>>> THINGS GOT HEATED AT CITY COUNCIL OVER THE MAYOR'S COMED PROPOSAL AFTER IT GOT TENSE AND PERSONAL LAST NIGHT.

WE GOT THAT AND MORE TO TALK ABOUT ON THIS WEEK'S SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

WELCOME BACK.

THE ENTIRE SPOTLIGHT TEAM.

SO, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S COMMENT PROPOSAL GOT PUSHBACK IN CITY COUNCIL.

ITS 15-YEAR DEAL WITH THE EMBATTLED UTILITY.

HEATHER, WHAT ARE THE DETAILS OF THE PLAN AND WHEN DO THE ALDER PEOPLE VOTE ON IT?

>> WELL, WHEN ALDER PEOPLE VOTE ON IT IS TRULY THE QUESTION THAT EVERYBODY WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AT CITY HALL.

WHEN THEY DO CONSIDER THE DEAL, IT IS A MASSIVE EXPANSION OF COMED'S FRANCHISE AGREEMENT AS YOU SAID, 15 YEARS, BUT THERE'S A SIDE DEAL THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY PROVIDE THE CITY WITH $100 MILLION DURING THE LIFE OF THE DEAL IN AN EFFORT TO FUND THE CITY'S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN WHICH IS SET TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS BY 2040 BY 62%.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT TODAY SAID IT WAS A WIN-WIN, BUT NOT VERY MANY MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGREED AND IT WAS BLOCKED FROM ADVANCING UNDER THE NORMAL RULES OF PROCEDURES.

>> THIS IS BEING PAINTED AS A BACKROOM DEAL WITH A UTILITY WE ALL KNOW CAUGHT UP IN THE MADIGAN BRIBERY DEAL.

ANOTHER CONCERNED IT IS BEING SHOVED THROUGH.

>> THERE IS POTENTIAL THAT THIS COULD BE A LAME DUCK LIGHTFOOT.

WE DON'T KNOW THE RESULTS OF THE COMING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS INCLUDING FOR A LOT OF TURNOVER IN THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDLESS OF HOW SOME OF THE INCUMBENT CANDIDATES DO BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY RETIREMENTS.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE A COMPARISON.

ALSO BECAUSE THE MAYOR REALLY IS TRYING TO GET THIS THROUGH.

YES, IT IS RUSHED.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I'M NOT SURE THIS IS A COMPARABLE AND APT TO SAY THIS IS LIKE THE PARKING METER DEAL WHICH BY THE WAY 75 YEARS IS A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT THAN 15.

FURTHER FACT THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A FRANCHISE DEAL WITH COMED.

THIS IS SORT OF A WHAT ARE THE DETAILS, NOT A -- IT'S MORE OF A HOW, NOT AN IF EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE CALLS FOR MOVING TO SOME SORT OF MUNICIPAL UTILITY WHICH IS BUILT INTO THIS.

THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN THIS SHORT ORDER.

WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT THIS IS AS HEATHER SAID, WE DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE VOTED ON.

I'LL ADD I'M NOT SURE WHY THE MAYOR REALLY WANTED TO RUSH THIS THROUGH.

YES, THERE WOULD BE SOME GUARANTEED JOBS AND A FACILITY ON THE WEST SIDE THAT WOULD PROVIDE JOB TRAINING IN AREAS WHERE PEOPLE AND RESIDENTS REALLY NEED IT.

THAT SAID, COMED IS EMBATTLED.

THERE'S REPORTING THAT THIS WOULD RAISE UTILITY RATES.

WHAT MAYOR RUNNING FOR ELECTION SAYS, GOSH, I NEED TO HURRY THIS THROUGH SO I CAN TELL VOTERS ABOUT IT?

I'M MYSTIFIED BY THAT.

>> THEY DID APPROVE THE MASSIVE PLAN FOR EXPANSION AFTER A DELAY.

HERE IS WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT THE BUMPY PASSAGE ON FIRST DAY OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

>> I AM ALMOST ASHAMED AND EMBARRASSED THAT SOMEBODY WOULD SIGN OFF AND NOT DO FOLLOW THROUGH BECAUSE THEY DID NOT MAKE SURE PEOPLE GOT JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY AND DO A HIRING FAIR AND DID NOT MAKE SURE THE BLACK FOLKS IN THEIR COMMUNITY GET THAT CONTRACT.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT US THAT WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY?

>> HEATHER, STRONG WORDS.

WHAT CONCESSIONS DID SHE GET FOR HER COMMUNITY, FOR HER WARD?

>> SHE DIDN'T GET ANY REALLY AND SHE WAS UP FRONT WITH THAT.

SHE SAID THAT AFTER SHE DELAYED THE VOTE LAST MONTH, SHE WENT BACK TO THE PEOPLE IN HER COMMUNITY AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THEY REALLY WANT THIS PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE IT DOES MEAN JOBS, IT DOES MEAN IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS AREA OF THE CITY THAT HAS SEEN DECADES OF DISINVESTMENT AND SHE SAID, LOOK, IF THEY ARE FOR IT, I'M FOR IT.

THAT'S WHY SHE LET IT GO THROUGH CITY COUNCIL TODAY, BUT IT WAS A TOUGH VOTE FOR HER AND IT IS ONE THAT RAISES A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA WILL BE PROTECTED FROM POLLUTION AND WHETHER THIS AREA WILL SORT OF BE TRANSFORMED AS THE COMPANY HAS PROMISED AND AS THE CITY IS WORKING TO DO.

THIS WILL BE PART OF THE CITY WHERE THE NEW ENGLEWOOD TRAIL WOULD GO RIGHT THROUGH.

THERE ARE LOTS OF PLANS FOR THIS AREA.

THIS VOTE TODAY SORT OF GETS THAT IN THE PROCESS STARTED.

>> SWITCHING OVER TO THE RACE FOR MAYOR, THINGS GOT PERSONAL AT LAST NIGHT'S MAYORAL FORUM ON WGN.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> IT IS DISGUSTING THAT WE HAVE A 70 YEAR OLD MAN ON THE STAGE THAT IS A SHARECROPPER FROM DOWN SOUTH THAT WOULD GET ON TV AND CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT HUNTING DOWN PEOPLE LIKE RABBITS.

>> I DON'T RESPOND TO KIDS.

>> A LOT TO UNPACK THERE.

LET'S START WITH THIS, PARIS.

CHICAGO HAS A HISTORY OF POLICING PROBLEMS.

WILLIE WILSON ALSO A BEEN TALKING ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S AGEISM ON BOTH SIDES FOR BOTH CANDIDATE.

HE DIDN'T HAVE A RESPONSE TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING THING WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC BECAUSE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS UNDER THIS DECREE AND BECAUSE THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICING.

WILSON DOESN'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT.

HE DOUBLED DOWN CALLING FOLKS RABBITS AND THEN SAYING THE MAYOR IS A RABBIT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ANY OF THAT MEANS.

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO GET FROM WILSON DOES HE MEAN FOLKS UNARMED RUNNING AWAY FROM THE COPS?

WHAT DOES HE MEAN WHEN HE SAYS THE COPS SHOULD HAVE THE HANDCUFFS OFF THEM AND HUNT FOLKS DOWN LIKE RABBITS?

WE HAVE A DEBATE NEXT WEEK.

I IMAGINE THAT QUESTION MIGHT BE POSED TO HIM.

>> HINT, HINT, MODERATOR.

>> ALL CANDIDATES EXCEPT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SAYS THEY WOULD OUST CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT SUPERINTENDENT BROWN AND WHY IS SHE STICKING WITH HIM WHEN PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY?

>> SHE CHOSE HIM.

THIS IS HER PICK.

SHE IS A WOMAN WHO I THINK WOULD ADMIT SHE IS STUBBORN, THAT SHE IS STICKS TO HER GUNS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHE CONSIDERS AS A SELLING POINT.

ALSO, SHE WANTED AN INTENTIONALLY CHOOSE AN OUTSIDER, SOMEBODY NOT FROM CHICAGO TALKING ABOUT REALLY NEEDING TO CHANGE THE CULTURE.

THAT'S WHAT SHE SAYS WHEN SHE DEFENDS BROWN THAT HE IS SOMEBODY WHO IS A CULTURE CHANGE AGENT VERSUS THOSE WHO SHE ADMONISHES FOR PUSHING BACK ON ANY OF THAT INCLUDING THOSE WHO INTERNALLY THERE ARE LOTS OF REPORTS OF POLICE OFFICERS INCLUDING THOSE HIGHER UP SAYING THERE IS A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE WITHIN THE FORCE AGAINST SUPERINTENDENT BROWN AND THAT'S BEEN SORT OF A LONG RUNNING CRITICISM OF HIM.

SHE SAYS TO THEM, HEY, IT'S JUST THAT YOU DON'T LIKE CHANGE AND YOU'RE STANDING IN THE WAY OF THAT.

THAT'S WHY SHE IS SAYING I THINK STANDING BY HIM.

WHETHER IT'S GOOD POLITICALLY IS ANOTHER QUESTION.

>> FOR THE NEXT MAYOR, THEY ARE NOT REALLY GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF POWER IN THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH.

IT WILL BE THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD, THE ELECTED POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD THOUGH THE MAYOR HAS THE POWER TO VETO.

ANOTHER QUESTION TO THE CANDIDATES, WILL YOU GO WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT THAT THIS ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD IS GOING TO PUT IN FRONT OF YOU?

>> EXCELLENT QUESTION.

WE HAVE 45 SECONDS, HEATHER.

ALDERMAN WHO WAS LIGHTFOOT'S ALLY HAS FORMALLY ENDORSED PAUL VALLAS.

WASN'T HE ONE OF HER LEADERS?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE POWERFUL ZONING COMMITTEE AND APPROVED THE CHICAGO CASINO AND PICKED THE RIVER WEST LOCATION.

HIS ENDORSEMENT OF PAUL VALLAS IS ANOTHER SIGN THAT LORI LIGHTFOOT HAS NOT ONLY HAD TROUBLE MAKING FRIENDS, BUT SHE HAS HAD TROUBLE KEEPING FRIENDS AND THE FACT THAT TOM NOT ONLY THOUGHT ABOUT RUNNING FOR MAYOR BUT HAS ENDORSED PAUL VALLAS IS ANOTHER INDICATION OF HOW DIFFICULT SHE HAS BEEN TO WORK WITH AND HOW MUCH DESIRE EVEN THOSE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED HER NOW WANT A CHANGE.

>> IT COULD BE A BIG DEAL FOR VALLAS BY THE WAY.

THIS IS AN ENDORSEMENT DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH MONEY AND WORD GETS OUT TO GO TO VOTES FOR HIM.

>> IT'S A CONSTITUENCY THAT O'HELP VALLAS.

HE HAS MORE CONSERVATIVE FOLKS.

PRO BUSINESS, MAYBE BUSINESS DOLLARS FOLLOW HIM.

VALLAS HAS RAISED A LOT OF MONEY IN THE