>> HEY THERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

WHAT VOICES I'M BRANDIS TREATMENT ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

A NEW PUSH BY LONGTIME HOMEOWNERS IN SOUTH SHORE TO FIGHT GENTRIFICATION.

HEAR FROM THE COOK COUNTY PUBLIC GUARDIAN ON RISING CONCERNS OVER DCFS IS CARE ABUSE AWAITING PLACEMENT.

AFTER SITTING EMPTY FOR NEARLY 35 YEARS, WE REVISIT A NEWLY RESTORED REMOVED WITH UTTER AHEAD OF ITS FIRST MAJOR CONCERT THIS WEEKEND.

>> I WAS FLABBERGASTED BECAUSE I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT IN THE HISTORY OF CINEMA BEFORE.

AND HOW THIS 125 YEAR-OLD SILENT FILM STILL SAYS SO MUCH.

>> AND SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, ONE PERSON HAS BEEN KILLED AND ANOTHER.

22 PEOPLE WERE SHOT AFTER GUNFIRE ERUPTED NEAR THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS SUPER BOWL PARADE TODAY.

KANSAS CITY POLICE SAY THE SHOTS WERE FIRED AT THE END OF THE PARADE AND THEY DETAINED 2 PEOPLE WHO WERE ARMED.

ESTIMATED 1 MILLION PEOPLE WERE IN DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY CELEBRATING THEIR TEAM'S BACK-TO-BACK NFL CHAMPIONSHIP.

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS COULD BE SCRUBBING ITS JANITORIAL REMARK.

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS SCHEDULED TO VOTE NEXT WEEK ON WHETHER TO REPLACE THE COMPANY THAT'S BEEN PROVIDING CLEANING SERVICES TO THE DISTRICT FOR THE LAST DECADE.

THE DISTRICT HAS FACED REPEATED COMPLAINTS OF DIRTY SCHOOLS AND REPORTS THAT PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS ARE HAVING TO CLEAN THE SCHOOLS THEMSELVES.

AND IN LATE 2017 AND EARLY 2018 INSPECTORS FOUND RODENT DROPPINGS AND PETS.

PEST INFESTATIONS.

THE UNION REPRESENTING CPS, JANITORS, LAUDED THE PLANNED MOVE.

FOR MORE ON THAT AND THE COST.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

AND IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET A LYFT OR UBER AT O'HARE AIRPORT TODAY, YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD SOME TROUBLE.

THAT'S BECAUSE RIDESHARE DRIVERS IN CHICAGO AND 9 OTHER CITIES HELD A DAY-LONG STRIKE IN RALEIGH, THE GROUP JUSTICE FOR APP WORKERS COALITION LED THE DEMONSTRATION.

RIDESHARE WORKERS SAY THEY'RE PROTESTING BECAUSE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST DRIVERS, A LACK OF PROTECTION FROM D ACTIVATIONS AND A REDUCTION IN EARNINGS.

THE COALITION SAYS IT REPRESENTS OVER 30,000 RIDESHARE AND DELIVERY DRIVERS IN ILLINOIS.

CHICAGO MUSEUMS HAVE BECOME A HOT SPOT FOR LABOR ORGANIZING IN THE LATEST ATTEMPT.

WORKERS AT THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, CHICAGO ARE LAUNCHING AN EFFORT TO JOIN THE RANKS OF UNIONIZED CULTURAL WORKERS.

STAFF RELEASED A LETTER CITING STAFF BURNOUT AND TURNOVER.

THEY'RE REPRESENTED BY AFSCME E WHICH ALSO REPRESENTS EMPLOYEES AT THE ART INSTITUTE AND THE FIELD MUSEUM.

IN A STATEMENT TO THE MCA SAYS THEY ARE, QUOTE, AWARE OF THE ANNOUNCED INTENTION TO FORM A UNION AND THEY RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES TO ORGANIZE.

DEBATES, POLITICAL ADS AND POLLS GALORE THE 2024 ELECTION IS IN FULL SWING.

IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T HEARD AND STARTING TOMORROW YOU CAN VOTE.

CHICAGOANS WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE AT 2 DOWNTOWN LOCATIONS.

THE SUPER SITE AND THE CHICAGO BOARD OF ELECTIONS OFFICE EARLY VOTING IN ALL 50 WARDS BEGINS ON MARCH.

4TH, YOU CAN VISIT OUR ONLINE VOTER GUIDE FOR INFORMATION AND VIDEO OF THE CANDIDATES.

PLUS A VOTER TOOL BOX TO HELP YOU LEARN WHEN WHERE AND HOW YOU CAN VOTE.

THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO MED CATHOLICS ACROSS THE CITY TODAY TO DISTRIBUTE ASHES ON THIS ASH WEDNESDAY, CLERGY AND CHURCH STAFF COMMUTERS AT PARKS, CTA STOPS UNION STATION AS WELL AS O'HARE AND MIDWAY AIRPORTS TO APPLY ASHES TO THEIR FOREHEADS IN THE SHAPE OF A CROSS ASH WEDNESDAY MARKS THE BEGINNING OF LENT THE 40 DAY PERIOD LEADING UP TO EASTER.

UP NEXT, CONCERNS OVER THE STATE'S HANDLING OF KIDS IN ITS CARE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY 5TH 3005TH BANK AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> 3RD, WE BELIEVE WOULD DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD AND EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER A BETTER FUTURE HOLDS GREAT PROMISE FOR ALL.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO.

TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES TOGETHER.

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER.

WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>> THE PERSON WHO ADVOCATES IN COURT FOR CHILDREN WHO'VE BEEN ABUSED OR NEGLECTED, SAYS THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES IS NOT ONLY FAILING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF KIDS IN ITS CARE, BUT THAT THE SITUATION IS GETTING WORSE.

JUST RECENTLY, THE CRISIS PLAGUED AGENCY GAINED A NEW LEADER AND THE COOK COUNTY PUBLIC GUARDIAN SAYS SHE HAS HER WORK CUT OUT FOR HER.

JOINING US IS CHARLES GOLDBERG, THE COOK COUNTY PUBLIC GUARDIAN.

WE SHOULD KNOW.

WE'VE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE NEW LEADER OF DCFS TO JOIN US FOR A FUTURE CONVERSATION.

CHARLES COLBERT, COLBERT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US NOW.

THANK YOU.

FIRST, GIVE US A BRIEF SENSE OF THE DUTY OF THE COOK COUNTY PUBLIC GUARDIAN.

WHEN YOU YEAH, OUR OFFICE REPRESENTS SOME 7,000 CHILDREN THEIR ABUSE NEGLECT CASES IN JUVENILE COURT HERE IN COOK COUNTY.

MOST OF THEM ARE UNDER THE CARE OF >> OKAY.

SO DCFS HAS BEEN UNDER A CONSENT DECREE FOR YEARS.

WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THERE'S BEEN SO LITTLE PROGRESS AND HOW THE AGENCY IS MANAGING CHILDREN IN ITS CARE YET TO HAS BEEN UNDER CONSENT DECREE FOR 32 YEARS.

32 YEARS AGO, 2 SPELLS PROMISED HAVE ALL THE PLACEMENTS LOT.

KIDS NEED ALL OF THE SERVICES, HIGH QUALITY PLACEMENTS AND SERVICES AND SO FORTH AND IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE EVERY YEAR SUPPOSE IS PLACEMENT CRISIS SHORTAGE GETS WORSE LAST YEAR ALONE, THERE WAS MORE THAN 1000 TIMES WERE TO SPOUSES, KIDS PLACED OFFICES IN EMERGENCY ROOMS IN WALKED PSYCHIATRIC WARDS IN JAILS BECAUSE THE SERVICE NO PLACE FOR THEM.

CHILDREN YOUNG AS 4 AND THOSE 5 YEARS OLD.

AND WE HAVE STATS GOING BACK SEVERAL YEARS AND GETTING WORSE AND WORSE EVERY YEAR MORE CHILDREN INVOLVED LONGER WINDS WILL STAY IN THESE HARMFUL PLACEMENTS AND THE CHILDREN KEEP GETTING YOUNGER AND YOUNGER EVERY YEAR.

I'M IN A LETTER THAT YOUR OFFICE WROTE TO THE YOU POINT TO DCFS ITS OWN ANNUAL REPORT ABOUT YOUTH IN CARE, AWAITING PLACEMENT THAT THE AVERAGE AGE OF CHILDREN WHO'VE BEEN HELD IN A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL BEYOND MEDICAL NECESSITY IS DOWN TO 12 YEARS OLD.

>> AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IS NOW 94 DAYS.

THAT WAS IN AND THAT'S A 20% INCREASE OVER 2022, AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE ARE ALSO CONCERNS ABOUT CHILDREN BEING PLACED OUT OF STATE OR SLEEPING IN OFFICES.

WHAT KIND OF IMPACT THIS HAVE ON CHILDREN?

OH, MY GOD, IT'S DEVASTATING.

SO IF YOU'RE STUCK IN A LOCKED PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL, YOU CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL IF YOU'RE OFFER FEW MONTHS YOU COULD LOSE IS LISA MELTZER SCHOOL EVEN IN YOUR SCHOOL?

>> YOU'RE LOCKED INDOORS.

ALL IT'S ALL ALL DAY LONG.

AT SOME POINT THEY START GIVING YOU VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTS CAUSE YOU'RE NOT EXPOSED TO LISTEN YOU VERY LIMITED ABILITY TO MEET TO HAVE CONTACT WITH YOUR PARENTS.

FRIENDS.

NO EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, NO SPORTS.

AND ALSO YOU'RE SEEING OTHER KIDS GOING THROUGH PSYCHIATRIC EPISODES ALL DAY LONG.

YOU COME IN WITH ONCE A PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIORS.

YOU LIVE WITH A WHOLE HOST OF NEW PROBLEM THE RIVERS AND ABOVE ALL THESE ARE ALREADY TRAUMATIZE KIDS AND THEY SEE OTHER KIDS COME IN AND HAVE AN ACUTE PSYCHIATRIC EPISODE.

BE TREATED AND PROMPTLY LEAVE WHEN THEY'RE READY TO BE DISCHARGED AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

BUT THEIR GUARDIAN TOSAFEST NEVER COMES FOR THEM BECAUSE THERE'S NO PLACEMENT FOR THEM.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO THINK OF A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY TO CONVEY TO A CHILD YOU DON'T MATTER.

THE KEEP THAT CHILD LOCKED UP IN A PSYCH WARD OR IN A JAIL OR IN AN OFFICE FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS BECAUSE YOUR GUARDIAN DOESN'T HAVE ANYWHERE FOR WELL, AND THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, GIVE US A SENSE CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, AS YOU MENTIONED, THEY'VE GOT THEIR OWN TRAUMA, RIGHT.

AND SO SOME OF THEM, THEY ARE VERY COMPLEX CASES COMPLEX MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.

I IMAGINE THAT IS.

>> BUBBLY, PART OF WHAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO FIND PLACEMENT FOR THEM.

THAT'S IT FOR SOME OF THE KIDS SOUL.

SO AS RECENTLY AS A FEW YEARS AGO, WE'RE TALKING THESE KIDS ARE MOSTLY TEENAGERS.

AND THAT'S GROUP YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT KIDS AS YOUNG AS 4, 5, YEARS OLD.

I MEAN, IT KEEPS GETTING YOUNGER AND YOUNGER IN KIDS WITH COMPLEX ISSUES.

>> BUT EVEN FOR THE KIDS WITH THE MOST COMPLEX ISSUES, WE KNOW WHAT THESE KIDS NEED.

WE HAVE PLACEMENTS FOR THEM NOW.

ACTUALLY, A LOT OF FASTEST PLACEMENTS, RESIDENTIAL THAT ACTUALLY OF EMPTY.

THAT'S RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ADEQUATELY STAFFED THE REQUIRED STAFFING RATIOS AS THERE SHOULD BE.

AND THESE PLACEMENTS CAN HIRE ENOUGH PEOPLE.

SO THERE ARE EMPTY BEDS GOOD PLACEMENTS THAT ARE INADEQUATELY STAFFED.

WELL, WE HAVE KIDS LIVING IN JAILS AND THEN LOCKED PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS.

GOVERNOR PRITZKER SPOKE RECENTLY ABOUT SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AT AT A RECENT PRESS CONFERENCE.

HERE HE IS.

>> RECENT UPGRADES INCLUDE.

CREATING NEARLY 70 NEW BEDS STATEWIDE IN JUST THIS LAST YEAR ALONE.

AND WE'VE GROWN DCFS HIS STAFF TO MORE THAN 3400 THE LARGEST HEADCOUNT AND THE LOWEST CASES PER INVESTIGATOR IN MORE THAN A DECADE.

SO PEOPLE ARE GETTING BETTER CARE AND MORE PERSONALIZED CARE.

AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO BUILD ON THIS PROGRESS SHOW EVERY VULNERABLE ILLINOIS YOUTH GETS THE SUPPORT THEY NEED AND DESERVE.

>> NOW THE STATE ALSO SAYS THAT DCFS IS INVESTING MORE MONEY INTO FACILITIES.

25 MILLION DOLLARS LAST YEAR, 30 MILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR, BUT THAT THERE IS AN ACUTE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE CRISIS NOT JUST HERE IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS IS WHAT DCFS IN THE STATE ARE DOING.

IS THIS ENOUGH?

>> NO, IT'S NOT TOO.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY LOST MORE THAN 500 PLACEMENTS, 8 AND HALF YEARS AGO IS ACTUALLY A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO SUSPEND A CONSCIOUS DECISION 8 YEARS AGO TO CLOSE DOWN 500 RESIDENTIAL AND GROUP HOME BATS.

AND THEY PROMISED THEN IN RETURN, THEY WOULD EXPAND THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE, WHICH IS GREAT IDEA OF THE IDEAS YOU BRING THE SERVICES INTO A HOME-LIKE SETTING IN THE FOSTER CARE TYPE SETTING.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS THE COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES DON'T EXIST.

GOVERNOR PRITZKER WAS JUST TRUMPETING PLACEMENTS.

THAT'S GREAT.

THAT'S A GREAT START.

I APPLAUD THAT.

PUT.

THEY HAVE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF MORE PLACEMENTS TO GO.

>> THE STATE IS IN AT THAT PRESS CONFERENCE IT WAS UP HOUSE BECAUSE THE STATE IS FUNDING THIS TRANSITIONAL FACILITY FOR YOUNG WOMEN.

IT OPENED LAST MONTH.

IT IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, MENTORS, DORM STYLE LIVING THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE CENTER.

AND AS YOU SAID, CREATE ABOUT 70 BEDS.

THE STATE'S INVESTING ABOUT 3 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR ROOM BOARD PROGRAM THESE.

BUT YOU HAD YOU HAD SOME CONCERNS WITH THIS WITH FACILITY, BUT YOU SAY THEY'VE BEEN ADDRESSED.

TELL US ABOUT THOSE HIGH SOCIAL DISTANCE, OPENNESS TO GREAT FANFARE.

BIG CROSS-CONFERENCE LEE ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS A WHOLE YEAR IN THE MAKING IS GOING TO BE THE LARGEST NEW RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENT.

>> IN YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, WHICH IS WONDERFUL.

BUT THEY NEVER TOLD OUR OFFICE ABOUT IT.

THEY A LOT OF ADVOCATES AND STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT IT.

I WAS PRETTY SURPRISED.

I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT IT FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM THE PRESS RELEASE.

AND SO MY STAFF DECIDED TO GO ONLINE AND DO SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND ONLINE THAT THERE'S A REQUIREMENT FOR THIS PLACEMENT.

RESIDENTS MUST ATTEND CHURCH SERVICES ONCE A WEEK HAS A CONDITION OF RECEIVING SERVICES AND SO RACED OUT IN A FILING WITH THE COURT AND IN A MEETING WITH SURF.

ALLISON, ALSO REPRESENTATIONS TO COURT TO THAT THAT'S A DIFFERENT PROGRAM, A PROGRAM NO LONGER EXISTS THAT THE WEBSITE NEEDS TO BE UPDATED.

BUT THAT'S OUT OF DATE.

I CONSIDER MY CONCERNS ADDRESSED.

I MEAN, THE MONITOR THE SITUATION, BUT IT REALLY GOES TO THE NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY IN WORKING WITH YOUR PARTNERS WITH OTHER ADVOCATES STAKEHOLDERS.

>> DCFS HAS A NEW DIRECTOR AT THE HELM, HEIDI MILLER, WHO COMES FROM JUVENILE WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIG CHALLENGES HE'S FACING?

>> EXPANDING EXPANDING WE WERE TOLD IN COURT YESTERDAY THAT IN THE MONTH THE SERVICE IS GOING TO FILE A MOTION FOR YET ANOTHER EXTENSION TO THE INVESTIGATOR VACANCY RATE DOWN TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

3 YEARS AGO.

THEY ASKED FOR A 3 I MEAN, IT'S A 30 YEAR-OLD CAN 3, 3, YEARS ASKED FOR ANOTHER 3 YEARS.

THEY ANNOUNCED LAST MONTH THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR YET ANOTHER EXTENSION.

SO OUT PLACEMENTS SERVICES, BASED SERVICES, EMPLACEMENTS, ALL TYPES.

HOW DO YOU PLAN ON WORKING WITH THE AS A PARTNER TO TO HELP, YOU KNOW, COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS?

WELL, WE MET WITH DIRECTOR MUELLER YESTERDAY AND WE MET WITH HER TEAM.

>> AND SO I KNOW DOCTOR MILLER BY REPUTATIONS AN EXCELLENT REPUTATION, HAS EXCELLENT MANAGER REFORM MINDED, TRANSPARENT ORIENTED SO I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT HER APPOINTMENT AND WE'RE GOING TO BE MEETING REGULARLY.

INC ALSO SERVICE THAT I'M NOT A BIG PLACEMENT OPENING WITHOUT STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT WILL NOT BE HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.

OKAY.

LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING OBVIOUSLY WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE CFS.

CHARLES COLBERT, I'M SURE YOU'LL KEEP US POSTED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

UP NEXT, SOUTH SIDE RESIDENTS PUSHING BACK AGAINST RISING HOUSING COSTS.

STAY WITH US.

>> THE >> YEARS LONG FIGHT AGAINST GENTRIFICATION IN SOUTH SHORE IS FAR FROM OVER.

THERE'S A RENEWED PUSH BY LONGTIME HOMEOWNERS TO FIGHT RISING COSTS SPARKED BY THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER.

NOW ADVOCATES ARE LOOKING TO THE VOTING BOOTH TO EXPAND PROTECTIONS.

WTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON HOW A NON-BINDING BALLOT QUESTION COULD DO JUST THAT.

HEATHER.

SO IT GOOD TO SEE YOU.

FIRST OF SO YOU EFFORT TO EXPAND DITCH GENTRIFICATION PROTECTIONS TO INCLUDE SOUTH SHORE IS STALLED, BUT ADVOCATES ARE NOT GIVING UP.

WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO DO?

WELL, THE COALITION THAT HAS LONG BEEN PUSHING FOR PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND THE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER SAY SOUTH SHORE HAS BECOME, QUOTE, GROUND 0 FOR CHICAGO'S HOUSING CRISIS.

>> THEY'RE FRUSTRATED THAT A MEASURE THAT WOULD EXTEND PROTECTIONS TO THOSE HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS HAS STALLED IN THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO THEY'RE HOPING THAT VOTERS GO TO THE POLLS ON MARCH 19TH AND VOTE YES ON THIS NONBINDING QUESTION THAT WILL GIVE THEIR PUSH NEW MOMENT WHAT EXACTLY WILL VOTERS BE ASKED TO WEIGH IN SO THIS MEASURE TARGETS MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON AND 7TH WORD ALDERMAN GREG MITCHELL.

THEY WANT VOTERS TO TELL THEM THAT THEY SUPPORT PROTECTIONS FOR RENTERS FROM EVICTIONS, HELP FOR A LONG TIME.

HOMERS FIXING THEIR HOUSE AND RELIEF FROM SKY-HIGH PROPERTY TAXES.

NOW WE'VE SET THIS MEASURE DOES NOT HAVE THE FORCE OF LAW.

SO THIS WON'T MEAN ANYTHING WILL IMMEDIATELY GO INTO EFFECT.

BUT THIS IS A WAY TO TELL THE MAYOR AND ALDERMEN, HEY, YOU BETTER GET ON BOARD OR YOU COULD SUFFER AT THE BALLOT BOX WHEN YOU ARE UP FOR RE-ELECTION NEXT AND WHERE DOES ALL THE MEN, GREG MITCHELL STAND ON THIS ISSUE?

WELL, I ASKED HIM TODAY WHERE HE STOOD ON THIS BALLOT MEASURE.

WOULD HE VOTE FOR IT?

AND HE SAID HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT WAS ON THE MARCH 19TH BALLOT.

NOW HE HAS NOT SIGNED ON TO THE MEASURE THAT WAS INTRODUCED BY 5TH WARD ALDERMAN DOES BEN YANCEY THAT WOULD EXTEND THE PROTECTIONS TO THE PARTS OF SOUTH SHORE THAT ARE IN HIS 5TH WARD.

BUT BECAUSE OF ALDERMANIC PREROGATIVE.

CHANGES AREN'T GOING TO BE MADE.

THAT TAKES EFFECT THE 7TH WARD UNLESS ALDERMAN MITCHELL SIGNS WHAT ABOUT THE OBAMA FOUNDATION WHERE THEY STAND.

SO THEY ARE COMPLETELY NEUTRAL ON THIS ISSUE.

THEY SAY IF THE CITY WANTS TO TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT LONGTIME HOMEOWNERS, THEY WON'T STAND IN THE WAY.

HOWEVER, FOR YEARS THEY RESISTED EFFORTS FORCE THE OBAMA FOUNDATION TO SIGN A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT WHICH WOULD SORT OF VOLUNTARILY PUT SOME OF THESE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE.

THAT'S AND THIS ISN'T A NEW TACTIC, RIGHT?

IT'S NOT THIS IS A TACTIC THIS COALITION HAS USED OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO SIGNAL TO CITY OFFICIALS THAT VOTERS ON THE SOUTH SIDE ARE THRILLED ABOUT THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER WHICH COULD OPEN NEXT YEAR FINALLY, BUT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IT WILL MEAN FOR LOW INCOME AND WORKING CLASS CHICAGOANS WHO HAVE LIVED IN SOUTH SHORE AND WOODLAWN FOR TECH.

IT'S YES, THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

HAD A THANKS SO MUCH.

THANKS, BRANDIS.

AND YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S ALL AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS.

>> THE REMOTE THE THEATER IN BRIDGEPORT OPENED LATE LAST YEAR AND THIS WEEKEND CELEBRATIONS OFFICIALLY BEGIN WITH THEIR FIRST MAJOR SHOW FEATURING CHANCE THE RAPPER, OUR CORRESPONDENT IN TOLEDO BRINGS US THIS UPDATE ON THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS DEVELOPMENT AHEAD OF FRIDAY'S CONCERT.

>> FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS, THE ONCE BUSTLING REMOTE THEATER ON 35TH AND HAAS, IT SAT VACANT DETERIORATING CONDITION.

>> BUT IN 2017, THE BUILDING WAS PURCHASED FOR EXACTLY ONE DOLLAR.

AND WITH INVESTORS, INCLUDING CHANCE THE RAPPER JENNIFER HUDSON AND QUINCY JONES TOGETHER, GOAL IS TO MAKE THE REMOTE THEATER BRIDGEPORT'S STAPLE ENTERTAINMENT VENUE.

>> IT'S A CONCEPT.

DEVELOPERS, TYLER, MEMPHIS AND HIS WIFE EMILY, HAVE CREATED CENTERED AROUND THEIR PASSION FOR LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND CRAFT BEER.

ALMOST EVERYTHING TO THE EXTENT IT COULD REVITALIZED TO ITS ORIGINAL ALLAY HOURS CLOSE TO IT WAS WAS WHAT WAS ASKED OF US WHAT WE WORKED AT NATIONAL PARKS AND OTHERS ON THE PLASTER INSIDE THE CEILINGS IN THE PAINT SCHEMES.

THAT'S THE FLOORING AND WHY YOU SEE CARPET THE CONCESSIONS AREA.

IT'S THE HISTORICAL WINDOWS AND BLADE SIGNED THE MARQUEE.

ANYTHING THAT COULD BE SEEN IN DOCUMENTED HISTORICALLY WE STARTED TRYING TO BRING IT BACK TO THAT ORIGINAL POSTURE WITH 45 ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY INVESTORS.

THE REMODELED VENUE OFFERS A LIVE MUSIC SPACE AND WILL INCLUDE A BREWERY.

AND A NEW EDITION OF THE RIM OF A GRILL AND THE COMING MONTHS.

HOW IS THE COMMUNITY'S RESPONSE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REMOTE?

HAS THERE BEEN ANY PUSHBACK?

I WOULDN'T PUSHBACK.

I SAY WE'VE GOT A LOT OF EVEN IN YOU KNOW, REFER STATE.

>> WAS AND IS LOVED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO, LISTEN, WE'LL TRY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE, WHAT THEY'RE REALLY ROOTED IN AND THEN WE'LL EXPLAIN WHAT WE'RE DOING TO HOPEFULLY ADDRESS THOSE OR IF THERE ARE NEW CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE HEARD BEFORE.

WILL TAKE NOTE WE'LL FOLLOW UP.

DO.

>> ONE OF THE THEATERS, INVESTORS CHANCE THE RAPPER IS SET TO PLAY ONE OF THE VENUES FOR SHOWS AND A CONCERT FOR ALL AGES.

ARE WE FEELING ABOUT THE SHOW ON FRIDAY?

CHANCES GOING TO HAVE HIS FIRST ALL-AGES SHOW?

THAT ACTUALLY IS THE FIRST TIME IN A WHILE THAT HE'S 7 AND ALL AGES SHOW.

PROBABLY RIGHT DO THIS FOR EVERYBODY.

>> 10 ALL AGES SHOW WITH SOMETHING CUYLER DIRECTOR PROGRAMMING WAS ADAMANT ABOUT IS WE NEED TO OPEN THIS PLACE UP TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ALL BACKGROUNDS, ALL EXPERIENCES MIGHT HAVE SOME FIREWORKS ACTION IN HERE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTEN SOME WITH LIKE SFX AND SOME APPROVALS THAT HIS TEAM GUY, THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE QUITE A LARGE VIDEO I'M ALSO SEEING SOME OF YOU KNOW, REHEARSAL TAPES AND THINGS IT'S AND IT'S GOING TO BE >> MY NEXT TERM.

WHAT WE WE WANT TO AN EXTENSION.

THIS COMMUNITY.

>> AND THAT'S THE SOUTHSIDE BRONZEVILLE.

CANARY VILLE.

OBVIOUSLY, BRIDGEPORT, GET FOLKS UP FROM HYDE PARK REALLY CREATE A CONNECTION POINT FOR THE AMAZING HISTORY THAT CHICAGO HAS BUT ALSO THE CREATOR COMMUNITY.

>> DRAKE MOMENT.

FOR CHICAGO PLACES >> THE THEATER ALSO INCLUDES A RESTORED, REMOVE A GRILL AND A NEW BREWERY BOTH SCHEDULED TO OPEN THIS MARCH.

UP NEXT, WE DIP INTO OUR ARCHIVES FOR THE STORY BEHIND A SILENT FILM.

MORE THAN 125 YEARS OLD.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

IT'S BEEN SAID A KISS IS JUST A KISS.

BUT ON THIS VALENTINE'S DAY, THIS NEXT STORY WE'RE BRINGING YOU IS FAR MORE THAN THAT FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

WE'RE DIPPING INTO ARCHIVE TO BRING YOU THIS STORY ABOUT RESEARCHERS WHO UNCOVERED A SILENT FILM MORE THAN 125 YEARS OLD EXCEPTIONAL NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE FILM'S AGE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF WHAT IT SHOWS.

WE BROUGHT YOU THIS STORY A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THE FILM WAS REDISCOVERED.

HERE'S ANOTHER LOOK.

>> IT'S BARELY 30 SECONDS OF SILENCE.

2 ACTORS, NO WORDS.

AND FOR ON-SCREEN KISSES.

>> AND THESE ARE NOT KIND CHASTE KISSES.

THEY ARE QUITE PASSIONATE KISSES AND THEY'RE HAVING A LOT OF FUN.

THEY'RE LAUGHING.

SHE KIND OF QUIETLY SHAKES HER HEAD.

>> WHAT MAY SEEM COMMON BY TODAY'S MOVIE STANDARDS.

WAS QUITE SENSATIONAL WHEN THIS FILM WAS MADE IN 18, 98.

WHAT'S MORE RARE?

THE ACTORS HERE ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN REPRESENTATION OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN EARLY CINEMA.

>> IS REPLETE WITH KARA MOST OF THE TIME.

WHAT YOU SEE ARE THE KIND OF RACIST TROPES THAT WERE VERY PREVALENT AT THE TIME.

SO WATERMELON EATING CONTEST, WHITE PEOPLE AND BLACK FACEBOOK PEOPLE IN BLACK FACE.

GAGS WHERE THAT ARE ARE PREDICATED DEHUMANIZING AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

AND THIS WAS NONE OF THAT.

>> UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CINEMA AND MEDIA STUDIES, PROFESSOR ALISON NADIA FIELD SAYS THAT KIND OF MENSTRUAL SEE IN THE LATE 18, 100'S AND EARLY 19, 100'S WAS A MAINSTREAM FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT.

THE 2 PERFORMERS AND THIS FILM SAINT SUBTLE AND DIRTY BROWN ALSO PERFORMED IN A VAUDEVILLE THEATER COMPANY.

I WANT TO BE CAREFUL AND NOT SAY THAT THIS IS A FILM THAT WAS MADE AS A KIND OF ASSERTION OF BLACK HUMANITY.

THAT'S VERY MUCH.

I THINK HAPPENING DESPITE ITS FRAMING.

BUT THE FILM WAS MADE AND FOR ITS COMEDIC VALUE.

SO BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRICAN-AMERICAN PERFORMERS IN IT.

>> IT WAS PRESUMED THAT IT WOULD BE COMEDY.

I THINK WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THE WAY THAT THEIR PERFORMANCE REALLY REFUTES THAT FRAMING REGARDLESS OF THE WAY IT WAS MARKET.

>> THIS FILM WAS MARKETED AND SOLD THROUGH SEARS AND ROEBUCK CATALOGS BY SILENT FILMMAKER WILLIAM SEELIG.

IT WAS SHOT AT HIS STUDIOS IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO AT 43 PACKED COURT.

WHAT IS NOW EAST 8TH STREET BETWEEN STATE AND WABASH, FIGURING ALL OF THIS OUT AS WELL AS THE NAMES OF THE ACTORS TOOK SOME HEAVY DETECTIVE WORK ON THE PART OF FIELD AND A COLLEAGUE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHO DISCOVERED THE OLD NITRATE FILM.

>> IT'S RARE THAT A FILM THAT'S THE NITRATE FILM FROM THIS PERIOD SURVIVES AT ALL OVER 90% FILMS FROM THE SILENT ERA FROM THE EARLY SILENT ERA ARE LOST.

AND SO THE FACT THAT IT SURVIVES AND IS IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE WAS ALREADY REMARKABLE.

>> FIELD NOTICED PERFORATED HOLES IN THE FILM ITSELF AND LINKED IT TO SEE WHAT'S OLD.

POLLY SCOPE CAMERA, A KNOCK-OFF OF THE FRENCH LOUIS AIR CINEMATIC GRAPH.

SO THE POLLY'S GO FILMS.

>> LOOK LIKELY NEAR FILMS, BUT THEY ARE SELLING.

>> MORE RESEARCH INTO SEE LIKE STILL MAKING AND MARKETING LEFT FIELD TO DISCOVER THE FILM'S NAME SOMETHING GOOD KISS UPON HEARING OF THIS DISCOVERY, HOLLYWOOD FILMMAKER BARRY JENKINS, MAKER OF CRITICAL HITS LIKE MOONLIGHT.

AND IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK, TWEETED, QUOTE, I WORDS FAIL WITH A BLACK HEART EMOJI FOR BLACK LOVE.

ACTRESS VIOLA DAVIS SHARED THE VIDEO ON INSTAGRAM SAYING, QUOTE, SUCH A BEAUTIFUL REMINDER OF WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.

THESE 30 SECONDS ARE THE ENTIRE FILM, NOT JUST A CLIP.

FILMS AT THE TIME WERE ALL SORT SHOWN IN A LINEUP WITH SEVERAL OTHERS TYPICALLY DEPICTING BLACKS IN RACIST STEREO, TYPICAL PERFORMANCES.

WE REALLY CAN'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF JUST THE >> REPRESENTATION OF BLACK HUMANITY AT THIS TIME.

THIS IS A TIME WHEN AMERICAN CINEMA WAS VERY HOSTILE TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

IT WAS NOT A HOSPITABLE PLACE FOR BLACK PEOPLE AND AND SO JUST TO HAVE THIS, BRIEF, 30 SECONDS OF NATURAL JOY IS REALLY QUITE REMARKABLE.

THE FACT THAT IT SURVIVES OVER 100 YEARS LATER IS SUCH A GIFT TO US.

>> WHETHER OR NOT THIS FILM TRIED TO FIELD BELIEVES THE 2 IN ITS SAINT SUBTLE AND DIRTY BROWN MADE A POWERFUL STATEMENT WITHOUT SAYING A WORD.

>> THE FILM SOMETHING GOOD KISS HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS'S NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY FOR ITS ENDURING IMPORTANCE TO AMERICAN CULTURE.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM W T TW NEWS AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES EARLY VOTING KICKS OFF IN CHICAGO.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW AHEAD OF CASTING YOUR BALLOT.

AND THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY POPULATION IS AT A NEAR RECORD LOW.

MUCH CHICAGOANS CAN DO TO HELP.

>> AND WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH ANIMALS AT BROOKFIELD ZOO ENJOYING SOME SWEET TREATS EVERY VALENTINE'S DAY.

EVERYBODY.

>> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BOY SAYS I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFF AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A PERSONAL INJURY LAW COMMITTED

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7sa7SZ6arn1%2BrtqWxzmiaoaGTlrSwedOopaKfmKl6o7jAnKJmrp%2BesKa%2FjJ%2Bcm2VhaXpzfJFtZJ%2BtnKF6tLTOsGSemWegwbZ7