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

WE WILL BE JOINED BY OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" IN JUST A MOMENT BUT FIRST SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

>> CHICAGO'S POLICE SUPERINTENDENT ANNOUNCES STEPPED UP PAROLES IN THE LOOP AS HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON IS IN FULL SWING ONED HEELS OF VIOLENT INCIDENTS IN THE LAST WEEK INCLUDING THIS MOB ATTACK ON A CTA BUS DRIVER WE ARE LOOKING AT TWITTER VIDEO OF THAT.

DAVID BROWN ANNOUNCED 20 ARRESTS FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT IN CONNECTION WITH THAT ATTACK.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE BEEFED UP SECURITY PLANS IN JUST A BIT.

>> GOVERNOR PRITZKER SIGNS LEGISLATION HE SAYS WILL HELP CURTAIL VIOLENT CRIME PART OF THE BILLS CALLED REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY ACT AND DIRECTS RESOURCES TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO FIGHT YOUTH VIOLENCE AND CREATES A NEW OFFICE OF FIREARM VIOLENCE PREVENTION WHICH DIRECTS RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITIES WITH THE HIGHEST RATES OF VIOLENCE.

THE LEGISLATION RESPONDS TO RESIDENTS' CONCERNS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> WHAT THEY WANT IS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE INVESTING IN THE PATROLS OF OUR HIGHWAYS LIKE WE ARE DOING WITH THE STATE POLICE.

AND THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING.

>> A CHICAGO CONGRESSWOMAN IS THE SUBJECT OF A HOUSE ETHICS INVESTIGATION.

THE COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED ITS INVESTIGATION INTO REPRESENTATIVE MARIE NEWMAN.

THE INVESTIGATION STEMS FROM ALLEGATIONS THAT NEWMAN PROMISED A JOB TO SOMEONE TO DISSUADE THEM FROM RUNNING AGAINST HER IN THE 2020 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY SHE DEFEATED DAN LIPINSKI IN 2020 AND ANNOUNCED SHE IS RUNNING AGAINST SEAN CASTEN IN THE 6TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

TO OUR PANEL JOINING US ARE MONICA ENG OF AXIOS CHICAGO.

OMAR JIMINEZ OF CNN.

MA MARIAH WOELFEL OF WBEZ AND RACHEL HINTON OF THE "SUN-TIMES".

>> THE BIG NEWS OF THE WEEK THE VERDICT HEARD AROUND THE WORLD.

JUSSIE SMOLLETT FOUND GUILTY OF LYING TO POLICE AND FILING A FALSE POLICE REPORT HERE IS WHAT LAWYERS ON BOTH SIDES HAD TO SAY LAST NIGHT.

>> THE DEFENDANTS HAVE A RIGHT TO ARGUE THEIR CASE HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN BEYOND THE REASONABLE DOUBT BUT DEFENDANTS DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIE UNDER OATH.

WE FEEL 100% CONFIDENT THAT THIS CASE WILL BE WON AN APPEAL.

UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS NOT THE ROUTE WE WANTED BUT SOMETIMES THAT IS THE ROUTE THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE TO WIN.

>> OMAR JIMINEZ FIRST WELCOME TO "THE WEEK IN REVIEW".

TAKE US INSIDE THE COURTROOM WHEN THIS VERDICT WAS READ?

>> I MEAN IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A BIG MOMENT IT WAS ONE THAT HAD BEEN THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING.

AT THAT POINT AND WHEN EVERYBODY STOOD AND ROSE FOR THE JURY AND THE FOREPERSON BEGAN TO READOUT THE VERDICT ONE BY ONE GUILTY AFTER GUILTY UNTIL THE FINAL 6TH COUNT SMOLLETT STOOD THERE RIGID AS A STATUE DID NOT MOVE ONE BIT.

HE STOOD UP WATCHED IT AND EYES STRAIGHT AHEAD AND SAT DOWN FINGERS INTERLACED ON THE TABLE AND THE JUDGE THANKED THE JURY FOR THE EFFORTS WHICH TOOK THE JURORS INTO THE LATE EVENING HOURS.

BUT I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HE DID NOT BREAK HIS GAZE DID NOT MOVE AT ALL FOR PROBABLY 10 MINUTES AND THE ONLY WORDS HE SAID IN THE COURTROOM AFTER IT WAS OVER IS THE JUDGE TOLD HIM THAT THERE WILL BE A SENTENCING HEARING IN THE FUTURE AND THAT HE WOULD NEED TO BE THERE AND HE WOULD BE SENTENCED IF HE WAS THERE OR NOT BUT THE PENALTIES WOULD LIKELY BE WORSE AND HE ASKED HIM IF HE UNDERSTOOD AND JUSSIE SMOLLETT SAID I UNDERSTAND.

THOSE WERE THE ONLY WORDS WE HEARD HIM SAY.

>> THE SENTENCING YOU HEARD THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR CAN WEBB SAID THE GUILTY VERDICT INDICATES THAT SMOLLETT LIED UNDER OATH.

DO YOU THINK THAT FACTORS INTO SENTENCING?

>> THAT IS SOMETHING WE ASKED HIM IN THOSE MOMENTS IN THE SENSE YOU'RE SAYING HE LIED UNDER OATH.

PERJURY AND HE SAID THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL GET INTO IN SENTENCING SOMETHING HE WILL BRING UP IN ARGUING FOR A STIFFER SENTENCE BECAUSE HE SAID IT WAS NOT FAIR TO THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND ALSO THE JURORS THAT WERE SITTING IN THE COURTROOM.

>> MONICA ENG AS WE LOOK AT THE CASE THE DEFENSE WAS TO SMEAR THE OSUNDAIRO BROTHERS, THE ALLEGED CORRESPOND CONSPIRACYTORS HERE.

DO THEY HAVE DEFAMATION CASE GIVEN ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID ABOUT THEM?

>> THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

AXIOS WE DECIDED WE WEREN'T GOING TO COVER THIS A LOT BECAUSE SO MANY WERE ALREADY COVERING IT AND IT WAS SO SATURATED AND A LOT OF PEOPLE BROUGHT UP THE POINT THAT THERE'S SO MANY THINGS GOING ON IN CHICAGO THAT THIS WHAT'S NEWS ORGANIZATIONS NO OFFENSE TO OMAR SHOULD BE SPENDING THEIR LIMITED RESOURCES ON?

AND WHAT CHICAGO SHOULD BE?

SO IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN THERE'S GOING TO BE AN APPEAL AND WE'LL SEE WHAT MORE CHARGES THERE ARE.

>> IT IS A SIMILAR DISCUSSION WE HAD HOW MUCH TO COVER THIS CASE.

RACHEL HINTON DID IT DESERVE ALL THE INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION IT GOT?

OR WAS IT A DISTRACTION FROM SOME OF THE REAL PRESSING PROBLEMS OF VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO?

>> ON THE ONE HAND AND -- ON THE ONE HAND YES.

IT CAPTIVATED THE CITY IN 2019.

IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF POLITICAL FALLOUT OR RAMIFICATIONS ESPECIALLY FOR KIM FOXX WHO DROPPED CHARGES BACK IN MARCH OF 2019.

IT MAKES SENSE TO COVER IT.

AND ALSO WHEN SMOLLETT ALLEGED THAT THIS ATTACK HAPPENED I BELIEVE MANY PEOPLE IN THE CITY FELT IT DRAGGED THE CITY'S NAME THROUGH THE MUD.

AND ON THE OTHER HAND CRIME IS UP.

HOMICIDES ARE UP.

I BELIEVE WE LOCKED OUR 1,000TH HOMICIDE THIS WEEK OR LAST WEEK.

I BELIEVE THE QUESTIONS AROUND DID THIS DESERVE AS MUCH COVERAGE AS IT GOT THOSE ARE VALID QUESTIONS AND WE NEED TO LOOK AHEAD BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN IN TERMS OF POLITICS AND FOR THE CITY.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR KIM FOXX?

I DON'T THINK MUCH.

SHE WAS REHE WILL ELECTED -- REELECTED LAST YEAR AND THIS MEANS THE VOTERS DID NOT THINK SMOLLETT WAS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

GOING FORWARD IN 2024 IF SHE GETS AN OPPONENT WHO CAN WEAPONIZE THIS SHE MIGHT BE FORCED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

>> MARIAH WOELFEL LET'S REMIND EVERYBODY WHY THERE WAS A SECOND TRIAL.

THE JUDGE ASSIGNED DAN WEBB TO LOOK INTO THIS AFTER KIM FOXX DROPPED THE INITIAL CASE WITH A SMALL PENALTY, COMMUNITY SERVICE.

NO ADMISSION OF GUILT.

SO MANY QUESTIONS SWIRLING AROUND WHY THAT HAPPENED.

DO YOU THINK THIS VERDICT PUTS HER UNDER THE MICROSCOPE AGAIN?

>> I WOULD ECHO RACHEL'S ANSWER TO SAY I THINK WE HAVE SEEN THE POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS ALREADY.

AND DON'T QUOTE ME THAT THAT WILL BE ALL WE SEE.

BUT I DO THINK WE'VE SEEN A WIDENING WEDGE BETWEEN THE RELATIONSHIP OF STATE'S ATTORNEY KIM FOXX AND THE CHICAGO POLICE AND THAT HAS BECOME PUBLIC IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS IF YOU LOOK AT THE WAY THAT POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN AND KIM FOXX HAVE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH IN THE MEDIA INCLUDING ARE MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT.

IT IS OF NOTE WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE MAYOR OR SUPERINTENDENT BROWN SPEAK PUBLICLY ABOUT THIS CASE OR USE IT AS A WEAPON AGAINST KIM FOXX SO FAR.

AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING TO LOOK OUT FOR AND OF COURSE AS RACHEL SAID, A CANDIDATE MAY COME ALONG WHO IS ABLE TO DO THAT IN 2024.

>> PART OF THE REASON THESE ARE SERIOUS FELONY CHARGES IS THAT THE CHICAGO POLICE USED RESOURCES WHEN THEY BELIEVED IT WAS A HATE CRIME THEY BELIEVED WHAT SMOLLETT SAID.

THERE WERE 26 DETECTIVES ON IT AND THE FOP TOTALED 3200 HOURS WORKING ON THIS CASE.

I MEAN, WHAT DOES THAT SAY HOW SERIOUS A PROBLEM SMOLLETT IS FACING NOW?

>> WELL, THAT WAS THE THINGS THAT CAME UP MULTIPLE TIMES.

THE PROSECUTOR MADE THIS COMMENTS HE RESERVED A SECTION JUST FOR THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYING THAT THIS WAS THE JUSTICE THAT THEY DESERVED FOR PUTTING IN THE EFFORTS OF TREATING THIS AS A REAL CRIME WHEN THE JURORS END THIS CASE DECIDED NO THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED.

THAT IS LIKELY SOMETHING HE IS GOING TO ARGUE WHEN IT COMES TIME IN REGARDS TO FIGURING OUT A SENTENCE FOR JUSSIE SMOLLETT.

AND JUST TO ECHO ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS WITHIN OF COURSE SO MANY SIGNIFICANT THINGS HAPPENING IN CHICAGO.

I THINK THIS WAS AN UNUSUAL CASE IN THAT IT WAS DRIP, DRIP, DRIP, DRAGGED OUT FOR SO LONG.

IN A LOT OF CASES, SOMETHING HAPPENS YOU HAVE YOUR TRIAL AND IT'S OVER WITHIN A YEAR, YEAR-AND-A-HALF.

I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE MANY CASES WHERE SOMETHING THIS BOMBASTIC ALLEGEDLY HAPPENS THIS MUCH ATTENTION AND THEN YOU HAVE CHARGES DROPPED AND CHARGES REINSTATED AND ANOTHER TRIAL THAT JUDGE LYNN SAID WAS ONLY GOING TO LAST FOUR TO FIVE DAYS AND WE HAVE STRETCHING INTO A SEVENTH DAY AND PEOPLE GROWING ANXIOUS YOU ARE HEARING OF LAWYERS CRYING IN THE COURTROOM AND THEN IT BECOMES THIS BIG SPECKLE THAT DOES DISTRACT AWAY FROM ISSUES THAT MAY IN A WAY THAT A TYPICAL TRIAL MIGHT NOT.

>> AND SPEAKING OF THOSE ISSUES OF VIOLENCE AND ESPECIALLY NOW DOWNTOWN.

THAT BRUTAL CTA BUS DRIVER BEING BEATEN UP FOOTAGE ESPECIALLY AS SHOPPING SEASON IS IN FULL SWING.

MARIAH WOELFEL, THE C.P.D.

ANNOUNCED STEPPED UP SECURITY IS THAT GOING TO CALM NERVES DOWNTOWN, THE ALDERPEOPLE REPRESENTING THE BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS THAT ARE FED UP?

>> WELL, I GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS THIS WEEKEND.

C.P.D.

HAS TO BEEF UP PATROLS THERE'S GOING TO BE A PRIVATE SECURITY FIRM MONITORING THE CTA AND SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

>> AND MONICA ENG ONE OF THE THINGS THE MAYOR IS TALKING ABOUT IS IT A SMALL EXCISE TAX ON PROPERTIES IN THE MAGNIFICENT MILE FOR BEEFED UP SECURITY IS THAT SOMETHING YOU THINK WOULD FLY?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW I DID A STORY THIS LAST SUMMER ABOUT SOME OF THE INCIDENTS THAT WERE HAPPENING DOWNTOWN.

AND SOME OF THE DIFFERENT ASSOCIATIONS ON THE MAG MILE THAT WANT THE CITY TO DO MORE WANTED TO GET TOGETHER AND DO MORE.

I WONDER IF THEY WILL TAKE UMBRAGE AT GETTING AN EXCISE TAX JUST ON THEM WHEN THEY ARE PAYING THEIR PROPERTY TAXES AND PAYING -- >> IN ADDITION THE MAYOR IS SAYING THEY SHOULD SPEND THEIR OWN MONEY AND HIRE PRIVATE SECURITY.

>> LIKE BUCKTOWN.

AND I WONDER IS THAT GOING TO BE THE FUTURE THE COMMUNITIES THAT CAN AFFORD IT WILL BEEF UP SECURITY WITH PRIVATE SECURITY WHEN YOU HAVE OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY SAYING WE'RE OVERPOLICED.

IT'S SO MANY MIXED MESSAGES GIVE US MORE SECURITY, GIVE US LESS SECURITY.

IF I WERE A MAYOR I'M NOT SURE I WOULD KNOW WHAT TO DO.

>> AND RACHEL HINTON A MIXED MESSAGE FROM KIM FOXX NOW SHE IS TALKING ABOUT PERHAPS RETHINKING THE PROSECUTION OF RETAIL THEFT GIVEN ALL THE SMASH AND GRAB THEFT WHAT IS SHE TALKING ABOUT DOING?

>> I THINK THAT WHEN SHE FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE SHE CHANGED THE WAY THE RETAIL THEFTS WERE PROSECUTED AND NOW SHE IS TALKING ABOUT GOING BACK TO CLOSER TO WHAT IT WAS BEFOREHAND I BELIEVE.

I THINK THAT IT MAKES SENSE GIVEN THAT CRIMES ARE UP AND PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE WALKING AROUND DOWNTOWN WHETHER OR NOT THAT LEADS TO ANY CHANGE, WHORND THAT LEADS TO MORE PROSECUTIONS, OBVIOUSLY REMAINS TO BE SEEN WE NEED TO SEE DETAILS BEFORE WE CAN LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT THIS HELPS CRIME.

>> OMAR JIMINEZ GIVE US AN INTERESTING NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE.

HOW DO YOUR BOSSES AT CNN LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF CRIME IN CHICAGO AND WANT TO YOU COVER THE ISSUE?

AND DO THEY UNDERSTAND IT IN THE WAY THAT LOCAL CITIZENS SEE IT?

>> WELL, PART OF THAT IS AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC.

PART OF ME I'M THE CONDUIT WHERE PEOPLE COME FROM THE OUTSIDE AND SAY WHAT IS HAPPENING AND I SAID HERE ARE THE DYNAMICS AT PLAY.

BUT FROM A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE WHENEVER I'M TOLD MY PEOPLE THAT ZOOM OUT A LITTLE BIT OVER THE PAST YEAR-AND-A-HALF IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE THAT IS NOT JUST UNIQUE TO CHICAGO.

WE'VE SEEN INCREASES IN VIOLENT CRIME IN CITIES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY MY HOMETOWN OF ATLANTA, IS ONE OF THE MAJOR EXAMPLES WHERE THERE'S A MALL AREA THAT USED TO BE SEEN AS A LUXURY DISTRICT AND IS SEEN INCREASES IN VIOLENT CRIME TO WHERE NOW PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE GOING TO THAT PART OF TOWN.

SO I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALWAYS SORT OF REMINDED ON MY END.

OBVIOUSLY THERE IS THIS LABEL FOR BETTER OR WORSE OF CHICAGO BEING SUSCEPTIBLE TO HIGH LEVELS OF VIOLENCE.

THERE IS A BIGGER MAGNIFYING GLASS ON THE CITY WHEN YOU ARE SEEING INCREASES OF VIOLENCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THEY USE CHICAGO AS A BAROMETER.

AND THE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN THERE TO BACK IT UP COMPARED TO PREPANDEMIC LEVELS.

APPROACHING 800 HOMICIDES.

THIS IS A CRIME WAVE THAT IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE CITY.

PHILADELPHIA RECORDED A RECORD NUMBER OF HOMICIDES AND AS BAD AS CHICAGO IS DOING THIS YEAR, IT'S LIKELY NOT GOING TO REACH THE RECORD THAT IT SET IN THE EARLY 90s.

SPEAKING OF VIOLENCE, RACHEL HINTON, STATE REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN CAROL GOT VIOLENT THREATS FOR A COVID PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT HE PUT FORWARD TO ASK FOLKS THAT ARE UNVACCINATED TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN MEDICAL COVERAGE IF THEY GO TO THE HOSPITAL FOR COVID.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE IS THIS.

>> HE RECEIVED DEATH THREATS.

HE SAYS RACIAL SLURS SOMEONE E-MAILED HIS SYNAGOGUE THREATENING OR BASICALLY WARNING THE SYNAGOGUE THAT THIS LEGISLATION WAS GOING TO PUT THEM AT RISK.

SO HE WITHDREW THE LEGISLATION HE FILED A MOTION YESTERDAY TO DO THAT.

WHEN I SPOKE TO HIM HE SAID THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

IT IS ANOTHER SIGN THAT WE CAN'T HAVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THIS VIRUS, AROUND VACCINATIONS AND IF YOU DO TRY TO DO THAT IT BECOMES VERY DIVISIVE.

AND NOT JUST DIVISIVE BUT PEOPLE TAKE IT PERSONALLY TO SUCH A LEVEL THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO MAKE THREATS AGAINST STATE REP AND HIS FAMILY.

GOING FORWARD, I MEAN, REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS COVID LEGISLATION.

THIS IS DONE BUT I THINK THERE IS POTENTIALLY SUPPORT FOR SOMETHING ADDRESSING COVID AND HOPEFULLY TRYING TO PUSH THE UNVACCINATED TO GET THE VACCINE.

I DON'T THINK CHANGING THE INSURANCE POLICY LIKE CAROL WAS TRYING TO DO I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN OR SUPPORTED.

BUT I THINK WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE END OF LEGISLATORS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO CONVINCE THE UNVACCINATED TO GET SHOTS.

>> ON THE LOCAL LEVEL IN CHICAGO, MONICA ENG, Dr. ALLISON ARWADY AT CDPH IS TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF NEW YORK CITY STYLE VAX MANDATES.

MANDATORY VACCINATION PROOF TO DO CERTAIN ACTIVITIES.

NEW YORK TO GO TO BARS, CLUBS, YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE A VACCINE STATUS AND PROOF.

DO YOU THINK THEY ARE GOING TO GO THAT ROUTE IN CHICAGO?

>> WELL, SHE WAS ASKED ABOUT IT AND SAID SHE WOULD PREFER THAT OVER BIG TOTAL LOCKDOWNS.

SHE WASN'T SUPER CONCLUSIVE ABOUT IT.

BUT YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND TALKING TO BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE MUCH-LOVED AND MUCH HATED T BOX THIS WEEKEND WHERE 10,000 KIDS OR PEOPLE OVER 21 WILL DESCEND ON WRIGLEYVILLE 30 BARS, 10,000 PEOPLE.

AND BACP TELLS ME WELL THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE MASK MANDATE.

WHAT IS THE MASK MANDATE?

WHEN THEY WALK IN THEY NEED TO BE WEARING A MASK BUT IF YOU GOT A DRINK NO MASK BECAUSE YOU ARE SUDDENLY PROTECTED FROM COVID BECAUSE YOU ARE DRINKING AND SMASHED IN WITH 10,000 PEOPLE.

>> WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?

>> WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?

WE ARE IN THE BIGGEST SURGE WE'VE SEEN IF 11 MONTHS AND WE THINK THAT IT IS A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE 10,000 KIDS JAMMED INTO 30 BARS?

>> IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT WILL DETER THAT EVENT.

MARIAH WOELFEL, THERE IS A BIG HEATED BATTLE GOING ON IN CITY COUNCIL OVER ALLOWING SPORTSBOOKS, SPORTS GAMBLING IN AND AROUND STADIUMS.

WHY IS THIS SO HEATED WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CITY PROPOSING A 2% TAX TO NET 500,000 IN TAX REVENUE?

>> RIGHT.

WELL, OF COURSE, BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS LONG AWAITED CASINO THAT FINALLY LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO COME TO FRUITION IN CHICAGO THERE IS A PUSH FROM AT LEAST ONE CASINO OPERATOR WHO PUT IN A BID NEIL BLUHM, CHICAGO BILLIONAIRE WHO IS MUCH OPPOSED TO ALLOWING SPORTS BETTING IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

AND THE MAYOR HAS FLIPPED HER POSITION ON IT.

INITIALLY SHE WAS OPPOSED IN 2019 WHEN IT WAS INITIALLY PROPOSED SAYING AS WELL SHE THOUGHT THAT PROFITS FROM SPORTS BETTING COULD CANNIBALIZE PROFITS FROM THE CASINO WHICH WILL RAKE IN MUCH, MUCH MORE $200 MILLION ANNUALLY.

AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE CASINO AND BELIEVE THAT SPORTS BETTING COULD CANNIBALIZE THAT DO NOT WANT TO BE FOCUSING ON SPORTS BETTING.

THERE ARE ALDERMEN WHO SAY WE HAVE BEEN WAITING ON A CASINO FOR DECADES, WHY DON'T WE MOVE AHEAD WITH THIS SURE REVENUE AS SMALL AS IT MAY BE 400,000, BUT WHY DON'T WE START GET TO GO ON THE BOOKS.

AND IT WOULD ALLOW SPORTS BETS AT FIVE CASINOS AND THERE ARE ALDERMEN WHO SAY THAT 2% IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH THAT THIS BILL DOES NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP MINORITY BUSINESSES, BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS, LATINO BUSINESSES, WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.

I THINK A LOT OF ALDERMEN ARE SAYING LET'S HIT THE BRAKES, SLOW DOWN -- >> ARE STUDIES BEING CITED I DON'T KNOW WHAT GROUPS ARE LOOKING AT WHEN THEY COME OUT WITH THE STUDIES ON WHETHER ALLOWING SPORTSBOOK AT A CASINO WOULD CANNIBALIZE THE POTENTIAL PROFITS AT THE NEW CHICAGO CASINO SHOULD IT BE BUILT?

THE MAYOR WAS OPPOSED TO SPORTSBOOKS INSTADIUMS SHE DID A 180.

DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHY?

>> WELL, I THINK HER DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE SAID THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF THE INDEPENDENT STUDY THAT THE CITY COMMISSIONED THAT SHOWED THAT 96% OF GAMING HAPPENS ON-LINE.

AND IT WOULD NOT HAVE MATERIAL EFFECT ON A CHICAGO CASINO.

SO THAT'S THE REASONING THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE GIVES.

>> YOU MENTIONED NEIL BLUHM HE HAS TWO BIDS OUT THERE.

TWO OF THE FIVE BIDS FOR CASINO THROUGH RUSH STREET GAMING AND HE TESTIFIED AGAINST IT.

ALTHOUGH ANOTHER ONE OF THE BIDDERS BALLY'S SAID WE ARE NOT SO CONCERNED.

WHY IS HE CONCERNED AND WHY ARE THEY NOT?

>> WELL, I THINK PROPONENTS OF SPORTS BETTING POINTED OUT THAT BLUHM IS THE ONLY BIDDER WHO ALREADY HAS A SPORTSBOOK IN THE SUBURBS.

AND SO IMPLYING THAT HE IS TRYING TO PROTECT THE PROFITS HE IS MAKING IN DES PLAINES AT RIVERS CASINO AND DOESN'T WANT TO SEE THE PROFITS HEAD TO CHICAGO AT FIVE STADIUMS.

>> OMAR JIMINEZ IF THE POTENTIAL TO DO SOME SPORTS GAMBLING AT WRIGLEY FIELD WAS PRESENTED TO YOU WOULD IT DISSUADE YOU FROM GOING TO A CHICAGO CASINO?

>> ME PERSONALLY JUST THINKING ABOUT THE GROUPS WITH MY FRIENDS, I FEEL LIKE YOU WOULD GO FOR THE MOST CONVENIENT, THE MOST CONVENIENT OPTION.

I DON'T THINK THE EVERYDAY PERSON IS THINKING ABOUT THE OVERALL ECONOMICS OF THE CITY LONG-TERM.

AND SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE A REAL ISSUE.

WHATEVER CONCERNS THERE ARE ABOUT HAVING IT IN WRIGLEYVILLE AND CANNIBALIZING PROFITS FROM THE CASINO I THINK THAT A REAL CONCERN IF YOU ARE THERE AND A YOUNG PERSON WHO MIGHT BE BETTING ON-LINE, PERIOD TO BEGIN WITH, WHY ARE YOU GOING OUT TO A CASINO IF YOU CAN DO IT RIGHT THERE.

THOSE CONCERNS ARE REAL.

AND AGAIN IF I HAD TO TAKE A POLL OF MY FRIEND GROUP THE MAJORITY WOULD UNSCIENTIFIC POLL, THEY WOULD PROBABLY GO FOR THE WRIGLEYVILLE OPTION.

>> AND FROM A POLITICAL SENSE AND I HAVE NO PROOF OF ANYTHING BUT IF YOU ARE A MAYOR OF CHICAGO YOU WANT TO MAKE THE SPORTS TEAM OWNERS HAPPY THEY ARE POLITICAL CONTRIBUTORS.

AND NEIL BLUHM YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE HIM UNHAPPY MAYBE IT PORTENDS HE WINS THE BID DOWN THE LINE.

ARE THERE POLITICS AT PLAY HERE?

>> I MEAN, THE MAYOR PROBABLY MADE A LOT OF BEARS FANS UNHAPPY WITH THE BLYTHE FEELING.

>> I THINK THE BEARS ORGANIZATION MADE ALL BEARS FANS UNHAPPY.

>> THE BEARS OR THE MAYOR.

YEAH, I COULD SEE POLITICS WORKING INTO THIS.

CERTAINLY ALREADY HAS WE'RE ALL LOOKING THE IT.

I'M NOT A BETTER MYSELF BUT YOUNGER PEOPLE LIKE OMAR AND HIS FRIENDS AND MY SON LOVES BETTING ON SPORTS.

I CAN SEE THIS AS BEING AN ATTRACTIVE THING FOR THEM AND SOMETHING THEY CAN GET INTO RIGHT AWAY.

AND THE ALDERMEN WHO SUPPORT IT GET MONEY COMING IN RIGHT AWAY BEFORE THIS LONG AWAITED CASINO THAT MAY NEVER HAPPEN FINALLY HAPPENS.

>> AND AS WE MENTIONED IT'S HAPPENING ON-LINE IN TERMS OF THE SPORTSBOOK AND MOST PEOPLE ARE DOING IT ON-LINE.

WE HAD REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE GAMING INDUSTRY SAY IT IS A DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC THAT WOULD GO INTO THE CASINO TO DO SPORTS BETTING AND ENTIRELY DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC THAT GOES INTO CASINOS NOW TO PULL THE SLOT MACHINES.

MARIAH WOELFEL, WOULD YOU BET THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A VOTE ON THIS AGAIN IN CITY COUNCIL?

AND DOES IT HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS ALLOWING THIS AND GETTING THAT 2% TAX?

>> I THINK THE MAYOR IS PROBABLY WORKING HARD TO SWAY SOME OF HER ALLIES IT WAS CLEAR THAT THEY WERE NOT READY EITHER TO VOTE YES OR VOTE ON THIS ON WHEN WAS IT?

A COUPLE DAYS AGO.

BUT IT IS COMING BACK UP.

THEY RECESSED IT ONCE THEY REALIZED THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE VOTES IT'S COMING UP MONDAY.

I'VE LEARNED IN MY SHORT TIME ON THE BEAT DO NOT MAKE BETS ON WHETHER SOMETHING WILL COME UP FOR A VOTE IN THE COMMITTEE.

WE'LL SIGH WHAT HAPPENS.

>> RACHEL HINTON LET'S TALK ABOUT THE REMAP EFFORTS THERE'S LAWSUITS TO SOME OF THE NEW ILLINOIS LEGISLATIVE MAPS THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD WHERE DO THEY STAND RIGHT NOW?

>> CURRENTLY IN THE HANDS OF A THREE-JUDGE PANEL IN FEDERAL COURT THEY HEARD ARGUMENTS THIS WEEK FROM THE N.A.A.C.P., FROM LAWYERS REPRESENTING THE LATINO POLICY FORUM AND OTHERS REPRESENTING SPEAKER CHRIS WELCH AND DAN HARMON.

THE PLAINTIFFS WERE TRYING TO PROVE THAT THE MAPS DILUTE POLITICAL POWER FOR LATINOS AND BLACK RESIDENTS.

THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE OF THINGS SAYS THEY COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH WE TRIED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

WHY WOULD YOU BLACK STATE REP VOTE FOR THESE MAPS IF THAT IS TRUE?

NOW, IT'S IN THEIR HANDS.

IT'S NOT CLEAR WHEN WE WILL HAVE A RULING IT COULD NEXT WEEK.

THEY HEARD ARGUMENTS EARLIER THIS WEEK, I BELIEVE TUESDAY.

SLOW-MOVING THERE.

LITTLE MOVEMENT THERE SINCE THAT CASE.

>> WE'LL WATCH FOR THAT AND WATCH FOR THAT SPORTS WAGER VOTE.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME NOW.

OUR THANKS TO MONICA ENG, OMAR JIMINEZ, MARIAH WOELFEL AND RACHEL HINTON.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR FRIDAY NIGHT.

YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AND "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS.

AND BE SURE TO JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:00 P.M. FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" AND AFTER THAT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" AT 6:30 AND WE'RE BACK AT 7:00 P.M. ALL NEXT WEEK.

FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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