCY OF THE 5TH WAR THAT WOULD EXPAND PROTECTIONS NOW IN PLACE IN WOODLAWN TO THOSE LIVING IN SOUTH SHORE.

THIS PROPOSAL WAS INTRODUCED NEARLY 6 MONTHS AGO.

IT STALLED IN THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THE 5TH WARD ALDERMAN YANCEY SAID THAT THE RESULTS ARE MORE EVIDENCE THAT ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS ARE NEEDED FOR LONG-TERM RESIDENTS IN SOUTH SHORE.

>> WHAT'S NEXT IN THE FIGHT OVER GENTRIFICATION IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO THIS PROPOSAL WOULD ESSENTIALLY MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE CITY TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON LAND.

THE CITY OWNS NEAR THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER AND IT WOULD ALSO SET ASIDE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HELP LONGTIME HOMEOWNERS STAY IN THEIR HOMES WITH GRANTS FOR REPAIRS AND REALLY FOR PROPERTY TAXES.

BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW WHEN YOU'VE GOT SORT OF A GENTRIFYING AREA, THE VALUE OF THOSE PROPERTIES CAN SKYROCKET, WHICH MEANS THAT LONGTIME HOMEOWNERS MAY BE HIT WITH MASSIVE PROPERTY TAX BUT ANY PROGRESS HAS BEEN COMPLICATED BY THE TENSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OTTERMAN NANCY AND ALDERMEN.

MITCHELL WHO BOTH SHARE SOUTH SHORE.

SO WHERE DO THEY STAND NOW?

AFTER LAST MONTH'S CONFRONTATION?

SO AFTER THE FEBRUARY 15TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING ALDERMEN, YANCEY SAID ALDERMAN MITCHELL ATTACKED HIM.

NOW ALDERMAN MITCHELL SAYS THAT HE DIDN'T DO THAT.

HE WOULDN'T DO THAT.

BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT THESE 2 OLDER PEOPLE WHO SHARE A NEIGHBORHOOD DISAGREE ON WHETHER THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO AND BECAUSE OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S LONG TRADITION OF ALDERMANIC PREROGATIVE, IT WOULD BE VERY UNLIKELY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR A WARD WHERE THE LOCAL ALDERPERSON DIDN'T NEED IT.

SO THAT'S WHY THIS ADVISORY REF, LOU, WAS PUT ON THE BALLOT TO SORT OF INCREASE PRESSURE ON ALDERMAN MITCHELL AND ON MAYOR JOHNSON, WHO CAMPAIGNED ON THIS ISSUE BUT HASN'T REALLY THROW THE FULL FORCE OF HIS OFFICE BEHIND IT.

ALL RIGHT.

LOTS GOING ON IN