>>> HEY, EVERYONE.

THINGS FOR JOINING US FOR "WEEK IN REVIEW".

FIRST TONIGHT, A NEW SECURITY PLAN IS IN PLACE FOR DOWNTOWN AS OFFICIALS TRY TO AVOID A REPEAT OF LAST WEEKEND'S MAYHEM.

CITY OFFICIALS SEARCH FOR ANSWERS AS PACKS OF TEENS CAUSE TROUBLE IN THE LOOP LAST WEEKEND.

>> IF I HAVE FAILED DURING THESE PAST 54 YEARS IN ACHIEVING THAT GOAL, PLEASE ROUTE ME TO APOLOGIZE.

>> ALDERMAN ED BURKE AND HIS 50 YEAR CAREER WITH THE SELF REFLECTION AND MORE FROM COLLEAGUES.

MEANWHILE, COUNCIL MEMBERS PUT ASIDE DIFFERENCES TO HONOR MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT WITH A STANDING OVATION AT HER LAST COUNCIL MEETING.

MEANWHILE, MAYOR-ELECT BRANDON JOHNSON GETS TO KNOW THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

SETTING THE STAGE FOR A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP.

>>> AND IN SPORTS -- >> THAT ONE IS HIT HIGH IN THE AIR TO WRITE.

>> THE CUBS GO BACK TO A RESPECTABLE RECORD AS THE SOX ARE ADMIRED IN MEDIOCRITY.

>>> AND NOW TO OUR WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL JOINING US.

MARIA WOLF, OF WBT CHICAGO, PHIL THOMPSON OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, AND TONY HILL OF THE TRIBE.

LET'S GET TO IT.

SARAH, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THIS WEEKEND?

THE WEATHER IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE AS WARM, AND THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO WHAT HAPPENED.

>> THEY SAY THERE IS A PLAN.

BUT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE PLAN IS.

I THINK AS YOU HAVE POINTED OUT, IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE 40 DEGREES, THAT MIGHT HELP, BUT THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF RUMORS AT THEIR THAT THERE ARE SOME PLANNED GATHERINGS.

BUT IN TERMS OF THE SPECIFICS, WE HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD ANYTHING.

>> MARIAH, ESSENTIALLY, THERE WAS A POSTMORTEM LAST WEEKEND.

TODAY DETERMINE WHAT EXACTLY THEY COULD HAVE DONE BETTER TO PREVENT WHAT HAPPENED?

>> I THINK THAT IS A LONG-STANDING QUESTION.

THESE TEENS GATHERING DOWNTOWN IS NOTHING NEW.

WE ARE ALMOST A YEAR FROM WHEN CHANTEL HOLLIDAY WAS KILLED IN A LINNEAN PARK LAST YEAR.

SO, THEY CAME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO THIS LONG-STANDING PROBLEM AFTER THIS WEEKEND, I WOULD BE SHOCKED.

BUT, I THINK WE DID HAVE A SOLUTIONS ORIENTED JOURNALISM THIS WEEK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO KEEP KIDS SAFE AND PREVENT THEM FROM ENGAGING IN THESE GATHERINGS THAT BECOME VIOLENT.

NOT NECESSARILY KICK THEM OUT OF DOWNTOWN, BUT PROVIDE THEM ACTIVITIES TO DO DOWNTOWN, GETTING KIDS TO COME UP WITH THEIR OWN EVENTS, TO ENGAGE ONE ANOTHER.

>> TONY HILL, DID YOU HEAR THAT FROM OFFICIALS?

SOME SORT OF PLAN FOR THOSE PROGRAMS TO PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> AS MARIAH SAID, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A PLAN, SPECIFICALLY.

BUT, I DO FEEL THAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT GOING BACK TO WHAT HAPPENED A YEAR AGO, SHE DID TAKE CHANGE THE CURFEW AND BRING IT BACK AN HOUR TO 10:00 P.M.

THEY ACTUALLY WROTE AN ARTICLE, COMPLAINING HOW IN PLACES WHERE THE CURFEW WAS ENFORCED, IT DIDN'T HAVE A CHANGE ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO, I THINK AS MARIAH POINTED OUT, THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE GOOD KIDS IN THE CITY, LIKE CHICAGO READY, AND OTHERS IN FREEDOM ILLINOIS THAT ARE TRYING TO DO THIS WORK.

AND WITH THE ELECTION OF BRANDON JOHNSON, HIS ENTIRE CAMPAIGN, PART OF HIS MESSAGE WAS FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

SO, THEY ARE DOING THE WORK THAT HE WANTS TO DO ONCE HE IS IN.

>> IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT THE NOTION OF A CURFEW DOESN'T REALLY HAVE AN IMPACT.

>> NO, IT DOESN'T.

IT ALSO ISN'T REALLY ENFORCED.

I THINK ANY LAW IS GOOD AS LONG AS IT IS ENFORCED.

SO -- >> I THINK MARIAH MENTIONED, THE FIRST NICE WEEKEND OF THE YEAR, WE TEND TO SEE THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN.

ARE WE MAKING TOO MUCH OF WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK, AND NOT PUTTING THIS INTO THE CONTEXT OF, THIS IS REGULAR WITH THE WEATHER?

>> WHETHER YOU MAKE TOO MUCH OF IT, OR NOT, BECAUSE THERE IS A NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT ON THIS.

THIS IS KIND OF ESSENTIAL TO THE CULTURE WAR THAT IS GOING ON, NATIONALLY.

AND IT KIND OF SHOWS ITSELF DURING THE ELECTION, WHERE PUBLIC SAFETY IS AN ISSUE, AND CHICAGO IS KNOWN FOR BEING VIOLENT.

SO, SO EARLY IN BRANDON JOHNSON'S CAREER, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH AND ADDRESSED.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT PROGRAMS, THE JOB PROGRAMS, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD WORKOUTS OUT THERE, A LOT OF GOOD ORGANIZATIONS.

THE PROBLEM IS, IS IT GOING TO GET TO THOSE KIDS WHO REALLY NEED IT?

AND I THINK THAT IS A BRIDGE THAT IS A REAL CHALLENGE HERE.

>> SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE X FACTOR HERE THAT DIDN'T EXIST 20 YEARS AGO, WHERE KIDS ARE SEEING STUFF FROM THE FRIEND SAYING, THIS IS WHAT IS GOING DOWN, WE ARE GOING DOWN HERE.

>> I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE USED POSITIVELY.

I KNOW MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT LAST YEAR, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

BUT, I REMEMBER SHE LAUNCHED THAT AT AT TWO LOOKUP ACTIVITIES RUN BY THE CITY.

AND KIDS IN THAT CITY WERE ALSO PROPOSING SOMETHING SIMILAR, WHERE THEY WERE TRYING TO BUILD ON SOMETHING TO THAT EXTENT.

BUT I ALSO THINK JUST BUILDING ON THE WHOLE IDEA OF CRIME AND A DOG WHISTLE -- GRANTED, BRANDON JOHNSON HASN'T EVEN BEEN SWORN IN AS MAYOR, YET.

>> AND THERE ARE FOLKS BLAMING HIM FOR THAT.

>> AND THERE ARE FOLKS BLAMING HIM.

IT IS A THING WHERE PEOPLE THINK, THERE IS A NEW ADMINISTRATION COMING, EVERYTHING IS GETTING READY TO CHANGE OVERNIGHT, AND WE HAVE DECADES OF PROBLEM THAT CANNOT BE CHANGED OVERNIGHT.

>> AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A NEW OCCURRENCE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED A LOT.

THE CITY IN NO WAY CONDONES WHAT HAPPENED, BUT HE SAYS IT IS NOT RIGHT TO DEMONIZE YOUTH OVER IT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT RESPONSE?

>> I THINK HE GOT OF CRITICISM FROM THAT RESPONSE, THAT SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE HARSH ENOUGH WORDS FOR THE BEHAVIOR, TWO TEENAGERS WERE SHOT DOWNTOWN.

EVEN THOUGH IT IS A LONG-STANDING PROBLEM, IT IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT ANYONE EXPECTS TO -- IT IS JUST SOMETHING NATURAL WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

I THINK FROM ALL SIDES OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, WE WANT THIS RESOLVED.

BUT, HE DID FACE A LOT OF CRITICISM.

AND THE STATEMENT WASN'T SURPRISING.

HE IS A TEACHER.

HE HAS SAID AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT KIDS NEED TO BE INVESTED IN IN ORDER TO PREVENT THEM FROM FALLING TO THE BAD INFLUENCE.

AND HE DOUBLED DOWN ON THOSE STATEMENTS AGAIN WHEN ASKED ABOUT IT BY REPORTERS THIS WEEK KIND OF TOUCHING BASE WITH LAWMAKERS BUT SAYING AGAIN, IT IS NOT OKAY TO DEMONIZE YOUTH.

IT IS A COLD DICHOTOMY TO SAY THAT WE CAN'T, ONE, CONDONE THE BEHAVIOR WITHOUT ALSO SAYING, YOU KNOW, THESE KIDS, THEY ARE DEALING WITH A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND THEY AREN'T CHOOSING THE RIGHT PATH AS AN OUTLET.

>> THAT IS A LONGTIME ISSUE.

BUT, IN THE SHORT TERM, YOU HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE STAY SAFE.

AND IT WILL BE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT AARON CARTER IS NOW GOING TO STEP DOWN WHEN BRANDON JOHNSON TAKES OFFICE.

SO THEN, WHO IS GOING TO BE RUNNING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE INTERIM?

>> I THINK THAT WAS THE BIG QUESTION, AND WHY THERE WAS NO PLAN, BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH INTERNAL TURMOIL WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO, I DO THINK THAT IS SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD.

BECAUSE THERE IS A PROCESS ON THIS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT.

>> IT IS GOING TO BE A LONG PROCESS, IT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE AN INTERIM.

>> THERE HAS TO BE AN INTERIM.

SO, I DO THINK THAT IS SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT, DEFINITELY.

>> LET'S TURN OUR TABLE TO CITY COUNCIL.

THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR A FEW FOLKS, AFTER 54 YEARS, ALDERMAN COULDN'T RESIST SPEAKING TO HIS COLLEAGUES AT THE FINAL MEETING, SAYING THAT THEY HOPE THEY PUT CHICAGO'S INTEREST FIRST DURING THEIR TENURE.

>> IF I HAVE FAILED DURING THESE PAST 54 YEARS, IN ACHIEVING THAT GOAL, PLEASE PERMIT ME TO APOLOGIZE.

>> SARAH, WHAT EXACTLY IS HE APOLOGIZING FOR?

IS IT A SINCERE APOLOGY?

>> WELL, THE CONTEXT OF THAT WAS HE WAS QUOTING -- IT WAS PART OF A QUOTE.

SO, I AM NOT SURE.

RIGHT, EXACTLY.

SO, I AM NOT SURE -- I MEAN, I THINK HE MAY HAVE TAKEN IT AS AN APOLOGY.

BUT, I AM NOT SURE WHAT HE IS APOLOGIZING FOR.

>> THE QUOTE HE IS KNOWN FOR SAYING IS IN POLITICS, THERE IS NO PERMANENT ENEMY, NO PERMANENT FRIEND, ONLY PERMANENT INTEREST.

>> I HAVE HEARD THAT ABOUT SIX TIMES FROM HIM.

>> IT IF I HAVEN'T LIVED UP -- THAT IS A GOOD GOAL TO HAVE.

IF I HAVEN'T LIVED UP TO THAT GOAL, THEN PLEASE PERMIT ME TO APOLOGIZE.

I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT SAYING "IF I HAVE FAILED, THEN I APOLOGIZE --" YOU KNOW, WITH BAD RELATIONSHIPS, OR WHATEVER.

>> YOU KNOW, TONY HILL DID GET A LOT OF PRAISE FROM NEARLY ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO, IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PUBLIC?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WELL, REMEMBER, HE HAS SERVED FOR 54 YEARS, HE HAS AN ENCYCLOPEDIA FOR A BRAIN, HE KNOWS MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE CITY CHICAGO AND THE CITY COUNCIL THAN ANYBODY.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY REALLY LOOK FOR HIM TO BE THE BEACON OF KNOWLEDGE IN CITY COUNCIL.

HE ALSO TOOK A FEW PEOPLE UNDER THEIR WING.

SOME OF THE NEW GUYS, HE WOULD TAKE UNDER THEIR WING.

>> AS CHAIR OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, HE HELPS PEOPLE WITH MONEY, HE HELPS BLOWN VOLUNTEERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THAT WILL BUY YOU A LOT OF GOODWILL.

>> THAT WILL BUY YOU A LOT OF GOODWILL.

BUT, FROM WHAT I COULD GATHER, FROM THE STATEMENTS THAT PEOPLE MADE FROM HIM, THERE CERTAINLY WAS A DIFFERENT AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR HIM.

>> AND AROUND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT, TOO.

SHE GETS A STANDING OVATION, KIND OF OPPOSITE OF THE RELATIONSHIP SHE HAD FOR FOUR YEARS.

WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?

>> IT WAS TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE.

>> SHE PROBABLY THINKS SO.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SOMEONE OF HER OWN MAKING BECAUSE SHE CAME IN AND SHE DIDN'T EXACTLY MAKE FRIENDS ON THE COUNCIL.

YOU KNOW, IF THEY ARE SENDING YOU OFF, THEY KIND OF GIVE YOU A PAT ON THE BACK.

WHICH FIRST, I THINK IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING.

GET ALL OF THESE PATS ON THE BACK FOR A RACKETEERING DROP.

NOTHING ABOUT CHICAGO POLITICS.

>> THEREABOUTS, BRIBERY AND RACKETEERING.

FOR MAYOR LIGHTFOOT, WHAT YOU MAKE OF THE SENDOFF YOU GOT?

IT MAY BE AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT WHETHER I AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH YOU, THIS IS A DIFFICULT JOB, AND YOU GET DEALT THE WORST HAND YOU COULD HAVE BEEN DEALT IN FOUR YEARS.

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH SOME OF THAT.

NOBODY WOULD HAVE PREDICTED A GLOBAL PANDEMIC COMING DOWN, AND THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, AND A WHOLE HOST OF ISSUES.

I THINK HOW YOU RESPOND TO ISSUES LIKE THAT AND AS A LEADER, YOU NEED TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT IT.

I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT MAYBE IN THOSE MOMENTS, HOW SHE RESPONDED TO IT WITH OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

>> AGAIN, ACKNOWLEDGING THIS WAS A VERY HARD FOUR YEARS, WHETHER WE GOT ALONG, OR NOT.

BUT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT KIND OF CLOSED THE MEDIUM AND WALKED OFF.

>> SHE HIT THE GAVEL AT THE END OF THE MEETING AND THAT WAS IT.

WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY INCREDIBLE AND REALLY TELLING, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE SOME WHO WERE HER HARSHEST CRITICS GOT UP AND ACTUALLY PRAISED HER.

RAY LOPEZ WAS ONE OF THEM, ANDRE VASQUEZ WAS ONE OF THEM.

YOU KNOW, AND THEY WEREN'T JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT SHE WAS DEALT A BAD HAND, A LOT OF THEM -- AND AGAIN, TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE -- WERE TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS SHE HAD ACCOMPANIST.

THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT -- DAVID MOORE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW SHE HAD DONE MORE FOR THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE THEN THE OTHER OPPONENT.

>> OTHERS THINK SHE DID MORE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAN ANY OTHER MAYOR.

SO THEY ALL GOT UP AND KIND OF PRAISED NOT JUST HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WHICH IS SOMETHING SHE WAS SO DESPERATELY TRYING TO GET ACROSS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND DEFINITELY DURING THE CAMPAIGN, BUT IT WAS HARD TO GET ACROSS BECAUSE OF HER WORK STYLE AND THE WAY SHE RUFFLED FEATHERS.

>> CLEARLY, EVEN HER CRITICS THINK THERE IS SOME ELEMENT TO A POSITIVE LEGACY THAT MIGHT EMERGE ONCE THE DUST CLEARS UP ON ALL OF THIS.

MEANWHILE, BRANDON JOHNSON, THE MAYOR ELECT, A LAWMAKER FROM SPRINGFIELD PLEADS, WE ARE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER.

HE IS GOING TO NEED SOME OF THIS STUFF FROM SPRINGFIELD.

WHAT WAS HIS MESSAGE TO THEM?

>> THIS NARRATIVE THAT CHICAGO IS THE BIG BROTHER WITH THE TOUGHEST ON SPRINGFIELD THAT KIND OF INFLUENCES THE DIRECTION OF THE STATE, HE WANTS TO PUT AN END TO THAT.

HE WANTS TO COLLABORATE WITH LAWMAKERS.

OBVIOUSLY, HE HAD SOME BIG TASKS OF SPRINGFIELD LAWMAKERS TO GET SOME OF THE POLICIES THROUGH, INCLUDING THE CHANGES TO THE FORMULA, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT AND DIDN'T GIVE EXACT DETAILS ON.

THOSE TAX INCREASES THAT ARE GOING TO REQUIRE APPROVAL, BUT REALLY, PITCHING COLLABORATION, INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE AND THAT MIRRORED HIS CAMPAIGN.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF HE IS GOING TO NEED FROM SPRINGFIELD.

THERE IS A MILLIONAIRE SURCHARGE, REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX, WE TALKED ABOUT THE TRANSACTION TAX.

HOW MUCH OF THIS CAN HE ACHIEVE?

>> I THINK AS HE WAS SAYING ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, JUST BUILDING A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SPRINGFIELD IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND EVEN JUST HIS RELATIONSHIP -- I WAS READING IN THE TRIBUNE ARTICLE HOW HE ALREADY HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH A LOVE THE LEGISLATORS IN SPRINGFIELD LIKE MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT DIDN'T, NECESSARILY.

HE WORKED AS AN AIDE, I BELIEVE, TO SENATOR HARTMAN, I BELIEVE.

SO, HE HAS THOSE RELATIONSHIPS BUILT IN AND I THINK THAT IS A BIG STEP.

MAYBE THAT HIS PREDECESSOR DIDN'T HAVE.

>> HE KIND OF KNOWS HIS WAY AROUND THERE, ALREADY.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, HE DOES -- RIGHT.

AND DURING THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, HE KIND OF BRAGGED ABOUT THIS RELATIONSHIP, THOSE WERE THE REASONS WHY HE WAS GOING TO GET SPRINGFIELD FOR THOSE PEOPLE RIGHT THERE.

>> AND WE WILL SEE, THOSE RELATIONSHIPS GO A LONG WAY.

SHE DIDN'T DO THE MOST EFFECTIVE JOB.

BUT, LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS WEEKEND FOR JOHNSON'S ADMINISTRATION.

ANNOUNCING THE CHIEF OF STAFF WILL BE RICH GUIDANCE.

SO, FOR OUR VIEWERS, RICH GUIDANCE HAS BEEN HERE FOR YEARS, AND YEARS, AND YEARS.

SHE IS GOING TO BE THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF.

BUT, GUIDANCE WAS ALWAYS THE GUY THAT WHEN THERE WAS A BLIZZARD COMING OR A BIG, MAJOR WEATHER EVENT, HE IS THE GUY WHO TALKS TO THE MEDIA AND SAYS, HERE'S THE PLAN, HERE IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO TACKLE IT.

HOW DO YOU MAKE OF IT?

>> I THINK IT WAS A SMART MOVE ON BRANDON JOHNSON'S PART TO BRING IN PEOPLE WHO HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE LEVEL IN POLITICS.

THE MORE CONSERVATIVE ALDERMEN WHO VOTED FOR HIS OPPONENT IN THE RACE CAME OUT AND SAID THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A SIGN OF GOOD THINGS AHEAD, TO BE A CITY HALL LIFER, ESSENTIALLY.

AND I THINK RICH SEES HIMSELF AS BEING THE BRIDGE BETWEEN JOHNSON AND CITY COUNCIL.

LIKE YOU SAID, HE'S THE GUY OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

THAT IS ALL THE BREAD AND BUTTER RIGHT THERE.

WHEN YOU HAVE A BODY THAT IS REQUIRING FROM A VERY TUMULTUOUS FOUR YEARS HEADING THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, I THINK IT IS GOING TO SERVE JOHNSON TO HAVE MORE OF THAT.

>> AND YOU ARE DEALING WITH CPD, YOU ARE DEALING WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

IS THAT BRANDON JOHNSON THINKING HERE MAYBE THAT WILL SHOW UP SOME SUPPORT IN FIRST RESPONDERS?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I DO THINK HE IS A SMART PICK BECAUSE YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THE ROPES.

RICH HAS BEEN AROUND FOR -- HE HAS WORKED HIS WAY UP THROUGH CITY HALL.

HE REALLY KNOWS THE INS AND OUTS.

HE ALSO IS WELL-LIKED.

HE HAS A REPUTATION OF REALLY GETTING ALONG WITH HIS PEOPLE.

AND THAT REALLY MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

I THINK IF YOU HAVE A CHIEF OF STAFF WITH THAT KIND OF REPUTATION, THAT WILL BE REALLY USEFUL.

>> I TALKED TO SOME OF THE OLDER GUARD THIS WEEKEND THEY WERE ON IT WITH THIS ONE.

A POPULAR MOVE FOR THOSE WHO WERE SKEPTICAL WITH JOHNSON.

>> AGAIN, RELATIONSHIPS WITH SPRINGFIELD, HOW MUCH OF HIS PLATFORM WOULD REQUIRE BUY IN?

SHE ALSO HAS A DOCTORATE IN EDUCATION POLICY.

I KNOW SHE SPENT A LOT OF WORK IN THE EDUCATION SPACE SO I THINK SHE WILL HAVE SOME EXTRA FEET IN THE NEGOTIATION.

NOT THAT JOHNSON REALLY NEEDS IT BUT I THINK SHE OFFERS THAT.

YES, STATE-LEVEL EXPERIENCE, AS YOUR DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF AND A VETERAN OF CITY HALL.

IT IS A GOOD PAIRING.

>> IT IS.

TONY HILL, DO WE KNOW ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT WHO ELSE JOHNSON WANTS TO FILL OUT HIS ADMINISTRATION WITH, OR WHO HE MIGHT BE LEANING TOWARD IN TERMS OF A POLICE SUPERINTENDENT?

>> AFTER THE ELECTION, THAT WAS SOMETHING HE MENTIONED, TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY, THE COMMISSIONERS, I'M SORRY.

>> THIS IS THE NEW COMMISSIONER.

>> RIGHT.

>> THREE FINALISTS FOR SUPERINTENDENT.

>> RIGHT.

AND FROM WHAT I READ, HE CAN START OVER, HE CAN LOOK AT THE RECOMMENDATIONS, OR DECIDE TO SEARCH OVER AGAIN.

SO, LEANING ON COMMISSIONER DRIVER AND KIND OF FOLLOWING THE GUIDANCE OF THEM, COMING BACK AND MAKING A DETERMINATION.

>> RIGHT.

>> I JUST HAD A QUESTION.

HIS NAME CAME UP IN A COMMUNITY HEARING LAST WEEK.

I WONDER IF THAT IS A FEELING THAT IS BEING PUT OUT THERE?

>> FORMER, LONGTIME CPD, WHAT DISTRICT?

>> I AM NOT SURE WHAT HIS RANKING WAS.

BUT, HIS NAME HAS COME UP.

>> BUT, HIS NAME DID NOTABLY COME UP.

>> YES, MULTIPLE TIMES.

IT IS INTERESTING TO HEAR THIS VERY TRANSPARENT PROCESS, HEARING NAMES THROWN OUT THERE AT THE TIME.

BUT, YES.

HE SEEMS TO BE A FAVORITE AMONGST PEOPLE, AT LEAST TO OUR ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, A WESTSIDE, LOCAL PERSON.

I HAVE HEARD AGAIN AND AGAIN, FROM MULTIPLE PEOPLE, THAT THEY WANT TO SEE SOMEONE FROM CHICAGO.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT, THE PROCESS WOULD BE A FIRST THIS TIME BECAUSE THE DISTRICT COUNCILS AND THIS COMMISSION WILL PLAY A ROLE IN THIS, WHICH I THINK WILL BE REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, AND THEN THERE WILL BE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THAT COUNSEL WHO WILL POINT TO OTHER MEMBERS.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO READ THE ORDINANCE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW THE OVERSIGHT PROCESS WORKS.

BUT, THE OFFICIAL COMMISSION IS NOT IN PLACE, YET.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S MOVE ON TO SPORTS WITH PHIL THOMPSON.

THIS WILL BE A MUCH EASIER CONVERSATION, HOPEFULLY.

THE CUBS EXPLODED FOR 13 MONTHS TODAY.

THEIR OFFENSE IS HOT.

CAN THEY CONTINUE THIS PACE?

>> I THINK THEY CAN.

ME, BEING THE SKEPTIC IN CHICAGO SPORTS FOR SO LONG, I DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO BASEBALL.

>> REMEMBER WHEN RHODES HIT THREE HOME RUNS IN THE OPENING GAME IN 1990?

>> RIGHT.

>> I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.

5-1 ON THE ROAD SERIES.

THEY NEED SOME BELIEVERS.

BUT I THINK IT IS TIME FOR WALKER TO IMPRINT HIS PERSONALITY TO THE CULTURE.

AND I THINK THEY ARE RESPONDING.

>> YOU HAVE PATRICK WISDOM AT THIRD BASE AND LEADING THE LEAGUE IN HOME RUNS.

IS HE A LEGIT MLB POWER HITTER?

HE WAS GOOD LAST YEAR.

>> CHICAGO WAS PAYING ATTENTION.

THIS IS NOT A SURPRISE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW THE CUBS.

>> IS IT A SURPRISE FOR PEOPLE FOLLOWING THE WHITE SOX, THAT THERE ARE FIVE GAMES UNDER 500 TONIGHT?

>> IF YOU ARE A BASEBALL FAN, YES.

IF YOU ARE A WHITE SOX FAN, PROBABLY NOT.

>> I THOUGHT THE NEW MANAGER WAS GOING TO CLEAN UP EVERYTHING OF TONY LEWIS' MESS.

>> HE IS A NEW COACH, IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.

THEY CAN'T STAY HEALTHY TO SAVE THEIR LIVES.

THAT IS A KEY THING.

YOU KNOW, WHEN IS LYNN COTTA COMING BACK?

SO, YOU HAVE TO HAVE -- >> OTHER ISSUES WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION?

>> I AM NOT TOUCHING THAT.

BUT YOU HAVE TO -- >> ALL RIGHT, I SHOULD MENTION THAT TONIGHT AT 10:00, A PLUG FOR THE NEWS, WE WILL HAVE AN INTERVIEW WITH A STATE LAWMAKER SPONSORING A NEW BILL AIMED AT THE BEARS AND THE STADIUM ARLINGTON HEIGHTS.

ARE THE BEARS MAKING ANY MOMENTUM GETTING WHAT THEY WANT, POLITICALLY, IN TERMS OF HELP FOR THIS NEW POTENTIAL STADIUM?

>> POLITICALLY, YES.

PUBLIC OPINION?

THAT IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING ELSE.

THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT HAVING A DISTRICT WHICH IS GOING TO DIAPERED TAXES FROM INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE STADIUM.

THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT A THREE DOLLAR CHARGE ON TICKETS, WHICH AS WE WERE DISCUSSING EARLIER, THEY HAD MONETIZED THEMSELVES.

ANY NFL TEAM IN A MARKET THIS SIZE, THEY WILL ALWAYS HAVE TO GO BIG FOR THREE DOLLARS, TO PAY OFF.

>> BUT, THE McCASKEY'S ARE NOTORIOUSLY -- I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD "STINGY," BUT THEY PINCH THEIR PENNIES, YOU KNOW?

THAT IS THEIR REPUTATION.

>> WELL, YOU HAVE TO, IF IT IS NOT TURNING INTO A PROFITABLE ADVENTURE.

BUT, THEY ARE GOING TO TURN THE BUSINESS OPERATIONS AROUND.

>> THIS IS KEVIN WARNE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> YES, THE NEW CEO.

>> AND THIS WAS A NEW HIRE.

>> THIS IS HUGE.

YOU HAVE TO MODERNIZE HOW THEY OPERATE AS AN NFL FRANCHISE.

IT'S STAGGERING THAT THEY HAVEN'T DONE THIS BEFORE NOW.

>> ALL RIGHT, THE DRAFT IS IN A COUPLE WEEKS.

I FEEL LIKE EVERY SINGLE DAY, I READ A NEW MOCK DRAFT.

SO, WHAT IS YOUR MOCK DRAFT, THE FIRST COUPLE PICS FOR THE BEARS?

>> YOU TAKE THE OFFENSIVE LINE -- >> OFFENSIVE LINE FROM NORTHWESTERN?

>> YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE SOLID TECHNIQUE, GUYS LIKE JOHNSON, THEY ARE MEASURABLE AND THEY GET INTO TROUBLE WITH THAT.

SO, JUST GO FOR THE SHORT GAME.

THAT IS UNTIL SOMETHING CRAZY HAPPENS TO A DEFENSIVE LINEMAN LIKE TYREE OR CARTER.

BUT I MEAN, YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE SURE, ESPECIALLY WITH CARTER.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT HIS CHARACTER.

>> IS OFF THE FIELD ISSUES.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

MARIA WOLF, PHIL THOMPSON, TONY HILL.

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO CATCH THE "CHICAGO WEEK IN REVIEW" STREAM ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND OUR WEBSITE , WTTW.COM/NEWS.

JOIN US TONIGHT AT 10:00, AS I MENTIONED.

WE WILL DISCUSS THE BEARS' KICKOFF STADIUM PLAN.

AND FOR "CHICAGO WEEK IN REVIEW", THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY SAFE AND WE WILL SEE YOU AT 10:00.

TRIAL MIGHT HAVE CLOSING ARGUMENTS NEXT WEEK.

THE PROSECUTORS MAKE THEIR CASE AND ALL OF THIS NEFARIOUS ACTIVITY ROSE TO THE LEVEL OF BRIBERY.

>> THE JURY AS A WHOLE HAS A LOT ON THEIR PLATE.

50-50 WITNESSES, FIVE WEEKS, FOUR DEFENDANTS.

>> THEY MIGHT BE LOCKED IN THAT JURY DELIBERATION ROOM FOR A LONG TIME.

>>> WHAT ABOUT THE FORMER CEO TAKING THE STAND?

THAT SHE MAKE A CONVINCING CASE?

>> I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW ABOUT IT.

>> I THINK THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT IS GOING TO TURN OVER THIS CASE.

IS IT STANDARD LOBBYING?

OR, WERE PEOPLE KNOWINGLY BREAKING THE LAW?

>> I MEAN, IS THIS WHAT HAPPENS FOR ALL MAJOR BILLS?

>> RIGHT.

I COVERED THAT CITY TRIAL YEARS AND YEARS AGO.

>>> ROBERT A CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM