[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

WE WILL BE JOINED BY 0 OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" GUESTS IN JUST A MOMENT BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> THE STATE'S LARGEST ELECTRIC UTILITY ComEd IS ASKING FOR A RATE HIKE DESPITE ITS INVOLVEMENT IN A FEDERAL CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION.

ComEd FILED FOR A $199 MILLION STATE-WIDE RAKE HIKE BEFORE THE COMMERCE COMMISSION AND IT WOULD EQUATE TO $26 MORE ON THE AVERAGE ELECTRIC BILL.

THEY SAY IT'S NEEDED FOR UPGRADES AND MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY.

THE CONSUMER COMPANY CITIZENS UTILITY BOARD CALLS THE REQUEST BAD NEWS FOR ILLINOIS RATEPAYERS.

>> THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS WARNING TRAVELERS ABOUT COVID RATES IN THE NORTHEAST AND NEW ENGLAND.

WILL NOT INSTITUTING OFFICIAL NEW POLICY, HEALTH OFFICIALS WARN TRAVELERS TO THOSE PARTS OF THE U.S. TO TAKE APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS DUE TO A RISE IN COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION RATES.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS QUARANTINING FOR FIVE DAYS UPON RETURNING FROM THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY.

>> TODAY MARKS WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY OF CHICAGO'S FIRST BLACK MAYOR.

HAROLD WASHINGTON WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1922 AND ELECTED IN 1983 AND REELECTED IN 1987 AND DIED LESS THAN A YEAR INTO HIS SECOND TERM AT THE AGE OF 65.

PUBLIC OFFICIALS CELEBRATED WITH AN EVENT AT THE HAROLD WASHINGTON LIBRARY AND WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THE CENTENNIAL OR SATURDAY'S "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

>> AND NOW TO A "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" PANEL JOINING US ARE RICK PEARSON OF "CHICAGO TRIBUNE".

OUR OWN HEATHER CHERONE.

A.D. QUIG OF CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS AND CRAIG DELLIMORE OF WBBM NEWS RADIO.

RIGHT INTO IT.

RICK PEARSON MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT FILES A MOTION IN FEDERAL COURT THIS WEEK SAYING THE FEDS SHOULD RECONSIDER ITS ARRANGEMENT WITH FORMER ALDERMAN DANNY SOLIS WHO COOPERATED IN THE BURKE AND MADIGAN INVESTIGATIONS.

SHE SAYS HIS ALLEGED CRIMES VICTIMIZED THE CITY ARE HER CLAIMS GOING TO BE HEARD BY PROSECUTORS?

>> HER CLAIMS ARE GOING TO BE HEARD BY THE JUDGE.

AND CERTAINLY THE JUDGE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THE CITY FILING BASICALLY A VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT INTO THIS.

AND I THINK THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT PEOPLE ARE WONDERING THE WAY THAT SOLIS BASICALLY GRANTED IT'S ONE COUNT HE IS OFFICIALLY CHARGED WITH.

BUT IN PARTAKING IN EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE HEARD IN THE CONVERSATIONS OF TAPING ALDERMAN BURKE OF MICHAEL MADIGAN, THAT THIS WAS A SYSTEMIC PART OF HIS BACKGROUND.

AND I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO SEE THE ARGUMENTS THAT THE CITY MAKES ON THIS.

I DON'T KNOW IN THE END THAT PROSECUTORS EXPECT THAT IT WILL BE CONSIDERED.

BUT CERTAINLY THE JUDGE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN WANTING TO HEAR WHAT THE CITY HAD TO SAY.

>> AND SOLIS WAS A LONGTIME CHAIR OF THE POWERFUL ZONING COMMITTEE ON CITY COUNCIL.

HE IS CHARGED WITH BRIBERY IN ONE CASE PERHAPS THE MAYOR IS SAYING THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE CASES.

CRAIG DELLIMORE IS THERE A LEGITIMATE DEBATE HOW LENIENT THE FEDS ARE WITH HIM ALTHOUGH HE DID A LOT OF WORK IN THEIR CASES AGAINST MADIGAN AND ComEd AND BURKE?

>> WELL, HE IS DEFINITELY A KEY TO THE PROSECUTIONS OF BOTH BURKE AND MADIGAN.

SO, YES, THE FEDS REALLY WANT IF NOT REWARD HIM, CERTAINLY PROTECT HIM.

BECAUSE HE IS REVILED IN THE CITY COUNCIL RIGHT NOW.

AS SOMEONE WHO BROKE THE CODE.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND FOR THOSE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY ON THE PROGRESSIVE WING WHO SAY YOU KNOW, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE TURNING A NEW LEAF, AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT IS SUPPOSED TO BE BRINGING IN THE LIGHT, THEY WANT TO SEE SOMETHING OTHER THAN A SLAP ON THE WRIST AND PAT HIM ON THE HEAD.

I THINK WHAT THEY MAY BE GOING AFTER IS WHETHER OR NOT HE GETS TO KEEP HIS PENSION.

MAYBE HE DOESN'T DO JAIL TIME BUT MAYBE THEY CAN FIGURE OUT SOME WAY TO HAVE HIM NOT CHARGED BUT GIVE UP HIS PENSION.

>> AN IMPORTANT POINT.

NOT LIKELY TO DO JAIL TIME AND KEEP HIS CITY PENSION.

A.D. QUIG IS THERE POLITICS INVOLVED IN THE MAYOR INVOLVING HERSELF AND INVOLVING THE CITY IN THIS FEDERAL CASE?

PROSECUTORS MIGHT BE LIKE HEY WE'VE GOT THIS AT HAND.

>> YEAH.

WHEN I FIRST SAW THIS I GOT A FLASHBACK TO WHAT HER CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR WAS "ABOUT FACE: STONEWALL, REVOLT AND NEW QUEER ART" COMBATING CORRUPTION.

HER INSERT ARE HERSELF AND HOW SHE TRIED TO CLEAN UP COUNCIL THIS IS WHAT I RAN ON.

I'M HERE TO CLEAN UP CITY COUNCIL I AM ANTICORRUPTION AND IF THAT INVOLVES' FRIVILOUS PURSUIT IT IS NOT A TERRIBLE REMINDER TO VOTERS.

>> AND HEATHER CHERONE, THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS ABOUT THE SECRETARY OF STATE CANDIDATE WHO IS A CURRENT CITY CLERK ANNA VALENCIA BEING IN HOT WATER OVER ALLEGEDLY PUSHING CITY BUSINESS, RECOMMENDING CITY BUSINESS THAT WOULD GO TO HER HUSBAND WHO IS A LOBBYIST AND A CITY CONTRACTOR.

REMIND US THE FINER POINTS HERE.

>> WELL, REALLY THE SIGNATURE ACHIEVEMENT OF VALENCIA WHILE CITY CLERK IS THE CITY KEY PROJECT DESIGNED TO GIVE IDENTIFICATION TO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS AND OTHER CHICAGOANS WHO COULD NOT GET A STATE IDENTIFICATION CARD A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR STATE ID.

AND THE ALLEGATIONS GO TO THE HEART OF THAT IMPLYING THAT SOMEHOW SHE USED HER POSITION TO DRIVE BUSINESS TO HER HUSBAND.

AND ALSO THAT SHE WAS NOT CLEAR ABOUT WHEN SHE WAS ACTING AS CLERK AND WHEN SHE WAS ACTING AS A SUPPORTIVE WIFE.

AND SHE IS RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

WHICH IS JUST A HUGE BUREAUCRACY.

AND THAT REALLY HER COMPETENCE AND HER ABILITY TO WALK THOSE CLEAR ETHICAL LINES WE WILL BE HEARING A LOT MORE IN THE COMING WEEKS.

WHERE 75 DAYS AWAY FROM THE PRIMARIES NOW WE ARE GETTING INTO THE THICK OF IT.

AND I FULLY EXPECT ALEXI GIANNOULIAS AND DAVID MOORE THE OTHER TWO CANDIDATES TO START POINTING TO THESE QUESTIONS AND ASKING WHETHER SHE IS THE BEST PERSON TO RUN THIS MASSIVE STATE AGENCY.

>> AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE BEYOND RUNNING THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES THEY ARE IN CHARGE OF LOBBYIST DISCLOSURE AND SHE HAS SAID HER HUSBAND WOULD NOT LOBBY STATE AGENCIES.

RICK PEARSON HOW DAMAGING IS THIS TO HER?

SHE SWEPT UP BIG TIME ENDORSEMENTS INCLUDING THE CURRENT SECRETARY OF STATE JESSE WHITE.

DOES THIS PUT A DENT IN SOME OF THAT?

>> I THINK SO.

AND I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT HER CHIEF RIVAL IN THIS, ON THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION WITH ALEXI GIANNOULIAS AND YOU LOOK AT HIS BACKGROUND FROM 10 YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS RUNNING AGAINST MARK KIRK AND HIS PARTICIPATION IN THE FAMILY'S FAILED BROADWAY BANK, YOU KNEW THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING TO COUNTER ANY KIND OF NEGATIVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT HIM.

AND THESE E-MAILS AND REFERENCES OF HER USING HER POSITION HER OFFICIAL CITY POSITION AS AN ENTREE POINT FOR HUSBAND TO SEEK BUSINESS NOT JUST IN CHICAGO BUT ELSEWHERE I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING PEOPLE WILL PAY ATTENTION TO.

AND RIGHTLY SO, PARIS, AS YOU SAID, THIS IS THE OFFICE THAT REGULATES LOBBYISTS REGISTRATION.

YOU ARE LOOKING RIGHT INTO THE HEART OF ONE OF THE MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.

IT IS NOT JUST DRIVER'S LICENSES.

>> AND RICK, YOU BROUGHT UP SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT ALEXI GIANNOULIAS FACED WHEN HE RAN FOR SENATOR AND HIS FORMER FAMILY BANK, BROADWAY BANK AND THAT FAILURE HIT HIM IN THE CAMPAIGN.

YOU DON'T HEAR IT NOW.

HAS HE MOVED PAST THAT OR WILL THAT COME UP AGAIN?

>> I EXPECT IT TO COME BACK.

EVERYBODY DOES.

AND FRANKLY, IF HE WERE TO GO ON TO WIN THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION, YOU CAN BET THAT THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE IS GOING TO BE CHARGED UP TO USE THAT AS WELL.

>> IF I CAN JUMP IN.

JUST REMEMBER, ALEXI GIANNOULIAS HAS NOT BEEN ANSWERING REPORTERS' QUESTIONS UP TO THIS POINT.

HE HAS NOT BEEN ASKED ABOUT IT.

>> A LOT OF CANDIDATES AND A LOT OF RACES HAVE NOT ANSWERED REPORTERS' QUESTIONS.

CRAIG DELLIMORE WHERE DO YOU THINK THIS PUTS THAT RACE?

MIGHT NOT BE PAID ATTENTION TO AS CLOSELY AS THE GOVERNOR'S RACE BUT IT IS A HIGH PROFILE RACE.

WHERE DOES IT STAND RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, I THINK RIGHT NOW, IT'S IN FLUX BECAUSE IT IS ALEXI GIANNOULIAS WHO HAS THE REGULAR PARTY ENDORSEMENT.

IT IS VALENCIA WHO HAS THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE CURRENT OCCUPANT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.

BUT THIS IS A GIFT TO THE CANDIDATE THE OTHER CANDIDATE AND THAT IS ALDERMAN DAVID MOORE WHO ALMOST COULD NOT BUY ATTENTION AND NOW CAN SAY, HEY I'M THE GUY THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS.

AND THIS HAS BEEN MY BRAND I'VE TRIED TO DO THINGS ETHICALLY.

WE'LL SEE IF HE IS ABLE TO GET MORE TRACTION WHICH MEANS THE RACE COULD GET TO BE INTERESTING OVER THE NEXT DAYS IF MOORE GETS MORE MONEY.

>> TWO PLUS MONTHS TO GO MORE REVELATIONS AND STORIES POSSIBLE IN ALL RACES.

A.D. QUIG YOU WERE PART OF A BIG INVESTIGATION INTO ALDERMANIC ATTENDANCE RATES NAMELY WHO IS SHOWING UP TO WORK AND WHO IS NOT SHOWING UP TO WORK.

WHO ARE THE WORST OFFENDERS AND WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO GET AN APPLE FOR GOING TO SCHOOL?

>> AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT FRESHMEN ALDERMEN WERE MORE LIKELY TO SHOW UP.

THEY ARE EAGER BEAVERS THEY NEED TO LEARN THE ROPES AND MAYBE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH OCCUPYING THEIR TIME AS MORE SENIOR MEMBERS DO.

WE SAW MOSTLY FRESHMEN ALDERMEN MAKING UP THE TOP OF THE LIST.

APPLES TO ALL OF THEM.

CLOSER TO THE BOTTOM MORE VETERAN ALDERMEN.

A FEW OF OUR INDICTED ALDERMEN, ED BURKE, CARRIE AUSTIN AND GEORGE CAR DEN NAS WAS RANKED DEAD LAST THIS IS NOT ONLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE HE IS RUNNING FOR HIGHER OFFICE AND HE IS MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S DEPUTY FLOOR LEADER THE GUY SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING THE ROOM OR ZOOM SESSION.

TRYING TO WHIP UP VOTES FOR THE MAYOR.

OVERALL, THOUGH, ATTENDANCE WAS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER WHEN WE DID THIS IN 2019.

B MINUS AVERAGE, THAT IS A PASSING GRADE.

>> FOLKS CAN MAYBE COME DOWN FROM THE KITCHEN AND TURN ON THE ZOOM AND THEY ARE AT THE MEETING AS OPPOSED GOING DOWNTOWN TO CITY HALL IS THAT WHY IT'S BETTER?

>> WE HEARD THAT FROM A LOT OF ALDERMEN.

AND WE ALL SAW COVERING CITY COUNCIL FOLKS JOINING FROM THE TREADMILL FROM THEIR CAR, FROM THE DENTIST'S OFFICE AND WHAT WE HEARD WAS I'M NOT GOING TO SLOG DOWN TO CITY HALL FOR A 10-MINUTE TRAFFIC MEETING WHEN I CAN BE DOING STUFF THAT GETS ME VOTES INSTEAD OF DOING LEGISLATIVE WORK.

I HEARD FROM FOLKS WE WANT VIRTUAL TO STAY.

AS A REPORTER I'M NOT WILD ABOUT THAT IDEA SOMETHING THAT IS VALUABLE ABOUT BEING AT THE HALL IS BEING ABLE TO RUN IN CITY OFFICIALS AND OTHER REPORTERS AND GETTING THE FULL SCOOP.

WE MENTIONED ALEXI GIANNOULIAS HAS NOT BEEN RETURNING REPORTER CALLS.

THE NICE THING ABOUT REPORTING IN PERSON IS BEING ABLE TO CORNER FOLKS.

I'M PRO VIRTUAL.

A LOT OF ALDERMEN ARE PRO VIRTUAL BUT WE LOSE A LOT TOO.

>> THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT THE FUN OF REPORTING AT CITY COUNCIL WHEN THERE ARE MEETINGS IN PERSON AND ABLE TO CORNER PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

MAYBE YOU HEAR MORE DOGS BARKING IN THE BACKGROUND.

HEATHER CHERONE IS THIS ALSO A COMMENT ON THE FACT THERE ARE SO MANY COMMITTEES THERE IS A COMMITTEE FOR EVERYTHING.

AND THERE ARE PEOPLE ON MULTIPLE COMMITTEES THAT IT IS KIND OF IMPOSSIBLE TO SHOW UP FOR ALL YOUR ASSIGNED MEETINGS.

>> RIGHT.

AND THIS WAS A CLEAR TACTIC THAT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT USED WHEN SHE TOOK OFFICE.

SHE CREATED SEVERAL NEW COMMITTEES.

AND THOSE COMMITTEE CHAIRS GET A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO PAY FOR STAFF.

AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT MAKES THE POLITICIAN HAPPIER THAN BEING ABLE TO HIRE PEOPLE.

AND BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE JOB AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE GRATEFUL, AND THIS WAS THE SUBJECT OF AN AUDIT BY JOSEPH FERGUSON WHO FOUND THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL COMMITTEES THAT NEVER MET AND DON'T DO ANYTHING.

AND I THINK PROBABLY THE MOST EGREGIOUS EXAMPLE THAT MY COLLEAGUES FOUND WAS THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

IT HAS A BUDGET OF OVER $180,000 IN 2022 AND IT HAS NOT MET ONCE.

AND THERE HAS BEEN ANY NUMBER OF SCHOOL AND EDUCATION RELATED ISSUES THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN GRAPPLING WITH BUT ALDERMAN STAT HAS YET TO CONVENIENT A MEETING.

I WAS INTERESTED HIM TO TELL THE REPORTERS OF THIS PROJECT SAYING THERE ARE BETTER THINGS HE CAN BE DOING THAN HOLDING MEETINGS AND THAT FLIES IN THE FACE OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND THE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLE THAT THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS SHOULD BE DONE IN-PERSON IN FULL VIEW.

I THINK IT RAISES A LOT OF QUESTIONS WHETHER THAT IS MONEY WELL SPENT FROM TAXPAYERS.

>> I HEARD SIMILAR THINGS FROM ALDERMEN WHEN I DID A SIMILAR STORY YEARS AGO THEIR TIME IS BETTER SPENT TALKING TO THE CONSTITUENTS.

HOW DO WE KNOW THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

THE COMMITTEES CARRY WITH THEM EXTRA JOBS AND ALDERMEN CERTAINLY LOVE THAT.

LET'S MOVE ON TO POLITICS.

THE RACE FOR MAYOR OF CHICAGO GAINED THE SECOND OFFICIAL CANDIDATE.

WILLIE WILSON WHO IS RUNNING IN HIS THIRD STRAIGHT MAYORAL ELECTION.

>> YOU LEARN FROM EACH TIME YOU GO AROUND.

I LEARNED A LOT IN THREE YEARS.

HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT A LOT OF THE 77 NEIGHBORHOODS WE ARE 0 DOING THAT AGAIN AS WELL.

CRIME IS HIGH.

YOU KNOW.

CRIME USED TO BE PRIOR TO THREE YEARS AGO IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS.

NOW THEY WENT THROUGHOUT WHOLE CHICAGO AND SUBURBIA AS WELL AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IT'S ALL OUR PROBLEM WE HAVE TO GET IN AND FIX IT.

>> AND CRAIG DELLIMORE THERE'S WORD OF ANOTHER WILLIE WILSON GAS GIVEAWAY.

BUT HIS CEILING HERE IN THE PAST HAS BEEN AROUND 10-12%.

IS THERE A REASON TO BELIEVE HE CAN IMPROVE ON THAT?

>> WELL, HE HAS BEEN DOING MORE GROUND WORK.

HE HAS BEEN MORE VISIBLE SINCE THE LAST ELECTION.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

GIVING AWAY A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF GAS ON A SINGLE DAY IS NOT A BAD WAY TO GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION.

AND LET'S FACE IT, AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE OF THE CRIME ISSUE, BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE PERSONALITY ISSUES THAT HAVE TAKEN THE HEADLINES, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT IS SEEN AS MORE VULNERABLE.

SHE DOES NOT HAVE AS MUCH MONEY IN HER CAMPAIGN COFFERS AS WILLIE WILSON JUST PUT INTO HIS.

HE IS GOING TO BE ON THE AIR.

HE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF HOE OWE HAS A LOT OF SUPPORT WITHIN THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY.

YEAH, HE COULD DO BETTER.

BUT AT THE MOMENT, WE DON'T HAVE -- I THINK, ALL THE CANDIDATES YOU ARE GOING TO SEE AND THAT COULD SPLIT THE FIELD FURTHER AND IT WON'T TAKE A LOT OF VOTES TO WIN.

>> MORE CANDIDATES LIKELY TO GET IN.

RICK PEARSON SPEAKING OF MONEY HE PUT $5 MILLION IN AND THAT MEANS HE BUSTS THE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS FOR ALL CANDIDATES.

FIRST OF ALL, EXPLAIN THAT PROCESS FOR US AND WHY WE WANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT?

>> BASICALLY, WE HAVE OUR MANDATED CAMPAIGN LIMITS FOR INDIVIDUALS, FOR POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS, FOR POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES.

AND THERE ARE LIMITS ON THAT.

BUT ONCE YOU HAVE A CANDIDATE WHO IS SELF FUNDED AND EXCEEDS OVER $100,000, ONCE YOU HAVE AN INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE OUTSIDE OFTEN DARK MONEY GROUPS SPENDING A SIMILAR AMOUNT OF MONEY THOSE CAPS COME OFF AND EVERYBODY IS ALLOWED TO RAISE AS MUCH MONEY IN LARGE DONATIONS AS THEY CAN.

AND WILLSON OBVIOUSLY AS CRAIG SAID WITH THE GAS CARD GIVEAWAY IF ONLY BALLOTS WERE THE SAME SIZE AS THE GAS CARDS HE WOULD PROBABLY WIN IT HANDS DOWN.

WE DO HAVE TO REMEMBER THE HISTORY THAT HE HAS HAD.

DON'T FORGET HE RAN FOR PRESIDENT.

>> AND SENATOR, I THINK.

>> HE RAN FOR SENATE AND RAN FOR PRESIDENT.

AND GOT LESS THAN 1% OF THE VOTE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

SO I AGREE WE NEED TO WAIT-AND-SEE HOW THIS FIELD SHAPES UP BEFORE WE CAN SAY WHAT IMPACT THAT WILLSON HAS IN THIS RACE.

>> WHEN WILLSON ENTERED IN 2015 AND 19 HE SELF FUNDED SO THE CONTRIBUTION LIMITS CAME OFF FOR EVERY CANDIDATE.

HEATHER CHERONE IS THERE TRUTH TO THE NOTION THAT SOME OF THE CANDIDATES WANT THAT TO HAPPEN BECAUSE IT MEANS THEY CAN RAISE AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY WANT?

>> SURE.

THERE IS NOW THE POSSIBILITY THAT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT CAN GO TO HER FRIENDS IN CHICAGO'S LEGAL COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL FRIENDS THAT SHE HAS MADE AND CONTACTS AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND IN THE WASHINGTON D.C. WHERE SHE HAS TRAVELED AND SAY LOOK, YOU ARE NOT LIMITED TO $6,000 ANYMORE.

YOU CAN GIVE UNLIMITED AND THAT WILL HELP HER BUILDUP THE WAR CHEST WHICH AT LAST CHECK WAS $1.7 MILLION WHICH MAKES WILLSON THE BEST FUNDED CANDIDATE IN THE RACE AT THIS POINT.

AND MEANS SHE HAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK TO DO.

AND THIS GIVES HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

MY FAVORITE FACTOID FROM THE 2019 RACE IS WHILE WILLSON BLEW THE CAP IN THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING IT WAS LIGHTFOOT THE BLEW THE CAPS OFF IN THE RUNOFF IN THE TONI PRECKWINKLE CAMPAIGN.

SHE IS SOMEBODY WHO IS OF MEANS HAS SIGNALED THE A WILLINGNESS TO SPEND TO GET HERSELF ELECTED.

>> AND SPEAKING OF THIS FIELD SHAKING OUT, A.D. QUIG WOULD YOU WAGER THAT CONGRESSMAN MIKE QUIGLEY IS GOING TO GET IN THE RACE BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN TESTING WATERS?

>> I AM NOT A BETTING WOMAN.

I WILL NOT TAKE THAT BET.

WE KNOW HE IS POLLED IN THE FIELD AND THAT A LOT OF THAT POLL HAD TO DO WITH HIS HANDLING HOW HE WOULD DIFFERENTIATE HIMSELF FROM LORI LIGHTFOOT ON CRIME WE HEARD FROM WILLIE WILSON AS WELL.

ONE OF HIS IDEAS WAS HAVING FIVE POLICE SUPERINTENDENTS WE HAVE 50 ALDERMEN, WHY CAN DOUBLE DOWN ON THE NUMBER OF COPS MANAGING THIS.

IT'S CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS AS WE KNOW GOING INTO THIS ELECTION CYCLE THAT CRIME IS A BIG ISSUE FOR EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE QUITE A FEW OTHER PEOPLE GET INTO THE RACE.

I'M NOT CERTAIN ON ANYTHING.

BUT I AM CERTAIN WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE CANDIDATES.

>> I THINK SOME OF THOSE FOLKS MIGHT NOT BE CERTAIN WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO DO THIS.

LET'S MOVE ON TO STATE-WIDE POLITICS.

SPRING SESSION ENDED AND NOT WITHOUT A SCRAMBLE TO PASS HUNDREDS OF BILLS CAUSING HEATED DEBATE.

HERE IS JASON BARICKMAN ON A BILL THAT INSURES CARJACKING VICTIMS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR RED LIGHT CAMERA FINES OR TICKETS IF THE VEHICLE IS STOLEN.

>> THE POINT IS THAT SIDE OF THE AISLE NEEDS TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT THE CRIME THAT EXISTS IN THIS STATE.

AND IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO STOP STEALING CARS, YOU NEED TO DO MORE THAN MAKE SURE THAT THE VICTIMS DON'T HAVE TO PAY THE FINES FOR THE CRIMES COMMITTED BY THE THIEF.

THIS SIDE OF THE AISLE WE'D LIKE TO SEE YOU GO OFF THE THIEF.

LET'S HOLD THE THIEVES ACCOUNTABLE.

>> CRAIG DELLIMORE SOME OF THE CRIME BILLS DEALING WITH CARJACKING, GHOST GUNS, RETAIL THEFTS IT NIBBLES AROUND THE EDGES.

CAN SOME OF THIS MAKE AN IMPACT ON CRIME?

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, WE ALWAYS WANT ONE BILL ONE THING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF THINGS.

YES, CAN GHOST GUNS MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE WEAPONS PEOPLE ARE SEEING?

YES.

DESPITE THE LOBBYISTS SAYING CRIMINALS DON'T MAKE THEIR OWN GUNS.

IN FACT, THE POLICE HAVE BEEN TAKING SOME OF THOSE GUNS OFF THE STREETS.

SO, YEAH THEY ARE OUT THERE MAKING THEIR OWN GUNS, TOO.

A LOT OF THE REAL DEBATE HAS BEEN AROUND OTHER PARTS OF THE CRIME BILL WHERE THEY WERE CLEANING UP SOME CONFLICTS AND MAYBE TWEAKING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE ON THINGS LIKE WHO IS LET FREE PENDING TRIAL AND THAT KIND OF THING.

THERE IS JUST A FLURRY OF BILLS.

I THINK THE COLLECTION OF THEM MAY MAKE A DIFFERENCE BUT NO ONE THING WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE ONE SINGLE DIRECTION.

>> GOVERNOR PRITZKER AND DEMOCRATS WANT THEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN POLITICAL FORTUNES AND REPUBLICANS SEEK TO MAKE CRIME A BIG ISSUE.

RICK PEARSON ARE WE GOING TO SEE BIG PRESS CONFERENCES BY GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER FOR SOME OF THE CRIME BILLS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE POINTS THAT YOU SAW IN THAT DEBATE WITH JASON BARICKMAN FROM BLOOMINGTON ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE WAS REALLY AN UNDERLYING ISSUE WITH A LOT OF THESE DEMOCRATIC INITIATIVES ANTICRIME INITIATIVES IS THAT IT'S BASICALLY TAKING THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY ILLEGAL AND REPACKAGING THE LANGUAGE TO ESTABLISH NEW CRIMES BUT NOT NECESSARILY RAISE THE PENALTIES FOR DOING THEM.

AND SO YOU HAVE DEMOCRATS WHO UNDER FIRE FOR PASSAGE OF THE SAFETY ACT THAT COLOSSAL ANTICRIME CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM PACKAGE THAT WAS DONE.

REPUBLICANS JUST TRYING TO BEAT IT LIKE A PINATA AND BLAMING IT AS THE REASON FOR THESE OUTBREAKS OF CRIME EVEN THOUGH MOST PROVISIONS OF THAT LAW DO NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL JANUARY BUT THEY KNEW THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING.

WHAT YOU SAW WAS TRYING TO ASSURE PARTICULARLY SWING SUBURBAN VOTERS WHERE DEMOCRATS HAVE MADE GAINS THE SUBURBAN WOMEN THEY ARE TAKING THE ISSUES OF SMASH AND GRAB ROBBERY AT THE MALL, AND JUST ISOLATED SERIOUS VIOLENCE THAT THEY ARE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY.

BUT THAT HAVING BEEN SAID, THEY WEREN'T GOING TO GO BACK ON THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES THAT THEY ESTABLISHED A YEAR AGO AND TRY TO REVERT THE SYSTEM BACK TO WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM WHICH IS WAREHOUSING ACCUSED PEOPLE.

>> A TIGHT ROPE THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO WALK HERE.

HEATHER CHERONE BACK TO THE CITY.

THIS WEEK WE LEARNED THAT DESPITE A COURT RULING IN MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT'S FAVOR, ON THE POLICE VACCINATION MANDATE 1500 POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE EXEMPT.

THEY WILL NOT GET IN TROUBLE FOR NOT FOLLOWING THE MANDATE AND THEY ARE FOR MEDICAL AND RELIGIOUS REASONS.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND THE FOP PRESIDENT WENT ROUNDS ON THIS.

IS MAYOR LIGHTFOOT BLINKING HERE AND PERHAPS NOT WANTING THE OPTICS OF HAVING TO DISCIPLINE A LARGE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS?

>> WELL, THAT CERTAINLY A QUESTION I WOULD LIKE TO ASK HER.

SHE HAS NOT TAKEN QUESTIONS SINCE MONDAY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO ASKING HER THAT QUESTION NEXT WEEK.

BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT DATA FROM THE CITY THAT I OBTAINED SHOWS THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED EXEMPTIONS AT A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RATE THAN ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT INCLUDING THE CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT OR STREETS AND SAND.

AND I THINK IT IS QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER THE DECISION TO GRANT THESE EXEMPTIONS WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY WERE FOR RELIGIOUS OR MEDICAL REASONS WHETHER THAT GRANTING OF THOSE EXEMPTIONS IS AWAY TO AVOID HAVING TO FIRE THOUSANDS OF POLICE OFFICERS AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE ALL SPENT GOOD 10 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT WHAT AN ISSUE IS CRIME IS FOR POLITICIANS RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

I THINK THAT IS A REASONABLE QUESTION TO ASK.

THERE ARE NEARLY 600 OFFICERS WHO HAVE ASKED FOR AN EXEMPTION WAITING TO HEAR WHETHER THEY WILL GET THAT EXEMPTION IF THE BULK OF THOSE DO, IT WOULD BE SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 200 OFFICERS WHO WOULD BE AT RISK OF BEING DISCIPLINED OR TERMINATED WHICH IS A FAR CRY FROM WHAT WE STARTED OUT WITH EIGHT MONTHS AGO.

>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU ASKING THAT QUESTION.

EVERYBODY ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

OUR THANKS TO RICK PEARSON, HEATHER CHERONE, A.D. QUIG AND CRAIG DELLIMORE.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

WE'RE BACK AT 7:00 P.M. NEXT WEEK.

AND FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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