BRANDON JOHNSON ASK CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT A KEY PART OF AN AGREEMENT THAT HE NEGOTIATED WITH THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE JUST DAYS AGO, SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNELLING VOWS TO RID THE DEPARTMENT OF OFFICERS WITH TIES TO EXTREMIST GROUPS AND ILLINOIS.

LAWMAKERS RETURN TO SPRINGFIELD FOR VETO SESSION HERE WITH ALL THAT AND MORE IS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

THE WHOLE GANG HEADER.

TIM VICKIE AND PARA SHOTS COMING TO YOU FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES HEATHER, WANT TO COME TO YOU FIRST BECAUSE YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THE CHANGES TO THE CITY KEY PROGRAM.

CLARIFY FOR US, IF YOU WOULD, WHAT WE JUST HEARD FROM CITY CLERK, VALENCIA ON THAT.

>> SO WHAT HAPPENED WAS IS THAT THERE ARE MOBILE CITY HALL EVENTS, WHICH IS MIGRANTS AND ALL CHICAGOANS BEST CHANCE TO GET A CITY KEY.

AND THOSE ARE THE EVENTS THAT HAVE BEEN CANCELED THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.

THERE WAS ONE EVENT THAT WAS STARTED TO TAKE PLACE IN EARLY OCTOBER.

1000 PEOPLE SHOWED UP AND THE CLERK MADE THE DECISION IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CANCEL THAT EVENT.

THE OTHER 2 EVENTS SCHEDULED IN OCTOBER WERE ALSO CANCELED JUST KNOWING THAT THEY COULD NOT HANDLE THE INFLUX.

NOW, AS SHE SAID ON THE PROGRAM, SMALLER EVENTS THAT ARE NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WILL CONTINUE, BUT THAT WILL BE CATCH AS CATCH CAN FOR MIGRANTS WHO DESPERATELY NEED THIS ID AND TO START PUTTING DOWN ROOTS IN CHICAGO.

OKAY.

HAVE TO THINK, YOU KNOW, ALSO THERE'S A NEWS LATE LAST NIGHT THAT THE MAYOR ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT.

>> A KEY PART OF AN AGREEMENT THAT HE JUST BROKERED WITH FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE FEW DAYS AGO.

AS WE SAID, HEATHER, WHAT'S THE CHANGE UP THERE?

>> WELL, PART OF THIS AGREEMENT WOULD REALLY UP AND THE WAY POLICE DISCIPLINARY CASES HAVE BEEN HANDLED WHEN THE RECOMMENDATION IS EITHER TERMINATION OR A SUSPENSION OF MORE THAN A YEAR NOW THAT NOW HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE CHICAGO POLICE POURED THE CURRENT AGREEMENT WOULD END THAT PRACTICE AND ALLOW OFFICERS TO CHOOSE TO HAVE THEIR PUNISHMENT DECIDED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON LATE LAST NIGHT ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT THAT PROVISION AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE ENTIRE DEAL IS REALLY UNCLEAR.

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SAYS THEY'RE GOING TO SUBMIT TO PROPOSALS TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

THEY HOPE THAT THE FULL DEAL THAT INCLUDES RAISES AND BONUSES FOR CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS WILL PAST.

>> AND THIS SPECIFIC PIECE WITH THE ARBITRATION AND THE POLICE BOARD WILL FAIL FORCING BOTH SIDES BACK TO THE TABLE.

>> PARIS AFP HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ON THE FOP BASICALLY SAID 2 CITY COUNCIL DON'T DO IT.

THE MAYOR SAID IF YOU'RE PRO UNION, THE EU SHOULD SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE THIS IS THE KIND OF PROCESS THAT ALL OTHER UNIONIZED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES GET.

THEY GET THE CHANCE TO GO TO ARBITRATION.

THE DIFFERENCE HERE WITH WITH POLICE MISCONDUCT IS THERE REALLY IS A MULTI-PRONGED DUE PROCESS APPARATUS SET UP SO THE THERE'S INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS, THERE'S COPA, WHICH DOES AN INVESTIGATION.

THE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT GET AWAY AND THEN IT GOES TO THE POLICE BOARD IS WITH THE POLICE BOARD WAS CREATED FOR TO ADJUDICATE THESE CASES OF POLICE MISCONDUCT ULTIMATELY DECIDE WHETHER POLICE OFFICER LOSES THEIR JOB OR KEEPS THEIR JOB.

AND POINT IS IT'S TRANSPARENT.

IT'S IN PUBLIC.

WHAT HOPE HE IS SAYING IS IF YOU GO TO ARBITRATION AND THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY'LL GET MORE FAVORABLE RULINGS OF THIS IS DONE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS BY AN INDEPENDENT ARBITRATOR THAT MORE POLICE WILL GET TO KEEP THEIR JOBS IN THE SCENARIOS.

THEN IN THIS PUBLIC POLICE BOARD PROCESS.

NOW, THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT DEFENDED ITS BUDGET PROPOSAL DURING A CITY COUNCIL HEARING TODAY.

>> HERE'S WHAT SUPERINTENDENT SNELLING SAID IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ON THE TREATMENT, NOT TRAUMA PLAN.

>> THIS IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING I'VE BEEN PUSHING SINCE SENSE STEPPED INTO THIS ROLE.

WE DO WANT TO SHOW UP AS THE POLICE IN THESE SITUATIONS AND HAVE A SITUATION ESCALATE WHERE OFFICERS AND NOT NECESSARILY TRAIN, EVEN THOUGH WE DO HAVE SEE IT ON THE TRAINED OFFICERS.

BUT IF WE CAN GET SOMEONE TO HANDLE JOB AS A CLINICIAN, SOMEONE WHO HAS THE BACKGROUND IT FREES UP OFFICERS FROM THAT JOB, HE GETS THAT PERSON, HELP THAT THEY ACTUALLY NEED AND NOBODY TRAUMATIZING THE SITUATION.

>> HEATHER, BACK TO YOU IS TREATMENT.

NOT TRAUMA.

SOMETHING WE'D SEE IN THIS 2024 >> THERE IS JUST THE START OF TREATMENT, NOT TRAUMA.

THIS BUDGET WOULD MAKE IT AN OFFICIAL PART OF THE CITIES.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO SEND THOSE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELORS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING.

MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IS RATHER JUST OFF THE BAT, SENDING A POLICE OFFICER AND THERE'S MORE MONEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS.

AND THAT IS ALL SORT OF PART OF WHAT TREATMENT, NOT TRAUMA IS, ALTHOUGH IT WILL TAKE A LOT MORE MONEY THAT THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE RIGHT NOW TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN FULLY.

BOTH SUPERINTENDENTS KNOWING AND MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON SAYS THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO EXPAND IN THE 2025 SUPERINTENDENTS KNOWING WE KNOW HE ALSO VOWED TO RID THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF OFFICERS WHO ARE TIED TO FAR-RIGHT EXTREMIST GROUPS LIKE THE PROUD BOYS AND THE OATH KEEPERS.

HEATHER.

>> HOW DOES HE PLAN ON DOING THAT?

>> WELL, HE PROMISED TODAY TO LAUNCH A NEW INVESTIGATION TRIGGERED BY JUST REALLY INCREDIBLE REPORTING BY OUR COLLEAGUES OVER AT WBEZ AND THE SUN-TIMES THAT FOUND 9 CURRENT OFFICERS HAVE TIES TO THE OATH KEEPERS, WHICH IS A FAR-RIGHT EXTREMIST GROUP AND WHOSE LEADERS HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF SEDITION IN CONNECTION WITH THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION AT THE U.S. CAPITOL.

NOW, IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER THAT PROBE WILL BE ANY DIFFERENT THAN A PREVIOUS PROBE THAT INVESTIGATED ONE OF THESE OFFICERS AFTER WHICH THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL URGED HE BE TERMINATED BECAUSE OF THOSE TIES.

THE POLICE BRASS AT THE TIME DECLINED TO DO SO.

SO IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT THIS NEW INVESTIGATION WILL RESULT OR IF THE OUTCOME WILL BE ANY IS THIS, YOU KNOW, A SHIFT IN ATTITUDE WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING EXTREMISM IN IN THE DEPARTMENT, AS WE CAN ALL THINK BACK TO A MAYOR LIKE FOOT DEFENDING THE DECISION TO NOT FIRE AN OFFICER.

>> HAD TO THE PROBLEM.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT REALLY IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT AS IF MAYOR LIGHTFOOT WANTED THE FOLKS WITH EXTREMIST EITHER.

BUT I THINK.

>> AS A LAWYER, SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT HANDS WERE TIED AT THAT TIME.

THAT INTERNAL INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THEY WEREN'T SURE WHAT RULE THAT THIS VIOLATED.

AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S CHANGED.

NOW.

THE CITY MIGHT BE IN TRICKY LEGAL TERRITORY HERE BECAUSE IT YES, THAT'S EXCELLENTLY WORK BY THE SUN-TIMES AND WBEZ.

BUT AS YOU SEE IN THAT STORY, THE OFFICERS SAYING, WELL, I SIGNED UP FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THIS THAT WAS GOING DO SAID THE DECISION BASICALLY AND AND THEY COULD USE THAT KIND OF PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY.

AND THEN THIS IS GOING TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ARBITRATION HERE BECAUSE WE JUST TALKED ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS TO FIRE POLICE OFFICERS.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF LEGAL GROUND THE CITY IS ON.

I THINK THEY'LL SPEND MILLIONS OF ARE BETRAYING THESE CASES AND FINDING OUT AS WE DISCUSS ON ARBITRATION.

AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE GOT JOINING US FROM SPRINGFIELD WHERE YOU'RE COVERING THE VETO SESSION THAT JUST IS IT COMMON FOR GOVERNOR PRITZKER TO BE DO AN ITEM?

>> NO, NOT REALLY.

THAT'S WHERE YOU REALLY, REALLY HAVE HANDFUL OF MEASURES THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS REJECTED.

WHY BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE IS IN CONTROL AND DEMOCRATS AND AS WE ALL KNOW, PRITZKER VERY MUCH A DEMOCRAT.

>> OF COURSE THAT WHAT IS THE OUTLOOK FOR THE BILLS THAT PRITZKER HAS VETOED?

>> SO JUST FOCUS ON A COUPLE OF THEM BRING US INTO THAT ARE REALLY AREN'T, TOO.

THEY'RE GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION.

ONE WOULD DECIDE WHETHER ILLINOIS WILL LIFT THE MORATORIUM ON THE BUILDING OF NEW NUCLEAR PLANTS.

THE GOVERNOR VETOED A MEASURE THAT ONE LIFT THAT MORATORIUM.

HE SAYS THAT HE WENT.

>> THE OKAY WITH SOME TYPES OF NEW PLANS, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM.

WE'LL SEE WHETHER ILLINOIS EXCEPT OR WHETHER THEY DECIDE TO OVERRIDE THE VETO OR POTENTIALLY GO WITH A NEW PLAN THAT AGAIN WOULD BRING MORE NUCLEAR POWER TO THE STATE.

ILLINOIS, ALREADY THE LARGEST PRODUCER OF NUCLEAR ENERGY IN THE NATION AND THEN ANOTHER ONE.

WELL, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE OF INTEREST TO COOK COUNTY RESIDENTS.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT EFFECTS THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.

THIS HAS TO DO WITH A MEASURE THAT WOULD REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAX BURDEN FOR MOST NURSING HOMES IN COOK COUNTY.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THESE FACILITIES SAY IS NECESSARY AS WELL AS THE UNION WHERE A LOT OF THE WORKERS ARE EMPLOYED THAT WORK FOR THESE NURSING HOMES AND THEY SAY IT'S NECESSARY IN ORDER FOR THEM TO STAFF UP AND BETTER TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS AND RESIDENTS.

BUT TO THE COOK COUNTY ASSESSOR AND A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES IN COOK COUNTY SAY, OH, NO, BECAUSE IF THERE IS ONE ENTITY THAT GETS ITS TECH PROPERTY TAX BURDEN LESS AND THAT MEANS IT'S SPREAD OUT AMONG ALL THE REST OF US.

>> SO EARLIER TODAY, ILLINOIS HOUSE EMANUEL CHRIS WELCH SPOKE ABOUT HIS BILL TO ALLOW LEGISLATIVE STAFF TO UNIONIZE.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I CAN RELATE TO THE WORKING PERSON.

BECAUSE I SAW HOUSE EVERY DAY.

TO CATEGORIZE ME AS SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE IN WORKERS RIGHTS.

YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE RIGHT PERSON.

I BELIEVE WORKERS RIGHTS.

FROM MY FOR MY STAFF.

AND FOR EVERY ILLINOIS AND ACROSS THE STATE.

>> AND WHAT WOULD THIS MEAN FOR LEGISLATIVE WORKERS?

>> IT'S REALLY UNCLEAR.

THIS IS SORT OF IN THE ILLINOIS IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF A MOVEMENT.

THIS KIND OF TAKING PLACE ACTUALLY ACROSS THE NATION.

THIS COMES, HOWEVER, IS ILLINOIS IS NOW DEALING WITH A ADDED AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION THAT IS SUPPOSED TO GIVE WORKERS RIGHTS RIGHT NOW.

LAW SAYS THAT PUBLIC EMPLOYEES LIKE THOSE WHO WORK FOR THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THESE LEGISLATIVE STAFFERS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO UNIONIZE.

THIS IS A MEASURE THAT WOULD CLEAR THE PAST TO DO SO.

YOU ARE SEEING SOME HESITANCY, HOWEVER, FROM LEGISLATORS WHO SAY, HEY, WAIT A SECOND, WE CALL SESSION AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE.

YOU KNOW THAT THESE ARE GOING TO BE SOME LONG HOURS.

INTENSE ONE.

IT IS UNCLEAR IF THERE'S FIRST OF ALL SUPPORT FOR THIS MEASURE IN BE IF IT DOESN'T PACK PASS WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

>> OK, THAT IS A SPOTLIGHT