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

I'M AMANDA VINICKY.

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS THE EVENING OFF.

WE WILL BE JOINED BY OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" GUESTS IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> AFTER TWO SUMMERS LARGELY SHUTTERED PIE THE PANDEMIC, CHICAGO MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAYS CHICAGO IS AGAIN TRULY OPEN AND THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND KICKS THAT OFF.

EVEN IF THE WEATHER CONDITIONS MADE THE IT HAZARDS 4 SWIMMING.

SUMMER SHOULD BE FUN AND SAFE AND YOUTH MUST FOLLOW NEW STRIBTDER CURFEW RULES.

>> I WANT TO BE CLEAR, OUR CHILDREN ARE WELCOME EVERYWHERE.

ANYWHERE THEY WANT TO BE.

THIS IS THEIR CITY, TOO.

AND WE SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID OF BLACK AND BROWN KIDS COMING DOWNTOWN.

THE ISSUE IS IF THE BEHAVIOR IS ONE THAT RECOGNIZES AND RESPECTS PEOPLE, PROPERTY AND SPACES.

>> THIS WEEKEND, THE CITY IS HOLDING PROGRAMS THAT WILL STRETCH INTO THE NIGHT IN VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS SO TEENS HAVE SOMETHING TO DO.

DAVID BROWN SAYS EXTRA OFFICERS WILL BE ON DUTY THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY.

>> ILLINOIS' SENIOR U.S.

SENATOR SAYS HE IS OPTIMISTIC NEGOTIATIONS INITIATED IN THE WAKE OF THE SCHOOL SHOOTING IN TEXAS WILL LEAD TO BIPARTISAN ACTION ON GUN CONTROL LIKE BACKGROUND CHECKS.

HE SAYS UVALDE COULD BE THE TIPPING POINT.

>> GRAPHIC, BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS OF LITTLE BOYS AND LITTLE GIRLS AND TWO LOVING TEACHERS WHOSE LIVES ENDED WHEN A GUNMAN CAME IN WITH A SEMIAUTOMATIC WEAPON.

THAT IS NOT THE ONLY GUN VIOLENCE.

THOSE ARE NOT THE ONLY GUN DEATHS IN AMERICA.

WE SEE THEM RIGHT HERE IN CHICAGO.

THIS WEEK, WE MAY HAVE HAD 19 KILLED IN UVALDE, TEXAS.

BUT WE HAD SIX SHOT YESTERDAY IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND SEVEN THE DAY BEFORE AND ONE LOST HIS LIFE.

>> DURBIN SAYS THE MARKET HAS BEEN FLOODED WITH AR15'S AND HE BELIEVES THERE IS NO REASON MILITARY GRADE WEAPONS SHOULD BE SO ACCESSIBLE.

DURBIN MADE THE COMMENTS AT LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

DOCTORS ARE USING FEDERAL MONEY TO TRAIN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAMS IN C.P.S.

SCHOOLS.

>> ILLINOIS MAYBE ON THE WAY TO A PROLIFERATION OF MARIJUANA SHOPS.

THEY HAVE BEEN HELD UP BECAUSE OF A LAWSUIT ABOUT A FLAWED LICENSING PROCESS.

TODAY'S RULING FROM A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE ALLOWS THE STATE TO ISSUE 185 CANNABIS DISPENSARY LICENSES.

A STATE OFFICIAL CHARGED WITH AWARDING THE LIPPINGSES SAYS ILLINOIS WILL MOVE SWIFTLY TO ISSUE THEM.

AND MORE LEGAL TROUBLES COULD LEAD TO MORE DELAYS.

>> MASKS ARE RECOMMENDED BUT NOT REQUIRED IN PUBLIC SPACES IN CHICAGO.

15 ILLINOIS COUNTIES ARE AT THE HIGH-RISK LEVEL INCLUDING COOK AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID LAST NIGHT 1136 INDIVIDUALS IN ILLINOIS WERE REPORTED TO BE IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID-19.

123 PATIENTS WERE IN THE ICU.

THE CITY'S 34 HOSPITALS ARE CARING FOR 200 COVID PATIENTS IN JANUARY THAT NUMBER WAS 2,000.

CHICAGO'S PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER SAYS THE CITY IS NOT REINSTATING THE MANDATE BECAUSE THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS NOT OVERWHELMED.

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

JOINING US ARE TINA SFONDELES CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AT THE "CHICAGO SUN-TIMES".

BECKY VEVEA POLITICAL REPORTER AT WBEZ AND NEXT MONTH SHE IS JOINING CHALK CHICAGO.

AND RICK PEARSON CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AT THE CHICAGO TRIBE AND CHRISTIAN FARR FOR NBC5 NEWS.

STARTING OFF WITH WHAT HAPPENED IN UVALDE, TEXAS EARLIER THIS WEEK.

RICK, YOU WANT TO TOSS THIS 0 TO YOU.

SANDY HOOK, PARKLAND DID NOT LEAD TO ANY FEDERAL ACTION.

IS THERE ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THIS MASS SHOOTING SOMETHING GOING TO BE ANY DIFFERENT?

>> I'D LIKE TO THINK SO.

BUT YOU JUST RECOUNTED THE HISTORY.

AND NOTHING.

IT WAS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT TEXAS OFFICIALS WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO ATTEND THE NRA ANNUAL CONVENTION IN HOUSTON DECLINED TO DO SO.

ACTUALLY FEELING SOME OF THE PRESSURE OF WHAT THEIR PRESENCE WOULD MEAN THERE IN THE WAKE OF THIS SHOOTING.

YES, THERE ARE TALKS GOING ON IN THE SENATE.

OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE A BILL THAT THE HOUSE PASSED TWO YEARS AGO, THE SENATE FAILED TO TAKE UP.

AT THE LEAST WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE POLL NUMBERS AND IT IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE, LIKE UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, GETTING WELL OVER 90% SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, INCLUDING NRA MEMBERS, YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF MAYBE JUST THE HORRIFICNESS OF THIS AND AGAIN, WE'RE IN A SOCIETY THAT IS INSTANT, WE CHANGE THE NEWS CYCLE EVERY 15 MINUTES.

THE HORRIFICNESS OF THIS AND THE POLICE ENACTION YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF MAYBE AS DICK DURBIN SAID WE HAVE REACHED A TIPPING POINT.

>> CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS HAVE GOTTEN UNDERWAY IN THE SENATE WITH MITCH McCONNELL TO DIRECT CORN INTO BEGIN DISCUSSIONS.

WHAT MIGHT THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> I HONESTLY DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF HOPE FOR THAT BECAUSE WE ARE IN AN ELECTION SEASON AND SEE STATES TAKEOVER THE TEXAS GOVERNOR WHO IS ALL OVER THE NEWS THIS WEEK, SIGNING LIKE SIX NEW GUN BILLS LAST YEAR IN PREPARATION FOR THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

SADLY IT IS A POLITICAL ISSUE.

I DO THINK THAT THEY SHOULD PROBABLY BE LISTENING TO WHAT RICK SAID.

THE POLLING IS SHOWING PEOPLE WANT SENSIBLE REFORM.

I DO THINK [INAUDIBLE] >> AND THE POLITICS GET INTO AS WELL, REDISTRICTING AND GOING MORE AND MORE TOWARDS THE PARTISANS GOING PORE PARTISAN ON EACH SIDE.

YOU MENTIONED A BIT AGO OF QUESTIONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SO THERE IS REVULSION AT THE HORRIFIC ACT AND FRUSTRATIONS WITH HOW POLICE HANDLED THIS.

A LONG DELAY BEFORE BREACHING THIS CLASSROOM WAS THE GUNMAN WAS LOCKED IN WITH CHILDREN.

LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT THE DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY SAID.

>> THE COMMANDER CONSIDERED A BARRICADED SUBJECT AND THERE WAS TIME AND NO CHILDREN AT RISK.

OBVIOUSLY, OBVIOUSLY, BASED UPON THE INFORMATION WE HAVE THERE WERE CHILDREN IN THAT CLASSROOM THAT WERE AT RISK AND IT WAS IN FACT STILL AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION AND THAT A BARRICADED SUBJECT.

THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT WHERE I'M SITTING NOW, TASK FORCE NOT A RIGHT DECISION.

TRVETION A WRONG DECISION PERIOD.

NO SKPUS FOR THAT.

>> UNFORTUNATELY NOT THE FIRST MASS SHOOTING IN A SCHOOL IN AMERICA.

HOW COULD POLICE HAVE SO BOTCHED THIS?

>> YOU GOT TO LEARN FROM SANDY HOOK.

MY DAUGHTER WAS BORN THE SAME YEAR THAT HAPPENED.

AND NOW SHE IS THE SAME AGE OF THESE KIDS THAT DIED IN THIS LATEST SHOOTING AND YOU WONDER WE KNOW WHAT ACTIVE SHOOTING IS WHAT KNOW WHAT AN ACTIVE SHOOTER IS AS IN DRILLS.

WE HAD THE SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED IN BUFFALO.

WE KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING.

BUT ALSO LAW ENFORCEMENT IS UP AGAINST IT AS WELL.

AND WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION THAT THEY WERE PRESENTED WITH.

THERE ARE A LOT OF BARRICADE HAPPEN IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND YOU HAD PARENTS ON SCENE TELLING THEM THIS WAS AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION.

SHOULD THEY HAVE ACTED DIFFERENTLY?

OF COURSE.

WOULD IT HAVE LED UP TO SAVING LIVES.

BUT SOMETHING WE HAVE TO EXAMINE IN HOPES WE CAN AVOID THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

>> TO BE A PARENT TODAY IS SO DIFFICULT.

TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT DID BRING INTO THE DISCUSSION CHICAGO I'M GUESSING WE WILL BE HEARING MORE OF THAT AT THE NRA CONVENTION ARGUING STRONGER GUN LAWS ARE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE AND VIOLENCE OF IN OUR CITY IS EVIDENT OF THAT.

THE GOVERNOR AND THE MAYOR SAYING MOST OF THE CRIMES USED IN CHICAGO COME FROM OUT OF STATE AND THAT ABBOTT IS WRONG.

WHO IS RIGHT?

>> WELL, I IT IS DISINGENUOUS TO SAY CHICAGO HAS STRONG GUN LAWS AND I THINK THE MAYOR IS RIGHT THAT A LOT OF THE GUNS USED IN THE CITY NOT PURCHASED IN THE CITY THEY ARE FROM OUT OF STATE.

AND IT DID ANGER HER.

SHE WAS VERY UPSET WHEN ASKED ABOUT THIS.

AND YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY FIRED BACK AT HIM SAYING HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT.

IT WILL BE REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW AS TINA POINTED OUT HOW IS THIS GOING TO PLAY OUT IN AN ELECTION YEAR AS WELL.

IT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE THAT EVERYBODY RUN SOMETHING GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER FOR AND MAKE SURE STANCE CLEAR TO VOTERS.

I THINK VOTERS THIS IS AN ISSUE VOTERS CARE ABOUT A LOT.

>> I KNOW I WILL BE ASKING ABOUT IT.

RICK, BRIEFLY YOU HAVE COVERED A LOT OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, SHOULD WE EXPECT CHICAGO TO OFTEN BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION FROM HERE GOING OUT?

>> WE ALWAYS ARE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION GOING OUT.

AS BECKY SAID THAT ISSUE ABOUT CHICAGO HAVING STRONG GUN LAWS FOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES IT'S ALWAYS AN EXAMPLE TO USE A DEMOCRATIC CITY AND POINT OUT THAT THEY HAVE THESE LIBERAL LAWS AND THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING.

WHEN THE ISSUE COMES DOWN TO THE FEDERALIZING SOME OF THE GUN LAWS SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE OUT OF STATE GUNS.

YOU DON'T HAVE THE AVAILABILITY OF STRAW PURCHASERS TO PURCHASE GUNS FOR OTHERS TO USE.

RIGHT NOW IT'S EVERY STATE IS ON ITS OWN TO DEAL WITH WHAT IT CAN AND THAT IS GOING ON HERE IN ILLINOIS AND CHICAGO.

>> WELL, CHICAGO CHANGE IS COMING WITH THE CITY HAVING PLACED ITS BET ON A BALLY'S CASINO COMING TO RIVER WEST.

NOT JUST A CASINO BUT AN ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX.

BECKY, THE MAYOR CLEARLY SEES THIS AS A WIN.

DO YOU?

IS THIS GOOD FOR CHICAGO?

>> WELL, IT WILL CERTAINLY GENERATE SOME REVENUE.

IT EVENTUALLY WILL GENERATE THAT REVENUE.

WE ARE SEEING PROJECTIONS BY 2027 IT WILL GENERATE $200 MILLION.

THERE ARE SOME FOLKS WHO QUESTIONED THAT FIGURE.

YOU'D NEED A LOT OF GAMBLING TO HAPPEN TO HIT THAT $200 MILLION FIGURE.

BUT IT WILL BE SOME GENERATION OF REVENUE.

THERE WILL BE A HOTEL AND PROPERTY THERE THAT THE CITY CAN TAX.

AND THE CITY HAS PROMISED THAT THE REVENUE FROM THE GAMEL BELLING -- GAMBLING TAX RECEIPTS WILL GO TOWARD POLICE AND FIRE PENSION.

WE DID A STORY SOMETHING TO NOTE THAT BUDGET OFFICIALS HAS NOT BUBBLED UP TO THE PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS IT'S LESS THAN 10% WHAT WE NEED FOR OUR PENSION PAYMENTS.

IT IS NOT -- $200 MILLION IS 9% OF 2.3 BILLION, THE AMOUNT WE NEED TO PAY INTO PENSIONS NEXT YEAR.

IT IS NOT A PANACEA IT IS NOT GOING TO MEAN WE WILL NOT IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.

IF YOU ARE A RESIDENT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT TRAFFIC AND NOISE AS WITH ANY SPORTS OR ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT OR COMPLEX.

IT IS THE NORTHWEST SIDE IT IS NOT ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

THERE ARE FOLKS WHO JUST ARE A LITTLE NOT IN MY BACKYARD ABOUT IT.

AND WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO THE CITY COUNCIL VOTE IT WAS NOT WHETHER OR NOT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A CASINO IT WAS WHERE THE CASINO WAS GOING TO GO.

THIS IS THE MAYOR'S PICKED AND IT PASSED 41-7.

>> CHRISTIAN PLAY YOUR CARDS HERE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE LOCATION AND IS THIS CHICAGO CASTING TOO BIG A GAMBLE CONSIDERING THAT NEIGHBORS DON'T WANT THIS COMPLEX?

>> YEAH, I MEAN I SPOKE TO NEIGHBORS THAT DON'T WANT THIS COMPLEX SPECIFICALLY.

THERE IS A CHURCH THAT IS NEAR THERE.

THAT GOT CAUGHT UP IN THE MIDDLE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS.

AND THE LOCATION AS WE ALL KNOW, IS A BUSY AREA.

SO THAT IS GOING TO TRANSFORM THAT AREA COMPLETELY.

IS IT GOING TO ANSWER OUR WOES AS IT RELATES TO MONEY AND REVENUE?

I THINK BECKY SPOKE TO THAT PERFECTLY.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE PERFECT FIT FOR CHICAGO.

WILL IT BE BENEFICIAL?

IT'S GOING TO PICK UP TOURISM.

I COME FROM A STATE THAT ALLOWED GAMBLING TO COME IN IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

AND IT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL THERE.

BUT IT IS IN A RURAL AREA THIS IS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

WE HAVE TO WAIT-AND-SEE WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE WHEN BALLY'S OPENS UP THE FIRST CASINO TO SEE IF THAT WILL BE THE TEST MODEL.

>> CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE OF THE CITY.

THERE WAS A LOPSIDED VOTE 41-7 TO PLACE THIS BALLY'S CASINO IN RIVER WEST BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THINGS DID NOT GET CONTENTIOUS HERE IS PART OF A FIERY EXCHANGE BETWEEN ALDERMAN BYRON SIGCHO-LOPEZ AND MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AFTER THE ALDERMAN ACCUSED OF MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION OF BEING MORE CONCERNED ABOUT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS THAN DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE CITIZENS OF CHICAGO.

>> YOU ARE OUT OF ORDER.

NOW YOU CAN EXPRESS YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR VIEWS BUT YOU WILL NOT TEAR DOWN THE INTEGRITY OF PEOPLE WORKING JUST AS HARD AS YOU ARE.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.

>> IT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO TO DENY THE RIGHTS OF ANSWERS TO A COMMUNITY.

WHEN WILL WE ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF PREDATORY PRACTICES OF CASINO OPERATORS.

WE ASKED FOR A PLAN, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT, A PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.

THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU.

>> YOU ARE OUT OF ORDER AND YOU ARE LYING.

ALMOST EVERY WORD THAT COMES OUT OF YOUR MOUTH AFTER YOU SAY YOUR NAME IS A LIE.

YOU NEED TO STOP.

>> I WILL NOT STOP BECAUSE I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK!

I NEVER DISCRIMINATION!

I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK TO ANY OTHER COLLEAGUE!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

>> YEAH, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

PLEASE CEASE AND DESIST.

PLEASE CEASE AND DESIST.

>> BECKY YOU COVER THE CITY COUNCIL WAS THIS AS LOUD AND ANGRY IN REAL-LIFE AS IT APPEARS FROM THAT VIDEO?

AND WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT EXCHANGE?

>> YES, IT WAS.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S NO SECRET THAT THE MAYOR AND ALDERMAN BYRON SIGCHO-LOPEZ DO NOT SEE EYE TO EYE AND THEY DO NOT GET ALONG GENERALLY.

THIS OUTBURST ON THE COUNCIL FLOOR IS NOT LIKE ANYTHING I HAVE REALLY EVER SEEN IN THE FIVE YEARS I'VE COVERED THE COUNCIL, EVEN THE PREVIOUS MAYOR.

BUT THESE ARE TWO FIERY PERSONALITIES IT'S NO SECRET THEY DON'T GET ALONG.

SHE USED TERMS THERE, TOO, CEASE AND DESIST AND OUT OF ORDER THAT I THINK ALSO WE'RE DEALING WITH A MASSIVE DEAL, LEGAL DEAL THAT CERTAINLY IF HE IS GOING TO MAKE ACCUSATIONS ON THE FLOOR ABOUT PARTS OF IT, HER USING THOSE TERMS MADE PEOPLE IN THE PRESS CORRESPONDENT WHAT EXACTLY IS BEHIND THIS?

IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE IN THE KINDLING OF THIS FIRE?

AND BEYOND THAT SHE DIDN'T COMMENT ON IT WHEN I ASKED HER AFTER THE PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER THE MEETING.

>> A MAYOR CALLING A MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL A LIAR ON THE FLOOR, THIS FIERY TEMPER, TINA, DOES THIS SAY ANYTHING?

SHE IS THE MAYOR, IS THIS MAYORAL BEHAVIOR?

>> I THINK THAT THERE IS A LOT OFS FROM TRATION IN CITY COUNCIL -- THERE IS FRUSTRATION IN CITY COUNCIL.

PEOPLE ARE UPSET WITH THE CITY, PANDEMIC, VIOLENCE, PEOPLE PROBABLY NO LONGER WANT TO BE ALDERMEN ANYMORE.

AND PEOPLE RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

I THINK THERE'S FOUR PEOPLE RUNNING FOR OFFICE WHILE THEY ARE ALDERPEOPLE.

I THINK THINGS ARE BUBBLING UP AND ALSO THE SAME DAY [INAUDIBLE] THE GOVERNOR WAS CRITICIZED IN CHICAGO A HIGH TENSION DAY.

AND I THINK THAT BOTH SIDES ARE DEALING WITH [INAUDIBLE] >> CHRISTIAN, DOES ALDERMAN BYRON SIGCHO-LOPEZ HAVE ANY POINT?

WAS THIS A RUSHED PROCESS?

>> I THINK THAT IT WAS.

AND I THINK IT WAS ALREADY A LOT OF PEOPLE FELT IT WAS ALREADY SET IN STONE THAT IT WAS JUST BASICALLY, WHO ARE WE GOING TO PICK?

AND WHERE IS IT GOING TO GO?

SO I THINK THAT PEOPLE WANTED A LITTLE BIT MORE OF I A TRANSPARENT PROCESS AND DIDN'T FEEL THAT HAPPENED.

WE SAW THE ALDERMEN WHO DID NOT GO ALONG WITH THIS EXPRESS THAT THIS THEY FELT WAS A RIGGED PROCESS.

TENSIONS ARE HIGH IN THOSE MEETINGS.

I HAVE NOT SEEN IT LIKE THAT EVER.

AND I WASN'T THERE WHEN IT HAPPENED BUT TO HEAR THAT AND TO READ IT ARE TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT I THINK IT'S THE WAY THAT POLITICS ARE GOING RIGHT NOW IN THIS COUNTRY.

IN SOME CASES IT'S NOT SURPRISING.

>> I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I FOUND INTERESTING THE FACT THAT CERTAINLY THIS WAS A BIG POLITICAL VICTORY FOR HER AFTER THE THREE DECADES OF ATTEMPTS TO TRY TO BRING A CASINO TO CHICAGO.

BUT THEN TO SEE IT QUICKLY TURNED AROUND AS A CAMPAIGN REELECTION ISSUE OF I'M BRINGING A CASINO TO CHICAGO.

ELECT ME MAYOR.

AND I THINK THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE THINGS.

I COULDN'T IMAGINE A CAMPAIGN BASED ON I'M BRINGING A CASINO.

>> THERE WAS A TIME THAT POLITICIANS DIDN'T WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH GAMBLING IN ANYWAY.

>> I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO TURN THE ATTENTION FROM THE PROBLEMS OF THE CITY TO TALK ABOUT POSITIVE THINGS.

BUT BRINGING A CASINO TO CHICAGO IN MANY RESPECTS IS WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TAP NEW REVENUES WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO PROPERTY TAXES?

>> NOT NECESSARILY GET OUT THE VOTE ISSUE.

>> CORRECT.

>> EARLY VOTING IS UNDERWAY BEGINNING IN CHICAGO ON TUESDAY.

BUT BEYOND CAMPAIGN ADS WE HAVE NOT SEEN ALL THAT MUCH OF THE REPUBLICANS TRYING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR UNTIL THIS WEEK WHEN THEY TOOK TO THE DEBATE STAGE ON THE EVENING OF THE TEXAS SCHOOL SHOOTING THAT THAT EVENING WE HAD DUELING G.O.P.

DEBATES ON NBC AND WGN.

STATE SENATOR DARREN BAILEY CHOSE TO TALK TRASH ABOUT CHICAGO.

LET'S LISTEN TO A LITTLE OF WHAT HE SAID.

>> LET'S FOCUS ON THE CITY OF CHICAGO A MINUTE AND CALL IT LIKE IT IS.

LET'S THINK ABOUT CHICAGO.

A CRIME-RIDDEN, CORRUPT, DYSFUNCTIONAL HELL HOLE AND NO ONE KNOWS THAT BETTER THAN THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN CHICAGO.

SOMETHING'S WRONG.

CITY LEADER HATE THE POLICE AT LEAST THEY ACT LIKE THEY DO.

>> WHEN PRESSED BAILEY STUCK BY IT AND SAYS THIS IS WHAT HE IS HEARING FROM RESIDENTS.

HE IS TELLING IT LIKE IT IS?

>> NO.

I MEAN I DON'T LIVE IN CHICAGO BUT I'VE WORKED IN CHICAGO FOR 16 YEARS IT IS NOT A HELL HOLE IT'S NOT CRIME RIDDEN.

DO WE HAVE A GUN VIOLENCE PROBLEM?

WE DO.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE SOLVED IN DIFFERENT WAYS THAN WE ARE SOLVING IT WHICH IS THROW MORE POLICE AT IT THAT IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

BUT TO CALL THIS CITY CRIME RIDDEN.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF TOURISM.

WHEN I WORK ON WEEKENDS I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE DOWNTOWN.

PEOPLE ARE NOT AVOIDING THE CITY.

WE HAD THE REPORT THAT CAME OUT ABOUT ILLINOIS OVERALL, AND SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE TRENDING DOWNWARDS BUT WE ARE A HEADLINE.

I KNOW THE CHAIR MEMBERS CALL ME UP AND SAY IS IT SAFE TO BE THERE.

AND I'VE GONE NON-OUT OF THESE COMMUNITIES MANY TIMES AND THINGS CAN REPAIR THIS.

AND IT'S THE GRASSROOTS EFFORTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE AND THAT IS WHERE THE FOCUS NEEDS TO BE.

TO CALL IT CRIME RIDDEN IS CAMPAIGN DRIVEN.

>> WHAT IS THE STRATEGY FROM BAILEY?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

BECAUSE WHAT YOU HEARD IS THE RHETORIC THAT DARREN BAILEY WOULD DELIVER DOWN HOME IN POPULATION 300 IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.

AND WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT HERE IS THE FACT HE SEEMED TO BE SOMEWHAT EMERGING IN A ONE-TWO RACE WITH RICHARD IRVIN, YOU GOT TO GO WHERE THE VOTES ARE.

THE VOTES ARE HERE.

AND YOU STARTED AIRING TV ADS PROMOTING HIMSELF.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE MORE THAN JUST PAROCHIAL WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CHICAGO BEING A HELL HOLE, I THINK CHICAGOLAND AND CURIOUS HOW SUBURBAN REPUBLICANS FEEL LIKE THAT.

CERTAINLY THERE'S PLENTY NEVER WANT TO GO TO THE CITY.

I'M HAPPY WITH MY LITTLE SUBURBAN ENCLAVE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THIS IS THE ECONOMY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

AND FRANKLY, THE FARM MATERIALS THAT DARREN BAILEY RAISES ON HIS FARM THE COMMODITY PRICES DETERMINE HOW MUCH DARREN BAILEY GETS PAID.

>> TINA YOU COVERED THE DEBATES ANYTHING THAT YOU LEARNED NEW FROM THE CANDIDATES?

>> I ATTENDED RICHARD IRVIN AND SHUL SHIM DEBATE.

SO YOU DID SEE SOME DIFFERENCES IN SOME OF THE THINGS THEY WANT TO DO.

THEY TOOK ON TRANSGENDER SPORTS.

AND ISSUES CRIME, I DO THINK THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DETAILS ABOUT THEIR CRIME PLAN.

BAILEY SPOKE THE LEAST OF IRVIN ON POLICE AND THE ADS WE DON'T HAVE A CLUE HOW THEY WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEMS.

THAT IS A MISSING LINK IN THE CAMPAIGN.

AND MAYBE THEY WILL TRY TO SHOW THAT TO US IN THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS.

WE HAVE ANOTHER DEBATE THURSDAY.

>> AND RUNNING OUT FOR THIS PROGRAM WE HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT.

I WANT TO GET WHAT WE LEARNED ONE MINUTE FROM HOUSE SPEAKER MADIGAN CAUGHT ON A WIRETAP DISCUSSING SECRET PAYMENTS TO AN ALLY.

MADIGAN IS COMPLETELY CLAIMED IGNORANCE AND NOW WE HAVE THE RECEIPTS.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKEAWAY?

>> I THINK IT'S DAMAGING FOR THE FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER.

MIKE McCLAIN WAS HIS RIGHT HAND GUY.

HE WAS THE SPEAKER WHISPERER.

HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE CONDUIT BETWEEN ComEd AND THE SPEAKER AND NOW YOU HAVE THE TAPES THAT WE KNOW THE FEDS HAVE McCLAIN AND THE SPEAKER ON TALKING ABOUT JOBS ABOUT ONE ON THE BOARD OF ComEd.

I THINK THE POTENTIAL FOR VERY DAMAGING MORE REVELATIONS ARE THERE.

>> AND SPEAKING OF CORRUPTION WE HAD A FORMER HIGH RANKING MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE, STATE REPRESENTATIVE LUIS ARROYO SENTENCED THIS WEEK TO NEARLY FIVE YEARS IN PRISON.

AND IF YOU HAVE NOT CHECKED OUT THE STORIES, THE SENTENCING JUDGE DID NOT HOLD BACK WITH A BLITZ OF BARBS CALLING HIM A CORRUPTION SUPER SPREADER AND DIRT POLITICIAN ON THE TAKE.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THANKS TO TINA SFONDELES, BECKY VEVEA, RICK PEARSON AND TO CHRISTIAN FARR.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AND "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" STREAM ON OUR FACEBOOK, YouTube AND WTTW.COM/NEWS.

BE SURE TO JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:00 P.M. FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" AND AFTER THAT, "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" AT 6:30.

THEN WE'RE BACK AT 7:00 P.M. NEXT WEEK.

AND NOW FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M AMANDA VINICKY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

[♪♪♪]