>> MAYOR JOHNSON'S ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES NEW CHIEF OF STAFF.

PLUS THE CITY COUNCIL PANEL SOUNDS OFF OVER THE MAYOR'S HANDLING OF THE SHOTSPOTTER CONTRACT AND ILLINOIS.

REPUBLICANS DEMAND CHANGES AT THE STATE'S PRISONER REVIEW BOARD FOLLOWING THE TRAGIC DEATH OF AN 11 YEAR-OLD BOY HERE WITH ALL THAT AND MORE IS OUR SPOTLIGHT.

POLITICS TEEN AMANDA BENNETT, THE HEAD OF SHARON AND PARISH SHUTS WELCOME BACKING.

HEATHER, STARTING WITH YOU, PLEASE.

THE MAYOR ANNOUNCING THAT HE'S APPOINTED FORMER STATE SENATOR KRISTINA PAST YOUR KNEES.

I S TO BE HIS NEW CHIEF OF STAFF FOLLOWING THE DEPARTURE FOR ITS 2 WHAT DOES THIS TELL US JOHNSON IS PLANNING TO RUN CITY HALL?

WELL, THEY WERE A PACKAGE DEAL BACK WHEN JOHNSON TOOK OFFICE, IT WAS STUDIOUS AND PAST YOAN ISAIAS.

ONE SORT OF VERY VETERAN OF CITY HALL WHO KNEW WHERE ALL THE BODIES WERE BURIED AND A VERY PROGRESSIVE LEADER WHO IS ABLE TO SORT CHART A NEW COURSE FOR THIS NEW MAYOR.

THIS I THINK WE CAN BE RIP RIDE AS JOHNSON DOUBLING DOWN ON THAT PROGRESSIVE AGENDA.

>> AND SORT OF MAYBE AN INDICATION THAT HE FEELS LIKE DESPITE A VERY TUMULTUOUS 9, 10 MONTHS IN OFFICE THAT IT PERHAPS HE'S READY TO TAKE THE TRAINING WHEELS OFF A LITTLE BIT.

BUT THIS IS A CLEAR SIGN THAT THE MAYOR IS GOING TO MAKE GOOD ON HIS PROMISE THAT WE HEARD JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO THAT HE IS GOING TO DOUBLE DOWN ON HIS AGENDA, SORT OF MAKING CHICAGO A MORE EQUITABLE PLACE TO LIVE.

AND HE'S GOING TO DO THAT IN WAYS THAT THE OLD GUARD PERHAPS FIND VERY CHALLENGING TO ACCEPT NO BACKPEDALING AMANDA, BEYOND HER PROGRESSIVE CREDENTIALS, OF COURSE, BEING THE FIRST LATINA TO HOLD THIS POST.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER QUALITIES THAT SHE BRINGS TO THE POSITION THAT YOU THINK PROMPTED THE MAYOR TO PUT HER IN I DO THINK THAT SHE'S WIDELY RESPECTED.

SHE COMES TO THIS AFTER HAVING SERVED IN THE STATE SENATE RESIGNED FROM THAT POSITION IN ORDER TO MOVE TO CITY HALL.

>> AND SHE WAS KNOWN IS VERY HARD WORKER.

TENACIOUS AND AT THE SAME TIME, KIND TO NOT A BULLYING TOP DOWN SORT OF PERSON.

SO CLEARLY VERY ALSO HARD WORKING COMMITTED GETS IN THERE AND THAT I THINK HAVE RE EMPHASIZE ONCE AGAIN, YES, VERY PROGRESSIVE.

SHE IS TRUE BELIEVER IN THESE IDEALS.

YEAH, I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT SHE'S BEEN IN CHARGE OF THE JOHNSON'S RESPONSE TO THE MIGRANT CRISIS AND SHE HAS OUT FRONT SORT OF ADDRESSING SORT OF THAT REALLY, REALLY FRAUGHT ISSUE.

AND I THINK YOU CAN READ THIS AS AN ENDORSEMENT OF START HER HANDLING OF THAT CRISIS AND SORT MAKING HER EMPOWERED TO SORT OF PERHAPS TAKE MORE OWNERSHIP IN THE FUTURE.

HERE IS WHAT DO YOU THINK HER HEAVY THING TO APPROACH THE ROLE, WHAT YOU THINK OR RELATIONSHIP WILL BE LIKE WITH CITY COUNCIL?

WELL, I MEAN, THE CHIEF OF STAFF HAS TO SORT OF MANAGE EVERYTHING IN THAT OFFICE AND THERE'S A LEGISLATIVE LIAISON THAT GOES REACHES TO CITY COUNCIL.

WHAT ABSOLUTELY DEFINITELY BE DEALING WITH MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

>> PROBABLY SHORING UP SUPPORT WITH THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS SHORING UP SUPPORT WITH WHAT HE KNOWS SOME WHAT HE KNOWS.

PERHAPS NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY THE MIGRANT CRISIS HAS BEEN HANDLED FAR AND AS HEATHER SAID, SHE HAS BEEN OUT FRONT AND THAT'S WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME WORK THERE.

SHE'S ALSO FORMER STATE SENATOR.

SO IF YOU CAN CALL IN THOSE RELATIONSHIPS IN SPRINGFIELD TO THE MAYOR IS GOING TO NEED SPRINGFIELD CT WHO WANTS A NEW CONTRACT WITH LOTS OF NEW MONEY THAT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE CITY.

THE ONE PLACE THEY CAN GO TO SPRINGFIELD DOESN'T LOOK LIKE SPRINGFIELD WANTS TO REALLY PLAY BALL WITH THAT RIGHT NOW.

MAYBE MAYBE SHE CAN CALL IN SOME CHECKS ON I DON'T AND FROM WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM SEA TO, YOU'D PROBABLY GOING TO COST A LOT.

>> I'M AMANDA, LET'S PIVOT TO SITUATION WITH THE ILLINOIS PRISONER REVIEW BOARD.

REPUBLICANS DEMANDING REFORM AFTER A REVIEW BOARD THE BOARD.

>> RELEASED A FELON WITH A HISTORY OF NEXT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ATTACKING A FORMER PARTNER.

AND AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, KILLING HER 11 YEAR-OLD SON, JADEN PERKINS.

JUST ONE DAY AFTER HE WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON.

ONE OF THE THAT ILLINOIS GOP WOULD LIKE TO WELL, SO THEY'RE CALLING FOR THE FIRST OF ALL.

THEY HAVE BEEN WANTING AND TRYING TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE PRISONER REVIEW BOARD FOR YEARS, REALLY TRYING TO PRITZKER AS HAVING PROBLEMS AT THIS AGENCY.

AND I WANT REPRESENT NO MATTER WHAT THESE ARE SOME REALLY DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO MAKE IN.

SO THERE THERE'S THAT.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING WOULD MAKE THINGS BETTER IS THAT THERE WOULD BE MORE VICTIMS NOTIFICATIONS WHEN SOMEBODY IS RELEASED, ALSO INCREASED TRAINING THEY WANT, AS YOU NOTED, I THINK JUST A BIT AGO, A REQUIREMENT SOMEBODY HAD EXPERIENCE AT LEAST 20 YEARS, WHICH IS A LOT, FRANKLY, IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN SOME WAY BEFORE THEY COULD BE ON THE BOARD.

>> AND THEN ALSO HAVE TALKED ABOUT INCREASING PENALTIES FOR THOSE WHO VIOLATE ORDERS OF PROTECTION.

AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING I MEAN, ALL OF THIS AGENDA, SOME OF IT IS GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME, I THINK, BECAUSE FRANKLY, THERE ARE ALREADY A LOT OF VICTIM NOTIFICATION LAWS IN PLACE AND THROUGH THE DEO SEE THROUGH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

AND YES, THROUGH THE PRISONER REVIEW BOARD, THERE ARE ALREADY A LOT OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION THE MOTHER WHO WAS ATTACKED, IT SEEMS AS IF SHE LIKELY WAS INFORMED AND THAT IS WHY SHE HAD USED TOOLS AT HER DISPOSAL TO TRY TO PREVENT THIS MAN FROM ATTACKING HER FAMILY AGAIN.

SO THERE ARE SOME CERTAINLY SOME CHALLENGES IN GETTING THESE PAST EITHER BECAUSE SOME OF THEM, I THINK, WILL BE A TOUGH APPETITE FOR SPRINGFIELD TO SWALLOW.

WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE PENALTY ENHANCEMENTS, SOME OF I'M NOT SURE ARE NECESSARY BECAUSE THEY'RE SORT OF ALREADY ON THE BOOKS.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, A VERY TRAGIC YOU KNOW, IS ANY INDICATION BY BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON REFORMS COULD COME.

I MEAN, THE ONLY AGREEMENT IS THAT THEY NEED TO REPLACE OR OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT LEFT GOVERNOR PRITZKER SAID AS MUCH BUT DIDN'T MENTION WHO HE MIGHT.

>> SEEK TO REPLACE THOSE MEMBERS AND THEN ACCUSE REPUBLICANS OF PLAYING POLITICS, WHICH YES, THERE'S POLITICS BEING PLAYED HERE.

IT IS A POLITICAL IT SPRINGFIELD.

THEIR LAWMAKERS ARE POLITICIANS AND CERTAINLY REPUBLICANS ARE SEIZING ON.

THIS ARE SEIZING ON, YOU KNOW, CONCERNS ABOUT LAW AND ORDER TO TO SORT OF GO AFTER PRITZKER ON THIS ISSUE.

BUT I THINK IT IS POLITICS.

BUT THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY HAVE 2 DIFFERENT SIDES OF VIEWING HOW THIS SHOULD ALL BE HANDLED.

THE PLAY OUT WITH THAT.

>> SAFETY ACT WE'RE SEEING PLAY OUT AGAIN.

SO THERE REALLY ARE PHILOSOPHICAL DISAGREEMENTS HERE.

AND I WILL SAY THEY BOTH AGREE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE INCREASED TRAINING BECAUSE ESPECIALLY WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS BECAUSE IT IS DIFFERENT SORT OF CRIME.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS BEING DONE AND DOESN'T NECESSARILY REQUIRE A STATUTE THAT APPARENTLY IS IN THE WORKS ALREADY.

YEAH, A LOT A LOT WE CAN TALK ABOUT BUT I WANT TO GET TO THIS.

HEATHER CITY COUNCIL PANEL HAS SLAMMED MAYOR JOHNSON.

>> OVER HIS CANCELING OF THE SHOTSPOTTER CONTRACT.

WHY ARE THEY SOUNDING OFF NOW?

BECAUSE WE KIND OF THOUGHT THIS WAS DONE WHAT THEY WANT, RIGHT?

WELL, THEY WANT GOOD DECISION TO BE UP FOR GRABS AGAIN AND THEY WANT JOHNSON TO RECONSIDER HIS DECISION TO CANCEL THE CITY'S CONTRACT COURSE.

IT DOESN'T END UNTIL NOVEMBER.

SO THEY ARE SORT OF USING THIS SORT OF INTERIM PERIOD TO SORT OF RATCHET UP THE PRESSURE.

NOW, THIS MEASURE THAT ADVANCES SET FOR A FULL VOTE BY THE FULL CITY COUNCIL ON APRIL 17TH WOULD BASICALLY MAKE JOHNSON COME TO CITY COUNCIL AND SAY I WANT TO REMOVE SHOTSPOTTER WARD BY WARD.

BUT THAT'S NOT HOW THE SHOTSPOTTER SYSTEM WORKS.

SAID THE POLICE DISTRICTS ARE SET UP ACROSS THE CITY.

THERE ARE 22 IT DOES NOT DIVIDE EQUALLY BY WARD.

THERE'S ALSO NO REAL MECHANISM FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO REQUIRE THE MAYOR TO SORT DO ANYTHING.

NOW, OF COURSE THEY HAVE THE POWER THE PURSE.

IF THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE BUDGET, THEY'RE WELCOME TO DO THAT.

IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME WHETHER THIS IS A LITTLE BIT THEATER, POLITICAL THEATER, PERHAPS TO SORT OF INDICATE THAT THEY ARE UPSET WITH THIS DECISION, WHICH COULD INOCULATE THEM FROM CRITICISM FROM THEIR RESIDENTS COME ELECTION TIME SAYING, HEY, I TRIED, MY HANDS WERE TIED.

I COULDN'T DO IT.

>> THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT JOHNSON IS AT ALL THINKING MAYBE SHOTSPOTTERS THE WAY TO GO.

OKAY.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE'S THE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY'S RACE.

IT WAS A NAIL-BITER AND A LINK.

THE ACCOUNT.

WHAT I THINK LIKE A 12, 12 PARIS EILEEN O BERK NARROWLY PREVAILED IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY OVER >> OVER CLAYTON HARRIS, WHO WAS BACKED BY THE COOK COUNTY PARTY AS WELL AS A BOARD.

PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE.

HOW'S THE PARTY REACTING TO JUSTICE?

I BERKS >> PARTY CHAIR COOK COUNTY BOARD, PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE REACH OUT AND CONGRATULATE EILEEN O'NEILL BURKE AS THE PARTY NOMINEE.

AND, YOU KNOW, PLEDGING SUPPORT AS SHE IS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NOMINEE.

AND SHE GOT SUPPORT FROM A LOT OF GOT A LOT OF REPUBLICAN MONEY BECAUSE OF HER TOUGHER STANCE ORBIT.

I WOULD NOTE TO HER AGENDA ISN'T NECESSARILY RIGHT WING AND IT'S SHE SUPPORTS THE SAFETY ACT.

NO CASH BAIL.

SHE HAS TO CAUSE US TO ADMINISTER IT.

SHE SUPPORTS, YOU KNOW, ALTERNATIVES TO JUVENILE DETENTION.

OBVIOUSLY, THE MAIN DIFFERENCE WAS THE BETWEEN HER CLAIM.

HARRIS SAYS SHE WANTS TO A CHARGE FELONIES FOR FOLKS THAT ENGAGE IN RETAIL THEFT, ALLEGEDLY $30300 OR $1000.

YES.

WHAT CAN FOLKS HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY?

ALL RIGHT.

THAT A SPOTLIGHT POLITICS DAY.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

PEREZ SETS A STANDARD BEEN A KEY AND