>> VOTERS WILL NOW DECIDE WHETHER TO HIKE TAXES ON SALES OF MILLION DOLLAR HOMES TO FIGHT HOMELESSNESS.

PLUS, A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS THE STATE'S ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN AND DAY 2 OF JURY SELECTION IN THE TRIAL OF FORMER ALDERMAN ED BURKE HERE WITH ALL THAT AND MORE IS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM, MATT MASTERSON, HEADER, SHARON AND AMANDA FINICKY.

EVERYBODY IS SOMEPLACE DIFFERENT TONIGHT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.

BUT LET'S START WITH CITY COUNCIL.

OF COURSE, TODAY THE BRING CHICAGO HOME ORDINANCE CLEARED CITY COUNCIL.

MAYOR JOHNSON SPOKE AT A RALLY BEFORE THE MEETING.

HERE'S SOME OF WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> WE KNOW 70% OF THOSE ARE ALL LIVE IN COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE AND COMMUNITY.

>> IT IS WELL TIME THAT WE PRIORITIZE THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE, BUT ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE MOST.

SO WE'RE NOT JUST BRINGING IN CHICAGO.

WE'RE NOT JUST RAISING RATHER WAR, DEMONSTRATING HOW THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS LEADING THE WAY.

BUT THE REST OF THE >> HEATHER, THIS IS SEEN AS A MAJOR VICTORY FOR MAYOR JOHNSON.

HOW SO?

>> WELL, HE CAMPAIGNED ON THIS BRAND U.S. AND HE PUSHED IT THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL WHEN FORMER MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT REFUSED TO AND IT WAS NO SMALL FEAT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF OPPOSITION JUST NOT ON THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT ALSO IN CHICAGO'S BUSINESS AND REAL ESTATE COMMUNITY WHO ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX HIKE WILL MAKE REVITALIZING THE LOOP AND THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE GIVEN THE SHIFT TO REMOTE WORK AND THE CONTINUING EFFECT, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

HOWEVER, YOU HEARD JOHNSON RIGHT THERE SAY THIS IS A MATTER OF FAIRNESS AND EQUITY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO THE RECENT BOOM DOWNTOWN BEFORE COVID LEFT BEHIND.

AND IT'S TIME FOR THOSE WEALTHY CHICAGOANS WHO ACCOUNT FOR JUST 4% OF ALL REAL ESTATE SALES IN CHICAGO TO PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE.

AND IN RETURN, PEOPLE WHO SELL PROPERTIES WORTH THAN A MILLION DOLLARS WILL GET ABOUT A 20% TAX CUT.

HEATHER LEADING UP TO THE BALLOT VOTE.

WHAT CAN CHICAGOANS EXPECT TO HEAR ABOUT IT?

>> WELL, IT IS GOING TO BE A FIERCE FIGHT BECAUSE THE REST, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS COMMUNITIES, HE'S LIKE THIS IS EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO THEIR ABILITY TO KEEP BRINGING BIG CORPORATIONS AND BIG COMPANIES TO CHICAGO.

HOWEVER, YOU WILL SEE ENTHUSIASTIC AND ENERGIZED PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITIES SEEK TO MAKE A LAW AND SET THE PACE FOR OTHER CITIES, INCLUDING NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES, PHILADELPHIA.

FACING SIMILAR CRISIS EASE WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE WHICH HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE WAKE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> SO AMANDA, YOUR IN SPRINGFIELD, LATEST REVISION OF THE ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD JUST BEING YOU KNOW, BRING US UP TO SPEED ON THAT.

WHY WAS THERE SUCH A DELAY?

>> SO BRING US.

THERE'S ACTUALLY SEVERAL DEVELOPMENTS, INCLUDING REALLY ANY TIME DURING THIS PROGRAM.

WE COULD SEE A VOTE IN THE ILLINOIS SENATE.

I'M NOT THERE.

I'M IN HOUSE CHAMBERS RIGHT NOW.

BUT THIS SENATE COULD TAKE UP A PROPOSAL FOR THE CHICAGO ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD.

THERE IS AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CHAMBERS ON THE MAP ITSELF.

WHAT YOU HAVE NOW BRING THIS, HOWEVER, IS A BATTLE OVER WHEN EXACTLY PEOPLE WILL BE ELECTED BECAUSE AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE ORIGINAL LAW CALLED FOR 20 DISTRICTS.

HALF OF THE SO THERE WOULD BE SORT OF A ROLLING HYBRID BOARD WHERE A PORTION OF THE BOARD WOULD BE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR.

STILL.

AND THEN THE OTHER HALF WOULD BE VOTED INTO OFFICE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AND SO WHAT THAT QUESTION HAS BEEN HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE THAT HALF AND NOW?

WE HAVE COMPETING PROPOSALS THAT WOULD SORT OF WIPED THE BOARD OF THAT IN MOVED TO AN ALL ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD COMPLETELY IN 2024, THE NOTION HAD BEEN THAT YOU WANT TO SORT OF HAVE THIS MIX FOR TRANSITION, SAFER, SORT CONTINUITY, BUILD AND MAKE THINGS A LITTLE MORE ORGANIZED.

BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONSTERNATION OVER WHICH PORTION OF CHICAGO LAND, WHICH RESIDENTS WOULD BE DISENFRANCHISED IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CAST A VOTE IN THIS HISTORIC FIRST 2024 ELECTION MOVING TO AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD.

SO WE GET TO SEE WHAT REALLY THE DEVELOPMENT AND THEN BRING AS YOU NOTED, THERE IS STILL QUESTIONS OF EARLY SOME CRITICISM OVER THE MAPS WHILE IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A CONSENSUS AMONG THE LEADING LEGISLATORS WHO ARE BEHIND THE DRAFTING OF THIS PLAN, COMMUNITY GROUPS WHO HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE LITTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY IN KIDS FOR CHICAGO WHO COMPLAIN THAT THE MAPS STILL DO NOT ENOUGH TO REALLY BRING IN THE VOICE IS PARTICULARLY OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

THEY SAY THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW THE MAP IS DIVIDED, THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY DISTRICTS OF THESE 20 WHERE THERE IS A MAJORITY OF WHITE RESIDENTS IN THAT IS NOT FITTING IN KEEPING WITH THE POPULATION OF THE PEOPLES WHO GO TO CPS WHERE IT IS MOSTLY STUDENTS OF COLOR.

SO THAT IS STILL UP FOR DEBATE BUT APPEARS TO BE MORE SORT OF OUTSIDE CRITICISM AND THAT IT WE HAVE AGREEMENT ON IN THE CAPITAL FROM LEGISLATION.

AMANDA, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT A PRETTY DECENT SIZE FROM WHAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN THE LAW.

WHAT SORT OF THAT BRINGING IN OF THE ELECTED THAT YOU MENTIONED EARLIER.

BUT THE OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, IF IT DEPENDING ON WHEN THIS IS APPROVED, THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT WHEN POTENTIAL CANDIDATES CAN START TO CAMPAIGN.

>> FOR THEIR NEW ROLE TO BE ELECTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.

YES.

AND SO THE LEGISLATURE SUPPOSED TO REALLY HAVE GOTTEN THIS DONE IN THE SPRING AND THEN DIDN'T HAPPEN.

SO THEY GAVE THEMSELVES AN EXTENDED DEADLINE.

SO THEY HAVE UNTIL APRIL TO COME UP WITH A CONCRETE PLAN FOR DRAWING THESE DISTRICTS AND FIGURING IT ALL OUT.

>> BUT THE ADVOCATES BOTH SAID LEGISLATORS WHO ARE PART OF THIS MOVEMENT AS WELL AS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SAY THAT REALLY THIS SHOULD HAPPEN NOW SOONER THAN LATER, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GOING TO RUN FOR ONE OF THESE POSITIONS, YOU'VE GOT TO GET ORGANIZED.

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR FAMILY WITH YOUR SUPPORTERS BEGIN FUNDRAISING PETITION GATHERING PETITION GATHERING WOOD TO START UNDER THESE PROPOSALS IN MARCH.

SO OF BEFORE THAT DEADLINE TO GET THIS ALL DONE.

THAT IS WHY YOU'RE SEEING THESE CONVERSATIONS SORT RAPIDLY CHANGING, REALLY, LITERALLY AS WE SPEAK IN TERMS OF WHAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS GOING TO DO WITH HOPES OF GETTING IT DONE TODAY TOMORROW, THURSDAY.

THESE ARE THE LAST 3 SCHEDULED DAYS OF THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE YEAR 2023.

>> SO THE PRESSURE IS MATT, MOVING OVER TO YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT YOU.

SO THE TRIAL OF FORMER ALDERMAN ED BURKE CONTINUING WITH JURY SELECTION TODAY.

YESTERDAY WE REPORTED AT THE PROCESS WAS GOING KIND OF SLOWLY HAD TO GO TODAY.

SLOW STEADY STEADILY IS PROBABLY THE RIGHT WORD FOR IT.

THIS IS A SLOW-MOVING PROCESS, BUT THAT'S PARTIALLY BY DESIGN.

THIS IS A VERY HIGH PROFILE CASE.

IT'S A VERY HIGH PROFILE DEFENDANT HERE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> THERE'S ALSO 2 MEN ON TRIAL WITHIN PETER ANDREWS AND CHARLES QUAY, DEFENSE ATTORNEYS FOR ALL 3 OF THOSE MEN, THE FEDS, THE JUDGE, THEY ALL WANT TO GET A FAIR JURY IMPANELED SO THEY CAN HAVE A FAIR TRIAL IN THIS.

IT'S GOING TAKE A LONG TIME.

THERE'S BEEN MORE THAN 30 JURORS QUESTION THROUGH THE FIRST 2 DAYS.

SOME OF THEM HAVE ALREADY BEEN STRICKEN VARIOUS REASONS, BUT THAT THE GOAL IS TO GET TO A GROUP OF 47 JURORS BEFORE THEY START WHITTLING THAT BACK DOWN TO GET A GROUP OF 12 JURORS AND 4 ALTERNATES.

SO THAT PROCESS PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT WHILE LONGER.

>> A POTENTIAL JURORS WERE ASKED ABOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION OF CHICAGO POLITICS.

SOME OF THEM HAVE TO SAY.

OBVIOUSLY BERKS ROLES AND ALDERPERSON AS HEAD OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FIRST YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AND DECADES IN CHICAGO IS GOING TO BE CENTRAL TO THIS CASE.

SO THE PARTIES IN THIS CASE NEEDED TO KNOW IF THE JURORS HAVE ANY PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS ABOUT BURKE ABOUT THIS CITY COUNCIL ABOUT POLITICS IN GENERAL.

SO MOST OF THE JURORS HAD POSITIVE THINGS POSITIVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THERE.

INTERACTIONS WITH ALL THE PERSONS WITH THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH CHICAGO POLITICS OVERALL, SOME OF THEM KNEW WHO AT BURKE WAS BY NAME OR BY REPUTATION, BUT NOT ANY OF THEM REALLY MUCH ABOUT THIS CASE GOING INTO JURY SELECTION.

THERE WAS A BRIEF MOMENT OF LEVITY TODAY.

THERE IS ONE WOMAN WHO WAS QUESTIONED AS A POTENTIAL JUROR.

SHE'S I WAS IN BARTLETT AND WORKS A THERAPIST.

SHE WAS ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN A QUICK WORD ASSOCIATION GAME.

SHOULD THE WAR SHE WAS GIVEN WAS CHICAGO POLITICS THE WORD SHE USED?

FIRST THING THAT CAME MIND WAS MESSY.

SO SHE DOESN'T LIVE IN CHICAGO.

SHE DOESN'T FOLLOW POLITICS TOO MUCH.

HE SAID.

BUT TAKE THAT FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.

I'M KIND OF DESCRIBE HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO BE GOING IN THIS CASE.

A LOT OF US MIGHT AGREE WITH I'M HEATHER WHEN IT COME TO YOU BRIEFLY ON THIS.

JUST GIVE US A SENSE OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS TRIAL.

PLEASE.

>> SO IT IS HISTORIC.

AS I SAID LAST NIGHT, BRANDED ED BURKE IS THE LAST MACHINE BOSS STANDING.

HE IS ACCUSED OF EXPLOITING A SYSTEM THAT THE FEDS ARE GOING TO ARGUE ALLOWED CORRUPTION TO FLOURISH IN CHICAGO.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT ABOUT HOW THE SAUSAGE GETS MADE AT CITY HALL.

AND I THINK THAT YOUR WAS RIGHT ON IT IS A MESSY PROCESS.

AND THE PROSECUTOR'S JOB IS TO CONVINCE THE JURY THAT BURKE USED TO ENRICH HIMSELF.

OKAY.

SO THERE WAS ALSO THIS INCIDENT HEADER LAST THURSDAY AT CITY COUNCIL INVOLVING ALDERMAN CARLOS RAMIREZ, ROADS, WHICH LED TO A LOT OF FIREWORKS AT CITY COUNCIL YESTERDAY.

SOME TODAY REMIND US WHAT HAPPENED.

PLEASE.

>> WELL, THERE IS A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON THURSDAY AND ALDERMAN CARLOS RAMIREZ ROSE DID NOT WANT THAT MEETING TO TAKE PLACE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

HE HAD TO PREVENT 26 OLDER PEOPLE OR HALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM ATTENDING.

AND AT ONE POINT ALDERMAN, I'M EMMA BURKE WHO ARE I'M TRIED TO ENTER THE CHAMBER AND ALDERMAN RAMIREZ, ROSA TRIED TO STOP OR AND SHE SAID THAT SHE WAS LEFT SHAKEN AND SHE FELT LIKE ESSENTIALLY THAT SHE WAS BEING OPPRESSED.

SO THAT CREATED A FIRESTORM OF CONTROVERSY.

ALDERMAN RAMIREZ, ROSA APOLOGIZED ON THE FLOOR OF THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY AFTER AN EMOTIONAL SPEECH BY ALDERMAN MIT WHO DESCRIBE IT FEELING SHAKEN AND THAT SHE COULD NOT CONTINUE TO REPRESENT HER WESTSIDE WARD BECAUSE SHE FEARED SHE HAD THE MOST POWERFUL PERSON ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

NOW ALDERMAN RAMIREZ, ROSA, AS I SAID, APOLOGIZED.

BUT THAT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR ALL DOING.

SCOTT WAKES BACK IN NEARLY HALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THEY ATTEMPTED CENSURE HIM THE FIRST TIME THAT I CAN TELL SINCE 19.

0, 4, BUT THEY FELL SHORT WITH MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON CASTING AN UNPRECEDENTED TIE BREAKING VOTE TO SPARE HIS FORMER FLOOR LEADER AND CLOSE POLITICAL ALLY THAT EMBARRASSMENT.

>> OKAY.

HEATHER, AS YOU MENTIONED, BOTH ALDER PEOPLE DID GIVE STATEMENTS ABOUT THIS LET'S HEAR A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.

>> I FELT I. I WAS BACK.

IN SOUTH.

FELT LIKE.

>> EVERYTHING IN THE WITH SHAKING.

>> I RISE TO APOLOGIZE.

TO MY COLLEAGUE IT'S.

TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO THIS COUNCIL.

FOR MY ACTIONS LAST WEEK.

THURSDAY.

THERE'S A SPECIAL MEETING WAS CHAOTIC.

TENSIONS WERE HIGH.

A DRAMATICALLY OVERREACTED.

>> THERE WAS EVEN MOMENT IT'S GOT UP TO GIVE ALDERMAN RAMIREZ ROSSA HUG DURING THAT BRIEFLY HAD A BEFORE WE MOVE HOW DID MAYOR JOHNSON AND OTHER GROUPS RESPOND TO THOSE STATEMENTS?

>> WELL, THEY THE STOCK TO SORT OF START THE HEALING PROCESS AND THEY POINTED TO IT'S HIS DECISION NOT TO VOTE TO CENSURE ALDERMAN RAMIREZ.

ROSA.

HOWEVER, IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS INCIDENT HAS ONLY FURTHER EXACERBATED TENSION BETWEEN BLACK CHICAGOANS AND LATINO CHICAGOANS, WHICH HAVE REALLY BEEN FRAYED BY THE DEBATE OVER HOW BEST TO CARE FOR THE NEARLY 20,000 MIGRANTS WHO HAVE MADE THEIR WAY TO CHICAGO.

I'M THE INVEST IN KIDS.

PROGRAMS STILL ON THE FOR A POSSIBLE EXTENSION.

WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THIS?

WE'VE HEARD A LOT FROM GROUPS BOTH IN SUPPORT OF IT AND AND OPPOSING AN EXTENSION OF THIS.

>> YEAH.

AND THIS IS THE PROGRAM THAT GIVES DONORS A TAX CREDIT FOR FUNDING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LOW-INCOME CHILDREN TO ATTEND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

IT'S REALLY ON THIN ICE.

AS I NOTED BEFORE, JUST 3 DAYS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THAT PROGRAM SET TO END DECEMBER 31ST UNLESS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TAKES ACTION.

AND WHILE THERE HAS BEEN A COMPROMISE OFFERED, IT DOES NOT APPEAR AT LEAST FROM WHAT I'M HEARING THAT DEMOCRATS ARE PLANNING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

>> COULD STILL CHANGE.

THERE'S A WEE BIT OF TIME, BUT REALLY TIME IS RUNNING VERY SHORT.

AND IT SEEMS AS IF DEMOCRATS JUST DON'T HAVE THE APPETITE TO MOVE IT FORWARD.

A LOT OF THAT MAY BE BECAUSE THEY'RE THIS PROGRAM IS VERY SAD.

FASTLY OPPOSED BY A LOT IN LABOR, PARTICULARLY TEACHERS UNIONS WHO ARE CLOSELY ALLIED WITH THE REIGNING DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> HEADER OF BACK TO YOU ASKED THE MAYOR ABOUT THE OF A LOT OF 100 15TH AND HALSTED AS A LOCATION FOR THE MIGRANT CAMP.

DOES THIS MEAN THAT RESIDENTS THERE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE THAT CAMP GOING UP SOON?

>> IT DOES.

AND IT COULD GO UP VERY QUICKLY FROM WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY JOHNSON'S ADMINISTRATIONS IN TERMS DIRECTING THE BASE CAMP, THIS VOTE TODAY, WHICH WAS NEARLY UNANIMOUS, CAME AFTER ALDERMAN RUNNING, MOSTLY DROPPED HIS OPPOSITION BECAUSE THE THAT THE APPROVAL OF THE PLAN INCLUDES EXPEDITED APPROVAL FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS NEARLY 70,000 SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING AND 6.5 ACRE LOT IT WHAT IT IS SLATED TO BECOME A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT WITH APARTMENTS AND SHOPS AND A NEW PARK.

HE SAYS THAT IT'S WORTH HAVING A MIGRANT BASE CAMP ON THIS PROPERTY FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

IF IT SPEEDS THAT REDEVELOPMENT AND THAT WAS THE COMPROMISE APPROVED TODAY BY THE CITY COUNCIL, A BRIGHT SPOT ALONG WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE BRING CHICAGO HOME PROPOSAL FOR THE MAYOR ON WHAT WAS VERY DIFFICULT DAY FOR MOST OF HIS AND MATT, BEFORE WE LET ALL OF YOU GO ON, KNOW, YOU'LL BE BACK ON THE BURKE FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.

WHEN DO THEY EXPECT TO HAVE A JURY SELECTED THEIR?

WHAT'S NEXT?

THE INITIAL HOPE WAS TO GET OPENING STATEMENTS TOMORROW.

THAT'S LOOKING VERY UNLIKELY.

THERE'S A LOT OF HEAVY LIFTING LEFT TO BE DONE.

SO THE JUDGE TODAY SAID SHE EXPECTS A JURY TO BE IN PLACE HOPEFULLY BY THURSDAY.

COURT IS NOT GOING TO IN SESSION ON FRIDAY FOR VETERANS DAY.

SO OPENING STATEMENTS COULD EITHER BE LATE THURSDAY OR POTENTIALLY UNTIL WE MIGHT