[♪♪♪] >> BNG 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... >> WTTW NEWS HAS EXCLUSIVELY OBTAINED TEXT MESSAGES APPEARING TO SHOW REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE AND AURORA MAYOR RICHARD IRVIN BLASTING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AFTER IRVIN TRIED TO AVOID QUESTIONS ABOUT A TRUMP AT A NEWS CONFERENCE AND AS OTHERS ARE SOUGHT THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S ENDORSEMENT.

THE CAMPAIGN TRIED TO STEER AWAY FROM THE ISSUE AS IT NAVIGATES A COMPETITIVE PRIMARY FIELD BUT TEXT MESSAGES WITH A FORMER CITY EMPLOYEE APPEAR TO REVEAL THAT IRVIN'S FEELINGS ARE CLEAR.

>> IN A FEBRUARY 2018 CONVERSATION WITH A RETIRED LONG TIME CITY OF AURORA EMPLOYEE, RICHARD IRVIN PULLS NO PUNCHES WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN FORMER PRESIDENT.

QUOTE AND I HATE TRUMP, TOO, IRVIN SAYS IN ONE MESSAGE.

I THINK HE IS AN IDIOT AND ADDS AN A BIGOTED RACIST.

THE MESSAGES WERE IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS FROM THE FORMER CITY EMPLOYEE THAT IRVIN ASKED SCHEDULED A GAY PRIDE PARADE ON FATHER'S DAY.

AND THE FORMER EMPLOYEE HAS ASKED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS.

I MET WITH THE EMPLOYEE IN-PERSON AND VERIFIED THE TEXT MESSAGES AND VERIFIED THAT THE NUMBER ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE WAS THE PUBLICLY LISTED NUMBER FOR IRVIN AND ONE WE'VE USED TO CONTACT HIM.

LATER IN THE THREAD, THE TWO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT LGBTQ RIGHTS.

THE FORMER EMPLOYEE SAYS QUOTE I DON'T HATE TRUMP BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T AGREE WITH CERTAIN BEHAVIOR.

MY WORLD VIEW IS BASED ON MY UP DRY BRINGING AND THE WORLD OF GOD.

IN MY WORLD IT'S ADAM AND EVE NOT ADAM AND STEVE.

>> WHEN A WORLD VIEW IS COMAL CHALLENGEDDED BY A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT OF FAIRNESS AND EQUITY THE LATTER MUST WIN.

QUOTE, AND ALTHOUGH I DON'T HATE TRUMP, THE MAN, I DO HATE WHAT HE STANDS FOR.

THE REVELATIONS COME AFTER IRVIN SOUGHT TO DEFLECT REPEATED QUESTIONS ON WHETHER OR NOT HE VOTED FOR TRUMP AND A PRESS CONFERENCE EARLIER THIS WEEK.

>> WOULD YOU SUPPORT PRESIDENT TRUMP IF HE RAN AGAIN?

>> THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT J.B. PRITZKER WANTS.

THAT IS WHAT J.B. PRITZKER WANTS.

HE WANTS TO BE TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN HIS FAILURES AND RECORD.

>> POLLING FROM WGN SHOWS IRVIN UP BY LESS THAN 5% AGAINST DARREN BAILEY WITH 37% OF PRIMARY VOTERS UNDECIDED.

BAILEY PRAISED TRUMP AND OPENLY SOUGHT HIS ENDORSEMENT.

HINTING THAT ONE MIGHT BE IMMINENT THIS COMES AS TRUMP AS CAMPAIGNED AND ENDORSED TRUMP FRIENDLY CANDIDATES IN RACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND IRVIN RESPONDED WITH A STATEMENT TO WTTW NEWS SAYING QUOTE I DON'T RECALL SENDING THOSE TEXTS AND WHILE THERE ARE AREAS THAT I DISAGREE, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DELIVERED POSITIVE THINGS WHICH WE UTILIZE IN AURORA AND ARE NOW A FOCUS OF OUR CAMPAIGN TO TAKE BACK ILLINOIS FROM THE DISASTROUS PRITZKER REGIME.

THE IRVIN CAMPAIGN POINTED TO COMMENTS MADE BY DARREN BAILEY'S RUNNING MATE IN WHICH SHE CALLED TRUMP A QUOTE DESPICABLE HUMAN BEING BACK IN 2016.

MORE ON THAT IN A MORE.

OTHER NEWS, TODAY IS THE DEADLINE FOR CHICAGO RESIDENTS TO APPLY FOR A PILOT CASH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS WILL BE ENTERED INTO A LOTTERY TO DETERMINE WHO WILL GET $500 A MONTH FOR ONE YEAR.

5,000 HOUSEHOLDS WILL RECEIVE CHECKS IN ONE OF THE LARGEST TESTS OF GUARANTEED INCOME ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IT PASSED IN THE LAST YEAR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL.

RESIDENTS CAN VISIT... >> AND NOW ON TO OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" PANEL.

JOINING US ARE LAURA WASHINGTON, POLITICAL ANALYST AT ABC7 NEWS.

ALEX NITKIN OF THE DAILY LINE.

DAN MIHALOPOULOS OF WBEZ AND OUR OWN HEATHER CHERONE OF WTTW NEWS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT.

LAURA WASHINGTON THE IRVIN CAMPAIGN TRIED TO AVOID THE TRUMP QUESTION LIKE THE PLAGUE.

WILL THESE NEW REVELATIONS CHANGE THIS RACE?

>> IT CERTAINLY WON'T MAKE IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR IRVIN TO AVOID THAT QUESTION.

HE WON'T ANSWER THE QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT HE VOTED FOR TRUMP.

I SUSPECT FROM THE EVIDENCE OF THE TEXT MESSAGES WE KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE THAT.

I THINK IT MIGHT HELP DARREN BAILEY BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN TRYING VERY HARD AND HINTING AROUND HE IS GOING TO GET TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT.

IF I WERE TRUMP AND READ AND HEARD ABOUT YOUR STORY TODAY, I MIGHT BE A LOT MORE LIKELY TO WANT TO GIVE BAILEY A HAND AND HE COULD USE THAT BIG HAND BECAUSE HE IS BEHIND IN THE POLL WE KNOW ABOUT.

BEHIND IRVIN AND DOESN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES AND OUTREACH THAT IRVIN CAN ENJOY.

>> AND DAN MIHALOPOULOS THERE ARE REPUBLICANS LIKE VANS IN OHIO THAT COMPARED TRUMP TO HITLER AND DID A 180 AND SOUGHT HIS ENDORSEMENT AND WON.

IRVIN IS NOT SAYING THAT HE HATES HIM HE SUPPORTS SOME OF THE THINGS HE DID.

DO YOU THINK IRVIN IS GOING TO TRY AND SQUARE THAT CIRCLE?

>> IT'S DIFFICULT.

GREAT SCOOP BY THE WAY.

I GOT TO SAY OUR REPUBLICANS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY NOT J VANCE KEVIN McCARTHY, TETD CRUZ AND OTHERS LINDSEY GRAHAM, WHO SAID THINGS PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY THAT WERE INSULTING TO DONALD TRUMP.

BUT NOW HAVE TO DEAL WITH HIM AND DEAL WITH HIS SUPPORTERS SINCE HE IS OUT OF OFFICE.

AND SO AT THIS POINT THERE'S NOTHING DONALD TRUMP LIKES MORE THAN PEOPLE WHO PRAISE HIM.

AND NOTHING THAT HE HATES MORE THAN ANYONE WHO CRITICIZES HIM IN ANYWAY.

SO THIS COULD SHIFT THE BALANCE.

IF YOU ARE RICHARD IRVIN, DO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH TRUMP?

MAYBE FOR THE PRIMARY.

FOR THE GENERAL?

DEFINITELY NOT.

>> SOME OF THE COMMENTS MIGHT WIN OVER VOTERS THAT ARE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD OR LEFT OF CENTER.

AT THE SAME TIME, HEATHER CHERONE THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION TODAY WHICH GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER IS IT INVOLVED IN, GETTING INVOLVED AGAIN IN THIS REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

AIRING ADS ABOUT DARREN BAILEY IS THIS CYNICAL TO GET INVOLVED IN THE OTHER PARTY'S PRIMARY?

>> IT IS A LITTLE BIT AND WE ALL REMEMBER THAT HILLARY CLINTON WAS HOPEFUL THAT DONALD TRUMP WOULD WIN THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION IN THE ULTIMATE CASE IN BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.

AND THAT IS A RISK HERE.

IT RISKS OPENING UP QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER J.B. PRITZKER IS CONFIDENT ABOUT HIS RECORD AND HE IS WILLING TO RUN ON ISSUES RATHER THAN RESULTING IN THE CYNICAL, SORT OF BANK SHOT CRITICISMS.

BUT YOU KNOW IT IS A EXPLOITING THE SPLIT WE SEE RIGHT NOW IN THE ILLINOIS G.O.P.

RICHARD IRVIN SEEMS TO THINK HE CAN WIN THE NOMINATION BY BEING PRO TRUMP NOR ANTI-TRUMP THIS WILL BE A TEST OF THAT.

AND DARREN BAILEY, OF COURSE, IS RUNNING FULLY ON THE PRO TRUMP LINE.

AND WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHETHER THAT NEITHER FOR OR AGAINST LINE OF TRUMP CAN WIN.

THAT IS WHAT HE IS BETTING AND WHAT KEN GRIFFIN BET $45 MILLION ON.

I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT THAT IS A GOOD BET BUT WE WILL SEE.

>> WE SEE THAT DICK UIHLEIN ANOTHER BILLIONAIRE CONTRIBUTING $2.5 MILLION TO THE CAMPAIGN OF DARREN BAILEY.

LOTS OF MUD FLYING.

LOTS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING THROWN AROUND BY BILLIONAIRES IN THE RACE AND WE'RE MORE THAN A MONTH AWAY FROM THE PRIMARY.

IT WILL GET UGLIER.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED CASINO, THE BALLY'S CASINO THE PROJECT HAS AN OPPONENT WHO LIKENED IT TO ANOTHER PARKING METER DEAL.

>> THE CASINO IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE AND WHEN WE'VE BEEN ONE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS PREPARED BY A COMPANY AFFILIATED WITH THE PATTERN COMPANY THAT RAISED MONEY FOR BALLY'S LAST YEAR, $700 MILLION DEAL THAT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VALIDITY OF THAT REPORT.

AND WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE PARKING METER DEAL WE HAD TO RELY ON ONE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, WHICH SOUND FAMILY.

>> REILLY AGAINST THE PERMANENT CASINO PLAN AND THE TEMPORARY PLAN TO PUT IT AT MEDINAH TEMPLE FOR THE TIME BEING.

ALEX NITKIN THE MAYOR WANTS A VOTE IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS.

WHY SO QUICK?

>> THE ARGUMENT AND HER TOP FINANCIAL DEPUTIES ARE SAYING WE NEED THIS REVENUE.

UP TO $200 MUCH MILLION WILL COME FROM GAMING REVENUES TO THE CITY'S AILING POLICE AND FIRE PENSION FUNDS AND THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE ANY PLAN FOR THEM.

THE CITY'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER POINTED TO A POTENTIAL ALMOST $900 MILLION DEFICIT THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO HAVE NEXT BUDGET YEAR WHICH WAS NEWS TO US AND NEWS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND THEY WERE SAYING WE NEED TO GET THIS MONEY COMING IN ESPECIALLY THAT TEMPORARY CASINO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

CLEARLY A LOT OF ALDERMEN ARE NOT CONVINCED ESPECIALLY BRENDAN REILLY WHO REPRESENTS THE AREA ACROSS THE RIVER FROM WHERE THE CASINO IS GOING TO GO AND CONSTITUENTS THERE IN RIVER NORTH ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION, POTENTIAL CRIME IT COULD BRING.

>> AND DAN MIHALOPOULOS, REILLY IS BRINGING UP THE FACT YOU HAVE THIS MASSIVE PROPOSAL AND THE MAYOR WANTS TO SHOVE IT THROUGH IN TWO WEEKS.

DOES THAT SOUND LIKE THE PARKING METER DEAL TO YOU?

>> YOU KNOW, PARIS, I COVERED THE PARKING METER DEAL IN THE 2008.

AND THEY'VE ALREADY SPENT MUCH MORE TIME ON IT.

I'M NOT SAYING THEY LOOKED AT IT THOROUGHLY ENOUGH AND NOT SAYING THEY CAN'T CONSIDER IT MORE THOROUGHLY THAN THEY HAVE.

BUT THE PARKING DEAL WAS A MATTER OF HOURS.

AND IT WAS OVER A BILLION DOLLARS GENERATIONS ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY IT AND HAVE ALREADY BEEN AFFECTED BY IT.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, A CASINO IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY HAS WANTED FOR SO LONG.

I MEAN, IT GOES BACK BEFORE THE TIME LONG BEFORE THE TIME THAT I STARTED COVERING CITY HALL AND I HAVE TO SAY NOW THAT THEY HAVE IT, NOBODY WANTS IT IN THEIR BACKYARD.

NOBODY IS QUITE SURE.

BUT TO ALICE'S -- ALEX'S POINT THEY NEED MONEY THEY HAVE BEEN HELPED BY PANDEMIC RELIEF BUT CITY HALL NEEDS THE MONEY THE PENSION DEBT IS ONLY GROWING.

AND A CASINO IS ONE OF THESE THINGS THEY SEE AS A HAIL MARY PASS BUT HAVE THEY REALLY MEASURED WHERE THEY ARE THROWING THE BALL AND WHERE IT'S GOING TO LAND?

PROBABLY NOT TOO CAREFULLY.

I DO THINK IT IS AN EXAGGERATION TO COMPARE IT TO THE HASTE WHICH THEY APPROVED THE PARKING METERS.

>> LAURA WASHINGTON, THERE'S GOT TO BE A POLITICAL ASPECT.

THE MAYOR IS FACING REELECTION AND UNION GROUPS THAT WANT THIS BUSINESS GROUPS AND RESTAURANT GROUPS.

DOES THE MAYOR NEED THIS AS A FEATHER IN HER CAP?

>> OF COURSE THE MAYOR NEEDS THIS SHINEY OBJECT AND SHE HAS OTHERS SHE BELIEVES SHE CAN RUN ON.

BUT THIS IS A REALLY BIG DEAL FOR THE CITY.

IT COMES AT A TIME WHEN THE CITY NEEDS THE REVENUES.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO MAKE IT HAPPEN AND SHE CAME INTO OFFICE PROMISING.

SOMETHING SHE IS GOING TO WANT TO DELIVER ON.

AND I THINK SHE IS WANT TO DO WHEELING AND DEALING IN CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE SHE GETS IT THROUGH.

AND ANOTHER REASON IT HAS TO GO THROUGH QUICKLY THIS IS NOT THE LAST STOP, IT HAS TO GO TO THE ILLINOIS BOARD FOR THEIR REVIEW AND THAT COULD BE SOMEWHAT EXTENSIVE PROCESS AND THEY WANT TO GET THAT BALL ROLLING AND GET THE TEMPORARY CASINO UP AND RUNNING.

WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT MONTHS IF NOT YEARS BEFORE THE CASH STARTS TO COME IN.

>> A LOT OF HURDLES.

HEATHER CHERONE WHICH WAY ARE ALDERMAN REILLY'S COLLEAGUES GOING TO GO ON THIS?

>> IT WOULD BE A HARD VOTE FOR THEM TO REJECT THIS SORT OF FINANCIAL WINDFALL.

I THINK ALDERMAN REILLY AND ALONG WITH THEM, BRIAN HOPKINS HAVE THEIR WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM TO SAY THIS PLAN IS FLAWED TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY CANNOT COUNT ON THIS MONEY.

AND THAT ESSENTIALLY THEY HAVE TO CONVINCE THEIR COLLEAGUES THESE PROMISES BY THE MAYOR AND HER ADMINISTRATION ARE PIE IN THE SKY.

ANDY THAYER DO NOT EXIST.

AND THAT IS A REALLY TOUGH, TOUGH PUSH.

BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO RUN FOR REELECTION FACING A THIRD YEAR OF NEARLY A BILLION DOLLARS IN DEFICITS.

AND NOBODY WANTS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR BASICALLY LOSING THE CHICAGO CASINO THAT LIKE DAN SAID, HAS BEEN UNDER DEVELOPMENT FOR 30 YEARS AT THE LAST-MINUTE.

SO IT WILL BE A TOUGH VOTE.

BUT WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON MAY 23 AND MAY 25.

WHICH IS WHEN THE MAYOR WANTS THAT UP OR DOWN VOTE ON THE CASINO.

>> ALEX NITKIN THIS WEEK, THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAUCUS THE LATINO CAUCUS THAT HAD BEEN AT ODDS ON A WARD MAP HAVE STRUCK A DEAL.

THEY PUT OUT A COMPROMISE MAP THAT LOOKS LIKE A MON TROWS JEN GEORGIA PUZZLE GONE BAD.

WHY IS THIS THE NEW MAP THAT EVERYONE AGREED ON?

>> BECAUSE THAT IS THE MAP THAT CAN GET 41 VOTES.

41 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER.

LEGALLY YOU NEED TO GET 41 BEHIND ANY MAP BY NEXT THURSDAY OTHERWISE IT WILL GO TO A REFERENDUM.

THIS HAS BEEN A HIGH STAKES GAME OF CHICKEN BETWEEN THE MAJORITY BLACK CAUCUS AND WHITE ALDERMEN GROUP AND THE LATINO CAUCUS.

THE LATINO CAUCUS HAS BEEN SAYING WE'RE READY AND WE WILL DRIVE IT TO A REFERENDUM.

THEY GOT SPOOKED BY THE DEADLINE AND DECIDED THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO RISK IT.

WE SAW THAT COALITION STARTED TO CRUMBLE THEY STARTED TO TRY AND NEGOTIATE DEALS FOR THEMSELVES AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE THIS CORE GROUP OF THE PROGRESSIVE WIN OF THE SOCIALIST WING OF THE LATINO CAUCUS THAT WENT INTO THE MAP ROOM AND SAID HERE IS A MAP THAT WORKS FOR US.

AND SOME PEOPLE LIKED GILL VILLEGAS, THE CHAIR OF THE LATINO CAUCUS WHO ENDED UP WITH THE UGLY 36TH WARD HE SACRIFICED TO GET TO THE THRESHOLD.

>> AND THE LEADER OF CITY COUNCIL'S BLACK CAUCUS DENIED THAT WARD WAS SO BIZARRELY DRAWN BECAUSE OF POLITICAL RETRIBUTION AND PUT THE BLAME ON THE LATINO CAUCUS.

>> THEY ULTIMATELY DREW THE 36TH WARD AND THE WARDS IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA AND AGAIN THAT WAS A DECISION MADE BY THE GROUP THAT REPRESENTS.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE MAKE SACRIFICES IN THE PROCESSES, AND THAT MAYBE THE CASE THERE.

BUT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE LATINO ALDERMEN DECIDED AS THOSE SIX WARDS HOW THEY WOULD LOOK.

>> DAN MIHALOPOULOS YOU HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS LIKENING EVENING CARVED UP INTO SIX WARDS.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT ALL ACROSS THE CITY.

YOU'VE COVERED THIS STUFF FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

IS THIS JUST ABOUT PEOPLE TRYING TO HOLD ON TO THEIR POWER, PUNISH ENEMIES AND MAP OUT FOLKS THAT MIGHT WANT TO RUN AGAINST THEM?

>> YES, YOU LOOK AT IT ON THE CITYWIDE LEVEL IN TERMS OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES IN THE CITY AND THE DECLINE IN THE BLACK POPULATION AND THE GROWTH OF LATINO COMMUNITY CREATING AN ASIAN MAJORITY WARD.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT ALDERMEN CARE ABOUT THE MOST IS KEEPING THEIR JOBS.

AND THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THEM.

AND IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE IMPORTANT TO YOU DEPENDING WHO YOU LIKE WHERE YOUR HOUSE IS.

RELATIVE TO WHERE IT IS NOW ON THE WARD MAP.

BUT FOR THEM, IT IS CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT THE WAY THAT THEY DRAW THESE LINES FOR THEIR REELECTION HOPES NEXT YEAR.

ANYTIME YOU SEE A REMAP, LOCAL OR STATE RACE, SLOWLY WE'RE GOING TO SEE STORIES CROP UP OF PEOPLE DRAWN A BLOCK OUTSIDE OF A POTENTIAL CHALLENGERS WHO ARE ARE ACROSS THE STREET AND WILL HAVE TO MOVE AND UPROOT THEIR LIVES TO RUN AGAINST AN INCUMBENT.

AND SO I GOT TO SAY THAT WARD FOR VILLEGAS THEY HAVE DRAWN WHICH BASICALLY IS A -- ALONG GRAND AVENUE NEW IS DEFINITELY UP THERE IN THE NATIONAL DISCUSSION FOR THE MOST GERRYMANDERED MOST RIDICULOUSLY SHAPED WARD THAT YOU COULD IMAGINE.

>> SPEAKINGS OF RUNNING FOR OFFICE, KAM BUCKNER EXPLAINED WHY HE IS GOING TO CAMPAIGN FOR THE TOP JOB IN THE CITY.

>> I'M RUNNING FOR MAYOR BECAUSE WE CANNOT WAIT A DAY LONGER FOR A SAFE AND JUST CHICAGO FOR ALL OF US.

NOW IS THE TIME TO INVEST IN CHICAGO'S SCHOOLS, AND ITS FUTURE.

TO GIVE OUR CHILDREN MORE PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS.

>> LAURA WASHINGTON WHO IS KAM BUCKNER AND WHERE DOES HE FIT INTO THIS RACE?

>> WELL, HE'S A RELATIVELY NEWCOMER TO THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE SECOND TERM.

37 YEARS OLD A FORMER FOOTBALL PLAYER AND WORKED IN POLITICS WORKED FOR DICK DURBIN HE KNOWS HIS WAY AROUND THE CITY POLITICAL SCENE.

HE HAS AN INTERESTING DISTRICT HAS A WEIRD BOUNDARIES IT GOES FROM THE SOUTH SIDE TO THE GOLD COAST.

AS HE POINTED OUT IN HIS ANNOUNCEMENT IT IS A DIVERSE DISTRICT AND HE BELIEVES IT GIVES HIM A REAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE DIVERSITY AND THE NEEDS OF THE CITY.

AND HE'S NOT COMING OUT GANG BUSTERS IN TERMS OF ATTACKING LORI LIGHTFOOT BUT SUGGESTING SHE HAS NOT DONE A GOOD ENOUGH JOB AND EVEN WELL INTENTIONED THERE ARE PROBLEMS SHE HAS NOT ADDRESSED AND PART OF THE PROBLEM IS HER ABLE IT I TO WORK WITH OTHERS.

HE IS HOPING TO GET THE POSITION HIMSELF AS A PROGRESSIVE.

HOPING TO GET THE SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION.

BUT HE ALSO KNOWS HE HAS TO GET A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF DOLLARS.

HE HAS LESS THAN A COUPLE THOUSAND IN HIS CAMPAIGN LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGN FUND AND HE WILL NEED MORE IF HE WANTS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

>> AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT IS IN TEXAS RAISING MONEY WHICH MEANT SHE WAS NOT HERE FOR PRESIDENT BUSH TO VISIT CHICAGO.

HEATHER CHERONE HAVE YOU EVER KNOWN A PRESIDENT TO COME TO CHICAGO AND THE MAYOR NOT BE THERE TO GREET HIM?

>> I HAVE NOT.

EVERYONE WANTS THAT TARMAC PICTURE WHERE THE PRESIDENT LIGHTS UP WITH JOY AT SEEING THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO'S FACE READY TO DISPENSE FEDERAL LARGESSE AND OTHER PORK ROLLING OFF OF AIR FORCE ONE.

BUT THAT IS NOT HOW IT HAPPENED THIS TIME AROUND.

IT WAS COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE THERE TO GREET PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.

AND THEN BIDEN WAS OFF ON A WHIRLWIND TOUR OF ILLINOIS.

AND THEN OFF TO A HIGH ROLLER FUND RAZOR WHERE WE ARE TOLD BY THE SOBIATED PRESIDENT WHERE HE COLLECTED $1 MILLION FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE.

A GOOD DAY'S WORK FOR THE PRESIDENT EVEN IF MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

>> ALEX NITKIN IS MAYOR LIGHTFOOT WAS SHE PURPOSELY NOT HERE?

COULDN'T SHE HAVE DELAYED HER TRIP BY A DAY TO BE WITH THE PRESIDENT?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

IT WOULD BE HARD TO SAY THAT SHE PURPOSELY WAS TRYING TO AVOID HIM.

ANY MAYOR WOULD WANT TO BE HERE TO GREET HIM.

SHE WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS AND SAID HER ADMINISTRATION SAID THIS TRIP WAS LONG PLANNED AND IT BEEN LONG IN THE MAKING THAT WASN'T A REASON TO TELL THE PUBLIC ABOUT IT.

BUT SHE SAID THIS TRIP HAD BEEN PLANNED AND WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESIDENT WE'RE FINE WE DON'T NEED TO BE SEEN IN PUBLIC ALL THE TIME.

JUST LIKE WHATEVER LIKE IT'S NOT THAT BIG A DEAL.

>> DAN MIHALOPOULOS WE NEED TO CONGRATULATE YOU.

YOU WON THE WATCHDOG OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR THE CHICAGO GROUP EXPOSING THE SEXUAL ASSAULT HAPPENING ALL THROUGHOUT THE PARK DISTRICT WITH THE LIFEGUARDS AND THEN YOU HAVE IN EVANSTON AND LED TO SO MANY FOLKS CHOOSING THEIR JOBS INCLUDING THE PARK DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT THE HEAD OF THE PARK DISTRICT BOARD.

NOW THE CITY HAS A NEW PERMANENT PARK DISTRICT BOARD CHAIR ROSA ESCARENO.

DOES THAT MEAN THE PROBLEMS THERE ARE IN THE PAST?

>> YES, ROSA ESCARENO IS A FAMILIAR FACE AROUND CITY HALL.

SHE IS THE C.E.O.

AND GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT.

SHE WAS THERE ON AN INTERIM BASIS FOR SEVEN MONTHS SINCE THE LAST GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT MIKE KELLY RESIGNED FORCED TO RESIGN BY MAYOR LIGHTFOOT BACK IN THE FALL.

ROSA ESCARENO WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IF YOU WANT YOUR KID TO APPLY TO BE A LIFEGUARD.

THAT THEY HAVE A MADE CHANGES.

ONE OF THE KEYSTONES OF HER PLAN TO CHANGE IT IS A NEW OFFICE OF PREVENTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY AS THEY CALL IT WHICH WON'T BE RUNNING UNTIL THE SUMMER.

THEY BUDGETED MORE THAN $600,000 FOR IT.

SO THE BEACHES AND POOLS ARE SUPPOSED TO OPEN.

THE APPLICATION FOR THOSE POSITIONS ARE DOWN.

THERE IS A NATIONAL LABOR SHORTAGE AND THE SCANDAL THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR SINCE THE SCANDAL REALLY WAS FULLY EXPOSED DURING LAST SUMMER AND LAST FALL.

SO WILL THEY HAVE ENOUGH LIFEGUARDS IS THE FIRST CHALLENGE THAT WILL FACE THEM TO OPEN UP ALL THE BEACHES AND POOLS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

AND SECONDLY, WILL THEY BE ABLE TO KEEP THEM SAFE, VERY MUCH AN OPEN QUESTION WHETHER ALL OF THESE SORTS OF HORRIBLE SCANDALS THAT LASTED FOR DECADES ARE IN THE PAST NOW.

>> I WANT TO BRING UP ANOTHER STORY, LAURA WASHINGTON HOUSE SPEAKER CHRIS WELCH GETTING HIS DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO DONATE $200,000 OUT OF THEIR CAMPAIGNS TO THE CAMPAIGN OF HIS WIFE WHO IS RUNNING FOR JUDGE.

GIVEN THE SPEAKER'S POWER IS IT APPROPRIATE FOR HIM TO BE INVOLVED LIKE THAT?

>> AND THAT'S BEEN A GREAT STORY WTTW CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, SOME -- THERE'S NOTHING ILLEGAL AS CHRIS WELCH SAID AT A PRESS CONFERENCE THERE'S NOTHING ILLEGAL OR UNETHICAL ABOUT WHAT THEY DID.

THIS IS THE THING THAT DEPOSE ON ALL THE TIME.

BUT IT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT KEPT MICHAEL MADIGAN IN POWER FOR SO LONG.

THEY PROTECTED EACH OTHER AND USED CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO DO IT.

HE WILL SAY THIS IS MY WIFE.

THE PEOPLE THAT DONATED ARE ALL OF OUR FRIENDS AND THEY HIS WIFE IS RUNNING IN A SUBCIRCUIT WHERE A WOMAN OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN HAS NEVER BEEN ELECTED.

OUT IN THE SUBURBS.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE HISTORY.

BUT ALSO RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT SORT OF THAT PAY TO PLAY ASPECT OF POLITICS THAT WE'VE BEEN LIVING WITH FOR A LONGTIME.

>> DAN MIHALOPOULOS DEMOCRATS AFTER MICHAEL MADIGAN SAID WE ARE GOING TO THROW THIS PAY TO PLAY STUFF IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR.

DOES IT LOOK LIKE DEMOCRATS UNDER THE NEW LEADERSHIP OF CHRIS WELCH HAVE DONE THAT?

>> I MEAN IT CERTAINLY LOOKS LIKE NEPOTISM ALTHOUGH HE WOULD SAY THAT HE FEELS SHE CAN STAND ON HER OWN AND HER OWN QUALIFICATIONS.

I AM NOT GOING TO DOUBT HER ABILITY TO DO THE JOB.

BUT SHE DID APPLY FOR A VACANCY IN THE JUDICIARY BEFORE ONE THAT WAS CHOSEN BY THE OTHER JUDGES.

AND SHE DIDN'T GET IT.

THAT WAS A WHILE BACK.

BUT SHE IS OF COURSE, WELCOME TO RUN.

AND THE QUESTION IS IS IT A GOOD USE OF TENS OF THOUSANDS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS HE IS GETTING FROM MEMBERS OF HIS OWN CAUCUS.

NOT JUST THE OPTICS FROM A PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVE.

IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT YOU HAVE TO BE ASKING IS THAT THE BEST USE OF THE MONEY TO GET ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE SPEAKER'S FAMILY ON A GOOD SPOT ON THE PUBLIC PAYROLL OR USING THAT MONEY TO FIGHT FOR TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT.

>> I SHOULD MENTION THERE IS ANOTHER CANDIDATE THE NIECE OF KAREN YARBROUGH.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

OUR THANKS TO DAN MIHALOPOULOS, LAURA WASHINGTON, ALEX NITKIN AND HEATHER CHERONE.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

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

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND ENJOY THIS WEEKEND.

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