
Spotlight Politics: Migrants Still in Police Stations
Clip: 7/26/2023 | 5m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
The WTTW News Spotlight Politics team on the latest political news.
Nearly a thousand migrants are still staying at Chicago police stations. Mayor Brandon Johnson is also making his pitch to reopen the city's mental health clinics. The Spotlight Politics team weighs in on these stories and more.
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Spotlight Politics: Migrants Still in Police Stations
Clip: 7/26/2023 | 5m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
Nearly a thousand migrants are still staying at Chicago police stations. Mayor Brandon Johnson is also making his pitch to reopen the city's mental health clinics. The Spotlight Politics team weighs in on these stories and more.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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In this Emmy Award-winning series, WTTW News tackles your questions — big and small — about life in the Chicago area. Our video animations guide you through local government, city history, public utilities and everything in between.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipARE SEEMINGLY STUCK AT POLICE STATIONS.
HERE IS THAT STORY, MUCH MORE, ARE SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAMMATES .
THERE IS STILL 941 MIGRANTS LIVING IN CHICAGO POLICE STATIONS.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE URGENCY TO GET THEM OUT OF THOSE STATIONS AND INTO SOMETHING MORE STABLE?
>> WE HEARD FROM MEMBERS OF THE MAYORS ADMINISTRATION THAT THE URGENCY REMAINS IN THEIR COMMITTED TO DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MOVE THESE MIGRANTS TO SOMEWHERE MORE STABLE TO LIVE, BUT THE BUSES ARE ARRIVING, SOME AS FREQUENTLY AS EVERY DAY.
THERE JUST IS NOT THE SPACE IN CITY SHELTERS WERE NEARLY 5500 PEOPLE ARE ALREADY LIVING, MEETING, THERE IS SIMPLY NO MORE ROOM, AND THEY CAN'T OPEN ENOUGH SHELTER SPACE TO KEEP UP WITH THE SPACE PACE.
>> THE BUSES ARE STILL ARRIVING.
THERE IS NEW SHELTER OPENING TO HOUSE 500 TO 600 MIGRANTS.
WILL THAT EASE THE CRUNCH?
>> IT WILL NOT.
IT WILL SIMPLY MOVE THE FAMILIES ARE LIVING ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE , BECAUSE THOSE SCHOOLS, THE FALL TERMS START IN A MATTER OF WEEKS.
THEY CAN'T LIVE THERE ANYMORE.
AND THAT IS WHERE THESE PEOPLE WILL NOW GO.
THERE WILL BE A NEW SHELTER THAT WILL OPEN UP AT THE BROADWAY ARMORY IN EDGEWATER.
IT IS VERY CONTROVERSIAL.
THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS THAT WILL EASE THE PRESSURE, BUT IF THE BUSES KEEP PLAYING CATCH-UP IN A RACE WHERE REAL PEOPLE ARE PAYING THE PRICE.
>> IS THAT A DONE DEAL?
IS COMMUNITY INPUT COMING?
>> IT SEEMS TO BE A DONE DEAL BY THE ADMINISTRATION, DESPITE THEIR IS COMMUNITY OUTCRY.
TOMORROW WE EXPECT THERE TO BE A RALLY.
THIS UNDERSCORES THE DIFFICULTY, BECAUSE THERE ARE 77 COMMUNITY AREAS IN CHICAGO, AND IT SEEMS IN EACH AREA YOU HAVE RESIDENTS THAT SAY, WE WANT TO HELP THE MIGRANTS, BUT NOT AT THIS FACILITY.
IN THE CASE OF THE ARMY, THERE SAYING, WE NEED THIS FOR SUMMER PROGRAMS, LOW INCOME PROGRAMS.
THERE IS PROGRAMMING HERE THAT THE COMMUNITY RELIES ON, AND THIS WILL DISRUPT THAT.
WE HAVE TO FIND SOMEPLACE ELSE.
THE PROBLEM IS, THEY HAVE TRIED SO MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, AND THERE IS OUTCRY IN EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY.
SO WHERE IS THE PERFECT LOCATION?
IT DOESN'T SEEM THERE IS ONE.
>> THERE IS ALSO PROGRESS ON TWO OF THE BIGGEST CAMPAIGN PROMISES THIS WEEK.
WHERE DOES HE PUSHED TO REOPEN THE MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC STAND?
>> THERE WAS A LONG HEARING WHERE THE CASE WAS LAID OUT TO REOPEN 14 CLINICS, WHICH WOULD BRING THE TOTAL TO 19 CLINICS.
A BIG FIGHT WITH THIS WILL BE DURING THE 2024 BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.
OPENING A CLINIC TAKES MONEY, AND THAT IS WHAT THE BUDGET WILL DECIDE.
TOMORROW THERE WILL BE A BIG HEARING OF THE SO-CALLED BRING CHICAGO HOME PROPOSAL, WHICH WOULD RAISE THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX ON PROPERTIES WORTH MORE THAN $1 MILLION TO CREATE A DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE TO HELP UNHOUSED CHICAGOANS.
AGAIN, A VERY CRUCIAL ISSUE THAT WILL BE MUCH IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
>> LITTLE BIT OF NATIONAL NEWS, THE LABOR UNIT AND DNC HAVE AGREED TO LABOR PEACE DURING THE CONVENTION FOR A BIG CONCERN WAS THIS?
>> IT WAS NOT A CONCERN.
CHICAGO IS REPRESENTED BY A FORMER ORGANIZER FOR THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION, THE GOVERNOR IS VERY ALIGNED WITH THE UNIONS IN THE STATE.
THERE WAS NEVER GOING TO BE A SITUATION WHERE THERE WAS LABOR UNREST DURING THE STARTING MOMENT ON THE NATIONAL STAGE NEXT SUMMER.
HOWEVER, THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY TO GET TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL THE CONVENTION WILL BE IN JUST ABOUT A YEAR.
>> CAN I MENTION THE BIGGER CONCERN, HOW WILL THEY PAY FOR ALL OF IT?
THE GOVERNOR ACKNOWLEDGES IT WILL BE THE BIGGEST CONVENTION YOU, THE MOST EXPENSIVE ONE YET, WE HAVE TO RAISE TESTIMONY.
AND HEATHER HAS TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, HE IS BASICALLY GUARANTEED IT WITH HIS OWN LAWS SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT?
I AM YOUR INSURANCE PLAN, I GUESS I WILL COVER THE COST.
BUT THIS IS A ROLL OF THE DICE WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCES.
>> BEFORE WE GO, THE RACE TO REPLACE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY .
>> THERE TWO ANNOUNCED CANDIDATES, CLAYTON HARRIS AND EILEEN ONEILL , WHO IS A FORMER APPELLATE COURT JUDGE WHO STEPPED DOWN TO MAKE THIS RACE.
OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT GET IN THE RACE.
IT IS STILL EARLY.
THEY CAN START PETITIONING ABOUT LABOR DAY .
IT IS COMING UP.
MAYBE THE FORMER INSPECTOR GENERAL AND FORMER HOUSE LEADER.
>> DIDN'T WE JUST HAVE AN ELECTION.
>> WE ALWAYS HAVE ELECTIONS.
THIS IN CHICAGO.
KIM COX HAS A LOT OF SWAY.
THE QUESTION IS, WILL SHE HAVE SWAY AGAIN INPUTTING THE PERSON SHE WANTS
Blackhawks Owner Rocky Wirtz Dies at 70
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 7/26/2023 | 2m 34s | Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz has died at 70. He appeared on WTTW in 2009. (2m 34s)
Whistleblower Details Federal UFO Program Beliefs
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 7/26/2023 | 7m 59s | A former Air Force officer appeared at a Congressional hearing to detail UFO claims. (7m 59s)
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