[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THE DEBATE OVER CHICAGO'S WARD MAP AND THE BALLY'S CASINO PROPOSAL.

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WEIGH-IN.

>> ONE-ON-ONE WITH FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CHUCK HAGEL ON THE ONGOING WAR IN UKRAINE.

>> I KNOW THE FAMILIES ALL ACROSS AMERICA ARE HURTING BECAUSE OF INFLATION.

>> MORE FAMILIES ARE NEEDING HELP FINDING FOOD AS INFLATION REACHES A RECORD-HIGH.

WE HEAR FROM THE HEAD OF THE CHICAGO FOOD REPOSITORY.

>> EVERYONE SAID IT'S BECOME THE NORM NOW.

>> FOLLOWING A RISE IN STRESS, ANXIETY AND SUICIDES CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS LAUNCHES A NEW MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE.

>> TWO CITY COLLEGES OF CHICAGO VALEDICTORIANS TALK ABOUT EARNING THEIR DEGREES DURING A PANDEMIC.

>> LIVE MUSIC IS THE BEST WAY TO HEAR MUSIC.

>> WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA'S COMMON POSEER IN RESIDENCE.

>> MY PLAN IS TO LOWER EVERYDAY COSTS FOR EVERYDAY COSTS FOR HARD-WORKING AMERICANS.

AND LOWER THE DEFICIT BY ASKING LARGE CORPORATIONS AND THE WEALTHIER AMERICANS TO NOT ENGAGE IN PRICE GOWNING AND TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE IN TAXES.

>> PART OF THE PLAN INCLUDES RELEASING ONE MILLION BARRELS A DAY FROM THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESEARCH FOR THE NIX MONTH.

AND FIXING THE FAMILY GLITCH WHAT MADE IT HARD FOR FAMILIES TO USE THE TAX CREDIT TO PURCHASE AN AFFORDABLE HIGH QUALITY PLAN.

AND PRESIDENT BIDEN IS SET TO VISIT CHICAGO.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE ON TOMORROW'S PROGRAM.

>> THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES FOURTH DISTRICT JUDGE LISA HOLDER WHITE WILL FILL RITA GAR MAN'S SEAT.

WHITE SAYS IN A STATEMENT QUOTE... .

>> HER TERM BEGINS IN JULY AND RUNS THROUGH 2024.

AND HOLDER SWHIT SCHEDULED TO JOIN US ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" THIS SATURDAY AT 6:30.

>> AS CONCERNS OF GUN VIOLENCE GROW THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY CRIME LAB IS TRAINING LEADERS.

ILLINOIS' RICHEST MAN CITADEL FOUNDER AND C.E.O.

KEN GRIFFIN IS DONATING $25 MILLION IN SEED FUNDING AND 2.5 MILLION DONATION IS COMING FROM MICHAEL SAX IN ORDER TO LAUNCH THE INITIATIVE.

GRIFFIN SAID QUOTE... >> UP NEXT, A TENTATIVE DEAL IN PLACE OR CHICAGO'S NEW WARD MA'AM.

STAY WITH US.

-- WARD MAP.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY THAT AFTER A LOT OF HAGGLING THEY HAVE AN AGREEMENT ON A NEW WARD MAP.

THERE ARE 41 VOTES IN COUNCIL TO CONFIRM WHAT THE WARDS WILL LOOK LIKE FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS AND NOT BE PUT TO THE VOTERS IN AN ELECTION.

SOME BLASTED IT AS A BACK ROOM DEAL THAT LEFT CHICAGO RESIDENTS OUT IN THE COLD.

AND JOINING US ARE ALDERWOMAN JEANETTE TAYLOR.

ALDERMAN GEORGE CARD PHENOMENAS 12TH WARD, AND WALTER BURNETT 27TH WARD AND JASON ERVIN REPRESENTING THE 28TH WARD ON THE WEST SIDE AND CHAIR OF THE BLACK CAUCUS.

WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

LET'S LOOK AT THE WARD MAP PROPOSAL.

BY APPEARANCES IT LOOKS LIKE THE FRANKENSTEIN COBBLED TOGETHER.

WHY IS THIS THE MAP THAT WILL GET 41 VOTES FOR MORE IN CITY COUNCIL, ALDERMAN BURNETT?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON AND I REPRESENT THE NORTH SIDE ALSO.

PARIS, I THIS MAP IS A MAP THAT EVERYONE WORKED TOGETHER ON.

WHETHER WE WORKED TOGETHER EARLY OR WORKED TOGETHER LATE, THE FINAL MAP IS THE MAP WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER TO DRAW MAPS THAT EVERYONE TRIES TO KEEP AS MUCH AS THE WHOLE WARD AS POSSIBLE AND TRY TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE THAT ELECTED THEM TO OFFICE.

AND I THINK WE DID THE BEST WE COULD TO HELP ACCOMMODATE EVERYONE.

BUT ALSO, YOU HAVE CHALLENGES WITH BOTH NEEDED TO GET ENOUGH POPULATIONS OR ENOUGH POPULATIONS AND WE HAD A CHALLENGE TO GIVE UP POPULATIONS BECAUSE WE HAD TOO MUCH POPULATION.

THERE IS A LOT OF DYNAMICS INVOLVED WITHDRAWING MAPS.

AND I THINK MICHELLE HARRIS DID A FANTASTIC JOB IN GIVING PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO COME INTO THE MAP AND WORK WITH EACH OTHER.

I WORKED WITH EVERYBODY SURROUNDING ME AND THAT IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

IT'S ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER TO BETTER REPRESENT THE COMMUNITIES THAT ELECTED US.

>> YOU MENTIONED ALDERMAN HARRIS WHO LED THE CHARGE ON THE MAP PROPOSAL.

ONE PROPOSED WARD THE 36TH WARD WHICH BASICALLY IS A DIAGONAL THAT STRADDLES GRAND AVENUE NEW NOT IN ANY CON CONTINUINGIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT IS THE WARD REPRESENTED BY GILL VILLEGAS WHO LED THE CHARGE ON A COMPETING MAP S THIS A PAYBACK TO SLICE UP HIS WARD LIKE THAT?

>> IT IS NOT ANY TYPE OF PAYBACK.

WORKING WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE LATINO CAUCUS THEY DREW THE WARDS IN THAT AREA AND THAT WAS A DECISION MADE BY THE GROUP THAT -- SOMETIMES PEOPLE MAKE SACRIFICES AND THAT MAY BE THE CASE THERE.

BUT AGAIN THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE LATINO ALDERMEN ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE HOW THEY WOULD LOOK.

>> AND JEANETTE TAYLOR, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST THAT ENGLEWOOD HAS BEEN CARVED OUT INTO MULTIPLE WARDS.

THIS NEW PROPOSAL KEEPS IT THAT WAY EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF GROUPS SAID IT'S BETTER PUBLIC POLICY TO HAVE IT PART OF ONE OR TWO WARDS.

IS THIS GOING TO HURT THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE DIVIDED UP INTO SO MANY WARDS?

>> NOT THIS TIME.

THE DIFFERENCE IS FIVE OF US WORKED TOGETHER THAT DID NOT HAPPEN BEFORE I WAS IN OFFICE.

THIS IS US PUSHING TO MAKE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO WORK TOGETHER.

I AGREE THERE NEEDS TO BE A PROCESS THAT INCLUDES THE COMMUNITY AND THAT NEEDS TO COME THROUGH LEGISLATION.

>> YOU ARE SAYING THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE IDEAL.

>> IT'S WE COULD AGREE TO.

41 OF MY COWORKERS AGREED TO IT.

BUT I DO AGREE WE SHOULD HAVE A PROCESS THAT INCLUDES THE COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE TO LEGISLATIVELY FIGURE THAT OUT.

BUT WE HAVEN'T YET.

>> ALDERMAN CARDENAS, Mr. VILLEGAS LED THE CHARGE FOR THE LATINO CAUCUS SAYING THAT THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST ONE MORE WARD WITH LATINO MAJORITY POPULATION GIVEN THE GAINS IN THE LATINO POPULATION.

THIS PROPOSAL DOES NOT REFLECT THAT.

SO IS THIS NOT HUGHING TO SOME OF THE GAINS THAT LATINOS MADE IN CHICAGO?

>> I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALDERMAN VILLEGAS AND GIVE HIM ALL THE CREDIT FOR US BEING HERE TONIGHT TALKING ABOUT A MAP THAT 40 PLUS ALDERMEN AGREE ON.

AND THOUGH THEY DON'T ALL AGREE WHAT IS BEFORE THEM.

AND I SAY THE 27 AND THE 28TH ARE THE BEST WARDS IN THE CITY.

>> GOT TWO GREAT WARDS ADVOCATED FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THE PROCESS YIELDED WHAT THE PROCESS YIELDED.

ALDERMAN VILLEGAS TOOK THE CAUCUS ON A PATH THAT DEMANDED LATINO REPRESENTATION.

THAT ASKED FOR EQUITY.

AND I THINK PUSHED THE LIMITS OF DEBATE AND SOMETIMES WAS UNCOMFORTABLE.

BUT IT WAS A DECISION MADE ON WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS THE BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND THE END RESULT IS THAT ULTIMATELY, HE IS THE ONE THAT SACRIFICED THE MOST.

HAD TO SACRIFICE THE MOST TO MAKE IT WORK FOR THE REST OF THE ALDERMEN THAT TOOK WHAT THEY WANTED -- >> DOES THE MAP WORK FOR YOU?

>> YOU MEAN WHAT MAP?

>> THE CURRENT PROPOSAL OUT THERE?

>> WELL, I'M TRYING -- YES.

DO I THINK IT'S PERFECT 100% IT IS NOT.

BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE CAN LIVE IT, WE COLLABORATED AND DEBATED ADD NASEUM THE INS AND OUTS WHEN MULTIPLE TIMES DREW AND TOOK OUT AND TOOK IN.

AND YOU KNOW, IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE PERFECT FOR ANYBODY.

BUT I THINK THAT LOOK THERE'S OTHER PRIORITIES IN THE CITY.

YOU GOT CRIME, YOU HAVE A CASINO BEFORES, WE HAVE DEVELOPMENT THINGS THAT MATTER FOR THE CITY, CONSTITUENTS WANT US TO FOCUS ON THAT AND NOT THE BICKERING AND CONFLICT.

>> I WANT TO GET TO THOSE ISSUES.

I WANT TO READ A STATEMENT FROM CHANGE ILLINOIS A GROUP THAT LED THE PEOPLE'S MAP AND THEY BLASTED THIS SAYING QUOTE... >> ALDERMANNER VIP THESE ARE TOUGH WORDS FROM THE COALITION OF COMMUNITY GROUPS.

YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

>> I THINK THEY STARTED OUT ON THE WRONG FOOT WITH THIS TO TELL ME THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN THE CITY SHOULD GO FROM 18 WARDS TO 14 WARDS WAS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO BLACK FOLKS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

WHEN YOU TAKE MONEY INTEREST AND TRY TO CREATE A PROCESS INSTEAD OF DEALING WITH THE PROCESS LEGISLATIVELY.

WHEN YOUR MONEY DOES THAT MEET YOUR GOALS WE GO DOWN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

THE DAMAGE THEY WERE GOING TO DO TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS NOT ONLY IN THE CITY WAS A TEMPLATE WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THE JIM CROW SEGREGATIONIST POLICIES FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

AND TO GIVE US 14 WARDS WAS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO BLACK FOLKS.

>> AS WE MENTIONED IT'S 16 MAJORITY AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND 14 LATINO AND ONE ASIAN-AMERICAN WARD AND THAT WILL BE THE 11TH WARD.

WE'LL LEAVE IT HERE FOR NOW BUT WE WILL BE JOINED LATER IN THE PROGRAM TO DISCUSS THE BALLY'S CASINO PROPOSAL.

>> CHUCK HAGEL SERVED AS THE U.P.S.

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE UNDER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION FROM 2013-2015 AFTER TWO TERMS AS A REPUBLICAN SENATOR FROM NEBRASKA.

HAGEL IS VISITING CHICAGO TO SPEAK ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND GLOBAL GEOPOLITICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

HIS VISIT COMES AS THE WAR IN UKRAINE SEEMS TO HAVE ENTERED A STALEMATE WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN SIGNALING HE IS READY TO ENGAGE IN A LONGER AND PERHAPS BLOODIEST CONFLICT THAN FIRST ANTICIPATED.

JOINING US IS FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CHUCK HAGEL.

I WANT TO START WITH THE CONFLICT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE MANY ANALYSTS WORRIED THIS COULD BE OVER IN A MATTER OF DAYS.

WE ARE THREE MONTHS LATER AND BOTH SIDES DUG IN A USEFIED RESPONSE FROM THE WEST.

HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

AGAIN AND I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

AND I KNOW SEE POST [INAUDIBLE] AS TO YOUR QUESTION, I THINK IN SOME WAYS IT IS A STALEMATE.

BUT BEYOND THAT, I THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST 10 WEEKS HAS BEEN A SPECTACULAR PERFORMANCE BY THE UKRAINIANS.

THE WEST TASS COME TOGETHER.

NATO IS IN COMPLETE SUPPORT OF OUR WESTERN EFFORTS TO STOP PUTIN.

I THINK MUCH OF THE WORLD HAS AS WELL.

IT'S STILL UNPREDICTABLE.

IT'S STILL PROBABLY GOING TOES O ESCALATE.

AFTER 10 WEEKS THIS HAS NOT BEEN ANYWHERE NEAR THE VICTORY THAT Mr. PUTIN ANTICIPATED.

FAR FROM IT.

I GIVE THE CREDIT TO THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.

TO THE WEST INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES AND THE COHESION OF THE SUPPORT FOR THE UKRAINIANS AND THE UNFORTUNATE FOR Mr. PUTIN, MISJUDGMENT THAT HE MADE GOING INTO THIS.

I MEAN THE RUSSIAN MILITARY HAS BEEN A DISASTER.

YOUNG CON SCRIPTS THAT HAD NO TRAINING WHO ARE DESERTING.

THEY ARE NOT ONLY TRAINED WELL BUT IT'S BEEN A LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE FOR THE MILITARY.

YOU CANNOT INVADE ANYBODY WITH 150,000-200,000 TROOPS WITH THE KIND OF ARMOURMENTS THEY BRING IN, THE TANKS AND THE EQUIPMENT, HOWITZER WITHOUT A LINE THAT KEEPS YOU FOOD AND FUEL AND ALL THE REQUIREMENTS.

THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE RUSSIANS.

IT'S UNCERTAIN WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE.

BUT IT'S BEEN MORE OF A VICTORY SO FAR FOR THE UKRAINIANS THAT IT HAS THE RUSSIANS.

ALTHOUGH THE RUSSIANS HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK TO COMPLETELY DESTROY UKRAINE.

>> WHOLE ENTIRE CITIES LEVELED AND THE DEBATE SECRETARY AS YOU KNOW, IS HOW INVOLVED THE UNITED STATES SHOULD BE, THE WEST SHOULD BE MILITARILY.

YOU WERE VOCALLY CRITICAL SEVERAL YEARS AGO UNDER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION THAT THEY DID NOT ENGAGE MILITARILY AFTER ASSAD AND SYRIA CROSSED THAT REDLINE OF USING CHEMICAL WEAPONS.

IF A REDLINE IS CROSSED HERE IN UKRAINE WITH CHEMICAL WEAPONS SHOULD THE U.S.

ENGAGE IN A MILITARY CAPACITY?

>> WELL, WE ALL ARE ALREADY ENGAGED IN A MILITARY CAPACITY.

WE'RE PROVIDING THE ARMOURMENTS THAT ALLOW THE UKRAINIANS TO KILL RUSSIANS.

IN MANY WAYS WE ARE AT WAR WITH RUSSIA.

WE DON'T HAVE AMERICAN SOLDIERS KILLING RUSH ' SOLDIERS BUT -- RUSSIAN SOLDIERS BUT WE'RE STRANGLING THEIR ECONOMY THAT IS THE REALITY.

BUT TO YOUR QUESTION, YOU CAN'T NOT LET THIS STAND.

IF PUTIN ESCALATES THIS INTO CHEMICAL WEAPONS, BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS USING GOD FORBID NUCLEAR WEAPONS BECAUSE WE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED FROM WORLD WAR II, YOU CAN'T APPEASE APPEASERS.

YOU HAVE TO STOP THEM.

AND WE'LL HAVE TO RATCHET UP OUR INVOLVEMENT HERE I THINK IF HE ESCALATES IN THAT KIND OF WAY.

I DON'T THINK WE, THE UNITED STATES OR THE WEST HAVE ANY CHOICE.

THERE IS ANOTHER REASON AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT ONE.

THE WORLD IS WATCHING US AS WELL AS WHAT IS GOING ON IN UKRAINE.

CHINA ESPECIALLY.

BUT IRAN, NORTH KOREA AND OTHER DICTATORSHIPS WHO DON'T HAVE THE PARTICULAR INTEREST OF FREEDOM IN THEIR HEART OR CERTAINLY THE U.S. INTEREST.

SO WE HAVE NO CHOICE HERE IF HE ESCALATES LIKE THAT.

>> GIVE ME YOUR ASSESSMENT THAT THE U.S. IS ALREADY AT WAR, IT SEEMS THAT PRESIDENT PUTIN SHARES THAT ASSESSMENT IN SOME RESPECT DOES THAT MEAN HE MIGHT CHOOSE TO ESCALATE BEYOND THE BORDER OF UKRAINE AT SOME POINT?

>> HE COULD.

THAT IS THE UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF PUTIN.

I KNOW HIM I'VE DEALT WITH HIM.

LET'S START FROM THE BEGINNING HERE.

HE IS A KGB MAN.

HE HAS BEEN SHAPED BY HIS TRAINING IN THE KGB AND MODELED EVERYTHING HE DOES AND SAYS IS THE KGB MODEL, DISINFORMATION, MISINFORMATION, LIES, DECEIT.

SO THAT IS WHERE YOU START.

THIS IS THE GUY WE'RE DEALING WITH, STRAT DICTATOR OF CENTRAL DICTATOR OF RUSSIA.

HE MAY USE THAT EXCUSE AND WHY YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH SAYING TOO MUCH ABOUT OUR INTELLIGENCE.

YOU NEED TO KEEP THAT QUIET.

IN MANY RESPECTS.

BUT IF HE DOES, HE DOES.

WE CAN'T APOLOGIZE FOR HELPING THE UKRAINIANS.

HE INVADED AND BRUTALLY CONDUCTING A MASSIVE BOMBING CAMPAIGN WITH HUMANITARIAN DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES.

CLEARLY THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT WILL BE WORKING ON THIS YEARS AFTER THIS IS COMPLETE AT THE HAIG: NO, THE WEST CANNOT APOLOGIZE YOU HAVE TO ASSESS RISKS.

THERE'S RISKS IN DOING TOO MUCH AND AND THERE'S RISKS IN DOING TOO LITTLE.

SOMETHING WHAT YOU ASKED ME ABOUT THEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CLEAR DETERMINATION ON WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO.

>> AND CLEARLY A LOT OF EVIDENCE TO SORT THROUGH OF POSSIBLE WAR CRIMES.

I WANT TO MOVE TO DOMESTIC POLITICS.

A LOT WRITTEN LATELY ABOUT THE STATE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

JANUARY 6TH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO WE NOW KNOW ATTEMPTED MULTIPLE WAYS TO HANG ON TO POWER, HOW PERILLESS DO YOU BRIEF THE STATE OF DEMOCRACY IS HERE AT HOME?

>> I DON'T WANT TO EXAGGERATE OUR SITUATION.

OUR NATION IS POLITICALLY DIVIDED AND I THINK IN MANY WAYS DANGEROUSLY SO.

WE HAVE EVERY POLL SHOWS IT, AMERICA HAS LOST SOME SIGNIFICANT TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN OUR MAJOR INSTITUTIONS NOT JUST GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS AND LEADERS BUT EVERY INSTITUTION.

AND WHEN A FREE SOCIETY DOES THAT HAS THAT SITUATION THEN IT'S IN TROUBLE.

OBVIOUSLY POLITICALLY.

IN MY LIFETIME I'VE NEVER SEEN IT SO DEEPLY DIVIDED.

AND THAT'S THE THREAT.

BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T TRUST ELECTIONS, IF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WON'T BELIEVE EITHER SIDE AND THEY THINK ELECTIONS ARE FRAUDULENT, LIKE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS SUPPORTERS KEEP SAYING 2020 WAS STOLEN AND THAT'S JUST NONSENSE BECAUSE THERE'S NO FACTS.

AND WHEN YOU BYPASS FACTS AND DISREGARD FACTS THEN YOU ARE IN TROUBLE.

I THINK THAT REPRESENTS A VERY SERIOUS CHALLENGE TO THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY, THE FUTURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

AND IN FACT DETERIORATES AND CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE, THEN THERE'S ONE ALTERNATIVE AND THAT IS A AUTHORITARIANISM LET ONE PERSON DECIDE EVERYTHING BECAUSE THAT ONE PERSON IS SMARTER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE AND HE KNOWS WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG.

FACTS DON'T MATTER.

SO YES, I THINK IT'S DAMN DANGEROUS AND I MIGHT SAY WHAT C POST IS DOING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO IS CRITICAL TO THIS.

BECAUSE THAT C POST EFFORT OVER THE YEARS CHICAGO PROJECT ON SECURITY AND THREATS, REALLY CUTS INTO THIS POLITICAL THREAT AS WELL.

SO UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SHOULD BE VERY PROUD WHAT C POST AND PROFESSOR HAYDEN IS DOING.

>> C POST THE PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO THAT HAS STUDIED TERRORISM AND JANUARY 6.

ALL RIGHT OUR THANKS TO SECRETARY CHUCK HAGEL THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHTS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> AND SECRETARY HAGEL WILL BE TALKING FOREIGN POLICY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO TOMORROW THE EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC BUT SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL APPLY.

AND UP NEXT WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY OR CASE TRA'S COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE.

STAY WITH US.

>> WHILE HER RESIDENCY AT THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA A NEW YORK PACED COMPOSER HOPES HER INFLUENCE ON CON AT THE PRESENT TIME RATHER CLASSICAL MOVEMENT WILL BE LONG-LASTING.

ANGEL IDOWU INTRODUCE US RES US.

>> SINCE SHE WAS FOUR YEARS OLD, JESSIE MONTGOMERY FOUND MUSIC TO BRING HER SOLACE.

>> MUSIC HAS ALWAYS BEEN FOR ME A WAY OUT OR A WAY THROUGH FOR MY WHOLE LIFE.

[♪♪♪] MUSIC IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN LET YOUR THOUGHTS JUST GO.

YOU'RE THERE TO JUST BE QUIET AND LISTEN AND BE IN THE SPACE OF THE SOUND AND LET IT WASH OVER YOU.

AND IT CAN BE VERY THERAPEUTIC AND STIMULATING.

>> BY AGE 11, JESSIE MONTGOMERY COMPOSED HER FIRST PIECE.

EVERYTHING SHE HAS LEARNED LED HER TO THE CSO WHERE SHE IS THE MEADE COMPOSER IN RESIDENCE.

>> IT IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND TO BRING MY EXPERIENCE AS A MUSICIAN, AS A VIOLINIST AND COMPOSER AND ADVOCATE FOR DIVERSITY IN CLASSICAL MUSIC.

[♪♪♪] >> SOME OF MONTGOMERY'S PIECES INCLUDE STRUM, HIM FOR EVERYONE AND OVERTURE BECAUSE OF HER WORK AS A VIOLINIST AND OTHER ORCHESTRAS SHE LEARNED HOW TO COMMON POSE FOR OTHER INSTRUMENTS.

>> TO LEARN HOW TO WRITE FOR THE SYMPHONY I HAD TO STUDY SCORES FROM COMPOSERS THAT I LOVED AND RECALLING AND REMEMBERING WHAT IT FEELS WHAT IT IS LIKE TO SIT INSIDE OF AN ORCHESTRA.

OVERTURE THAT WILL BE PERFORMED MAY 23, IS UNIQUE IN THAT THE ORCHESTRA IS PLAYING THE SAME RHYTHM THE ENTIRE TIME.

THE WHOLE ORCHESTRA BREATHING THIS ONE RICTD I AM JER TUR RECOVERING A LOT OF SONIC SPACE IN-BETWEEN IF THE ORCHESTRA.

THAT IS ANOTHER THING I WAS PLAYING WITH.

LIKE WHAT ARE THE -- HOW CAN I GET THE MOST RESONANCE OUT OF THIS ENSEMBLE.

>> MONTGOMERY'S WORKS HAVE BEEN PLAYED BY THE NEXT GENERATION OF CON AT THE PRESENT TIME RATHER CLASSICAL MUSICIANS.

STUDENTS WITH THE CHICAGO MUSICAL PATHWAYS INITIATIVE.

[♪♪♪] THAT'S REALLY THE POINT OF WHAT I DO.

I MAKE MUSIC SO THAT IT CAN TRANSFER BEYOND THE TIME THAT I'M HERE.

AND IT'S VERY JUST VERY AFFIRMING TO HAVE THAT EXCHANGE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN GENERAL.

>> AFTER RESIDENCY COMES TO AN END MONTGOMERY SAYS SHE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE MUSIC AS A COMPOSER AND VIAL LYNN VIOLINIST.

>> I WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE A PERSPECTIVE ON NEW MUSIC THAT THEY PARTICIPATED IN SOMETHING SPECIAL.

THERE IS NO RIGHT WAY TO HEAR MUSIC AND THAT IS WHAT WE DO WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE A SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO BOTH CREATE SOMETHING THAT THEY FEEL GOOD ABOUT AND ALSO HAVE A NEW AND OPEN MINDED EXPERIENCE FOR THE AUDIENCE.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> JESSIE MONTGOMERY'S OVERTURE DEBUTS AT THE HARRIS THEATRE MAY 23.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION.

PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... A NEW MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE AT C.P.S.

STUDENTS TO PLEASE STAY.

WE'LL EXPLAIN.

NEXT STEP FOR THE PROPOSED BALLY'S CASINO THAT AND MORE WITH MEMBERS OF CHICAGO'S CITY COUNCIL.

>> FOOD PANTRIES ARE TRYING TO COPE WITH THE DEMAND WE HEARD FROM THE HEAD OF THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD REPOSITORY.

AND WE HEAR FROM GRADUATES ON EARNING HER DEGREES IN A PANDEMIC.

>> A NEW REPORT FROM CHICAGO REVEALS ONE IN EIGHT TICKETS ISSUED BY THE CITY OF CHICAGO BETWEEN 2012-2018 WERE ERRONEOUS.

13.2% WERE ISSUED IN ERROR, TIME, WEATHER AND LOCATION RESTRICTIONS.

THOSE TICKETS GENERATED $TO 7.5 MILLION IN REVENUE FOR THE CITY JUST OVER $8 MILLION REMAINS AS UNSETTLED DEBT.

RESEARCHERS FOUND 7% OF TICKETS WRITTEN UNDER FALSE PRETENSES WERE CONTESTED.

EMBATTLED SINGER R. KELLY FEDERAL SEXUAL ABUSE TRIAL IN CHICAGO IS SET TO START AUGUST FIRST AFTER THE REQUEST TO DELAY THE TRIAL WAS DENIED.

SHE WORKED THROUGH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF EVIDENCE MATERIALS IN THE CASE.

BUT THE JUDGE RESPONDED SAYING IT'S TOO MUCH TO ASK AND THERE'S TOO MUCH AT STAKE.

>> CHICAGOANS CAN NOW FIND BIKES, E-BIKES AND SCOOTERS ALL AT THE SAME DOCKING STATION.

THE CITY IS CLAUCHING THE FIRST CITY DOCKED MICRO MOBILITY SYSTEM.

LYFT SAYS IT'S RETROFITTED 230 DIVVY STATIONS TO ACCOMMODATE SCOOTERS AND PLANS TO ADD A THOUSAND BY THE END OF JUNE.

DePAUL UNIVERSITY IS ANNOUNCING A NEW FACE ON CAMPUS, THE INCOMING PRESIDENT.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED ROBERT MANUAL TO SERVE AS THE 13TH PRESIDENT.

HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS WHERE HE HAS WORKED SINCE 2012.

EMANUEL IS SET TO ASSUME HIS NEW ROLE ON AUGUST 1.

NOW, BRANDIS AND A NEW INITIATIVE FROM C.P.S.

>> PARIS, CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAYS IT'S PRIORITIZING MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDRESSING A RISE IN STRESS, ANXIETY AND SUICIDES BY ASKING STUDENTS TO PLEASE STAY.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> WE ARE EXCITED TO PRIORITIZE MENTAL HEALTH.

LIFT EACH OTHER UP AND TAKE THE PLEDGE TOGETHER.

>> HEY, IT FEELS LIKE I'M BY MYSELF AND FEELS LIKE IT'S JUST ME DEALING WITH IT BUT IT'S REALLY NOT.

>> HOWEVER YOU ARE, WHOEVER YOU ARE, COME AS YOU ARE AND STAY HERE.

>> PLEASE, STAY.

>> WTTW NEWS REPORTER MATT MASTERSON JOINS US WITH MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE NEW INITIATIVE.

WHAT IS THE PLEASE STAY INITIATIVE AND WHAT DOES IT REQUIRE OF STUDENTS, STAFF AND THE DISTRICT?

>> IT IS A NEW SUICIDE PREVENTION MENTAL HEALTH FOCUS PROGRAM THAT SEEKS TO BETTER EDUCATE C.P.S.

STUDENTS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF REACHING OUT AND GETTING HELP WHEN THEY FEEL THEY NEED IT.

THIS IS FOR C.P.S.

KIDS IN GRADES 7-12.

AND THEY WILL PARTICIPATE IN CLASSROOM CONVERSATIONS WITH PEERS AND TALK ABOUT CHALLENGES THEY ARE FACING AND HEAR FROM OTHER KIDS GOING THROUGH THE SAME ISSUES THEY ARE.

AND GET CONNECTED WITH MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN THEIR OWN SCHOOL.

ON TOP OF THAT THE KIDS ARE ASKED TO TAKE A PLEDGE THEY WILL REACH OUT AND GET HELP IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE STRUGGLING.

>> WHY IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM NOW?

>> MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND C.P.S.

WANTS TO ROLL IT OUT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT.

THE BIGGER REASON IS STUDENTS ARE REPORTING HIGHER LEVELS OF STRESS, ANXIETY, SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

THIS IS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BUT I SPOKE WITH A C.P.S.

PRINCIPAL WOULD TOLD ME THAT SHE CAN COULD SEE IN THE KIDS AOF THEY CAME BACK FROM REMOTE LEARNING THEY WERE NOT THE SAME.

THEY WERE NOT ACTING THE SAME THEY WERE ACTING DIFFERENTLY.

AND THERE'S DATA SHOWS THAT LEVELS OF DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS IN TEENS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO BACK THAT UP THEY ARE ON THE RISE.

C.P.S.

FEELS THEY NEED TO ACT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AND THEY BELIEVE THIS PLEASE STAY PROGRAM WILL DO THAT.

>> WHEN WILL THE DISTRICT ROLL OUT THE PROGRAM?

>> C.P.S.

STARTED GIVING OUT MATERIALS AND RESOURCES TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS.

AND THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION WILL TAKE PLACE OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

C.P.S.

SAYS THEY ARE THE FIRST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY TO ENGAGE IN THIS INITIATIVE AND THEY WANT TO ROLL THIS OUT THIS YEAR AND EXTEND IT INTO FURTHER YEARS AS WELL.

>> MENTAL HEALTH SOMETHING TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

MATT MASTERSON, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> AND YOU CAN READ MATT'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND NOW BACK TO PARIS WITH A FEW MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

>> EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM WE DISCUSSED THE LATEST ON THE WARD REMAP PROCESS IN CITY COUNCIL AND WE'RE JOINED BY JEANETTE TAYLOR, GEORGE CARDENAS, WALTER BURNETT AND JASON ERVIN FOR MUCH MORE.

THE BALLY'S CASINO PROPOSAL.

ALDERMAN BURNET IT WOULD BE IN YOUR WARD AND CONCERNS ABOUT TRAFFIC, HOW THE CASINO IN THE CITY ARE GOING TO MANAGE THAT.

A SNAPSHOT SHOWS THE MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS STILL ARE NOT SOLD.

HOW DOES BALLY'S AND THE CITY INTEND TO WIN THEM OVER?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE EVER GOING TO WIN EVERYONE OVER.

AND THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THE IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY IT'S ABOUT THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

IT'S ABOUT DEALING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PENSION FUNDS AND IT'S ABOUT NOT INCREASING PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE CITY.

IT'S ABOUT BALANCING THE REST OF OUR BUDGET AND BRINGING MORE TOURIST DOLLARS TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THERE IS A BIGGER PICTURE BUT A FUTURE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

WE DO HAVE A FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY TO DEAL WITH THAT SOMETIMES SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TAKE SOME THINGS IN ORDER FOR THINGS TO BE RIGHT FOR EVERYONE.

>> AND YOU'VE SIGNED ON IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROPOSAL.

ALDERWOMAN TAYLOR, ONE EDITORIAL WORRIED THAT THE PLAN COULD BE LIKE A PARKING METER DEAL BECAUSE THE MAYOR WANTS THIS TO BE VOTED ON IN TWO WEEKS.

DO YOU WORTHIES COULD BE LIKE ANOTHER PARKING METER DEAL?

>> I DO I FEEL LIKE IT'S RUSH AND WE ARE NOT TAKING THE TIME TO ADDRESS NOT JUST THE CITY'S CONCERNS BUT THE CONCERNS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ELECTED AND PAID TO REPRESENT PEOPLE IN THEIR WARD.

>> WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU WANT ANSWERED?

>> THE COMMITTEE SHE CREATE AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE NOT ANSWERED.

AND SO IT'S EASY TO SAY YOU WANT A CASINO BUT ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT TRAFFIC?

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT TRASH?

SO I THINK WE'RE LOOKINGAL THIS THIS IS GOING TO BAIL US OUT AND I DON'T THINK IT IS.

BUT TIME WILL TELL.

WE'RE STILL PAYING FOR THE PARKING METER DEALS.

WE LOST SO MUCH MONEY ON THE PARKING METERS IT'S RIDICULOUS.

IS THIS US THINKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE'RE PAID TO REPRESENT?

I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT IS.

>> ALDERMAN CARDENAS WILL CITY COUNCIL TRY AND SLOW THINGS DOWN AND GET THE PUBLIC INVOLVED?

>> YEAH, I THINK CITY COUNCIL WILL WEIGH-IN.

AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE MAYOR BEING THE C.E.O.

OF THE CITY TRYING TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE BY GET TO GO DONE THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.

PUT IT ON THE TABLE AND LET FOLKS DIGEST IT AND DEBATE.

AND MORE TIME IS NEEDED MORE TIME WE'LL HAVE TO GIVE.

I FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT THAT.

>> ALDERMAN ERVIN, ALDERMAN REILLY IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO HOUSE A CASINO IN THE MEDINAH TEMPLE AND WHAT THAT COULD MEAN FOR TRAFFIC.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT PLAN?

>> I THINK ALDERMAN REILLY IS RIGHT TO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT ANY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT COMING INTO HIS COMMUNITY.

BUT WHEN YOU START TALKING WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AROUND THAT AREA AND NEEDING A SHOT IN THE ARM IT NEEDS BECAUSE WHAT HAS HAPPENED THROUGH COVID, WE'RE NOT BRINGING ASKING TO BRING ALL 4,000 POSITIONS TO A TEMPORARY CASINO.

I THINK THE NUMBER IS SOMEWHERE AROUND 800 POSITIONS TO A TEMPORARY CASINO.

ALSO WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM A DONE DEAL.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE HOST COMMUNITY AGREEMENT.

WE'VE SEEN THE ORDINANCE THAT WILL FACILITATE THE HOST COMMUNITY AGREEMENT AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS LOOKED AT AND WORKED THROUGH WE HAVE TO SEE THE HOST COMMUNITY AGREEMENT AND MAKE SURE ALL OF THE PARTIES AS WE TALKED ABOUT FROM MINORITY INVESTMENT WORKFORCE, EXECUTIVE POSITIONS AND PROCUREMENT THOSE THINGS ARE LINED TO TO REFLECT THE VALUES OF CHICAGO.

>> HOW DO YOU READ THE FEEL BUILDING OF YOUR COLLEAGUES DO YOU THINK SOMETHING COULD DERAIL THIS?

>> I DON'T KNOW, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

WE'VE SEEN DIFFERENT AND NEW THINGS HAPPEN IN THIS COUNCIL IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

NOTHING SURPRISES ME BUT I WILL SAY THIS...

I DO KNOW THAT THERE'S STRONG UNION SUPPORT FOR THIS NOT ONLY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S UNION YOU HAVE EVERY CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, HOTEL WORKERS AND UNIONS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT 3,000 UNION JOBS ALONG WITH THE PENSION FUNDS.

AND YOU HAVE 3,000 PERMANENT JOBS THAT WILL BE UNION, TOO.

THERE ARE 6,000 FOLKS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS.

AND ALL OF THOSE 6,000 PEOPLE YOU HAVE THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT IS CONNECTED TO THEM.

AND THAT IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPRESSION UPON THE ALDERMEN MAKING THEIR DECISIONS ESPECIALLY GOING INTO AN ELECTION YEAR.

I DON'T THINK A LOT OF ALDERMEN WANT TO GO AGAINST THE UNIONS ON WHAT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> ORGANIZED LABOR MIGHT PLAY A BIG ROLE.

ALDERWOMAN TAYLOR YOU MENTIONED YOUR SKEPTICISM AND A STUDY FOUND IT WOULD RING OUT ABOUT 190 MILLION ANNUALLY TO TAX COFFERS TO GO TO THE POLICE PENSIONS.

DO YOU THINK THAT IS A REALISTIC GOAL HERE TO EXPECT?

>> NOT REALLY SURE.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THIS.

AND HONESTLY WE'RE LOOKING AT INDIANA.

INDIANA DOESN'T COMPARE TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

I'M HOPING IT WILL BRING INNER MONTH.

I WANT US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND NOT TO IT.

THIS SHOULD NOT BE IMPLEMENTED ON US.

WE HAVE TO HAVE REAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE CASINO.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING MY COWORKERS WILL DO.

>> ALDERMAN CARDINALS, VIOLENCE FOR A IS THE SHOOTINGS ARE DOWN BUT IT'S WARM AND SUMMER IS HERE IT GETS EVERYONE WORRIED ABOUT THE SUMMER.

HOW WORRIED ARE YOU ABOUT A SAFETY PLAN IN PLACE AND KEEPING NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE?

>> THINK WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THE WORST OF THE PANDEMIC.

NOBODY EXPECTED THIS.

THIS IS NATIONWIDE.

THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS NO DIFFERENT AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN AND GET FOLKS MORE COMMUNITY LEVEL AND WALTER'S RESPONSIBILITY PARTIAL TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A SECURITY PLAN IN PLACE TO DEAL WITH THE AFTERMATH.

IT IS A CASINO IT IS A BIG PROPOSAL A LOT TO BITE.

WE HAVE TO GET DONE WITH REDISTRICTING AND WHEN IT COMES TO A CASINO THERE IS A LOT TO DO FOR THE CITY COUNCIL BUT WE'RE BIG BOYS AND BIG GIRL AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO IT.

THIS CASINO WILL PASS.

BY BALLY'S A PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY THAT HAS THE WHEREWITHAL TO FINANCE AND THROUGH BONDS TO MAKE SURE THE CASINO IS DONE THE PROPER WAY AND I LIKE THAT.

I LIKE THAT THAT IT IS A PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY COMING TO CHICAGO AND PUTTING ALL HIS WEIGHT BEHIND IT.

>> A LOT ON ALL OF YOUR PLATES.

A LOT TO WATCH FOR.

OUR THANKS TO JEANETTE TAYLOR, GEORGE CARDENAS, AND WALTER BURNETT AND YAS JACE THANK YOU AGAIN.

>> JASON ERVIN.

>> THE IMPACT OF INFLATION ON FOOD INSECURITY.

FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> ANYONE WHO HAS BROUGHT GROCERY CAN TELL.

INFLATION IS PUSHING THE COST OF FOOD TO RECORD-HIGHS.

AND PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE HIGHER PRICES ARE SHOWING UP AT FOOD PANTRIES.

THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD REPOSITORY SAYS MORE THAN 2 TO% OF CHICAGO HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN ARE FACING FOOD INSECURITY.

AND IT DISTRIBUTED 37% MORE FOOD IN THE FIRST HALF OF FISCAL YEAR 2022 COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME-FRAME IN 2019 BEFORE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THIS GROWING NEED IS KATE MAIER, DIRECTOR AND THE C.E.O.

FOR THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD REPOSITORY.

THE NEED FOR FOOD MAYBE NOT AS HIGH AS THE HEIGHT OF THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> IT HAS COME DOWN IF THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC IN THE SPRING OF 2020 WE ARE STILL SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE WHERE WE WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

AND AS YOU KNOW, WHERE WE WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WAS NOT A GREAT PLACE.

SO THINGS ARE REALLY TOUGH FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

>> HOW MUCH OF A FACTOR IS INFLATION IN THAT PROBLEM?

>> IT'S A BIG, BIG PIECE FOR IT.

FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING I WAS TALKING WITH A WOMAN TODAY, 100 DOLLARS MORE A MONTH WHICH IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING WITH GROCERY STORE AND GAS INFLATION IS ENOUGH TO MEAN YOU HAVE TO TURN TO A FOOD PANTRY TO GET THE FOOD YOU NEED TO GET BY.

>> INFLATION IS AFFECTING THE ABILITIES OF FAMILIES TO PURCHASE FOOD AND PUSHING THEM.

BUT FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AS WELL AND A REPORT FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR, YOU SAY THAT THE ORGANIZATION EXPECTS TO SPEND NEARLY 35 MILLION DOLLARS ON FOOD PURCHASING ALONE IN FISCAL YEAR 2022 A 55% INCREASE FROM 2021 AND TRIPLE WHAT YOU SPENT IN FISCAL YEAR 20.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT INFLATION HAS HAD ON THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD REPOSITORY?

>> THE IMPACT IS TWO FOLD.

AS YOU SAID, THE FOOD DEPOSITORY AND FOOD BANKS ARE HAVING TO PAY MORE FOR THE FOOD WE ARE PURCHASING.

THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS MAKING IT CHALLENGES TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS.

AND OUR NEIGHBORS THEMSELVES FACED INFLATION.

FAMILIES ARE HAVING TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER THEY BUY GAS TO GET TO WORK OR BUY GROCERIES.

AND IT'S PUTTING PRESSURE IN PARTICULAR ON PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY VULNERABLE.

ANOTHER CHALLENGE I WILL LIFT UP IS THAT WE SAW THE SCALING BACK OF SOME CRITICAL SUPPORTS IN THE SAFETY NET.

THE CHILD TAX CREDIT BEING ONE FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN.

SO WE ARE WORRIED RIGHT NOW THAT PEOPLE ARE MORE VULNERABLE THAN EVER.

>> TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE WE KNOW THERE IS THIS BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ARE YOU ALL EXPERIENCING AN INCREASED NEED FOR IT?

>> WELL, WE ARE BEGINNING TO GET PHONE CALLS ABOUT IT.

AND I WILL SAY IT'S ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF THE PRESSURES THAT FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN ARE SEEING.

SO EVEN AS WE LOOK ACROSS THE BOARD AT MORE PEOPLE NEEDING US THAN NEEDED US BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THE DISPARITY OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN.

SO TODAY MORE HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN NEED US THAN EVER BEFORE AND THAT IS BECOMING A BIGGER AND BIGGER PROBLEM.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THIS MEAN FOR NEXT GENERATION OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

>> THE REPORT THAT YOU ALL COMPLETED IT SHOWS PERSISTENT FOOD INEQUALITY.

29% OF BLACK HOUSEHOLDS AND 2 FOURS% OF LATINO HOUSEHOLDS ARE FOOD INSECURITY.

THE RATE GOES UP ACROSS THE BOARD FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN.

WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?

WHAT MORE DO WE NEED JEFF TOBOLSKI DOING TO ADDRESS THIS DISPARITY?

>> IT TELLS US A COUPLE OF THINGS.

THIS PANDEMIC WHAT WE HAVE ALL JUST LIVED THROUGH THOUGH WE ALL EXPERIENCED IT, IT IMPACTED SOME COMMUNITIES AND SOME HOUSEHOLDS IN A GREATER EXTENT.

THIS IS THE CRISIS THAT WAS BORN DISPROPORTIONATELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO HOUSEHOLDS AND HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN.

WHICH ALSO MEANS WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT OUR INVESTMENTS IN RECOVERY DIFFERENTLY.

AND IN PARTICULAR WE NEED TO LOOK AT COMMUNITIES WHERE THE NEED IS THE GREATEST AND WE NEED TO ADVANCE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE INCLINED TO GET AT THE ROOT CAUSES WHY PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES FACING HUNGER IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD REPOSITORY YOU HAVE PLANS TO BUILD A NEW FACILITY.

BRIEFLY TELL US HOW THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT YOUR MISSION?

>> THIS IS A PROJECT WE STARTED PREPANDEMIC.

WE PUT A PAUSE BUTTON WHEN WE HAD TO MOUNT THIS AMAZING EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

BUT WE CAME BACK TO IT AND WE CAME BACK WITH A COMMITMENT TO THINK ABOUT THE LESSONS WE HAD LEARNED IN THE PANDEMIC.

AND SHAPED AND HELPED US EVOLVE OUR STRATEGIES A LITTLE BIT.

THE FACILITY THAT WE ARE BUILDING IS GOING TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO MAKE MEALS FROM SCRATCH.

REALLY NUTRITIOUS HEALTHY MEALS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS, OLDER ADULT, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

THE MOST VULNERABLE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS -- NEIGHBORS.

AND AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE ADVANCING A STRATEGY WHERE WE ARE GOING TO BE INVESTING IN PURCHASING MEALS FROM COMMUNITY-BASED MEAL PROVIDERS.

THINKING HOW WE BUILD AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR EVEN AS WE ADVANCE AN EFFORT THAT WILL MAKE MORE NUTRITIOUS MEALS AVAILABLE TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS.

>> KATE, YOU ARE ALL CALLING ON CONGRESS TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BILL THAT STRENGTHENS THE FEDERAL SAFETY NET.

TOO MANY FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING TO GET FOOD ON THE TABLE AND IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SO.

KATE MAIER AT THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD REPOSITORY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MEET TWO VALEDICTORIANS IN A CONVERSATION THAT FIRST AIRED ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES".

>> MORE THAN 3500 STUDENTS RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM THE CITY COLLEGES OF CHICAGO.

OF THOSE 1700 STUDENTS WALKED ACROSS THE STAGE TO BE CONGRATULATED IN-PERSON FOR EARNING THEIR ASSOCIATES DEGREE AT ONE OF THE SEVEN SCHOOLS IN THE CITY COLLEGE NETWORK.

IT WAS THE FIRST IN-PERSON CEREMONY FOR THE COLLEGES SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

TWO JOIN US TO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES THEY ARE RUTH FLORES, VALEDICTORIAN OF RICHARD J. DALEY COLLEGE IN WEST LAWN AND KRISTEN MEDRANO VALEDICTORIAN AT OLIVE-HARVEY IN THE PULLMAN NEIGHBORHOOD.

KRISTEN TO YOU FIRST, IN YOUR VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH YOU SAID YOU WERE TERRIFIED OF GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT?

>> YES.

I WAS TERRIFIED BECAUSE I HAVE NOT BEEN TO SCHOOL IN OVER 10 YEARS.

I AM A 35-YEAR-OLD MOTHER OF FIVE.

AND IT WAS TERRIFYING TO THINK ABOUT STARTING OVER AND STARTING A JOURNEY AGAIN.

I COULDN'T IMAGINE HAVING TO GO AGAINST 18, 19, 20-YEAR-OLDS CHILDREN, I HAVE A CHILD WHO IS ALMOST THAT AGE.

SO IT WAS FRIGHTENING.

BUT HERE I AM.

>> AND I THINK THAT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT REMINDER IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

DID YOU FEEL LIKE PEOPLE WELCOMED YOU?

AND DID YOU SLOWLY START TO LET GO OF THAT FEAR?

>> I ABSOLUTELY FELT WELCOME.

CITY COLLEGES OLIVE-HARVEY WAS EXTREMELY WELCOMING.

THEY BROUGHT ME INTO STUDENT LIFE THERE.

AND I WAS PART OF A SORORITY WHICH IS THE I WAS PART OF THE HONOR SOCIETY.

AND I WAS ACTIVE IN MY CLASSES MY PROFESSORS WERE WONDERFUL.

I NEVER FELT LIKE MY AGE WAS A FACTOR IN ANYTHING I DID AND I DEFINITELY LET GO OF THAT FEAR.

>> SO INSPIRING.

>> RUTH, YOU ARE A 2019 C.P.S.

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE ON DALEY COLLEGE SPECIFICALLY?

>> HI THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

SO THE REASON I CHOSE TO GO TO DALEY BECAUSE IT WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND I DIDN'T WANT TO GO THAT FAR.

AND ALSO, I LOOKED AT THE COURSES AND I SAW THEY HAD WHAT I WAS GOING FOR.

IT WAS ALSO LATINO BASED SO I FELT LIKE I WASN'T GOING TO BE OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE.

SO I FELT LIKE I WAS IN MY COMMUNITY AND I FELT LIKE I WOULD BELONG THERE.

>> AND RUTH, I ALSO, I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT YOU ARE A RECIPIENT OF A STAR SCHOLARSHIP AND THE STAR PLUS SCHOLARSHIP THAT COVERS YOUR TUITION IN UIC HOW IMPORTANT WERE THOSE SCHOLARSHIPS IN MAKING YOUR EDUCATION FEASIBLE.

>> BEING ON A SCHOLARSHIP FROM BOTH, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO WHERE I AM NOW.

AND BECAUSE OF THEM, I AM FREE OF DEBT AND NOW I'M ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL CONTINUE MY EDUCATION AND I'M REALLY HONORED HONESTLY BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF THOSE TWO SCHOLARSHIPS BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GOING TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE BUT BEING A STAR SCHOLAR AND RECEIVING THAT STAR SCHOLARSHIP PLUS HAS GOTTEN ME TO WHERE I AM.

>> I'M SURE IT'S GRATIFYING TO SEE THE PEOPLE THAT BENEFITS.

KRISTEN DO YOU THINK LATINOS ARE GIVEN SUFFICIENT INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR FINANCIAL OPTIONS FOR HIGHER ED?

>> I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT THINK THAT WE'RE PROVIDED WITH ENOUGH EDUCATION AND INFORMATION ABOUT FINANCIAL RESOURCES.

I STRUGGLED EARLY ON WHEN I FIRST WENT TO SCHOOL OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

MY FAMILY IS NOT A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WERE PRIVY TO COLLEGE AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.

SO I WAS BLINDSIDED WITH ALL OF THESE FINANCES THROWN IN FRONT OF ME AND THANKFULLY NOW I'M AN OLDER LEARNER, I WAS ABLE TO DO MY OWN RESEARCH AND FIND MY OWN AVENUES FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

BUT I THINK THAT WITHIN OUR LATINO COMMUNITY, IT'S NOT TALKED ABOUT IT'S NOT SPOKEN ABOUT ENOUGH.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE INFORMING US, INFORMING OUR CHILDREN OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES THAT ARE OUT THERE.

AND THERE ARE PLENTY.

BUT WE HAVE DEBT INSTEAD.

WE GET LOANS BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW BETTER.

AND SO IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO COME OUT MORE.

>> OK. MORE WORK SHOULD BE DONE WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING THE MESSAGING OUT THERE.

RUTH YOU ARE A DACA RECIPIENT DID YOU FEEL CITY COLLEGES WAS WELCOMING TO FELLOW DACA RECIPIENTS DID YOU KNOW ANY?

>> 100%.

CITY COLLEGES IS OPENING AND WELCOMING WITH DACA RECIPIENTS.

ONE OF THOSE BEING THAT STAR SCHOLARS ARE PEOPLE ABLE TO APPLY INTO THE STAR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

AND BE ABLE TO GET THAT FUNDING.

AND I ALSO THINK THAT CITY COLLEGES GIVES US THAT CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR EDUCATION THERE IS A LOT OF RESOURCES GIVEN TO LATINO STUDENTS AND I FEEL LIKE THEY REALLY WELCOME US AS A PERSON BUT MORE CARE FOR US FOR OUR EDUCATION SO WE CAN BE THE FUTURE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.

BECAUSE THEY WANT US TO EXCEED AND BE PROFESSIONALS.

>> OK.

I WANT TO ASK YOU BOTH A QUESTION.

WE'RE GOING TO GO TO KRISTEN FIRST: WHEN IT COMES TO ADVICE FOR OTHER LATINAS LATINOS AS WELL THAT ARE CONSIDERING CITY COLLEGES WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE, KRISTEN?

>> I WOULD SAY TO DO IT.

SIGN UP.

GO FORWARD.

THEY ARE WELCOMING TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, WHATEVER YOUR EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS ARE, THEY HAVE DEGREES BUT ALSO CERTIFICATES.

CITY COLLEGES HAVE SO MANY AVENUES FOR A FUTURE FOR A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE TO SET YOU UP TO BE READY TO GO INTO THE WORKFORCE OR CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY.

MY ADVICE WOULD BE IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT IT TAKE THAT STEP AND MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU DID.

>> YOU ARE A PRIME EXAMPLE OF HAVING THAT HESITATION AND GOING FORWARD WITH IT AND LOOK WHERE YOU ARE NOW.

>> RUTH WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO ANYONE CONSIDERING IT?

>> DO IT.

IT IS POSSIBLE AND CITY COLLEGES IT IS NOT JUST ONE SCHOOL BUT SELF VIP CAMPUSES THAT OFFER DIFFERENT MAJORS CAREER FIELDS, CERTIFICATES AND EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MAJOR, YOU COULD DO A BASIC PROGRAM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND IT WILL GET YOU SOMEWHERE MANY AND EVEN IF YOU GET AFTER THAT BASIC CERTIFICATE, YOU COULD GO ALONG AND SPENDING MORE AND EXCEED AND LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> I DON'T WANT TO CUT YOU OFF I WANT TO SAY THANKS TO RUTH FLORES AND KRISTEN MEDRANO CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. PRESIDENT BIDEN IS SET TO VISIT CHICAGO FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE OCTOBER.

WE SHARE THE DETAILS.

>> AND A YOUNG PIANO PRODIGY FROM UKRAINE FINDS CONSOLATION IN MUSIC AND A COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL.

>> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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