>> 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.
[♪♪♪]