>>> HEY, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

CHICAGOANS FACE A SHARP CHOICE IN THE MAHER RUNOFF.

TWO CHOICES WITH VASTLY DIFFERENT DECISIONS.

>> WE WILL MAKE CHICAGO THE SAFEST CITY IN AMERICA.

>> THIS IS THE TRUTH ABOUT ALL BALANCE, HE HAS LITERALLY FAILED EVERYWHERE HE HAS GONE.

>> AND THEN THERE WERE TWO.

MY EURO FINALIST, PAUL VALLAS AND BRANDON JOHNSON SPEED TOWARD THE APRIL 4th RUNOFF.

>> OBVIOUSLY, WE DIDN'T WIN THE ELECTION TODAY, BUT I STAND HERE WITH MY HEAD HELD HIGH.

>> WHILE MAYOR LIGHTFOOT BECOMES THE FIRST MAYOR TO LOSE RE-ELECTION SINCE JANE BYRD 40 YEARS AGO -- >> PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS TO THRIVE.

>>> A NEW GENERATION OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IS ON ITS WAY.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MOURNS THE LOSS OF ONE OF THEIR OWN, ANDRES VASQUEZ-LASSO KILLED AFTER RESPONDING TO A DOMESTIC CALL.

>>> POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT FOR A PRIVATE JOB IN TEXAS.

>>> AND IN SPORTS -- BLACKHAWKS HERO AND ALL-TIME GREAT, PATRICK KING, MAKES HIS ESCAPE TO NEW YORK.

>>> JOINING US ARE CRAIG BELL MORE OF WBBM 'S RADIO, GREG PRATT OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, AND PHIL THOMPSON OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, AS WELL.

IT IS A TRIBUNE KIND OF EVENING TONIGHT.

WE WILL BE OKAY, HOW DO WE GET TO IT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT PAUL VALLAS AND BRANDON JOHNSON, YOU SEE AN EARLY FAVORITE HERE?

OR IS THIS NECK AND NECK?

>> OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE PAUL VALLAS GOT THE MOST VOTES, HE STARTS OUT PROBABLY AHEAD.

BUT, MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED IN THAT ELECTION VOTED FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

SO, NOW YOU HAVE TO SEE WHERE THE PROGRESSIVE VOTE GOES, THE MORE IMPORTANT VOTE NEITHER OF THEM IS HOLDING ONTO, BECAUSE ONE OF THOSE BALLOTS GOES ALL THE WAY TO WRITE AND JOHNSON IS ON THE WAY TO THE LEFT.

WHERE DID THE MODERATES GO?

>> SO, WE LOOK AT THOSE LIKE LIGHTFOOT GOT AROUND 70%, CHEWY GARCIA -- WHERE DO THOSE VOTERS GO?

AND DO YOU SEE ANY OF THOSE FOLKS ENDORSING BRANDON JOHNSON OR PAUL VALLAS?

>> I WOULD IMAGINE THAT WILLIE WILSON IS GOING TO ENDORSE PAUL VALLAS, THEY ARE LONGTIME FRIENDS.

THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT TOGETHER.

JULIE GARCIA, YOU WOULD IMAGINE, WOULD ENDORSE BRANDON JOHNSON.

BUT, THERE IS NO GUARANTEES, AND PAUL VALLAS IS TRYING TO GO TO THE CENTER.

HE ROLLED OUT ENDORSEMENTS FROM JESSE WISEMAN AND WALTER BURNETT.

HE IS TRYING TO MAKE THE COALITION WHAT LESS WHITE, LESS CONSERVATIVE, LESS PRO-LAW AND ORDER.

AND JOHNSON IS STILL TRYING TO -- I THINK THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO RECALIBRATE.

THEY HAVEN'T MADE ANY MAJOR MOVES.

>> YOU MENTIONED THAT ENDORSEMENT, WALTER BURNETT, AND GARY CHICO, AS WELL.

DO YOU THINK THESE ENDORSEMENTS MOVE THE NEEDLE AT ALL?

THREE ENDORSEMENTS THIS WEEK FROM A DIVERSE ARRAY OF FOLKS.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE POINTED OUT IMMEDIATELY THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S RACE DIDN'T REALLY HELP.

BUT IF IT NEEDS TO JESSE WHITE CONVINCING OTHER FOLKS, HE IS GOING TO JUMP ON.

MAYBE.

THAT SAID, I AM GOING TO BE WATCHING WHERE AND IF MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ENDORSES, OR WHETHER EITHER CANDIDATE WANTS THAT ENDORSEMENT.

I THINK IT IS ALL ABOUT WHO YOU BRING WITH YOU ONCE THAT ENDORSEMENT COMES.

CALLING ON MEMBERS OF THE BLACK CAUCUS AND CITY COUNCIL TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE FOLKS ARE GOING TO LAND TO WIN OVER THE MODERATE FOLKS.

>> YOU HEARD BRANDON JOHNSON GO ON THE ATTACK SAYING THAT PAUL VALLAS HAS FAILED EVERYWHERE HE HAS GONE.

IS THAT A PREVIEW OF WHAT WE WILL EXPECT IN THE NEXT FIVE WEEKS, A LOT OF NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING?

>> JUST LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, HE HAS GROUND TO MAKE UP.

IF YOU DIAL IN TO IT, CHICAGO IS A FRACTIOUS ENTITY, POLITICALLY.

ONE THING I FOUND INTERESTING IS THAT IN SOME OF THE LATINO PRECINCTS, THE SECOND RUNNER-UP WAS VALLAS.

SO, I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE BATTLE OVER SOME OF THE REDISTRICTING, IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH SOME SORT OF SCHISM BETWEEN THE BLACK FOLKS AND -- >> THERE CERTAINLY WAS A WAR BETWEEN BLACK MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL AND LATINO MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL OVER THAT, RIGHT?

>> AND TO YOUR POINT, ONE OF THE ISSUES -- YOU HAVE A LOT OF BLACK VOTERS WHO ARE CONSERVATIVE.

THEY ARE PRO-POLICE, THEY ARE PRO--- THEY ARE PRO-POLICE.

THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY UP WITH THE TEACHERS UNION AND EVERYTHING THE TEACHERS UNION DOES.

AND THAT IS WHERE BRANDON JOHNSON HAS SOME ROOM TO MAKE UP.

>> CRAIG DELMORE, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE LIFE OF THE CAMPAIGN, WHERE IT WENT WRONG.

IT FEELS LIKE AT THE END, THE HIGH CRIME AND PERSONAL STYLE HERE THAT ALIENATED NOT JUST FOES, BUT ALSO FORMER ALLIES, ALL OF THAT SORT OF DID HER IN.

IS THAT HOW YOU SEE IT?

>> I THINK TO SOME DEGREE, YES.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THIS IS A MAYOR WHO HAD GOTTEN FEDERAL MONEY TO HELP GET THE CITY THROUGH COBIT, AND I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYONE WHO CAN CREDIBLY SAY THAT SHE DIDN'T GET THROUGH COVID VERY WELL, OR ANYONE WOULD HAVE DONE BETTER.

>> YES, EXACTLY.

>> THE RECOVERY IS UNDERWAY, THE WESTSIDE UNDER OTHER MAYORS, WHO NEVER SAW THE MONEY.

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SHOE IN.

SO, THOSE WOUNDS WERE SELF-INFLICTED.

BUT, I STILL THINK THE BIGGEST ELEMENT WAS CRYING.

FIRST OFF, THE CAMPAIGN BECAME ABOUT CRIME.

BUT ALSO, HOW DO YOU CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER WHEN THEY ARE SCARED TO GO OUTSIDE?

>> AND THE 29th CAMPAIGN WAS ALL ABOUT BRINGING IN LIFE.

BUT THIS WAS NOT A VERY TRANSPARENT ADMINISTRATION WHEN IT CAME TO FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS, REALLY LETTING OUT REPORTS TO THE PUBLIC.

>> GREG KNOWS BETTER THAN ANYONE HOW MUCH HE HAS HAD TO FIGHT THE LIGHTFOOT ADMINISTRATION.

BUT, THERE WERE TRANSPARENCY ISSUES, THINGS SHE WENT BACK ON OR AMENDED IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE FELT LET DOWN BIKE.

THE SCHOOL BOARD WAS ANOTHER ONE, THE MAP WAS ANOTHER ONE.

I THINK STYLE AND SUBSTANCE WAS AN ISSUE.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE PROBABLY WON'T FIGURE OUT FOR A LONG TIME.

>> AND THE CARICATURES THAT HAPPEN, SO APPARENTLY PAUL VALLAS' TWITTER ACCOUNT LIKED OR INTERACTED WITH, PAUL VALLAS SAID, IT WASN'T ME.

IT WAS SOMEBODY ELSE WHO MAYBE HACKED MY TWITTER ACCOUNT.

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE ASSUMING THINGS ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE KNOWS A PARTICULAR CANDIDATE WHO ACTUALLY DOES THEIR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> DONALD TRUMP.

>> WELL, YEAH.

A LOT OF IT WAS DONE BEFORE HE WAS A CANDIDATE, IT WAS JUST HIS REGULAR ACCOUNT, RIGHT?

>> SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY HE DOESN'T POST ON HIS OWN, OR HE WILL DICTATE IT AND SOMEBODY WILL POST IT FOR HIM.

I AM NOT SURE -- YOU KNOW, ANY OF US CAN GIVE UP OUR TWITTER TO SOMEBODY TO POST FOR US AND WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE LIKING SOME OF THAT STUFF.

SO, THAT WAS A MANAGEMENT CONCERN AND THAT IS FAIR TO TALK ABOUT.

I'M NOT GIVING UP MY TWITTER ACCOUNT TO ANYBODY.

QUICKLY, WHAT ABOUT CHUY GARCIA, HE CAME IN AS THE FRONT-RUNNER, WHERE DOES HE HAVE TO BE, THAT HAS TO BE INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTING FOR HIM.

FOLKS THAT WANTED TO SEE A LATINO AMERICAN.

>> HE SCREWED UP HIS POLITICAL OBITUARY.

HE CAME IN AS A FRONT-RUNNER, HE RAN A BAD CAMPAIGN WHERE HE DIDN'T REALLY SAY ANYTHING.

EVERYTHING WAS ABOUT HAROLD WASHINGTON FOUR YEARS AGO.

AND THAT IS NOT REALLY HOW YOU CONVINCE PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR YOU, NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY VOTE FOR YOU.

>> HE CAME IN LATE, THAT IS THE OTHER PROBLEM.

THE PROGRESSIVE WING OF THE PARTY, THEY WERE WAITING FOR HIM, AND HE WAS TRYING TO DECIDE BECAUSE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WOULD STILL BE IN DEMOCRATIC-CONTROLL ED AND HE MIGHT MOVE UP IN LEADERSHIP.

BUT, THE TEACHERS UNION ACTUALLY WAS HOLDING OFF FOR HIM AND THEN THEY SAID, ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE ARE GOING TO DO BRANDON JOHNSON.

AND THEN, HE COMES IN.

SO, I THINK THERE WAS A SENSE FROM THE PROGRESSIVES THAT SAID HE SHOULD HAVE COME IN, AND THEN THEY WORKED WITH HIM.

>> THE TIMING WAS WAY OFF.

HIS CONGRESSIONAL RE-ELECTION WAS UNOPPOSED.

MEANWHILE, PHIL THOMPSON ON NATIONAL MEDIA IS REALLY TAKING AN INTEREST IN THE LAST WEEK, SAYING IT FITS INTO THE NATIONAL NARRATIVE ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

ARE THEY GOING A MORE MODERATE DIRECTION?

PRO-LAW ENFORCEMENT, OR A MORE PROGRESSIVE DIRECTION, "DEFUND THE POLICE" FOR LACK OF A BETTER PHRASE.

YOU SEE THAT DYNAMIC PLAYING OUT HERE?

>> OH, DEFINITELY.

I KNOW IT IS A DEMOCRATIC CITY, AND IT IS ALWAYS PROGRESSIVES VERSUS CONSERVATIVES.

YOU ARE STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THOSE CODE WORDS POP UP, LIKE CRT, YOU KNOW?

SOME OF THAT LANGUAGE.

SO, I JUST THINK THAT IS PART OF JOHNSON'S STRATEGY.

BEING ON THE BALLOT AS A CLOSET REPUBLICAN.

THAT IS A PATH HE ALREADY EMBARKED ON.

>> HE HAS BEEN SMART ABOUT EVERY AD HE IS RUNNING AND HE IS RUNNING MILLIONS OF THEM.

>> ALL PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> HE ALWAYS USES THAT PHRASE, "LIFELONG DEMOCRAT."

SO, HE'S GOT NEGATIVES, AND YOU HAVE TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DO IT.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW MUCH THE TEACHERS UNION GETS IN FOR.

>> THAT IS MY NEXT QUESTION, BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL HEARD STORIES ON HOW SOME MEMBERS OF THE TEACHERS UNION WERE UPSET ALL OF THIS MONEY WAS BLOWN FOR THE CAMPAIGN.

IS THE CTU GOING TO TURN AGAIN AND GIVE MILLIONS MORE TO BRANDON JOHNSON FOR THIS RUNOFF?

YOU WOULD THINK HE RAISED A LOT OF MONEY.

>> THAT IS WHAT WE ARE WATCHING FOR, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, BIG, NATIONAL REPUBLICAN GROUPS GET INVOLVED.

YOU MIGHT GET MONEY FROM THE ILLINOIS FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, FDI YOU, NATIONALLY INVOLVED IN THIS.

AND HOW MUCH CAN HE RAISE THAT AND COMBAT THE BUSINESS MONEY?

>> AND PAUL VALLAS LOANED HIS CAMPAIGN ABOUT $100,000.

SO, ARE YOU EXPECTING THE MONEY TO START FLOWING FOR THIS RACE?

>> I THINK BOTH CANDIDATES HOPE IT WILL START FLOWING.

BUT I THINK ONE OF THE KEYS HERE IS, SHOULD WE EXTEND PAUL VALLAS AND KEEP THE FOCUS ON THE CAMPAIGN ONLY ON CRIME?

I THINK HE WILL BE ALMOST UNBEATABLE.

BUT, THERE ARE OTHER SUBJECTS THAT PEOPLE PROBABLY WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THAT THEY ARE NOT, LIKE EDUCATION.

CHICAGO IS ABOUT TO HAVE AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD.

HAS ANYONE ASKED HIM, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

WHAT IS HE LOOKING FOR?

NO.

>> YES, YES.

HE SAID, I AM NOT AFRAID TO GET INVOLVED IN THE ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD RACES, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T HEARD A TURNABOUT FROM BRANDON JOHNSON.

>> IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, FIRST OF ALL, TWO YEARS BEFORE THE ELECTION, BUT THEN IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, THE MAYOR GETS TO APPOINT 11 MEMBERS AND 10 OF THE MEMBERS ARE GOING TO BE ELECTED.

DO WE THINK THAT PAUL VALLAS WOULD GO FOR FOLKS WHO ARE PRO-CHARTER SCHOOL, VERSUS BRANDON JOHNSON?

>> NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

PAUL HAS A VERY EDUCATION FOCUSED AGENDA, A VERY CONSERVATIVE FOCUSED AGENDA.

TARGET SCHOOLS, VOUCHERS, THAT SORT OF THING.

THE GUY DIDN'T RUN FOR OFFICE DO NOT IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE IDEAS HE HAS CAMPAIGNED ON AND HE IS SOMETIMES QUITE ABOUT IT.

IT WILL BE A FASCINATING NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

THE NEXT MAYOR BASICALLY DOES CONTROL THE SCHOOLS UP UNTIL THE END OF THE TERM.

>> NOT JUST THE MAYOR'S RACE, BUT THE DIRECTION OF CITY COUNCIL.

IF YOU FOLKS WON OUTRIGHT, THERE ARE A FEW FOLKS IN RUNOFFS RIGHT NOW.

YOU HAD GROUPS LIKE THE TEACHERS UNION ON ONE SIDE, AND A MORE BUSINESS FRIENDLY, MODERATE DEMOCRAT GROUP GETTING INVOLVED.

WHO CAME OUT ON TOP AMONG THESE INTEREST GROUPS FUNDING THESE RACES?

>> I COULD TELL YOU, I DON'T THINK HE DID TERRIBLY WELL.

THE 30th WARD, AND DEFINITELY THE 10th.

OTHER THAN THAT, BIG WINS WITH PAUL VALLAS.

THEY HAVE MADE A LOT OF BETS, 26 RACES, AND LOST A LOT OF THEM.

NOT A LOT OF FOLKS IN RUNOFFS.

THEY DID MANAGE TO SEND A LOT OF THE INCUMBENTS BACK.

UNITED WORKING FAMILIES, WHICH BACKED PROGRESSIVE GROUPS, ALSO DID PRETTY WELL.

CHICAGO'S DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS DID DECENT, ALSO DEFENDING THEIR INCUMBENT, BUT NOT DOING SO WELL ON NEW FACES.

AND OTHER GROUPS MOSTLY TOOK VERY LITTLE RISKS.

INCUMBENTS THAT WERE IN PRETTY GOOD SPOTS AND ENDED UP DOING PRETTY WELL.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF CITY COUNCIL IDEOLOGICALLY FOR THE NEXT TERM?

ARE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS GOING TO GET MORE INFLUENCE?

OR ARE MORE MODERATE DEMOCRATS GOING TO SWING BACK A LITTLE BIT MORE, AND REGAIN WHAT THEY HAVE LOST THE PAST FOUR YEARS?

>> I THINK THE PROGRESSIVES, THE LEFTIES, THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE GROUND, THEY WILL GET MORE EXPERIENCE.

AND IT IS NOT GOING TO BE WHAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY FEAR IS.

BUT, THEY HAD AN EMBARRASSMENT WITH THE OPEN, THEY ROLLED BACK A MASSIVE EFFORT.

HE WAS THERE NUMBER ONE.

AND THEY LOST HIM.

>> HE WON OUTRIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

AND THAT IS EMBARRASSING FOR CHUY, TOO.

BECAUSE HE HAD THIS COMBINATION OF BUSINESS, CHUY, AND BYRON.

HE BEAT THEM PRETTY HANDILY.

>>> WE ALSO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT A TRAGEDY THIS WEEK, A VIOLENT ALTERCATION THAT TRAGICALLY LED TO THE DEATH OF CPD OFFICER, ANDRES VASQUEZ-LASSO.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THIS CASE RIGHT NOW?

THERE IS AN 18-YEAR-OLD IN CUSTODY WHO IS ALSO SAID TO BE IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

>> WHAT WE KNOW, REALLY, AND REALLY THE ONLY THINGS WE KNOW IS THAT THESE KINDS OF DOMESTIC PROBLEMS CAN GO SIDEWAYS VERY EASILY.

>> RIGHT, IT WAS A DOMESTIC CALL THIS OFFICER HAD RESPONDED TO.

>> AND THEY ARE AMONGST THE MORE DANGEROUS CAUSE YOU CAN GO ON, BECAUSE THEY ARE UNSTABLE, AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS A PROSPECT.

IN THIS CASE, HE WAS FIRED ON.

AT THE ARRAIGNMENT, THEY DESCRIBED HIS INJURIES, AND HE MAY HAVE BEEN WEARING A VEST, BUT HE WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD.

SO, THERE IS JUST SO MUCH YOU CAN DO.

IT IS A DANGEROUS JOB.

THAT IS WHAT WE REALLY KNOW.

>> IS A DANGEROUS JOB, AND MEANWHILE, THE SUPERINTENDENT IS GOING TO BE LEAVING THIS JOB.

THE MIRROR THAT PICKED HIM IS GONE.

SO, HE REALLY HAS NO FUTURE IN CHICAGO.

>> CAN POLICE -- CAN CHICAGO KEEP A POLICE SUPERINTENDENT?

IT SHOWS THE DIFFICULTY OF THE JOB AND THE POLITICAL NATURE OF IT THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE CERTAIN BACKGROUNDS.

AND I THINK PART OF THIS, TOO, AND MAYBE YOU GUYS CAN WEIGH IN ON THIS, JUST GOING THROUGH HIS OWN INTERNAL STRUGGLES.

>> AND HE HAD WON RE-ELECTION, NOT BY A LANDSLIDE.

BUT HE WILL CONTINUE ON AS THE HEAD OF THE FOP.

IT SEEMS LIKES SINCE THE MOMENT HE WALKED IN HERE, HE HAS BEEN REPLACING CHARLIE BECK, THE INCUMBENT.

HE WAS PRETTY POPULAR.

BUT HE NEVER REALLY GOT THE FOOTING WITH THE RANK AND FILE AND WITH THE REST OF THE CITY, AND WITH POLICE REFORMERS, FOR THAT MATTER, EITHER.

>> YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE THAT IS PERHAPS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE, FOR THEM TO DISPUTE THAT.

BUT, THERE IS NOBODY WHO THOUGHT THAT SUPERINTENDENT BROWN WAS DOING A GOOD JOB, EXCEPT FOR MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

SO, SHE REJECTED FRIENDS, ALLIES, FROM HER FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF, TO MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL WHO HAVE ISSUES WITH BROWN.

IT WAS LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE A FRIEND, YOU DON'T LIKE THEIR BOYFRIEND, YOU TELL THEM AND THEY GET MAD AT YOU, NOT AT THE BOYFRIEND.

AND THAT IS SORT OF THE SITUATION SHE HAD WITH DAVID BROWN AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

NOBODY REALLY HAD CONFIDENCE IN HIM, WHICH MAYBE IS UNFAIR, BUT IT IS TRUE.

>> AND THIS IS KIND OF CONFUSING RIGHT NOW, BUT THERE IS AN INTERIM COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT COMMISSION THAT IS IN PLACE WHILE THE ELECTED COMMISSION, OR APPOINTED COMMISSION, COMES INTO FRUITION, WHICH IS GOING TO HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

THEY ARE ALREADY STARTING ON THE SWITCH FOR A REPLACEMENT.

BUT, GETTING INTO A SITUATION WHERE THE NEXT MAYOR COMES IN AND THEY SAY, WE WANT TO CONTROL THIS PROCESS.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO RESPECT THE COMMISSION GOING FORWARD.

>> I HOPE NOT, BECAUSE THE ENTIRE POINT OF THIS BEING SET UP WAS TO HAVE MORE COMMUNITY INPUT, AND TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE FLOW OR PACE, TO BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS, IS APPLICANTS OF THIS JOB, IF THEY ARE LOOKING IN THE NEXT FIVE WEEKS, HAVE NO IDEA WHO THEIR BOSS IS GOING TO BE.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHO THE MAYOR IS GOING TO BE.

PAUL VALLAS AND BRANDON JOHNSON ARE GOING TO HAVE VERY DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO THIS JOB, AND THESE APPOINTEES ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY APPOINTEES OF MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT.

THE NEW MAYOR COULD COME IN AND REJECT ALL OF THIS AND TELL THE COMMISSION TO START OVER.

BUT, THIS NEW PERSON IS GOING TO BE IN SUCH AN INTERESTING POSITION, BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, STARTING IN A MORE DANGEROUS TIME.

DAVID BROWN IS BEATING UP TO ST. PATRICK'S DAY WEEKEND, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A BIG STRUGGLE.

I DON'T SEE THE DOG JOB THAT ERIC SMITH HAS AS AN INTERIM LEADER.

A VERY DIFFICULT JOB AT A VERY DIFFICULT TIME, WITH A LOT TO CATCH UP ON.

>> PLUS, WHOEVER THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT IS, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE ALL OF THIS OVERSIGHT, INCLUDING THE COMMISSION WHICH HAS ELECTED MEMBERS NOW FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

AND THOSE ELECTED MEMBERS ARE GOING TO GO FIND APPOINTEES TO BE ON THE COMMISSION.

I KNOW, IT IS SO CONFUSING.

THIS ORDINANCE WAS WRITTEN, SO CONFUSING, BECAUSE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS HERE.

SO, A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY FOR THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT.

>> IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A REAL MESS.

>> THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR A MESS.

>> THE PRESSURE IS GOING TO BE ON TO MAKE THIS PROCESS LOOK LIKE IT IS WORKING, BECAUSE IT IS THE LAW, IT HAS JUST BEEN PASSED, AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR IT TO BE A LAW ARE STILL AROUND AND THEY HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR DECADES.

SO, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GO QUIETLY IF IN THE FIRST BIG TEST, IF IT IS IGNORED.

>> IF THE MAYOR SAYS, WE ARE GOING TO CIRCUMVENT THIS PROCESS.

MAYOR CAN REJECT THEM IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

>> AND IF THEY SMART, THEY WILL HAVE A LIST THAT IS LONGER THAN THREE, SO THAT THE PERSON THAT IS REJECTED, THEY WILL BE READY WITH ANOTHER.

>> THE QUESTION IS, WHAT KIND OF APPLICANTS ARE THEY GOING TO GET?

LIKE, THIS IS A DIFFICULT JOB, IT IS A BIG CITY, WE JUST WENT THROUGH THIS MAP OF RECKONING.

>> AND THERE ARE SO MANY FOLKS -- >> AND BRANDON JOHNSON SAID HE WANTED TO APPOINT SOMEONE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

>>> SPEAKING OF THE BENCH BEING THINNER IN SPORTS, THE BLACKHAWKS' BENCH IS PRETTY THIN WITHOUT SUPERSTAR PATRICK KANE AS THEY TRADE HIM TO THE RANGERS.

HE HAS A REPUTATION OF ONE OF THE GREATEST BLACKHAWKS OF ALL TIME.

BUT JAELYN CARTER OF GEORGIA TURNED HIMSELF INTO POLICE FOR RECKLESS DRIVING AND RACING IN A CRASH THAT KILLED SOME TEAMMATES AND A NORTHWESTERN BASKETBALL, MEN WILDCATS LOSE THREE IN A ROW TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT LOOMING, STARTING WITH THE BLACKHAWKS.

WAS THIS FINALLY A SITUATION WHERE HE KNOWS THAT THIS TEAM IS GOING TO BE REBUILDING FOR A LONG TIME?

>> I THINK IT IS KIND OF A PERSONAL STRUGGLE.

CAME TO GRIPS THAT, I AM READY TO PICK UP.

BUT, HE SAW PASSIONS WITH THE RANGERS.

THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM.

AT THE SAME TIME, HE CAN HELP THE BLACKHAWKS REBUILD.

>> WHERE ARE THEY IN THEIR REBUILD RIGHT NOW?

>> AT THE BOTTOM.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN AT THE BOTTOM FOR A COUPLE YEARS.

>> NO, THEY ARE BOTTOM, BOTTOM.

IT LOOKS LIKE NHL, THEY FIELDED LAST NIGHT.

SO, ANY KIND OF USABLE VETERAN IS PRETTY MUCH OUT THE DOOR WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS.

THEY ARE STARTING FROM SCRATCH.

>> AND YOU VIEW HIM AS PROBABLY ONE OF THE TOP THREE OR FOUR BLACKHAWKS OF ALL TIME?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF THE RECORDS, PATRICK KANE IS USUALLY A THIRD, FOURTH, OR FIFTH.

SO, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT GOALS, POINTS, YOU KNOW, GAMES PLAYED.

AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AMERICAN PLAYERS, OH, YEAH, HE IS UP THERE.

>> HE WON A STANLEY CUP, THREE OF THEM.

THE BEARS ARE STARVED FOR A SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP AND STARVED A LOT OF PLAYERS.

ONE OF THE TOP PROSPECTS HERE, MAYBE THE TOP PROSPECT, JALEN CARTER, THE TACKLER, ARRESTED FOR HIS ROLE IN A DRAG RACE THAT KILLED TWO PEOPLE.

HOW DO YOU THINK THIS WILL AFFECT THE DRAFT FOR THE BEARS?

>> ONE THING WOULD BE THESE "SCANDALS" TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

IT CAN PLUMMET SOMEONE'S STOCK.

WHEN THEY HAVE TIME TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE, THEY CAN MAINTAIN OR IMPROVE THEIR STOCK.

AND I THINK WITH THE BEARS, IT IS A LONG WAY TO DRAFT IT.

SO, THEY ARE MORE CONCERNED OVER, WHAT IS THEIR POSITION GOING TO BE?

THE OTHER QUESTION IS, JALEN CARTER IS NOT NECESSARILY THE DE FACTO PICK.

IT COULD BE WILL ANDERSON.

PICKING WILL FROM THE TRENCHES, FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

SO, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE CARTER.

>> SO, THEY COULD TRADE THEIR NUMBER ONE PICK, AND GO FOR THE BACK AND GET A BUNCH OF PICS?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE GOING THROUGH A REBUILD, TOO.

THE MORE PICKS, THE BETTER.

UC DAVIS GOING THROUGH EVERY PICK THAT HE CAN AT THE WALL.

MAYBE RYAN DOES THE SAME THING.

OR SOMETHING SIMILAR.

>> WELL, WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME ON THIS EDITION OF "CHICAGO TONIGHT: WEEK IN REVIEW".

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" ON FACEBOOK, AND ON OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

JOIN US TONIGHT AT 10:00 FOR OUR REGULAR "CHICAGO TONIGHT".

>>> HOW ILLINOIS STATE POLICE ARE ADDRESSING GUN VIOLENCE.

>>> AND AS CHICAGO GETS READY FOR ITS 186th BIRTHDAY, WTTW NEWS EXPLAINS HOW CHICAGO GOT ITS SHAPE.

>>> NOW, FOR "WEEK IN REVIEW" THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY, STAY SAFE, WE WILL SEE YOU AT 10:00.

>>> BUT THE BULLS RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE SEVERAL GAMES OUT THERE, AND THEY DIDN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING FOR THE TRADE DEADLINE.

>> THEY ARE KIND OF IN THAT MESSY MIDDLE.

I THINK THEY HAVE KIND OF A MIDDLE THREE.

SO, I THINK THEY REALLY NEED TO KIND OF SCRAP THE WHOLE THING.

LONG FOOTBALL IS NEVER GOING TO BE HEALTHY.

ROSEMAN IS A GREAT PLAYER.

BUT I DON'T THINK HE IS A SUPERSTAR.

>> RIGHT.

BUT, CAN YOU COUNT ON HIM ALL THE TIME?

>> I MEAN, THE GUY JUST STARTED PLAYING DEFENSE.

>> BETTER LATE THAN NEVER, I GUESS.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

AND THERE ARE RUMORS THAT HE DOESN'T REALLY WANT TO BE HERE.

>> I MEAN, I GUESS $200 MILLION ISN'T ENOUGH?

>> WELL, THEY WILL ALWAYS PICK THE MONEY.

WHERE IS YOUR MIND OUT?

>> WHAT ABOUT NORTHWESTERN?

DO YOU BELIEVE IN THEM GOING TO THE ATTORNEY?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK THEY WILL PULL IT TOGETHER.

>> IT HAS BEEN A GREAT YEAR.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CLIFFORD LAW