>> HEY, EVERYONE, THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THE WEEK IN REVIEW.

I'M AMANDA MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON'S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION APPOINTMENT.

IT'S THIS CUTS.

>> IF THIS IS THE NEW STANDARD.

WE WOULD HAVE TO VACATE THE HOUSE AND BOARD EDUCATION BOARD, ZONING BOARD.

AND EVEN THE VAN AND SACRED CITY COUNCIL.

>> REVEREND IRA ACREE WITHDRAWS HIS RTA APPOINTMENT, BUT HE'S NOT GOING QUIETLY THIS AS CTA.

PRESIDENT DORVAL CARTER SURVIVES IN ALL DRAMATIC ATTEMPT TO KICK HIM OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT.

>> ALSO WANT TO MENTION THE CASE ABOUT LITTLE.

ANOTHER CASE.

BUT WE SHOULD REMEMBER.

WHEN WE USE TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN BE ALSO.

DETRIMENTAL.

LET'S BE REAL.

THIS IS ABOUT MONEY.

AT TO DIVEST LIFE SAVING TOOL TO PUT CASH IN THEIR TO ADDRESS CAUSES.

THE CITY COUNCIL MAKES A PUSH TO REVIVE SHOTSPOTTER WHILE IN SPRINGFIELD.

LAWMAKERS NEAR A BUDGET DEAL.

>> WE'RE CONFIDENT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROMOTE 2 PRINCIPLES AT THE CORE OF OUR MISSION.

FREE EXPRESSION AND ACADEMIC FREEDOM.

WELL, DISCIPLINING HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION IN WASHINGTON.

NORTHWESTERN'S PRESIDENT GETS GRILLED OVER A GAZA PROTEST DEAL AND THEY'RE BACK THE GREAT CICADA EMERGENCE OF 2024.

BEGINS.

>> AND NOW TO OUR WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL.

JOINING US, OUR LAURA WASHINGTON OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, AS WELL AS ABC 7 ROB PART OF WBBM NEWSRADIO SHRUTI SINGH, A BLOOMBERG AND JOINING US FROM THE STATE CAPITOL IS JERRY KNOW WIKI WITH CAPITOL NEWS, ILLINOIS.

NOW THERE IS A BIT OF BREAKING NEWS OUT OF SPRINGFIELD RIGHT BEFORE PROGRAM BEGAN.

DID HAVE A BUDGET DROP.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT BRIEFLY.

FIRST, HOWEVER, LET'S BEGIN WITH THE NEWS OUT OF CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL AND THIS MORNING, REVEREND IRA ACREE DECLINED HIS MAYORAL APPOINTMENT TO THE REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY.

NOW HE SAYS THAT THE MAYOR DID NOT FORCE HIM OUT ROB.

SO WHY SECOND WELL, I MEAN, THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF BAD PUBLICITY AND A LOT OF BAD REVIEWS OF HIS PERFORMANCE OR OR >> QUESTION QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION IN FOR THE CITY COUNCIL LAST WEEK.

AND I THINK THE THING THAT PROBABLY SANK HIS CANDIDACY BEFORE IT BEGAN WAS NOT KNOWING THE TRUE DIMENSIONS OF THE FISCAL CLIFF THAT THE RTA FACES ONCE THE COVID MONEY RUNS OUT.

AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE FIRST NUMBER.

YOU SHOULD KNOW, 700 MILLION DOLLARS.

THAT'S THE DEFICIT FOR NEXT YEAR WITH THE COVID FUNDS RUN OUT.

AND ONCE YOU GET KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, THAT WAS ALL SHE WROTE.

AND THAT IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE RIGHT THROUGH >> YEAH, THINGS TRANSIT AGENCIES AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN FACING THIS ISSUE AND CERTAINLY THIS IS PLAYING OUT CHICAGO.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED IN 2026, ARE FACING THE REGIONAL SYSTEM FACING A FISCAL CLIFF OF MORE THAN 700 MILLION DOLLARS.

NOW, THIS COULD LEAD TO A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ISSUES FOR RIDERS LIKE SERVICE CUTS, DELAYS AND JUST GENERAL AND NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS COMING.

WHAT?

SO THESE ARE THE SORT OF THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW YOU'RE ON.

THE COURT DECLINED TO HEAR CREATE HIM SELF.

>> BACK?

BUT HE WAS DEFIANT.

>> THESE OPPONENTS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN EMPOWER WHO ALL THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE TO BE CONFRONT AND ADDRESS.

>> LAURA, TO YOU, WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE THAT HE MEANT BY THAT AND IS THIS OPPONENTS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN EMPOWERMENT AND IF SO, HOW COULD THAT BE ADDRESSED?

WHAT HE'S SUGGESTING THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE TO THAT WE'RE AGAINST HIS NOMINATION WERE NOT AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT.

THAT'S TRUE.

I DO KNOW HE WAS UNPREPARED.

NOW, THAT'S NOT ENTIRELY HIS FAULT.

AND HE IS NOT A TRANSIT EXPERT.

NO ONE EXPECTED HIM TO BE.

THERE ARE MANY OTHER FOLKS LIKE THAT FROM THE COMMUNITY.

CAN YOU REPRESENT GET A POINT TO THESE BOARDS?

BUT HE WASN'T PREPARED IN.

AND I AND I PUT THE BLAME AS MUCH ON THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR'S STAFF AS I DO WANT HIM, YOU KNOW, MAKING A MAJOR APPOINTMENT LIKE THIS WITHOUT MAKING SURE THINGS ARE LINED UP.

YES, HE'S FROM THE COMMUNITY.

YES, YOU REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY, BUT I WAS ALSO INTRIGUED BY THE FACT THAT SAID HE DOESN'T TAKE THE CTA REGULARLY.

HE SAID, YOU KNOW, HE DOESN'T YOU TAKE THE CTA BECAUSE HE HAS A CAR AGAIN, THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH THIS WITH WITH THE LEAST WHEN THE SYSTEM FOR SO LONG, WE NEED MORE PEOPLE WHO NOT ONLY ARE FROM THE COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS BUT ARE ACTUALLY USING THE SERVICES.

>> SO, JERRY, I WANT TO BRING YOU IN HERE AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE A SPRINGFIELD RESIDENT.

PROBABLY NOT REGULARLY USING THE CTA OR METRO OR ANYTHING, BUT HEARD EARLIER IN INTRODUCTION FOR THE PROGRAM OF THIS NOTION THAT HE SAID, YOU KNOW, IF THIS IS GOING TO BE THE PRECEDENT, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE OVERHAUL ALL OF THESE BOARDS.

THIS IS SIMILAR IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

IT'S NOT.

IS IT, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE A PROFESSOR'S OF GOVERNMENTS ARE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OR THE CITY COUNCIL?

SO IS THERE SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR HAVING NON EXPERTS ON BOARDS?

>> I THINK IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE A VARIETY PERSPECTIVES ON WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO SELL, ESPECIALLY SCALE PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE WITH THE 700 MILLION DOLLARS BUDGET DEFICIT.

BUT, YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS THERE IS SOMETHING TO SAY.

I THINK, TOO.

HIM NOT HAVING BEEN BRIEFED ON THAT OR CAN NOT HAVING THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE I REMEMBER US REPORTING ABOUT IT.

CERTAINLY LAST YEAR, MAYBE EVEN THE YEAR BEFORE THAT IT'S IT'S JUST SOMETHING IT'S BEEN OUT THERE.

AND IT'S BEEN REPORTED.

SO, YOU KNOW.

>> THERE NOT A SURPRISE THAT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WAS IN A WORLD OF FINANCIAL HURT?

LET'S MOVE ON TO DURABLE CARTER BECAUSE THE INCREASE SITUATION PERHAPS GOT SO MUCH ATTENTION.

I WONDER IN PART BECAUSE A FRUSTRATION WITH OTHER PUBLIC TRANSIT ISSUES, NAMELY THE CTA AND ITS LEADER GOREVILLE CARTER.

WE HAD A MAJORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL BACKING A RESOLUTION THAT CALLED FOR HIM TO EITHER RESIGN OR BE FIRED.

WHAT HAPPENED, THOUGH?

>> WELL, THERE THERE IS A GREAT WELL, FIRST THE INITIATIVE WAS TABLED, BUT THAT THE SITUATION THERE, WHICH HAS BEEN BUILDING FOR YEARS IS A GREAT DEAL OF WRITER, FRUSTRATION FROM THE CTA ABOUT POOR SERVICE COMING OUT OF COVID-19 AND SOME OF WHICH YOU COULD ARGUE WAS NOT NECESSARILY THE CTA FALL.

EVERYBODY HAD TO DEAL WITH THE DISRUPTION IN JOBS AND PEOPLE FINDING OTHER LINES OF WORK.

THE WHOLE GREAT RESIGNATION HIT EVERYBODY AND BUS DRIVERS AND CTA TRAIN OPERATORS DON'T GROW ON TREES.

YOU HAVE TO HIRE THEM.

YOU HAVE TO TRAIN THEM.

THIS IS A SPECIALIZED FORM OF WORK.

SO WHEN IT CAME TIME TO BRING EVERYBODY BACK AND STAFF UP TO MEET THE GREATER DEMAND FOR THE FOR FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT, YOU KNOW, ONCE ONCE VACCINES WERE THOSE PEOPLE SAY THEY WERE THERE.

WAS LOOKING THROUGHOUT THE DAY AT THE HEAD, WEIGHS ON.

THE CTA.

KNOW THAT'S ALWAYS A BIG SOURCE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT WAITING 20 MINUTES FOR BROWN LINE TRAIN AND A COUPLE YEARS AGO WAS 5 AND DURING THE RUSH HOUR, THE BROWN LINE, THE BLUE LINE, THE RED LINE ALL MORNING BETWEEN 5 AND 7 MINUTES.

SO THAT PARTICULAR FUNCTION OF THE CTA APPEARS TO BE GOING BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS.

AND YOU HAVE RIDERSHIP APPROACHING 2019 LEVELS ONCE AGAIN AND IN SOME CASES SURPASSING IT.

BUT THE BIG ISSUE IS GOING TO BE THE FISCAL CLIFF GOING FORWARD.

AND FOR CARTER, IF YOU STILL IN THE JOB AND ASSUMING HOW THE RTA IS RESTRUCTURED TO APPROACH THIS FISCAL CLIFF, YOU CAN HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS.

>> SO, LAURA, TO YOU, IS THIS UNFAIR THAT CARTER IS GETTING ALL THIS ATTENTION THAT EVERYBODY CAN STICK IN.

CHICAGO KNOWS HIS NAME WHEN THIS IS AN ISSUE.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT A COUPLE TIMES ALREADY.

THIS PROGRAM THAT PUBLIC TRANSIT AGENCIES ARE FACING NATIONWIDE?

I THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN A LONG RECOVERY AND CHICAGO THAN YOU'VE SEEN IN SOME OTHER CITIES.

AND AND I THINK THAT >> THE MONEY IS THERE.

I THINK THAT THE HIRING COME BACK ON HIRING SLOW.

BUT IF HAVEN'T REMEMBERING THE CTA RIDER AND IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, THE REGULARITY IS IF THE IF YOU JUST NEVER KNOW BUS OR A TRAIN IS COMING, THE INFORMATION ON THE ON A BUS TRACKER SAYS ALWAYS AND IS OFTEN UNIT QUICK.

AND IT'S ALSO ISSUE OF CLONING IT'S AN ISSUE OF SAFETY.

THOSE ARE ALL THESE GOT TO BUT IT'S STILL GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.

NOT.

I THINK ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS IN THE CITY COUNCIL FOR KEEPING HIM.

THERE IS A VIEW HAS BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING SURE THE RED LINE EXTENSION THAT PROJECT IS GOING TO BE UP AND RUNNING AND IS ON ITS WAY.

AND THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A LONG TIME IN PARTICULAR FOR THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ASSET.

SO I THINK THE FOLKS TRIED TO TABLE THAT ARE DID TABLE THAT THAT RESOLUTION BELIEVE HE NEEDS TO BE STAY IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT RED LINE EXTENSION REALLY GO SO THAT THIS MEASURE THAT WOULD TRIED TO FORCE HIS OUSTER.

BUT IT WAS REALLY SYMBOLIC IN THE FIRST NONETHELESS, WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR THE MAYOR.

>> IS THIS THE END OF IT OR COULD WE SEE JUST BECAUSE IT'S TABLED?

IT COULD COME BACK, RIGHT, LAURA?

IT COULD COULD COME BACK AND THE MAYOR THE BUCK STOPS WITH THE MAYOR.

HE HE'S THE BOSS AND HE WHENEVER HE'S BEEN ASKED ABOUT THIS, HE SAYS HE WON'T DISCUSS.

THIS IS NOT A PERSON.

IT'S IT'S A PERSONNEL ISSUE.

>> BUT HE HAS ALSO HAS NOT BEEN A STAUNCH DEFENDER OF CARTER OF LATE AND THIS DO THE BACKSTORY IS THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY COUNCIL THAT IT DIDN'T REALLY ARE PRESSURING THE MAYOR TO KEEP HIM THERE.

AND AND THOSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HIS ALLIES.

SO IT'S NOT JUST A QUESTION BEING EMBARRASSED.

THE QUESTION OF HIM LOSING SUPPORT FROM HIS FROM HIS LONGTIME ALLY.

SO SIGN OF STRENGTH IT ALL FOR JOHNSON THAT THIS WAS ABLE TO BE TABLED.

SURE HE WAS.

HE WAS ABLE TO YOU IS CITY COUNCIL ALLIES TOO, DO DO THE BRIGHT POP PARLIAMENTARY MOVE TO TO MOVE IT AND THEY MOVED IN.

THEY MOVED IT TO A COMMITTEE TO DIE.

I THINK I BELIEVE THEY WANT RULE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS WHERE SUN SO IT'S NOT LIKELY TO COME BACK UP.

AND BRINGS UP A VERY GOOD POINT ABOUT LEGACY BUILDING AS FAR AS DOOR HIM.

HE HAS SERVED 3 MAYORS.

HE'S HE'S GOT ALL A GREAT DEAL OF EXPERIENCE AND 10 YEAR.

>> RUNNING THE CTA.

BUT GETTING THAT RED LINE EXTENSION TO 100 30TH STREET IS.

AN INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENT.

THIS WOULD BE THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL EXPANSION OF CTA RAIL SERVICE SINCE THE O'HARE BRANCH IN 1983.

THAT WAS 41 YEARS AGO.

SO IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR LEGACY AS THE HEAD OF THE TRANSIT AGENCY, THAT IS ONE HECK OF A FEATHER TO HAVE IN YOUR CAP ON THE WAY OUT THERE TO MAKE US POTENTIAL ISSUES GOING ON FOR TRANSIT AGENCIES IN GENERAL.

SO REGARDLESS OF WHO THE LEADER IS AND >> YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S IN CHICAGO OR SAN FRANCISCO OR DC OR NEW YORK, WHICH ARE ALL CITIES THAT ARE FACING NOT EXACTLY THE SAME BUT SIMILAR ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, QUESTIONS OF WHETHER DIFFERENT AGENCIES SHOULD MERGE QUESTIONS OF HOW THEY'RE GOING DEAL WITH THE FISCAL CLIFF.

QUESTIONS OF HOW RIDERSHIP IS GOING TO CLIMB BACK UP TOWARDS PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS IF AND RIGHT.

SO ALL THESE QUESTIONS ARE GOING TO BE THERE.

EVEN IF LEADERSHIP CHANGES, EVEN IF LEADERSHIP STAYS THE SAME.

PART OF THAT, I THINK IS ALSO THIS DISCUSSION OF TRANSPARENCY ACCOUNTABILITY THAT IT HAS PRINTING PROBLEM FOR CARTER KNOW.

LET'S MOVE ON WHETHER TO SHOTSPOTTER BECAUSE THIS IS ANOTHER INSTANCE OF A MAJORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUMPING ABOARD ORDER OPPOSED BY THE MAYOR.

NOW, THIS TIME PASSING A MEASURE THAT SEEKS TO OVERTURN JOHNSON'S DECISION THAT WOULD SCRAP SHOTSPOTTER ANY TO FIND THIS I THINK THAT THE SHOTSPOTTER THE CTA, THE REVEREND ACREE.

>> ALL OF THOSE STORIES FOLLOW ONE SIMILAR THEME, WHICH IS THE CITY COUNCIL IS A LOT STRONGER THAN IT USED TO BE MADE FOR THOSE OF US.

REMEMBER THE DAILY YEARS WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL IS ESSENTIALLY A RUBBER STAMP.

IT'S KIND OF FUNNY THAT WE'RE NOW IN IN A STRONG COUNCIL WEEK.

MAYOR A FORM OF GOVERNANCE, WHICH WHICH IS 180 DEGREE SHIFT FROM WHERE WE WERE 15 OR 16 YEARS AGO.

AND IT IS A SIGN OF THE STRAIN RELATIONS THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL ALDERMAN CAN DO THIS AND THEY FEEL EMPOWERED TO THROW ALL SORTS OF WRENCHES INTO THE AND INTO THE INTO MAYOR JOHNSON'S PROGRESSIVE PLATFORM AND THEY CAN DO WITHOUT FEELING THERE WILL BE ANY ANY REPERCUSSIONS FROM DOING IT.

>> MIGHT THERE BE THE FIRST ALL DRAMATIC VETO FIRST MAYORAL VETO?

THAT THAT COULD THAT COULD HAPPEN THIS CASE.

THE MAYOR WAS VERY UNHAPPY AFTER AFTER THE PRESS HIS PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER THE CITY COUNCIL.

HE SAID THAT BASICALLY HE BELIEVED THAT THE LEGISLATION THAT THEY PASSED WAS NOT VALID.

THE DEBT THEY HAD THEY HAD THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT AND THE POWER TO A CONTRACTING DECISIONS AND END.

BUT HE HAS TO SAY WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO ABOUT IT.

HE COULD VETO IT.

HE COULD TAKE IT TO COURT.

HE CAN DO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.

BUT IF THAT'S IT'S RISKY, BEATLES.

AND BECAUSE THE MARGIN THAT IT PASSED ON, PRETTY CLOSE A MARGIN THAT THEY WOULD BE BIG.

THEY COULD USE TO VETO IT TO BE THE FIRST EVER MALE WORLD.

WE KNOW YOU THINKING WHEN YOU GO BACK TO WATCHING A COUNCIL WARS AND ALL THINGS THAT WENT ON BACK HOW IS THAT?

A STAT IS A STATE GOVERNMENT REPORTER, PRIMARILY IT JUST KIND OF BLOWS MY >> WE WILL GET TO STATE GOVERNMENT JUST A MOMENT.

BUT I DO WANT TO INTERVIEW AS WE'RE HEADING INTO MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

UNFORTUNATELY, CLASSICALLY NOT ONLY KICKOFF TO SUMMER, BUT I'M HIGH CRIME.

LET'S HEAR FROM ONE OF THE SUPPORTERS OF THIS MEASURE THAT WOULD CALL FOR IT TO CONTINUE.

THAT IS ALDERWOMAN MONIQUE SCOTT.

SHE SAYS THAT HER WORD HAS GONE THROUGH MASS SHOOTINGS IN DEPENDS ON THIS GUN DETECTION TECHNOLOGY.

THAT ONE 90 SHOTS, 6 SHOOTERS.

19 SHOTS.

6 SHOOTERS.

NOT ONE PERSON CALLED THE POLICE.

SO THIS SAFE FOR THE B AND BUT NOT MY CONSTITUENTS.

>> RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO BRING THAT QUESTION TO YOU.

WHY IS IT THAT SHOTSPOTTER IS IS SHE BELIEVES IT?

GOOD TO KEEP THROUGH THE DNC BUT NOT FOR CONSTITUENTS.

YES, REFERRING TO THE FACT THAT THE MAYOR WANTED TO END THE CONTRACT SOONER THAN >> THEN LATER.

BUT HE AGREED TO KEEP IT THROUGH THE DNC THROUGH THE SUMMER BECAUSE OF THE ACTIVITY, WHAT ALL THAT CAN EXPECTED, ESPECIALLY POLICE ACTIVITY.

IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK THAT CHALLENGE HERE IS THERE'S SO MANY ANECDOTES LIKE THE ONE YOU JUST PRESENTED, THAT A TERRIBLE STORY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN HER WARD.

THERE'S OTHER STORIES.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT SHOTSPOTTER IS EFFECTIVELY STOPPING CRIME ARE EFFECTIVELY ALERTING POLICE IN WAYS THAT THEY CAN DETECT CRIME.

SO THE QUESTION IS WHAT WORRIES THE DATA?

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL'S ASKED.

WE NEED MORE D DATA.

WE NEED MORE ANALYSIS BEFORE WE CAN DECIDE HOW EFFECTIVE IT IS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

LET'S MOVE ON NOW TO SPRINGFIELD BECAUSE AS I NOTED AT LONG LAST ON WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN THE LAST DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> BUDGET HAS DROPPED JERRY TO YOU IN SPRINGFIELD.

IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT AND WHAT IS IN THIS DEAL?

>> SO YOU I AND UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE SAY A BUDGET DROPS, IT'S NOT WE SEE THERE'S X AMOUNT OF SPENDING X AMOUNT OF REVENUES.

NO, WE GET 3,000 PAGES WHERE EACH LINE ITEM APPROPRIATED INDIVIDUALLY.

SO I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT, BUT NOT ALL 3,000 PAGES, BUT WITH FROM THE BREAD CRUMBS THAT THEY GAVE EARLIER TODAY.

IT SOUNDS A LOT LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY CLOSE TO WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAD PROPOSED IN FEBRUARY, WHICH WOULD BE RIGHT AROUND 53 BILLION IN SPENDING WHICH MAY BE BILLION REVENUES FROM VARIOUS SOURCES LIKE THE SPORTS GAMBLING TAX KNOW THAT WE DEFINITELY GOT TO WATCH AND SEE WHETHER CHANGE, WHETHER IT'S WE DON'T HAVE THE REVENUE BACK TO JEFF.

JUST THE SPENDING PART OF SO EARLY SITE AND ACTIVE.

SO THERE'S STILL A TO BE SORTED THROUGH THIS TIME COMMUNITY, MENTAL OR ANOTHER BUDGET PRO.

WHAT ARE YOUR TAKEAWAYS FROM WHAT WE KNOW THUS FAR?

SO I HAVEN'T READ THE BUDGET YET, BUT I'M JUST AS OF THIS I GOT A COMMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYING THAT THE BUDGET CUTS WERE NOT GOING TO AS SIGNIFICANT AS THEY HAD EXPECTED JUST EARLIER THIS THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE >> HAD SAID THAT THEY MAY NEED TO CUT AS MUCH AS 800 MILLION, WHICH IS SORT OF THE LEVEL THAT THEY WERE LOOKING TO INCREASE REVENUE BY THROUGH THINGS LIKE THE INCREASE IN SPORTS BETTING THE SALES DISCOUNT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO NOW THEY'RE INDICATING THAT THOSE CUTS ARE NOT GOING TO BE AS MASSIVE.

SO MAYBE THERE'S BEEN SOME.

THING WORKED OUT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU READ.

THE FRESH THE LEADERS IN THE GOVERNOR DID MEET THIS MORNING AND >> PRESENTED THIS AS A DEAL.

SO ANY SPEED BUMPS EXPECTED.

AND THEN I GUESS IN GENERAL, WHY WHY DID THIS TAKE SO LONG GIVEN THAT?

>> DEMOCRATS HAVE A LOCK ON POWER.

WHAT'S THE HOLDUP?

>> WELL, I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT ADDING THAT BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE, NO MATTER HOW NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO TO DO IT, THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME LEVEL OF DISCUSSION AS TO.

WHETHER PEOPLE WANT TO DO IT THAT WAY.

SO THAT THE BIG ONE IS 526 MILLION.

I THINK THROUGH EXTENDING THEIR PROGRAMS CORPORATE NET OPERATING LOSSES THAT INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES CAN CLAIM.

SO THAT ONE, I THINK, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WOULD NEED TO HAVE THAT FOOD IN THIS FINAL PROPOSAL TO GET FOR THOSE SIDE.

SO THE OTHER THING I GUESS WAS JUST COMING TOGETHER ON THE PORTIONS OF THE REVENUE >> NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

IS THERE ANY WINNERS AND LOSERS?

SURETY?

WELL, YET TO BE SEEN RIGHT ON, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT DOES PASS AND WHAT DOESN'T PASS IN TERMS OF THE REVENUE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WAS THE REASON THEY WERE EVEN LOOKING FOR CUTS BECAUSE THERE WAS PUSHBACK.

>> IN TERMS OF THE REVENUE RAISING PROPOSALS WELL, AND WHAT I'M HEARING, I BELIEVE, IS IN THIS BUDGET WE HAVEN'T READ THROUGH THOSE THOUSANDS OF PAGES, BUT IT LOOKS AS IF IT'S GOING TO BE THAT 350 MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE GOING TOWARD EDUCATION IS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED BY GOVERNOR PRITZKER.

LAURA CPS HAD GONE DOWN AND AS CTU TO THE CAPITAL TO SAY WE NEED AS MUCH AS 1 BILLION DOLLARS.

>> APPARENTLY NOT GETTING THAT OR EVEN CLOSE TO IT.

SO WHAT DOES THIS SIGNIFY FOR CPS?

WELL, THEY DID THAT 1 BILLION DOLLARS WAS FANTASY NUMBER.

THEY DID BACK OFF OF THAT.

BUT I THINK FOR THE I THINK THE 3 50'S PRETTY CLOSE TO WHAT THE GOVERNOR RECENTLY PROPOSED AND GIVEN ALL THE OTHER BALANCES THE NEEDS IN THE IN THE BUDGET.

>> IS PROBABLY THE BEST THAT THEY CAN GET.

IT IS AN I THOUGHT I DON'T THINK THING CPS FOR THE TEACHERS, YOU'RE GOING TO BE HAPPY WITH IT.

BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.

>> AND ALSO AND RELATED TO CPS.

WE HAVE THIS PRESIDENT OF THE STATE SENATE REALLY TABLING A MEASURE THAT IT GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION THAT WOULD HAVE PROTECTED.

SELECTIVE ENROLLMENT SCHOOLS ALSO PUT A MORATORIUM ON ANY SCHOOL CLOSURES UNTIL THAT ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD IS FULLY IN PLACE.

REP CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHY WELL, ONCE AGAIN, I THINK THIS GOES BACK TO THE DISCUSSION WE'RE HAVING ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL IS MAYOR JOHNSON IS HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE.

>> WITH LEGISLATURE NOT ONLY JUST THE CITY COUNCIL WITH THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, LAURA POINTED OUT TO THE THE THE CPS ASK AS LARGE AS IT WAS, WAS NOT GRANTED.

AND WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW THE FACT THAT THE SELECTIVE ENROLLMENT MEASURE WAS TABLED WAS ANOTHER SIGN THAT I YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S MAYBE SOME RELATIONSHIP BUILDING THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE.

WELL, IN THIS WAS A AT THE REQUEST OF THE MAYOR DID AND VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LORD.

THAT DOES ANYBODY READ THIS LETTER FROM THE MAYOR TO THE SENATE PRESIDENT?

JERRY, YOU ABLE TO READ THAT?

>> I DIDN'T SEE THE LETTER AND SEEING SOME OF THE REPORTING ON IT.

BUT BASICALLY CAME MADE YEAH.

I THINK YOU THINK YOU CAN SUM IT UP PRETTY WELL.

YEAH, THAT THERE WERE SOME KIND OF PROMISES THE THE SELECTIVE ENROLLMENT SCHOOLS PROTECTED.

BUT >> A LOT OF A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT GOING FORWARD.

NOW ON SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

APPEARS THAT NO MONEY FOR THE BEARS 3,000 PAGES.

WHERE IS THE WHITE SOX LOGO WAYS?

>> MAYBE THE SO NO SURPRISE FOR YOU THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SAID WEEKS AGO THAT THIS IS A NONSTARTER.

AND AND IT'S JUST IT WAS JUST TOO BIG OF A PACKAGE, EVEN IF THEY WERE INTERESTED SERIOUSLY CONSIDER IT WAS TOO BIG OF A PACKAGE INTO CAME TO LIGHT THE GAME FOR IT TO BE CONSIDERED GIVEN ALL THE OTHER.

>> BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AT THE OF THE THOUSANDS OF PAGES THAT THEY HAD DEAL WITH TODAY COUNTRY TO MAKE THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH I DON'T KNOW WITH IT IN ELECTION YEAR.

THE U.S.

OPPOSE.

WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S A LOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE DNC, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ISSUES RELATED TO >> THE CITY.

AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW IS GEARING UP FOR THE DNC WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE STATE POWER, THE STATE AND CITY BEING POSITIONS LEADING UP TO THE DNC.

SO WHETHER IT'S THE BEARS OR WHETHER IT'S ANYTHING ELSE, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE'S FOCUS IS REALLY LIKE, ARE WE READY FOR THIS?

NOW OVER TO YOU BECAUSE SPRINGFIELD, IT'S NOT JUST THE BUDGET.

THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON JUST BILLS PASSING BACK AND FORTH.

GIVE ME ONE GOOD FOCUSING ON.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT GOVERNORS INSURANCE REFORMS JUST SORT OF LIMITING STEP THERAPY, THINGS LIMITING UTILIZATION MANAGEMENT OR WHERE BABY YOU'RE DIRECTED TO LOWER DOSE, LESS EFFECTIVE PRESCRIPTION FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY THAN THE ONE THAT YOUR DOCTOR.

WANTED TO GIVE YOU AND THE PROPOSAL TO BAN WHAT REFERRING TO IS JUNK INSURANCE OR EVEN SHORT-TERM LIMITED DURATION INSURANCE PLANS, WHICH YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S LOT OF TALK ABOUT THAT.

BUT BASICALLY THOSE GOT TO ARE THOSE ADVANCE OUT OF THE SENATE THEY'RE PRETTY WELL LIKELY TO GO BACK TO THE HOUSE CONCUR IN TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

EVENTUALLY.

>> SO A LOT OF CONSUMER PROTECTIONS SORT OF LEGISLATION AND THEN BUDGET WITHOUT ANY MAJOR TAX HIKES THAT WILL HIT FOLKS POCKETBOOKS.

JERRY REPUBLICANS GOING TO BE ON BOARD.

>> NOW, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED THERE'S ABOUT A HALF HOUR MEETING BETWEEN LEADERSHIP AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THEY TOOK ABOUT 3 QUESTIONS.

THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE LEARNED THAT THERE WAS DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO GO ABOUT ALONE AGAIN THIS YEAR.

THEY CLEARLY DON'T WANT SUPPORT AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE NUMBERS ON PAPER THAT THEY WERE GIVEN JUST SOME TOP-LINE DESCRIPTIONS OF REVENUE AND STAFF.

THEY DIDN'T GET INTO BUT BASICALLY THEY SAID WERE WAY JUST LIKE YOU TO SEE BUDGET, WHICH, YOU KNOW, JUST DROP MAYBE A HALF HOUR AGO.

>> BUT IN GENERAL, THE GOP DISAPPOINTED WITH THE LEVEL OF SPENDING INCREASES AND CALLING THIS THE HIGHEST SPENDING BUDGET EVER.

LET'S GO TO COOK COUNTY SURETY.

THE ASSESSOR IS OUT WITH A FIRST RUN OF ASSESSMENTS OF PROPERTIES AND SOME DOZEN OR SO NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> GOOD HERE.

DOES THIS MEAN FOR PROPERTY OWNERS, HOMEOWNERS?

MEAN, I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ARE, RIGHT?

THE COUNTY ASSESSOR'S OFFICE THIS WEEK THEIR VALUATIONS FOR THE BIGGEST PORTION OF THE CITY.

>> WHICH IS THE WEST CHICAGO TOWNSHIP.

AND THAT INCLUDES MORE THAN A DOZEN IT IT'S A VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF NEIGHBORHOODS CAN BE.

IT GOES ALL THE WAY FROM BUCKTOWN TO LITTLE VILLAGE TO WEST LOOP, WHICH INCLUDES A VERY BOOMING FULTON MARKET AREA WHERE WE'VE SEEN HEADQUARTERS OF SUCH AS MCDONALD'S MOVE.

WE'VE SEEN SINCE LIKE 2018, WE'VE SEEN GOOGLE'S HUB BEING PLACED THERE.

SO OVERALL, THE ASSESSMENT OF COMMERCIAL AND WAS UP 27% FOR THIS PARTICULAR TOWNSHIP, 27%.

AND THAT'S JUST ACTION.

THIS OKAY, LET'S GO BRIEFLY TO WASHINGTON, D.C., IN MINUTE OR SO THAT WE HAVE LEFT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT WAS CALLED TO TESTIFY BEFORE A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE OVER THE DEAL THAT HE HAD MADE WEST A PRO-PALESTINE PROTESTERS HOW HANDLE IT THAT WE HARVARD PRESIDENT FORCED TO RESIGN AFTER SHE HAD A SIMILAR HEARING.

WELL, ACCORDING TO THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW A HIGHER EDUCATION AND THEY SAY HE ACQUITTED HIMSELF FAIRLY WELL.

>> HE DID NOT COMMIT ANY COURIER, AS WE SAW IN THE CASES OF THE LEADERS OF OTHER SCHOOLS.

AND IF THIS SEEMS LIKE A SITUATION REGARDLESS OF YOUR FEELINGS ON IT, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT TRYING TO FACILITATE PEOPLE WHO FEEL DEEPLY ON ALL SIDES AND WHATEVER YOU DO, YOU CAN'T WIN.

>> ESPECIALLY I THINK IN WASHINGTON, PERHAPS I KNOW WE COVER GOVERNMENT.

BUT IS THAT FAIR TO SAY?

LARRY WAS A LOT OF THERE'S A LOT OF GRANDSTANDING.

AND, YOU DEMONSTRATIONS GOING ON IN THESE HEARINGS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT SHOULD BE POINT OUT THAT HE IS THE ONLY UNIVERSITY PRESS.

THE PRESIDENT CERTAINLY IN CAR MAYBE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WAS BE ABLE TO COME TO SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT TO GET TO TUCSON, PULL BACK.

AND EVERY ALL FACT THAT FEEL LIKE THEY'RE SOME PROGRESS WAS MADE.

AND WE ARE OUT OF TIME WITH THAT.

SO OUR THANKS TO LAURA WASHINGTON, ROB HEART.

>> SURE, THE SINK AND SURE.

NOAH KING AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART THE ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION, ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN GET CHICAGO TONIGHT WE CAN REVIEW STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND OUR WEB SITE W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS AND NOW FOR THE WEEK IN REVIEW ON THE MEND OF ANYTHING.

>> THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE THE NIGHT.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

>> AND PERHAPS ONE, RIGHT.

IF YOU AT LEAST HAVE HAD CICADAS APPEAR, HAVEN'T SEEN ANY AND COME UP TO A NORTHWEST SUBURBAN PARK RIDGE THERE.

EVERYWHERE I HAVE LIKE 100 I CAN GIVE YOU RIGHT BRING IMPACT YOU EVERYONE FOR US.

WHERE IN THE WEST BIRD'S FOR?

EVERYWHERE.

WE HEARING OF THE CITY AVENUE WHERE WE HEARING THEM I THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOUDER AND GIVEN THAT IT'S A DOUBLE ROOM I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE LOUDER.

BUT IT'S NOT THEY'RE HEARS THEY LET YOU DOWN.

17 13 17.

AND 32 TRIED ONE.

ANYBODY.

YOU KNOW, THERE NO, I LIKE LIKE WHY?

I THINK >> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT, A CLIFF AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, WHICH IS PROUD TO HONOR FOUNDER AND SENIOR PARTNER ROBERT CLIFFORD, WHO HAS BEEN