>> Hello and thanks for joining us on Chicago Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

Chicago's deputy mayor for community safety Emanuel.

Andrea, on his first months in office and goals for the future.

>> With City government organize.

Families, pay the price.

>> And Cook County Board of Review commissioner and former Alderman George Cardenas launches his bid for mayor.

He joins us to discuss his vision.

>> First off tonight, attorneys for the former Broadview 6 defendants are calling for a special prosecutor to investigate the U.S.

attorney's office in the Northern District of Illinois.

But lawyers are asking a judge to designate a special counsel to investigate.

And if warranted prosecute members of Andrew Boutros is office following bombshell allegations of grand jury misconduct.

They argue Boutros is office appears to be putting all the blame for those actions on one prosecutor.

But they clean the misconduct runs, quote, much deeper.

It comes as a top Democratic lawmaker is calling for a congressional inquiry into Boutros is handling of the case response to that.

Bhutto says he, quote, fully supports an investigation into the broad view.

6 prosecution saying he's confident no misconduct by the U.S.

attorney will be found because, quote, there was none.

Older drivers will have a few more years before taking another driving test to prove they're still fit to be on the road starting July first, a new law kicks and that raises the age at which senior drivers need to take a new road test from 79 to 87 years old when renewing their license.

The Secretary of state's office says instead drivers ages 79 through 86 will still be required to renew their licenses in person and pass a vision screening drivers.

79 80 will renew their license every 4 years and every 2 years for those 81 it up, the Illinois Department of Transportation says Illinois drivers over 75 had a crash rate of 25 and a half per 1000 licensed drivers in the year 2024, that's lower than every other age group.

You may have heard of Chicago's newest celebrities, but you haven't heard their names.

That's because the newest piping plover chicks don't have names yet, but that contest to name them is on the coalition.

A bird groups hosting the contest says your injury should reflect Chicago's heritage culture and diversity.

So no elected officials or businesses for reference.

The names chosen for 2025 chicks were Ferris L and being get it.

This is the 3rd year plover couple Imani Imani has seen here and see rocket have hatched chicks at Montrose Beach entries are due by Sunday night.

You can visit our website to learn how to submit.

The city hall official tasked with holistic approach to public safety joins us right after this.

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

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donors.

>> Since his appointment in April, Chicago, deputy mayor for community safety Emanuel, Andre, has faced a number of challenges from how to handle teen takeovers and rising domestic violence cases.

2 aggressive federal immigration enforcement and rising political tensions.

Andrea is tasked with overseeing the city's public safety agenda at a time when overall crime is on the decline.

But while critics of Mayor Brandon Johnson are questioning his administration's approach, joining us now is Emmanuel Andrea Chicago deputy mayor for community safety.

Thank you for joining us.

Thanks congrats on the new position.

you've been on the job for a couple of months now stepping in after the abrupt firing of your predecessor, Jerry and Kate Wood.

Why were you interested in this role?

>> You know, when I thought about this role and when I think about the importance of this role, importance of keeping the city safe and what I might be able to bring.

So that ecosystem to safety in many ways.

But I thought this role is just too important.

You know, I'm a parent.

I have kids and my kids all the time.

Talk about what it means to be able to navigate the city.

And at the end of the day, I want to be a part of making the city safer and continuing some of the progress of some of the successes we've seen.

So it was a surge in COVID and I thought it was too important.

Passal.

>> So starting with crime, of course, even though Chicago ended last year with its lowest homicide total in 60 years, there they are still up 7.5% so far this year.

What would you say is behind that increase?

>> Yeah, thank you.

And and that's it.

And I think in many ways, you know, seeing those homicide numbers go down in many ways is a success.

But at no point in time, do we wish are we celebrating necessarily?

Do we wish to be able to say, hey, look for those specially who've been directly impacted by those losses and how that lingers on.

So we realize we realize some of the real challenges, you know, some of the things that we especially right now being that it is the middle of the summer, how these numbers continue fluctuate.

What I think stands out is the consistency.

In terms of that, we are seeing that there is a steady decline, although we do see some increase in the homicide numbers and some increasing amount of students.

But when you look at some of the rest of the data, especially around violent crimes at how that continues, lead the clients that are around carjackings around robberies.

All of that is very, very consistent.

Now.

Again, we're not happy with things but we are encouraged that, you know, the overall strategy is working in.

This is something that 6, several years to continue one.

But but what will focused and making things better.

So that's 7 and a half percent increase this.

It also comes at a time when homicides in New York are down.

21 1% so far this year in down 10% LA you they start much lower points.

Then Chicago does as well.

What would you say is behind that sort big city disparity?

Yeah, I think some of even when you look at that 7, half a cent increase.

So if you >> look at the map of the city, you know where with 77 communities but very desperate.

A lot of ways.

So we have seen a spike in certain neighborhoods in which trying to focus in on those neighborhoods that we've seen that spike But if you look at the overall city, homicide numbers are down and u-verse over our city.

But there has been a spike and if use in a few neighborhoods that we can see work going to be able to help turn that tide.

So we're we're really lucky about sort of the amount of people we have working on this to be able to make this holistic effort to be able to turn that.

I do.

You see anything different that those cities are doing versus what Chicago is doing?

>> I think we have a lot of similarities to be honest with you.

All those cargoes is a different infrastructure in some ways.

We do have a lot of similarities in terms of what we're seeing.

So in terms of the continued downward trend.

We started with that with more any other cities.

But we do have more summer.

I I think the difference is at this point.

So you have a background of restorative justice before joining city government.

You founded circles and Ciphers which uses hip-hop and restorative justice practices.

>> To engage young people.

Of course, we also know that you came from the Cook County Public Defender's office as well.

How would you say that work in research justice shapes your approach to community safety?

Yeah, I think many ways is it helps inform So my approach is one.

even when we look at this summer, right, what does it look like?

Safety to be able to actively to find safety?

>> Safety as being about the long and not just absence of violence, but about long and restorative practices, I think is an approach that only Zacks.

What is it that we want for our own child if they were caught in the middle of something, how how should that guide?

So also philosophy of how do we want things to be and how do we want to be in right relationship with each other and importance of relationship no and what importance of words like healing means.

What does it mean to be able to Hilton situation so we can continue to see the long term aphex of when we have healing versus versus very now approaches to safety.

And I think some of that always framed just sort of the vision and the work because of my work because of my background, I've been able to work with victims and survivors.

In addition to 2 people have been accused in that frame to sort of the way I approach things to be able to say, look, at the end of the day, we want to be a better community to whatever crisis happens, what's needed to be able to tap that and forward.

So that philosophy it helps a lot.

>> So so called teen takeovers, these are, of course, the unauthorized mass gatherings of young people.

They sometimes turn into dangerous situations.

They become more commonplace in Chicago.

We know that CPD has been responding to quite a few of them, but all also other cities are experiencing this too.

What tactics do you think the city should be deploying to quell this issue?

Yeah, I think the city should continue to do some of the stuff that we know that's working.

Right.

So this idea of.

>> even this idea for a right, there's those.

But a push back team gatherings to take over is runs team trends.

And then you might even have some people use words.

I agree with white mobs and things like that.

I think it says a lot, but I do think what's being asked is this idea of again, but along with that, that young people to go can go to be able to feel like they can gather in a safe manner.

That's what we care about.

Making sure it happened safely.

So this is not necessarily a new phenomenon, right?

young people have been gathering for for years for decades.

I would argue now we do have some new points of phenomenon, right?

We didn't have social media in the way and we're not coming off of historic a bit like COVID in the way that we are now.

So that is some of the changes that's needed in terms of how do actively utilized now to be able to have that impact?

How do we continue increase to sort of spaces for young people to go to, to be able to be in community with each other couple of months back.

The mayor's office hosted big gathering over at Navy Pier that saw over 1500 young people.

How do we continue offer that even this weekend as I speak, there's going to be around.

31 activations that was supporting in some way that we're we'll hope for is going to be able to gaze well over 40,000 people throughout the city.

So we're excited about being able to be proactive in a way to be able to help inform specially the gatherings that we We're particularly concerned about those that for whatever reason turned violent or anything like that.

So when is it is so we're doing that in addition know all people in my team, we twice-weekly just around this issue, working city government partners all across the spectrum to be able to make make an impact on this issue.

So the city ended its contract with Shotspotter back in 2024.

And the mayor's convinced based on a variety of studies, including ones that we have covered here.

>> That the gunshot detection systems do not work, that it does not make Chicagoans safer.

But a majority of the city council, remain convinced that such a system is necessary heading London advocating that issue.

Yeah, I think, you know, my understanding the mass killings of about Shotspotter, my understanding, you know, this is still open right now and is open.

>> There's an open Kermit that's happening right now in real time.

So I do think that the man still remains aligned with wanting to have making sure that we have great technology that works is going to help for the informed public safety.

But so that's where we're at right now.

And that's what we're excited about.

Being able to get get to that space.

But as it pertains to specifically Shotspotter, I think there's been tons of research around that.

It turns around issues associated with that.

So the man very clear on his position, technologies that you think Chicago could be investing in for stronger community safety.

>> Yeah, absolutely.

I do think that we have seen an evolution of where we're at in terms of technology, but I think what's being axed right now is how do we properly evaluate those technologies, right?

Chicago should not be the the guinea pig for a foretaste technologies, the the testing ground.

So can we put together an infrastructure that be able to properly evaluate technologies to make sure that Chicagoans are getting the absolute best.

So I think that's one thing that's absolutely needed.

So we definitely not saying no to technology and not at all.

If anything, we want to make sure it's effective efficient to be able to move public safety forward.

And of course, Chicago's frequently found itself in conflict with the Trump administration over immigration, local governments.

>> What concerns you have about federal intervention in local public safety matters.

continue to have some of those same concerns about brought federal overreach to be very frank with you.

And we've seen what happened a couple of months ago.

We've seen how that's impacted Chicago as a community as Chicago continues to stand tall in his position impact that we've had about that so around that.

So we continue to stand, though, and with with the community around that.

But absolutely are concerned about broad federal when it comes issues about 15 seconds left.

At the end of your, you know, maybe first year, what would you say success looks like for you.

They had in its first Success would be increasing belonging within the city.

Right?

This idea that we have 77 communities but one city can we have metrics that we can look at the end of the year that goes beyond just how many shootings happened to able to say, hey, we're safer city.

Well, we'll see before the before that year is up.

I'm sure new deputy mayor for Community Safety Manual.

Andrea, thank Thank you.

Thank you.

talk about.

>> Up next, meet the newest candidate running for mayor of Chicago.

>> W T Tw News coverage of policing and police reform is supported by the Joyce Foundation.

>> Chicago is already air field hat mayoral field has a new entrant former Chicago alderman and current Cook County Board of Review Commissioner George Cardenas has just announced his bid over more than 2 decades in elected office.

Cardenas has been an ally to former mayor's daily Emanuel and Lightfoot before resigning from the city council after his election to the Board of review.

Now the former auditor and management consultant says he wants to bring his experience to the 5th floor of City Hall.

Joining us now with more is George Cardenas, commissioner on the Cook County Board of Review and no candidate for mayor.

Thank you for joining us.

Welcome back.

Thanks for the invite.

So as we mentioned already sort of a crowded field.

Several candidates are running having made formal announcements.

Several others that we've heard of are expected to jump in.

Why did you decide to get into this race?

Lynch's for say?

I think it's welcoming people want to talk about the future Chicago.

>> let's have really thorough and strong debate about what that looks like.

Nobody should be in the plans in in debate.

I'm in and let's get the best ideas in their implement them and the city what it should be.

My reason it was was simple.

If it was a transition in my mind that when I was doing some analysis when it comes to property taxes, I want to understand little differences was driving not just assessments, but the cost and increase cost on taxpayers over and over again year after year without kind of plan cut a controller.

So I decided to kind of look at not just the financials and assessments in Cook County, but also the financials with the city.

And I launched exploratory committee just because of that.

And what a finals.

no serious issues in spending in particular spending groove 54% from 2019 to 2026. just put it in very a basic math.

10.7 billion dollars was budget in 2019 and the budget in 2026.

Was 16.6 billion dollars.

If you come for inflation just score, does not include food and energy.

You're talking about 27%, which is about 3 billion dollars or so.

So you're now looking at.

The difference 3 billion dollars not including pensions also dead, which is about 1.5 billion dollars.

The difference is 1.5 billion over spending because does nothing to account for that.

So you've been on the border view because, you talk about a lot of things here since 2022.

Before that, you're a member of Chicago's City Council 2003 And as you just said, you are running on a campaign of fiscal discipline.

Government efficiency.

>> What those terms mean to you?

>> teaches you gotta manage better.

And this is not about cutting anything.

This is about management.

This is about contracts to see they're performing or they're doing the things to do what they're supposed to be doing.

Are you paying for the service you're getting?

And that's just kind of going to a progression of things that any any account in any someone was some sort financial.

You I come in, would really get to we'll do it in our families.

You know, go through this with my daughters.

You know, someone's got Hulu and they got Netflix and they got prime.

And got all these other apps and unlike do movies have the same thing.

What do you need?

All of do need all of those and he's very basics on the city's first simple.

>> You got 20 different procurement systems in the old by the silo products that we all use in the city.

And I think we bring that a and Moore managed a programmatic temple decision.

do you think by making, you know, tweak here and a tweak their in, for example, procurement in other ways is is that going to save the time that the city really needs.

A I minus as was.

>> Just on health care alone.

If you really put pen to paper about one in 45 million dollars contracts.

If I go to any departments were there say the usual issues and sand, I can definitely get to reduction of 10% just on going to a contract reformation and just going have anything, not even cutting anything, not at all.

Events also did a an analysis also what we spend into the nonprofit nonprofit look for not-for-profit sector.

what I found was really disparate systems.

all doing work.

But there's nothing really inches pay a cohesive strategy to solve the problems Chicagoans are facing.

And I think the team really caught my eye my attention.

So I came up with something, but I thought could be useful for Chicago, which is a teen takeover problem.

And I'm going to put something that is parenting matters.

More a pound, a shuttle, you plan to support families.

You know, in report way up, a participation structured engagement.

You know, 2 generation strategy to connect youth with the caregiver.

And we need to bring that in spend the money wisely because his teens need our help, OK?

And yes, we just heard from our deputy mayor for community safety on this very issue.

>> In your announcement, you talked about moving Chicago as an immigrant and struggling commuting to school on the southwest side.

You said that your struggles.

phase that daily, yes, yes.

you said that, you know, your your struggle reflects that of many average Chicagoans.

Tell us more about that struggle correct me when I was young.

I mean, I obviously went to Lincoln High School not far from here.

And I did take 2 buses, brutal winters, which is Chicago at that time.

You even more the now.

But also as a teen facing in some of the neighborhoods, really the toughest environments talking about Little Village and Pilsen in those years.

You know, the gang culture was was very intense and headed navigate through all of that.

And this is why decided to join the military just to get away from it.

All and then come back strong and go get my my future, which is go to school, get a degree in, you know, join the workforce, which I did very successfully.

So I'm proud of that.

initial call was face that not all of them get to make that in those decisions.

And I want to be able to bring that into into folks and say, you know, why do we more in analysis what's going on in some Disney would and help young men looked like I did at the time, which we don't do enough.

also made public safety a top issue, the city's crime rate is at historically low levels.

Again, as we just discussed, why is through may want to You know, there's a thing people don't feel safe to be honest with you.

>> And have these conversations in downtown and in the neighborhoods somehow the perceptions of Appeals said.

>> still don't feel safe.

Crime has gone down.

And I don't know if that's just metrics.

The people getting or not getting.

We're not reporting any more.

So I don't believe I really don't know.

But I know that people don't feel safe especially downtown people are not coming as they used Tourism is down.

to me, without safety, you miss a lot of things.

People leave then was leave investments lows.

And you see shrinks, as I said, that's something I want to provide a one.

The city grow.

whole thing is the city has to grow to keep up with just the necessities and services that we provide on a daily basis in Chicago.

>> The city voters elected Brandon Johnson in 2023, of course, a member of the Democratic Party, Democratic Party's more progressive wing or Lightfoot before him.

Do you think Chicago is prepared to think Chicagoans want to elect more moderate Democrat?

look, I think Chicago is ready for someone to govern.

I think trouble when someone who knows the numbers.

>> Who can bring some sense.

And so all of the spending that happening into the governance structure of it all to someone take charge.

He's gonna make decisions is going to good decisions and contracts in a services and how to rein in spending, how to slow down the wage growth.

That going to you know, lot of pain in pension, precious later on That has to has to be someone who is competent enough to understand the whole ecosystem something about it.

I talked about, you know, the grid system, how they promised us to save more world sanitation problems, spending more about 25% more in then they did in 2019.

Now.

And how's that happening?

We're supposed to be saving money.

remain Mt.

Superintendents reporting to empty buildings.

you know, we have recycling rate of 3%.

You know, why is that in his his management?

We got to manage this.

This this whole ecosystem make it better.

>> Recent property taxes at assessment.

Of course, they've driven up tax bills for Chicago, homeowners.

Some of the largest increases falling on the south and West side communities, as you know, write your member of the Board of of which is responsible for ensuring fair property valuations, correct.

What do you think should be done to reduce the burden on homeowners?

Well, definitely better assessments.

Of course.

But Lauren, the cost of government looks at end of the day.

>> You know, government goes to the well over and over again, which is property taxes.

This is more most, you know, the most.

revenue source that there is that's what they rely and that's where they go to.

think that needs to stop.

I mean, that the trend line for increase in property tax is just not sustainable.

Weathers CPS, is the park district with the City of Chicago or CA County which is not their taxes and they're lovely.

But other entities have.

>> Okay.

That's where we'll have to leave George Cardenas, commissioner of the Cook County Board of Review.

Also candidate for mayor of Chicago.

will be talking you again.

Thank you for joining Thank you so much for us.

And that is our show for this Wednesday night.

Stay connected with our reporters and what they're working on by following us on Instagram at W T Tw Chicago and join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10 for Chicago tonight, Opening Day in Jackson Park.

We'll have an inside look at the Obama presidential center as it opens on the city's south side.

Broadcasting live from the center's campus.

Now for all of us here in Chicago tonight, I'm Brandis Friedman, thanks for watching.

Stay healthy and safe.

Have a good night.

>> caption may cost by Robert a Richard a Chicago personal injury and wrongful death.

It