>> HEY, EVERYONE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THE WEEKEND REVIEW.

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

FIRST, EARLY VOTING IS UP AS CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR ENTER THE FINAL STRETCH.

>> OUR EFFORT AND OUR MOVE TO REDIRECT AND DEFUND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS SPENT IN POLICING.

>> LORI LIGHTFOOT TARGETING BRANDON JOHNSON WITH CAMPAIGN ADS, AND, AT THE LAST MAYORAL FORUM.

>> DO THIS, THIS, AND THIS.

BUT WHAT SAFE CITIES IN THE U.S. DO IS THEY DON'T DEFUND THE POLICE.

>> MEANWHILE, SOME ANTI-LIGHTFOOT COMMERCIALS BLANK THE AIRWAVES, PAID BY DARK MONEY.

THE GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS COMES HERE MONDAY TO TALK TO CHICAGO'S FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE, AND IS GETTING REACTION FROM CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR.

THE BEARS CLOSE ON THE $197 MILLION ARLINGTON PARK PARCEL, AND THE GOVERNOR TOUTS HIS NEW BUDGET THAT INCREASES EARLY EDUCATION SPENDING.

>>> LOTS TO GET TO TONIGHT, AND NOW JOINING US IN OUR WEEKEND REVIEW PANEL, WBBM NEWS RADIO.

RICK PEARSON, THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE.

OUR VERY OWN AMANDA VINICKY, AND McGILL OF W VOM.

SO LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT.

NOT McGILL, I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD RENAME THE SHOW TEMPORARILY THIS WEEK IN MAYORAL ATTACKS.

WHO'S UP, WHO'S GOT THE MOMENTUM, WHO IS DOWN, WAS GOING TO MAKE IT TO THE RUNOFF?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE VALLAS HAS THE EASY SHOT, RIGHT?

BECAUSE HE'S COMING WITH NO COMPETITION, AND SEEMINGLY , FOR HIS VOTERS, AND AS YOU'RE SEEING BETWEEN THE THREE THAT ARE GOING BETWEEN THEMSELVES TO RUN AGAINST VALLAS, AND ALL OF THEM WANT TO RUN AGAINST VALLAS.

THEY DON'T WANT TO RUN AGAINST EACH OTHER IN THE RUNOFF.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT, OF COURSE, BRANDON JOHNSON, AND CHUY GARCIA .

WHO'S GOING TO BE THE ONE GO ONE-ON-ONE WITH PAUL VALLAS?

AS WE SAW THIS WEEK, BRANDON IS HIGH, AND SO HE'S THE TARGET , AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE.

>> RANDY JOHNSON, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND PAUL VALLAS KIND OF LOCKING UP THE MORE CONSERVATIVE VOTES.

AND CHICAGO, RICK PEARSON, RON DESANTIS, THE GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA, NOTHING IS COMING TO SPEAK TO THE F.O.P.

REMIND US WHAT'S BEHIND THIS?

>> ON MONDAY, AND PRESIDENTS' DAY, OF COURSE, WE HAVE DESANTIS, WHO IS, OF COURSE, EXPLORING A BID FOR THE 2024 REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION.

YOU ALSO HAVE KIND OF THE BACKDROP OF, OF J.B. PRITZKER AND HIS ATTACKS ON RON DESANTIS.

PRITZKER WAS IN TAMPA LAST JULY.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR FLORIDA DEMOCRATS, WHERE HE CALLED AND BASICALLY TRUMP LIGHT, TRUMP WITH A MASK ON.

AND HAS BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT IT.

AND IN THE GOVERNORS, EVEN MORE RECENTLY, THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH, WHERE HE LOST REPUBLICANS FOR TRYING TO TAKE THE CURRICULA AND DUMP CURRICULA DOWN THAT THEY FIND OFFENSIVE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS TELLING THE TRUTH.

>> IT DOES SEEM LIKE PRITZKER, BECAUSE HE SAID THIS IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH, HE'S TRYING TO POSITION HIMSELF AS THE ANTI-RON DESANTIS, CALLING OUT THE STRAIN OF NATIONALISM IN THE COUNTRY.

AMANDA VINICKY, IS THIS A SMART POLITICAL PLAY FOR HIM TO POSITION HIMSELF THAT WAY?

>> FOR PRITZKER, SURE.

OF COURSE IT IS.

HE, FOR SURE, HIS ESTATE GOT A LANE WHERE HE HAS SATISFIED THE PROGRESSIVE WING OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, GONE UNDER THIS WAY.

I THINK, TO DO SO.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, STILL HAS A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM MODERATES.

YES, HE IS DOING ALL HE CAN TO GET A LOT OF NATIONAL ATTENTION.

WHETHER THAT IS A POTENTIAL RUN IN THE FUTURE, WHATEVER HAPPENS, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN -- BUT ONE MORE THING.

>> YEAH.

>> DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

>> THERE WE GO.

>> I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO A NON-SWING STATE FOR THAT.

BACK TO THAT RON DESANTIS FOR THE NEXT WEEK, ALL OF A SUDDEN, IS PLAYING INTO THE MAYOR'S RACE.

VALLAS COMES OUT AND REFUTES IT.

LIGHTFOOT BREAD CHUY GARCIA.

HOW COME?

>> SOME OF IT IS EXPECTED.

YOU WOULD EXPECT EVERYBODY BUT PAUL VALLAS TO IMMEDIATELY TARGET LIST.

BUT PAUL VALLAS IS THE ONE WHO WAS ENDORSED BY THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE , WHO, DEPENDING UPON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT , ARE EITHER HOSTING IT OR SIMPLY FACILITATING THIS VISIT BY DESANTIS FOR POLICE.

IT'S NOT EVEN GOING TO BE IN CHICAGO.

IT'S GOING TO BE IN ELMHURST.

AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY SO FAR.

THEY HAVEN'T DISCLOSED THE LOCATION YET.

THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT TWO DAYS BEFOREHAND.

BUT VALLAS HAD TO DECIDE IF HE WAS GOING TO SAY ANYTHING , OR TO DENOUNCE IT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

>> HE VERY FORCEFULLY DENOUNCED IT.

CLEARLY HE MADE HIS CALCULATION PRINT >> YES HE DID.

BECAUSE HE HAS TO SHOW THAT HE IS NOT A TOOL OF THE POLICE UNION, WHICH, FOR REPUTATION AND FOR A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN CHICAGO, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO SEE THE TWO OF THEM IN LOCKSTEP.

SOME DO.

BUT YES, HE SAID DESANTIS DOES NOT REPRESENT MY VIEWS.

HE ADDS, THE THINGS THAT HE DOES WITH BOOKS AS WELL.

>> SO BANNING, BANNING SOME OF THE BOOKS, BANNING SOME OF THOSE BOOKS THAT HE FINDS -- BUT HE DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE A PROBLEM CRITICIZING THAT.

VALLAS PAID >> HE SAYS HE WANTS THE RANK-AND-FILE SUPPORT.

>> THAT'S WHAT HE KEEPS -- >> RIGHT.

>> FRANKLY, IF YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH IT, THAT IS A SMART POLITICAL STRATEGY ON HIS PART , AS LONG AS HE'S ABLE TO DO SO.

DEFINITELY HE DOESN'T LOSE THE F.O.P.

AND SCORES.

THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT COULD HURT HIM.

RIGHT NOW, HE'S WALKING IN BOTH LANES.

>> WELL, LET ME ASK THIS.

AMANDA, THE OUTGOING ALDERMAN , FIRST OPENLY ALDERMAN TOUTING VALLAS THIS WEEK AND HE IS ENDORSING VALLAS, AND VALLAS HAS BEEN A CHAMPION OF LGBTQ ISSUES, BUT THEN YOU'VE GOT OPPONENTS POINTING TO APPEARANCES HE MADE WITH THIS GROUP , AWAKE ILLINOIS, WHICH HAS BEEN PRETTY HOSTILE , ESPECIALLY WITH TRANS ISSUES.

SO IS THIS A TRICKY ISSUE FOR HIM?

>> VALLAS HAS BEEN OPERATING LIKE IS A TOUGH LINE CANDIDATE, RIGHT?

HE TAKES THESE HITS AND JUST KEEPS CAMPAIGNING IN EVERY COMMUNITY, NO PROBLEM AT ALL.

HE DOESN'T LOSE ANY MOMENTUM.

HE GOES IN THERE WITH HIS TALKING POINTS, READY TO ADDRESS THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY MONDAY WHEN WE HAVE HIM IN THE MAYORAL ELECT FORUM DEBATE.

I ASKED HIM DIRECTLY, YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT THAT ANSWER READY, AND CONTINUES TO, TO POLITIC TOWARD A BLACK AUDIENCE.

SO I THINK HE FEELS LIKE NOTHING IS GOING TO STICK TO HIM.

>> AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE APPEALS ACROSS A BROAD SPECTRUM, NOT JUST ONE.

>> LIKE THE GOVERNORS RACE, WHERE REPUBLICANS TRIED TO PRIME THE ISSUE, HERE IN THIS MAYORAL RACE, CRIME IS THE ISSUE.

AND SO, OF COURSE, THAT GIVES VALLAS A POINT WITH THE F.O.P.

IT ALSO MIGHT BE A SIGNAL, TOO, THAT WE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT A, AN ELECTORATE IN A CITY THAT MIGHT WANT TO PUT THE BRAKES ON PROGRESSIVISM A LITTLE BIT AND, AND LOOK TO A MORE MODERATE KIND OF CENTER THAN WHERE WE SAME THINGS GOING , AND, OF COURSE, THAT'S WHERE VALLAS HAS TO APPEAL AS HE SWINGS FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER, DEPENDING ON WHAT, WHAT AUDIENCE -- >> I THINK SOMETHING LIKE AWAKE ILLINOIS, THEY DON'T HAVE WIDESPREAD RECOGNITION ILLINOIS.

SHORTLY, THEY ARE KNOWN BY CERTAIN POLITICAL CIRCLES, BUT THAT'S NOT A GROUP THAT I THINK MANY VOTERS ARE AWARE OF.

>> THIS IS A CONSERVATIVE GROUP THAT TALKS ABOUT TRANSITIONS.

>> ONE THING, WHEN HE WENT AND SPOKE TO THEM, THAT WE ALL KNEW ABOUT , AND HE WAS CALLED OUT FOR IT, AND THEN HE APOLOGIZED AND SAID, OH, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY HAD THIS KIND OF BACKGROUND.

WELL, THEN WE FIND OUT -- >> HE SPOKE TO THEM BEFORE!

>> SAID THAT THE HEAD OF THE GROUP PROBABLY OUGHT TO CONSIDER RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

SO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF QUESTIONS, REALLY, OF, WHO IS PAUL VALLAS?

>> HE SEEMS TO CONSISTENTLY LEAD IN THE POLLS THAT COME OUT.

>> CERTAINLY AT LEAST IN THE TOP TWO, AND I THINK PART OF IT IS THAT THE WAY THINGS ARE MARKETED.

WE ARE NOW IN AN ERA WHERE THERE IS SUBSTANCE , AND THEN THERE'S WHAT THE PUBLIC IS ACTUALLY SEEING.

AND YOU'VE GOT NINE CANDIDATES.

THE ONLY THING PEOPLE ARE GOING TO KNOW ABOUT THESE CANDIDATES ARE THE THINGS THAT WE TELL THEM AND THE STUFF THAT THEY SEE ONLINE.

AND I THINK THAT IS ALLOWING HIM , ALLOWING ANY OF THE CANDIDATES, REALLY, TO CRAFT THEIR OWN IMAGE, TO PRESENT IT IN A COGENT WAY, AND TO JUST KEEP TALKING, YOU KEEP HAMMERING AWAY AT THAT, THAT MESSAGE, AND PEOPLE EVENTUALLY WILL STOP SEEING THE OTHER STUFF.

>> MAYBE ONE MESSAGE , THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO SEE ONE PART OF IT, AND THEN ANOTHER MESSAGE TO ANOTHER CONSTITUENCY.

AND MATT McGILL, YUKO MODERATED THIS WEEK, AS YOU MENTIONED.

A LOT OF THE CANDIDATES.

NOW, INCLUDING BRANDON JOHNSON, BECAUSE HE'S GOTTEN THE BULK OF HIS SUPPORT FROM CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION.

YOU ASKED HIM, WILL YOU BE INDEPENDENT TO CONTRACT WITH HIM?

WERE YOU SATISFIED WITH HIS ANSWER?

>> I MEAN, YEAH.

OF COURSE THE ANSWER IS GOING TO BE GOOD, RIGHT, BECAUSE HE'S PROBABLY ANTICIPATING THAT QUESTION IS GOING TO COME.

BUT IT DOES CREATE A LITTLE DILEMMA FOR HIM, RIGHT?

WHAT I REALLY WANT TO ASK IS, WOULD YOU REMOVE YOURSELF FROM NEGOTIATIONS, RIGHT?

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL EVER HAPPEN.

>> THE OFFICER WITH THE TEACHERS UNION -- >> RIGHT.

BUT I THINK THE BIG QUESTION, YOU SEE MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND MAYBE CHUY, YOU SEE WHO REALLY WILL BE MAYOR IF BRANDON JOHNSON BECOMES MAYOR.

CPU LEADERS AND SAYING , IS BRANDON REALLY THE MAYOR , OR ARE THESE PEOPLE REALLY THE MAYOR?

>> RIGHT.

THE WHOLE EQUATION CHANGES IF HE IS THE ONE THAT MAKES IT TO A RUNOFF.

THOSE ATTACKS HAVE NOT REALLY COME TO YOU FOR AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD'VE THOUGHT, YEAH, BUT HE HASN'T THE TOP YET.

>>'S GOT A LOT OF COMMERCIALS GOING.

VERY GOOD COMMUNICATOR.

SMART.

HE'S LIKABLE.

AND SO I THINK -- >> LORI LIGHTFOOT -- >> ANXIETY.

>> IS AIMING HER FIRE AT HIM ON THE TAX ISSUE, WHERE HE'S SAYING HE WOULD ONLY TAX THE RICH , AND SHE MAKES IT CLEAR IN HER MESSAGING , YEAH, THE RICH, AS IN $100,000 OR MORE, WHICH INCLUDES 34% OF THE TEACHERS AND MOST FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS.

>> FOLLOWING UP ON THAT, CRAIG, LIGHTFOOT DID TURN HER FIRE TOWARD BRANDON JOHNSON, STATING, OR AT LEAST IN A SUN-TIMES ARTICLE, CITING INTERNAL POLITICS, SHOWING HIM SURGING.

ARE WE TO BELIEVE THAT?

I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY PUBLIC POLLING SHOWING HIM SEARCHING LIKE THAT.

>> I THINK -- THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST FLUID ELECTIONS THAT I'VE COVERED, WHERE DEPENDING UPON WHO IS TALKING, IT'S, THERE'S AN EBB AND FLOW.

AT SOME POINT, CHUY WAS UP, AND HE WAS SURGING.

THEN VALLAS WAS SURGING.

AND NOW YOU'RE SEEING SOME BUILDING.

BUT THAT MAY ALSO HAVE TO DO WITH THE CTU PEOPLE BEING OUT ON THE STREET AND TRYING TO DRUM UP THE VOTES.

SO -- >> AND DON'T FORGET A LARGE DEGREE OF UNDECIDED VOTERS STILL, AT THIS POINT, CANNOT IGNORE THAT.

BECAUSE, OFTEN, YOU DON'T -- WE DON'T KNOW.

>> THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW UNTIL THEY GET -- >> YES!

>> RICK PEARSON, WHAT ABOUT THIS DARK MONEY STUFF THAT'S GOING?

GOT A BUNCH OF ADS FUNDED BY DARK GROUPS IN SUPPORT OF SOME OF THIS SO-CALLED TOP-TIER CANDIDATES.

WHAT DO VOTERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS?

>> WELL, IT'S WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT, I THINK.

THIS IS THE PROBLEM OF -- WHEN YOU HAVE CANDIDATES TALKING ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, THESE ARE ADS THAT ARE COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE INDEPENDENT, NOT COORDINATED BY THE CANDIDATES, WHICH BASICALLY MEANS THEY LOOK AT THE CANDIDATE'S WEBSITE, FIND OUT WHAT THE MESSAGING IS, AND THEN PUT UP THESE ADVERTISEMENTS.

I MEAN, THIS IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS, FRANKLY, OF THIS COURT RULING ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE THAT ALLOWS OUTSIDE INFLUENCES TO, TO RAISE AND SPEND UNLIMITED AMOUNTS OF MONEY WITHOUT HAVING TO REVEAL -- >> AND ALL THE CANDIDATES , THE ONE EXPENDITURE GROUP HAS LISTED ITS DONORS.

HIGGINBOTHAM GOT A CONTRACT FROM THE CITY .

THIS GROUP IS SUPPORTED OF MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

>> BUT THEY'RE ALSO ABLE TO DISCOURAGE RULES ABOUT -- >> RIGHT.

ALL OF THIS IS -- >> IT'S, IT'S SKIRTING, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH CAMPAIGN REGULATIONS.

IT'S, MONEY IS LIKE WATER.

IT ALWAYS FLOWS AND FINDS A WAY TO EVADE .

>> WELL, IF YOU HAD TO GUESS, THOUGH, WHO ARE THE FOLKS SUPPORTING THE GROUPS SUPPORTING PAUL VALLAS, CHUY GARCIA VERSUS RENDON JOHNSON VERSUS MAYOR LIGHTFOOT?

>> WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT VALLAS, RIGHT, THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME CLOUDS OF REPUBLICANS THAT ARE THROWING MONEY INTO THE CAMPAIGN.

>> REPUBLICAN BUSINESS.

WHICH, FRANKLY, THAT HAD BEEN ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS IN THIS WHOLE CAMPAIGN WAS, WHERE WAS BUSINESS GOING TO GO?

AND MAYBE OUT OF THE CLOUDS A LITTLE BIT, THEY HAVE NO PROBLEM PUTTING MONEY TOWARD A VALLAS CAMPAIGN.

WITH BRANDON, OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW WHERE HIS MONEY'S COMING FROM.

THE BEAR, THOUGH, RIGHT , YOU WOULD SEE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND THEY WANT TO SUPPORT YOU.

>> I THINK THERE'S PART OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS.

WE DON'T HAVE A UNIFIED BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

>> GENERALLY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO WANT THE MAYOR TO KNOW THAT YOU GAVE.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE LESS OF THOSE DARK MONEY GROUPS AND MORE, HEY, JUST LETTING YOU KNOW.

>> SHE GOT A BIG BUSINESS ENDORSEMENT.

>> SPEAKING OF SOME OF THE BIG BUSINESS GROUPS IN THE CITY, THE MAYOR -- THEY CLOSE.

HOW ABOUT THAT TRANSITION THERE?

SO THEY'RE CLOSING ON THIS $197 MILLION PURCHASE OF THE FOREMAN ARLINGTON INTERNATIONAL RACETRACK.

IT'S THEIRS.

THEY OWN THE LAND NOW.

BUT THEY SAY IT DOESN'T GUARANTEE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD THAT STADIUM THERE.

THERE'S A SMALL WINDOW THERE.

>> ACTUALLY, I THINK THERE'S STILL A BIG WINDOW.

THAT'S JUST ONE STEP ALONG THE ROAD , BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO GET THE APPROVALS FOR THE, FOR THE PLANNING, THE ACTUAL STADIUM ITSELF.

THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO GO.

SO LORI LIGHTFOOT IS NOT WRONG IN SAYING NOW WE CAN REALLY NEGOTIATE , BECAUSE WE COULDN'T TALK TO THEM WHILE WE WERE DOING THIS SALE, WHETHER THAT CAN SUCCEED .

THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION.

BUT, YEAH, THEY CAN STILL TALK, AND THERE WILL BE A LOT OF TALKING GOING ON.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS WHO WANT TO MAKE SURE NO TAX MONEY IS SPENT ON THE STADIUM OR ANYTHING AROUND IT.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN SPRINGFIELD WHO ARE SAYING THAT.

SO, YEAH, THEY'VE GOT SOME HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH.

>> SEEMED A LITTLE WELCOMING TODAY.

>> AND THEN, AND THEN, WHENEVER YOU HERE, LIKE, THE GOVERNOR SAYING, I DON'T AGREE ON LETTING PUBLIC MONEY GO TO BUSINESSES, IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND -- >> BUT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> KEEP THEM IN CHICAGO.

>> THEY ARE GONE.

>> NO.

THE BEARS ARE ARLINGTON HEIGHTS.

THEY OWN IT.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT MONEY, REVENUE TO THE BEARS.

THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE AT SOLDIER FIELD ABSENT OF TRYING TO GET THE PARK DISTRICT SELLING THE STADIUM TO THE BEARS, WHICH AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.

THE BEARS ARE GONE.

SURE, THERE'S ALL THESE HURDLES, AND THIS IS, OF COURSE, EVEN THE BEARS SAYING, YOU KNOW, WELL, WE MIGHT, WE MIGHT NEED THIS AND THAT, OR WHATEVER, AND THEY'VE MADE IT CLEAR, NOT FOR THE STADIUM.

IT'S FOR THE ANCILLARY DEVELOPMENT.

WHICH IS ALSO, WOULD BE MONEY IN THE, IN THE CHICAGO BEARS POCKETS.

>> WHAT THEY WANT TO DO NOW IS HAVE SPRINGVILLE BASICALLY FREES THE PROPERTY TAX.

>> AND THEN THEY CUT THEIR OWN DEAL ON TOP OF IT.

I MEAN -- >> EITHER WAY YOU SLICE IT, THE BEARS , ARE THEY GOING TO GET IT?

>> I MEAN, I THINK IT IS EARLY TO JUDGE AT THIS POINT IN TIME WHAT EXACTLY THEY ARE GOING TO GET.

THEY ARE GOING TO GET SOME SORT OF MONEY FROM, FIRST OF ALL, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, WHEN IT COMES TO INFRASTRUCTURE.

WILL THEY GET THIS TAX MECHANISM, AND WILL IT BE THIS YEAR?

THAT, I THINK, IT IS TOO EARLY TO SAY.

YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE THE SPONSOR OF THAT DEAL TOTALLY ON BOARD WITH IT YET.

AS IS A LOT OF NUMBER WORKING.

>> THERE WILL BE WATER AND THAT KIND OF -- >> THAT'S WHAT GOVERNORS -- >> NEGOTIATIONS.

I MEAN, MAYBE 40 YEARS MAY BE THE STARTING POINT, AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL END UP WITH 10 OR 15 YEARS.

>> BUT THERE WILL NOT NEED TO RUN THE STATE.

>> NO.

>> THAT YOU CAN RULE OUT.

WAYS TO GET AROUND -- >> THERE WON'T BE A WHITE SOX PARK.

>> THAT'S THE QUESTION.

ONCE THE MAYOR GO OUT AND SAYS, HEY, LOOK.

>> THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

>> IF THE MAYOR DID THAT IN THE NEXT 1 1/2 WEEKS, THERE WILL BE NO IMPACT ON THE ELECTION.

>> THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

>> FIRST BLACK-OWNED FRANCHISE, NFL FRANCHISE COMING TO SOLDIER FIELD.

THAT'LL GET A -- ESPECIALLY WITH A WEEK AND A HALF LEFT TO GO.

>> I DON'T THINK IT DOES.

I THINK MOST CHICAGOANS KNOW THAT THE MAYOR ONCE THE TEAM HERE.

IN FACT, I THINK PEOPLE INSIDE THE CITY WOULD PROBABLY MORE ACCEPTING OF THE MAYOR IF THEY UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF IT.

THE BEARS HAVE BEEN THERE FOREVER.

SOLDIER FIELD IS, IS ALL WE KNOW WHEN WE THINK OF THE CHICAGO BEARS.

SO I THINK CHICAGOANS AREN'T GOING TO HOLD THIS AGAINST MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

EVEN THOUGH HER FIRST COMMENTS WERE ROUGH.

>> THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T LIKE HER, PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE HER AND THOUGHT SHE WAS AWFUL NOW WILL SAY IT'S HER FAULT, OTHER PEOPLE WHO DO LIKE HER ARE SAYING THERE WAS NOTHING SHE COULD DO.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME STATE-LEVEL NEWS.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER LEANED INTO INVESTING MORE MONEY IN EDUCATION.

IN HIS COMBINED STATE OF THE STATE AND BUDGET ADDRESS THIS WEEK.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> ENHANCING QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION IS A WIN-WIN SOLUTION FOR RE-MOBILIZING PARENTS IN THE WORKFORCE, ENHANCING BRAIN DEVELOPMENT IN KINDERGARTEN READINESS.

>> SO BIG, NEW SPENDING ON EARLY EDUCATION, AMANDA, BUT EDUCATION ACROSS ALL LEVELS, HIGHER EDUCATION, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL.

HOW MUCH ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

SOME WOULD SAY $1 BILLION.

IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.

POINT BEING, EDUCATION IS GOING TO BE HIS BIG MOVE, ESPECIALLY THIS EARLY CHILDHOOD INVESTMENT.

HE WANTS NOT TO BE HIS SIGNATURE PROGRAM.

HE'S TOURING THE STATE TO DO SO.

I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HE'S GOING TO GET SOME SORT OF SUPPORT FROM EVEN REPUBLICANS.

YOU CAN'T DISPUTE , A, THE RESEARCH, AND BE, SUCH A FEEL-GOOD THING TO GIVE MONEY TO.

SO HE'S GOING TO GET IT.

THE FIGHT IN SPRINGFIELD IS GOING TO BE OVER THE REST OF IT.

AND ALSO I WANT TO POINT OUT WHILE WE'RE ON THIS, IT IS INTERESTING, BECAUSE THERE IS ADDITIONAL MONEY TO PLAY WITH.

WHAT WAS THAT HE WAS FOR, BY THE WAY, IN AN ELECTION YEAR?

ONE TIME TAX CUT.

IS THAT GOING TO BE USED FOR THIS YEAR?

>> NO, NO, NO, NO.

NOT TAX CUTS.

AND SO I DO WANT TO POINT THAT OUT, WHAT REPUBLICAN CRITICISM OF THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING IS BAD, JUST THAT WHERE THE MONEY IS NOT GOING, NUMBER ONE, AND NUMBER TWO, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE ECONOMY, AND HOW MUCH CAN BAKE INTO THESE PROGRAMS?

>> THAT'S THE OTHER THING, RICK PEARSON.

HIS PAINTING A VERY OPTIMISTIC PICTURE ABOUT THE STATEMENT FISCAL CONDITIONS.

THE TENSIONS, UNDERFUNDED THOUGH THEY MAY BE, ARE SLOWLY BECOMING MORE FUNDED.

THERE'S A RAINY DAY FUND NOW.

THE DEBT IS REDUCED.

IT REALLY IS ROSY, AS HE MENTIONED.

>> IF I'M HIM, I'LL TAKE ALL THE CREDIT IN THE WORLD FOR IT, GIVEN WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST MANY DECADES AND MOST RECENTLY DURING THE TWO YEARS WITHOUT A BUDGET.

YES, I MEAN, PAID OFF $16 BILLION.

PAID OFF BILLIONS IN BORROWING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE STATE HAS BEEN DOING VERY WELL.

THAT HAVING BEEN SAID , WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS HERE.

I MEAN, WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE HERE ONE TIME , ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF PENSIONS.

BUT GOING TO THAT EARLY CHILDHOOD, THAT CERTAINLY IS A BIPARTISAN PLAY.

IT'S ALSO VERY MUCH IN HIS WHEELHOUSE.

I MEAN, EVEN BEFORE HE WAS GOVERNOR , WITH OUNCE OF PREVENTION AND THOSE GROUPS, PRITZKER COULD'VE RECITED THAT WHOLE SECTION OF THAT SPEECH WITHOUT LOOKING AT A TELE-PRINTER.

I MEAN, HE KNOWS THIS STUFF BACK AND FORTH.

>> FORMER GOVERNOR WAS ALSO BIG ON THIS ISSUE.

HIS LIFE .

>> ALSO, I'D BE REMISS TO POINT OUT THAT THIS WAS ALSO A ROBIN HOOD PROPOSAL.

>> A PROPOSAL, NOT ONLY JUST A PROPOSAL, A LAW.

WE WERE ALREADY SUPPOSED TO HAVE ALL OF THESE THINGS.

>> I'M SURE YOU COULD TALK TO ALL OF US ABOUT THAT.

NO THANKS, RICK.

I'M HAPPY TALKING TO ALL OF YOU.

AMANDA MENTIONED HE'S LIKELY TO GET SOME BIPARTISAN HERE.

HE'S GOT DEMOCRATIC SUPERMAJORITY'S.

THIS BUDGET GOING TO SAIL THROUGH.

>> NOTHING SALES, BUT, BUT YES, I THINK IT WILL GET THROUGH LARGELY INTACT, BUT THEY WILL MAKE A FEW NODS TO THE REPUBLICANS THERE.

I MEAN, THERE'S STILL SOME CONCERN ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY THERE IS IN THE OUT YEARS, AND SO I THINK , I, I THINK HE IS PRETTY GOOD SHAPE , AND FORTUNATELY, HIS ELECTIONS OVER.

>> WELL, YOU ALSO HAVE GROUPS THAT ARE SAYING -- BUT WE WANT MORE.

>> OR WE DIDN'T GET ANYTHING IN CHILD TAX CREDIT.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO THIS IS ALL GOING TO BE PART OF THE GIVEN PLAY.

>> NOT ONLY THAT, YOU HAVE NEARLY EVERY MAYORAL CANDIDATE SAYING, MY SOLUTION TO CPS IS MORE MONEY.

>> FOR THE MOST PART, RIGHT?

>> WELL -- >> WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT.

HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT PARENTAL JUSTICE REFORM OR CRIME.

HE MADE A PAYOFF ABOUT IMPROVED FUNDING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT HIS GUN LAW.

HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT ISSUES WITH ENERGY.

I MEAN, IT'S REALLY -- HE DIDN'T TOUCH ON MANY THINGS.

>> CRIMINAL JUSTICE WAS LAST YEAR.

>> HAS MOVED ON.

>> THE GUN LAW, WHICH HAS SOME INJUNCTIONS ON, ALTHOUGH A JUDGE IN CHICAGO DID UPHOLD ONE OF THE COURT CASES.

SO SOME INJUNCTIONS, SOME AREAS WHERE THERE'S NO INJUNCTIONS.

THAT'S ALL WE NEED TO KNOW.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.

>> SPEAKING OF GUNS, UNFORTUNATELY MORE MASS SHOOTING THIS WEEK, ONE IN MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, ON THE 15th ANNIVERSARY OF THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY SHOOTINGS.

ALSO, ROBERT CRIMO JUNIOR IS HIMSELF CHARGED FOR SPONSORING HIS SON'S GUN OWNERSHIP APPLICATION.

MEANWHILE, HIGHLAND PARK INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS WILL LOOK VERY DIFFERENT THIS YEAR TO HONOR THE FALLEN.

AMANDA VINICKY, YOU DID A NICE STORY ABOUT THE LEGISLATION LAST NIGHT , WHAT GUNS ARE BANNED, WHAT GUNS AREN'T BANNED.

LAW ENFORCEMENT SAYING AS MUCH AS THEY WANTED TO CHARGE CRIMO'S FATHER HERE, THEY WEREN'T EXACTLY SURE THAT THEY COULD.

SO WHAT CHANGED?

>> HE'S BEEN CHARGED WITH RECKLESS CONDUCT AND SEVEN COUNTS FOR SEVEN INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED AT THE HANDS OF HIS SON.

I DON'T KNOW, REALLY NECESSARILY WHAT CHANGED AND WHAT ALL THE PROSECUTORS CAME UP WITH, BUT CERTAINLY I THINK YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS AS A BUDDY WHO, AGAIN, GUN RIGHTS ADVOCATES WOULD SAY, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEBODY WHO SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN GRANTED A VOID CARD IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND SHOULDN'T HAVE OWNED A GUN.

THERE WERE LAWS ON THE BOOKS THAT WERE NOT USED.

AND SO THIS HAS LED TO SOME CHANGE IN SPRINGFIELD TIED TO THESE CHARGES WHERE THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE ADDITIONAL MONEY TO RAISE AWARENESS OF WHAT CAN BE DONE IF YOU WANT TO RACE A RED FLAG ABOUT SOMEBODY'S CONDUCT IN THE RESEARCH.

>> THE ISSUE IS, CRIMO'S FATHER SIGNED HIS SON MIGHT SCAPHOID APPLICATION KNOWING HIS SON HAD ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS.

>> BUT THE PROBLEM IS , THE LAW CAN'T KEEP UP WITH HOW DEEP THE PROBLEM IS.

I MEAN, WHAT CAN THE LAW DO ABOUT A FATHER WHO KNOWS HIS SON IS VIOLENT BUT STILL ALLOWS HIM TO GET A GUN ?

I DON'T THINK THERE ARE RED FLAG LAWS THAT CAN GET INTO THAT UNTIL AFTER THE SHOOTING HAS HAPPENED.

SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IS THE LAW STARTING TO EVOLVE AND PEOPLE TALKING MORE ABOUT WHAT COULD WE HAVE DONE THAT WE DIDN'T DO , AND WHETHER THESE CHARGES STICK MAY BE WHAT HELPS FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WERE GOING FOR.

>> RIGHT.

AND CHICAGO CRIMES ARE HAPPENING WITH STOLEN GUNS, ILLEGAL GUNS, RIGHT?

YOU GO OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO, AND THE GUN CULTURE IS, HEY, SON, YOU'RE 16?

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET YOU A GUN.

AND THAT'S THE WORLD WE LIVE IN.

THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE THERE ARE MORE GUNS THAN PEOPLE.

>> YEAH.

THIS GUN LAW IN ILLINOIS WOULD GRANT GRANDFATHER IN THOSE ASSAULT WEAPONS THAT FOLKS ALREADY OWN, AND THERE ARE MILLIONS.

RICK PEARSON, WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS HERE.

YOUR BLACKHAWKS, PATRICK KANE , IS HE GOING TO BREAK UP THE BAND?

>> KANE EXPRESSED SOME DISAPPOINTMENT OVER THE FACT THAT THE NEW YORK RANGERS TEAM THAT HE APPEARED TO BE WILLING TO GO TO HAD SAID TRADED FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

SO NOW, I MEAN, IT'S HIS DESTINY, BASICALLY.

THE HAWKS AREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING THEY WANTED TO WRITE BY HIM.

HE WANTS TO DO RIGHT BY THE BLACKHAWKS, TRADE THAT LINE, STILL TWO WEEKS AWAY.

I'D STILL BE SURPRISED IF HE'S STILL IN A BLACKHAWKS SWEATER.

>> WE'RE KIND OF JUST LIVING ON THE GREATEST FOUR WORDS IN SPORTS, PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT, RIGHT?

COMING UP SOON.

>> CORRECT.

>> THAT'S ALL WE'VE GOT RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?

THIS IS ALL WE GOT FOR THE SHOW.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET YOU CAN GET CHICAGO TONIGHT AND THE WEEKEND REVIEW STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

AND JOIN US TONIGHT RIGHT AT 10:00 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

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

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE .

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE WHITE SOX HANGING ONTO CLEVENGER DESPITE ALL THIS PERSON -- BUT I'M VERY SURPRISED.

I THOUGHT HE WOULD BE GONE.

I KNOW THAT MLB CONDUCTED , QUOTE, PERSONAL INVESTIGATIONS, YOU KNOW?

THIS IS HOW YOU WANT TO START THE SEASON?

>> WELL, THE WHITE SOX INVESTED $12 MILLION.

>> WELL -- >> THEY'D HAVE TO EAT THAT MONEY.

BUT, I MEAN, I THINK ON THE SCORE , ONE OF HIS ACCUSERS WENT ON AND KIND OF TALKED ABOUT ALL THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS THAT HE'S HAD.

>> AND SO WHAT DO YOU, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SEE?

YOU GOING TO SEE HIM PATCHING, ARE YOU GOING TO BE SEEING HIM WITH THAT?

>> WELL, AT THE END OF THE DAY -- >> DEPENDS ON HOW HE GOOD IS, RIGHT?

WINNING -- WINNING -- >> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH FIRM THAT IS