>> Good evening and thanks for joining us on the weekend review.

I'm Nick Blumberg, JB Pritzker and Darren Bailey face off for the first and only time in the race for Illinois.

Governor.

>> What Darren Bailey is doing is supporting Donald Trump in making it harder for us to bring businesses to the state harder for us to attract people to the state.

I will work with whoever is president to make sure that we get the best for Illinois right now.

That's not happening.

President Donald Trump looms large and Wtta W's candidate forum along with plenty of sparring on taxes, public safety and the bears wide of the rules need to change.

>> gives away >> after a contentious debate, older people failed to override Mayor Brandon Johnson's veto of a measure that would make it harder for the city to borrow.

The city council also approved a massive police misconduct settlement and expands an effort to curb bus and bike lanes scofflaws.

Meantime, a lawsuit meant to block mayoral hopefuls from running for office in the mid term is thrown out and the Chicago public schools watchdog again closes an investigation into school board.

President candidate Eladio Dominguez.

And now to our week in review panel.

Joining us are Jeff Buckholts of WBBM NewsRadio tell you saw one of the Chicago Tribune.

couple of Chalk Beach, Chicago and Monica and a Chicago.

Thank you all for being here.

appreciate So Jeff, no love lost in the rematch between JB Pritzker and Darren Bailey this week.

What did you make of their showdown?

Did you bring your lemonade for the drug Friday night?

I'm going stronger than the milk.

>> So yeah, it was pretty much what we've come to expect in in sort of the campaign sniping between these 2.

>> The governor tried very, very hard to tie Darren Bailey to President Trump.

Indeed, the president made a kind of easy for the governor because the president endorsed Darren Bailey here, not that long ago says former Senator responded by accusing the governor of being your basic tax and spend Democrat criticized the Safety Act, which has been one of the governor's signature legislative accomplishments and the drinking game reference was the former senator suggested to viewers at home that day, take a drink whenever the governor mentions Donald Trump's name.

But I did appreciate you know what next time Pritzker did he said, okay, drink.

That's right.

Yeah.

Cbd was Monica.

What stood out to you?

>> Well, I mean, basically that same thing and don't know how he's going to escape the Trump issues.

I remember when Bailey came to city Hall, one time to apologize for the hellhole statement.

Have the public comment period was sold here But I you know, when we were all gathered around him and I said, can you tell me a single policy difference that you have with President Trump?

He beat 5 ran after him to the elevators.

Kind repeating my question.

Are you avoiding you know, it's something that's been dodging.

You know, many Illinois Republicans who are.

>> You know, certainly to that, you know, the more center than Donald Trump, this has been ongoing for the last 10 years or so.

I think he's I don't think he's doing a lot of people any favors and >> barnstorming the United States and it during the midterms.

Italian.

What stood out to you and their matchup?

I just think, you know, looking forward will be interesting to see if the margin changes at all last time.

I think we're just talking about before was like they called it.

>> 7 71.

So that'll that'll be one thing.

I think the governor ended up winning by 12 points.

I think 13 13.

Yeah.

So I think that's going to be one of the things that it will be watching our coverage on election night.

And I'm sure others will be as well if the margin exceeds the margin from the 2022 election.

What did you hear?

And you know, they're they're showdown there was a bit of talk about education funding.

>> That's right.

That did come up and is an education my ears perked up by its Governor Pritzker, talked about his record.

Those steering more money toward education, even though we've been hearing a lot from folks in Chicago, public schools and elsewhere in the state that and it hasn't been quite enough.

And he also made it very clear that this 150 million dollars that Chicago public schools is counting on in its budget in state money that hasn't yet been approved.

Likely is not coming this year.

Yeah.

I think that's going to be a tough left.

>> You know, there's also, you know, we're waiting for this question on whether the governor will have Illinois join a federal education tax credit program.

>> Your colleague, McKay seminary just had a piece on this.

Remind us where things stand on >> Sure, the governor remains largely a noncommittal.

He says he's still looking into it than making up his mind even as he's facing a lot of pressure on both sides from groups that are really opposed to the state opting into this program.

most notably, perhaps the teachers unions in the state who are saying that this will steer students and more dollars to private schools and undermine public education.

But there also parent advocacy and other groups on the other side pressing him to join just 2 other Democratic governors nationally who have said that they will be opting in Yemen have to wonder whether that decision is going to come before Election Day.

I think it I can't imagine seems a little unlikely.

>> Alright, turning to some city news, Jeff.

There were fireworks in city council over the effort to require 30 votes for the issue, city to issue new bonds.

other people have to say?

So this was interesting in the open package.

You included a clip from Jason Ervin from the West Side, one of Mayor Johnson, strongest allies on city council and he made the point is folks heard.

This is all about power and who has it?

Alderman Urban's argument was this isn't about making government better.

It's about making.

>> The majority weaker and he points out that black aldermen are now in the majority Black City Council members are in the majority and city council it to respond to the sponsor.

Marty Quinn from the Southwest side that this is designed require more consensus before the city issues.

These kinds of bonds, Alderman Irvin said it's funny that we talk about good governance and process and transparency.

When the guy sitting up there looks like reference to Mayor Johnson and and indeed the veto override almost carried the day.

They need to 34 votes they got 33 I talked to Alderman Quinn afterward and I was like, are you disappointed?

like, no, this is the kind of thing we should be arguing about.

We've got within one vote of over turning the mayor on something this important all take that interesting.

Okay.

So the city council still flexing its muscle.

He's also but he's also also on the way out he's leaving at the end of this term.

So he's you know, he's got some stuff to burning white.

Monica, one item that did pass without, you know, too much pushback.

This huge settlement for wrongfully convicted people in cases tied to former CPD detective Reynaldo Guevara.

>> Comes with a pretty hefty price You had 261 million almost and not is on top of previous settlements that were for something million.

>> You know, a single guy costing the city almost half a billion dollars in addition to the pension that he is still collecting.

It's it's just tragic.

You know, 17 people are, you know, are accusing him of railroading them into murder convictions.

I did ask the mayor earlier last week.

You know what we have in place to make sure this doesn't happen again.

And I don't feel like I got really satisfactory answers to make sure that we're not spending a huge chunk of our budget on police settlements in the future.

Yeah.

Well, it is interesting, you know, hearing from city officials saying, yes, this is a massive amount of money.

But if we could go these cases yet going to cost even more.

Yeah, you know, we possibly more than a billion if they went to court.

Yeah, but yeah, I think the question of >> what beyond sort of the normal consent decree process that's going on is going to be in place to stop.

That's a lot of folks want to know your Talia.

Another item this week unite both of bin Farhan is the city's kind of slowly rolling out cameras on CTA buses, city vehicles trying to catch people, you know, stopped or parked in a bus and bike lane has a separate set to expand.

yes, so right now it's a pilot program that is operating only in part of the city.

>> Alderman voted this week to expand that, you know, over the next couple of years to the entire city.

So a lot more, you know, violations are expected to be caught bike and pedestrian safety advocates have really long said that this is about changing behavior, particularly with those bike lane blockers.

Once there's a vehicle in the bike lane, bicyclists are forced into traffic into a line of traffic where drivers are specifically expecting them to be in the bike lane.

So they've talked a lot about the dangers.

I don't think the fact that this is going to generate more money is making anyone maps.

right.

I mean, that's sort of the question is already reviewed revenue generator.

But, yeah, you know, all who was the original sponsor of this?

>> So this is about changing behaviors and people who've gotten warnings, he says only about 84% of them ever go on to get purse ticket.

And those who go to first ticket only about 60 something percent actually get a second to get the it's changing behaviors and no, they they talk a lot about 3 year-old Lilly who in Uptown killed because a bike lane was blocked.

that's a mamas, basically a person.

always breaks my heart to hear Yeah, but it was interesting.

Knows hearing sort of the debate among older people and >> really rate, you know, kind of hitting that point that this isn't we're not trying to raise revenue.

We want people to behave differently.

And Michael Belsky, which the comptroller I was talking to him a couple of weeks ago and one of the things we talked about was the smart streets program and he said we want to see this line item go down because it means people are driving safer.

Yeah, well, of course, this isn't see today's interest as well.

Trying to draw back passengers trying to get buses moving faster rate, get buses moving faster.

And one of the things they talk about too is for people with disabilities.

If you have a bus stop blocks that something else that the program catches.

>> Then it impede the ability of people who are using wheelchairs or other mobility aids to even get on the And, of course, Chicago already lags behind many peer cities in express bus lanes.

>> So if they're blocked, you know, you're kind of the other side are, you know, delivery drivers who are going to be really cheesed off.

>> And talk to someone who said, look, my grandma, I needed to just drop her off at the grocery store and you know, it's so I'm going to get a ticket or I'm at the vet and my dog can't really walk.

And they just double park for second to bring him in.

Maybe we more loading zones.

I don't.

Yeah, there is a fine Chicago tradition of just dump and put the flashers on minutes.

So you that it's tough to break people of All right, Jeff Mayor Johnson's been grappling for more control of the Chicago Housing Authority Board.

Of course, it hired a CEO over his objections, older people so far not so willing to aid his efforts.

Yeah, not.

Yeah.

decided not to go along with you.

2 of his nominations to the Ch a board and this is his attempt to >> remake the boarded his image who, as you point out, hired Keith pedigree to be the president of the Housing Authority instead of the mayor's selection, which would be now retired Alderman Walter Burnett because there were some concerns about whether about Mr.

Burnett's property Holdings what's right and it whether the HUD would give him an a waiver to allow him to seek that position.

And it doesn't seem as though they're in any hurry to do so.

So apparently the mayor is going to have to go back to the drawing board because these things are on ice for a little until it made me think 2 of, you know, some of the struggles the mayor's had when it comes to another sister agency or other sister agencies.

You know, an RTA board pick rejected, you know, of reported, you know, CEO president for the CTA that he's run into roadblocks on.

This is not the first time we've heard this story.

No, this is definitely a pattern in the sister agencies.

in addition the mayor's nomination of Renee Hatcher to be the new corporation counsel succeeding the great Mary Richardson, Lori got pulled out of committee at the last minute because alderman the he didn't have the votes among city council to get her confirmed.

It's not clear what's going to happen with that.

But indeed, as you point out, there are, you know, he's had sort of a rocky road getting some department heads and commission members through what isn't a more independent now city council?

Well, that's interesting because he had her announcement is success are pretty much ready to go.

You know, when the retirement announcement came out correct its interesting that they haven't been able to with the votes they haven't been able to.

You know, it was taken off the agenda of the budget and Government Operations Committee, which is Chairman Irvin's Committee literally the night before.

All right to another sister agency Mueller, the struggles school CPS watchdog once again closed an investigation into allegations of misconduct by school board, president candidate or your Dominguez.

>> Saying they couldn't find evidence to substantiate any claims.

We just recently got that full report.

stood out to you in there?

>> Well, I have confess that I didn't get much of a chance to spend time with the report before rushing over here because the district's Fauria office waited until I think a little after 4 drop I'm sure is early as this morning on social media.

They were journalist talking about what sources were telling them about the contents of the report a little disappointing.

Most of us have to wait until this evening.

So I scanned the very briefly, but yes, essentially what I would say is that the watchdog said these allegations are very What's the young woman involved is alleging was not witnessed by other parties which made it difficult to corroborate.

And also that's you know, at the time the behavior described with not if necessarily gone against CPS rules.

Now, more recently this this would be this would qualify as a boundary violation on there.

The strict guidelines for staffers.

Interesting.

But it's so they can't do anything because it's sort of, you know, and after the fact no change in policy is that's part of its well, you know, we've heard some members of the city council calling for an independent probe here raising questions of whether >> the mayor, you know, put his thumb on the scale by urging a quick resolution here.

Do you think we might see further fallout from this or is this chapter finally close?

mean, there been a lot of investigations and we kept asking the mayor, you know about this year ago?

And he said if these allegations have been well known for 4 years.

>> I think as someone who's endorsed, I love you, Dominguez.

He probably would like to see this put to bed.

But what?

But I find troubling, especially is that the woman.

>> In question says she was never contacted.

I still don't understand that.

Yeah.

the questions around the mayor, words influencer, of course he appointed the CPS inspector general of courses.

>> As we've pointed out, he's endorsed Mario Dominguez, the inspector sent me a statement this morning that talked about he actually got information from the alleged victim last month.

Doesn't say whether that was an interview where there was an email or something else.

But apparently there are some information that he had from the alleged victim to help lead him to the conclusion that he's lead to and insisted that no one from the outside had been leaning on him or trying to influence him or the investigation any way.

But that's not stopping people from calling for an independent inquiry.

It.

How about that, Mia Love the idea that, you know that it now finds himself in the position that he has to make clear that he's independent kind of push back against these claims.

>> Yeah, I also found the statement that he sent out this morning striking usually statements coming out of that officer very terse and very to the point.

>> We not comment on essentially that have often times.

But in this case, he winds and into this idea that, you know, they've gone after high ranking officials in the past have, you know, had some >> hard charging investigations that have.

So to have proven their track record of seeking transparency.

So I think a lot of us will be parsing this report and the evidence presented in there in the eye.

think there are some interesting tidbits to to review in the coming as we kind of try to make up our mind how independent was this review Well, and choppy was also part of a candidate forum with all 3 people running for board president.

What we're kind of the big takeaways that you heard that.

>> You know it a couple months ago, I went to the very featuring the role back.

Then there were 4 candidates are so great.

President and and it was extremely polite.

There were no attacks or even kind of picking apart each other's stances on the issues.

And a lot of the answers sounded very similar when you listen to the different candidates.

Now, in a very different phase of the this raise.

And that's the gloves have officially come the 3 candidates were very going after these different allegations and issues with each other's backgrounds and the sound that's they were really trying to distinguish themselves when it comes to some of the issues, including tackling declining enrollment the budgets challenges and some other issues.

Yeah, I thought it was interesting.

Patrick Smith from the easy sort of set up at the top like.

>> Well, if someone attacks you, I'll give you a chance to respond.

So if you don't want to give your opponents more time, don't go after them.

>> They didn't quite seem take heed no, they did you think you know, is that sort of a question of them just finding their footing as politicians, perhaps more that they feel more comfortable engaging in a little more of a combative way.

I guess.

>> I think that's part of it.

We're also now less than 3 weeks away from the election I'm not actual cold what is a tradition >> What you know Monica racer board president rightly getting a lot of attention.

It's a citywide race with a lot of authority.

But of course, you know, could that be coming at the expense of people getting more educated about the board members running in their local You think it could.

But, you know, with 20 you know, Ali Subdistricts, I think it it's rough.

I mean, chalk beat and WBZ and sometimes it done a great job.

Breaking those down.

But it just getting people to understand that there's board race at all.

It's tough, but then telling them and then there are 20 smaller, one He's it's rough.

And I tried simplify people.

I got kind of dying for some like, well, though, the CTU candidates and then there are the non right Canada.

But it's it's a lot for people.

Yeah, I mean, does it feel like the voters that you hear from there?

You know, the candidates you hear from the people are engaged on the district level as well.

I think it's still a challenge to get the word out about these races and to get people to engage an and care enough to make sure that they get to the very bottom of a fairly lengthy ballots.

>> So I think there's still some gaps in awareness that the candidates and the folks supporting them are trying to bridge, you know, hopefully we can help bridge.

just got a text on my phone, you know, pretending to be a real person.

Hi, this is Kelsey board member.

>> Why a new taxi.

just to drive you mad?

>> Alright, Talia, dug into some of the history behind Amtrak's effort to move a maintenance facility into Bridgeport.

What did you find?

Yeah.

So my colleague 80 quick and I really look into this question of who knew what when, obviously, there's been a lot of discontent brewing in the neighborhood from some neighbors there.

You know, in some local officials saying, you know, track kind of hit they feel like Amtrak had the ball here.

The governor's office came out and said Amtrak to bait and switch.

>> On local officials, Amtrak has, you maintain that plan to move Bridgeport for quite some time and that they haven't kept that a secret you on.

In fact, there's like a 2023 state planning document that talks about this to serve certain extent.

But there are a lot of unanswered questions.

I would take that exactly.

Who knew?

What about the scope of the plan in general?

I think, you know, one interesting thing is we have an expectation in Chicago, a norm of Aldermanic prerogative, right?

And that sort of butting up against federal a federal law the A's something that's been one interesting tension to watch.

We certainly know maybe earlier awareness you from local officials.

But again, lots of questions about what exactly they knew or were told.

Yeah, whether Amtrak was kind not necessarily hiding the ball, the sort of soft pedaling how extensive this facility would be, what exactly that the scope of its use would be.

Is it fair to say?

>> Yeah, you know, that state planning document.

I wrecked referenced, you know, talks about storage.

you know, this is something that alderman Kohli is brought up is what a storage mean.

And there been discussions about that.

You know, there certainly has been indications that local officials knew about the maintenance aspect as well.

But a lot of he said she said in the story as well.

Yeah.

>> You also reported on the Federal Railroad Administration, which yes is a They're looking into problems with train dispatching in the Chicago area.

Recently, there was one incident that really stood out that could put some some maintenance workers in real danger.

What are the details on that?

>> Yes, so that's one incident that they are investigating among several.

And that was a case in which, you know, the union that reported this incident said dispatching software issued a signal that essentially could have allowed a trained to go into an area where maintenance workers had also been given the green light to work.

So these dispatchers, you can kind of think of them.

It's like like air traffic controllers by for trains.

So they're trying to keep everyone out of the way.

And, you know, luckily, there were no injuries in any of these incidents and anything like that.

But the union is warning, you know, that they could a bit more serious and they want them look down that far investigating it is going to save.

Do we have a sense of of sort of the next steps here?

>> That's all right.

most of in due time, I'm sure.

>> All right, Jeff Mauro hopeful Bill Quinlan tried to put the Kai Bosch and double dippers running in next month's midterm and the race for mayor.

So far, judge says no dice, no dice side on a technicality.

I think judge's ruling was, well, you know, no one's filed petitions.

And and you can't file petitions until the 26th.

So really there's there's kind of no reason for you to sue right now.

But of course, that would assume that we should ignore all of the ads were seeing for Alexa Giannulli us.

And you know, the other folks who are who are running for statewide or other offices.

You know, Lexi certainly secretary of State Mike quickly in Congress and Pappas, Maria Pappas George Cardenas for that's right.

Board of review not named in the suit, which I found interesting why them out.

6 in books like Yeah, you know, despite having vetted the case dismissed, Quinlan said he's going to appeal and appeal on the basis of.

>> He believes that they have presented for office.

And on Monday, we're expecting people to show up with their petitions.

And so are those for not going to show up with their petitions to jump into the mayor's race.

to the 26th that Sarah we are not out.

I mean, right at 4.59 one election ends and another begins.

Yes, unfortunately, that's where this panel ends for the evening.

We're out of time.

>> So R thanks to.

Jeff Buckholts.

Tell your side won.

>> Milliken Biloba and Monica Eng.

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

>> Chicago tonight is made possible in part by the Alexander and John Nichols.

Fate.

The Joyce Foundation.

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support these donors.

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

If you missed our governors forum earlier this week with JB Pritzker and Darren Bailey, you can watch it on our YouTube channel.

It's definitely worth of you.

You can also watch it right here on W T Tw this Saturday at 05:00PM.

Now for all of us here at the week in review, I'm Nick Lumber.

Thank you for watching.

Stay healthy, stay safe and stay informed.

Have a great weekend.

So yeah, it was interesting in that debate puts your floated the idea bears staying in Chicago.

Johnson says that every time certainly but this is all coming after the governors meeting with Roger Goodell with Pat Ryan, which was notable, not have been warned.

The >> And all of a sudden he's like, well, if they want to build in Chicago where they want to go in our league nights, this should let them do the first time in forever.

He's even floated.

Chicago was a possibility when I mean, I'm struggling to think where they would go up in the Michael Reese it.

mayor closed captioning is made possible by Robert a cliff and Clifford law offices, personal injury, law firm that gives back to