[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "THE WEEK IN REVIEW".

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ WE WILL BE JOINED BY OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" GUESTS IN JUST A MOMENT BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES...

IT'S OFFICIAL, CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS ARE FULLY REOPENED WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS ON CROWDS.

AND HERE IS A SIGHT THAT HAS NOT BEEN SEEN IN OVER A YEAR-AND-A-HALF A PACKED HOUSE AT WRIGLEY FIELD.

THE CUBS CELEBRATED BY HAVING FAN BILL MEASURE -- THE 7TH INNING STRETCH AND THEY BEAT THE CARDINALS 8-5.

WE WILL HAVE MUCH MORE ON TODAY'S REOPENING IN JUST A MINUTE.

>> A CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER FACES FEDERAL CRIMINAL CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE JANUARY 6TH ATTEMPTED CAPITOL INSURRECTION.

KAROL CHWIESIUK WHO HAS BEEN ON THE FORCE SINCE 2018 FACES FIVE MISDEMEANOR CHARGES INCLUDING DISORDERLY CONDUCT, DISRUPTING GOVERNMENT BUSINESS AND ENTERING A RESTRICTED BUILDING ACCORDING TO A FEDERAL COMPLAINT FILED FRIDAY.

POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN SAYS CHWIESIUK WAS STRIPPED OF DUTIES ON JUNE 2 WHEN C.P.D.

LEARNED OF THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AND THAT CHWIESIUK WAS OFF DUTY ON MEDICAL LEAVE AT THE TIME.

BROWN SAYS THAT IF THE ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE CHWIESIUK DISHONEST NORRED THE BADGE AND BROWN HAD WARNINGS FOR OTHER OFFICERS.

>> WE HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE FOR HATE AND EXTREMISM OF ANY KIND WITHIN THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND IF YOU HARBOR SUCH IGNORANCE IN YOUR HEART, YOU SHOULD TAKE OFF YOUR STAR NOW.

AND FIND ANOTHER LINE OF WORK.

OR I WILL DO IT FOR YOU.

>> AND YOU CAN FIND MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND NOW TO OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" PANEL.

JOINING US ARE RAY LONG, OF "CHICAGO TRIBUNE".

ALEX NITKIN OF DAILY LINE.

LOURDES DUARTE OF WGN-TV NEWS AND LAURA WASHINGTON OF "CHICAGO-SUN TIMES" AND ABC7 NEWS.

CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS FULLY REOPENED NO CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS.

YESTERDAY WE TALKED WITH CHICAGO PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ALLISON ARWADY ABOUT MOVING INTO PHASE 5 AND HERE IS SOME OF WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY.

>> WE ARE REALLY FEELING GOOD PARTICULARLY IN THE SHORT-TERM.

THE BIGGEST PIECE HAS BEEN DUE TO VACCINES.

BUT WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE WE ARE AT THE LOWEST CASES THE LOWEST HOSPITALIZATIONS, THE LOWEST ICU AND EVERYTHING IS HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND IT'S BEEN DOING THAT WHILE WE HAVE BEEN TURNING THE DIAL ON REOPENING.

WE HAVE NO THREAT TO OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

WE HAVE A WIDELY AVAILABLE VACCINE AND OUR NUMBERS ARE HEADING THE RIGHT WAY.

IT IS THE TIME TO REOPEN EVEN IF COVID IS NOT ENTIRELY OVER.

>> LOURDES DUARTE DOES CHICAGO BECOMES THE BIGGEST CITY TO REOPEN DOES THIS FEEL LIKE THE RIGHT TIME?

>> IT DOES YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THE LAST FEW WEEKS YOU HAVE SEEN THE NUMBERS TREND DOWN.

TODAY AS A WHOLE IN ILLINOIS WE HAD 400 CASES.

THERE WERE A FEW DAYS WHERE WE HAD 300.

SO IT DOES SEEM LIKE WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE MODELING THAT IS OUT THERE AND YOU CONSIDER HOSPITALIZATIONS, YOU CONSIDER THE NUMBER OF DEATHS THAT WE'VE HAD, IT DOES LOOK LIKE THINGS ARE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER TIME THAN A WEEKEND LIKE THIS WEEKEND WHERE IT'S IN THE 90s.

NICE SUMMER DAY.

SO, YEAH, PEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT.

THEY SEE IT AS THE RIGHT TIME NOT JUST FROM Dr. ARWADY BUT THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL THEY THINK LOOK WE ARE READY TO GO WE HAVE BEEN WAITING 447 DAYS FOR THIS PARTICULAR DAY.

AND THEY ARE READY AND YOU SEE THE CROWDS OUT AND ABOUT TODAY.

>> QUITE A LONGTIME.

I WAS ON THE RIVERWALK LAST NIGHT AND IT WAS PACKED OUT THERE A DAY BEFORE THE REOPENING.

ALEX NITKIN IS THERE ANYTHING THAT COULD TRIGGER A ROLLBACK, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER LESS THAN HALF OF CHICAGOANS ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

AND YOU'VE GOT THE DELTA VARIANT STILL MAKES ITS WAY AROUND INTERNATIONALLY?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

Dr. ARWADY WAS ASKED THAT QUESTION TODAY AND SAID IT DEPENDS ON VACCINATIONS THAT RIGHT NOW THE CITY IS LOOKING GOOD IT'S TRENDING POSITIVELY AND WE'RE GETTING TO CONTROL THE SPREAD OF THE SITUATION.

WHAT TRIGGERS -- WHAT WOULD TRIGGER US MOVING BACKWARDS IT WOULD BE CASE NUMBERS GOING UP AND HOSPITALIZATIONS GOING UP.

THERE IS FEAR THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE FALL ESPECIALLY WITH THE VARIANTS AND THAT IS WHY THE SUMMER IS GOING TO BE CRUCIAL TO GET AS MANY CHICAGOANS VACCINATED IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE THEM YET WHERE OUTBREAKS COULD OCCUR AND THAT IS WHAT THE STRATEGY IS NOW.

>> TO GET TO THAT 70% RATE WHICH THE CITY HAS A WAYS TO GO ON THAT.

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC THERE HAVE BEEN 1.3 MILLION CASES OF COVID-19, 23,035 ILLINOISIANS DIED OF THE VIRUS TO DATE.

54% OF ADULTS HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED STATE-WIDE.

SO, LAURA WASHINGTON, HAVE WE PROPERLY MOURNED ALL THE SUFFERING THAT HAPPENED OVER THE LAST 15 MONTHS?

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THE COUNTRY 600,000 DEATHS AND THAT IS MILLIONS OF FOLKS THAT ARE MOURNING THEIR LOVED ONES?

>> NOT ONLY MOURNING THEIR LOVED ONES AND THE LONG-HAULERS THE FOLKS WHO CONTINUE TO HAVE SYMPTOMS AND CONTINUE TO HAVE HEALTH STRUGGLES AND ALSO WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THERE MAY BE MORE TO COME AS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING.

WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS OPENING WIDE UP AND THAT IS A GREAT THING, THERE WILL BE LARGE GATHERINGS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN WRIGLEY FIELD AND THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE UNVACCINATED AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE IN MORE JEOPARDY BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO BE GOING INTO LARGE CROWDS CLOSE TO PEOPLE.

THERE IS NO MORE DISTANCING AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE VULNERABLE AND SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BE VACCINATED MAYBE THEY HAVE HEALTH REASONS OR TOO SCARED.

BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET TO THAT 70% THRESHOLD THAT THE PRESIDENT WANTS US TO GET TO NATIONALLY.

THERE'S GOING TO BE JEOPARDY THROUGH THE SUMMER.

>> RAY LONG BELONG THAT 70% THRESHOLD DO YOU THINK THERE COULD BE POTENTIAL FOR A RISE IN CASES AS YOU HAVE PLACES LIKE WRIGLEY FIELD, 40,000 FOLKS TOGETHER AND AS LAURA SAID, BY RULE, SOME ARE JUST NOT GOING TO BE VACCINATED.

>> RIGHT.

ANTHONY RIZZO IS NOT VACCINATED.

HE IS THE CUBS FIRST BASEMAN AND WE LOVE HIM BUT IT WAS A HEAD-SCRATCHER AND A MOMENT TO PAUSE.

TO GET TO YOUR POINT, PARIS, THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE ONLY HAD THEIR FIRST VACCINATION, TOO.

LET ALONE THE ONES WHO HAVE NOT HAD ANY AT ALL.

I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAD ONE VACCINATION AND HE CAUGHT COVID AND DIED.

IT IS STILL A CONCERN AND AS LAURA SAID WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET.

>> RAY OUR CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND YOUR FRIEND.

THAT IS TERRIBLE.

OVER THE LAST 15 MONTHS WE HAVE WATCHED PEOPLE SUFFER THE LOSS OF JOBS, THE LOSS OF THEIR BUSINESSES THE HOTEL INDUSTRY HAS BEEN HARD.

YESTERDAY I TALKED WITH MICHAEL JACOBSON OF THE ILLINOIS HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION HERE IS SOME OF WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE TOUGH.

AGAIN YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO REVENUE FOR OVER A YEAR AND AT THE SAME TIME THE HOTELS ARE STILL ON THE HOOK FOR MORTGAGES AND PROPERTY TAX AS MUCH AS $11 MILLION A YEAR.

FOR JUST BASIC UPKEEP OF THE BUILDINGS.

THE EXPENSES DID NOT STOP BUT THE REVENUE DRIED UP OVERNIGHT.

THESE HOTELS ARE STILL HURTING AND SOME ARE FACING FORECLOSE.

>> LOURDES DUARTE ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE HEARING ACROSS THE SECTORS OF THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY THEY CANNOT FIND THE WORKERS.

PEOPLE WANT TO COME BACK AND STAY IN HOTELS THEY ARE RAMPING UP CAPACITY AND PEOPLE WANT TO GO TO RESTAURANTS AND BE IN CROWDS BUT THERE IS A LABOR SHORTAGE.

DO YOU THINK THIS COULD BE A LONG-TERM PROBLEM?

>> IT'S FUNNY YOU SAY THAT WE WERE ALL TALKING AND I MENTIONED TO THE CREW THAT JUST YESTERDAY ME AND MY HUSBAND AND MY LITTLE ONE TRIED TO GET DINNER OUTSIDE SOMEWHERE AND THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT YOU COULDN'T GET INSIDE OF A RESTAURANT.

YOU COULDN'T GET A RESERVATION AT 5:30, 6:00 P.M. AND WE HEAR THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN FROM RESTAURANT OWNERS WHO SAY WE'RE READY TO REOPEN, WE'RE READY TO HAVE PEOPLE COME BACK BUT I JUST DON'T HAVE THE WORKERS RIGHT NOW TO ACCOMMODATE ALL OF THE PEOPLE ALL THE CUSTOMERS THAT MAY COME IN.

THAT IS A REALLY BIG BATTLE FOR A LOT OF THESE RESTAURANT OWNER.

THEY WANT TO BRING IN THE REVENUE AND MAKE THE MONEY BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE WORKERS FOR ALL OF THE CUSTOMERS THAT MAY COME IN.

WILL IT LAST THROUGH THE SUMMER?

I KIND OF THINK IT'S GOING TO.

THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FULFILL ALL THE OPEN SPOTS THEY'VE GOT.

FOR THE SUMMER.

MAYBE INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON WE'LL SEE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S ANYONE'S GUESS BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AT A TIME WHEN THEY NEED THE ECONOMY TO MAKE THAT BOOST OR SEE THAT JUMP.

SO IT IS A CONCERN NOT JUST FOR THE RESTAURANT OWNERS AND OF COURSE FOR MANY OF THE CITY AND THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AS A WHOLE.

>> AND PARIS, IT'S NOT JUST RESTAURANT OWNERS IT'S BUSINESSES, RETAIL BUSINESSES, PARTICULARLY BUSINESSES THAT SUPPLY PRODUCT.

THE HOUSING INDUSTRY, FURNITURE BUSINESSES.

BECAUSE SO DIFFICULT TO GET SUPPLIES NOW BECAUSE A NUMBER OF REASONS THAT RELATE TO THE PANDEMIC.

THAT'S WHY THE COST OF LIVING NUMBERS JUST WENT UP THIS WEEK BECAUSE IT'S GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE TO OPERATE BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGES AND THOSE ARE GOING THROUGH THE REST OF THE YEAR.

PEOPLE MAY HAVE MORE INCOME THE FOLKS THAT GOT THE STIMULUS MONEY AND HOLD ON TO THEIR JOBS IT'S GOING TO COST MORE AND THINGS LIKE RENTING A CAR WE TRIED TO RENT A CAR NEXT WEEKEND AND THAT HAS GONE UP LIKE 20-30%.

IT'S BEEN HIT IN EVERY AREA OF THE ECONOMY AT A TIME WHEN YOU WANT THE ECONOMY TO RECOVER.

>> AND THERE'S CONCERNS FOR INFLATION.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHEN THE SHIFT WILL HAPPEN, MEANING WHEN WILL THE WORKERS COME BACK.

IS IT AT THE END OF THE SUMMER?

IS IT GOING INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON WILL WE START TO SEE EMPLOYERS HAVE THE AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE STABILIZED AND TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE AT FULL CAPACITY.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT DATE IS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY GUESSES WHEN YOU EXPECT THINGS TO GET SOMEONE BACK TO NORMAL.

>> I GOT TO GUESS IF YOU ARE A COLLEGE STUDENT ON SUMMER BREAK OR A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OR JUST GOT OUT OF COLLEGE THIS IS THE BEST TIME EVER TO ENTER THE LABOR FORCE AT LEAST GET SOME SUMMER WORK.

WE'VE INTERVIEWED RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS THAT ARE BEGGING FOR PEOPLE TO COME WORK FOR THEM RIGHT NOW.

ALEX NITKIN IS THIS PRIMARILY BECAUSE WAGES ARE NOT HIGH ENOUGH NN WORKERS MAY FIND THAT THEY MAKE MORE WITH THE ADDED UNEMPLOYMENT?

OR ARE THERE MORE REASONS TO THIS LABOR SHORTAGE?

>> I AM NOT AN ECONOMIST AND I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF ECONOMISTS WHO DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION BUT THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.

YEAH, LIKE YOU SAID THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE INCLUDING IN A ILLINOIS SENATE HEARING WHO SAID WE NEED TO STOP THESE EXPANDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS THAT IS DISINCENTIVIZING PEOPLE TO WORK BUT PEOPLE NEED CHILDCARE IN ORDER TO GO BACK TO WORK.

PEOPLE ARE FACING OTHER DIFFICULTIES.

IT IS A HARD TRANSITION AND I THINK THE CITY COUNCIL TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH THE CHICAGO PARTNERSHIP SAYING I HAVE NEVER MET A SINGLE PERSON IN MY YEARS WHO SAID I DON'T WANT TO WORK BECAUSE I WOULD RATHER STAY AT HOME AND COLLECT A CHECK.

PEOPLE WANT TO WORK THEY NEED THE RESOURCES TO DO IT.

>> AND WE'VE HEARD THOSE THINGS FROM PEOPLE IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY AND HOSPITALITY THAT WORKERS ARE STRUGGLING WITH CHILDCARE AND THOSE ISSUES.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE HOT POLITICAL STORIES.

TRIBUNE ORDER REPORTS AN ALDERPERSON RECORDED MICHAEL MADIGAN.

ILLINOIS REPUBLICANS ASK A JUDGE TO TOSS OUT LEGISLATIVE MAPS AND ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS PREPARE TO TACKLE ENERGY AND AN ELECTED C.P.S.

BOARD.

RAY LONG YOU BROKE THIS STORY IN THE TRIBUNE ABOUT DANNY SOLIS THE FORMER ALDERPERSON WHO WE KNOW WAS RECORDING ED BURKE AND NOW IT TURNS OUT HE WAS RECORDING MICHAEL MADIGAN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE RECORDINGS TURNED UP?

>> WELL, WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS ABOUT.

THERE ARE APPARENTLY SEVERAL OVER DIFFERENT PERIODS.

BUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE IS WHY THERE IS A FEDERAL GRAND JURY INTEREST IN SOME PROPERTY IN CHINATOWN.

AND ONE OF THOSE PIECES OF PROPERTIES WAS ONE THAT MADIGAN WAS CAUGHT ON TAPE OR WAS APPROACHED BY SOLIS ABOUT DURING THE TIME WHEN THERE WAS SOME INTEREST IN THIS PROPERTY A PARKING LOT.

>> AND SOLIS IS ALREADY ALLEGEDLY WORKING AS A MOLE FOR THE FEDS, RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

AND WE ALL LEARNED ABOUT HIM WORKING AS A MOLE BECAUSE OF THE BURKE STORY BUT THE FEDS WERE ACTUALLY FIRST INTERESTED IN MADIGAN.

SO MADIGAN, OF COURSE, HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED AS WE ALL KNOW.

AND HE HAS DENIED ANY WRONGDOING.

AND HE HAS SAID THAT THERE ARE NO REASONS FOR HIM TO BELIEVE THAT ANY OF HIS DISCUSSIONS WITH SOLIS WOULD HAVE LED TO ANYTHING THAT WAS UNTOWARD.

BUT THE WHAT WE'RE FINDING OUT HERE IS THAT THE FEDERAL GRAND JURY IS STILL INTERESTED IN THAT PROPERTY.

AND I TALKED TO A COUPLE OF LAWMAKERS WHO HAD BEEN OFFERED AN AMENDMENT TO HAVE THAT PROPERTY TAKEN OUT OF THE STATE'S HANDS.

IT WAS OWNED BY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND ALLOWED TO BE SOLD TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WENT DOWN AND WHO WAS BEHIND IT.

IN FACT THE LAWMAKERS SAID THEY WERE NOT TOLD BY THE LOBBYIST WHO OFFERED THIS PROPOSAL AN AMENDMENT TO A REGULAR BILL TO SAY WHO WAS BEHIND IT TO THEM.

>> AS YOU FOUND OUT THAT PIECE OF LAND OWNED BY THE STATE IT GOT SLIPPED INTO LEGISLATION AT THE LAST-MINUTE TO SELL IT AND MADIGAN'S ROLE HERE WOULD BE TO GET THAT DEVELOPER ON MADIGAN'S LAW FIRM'S PAYROLL FOR PROPERTY TAXES.

RAY, WHEN YOU LOOK HOW AGGRESSIVELY THE FEDS ARE TRYING TO GET INFORMATION OUT OF THE FOLKS THEY HAVE INDICTED IN CONNECTION TO THE ComEd SCANDAL LIKE TIM MAPES AND THE LOBBYISTS DOES IT TELL YOU THAT MAYBE THE FEDS STILL DON'T HAVE THAT GREAT OF EVIDENCE ON MADIGAN EVEN WITH THOSE RECORDINGS BECAUSE THERE IS NO INDICTMENT YET IF THEY ARE GOING TO BRING ONE.

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

ARE THEY TRYING TO ADD TO A CASE THEY DO OR DO NOT HAVE?

OR ARE THEY STILL TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING TO PUT INTO A CASE AGAINST THE SPEAKER.

OF COURSE THEY'VE SAID HE WAS IMPLICATED IN THE ComEd DEFERRED PROSECUTION AGREEMENT CUT LAST SUMMER WHERE ComEd AGREED TO PAY $200 MILLION AND SAID THEY HAD PUT SOME OF MADIGAN'S ALLIES ON TO THE PAYROLL IN HOPES THAT THEY COULD BE LOOKED UPON FAVORABLY WHEN THEY WENT TO HIM WITH THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW THE BOTTOM LINE AND THAT IS THE KEY QUESTION.

>> IT DOES REALLY MAKE YOU WONDER, THOUGH, THAT THEY WERE TAPING HIM FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT TAPES YOU THINK ABOUT THE KIND OF SMOKING GUN EVIDENCE PROSECUTORS LOVE TO HAVE YOU'VE GOT HIM SPEAKING DIRECTLY ON TO A TAPE.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE ROD BLAGOJEVICH CASE HE WENT DOWN ON THE TAPES THEY HAD HIM SAYING INCRIMINATING THINGS.

IT MAKES YOU WONDER THOSE TAPES MAY NOT BE BEARING THE PROVE THAT THEY -- PROOF THAT THEY EXPECTED.

>> LET'S TALK POLITICAL TURKEY.

LAWMAKERS WILL GO BACK TO SPRINGFIELD AND ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, THE ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD.

LOURDES DUARTE DO YOU THINK THIS IS A FAIT ACCOMPLI, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE CHRIS WELCH SAID HE THINKS THIS BILL IS GOING TO PASS THAT LIGHTFOOT DOES NOT WANT WHICH WOULD TRANSITION TO A FULLY ELECTED C.P.S.

BOARD.

IS THIS A DONE DEAL?

>> THERE'S SO MUCH TO UNPACK THERE AND SO MANY MOVING PARTS.

I DON'T KNOW I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEY HAVE A LOT TO DO IN SPRINGFIELD NEXT WEEK.

BUT IT DOES IF YOU READ THROUGH WHAT CHRIS WELCH IS SAYING HE IS SAYING LOOK THIS IS A DONE DEAL IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

LIGHTFOOT HAS BEEN TRYING TO DELAY IT AND TODAY SHE WAS LIKE CAN YOU DELAY THAT VOTE BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT MAYBE WE ARE NOT CONSIDERING.

WE'LL SEE.

>> AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS ALEX NITKIN, I MEAN WILL THE RACES BE BIG MONEY RACES LIKE THEY ARE IN LOS ANGELES WHERE YOU HAVE CHARTER SCHOOL OPERATORS SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO GET THESE SEATS OR WILL THERE BE PROTECTIONS IN THE FINAL BILL THAT MAKE THIS MORE OF A GRASSROOTS THING WHERE PARENTS RUN FOR THESE SEATS?

>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WATCHING AND A KEY PART OF THE MAYOR'S ARGUMENT.

THE ARGUMENTS OF THE OPPONENTS TO THE ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IS GOING INTO THE RACES.

THAT IS A REASON THERE ARE 20 DISTRICTS UNDER THE PLAN.

IT WILL START AS 10 AND GET TO 20.

THE ARGUMENT FOR THAT IS WHEN THE DISTRICTS ARE SMALLER, THERE'S GOING TO BE LESS MONEY GOING INTO THEM THEY WILL BE THE DESIGNED TO BE THE SIZE OF STATE REP DISTRICTS.

THE OPPONENTS ARGUMENT IF THE DISTRICTS ARE SMALLER IT'S BASED ON PERSONAL CONNECTIONS AND ROOTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS OPPOSED TO THE MONEY AND GOING ON TV.

>> AND LAURA WASHINGTON, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT CAMPAIGNED ON SUPPORTING AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD AND WANTED A HYBRID SCHOOL BOARD DO YOU THINK SHE HAS JUICE DOWN THERE I THINK THEY NEED TO FLIP ABOUT 13 VOTES TO STOP IT?

>> NO.

AS LOURDES DUARTE MENTIONED, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IS FIRMLY SAYING THIS IS GOING TO GO THROUGH AND THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT IN SPRINGFIELD FOR IT.

I THINK ONE OF THE CRITICISMS OF HER POSITIONING IS NOT SO MUCH SHE CHANGED HER MIND BUT SHE GAME LATE TO THE GAME WITH HER PROPOSAL.

IF SHE WANTS A HYBRID NOW BUT SHE WASN'T ENGAGED AS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN SPRINGFIELD TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THIS.

AND ON THE WHOLE ISSUE OF SPENDING, IT IS TRUE THAT IF YOU HAVE A SMALLER DISTRICTS THAT MAY BE PROVIDES MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS TO RUN.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO MOVE AN ISSUE, IF YOU WANT TO MOVE POLICY LIKE THE C.T.U.

DOES LIKE THE CHARTER SCHOOL ASSOCIATION MIGHT WANT TO, THE MORE MONEY YOU HAVE THE MORE ABILITY YOU HAVE TO PLAY IN MULTIPLE DISTRICTS AND YOU CAN PUT ENOUGH MONEY INTO EACH DISTRICT SO YOU CAN BACK THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WANT TO SEE IN PLACE PUSH YOUR POLICIES IN A WAY THAT FOLKS WANT INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT BY DISTRICT BASE CANNOT DO.

>> THIS COULD MOVE QUICKLY NEXT WEEK.

AND ALSO A GIANT ENERGY BILL, RAY LONG THAT WAS PUNTED IN THE REGULAR SESSION BUT THIS WOULD PROVIDE AS OF THE LATEST PLAN FROM THE GOVERNOR ABOUT $700 MILLION IN SUBSIDIES TO PROP UP THREE OF EXELON'S STRUGGLING NUCLEAR PLANTS.

WHY DOES EXELON NEED THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY?

>> WELL, THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

I JUST HAVE PUSHED ON THAT QUESTION WHEN THEY DID IT LAST TIME, TOO, 2016 AND ADDED SUBSIDIES.

BUT THEY CLAIM THAT THEY NEED THAT KIND OF MONEY TO KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES FULL-TIME AND THEY NEED IT TO ALSO PROTECT THE VIABILITY OF THOSE PLANTS AND THEY SAY LOOK, WE NEED THESE PLANTS FOR THE OVERALL GRID SO IT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE EQUATION.

BUT, OF COURSE, THERE ARE ALL THIS SKEPTICISM ABOUT ComEd RIGHT NOW BECAUSE AS WE TOUCHED UPON EARLIER, ComEd WAS IN A FEDERAL COURT CASE HERE AND THEY PAID $200 MILLION IN A BRIBERY CASE.

ARE THEY REALLY LEVELING WITH THE PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT GETTING THAT MUCH MONEY?

>> AND PART OF THE CONCERN HERE, RAY, PART OF THE THING HOLDING THIS UP THERE IS A DOWN STATE COAL PLANT AND IN THIS BILL ALL COAL PLANTS HAVE TO RETIRE BY 2035 BUT THE COMPLICATING FACTOR THERE ARE MUNICIPALITIES INCLUDING IN THE CHICAGO AREA THAT HAVE OWNERSHIP STAKES IN THIS PLANT SO IT MIGHT HURT THEIR TAXPAYERS IS THERE GOING TO BE A DEAL WORKED OUT WHERE THERE MIGHT BE A CARVE OUT FOR THIS PLANT?

IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY MAYBE TRYING TO FIND A SUBSIDY FOR THOSE PLANTS TO DECOMMISSION.

SO THAT THEY COULD FIND A WAY TO FLATTEN IT OUT SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE HEAVY CARBON PLANTS.

THE ONE DOWN THERE IN THE EAST ST. LOUIS AREA THAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO, IS ONE OF THE SEVENTH WORST POLLUTERS IN THE NATION.

GOVERNOR PRITZKER IS TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER HE CAN GET ALL THESE POLLUTANTS OUT OF THE AIR BY 2050 IF NOT SOONER.

>> AND YOU KNOW, AS ComEd IS FIGHTING FOR THESE SUBSIDIES, ALEX NITKIN, CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL IS DEBATING OR NEGOTIATING A NEW FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH ComEd.

IN THE UNLIKELY SCENARIO ComEd LOSES THE CITY'S BUSINESS THAT IS ABOUT 3 MILLION FEWER CUSTOMERS, IS THERE ANY CHANCE ANYONE OTHER THAN ComEd WOULD BE PROVIDING POWER TO CHICAGO RESIDENTS?

>> IT'S REALLY HARD TO SEE HOW THAT COULD HAPPEN.

THERE WAS A DISCUSSION LAST YEAR OF WHETHER THE CITY COULD MUNICIPALIZE COULD TAKE IT OUT OF ComEd'S HANDS AND TAKEOVER CONTROL OF POWER DELIVERY AND CONSULTANT HIRED BY THE CITY CONCLUDED NO THAT WOULD BE UNFEASIBLE WE WOULD HAVE TO CUT AROUND THE BOUND INDUSTRIES OF THE CITY AND CHANGE THE SERVICE.

AND THEN ALL THE MONTHS LATER THE CITY HAS BEEN IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH ComEd WHEN A NEW FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WOULD LOOK LIKE WE HAVE THIS RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 28 YEARS TO NEGOTIATE GUARDRAILS AND ETHICS, SUSTAINABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY AND THEY HAVE NOT MOVED AND WHAT HAPPEN SECOND THAT LAST MONTH, THE MAYOR CAME OUT WITH THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND SAID IS THERE ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE, ANY OTHER UTILITY PROVIDERS THAT THINK YOU CAN DO A BETTER JOB.

WE'LL SEE IF THAT IS A BLUFF OR IF THE MAYOR CAN USE IT AS LEVERAGE TO NEGOTIATE BETTER TERMS WITH ComEd BUT THE CITY IS TRYING TO GET SOMETHING DONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE SHE IS TRYING TO USE IT AS LEVERAGE.

LOURDES DUARTE, WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER THIS WEEKEND WE HAVE THINGS REOPENING BUT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT A YOUNG PERSON WAS KILLED IN LAWNDALE.

THE 11TH PERSON UNDER 15 THIS YEAR KILLED BECAUSE OF GUN VIOLENCE.

WE HAVE REALLY BAD HOMICIDE NUMBERS MOST YEARS BUT THE AMOUNT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IT SEEMS INVOLVED IN SHOOTINGS IS GOING UP.

DO WE HAVE ANY INDICATION OF WHAT IS BEHIND THIS?

>> I MEAN, WE'RE SEEING IT NOT JUST IN CHICAGO BUT SO MANY LARGE CITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE BECOME THE VICTIMS RECENTLY WE DID A STORY HERE WHERE THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN CHARGED AT A HIGHER RATE FOR FIRST DEGREE MURDER CHARGES.

PEOPLE UNDER 17 YEARS OLD.

THAT WENT UP FROM 2019 TO 2020, 35%.

KIDS UNDER 17 SOME AS YOUNG AS 14 YEARS OLD, WITH GUNS, COMMITTING MURDER, CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER AND SO YOU SEE JUST WHAT A COMPLICATED TOPIC THIS IS FOR SO MANY PEOPLE AND YOU SEE IT EVERYDAY MORE AND MORE KIDS BECOME EITHER THE VICTIMS OR THEY ARE INVOLVED IN MANY OF THE CARJACKINGS OR SERIOUS CRIMES.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO ADDRESS THAT AND TO CHANGE THOSE NUMBERS.

I KNOW THAT OBVIOUSLY IT'S SOMETHING THAT SO MANY COMMUNITY GROUPS AND LEGISLATORS CONTINUE TO WORK ON.

BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DEAL WITH IT EVERYDAY.

>> YEAH.

IT'S JUST A STUBBORN PROBLEM AND TRAGIC BUT AGAIN, ILLINOIS IS REOPEN AND CHICAGO IS REOPEN.

AND WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU TO RAY LONG, ALEX NITKIN, LOURDES DUARTE AND LAURA WASHINGTON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

CAN YOU GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AND "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND WTTW.COM/NEWS.

AND JOIN US NEXT WEEK AT 7:00 P.M. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOOD NIGHT.

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