
The Week in Review: Summer Violence Persists
7/9/2021 | 27m 1sVideo has Closed Captions
Paris Schutz and guests discuss the week’s news.
A war of words as officials blame the courts for the city’s rising violence. President Biden’s first stop in Illinois. The list of alderpeople under indictment grows. And city pension debt swells.
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The Week in Review: Summer Violence Persists
7/9/2021 | 27m 1sVideo has Closed Captions
A war of words as officials blame the courts for the city’s rising violence. President Biden’s first stop in Illinois. The list of alderpeople under indictment grows. And city pension debt swells.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.
WE WILL BE JOINEDDED BY OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" GUESTS IN JUST A MOMENT BUT FIRST SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... A CHICAGO SCRAP METAL COMPANY TRIES AGAIN TO FORCE THE CITY TO LET IT OPERATE A NEW FACILITY ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE.
THE PARENT COMPANY OF GENERAL IRON ASKED THE STATE COURT TO DISMISS THE SUIT AND AFTER MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT HALTED THE PERMITTING PROCESS CITING AN EPA REVIEW THAT THE PROPOSAL RAISED QUOTE SIGNIFICANT CIVIL RIGHTS CONCERNS.
GENERAL IRON HAD PREVIOUSLY OPEN RAID ON THE NORTH SIDE IN LINCOLN PARK AND DREW NUMEROUS VIOLATIONS TRIGGERING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN ENVIRONMENTAL FINES.
>> A MAN IS DEAD AFTER A STANDOFF WITH CHICAGO POLICE AND U.S.
MARSHALS ON THE WEST SIDE.
DAVID BROWN SAYS THE 33-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS WANTED ON TWO WARRANTS AND SHOT WHEN HE REFUSED TO EXIT A VEHICLE IN SOUTH KILPATRICK IN THE WEST GARFIELD PARK NEIGHBORHOOD.
BROWN SAYS THE SPECIFICS OF THE INCIDENT ARE BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
>> AND AHEAD OF CHICAGO'S RANK-AND-FILE POLICE UNION SAID IT'S REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY ON TERMS FOR A NEW CONTRACT.
THE FOP PRESIDENT SAID THE TWO SIDES REACHED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT ON THE FINANCIAL TERMS OF A NEW DEAL THAT WOULD COVER EIGHT YEARS.
HE DOES NOT SAY WHETHER OR NOT THE AGREEMENT COVERS POLICE REFORMS SOUGHT BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL AND OUTLINED IN THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE.
CATANZARA MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN A YouTube VIDEO TODAY.
>> WE ABSOLUTELY CAME TO A FAIR AGREEMENT HERE.
THIS IS NOT GIVING AWAY THE HOUSE IN ANYWAY SHAPE OR FORM.
THE LAST OPTION WE WANTED TO GO TO ARBITRATION WITH THE FINANCIAL PACKAGE AND ROLL THE DICE THERE.
>> IN A STATEMENT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SAYS THE MAYOR HAS NOT BEEN PRESENTED CAN ANY AGREEMENT AND A FINAL AGREEMENT MUST INCLUDE THOSE REFORM MEASURES.
ANY DEAL WOULD BE SUBJECT TO RATIFICATION BY CITY COUNCIL AND CHICAGO POLICE HAVE BEEN OPERATING WITHOUT A LABOR CONTRACT FOR FOUR YEARS.
>> ILLINOIS IS NOW THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO REQUIRE THE TEACHING OF ASIAN-AMERICAN HISTORY IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER TODAY SIGNED THE TEACH ACT, THAT MANDATES STUDENTS BE TAUGHT A UNIT OF ASIAN-AMERICAN HISTORY BY THE TIME THEY GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL.
A LOT OF THE SPECIFICS OF THE CURRICULUM WILL BE LEFT UP TO LOCAL DISTRICTS.
>> THERE WILL BE A BASE CURRICULUM THAT IS RECOMMENDED TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
BUT THEY CAN BUILD AROUND THAT DEPENDING UPON THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL OR THE DESIRE OF A SCHOOL TO FOLLOW IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION.
>> AND NOW TO OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" PANEL.
JOINING US ARE GREG PRATT OF THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE".
KELLY BAUER OF BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO.
LAURA WASHINGTON OF THE "CHICAGO-SUN TIMES" AND ABC7 NEWS AND RACHEL HINTON OF THE "CHICAGO-SUN TIMES".
I WANT TO GET TO THE NEWS AT THE HEAD OF THE FOP SAYS THERE IS A CONTRACT A DEAL REACHED ON FINANCIAL TERMS OF A NEW CONTRACT POLICE HAVE BEEN OPERATING WITHOUT A CONTRACT FOR FOUR YEARS.
GREG PRATT, THE MAYOR'S POURING COLD WATER ON THIS BUT IS THIS A SIGN AT LONG-LAST THERE MIGHT BE AN AGREEMENT IN THE OFFING?
>> WELL, SURE, YOU KNOW IF CATANZARA SAYS THEY ARE CLOSE HE IS PROBABLY NOT MAKING THAT UP.
HE COULD BE JUMPING THE GUN A LITTLE BUT WE HAVE A TEMPLATE WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS WITH THE CITY AGREED WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS ON FINANCIAL TERMS FOR A CONTRACT AND PUNTED ON STRUCTURAL THINGS THAT THE MAYOR PUSHED FOR.
YOU KNOW THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO GET THE CITY POLICE BACK PAY OFF THE TABLE AND GET THAT PAID FOR AND GET THAT OFF THE BOOKS AND MOVE FORWARD.
BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN ONGOING STORY AND PROBABLY AN EXAMPLE OF EVERYTHING THAT NOT COMPLETELY WHAT IT SEEMS.
>> AND CATANZARA IS SAYING FINANCIAL TERMS BUT THE MAYOR AND MANY ALDERPEOPLE IN CITY COUNCIL ARE SAYING ANY AGREEMENT HAS TO INCLUDE POLICE REFORM MEASURES ESPECIALLY COMPLYING WITH THE CONSENT DECREE.
KELLY BAUER CAN THEY ACTUALLY SEPARATE THOSE TWO THINGS AND PUNT ON ALL THE REFORM MEASURES AS GREG JUST SAID?
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE TRICKY.
WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THAT THE CITY HASN'T MADE MASSIVE REFORMS LIKE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.
AND I THINK IF THEY DO PUNT ON THIS IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE ANOTHER BROKEN PROMISE.
>> ESPECIALLY THE MAYOR HAS TALKED ABOUT IN HER STATEMENT TODAY SAYING THE FINAL AGREEMENT DOES HAVE TO INCLUDE THE REFORMS.
LAURA WASHINGTON WHAT WE UNDERSTAND IS THIS WOULD BE EIGHT YEARS, I WOULD ASSUME THAT COVERS FOUR YEARS IN THE PAST AND GOING FORWARD FOUR YEARS.
DO WE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE FINANCIAL TERMS AND WHAT IT MIGHT COST TAXPAYERS?
NO, VERY LITTLE BUT I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT GIVEN THE FACT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE BACK PAY AND GOING FORWARD T WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE MAYOR I ASSUME SHE WOULD WELCOME THAT TENURE THAT GETS HER PAST THE NEXT ELECTION SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT LABOR UNREST IN TERMS OF THE POLICE UNION.
THE WHOLE POLICE REFORM PIECE IS AND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IS A FUNDAMENTAL PART WHY SHE RAN AND HOW SHE WON FOR MAYOR.
I DON'T SEE A SCENARIO WHERE SHE REASONABLY POLITICALLY WOULD WANT TO AGREE TO DO A CONTRACT WITHOUT THE POLICE REFORM MEASURES.
WE HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT.
THAT IS GOING TO BE THE TOUGHEST PART.
>> AND PERHAPS THAT PART CAN GO TO ARBITRATION IF THE TWO SIDES AGREED ON THE FINANCIAL TERMS AND IF THEY -- THEN AN ARBITRATOR MIGHT HAVE TO COME IN.
LET'S GET TO THE CITY VIOLENCE.
MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN CONTINUE TO BLAME COOK COUNTY'S CRIMINAL COURTS FOR THE VIOLENCE.
LOOK HOW CHIEF JUDGE TIM EVANS RESPONDED ON OUR SHOW LAST NIGHT.
>> THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE WELL-INFORMED.
AND THAT STUDY THAT YOU MENTIONED AND OUR STUDY, 94% OF THE PEOPLE RELEASED PRETRIAL WERE NOT ARRESTED FOR ANY NEW CRIME.
AND EVEN THOSE WHO WERE ARRESTED, 99% OF THEM WERE NOT ARRESTED FOR VIOLENT CRIME.
>> RACHEL HINTON, IS IT FAIR ALL THIS FINGER POINTING GOING ON TOWARD THE COURT SYSTEM?
IN ESSENCE THE MAYOR AND THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYING TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING LET OUT ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING OR BAIL AND THEY GO ON TO REOFFEND ESPECIALLY GUN CRIME OR VIOLENT CRIME DOES THAT SQUARE WITH THE FACTS?
>> NO.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS MEDIA REPORTS, ANALYSES THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO COMMIT A VIOLENT CRIME AND ARE RELEASED AND SOMETIMES REOFFEND AND DO ANOTHER VIOLENT CRIME BUT FOR THE MOST PART, ESPECIALLY AFTER SUPERINTENDENT BROWN'S STATEMENTS THIS WEEK, THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE MEDIA REPORTS TO SHOW, NO, THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
WHERE HE IS GETTING HIS FACTS FROM AND WHY HE IS PRESENTING THEM IN THIS WAY IS A QUESTION FOR MANY PEOPLE.
BUT I THINK IT'S LARGELY TO DIVERT ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE CRIME AND WHATNOT.
>> YOU MENTIONED THE REPORTS, BEZ, "SUN-TIMES" ALL THE OUTLETS LOOKED INTO THIS.
WE WERE LOOKING INTO THE NUMBERS FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE JUDGE'S OFFICE AND THERE ARE VIOLENT OFFENDERS PEOPLE CHARGED WITH VIOLENT CRIME OUT ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING BUT THE PERCENTAGES AS HE WAS SAYING HAVE STAYED CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS NOT ANY DIFFERENT THIS YEAR THAN OTHER YEARS IN TERMS OF REOFFENDING.
SO LAURA WASHINGTON, DO YOU THINK THIS ARGUMENT FROM THE MAYOR AND FROM THE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT STICKS WITH THE PUBLIC?
AND PERHAPS MAY BE LETS OTHER CITY LEADERS OFF THE HOOK FOR THE SPIKE IN VIOLENCE?
>> NOT AT ALL.
I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DEBATE AS WE'VE DISCUSSED AND THE INFORMATION IS CLEAR THAT THE CASE OF DAVID BROWN AND THE MAYOR ARE TRYING TO MAKE DOES NOT HOLD WATER.
BUT THERE ARE HIGH PROFILE EXAMPLES LIKE THE ONE THAT HAPPENED TODAY.
ALLEGEDLY A MAN WHO HAD BEEN ON RELEASE FOR AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT WITH A WEAPON, WAS INVOLVED IN AN ENCOUNTER WITH OFFICERS WHO WERE TRYING TO REARREST HIM.
HE WAS OUT ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING ACCORDING TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT VIOLATED THAT AND THEY GOT INTO AN ENCOUNTER AND HE WAS SHOT AND KILLED.
IF THOSE FACTS BEAR OUT, THAT A REALLY HIGH PROFILE EXAMPLE OF A CASE THAT SOMEONE WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON THE STREET AND THE RESEARCH SHOWS BEFORE BOND REFORM YOU SEE THE 1,040,168S AFTER BOND REFORM.
I THINK DAVID BROWN IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH A BETTER ARGUMENT WHY WE HAVE SO MUCH HAVOC.
>> SO THE STATISTICS HAVE NOT CHANGED BUT THE HIGH PROFILE ANECDOTES AND WE LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, 2600 PEOPLE WHO WERE RELEASED PRETRIAL DID GO ON TO COMMIT ANOTHER VIOLENT CRIME WHILE THEY WERE OUT.
OVER THREE YEARS AND THAT IS A SMALL PERCENTAGE BUT IT'S 2600 PEOPLE AND 2600 VICTIMS.
GREG PRATT EVEN THOUGH BROWN AND LIGHTFOOT MIGHT BE OVERSTATING THE CASE DO THEY HAVE A POINT THAT MAYBE JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS DO NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CONDITIONS OF BAIL?
>> WELL, THERE'S NO QUESTION THERE ARE BAD CASES AND THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THERE ARE -- THERE IS NO QUESTION THERE ARE BAD CASES.
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER PEOPLE BELIEVE BECAUSE THERE'S A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF BAD CASES THAT THAT'S WHY THE VIOLENCE IS SPIKING.
I DON'T REALLY THINK ANYBODY BELIEVES THAT.
PEOPLE SAY NO, THERE'S BAD CASES AND PEOPLE WHO ARE LET OUT THAT SHOULDN'T BE PERHAPS.
BUT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE FEEL THAT THAT'S WHY WE'RE ON PACE TO HAVE ANOTHER HORRENDOUS YEAR FOR VIOLENCE.
>> KELLY BAUER LAST WEEK THE MAYOR AND SUPERINTENDENT WERE TOUTING A SLIGHT DECREASE IN THE HOMICIDE NUMBERS THIS JUNE OVER LAST JUNE AND WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND.
ARE YOU HEARING ANY OTHER ANSWERS FROM PUBLIC OFFICIALS BESIDES LOOKING AT THE COURTS AND LOOKING AT PEOPLE OUT ON BOND?
>> WELL, WE HAVE SEEN FROM MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND SUPERINTENDENT BROWN THEY CONTINUE TO PUSH THIS NARRATIVE FINGER BLAMING AT THE COURTS AT KIM FOXX'S OFFICE AND WE'VE SEEN ALDERMEN AND GROUPS AND RESIDENTS SAYING WHAT IS NEEDED IS LOOKING AT LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS.
BLOCK CLUB REPORTERS WROTE STORIES TALKING WITH RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS WHO SAID THAT THEY NEED INVESTMENT FROM THE CITY TO WORK ON VIOLENCE PREVENTION EFFORTS LIKE HOSTING EVENTS FOR KIDS.
PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WILL MAKE A LONG-LASTING IMPACT ON CHICAGO'S VIOLENCE.
>> AND KELLY, THERE ARE A LOT OF ALDERMEN THAT WANT TO USE SOME OF THE FEDERAL COVID RELIEF MONEY TO FUND SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF PAY DOWN $900 MILLION IN SHORT-TERM BORROWING THE CITY DID.
IS THERE ANY INDICATION THE MAYOR WOULD GO FOR THAT?
OR IS SHE SET ON PAYING DOWN THAT BORROWING?
>> I THINK THAT WE'VE SEEN MAYOR LIGHTFOOT INVEST A LITTLE MORE IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS.
I DON'T THINK SHE HAS GIVEN AN INDICATION THAT SHE WOULD USE THAT MONEY SHE ALREADY PUT TOWARD PAYING DOWN THE DEBT FOR MORE EFFORTS.
>> ALL RIGHT, ALSO THIS WEEK WE HAD A BIZARRE CASE OF AN IOWA MAN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY POSSESSING A RIFLE, SCOPE, LASER IN A HOTEL OVERLOOKING OHIO BEACH.
DO WE KNOW ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS?
>> I THINK THAT IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED.
THIS MAN AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT WAS UNHAPPY WITH THIS MAN BEING RELEASED ON BOND SHORTLY AFTER HE WAS RELEASED HE PROPOSED TO HIS GIRLFRIEND THAT WAS A WEIRD TWIST IN THE STORY.
BUT THIS IS STILL BEING WORKED THROUGH.
THE MAN WAS QUESTIONED BY THE F.B.I.
'S JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCE HE IS ON THE RADAR OF THE F.B.I.
BUT I THINK THERE'S STILL MORE INVESTIGATING THAT NEEDS TO GO ON TO FIGURE OUT WHY THIS HAPPENED WHO IS THIS MAN AND WHAT WERE HIS INTENTIONS WHEN HE POSITIONED THESE GUNS IN THIS WEIRD PLACE.
>> HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT EXACTLY SOMEONE WOULD BE DOING WITH THOSE KINDS OF WEAPONS OUT IN A HOTEL ROOM.
A LOT OF ANSWERS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN THERE.
>> PARIS, ONE INTERESTING TWIST ON THE MARRIAGE PROPOSAL WAS POINTED OUT, WHEN HE WAS RELEASED ON BOND HE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE CAR OF HIS GIRLFRIEND AND PROPOSED RIGHT THERE ON THE SPOT.
IF SHE IS MARRIED TO HIM SHE A FAMILY MEMBER SO SHE CANNOT TESTIFY WITH HIM DOWN THE ROAD.
SHE WAS WITH HIM AT THE HOTEL ROOM.
MAYBE IT IS A STRATEGY TO TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF BY MARRYING HER.
>> MAYBE AN ATTORNEY CALLED HIM BEFORE HE WAS RELEASED.
WHO KNOWS.
MORE IS GOING TO COME OUT ABOUT THAT.
>> GREG PRATT YOU HAD A STORY TODAY ABOUT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SOME OF HER TOP DEPUTIES WHO TOOK A VACATION TIME OVER THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND DESPITE TALKS OF WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT APPROACH SOLVING THE VIOLENCE ALL HANDS ON DECK WHO WERE THE DEPUTIES AND WHAT IS THE FALLOUT?
>> I LIKE THE IDEA OF TURNING THIS INTO A WEEK IN REVIEW OF OUR LIVES OR SOMETHING AND TALKING ABOUT THE MARRIAGE OF THE WEIRD IOWA GUY.
BUT WHAT A BIZARRE STORY THAT WAS.
ANYWAY, THE MAYOR'S DEPUTY MAYOR FOR PUBLIC SAFETY THE NUMBER ONE PERSON IN CHARGE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AT CITY HALL HE TOOK SEVERAL DAYS OFF LAST WEEK LEADING INTO THE HOLIDAY.
AND THE MAYOR'S CHIEF OF STAFF TOOK THURSDAY AND FRIDAY OFF THE WEEK INTO THE HOLIDAY.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WITHIN CITY GOVERNMENT AND WITHIN THE ECOSYSTEM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE WHO THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD EXAMPLE AND WHO THOUGHT THAT WAS DETRIMENTAL TO THE EFFORTS OF FIGHTING CRIME OVER THAT WEEKEND.
AND CERTAINLY WHEN THE MAYOR TALKS ABOUT ALL HANDS ON DECK, ALL HANDS WEREN'T ON DECK LEADING UP TO IT AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
>> WAS ANY RESPONSE FROM THE MAYOR?
YOU AND THE MAYOR HAD YOUR CLASHES IN THE PAST, DID SHE RESPOND TO THIS?
>> THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SAYS YOU KNOW, EVEN IF THEY ARE OFF THEY ARE NOT OFF.
WHICH IS THAT A COMPELLING ARGUMENT?
FOR SOME PEOPLE AND IT ISN'T TO OTHERS.
>> ALL OF US COULD SAY THAT WITH OUR PHONES WHEREVER WE ARE WE CAN BE WORKING.
AND SOME OF THE OTHER POLITICAL NEWS.
PRESIDENT BIDEN MAKES THAT VISIT TO THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS.
RACHEL HINTON FIRST THERE'S THAT SCENE ON THE TARMAC WHERE HE IS TALKING TO MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE.
TAKE ME INSIDE WHAT ARE THE WORDS EXCHANGED?
>> BRIEF MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND PRESIDENT BIDEN HAD A DISCUSSION AROUND CHICAGO'S GUN VIOLENCE.
HOURS BEFORE PRESIDENT BIDEN LANDED.
THREE OFFICERS TWO FEDERAL AND ONE CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER WERE SHOT ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE.
SO THERE WAS A DISCUSSION AROUND THE RESOURCES THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO HANDLE THE VIOLENCE TO ADDRESS IT.
NOT REALLY CLEAR YET ON THE DETAILS OF THAT CONVERSATION OR WHAT WILL BE DONE WHAT RESOURCES THE CITY MIGHT SEE.
WE KNOW THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN QUOTE-UNQUOTE REITERATED HIS COMMITMENT TO THE CITY HELPING WITH THE GUN VIOLENCE ISSUES.
MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SAID THEY HAD A NICE DISCUSSION.
SHE FEELS SUPPORTED BY THE PRESIDENT.
WHERE THAT LEADS, YOU KNOW, REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
PRESIDENT PRECKWINKLE SAID SHE TALKED TO PRESIDENT BIDEN COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE TALKED TO PRESIDENT BIDEN ABOUT VACCINES AND I BELIEVE YESTERDAY OR THE DAY BEFORE AND SAID SHE FELT THAT HE WAS A MAIN WHY PEOPLE ARE GETTING VACCINATED SHE WANTED TO THANK HIM FOR HIS PUSH FOR GETTING PEOPLE VACCINATED.
>> IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE THOSE TWO LEADERS TOGETHER PRECKWINKLE AND LIGHTFOOT BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN AT ODDS IN THE PAST.
KELLY BAUER WHAT EXACTLY DOES LIGHTFOOT WANT OUT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND BIDEN AS IT RELATES TO GUN CRIME?
AND DO YOU SEE ANYTHING COMING DOWN THE PIKE OTHER THAN BIDEN TALKING ABOUT THE DOJ DOUBLING DOWN ON ILLEGAL SELLERS THE THINGS WE'VE HEARD OVER THE YEARS OUT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON THIS.
IS THERE ANY OTHER FEDERAL RELIEF COMING?
>> WHAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT HAS SAID FOR YEARS SHE THINKS THERE NEEDS TO BE FEDERAL GUN CONTROL CHANGES.
AND SHE SAID THAT SHE IS IN THIS UNIQUE POSITION BECAUSE THERE ARE STRICTER GUN LAWS HERE BUT IN STATES AROUND US IT'S EASY TO BUY A GUN AND WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH STRAW PURCHASERS WHICH FUEL VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO.
SHE SAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP IN TO PROVIDE THE REFORM AND IT NEEDS TO PROVIDE CHICAGO WITH RESOURCES AND INVESTMENT IN TERMS OF PERSONNEL AND MONEY TO COMBAT THE VIOLENCE PROBLEM HERE AND TO ADDRESS THE ROOTS OF THAT LIKE POVERTY, LACK OF JO OPPORTUNITIES.
I CANNOT SEE GUN REFORM COMPREHENSIVE CHANGES TO IT COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE GIVEN THE EXTREME GRIDLOCK WE STILL SEE IN CONGRESS.
>> ESPECIALLY ON THAT ISSUE.
LAURA WASHINGTON OF ALL PLACES THE PRESIDENT COULD GO, CRYSTAL LAKE, McHENRY COUNTY, HOW COME?
>> BECAUSE HE WANTS THE HALLMARK OF HIS ADMINISTRATION PARTICULARLY AS HE TRIES TO NEGOTIATE THIS INFRASTRUCTURE BILL HE IS PUSHING, HE WANTS TO HALLMARK THE BIPARTISANSHIP HE WANTS TO SHOW HE WANTS TO REACH OUT TO THE REPUBLICANS AND McHENRY COUNTY DID GO WITH DONALD TRUMP THEY VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP.
SO HE WANTS TO SHOW THAT HE WANTS TO REACH OUT TO THE OTHER SIDE AND WANTS TO BUILD A CASE WITH VOTERS PERHAPS MAYBE THEIR REPRESENTATIVES THEIR REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVES IN THE STATE ARE NOT READY TO SUPPORT THIS BILL BUT HE WANTS TO GO AROUND THEM TO THE VOTERS AND BRING HIS MESSAGE ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF THIS BILL DIRECTLY TO REPUBLICAN VOTERS.
>> AND WE ARE LOOKING AT IMAGES OF COUNTERPROTESTERS OUT -- CRYSTAL LAKE McHENRY COUNTY.
ALSO, THE POLITICAL ASPECT, RACHEL HINTON, CONGRESSMAN LAUREN UNDERWOOD WHO BARELY WON REELECTION WENT FOR TRUMP BUT A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS PERSON BARELY AND I DON'T KNOW IF HER REPUBLICAN OPPONENT EVER SEATED.
DOES THIS MEAN BIDEN IS TRYING TO SHORE UP UNDERWOOD AND OTHER VULNERABLE DISTRICTS FOR THE HOUSE IN 2022?
>> I THINK IT'S A SIGN OF THAT.
I THINK THE PRESIDENT AS WELL AS OTHER POLITICAL PEOPLE WATCHING THIS STATE HAVE TO BE A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE UNDERWOOD.
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN HOLD ON TO WHATEVER SEATS THEY CAN POTENTIALLY BUILD MAJORITIES WHERE THEY CAN AND WHATNOT.
I THINK THAT COMING HERE AND SPOTLIGHTING HER THROWING THE SPOTLIGHT ON HER SAYING SHE IS A PERSON POLITICIAN TO HANG ON TO, CAN PERSUADE SOME VOTERS TO KEEP HER IN MIND AND TO VOTE FOR HER AGAIN.
BUT AS WE SAW WITH THE COUNTERPROTESTERS, THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR TRUMP AND HIS IDEOLOGIES THERE.
NEXT YEAR WHEN SHE IS UP FOR REELECTION OR WHENEVER SHE IS UP FOR REELECTION SHE WILL BE FACING ANOTHER BATTLE PROBABLY NOT JIM OBERWEIS HE COULD JUMP IN AGAIN TO THAT RACE.
BUT I THINK IT MAKES SENSE FOR THE PRESIDENT TO FOCUS ON HER AND SPOTLIGHT HER AS SOMEONE TO WATCH AND TO SUPPORT.
>> AND ALSO DEPENDS ON HER DISTRICT HOW IT WILL BE REDRAWN IN THE REMAP AND NATIONALLY HOW REPUBLICANS IN CONSERVATIVE STATE ALSO REDRAW THEIR DISTRICTS IT DOES APPEAR IT WILL BE AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO KEEP THE HOUSE IN 2022.
I WANT TO MOVE BACK LOCALLY, GREG PRATT, ALDERWOMAN CARRIE AUSTIN 34TH WARD ARRAIGNED ON FEDERAL CHARGES OF BRIBERY.
SHE PLED NOT GUILTY.
PUBLIC OFFICIALS DON'T HAVE A GOOD RECORD GOING UP AGAINST THE FEDS.
I CAN COUNT ON ONE HAND OR MAYBE LIKE A COUPLE FINGERS HOW MANY TIMES THE FEDS ACTUALLY LOST ANY OF THESE CASES.
DO YOU FORESEE AUSTIN WORKING TOWARDS SOME KIND OF AN AGREEMENT?
>> IT'S HARD TO PREDICT BECAUSE CARRIE AUSTIN IS ONE OF THE GREAT UNPREDICTABLE CHARACTERS IN CHICAGO POLITICS IN TERMS OF WHAT SHE WILL SAY OR DO.
BUT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MAKE DEALS WITH THE FEDS.
UNLESS THEY HAVE RIDICULOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY.
SO YOU KNOW, IT'S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE.
IT'S PROBABLY HARD TO IMAGINE CARRIE AUSTIN DOING MUCH TO FLIP.
SHE WAS HARD ON DANNY SOLIS FOR WEARING A WIRE.
ALMOST CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
LOOK, I'LL PLEAD GUILTY LEAVE ME ALONE WHO KNOWS IT'S REALISTIC AND POSSIBLE.
>> KELLY BAUER SHE STILL HAS HER COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP IN CITY COUNCIL THAT LIGHTFOOT GAVE TO HER AND LIGHTFOOT HAS NOT SAID WHETHER OR NOT CARRIE AUSTIN SHOULD STEP DOWN.
ED BURKE LOST HIS COMMITTEE WORK WHEN THOSE INDICTMENTS CAME DOWN.
WHAT IS THE MAYOR'S CALCULATION HERE?
AND DO YOU THINK SHE WILL COME OUT WITH A FORCEFUL STATEMENT ON THIS?
>> I THINK THAT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT HAS [INAUDIBLE] AUSTIN HAS THAT ROLE BECAUSE SHE IS A CLOSER ALLY OF LIGHTFOOT THAN OTHER ALDERMEN.
RIGHT NOW THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT ON THE FRIENDLIEST TERMS WITH MAYOR LIGHTFOOT THIS MIGHT BE ONE OF THE MOMENTS WHERE IT'S IN MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S BEST INTEREST TO KEEP SOME OF THE ALDERMEN CLOSER WHO DO HAVE TIES TO HER.
>> NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO NEED FRIENDS.
ALL THIS COMES, THREE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS UNDER FEDERAL INDICTMENT.
MUCH NOSE THE MUNOZ THE FOURTH MEMBER.
JOSEPH FERGUSON ANNOUNCED HE WOULD BE LEAVING.
NO COINCIDENCE THAT HE GOT EXPANDED POWER TO OVERSEE CITY COUNCIL AND DO YOU SEE THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ACTIVE WITH ALDERPEOPLE.
I MEAN A SIGN THAT FERGUSON IN THAT OFFICE REALLY HAS MADE AN IMPACT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND THAT'S ONE REASON WHY UNFORTUNATELY FOR HIM IS GOING TO GO.
THE MAYOR MADE IT CLEAR SOMETIME AGO THAT WHEN HIS TERM WAS UP SHE DIDN'T NECESSARILY SUPPORT RENEWING IT BECAUSE SHE THINKS IT'S TIME FOR A FRESH START.
HE DID PUSH HARD FOR ALDERMANIC REFORM HE IS NOT WELL LIKED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND IT COMES BACK TO ANOTHER THING THE MAYOR CAMPAIGNED ON AND THAT IS TO GREATLY LIMIT ALDERMANIC PRIVILEGE AND IT IS AT THE HEART OF THESE CHARGES.
WHEN YOU HAVE AN ALDERMAN THAT CONTROLS EVERYTHING, THAT SETS UP A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEMPTATION AND CORRUPTION WHEN PEOPLE NEED IF THEY WANT TO GET A SIGN CHANGED OR A BUILDING BUILT THEY HAVE TO GET THE KISS THE RING OF THE ALDERMAN.
THAT ALONE IS THE MAYOR ARGUED IS THE REASON WHY PERHAPS ALDERMANIC PRIVILEGE SHOULD BE ELIMINATED.
BUT THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENCES ABOUT THAT ISSUE BETWEEN HER AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
>> AND AT THE SAME TIME, GREG PRATT, FERGUSON AND THE IG THEY HAVE OVERSEEN THE POLICE CONSENT DECREE, PROCESS SO THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS UP IN THE AIR AS THERE'S GOING TO BE TURNOVER.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR LIGHTFOOT TO GO IN A NEW DIRECTION OR CONTINUE ON?
>> THERE'S VERY LITTLE MORE IMPORTANCE IN A NERD WAY BUT IN A GOOD GOVERNMENT WAY THAN GETTING A GOOD INSPECTOR GENERAL AT THE CITY OF CHICAGO TO REPLACE FERGUSON.
IF YOU GET A BAD INSPECTOR GENERAL AND ACTIVE ONE, THE CITY WILL HAVE PROFOUND PROBLEMS.
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL -- INSPECT GENERALS ARE NECESSARY IN CHICAGO.
THEY MAYBE LUXURIES IN PLACES BUT WHEN CORRUPTION IS PART OF THE CULTURE YOU NEED STRONG IG'S.
THAT'S SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO WATCH.
>> THOSE OF US THAT HAVE FOLLOWED CITY POLITICS THAT OFFICE HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FINANCES, SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND WE ARE OUT OF TIME RIGHT NOW.
OUR THANKS TO GREG PRATT, KELLY BAUER, LAURA WASHINGTON AND RACHEL HINTON.
>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.
JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:00 P.M. FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" AND 6:00 P.M. SUNDAY FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".
AND "CHICAGO TONIGHT" RETURNS NEXT WEEK AT 7:00 P.M. AND NOW 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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