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

WE'LL BE JOINED BY OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" GUESTS IN JUST A MOMENT, FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSES ARE CANCELED YET AGAIN FOR MONDAY.

C.P.S.

MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT SAYING THEY WOULD BE CALLED OFF BARRING A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION.

A HANDFUL OF SCHOOLS WERE OPEN TODAY AS A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF STAFF SHOWED UP.

ONE WAS THORPE ELEMENTARY SEEN ON THE SOUTH SIDE WHICH ALLOWED STUDENTS TO COME IN IF THEY AGREED TO TAKE REGULAR COVID-19 TESTS.

AND CONFUSION SURROUNDING STATE ASSISTANCE FOR C.P.S.

REPORTS EARLIER TODAY CLAIMED THAT THE STATE HAD OFFERED HELP IN THE WAY OF TESTS AND MASKS FOR SCHOOLS AND THAT C.P.S.

HAD NOT TAKEN THE STATE UP ON ITS OFFER.

C.P.S.

OFFICIALS HAVE DISPUTED THAT.

AND ALL THIS COMES AFTER TUESDAY NIGHT'S VOTE FROM THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION NOT TO TEACH IN-PERSON DUE TO COVID CONCERNS.

TODAY, C.T.U.

MEMBERS HELD A RALLY REITERATING CALLS FOR C.P.S.

TO DO MORE TO MITIGATE THE RISK OF COVID EXPOSURE IN SCHOOLS.

>> LESS THAN HALF OF LATINX AND BLACK CHILDREN IN THE CITY ARE VACCINATED THAT IS WHY WE ARE DEMANDING SAFETY FOR OUR STUDENTS.

>> AND CHICAGOANS CAN EXPECT SOMEWHAT OF A REPRIEVE FROM THE FRIGID COLD IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

THE CITY WOKE UP TO SINGLE-DIGIT TEMPERATURES WITH WIND-CHILL VALUES WELL BELOW ZERO BUT IT DID NOT STOP BRAVE SOULS FROM VENTURING OUT ON THE LAKEFRONT FOR A STROLL OR RUN.

THE THERMOMETER IS EXPECTED TO RISE OVERNIGHT AND REACH AS HIGH AS 33 TOMORROW WITH FORECASTERS EXPECTING A WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION THAT CAUSED THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TO PUT A WINTER-WEATHER ADVISORY IN PLACE.

TO OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" PANEL.

JOINING US ARE KATE GROSSMAN OF WBEZ, LYNN SWEET OF THE "CHICAGO SUN-TIMES".

EVELYN HOLMES OF ABC7 CHICAGO AND GREG PRATT OF THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE".

WE WELCOME ALL OF YOU.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT APPEARED ON THIS SHOW AND LOOK WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE STANDOFF WITH THE TEACHERS' UNION ABOUT IN-PERSON LEARNING.

>> LEGAL ACTION OBVIOUSLY IS ALWAYS AN OPTION BUT THE BEST OPTION IS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY BUT GET KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS ARE SAFE IT'S THE SAFEST PLACE FOR THEM TO BE AND THE BEST PLACE WHERE THEY CAN PLERN IN A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT.

>> GREG PRATT THE MAYOR IS SAYING TONIGHT THAT SCHOOL WILL BE CANCELED MONDAY UNLESS THERE IS BREAKTHROUGH WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS.

WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF A BREAKTHROUGH AND AN AGREEMENT?

>> WELL, IT'S 50/50 BUT THERE'S -- IT DOESN'T FEEL GOOD.

IT IS A TOUGH SITUATION.

IT IS A VERY FLUID SITUATION.

ONCE THEY FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO FIGURE ON ON TESTING THE RULES TO REOPEN THEY HAVE THE OTHER PROBLEM ARE THEY GOING TO PAY THE TEACHERS FOR THE DAYS THAT C.P.S.

CANCELED CLASSES IT WILL BE A DISPUTE.

I'M NOT SURE THEY CAN FIGURE THAT OVER THE WEEKEND.

IN FACT, I WOULD GUESS THAT THAT IS UNLIKELY.

BUT WE'LL SEE.

>> AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT IS SAYING THEY MUST WRAP UP OVER THE WEEKEND.

KATE GROSSMAN THEY ARE FAR APART ON THE ISSUE OF TESTING AND MASKS AND METRICS FOR SHUTTING CLASSROOMS AND SCHOOLS DOWN WE ARE NOT AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE BUT ANY PROGRESS ON ANY OF THESE?

>> WELL, I THINK THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE'S NOT A TON OF ISSUES SO THAT'S HELPFUL FOR ALL OF US WE'RE WAITING FOR OUR KIDS GETTING BACK TO SCHOOL.

THE ISSUE IS METRIC WHEN DO YOU SHUT DOWN A SCHOOL AND THEY AGREE THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE CITYWIDE SHUTDOWN IT SHOULD BE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS.

A METRIC FOR SHUTTING DOWN INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS.

SO IT IS A MATTER OF HOW DO YOU DECIDE THAT.

AND THE QUESTION OF HOW MUCH TESTING.

EVERYBODY WANTS MORE TESTING AND C.P.S.

AND C.T.U.

IS DEMANDING THAT KIDS AND ADULTS SHOULD HAVE TO HAVE A NEGATIVE TEST BEFORE THEY RETURN TO SCHOOL.

GETTING THAT DONE, YOU DON'T TURN THAT ON A DIME.

YOU CAN'T GET 300,000 KIDS TESTED AND ADULTS AND OPEN SCHOOLS ON MONDAY.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WERE TO AGREE TO THAT THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN REOPEN ON MONDAY.

>> THERE IS THE ISSUE OF OPT-IN VERSUS OPT-OUT.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT IS SAYING PARENTS SHOULD HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO OPT-IN THE OPPOSITE POSITION THE UNION IS TAKING.

EVELYN HOLMES, THIS NEWS CAME DOWN REALLY LATE ON TUESDAY NIGHT THAT CLASSES WOULD BE CANCELED.

HOW DIFFICULT HAS IT BEEN ON FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT ARE DEAL WITH RISING COVID CASES AND HAVING TO FIGURE OUT WORK, CHILDCARE?

>> IT'S A DISASTER.

ONE MOMENT SAID SHE WAS STRESSFUL.

BUT YOU CAN LOOK IN THE PARENTS' EYES AND YOU KNOW THEY ARE EXHAUSTED FROM THE PANDEMIC, THEY ARE EXHAUSTED FROM TRYING TO NAVIGATE EVERYTHING AND KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE INCLUDING THEMSELVES AND THEIR KIDS, THEY ARE EXHAUSTED DEALING WITH THE REMOTE LEARNING, EXHAUSTED WITH THE HYBRID MODEL AND EXHAUSTED WITH THIS.

WHEN THE FIRST CLASS OR DAY WAS CANCELED, THE ISSUE WAS THEY HAD SAFE HAVEN LOCATIONS BUT YOU HAD THOSE WERE NOT OPEN.

AND YOU HAD PARENTS TRYING TO GO TO AFTER CARE IT WAS JUST RIDICULOUS.

AND PARENTS ARE JUST FEEL AS THOUGH THEY ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

MATTER OF FACT I WILL DROP THIS AND LET YOU MOVE ON.

ONE PASTOR I SPOKE TO SAID IT WAS LIKE A AFRICAN PROVE ESH WHEN TWO ELEPHANTS IT'S THE GROUND AND THE GRASS LOSE.

RIGHT NOW ARE THE GRASS AND THE GROUND UNDERNEATH.

>> APT ANALOGY.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SHARES THE MAYOR'S BELIEF THAT KIDS SHOULD BE IN SCHOOL AND JEN PSAKI WEIGHED IN ON IT THIS WEEK.

IS THERE ANY NOTION THERE WOULD BE FEDERAL HELP IN THE WAY OF TESTING COMING TO C.P.S.?

>> THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY JEN PSAKI WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS AT TWO BRIEFINGS.

THE EDUCATION SECRETARY CALLED THE CHICAGO SCHOOL CHIEF AND THE TOP LEADER OF THE UNION IN WASHINGTON TO SEE WHAT HE COULD DO.

AND IT TURNS OUT NOT THAT MUCH.

THERE IS A SAFETY AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT HAVE COME TO THE CITY THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND THERE'S -- IF BY THIS YOU MEAN CAN I TELL OUR VIEWERS WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME MAGICAL DELIVERY OF SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP AND THE ANSWER IS NO.

THE THEORY OF KEEPING SCHOOLS OPEN IN REALITY IN CHICAGO IS NOT PLAYING OUT.

AND FOR THE MOMENT IT'S NOT A SITUATION THAT THE WHITE HOUSE CAN MEANINGFULLY HELP RESOLVE.

>> AND BACK TO THE ISSUE OF TESTS KATE GROSSMAN, THE REPORTS TODAY THAT GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER AND THE STATE HAD WANTED C.P.S.

TO TAKE THEM UP ON THE SHIELD TEST WHICH THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS DEVELOPED, C.P.S.

DID NOT GO THAT ROUTE.

WHY NOT?

AND WHAT IS AT THE CENTER OF THIS DISPUTE OVER TESTING?

>> WELL, SO WE TALKED TO SHIELD ILLINOIS TODAY WHICH IS THE TEST THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS IN PLACE IN ABOUT 1700 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND COLLEGES AROUND ILLINOIS.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PUT OUT AN RFP THIS SUMMER AND U OF I PUT A BID IN BUT THEY WERE NOT CHOSEN.

C.P.S.

CHOSE SOME OTHER VENDOR.

AND NOW SHIELD ILLINOIS IS SAYING THEY ARE READY TO HELP AND THEY HAVE CAPACITY.

THEY SAID THEY COULD ADD ANOTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT MEANING CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THEY ARE OFFERING TO HELP.

SO WE'LL SEE IF C.P.S.

IS GOING TO TAKE THEM UP ON THAT AND HOW QUICKLY THEY COULD GET SOMETHING UP AND RUNNING.

AND IT MAY ANSWER ALSO THIS QUESTION YOU RAISED BEFORE ABOUT THIS OPT-IN AND OPT-OUT.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT HAS BEEN VERY ADAMANT ABOUT NOT WANTING TO HAVE AN OPT-OUT PROGRAM SHE SAYS THAT IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT PARENTS AFFIRMATIVELY CHOOSE TO HAVE THEIR KIDS HAVE WHAT SHE IS CALLING A QUASI MEDICAL PROCEDURE, I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT LANGUAGE BUT IT IS A MEDICAL EVENT THAT HAPPENS TO THEIR KIDS AND THEY SHOULD CHOOSE IT.

NOW, SPECULATING IF IT WERE A SALIVA TEST WHICH IS WHAT THE U OF I TEST MAYBE PARENTS WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

>> AND GREG PRATT IS THE JURY OUT A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS HOW EFFECTIVE THE SHIELD TEST IS?

AND ISN'T THAT A REASON C.P.S.

USED TO NOT GO THAT ROUTE?

>> I'M NOT SURE WHY THEY WENT ANOTHER ROUTE.

THERE IS A TON OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS USING THE SHIELD TEST WHETHER IT'S EFFECTIVE OR NOT, I THINK THAT A LOT OF DISTRICTS FEEL IT'S EFFECTIVE AND THAT IS NOT AN ISSUE THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT.

>> EVELYN HOLMES, WHO DO YOU THINK PARENTS LAY THE BLAME FOR THIS ON MORE?

THE TEACHERS' UNION FOR CALLING THIS WALKOUT FROM IN-PERSON LEARNING AT LEAST AT 11:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY OR C.P.S.

FOR THE PERCEPTION OF PERHAPS NOT HAVING A BETTER PLAN IN PLACE?

>> FROM THE PARENTS I SPOKE TO THEY ARE BLAMING THE DISTRICT.

THEY SAY YOU KNOW WHAT?

TEACHERS HAVE NOT SAID THEY DON'T WANT TO TEACH THEY WANT TO TEACH AND BE SAFE.

A LOT OF THE PARENTS ESPECIALLY THE ONES LIKE OUT IN PARKMAN NOSH THE SCHOOL ON THE OUTSIDE THAT HAD TWO COVID OUTBREAKS ONE DURING THANKSGIVING AND ANOTHER BEFORE CHRISTMAS BREAK AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET TESTS TO THE KIDS.

THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PASSING OUT THE TESTS, TO PARENTS SO THEY COULD TEST AND GET THEM BACK IN TIME SO WHEN JANUARY 3 ROLLED AROUND AND THAT DID NOT HAPPEN BECAUSE THERE WAS QUARANTINE THE KIDS WERE NOT IN THE SCHOOL AND PARENTS DID NOT PICK UP THE TESTS.

IT WAS A ROYAL MESS AND PARENTS EXHAUSTED.

AND WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IS PARENTS WHO CAN, YOU MAY START TO SEE PARENTS WHO CAN START MOVING THEIR CHILDREN TO OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS.

JUST BECAUSE IT IS IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY HAS THEIR BUSINESS RIGHT AND C.P.S.

DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO GET IT TOGETHER.

>> WE'RE HEARING IT MORE WE CAN'T HANDLE THE STRESS AND THE DISRUPTION.

KATE GO AHEAD.

>> WE CERTAINLY TALKED TO A LOT OF PARENTS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THE C.T.U.

AND WANT TO BE REMOTE LEARNING.

BUT THERE IS A STRONG CONTINGENT OF PARENTS THAT ARE MAD AT THE TEACHERS' UNION THIS IS THE THIRD MAJOR LABOR DISPUTE SINCE THE MAYOR TOOK OFFICE AND THEY ARE LAYING THE BLAME ON THE DOORSTEP OF THE C.T.U.

AND THEY ARE SAYING THE SAME THING YOU SAID THEY ARE LIKE I'VE HAD IT WITH C.P.S.

AND C.T.U.

I'M MOVING TO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS AND THE SUBURBS.

THERE IS A REAL SPLIT.

THERE'S PEOPLE FEEL VERY STRONGLY BOTH WAYS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MAD AT C.P.S.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MAD AT C.T.U.

>> AND THEY FEEL THEY ARE CAUGHT IN-BETWEEN.

IT IS A SQUEEZE PLAY.

I HAVE A FIFTH GRADEER IN C.P.S.

SHE HAS BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS.

SHE IS GOING TO BE OUT OF SCHOOL MONDAY.

WHAT DO I DO?

>> HOW DO YOU FIGURE IT OUT.

YOU ARE ON THE STREET REPORTING?

>> I'M JUGGLING.

BOBBING AND WEAVING.

>> YOU HAVE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE.

LYNN SWEET IS IT A MIXED MESSAGE TO SAY SCHOOLS ARE THE SAFEST PLAY FOR KIDS WHEN YOU SEE RECORD COVID CASE HAULS IN CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS EVERYDAY AND HOSPITALIZATIONS INCLUDING CHILD HOSPITALIZATIONS?

>> IS IT A MIXED MESSAGE?

I THINK THE SCHOOL THING IS A CARVE OUT IT IS NOT MESSAGING.

THIS HAS TO DO AND I WILL SAY IT I KNOW WE HAVE OTHER THINGS TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT THIS IS THAT JUST A ONE OFF WHERE THE C.T.U.

AND THE MAYOR ARE AT ODDS AS EVERYONE'S BEEN SAYING.

THIS IS PART OF THE ONGOING SAGA HERE AND IT IS NOT A MATTER OF MESSAGING IT IS A MATTER THAT CITY HALL AND C.T.U.

CAN'T MAKE THESE DEALS TO KEEP THE SCHOOLS OPEN.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD MAYBE USEFUL TO LOOK AT IT THIS WAY AND NOT IN ANY LARGER NATIONAL CONTEXT FOR THIS PROBLEM EXCEPT THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE RIGHT-WING OF AMERICA THEY ARE USING THE CLOSURE OF THE NATION AS THIRD LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT AS AN EXAMPLE OF DEMOCRATIC RUN CITIES NOT BEING ABLE TO FUNCTION AND THAT'S WHERE IN THE LARGER PICTURE YOU SEE SOME DAMAGE TO DEMOCRATS.

>> A THE LOW OF THIS DOES DEMOCRAT POLITICIZED.

WE HAVE TO MOVE ON INCLUDING THE COMMEMORATION ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE INSURRECTION AND AS THE COUNTRY MARKED THAT ANNIVERSARY PRESIDENT BIDEN LAID THE BLAME AT THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S FEET.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> WE DIDN'T SEE A FORMER PRESIDENT WHO HAD JUST RALLIED THE MOB TO ATTACK, SITTING IN THE PRIVATE DINING ROOM OFF THE OVAL OFFICE IN THE WHITE HOUSE WATCHING IT ALL ON TELEVISION.

AND DOING NOTHING.

>> LYNN SWEET TAKE US TO THIS COMMEMORATION ON THE HOUSE FLOOR WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW THERE WAS A SERIES OF EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY MARKING THE JANUARY 6TH ANNIVERSARY.

AND I WANT TO QUICKLY SAY THAT THE ILLINOIS AND MOST NEWS ABOUT IT ADAM KINZINGER THE REPUBLICAN WHO DOOMED HIS CAREER BECAUSE HE JOINED THE DEMOCRATIC LED JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HOUSE FLOOR WITH LIZ CHENEY THERE WITH HER FATHER EXCEPT HE IS AWAITING THE BIRTH OF HIS FIRST CHILD ANY MINUTE.

SO HE WAS NOT THERE.

BUT THERE HAVE BEEN -- THIS IS THE RUN UP TO SO MANY EVENTS MARKING THIS THERE.

AND CERTAINLY FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THE CAPITOL ESPECIALLY THE GROUP CALLED THE GALLERY GANG WHICH CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY IS ONE.

THE PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE THAT DAY WHEN THE ATTACK HAPPENED HAVE A SPECIAL BOND AND THEY HAVE BEEN MEETING REGULARLY AS PART OF THAT GALLERY GANG.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED CONGRESSMAN KINZINGER NOT BEING THERE AWAITING THE ARRIVAL OF HIS CHILD AND HE SAID ALL BUT RULING OUT A RUN FOR ILLINOIS STATE-WIDE OFFICE.

GOVERNOR OR SENATOR.

A LOT OF FOLKS BELIEVE HE WANTS TO USE THE PLATFORM TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT PERHAPS A PRIMARY MATCHUP WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

>> THAT'S NOT WHY HE IS DOING THIS.

HE DIDN'T CLOSE THE DOOR WHEN ASKED ABOUT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

MY ANALYSIS IS THAT HE A YEAR PLUS AGO WAS HIS CRUSADE AGAINST CONSPIRACY THEORIES RIGHT AFTER JANUARY 6 WORKED INTO HIS DECISION TO START A CRUSADE TO TAKE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OUT OF THE IRON GRIP OF DONALD TRUMP.

IT'S GOTTEN STRONGER THROUGH THE YEAR AND NOT WEAKER.

HE WOULD HAVE HAD ALMOST NO CHANCE ANYWAY IN A STATE-WIDE PRIMARY.

THE NOT THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE FOUND ANYONE TO RUN AGAINST TAMMY DUCKWORTH.

HE HAS A PLATFORM TO TALK ABOUT EEKION DEAISLE -- ELECTION DENIAL AND TRYING TO PREVENT TRUMP FROM RUNNING IN 2024 AND THAT IS SAID HE WILL DO FULL-TIME.

HE IS IN THE HOUSE FOR A YEAR HE HAS A LOT GOING ON WITH THAT JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE.

>> AND RIGHT AND THEY NEED TO PUT OUT A REPORT BEFORE THE MIDTERMS.

EVELYN HOLMES AND LYNN I WILL GET BACK TO YOU.

WE HEARD THIS WEEK, THE ANNOUNCED RETIREMENT OF CONGRESSMAN BOBBY RUSH.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HIS LEGACY IS?

>> I THINK HIS LEGACY IS ONE OF TRYING TO MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK FOR THE PEOPLE SO TO SPEAK.

HE BROUGHT A GRASSROOTS APPROACH FROM LITERALLY THE STREETS BASED ON HIS BACKGROUND ANYONE THAT KNOWS BOBBY RUSH KNOWS HIS BACKGROUND.

HIS LAST FEW PUSHES SO TO SPEAK ABOUT MISSING BLACK WOMEN THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING HE HAS CHAMPIONED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH ANTILYNCHING LEGISLATION AND ALSO VOTING RIGHTS.

HE HAS BEEN THERE WHAT?

30 YEARS?

>> YES, ABOUT 30 YEARS.

>> SO BETWEEN YOU FIGURE HIS HEALTH ISSUES THAT HE HAS HAD, MAYBE I DON'T KNOW WHY I HAVE NOT SPOKEN WITH HIM TO BE HONEST.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU MAINTAIN THAT LEGACY AND MOVE IT FORWARD I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO THAT.

NOT EVERYONE HAS THE KNOWLEDGE TO DO THAT.

>> WE SPOKE WITH HIM.

GREG PRATT THERE IS AN INTRIGUE IN TERMS OF WHO IS GOING TO BE HIS REPLACEMENT.

YOU HAVE PAT DOWELL ENTERING THE FRAY.

HOW DO YOU SEE THIS FIELD OF CANDIDATES SHAKING OUT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE TO REPLACE SOMEBODY LIKE BOBBY RUSH.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BEAT HIM LIKE BARACK OBAMA FOUND OUT AND WE WILL GET A CIRCUS PRIMARY WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE AND WHO IS GOING TO WIN?

I DON'T KNOW.

DOWELL'S CASE WAS NOT FINDING A TON OF SUCCESS IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S RACE AND THIS IS MORE LOCAL WHICH PERHAPS BENEFITS HER.

BUT WE'LL SEE.

>> A LOT OF FOLKS EITHER GETTING IN OR THINKING ABOUT GETTING IN.

RUMOR TO GET IN.

LYNN SWEET THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS LEGACY OF BOBBY RUSH BUT HE HAD NUMEROUS ETHICS AND TAX ISSUES DURING HIS TIME IN OFFICE.

DID THAT PLAY INTO HIS DECISION TO STEP DOWN?

>> BY THE WAY, HE IS A HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE NEVER, I THINK HE WAS FINED ONE TIME.

BUT I WANT TO JUST HE REPRESENTS ONE OF THE MOST HISTORIC BLACK DISTRICTS IN THE NATION ONE OF THE FEW DISTRICTS THAT HAS CONSISTENTLY HAD BLACK MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON IT.

AND I THINK THAT IS A POINT TO REMEMBER WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE FIRST.

IT IS HIS UNIQUE PLACE IN OUR CITY HISTORY.

THIS WAS THE DISTRICT HAROLD WASHINGTON REPRESENTED BEFORE HE RAN FOR MAYOR.

SO THERE ARE A FEW ISSUES CONTRIBUTING TO BOBBY RUSH'S DECISION.

HE IS AN ORDAINED MINISTER.

HE WANTS TO SPEND TIME IN HIS MINISTRY WHERE HE CAN BE AN ACTIVIST.

HIS LEGACY MAINLY IS AS A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER AND CRUSADER AGAINST RACIAL INJUSTICE.

WANTS TO SPEND TIME WITH HIS GRANDCHILDREN SO THEY DON'T READ ABOUT HIM JUST KNOWING HIM FOR TV OR IN A NEWSPAPER.

AND FOR PRACTICAL MATTER UNDER THE NEW MAP HE HAS A BIG CHUNK OF NEW VOTERS AND NEW TERRITORY THAT DISTRICT MIGHT THINK TO HAVE AS THE SOUTH SIDE BUT TWO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS REPRESENT THE SOUTH SIDE, ROBIN KELLY AND BOBBY RUSH.

AND THEN THIS DISTRICT JUST RUNS ALL OVER DOWN STATE ALMOST AS FAR SOUTH AS KANKAKEE.

SO IN THIS NEW MAP HE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE DONE SOME WORK TO HAVE INTRODUCED HIMSELF TO NEW VOTERS.

HE WAS NEVER MUCH OF A FUND RAIDER.

END OF SEPTEMBER FEC STATEMENT SHOWED HE HAD 186,000 ON HAND.

THIS JUST SEEMED SENSE WITH THE NEW MAP, HIS AGE AND HE HAS AN ACTIVE MINISTRY HE COULD GO TO.

HE HAS IN A SENSE A PLACE TO RENEW HIMSELF AS HE STARTS A NEW CHAPTER AS HE LEAVES THE HOUSE.

>> IMAGINE HE IS A CANCER SURVIVOR.

AND RUNNING FOR OFFICE, GREG PRATT YOU MENTIONED THIS ON TWITTER, ARNIE DUNCAN IS IN STAGE TWO OF POTENTIALLY RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND STAGE ONE IS DENY.

AND STAGE TWO ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE BEGGING ME TO DO IT AND I'M NOT GOING TO CLOSE THE DOOR.

WHAT IS HIS THINKING RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, HE IS AT THE I THINK I LISTED IT AS STAGE THREE.

I PUT FIVE STAGES OF RELUCTANTLY RUNNING FOR MAYOR.

I DON'T WANT TO DO IT.

BUT PEOPLE WANT ME TO DO IT.

AND NEXT STEP IS I'M SERIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT DOING IT AND THE STEP AFTER THAT IS I'M DOING IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS.

BUT THIS IS SOMEBODY THERE IS A WHOLE SLEW OF PEOPLE OUT THERE LARGELY BUSINESS INTERESTED THAT DON'T LIKE MAYOR LIGHTFOOT THEY WANT SOMEONE ELSE.

THEY WANT SOMEBODY THAT THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.

ARNIE DUNCAN MAY BE THAT GUY.

>> AND PART OF THE COMPLAINTS AGAINST MAYOR LIGHTFOOT COMING FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ARE THAT FAILING TO GET HOLD OF CRIME OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THAT 2021 WAS THE MOST VIOLENT YEAR IN TERMS OF HOMICIDES SINCE THE MID-90s.

AND COOK COUNTY SET A RECORD IN TERMS OF HOMICIDES.

SO EVELYN HOLMES ARE YOU HEARING ANYTHING OUT OF THE MAYOR AND SUPERINTENDENT BROWN ABOUT GETTING AHOLD OF THIS FOR 2022?

>> WELL, THEY DO HAVE A PLAN FOR 2022.

THEY DON'T WANT 2022 TO BE LIKE 2021.

THEY WANT AS THE MAYOR SAID SHE WANTS PEOPLE RESIDENTS TO NOT JUST FEEL SAFE BUT BE SAFE.

SO THEY ARE TAKING -- THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THEY CANNOT ARREST THEIR WAY OUT OF IT.

THEY WANT TO TAKE AN APPROACH WHERE THEY ARE PROVIDING AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, PROVIDING SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH, WRAP AROUND SERVICES, JOBS, EDUCATION IN ADDITION TO REACHING OUT TRYING TO RECRUIT OFFICERS THAT MAY RESEMBLE LOOK LIKE THE COMMUNITIES THEY ARE SERVING.

THEY WANT TO HAVE MORE POSITIVE INTERACTIONS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

THIS THEY SAY IS THE APPROACH THAT THEY HOPE TO BE ABLE TO PUT INTO PLACE.

BUT, THE ISSUE REMAINS TRUST.

IT'S EASY TO SAY THIS BUT IS IT GOING TO WORK?

YOU HAVE TO HAVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS TRUST YOU.

AND WE BOTH KNOW THERE IS A LONG, LONG HISTORY OF DISTRUST AND WHAT IS PERCEIVED AS MISTREATMENT BY THE COMMUNITY FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> AND YOU HAVE A PROBLEM OF TRUST BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

GREG PRATT THERE'S BEEN A CONSTANT CANCELING OF DAYS OFF FOR C.P.D.

OFFICERS.

WHAT HAS DONE TO THE MORALE OF C.P.D.

AND THE TRUST IN THEIR LEADERSHIP?

>> WELL, CHICAGO IS ABSOLUTELY IN A CRISIS WHEN IT COMES TO VIOLENCE AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEPARTMENT ITSELF WHICH IS SHRINKING, WHICH DOESN'T -- THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH CANDIDATES TO REPLACE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LEAVING.

AND THAT OFFICERS ARE VERY UPSET BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSTANTLY HAVING TIME CANCELED AND THEY DON'T GET TO SEE THEIR FAMILIES AND THEY ARE STRESSED AND THEY SEE HORRIBLE THINGS EVERYDAY AS POLICE OFFICERS.

THEY SEE HORRIBLE THING.

MURDERS, RAPES, ASSAULTS.

PEOPLE AT THEIR WORST MOMENTS.

AND HAVING THEIR TIME TO DECOMPRESS ARE FROM THAT TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM IT IS A REAL BAD SITUATION.

>> HOW SAFE WOULD YOU SAY SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN'S JOB IS AT THIS POINT?

>> WELL, THE MAYOR YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE SUREST WAYS TO MAKE THE MAYOR ANGRY IS SUGGEST SHE FIRE DAVID BROWN BECAUSE SHE HAS HIS BACK.

AND SHE GETS ON PEOPLE'S CASES.

I'VE REPORTED ABOUT SHE GOT REALLY ANGRY AT ALDERMAN REILLY FOR CALLING THE SUPERINTENDENT A MORON.

SHE IS NOT POSITIONING TO FIRE HIM.

SHE IS VERY MUCH GOT HIS BACK AND SHE DEFENDS HIM A LOT.

NOW, IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR AND THE POLITICS ARE YOU KNOW, IF CRIME CONTINUES TO BE BAD, SHE IS GOING TO BLAME SOMEONE AND RIGHT NOW SHE IS BLAMING THE COUNTY.

AT SOME POINT IT MAY BE THE SUPERINTENDENT.

BUT IN REALITY DESPITE ALL THE SPECULATION SHE HAS HIS BACK.

>> AND DAVID BROWN WAS HER PICK ALMOST LIKE RYAN PACE AND MATT NAGY.

THAT IS A DISCUSSION FOR ANOTHER TIME.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME THANKS TO KATE GROSSMAN, LYNN SWEET, EVELYN HOLMES AND GREG PRATT.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS 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 THEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" AT 6:30.

YOU CAN SEE THE VOICES PROGRAMS SUNDAYS STARTING AT 10:00 P.M. 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 WARM AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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