THE POLITICS OF LIFTING MASK
MANDATES AN A PROFANITY LACED
CONVERSATION BETWEEN LAWMAKERS
ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.
WELCOME BACK, AMANDA VINICKY,
HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS
SCHUTZ.
SO, LET'S START WITH THE
POLITICS OF COVID.
CHICAGO IS ALIGNING WITH
GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S
STATE-WIDE END OF THE MASK AND
VACCINE MANDATES ON MONDAY.
COOK COUNTY IS FOLLOWING SUIT.
ESTHER MASK SOMETHING NOT ENDING
IN ALL PLACES?
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
YOU WILL HAVE TO WEAR A MASK ON
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, IN
HOSPITALS, AND IN OTHER
CONGREGATE CARE SETTINGS THOSE
ARE RULES SET BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT THAT THE CITY, THE
COUNTY AND THE STATE DON'T HAVE
THE POWER TO LIFT.
AND ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR
DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION,
ALL OF CHICAGO AND ALL OF
ILLINOIS FOR THAT MATTER REMAINS
A STATE OF SUBSTANTIAL
TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19 SO THEY
RECOMMEND THAT EVERYONE WEAR A
MASK INDOORS REGARDLESS OF WHAT
THE RULES IN THE CITY AND STATE
SAY.
>> MASKING WILL CONTINUE AT
CHICAGO PUBLIC COOL SCHOOLS AS
THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
DISTRICT AND THE UNION.
MANY DISTRICTS HAVE GONE MASKS
OPTIONAL?
>> IT'S CONFUSING AND DIVISIVE
ACROSS THE STATE THE MAJORITY
ARE MASKS OPTIONAL.
C.P.S. LESS DIVISIVE.
I THINK PARENTS UNDERSTAND THE
UNION DYNAMICS AT PLAY.
C.P.S. WILL KEEP THE MASK
MANDATE BECAUSE OF THE LABOR
AGREEMENT THAT KEEP IT IS IN
PLAY TEACHERS WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE VACCINATION RATES FOR
THE YOUNGEST STUDENTS LIFT A
LITTLE BIT BEFORE THEY ARE
COMFORTABLE REMOVING THAT
MANDATE T SHOULD BE NOTED THE
ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO ANNOUNCE
TO DO WILL LIFT ITS MASK MANDATE
FOR ITS SCHOOLS WITH THE CITY ON
MONDAY.
PROBABLY MORE CONTROVERSIAL
WITHIN THAT SYSTEM THAN IT HAS
BEEN AT C.P.S.
>> YOU MENTIONED PARENTS
UNDERSTANDING THE DYNAMIC WITH
C.T.U. THOSE TEACHERS WALK YOU
HAD OUT TO GET TO THIS AGREEMENT
INCLUDING THE MASKING IN CHICAGO
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE MAYOR'S VACCINE MANDATE FOR
CHICAGO POLICE THAT WAS UPHELD.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY OFFICERS
COULD BE FIRED FOR NOT GETTING
THE VACCINE?
>> WE DON'T KNOW.
THE LATEST DATA FROM THE CITY
SHOWS 3100 OFFICERS HAVE TOLD
THE CITY CHAIR THAT VACCINATED
OR REFUSED TO TELL THE CITY AT
ALL WHETHER THEY HAVE BEEN
VACCINATED OR NOT.
THOSE OFFICERS ARE AT RISK OF
DISCIPLINE AND TERMINATION AND
WE ASKED THE MAYOR TODAY WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN WAS SHE CONCERNED
ABOUT THAT.
AND SHE SAID AS WE HEARD THAT
SHE HOPES THIS DECISION WHICH
WAS HOTLY OPPOSED BY THE
FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE SENDS
A SIGNAL THIS DEBATE IS OVER AND
THEY NEED TO GET VACCINATED TO
KEEP THEIR JOBS.
>> AND GOVERNOR PRITZKER IS
PURSUING HIS APPEAL TO THE STATE
SUPREME COURT TO KEEP SCHOOL
MASKING IN PLACE AS PUBLIC
OFFICIALS ARE DROPPING THE
MANDATES IN THE CITY.
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
>> THIS IS GOING BACK TO A JUDGE
ORDER THAT ALLOWED THIS KIND OF
CHAOS TO REIN AND HAVE SCHOOLS
DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES.
THE GOVERNOR MAINTAINED HIS
EXECUTIVE ORDER SHOULD REMAIN IN
PLACE BUT IT IS NOT AS IF THE
STATE HAS AN ENFORCEMENT
MECHANISM HE IS ASKING THE
STATE'S HIGH COURT TO TAKE THIS
UP IN AN EXPEDITED FASHION.
THE SUPREME COURT DOES NOT HAVE
TO.
AND FRANKLY ALMOST SEEMS AS IF
THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG
PARTICULARLY WITH THE STATE-WIDE
MASK MANDATE LIFTING ON THE
28TH.
NONETHELESS THE GOVERNOR SAYS
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE HE IS
MAKING THE CASE TO THE STATE'S
SUPREME COURT THAT NOT BEING
ABLE TO ENFORCE A MANDATE AND
PUT THAT DOWN IN SCHOOLS IS
GOING TO HAMPER HIS
ADMINISTRATION'S ABILITY TO
PROTECT INDIVIDUALS AND TO FIGHT
AGAINST THE PANDEMIC.
AND ESPECIALLY SO HE SAYS THIS
HAS TO BE SETTLED IN CASE THERE
IS ANOTHER SURGE.
THERE IS ANOTHER VARIANT OR GOD
FORBID ANOTHER PANDEMIC IN SOME
FASHION.
>> WOODSTOCK STATE
REPRESENTATIVE STEVEN REICK HAD
A PROFANITY-LACED CONFRONTATION
WITH LAKESIA COLLINS OVER
MASKING RULES.
WHAT HAPPENED?
>> WELL, LAKESIA COLLINS NAMED
HIM AS ONE OF THE REPUBLICAN
LAWMAKERS WHO REFUSED TO WEAR A
MASK AND ASKED THAT HE BE
SANCTIONED AND REMOVED FROM THE
CHAMBER.
BUT THAT WAS INACCURATE.
AND BEFORE THE MEASURE WAS
PASSED HIS NAME WAS REMOVED FROM
IT BUT IT DID NOT STOP STEVEN
REICK FOR GOING UP TO HER AND
PUTTING HIS FINGER IN HER FACE
AND AFTERWARDS SHE SAID HE USED
PROFANITY AND SHE FELT
THREATENED.
THE CONFLICT OVER THE MASKS ON
THE FLOOR SINCE THEY CAME BACK
INTO SESSION THIS MONTH.
>> YOU KNOW, HE IS APOLOGIZED,
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TOLD THEIR
MEMBERS TO TURN THE TEMPERATURE
DOWN.
BUT WHAT DAMAGE DO
CONFRONTATIONS LIKE THIS DO TO
THE ALREADY STRAINED
RELATIONSHIP ACROSS THE AISLE?
>> ACROSS THE AISLE AND I THINK
IT IS WITHIN PARTIES AS WELL.
THERE IS A LOT OF FEUDING THERE
IS A LOT OF FRUSTRATION.
THIS SYSTEM IS TENSED UP.
THINGS YOU SEE PLAYING OUT IN
SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES ARE
LIKEWISE PLAYING OUT IN THE
CAUCUSES AND IN SPRINGFIELD.
IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T HELP AND,
AGAIN, THESE ARE ELECTED
OFFICIALS.
YOU WANT THEM TO BE THE LEADERS
THE ROLE MODELS.
YOU DID HAVE THE TOP LEADERS IN
THE HOUSE HOUSE SPEAKER CHRIS
WELCH AND DURKIN DID MEET BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS AND TALKED IT OUT.
BUT THERE BEEN A LOT OF
RATCHETING UP THE TEMPERATURE
NOT JUST WITH MASKING BUT A LOT
OF THE PROVISIONS YOU'RE SEEING
PUT BEFORE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
EVEN IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE
ANY CONFRONTATIONS OR FEWER
SWEARS WHICH BY THE WAY HAS
HAPPENED BEFORE IN SPRINGFIELD
I'VE WITNESSED THAT FOR SURE, I
DO THINK THAT BEFORE SESSION IS
SET TO ADJOURN IN APRIL YOU WILL
SEE A LOT OF ACROSS THE AISLE
FIGHTS VERBAL ONES WITH
EVERYBODY BEHIND THEIR DESKS
HOPEFULLY.
AND THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THEY
WILL REMAIN MASKED.
>> NOT THE FIRST TIME ANYBODY'S
USED PROFANITY IN SPRINGFIELD.
TOM CULLERTON RESIGNED HIS SEAT
HE IS PLANNING TO PLEAD GUILTY
TO EMBEZZLEMENT.
PATRICK DALEY THOMPSON LOST HIS
SEAT TO A CONVICTION AND NOW
ANOTHER POLITICAL DYNASTY.
WHO IS TOM CULLERTON AND WHAT HE
IS COMREDDING GUILTY.
>> HE WAS A STATE SENATOR FROM
THE WESTERN SUBURBAN AREA.
HE IS A COUSIN TO FORMER STATE
SNAP JOHN CULLERTON WHO STEPPED
DOWN A FEW YEARS BACK AND THREE
DOZEN CHARGES OF EMBEZZLEMENT IN
CONNECTION WITH THE SCHEME TO
GET A PAID A FULL SALARY FROM
THE TEAMSTERS UNION AND HEALTH
BENEFITS EVEN THOUGH HE DID NOT
LIFT A FINGER AND DO A DAY'S
WORTH OF WORK HE WAS BEING A
STATE SENATOR.
HE PLEADED NOT GUILTY.
TODAY CHANGES THAT PLEA.
IT COULD BE THAT BOTH SIDES WERE
NEGOTIATING THE TERMS OF A PLEA
DEAL AND MAYBE THEY GET A PRISON
SENTENCE DOWN AND CHARGES DOWN
OR MAYBE IT IS A PLEA DEAL WITH
COOPERATION.
THERE ARE SO MANY CASES WITH
THIS, THE GUY THAT ARRANGED THE
SWEETHEART DEAL, THE HEAD OF
LOCAL 701.
HE STRUCK A PLEA DEAL IN HIS OWN
FEDERAL CASE AND INVESTIGATIONS
IN THE TV STUDIO ON THE
SOUTHWEST SIDE THE FORMER C.E.O.
WAS REPORTED TO BE AN F.B.I.
MOLE.
THERE IS A TREE TRUNK OF FEDERAL
CASES OR INVESTIGATOR R
INVESTIGATIONS AND THE BRANCHES
AND THEN BRANCHES HAVE BRANCHES
AND --
>> CAN I POINT OUT, SENATE
PRESIDENT JOHN CULTURE TON
WALKED AWAY IT WAS NOT CONNECTED
TO THIS WANTING TO MAKE THAT
CLEAR.
>> HE RETIRED.
>> IN THE RACE TO REPLACE
RETIRING SECRETARY OF STATE
JESSE WHITE SOMEBODY ELSE
RETIRING ANNA VALENCIA GETS
GOVERNOR PRITZKER'S SUPPORT.
THE GOVERNOR IS BUCKING THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S CANDIDATE
ALEXI GIANNOULIAS TO SUPPORT
ANNA VALENCIA.
EXPLAIN WHO AMONG THE PARTY
CHOSE ALEXI GIANNOULIAS AND HOW
DID THEY COME TO PICK HIM?
>> IT WAS THE COOK COUNTY
COMMITTEE PEOPLE WHO PICKED
ALEXI GIANNOULIAS.
BUT ONLY BY A VERY SLIGHT
MARGIN.
THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE WHO FELT
LIKE THAT ENDORSEMENT WAS MIXED
AT BEST.
AND I THINK THE ONE-TWO PUNCH
THIS WEEK OF JESSE WHITE WHO IS
TRULY BELOVED AMONG CHICAGOANS,
WHO DOESN'T LOVE JESSTY WHITE
AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER, I
THINK IT MEANS THAT WE ARE GOING
TO SEE ALMOST A ONE-TWO RACE
BETWEEN ANNA VALENCIA AND ALEXI
GIANNOULIAS.
AND DAVID MOORE IS RUNNING IN
THIS RACE.
BUT IF GOVERNOR PRITZKER GETS
BEHIND ANNA VALENCIA WITH HIS
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF SUPPORT
SHE COULD MAKE A RUN FOR IT.
ALEXI GIANNOULIAS HAS BEEN OUT
IN FRONT OF THE MONEY RAISED
THIS IS A BIG SEA CHANGE FOR
THIS RACE IN A WEEK.
>> WHAT IS GOING ON?
IS PRITZKER STAKING HIS CLAIM BY
BUCKING THE PARTY?
>> THERE MIGHT BE AN ELM OF THIS
AND IT WAS TO DO WHEN THE PARTY
WENT AHEAD AND MADE ENDORSEMENTS
BECAUSE COMMITTEE PEOPLE WERE
SUPPOSED TO HAVE SIGNED ON TO A
PLEDGE SAYING THEY WOULD BACK
WHO THE PARTY WEDNESDAY BEHIND
AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE
WHO IS THE OSTENSIBLELY THE
PARTY LEADER HE HAS THE DEEP
POCKETS.
THERE IS A DEGREE OF THAT AND IF
YOU SEE JESSE WHITE DOING THE
SAME I DON'T THINK THIS IS AN
AREA WHERE PRITZKER IS GETTING
PUSHBACK.
ALEXI GIANNOULIAS HAD A BIT OF
PROBLEMS GETTING PARTY BACKING.
HE SORT DID NOT GET THE BACKING
OF HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN
WHEN MADIGAN HAD THAT POSITION.
I THINK THIS IS PERHAPS A SIGN
HOWEVER OF WHO PRITZKER WANTS ON
HIS SLATE WHEN HE GOES BEFORE
VOTERS.
HE WANTS TO BE WITH ANNA
VALENCIA THERE MIGHT BE SOME
SORT OF UNEASY FEELINGS WITH
BEING PAIRED WITH ALEXI
GIANNOULIAS ON THE SLATE.
>> AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCED
SHE IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
FOR THE 11TH WARD SEAT.
IT IS AN OPEN SEAT BECAUSE WE
MENTIONED PATRICK DALEY
THOMPSON'S FEDERAL CONVICTION
AND HIS REMOVAL.
WHAT IS THE MAYOR'S PROCESS
HERE?
>> SHE PICKED A THREE-MEMBER
COMMITTEE TO HELP ADD VIS ADVISE
HER.
--
ADVISE HER.
AND PEOPLE CAN SEND IN HER
APPLICATIONS SHE PROMISED TO
REVIEW THEM AND SHE SAID HER
TARGET IS TO MAKE HER SELECTION
BY MARCH 23 WHEN THE CITY
COUNCIL WILL MEET NEXT.
AND THIS IS NOT UNLIKE HOW
FORMER MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL
HANDLED VACANCIES ON THE CITY
COUNCIL.
MAYOR LIGHTFOOT VERY CAREFULLY
TODAY DID NOT COMMIT TO NAMING
SOMEBODY WHO IS AN
ASIAN-AMERICAN TO FILL THE SEAT.
THE 11TH WARD REGARDLESS OF WHAT
HAPPENS WITH THE WARD MAP IN THE
CITY, THE 11TH WARD WILL BECOME
CHICAGO'S FIRST WARD WITH A
MAJORITY OF ASIAN VOTERS AND SHE
IS UNDER PRESSURE SOMEONE ASIAN
TO FILL IN FOR PATRICK DALEY
THOMPSON BUT SHE DOESN'T KNOW
WHO APPLIES SO SHE DOESN'T KNOW
THE BEST PERSON YET.
>> THE ORDINANCE FAILED TO PASS
IN CITY COUNCIL.
LOOK WHAT THE MAYOR SAID ABOUT
THE OPPOSITION TO THAT PROPOSAL?
>> SYMPATHY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
LITERALLY SPILLING BLOOD ON OUR
STREETS EVERYDAY IS QUITE
FRANKLY HARD FOR ME TO
UNDERSTAND OR FATHOM.
AND THE NOTION THAT SOMEHOW THIS
ORDINANCE WON'T MAKE A
DIFFERENCE OR I'VE HEARD THAT
IT'S GOING TO MAKE MATTERS
WORSE, TELL THAT TO THE PEOPLE
LIVING IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
THEY ARE TERRIFIED, TERRIFIED TO
COME OUT OF THEIR HOMES.
LIVE A NORMAL LIFE.
BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF GANG
VIOLENCE.
>> HEATHER WHAT HAPPENED TODAY?
>> WELL, SHE JUST DIDN'T HAVE
THE VOTES AND SHE IS HOPING TO
LOSE THE BATTLE TODAY BUT WIN
THE WAR AT ANOTHER TIME.
AS I WAS TELLING PARIS EARLIER I
DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE SHE CAN DO
TO CONVINCE ALDERPEOPLE TO GET
ONBOARD.
AND IF SHE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO
CLOSE THE DEAL AT THIS POINT IN
THE FACE OF OPPOSITION I'M NOT
SURE IT WILL BE DIFFERENT IN A
MONTH FROM NOW.
BUT THE MAYOR HAS BEEN KNOWN TO
TWIST ARMS AND I WOULD NOT COUNT
ANYTHING OUT.
>> PARIS TALK ABOUT THE POLITICS
IT SEEMS LIKE PROTECTING GANGS
WOULD BE BAD BUT THAT NOT WHAT
THE OPPOSITION IS ARGUING?
>> YOU DON'T SEE AN OPPOSITION
THAT CON ACTIVITY OF SIFTS OF
CONSISTS OF PROGRESSIVE GROUPS
AND JOHN CATANZARA, THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT WANTED THIS BUT DID
NOT PRESENT EVIDENCE IT WOULD
LEAD TO REDUCED HOMICIDES.
AND JOHN CATANZARA CALL TO DO
POLITICAL THEATRE AND NOT
EVERYDAY THAT SOMETHING PASSES
COMMITTEE AND DOESN'T PASS THE
FULL CITY COUNCIL.
THE THING ABOUT THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE YOU HAD MORE
PRO POLICE ALDERPEOPLE THERE AND
THEY GOT THAT THROUGH THERE
PROBABLY NOT AS PROPORTIONATELY
REPRESENTED IN THE FULL CITY
COUNCIL AND YOU SEE THE RESULT
YOU HAD TODAY.
>> ALSO ANDREA KERSTEN'S
CONFIRMATION TO LEAD C.O.P.A.
WAS APPROVED AS YOU REPORTED
EARLIER.
HEATHER IN THE END WAS THIS
CONTROVERSIAL OR DID SHE SAIL
THROUGH?
>> WE WON BY 31 VOTES WITH 14
AGAINST.
THAT SEEMS LOPSIDED AND IT WAS,
BUT THERE WERE MANY MOMENTS
WHERE HER NOMINATION WAS
COMPLETELY IN PERIL BECAUSE OF
C.O.P.A.'S RELEASE OF THE REPORT
THAT NAMED ELLA FRENCH THE SLAIN
POLICE OFFICER AND RECOMMEND SHE
BE DISCIPLINED.
BUT ANDREA KERSTEN REALLY WAS
ABLE TO CONVINCE ALDERPEOPLE SHE
HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO RELEASE
THAT REPORT AND ASKED DO YOU
REALLY WANT A HEAD OF C.O.P.A.
WHO IS WILLING TO CHANGE REPORTS
FOR POLITICAL SENSITIVITIES AND
GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY
HAS SEEN WITH MISCONDUCT AND
COVER UP THAT WAS A COMPELLING
ARGUMENT ESPECIALLY FOR
PROGRESSIVE ALDERMEN EVEN IF SHE
COULD NOT WIN OVER THE
CONSERVATIVES WHO BLASTED HER IN
HARSH AND PERSONAL TERMS AT
TIMES.
>> AND OF COURSE AS PARIS
MENTIONED, WE ARE EXPECTING TO
HAVE THE NEW C.O.P.A. CHIEF JOIN
US TOMORROW NIGHT ON THE
PROGRAM.