>> THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT WE CAN

SAY THAT OPTIMAL PROTECTION WHEN

YOU ARE DEALING WITH AN MRNA IS

WITH THREE DOSES THERE IS NO

DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

BOTH FOR THE DURABILITY OF THE

INPROTECTION AS WELL AS THE

PROTECTION AGAINST THE OMICRON

VARIANT.

SO THERE'S LITTLE DOUBT ABOUT

THAT AMONGST OF THOSE OF US WHO

WORK IN THE FIELD.

>> Dr. MURPHY, Dr. FAUCI IS

SAYING THERE IS NO VARIANT

BOOSTER SHOT NEEDED BUT A

BOOSTER IN GENERAL WHAT DO YOU

MAKE OF THE STATEMENTS?

>> YOU KNOW, Dr. FAUCI'S

VACCINE RESEARCH CENTER AT THE

NIH DID A LOT OF THE EARLY WORK

WITH THE MODERNA AND THE MRNA

VACCINE.

HE IS INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN THE

DEVELOPMENT AND OUR LEADING

EXPERT IN THE COUNTRY AND HE IS

AWARE HOW GOOD THE VACCINES

WORK.

HE IS NOT READY TO PULL THE

TRIGGER YET TO REDESIGN A NEW

VACCINE WHICH IS GOING TO TAKE

AT A MINIMUM THREE MONTHS

PROBABLY TO RETOOL IT.

AND WITH ALL THIS VIRUS

REPLICATING, OMICRON IS JUST THE

ONE TODAY.

WHAT IS IT GOING TO BE TOMORROW?

WHAT IS IT GOING TO BE NEXT

MONTH?

IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO CHANGE

AGAIN.

THE QUESTION IS: WHEN DO YOU

START RETOOLING THE VACCINES?

WHAT HE IS SAYING WE CAN WAIT

FOR THE NEXT ONE BECAUSE YOU GET

BOOSTED WITH THIS ONE YOU ARE

70% PROTECTED AGAINST SEVERE

DISEASE.

>> THE BOOSTER HERE FROM THE

ORIGINAL MRNA VACCINE OR THE

VACCINES MOST EFFECTIVE.

Dr. BRITO, PFIZER HAS A PILL

THAT THEY'RE SAYING IT'S ALMOST

90% EFFECTIVE AND STRONG AGAINST

THE VARIANT.

ONCE THE PILL IS APPROVED WILL

THAT OFFER AN EXTRA LAYER OF

PROTECTION.

>> IT IS A WELCOME TOOL IN THE

FIGHT AGAINST THE DISEASE.

IT DECREASES HOSPITALIZATIONS

AND SEVERE DISEASE.

SO IT WOULD BE A GOOD STRATEGY

FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS A

BREAKTHROUGH THROUGH INFECTION

OR SOMEONE UNVACCINATED.

HOWEVER I SHOULD CAUTION THE

PUBLIC THIS IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE

FOR THE VACCINE.

THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL TOOL IF

THE NIGHT AGAINST THE PANDEMIC.

WE STILL HAVE THE BEST TOOL

AVAILABLE IS THE VACCINE.

IT'S SAFE, EFFECTIVE AND IN THE

BEST TOOL WE HAVE SO FAR.

IT SHOULDN'T BE A SUBSTITUTE.

WELCOME ADDITION.

>> AND WE HAVE A FEW SECONDS

LEFT Dr. MURPHY THAT UP COMING

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY COULD IT BE

DANGEROUS IF FOLKS ARE GATHERING

IN BIG NUMBERS?

>> YOU COULD DO IT BUT YOU HAVE

TO DO IT SAFELY.

SO HOW DO YOU DO IT SAFELY?

NUMBER ONE, YOU KEEP THE NUMBERS

DOWN.

YOU KEEP STAY AWAY FROM DENSE

INDOOR CROWDS AND HAVING A PARTY

AT OUR HOUSE OR DINNER EVERYBODY

HAS TO BE VACCINATED.

IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A

BOOSTER GET THE BOOSTER TODAY

BECAUSE IT WILL PROBABLY BE

MOSTLY EFFECTIVE BY THE TIME

CHRISTMAS COMES AROUND OR JUST

THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

SO DON'T MIX UNVACCINATED AND

VACCINATED PEOPLE.

THAT IS JUST A RECIPE FOR

DISASTER.

USE COMMON SENSE AND KEEP THE

NUMBERS DOWN.

>> IMPORTANT WORDS TO LIVE BY

AND THANKS TO Dr. MAXIMO BRITO

AND Dr. ROBERT MURPHY THANK

YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE TOSS IT

BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, PARIS.

THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THE

FORMER CABRINI-GREEN PUBLIC

HOUSING COMPLEX ONCE CALLED IT

HOME DESPITE THE REPRESENT

TUTATION FOR --

REPUTATION FOR BEING A POVERTY

CRIME RIDDEN.

NOW, A YEARLONG BETTER

GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

INVESTIGATION DETAILS THE CITY'S

FAILURE TO KEEP PROMISES OF JOBS

AND HOUSING FOR CURRENT AND

FORMER CABRINI-GREEN RESIDENTS.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS HER

FINDINGS IS ALEJANDRA CANCINO,

REPORTER BEHIND THIS

INVESTIGATION.

ALEJANDRA CANCINO WELCOME BACK.

WHAT PROMPTED THIS INVESTIGATION

FOR YOU.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IN THE WAKE

OF THE GEORGE FLOYD MURDER AND

THE PROTESTS FOR RACIAL JUSTICE

ACROSS THE CITY AND THE NATION

REALLY, WE BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT

RESIDENTS IN CHICAGO AND WHY

CHICAGO WAS SO SEGREGATED.

AND INEVITABLY THAT LED ME TO

PUBLIC HOUSING AND LED ME TO

CABRINI-GREEN WHICH IS ONE OF

THE ONLY PUBLIC HOUSING

COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTH SIDE OF

THE CITY.

>> RIGHT.

AND OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF

SEGREGATION WE SEE CONTINUES

TODAY IS REFLECTIVE OF THAT.

THE DALEY ADMINISTRATION

PROMISED THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES

THEY WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO

RETURN BUT 20% DID RETURN.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN A LONGTIME.

THE PROMISE WAS MADE 25 YEARS

AGO.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE TOWERS

SLOWLY CAME DOWN THERE WERE 23

TOWERS IN THE CABRINI-GREEN

AREA.

ALL OF THEM WERE DEMOLISHED BY

2011 AND ALONG THE WAY FAMILIES

WERE FORCED OUT OF THE

NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'S BEEN SO LONG AND THE CITY

HAS TAKEN SO LONG TO BUILD BACK

THE COMMUNITY THERE IS A NUMBER

OF EMPTY PARCELS WHERE BUILDINGS

USED TO BE THERE BEFORE THAT

SOME PEOPLE HAVE MOVED ON.

SOME PEOPLE CHOSE TO RELEE

INDICATE IN OTHER PUBLIC HOUSING

COMMUNITIES.

SOME PEOPLE RECEIVED SECTION 8

VOUCHER A HOUSING SUBSIDY.

AND OTHER HUNDREDS OF THEM ARE

MISSING, THE CHA CANNOT FIND

THEM THOUGH WE HAD ADS IN

NEWSPAPERS AND HIRED COMPANIES

TO FIND THEM.

THEY CAN'T FIND THEM.

SOME OF THEM HAVE DIED WAITING.

>> WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.

WE KNOW 146 ROW HOME UNITS

ROWHOUSE UNITS ARE STILL

OCCUPIED BY PEOPLE FROM

CABRINI-GREEN.

DID YOU NOTICE ANY DESIRE OR

SENSE OF HOPE TO RETURN FOR

THOSE RESIDENTS WHO HAD THE

RIGHT TO RETURN THAT YOU SPOKE

WITH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE RESIDENTS I SPOKE

WITH MS. RUSSELL SHE HAD BEEN

WAIT --

SHE LIVED IN ONE OF THE CABRINI

HIGH-RISES AND LEFT IN 1993.

SHE WAS ONE OF THE FAMILIES THAT

WERE DISPLACED AND FORCED TO

MOVE OUT BEFORE EVEN ONE OF THE

BUILDINGS WAS TORN DOWN THE

FIRST WAS TORN DOWN IN 1995.

SHE WAS OFFERED GOING TO ANOTHER

PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITY AND

DECIDED THAT SHE DIDN'T FEEL

SAFE IN THAT COMMUNITY.

AND ENDED UP GOING INTO THE

PRIVATE MARKET AND ENDED UP IN

LOGAN SQUARE HER PARENTS HELPED

SUPPORT HER FOR YEARS.

WHEN THEY DIED ME STRUGGLED TO

BE A MOTHER AND WORK AT THE SAME

TIME.

SHE ENDED UP HOMELESS FOR MANY

YEARS LIVING IN OTHER PEOPLE'S

HOMES.

AND REALLY TRYING TO COMBAT FOR

THE LAST 10 YEARS SHE HAS BEEN

CALLING IN TO SEE IF SHE COULD

COME BACK TO CABRINI-GREEN AND

THEY COULD NOT FIND HER NAME ON

THE LIST THAT THE CHA CREATED OF

PEOPLE WHO HAD THE RIGHT TO

RETURN SO THE ANSWER WAS NO

UNTIL EARLIER THIS YEAR, SOMEONE

THOUGHT TO ACTUALLY CHECK HER

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND THERE

SHE WAS THEY FOUND HER AND SHE

WAS ABLE TO MOVE BACK THIS YEAR.

>> WOW.

CABRINI-GREEN RESIDENTS WERE

ALSO PROMISED SOME 2500

CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND THERE WERE

ONLY 40 FOR THE RESIDENTS.

TELL US WHAT YOU FOUND THERE?

>> AND THIS IS THE IMPORTANT

PART OF THE PROMISE FOR ME TO

FIND BECAUSE THERE IS A PROMISE

OF HOUSING AND THEY PROMISE OF

BEING ABLE TO COME BACK WHICH IS

REALLY IMPORTANT AND REPORTERS

NUMEROUS REPORTERS BEFORE ME

HAVE UPDATED IT WITH TODAY'S

NUMBERS.

BUT THE PROMISE OF ECONOMIC

OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THE CITY HAS

SPENT WELL SPENT BY THE TIME

IT'S OVER $2 BILLION

REDEVELOPING THE COMMUNITY.

AND HERE IT WAS A PROMISE OF

CREATING 2500 JOBS WHAT HAPPENED

TO THEM?

WE COULD ONLY FIND 40.

WE ENDED UP GETTING RECORDS FROM

THE 1990s OF A CENTER THAT THE

DALEY CENTER PUT IN

CABRINI-GREEN TO MATCH RESIDENTS

WITH JOBS AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS

THAT MANY OF THE JOBS THAT WERE

CREATED WERE NOT CONSTRUCTION

JOBS.

THEY WERE LOWER PAYING JOBS IN

THE SERVICE INDUSTRY.

AND WE ALSO RECEIVED DATA FROM

THE CHA WHICH SHOWS THE SAME

THING, THE JOBS CREATED ARE NOT

THE HIGH PAYING CONSTRUCTION

JOBS THAT THE DALEY

ADMINISTRATION PROMISED.

>> AND TO BE CLEAR AT THE TIME

THE COMMUNITY LEADERS THEY DID

VOICE OPPOSITION TO THIS

DEMOLITION AND ARGUED INSTEAD

FOR THE HIGH-RISES TO BE

REPAIRED AND RENOVATED VERSUS

BEING DEMOLISHED.

AND YOU REPORTED TO THAT END

THAT FOR YEARS BEFORE

DEMOLITION, CABRINI-GREEN HAD

BEEN NEGLECTED BY THE LANDLORD

WHICH IS THE CHICAGO HOUSING

AUTHORITY.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM CHA

AND THE LIGHTFOOT ADMINISTRATION

TODAY?

>> YOU KNOW WE'VE SPENT MONTHS

REACHING OUT TO THE SPOKESPERSON

OF THE CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY

C.E.O. TRACY SCOTT.

AND ASKED NUMEROUS TIMES TO MEET

HER AND SHOW HER OUR FINDINGS.

AND WE DID THE SAME WITH THE

LORI LIGHTFOOT ADMINISTRATION,

WITH THE HOUSING COMMISSIONER

NAVARA, WITH ALDERMAN BURNETT.

AND ALL OF THEM DECLINE THE

INTERVIEW REQUEST.

>> OK.

ALEJANDRA CANCINO BETTER

GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION THANK YOU

FOR JOINING US.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, A PHOTOGRAPHER

DOCUMENTS THE AMERICAN DREAM.

WE'LL EXPLAIN RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> AND THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD

INCLUDING OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS

TEAM WITH MORE DETAILS ON

TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

>> FIRST, MANY IMMIGRANTS DREAM

OF OWNING AND OPERATING A SMALL

BUSINESS.

A PHOTOGRAPHER HAS A PERSONAL

UNDERSTANDING OF IMMIGRATION AND

SPENT YEARS DOCUMENTING SMALL

BUSINESSES HE CALLS HIS PROJECT

IMMIGRANT OWNED AND ABOUT TO BE

EXPANDED IN A BIG WAY.

MARC VITALI HAS THE STORY.

>> IN PILSEN A PHOTOGRAPHER

REVISITS A BAKERY HE KNOWS WELL.

>> IMMIGRANT OWNED BUSINESSES

ARE AS AMERICAN AS IT GETS.

LARGELY THE PEOPLE DOING THIS

WORK AND STILL TAKING A RISK AND

OPENING UP A SMALL BUSINESS ARE

IMMIGRANTS, PEOPLE NEW IN THE

COUNTRY AND IT IS VERY MUCH THAT

AMERICAN DREAM WHICH FOR MANY

PEOPLE IS ALIVE AND WELL AND AT

THE SAME TIME IT'S STILL GOT

THAT RISKY ELEMENT.

MANY BUSINESSES I'VE BEEN TO AND

PHOTOGRAPHED AND WENT BACK THEY

ARE CLOSED.

>> HE MAKES PORTRAITS OF THE

PEOPLE AND THE PLACES.

>> TABLE GETS A LOT OF USE.

>> I WILL GO INTO A STORE THAT

CATCHES MY EYE AND I WILL GO IN

AND LOOK AROUND AND INTRODUCE

MYSELF.

AND TELL THEM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT

MY PROJECT AND ASK A LITTLE BIT

ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THEIR

BUSINESS.

>> IT'S ALMOST LIKE BEING

INVITED INTO SOMEONE'S HOME

DEPENDING ON THE WAY PEOPLE

DECORATE THEIR SHOPS AND FAMILY

USES THE SPACES.

IF WE LOSE THAT IT WILL BE

DUNKIN DOUGHNUTS AND STARBUCKS

AND IT WILL SUCK.

>> JONATHAN'S OTHER PROJECTS

INCLUDING DOCUMENTING CAR

CULTURE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

AND PHOTOGRAPHING THE ACTION AT

A PAINTBALL COURSE THAT HE

MANAGED IN HIS NATIVE LOS

ANGELES.

NOW AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT

COLUMBIA COLLEGE HE HAD MODEST

BEGINNINGS.

>> MY GRANDMOTHER HAD STORIES.

SHE CAME INTO THE COUNTRY

UNDOCUMENTED AND WAS DEPORTED

SEVERAL TIMES AND KEPT COMING

BACK AND WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE

HER LIFE HERE.

MY DAD HAD A SMALL BUSINESS HE

IS NOT AN IMMIGRANT HIMSELF, HE

IS A CHILD OF IMMIGRANTS, AND HE

HAD A COMPUTER STORE WHEN I WAS

GROWING UP.

I USED TO SPEND TIME IN MY DAD'S

STOREFRONT.

I'D GET OUT OF SCHOOL AND COME

OVER THERE AND HANGOUT AT THE

SHOP AND DO HAVE HOMEWORK.

I HAVE AN AFFINITY FOR THESE

SPACES GROWING UP IN ONE.

>> HIS WORK WILL BE ON VIEW IN

LARGE FORMAT AT O'HARE AIRPORT

WHEN THE TERMINAL 5 EXPANSION IS

COMPLETED.

HE IS IN THE FIFTH YEAR OF THIS

SERIES.

>> THE PROJECT IS A CELEBRATION

OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE

IMMIGRANTS TO THE CITY AS A

WHOLE AND THE FABRIC OF THE

NEIGHBORHOODS WE HAVE IN THE

CITY.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS

MARC VITALI.

>> HIGHLIGHTS OF JONATHAN'S

PROJECT WILL BE UNVEILED AT

O'HARE LATER IN THE NEW YEAR YOU

CAN SEE MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO

TONIGHT", THE CITY IS NOW

HANDING OUT TEST STRIPS FOR THE

OPIOID FENTANYL HOW THAT MIGHT

REDUCE OVERDOSES.

>> YOU'RE TAKING AWAY YOUR RIGHT

TO DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR

WARD TOMORROW.

>> IS ALDERMANIC PREROGATIVE

DEAD AFTER COUNCILMEMBERS VOTE

FOR A PROJECT OVER ANTHONY

NAPOLITANO'S OBJECTIONS?

>> WE USE ART TO CUT NOISE.

>> HOW A COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN IS

ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO GET THE

COVID-19 VACCINE.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP

STORIES...

>> THE CHICAGO BOARD OF

EDUCATION SETTLES YEARS LONG

FEDERAL LAWSUITS WITH THE

CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION THAT

ARGUED LAYOFFS

DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED

BLACK TEACHERS AND

PARAPROFESSIONALS.

THE BOARD OK'd A $9.25 MILLION

SETTLEMENT WITH THE C.T.U. GO

TOWARD A FUND TO BENEFIT 400

PLUS STAFF MEMBERS LET GO

UNERDER THE TURN AROUND POLICIES

IN SCHOOLS BETWEEN 2012-2014.

C.P.S. SAID THIS WEEK THAT

RESOLVING THE MATTER WAS IN THE

BEST INTEREST OF THE STUDENTS.

>> AND IT MAY BE HARD TO BELIEVE

BUT TODAY IS THE ONE YEAR

ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST

COVID-19 VACCINATIONS IN

ILLINOIS.

Dr. DEL RIOS FROM THE

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS HEALTH

SYSTEM WAS THE FIRST OF FIVE TO

RECEIVE THE PFIZER VACCINE IN

CHICAGO.

ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS

SAY THAT SINCE THEN MORE THAN 18

MILLION DOSES HAVE BEEN

ADMINISTERED ACROSS THE STATE.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN VISITS

TORNADO AFTER ADVANTAGED --

RAVAGED COMMUNITIES IN KENTUCKY.

BIDEN PLEDGED THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT WOULD DO ALL IT CAN

TO HELP STRICKEN COMMUNITIES

RECOVER.

>> BACK IN THE 1900'S, DAWSON

SPRINGS WAS A PLACE FOR PEOPLE

CAME TO BE HEALED BECAUSE OF THE

MINERAL WATERS.

WAS A PLACE YOU CAME TO HEAL.

NOW, IT'S OUR TURN TO HELP THE

ENTIRE TOWN TO HEAL.

>> AT LEAST 88 PEOPLE WERE

KILLED IN FRIDAY NIGHT'S STORMS

ACROSS SIX STATES INCLUDING SIX

PEOPLE WHO DIED AFTER AN AMAZON

WAREHOUSE COLLAPSED IN ILLINOIS.

THE HIGHEST DEATH TOLL WAS IN

KENTUCKY WHERE 74 PEOPLE DIED

AND 100 REMAIN UNACCOUNTED FOR.

>> AND FINALLY IF YOU THINK 60°

DAYS IN DECEMBER ARE UNUSUAL YOU

WOULD BE RIGHT.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

SAYS TODAY'S HIGH OF 65° IN

CHICAGO BREAKS THE PREVIOUS

RECORD FOR DECEMBER 15TH BY 1°

SET 50 YEARS AGO BACK IN 1971.

>> AND NOW PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

A NEW EFFORT IS UNDERWAY TO HELP

REDUCE THE NUMBER OF OVERDOSES

IN CHICAGO BY DISTRIBUTING

FENTANYL TEST STRIPS.

87% OF FATAL OVERDOSES IN COOK

COUNTY THIS YEAR ARE RELATED TO

FENTANYL WHICH IS A HIGHLY

ADDICTIVE SYNTHETIC OPIOID.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS

DISTRIBUTING THE TEST STRIPS TO

TRY AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF

DEATHS FROM THE DRUG.

AND JOINING US WITH MORE ARE

Dr. WILNISE JASMIN, MEDICAL

DIRECTOR OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AT

THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC

HEALTH AND JEPHTHAT MCDANIEL HIV

TESTER AND NARCAN SPECIALIST

WITH THE CHICAGO RECOVERY

ALLIANCE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WHAT PROMPTED THE CITY TO START

USING THESE FENTANYL TEST

STRIPS?

>> TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE

CONTEXT TO IT AS A RESULT OF THE

REPORTS THAT WERE RELEASED THAT

SHOWS THERE WERE AN INCREASED OF

NUMBER OF 7 DEATHS IN 2020 BY

THE CDC, THEY ALSO ANNOUNCED

THAT FEDERAL FUNDING MAY

[INAUDIBLE]

CAN BE USED TO PURCHASE FENTANYL

TEST STRIPS.

AND SO AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT

WE DECIDED TO MOVE AHEAD TO

PURCHASE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE

AN EFFECTIVE EVIDENCE-BASED.

>> AND HOW MANY HAS THE CITY

DISTRIBUTED AND HOW DO THEY

WORK?

>> SO SO FAR SINCE THE END OF

OCTOBER WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO

DISTRIBUTE ABOUT 14-1500 STRIPS

AND THE WAY THEY WORK THEY ONLY

REQUIRE A SMALL AMOUNT OF THE

SUBSTANCE THAT IS ABOUT TO BE

USED TO BE DISSOLVED IN A

LIQUID.

WE PROVIDE THE STERILE WATER AND

WE'RE USING SMALL KETCHUP CUPS.

A STIR SOMETHING TO STIR IT WITH

AND YOU PLACE THE STRIP IN TO

TEST THE SUBSTANCE AND WAIT ONE

OR TWO MINUTES FOR THE RESULTS.

>> HOW CRUCIAL HAVE THESE TEST

STRIPS BEEN FROM WHAT YOU'VE

SEEN ON THE GROUND?

>> WELL, FROM THE GROUND WORKING

WITH THE INDIVIDUALS THEY HAVE

BEEN A LIFE CHANGER.

AT MY SITE TODAY, I SAW 42

PEOPLE, 38 PEOPLE THEY WANTED

THE TEST.

AND IT'S GIVEN THEM THAT FREEDOM

TO USE THE DRUG AND SAFELY TO

KNOW THEY ARE ABLE TO TEST THEIR

DRUG AND HAVE THE OPTION TO KNOW

IT'S FENTANYL ON THERE THEY KNOW

THEY CAN USE THE DRUG AND USE

LESS OF THE DRUGS OR USE THE

DRUGS WITH NARCAN AS WELL.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OPIOIDS

THERE'S BEEN FOR YEARS AND

YEARS, A RASH OF HEROIN LACED

WITH FENTANYL.

WHAT ABOUT THE ARGUMENT THAT THE

CITY AND GROUP SHOULD BE

DISCOURAGING ANY OPIOID USE AND

THIS MIGHT BE ENCOURAGING THE

USE EASTERN THOUGH IT'S

ENCOURAGING A SAFER USE?

>> I WILL SAY THIS, SIR.

THIS PROBLEM IS NOT GOING TO GO

AWAY.

IT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

DO WE WANT MORE DEATH TOLL

NUMBERS TO CONTINUE TO RISE?

OR DO WE WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE

STRIPS TO TEST THEIR DRUGS AND

USE THE DRUGS SAFELY?

I SAY THOSE PEOPLE OPPOSED TO IT

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BROADER

PICTURE.

IF WE DON'T OUR DEATH TOLL

NUMBERS WILL KEEP RISING WITH

THE OVERDOSE.

WE ALREADY POSTED [INAUDIBLE]

AND FENTANYL CONTRIBUTED TO 82%

OF THAT ALREADY WITH THE

OVERDOSE.

SO THESE TEST STRIPS WITH THE

NARCAN ARE LIFE CHANGERS.

THEY ARE CHANGING THE GAME.

AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING.

I APPLAUD THE C.D.C. FOR THIS.

>> OK AND THE OVERDOSE DEATHS AS

WE MENTIONED IN 2020, THERE WERE

1844.

A LIGHT DIP IN 20211383.

ALTHOUGH PENDING CASES.

Dr. JASMINE IS IT THE

MEASURABLE DROP A POSITIVE SIGN

OVERALL?

>> ANYTIME WE SEE A DECREASE IN

THE NUMBER OF DEATHS WE ALWAYS

SEE IT AS A POSITIVE SIGN.

THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF HARM

REDUCTION IS TO REMOVE BARRIERS

THAT ARE IN PLACE THAT CAN LEAD

TO DEATH.

ANYTIME WE CAN SAVE A LIFE

THROUGH MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE

THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO TEST THE

DRUG BEFORE THEY USE IT OR TO

HAVE THE DRUG REVERSAL

MEDICATION, NARCAN AVAILABLE, WE

[INAUDIBLE]

IN ADDITION BY GIVING THE

FENTANYL TEST KITS AWAY WE ARE

HOPING TO START THIS

CONVERSATION NOT ONLY WITH THE

HARM REDUCTION OUTREACH

ORGANIZATIONS, BUT ALSO IN

SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES AND SOME

HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS THAT THEY

ARE ALSO SCREENING INDIVIDUALS

SPECIFICALLY FOR FENTANYL.

>> AND AS WE MENTIONED THE VAST

MAJORITY OF OPIOID DEATHS COME

AS A RESULT OF FENTANYL.

WHY IS THAT Dr. JASMINE?

WHY AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF

DEATHS DUE TO FENTANYL?

IS THERE MORE FENTANYL IN

OPIOIDS THIS YEAR OVER YEARS

PAST?

>> SINCE WE BEGAN TRACKING THE

COMPONENTS OF THE DRUGS THAT ARE

FOUND IN THE SYSTEMS FROM PEOPLE

WHO EXPERIENCE OVERDOSE DEATHS,

WE HAVE BEEN SEEING AN

INCREASING AMOUNT OF FENTANYL

PRESENT.

AND SO SOME OF THOSE REASONS

COULD BE MULLIFY FACTORIAL.

SOME OF IT COULD BE RELATED TO

THE PANDEMIC.

DUE TO THE BORDER CLOSURES.

SO THAT MIGHT HAVE MADE IT MORE

DIFFICULT FOR THE DRUGS TO COME

INTO THE COUNTRY.

AND SO FENTANYL IS CHEAP AND

EASY TO MAKE.

SO IT MADE IT EASIER TO

TRANSPORT OR THERE MAY HAVE BEEN

ADDITIONAL LABS THAT WERE

STARTED WITHIN THE U.S. TO

MANUFACTURE THE FENTANYL.

>> A LOT OF DEALERS CUT THE

DRUGS WITH FENTANYL.

WHAT ELSE CAN CITY OFFICIALS DO

TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF OVERDOSE

DEATHS IN CHICAGO AND COOK

COUNTY AND ACROSS THE REGION?

>> PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS.

LET'S GET THE STRIPS OUT AND THE

NARCAN OUT THERE AND REMOVE THE

STIGMA BEHIND ALL IT AND LET

PEOPLE KNOW IT IS OK YOU ARE NOT

ALONE.

THERE'S ORGANIZATIONS OUT HERE

THAT WILL WORK WITH YOU AT ANY

LEVEL YOU AT TO HELP YOU.

>> CERTAINLY OVERDOSE THE OTHER

EPIDEMIC GOING ON ALONGSIDE

COVID-19.

OUR THANKS TO JEPHTHAT MCDANIEL

AND Dr. WILNISE JASMIN THANK

YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> AND UP NEXT, MORE ON THE CITY

COUNCIL MEETING TODAY IN

SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

BUT FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE

WEATHER...

A ROUGH DAY IN CITY COUNCIL.

THE THOMPSON CENTER IS CLOSER TO

BEING SOLD.

JOINING US ARE AMANDA VINICKY,

HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS

SCHUTZ.

HEATHER LET'S START WITH CARRIE

AUSTIN COLLAPSING DURING THE

CITY COUNCIL MEETING WHAT

HAPPENED AND WHAT IS THE LATEST?

>> WELL, I WISH I KNEW I COULD

GIVE PEOPLE AN UPDATE ON HER

CONDITION WE JUST DON'T KNOW SHE

SLUMPED OVER AND THIS COMES

AFTER A HOST OF MEDICAL PROBLEMS

THAT CARRIE AUSTIN HAS SUFFERED.

SHE IS 72 YEARS OLD.

SHE HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR LYING

TO THE F.B.I. AND FOR TAKING

BRIBES.

SHE IS DUE BACK IN COURT

TELEPHONICLY ON FRIDAY IN THE

LAST HEARING HER ATTORNEY TOLD

THE JUDGE SHE WAS SUFFERING

SERIOUS ILLNESSES OF A CARDIAC

NATURE AND THAT IS REALLY ALL WE

KNOW.

IT WAS A FRIGHTENING MOMENT BUT

AS WE HEARD THE MAYOR SAY IT WAS

SOMEWHAT HEART WARMING TO SEE

ALDERMEN RUSH TO HER AND MAKE

SURE SHE WAS OK AND I KNOW MANY

PEOPLE WERE GLAD THAT ANTHONY

NAPOLITANO WAS THERE.

HE IS A FORMER FIREFIGHTER AND

HE IS TRAINED TO HANDLE

EMERGENCIES LIKE THAT.

>> AND ALSO AS HE REPORTED

EARLIER WE KNOW SHE WAS

CONSCIOUS AND IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE

ASKED NOT TO BE TAKEN TO THE

HOSPITAL.

WISHING GOOD HEALTH THERE AND WE

KNOW SOME OF THE STUFF COULD BE

POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

NONE OF US IS A DOCTOR.

ALDERPEOPLE ALSO APPROVED SPORTS

BETTING AT CHICAGO'S

PROFESSIONAL SPORTS ARENAS.

PARIS, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

BETTING WINDOWS WILL COME TO

BULLS, HAWKS, BEARS, LOCATIONS?

>> SEEMS LIKE IT.

IT MEANS A LUCRATIVE REVENUE

STREAM FOR ALL OF CHICAGO'S

MAJOR PROFESSIONAL SPORTS

FRANCHISES.

RARE WHEN YOU GET MOST OF THE

BIG TIME OWNERS, RICKETTS AND

WURTS COMING TO CITY COUNCIL

LOBBYING FOR SOMETHING LIKE IT'S

HARD TO IGNORE BECAUSE NEIL

BLUHM WHO IS THE OWNER OF RUSH

STREET GAMING THAT OWNS RIVERS

CASINO AND HAS TWO BIDS OUT SAID

DO NOT APPROVE THIS IT'S GOING

TO CANNIBALIZE FUTURE POTENTIAL

REVENUES AT A CHICAGO CASINO

SOME SUSPECTED IT MIGHT TAKE

BUSINESS AWAY FROM RIVER CASINO

IN DES PLAINES BUT THE STUDY HAD

A STUDY THAT SAID NO, THESE ARE

DIFFERENT CLIENTELE A DIFFERENT

PERSON THAT WILL WALK IN TO THIS

NEW WHAT THEY WILL CALL THE

DRAFTKINGS SPORTS BET AT

WRIGLEYVILLE VERSUS THE CASINO

AND BET AT THE SPORTSBOOK THERE.

LITTLE DISAGREEMENT ON WHETHER

OR NOT IT WOULD HAVE A BIG

IMPACT ON CASINOS AND RICKETTS

SAID THAT NOW THIS IS APPROVED

HE IS READY TO START BUILDING

AND GET IT UP AND RUNNING IN

2023.

>> I WANT TO JUMP IN AND SAY

THAT TOMORROW WE'RE GOING TO GET

OUR FIRST LOOK AT THE FIVE

CASINO PROPOSALS STARTING AT

1:00 P.M.

IT WILL BE ALL FIVE PROPOSALS

WILL BE PRESENTED AT A PUBLIC

HEARING.

AND IT WILL REALLY GIVE US I

THINK THE FIRST CHANCE TO SEE

WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED, WHERE

AND WHAT THE CITY STANDS TO GAIN

FROM THAT.

AND THESE ARE ALL CRUCIAL

QUESTIONS BECAUSE THE CITY IS

COUNTING ON REVENUE FROM A

CAMPAIGN TO SHORE-UP THE POLICE

AND FIRE PENSIONS.

THAT IS WHERE THIS MONEY IS

GOING TO GO FROM A CASINO.

>> ALDERPEOPLE APPROVED A NEARLY

$3 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH YOUNG

FOR THE BOTCHED POLICE RAID OF

THE SOCIAL WORKER'S HOME HERE IS

WHAT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT HAD TO

SAY ABOUT THAT TODAY.

>> WE RECOGNIZE WHAT MS. YOUNG

WENT THROUGH THE TRAUMA SHE

EXPERIENCED.

AND I THINK THE PROOF IS IN THE

PUDDING.

UNANIMOUSLY.

WHICH RARELY HAPPENS ON MATTERS

OF SETTLEMENTS.

CITY COUNCIL AFFIRMED THE

AGREEMENT THAT HAD BEEN REACHED

WITH MS. YOUNG AND HER COUNSEL

TO PAY HER 2.9 MILLION.

>> THE MAYOR'S FORMER

CORPORATION COUNSEL SLAMMED THE

SETTLEMENT BUT HE WAS FIRED.

HOW DOES IT STACK UP WITH OTHER

SETTLEMENTS FROM CITY HALL?

>> IT RANKS UP THERE.

BY COMPARISON THE FAMILY OF

LAQUAN McDONALD WHO WAS SHOT

AND MURDERED BY FORMER POLICE

OFFICER JASON VAN DYKE HIS

FAMILY GOT $5 MILLION.

IT IS IN THE SAME SORT OF BALL

PARK BUT IT WASN'T THE ONLY HUGE

SETTLE.

THE CITY GREED TO PAY 1.2

MILLION TO THE FAMILY OF A

14-YEAR-OLD TEEN WHO WAS SHOT IN

THE BACK BY A POLICE OFFICER AND

THEN KICKED IN THE HEAD WHILE HE

LAID DYING AFTER A FOOT CHASE

BACK IN 2014.

AND IT WILL NOT BE THE LAST FOOT

CHASE POLICE MISCONDUCT LAWSUIT

THAT WE WILL SEE.

OF COURSE WE ARE ALL REPORTING

ON THE DEATH OF 13-YEAR-OLD ADAM

TOLEDO IN MARCH SHOT AND WILL

KILLED AFTER A FOOT CHASE.

>> CAN I JUMP IN.

MARK FLEISCHER WHO NOT ONLY SAID

THAT HE HAD VERY HEATED COMMENTS

FOR HIS FORMER BOSS THE MAYOR

CALLING HER RUDE, PET LENGTH,

DISASTER, RIPPING HER TO SHREDS

THIS IS INTRIGUING BECAUSE NOT

ONLY DID HE WORK TOGETHER HE HAS

BEEN AN ALLY FOR LORI LIGHTFOOT

YEARS AND YEARS, CLEARLY A MAJOR

BREAK UP HERE AND HE IS UNHAPPY

WITH HOW HE LOST HIS JOB.

BUT SAYING THINGS LIKE SHE'S

BEEN A COMPLETE DISASTER AND

JUST REMARKABLE COMMENTS THERE.

>> OUCH.

YES, HARSH WORDS FOR SOMEONE YOU

USED TO BE FRIENDS WITH.

OTHER SETTLEMENTS TOTALED 2.2

MILLION.

DOES THE CITY BUDGET FOR THESE

ESTIMATED SETTLEMENTS?

>> THE CITY DOES BUDGET NOT

PRECISELY FOR THERE IS NO

PREDICTING WHAT SITUATION, YES,

THEY DO BUDGET MONEY FOR

SETTLEMENTS.

THERE'S BEEN REPORTING FROM

ANOTHER OUTLET I WANT TO SAY ABC

THAT FOUND $67 MILLION SO FAR

THIS YEAR IN POLICE MISCONDUCT.

SO, YES, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT

CITIES IT'S NOT JUST CHICAGO.

ALL CITIES DO THIS.

THESE ARE VERY TENSE SITUATIONS

OFTENTIMES.

AND, OF COURSE, UNLESS THERE'S

BASKETBALL A LOT OF DEBATE OVER

QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

IF YOU HAVE A POLICE OFFICER NOT

PERSONALLY LEGALLY LIABLE FOR

ANY SORT OF SITUATION, IT IS ON

AN OFFICER'S EMPLOYER SO OFTEN A

MUNICIPALITY TO TAKE THAT UP IF

THERE IS ANY SORT OF MISCONDUCT

OR WRONGDOING.

I DON'T FORESEE THOUGH AGAIN

ILLINOIS HAS A VERY BIG CRIMINAL

JUSTICE OVERHAUL THAT IS SLOWLY

TAKING PLACE, THERE IS NO

DISMANTLING OF QUALIFIED

IMMUNITY AND I DON'T FORESEE

THAT CHANGES ANYTIME SOON.

ANJANETTE YOUNG'S ATTORNEY STILL

SAYS WHAT SHE WANTS IS NEVER TO

HAVE THIS SITUATION HAPPEN TO

HER BUT ALSO FOR THE CITY TO ACT

AND DO THINGS LIKE MAKING SURE

THAT POLICE WAIT BEFORE ENTERING

A HOME EVEN IN A SITUATION LIKE

THIS.

BANNING ANY SORT OF POINTING OF

GUNS AT CHILDREN.

SHE WANTS MORE ACTION TAKEN.

BEYOND JUST A CASH OUT BUT

MATERIALLY THAT SHE BRIEFS GOING

FORWARD WILL SPARE OTHERS FROM

BEING IN A SITUATION SUCH AS THE

ONE SHE WAS IN.

>> AND SO ANTHONY NAPOLITANO'S

ALDERMANIC PREROGATIVE OVERRULED

AS ALDERPEOPLE BACKED A MAYOR

BACKED APARTMENT DEVELOPMENT.

HOW RARE IS IT THAT ALDERMANIC

PREROGATIVE IGNORED?

>> IT IS BASICALLY UNPRECEDENTED

ESPECIALLY IN A HIGH PROFILE

CASE LIKE THIS.

AND IT WAS FASCINATING TO HEAR

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAY YEP

WE'RE ALL UNCOMFORTABLE DOING

THIS BUT WE'RE DOING IT FOR TWO

REASONS.

ONE WE NEED TO PROVIDE

AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEAR O'HARE.

THIS BUILDING WILL BE BUILT ON

THE BLUE LINE TWO STATIONS DOWN

FROM O'HARE AND THIS IS AN

ATTEMPT QUOTE TO BREAK THE GRIP

OF SEGREGATION END QUOTE IN

CHICAGO.

AND THOSE ARE VERY HIGH STAKES.

BECAUSE SHE WAS ELECTED ON

PROMISES TO DO EXACTLY THAT AND

THERE CAN BE NO ARGUMENT THAT

ALDERMEN WHO REPRESENT WHITE

WEALTHY WARDS IN CHICAGO USED

THIS POWER TO PREVENT AFFORDABLE

HOUSING FROM BEING BUILT IN

THEIR WARDS AND THIS IS A

REPUTATION OF THAT ABILITY AND

WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHETHER THIS

IS A ONE-TIME THING OR WHETHER

THIS CHANGES HOW THE CITY

APPROACHES AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> QUICK PARIS TO THAT END IS

THIS A SLIPPERY SLOPE ANTHONY

NAPOLITANO IS WARNING HIS

COLLEAGUES IT CAN HAPPEN TO

THEM, TOO.

>> IT'S UNPRECEDENTED.

IT COULD BE A SLIPPERY SLOPE ON

ISSUES OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING

THAT THE MAYOR WANTS TO HELP

REDUCE SEGREGATION IN THE CITY.

I WOULD THINK THAT IT WON'T BE A

SLIPPERY SLOPE ON OTHERS.

RIGHT NOW IN A PANDEMIC IT'S

HARD TO VOTE AGAINST AFFORDABLE

HOUSING WHEN PEOPLE ARE

STRUGGLING.

THE MAYOR PROMISED WE ARE GOING

TO GET RID OF ALDERMANIC

PREROGATIVE IT'S RIPE WITH

CORRUPTION AND ALDERPEOPLE SAID

WHO KNOWS THEIR WARDS BETTER.

THIS IS SOMETHING THE MAYOR

CAMPAIGNED ON DOING.

>> MOVING OVER TO STATE

POLITICS.

STATE IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO

SELLING THE JAMES R. THOMPSON

CENTER FOR $70 MILLION.

WHO IS THE BUYER AND WHAT DO

THEY PLAN TO DO WITH THE

BUILDING.

>> THEY PLAN TO KEEP A LOT OF IT

INTACT THERE'S GOING TO BE A

GLASS CURTAIN THAT WILL HELP TO

PREVENT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT

YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW WITH ALL THE

NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE FAST

FOOD COURT AND THE CTA AND IT

BEING A PUBLIC BUILDING AND

PEOPLE WHO ARE STATE EMPLOYEES

OF COURSE ARE TRYING TO GO ABOUT

THEIR WORKDAY AND BE ON CALLS.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WORK

THERE LET ME TELL YOU THERE IS A

LOT OF EXCITEMENT FOR AT LEAST

SOMETHING TO BE DONE.

THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF IMAGES

YOU CAN SEE.

WATER DRIPPING EVERY EVERY TIME

IT RAINS.

TODAY IT WAS VERY, VERY HOT IN

THERE BECAUSE THAT WARM WEATHER.

I WILL SAY WHAT IS INTERESTING

IS THE STATE GETTING I BELIEVE

$70 MILLION IS WHAT PRIME GROUP

IS PAYING FOR THIS.

ILLINOIS EVENTUALLY GOING TO IN

FACT PAY SOME BACK BECAUSE THEY

ARE GOING TO LEASE-BACK THE

OFFICE SPACE.

THIS, OF COURSE, DOES KEEP THE

BUILDING INTACT AND I'M NOT

PRIVY TO ALL THE AGREEMENT AT A

TIME WHEN GOVERNOR J.B.

PRITZKER'S PREDECESSOR BRUCE

RAUNER HAD BEEN LOOKING HE WAS

AIMING TO GET UPWARDS OF 200-300

MILLION TO SELL THIS PRIME PIECE

OF PROPERTY RIGHT IN THE LOOP.

SO ILLINOIS GETTING IT OFF ITS

HANDS A LOT OF DEFERRED

MAINTENANCE.

BUT CERTAINLY IT IS A DIFFERENT

REAL ESTATE WORLD THAN HAD THIS

OCCURRED YEARS PRIOR.

>> AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER

DOWN-PLAYING A RUMOR HE HAD

PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRATIONS.

HE LAUGHED IT OFF BUT WHERE DID

THE RUMOR COME FROM.

>> IT CAME FROM THE "NEW YORK

TIMES" AND GENERALLY THIS IS A

GIVE RESPECT TO FELLOW

JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE DONE THEIR

HOMEWORK AND I THINK IT IS NOT

OUTSIDE THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY

FOR PRITZKER TO BE MENTIONED

BECAUSE HE IS A GOVERNOR OF A

BIG STATE AND ALSO HE HAS A LOT

OF CONNECTIONS WITH DEMOCRATS

BEFORE HE BECAME ILLINOIS'

GOVERNOR HE FUNDED MANY A

CAMPAIGN MANY HE HAS THE DOLLARS

TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

AND TO GET THAT GOING.

BUT HE IS VERY MUCH FOCUSED HE

SAYS ON THE NEXT GUBERNATORIAL

RACE.

AND THIS IS SORT OF PUTTING THE

DONKEY BEFORE THE CART IF YOU

WILL WHEN IT COMES TO DEMOCRATIC

POLITICS.

IT WAS A MENTION THAT CAUSED A

FLURRY OF ACTIVITY BUT IN

ILLINOIS, I'M GOING TO SAY I AM

MORE FOCUSED AS I'M SURE THE

PRITZKER CAMP IS AS WELL ON THE

22 ELECTION.

ANYTIME SOMEBODY SAYS YOU WOULD

BE GOOD FOR PRESIDENT AND FOLKS

WITH WHITE HOUSE CONNECTIONS IT

HAS TO FEEL GOOD, RIGHT?

>> COOK COUNTY DEMOCRATS

OFFICIALLY ENDORSED CANDIDATES

ALEXI GIANNOULIAS AND FRITZ

KAEGI, ANY SURPRISE WITH THESE

ENDORSEMENTS?

>> A LITTLE BIT.

ALEXI GIANNOULIAS OF COURSE RAN

FOR SENATE UNSUCCESSFULLY.

HE DID SERVE IN STATE-WIDE

OFFICE SO HE DOES HAVE A TRACK

RECORD OF BEING ABLE TO WIN

STATE-WIDE.

IT IS A HOTLY CONTESTED PRIMARY.

HE FACES CITY CLERK ANNA

VALENCIA AND TWO ALDERPEOPLE,

PAT DOWELL AND DAVID MOORE AND I

THINK THERE WERE A NUMBER OF

DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEMBERS WHO

VOTED NOT TO ENDORSE IN THAT

RACE AND HIS ENDORSEMENT CAME

WITH A SLIGHT MAJORITY OF

PEOPLE.

THAT RACE IS VERY MUCH UP FOR

GRABS IN THE COOK COUNTY

ASSESSOR RACE, FRITZ KAEGI WAS

ELECTED FOUR YEARS AGO.

PROMISING TO REVISE THE WAY THE

COUNTY ASSESSES PROPERTIES IN

TERMS OF TAXES.

HE MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE UNHAPPY

BECAUSE HE HAS SAID THAT THE

SYSTEM WAS UNFAIR AND IF YOU

CHANGE THE SYSTEM THAT MEANS

SOMEBODY HAS TO PAY MORE.

HE IS FACING KERRY STEEL A

CURRENT MEMBER OF THE

METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION

DISTRICT AND HER HUSBAND MAYS

JACKSON A WELL-KNOWN RADIO

PERSONALITY SAYS WILL RUN TENSE

TONI PRECKWINKLE HE IS ANGRY HIS

WIFE DID NOT GET THE NOD.

WE WILL HAVE TO WATCH THAT.

BUT THESE ELECTIONS ARE RIGHT

AROUND THE RIVERBEND AND WE ARE

GOING TO HAVE TIME.

>> IT WILL BE A FUN ELECTION

YEAR FOR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

PARIS BEFORE WE LET YOU ALL GO,

ILLINOIS' POT CZAR LEAVING

PUBLIC LIFE TO HEAD UP A

CANNABIS LOBBYING LOOP.

IS THAT A QUICK TURN AROUND IS

NOT THERE A LIMIT WHEN YOU GO

LOBBY?

>> WHEN YOU ARE AN ELECTED

OFFICIAL.

HE WAS A STATE SENATOR AND THEN

THE GOVERNOR BROUGHT HER INTO TO

BE THE TOP ADVISER ROLE IN

CHARGE OF THE CANNABIS PROGRAM

SO SHE IS NOT PRIVY TO THE RULES

BUT A RESOLVING DOOR AND SHE WAS

INSTRUMENTAL IN CRAFTING

ILLINOIS' CANNABIS REGULATIONS

AND NOW SHE WILL SEE A LUCRATIVE

CAREER.

AND LEGISLATORS LEVERAGE THEIR

KNOWLEDGE TO GET JOBS IN THOSE

INDUSTRIES THAT THEY WERE MAKING

LAWS ON.

SO BUT, NO, SHE WOULDN'T BE

SUBJECT TO ANY OF THE REVOLVING

DOOR PROVISIONS WHICH ARE WEAK

TO BEGIN WITH IN ILLINOIS.

>> ANOTHER DISCUSSION FOR

ANOTHER SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

HEATHER CHERONE, AMANDA VINICKY

AND PARIS SCHUTZ THANKS, GUYS.

>> UP NEXT, USING ART TO PROMOTE

PUBLIC HEALTH.

THEY SAY A PICTURE IS WORTH A

THOUSAND WORDS BUT IN THIS CASE

SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS HOPE A

PICTURE WILL SAVE A LIFE.

ANGEL IDOWU RECENTLY TOOK US TO

ENGLEWOOD WHERE A MURAL IS

WORKING TO BRING AWARENESS TO

THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

>> ON 63rd AND HALSTED AN

ENGLEWOOD FAMILY STANDS WITH AN

IMPORTANT MESSAGE THAT READS...

PROTECT YOURSELF AND THE PEOPLE

YOU LOVE.

COMMISSIONED BY AMPLIFIER A

NONPROFIT COMMITTED TO

HIGHLIGHTING COMMUNITY ISSUES

THROUGH ART AND MEDIA, ARTIST

BRANDON BREAUX CREATED A MURAL

TO PROMOTE VACCINE AWARENESS.

BRANDON BREAUX SAYS IN A MEDIA

DRIVEN WORLD WITH A LOT OF FALSE

INFORMATION HE WANTED TO USE HIS

ART TO EDUCATE.

>> WE USE ART TO CUT THROUGH THE

NOISE AND ART HAS A HISTORY

TRACK RECORD OF BEING ABLE TO DO

SO.

SO WE BEAUTIFY OUR COMMUNITY.

WE CREATE THIS WORK IN THE HOPES

IT LEAVES PEOPLE INFORMED AND

UPLIFTED.

>> THIS IMAGE DISPLAYS THE EVANS

FAMILY, FATHER DALE, MOTHER AND

SON.

THEY ARE FOUNDER OF HARVEST

CHURCH.

>> WE ARE HERE WE TRY TO HELP

AND WE MIGHT NOT EACH OTHER BY

NAME BUT WE FEEL THE PAIN.

WE GO THROUGH THE SAME THING.

>> THEY HOPE THEIR ADVOCACY WILL

NOT ONLY STRETCH BEYOND THE

HOMES OF THEIR NEIGHBORS BUT

WITHIN THEIR FAMILY AS WELL.

LIKE WITH THEIR ELDEST SON WHO

WAS NOT FEATURED.

OUR GRANDCHILDREN IS VACCINATED.

MY SON IS NOT VACCINATED.

I HOPE HE SEES THIS.

>> WHILE THIS MURAL MIGHT BE

TEMPORARY BRANDON BREAUX HOPES

AT THE MESSAGE BEHIND IT LIVES

FOREVER.

>> WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO

PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD AND

SHOWING UP.

AND HAVING THAT STORY SO THAT

THE FUTURE CAN HAVE AN EXAMPLE

WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.

FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL

IDOWU.

>> AGAIN THAT MURAL STANDS AT

63TH AND HALSTED AND FEATURES A

QR CODE TO THE COVID INFORMATION

CENTER AND THE COMPANY IS A

SPONSOR OF THE PROJECT.

AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP

RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT"

IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY...

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS

WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGN

UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET THE SHOW VIA

FACEBOOK, YouTube AND OUR

WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> YOU CAN GET THE SHOW VIA

PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW

NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.

LANDMARKS AND COMMUNITY

FAVORITES IN HISTORIC GRAND

BOULEVARD AS PART OF OUR "IN

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> AND A CHICAGO THESPIAN MAKES

HER BROADWAY DEBUT.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO

TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ THANK YOU

FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WE'LL

SEE YOU TOMORROW.

[♪♪♪]