>>> HAY EVERYONE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THE WEEKEND REVIEW.

ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS BASK IN THE GLOW OF THEIR 2024 DNC VICTORY.

>> THIS IS AN EXCITING DAY FOR CHICAGO.

BUT ALSO FOR THE MIDWEST AND THE ENTIRE NATION.

>> CHICAGO NABS THE 2024 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION AS THE GOVERNOR PROMISES IT WON'T LOSE MONEY.

WILL HE OPEN HIS OWN PERSON CHECKBOOK?

ANNE PROMAJORI TAKES THE STAND IN HER OWN DEFENSE AS SHE IS TIED TO A MADIGAN LED BRIBERY SCHEME.

>>> CHAOS AT THE COOKE COUNTY COURTS.

>> WAL-MART HAS BEEN PREVIEWING THIS SHIFT FOR SOME TIME.

>> WAL-MART CLOSES FOUR STORES ACROSS THE CITY AS MAYOR-ELECT BRANDON JOHNSON VOW TO REPLACE THEM.

AND BLACKHAWKS STAR JONATHAN TOEWS GOES ONCE MORE BEFORE THE ADORING CROWD.

JOINING US ARE CRAIG DELAMOR.

MEGAN KAPO WITH THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE.

STEVE DANIELS AN RAY LONG, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER.

CRAIG, HOW DID ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS FEEL THIS 2024 DNC DEAL?

>> TURNS OUT THE BOTTOM LINE WAS THE BOTTOM LINE.

IT WAS MONEY.

WHEN EVERYONE WAS SAYING IT WAS CHICAGO EMBODIES THE PUSH.

THE BIDEN, ETHOS.

BUT WHEN JAMIE HARRISON, THE PARTY CHAIR WAS ASKED EXACTLY WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE, HE ADMITTED ANYONE COULD TELL THE STORY.

BUT THIS IS THE CITY THAT SAID HE HAD A FINANCIAL PACKAGE.

THIS WILL COST 80 TO $100 MILLION TO PUT ON.

NO OTHER CITY, ATLANTA AND NEW YORK DIDN'T PROMISE TO RAISE THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

ILLINOIS, CHICAGO DID.

AND FRANKLY, GOVERNOR PRITZKER COULD PRETTY MUCH WRITE A CHECK.

>> IT WOULD BE A ROUNDING ERROR.

>> STEVE DANIELS, IS THAT KIND OF A CLINCHER THERE?

GOVERNOR PRITZKER SAYING IF THERE ARE SHORTFALLS WE ALWAYS HAVE MY WALLET HERE.

>> THAT IS WHAT THEY THOUGHT AND THEY SAID.

THEY OUGHT THEY HAD IT.

FOR THE GOVERNOR BILLIONAIRE.

I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD STORY.

>> AND RAY LONG, THEY ARE SAYING IT WILL GENERATE $150 MILLION.

>> I KNOW THERE ARE NUMBERS.

I WAS TALKING TO A CAB DRIVER AND HE SAID HEY, THIS WILL BE BIG MONEY FOR ME.

I'LL GET A LOT OF STUFF.

AND I SAID AREN'T YOU GOING TO WORRY ABOUT THE TRAFFIC?

HE SAID NO, I'LL TAKE IT.

I'LL TAKE THE HASSLE.

AND I THINK HE REFLECTS LARGE PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT ACTUALLY WANTS TO GET IN AND SEE CHICAGO GET A BOOST OUT OF IT.

>> IT IS ONLY A FEW DAYS.

YOU ARE IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR A FEW DAYS.

THE SECURITY, WE HAVE ALL COVERED SOME OF THESE CONVENTIONS.

THERE ARE LAYERS OF SECURITY.

MEGAN, WHERE THIS BE A MOMENT FOR CHICAGO TO SHINE?

>> IT COULD BE A LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE OR A MOMENT NOR CHICAGO TO SHINE.

I THINK WE ARE ALL AT THIS TABLE HOPING FOR A REPEAT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN 96 WHEN THE CONVENTION WAS HERE LAST TIME AND ALL THE BIG POLITICAL BIG SHOTS GOT OP THE FLOOR AND DID THE MARCARENA.

>> DO WE WANT A REPEAT OF THAT?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO BRING IT BACK.

>> IT'S BEEN DEAD SINCE THEN I THINK.

>> WHAT'S THE DAY'S VERSION OF THE MACARENA?

>> 60 DAYS I'M AFRAID.

>> WHAT ABOUT THAT?

IS 96 GENERALLY CONSIDERED A SUCCESS?

>> 96 IS CONSIDERED A SUCCESS.

IT WAS NOT THE BIG FINANCIAL SUCCESS EVERYONE WANTED IT TO BE.

BUT IT STILL WAS AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEN AND NOW I THINK AND I TALKED TO MICHAEL JACOBSON WHO IS THE HEAD OF THE HOTEL INDUSTRY.

TRADE GROUP HERE.

HE SAID THE DIFFERENCE IS A LOT OF THE HOTELS WERE IN THE SUBURBS THE LAST TIME.

THERE WERE MANY MORE HOTEL ROOMS IN CHICAGO NOW.

AND HE THINKS THEY CAN ALMOST CONTAIN ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE COMING WITHIN THE CITY.

THAT WOULD BE HUGE.

IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH MONEY PEOPLE ARE SPENDING.

>> THERE IS NO DOUBT THE HOTEL INDUSTRY IS THRILLED AT THIS.

THEY MIGHT ALSO BE OCCUPIED BY THE RNC, TOO.

PEOPLE GOING TO MILWAUKEE, SOME OF THEM MIGHT STAY IN CHICAGO.

>> WHY NOT?

RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD, BABY.

>> RIGHT DOWN I-94.

HERE'S THE QUESTION.

SO, IS IT GOING TO BE JOE BIDEN GETTING THE NOMINATION AT THAT CONVENTION?

DO WE SENSE ANY REASON HE WOULD SAY I'M NOT GOING TO RUN AFTER ALL?

>> THEY SAID AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE HERE FOR WHEN JOE BIDEN ACCEPTS HIS PARTY'S NOMINATION.

SO I DON'T THINK IT GETS ANY MORE PLAIN THAN THAT.

>> THE ONLY THING NOT TO BE MACABRE ABOUT IT, BUT THE MAN IS OLD.

SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN THAT COULD CHANGE THAT.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, NO.

>> OTHER IS THE OTHER THING, MEGAN, REPUBLICANS MIGHT TRY TO TIE DEMOCRATS TO THE VIOLENCE PROBLEMS IN CHICAGO AND SAY SEE, CHICAGO IS A POSTER CHILD FOR DEMOCRATIC RULE.

WITH DEMOCRATIC RULE, YOU GET VIOLENCE.

>> SO NO PRESSURE FOR THAT WEEKEND.

OBVIOUSLY, THEY WILL TRY TO DO THAT.

THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO THAT ALL ALONG.

AND THIS IS PROBABLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THIS IS A CITY WITH OTHER FEATURESMENT RIGHT?

WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN.

WE CAN DO THE WHOLE BOOSTER THING.

I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL BE CLEAR HEADED ABOUT THE ACTUAL CAUSES AND THE ACTUAL EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE WITHOUT MAKING IT TOO POLITICAL.

>> BUT, POLITICS ALWAYS SOMEHOW SEEPS ITS WAY INTO THAT CONVERSATION.

SPEAKING OF PUBLIC SAFETY, RAY LONG, THERE WERE SOME COMMUNITY HEARINGS THIS WEEK IN THE THIS PROCESS TO FIND A NEW SUPERINTENDENT WITH THIS NEW COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD THAT WILL LEAD THE CHARGE HERE.

THE NAME EARNEST KATO CAME UP.

>> A FORMER MEMBER OF THE POLICE FORCE WHO IS WELL RESPECTED AND SO HIS NAME CAME UP, BUBBLED UP THROUGH THE COMMUNITY.

THEY HAD A CROWD AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PUSH HIS NAME.

AS A RESULT, I THINK HE MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE TRACTION.

CERTAINLY BRANDON JOHNSON WANTS POLICEMEN FROM INSIDE THE FORCE AND HE HASN'T BEEN GONE THAT LONG.

AND HE COULD CERTAINLY BE A STRONG CANDIDATE.

>> CRAIG, VERY EARLY ON IN BRANDON JOHNSON'S, SOME NAMES THAT COULD RISE TO THE TOP.

>> IF THINGS DO COME UP, IT MAY BE BACK CHANNELS.

THE MANUAL DID WHERE HE JUST PRESENTED HIS CANDIDATE.

>> HE IS ALLOWED TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT.

THEY WILL TAKE INPUT FROM ANYONE.

WELL THE MAYOR IS ANYONE.

I THINK HE WILL ABLE TO AT LEAST MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE HE FAVORS ARE IN PLAY.

WHETHER HE CAN GUIDE IT, I THINK THIS WILL BE A PANEL.

AN INTERIM PANEL THAT IS VERY MUCH WANTS TO SHOW INDEPENDENT OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

THEY WILL NOT BE BAMBOOZLED INTO ANYTHING BUT THEY WILL BE LISTENING.

>> YOU COULD ALWAYS COME BACK AND TAKE OVER AND RAM SOMETHING THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL AND SAY THIS DIDN'T WORK.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S THE PLAN.

BUT, THIS IS CHICAGO.

>> STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.

SPEAKING OF BRANDON JOHNSON.

HE RELEASED SOME NAMES ON HIS TRANSITION TEAM THIS WEEK.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, MOST OF THEM COMING FROM THE LABOR MOVEMENT.

RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

YES.

IN FACT, THE DIRECTOR WAS JESSICA.

SHE WAS THE CHIEF OF STAFF AT ACIU HEALTHCARE THAT HELPED FINANCE THE CAMPAIGN.

THE OTHER NAMES ARE FROM THE REALM.

IT WILL BE THAT.

BUT IT IS OTHER, YOU KNOW, IT IS OTHER PEOPLE AND FRANKLY, THAT'S NOT THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE NECESSARILY IN GOVERNMENT.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE FINDING THE PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT.

>> THAT IS I THINK AN EARLY ISSUE.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THERE ARE REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT IS MANAGEMENT.

NO EXPERIENCE WHATSOEVER.

NO EXPERIENCE MANAGING A BUDGET OF ANY KIND.

THE CITY, FOR A MAYOR, THAT'S REALLY THE JOB.

I MEAN, IT'S PUTTING OUT FIRES.

IT'S MANAGING THE CITY'S FINANCES.

>> AND THE TRANSITION TEAMS THE, YOU SEE ANY PEOPLE THAT CAN PICK UP THE BLIND SPOTS?

>> I DON'T.

I DON'T, YOU KNOW, ON THE SURFACE.

THE QUESTION IS, ARE THERE OTHER PEOPLE TALKING?

ARE THEY GOING TO TURN TO SOME KIND OF OLD HANDS WHO KNOW HOW THIS WORKS?

ONE THING YOU CAN SAY ABOUT, OR I WILL SAY ABOUT LORI LIGHTFOOT IS SHE HAD REALLY SHARP FINANCIAL PEOPLE AROUND HER.

>> AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAD COME FROM THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.

>> JUST OUTSTANDING.

>> THE THREE WOMEN WHO RAN HER FINANCE OFFICE OPERATION ARE TOP FLIGHT.

YOU WOULD WONTER IF ANY OF THEM MIGHT STICK AROUND.

>> BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF IT IS TO THE VICTORY, VICTOR GO THE SPOILS.

THIS WAS A VICTORY FOR THE CHICAGO TEACHER'S UNION AND THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT.

SO WOULD IT MAKE SENSE IF A STAFF, ADMINISTRATION WITH FOLKS ALONG THOSE LINE INS.

>> I THINK THAT SOUNDS PERFECTLY NATURAL.

AND YOU HAVE BIG PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE AND BIG UNIONS.

IT IS ENORMOUS AND POLITICALLY ACTIVE.

THAT MIGHT NOT BE TRADITIONAL EXPERIENCE BUT THAT MEANS WRANGLING A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH A LOT OF INTEREST.

>> IF I COULD HAVE ONE QUICK THING.

THE COOK COUNTY BOARD IS A LOT MORE INTO THE MINUTIA OF THE BUDGETS THAN THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL.

THEY ACTUALLY DO GET INTO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS SO HE MAY NOT HAVE MANAGED THE BUDGET BUT HE KNOWS HOW TO DIG IT INTO IT.

>> THE BUDGET AT CITY COUNCIL GETS DROPPED ON THE COUNCILMAN'S DESK AND THEY VOTE ON IT FIVE MINUTES LATER AS IT HAPPENS IN THE STATE RAY LONG.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TRIAL.

STEVE DANIELS, THE FORMER CEO TAKING THE STAND IN HER OWN DEFENSE.

HOW DOES SHE PAINT THIS PICTURE THAT WHAT WENT ON BETWEEN THEM AND MATIGAN HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH BRIBERY?

>> THAT'S CAST.

IT'S INTERESTING SHE DECIDED TO TAKE THE STAND.

THAT'S UNUSUAL.

THAT DOESN'T TYPICALLY HAPPEN IN TRIALS LIKE THIS.

SO THEY CLEARLY, HER TEAM CLEARLY DECIDED WE NEED TO DO THAT.

WHERE SHE SOUNDS SOMETHING LIKE A MAFIA BOSS.

NOT TO MAKE LIGHT OF IT.

BUT THEY ARE NOT GOOD.

THEY ARE DAMAGING.

SO, THAT'S HER JOB.

OR WILL BE HER JOB ONCE SHE IS FACING PROSECUTOORS.

>> SHE STARTED BY TALKING ABOUT HER BIOGRAPHY AND SHE WAS AN ATHLETE.

THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR.

>> SHE WAS A CHAMPION WALKER IN RACES.

SHE WALKED WHEN SHE WAS A KID.

SHE ALSO TALKED ABOUT BEING A SUBSTITUTE PAPER BOY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT SHE IS PRACTICED AT COMING AT PEOPLE WITH A SPECIFIC SCRIPT.

WHEN HER SPEECH WRITERS HAD ASSIGNMENTS TO GO OUT THERE.

SHE WOULD LOAD THEM UP WITH SPECIFICS FOR THE AUDIENCE.

SHE IS PRACTICED AND SHE IS LOOKING AT THE JURY.

SHE IS JUST REALLY WELL COMPOSED.

>> THE PROSECUTION RESTED ITS CASE.

DID THEY EFFECTIVELY MAKE THE CASE HERE THAT THESE JOBS THAT WENT TO MATIGAN ALLIES WHERE NO WORK WAS DONE THEY CONSTITUTED BRIBERIES.

NETTED THEM $2 BILLION.

>> THAT'S THE LEAP THE JURORS WILL NEED TO MAKE TO CONVICT THESE PEOPLE.

EVERYBODY WOULD LOOK AT THIS AND AGREE.

ALL OF THIS IS HIGHLY UNETHICAL.

FOR THE PEOPLE CAUGHT .

>> DOES IT CONSTITUTE BRIBERY?

THAT'S A DIFFERENT THING.

IT WILL COME DOWN TO JURY INSTRUCTIONS.

AND HOW SERIOUSLY THE JURY FOLLOWS THOSE.

AND YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE PROBLEM HERE IS THAT MATIGAN DID NOT BENEFIT FINANCIALLY FROM THIS.

TYPICALLY IN BRIBERY SCHEMES THERE IS SOMEBODY POCKETING MONEY.

IN EVIDENCE, THEY HADN'T BEEN ALLOWED TO SAY HOW MUCH ANNE MADE AT CON ED.

>> IT WAS ALL THESE LOWER LEVEL ALLIES THAT GOT THE MONEY AND THE PAYCHECK.

RAY LONG WROTE THE BOOK ON THAT.

IT IS HOW IT OPERATED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

>> WELL, IT WAS REAL INTERESTING BECAUSE, ED MOONY, A PRECINCT CAPTAIN, LEGENDARY FOR BEING ONE OF THE TOP FLIGHT PRECINCT CAPTAINS WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO TURN PRECINCTS AROUND AND LEGISLATIVE RACES AROUND.

TESTIFIED AGAINST AND HE GOT UP THERE AND WAS ABLE TO SAY THAT I TALKED TO MATIGAN ABOUT GETTING ONE OF THESE CONTRACTS.

I GOT ONE OF THESE CONTRACTS.

YOU WILL GET YOUR $45,000.

BUT, GUESS WHAT?

YOU WILL GET YOUR CONTRACT BUT YOU WILL LOSE IT.

>> AND HE SAID HE KNEW WHO HE WORKED FOR.

MIKE MATIGAN.

MEGAN, I WANT TO GET TO THIS INVESTIGATION.

WITH THE COOK COUNTY COURT SYSTEM, YOUR INVESTIGATIONS FOUND THAT 90% OF THESE CASES TAKE LONGER THAN TWO YEARS TO EJUDICATE AND THE COURTS WANT TO GET ALL OF THEM DONE WITHIN TWO YEARS.

PUT INTO CONTEXT THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM HERE.

>> WELL LOOK, WE ONLY LOOKED AT MURDER CASES.

THE MOST SERIOUS CASE WHERE IT IS MOST LIKELY SOMEONE WILL BE LOCKED UP PRETRIAL PRESUMED INNOCENT.

WHAT WE FOUND IS THE MEDIAN TIME FOR A CASE TO BE RESOLVED IS A CASE THAT TAKES FOUR YEARS.

MEDIAN TAKES LONGER.

WE HAVE GUYS LOCKED UP FOUR, FIVE, SIX, EIGHT TEN YEAR, WITHOUT A TRIAL.

>> AND, YOU WERE ASKING THE COURT CHIEF TIM EVANS WHAT'S THE DEAL HERE.

WHO ARE THE CULPRITS FOR THIS?

>> EVERYBODY WILL HAVE DIFFERENT HABITS.

DIFFERENT INTERESTS.

DIFFERENT MOTIVATIONS.

AND THAT'S THE WAY THAT THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS REALLY GET ENTRENCHED.

THERE IS DYSFUNCTION AT EVERY LEVEL HERE.

EVERY STEP OF THE CASE, THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR THINGS TO GET JAMMED UP AND IT OFTEN DOES.

>> AND, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION THAT COMES TO MY MIND IS HOW DOES THIS SCORE WITH THE CONSTITUTION?

EVERYBODY HAS A RIGHT TO A SPEEDY AND FAIR TRIAL.

>> NOT THEORETICALLY.

THAT IS BEDROCK CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.

THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

NOW, IN ILLINOIS, STATE STATUTE HAS BUILT KIND OF A SCAFFOLDING AROUND THAT.

AND PUT SOME BOUNDARIES ON IT.

WHAT ILLINOIS LAW SAYS THAT YES, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL.

YOU NEED TO INVOKE IT.

ONCE YOU INVOKE IT, PROSECUTORS HAVE 120 DAYS.

IF YOU ARE IN CUSTODY, THEY HAVE TO BING YOU TO TRIAL IN THAT WINDOW.

THE THING WITH THESE CASES THAT EARLY ON, YOU WILL PROBABLY NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE ALL THE EVIDENCE AGAINST YOU.

YOU WILL NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ARGUE TO A JUDGE.

YOUR CERTAIN LEGAL THEORIES.

YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE BASIC POLICE REPORTS FOR YEARS IN THESE CASES.

IT WOULD NOT BE WISE TO INVOKE YOUR RIGHT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL BECAUSE IT WILL PUT YOU AT A DISADVANTAGE AND YOU ARE STUCK.

>> IT'S AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF WORK.

I URGE EVERYONE TO CHECK OUT THAT TRIBUNE SERIES AND THE WORK YOU PUT IN.

CRAIG, IT WOULD BEHOOVE DEMOCRATS WHO MAKE PRISON REFORM A BIG PART OF THEIR PLANK TO PERHAPS STEP IN AND DO SOMETHING.

>> BUT I THINK THE PROBLEMS THAT MEGAN OUTLINED MEAN EVEN IF YOU HAD THE GOOD INTENTION TO DO THOSE THINGS, THE SOLUTIONS ARE NOT ALL THAT SIMPLE.

BECAUSE WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT GETTING THE EVIDENCE AND DO YOU CHANGE THE RULES OF EVIDENCE SO THAT THINGS COME FASTER?

DO YOU HAVE TO STEP UP THE LABS TO GET THE EVIDENCE THROUGH FASTER?

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, A LOT OF THOSE LABS HAVE BACKLOGS.

SO YEAH.

NONE OF IT IS EASY.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THIS.

IS THAT YOU CAN'T WAVE A MAGIC WAND AND CHANGE THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

YOU CAN KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

BUT STILL, YOU KNOW, THERE IS INERTIA HERE.

>> AND YOU FOUND COOK COUNTY LAGS IN SIMILAR JURISDICTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> SURE, AND TO YOUR POINT, THERE IS A DANGER IF SOMEONE WERE TO SAY WE HAVE TO MEET THESE DEADLINES.

WE WILL RUSH EVERYTHING THROUGH.

THAT'S NOT A SOLUTION EITHER.

IT IS MULTIFACETED AND ENTRENCHED DYSFUNCTION THAT HAS GONE FOR YEARS AND WILL NOT BE AN EASY ANSWER.

>> NO ANSWERS ANYWHERE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

I WANT TO MOVE ONTO BUSINESS NEWS.

STEVE DANIELS.

FOUR WAL-MARTS CLOSING.

THEY BASICALLY SAY THAT THEY CAN'T MAKE ANY MONEY, THEY DON'T NET MONEY IN CHICAGO.

WHY DOES THAT COMPANY HAVE SUCH A HARD TIME GETTING TRACTION HERE?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

WAL-MART, GO BACK TO WHEN THEY CAME INTO TOWN.

IT WAS A BIG DEAL.

>> A HUGE DEBATE.

BIG BOX, UNIONIZATION.

>> ARE THEY GOING TO BE UNIONIZED OR NOT.

AND, THERE WAS A BIG BATTLE OVER THAT.

ULTIMATELY THEY CAME IN, BUT NOT IN A WAY YOU WOULD WANT TO COME IN.

IF YOU ARE A BIG NAME LIKE THAT.

SO THEY START THERE.

SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS, NOT ALL OF THEM.

THEY ARE CLOSING STORES IN, BUT THE BIG STORE IN CHATHAM.

THAT'S THE FOCAL POINT.

THE BIG STORE IN CHATHAM IS THE ISSUE.

TARGET CLOSED THERE, TOO.

RIGHT?

THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THAT PART OF TOWN THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR THESE BIG BOX RETAILERS.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF RESIDENTS THERE.

WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GET GROCERIES.

>> TO HEAR PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS TELL IT, THE STORE IS ALWAYS FULL.

WE MAY BE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT STANDARDS FOR WHAT IS PROFITABLE THAN WHAT OUR COMMON SENSE TELLS US.

IF THE STORE IS FILLED AND PEOPLE ARE BUYING THINGS WHY ARE PEOPLE NOT MAKING MONEY?

>> WE ALL WANT INVESTMENT IN NEIGHBORHOODS BUT IT CAN'T JUST COME FROM BUSINESSES THAT CAN DECIDE UP TO, YOU KNOW, MOVE OUT OF TOWN.

WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THE WHOLE FOODS IN ENGELWOOD.

GREAT WHOLE FOODS, GONE.

>> I HAVE BEEN IN THERE A FEW TIMES.

I SAW CUSTOMER INS THERE.

I CAN'T TELL WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS ENOUGH TO KEEP THE STORE GOING.

BUT PEOPLE ARE SHOPPING.

>> I WANT TO ADD ONE MORE THING ABOUT THIS.

CHICAGO RIGHT NOW IN THE EYES OF BUSINESS, AND, I WORK FOR CRANE CHICAGO BUSINESS.

IS NOT A HEALTHY PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.

THAT'S NOT THE REPUTATION.

FAIR OR NOT.

PEOPLE CAN ARGUE AND QUIBBLE ALL THEY WANT TO.

IT IS UP TO THAT STORE TO DECIDE OR THAT COMPANY.

TO DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT TO BE HERE.

AND NO AMOUNT OF YELLING AT THEM IS GOING TO CHANGE THAT.

SO, AT SOME POINT, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME TO TERMS WITH THAT.

AND SAY OKAY, LET'S ACTUALLY GO TO THESE BUSINESS PEOPLE AND SAY WHAT'S WRONG?

WHAT'S THE ISSUE?

LISTEN TO THEM.

INSTEAD OF YELLING AT THEM.

OR CHASTISING THEM.

>> YOU KNOW, LOSING BUSINESSES, IS ONE THAT HE WANTS TO PUT HIGH ON HIS PRIORITY LIST.

>> IT'S NOT JUST THE WAL-MARTS BUT THE BIG HEADQUARTERS THAT HAVE LEFT.

AND MCDONALDS HAS TALKED ABOUT IT.

ALSO FACULTY FROM A BUNCH OF PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES THAT ARE GOING ON STRIKE.

CHICAGO STATE, EASTERN ILLINOIS.

IS THIS JUST IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW?

THIS LABOR UNREST AND HIGHER EDUCATION?

>> CLEARLY.

BUT YOU SEE A LOT OF TIME INS THE LABOR MOVEMENTS, COPY CAT STRIKES.

IF SOMETHING IS SUCCESSFUL, IF A CONTRACT SETS A STANDARD.

AND PROFESSORS, I BELIEVE THEY CAME TO A CONTRACT RECENTLY.

AND I THINK A LOT OF THESE OTHER SCHOOLS ARE LOOKING AT THAT SAYING WHAT ABOUT US?

I MEAN, AND, A LOT OF THEM RECENTLY UNIONIZED.

SORT OF.

AND, DEALING WITH A STATE AND A CITY NOW WITH JOHNSON'S ELECTION.

IT IS ALL ABOUT UNION.

PRITZKER COULDN'T BE MORE OF A FRIEND TO UNIONS.

SO IF YOU ARE A STATE EMPLOYEE AND THESE PEOPLE ARE AND YOU SAY LOOK AT WHAT THEY GOT.

WHY AREN'T MY FRIENDS IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HELPING ME?

>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS BEFORE THE SHOW.

ALL IN THE NON-PROFIT SECTION.

THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

THE UNIVERSITIES, WHAT ABOUT WAL-MART?

WHAT ABOUT AMAZON?

STARBUCKS?

>> WITH THE NON-PROFITS, YOU ARE LOOKING AT A FINITE PILE OF MONEY.

SO THESE SCHOOLS ARE NOT NECESSARILY ABLE TO GIVE AS MUCH AS PEOPLE MIGHT WANT.

WAL-MART, AMAZON, THEY DO HAVE THE DEEP POCKETS WHERE THEY COULD PAY THEIR PEOPLE MORE.

THE PROBLEM IS, YOU ARE GOING UP AGAINST A MACHINE THAT ALSO CAN AFFORD BIG LAWYERS AND ANTI-LABOR FIRMS THAT COME IN.

AND WILL FIGHT THIS TOOTH AND NAIL WHETHER IT IS IN THE COURTS OR WHETHER IT IS IN THEIR HALLS.

AND THAT'S A HARDER ENEMY TO FIGHT FOR UNIONS.

SO I THINK THEY ARE GOING FOR THE PLACES THAT PEOPLE ARE CLAMORING FOR THEM.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> MEGAN HAS ONE TOO.

>> YOU ARE ALL REPRESENTING.

>> RIGHT.

WE ARE PROUD OF.

THOSE OF US WHO ARE UNION MEMBERS.

ARE PROUD OF THEM FOR STANDING UP.

>> BEFORE WE GO TONIGHT, WE GOT TO TALK ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT.

JUSTICE SAMUEL ALITO ISSUES AN ORDER PUTTING A STAY ON ENDING THE SALES OF THE ABORTION PILL.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR FOLKS SEEKING THIS OUT?

>> A STAY MEANS IT WILL BE AVAILABLE UP UNTIL, YOU KNOW, THIS WHOLE MATTER MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM.

I ASSUME THE ACTUAL MATTER WILL GET TO THE SUPREME COURT EVENTUALLY WHICH WILL BE FASCINATING AND I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO WATCH.

I SEE IT AS, I COVERED THE COURTS A LONG TIME.

ON A MUCH SMALLER SCALE.

RIGHT?

BUT IT IS TRUE ON THE SMALLER SCALE AND IT IS TRUE ON THE LARGER SCALE.

JUDGING ARE OPERATEING IN A POLITICAL ARENA.

THEY ARE POLITICAL ANIMALS.

WE CAN SAY ALL WE WANT ABOUT THE IMPARTIAL NATURE OF THE SYSTEM.

BUT IN THE REAL WORLD, IT IS JUST NOT TRUE.

AND YOUR DUELING RULINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT THE ABORTION PILL BRING THAT HOME TO ME.

>> SHOCKING TO OUR VIEWER THAT'S POLITICS HAS SEEPED INTO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

>> SCANDALOUS.

>> YES.

>> BUT THAT IS THE STATE OF AFFAIRS.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

A GREAT DISCUSSION.

OUR THANKS TO MEGAN, RAY, STEVE T. JOIN US TONIGHT AT 10:00 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

AND NOW FOR THE WEEKEND REVIEW, I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND WE WILL SEE YOU IN ABOUT TWO-AND-A-HALF HOURS.

>>> SO DOES ANYONE WANT TO CHECK THE SCORE OF THE BULLS GAME RIGHT NOW?

>> PLEASE DO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> WHO PAID 2.2 MILLION?

>> OH, FOR THE DOCUMENTARY?

>> NO, NO, NO.

FROM THE SHOES THAT JORDAN WORE IN THE 98 FINALS.

>> NO ONE AT THIS TABLE.

>> ARE YOU SURE?

>> I DIDN'T WANT TO SAY.

>> LOOKS LIKE THE BULLS ARE DOWN BY EIGHT IN THE THIRD QUARTER.

SO, THERE IS A PLAYING GAME RIGHT?

WE DIDN'T MENTION JONATHAN TOEWS.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY THOUGHTS?

>> CLOSED CAPTION IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD.

AND