>>> THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THE WEEKEND VIEW, I'M AMANDA FINNEGAN A VINICKY.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>> ANDRES WAS ONE OF THE BRAVEST , THE MOST SELFLESS INDIVIDUALS I HAVE EVER KNOWN.

>> CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER ANDRES VAZQUEZ-LASSO WHO WAS KILLED ENTERING A DISTURBANCE CALL, WAS LAID TO REST WITH FULL HONORS.

>> RUNNING INVENTORY CAMPAIGN, I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE SUCCESSFUL PRODUCT.

THE REASON PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT OUR CAMPAIGN IS BECAUSE WE TELL PEOPLE THE TRUTH.

>> MARCH 21st TWO MAYORAL DEBATE, AS PAUL DALLAS TRIES TO DOWNPLAY FACEBOOK POST THAT CALL CHICAGO A HELLHOLE.

-- SUPPORT BRANDON JOHNSON.

>>> PUT THE BRAKES ON OUTSIDE CHICAGO MOVE TO NAVY PIER, CLAIMING MAYOR MIKE -- NASCAR SCHEDULE SCHEDULING SNAFU.

AND WILL THE STATE OF ILLINOIS GET A NEW STATE FLAG?

>>> NOW TO OUR WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL, JOINING US -- TORRES OF NBC 5 CHICAGO AND TELEMUNDO CHICAGO.

ALICE IN OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, MELODY RICARDO OF BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO, AND MATT MAGILL, OF WVON.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

LET'S START WITH A REALLY HEARTBREAKING SCENE, THE FUNERAL OF OFFICER BASKET-LASSO.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT IT?

YOU ARE FROM THE SAME TOWN IN COLUMBIA AS THE OFFICER.

>> CORRECT, I WAS BORN AND RAISED -- THE TOWN OF OFFICER ANDRES MAURICIO VAZQUEZ-LASSO IS FROM.

IT IS VERY MOVING TO SEE THE FUNERAL SERVICE YESTERDAY , AND TO WATCH IT UNFOLD, SEE THE AMOUNT OF TRIBUTE TO HIS COLOMBIAN ROOTS.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY WELL DONE.

IT JUST SAID SO MUCH ABOUT HIM.

WHENEVER AN OFFICER DIES, YOU GET TO KNOW A LITTLE MORE ABOUT HIS PERSONAL LIFE, ABOUT HIS FAMILY, AND WE REALLY LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT HIS PAST, AND WHEN HE GOT TO THE UNITED STATES, ABOUT 13 YEARS AGO, AS AN 18-YEAR-OLD.

NOW, A 32-YEAR-OLD OFFICER FOR THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT, SHOT AND KILLED IN THE STREETS OF CHICAGO.

>> HE SAID HIS RELATIVES WERE TUNED INTO THIS?

>> THAT IS THE THING, PEOPLE WANTED TO WATCH, THEY WANTED TO KNOW, HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?

IT IS SO CONFLICTING TO SEE SOMEBODY LEFT COLUMBIA FOR A BETTER LIFE, AND HERE THEY ARE IN CHICAGO, AND THEY LOSE IT TO EXERCISING GOVERNMENT VIOLENCE THAT THEY CHOSE.

>> THE SERVICE WAS SOMEWHAT LENGTHY.

A LOT OF IT WAS IN SPANISH.

NOBODY BROKE AWAY.

WAS THERE ANY SIGNIFICANCE, THERE?

PARTICULARLY AS WE HAVE BOTH RACE AND POLICING SO FRAUGHT, SO FRONT AND CENTER?

>> YES.

I THINK THE POINT OF EITHER FEELING CONFLICTING, LIKE SANDRA WAS SAYING, PEOPLE FROM HOME WATCHING BUT COULD NOT TURN AWAY.

THEN, AGAIN, PEOPLE HERE, IN CHICAGO, AGAIN, IT WAS SUCH A SAD STORY, WATCHING IT.

LIKE SANDRA SAID, PEOPLE JUST COULD NOT TURN AWAY BECAUSE OF THAT.

>> THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE HEARD PUBLICLY FROM SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWNSON.

HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL BE GOING TO A PRIVATE FIRM IN TEXAS.

HE HIT THE RIGHT NOTES?

AT A FUNERAL, THIS IS NOT ANY SORT OF MESSAGE FOR CHICAGO.

WHAT WAS IT?

>> ANY KNOW THAT DAVID BROWN HIT HAS GOT TO BE GOOD.

HE HAS BEEN THE MOST QUIET SUPERINTENDENT WE HAVE HAD.

JOHNSON WAS ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO THE MEDIA, VERY VOCAL.

SO, PEOPLE WERE CURIOUS TO HEAR HIM SPEAK ANYWAY.

AND USUALLY -- THE RANK OF BEING A SUPERINTENDENT, YOU KNOW WHAT TO SAY IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.

ALL THE ATTENTION, OF COURSE, ON HIM, IS THAT HE IS EXITING, WHAT NEXT FOR THE DEPARTMENT?

>> ALICE, WHAT OF THAT?

WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE DEPARTMENT?

IN A HOLDING PATTERN UNTIL APRIL 4th RESULTS COME OUT?

I THINK BROWN MISSED HIS LAST CBD GRADUATION CEREMONY.

TALK MORE ABOUT -- BUT THERE WAS ONE THERE THAT CAUSED HIM TO MISS IT.

IS HE JUST DONE?

>> YEAH, I BELIEVE HE HAD A JOB LINED UP IN TEXAS.

HE ANNOUNCED IT THE DAY HIS RESIGNATION WAS ANNOUNCED.

I THINK WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT , NO MATTER WHO WINS THE MAYORAL RACE, THERE IS GOING TO BE A VERY NEW DIRECTION FOR THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE DIRECTION WILL BE, BUT BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE SAID THEY WANT SOMEONE FROM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, A RESIDENT OF CHICAGO.

>> WHO WANTS THAT JOB?

>> PICK THREE, THE MAYOR PICKS ONE OUT OF THE THREE.

THERE IS A COMMISSION THAT WILL COME UP WITH THREE CANDIDATES, AND THE MAYOR WILL SELECT ONE OF THEM.

>> ELLIS, LET'S MOVE TO THE MAYORAL RACE, THE DEBATES, WE HAVE HAD THE FIRST SINCE THE RUNOFF.

THIS IS YOUR SPECIALTY.

YOU WROTE ABOUT HOW RACE IS BEING INJECTED INTO THIS ELECTION.

HOW SO?

>> YEAH.

IT HAS DEFINITELY BEEN VERY EVIDENT THROUGHOUT, EVEN BEFORE THE RUNOFF SEASON STARTED, THAT PAUL VALLAS BEING THE ONLY WHITE CANDIDATE, THAT IS SOMETHING THE OTHER CANDIDATES HAVE TRIED TO USE IN THEIR MESSAGING.

AND HIS PAST ASSOCIATIONS WITH GROUPS THAT ARE EXPLICITLY CONSERVATIVE, FROM THE RIGHT WING.

JUST KIND OF USE THAT IN MESSAGING IN APPEALING TO LIBERAL PARTS OF THE CITY THAT IS DEFINITELY TO ATTACK IT, BRANDON JOHNSON USED A LOT OF THIS, WHEN TRYING TO PORTRAY PAUL VALLAS AS SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE INTERESTS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN CHICAGO.

>> WE HAVE JESSE WHITE, THE MOST POPULAR ILLINOIS OFFICEHOLDER, ENDORSING VALLAS.

OF COURSE, HE IS GOING HEAD-TO-HEAD.

LOTS OF ENDORSEMENTS THIS WEEK THAT YOU HAVE ELIZABETH WARREN COMING OUT FOR BRANDON JOHNSON.

SANDRA, ARE ANY OF THESE ENDORSEMENTS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

PARTICULARLY, AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS, FOR THE BLACK VOTE?

WHICH, MOSTLY IN THE EARLIER YOU ELECTION, HAD GONE TO LORI LIGHTFOOT.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

DOES JESSE WHITE MEAN ANYTHING FOR VALLAS?

>> I THINK THEY DO PLAY A ROLE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CANDIDATES WHO ARE NOW LOOKING FOR NEARLY 50% OF THE VOTERS WHO VOTED FOR OTHERS.

THEY ARE CERTAINLY TRYING TO WIN THOSE VOTES.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT -- GARCIA WINNING THE MAJORITY OF THE LATINO VOTERS.

THEY NEED TO GET THOSE VOTERS AS WELL.

IT IS NOT JUST THE SOUTH AND THE NORTH.

THERE IS SO MUCH IN PLAY, HERE, AND WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT IS AT STAKE, THEY NEED TO PLAY EVERY SINGLE CARD POSSIBLE.

>> NO INKLING YET, WHO DO WE GARCIA IS GOING TO ENDORSE?

NO GATES -- BELIEVES HE WILL GET BEHIND JOHNSON.

IS THAT A CRUCIAL ONE?

>> IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE HE WOULD GO TOWARD VALLAS, RIGHT?

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, BRANDON JOHNSON AND GARCIA WERE REALLY PLAYING TO THE SAME CROWD.

EVEN IF YOU HAD A FEW PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR CHILE, WHERE WILL THEY GO?

IT IS THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION, BACK TO THE ENDORSEMENT GAME.

DEALS ARE MADE WHEN ENDORSEMENTS ARE ON THE TABLE.

WE WILL SEE A LOT OF ACTION, BUT I AM WITH STACY.

>> MELODY, YES, NEARLY 50% OF THE CHICAGO VOTERS -- ARE THE CANDIDATES MAKING PROGRESS IN WINNING OVER THESE UNDECIDED FOLKS OR FOLKS WHO HAD VOTED FOR OTHER CANDIDATES?

>> I THINK WE ARE SEEING THEM PLAYING THE GAME RIGHT NOW, FOR SURE.

I WILL USE THE SORT OF DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I COVER SPECIFICALLY, WHICH WERE PRIMARILY GOING TOWARD VALLAS, BUT WE HAVE SEEN BURNETT IN THE 27th WARD ENDORSE VALLAS NOT LONG AFTER HIS MENTOR, JUSTIN WHITE.

SO, WE ARE SEEING THAT HE IS TRYING TO SORT OF GET ALL THE VOTERS THAT WERE BEHIND LIGHTFOOT , AND HE DID ORIGINALLY ENDORSE HER FOR RE-ELECTION -- TRY TO SHIFT THEM MORE TOWARD VALLAS .

>> OF COURSE, WE HAVE THESE DEBATES.

ELLIS, LOTS OF PUNCHES BEING THROWN, VERBAL ONES, OF COURSE.

PARTICULARLY BY JOHNSTON.

ANY THOUGHTS ON HIS GOING ON THE ATTACHED?

IT SEEMS LIKE VALLAS IS LESS SO.

IS THERE A STRATEGY?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT IS A TIMELESS STRATEGY, IF YOU WILL.

IT WAS CLEAR FROM ELECTION NIGHT THAT VALLAS CAME IN FIRST.

UP UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO, POLLING SHOWED THAT HE WAS STILL LEADING THE POLLS.

TRADITIONAL WISDOM SAYS THAT IF YOU ARE THE FRONT RUNNER, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY PLAY IT SAFE, NOT REALLY GO ON THE OFFENSE.

IF YOU ARE COMING IN SECOND, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY TRY TO WHITTLE DOWN YOUR OPPONENT A LITTLE BIT.

IT GETS TRICKY.

WE SAW BEFORE THE RUNOFF, CHILE GARCIA WAS SEEN AS A FRONT RUNNER, HE TOOK A LOT OF HITS FROM LORI LIGHTFOOT, BASICALLY INSINUATING HE WAS A CROOK.

I THINK THAT HURT HIM IN THE END.

>> SPEAKING OF THOSE ATTACKS, ONE THAT IS PART OF WHAT JOHNSON IS TELLING AGAINST VALLAS, HIS FACEBOOK ACCOUNT HAS LIKED A LOT OF POSTS, INCLUDING ONE THAT CALLED CHICAGO "A HOLE."

MATT, THE VALLAS CAMPAIGN SAID IT WAS NOT PAUL VALLAS INDIVIDUALLY, BUT SOMEBODY FROM THE CAMPAIGN.

YOU BY THAT EXPLANATION?

AND DOES IT MATTER?

>> THE QUESTION DOES NOT MATTER.

BUT I TELL YOU, THIS IS SCARY, WHEN YOU THINK OF OPPOSITION RESEARCH, NOW.

LET'S GO THROUGH ALL YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA LIKES.

I THINK WE WOULD ALL BE SCARED OF THAT, RIGHT?

BACK SOMETHING FOR JOB INTERVIEWS NOW.

LET PART OF HOW YOU PLAY THE GAME, JUST FIND ANYTHING YOU CAN.

>> WILL IT HURT HIM?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE LOCKED IN.

IF YOU ARE A VALLAS PERSON, YOU ARE A VALLAS PERSON.

IF YOU ARE A JOHNSON PERSON, YOU ARE A JOHNSON PERSON.

THE UNDECIDED CREW, THAT IS THE BIG QUESTION.

>> ELLIS, THAT WAS YOUR STORY.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR STORIES THAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW?

>> I THINK THE WAY PEOPLE APPROACH BOTH THE TWITTER AND FACEBOOK STORIES THEY WERE LOOKING AT A PATTERN, WHERE IT WAS NOT JUST ONE ERRANDS LIKE OR ONE POST THAT WAS A LITTLE OFF.

JUST MULTIPLE YEARS OF CONSISTENT LIKES AND SOME POSTS , ACROSS MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS .

YOU CAN LOOK AT HIS CAMPAIGN RESPONSE AND SAY, OKAY, THAT MEANS THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME JUDGMENT ISSUES WITH WHO HE ALLOWS TO ACCESS HIS CAMPAIGN , OR IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THAT, YOU COULD INTERPRET IT THE OTHER WAY.

>> WE TALKED BRIEFLY ABOUT ENDORSEMENT.

ANOTHER PERSON WHO HAS BASHED VALLAS, THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE AN ATTACK BY JOHNSON, KEN GRIFFIN WANTS HIM TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR.

HE HAS NOT COME FORWARD WITH ANY CASH, THOUGH.

DO WE THINK THE BILLIONAIRE IS GOING TO PUT HIS MONEY WHERE HIS MOUTH IS?

SANDRA, WHAT DO YOU THINK ?

DO FOLKS KNOW OR CARE ABOUT KEN GRIFFIN NOW THAT HE IS A FLORIDA RESIDENT?

>> I THINK THEY WILL CARE , ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM HOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VOTING.

IN THIS PARTICULAR ELECTION, I THINK PEOPLE WERE LEANING TOWARD THEIR PARTICULAR BELIEFS.

THEY ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE, THEY DID TEND TO GO TOWARD VALLAS, WE SAW THAT, ESPECIALLY IN THE POLLS.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR DECISION FOR HIM.

THE THING ABOUT VALLAS THAT STAND OUT, SOMETHING THAT -- ASKED INSISTENTLY DURING THE FORUM IS , DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A LIFELONG DEMOCRAT?

YOU CONTINUE TO SAY THAT, BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT THE RECORD SHOWS.

SHE EVEN PLAYED A CLIP IN WHICH VALLAS SAID PARTICULARLY THAT HE USED TO BE A REGISTERED REPUBLICAN.

THAT REALLY DOES PLAY A ROLE.

>> IN TERMS OF THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION, ALSO A BIG BACKER AND MONEY PLAYER IN THIS RACE, GETTING BEHIND JOHNSON, WHO IS AN ORGANIZER AND FORMER TEACHER.

THE CTU OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED SPENDING $2 MILLION IN UNION DUES THAT WERE PAID BY ITS MEMBERSHIP TO FUND ITS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE.

THE POSITION IS THAT A MAJORITY OF THAT WILL GO TOWARD HELPING JOHNSON.

MELODY, WILL THAT HELP HIM?

OR WILL THAT HURT HIM?

ANOTHER QUESTION IN THE DEBATE, OF COURSE, HOW CAN YOU BE SEPARATE FROM THE CTU?

HE SAYS HE WILL BE HIS OWN MAN, BUT CAN HE WITH $2 MILLION BEHIND HIM?

>> HE DID SAY DURING ONE OF THE DEBATES THAT HE WOULD OFFICIALLY NOT BE PART OF THE TEACHERS UNION ANYMORE.

BUT THEN AGAIN, OTHER PEOPLE LOOKING AT WHO IS DONATING TO THE CAMPAIGN, SEEING ALL THIS MONEY COME IN FROM THE CTU, AND NOW OTHER UNIONS AS WELL .

PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO ASK, CAN YOU REALLY SEPARATE YOURSELF, WHEN IT COMES TO MONEY?

THEN AGAIN, THERE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT THE SAME THING FOR VALLAS.

WE KNOW HE HAS BEEN RECEIVING A LOT OF MONEY FROM VERY WEALTHY AND CONNECTED BUSINESSMEN AND EXECUTIVES.

SO, IT IS KIND OF INTERESTING TO SEE THAT QUESTION BE MORE CONSPICUOUSLY FORCE WITH BRANDON JOHNSON, WHEN PAUL VALLAS HAD NOT ANSWERED IT AT ALL.

>> IS IT JUST THE MONEY WE ARE LOOKING AT?

OR IS IT DEEPER, WHEN YOU COME TO THESE AFFILIATIONS?

AGAIN, JOHNSON, A PAID MEMBER, AN ORGANIZER WITH THE CTU.

AND OF COURSE, VALLAS, VERY CLEARLY TRYING TO GET CLOSE TO BUSINESS INTERESTS.

>> I THINK, WITH BRANDON JOHNSON OBVIOUSLY, HE HAS A RECORD WITH CTU.

THAT WILL COME UP.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SEE THE INFLUENCE OF CTU AND SOME OF THE AUTOMATIC RIGHT RACES, AS WELL.

HE HAS BEEN A STRONG WORKER FOR THE CTU, BUT HE WILL MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT ISSUES HE'S BEEN ACTIVE ON ARE THE RIGHT ISSUES FOR WORKING CLASS PEOPLE IN CHICAGO.

HE HAS STATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN, HE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THE SEPARATION.

>> AND OF COURSE, WHAT COMES FORWARD IN THESE FUTURE DEBATES?

ELLIS, I KNOW THESE ARE THINGS YOU WILL COVER.

ANYTHING SPECIFIC YOU ARE LOOKING TO HEAR FROM THESE CANDIDATES?

THEY HAVE SORT OF WAIVER ANSWERING THEM SO FAR, ARE YOU SAYING THEY NEED AN ANSWER?

>> YEAH, I THINK, IF BRANDON JOHNSON CONTINUES HIS STRATEGY OF BEING ON THE OFFENSIVE, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF, ONE DAY, IT WILL GET UNDER PAUL VALLAS SKIN TOO MUCH, AND HE WILL FIGHT BACK, AND HOW HE WILL APPROACH HIS REBUTTALS.

OBVIOUSLY, THE SAME ISSUES OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT , THE FUTURE OF THE CITY FINANCES AND EDUCATION, PARTICULARLY EDUCATION, BECAUSE THESE TWO CANDIDATES ARE VERY BIG FIGURES IN THE EDUCATION FIELD, WE TALKED ABOUT CTU, BUT PAUL VALLAS RAN CPS FOR A WHILE, AND THREE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

A VERY DIFFERENT SIDE OF THE ISSUE WITH EDUCATION.

HE PRIVATIZED THE NORTH NEW ORLEANS SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> THE NEW MAYOR, -- LIKE WHAT IS BEING A SCHEDULING LETTER.

OLDER PEOPLE ARE MOVING THE CASE IN CHICAGO TO -- MAYBE SOME YOU WILL BE TAKING PLACE AT GRANT PARK, THAT IS THE FIRST EVER NASCAR RACE ROLLING THROUGH DOWNTOWN.

MELODY, YOU COVERED THIS.

ALDERPEOPLE SAY THAT THE NEXT MAYOR SHOULD DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS, BUT DOES THAT JUST THROW THE SUMMER INTO DISARRAY IN TERMS OF WHEN, LET ALONE WEAR, THE CASE WILL BE?

>> WE KNOW THERE ARE SPECIFIC EVENTS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN GRANT PARK.

WE HAVE THE MUSIC FESTIVAL, WE HAVE NASCAR, WE HAVE LOLLAPALOOZA.

THE QUESTION IS, WHERE DOES -- CHICAGO FIT INTO ALL THAT?

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE SETUP AND TEAR DOWN OF ALL THESE EVENTS, THEY ARE PRETTY MUCH BACK TO BACK.

THERE IS SIMPLY NO ROOM.

THE QUESTION IS, DO THEY MOVE IT TO MAYBE AUGUST?

DO THEY MOVE IT POSSIBLY TO A DIFFERENT PARK?

OBVIOUSLY, THE COMMITTEE ON SPECIAL EVENTS WAS TRYING TO DO THAT.

IT HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD.

BUT AGAIN, THEY TRIED TO DO IT THE SAME WEEKEND AS NASCAR.

ALDERMAN BENJAMIN RILEY SAID NO WAY.

>> POLICE POWER AND PLANNING POWER, SO MUCH GOES INTO ALL OF THESE EVENTS.

SANDRA, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR ?

I ASSUME THAT OUR FAMILY TO MAKE THIS AN ANNUAL TRADITION, SPEND THE FOURTH OF JULY GOING TO THE CHASE.

COULD IT MOVE LATER IN THE SUMMER OR FALL?

>> THAT IS THE THING.

THEY ARE TRYING TO PUT ALL THESE EVENTS TOGETHER TO ATTRACT MORE TOURISTS.

SO, THEIR IDEA IS TO BRING MORE PEOPLE IN, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HOW DO YOU PLAN ACCORDINGLY?

LET'S NOT FORGET, THESE RESTAURANTS AND VENDORS, IT TAKES TIME FOR THEM TO PUT THIS TOGETHER AS WELL.

A LOT OF THEM HAVE STRUGGLED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

THEY RELY, A LOT OF TIMES, ON THE CHASE FOR CHICAGO TO GET EXPOSURE, BE OUT THERE.

FOR THEM, THIS IS A HIT AS WELL.

>> CAN WE DO THE TASTE OF NASCAR?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

MOTOR OIL?

>> CAN YOU DRIVE 200 MILES PER HOUR AND EAT AT THE SAME TIME?

>> THAT IS A SKILL I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYBODY TRY OUTSIDE OF A VIDEO GAME.

THE CITY, I BELIEVE, HAS SAID YES, THERE IS GOING TO BE A BLUES FEST, BUT WHERE AND WHEN, WE DO NOT KNOW.

>> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT , THAT A LOT OF THOSE EVENTS PEOPLE ARE ASKING ABOUT TAKE PLACE IN MILLENNIUM PARK.

PLANNING FOR MILLENNIUM PARK IS DIFFERENT FROM GRANT PARK .

WHEN WE WERE SPECIFICALLY ASKING FOR INFORMATION FOR THE SETUP AND TEAR DOWN FOR THESE EVENTS, WE DID SPECIFICALLY ASK FOR GRANT PARK, KNOWING THAT MILLENNIUM PARK SCHEDULING IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

YES, THERE WILL BE A BLUES FEST, YES THERE WILL BE THINGS TAKING PLACE AT THE PAVILION, BUT NOT NECESSARILY RUNNING INTO GRANT PARK.

>> ELLIS, WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN ?

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT IS EXITING.

DOES SHE NEED TO CLEAN THIS UP?

OR IS THIS GOING TO BE LEFT IN THE HANDS OF WHOEVER, BE IT PAUL VALLAS OR BRANDON JOHNSON?

>> YEAH, WITH THE NASCAR EVENT, OBVIOUSLY, THAT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR MONTHS, CONTRACTS ARE ALREADY SETTLED.

>> IT IS COMING.

>> I THINK THE LARGER ISSUE IS THE YEARS LONG DEBATE OVER THE PRIVATIZATION OF PUBLIC PARKLAND.

I FIRST BECAME FAMILIAR WITH HOW HE DID THAT ISSUE IS IN CHICAGO WHEN I COVERED THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT ALL NIGHT.

THERE IS A GROWING SENSE THAT THESE PUBLIC SPACES THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL CHICAGOANS ARE SLOWLY GETTING EATEN UP BY PRIVATE ENTITIES.

>> AND ALSO THE AMOUNT OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE MAYOR, BECAUSE THAT IS ANOTHER ELEMENT OF THIS.

NASCAR WAS DONE WITHOUT A LOT OF CITY COUNCIL INPUT , AND ALSO THE SCHEDULING CHANGE.

>> RIGHT.

AND THERE IS THE OTHER ASPECT WHERE OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS ARE INVOLVED IN THE PARK, LIKE THE GRANT PARK ADVISORY COUNCIL.

I HAVE SPOKEN EXPENSIVELY WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT INFORMATION THEY HAVE GOT FROM THE ANSWER NASCAR, ABOUT THE LOGISTICS OF EVERYTHING.

THERE IS A LARGE CONCERN, HOW WILL THAT AFFECT -- FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND IS TYPICALLY ONE OF THE BUSIEST TIMES FOR THEM, WITH THE ROADS CLOSED, HOW WILL PEOPLE GET TO THEM?

WILL THEY HAVE TO CLOSE DURING THE JULY 4th WEEKEND?

GRANT PARK ADVISORY COUNCIL TOLD ME THAT NASCAR HAS NOT VISITED THEM YET.

THEY PLAN TO, THEY SAY THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IN APRIL, BUT THEY ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR ANSWERS, HERE.

>> AS IT SNOWS AND IS MISERABLE OUTSIDE, WE ARE ALL THINKING JULY IS NOT THAT FAR AWAY.

I WANT TO SPEND A BIT OF TIME ON SOME THINGS GOING ON IN SPRINGFIELD .

A LOT OF BILLS GOING THROUGH BECAUSE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE DEADLINE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

ONE WOULD PAVE THE WAY FOR A NEW ILLINOIS STATE FLAG.

WE ALL KNOW CHICAGO HAS GOT THIS ICONIC FLAG .

IS IT TIME FOR A NEW ILLINOIS FLAG?

>> WE HAVE A STATE FLAG?

>> DON'T KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE?

DOES ANYBODY KNOW?

>> I KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

BUT FOR ME, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE?

WHAT IS THE REASON FOR IT?

WE ARE SEEING IT RIGHT NOW.

I AM TRYING TO LEARN, BECAUSE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER.

WHAT IS THE REASONING BEHIND IT?

>> PART OF IT IS THAT NOBODY KNOWS.

THAT IS OUR STATE SEAL, EVERYBODY.

IT HAS BEEN MADE FUN OF, WITH SOME FOLKS COMPARING IT TO -- LOOKING VERY SICK.

I DON'T KNOW.

COOK COUNTY DID RECENTLY GET A NEW FLAG AS WELL, THERE WAS A CONTEST.

ALICE, ARE YOU ABLE TO SPEAK TO ANOTHER BILL OF A MORE PERHAPS PROFOUND NATURE WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT AFFECTED THE FINAL DAYS OF THE LIGHTFOOT CAMPAIGN, WHEN SHE CAME UNDER FIRE FROM COMPTROLLER MENDOZA FOR PENSION BENEFITS THAT WERE NOT GRANTED TO MENDOZA 'S BROTHER, WHO HAD BEEN A FIREFIGHTER .

WE ALSO HAVE FULL PENSION BENEFITS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS SUCH AS HIM , WHO ARE FIGHTING LONG COVID.

IS THIS STATE BILL GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE?

HOW MUCH DID THAT PLAY INTO LIGHTFOOT'S DEFEAT?

>> I AM NOT SUPER FAMILIAR WITH THE FINER DETAILS, BUT I WOULD SAY DEFINITELY AN IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.

I THINK GENERALLY, IT PLAYS INTO THE ONGOING THEME OF TENSION BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND THE RANK-AND-FILE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS ON HOW SHE HAS APPROACHED COVID, ESPECIALLY.

>> THE TIMING OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE, THOUGH, WAS INTENDED, I THINK, TO HAVE IMPACT.

>> MENDOZA SAYS IT WAS NOT POLITICAL, BUT YOU DON'T BUY IT.

>> A WEEK BEFORE THE ELECTION?

>> NOT EVEN.

>> I THINK SHE KNEW IT WAS GETTING THE NIGHT BEFORE.

IT WAS FINALIZED.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO TO YOU.

WE HAVE SOME BIG NEWS IN SPORTS.

YEAH, THEY HAVE THE FIRST PICK.

GAVE IT UP, WAS IT A GOOD MOVE?

WHAT DID THEY GET?

>> PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SPECULATIVE THE BEARS WERE GOING TO TRADE IT FOR A BUNDLE OF PICS.

NOT ONLY DID THEY DO THAT, THEY GOT A PLAYER AS WELL THAT THEY NEEDED, DJ MOORE, WIDE RECEIVER, SAID HE MADE THE TRADE WITH THE CAROLINA PANTHERS, SO THE BEARS WILL GET THE KNIFE PICK, BUT THE PANTHERS WILL GET THE NUMBER ONE PICK, AND THEY WILL PICK A QUARTERBACK.

THE BEARS WILL STILL GET THE KNIFE PICK, AND PICK UP A RECEIVER AND A BUNDLE OF OTHER DRAFT PICKS.

NOT ONLY THIS YEAR, BUT FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

GOOD DEAL.

>> STICKING WITH QB JUSTIN FIELDS , AND ALL THE REST OF THE STICK, WHAT DO THEY NEED?

>> OFFENSIVE LINE, DEFENSIVE LINE IS WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT.

AT NINE, THEY WILL BE LOOKING AT WHO IS THE BEST LAYER ON THE BOARD.

OFFENSIVE LINE AND DEFENSIVE LINE IS WHAT THEY WILL NEED TO HELP THE TEAM OUT.

>> THEY GIVE IT ALL UP.

YOU ARE ALSO WATCHING, I AM SURE, THE BIG 10 TOURNAMENT.

OUCH, LAST NIGHT.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BIG TEN TOURNAMENT?

WHAT IS IT VOTER MARCH MADNESS?

>> HOW MANY BIG TEN TEAMS ARE GOING TO MAKE THE TOURNAMENT?

HOW MANY MARCH MADNESS TEAMS?

PEOPLE ARE ASKING ABOUT THAT.

>> PREDICTIONS, THERE?

>> IT DEPENDS.

A COUPLE TEAMS MIGHT BE ON THE BUBBLE.

OHIO STATE LOOK LIKE THEY ARE PLAYING GOOD RIGHT NOW.

IT IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR THE TOURNAMENT, SO THEY WILL GET A GOOD LOOK, BUT A COUPLE OF THE TEAM THAT LOST IN THE FIRST ROUND MIGHT BE ON THE BUBBLE.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS TOURNAMENT COMING TO CHICAGO, IT IS GOOD FOR UNITED CENTER, EVEN THOUGH THE STRIKE IS ON.

>> WHY IS IT GOOD FOR UNITED CENTER?

THERE IS A STRIKE RIGHT NOW.

MELODY?

TIMING OF THAT, ESPECIALLY, OF COURSE, WITH CHICAGO COMPETING FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

WHAT IMPACT DOES THE STRIKE HAVE?

IF YOU'RE HAVING A BIG TEN TOURNAMENT AND PEOPLE CAN GET HOT DOGS BUT NOT A DRUMSTICK?

I DON'T KNOW.

>> WE HAVE DEFINITELY SEEN PEOPLE SAYING ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THERE ARE PORTIONS OF THE UNITED CENTER WHERE YOU CANNOT GET CONCESSIONS FROM, THAT MAYBE SOME OF THE MORE SPECIALIZED THINGS, BECAUSE OF THE STRIKE GOING ON.

I KNOW YOU PROBABLY HAVE MORE INSIGHT ON THAT.

>> STICK MEDALLIONS ARE OFF THE MENU.

HOTDOGS FOR EVERYONE.

>> THEY HAD STEAK MEDALLIONS?

WHO KNEW?

>> -- SAYING THIS IS NOT GOING TO IMPACT OPERATIONS, I AM CURIOUS TO SEE.

>> HOW COULD IT NOT?

THOSE STEAK MEDALLIONS, I AM GUESSING -- THIS IS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM, BUT CONCESSIONS IN GENERAL, IT HAS GOT TO BE A LITTLE BABY STEAK, I AM GUESSING, THE COST $60?

A MORTGAGE?

>> IN THE SUITES, YOU SPARE NO EXPENSE, YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE DEALS AND IMPRESS PEOPLE.

BUT GOOD FOR CHICAGO, AND FOR THE HOTELS, GOOD FOR THE TAX REVENUE THAT WE SEE.

BUT I THINK MELLI'S POINT ABOUT THE CONVENTION IS REALLY KEY, BUT ABOUT IT HAVING THEIR OWN PROBLEMS.

>> ALSO, I WANT TO LOOK AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK, WE HAVE JUST GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT, BUT A LOT IS COMING UP.

YOU HAVE THE FORD GOING TO TRIAL, ALSO THE STATE SUPREME COURT GOING TO HEAR THE CASE AGAINST THE ILLINOIS ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN.

SANDRA, ANYTHING YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF WHAT THIS MEANS FOR ILLINOIS GUN LAW?

>> EVERYBODY IS LOOKING AT THIS CLOSELY, ESPECIALLY WITH ELECTIONS COMING UP, IT IS A BIG TALKER.

IT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY.

>> IT IS IN THE HANDS OF THE STATE SUPREME COURT, WHICH IS IN DEMOCRATIC HANDS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WILL MEAN.

AND THE FEDERAL COURT ACTION AS POSSIBLE LATER AS WELL.

WE WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT AS WELL BUT OUR THANKS TO SANDRA TORRES, MELODY RICARDO, ALICE YAN, AND MATT MIGUEL.

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN GET CHICAGO TONIGHT AND THE WEEK IN REVIEW ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, ALSO ON OUR WEBSITE, THAT IS NEWS.WTTW.COM.

LOTS OF AMAZING CONTENT, THERE.

JOIN GUEST HOST PHIL PONCE BACK TONIGHT AT 10:00 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

>>> A NEW REPORT SHOWS BLACK AND LATINO DRIVERS ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO BE PULLED OVER BY POLICE THAN WHITE DRIVERS.

AND AN ALL AFFORDABLE CONDO BUILDING IS READY FOR ITS DEBUT IN THE WESTMORE TOWN AREA.

FOR THE WEEK IN REVIEW, I AM AMANDA VINICKY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

SUMMER IS ON THE WAY.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>>> SPEAKING OF FUN FESTIVALS, ANNUAL TRADITIONS, WE HAVE GOT CHICAGO DYING THE RIVER GREEN, AND THE BIG PARADE.

ANYBODY PLANNING TO GO TOMORROW?

>> YOU ARE RIGHT, PEOPLE COME IN FROM OUT OF THE CITY.