weekend review.

I'm Lumber.

>> Veteran Congressman Danny Davis says it's time to pass the time.

Mayor Brandon Johnson eyes new sources of revenue to plug the city's massive budget gap.

And Chicago Cubs fans say goodbye to the legendary Ryne Sandberg.

>> We're covering all that and plenty more tonight.

And there's a great panel here to help us do it.

They are Quin Myers from Block Club.

Chicago Alden Lowry from WBEZ.

Kate, our Money from The Chicago Tribune and Chris Jones also from the Chicago Tribune.

That's the trip side of the table over there.

Let's get right to it.

Thank you all for being here.

So as we said, after nearly 30 years in Congress, 83 year-old Danny Davis said this week he will not run for re-election next year.

Here is a clip from his announcement.

>> Yeah, the road has not always been.

>> That yes.

But tell you, I've had so much fun doing I would do it not linked I would hate to do it.

You know?

>> You gotta love the enthusiasm there.

I mean, I do love my job.

know if I paid, but you know, all the Larry people have been speculating for a while about whether Congressman Davis run again, even you know, and he's pat in most recent not necessarily a surprise, but yet another shakeup here and the Illinois congressional delegation big-time.

I mean, we've we've you know, there's already the loss of a Durbin.

We saw House key stepping away.

And now another person who'd been forever actually was surprising to me.

I just figured Dana Davis would be there until they have to carry him out.

but yeah, it's it's a hot seat.

I think already 9 people have indicated that they're going to go after it.

And couple heavyweights included.

So this could be very interesting of a political season coming up.

Davis endorse ALA Sean for longtime state from the West Side.

But there are some big games, most encounters Irvine, Chicago treasurer.

>> You know, other local officials and this is an district in at the Westside and parts of downtown on the downtown, right.

So really covers a wide range of the city and suburbs Conyers Irvin who previously made bid for the seat.

I mean.

>> How about that?

Chris Jones there, you know, all these candidates who are already in the Davis is throwing his support behind a longtime state lawmaker, LaShawn Ford.

How much of a difference do you think that endorsement might make?

thing he hopes he's gonna make a very big difference?

I know.

I just think we got to pay some tribute head to the departing congressman who I've always really enjoyed.

I guess 83 is the new 65 probably property probably headed out at about the right time.

I think right thing in these and these occasions is by all means endorses candidate.

I wouldn't Z's absolutely fat Farron right to do that.

But ultimately the voters should be able to, you know, shouldn't be a kind of a passed down by Fiat.

It should be an open contest between as always say, very, very good, very, very good candidates.

And so I think to be an interesting race, least in this instance, we can say that was Shawn Ford is unrelated to penetrate.

so why should talk Well, we've got a a looming budget deadline here facing Chicago public schools yesterday, Illinois lawmakers held a hearing.

>> On the state of the school district's finances.

Here's some of what school board President Shannon, Hardin and State Representative Curtis Tarver had to say.

>> But no matter how committed we are about how committed our school communities are.

We can't do this work alone.

We need the partnership of the General Assembly.

This is not a single entities problem just saw.

This is our shared responsibility.

And one we must address.

I don't think that it's a job Springfield to rescue the school districts that might have been responsible.

One time money they received poor fiscal management on the part of the local government.

It's not necessarily the responsibility Springfield.

It said that it has been in the past.

>> So Kate Armenia, you know, fairly testy exchanges there, you know, debating the problems and who's to blame.

But how much did we hear in the way of solutions?

Yeah, here and really underscores how there isn't really a clear plan, especially with just 3 weeks left to address Chicago, Public schools, budget.

>> There a couple options that have been floated that include Marquette switches.

Obviously, you know, definitely but have a significant impact on schools.

There's the possibility of a loan, but that would be a short-term high interest loan, which also comes with some challenges.

So it'll definitely interesting to see how it shapes out.

>> And we've already seen, you know, CPS making some trims to its budget.

You know what's what's the latest there?

Yeah, so so far officials have identified about 160 million in cuts.

>> And that's mostly in the Central Administrative office.

Some positions as well.

there's still millions and millions that need to be addressed.

The latest numbers still that 740 million deficit just not really clear plan on on how to approach that.

And it doesn't seem like the state legislature here particularly interesting riding into the rest.

I we have this crazy situation right now at all of the Chicago.

And these are essentially relying on Springfield to come riding to the rescue.

You've got.

>> Cps, you've got the CTA and you've even got the sort of the whole city itself essentially saying, mean, they use words like partnership.

But what they're really saying is come and give us money so that we don't have to make any of the necessary cuts.

And that's it's just it's not going to down in Springfield enough.

All of these and it is with this level of money without, you know, showing Springfield at this some kind of responsible fiscal management going on and obviously a fairly strained relationship or sort of limited relationship with with Mayor Brandon Johnson and state lawmakers doesn't necessarily help that situation either.

No, it definitely does not.

I mean, I think one of the 3 will happen somehow, whether that's with CTA getting some kind of reform.

You know, Nikki reported a lot about this so they can emerge as going to be some kind of new oversight.

>> I do think that that is probably the most potent for politicians to say.

We need to have our buses and trains continuing to run.

But again, what about CPS?

What about cuts to the classroom?

And what about the city's general fund to, which you know, as we're going to talk about a mask and, you know, kids, parents and families the stress of worrying what's going to happen.

Yeah, specially when it's unresolved this late into the summer.

I mean, this is an annual thing with CPS and one other thing around the state in terms of being you know, people seeking rescue from the state and state has its fiscal challenge is so old.

That old thing.

>> And details on Well, speaking of the budget woes here in the city, Mayor Brandon Johnson this week.

>> the idea of some new revenue streams to aid the city's finances.

Let's take a listen.

>> I'm going to go after progressive revenue.

That's what the people of Chicago working class families in particular want us see us to do with a 4th wealthiest city in the richest country in the world.

In fact, we are the temps will see a city in the entire world.

So I think it's important that we look at in a very meaningful way.

You know how those individuals with means particularly are billionaires and ultra Rich who have benefited from a growing economy.

We can put more skin in the game.

>> Alright, Quinn, so what are some of the ideas that are on the The mayor, like you said last year, everything is on the table.

I take that to mean where you want it to But, you know, reporters, they drag out a few ideas from him at that press conference the other day.

One is a possible rain station of the corporate head tax.

That would be up her dollar a couple dollars per employee of company's over a certain size.

This was actually in existence for a couple of decades before Rahm Emanuel phase it out.

I think about 15 years ago saying it was a job killer.

Another one is this payroll tax that we still don't know too much about.

That would be levy a significant tax on again, big companies and certain employees are making, I think over $200,000.

And then there's this thing called pilot, which is paid payment in lieu of taxes.

And so in Chicago, every big city, we have these big nonprofit hospitals, universities that do not pay property taxes and in cities like Boston, Dave, basically, like, hey, will you chip in a little bit to help us out here that's been talked about here.

But again, you know, there is no obligation for these entities to actually put up that money.

And then there's a whole level of taxes and fees that impact the Chicagoans challenge directly garbage fees, Laker taxes, smaller stuff like that.

And the mayor says property taxes are not on the table.

Well, see, I mean, that is the most consistent and reliable way to bring in money because you know what, you're going to get.

But, you know, the mayor says it's off the table.

But last year he said he was going put forward a $300.03 million dollar property tax.

That didn't happen a city council rejected that.

And we heard one of the city's, you know, top financial officials early, you know, couple weeks ago say, well, we're probably going to do it.

And now the mayor says, no, we're not going to do that.

So it's kind of tough to know which way they're going higher.

>> Yeah, many of the options that that that that you write off playing at the mayor's mentioned no property tax is one that is kind of within the control of the mayor and city council.

But, you know, is he going to be able to get the buy-in to get something that pass?

And for each of these ideas is going to be, he's got to get buy-in from somebody, right?

If he doesn't want to do cuts furloughs, he's got to get buy-in from the unions because workers going to get hit with that.

If you want something to help from the state, he's got to improve the relationships there.

If you want anything related to businesses.

And I think that payroll tax 1.5 billion the protection of what it might bring So that would be a great thing for the city, right?

But, you know, how's he gonna get the business community go along with that?

So in addition to trying to come up with something unique effective.

He's also got to build relationships in order to get somebody else around the table to say, OK, we'll give you this in order to help save the city.

One positive, perhaps a notice is that the problem is so bad.

At 1.0, 1 billion dollars is an incredible deficit and perhaps that's a way real at least some of these folks in to be willing to give some concessions to put things let's not forget have bruising last year's budget season was and how many all around even allies of Brandon Johnson felt betrayed in some ways and really about that.

How that process, you know, went into December and there was first property tax now, no property tax.

So I think there's a deficit of trust on the city council to I think to e supposed to have a working group is not yet reported on this.

So he really is get out ahead of his own working group.

So if I was on that with the group, I might be wondering why he doing You could maybe waiting to.

We have a say.

>> And I think the problem is it is very easy rich people to move.

If I were running and was building an office building in Evanston, I might be thinking about that kind of a good thing right now because you could easily if you look at a big law say that has a lot of employees making over $200,000.

And we're not familiar with this in media, and that's a lot of money.

And it's not that difficult to move everybody 10 miles north and not that then at that point, the city's loss people.

>> We'll move them to Miami for that matter.

But you don't have to go to Miami.

Just go to Evanston and he wouldn't have a problem.

So I mean, that's the part that's so difficult.

He has to balance all this with some meaningful cuts.

I think I think that's what Chicago as one country, 2 of said.

Yes, not just a question of getting all the stakeholders together.

It's also the question of getting 26 votes for all of these from the City Council.

>> Speaking of council, we heard this week from the CTA is acting president nor Ali Irsan who appear before a committee there.

>> Sounding a now familiar alarm about the fiscal cliff facing transit.

What it alders have to say?

Well, 2 things, one they want the CTA to be fully funded because they're gonna hear from their constituents.

It is not.

And this is hundreds of millions of dollars and New Orleans and really did raise the alarm as she has been spring and summer.

But I also think alderman were pleasantly surprised by her testimony compared to her predecessor, Dorval Carter, who in many ways I'm kind of ducked to the City Council ducks.

The public barely road.

The CTA.

Noor Ali Irsan made a point to say she's written the CTA for 450 times over the past.

I think year, you know, we can.

We'll try to fact check that after some point does seem like a But, you know, she's really trying to make an effort to be more publicly available.

So I think that was a fresh breath of fresh air.

But the fiscal situation not just CT, but Metra and pace, Israeli die.

And she was warning that it could impact half of the city's train lines could see significant reduction in service in 65 to 70 boss I mean, that is incredible amount of potential service cuts that everyone in the city feel.

If you do write the CTA.

Yeah, especially given the economic impact that the CTA has on the city.

It's not just a question of getting from point A to point B, but moving a central employees around people that everyone relies on what the tech buses and trains how about locally is that which is happening there's no CTA.

I mean, that brings in millions of dollars the city and that that could be at risk.

There are not enough numbers in the world to get what I was.

I without an last week I was trying to get a cab coming out of there and every cab was like not running my meter.

you know, 50 bucks to go blocks.

>> And that's because it's not adequate public transportation from a VPN to get downtown.

So I mean, this the CTA has to be sort it out.

That has to be that we can't allow that to fall apart.

I do think the new stations a very nice on the red line.

I took kind of a train geek and I took over.

I around looking at all the stations last week that really nice.

So this good news.

And I think you're right about that.

This better leadership.

And now that's really going to make a bit of a difference.

I think that the end of the day, that's a big fiscal all.

Yeah.

There's going to be lot of work to do in the veto session.

I think.

Well, we saw some news this week, 8 of major staff cuts at Northwestern University.

What's driving that?

Because that decision?

>> Yeah, well, Northwestern now is under several months of this 790 million federal funding freeze and faculty staff, even students who aren't even on campus are really feeling the effect of these cuts.

I talked to dozens of faculty members who have just outlined how the research is at stake right now.

North Western is tipping in about 10 million a week.

Just to keep those research efforts afloat but it's not really clear how that sustainable.

It is unsustainable.

we've heard that from multiple faculty members.

So right now, Northwestern just trying to figure out where they can make Hudson.

What makes the most sense this week it came in the form of layoffs yet.

Do we have a sense how much they're doing with layoffs versus just sort of eliminating vacant positions?

We have details there.

The numbers there are really clear when we pressed their communications team, it just wasn't, you know, clear exactly how many of those decisions for bacon.

They said more than half.

So that would mean around 200 people actually laid off and they've made other cuts to I mean, they already made changes to employees.

Health insurance plans.

They you know, really tried to reduce spending in labs.

So I think it'll be interesting to see how it shakes out because this really can't go on is is what everyone is saying.

the thing about these private institutions and not for Well, there was also a lawsuit this week regarding Northwestern a staffer who said >> he was fired after raising the alarm about resources for LGBTQ students.

What are the details there?

>> Yes, I think this offers kind interesting glimpses at what's going on in terms of internal pushed back to all these changes at the federal level.

This was the former director of Northwestern's, gender and sexuality center and he is suing after he was fired for pushing back against the university scaling back on the senator's digital presence that includes resources to trans kids other mental health resources.

And he sent out an email to staff.

he said because of that, he was fired, which he says brutality retaliatory you know, I think it's just really interesting to see how faculty are responding in wake of all these changes at the federal level.

to be interesting to see how the case plays out will.

>> Kris, late this afternoon, we got word that the governor did, in fact, sign into law, a so-called pension sweetener for Chicago will tell my friend.

Well, I mean, it's not that complicated.

The city counil You have it.

You know, as as everybody knows the public pensions have been a sort of out of control for a long time and they over time.

There was this great of this to pensions scheme.

>> As distinct from the more generous to want to this is essentially a sweetener for if, you know, 4, 5, 5 is and people like that to improve that to to pensions back closer to what the tier one pensions.

Well, the governor late Friday afternoon, which is always the telltale sign on that.

You know, he essentially said, I you know, I think he was sort of saying in order to prevent possible legal action.

I didn't really have a lot of choice.

The more the most cynical view of being that he's thinking about his own political prospects and doesn't want to upset that particular constituency.

I think the reality there is its code of an unfunded mandate on Chicago and that we've been talking all the last 20 minutes about the cities, fiscal situation.

This makes it was.

And you know, it is it's a problem.

My thing and I was so surprised he did that, frankly, I don't know anyone else.

was the mayor on this?

We barely heard.

I think he was asked about you didn't give a very definitive statement either against and support your right.

The city can't afford You know, I think if Mayor Van Johnson come out and said, >> please don't sign this.

Let's rework something in the session and possibly figure something out.

The governor probably wouldn't have signed if the merits I don't want this Johnson's probably in the same position as you want to, you give a boost to the police and fire.

right to right.

So there is there is it is a tough calculation, but I was surprised we didn't hear more from Mayor Johnson.

Yeah, we've the mayor does not want to see attack mailers and his next election that he doesn't care about.

You know, police and firefighter retirement.

So any case?

>> Well, you know, old organizers, some city officials this week calling on immigration agents to stay away from poll son's festival.

So huge draw going on for many, many decades comes on the heels, of course, of federal agents showing up at the Puerto Rican Arts and Culture Museum so far.

Have we seen in Chicago the kind of immigration crackdowns that events like these that could draw large Latino crowns.

There's been fear of that kind of crackdown.

don't believe we've seen it realized certainly the presence of those agents outside the Puerto Rican History Museum.

Certainly 5 people up.

>> I think what we have seen more of is kind of very targeted kind of enforcement.

There were, I think as many as 10 people who were picked up, they were essentially someone to report to the immigration office to essential to register or something like that.

And when they showed up, there were agents there waiting for them.

They were apprehended.

So we've seen things like that.

But but, yeah, I don't the fears the great fears have been realized.

But broadly speaking and for it is up to tensions are up.

Deportations are up and they've been gradually increasing since Trump took recovery took office.

So so there's certainly reason to perhaps be a free.

But squeezing us fears realized, I think, you know, reasonable people could agree that act.

>> Festival like that is not the place for I don't think you have to be a sauna to to not believe in immigration enforcement to think that.

So I think again, that that's the kind of a crazy place for immigration officials to People should be able to go out and enjoy festival.

That's not the place for it.

We'll switch in years.

Pun intended.

I think Secretary of state Alexi Giannoulias.

>> Taking on car insurance companies arguing the way that they calculate rates based on things like ZIP codes.

Credit scores is a pretty fundamentally unfair mean of.

is it unusual to see the secretary of state take on something like this?

Do you perhaps?

I mean, I guess you could argue secretary of dealing with everything with regard to current station, all of that.

And so maybe this is something I got on this radar and he jumped out there and journalist was on top of this issue.

I think you're going shoot some press release talking about the ways in which content companies come up with the race.

>> One thing I will say is that there's a study looked at just last week showed a national study showed that.

>> Ranks states by the highest and lowest ZIP codes in terms of their car.

Insurance rates only ranked well for having widest gap in the country.

When you look at the demographics of the highest and lowest ZIP codes for these 50 states, the District of Columbia, largely majority white, zip codes with the lowest rates and because of cult of color, black, mostly and then what Latino next.

They're so Julius may be on to something with this in terms of even if it's not in intention, if the impact how they're setting the rates is having a disproportionate impact on certain communities, even if it's not intentionally discriminatory.

And he's still coughing people a lot more all right, to a car story of a very different kind.

Quinn drivers are going to be periodically barred from Milwaukee Avenue.

What's happening?

>> Well, okay.

Only for 3 Sunday this time.

You I was talking about this today on a podcast and >> some people.

I think this is a battle for the soul of Chicago, whether their streets going to cause and they really does matter.

But this last Sunday, the month, August September and October on the ALDERMAN'S office alderman was spotted in the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.

They're closing down Milwaukee Avenue.

The 3rd main thoroughfare of Winter Park to car traffic.

Encourage people come out, shop hangout, walk around pedestrians.

The street.

We've seen increase in stuff like this.

You know, I mean, State Street famously was pedestrian dies for I think almost 20 years until the Mid 90's wasn't a success.

But, you know, in the past week, in the in the past couple years we've seen Sundays on state.

That's couple times a year where they do in similar with a similar thing and have vendors out there.

It's been a success.

I I think most people I talk to are excited.

Give this a try and see if it doesn't pass business.

You know, in Lincoln Square on, there's a similar that was because of a construction project was a less on plan and then to extend it at the last minute.

So there are some negative business feedback there.

This seems more done more in conjunction with businesses on that street people do kind of lose that when you take away their parking.

But this seems like well planned.

Well, as we mentioned this week, baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg died at 65 after a fight with cancer.

Second baseman played for 16 seasons.

Mostly with the Cubs, which is what's most important here.

Here's how a young and typically humble Samberg responded to a reporter's question about potentially being picked as the National League MVP.

>> It's tough to answer.

I'm not thinking about anything like that.

I'm not thinking about personal goals are awards or anything.

I think you know, those things welcome a 5th.

Their deserved and I just wake up every morning, I think about helping the Cubs win.

>> So all in fair to say, even if you're not a Cubs fan Sandberg, the kind of player you have to admire, you have to respect into car in the bank Mr. Cub the Maybe 60's and 70's and Ryne Sandberg was kind of missed a cut above 80's.

I still get chills thinking about that game.

Winning.

Hit those home runs sooner when the Cubs are in the mid 80's and during a good run that yeah, just a quintessential cub and really humble and great spokesman for the club for And you know, the guy who after his playing left, you know, to to sort out his personal life.

>> Sorted that out open about and then came back.

I wanted I live right by Wrigley Field.

I want the over to the side and there it was.

And I will, you know, so people at the statue, it was a great Chicago and and not a lot of people get their statuettes had a really feel that.

So that means it was it was really something it's kind of seeing the outpouring from folks this week.

>> It's pretty remarkable.

So here's to him.

All right.

Well, that's all the time that we've got for today.

So our thanks to Quin Myers, Alton Lowery.

Kate, our money and Chris Jones.

And we're back to wrap things up right after this.

>> Tonight's presentation of Week in review is made possible in part by an and rich com BNSF railway.

And Francine and Doctor Anthony Brown.

Chicago tonight is made possible in part why the Alexander and John Nichols fate.

The Pope Brothers Foundation, additional support is provided by.

>> And that's our show for this Friday night.

The four-day music extravaganza, Lollapalooza kicked off this week, but that's not your scene.

Be sure to check out our website for our Summer Festival guide for events happening across the Chicago area.

That's a W t tw dot com slash festivals for the full list.

After that we can review.

I'm Nick Blumberg.

Thank you for watching.

Stay healthy, stay safe and stand Have a great weekend.

>> All right.

How about anybody braving the crowds be robbery going tonight?

And believe it's at the age of 30, than I am.

And I think an ad striking out many older people to go to from left to I like the CIA and 2 sections.

Yeah, know our our faithful directors there for days.

can't quite do the full weekend.

I can.

I can dip in for a day and that, you know, if you've got a game plan, we want to a commitment for sure it is.

And especially, you know, if you're gonna get thunderstorms, you don't know if it's going to be 90 defense by his office in house.

When I it should be a nice nice weather-wise weekend.

I like to highlight a pitchfork.

It was a little more palatable, less crowds.

Little monkeys are one of we're used not as crowd Yoest.

>> Closed captioning is made possible.

Why Robert, a cliff and Clifford law offices, a personal injury law firm, working to preserve the