AS A 14-YEAR-OLD.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE U.S. HOUSE AND SENATE PASSED THE EMMETT TILL ACT THAT MAKES LYNCHING A FEDERAL HATE CRIME.

ON MARCH 11 THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DECLARED COVID-19 A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

IT WAS FOLLOWED BY AN EXPLOSION OF CASES IN THE U.S. AND ACROSS THE WORLD AND A LITANY OF RESTRICTIONS AND SHUTDOWNS.

SIX MILLION PEOPLE HAVE DIED OF THE DISEASE GLOBALLY AND THE DEATHS ARE APPROACHING ONE MILLION HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AS CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE ONLY RECENTLY PLUMMETED TO LEVELS NOT SEEN SINCE LAST SUMMER.

>> DYEING THE CHICAGO KIFER GREEN IS A TRADITION BUT THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES PLANS TO MONITOR THE NORTH BRANCH OF THE CHICAGO RIVER WHERE ROGUE DYE JOBS HAVE OCCURRED.

THE NONPROFIT GROUP FRIENDS OF THE CHICAGO RIVER WARNS DYE CAN BE HARMFUL AND NOTES IT IS ILLEGAL TO DYE THE RIVER WITHOUT HAVING A >> HER USE OF THE TERM KANGAROO PROCEED SOMETHING REALLY LIT UP MANY IN THE LEGAL COMMUNITY VERY UNHAPPY WITH WHAT SHE HAS DONE THIS SOMETIMES COMMENTARY WHERE SHE TAKES OFF HOW IT CAME DOWN AND WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF IT FROM ALMOST THE BEGINNING IS CAUSING RAISED EYEBROWS IN MANY LEGAL CIRCLES.

>> DAN MIHALOPOULOS, YOU KNOW THIS SPECIAL PROSECUTOR DAN WEBB PUT OUT THE REPORT AND LED TO THE CHARGES OF JUSSE SMOLLETT.

BUT EVEN HE TOLD US HE COULDN'T GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT MOTIVATED THE OFFICE TO DROP THOSE INITIAL CHARGES HAS FOXX CLARIFIED THAT AT ALL?

>> FOXX IS MAKING THE ARGUMENT SHE SAYS IT IS MORE REVENGE OR JUSTICE THAT IF IT WERE ANYONE ELSE THAT DID WHAT JUSSE SMOLLETT DID THAT THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SENTENCED THIS SEVERELY AND THAT SHE WOULD HAVE DROPPED CHARGES AGAINST ANYONE ELSE IN THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES.

BUT SHE DID HAVE TO RECUSE HERSELF AND THAT GOT BOTCHED.

AND THERE WERE VARIOUS REASONS GIVEN WHY SHE RECUSED HERSELF.

DESPITE SHE CLEARLY FELT SHE HAD TO COME OUT PUBLICLY TO DEFEND HERSELF AGAINST WEBB AND TO COMMENT ON HOW THE JUSTICE SYSTEM ULTIMATELY PROCESSED THIS.

I THINK SHE'S FEARFUL WHAT EFFECT IT WILL HAVE.

ON HER OFFICE, BUT YOU KNOW, ON THE OTHER HAND, THIS ALL BEGAN A WHILE AGO AND SHE WAS REELECTED AGAINST AN OPPONENT WHO WAS WELL FUNDED IN THE PRIMARY, EASILY REELECTED IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

I DON'T KNOW.

THERE'S CLEARLY TWO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT ABOUT KIM FOXX AND THE ONE SHE IS TRYING TO REBUT IS NOT JUST THE ONE THAT SHEILA BEDI BOTCHED THIS CASE BUT ALSO ONE THAT SHE IS SOFT ON CRIME AND SHE WOULD SAY THAT SHE WAS ELECTED TO NOT BE THE SORT OF PROSECUTOR THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.

>> AND SHE WAS REELECTED IN 2020.

CRAIG DELLIMORE, THE FIRST WORDS WE HEARD FROM Mr. SMOLLETT WERE AFTER HIS SENTENCING.

HE HAS SAID HE IS GAY AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN IS THERE A LEGITIMATE CONCERN WHAT PRISON MIGHT BE LIKE FOR HIM?

>> WELL, AS A CELEBRITY, I GUESS IS THE WORD WE HAVE TO USE HERE, HE WOULD NOT BE IN THE REGULAR POPULATION ANYWAY.

THIS IS 150-DAYS OF HIS 30-MONTH PROBATION TO BE SERVED IN THE COUNTY JAIL.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE HIM WALKING AROUND WITH THE REST OF THE POPULATION.

HE WILL BE ISOLATED IN FACT HE ASKED TO BE ISOLATED.

SO I THINK THE WORRY IS FOR SOMEONE TO MAKE THE STATEMENT THAT HE IS NOT SUICIDAL AND IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO HIM IT WAS NOT HE WHO DID IT TO HIMSELF MAKES PEOPLE WANT TO BASICALLY START WATCHING TO SEE AND MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING HAPPENS TO HIM AT ANYBODY'S HAPPENED HIS OR OTHERWISE.

>> THE COMMENTS WOULD RAISE A LOT OF EYEBROWS.

CHUCK GOUDIE ANOTHER COURT CASE, MICHAEL MADIGAN AS EXPECTED PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN HIS ARRANGEMENT TO 22 CHARGES OF CORRUPTION.

WHY DID HE GET TO DO IT BY ZOOM AS OTHERS WERE MARCHED TO THE COURTHOUSE?

>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION IT WOULD BE EASY TO SAY THAT MADIGAN RECEIVED FAVORABLE TREATMENT.

THE COURT SAYS IT'S MORE OF THE COVID PROTOCOL THAT CAME INTO PLAY AND THAT MAYBE THE CASE IT DID WORK IN MADIGAN'S FAVOR.

HE IS THE LAST GUY ON EARTH WHO WOULD WANT TO HAVE THE EDVETTE JONES CAR -- VELVET CARPET PUT OUT.

THE MADIGAN WAS ABLE TO DO IT BY SOON.

HE HAD TO GO TO HIS LAWYER'S OFFICE IT MAYBE BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST TIME HE HAS BEEN ON ZOOM.

>> ALTHOUGH I DO THINK HE APPEARED DURING THE 2020 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION ON ZOOM BUT PROBABLY NOT HIS OWN PERSONAL ACCOUNT.

IT IS NOT SURPRISING HE PLEADS NOT GUILTY.

ARE WE GOING TO BE IN LINE FOR TWO, THREE, FOUR YEARS OF DISCOVERY AND PRETRIAL MOTIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT BEFORE THERE IS A TRIAL?

>> IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE.

ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO THINK THAT IF THE GOVERNMENT TURNS THE SCREWS ENOUGH THEY COULD EXTRACT A PLEA DEAL.

THOSE CLOSE TO MADIGAN SAY THAT THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE HE IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN HE WOULD BE THE LAST PERSON WHO WOULD CUT A DEAL WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

BUT YOU NEVER KNOW IN THESE CASES.

WHEN THE GOVERNMENT STARTS LAYING OUT THEIR CASE, AND WHEN MADIGAN LOOKS AT THE CLOCK TICKING BIRTHDAY AFTERBIRTH DAY, HE MAY NOT WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS.

>> AND SPEAKING OF FLIPPING PEOPLE AND GETTING THEM TO COOPERATE, DAN MIHALOPOULOS, IT'S CLEAR THE FEDS WANT SOME OF THE FORMER INSIDERS LIKE TIM MAPES AND MIKE McCLAIN TO COOPERATE AND THEY ARE NOT DOING SO THAT WE KNOW OF.

IS THIS A STRONG ENOUGH CASE TO CONVINCE 12 JURORS OF MADIGAN'S GUILT IF THEY DON'T HAVE THAT INSIDER COOPERATING AND PERHAPS TESTIFYING?

>> I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY BECOMES A MORE DIFFICULT CASE UNLESS YOU HAVE AN INSIDER REMEMBER SCOTT FAYWELL TURNING STATES GOVERNMENT BOTH A LOBBIEST AND A CLOSE CONFIDANTE OF MICHAEL MADIGAN WHO DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF CLOSE CONFIDANTES LIKE THAT.

BUT MIKE McCLAIN SAYS HE IS GOING TO GO TO TRIAL AND FIGHT AND SO WILL THE OTHER ComEd EXECUTIVES.

AND I THINK SCHEDULED TO GO ON TRIAL IN THE FALL.

>> RIGHT.

AND THE FEDS HAVE SAID THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME POSSIBLY.

AND IF THE ED BURKE CASE IS ANY INDICATION IT WILL BE A LONGTIME BEFORE IT GOES TO TRIAL.

LOTS CAN HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

CRAIG DELLIMORE LAWMAKERS IN SPRINGFIELD TRIED TO PUT THE BRAKES ON PORK PROJECTS CONNECTED TO MADIGAN.

IS THIS JUST FOR SHOW?

ARE THESE PROJECTS GOING TO GO FORWARD OR COULD SOME BE IN JEOPARDY?

>> IT MAY BE FOR BOTH.

CERTAINLY AT THE BEGINNING ANYTHING THAT TOUCHED MICHAEL MADIGAN BECAME SUSPECT.

LET'S FACE IT, CALLING SOMEONE A MICHAEL MADIGAN DEMOCRAT IS GOING TO BE THE NEW THING IN REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGNS IT'S NOT THAT NEW BUT IT'S HAPPENING A LOT MORE EVEN NOW.

AND SO, YES, THEY PUT FORTH MAJOR PROJECTS HE WAS BEHIND ON HOLD.

BUT IT TURNED OUT THOSE PROJECTS WERE IN LATIN -- LATINO COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE FROM THOSE AREAS ARE SAYING THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED.

WHICH BRINGS UP THE OTHER PROBLEM, NOT EVERYTHING THAT MICHAEL MADIGAN TOUCHED WAS TURNED TO COAL.

IT WASN'T ALL BAD.

AND SO NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO BACK AWAY FROM THAT AND SAY MAYBE WE'LL LOOK AT THE PROJECTS AND MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING UNTOWARD ABOUT THEM.

BUT THAT IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FROM NOW THROUGH THE ELECTION THAT EVERY SINGLE THING HE TOUCHED IS GOING TO BE SCRUTINIZED AND PROBABLY CRITICIZED UNTIL SOMEONE CAN PROVE IT WAS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

>> AND PROJECTS THAT HAD BOTH MOTIVES THEY MIGHT BE NEEDED AND MAYBE MADIGAN SAW A PERSONAL GAIN.

>> WOULD YOU BET ON [INAUDIBLE] >> FRANKLY I'M NOT A BETTING MAN DESPITE THE FACT THIS IS THE BIGGEST BETTING TIME OF THE YEAR WITH COLLEGE BASKETBALL RIGHT NOW.

I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THERE WILL BE NUMEROUS SUPERCEDING INDICTMENTS WITH ADDITIONAL PEOPLE ALL WAY DOWN THE LINE.

THAT IS JUST THE WAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OPERATES.

THEY CERTAINLY HAVE HUNG THE CLUES OUT THERE SUGGESTING THAT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUALS, ADDITIONAL SCHEMES AND PLOTS AND IT MAY BE WHAT YOU SEE IS AN ATTEMPT TO BRING SOME OF THE CASES TOGETHER.

THAT WOULD BE IDEAL FOR THE FEDS TO BE ABLE TO COMBINE SOME OF THESE THINGS.

>> COMBINING CASES YOU HAD ANOTHER GUILTY PLEA A GUILTY PLEA FROM FORMER STATE SENATOR TOM CULLERTON TAKING BENEFITS AND SALARIES FOR THE TEAMSTERS UNION WHEN HE WASN'T WORKING FOR THEM.

DOES HE KNOW STUFF THAT THE FEDS MIGHT FIND INTERESTING BECAUSE THERE ARE RELATED CASES IN THE HEAD OF THE TEAMSTERS UNION?

>> THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION.

BECAUSE REMEMBER, THIS INVOLVES THE TEAMSTERS UNION AND IT WAS QUITE SOMETIME AGO THAT THE FORMER HEAD OF THE TEAMSTERS ADMITTED HE WAS GUILTY.

BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD HIM SENTENCED YET.

AND TOM CULLERTON HAS NOT BEEN SENTENCED YET.

WE'LL SEE IF THEY ARE PART OF A BIGGER PICTURE.

BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY MUCH INVOLVED AS YOU MENTIONED WITH THAT STUDIO ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO.

THAT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL BUT ALSO WITH A LOT OF HELP FROM SOME DEALS THAT HAVE COME UNDER SCRUTINY.

OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE DRUM BEAT OF FEDERAL INDICTMENTS AND ALL THE FEDERAL ACTIVITY ALL THE FEDERAL HEAT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IT'S EASY FOR THE REPUBLICANS AS JIM DURKIN, THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER SAID TO LOSE TRACK OF ALL THE FEDERAL INDICTMENTS THAT ARE GOING DOWN HERE.

AND I THINK THAT WILL BE SOMEWHAT EFFECTIVE FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

ALTHOUGH IT HASN'T BEEN TO THIS POINT.

>> RIGHT, REMEMBER THE FIRE MADIGAN CAMPAIGNS THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO MAKE A HUGE DENT.

CRAIG DELLIMORE, DEMOCRATS HAVE TALKED ABOUT ETHICS BILLS AND DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TALKED ABOUT ETHICS REFORMS IN SPRINGFIELD IS THERE ANYTHING THERE WITH TEETH THAT HAS ANY CHANCE OF PASSING?

>> WELL, AT THE MOMENT MOST OF THE THINGS THAT ARE THERE DON'T HAVE ANY TEETH MUCH IN THE WAY OF TEETH.

THE THINGS THEY'VE PASSED.

ComEd INDICTMENT CAME DOWN ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO.

AND THEY'VE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO COME UP WITH ETHICS BILLS THAT WOULD DO SOMETHING.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE GOVERNED BY THE BILLS THEMSELVES.

THE REVOLVING DOOR YES THEY PASSED THE REVOLVING DOOR BILL BUT IT DOESN'T EXIST LONG ENOUGH YOU CAN LEAVE AND COME BACK TOO SOON TO BE A LOBBYIST.

THOSE THINGS MIGHT BE TIGHTENED MORE NOW THAT WE HAVE A INSPECTOR GENERAL WHO WANTS MORE POWER, AND WITH THIS INDICTMENT UNDER HIS WINGS, THE LEGISLATURE MAY GIVE HIM MORE POWER.

AND THAT COULD CHANGE THINGS BUT IT WILL TAKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON THIS SHOW ALONE OVER THE DECADES?

THERE IS NO OUTRAGE NOW.

THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANY OUTRAGE AND THAT WHAT IT TAKES TO GET SOMETHING DONE T SEEMS LIKE IT'S JUST A PASSING SIDE SHOW ONCE AGAIN.

>> THE REVOLVING DOOR IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE FOLKS GOING INTO LOBBYISTS AND USING THE CONNECTIONS TO LEVERAGE SUPPORT FOR WHATEVER THEY ARE LOBBYING FOR.

LET'S SHIFT GEARS.

THE C.P.S.

C.E.O.

PEDRO MARTINEZ ANNOUNCED THAT C.P.S.

STARTING MONDAY WILL NO LONGER HAVE A MASK MANDATE.

MAURICIO PENA, THIS DOES VIOLATE THE AGREEMENT THEY HAD WITH THE C.T.U.

DID THIS COME FROM THE MAYOR THIS DIRECTIVE?

>> IT'S NOT CLEAR WHERE THE DIRECTIVE CAME FROM.

BUT JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAD AFFIRMED THE AGREEMENT AND THE MITIGATION STRATEGIES SO THERE WAS A QUICK TURN AROUND FROM THAT AFFIRMATION FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION THE DECISION TO LIFT THE MASK MANDATE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ASKING THAT QUESTION AS TO WHETHER THE MAYOR DID HAVE A HAND IN MAKING THIS CALL.

>> AND C.T.U.

IS FILING A LABOR COMPLAINT.

DO YOU ANTICIPATE MORE LABOR UNREST LIKE A WALKOUT BECAUSE, AGAIN, BRINGING UP THE POINT THAT THE AGREEMENT WAS THAT THE MASKS WOULD STAY AROUND UNTIL AUGUST.

>> THE C.T.U.

FILED THAT UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE AND IT'S BEING INVESTIGATED.

WE'LL FIND OUT BY TUESDAY WHETHER THAT CHARGE GETS ELEVATED AND WHETHER THERE IS ANYMORE MOVEMENT FROM ILLINOIS EDUCATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD.

BUT IN TERMS OF WORK STOPPAGE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT I'M NOT HEARING ANYTHING THAT WOULD POINT TO NORWALK OUT.

I THINK WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE FROM WHERE WE WERE IN JANUARY WHERE THE CASES WERE EXTREMELY HIGH.

BUT THERE IS STILL A LOT OF CONCERN AROUND VACCINATION RATES ESPECIALLY ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES WHERE THERE ARE MORE THAN 30 SCHOOLS THAT HAD LESS THAN 10% OF STUDENTS VACCINATED.

I THINK THAT IS A PEOPLE ARE QUITTING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR VARIOUS REASONS, THE VACCINE MANDATE BEING JUST ONE OF THEM.

THIS IS A TOUGH TIME TO BE A POLICE OFFICER.

SO I THINK THIS IS JUST GOING TO BE ANOTHER TOUGH TIME BUT THE MAYOR'S STATEMENT THIS EVENING SAID WHATEVER IS GOING TO HAPPEN WE'RE GOING TO DO IT WITHOUT CAUSING DI-MUNITION OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> THE CITY IS ADDING MORE POLICE AND SECURITY GUARDS ON THE CTA TO TACKLE A SPIKE IN VIOLENCE.

>> THE WORD IS DISABILITY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ON EVERY PLATFORM ACROSS OUR SYSTEM THAT YOU, THE COMMUTERS SEE THE ADVISESTY OF SWORN POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL AS THE UP ARMED SECURITY GUARDS.

>> CHUCK GOUDIE ANOTHER THING WE TALK ABOUT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGIES.

NOW HERE ON THE CTA.

ARE YOU HEARING ANYTHING NEW?

OR THE SAME KINDS OF STRATEGIES THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED YEAR-OVER-YEAR?

>> YOU MEAN THEY'VE GONE THROUGH GANG INTERVENTION UNITS 30 YEARS AGO.

THEY'VE PUT TRANSIT DETAILS IN DIFFERENT NAMES ACROSS THE CTA THEY DID THAT 20 YEARS AGO.

NOT ONE OF THESE PROJECTS HAS WORKED FOR THE LONG-TERM.

AND THAT'S THE REAL ISSUE HERE.

YOU CAN FLOOD ANY ZONE IN THE CITY WITH POLICE OFFICER POLICE OFFICERS FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND YOU WILL SEE MOMENTTARY RESULTS.

THE PROBLEM IS HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THIS LONG-TERM?

AND TO CRAIG'S POINT, IF YOU HAVE POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE LEAVING EN MASS AND GOING TO WARM WEATHER CLIMATES GOING TO THE SUBURBS TO FIND JOBS IN WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE BETTER WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT HOW ARE YOU EVER GOING TO STAFF THE POSITIONS?

THEY CAN BARELY STAFF REGULAR SHIFTS NOW.

>> AND MAURICIO PENA PART OF THE STRATEGY IS TAKING C.P.D.

OFF OF THE BEAT AND PUTTING THEM ON THE CTA.

WHY THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW ON THE CTA?

>> WE HAVE -- WE'RE SEEING A 17% RISE OVER THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

SO I THINK THAT DEALS WITH A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM CTA RIDERS.

SO A BIG PART IS THAT 17% RISE IN ATTACKS AND VIOLENCE IN PARTICULAR IN THE LAST WEEK THERE'S BEEN A HANDFUL IN THE RIVER NORTH AREA.

SOME OF THOSE STOPS AND YEAH.

>> THE MAYOR HAS TO LOOK ACTIVE ON THE ISSUE SINCE HER OWN REELECTION IF SHE IS RUNNING AGAIN IS LESS THAN A YEAR AWAY.

A LOT OF NAMES ARE BEING FLOATED WE KNOW A BIG ONE ARNE DUNCAN IS NOT GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THE RACE.

WHO ARE THE FOLKS YOU EXPECT TO GET IN.

WE ARE LOOKING AT PICTURES OF POSSIBILITIES?

>> WELL, THERE ARE POSSIBILITIES.

BUT THE OTHER QUESTION IS HOW MANY OF THEM WILL BE TRULY FORMIDABLE AND POSE A REAL CHALLENGE TO LORI LIGHTFOOT.

I DON'T GET THE IMPRESSION SHE IS WILDLY POPULAR AND THAT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT I'M NOT SURE SHE IS AS UNPOPULAR AS SOME PEOPLE SOME THINK SHE IS.

IN ANY CASE, YOU CAN'T BEAT SOMEBODY WITH NOBODY AND RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT ANY OF THE PEOPLE WHOSE NAMES BANTIED ABOUT ARE KNOBS BUT YOU HAVE PEOPLE LOOKING TO BE EEGER TO GET INTO THE RACE WHO MIGHT BE COMPETING FOR THE SMALL SLICE OF THE BOAT LIKE ZEN, OR PAUL VALLAS WHO IS BACK AGAIN LOOKING LIKE HE WANTS TO RUN WITH THE SAME SORT OF ARGUMENTS THAT APPEAL TO MAYBE A VERY SMALL SEGMENT ON THE NORTH SIDE, POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS THEY LIVE IN THE CITY AND THEY VOTE.

BUT IS THAT GOING TO BE A GROUP THAT UNDERMINES A COALITION THAT LORI LIGHTFOOT HAD LAST TIME WITH BLACK VOTERS AND PROGRESSIVE VOTERS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.

>> LOW TURNOUT ELECTION.

ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE A LOT OF CANDIDATES THAT SPLIT THE VOTE.

AND SPEAKING OF CANDIDATES WE'RE TOLD THERE ARE TWO NOW FOR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL POSITION, DAN MIHALOPOULOS AT THAT TIME HAS GONE UNFILLED FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

WHO ARE THESE TWO?

AND WHEN IS THIS GOING TO BE RESOLVED?

>> WE DON'T KNOW WHO BOTH OF THEM ARE.

THERE'S ONE FROM OUT OF TOWN REPORTEDLY ACCORDING TO "THE SUN TIMES" BUT THERE IS ANOTHER WHO WAS A HIGH RANKING AIDE TO THE LAST INSPECTOR GENERAL, JOE FERGUSON.

THE CONTEXT WE NEED TO PUT THIS INTO JOSEPH FERGUSON WAS INDEPENDENT AND JOSEPH FERGUSON WAS AGGRESSIVE.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE LORI LIGHTFOOT BRISTLES TO SAY THE LEAST IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE SHE COMES UNDER TIGHT SCRUTINY AND DO THEY WANT A STRONG AND POWERFUL AND INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR GENERAL?

THIS COMES AT THE SAME TIME THAT THEY'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH INSPECTOR GENERAL AS WE DOCUMENTED AT WBEZ AT THE PARK DISTRICT WHERE THEY BOTCHED THE LIFEGUARD ABUSE CASE.

IS THERE REALLY AN APPETITE FOR STRONG OVERSIGHT HERE?

LORI LIGHTFOOT WOULD HAVE SAID SHE WANTED THAT BEFORE WHEN SHE WAS A CANDIDATE.

AND NOW SHE IS IN OFFICE, IS SHE HURRYING TO PUT SOMEONE THERE AND WILL IT BE SOMEONE AND INDEPENDENT AS JOSEPH FERGUSON WAS?

I THINK SHE DOESN'T QUITE WANT THAT.

BUT SHE WOULD PUBLICLY SAY SHE DOES.

>> HER CAMPAIGN SLOGAN WAS BRING IN THE LIGHT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A TOP WATCHDOG FOR SIX MONTHS NOT LIVING UP TO THAT.

CRAIG DELLIMORE HOW DO YOU THINK THIS PLAYS OUT?

DAN MENTIONED THE INSIDER DEBORAH WITZBURG WHO WAS CLOSE WITH JOSEPH FERGUSON DOES THAT MEAN MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT LOOK A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

>> SHE IS LOOK AT ANOTHER DIRECTION BUT SHE HAS TO RECOGNIZE DEBORAH WITZBURG NOT ONLY HAD THE SUPPORT OF JOSEPH FERGUSON, BUT SHE ALSO HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE STAFF AT THE IG'S OFFICE.

AND SHE HAS ONE OTHER THING GOING FOR HER I'M NOT SAYING SHE IS A SHOO-IN BUT AMAZINGLY THE ALDERMEN LIKE HER.

AND SHE IS NOT A RETIRING FLOWER WHO WILTS WHEN FACED WITH HOSTILE ALDERMEN.

SHE GIVES AS GOOD AS SHE GETS.

>> THANK YOU ALL WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

MAURICIO PENA, DAN MIHALOPOULOS, CHUCK GOUDIE AND CRAIG DELLIMORE.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

[♪♪♪]