>> Hey, everyone, thanks for joining us on the week in review on them in divinity.

It's the end of the line for the head of the Chicago Transit Authority with Red Line Extension funding secured CTA.

President Dorval Carter makes his >> The dream of Red Line Service, Chicago, 7 edge, providing these communities with the direct real connection to the rest of the city is no longer delayed.

>> Word but with a deficit of more than a half billion dollars, you could say the CTA is running on fumes.

The regional transit authority's seeking some extra control.

Chicago school board seats its first ever elected members.

I will do all I can to make sure that they have a Rigor is joyful.

And liberating experience.

The other half of the school board is there courtesy of the mayor and his teachers.

Union allies are putting pressure on the board to get a new contracting will really hear the words we are.

>> Saying we're screaming from the mountain top of the help and sources that we need in our schools.

>> In federal court, prosecutors grilled former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, forcing him to explain this secretly recorded conversation with guys really Oh, my God very little work ahead of President Donald Trump's inauguration, Chicago Ridge Jackson attempt to let police work with federal immigration agents.

A plan to reduce Chicago speed limit hits a bump in the road.

The bird flu kills a Lincoln Park, flamingo and sealed and layoffs at weekly Chicago reader.

>> And now to our week in review panel.

Joining us, our Laura Washington of the Chicago Tribune and ABC, 7 news now.

It Mercado club Chicago Megan Group out from the Chicago Tribune.

And Alex McCAnn from the Illinois Answers Project.

Megan, over to you because you've been in the courtroom were going to start, of course, with the trial against the landmark real trial, truly against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

You've watched him for months, but I know you don't really cover Illinois politics.

So what did you learn now you've had the chance to hear from him directly?

>> But once the shock wore off, because as a courts reporter, it is stunning in any kind of trial, but especially such a high-profile trial to have the defendant actually hit the stand.

I learned what I think a lot of close watchers of Illinois politics already knew, which is that he's very cool under fire right?

Obviously, you know, there are a lot of overlap.

Some the skills you need to be a politician for that long and the skills you need to get there up on the stand and present yourself to a jury.

He had a very a natural sort of vibe on the stand.

But today today, this week, cross-examination, everyone was watching very closely to see how he explained himself.

>> Because it's different when you're grilled by prosecutors versus the friendly team of your own attorneys.

Was there a difference?

You know, I think there was not much of a difference in his sort of mannerisms, but there definitely some >> efforts to not quite answer those questions.

You know, in the same way, a politician, a lot of press conference.

>> None of us know your jaw.

you know, there are repeated moments where the lead prosecutor who is questioning and had to say, sir, this is a >> yes or no question or sir.

Please listen to what I am asking.

You answer that direct question.

And, you know, you can kind of see him glare could see Laura Andrews for the speaker, metaphorically, as he pointed out from the witness stand.

>> Stabbed his longtime friend.

that is a former Senate President John Cullerton in the back.

What was this about?

And I'm curious if as more of a political observer versus jurors who are hearing this for the first time.

There are any takeaways.

So, you know, I think.

>> I think there was a political disagreement, legislative just screaming.

And I think, you know, I think about sort thing, right, and you know, that happens.

That happens in politics.

I don't think jurors are probably paying that much attention to that.

I mean, I think that.

You expect those kinds of disagreements and politics.

John Colton was a very powerful state Senate leader just just just he a counterpoint to Madigan so that I don't think it's the kind of thing the jurors are going take note of.

And it's going I want to make and follow up on the point about him being on the stand to and that, you know, one of the reasons that defense don't want to stand is because the opposing attorneys going really go after them a try knocked down their evidence, but they're also going to try to round them up and get them to make mistakes.

And I don't think you were there every day.

I don't think would was cool calls a cucumber cool as cucumbers.

He always has been to your know.

I mean, these jurors were selected specifically not to have any real knowledge of Illinois.

Politics are really much knowledge of Madigan's reputation.

>> And so I think a lot of his defense hinges on convincing the jurors that he is a hardworking public servant who is non-confrontational.

He's just a normal like Irish Catholic kid from the southwest side.

And I think prosecutors saw their job this week as poking holes in that just to talk about, you know, the reputation of the Mike Madigan that we kind of know a little bit more about.

I'm sure that's why they brought up the John Cullerton stab in the back.

Things say this is not just like the Twinkly Irish grandpa.

That the defense wants you to believe that he's king maker.

Best player, super smart.

>> Because he did take that chance to testify.

The prosecution had the opportunity to play public airing really, of a private conversation between Madigan and his co defendant lobbyist Mike McClain net against him had tried to keep that sealed.

Let's take a listen.

>> bike involved with Condit.

Yeah.

Remember we got him back on track maybe 5 years ago now what?

Whatever.

for a buck 50 a year.

Well, if remember some of these guys and they don't like the end, like, oh, my God, very little work, too.

>> And just a note, I believe that we had the attribution confused there.

It was, in fact, married again, who said these guys made out like bandits, not McLean.

So that sounds really, really damaging.

>> Is Well, I mean, you can see why the defense fought like gangbusters to keep that out of the trial.

Initially, the judge ruled along.

ruled their way met again, like you said, by taking the stand.

The judge kind of changed his mind on that.

Now what the defense will say and what Madigan on the stand said was that they were not talking about anyone involved in this case.

Right?

Obviously, it sounds terrible to jurors and what prosecutors pointed out on cross-examination was that he did use the plural there.

Some of these guys which really opens the door for the jury to wonder exactly they're talking about.

>> I'm wondering, though, because the person that they were talking about to your point, defense, it said trials and about him was about union leader, Dennis Cannon.

In the beginning of the conversation, he said, but who are we talking about?

Didn't seem to remember helping can and get any sort of contract with come Is that something that prompted the defense team has honed in on and it may be absolves Madigan anyway, like I don't even remember helping these folks on the defense has said there is no evidence that he ever did help can get a job and prosecutors have not directly allege that.

>> So make of that, what I think I think definitely that investors, I think in closing arguments he would try to remind jurors about that because they're not number of other points in his testimony where >> he says he didn't remember certain things.

He didn't remember someone being on on someone's payroll.

And this is another.

This this this could make the case.

It.

First of all, he's not is deeply involved in these not as culpable as he may appear to be.

And this is an example that he doesn't even he doesn't really have any record recollections this argument that it was McLean who's really Parise strings without Madigan's knowing which is why.

>> Mclean is again said a separate me from Matic.

But that didn't work.

I we've already made that request been denied by the judge.

Correct twice know if I recall correctly.

But yeah, I was there are definitely moments when Madigan, the stand was trying to distance himself from the claim.

Let's move to city Council chambers now where this week there was a 39 to 11 split on a failed move that would have diminished Chicago sanctuary protections.

>> Now, Melanie, what with So this would have allowed Chicago police to work with ice to allow.

>> Ice detainers or ice hold of undocumented and individuals in Chicago that would have been arrested for specific crimes related to gang activity, prostitution or crimes and Biden involving minors.

This obviously did not go through at immigrant advocates argued that this would open up the door to and make and documented individual scared to call 9-1-1 because of their immigration status and and also argued that this kind of goes against the innocent until proven guilty because you are holding someone in jail even though they they have not been formally charged with anything more proven that they did anything rested.

They haven't gone trial.

no verdict there.

This, of course, comes as President Donald Trump is going to be returning to the Oval Office on Monday and promising this.

>> Crackdown on immigration relief from the job.

The city is doing a lot to prepare for this.

Alex?

Yeah, it's a big part of looking and trying to see how much of federal grant money that is so vital to so much of what?

>> Not just CPD, but the Chicago police city of Lords really depended on.

And it's a question of would the Trump administration really follow through on its threats to withhold some of that funding because that's really that that the stick that they have over the city, that's the power that they have.

They can say we're not going to give you funding for these programs and the question is both an in a political sense, would they follow through on say depriving CPD of critical resources and also politically would they be able to do that?

I guess how much they really want to stick it to the city of Chicago will have to And a lot of families already very worried.

I know I've seen on my social media feeds rumors about, you know, ICE raids starting really next week.

>> that's why this this this ordinance was.

I mean, I think this is people so hard against this ordinance because this is going to.

>> We enforce the fear factor, I think I think is going to be out of fear factor out throughout throughout the way next.

I think the city city officials preparing for racing, preparing for targeted race and he's got some reporting on this.

You know, especially in terms of the some of the shelters, they know where to find folks and they're going to go after agencies are taking steps to get know that the city of Chicago has been planning various workshops and trying to work with various community organizations to put on his workshops of know your rights and, >> you know, trying to get people prepared a grand like what if this happens to you sort of a scenario.

>> So that was Wednesday, which was busy because at the same time, but residents who one in November office for the first time to be elected to the Board of Education in Chicago were sworn in.

Alex, what is on the plate of this new largest in the country.

I believe 21 member 20 because the mayor has yet to appoint somebody 27 21 school board.

What's honestly?

Oh, man, I don't even know where to begin.

There's a massive fiscal deficit that still time.

>> Has not been settled to say nothing of the Chicago Teachers Union contract negotiations, which >> are still ongoing.

The position of CEO who's going to lead the whole district, including the legal question of how long current CEO Pedro Martinez is going to be able to stay.

These are some really, really big, both short-term and long-term questions, including what is the identity of the school board be going to be?

How much power is going to have an in this sort of medium term of the next 2 years?

Well, it's hybrid board of 10 elected members.

Eventually 11 appointed members.

What is that power balance going to look like?

>> Any intel on what's going on with this missing board member that the mayor has to choose Look, the mayor said is that he's it's a challenge and he wants to make sure he gets a good member.

And but I think there's a back story to this and we know what it which is that there was a lot of trouble with his some of his previous appointments, particularly he's the president the person he wanted be president.

The board step down because of some offensive social media posts.

So I think he's been starting was based on learned a lesson and he's being probably more careful than he should have been in the first place.

And he says he has ideas also.

I would hope so, too.

>> There are some people on his list, but of course, he's keeping a very tight deadline when he was supposed to met.

But there's really no repercussion.

It seems right for missing it.

But there were there was a contest, by the way, for vice president of this board.

He the mayor chooses the overarching leader, but an appointed member one over the elected individual who had tried for the VP position.

Is this all a demonstration of power dynamics of the board?

Absolutely.

I think it shows that the mayor still has is will ding very large power over.

>> The CBS School board.

And, you know, with that additional person sort of whoever they may be waiting in the wings.

I think it's just a peek of what's to come even more.

So.

So we were talking about an elected school board.

It's historic, but >> is historic as it has been built or and you know, and but there were there predictions all along that it wasn't going to be an easy transition.

I mean, it continues to be very political.

I mean, 2 of the members of the border, people who ran for the elected positions failed failed to be elected.

yet they've been a point.

So there's questions about how Democratic is the subsistence going to be going forward now?

Obviously, as you noted, one of the main issues for the board is going to be dealing with finances.

And this week we had the Civic Federation out with.

>> Really dire fiscal warning and even threatening the state takeover.

Alex, a what do we make of this report from the Civic Federation?

More importantly, as opposed what is the board to make of it.

>> I couldn't tell you what the board is to make it.

I think that it lays out a lot of the really dire.

know.

Wouldn't saying this really dire, but very serious stakes that ahead for.

For example, who is going to pay for this, I think is 250 million dollar pension payment to the teacher pensions that CPS and the city of Chicago are playing hot potato with say no, you are responsible for that.

just trying to be wary of can the district afford a lot of the additional funding that the teachers union is asking for?

There's a lot of question over how much they can dip into this reserve fund without ad incurring the wrath of the credit.

credit rating agencies.

A lot of really questions.

And we are going to have to see how this new elected board semi elected board is going to >> do event.

But yeah, I'm a lot, of course on the contract and how much them ends up costing one sets figured depend on the contract because a lot of the you head count has gone up in a lot of casa going up.

And this is sort of a part of that equation.

Is that it's this question of Dewey Right-sized.

We try to cut costs, but then you have the teachers union, including CEO saying we have actually made a lot of really important games and we're stabilizing because these resources that we have and of course it all lands on.

We need more money from the state.

you look at the state, that's the problem is is Chris Welch is speaker of the House at this week.

It's going to be tough, getting getting money We've got a lot of requests and Johnson Ministration hasn't had the greatest track record in terms of its lobbying successor in terms of even billion relationship with state legislators.

So in many ways they're starting from ground ground 0 in a time when there's a lot of heroes starting in financial.

pressure's on the one's to in state government.

>> Rta, CTA, you name it.

So they're going to in the city.

Got a downgrade to its credit rating this week from SNP Melody, Y in.

You have the mayor pushed back.

>> Yeah.

So the reason why the SNP went forward with the downgrade is because they although the mayor went forward with the supplemental pension payments, they argue that the 2025 budget relied too heavily on one time revenue resources coming in.

But we also have to look at some of the other credit rating rating agencies and actually give kudos to the mayor for that while acknowledging yes, you did.

You did.

You did technically rely on a couple more, you know, one time resources with that.

We would have liked to see.

But >> we do like to acknowledge that we like that.

You're making that pension contribution and we're going to keep the rating as it is for now.

We're going to change tracks.

You know, I'm going with this longtime CTA President Dorval Carter is out.

He's leaving it to instead had at the hospital.

Now, Megan.

>> Is just somebody who drives the CTA buses or trains.

Are you frustrated with the service?

Was you know, fairly maligned here?

I will say.

And this is strictly anecdotal.

>> I will say I have noticed it getting a little better in recent months, right?

But it's not that long ago that I was seeing like.

>> only 15, 20 minute waits between trains at rush hour or trains that were promised on the tracker but never appeared.

Right.

And so you're just sitting on this freezing platform, feeling miserable.

And I just I don't know their zone.

There's like a morale problem that goes with that.

I mean, good transit system is a symptom of a world-class city, right?

A symptom of functional city.

And it just I don't know as someone who came here from not Chicago, the moment I realized you could get anywhere for like $2 was regulatory.

know I would love to see the quality improved to what the city deserves.

So much of the criticism of Carter was that he might have been good at bringing in federal funding.

And there's this Red line project and yet not the operational changes.

So.

>> What does the CT need to do to improve?

>> Well, I think there is a long la junta.

I of course, as Megan was saying, improving wait times.

In addition, safety on the CTA overall, Clegg, believe having a leader that actually rides the CTA.

I know that my colleagues club have done extensive reporting >> on on Dorval Carter and how for what period of time he had only just car 12 times in the period of >> 2 years or just overall example out of the stick around for so long, you're still ready to go.

want to show You know, the mayor has been protecting him from day one.

And it's really interesting that, you know, he's been hit with huge amount of criticism for getting rid of Carter and >> what happens?

You know, right?

As soon as we get food, the red with extension money he did.

So here all because fears that you would think that the mayor could have managed to finesse it in such a way that he couldn't miss it.

The message that this is going to be end of the line for themselves so to speak.

I think that the whole issue of funding is going to be crucial in the whole issue of who is going to run the CTA.

there's people in Springfield who would like to see some consolidation.

Every transit agency involved is fighting and of course, doesn't want to give up their power.

We give control with the RTA already making a bet to say, hey, we'll handle all the training.

We are here the RTA today to handle CT 8.

>> You just like you said, you said officials are not right.

What do you think?

RTA, how close you going to be terms of understanding and connecting to the needs of the CTA.

Well, in this is among the many changes that could be coming to downtown because you have a couple dozen really of the city's most prominent leaders pitching a bid to do something to bring more folks in.

Laura, you.

He's done some work on this.

What it buys this team necessary is this post pandemic foreigner mind if you walk around downtown stay street is a disaster.

I blocks of empty storefronts.

People don't feel safe or comfortable going down there.

>> The REIT retail is dying.

No one's going to the office.

So this the sort of sit group of civic leaders is trying to get together, come up with some creative innovative strategies to bring people back to downtown downtown is the lifeblood of the city.

And we have to revive And I found myself visiting coffee shops, not necessarily because they need or want a coffee, they do that just because they're empty and bad.

>> What are some of these ideas?

I it relies on this idea of of heavily going wake leaning into the culture and of very existence.

Chicago, some of them include floating farmers markets on the Chicago River.

>> There's also this idea of maybe like a floating on like theater or like concert venue.

Ask idea as well, though.

It also down the river.

The idea a lot of floating of there, but nothing like on the water.

>> It in addition offering artist residency is and trying to attract youth downtown by.

>> By having ages 3 through 12, come with the kids come with their families and visit theater shows for free.

They they idea is that by like heavily leading into this, that we create a downtown area will naturally thrive because people want be here to experience the culture in the art that that they create by having resident season.

Also sometimes more realistic than others.

I know some my mom friends sent around that idea free shows for kids but maybe it will see.

We talked about the CTA other ways you could get downtown, of course, to be driving.

And Alex, although other cities have sped ahead with lowering speed limits, Chicago is not one of them.

>> Why the hesitancy from Chicago?

>> Yeah, it hit a roadblock.

Speed bump.

Whatever you want to call it in the city Council.

This is an effort that has been brewing for more than a year starting from Daniel, a spot of the chair of Pedestrian Traffic Safety Committee trying to bring this forward with the backing of a lot of advocates who have pointing to some very clear mounting evidence from all over the country.

Other cities around the world saying when we lowered the speed limit, fewer people die.

There are fewer crashes there.

Research is very clear about how much like there you are to survive crash if you're hit just a 25 versus 30 miles an hour.

That is all certain everyone knows about that.

The real X factor here and a reason why it didn't have enough support to pass is because of Inforcement.

That's really the big question around this.

Everyone is worried.

Am I going to get more tickets?

What is this going to mean?

presumably the 6 mile an hour, trigger for getting a ticket will be lowered to 31 instead of 36 miles an hour.

And we know from research just in Chicago's automated camera enforcement system that the impacts of taking are not evenly spread, that it really an equitable with drivers of color bearing the brunt of that.

And so that's where you saw and a lot of the most I would say of that reputation and hesitation in the city council.

So instead they're moving forward with with the working group to to, to look into how 2 strategies to make enforcement more equitable or to sort calibrate at where the cameras are a little more closely the proponents want to point out that it's also an equity issue to will because it's also a matter of safety in that you have disproportionately black and Latino individuals have a higher incidence in Ohio reporting as an attractive for the rash.

So lot to figure out that is going to be our end note.

Our thanks to.

>> Laura Washington Melody mercado making and Alex Nick we will be back to wrap things up right after this.

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Slash News now for the Week in review on the mid of any Keith, thanks for watching.

Stay healthy and safe.

Have a good night and perhaps a long weekend now.

And Melanie, back to you because valleys has secured position getting a permanent casino.

>> We've already unfortunately, as the Chicago Tribune time because of it.

>> But now they want a tax break.

Why wasn't this ironed out in early part of the deal?

>> While they argue that a former Mayor Lori Lightfoot left the door open for them to be able to apply for this tax incentive.

But now the mayor is saying absolutely He doesn't want it to give it to Bally's because that increase the tax burden on the rest of Chicago is that we give casino a significant tax break on their property assessment, which if approved and it's likely not going to be it would last for 12 years.

So is this just a gamble?

>> Really, Andrew Syria.

You could say that.

I mean, it's not a very good look.

>> For them to now come our way through the process, they've already demolished the beloved Freedom Center in now in the middle of it to be able actually we need a little bit money.

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