>> Hello and thanks for joining us on Chicago tonight.

I'm Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

>> No, I cannot support a budget that nearly doubles the garbage fee for working people.

Despite that critics of the mayor's budget proposal are moving forward with one of their own.

Indiana lawmakers are set to vote on redistricting plan as the national fight over congressional seats comes closer to home.

>> thought of my home because of a series of choices that I did.

Not me.

And tenants of the South Shore apartment building raided by federal agents are being forced to >> First off tonight, the FBI is seeking the public's help in identifying any other potential victims.

U.S.

Border Patrol agent who's charged with using his position to rob and sexually assault women in the western suburbs.

Federal prosecutors say 44 year-old Luis or of a repeatedly forced his way into the victim's hotel rooms where he robbed them at gunpoint or attempted to sexually assault them at hotels in Naperville and Schaumburg.

The 4 alleged victims are all of Chinese descent.

The FBI is asking any other potential victims to give them a call.

Chicago transit board members are pushing back against the latest criticism from the Trump administration about safety on the city's rails and buses during today's regular CTU board meeting number, Robert McKay said, quote, It hurts me to say that I'm not happy with the security of our trains and our train stations yet, even if I can also acknowledge that there has been significant and measurable progress made in the past year, the Federal Transit Administration has cited the high profile attack of a woman set on fire while writing the Blue Line train last month in claiming the CTA has failed to meet its obligations to safety.

>> Cta officials say FTA is demanding the agency develop a verifiable security enhancement plan by December 15th.

>> A Chicago man who spent 33 years in prison for a double murder.

He didn't commit will receive more than 15 million dollars from the city.

Older people approved the settlement for Robert Smith seen here.

3rd from the left who confessed to the 1987 murder of his mother-in-law and grandmother in law under torture from detectives trained by disgraced former commander Jon Burge.

His attorneys claim one of those detectives was then Lieutenant future CPD Superintendent Phil Cline back in 2022.

Klein told reporters that it would be a miscarriage of justice for Smith to receive a settlement Smith's life in prison sentence was vacated in 2020.

For more on just how much the city has been settling.

Wrongful conviction lawsuits this year.

You can visit our website.

A busy day at City Hall.

Had a Sharon is back to break it down.

>> Chicago tonight is made possible in part why the Alexandria and John Nichols family.

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donors.

>> Critics of the mayor's budget proposal are moving forward with their own plan.

Their proposal looks to bridge Chicago's billion dollar budget gap without hiking taxes on large firms.

But Mayor Brandon Johnson today remain defiant.

Support a budget.

>> That polices such an incredible Burton on working people at a time in which President Trump.

Hes made life.

Quite difficult for working people across this country.

The city of Chicago should not be adding to that burden.

And so no, I cannot support a budget that nearly doubles the garbage fee for working people.

>> Our Heather Sharon joins us now from City Hall with the latest.

As older people have just 20 days left to pass a budget.

Heather, mayor and his critics make any progress toward the budget deal today.

>> No 27 people.

Older people signed on to a proposal that strikes at the heart of the mayor's budget proposal which would impose a $33 per month per employee tax on firms with at least 500 employees.

They say that proposal will stifle growth, but the mayor says he will not approve a budget that he says fills the city's 1.2 billion dollar budget gap by taxing working people leaving the debate deadlocked.

>> Heather, the rival budget plan which the mayor said would jeopardize the city's financial position has been revised.

What a big change.

>> Well, it is a complicated plan that strives to not only eliminate the head tax but pay nearly 140 million dollars more towards the city pension and eliminate the need to borrow 166 million dollars to pay back pay to firefighters who worked without a contract for 4 years.

Part of the way this plan envisions doing that is to count on new revenue from slots installed at O'Hare and Midway airports.

In fact, it counts nearly 50 million dollars from those machines.

However, that would be more revenue than the city is counting on from both the temporary casino open now at the Medinah Temple and the Permanent casino, which is scheduled to open in 2026, the mayor says its projections like that that make this alternative plant completely unrealistic and not worth truly considering.

Then, Heather, what's next?

as you said, the city has just 20 days to figure this out.

So the city council agreed today to meet Monday Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and December 23rd in the hopes of scheduling a meeting where a plan could come to a vote and perhaps win a majority of votes.

How exactly that is going to happen.

It is very unclear at this moment.

Okay.

So in other news at City Hall, the debate over the city's curfew heated back up with a new proposal.

>> From Alderman Brian Hopkins, how would this one work?

Heather?

>> Well, this would give Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling the power to declare essentially a preemptive curfew 12 hours in advance of a planned large gathering.

It was that kind of gathering that drew hundreds of teens down to downtown on November.

21st, a 14 year-old boy and 8 other teens were injured in shootings at that gathering.

Aldermen Hopkins says it's clear that the city needs to do more to sort deter these gatherings from taking place.

However, the Mayo vetoed the last attempt to expand the police department's curfew powers.

And he has expressed deep skepticism that a proposal like this one would have any impact on these gatherings.

>> And Heather, really quick before we let you go, the city council did not vote on a measure that would have banned the sale of intoxicating him even as changes are in the works.

What's the latest?

>> Well, the river by a revised proposal is circulating among older people.

It would allow hemp infused drinks to continue to be sold at bars and restaurants that have liquor licenses, sponsors of the that might be enough to win a majority of supporters on the city council.

The mayor remains opposed to this proposal and he has not ruled out vetoing it.

If it does pass the City Council.

>> Okay.

We'll see what happens ahead.

A show in a city hall for us.

Thank you.

And you can his coverage of today's council meeting on our website is all at W T Tw Dot com Slash news.

The nationwide redistricting battle heads to Indiana as the state Senate is set to vote tomorrow on a plan to redraw its congressional districts.

The proposed 3 map which has already passed the Indiana House would likely give Republicans control of all 9 of Indiana's congressional seats.

The controversial plan is dividing Indiana.

Senate Republicans were facing mounting pressure from the Trump administration.

Joining us now with more are Kathy Cortez, vice president of the League of Women, Voters of Illinois and on Zoom, Mike Murphy, a former Republican state representative in Indiana who now works in corporate communications.

We also invited a number of Republican members of the Indiana legislature, but they declined.

We think the 2 of you for joining us first.

Just what is your reaction to this national re map effort that is getting closer to home?

Kathy Cortez?

You know, I think it's a really unfortunate downward spiral of actions that are >> working against voting American public.

I think that that stands regardless of how this plays out to the advantage or disadvantage of of either the Democrats or the Republicans doing midterm redistricting in order to manipulate the outcome of election.

Can't possibly be a good thing for democracy.

Mcmurphy can question to you.

>> Well, I think you have to understand what the general purpose of this is this really this redistricting has nothing to do with President Trump's policy year's agenda?

In my opinion, it has everything to do with him trying to avoid a 3rd impeachment.

In potentially saying that the groundwork for a potential 3rd term and in exchange for that.

The Republicans in the Indiana Senate, we're on the verge throwing out everything they did just 4 years ago.

And we're so proud which was a very balanced, very fair.

District congressional district Maps that had a 72 advantage.

>> So Mike, Indiana, as you said, already, Republican majority state with 7 GOP congressional seats and 2 Democratic seats.

Now this rematch, this proposed dream app would likely give Republicans control of all 9 seats.

Of course, that depends on the voters.

But how much of a difference does that make for Indiana residents, but then also in Congress?

>> I think what it does, we don't know who those 2 additional Congress persons would be.

But I think what it does to voters is that likely helps suppress the vote.

You know, off often mid-year elections are generally low turnout, Indiana, anyhow, maybe 19% or so.

So you're dealing you can win a primary with 10 or 11% of the vote, literally.

And and the people who generally would come out be less motivated than ever because they have a new district.

It may have a new congressman.

Some of these districts stretch all the way from Lake County up near you.

Any Indiana all the way over to the east side of the stadium, get stories, communities of interest to just raise any kind of.

>> Cultural similarities.

We have one district goes all the way from northern Marion County to the southeast corner of Indiana where right near next to Cincinnati.

So it took its taking.

It could take what weaves we thought were very fair districts past in the 2021 legislative session.

And it looks like a bowl of noodles that somebody is dropped on the floor and forgot to pick >> Cathy, if the re map becomes law in Indiana, what could that mean for Illinois?

Governor Pritzker has said that Illinois would respond whatever that means.

You know, it's it's it's an interesting situation because we already in the in Illinois, as you know, have a a pretty unbalanced congressional representation.

That's a slanted toward the Democratic Party.

But to be honest, there may be a lot of party voters and the Democrat side that are saying we need to do something right in order to counteract the manipulation that's happening in Indiana.

So I think it's it's really tough spot because I think most people are most of our representatives in Illinois are probably not largely in favor of it.

But there is a chance that boating public could incur some strongly to do it.

I mean, much like Indiana, right?

We're trying to squeeze out just a couple of more seats.

Can Illinois do that?

Because currently only 3 of the congressional seat in Illinois are Republican.

Well, you've seen the maps for Illinois today, right?

It would make for some awfully interesting maps.

Were they able to do it?

I don't know if it's possible.

Not certainly not something that you know, that that I've looked at early cause looked at, but it would make for some very interesting maps if they had to to further manipulation of like bowl of noodles that Mike Murphy referenced it in us probably getting.

my other Republicans are arguing that they're pursuing this route to counteract other Democratic states and that voters would benefit from more conservative representation in a red state and already RedState like Indiana.

Is it reasonable for states to say that they're only responding in kind?

Well, a Democratic state did it to now.

Republican state has to do it.

And vice versa.

>> Well, it depends what your values are.

Brandis.

I mean, in Indiana, we like to think both parties, frankly, like to try to do what's right.

My mom taught me that 2 wrongs don't make a right.

So we would suggest that what they do in California in New Jersey.

really don't influence In fact, in Indiana where we were kind of stubborn people.

And, you know, if you tell us to vote for something because California did it or New Jersey, we say that's the biggest reason.

We shouldn't do anything with.

We tend to focus and solve our own problems.

And it's it's disappointing that were senators that I know are being swatted by unknown persons.

The FBI's investigating.

But they're getting.

Terrible threats from people in California and South Dakota.

And people have no business getting involved in Indiana politics.

>> Well, into that point, there is intense pressure on the state right now, both from the from the Trump administration.

But some lawmakers who are opposed to this rematch are getting threats.

As you said, they're being swatted or receiving other sorts of threats.

That said if the state should go through with this, could this backfire for Republicans down the road?

>> Absolutely.

I say in politics, greed kills enough.

I could.

We don't have time to talk about all the details now.

But it's happened before in Indiana when the Republican Party and because of the humorous has hurt themselves in the long term.

And, you know, there's no guarantees, especially the low voter turnout.

They are going to get the 9, You know, results that you're hoping for.

They could be could go backwards.

It could be 6 Republicans and 3 Democrats for all we know it's just a very risky thing.

And, you know, one thing about politics, the best laid plans almost always go wrong.

And that's what afraid may happen in this case.

>> Kathy, what do you make of the way elections in this rematch battle have gotten to be so hyper partisan leading to even some of the violence and the threats that we just mentioned.

You know, it's really unfortunate because of the end of the day, it's the American voter whose voice should matter the most, not someone from the Democratic Party, not someone from the Republican Party.

It's damaging the voice of people It's also damaging, by the way, the amount of moderation that we have in our in state legislatures and in Congress right?

If you have more equal, there should be a way to listen better to people on the other side have a better exchange.

even if it's heated, at least an exchange in a debate and that is what I think is really being harmed is the additional polarization that the sort of stuff causes.

And you know, what people don't recognize is that it's not your next door neighbor might be someone who is from a different party, right?

It's not hurting someone over here or over there.

It's dividing neighbors and it's dividing boaters in there.

Just is not good for where America needs to be going, that's where we'll have to leave it over.

America is right now.

Cathy Cortez and Mike Murphy, thanks so much for joining us.

Thanks for having me.

Up next, what's happening to residents of the South Shore apartment building made prominent by a controversial ice read.

Could cut a Cook County judge rules this week that residents of a South Shore apartment building raided by federal agents in September must vacate their apartments by Friday, Judge Deborah and Seton denied a 60 day extension request saying it would quote, be inhumane for this court not to relocate people as quickly as possible, citing potential natural gas and plumbing issues.

Tenants of the building are acknowledging the terrible living conditions.

But many say they have nowhere else to go.

Joining us is Dixon, Romeo executive director for Southside Together, community organization serving South side neighborhoods.

Thanks for joining us.

Thank you for having me.

day before Thanksgiving, residents of 7500 south Shore found out that they would have to leave their units by December 12th.

And to be clear, that's in a couple of from now, the learn this via a paper notice to vacate what was that like for tenants who the lobby?

>> was it like for them to find out realizing that they're going to have to move out based on a new taped up in the So the Southside together and the Metropolitans organization working worked with tennis to organize a 10:00AM.

But he's ever region also say, hey.

>> Here are the conditions of the building.

Polls, ice Ray, we're familiar with some of those conditions.

Pretty ice-free and what tenants have been demanding the entire time right is the reason is attending because the building is in deplorable condition of Iowa, Tennessee Sunday, China winning get was more time in the building to get relocated cause everyone acknowledges that the building is not in good condition, OK?

So they weren't necessarily asking, please fix this building up there saying.

>> Help us get out.

Yeah.

I mean, at this point, the this property has been in disarray for a long time, right?

The eyes or 8 obviously made it worse.

But the reality of it is that now attention shifted off to its rating.

Word about the black folks left in the building, right?

What is the city?

Chicago?

A state of Illinois.

What all the partners doing to help write people who are outraged at what happened.

What we do for the residents that are left as well as the votes were taken by what's been a condition of the building since the ice read, because this is when everybody really found out about all the problems that residents already knew about the the existing conditions bad before been exacerbated The doors off the hinges, the lack of light gas, all the things that the judge a we nor the case, the issue the tenants of name is that the receiver has not trying try to relocate anyone.

I off relocation assistance, which is the same thing as relocating like as you said, it's really hard to get at least on December 12 or 13 And so that's what we in the filed a motion to get the extension done for mostly it was successful.

But because it ends organizing, came together, not only has the support of each other as a tenant union, but also a lot of folks in the community are coming together, offering financial material support, right, helping folks about.

>> Even before the raid living conditions at the building.

They had been subpar, like you said, according to the tribe, the building had not passed a conservation complaint building inspections since 2000.

How long have tenants been living under these conditions?

sometimes in the building been living there 20 years, right?

We've been organizing is out a live in South shore.

>> And one of reasons why we organize to get the CDA board is Jackson are housing pilot ordinance passed in September this year.

because of the conditions in the neighborhood, right like South Shores, the eviction capital, Cook County of the city it is a 75% tenant neighborhood right is overwhelmingly black neighborhood.

And what happens is you often have landlords who rent out of state, sometimes of the country who don't care about the conditions of the neighborhood, try and seek to profit off of the neglect of the building.

Right.

Like I will keep raising the rent regardless of what it looks like.

interesting thing about the 7500 buildings that there are a number of people, building, where does able very few buildings in our neighborhood have meeting rooms, right?

Things like that.

But more importantly, elevators right into one of the reasons we have folks who live in the building who are disabled because elevator ride elevators been broken, just recently got fixed to allow tenants to move out.

But that's why people stay in a building like that.

Because where else can you afford to live?

But also it's accessible for building with an elevator following the raid, the real estate company, Friedman Communities became the court appointed receiver.

>> One of the demands by tenants has been that Friedman repair the building, restore the heat and electricity has Friedman been no relation?

Obviously have they've been open to hearing these demands from resident, not especially no.

There was a meeting with this will meeting with 10, the city, Utah Friday of last week that Freeman canceled actually before the court date tenants.

They've since we've been trying to go around the tenants coming together, trying to talk to foes individually.

They said things in court that are to a real-life really one of the things that happen on the court case, as they would say that they were going to relocate.

People has not been the case right.

As of asked about support, moving support.

Those things haven't happened.

The elevated to get fixed, right?

So that folks, I think to have the ability to move.

But ultimately the things that demanded that are doable, even the short term haven't been tenants asked Judge Seton for 60 Day extension, of course, be on December 12th, but she decided to keep the original date.

As we mentioned at the beginning.

>> But residents have expressed some frustration that they didn't feel like they were allowed to speak during the hearing.

What more do you think the judge should have heard from them before making her decision?

I think that, though the words of the receiver were taken.

>> face value in the words of the tenants or the lawyer that the tenant tired sandbar from work and better housing should have been given equal spacing.

The court.

>> despite living conditions, tenants have position petition for extra time talking about again, the lack other options and resources.

How are they navigating this path forward?

Have any of them been able to secure or alternate housing some have right over me?

A lot haven't.

Right.

We even as as of today like an hour ago, hand from someone was in a neighborhood.

Some people offering financial some people often with a lot folks to rent.

>> The city of Chicago has the of the mayor's office offered a nice assortment of resources as well.

We haven't much from the governor.

That's that's that's that's what's the right is.

It is a very chaotic situation.

And we're doing our best to help.

I just I do know the judge games receiver some latitude to potentially right, folks, the until the 19th.

But they have we haven't heard from the receiver.

Tennis has been reaching out asking for that time.

And how many tenants are we talking about that are still the 37 and units were the folks that are.

>> in the tenant union and I know of at least 15 units of those that we have to move out tomorrow morning tomorrow morning.

Okay.

So folks have someplace to go of those of those few that everybody getting out tomorrow that we had to really find between Monday and now.

Yeah, okay.

So you're still looking for those folks is what you're saying, OK, between now the deadline really quick.

We know that the mayor sent a letter to Friedman on the tenants behalf.

What would you like the governor to to to do and the mayor for that And then we will also soon represent >> us right to speak up and speak out and do things that can support, especially when it comes to black folks in the black That's all have to leave it up.

Best of luck to you.

Of course, tenants that you're working with Dixon, Romeo from Southside Together.

Thank you for joining us.

Thank And we're back to wrap things up right after this.

>> Reflecting the people and perspectives that make up can This story is part of Chicago tonight.

Black Voice.

>> And that's our show for this Wednesday night.

If you're looking for something festive to do this weekend, be sure to check out our website for our holiday events guide.

That's a W t Tw dot com slash holiday events and join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10 me Cook County's first new chief judge in more than 2 decades.

Charles Beach joins us to talk about his new role, the electronic monitoring system and more.

Now for all of us here in Chicago Brandis Friedman, thanks for watching to healthy and safe and have a good night.

>> Closed captioning is made possible by Robert a cliff.

And Cliff the Chicago personal injury, wrongful death.

gives