Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson holds a press briefing.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00:00Of course, today we will celebrate the birthday of another incredible Aries, the late great Mayor Harold Washington.
00:00:09And just for the record, I think Aries make great mayors.
00:00:12Today I'm joined by our Commissioner of the Department of Housing, Lissette Constaneda,
00:00:17our Acting Deputy Mayor of Education, Youth and Human Services, Kahari Humphreys,
00:00:23our Deputy Mayor for Community Safety, Garyon Gatewood.
00:00:25We have our Corporate Counsel, Mary Richardson-Laurie, and of course my Chief of Staff is with us today as well, Christina Pacillon-Zayez.
00:00:38I'm going to give a brief overview of some of the public safety-related updates,
00:00:41and then I'm going to pass it to our Acting Deputy Mayor Humphreys for a short presentation on a report that we are issuing this morning.
00:00:50I'm looking at the data so far this year, vehicular hijackings are down 53.7 percent.
00:00:58That's year-to-date from last year.
00:01:01Violent crime is down year-to-date by 22.9 percent from last year.
00:01:08Homicides are down this month significantly.
00:01:10Shootings are down as well.
00:01:12These are certainly positive trends to start this year, but we fully recognize that we have the bulk of our work that still awaits us.
00:01:21It's in front of us.
00:01:23We're going to lean into what we've been doing because it's certainly working.
00:01:28We're going to, of course, try new strategies where we see there's a necessary fit for that.
00:01:34And we're going to work hard every day, of course, to keep our community safe.
00:01:39On Friday, the independent monitoring team filed its latest report on the city's progress on the consent decree.
00:01:46Although we still have a long way to go, the reality is that we have taken significant leaps forward, and the report indicates that.
00:01:56Our preliminary compliance is up to 92 percent.
00:01:59Our full compliance jumped from 9 to 16 percent.
00:02:02Superintendent Stilling shares my perspective that constitutional policing is fundamental to building safer communities
00:02:10because it rebuilds trust between residents and law enforcement officers.
00:02:15This report shows that we are continuing to make significant progress on achieving a transformational shift in our city's policing.
00:02:23This weekend, there were three promotional flyers of teen trends that were set to take place in Millennium Park,
00:02:30the corner of Ogden and Damon, and in Hyde Park.
00:02:34Through the hard work of community-based organizations, street outreach workers, and our Chicago police officers,
00:02:40we were able to prevent two of them from occurring.
00:02:44The Hyde Park gathering did manifest, so we deployed our crisis prevention response unit to the location
00:02:50and ensure that CPD had significant resources to handle the situation.
00:02:56CPD made a handful of arrests, and we will continue to monitor the situation.
00:03:01Although we are glad that we were able to prevent two large team gatherings this weekend,
00:03:05as I've said before, one is too many.
00:03:08We want our young people to be able to explore every part of our city.
00:03:12That is their right as Chicagoans, but we cannot allow gatherings to turn violent
00:03:18and put our young people and our entire communities at risk of gun violence.
00:03:23Deputy Mayor Gatewood can speak more about some of the strategies that we are looking to implement,
00:03:28as well as the work that we have done to avoid large team gatherings,
00:03:33and particularly making sure that they don't turn violent.
00:03:37His team has had a number of meetings with stakeholders about this very issue,
00:03:40and we are working towards sustainable solutions.
00:03:44As I've said, our young people need both structure and opportunity.
00:03:49We need accountability, of course, but we also need investment and resources.
00:03:55Acting Deputy Mayor Humphreys will speak to what those investments in our young people accomplished last year
00:04:01and why we need to continue to double down on those projects.
00:04:07Lastly, when thinking about our young people, I want to provide an update
00:04:10to the contract between the Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union.
00:04:16I'm sure many of you are aware that the contract was ratified
00:04:19by 97% of our teachers, as well as all members of the Chicago Teachers Union.
00:04:27That's the highest number in decades, potentially ever.
00:04:31I was proud to help land this contract by bringing folks together right here in this very room.
00:04:39This contract is a win for students, educators, and for all of Chicagoans.
00:04:44The contract codifies the doubling of libraries and librarians for our schools,
00:04:49more than tripling the number of sustainable community schools from 20 to 70
00:04:54over the course of the agreement, smaller class sizes at all grade levels.
00:05:01Nurses and social workers in every school on every instructional day.
00:05:07Protections for academic freedom.
00:05:11That means no matter what happens at the federal level, Chicago's teachers have the freedom to teach black history.
00:05:19Freedom to make sure that we are protecting our LGBTQ plus students, our undocumented students,
00:05:26and our students with disabilities, and additional investments in sports and arts programming across the district.
00:05:39This contract aligns with my administration's vision to achieve equity in Chicago's schools.
00:05:47I look forward to seeing how the implementation of this current contract
00:05:52uplifts our young people and strengthen our city as a whole.
00:05:57The people of Chicago voted for an educator to land a contract that speaks to the needs of the city of Chicago.
00:06:04The people of Chicago got exactly what they invested in.
00:06:08So thank you.
00:06:09With that, I'll pass it to our acting deputy mayor, Humphreys, for a short presentation.
00:06:16Thank you, Mayor.
00:06:18I'm grateful today to share a few of the administration's accomplishments and investments in youth of Chicago.
00:06:24We are pleased to announce our latest Youth Impact Report, which details comprehensive efforts being undertaken by the whole of government
00:06:33in partnership with community to support our Chicago's young people.
00:06:39The Youth Impact Report showcases the landmark year of investment, opportunity, and empowerment for Chicago's young people.
00:06:48The report outlines how under Mary Johnson's administration, the city of Chicago have implemented bold strategies
00:06:55that have significantly expanded employment, educational, and civic engagement opportunities for young Chicagoans
00:07:03across all 77 community areas.
00:07:07The report includes information on the following efforts.
00:07:11Youth employment, including details on the 39% increase of summer youth employment since the mayor took office.
00:07:21Out-of-school time efforts, including structured investments in 15 historically disinvested communities
00:07:28to build ecosystems to support youth and provide engagements to develop long-term strategy.
00:07:36The Mayor's Youth Commission, wrapping up its 2024-25 year, this advisory council has made up of 40 Chicagoans
00:07:45ages 14 to 19 who represent 28 different community areas.
00:07:50Youth commissioners receive an annual stipend for their work and work closely with City Hall to shape policy,
00:07:56program, and initiatives that directly impact Chicago's youth.
00:07:59And our city departments and sister agencies partners want to acknowledge the commitment of our department
00:08:07and sister agencies.
00:08:08Everyone in the city has been called by the Mayor to action to positively impact young people.
00:08:15You will see examples in the final section of the report with the 14 departments and agencies showcasing some highlights from last year.
00:08:24Youth employment progress in 2024, I'm sorry, 27,793 young Chicagoans were hired ages 14 to 24 through one summer Chicago,
00:08:42the city's flagship youth employment program.
00:08:44That's a 15% increase from 2023 and an impressive 39% increase from 2022.
00:08:50These summer jobs offer to young Chicagoans paid work, give paid work experiences that build skills,
00:08:59strengthen resumes, and foster financial independence.
00:09:04In addition to the summer programs, the city has created over 2,000 year-round youth employment opportunities,
00:09:11ensuring income for young people beyond just the summer months.
00:09:15The Peacekeeper Pilot Program, in partnership with Good Kids, Mass City,
00:09:25and the Department of Family and Support Services, is a six-week training pilot that was launched for 100 young people
00:09:32between ages of 16 to 24 through one summer Chicago program last year.
00:09:37The pilot trained young people to become peacekeepers,
00:09:40equipping them with the skills to foster safety and promote positive change in their communities at the community level.
00:09:49DSSS, our Department of Streets and Sanitation Labor's trainee pilot,
00:09:53in partnership with CPS and the mayor's office, launched a 12-week training program
00:09:59where 70 young people, the CPS graduates, were participants,
00:10:04and of those 70 participants, 55 of them were hired into full-time roles at DFSS.
00:10:11And then also highlighted is the Inclusive Summer Job Expo,
00:10:15a partnership with DFSS and the mayor's office for people with disability,
00:10:20where we hosted an event focused on connecting teens and young adults
00:10:24with disabilities to one-summer Chicago job opportunities.
00:10:28The event welcomed 190 young Chicagoans and their family members.
00:10:34And this event also offered valuable career resources,
00:10:37including resume assistance, job readiness support,
00:10:41and information on year-round employment opportunities.
00:10:46There are also out-of-school time highlights in the report.
00:10:49Last year, 155 youth-focused safe space kickback events were planned by youth and led by youth
00:10:58and had an attendance of over 16,000 Chicagoans.
00:11:04This pivotal strategy is what we have to ensure that teens have spaces designed for them
00:11:11that are safe in their communities and across the city.
00:11:15There will also be more events planned by teens this summer.
00:11:18All events that would be made available to the public through the MyShiMyFuture website and app
00:11:28and on their Instagram account.
00:11:33The MyShiMyFuture micro-grant program distributed $600,000 in small grants
00:11:41to community youth programs across the city,
00:11:43which naturally led to local organizations creating additional youth employment opportunities
00:11:49and community events.
00:11:52Also, the MyShiMyFuture website is a mobile app,
00:11:55and it connected over 50,000 youth and caring adults
00:11:58to more than 45,000 opportunities in 2024.
00:12:03Over 200 organizations provided information
00:12:06that was available on this platform, including Chicago Libraries
00:12:11and the Chicago Park District.
00:12:15So for more information, you can find the digital version of this report today
00:12:20with the link on the screen, and we will also be distributing printed copies
00:12:24to our community partners.
00:12:26Okay, with that, we'll take questions.
00:12:32Okay, we're just going to do questions today.
00:12:34No monologues.
00:12:35We'll start with Marianne.
00:12:37Sounds good.
00:12:39Thank you, Mayor.
00:12:39And perhaps if you don't have the answer to this,
00:12:42perhaps Deputy Mayor Gatewood would.
00:12:44An incident on Friday evening,
00:12:47someone trying to get downtown using a rideshare.
00:12:51The rideshare had a blocked-off map and said no rides downtown,
00:12:57and we wondered if perhaps the city or the police department
00:13:00is working with the rideshares during times of possible teen takeovers
00:13:06to prevent people from coming into the city.
00:13:10Thank you, Deputy Mayor.
00:13:12Thank you for that question.
00:13:14What I will tell you is we try to explore every avenue.
00:13:17There are times where we look at geofencing.
00:13:21That could have been one of those times.
00:13:23So we do look at geofencing in large events,
00:13:26sort of like Lollapalooza and other areas,
00:13:29to really think about how we can maintain some of the traffic
00:13:32and foot traction downtown.
00:13:34So we can get back to you with specifics on whether or not
00:13:36that was the case last Friday.
00:13:39And so I guess it depends on how you can still come if you want,
00:13:44but are you trying to warn people and say,
00:13:46hey, maybe this isn't a good time to come here?
00:13:48Well, no, what we're trying to do is make sure,
00:13:50like we've always done, limit the amount of traction,
00:13:53especially if we know that there's going to be a teen trend.
00:13:56A lot of the work that we do ahead of time is to try to eliminate those.
00:14:00I think we actually eliminate a lot more than are covered.
00:14:03So let's say there's 10 planned.
00:14:04We typically knock nine if I'm out, sometimes 10.
00:14:07And this is all a part of that work that we do
00:14:09to eliminate these from happening.
00:14:10Great.
00:14:11Thank you very much.
00:14:12Mayor, what about hearing two names?
00:14:14One, of course, that I've heard many times,
00:14:17Christina Passione-Zayas, and I know you've said no,
00:14:20but might she be the interim CPS chief as Pedro Martinez is leaving
00:14:25at the end of the school year?
00:14:27And what about John Roberson?
00:14:28Is he headed to the CTA?
00:14:31Well, let me just say that between my chief operations officer,
00:14:36John Roberson, and my chief of staff, Christina Passione-Zayas,
00:14:41these are two incredible Chicagoans that have dedicated their lives to public service.
00:14:46I've enjoyed their counsel as well as their leadership
00:14:52as we have worked to transform the city of Chicago.
00:14:55I have not made any permanent decisions regarding either one of them,
00:15:00but I will say this, that they are two incredibly talented individuals,
00:15:04and the city of Chicago is certainly blessed to have them both,
00:15:06and I am personally to have them part of my administration.
00:15:10Mayor Johnson, President Trump is saying that he's going to yank $3.5 billion
00:15:17from the city's budget because your sanctuary city policies are dangerous.
00:15:25Many Chicagoans agree.
00:15:27A woman in Streeterville was just robbed, armed robbery,
00:15:31by a Venezuelan migrant who was out on electronic monitoring.
00:15:39What do you say to the Chicagoans who asked me to ask you,
00:15:42when are you going to stop spending all of their tax dollars on protecting migrants
00:15:47and start spending their dollars protecting them?
00:15:52Well, clearly we are investing in the protection of our city.
00:15:55That's why violent crime is down significantly in the city of Chicago.
00:15:58Homicides are down, shootings are down, shooting victims are down,
00:16:03robberies are down, vehicular hijackings are down.
00:16:06We're all trending in the right direction.
00:16:08Now, no one is going to dispute that we still have work to be done,
00:16:11but our investments in housing, our investment in youth and workforce,
00:16:17our investment in behavior and mental health care services,
00:16:19many people believe that somehow these investments would take years to manifest.
00:16:24Well, that's obviously inaccurate, and we are proof positive
00:16:28that when you invest in the people of Chicago,
00:16:30the outcomes for people improve.
00:16:36So violence is down, investments are up,
00:16:39and we'll continue to move in that direction
00:16:41to build a more inclusive economy for everyone.
00:16:44Well, you say that the violence is down.
00:16:47It's not that I'm saying that.
00:16:48It's actually what it is.
00:16:50So it's actually true.
00:16:51Well, that's not how the residents feel.
00:16:54This is not about feelings, then,
00:16:57and this is certainly not about what you read
00:16:59because clearly you're not reading the right information.
00:17:01Violence is down in the city of Chicago,
00:17:03and investments are up.
00:17:05Now, look, no one is going to argue
00:17:07that we still have more work to do,
00:17:09and no one has taken on this issue as aggressively as I have.
00:17:14You know, raising a family in this city like many other families are,
00:17:17there's a great deal of trepidation and anxiety
00:17:19that's coming from the federal government.
00:17:21We're not going to be intimidated by the proclivities
00:17:24of this current administration
00:17:25that has shown a great deal of disdain towards working people.
00:17:28The people of Chicago will be defended by my administration.
00:17:33Well, despite that, the...
00:17:36What's your next question, sir?
00:17:38Well, the continued threat that residents feel,
00:17:42especially in regards to these violent black teenage mobs,
00:17:47they are asking for a meaningful plan.
00:17:51You say that you want the teenagers to have safe spaces.
00:17:53Okay, we need the question that we need to keep moving.
00:17:54We have too many people here waiting.
00:17:55But, excuse me, we didn't interrupt anyone else's questions.
00:17:58Please stop interrupting, okay?
00:18:00We've got to keep moving.
00:18:00But, despite the fact that you keep saying
00:18:04that you want safe spaces for the teens,
00:18:06what the residents are,
00:18:08especially in the Streeterville area,
00:18:09are saying is what about safe spaces for them?
00:18:12You know, they feel that they're being forced...
00:18:13Okay, okay, that was your question.
00:18:14Two, I mean, look, I think I understand your question.
00:18:17I mean, your question basically is,
00:18:20how do we make sure that we have safe spaces
00:18:22for everyone around the city?
00:18:23And the way we do that, it's a couple of things.
00:18:25One, we have to make sure that we're making critical investments
00:18:28in all of our communities, and we're doing that.
00:18:31Making sure that people are accountable,
00:18:33but also making sure that there are opportunities,
00:18:34and that's exactly what we're doing.
00:18:35Thank you for those questions.
00:18:37I appreciate you.
00:18:38Good morning, Mayor.
00:18:39Good morning.
00:18:40You talk a lot about transparency in your administration.
00:18:42I'm wondering if you can comment on something
00:18:44in today's Office of Inspector General report,
00:18:47that they received a complaint that an employee was hired
00:18:50due to the political connections of a family member.
00:18:53OIG reviewed the hiring records associated
00:18:55with a deputy mayor position,
00:18:56but it was kind of muddled in class specifications
00:18:59for them to kind of get to the bottom of it.
00:19:01Can you talk to us about who this person is
00:19:04and what your office is aware of as far as this investigation is concerned?
00:19:07I really can't.
00:19:08I have no idea what you're talking about, sir.
00:19:09First of all, everything that you said was a mouthful.
00:19:12So I just want to make sure that...
00:19:13It's slower.
00:19:13No, it's not about the pace,
00:19:15but you talked about that there is a classification
00:19:17of an alleged family member connected to a deputy mayor.
00:19:21Like, that doesn't make any sense at all.
00:19:23I'm just reading the report that says,
00:19:24after receiving a complaint that an employee was hired...
00:19:27So there's no such...
00:19:28So no one in my family, you know, works for me.
00:19:31So I can just clear that up.
00:19:34Okay.
00:19:35So your reaction...
00:19:36No one in my family works...
00:19:37I don't think the allegation is that a member of your family...
00:19:39Okay, well, hold on a minute.
00:19:40Let's do this.
00:19:41Maybe I do need you to slow down.
00:19:43Okay.
00:19:43So why don't you start over with your question?
00:19:47Not the monologue.
00:19:48Just ask the question.
00:19:49It's not a monologue.
00:19:50I'm reading what the Inspector General report...
00:19:51But just ask the question.
00:19:53The question is,
00:19:55can you comment on the Inspector General's report today
00:19:59that said an employee was hired
00:20:01due to political connections of their family member
00:20:06and that the OIG reviewed the hiring records
00:20:09associated with a deputy mayor position,
00:20:11but they couldn't get to the bottom of it.
00:20:15I'm hoping you can help us get to the bottom of it.
00:20:17I have no idea what they're referring to.
00:20:19Okay.
00:20:19What the OIG is referring to.
00:20:20Let me ask you about some sort of kitchen table budgeting
00:20:23that a lot of Chicagoans are dealing with today,
00:20:25the sticker shock of summer camp programs.
00:20:28I know your office has sort of flagged this saying,
00:20:30hey, the rates are going up this year
00:20:32because COVID dollars are going away.
00:20:35But for a lot of people,
00:20:36it's just becoming a reality now.
00:20:38What is your message to Chicago families
00:20:40who are kind of realizing
00:20:41the price is going up in a big way?
00:20:44Well, again, I mean,
00:20:47I think we've talked about this before,
00:20:48the impact of what's happening at the federal level
00:20:51and how that is impacting local municipalities.
00:20:54My ultimate desire, of course,
00:20:56is to create as many free, safe spaces as possible.
00:21:01Programming in Chicago
00:21:02from a variety of programs that we offer
00:21:06do require us to have staff and paid staff.
00:21:12You know, what I would encourage families to do
00:21:14is to continue to work with my administration
00:21:16as we work for more progressive revenue
00:21:20so that programming across the city
00:21:23can be better supported.
00:21:26But certainly I'm aware that, you know,
00:21:30as someone who has children,
00:21:32I sign my kids up for activities.
00:21:34You know, there are costs associated with that.
00:21:38You know, but again, as I've said last week,
00:21:40the average family based upon Trump's tariffs
00:21:43could cost them $4,000 a year.
00:21:46So these are real challenges that we do have,
00:21:49and we're going to do everything in our power locally
00:21:51to provide as many safe, free, affordable programs as possible.
00:21:55Hi, Mayor.
00:21:57On Wednesday, the City Council is expected to approve
00:22:00a $32 million settlement for a St. Louis man
00:22:03who was injured as a result of a Chicago police pursuit.
00:22:06That will exhaust the city's entire $82 million budget
00:22:10set aside to cover settlements and verdicts
00:22:13for police misconducts.
00:22:15Does the city need a new strategy
00:22:17in dealing with lawsuits
00:22:20that allege misconduct by Chicago police
00:22:22given the fact that it's only four months into the year
00:22:26and that entire budget is gone?
00:22:28Thank you for that question.
00:22:29I'm going to turn it over to our corporate counsel
00:22:31that is working on a variety of things out of her office.
00:22:36I would like to say I'm pleased that you asked me that question,
00:22:39but I will just say that from a budget standpoint,
00:22:43the only thing that we can do is do a projection.
00:22:46That projection is provided to the budget department,
00:22:49and they assess the dollar figure.
00:22:51There are quarterly meetings that happen
00:22:54between my department, the budget office,
00:22:58sometimes police department,
00:23:00where we do a re-valuation of those dollars.
00:23:04So what you will likely see is an adjustment
00:23:07that happens throughout the year.
00:23:10What impacts that is the settlement amounts,
00:23:13some of those are largely unknown,
00:23:16some predictions one can make,
00:23:20but largely unknown because it depends on the parties
00:23:23with whom we're negotiating for settlement.
00:23:26But what you will likely see is an adjustment
00:23:28that will happen throughout the year
00:23:29on a quarterly basis
00:23:31so that we can meet our obligations
00:23:34both in terms of legal obligations
00:23:36and our budgetary obligations.
00:23:38The city is facing more than 200 lawsuits
00:23:42that name one of three Chicago police officers,
00:23:45former Detective Ronaldo Guevara,
00:23:48former Commander John Burge,
00:23:49and former Sergeant Ronald Watts.
00:23:51Should the city negotiate a global settlement
00:23:54involving those specific officers
00:23:56to reduce the toll to Chicago taxpayers?
00:23:59I want to refer back to our corporate council
00:24:01that, you know, look,
00:24:03we have inherited quite the mess, right?
00:24:06Many of these cases that we're referring to,
00:24:09you know, happened, you know, decades ago.
00:24:11But I do know that our corporate council
00:24:13is fully aware of the cases that we have to address,
00:24:19and I know our department is working through
00:24:22a variety of options.
00:24:25Thank you for the question.
00:24:28We are, each of those individuals,
00:24:32the plaintiffs are represented
00:24:33by an individual council.
00:24:36So I just want to be sure
00:24:38that we're properly characterizing
00:24:40the notion of global doesn't really apply
00:24:42because each of them approaches it
00:24:44based on the advice and counsel
00:24:47they get from their particular council.
00:24:50That said, what we did do
00:24:52at the latter part of last year,
00:24:54we stood up a new division
00:24:55called the Mass Torts Division.
00:24:58That particular division centers itself
00:25:00largely around a particular officer
00:25:02where there were a number of cases
00:25:06associated with said officer,
00:25:08and that was former Officer Watts.
00:25:11That there are over 180 cases
00:25:16that remain in that category.
00:25:18So that is one methodology
00:25:21of, if you will,
00:25:23placing a group of cases
00:25:26around a particular officer
00:25:28on a path for negotiations for settlement
00:25:33and, if applicable, trial.
00:25:39We separately,
00:25:40through our reverse convictions division,
00:25:42have a division that centered itself
00:25:46around Gravera cases
00:25:48and other such cases.
00:25:50It is that area in which we're making
00:25:53a number of adjustments
00:25:54based on facts and circumstances
00:25:56as we have understand them now
00:25:59on these very age cases
00:26:01because there are difficulties
00:26:03in finding witnesses.
00:26:05Some of the officers have passed on,
00:26:06many of whom have moved out of state.
00:26:09But the nature of settlement
00:26:11is that you do have to have someone
00:26:13on the other side
00:26:13that's willing to settle the cases
00:26:16as opposed to pursuing it to trial.
00:26:19But they're challenging cases,
00:26:21without a doubt.
00:26:22But we're going to be talking
00:26:24to the alders
00:26:25about a number of approaches
00:26:26we're taking
00:26:26with these very age cases.
00:26:29It will include settlement,
00:26:31but there will be other approaches
00:26:33that we're going to be taking
00:26:34to address the hundreds of cases
00:26:39that remain.
00:26:40Hi, Mayor.
00:26:41I wanted to ask you about
00:26:42the impact of President Trump's tariffs,
00:26:45particularly on travel.
00:26:46Have you seen an impact
00:26:47specifically to Chicago travel numbers?
00:26:51So I have not received
00:26:52any of our first quarter numbers.
00:26:55You know, traveling to the city of Chicago,
00:26:57that uptick typically happens
00:26:59during this season
00:27:00as we go into the summer months.
00:27:02But, you know, again,
00:27:03what we do know
00:27:04is that the instability
00:27:07of the federal government
00:27:08has caused a great deal
00:27:10of consternation and anxiety.
00:27:12We're going to do everything
00:27:13in our power
00:27:13to stabilize our economy.
00:27:16And the city of Chicago
00:27:17is still the best place
00:27:19on the planet to visit.
00:27:21But, you know,
00:27:21I guess that's still to be determined.
00:27:23And I guess as a follow-up,
00:27:26obviously, you know,
00:27:26Governor Pritzker has been asked
00:27:27to go to Congress
00:27:28to the same hearing
00:27:29that you went to.
00:27:31I guess, you know,
00:27:32from one elected official
00:27:33to another,
00:27:34do you have advice for him?
00:27:35Would you recommend
00:27:36hiring a law firm like you did?
00:27:37Was that something you felt
00:27:38helped you in prepping?
00:27:40I mean, look,
00:27:42that's a personal decision
00:27:43for the governor.
00:27:44You know, what I do know
00:27:45is that, you know,
00:27:46we work very hard
00:27:48in this city
00:27:48to protect working people.
00:27:50And, you know,
00:27:51our status as a welcoming city
00:27:54is one that was developed
00:27:57and birthed out of the aspirations
00:28:01of Mayor Herrick Washington
00:28:02and Mr. James Montgomery,
00:28:04the first black corporate council,
00:28:06which we're hoping
00:28:06to honor him next month.
00:28:08And what it has done,
00:28:09it's proven that
00:28:10the Welcoming City Ordinance
00:28:12ensures that our local law enforcement
00:28:14focuses on local issues.
00:28:17But the governor
00:28:18is very much committed
00:28:20to maintaining the status
00:28:22as a sanctuary state,
00:28:24which, of course,
00:28:24we all know
00:28:25was codified
00:28:26by a Republican governor.
00:28:28And, you know,
00:28:30I just hope that we can,
00:28:32you know,
00:28:33focus our attention
00:28:33on working people
00:28:35because I firmly believe
00:28:37that's where the energy
00:28:39has to be,
00:28:40that whether you are
00:28:41documented or undocumented,
00:28:42whether you are
00:28:42descendant of slaves,
00:28:44what have you,
00:28:46that the people of this country
00:28:48are looking for government
00:28:49to offer up some certainty
00:28:52around how their quality of life
00:28:55can be either achieved
00:28:57or maintained.
00:28:58And that's what my focus
00:28:58is going to be.
00:29:00Good morning, Mayor.
00:29:00It really is.
00:29:02The Cubs are in first place
00:29:03and the White Sox are,
00:29:05you know,
00:29:05they doing all right.
00:29:08Well, Mayor,
00:29:09your first quarter's
00:29:10legislative agenda
00:29:11in city council
00:29:11in Springfield
00:29:12largely didn't get over
00:29:13the finish line.
00:29:14Do you expect
00:29:15your policy agenda
00:29:16to pick up
00:29:16in the next few months?
00:29:17And what do you think
00:29:18were the roadblocks
00:29:19last quarter?
00:29:20Which things
00:29:22are you referring to?
00:29:23Outline in the first quarter
00:29:24was, you know,
00:29:24hemp,
00:29:25the Antoinette Young ordinance,
00:29:26green social housing loan,
00:29:28the cumulative
00:29:29environmental impact ordinance.
00:29:30It's still in place, right?
00:29:31I mean, look,
00:29:32there's a process
00:29:33that we go through.
00:29:34And as someone
00:29:35who is committed
00:29:35to collaboration,
00:29:36it's making sure
00:29:37that we're listening
00:29:38to all stakeholders
00:29:40and voices
00:29:40in this effort
00:29:42to ensure that,
00:29:44you know,
00:29:44that our policies
00:29:45reflect our values.
00:29:48You know,
00:29:49as much as I recognize
00:29:51that there are people
00:29:52that would like
00:29:53to see things move quicker,
00:29:54I was talking
00:29:55to a state senator
00:29:57who carried a bill
00:29:59for Mayor Richard M. Daley.
00:30:02And it took him 16 years
00:30:05to pass that bill.
00:30:06And Mayor Richard M. Daley
00:30:07wasn't even mayor
00:30:08once he passed it.
00:30:09Now, I'm not saying
00:30:10that we're going to,
00:30:11you know,
00:30:12take that type of length
00:30:13of time.
00:30:14But what I'm just simply
00:30:14saying is that
00:30:15what my administration
00:30:16has been able
00:30:17to accomplish
00:30:17in just two months,
00:30:1920 months, rather,
00:30:21from pay time off,
00:30:23from abolishing
00:30:24subminimum wage
00:30:25to settling
00:30:26the teacher's contract,
00:30:27settling Local 73's contract,
00:30:29Chicago Police Department's contract,
00:30:31to our Cut the Tape initiative
00:30:34that is expediting
00:30:35how we do business
00:30:38in the city of Chicago,
00:30:39the growth
00:30:39of our youth employment.
00:30:41Again,
00:30:41almost 4,000 affordable homes
00:30:43have been built.
00:30:44It's clear that
00:30:45our agenda is moving
00:30:46at a pace
00:30:47that I don't think
00:30:48people anticipated,
00:30:49opening up
00:30:50three mental health clinics.
00:30:51Violent crime is down.
00:30:53Some people reported
00:30:54that our idea
00:30:54is that it would take years
00:30:56for the manifestation
00:30:57of those investments
00:30:58to take root
00:30:59and then to show
00:31:00some fruit
00:31:01from that labor.
00:31:03But yet,
00:31:04here we are.
00:31:05Look,
00:31:05I'm committed
00:31:06to making sure
00:31:07that the values
00:31:08that I ran on
00:31:09and that the people
00:31:10of Chicago
00:31:10expect me to deliver on,
00:31:11that we're going
00:31:12to do everything
00:31:13in our power
00:31:13to ensure that.
00:31:14As far as roadblocks,
00:31:15it's like any other
00:31:16parliamentary
00:31:16or procedural elements
00:31:18where you hear
00:31:20the experiences
00:31:20of other experts
00:31:22who have a vested interest
00:31:24in any variety
00:31:25of the things
00:31:26that you just mentioned.
00:31:27We're going to continue
00:31:27to listen to them,
00:31:28but I'm confident
00:31:29we'll build
00:31:30the coalition
00:31:31that's necessary
00:31:31to see these things
00:31:32come to pass.
00:31:35And what budget
00:31:36contingency plans
00:31:37are you exploring,
00:31:38if any,
00:31:38for if the Trump
00:31:39administration
00:31:40makes good
00:31:41on its threat
00:31:41to revoke $3.5 billion
00:31:43in federal funding?
00:31:44Thank you for that question.
00:31:46You know,
00:31:46these aren't threats anymore.
00:31:49These are real,
00:31:50you know,
00:31:51adversarial attacks
00:31:52against working people.
00:31:53You know,
00:31:53one of the reasons
00:31:54why we were so adamant
00:31:55about the $1.25 billion
00:31:57investment
00:31:57for housing
00:31:59and economic development
00:32:00so that we don't have
00:32:01to rely upon
00:32:01the federal government
00:32:02for everything.
00:32:03Same thing
00:32:04with our infrastructure
00:32:05investment,
00:32:06$820 million,
00:32:07$830 million
00:32:10to respond
00:32:11to these areas.
00:32:15You know,
00:32:15we're starting
00:32:16to process
00:32:17a lot earlier
00:32:17than we've ever had.
00:32:18I believe in the history
00:32:19of Chicago
00:32:19so that we can bring
00:32:21all stakeholders together
00:32:22to begin to think about,
00:32:23you know,
00:32:24how we might approach this.
00:32:25One thing that I can tell
00:32:26you this for sure,
00:32:27Chicago will continue
00:32:28to lead the way
00:32:29in investing in people
00:32:30and ensuring
00:32:30that we're protecting workers.
00:32:32And we're going
00:32:33to take all
00:32:33of those ideas
00:32:34from the business community,
00:32:36from our alders.
00:32:37We're going to continue
00:32:38to work with our legislators,
00:32:39right,
00:32:40in Springfield.
00:32:40They have a $3.1 billion
00:32:42budget deficit
00:32:43that they have to close.
00:32:45These are deficits
00:32:45that exist all over the country.
00:32:47We've been able
00:32:48to manage
00:32:48over this last couple
00:32:49of budgets
00:32:50and thank God
00:32:51that we have
00:32:51a very strong,
00:32:53dedicated administration
00:32:54that has put forth ideas
00:32:55that have maintained
00:32:56and held the line.
00:32:58And this is going
00:32:58to be tough.
00:32:59It's going to be hard,
00:32:59but this is Chicago.
00:33:01We're up for it.
00:33:01Hey, Mayor.
00:33:03Hey.
00:33:04Ottoman Brian Hopkins
00:33:05is working on changes
00:33:06to his curfew ordinance
00:33:07that could come up
00:33:08for a vote tomorrow
00:33:09to make any earlier
00:33:118 p.m. curfew
00:33:11more targeted.
00:33:13Are you opposed
00:33:14to that effort
00:33:14and what do you think
00:33:15about his curfew push?
00:33:16Well, look,
00:33:17as I said before,
00:33:18you know,
00:33:18I don't believe
00:33:19creating, you know,
00:33:21policies for a very narrow
00:33:23space in the city
00:33:25of Chicago
00:33:26is the right approach
00:33:27because that's not really
00:33:28dealing with the actual issue.
00:33:30And the issue is
00:33:31that we do have
00:33:32to hold people accountable,
00:33:33but we also have
00:33:33to make sure
00:33:34that there are
00:33:34opportunities for folks.
00:33:36So diverting the problem
00:33:37somewhere else,
00:33:37that's not,
00:33:39that doesn't reflect
00:33:41my values.
00:33:41And I believe
00:33:42most Chicagoans
00:33:42don't want to see that.
00:33:44What I can tell you
00:33:45is that there are
00:33:46a number of stakeholders
00:33:46that are coming together.
00:33:48You know,
00:33:48Alderman Hopkins
00:33:49has been amenable
00:33:52to some of the suggestions
00:33:55that have been,
00:33:56you know,
00:33:57placed on the table.
00:33:58And we're going to continue
00:33:59to bring people together
00:34:00to make sure
00:34:00that we're doing
00:34:01something that's right
00:34:02versus just simply reactionary.
00:34:06Will a new contract
00:34:07for gun violence
00:34:08detection technology
00:34:09be issued
00:34:10before the start
00:34:10of the summer?
00:34:11And why is this
00:34:12specific technology
00:34:12a priority for you?
00:34:15Well, look,
00:34:16public safety
00:34:17is my priority, right?
00:34:18It's not one thing, right?
00:34:19This is the number one
00:34:20priority that I have.
00:34:21And if you,
00:34:23again,
00:34:24as I've indicated,
00:34:26we're going to do
00:34:27everything necessary
00:34:28to build safer communities.
00:34:30And then, look,
00:34:31here's, you know,
00:34:32some positive news.
00:34:33We know the bulk
00:34:33of our work
00:34:34is still in front of us.
00:34:35But, you know,
00:34:36at the height
00:34:37of the detection
00:34:38that, you know,
00:34:39we parted ways with,
00:34:41you had some of the most,
00:34:43you know,
00:34:43you had some of the highest
00:34:43numbers of homicides
00:34:44and shootings
00:34:45that we had seen
00:34:47in the city of Chicago
00:34:48over the course
00:34:48of, you know, decades.
00:34:50We're already seeing
00:34:52a decline
00:34:52without the technology,
00:34:54right?
00:34:55And so this is why,
00:34:56you know,
00:34:56for me as mayor,
00:34:58and I know some others,
00:35:00you know,
00:35:00have a, you know,
00:35:01more narrow
00:35:02kind of view
00:35:03of this work.
00:35:04But the,
00:35:05what I bring
00:35:06to this conversation
00:35:07is far more comprehensive.
00:35:08So it's why we,
00:35:10you know,
00:35:10we're very adamant
00:35:11about expediting
00:35:13getting to 200
00:35:14more detectives.
00:35:15And we're seeing
00:35:16the benefit
00:35:16of how violent crime,
00:35:19when it does occur,
00:35:20the clearance rate
00:35:21is much higher.
00:35:23The helicopters,
00:35:25right?
00:35:26The mental health support,
00:35:29right,
00:35:29in our communities.
00:35:31Showing up with jobs
00:35:32and economic opportunities,
00:35:33right?
00:35:34I mean,
00:35:34if it was just one,
00:35:35if it were just one thing
00:35:36that could make us all safe,
00:35:39I believe the city of Chicago
00:35:40would have purchased that
00:35:41before I became mayor.
00:35:42It's not just one thing.
00:35:43It's going to take all of us.
00:35:44It's also going to take,
00:35:45you know,
00:35:46our business community
00:35:47as they have stepped up
00:35:48and they are raising money
00:35:49for violence prevention
00:35:50and our CVI workers.
00:35:52There's a whole plethora
00:35:53of ideas
00:35:54as well as policies
00:35:56that we've implemented
00:35:57that I believe
00:35:59are attributed
00:36:00to the decline
00:36:01that we are experiencing.
00:36:02So, you know,
00:36:03we're going through
00:36:03that RFI process
00:36:04and, you know,
00:36:05we'll see who manages
00:36:07to move to the top
00:36:08and we'll make
00:36:09the appropriate decision
00:36:10when the time comes.
00:36:12Mayor, how are you?
00:36:13I'm pretty good.
00:36:14So, I failed to mention,
00:36:15I'm sorry,
00:36:16not just the Cubs
00:36:17and the Sox,
00:36:18but the Bulls
00:36:19are in a playoff game.
00:36:20How about that?
00:36:20So, I'm feeling pretty great.
00:36:23Is that a new haircut
00:36:24you got?
00:36:24Looks good.
00:36:25Okay, all right.
00:36:25Knock it off, Craig.
00:36:26I wanted to circle back
00:36:30to Brian Hopkins
00:36:31and this ordinance.
00:36:33Is there any kind
00:36:34of modification
00:36:35or amendments
00:36:36to an 8 p.m. curfew
00:36:38that you might be amenable
00:36:39to that, you know,
00:36:41you could work with police
00:36:42and alders to
00:36:43and people in
00:36:44Stringerville, for example,
00:36:45to make everybody
00:36:46feel safer
00:36:47and yet still allow
00:36:48the kids to have
00:36:49some ability
00:36:50to go everywhere
00:36:51in the city,
00:36:52as you said.
00:36:52Yeah, so, you know,
00:36:53again, the issue is
00:36:55if you just simply
00:36:57create a curfew
00:36:58within a parameter
00:37:00or boundaries
00:37:01that, first of all,
00:37:04you know,
00:37:05I would question
00:37:05just the constitutionality
00:37:09around that, right?
00:37:10I mean, I'm not a,
00:37:11you know,
00:37:12constitutional law professor,
00:37:14but, you know,
00:37:15if you're only targeting
00:37:17a particular area,
00:37:18I believe
00:37:20and I see a scenario
00:37:21in which
00:37:22that just simply
00:37:24pushes the challenge
00:37:27elsewhere.
00:37:29What our approach
00:37:30has been
00:37:31has been,
00:37:33again,
00:37:34making sure
00:37:35that we are
00:37:36keeping people safe
00:37:37and holding people
00:37:39accountable
00:37:40if, you know,
00:37:41they work outside
00:37:42of, you know,
00:37:44the parameters
00:37:44of what, you know,
00:37:45every person in society,
00:37:46I believe,
00:37:47holds to certain,
00:37:48you know,
00:37:48morals of what safety
00:37:50constitutes as,
00:37:51look,
00:37:52you know,
00:37:53as a parent,
00:37:54and I was talking
00:37:54to my son about this,
00:37:56you know,
00:37:56yesterday,
00:37:57because there was
00:37:58a situation
00:37:58that broke out
00:37:59yesterday
00:38:00in a different
00:38:02setting,
00:38:04you know,
00:38:04but for many
00:38:06young people,
00:38:07they want to be able
00:38:08to enjoy the city
00:38:10and be safe,
00:38:12right,
00:38:12because it could
00:38:13potentially,
00:38:14if we don't
00:38:15hold to certain
00:38:17safety elements,
00:38:18it could ruin it
00:38:18for other people.
00:38:20The last thing
00:38:21that I'll say to this
00:38:22is that there is a table
00:38:23that we've convened,
00:38:24right,
00:38:25where we're working
00:38:26through a variety
00:38:27of possibilities.
00:38:29My main responsibility
00:38:30and goal
00:38:31is to keep people safe,
00:38:32and especially
00:38:33our young people,
00:38:34and we don't want
00:38:35violence to be,
00:38:36you know,
00:38:37the experience
00:38:39that they have,
00:38:39because that happens
00:38:40enough already
00:38:41in this city.
00:38:42So the table is open,
00:38:43and we're discussing
00:38:44ideas,
00:38:45and, you know,
00:38:46Alderman Hopkins
00:38:46is a bright human being,
00:38:49and I know
00:38:50his heart's
00:38:50in the right place.
00:38:51We just want to make sure
00:38:52that we do something
00:38:53that works
00:38:53for the entire city.
00:38:54Could you speak
00:38:56to this past weekend,
00:38:58Deputy Mayor Gary
00:38:59and Gatewood
00:38:59spoke to it,
00:39:00that two of the
00:39:01three teen trends,
00:39:03or whatever we want
00:39:03to call them,
00:39:04were prevented.
00:39:06Could one of you
00:39:07speak to, you know,
00:39:08what contributed to that,
00:39:09and is this some
00:39:10new policy that you're
00:39:11going to try to institute
00:39:12in coordination
00:39:13with the police
00:39:14to try to prevent these?
00:39:15Yeah, thank you
00:39:16for that question.
00:39:16I just, you know,
00:39:17before I pass it
00:39:17to our Deputy Mayor,
00:39:19you know,
00:39:20these invitations
00:39:22come quite frequently,
00:39:26right?
00:39:26And there are
00:39:27a number of these
00:39:29invites that
00:39:30don't materialize
00:39:31because of the hard work
00:39:32that is done,
00:39:33but I'll, you know,
00:39:34pass it to our Deputy Mayor
00:39:35Gatewood to speak
00:39:36specifically to some
00:39:37of the strategies
00:39:39that we use.
00:39:40We don't want to,
00:39:41you know,
00:39:42divulge all of them,
00:39:44right, because,
00:39:44you know,
00:39:44some of these individuals
00:39:46who are promoting
00:39:46these events,
00:39:48believe it or not,
00:39:48they do watch
00:39:49my press conferences.
00:39:51Thank you, Mayor.
00:39:52That's a great question,
00:39:53Craig.
00:39:54You know,
00:39:55we can go back
00:39:55to last summer
00:39:56where we saw spikes
00:39:57in teen trends
00:39:58and we did a lot
00:39:59of work to help
00:40:01eliminate those,
00:40:01including working
00:40:03with the Fourth Ward
00:40:04and hiring a young person
00:40:05who was promoting
00:40:06those teen trends
00:40:06who actually helped us
00:40:08put together
00:40:08Peacepalooza
00:40:09in the Fourth Ward.
00:40:11So, you know,
00:40:11the Mayor often talks
00:40:12about youth employment.
00:40:15That's a prime example
00:40:16of a young person
00:40:17who was helping
00:40:18lead that charge,
00:40:20who we brought in
00:40:21to help work with us
00:40:22and kind of stop
00:40:23some of those.
00:40:24In regards to some
00:40:25of the additional work
00:40:26that happens,
00:40:27that is a strong line
00:40:28of communication
00:40:29between the Chicago
00:40:30Police Department,
00:40:31the Office of Emergency
00:40:31Management Communications,
00:40:33our partners
00:40:34in community violence
00:40:35intervention,
00:40:36and so many other folks
00:40:37come to the table
00:40:38together to have
00:40:38a better understanding
00:40:39of how we deploy resources,
00:40:41how we communicate
00:40:42with promoters,
00:40:43and some of the other work.
00:40:45And I will say,
00:40:45in regards to the table
00:40:46that the Mayor mentioned,
00:40:47we met with
00:40:48Alderman Hopkins,
00:40:49Alderman Robinson,
00:40:51Alderman Conway's office,
00:40:52and also Alderman Riley's office
00:40:54just last week
00:40:55to talk about
00:40:56not just a curfew,
00:40:58but honestly how we look
00:40:59at large gatherings overall
00:41:00and how we can partner
00:41:02with each other
00:41:02so it is not just
00:41:04one community
00:41:05because we've also
00:41:06had conversations
00:41:06with people
00:41:07in the Streeterville community.
00:41:09So we've been
00:41:09very intentional
00:41:10about our outreach
00:41:12and what we plan
00:41:13to roll out
00:41:14throughout the summer.
00:41:15We're going to listen
00:41:16to the young folks.
00:41:17We're going to listen
00:41:18to those community members.
00:41:19We're going to listen
00:41:20to faith leaders.
00:41:21All of us are going
00:41:21to come together
00:41:22to develop a policy
00:41:24that can continue
00:41:25to help the decline
00:41:28in teen trans.
00:41:28Now, obviously,
00:41:29you're not going to stop
00:41:30all of them
00:41:30because just again,
00:41:32like as I mentioned,
00:41:33there were three promoted,
00:41:34but the one that happened
00:41:35a couple of weeks ago
00:41:36wasn't promoted
00:41:36and we stopped three that day.
00:41:38So we're going to continue
00:41:39to do our work
00:41:40to work with the people
00:41:41who are organizing those
00:41:42and continue to deploy
00:41:43the resources
00:41:44as necessary
00:41:45to try to put a stop
00:41:47to them before they happen
00:41:48or before they get
00:41:49out of control.
00:41:53Almost good afternoon.
00:41:54Yes, almost good afternoon.
00:41:57Following up
00:41:58on what you were talking about,
00:42:00the latest teen gatherings
00:42:02that have happened downtown,
00:42:04what are your feelings
00:42:05on the overall feeling
00:42:07of people who live
00:42:08in those areas
00:42:09where these are happening
00:42:10and their fear
00:42:12that they've expressed
00:42:13to us in interviews?
00:42:15And also,
00:42:16what are the alternatives
00:42:18that are being considered
00:42:20beyond this?
00:42:22And, you know,
00:42:23to divert the kids
00:42:25as you were talking about,
00:42:26if you are able
00:42:27to knock one out
00:42:28before it starts,
00:42:30where are they going?
00:42:32Are they staying home?
00:42:33What are the things
00:42:34that are happening?
00:42:35Those are excellent questions.
00:42:36Let me just say, you know,
00:42:38about the first part
00:42:39of your question.
00:42:40It is not just frightening.
00:42:44It is overwhelmingly cumbersome.
00:42:50And, you know,
00:42:51I'll just speak
00:42:52on a very personal level
00:42:53because some of these matters
00:42:54don't make the news.
00:42:57You know, I've lived
00:42:58in a couple of communities
00:42:59in Chicago, you know,
00:43:02where whether it was documented
00:43:03as a teen trend or not,
00:43:05you're coming home
00:43:06after, you know,
00:43:07a tournament with your kids
00:43:09and it's nine o'clock
00:43:10at night
00:43:10and there's an apartment
00:43:12building on the end
00:43:14of the block
00:43:15that invited some people over
00:43:18and it spills over
00:43:19into the streets.
00:43:20You know, that is,
00:43:21that can be very intimidating
00:43:24and fearful.
00:43:26So I know that feeling
00:43:28personally, right?
00:43:29You know, these aren't,
00:43:30these are not situations
00:43:34that have merely broken out
00:43:38in this particular section
00:43:39of the city.
00:43:41There are a number of gatherings
00:43:44that in some instances
00:43:46in some of our neighborhoods,
00:43:47they start off
00:43:48as a birthday party
00:43:49or just kind of hanging out
00:43:52on the inside of the house
00:43:53and then more people
00:43:55get invited
00:43:55and then it spills over
00:43:57onto the block,
00:43:58you know, onto the major,
00:44:00you know, street
00:44:01that's connected
00:44:02to that particular block
00:44:03and, you know,
00:44:05you're trying to drive
00:44:06your car through
00:44:07and people won't move
00:44:08out of the way
00:44:08and, you know,
00:44:10you're getting looks.
00:44:11I'll just say it like that
00:44:12and I know there are
00:44:13a number of people
00:44:14in Chicago
00:44:14that have experienced that,
00:44:16particularly on the west
00:44:16and south sides.
00:44:17So we're very familiar
00:44:19with that
00:44:19and, you know,
00:44:21this is why, you know,
00:44:23I think it's so critical.
00:44:24I mean, I think to you,
00:44:25the last part of your question
00:44:26of why we have to have
00:44:28a holistic approach
00:44:29because we've seen
00:44:31where in some neighborhoods
00:44:34where these,
00:44:36they're not referred to
00:44:37as trends
00:44:38or teen takeovers
00:44:39but they're large gatherings
00:44:41where they've gotten
00:44:42out of control
00:44:42and someone, you know,
00:44:44has a gun
00:44:45and then it leads
00:44:47to a mass shooting, right?
00:44:48Ultimately,
00:44:49what our desire is
00:44:50is to have a full strategy
00:44:52that involves
00:44:53and encompasses everyone
00:44:55because I think
00:44:57to the inference
00:44:58that you were making
00:44:59or reference
00:45:00that you were making
00:45:00about making sure
00:45:02that it just doesn't,
00:45:03you know,
00:45:03metastasize, right,
00:45:05or redeploy somewhere else,
00:45:07that is not what I believe
00:45:09the people of Chicago
00:45:10want as relief
00:45:11just as long as
00:45:12it doesn't happen over here.
00:45:13Our approach
00:45:14is to make sure
00:45:15that it doesn't happen anywhere
00:45:16and there are a number
00:45:18of strategies
00:45:18that we have used
00:45:19to help, you know,
00:45:21pipe that type
00:45:22of activity down
00:45:23but it's something
00:45:24that we're working on, right?
00:45:26I mean,
00:45:26I think the last thing
00:45:27that I'll say is
00:45:28these type of large gatherings,
00:45:30what are now referred
00:45:31to as teen trends,
00:45:33they were called
00:45:33something else
00:45:3415 years ago, right?
00:45:35So this is,
00:45:36as the Bible says,
00:45:37there's nothing new
00:45:38under the sun
00:45:38but our approach
00:45:40certainly has to be
00:45:40far more innovative
00:45:41to ensure that
00:45:42we keep people safe
00:45:44and then we hold
00:45:45people accountable
00:45:45if they work outside
00:45:46of the parameters
00:45:47of the law.
00:45:47Okay.
00:45:49Governor Whitmer
00:45:50made headlines
00:45:52visiting the White House
00:45:54recently.
00:45:55Mayor Lightfoot
00:45:56went to the White House
00:45:57during the first Trump term
00:45:59to have meetings.
00:46:02You know where it's going.
00:46:05With the budget in mind,
00:46:07with your budget in mind
00:46:08for the city,
00:46:10what are your thoughts
00:46:12on having a meeting
00:46:13with the Trump administration
00:46:15to try and,
00:46:19for lack of a better phrase,
00:46:20kiss the ring
00:46:21to be able to not,
00:46:23to stop the federal funds
00:46:26from being held back
00:46:27from the city of Chicago?
00:46:31Well, I will just say,
00:46:33you know,
00:46:33outside of a 2016,
00:46:35you know,
00:46:36Cubs World Series ring,
00:46:37I'm not kissing a ring.
00:46:38Okay.
00:46:40All right.
00:46:40So,
00:46:41I actually think,
00:46:46all right,
00:46:47let's break news.
00:46:48Okay.
00:46:49I'm going to make
00:46:49my comms director
00:46:51get upset here.
00:46:54The president
00:46:55of the United States
00:46:56of America
00:46:56has an open invitation
00:46:57to the fifth floor
00:46:58of the greatest freaking city
00:46:59in the world,
00:46:59the city of Chicago.
00:47:01He'd come talk to me.
00:47:03And here's,
00:47:04in all its sincerity,
00:47:05you know,
00:47:07Al Raby invited
00:47:08Dr. King
00:47:09to come to Chicago.
00:47:10He was one of many.
00:47:12And just not too far,
00:47:13I've just run a corner here,
00:47:16Dr. King was in the office
00:47:18with Mayor Richard J. Daley.
00:47:20And I think
00:47:20that it's pretty well documented
00:47:22of their relationship
00:47:24and how they felt
00:47:25about one another.
00:47:28I am open
00:47:29and willing
00:47:29to talk to anyone.
00:47:31There is a long history
00:47:32of,
00:47:33and I'm going to just
00:47:34be bold here for a second,
00:47:35there's a long history
00:47:36of black political leaders
00:47:38talking to people
00:47:39who may not see us
00:47:41as first class.
00:47:45In fact,
00:47:46you know,
00:47:47Frederick Douglass
00:47:47spoke to individuals
00:47:48that only counted him
00:47:50two-thirds
00:47:51worth of a human being.
00:47:54Whether it's the White House
00:47:55or whether it's
00:47:56the fifth floor,
00:47:57I have a responsibility
00:47:59to working people
00:48:00and advocating
00:48:01on behalf of working people.
00:48:02But trying to force
00:48:05your will
00:48:06to break the spirit
00:48:08of working people
00:48:09in order to have
00:48:10a conversation,
00:48:12that's terrorism.
00:48:17We're not going to
00:48:18negotiate with terrorists.
00:48:21We're going to negotiate
00:48:22on behalf of working people
00:48:23in this city.
00:48:24And that's what American people
00:48:25want us to do.
00:48:26There's a reason why
00:48:27he's losing support.
00:48:28Now, he doesn't care.
00:48:29He doesn't.
00:48:31But I have a responsibility
00:48:33to make sure
00:48:33that I'm advocating
00:48:34for the people
00:48:35who want our schools
00:48:36to be well-funded,
00:48:37that our public health
00:48:38is well-funded.
00:48:40We had a police officer
00:48:41that
00:48:41who was a mother
00:48:47and a wife
00:48:48who was walking around
00:48:51and doing this job
00:48:53clearly in pain.
00:48:54clearly in pain.
00:48:59This president
00:49:00refuses to
00:49:01see our humanity.
00:49:06There are families
00:49:07who are desperately
00:49:08looking for good-paying jobs
00:49:11and are worried
00:49:11about whether or not
00:49:12their ends are going to meet.
00:49:15And his response
00:49:16to this economy
00:49:18is to give tax breaks
00:49:20and benefits
00:49:21to the ultra-rich
00:49:21while the rest of us
00:49:23are struggling.
00:49:25Now, I'm happy
00:49:26to talk to him,
00:49:27but I'm going to tell him
00:49:27the truth.
00:49:29You've got to show up
00:49:30for working people
00:49:30in this city
00:49:31and this country
00:49:31and not for the oligarchs
00:49:33and the ultra-rich.
00:49:35That's what has destroyed
00:49:36our economy
00:49:37is that we have
00:49:39the ultra-rich
00:49:40who continue to receive
00:49:41tax breaks
00:49:41while the rest of us
00:49:42have to pay
00:49:43for their failures.
00:49:47He should get here
00:49:47as soon as possible
00:49:48because people of Chicago
00:49:50and this country
00:49:50need him
00:49:52to actually show up
00:49:53for working people.
00:49:56And just so your words
00:49:57are not misconstrued somehow,
00:49:59you said
00:50:00you're talking about terrorism.
00:50:02You're not calling
00:50:03the president a terrorist?
00:50:04No.
00:50:05What I'm saying is
00:50:05trying to hold people hostage
00:50:08and manipulating them
00:50:09to succumb to his will
00:50:11and then hold up
00:50:13our tax dollars,
00:50:15that is how terrorists behave.
00:50:18And look,
00:50:20he's not going to hold
00:50:21the people of Chicago ransom.
00:50:27Good afternoon, Mayor.
00:50:29Good afternoon.
00:50:32Sort of following up on that,
00:50:33but from another direction,
00:50:35how satisfied are you
00:50:38with how Congress,
00:50:41whether it be our delegation
00:50:43or any delegations
00:50:44are confronting
00:50:46what's happening
00:50:47to the cities,
00:50:48cities like this
00:50:49and around the country?
00:50:54Look, I know there are
00:50:55a lot of people
00:50:56who serve this country
00:50:57in Washington
00:50:59who believe,
00:51:02as I do,
00:51:04that they have
00:51:04a responsibility
00:51:06to ensure
00:51:07that the lives
00:51:08of everyday people
00:51:09improve.
00:51:10improve.
00:51:12Unfortunately,
00:51:15you have
00:51:16extremism
00:51:17in this country
00:51:19that
00:51:20has intimidated
00:51:24the Republican Party.
00:51:27Look,
00:51:28I'm not saying Democrats
00:51:30are perfect.
00:51:31In fact,
00:51:31every political battle
00:51:33that I've been in
00:51:33has been in primarily
00:51:34with Democrats.
00:51:36Right?
00:51:36I've taken on
00:51:38Democrats in this city
00:51:39in this state
00:51:40and this county
00:51:40who came up short.
00:51:46But it is very clear
00:51:48that the party right now
00:51:51that is
00:51:52demonstrating
00:51:58a level of weakness
00:52:03and tepidness
00:52:06are Republican leaders
00:52:09who know
00:52:10that this president
00:52:10is off.
00:52:13Everybody knows
00:52:14he's off.
00:52:16And somehow
00:52:17they thought
00:52:18that he was going
00:52:18to turn it on
00:52:19once he got elected.
00:52:22And
00:52:22where the dissatisfaction
00:52:24is
00:52:25is that
00:52:25we have
00:52:27extremism
00:52:30extremism
00:52:30in this country
00:52:31that refuses
00:52:32to hold him accountable.
00:52:36The evolution
00:52:37of our democracy
00:52:38can be attributed
00:52:40to how workers
00:52:41and families
00:52:42fought back
00:52:43to ensure
00:52:44that the prioritization
00:52:45of the government
00:52:47was on everyday people.
00:52:48May Day is coming up
00:52:49and another marker
00:52:50and indication
00:52:51of how our democracy
00:52:52has evolved.
00:52:53and
00:52:54I am
00:52:55highly disappointed
00:52:57that his own party
00:52:59won't provide
00:52:59some level of check
00:53:00and balance
00:53:02to his approach.
00:53:05And here's the thing
00:53:06the last thing
00:53:06that I'll say on this
00:53:07is that
00:53:07you know
00:53:10when Ronald Reagan
00:53:10was president
00:53:11of the United States
00:53:12of America
00:53:12Mayor Harry Washington
00:53:13was the mayor.
00:53:15I just want to remind
00:53:16people the words
00:53:16that Mayor Harry Washington
00:53:18articulated so well
00:53:19that our continent
00:53:21is built
00:53:22on cities.
00:53:24This country
00:53:26is not a country
00:53:27for the people
00:53:28by the people
00:53:29of the people
00:53:30if the cities
00:53:31are not secure.
00:53:32That's why
00:53:32it wasn't a coincidence
00:53:33that the governor
00:53:35of Texas
00:53:35attacked our city.
00:53:37They were working
00:53:38to destabilize
00:53:39democratically run cities
00:53:41and then to do it
00:53:42under the guise
00:53:43of immigration reform.
00:53:46No.
00:53:46These individuals
00:53:47never wanted
00:53:47to solve a problem.
00:53:49They wanted chaos.
00:53:50We brought order
00:53:51and structure
00:53:52to this city
00:53:53under extreme circumstances
00:53:54and then turn
00:53:55that system
00:53:56into a one system
00:53:57initiative
00:53:57in which we are
00:53:58housing families
00:53:59who are unsheltered.
00:54:01Of which 89%
00:54:02of them are Chicagoans.
00:54:03The vast majority
00:54:03of them are black
00:54:04and not one person
00:54:05is on a waiting list
00:54:06who calls for shelter.
00:54:08We had to take
00:54:09that crisis,
00:54:10manage it,
00:54:11turn it into an operation
00:54:12so that it works
00:54:12for people.
00:54:13Unfortunately,
00:54:14this president
00:54:15is determined
00:54:16to destabilize cities
00:54:17like Chicago
00:54:18and it is incredibly
00:54:20reprehensible
00:54:21and sometimes
00:54:22even feels incorrigible
00:54:23at times
00:54:24that this individual
00:54:25refuses to recognize
00:54:27the value
00:54:28of the cities
00:54:30of this country.
00:54:32And so,
00:54:32I believe
00:54:33that our Illinois delegation,
00:54:36I mean,
00:54:36they're strong,
00:54:37fierce,
00:54:38you know,
00:54:39unapologetic
00:54:40about their values.
00:54:42They're aligned
00:54:42with our vision
00:54:44for more affordable housing
00:54:45and investing
00:54:46in our public schools,
00:54:47ensuring that public
00:54:48and mental health
00:54:49support services
00:54:49are there,
00:54:50driving violence
00:54:51down in the city
00:54:52of Chicago.
00:54:54You know,
00:54:54so,
00:54:54like,
00:54:54really the challenge
00:54:55has to be
00:54:56amongst the people.
00:54:58Like,
00:54:59we have to come together.
00:55:00I believe
00:55:00what Senator Sanders
00:55:02and Congresswoman
00:55:03Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
00:55:07are doing
00:55:07all over the country,
00:55:09organizing people,
00:55:10that's what it's going
00:55:11to take in this moment.
00:55:12It's not going to come down
00:55:13to a single politician,
00:55:14but it's only going
00:55:15to come down
00:55:15to a singular focus
00:55:17of ensuring
00:55:18that working people
00:55:18and our values
00:55:19are front and center.
00:55:21Thank you for that.
00:55:23Let me go back
00:55:24to the issue
00:55:26of the settlements
00:55:27and judgments
00:55:28involving police misconduct.
00:55:33Granted,
00:55:34almost everything
00:55:35that we're dealing
00:55:36with now
00:55:36happened years,
00:55:39decades ago,
00:55:40but what are we seeing
00:55:42in terms of
00:55:44what's happening now?
00:55:45Are we seeing numbers,
00:55:47whether they are
00:55:47in cases
00:55:48or in complaints,
00:55:51that suggest
00:55:52that the kinds
00:55:52of reforms
00:55:53that have been put
00:55:54in place
00:55:54are starting
00:55:56to take hold,
00:55:57that we're not going
00:55:57to keep seeing
00:55:58these numbers
00:55:59going forward?
00:56:00Yeah,
00:56:00it's an impressive question.
00:56:02It really is.
00:56:04So I just think
00:56:04it requires
00:56:05an impressive brain
00:56:07to lean in as well,
00:56:09Mary Wintus and Laurie.
00:56:10I will say, though,
00:56:11as I indicated before,
00:56:13constitutional policing
00:56:14is certainly
00:56:16the model
00:56:17that's been fully embraced.
00:56:1992% of the compliance level
00:56:23where there's
00:56:23at least some degree
00:56:24of compliance,
00:56:25ultimate compliance
00:56:26where at 16%,
00:56:28there's better training
00:56:30that has taken place,
00:56:32and to your point
00:56:33that there are
00:56:34stronger policies
00:56:35that reduce
00:56:37some of the interactions
00:56:40that have led
00:56:40to misconduct
00:56:42in terms of,
00:56:44you know,
00:56:45specific outcomes
00:56:46that we're seeing
00:56:47as a result there.
00:56:48I don't know,
00:56:49Mary or Garen,
00:56:49if you want to
00:56:50jump in on that.
00:56:52Sure.
00:56:53Thank you for the question.
00:56:55Certainly,
00:56:56the orders
00:56:57that existed then
00:56:58are not orders
00:56:59that exist now.
00:57:02The methodologies
00:57:04around policing
00:57:05are not what it is now.
00:57:08Even how we view
00:57:10and treat the cases
00:57:11has evolved considerably
00:57:14over time,
00:57:15and all of those
00:57:16learnings roll up
00:57:17into having
00:57:18better outcomes today.
00:57:21We have fewer reverse,
00:57:22I think we had four
00:57:24coming in
00:57:24all of last year
00:57:26that are associated
00:57:29with reverse convictions,
00:57:30so we have fewer cases
00:57:31coming in now,
00:57:32but we do have
00:57:34still some of those
00:57:35old cases.
00:57:36But what I want
00:57:37the public to understand,
00:57:39we don't still
00:57:40have those old policies.
00:57:42And what I'd further
00:57:43like the public
00:57:44to understand
00:57:44is that the law department
00:57:46works with the police department
00:57:48and the other
00:57:49operational departments
00:57:50so that we inform
00:57:52what we see
00:57:53on the legal side
00:57:54and they can modify
00:57:55what they implement
00:57:57with respect to policies.
00:58:00Garen?
00:58:00Mary, I think
00:58:02you knocked it out
00:58:03of the park.
00:58:04And obviously,
00:58:04we've seen a change
00:58:05in how policing
00:58:06is operated,
00:58:07especially under
00:58:08this administration
00:58:09and the mayor's leadership,
00:58:11just from the level
00:58:12of engagement
00:58:12that police officers
00:58:14are having
00:58:14in communities.
00:58:17Some of the oversight
00:58:18bodies
00:58:18and that partnership
00:58:19there,
00:58:20it's been very intentional
00:58:21about the way
00:58:22police are showing up
00:58:23in particular spaces.
00:58:24I mean,
00:58:25one key example
00:58:26would be
00:58:27how we've expanded
00:58:28the police
00:58:29and community violence
00:58:31interventions,
00:58:32partnerships,
00:58:33and their professional
00:58:33understanding.
00:58:34How we're expanding
00:58:35some of that workforce
00:58:36to really show up
00:58:37in different ways
00:58:38in communities
00:58:38to lead to different results.
00:58:41I mean,
00:58:41if you look at last year,
00:58:42some of the biggest
00:58:43decreases in crime
00:58:44were in areas
00:58:45of the city
00:58:46where we have seen
00:58:46the largest areas
00:58:47of disinvestment.
00:58:48The 11th district
00:58:49led the city
00:58:50in a decrease
00:58:50in homicides
00:58:51and shootings
00:58:52followed by the 7th district.
00:58:53So these are areas
00:58:55that have been
00:58:55historically plagued
00:58:56by violence
00:58:57and not the best
00:58:59relationships in policing.
00:59:01So it's been important
00:59:02that we have done
00:59:03our work
00:59:03along with the Chicago
00:59:04Police Department
00:59:05under the mayor's leadership
00:59:07and obviously
00:59:08with the leadership
00:59:09and support
00:59:09of the Department of Law
00:59:10to help build
00:59:11those relationships
00:59:12in those communities
00:59:13so we can work
00:59:14towards better outcomes.
00:59:15I mean,
00:59:15we're still paying tickets
00:59:16from 20, 30,
00:59:1840 years ago
00:59:19and obviously
00:59:20there are things
00:59:21that we have to change
00:59:23in this administration
00:59:24so 30 or 40 years
00:59:27down the line
00:59:27on Mayor Johnson's
00:59:2974th administration.
00:59:31You know,
00:59:32people aren't paying
00:59:33those same tickets
00:59:34from now
00:59:34so it's important
00:59:35that we partner on that.
00:59:36Let me just set
00:59:37the record straight.
00:59:38You know,
00:59:40yeah,
00:59:41I don't know,
00:59:41I'm sure if I'm going
00:59:42to do all those terms
00:59:42but I do think
00:59:44it's just to lift up
00:59:46going back
00:59:47to some of the other
00:59:47questions around
00:59:48you know,
00:59:49why we implement
00:59:51the policies
00:59:52that we implement
00:59:52even around
00:59:53welcoming city.
00:59:54The relationship
00:59:55between law enforcement
00:59:57and the community
00:59:58is so critical
00:59:59to our overall
01:00:00safety plan
01:00:01and the more
01:00:02we build
01:00:03that confidence
01:00:04between law enforcement
01:00:06and the community,
01:00:08I'm confident
01:00:10that it's going
01:00:10to lead
01:00:11to better results.
01:00:12I was just in
01:00:13West Humboldt Park
01:00:15earlier today
01:00:16and you know,
01:00:19look,
01:00:19we still have challenges,
01:00:20right,
01:00:21open drug markets
01:00:22and some of the other
01:00:24safety concerns
01:00:25but people are getting
01:00:26organized around there.
01:00:27I was in a room,
01:00:27I was in a church basement
01:00:28this morning,
01:00:29probably 50 people
01:00:30in the room
01:00:30who were all,
01:00:32you know,
01:00:32committed to
01:00:33the type of
01:00:35connections
01:00:36that we have to have
01:00:37and the 11th,
01:00:38the new 11th district
01:00:40commander Tate
01:00:41was there
01:00:41and some of the other
01:00:42police officers
01:00:43were there,
01:00:44groups that hired
01:00:45people were there,
01:00:46State Representative
01:00:48Lillian Jimenez
01:00:49was there as well,
01:00:51the faith community
01:00:53was there.
01:00:53What I'm ultimately
01:00:54saying is that
01:00:55it really is going
01:00:56to take all of us
01:00:57to come together
01:00:57collectively
01:00:58to repair the damage
01:01:00that has been done
01:01:01from decades ago
01:01:03but we are,
01:01:05we are a different Chicago,
01:01:07we're a better Chicago
01:01:08and we're certainly
01:01:09heading in the right direction.
01:01:10Thank you for those questions.
01:01:11Yes, ma'am.
01:01:11Good afternoon.
01:01:12As the mother
01:01:14of a college rugby player,
01:01:15I have to note
01:01:15Chicago Hounds
01:01:16are also number one
01:01:17right now.
01:01:20So the Trump administration's
01:01:22Department of Education
01:01:22is threatening
01:01:23more than a billion dollars
01:01:25in CPS funding
01:01:26if CPS doesn't get rid
01:01:27of its quote-unquote
01:01:28DEI policies.
01:01:30I've talked to
01:01:30the Department of Education,
01:01:31I've talked to ISBE
01:01:32and no one really seems
01:01:35to want to specify
01:01:35what it means
01:01:36to get rid of
01:01:37those DEI policies.
01:01:38What is your understanding
01:01:40of what they're pressuring
01:01:41CPS and other districts
01:01:43to do?
01:01:46My, my firm belief
01:01:49is that this administration
01:01:51just simply wants
01:01:53to wipe away the fabric
01:01:57of our, of our cities
01:01:59and our institutions.
01:02:01You know, we talk
01:02:02about public education
01:02:03a lot in this city
01:02:06and over decades,
01:02:08rightfully so.
01:02:08There's been
01:02:09ongoing struggles,
01:02:11right?
01:02:11And I've said this before,
01:02:12our challenges in Chicago
01:02:13did not start
01:02:14with Donald Trump.
01:02:16You know,
01:02:16one of the greatest,
01:02:17I believe,
01:02:19acts of terror
01:02:20that was ever administered
01:02:21by an administration
01:02:22was the Emanuel administration.
01:02:23I will never forget
01:02:25the closing
01:02:26of all of those schools,
01:02:28particularly in the black
01:02:29and brown community.
01:02:30I will never forget that.
01:02:32In fact,
01:02:32it was in part
01:02:33my motivation
01:02:34to get involved
01:02:34in politics.
01:02:36You know,
01:02:37and it's that type
01:02:37of extremism
01:02:38that has led
01:02:40to the dismantling
01:02:41of many of our
01:02:42public assets,
01:02:44right?
01:02:45Closing down
01:02:45of our mental health
01:02:46facilities,
01:02:48eradicating public
01:02:49and affordable housing.
01:02:52And whether it's
01:02:55the Trump administration
01:02:56or anyone else
01:02:57who has attacked
01:02:58our democracy
01:02:59in that way,
01:03:01that this is not
01:03:02about simply
01:03:03a feeling
01:03:03or an interpretation.
01:03:05This is about
01:03:06a direct assault
01:03:07on our democracy.
01:03:09And again,
01:03:12and I hope
01:03:13this doesn't sound
01:03:13hyperbolic,
01:03:16when forces want
01:03:20to intimidate
01:03:21and erode
01:03:22and disrupt democracies,
01:03:24they go after
01:03:25the institutions
01:03:26and particularly
01:03:26our public institutions.
01:03:28there are individuals
01:03:31who firmly believe
01:03:33that the teaching
01:03:34of black history,
01:03:37Asian American history,
01:03:38is a threat
01:03:39to their privilege.
01:03:43Right?
01:03:43This is coming
01:03:43from one particular direction.
01:03:47And, you know,
01:03:48I'll pass it
01:03:49to my chief of staff
01:03:50because she,
01:03:51you know,
01:03:52she's a Ph.D.
01:03:55She's been on the,
01:03:56she's been a state senator
01:03:57in the Illinois
01:03:59State Board of Education.
01:04:02Perhaps you can offer up
01:04:04some more context.
01:04:05Yeah, I mean,
01:04:06it's,
01:04:08it seems as though
01:04:10what he is attempting
01:04:13to do
01:04:13by dismantling
01:04:15the Department
01:04:16of Education
01:04:17is to erase
01:04:18history,
01:04:20to rewrite it,
01:04:22and to
01:04:23privilege
01:04:24a particular perspective
01:04:26that's in alignment
01:04:27with his
01:04:28ideological standings.
01:04:31I think one thing
01:04:33that has been
01:04:35effective
01:04:36in this discussion
01:04:37is understanding
01:04:39what is the role
01:04:40of the federal government
01:04:41in education,
01:04:42what is the role
01:04:44of the state,
01:04:45and then what is
01:04:46the role
01:04:46of the local government.
01:04:48That starts
01:04:48to kind of unpack
01:04:50the different
01:04:51levers
01:04:53that each
01:04:54of those
01:04:54governments have.
01:04:57But, you know,
01:04:58all of this
01:04:59essentially
01:04:59is a distraction,
01:05:01but it's also
01:05:01not a surprise.
01:05:03Project 2025
01:05:04outlined every single
01:05:05step that we are
01:05:06seeing today,
01:05:07and this is just
01:05:08another testament
01:05:09when people tell you
01:05:10who they are
01:05:11and what they're
01:05:11going to do,
01:05:12believe them,
01:05:13and make sure
01:05:14you have plans
01:05:15to mitigate,
01:05:16but also not
01:05:17to just survive,
01:05:18but to transform
01:05:19systems for the better
01:05:20so that 40 years
01:05:21from now,
01:05:22our children,
01:05:23grandchildren,
01:05:24can be talking
01:05:24about what we did
01:05:26in this exact moment
01:05:27during this particular
01:05:29period when you have
01:05:31somebody that has
01:05:32reckless decisions
01:05:34and reckless plans
01:05:36and reckless plans
01:05:36to essentially
01:05:38disappear people
01:05:39and eliminate
01:05:41what we have done
01:05:42and fought
01:05:43so hard for.
01:05:45All right.
01:05:46Switching gears
01:05:46a little bit,
01:05:47Axios is looking
01:05:48at data centers
01:05:49in the Midwest
01:05:49and how they're booming.
01:05:50Illinois is a big
01:05:51leader in terms
01:05:53of placing data centers.
01:05:55Are you in favor
01:05:55of putting any more
01:05:56in the city
01:05:57and state legislation
01:05:58pushing for more
01:05:59transparency
01:06:00about how much energy
01:06:01and how much water
01:06:02they use?
01:06:02Well, there's certainly
01:06:04a commitment
01:06:04to making sure
01:06:05that our sustainability
01:06:08efforts are not undermined.
01:06:13That's something
01:06:13that's important to me.
01:06:15There's been an ongoing
01:06:16conversation around
01:06:17data centers in Chicago.
01:06:19What I can say
01:06:20is that I have been
01:06:21open to the conversation.
01:06:24I have been open to it
01:06:25with some level of caveat,
01:06:27the one that you just
01:06:28mentioned in particular.
01:06:30I know that there are
01:06:31a number of
01:06:31entities that are exploring
01:06:33different locations
01:06:35in Chicago.
01:06:36Those conversations
01:06:37have been relatively
01:06:38productive
01:06:39and there's still
01:06:40a lot to learn
01:06:42and to be determined
01:06:42of one,
01:06:44not just their footprint,
01:06:45but the type of job
01:06:48opportunities
01:06:49that are provided.
01:06:50And there's been
01:06:51some good discussions,
01:06:52particularly around
01:06:53minority-owned
01:06:53data center entities.
01:06:58So again,
01:06:59open to the conversation,
01:07:00but again,
01:07:01still looking to
01:07:03figure out
01:07:04what the footprint
01:07:05looks like
01:07:06and whether or not
01:07:07Chicago is the
01:07:08ultimate viable place
01:07:09for some of these locations.
01:07:11So I appreciate
01:07:11you all today.
01:07:12Thank you for being patient.
01:07:13Thank you all.