>>> CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY AREN'T THE ONLY ISSUES IN THE RACE FOR CHICAGO MAYOR, BOTH CANDIDATES TALK ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD BOOST OF ELEMENT ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE.

HEATHER JOINS US FOR A LOOK AT THE PLAN WHICH TAKES A PAGE FROM THE SOON TO BE FORMER MAYOR, LORI LIGHTFOOT.

HEATHER, JOHNSON AND PAUL VALLAS SAY THEY WANT TO CONTINUE INVESTING IN THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

>> Reporter: PAUL VALLAS WANTS TO CREATE AN INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY AUTHORITY, HE SAYS THEY WILL OPERATE POLITICS FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE UNWRITTEN RULE THAT GIVES EVERY OTHER PERSON THE FINAL SAY ON WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT WARD.

EVEN THOUGH HIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN RUNS NEARLY 1500 WORDS, IT'S NOT QUITE CLEAR HOW THIS BODY WOULD WORK, WHAT AUTHORITY IT WOULD HAVE AND HOW MUCH MONEY IT WOULD COST THE STAFF.

THE CAMPAIGN DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

>> TYPICALLY, THE MAYOR STILL HAS CONTROL OVER IT, SO WHY DOES PAUL VALLAS THINK THIS NEW APPROACH IS NEEDED?

>> Reporter: HE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THOUSANDS ON THE WEST SIDE HAVE ENDURED DECADES OF THIS INVESTMENT, AND HE SAID THIS BODY WILL LEVERAGE THE CITY'S RESOURCES AND NOT JUST THIS ANNUAL BUDGET, BUT THE SISTER AGENCY BUDGET AND THE ABILITY TO BORROW, TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN COMMUNITIES WHERE THERE ARE VACANT LAND AND OF COURSE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO CRIME AND POVERTY.

>> THIS GETS AT THE ISSUE OF THEIR PREROGATIVE, WHERE THERE IS A DEVELOPMENT IN A CERTAIN WARD, THEY USUALLY HAVE THE FINAL SAY AND ALL OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS DEFER TO THAT.

LORI LIGHTFOOT PROMISED TO END THAT IN HER CAMPAIGN, WE KNOW HOW THAT SOURED RELATIONSHIPS.

WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT IS THERE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR PAUL VALLAS ?

>> Reporter: THERE IS VERY LITTLE APPETITE ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO TACKLE THIS HOT BUTTON ISSUE AGAIN, IT IS REALLY HARD TO OVERSTATE HOW GRUESOME THE BATTLES WERE ON CITY COUNCIL AND THERE IS A REASON WHY LORI LIGHTFOOT WILL LEAVE OFFICE WITH HIS PREROGATIVE INTACT, BUT A LITTLE WEEKEND.

>> SO, IF HE PUSHES THE SCALE BACK AND HE FALTERS, WHAT HAPPENS FOR THIS ISSUE?

>> Reporter: THE BIGGEST THREAT TO THE PREROGATIVE IS AN ONGOING FEDERAL PROBE WHICH STEMS FROM A 2018 COMPLAINT FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS WHO SAID THIS PRACTICE REALLY PREVENTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FROM BEING BUILT IN LIGHT AREAS OF THE CITY.

THAT COULD TRIGGER BIAS IN HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPER DEPARTMENTS, BUT WE WILL HAVE