>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I AM PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN WILL JOIN US SHORTLY.

>>> WTTW EXCLUSIVE, THE CITY IS ON TRACK TO SPEND A RECORD AMOUNT IN POLICE OVERTIME THIS YEAR.

WE WILL BRING YOU THE NUMBERS.

>>> WE TRACKED DOWN PRIVATE WASTE HAULING COMPANIES MAKING ILLEGAL PICKUPS.

>>> NORTHWESTERN FAILED TO PROTECT US.

>> MORE ON THE NORTHWESTERN HAZING ALLEGATIONS.

>>> AND INVESTIGATIONS INTO ETHICS VIOLATIONS.

HERE IS BRANDIS WITH OUR TOP STORY.

>>> CHICAGO IS ON TRACK TO SPEND A RECORD AMOUNT ON POLICE OVERTIME, THAT IS ACCORDING TO NEW FINDINGS OBTAINED BY WTTW REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE.

HEATHER, BREAK DOWN THE NUMBERS .

>> Reporter: CHICAGOANS SPENT $126.5 MILLION IN POLICE OVERTIME IN JUST THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2023, 50% MORE THAN THE CITY SPENT ON POLICE OVERTIME IN 2022.

IT TOOK THE CITY JUST FIVE MONTHS TO EXHAUST ITS BUDGET FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR, WHICH HAD BEEN SET AT JUST $100 MILLION.

>> WHAT ABOUT LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS?

>> IN 2022, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SPENT $210.5 MILLION ON POLICE OVERTIME, THAT WAS AN INCREASE OF 56% WHEN COMPARED TO 2021.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS NOT JUST AN ANOMALY.

THIS IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF MASSIVE POLICE OVERTIME SPENDING.

>> WHAT HAS CHICAGO PD HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE SPENDING?

>> Reporter: THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING TO ENSURE THAT THE TAXPAYERS MONEY IS BEING SPENT EFFICIENTLY.

BUT THEY ARE COPING WITH STAFFING CONCERNS THAT IS AFFECTING POLICE DEPARTMENT ACROSS THE NATION.

THEY HAVE HAD TO POLICE A NUMBER OF LARGE EVENTS NOW THAT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS WANED.

THAT HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO INSURE PROPER STAFFING.

>> ANY SENSE OF WHAT THEY WILL BE DOING IN THE SECOND HALF OF 2023?

>> Reporter: IF THIS RATE CONTINUES, THE CITY WILL END BEER SPENDING NEARLY $250 MILLION ON POLICE OVERTIME, WHICH WOULD BE A NEW RECORD.

I SHOULD SAY, THIS DATA ONLY GOES THROUGH JUNE 30th.

WE DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SPENT OVER THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND.

THAT WAS ONE WHERE OFFICERS HAD THEIR REGULAR DAYS OFF CANCEL.

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER A LITTLE EVENT CALLED NASCAR CHICAGO.

IT IS NOT SURE HOW MUCH THE RACE ITSELF BOOSTED OVERTIME SPENDING.

WE WILL ASK.

>> WE WILL BE LISTENING.

HEATHER CHERONE, THANK YOU.

YOU CAN READ THE FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE, IT IS ALL ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> BACK TO PARIS WITH MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

>>> CHICAGO WILL HOST THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION NEXT SUMMER.

LABOR UNIONS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE SIGNED WHAT THEY ARE CALLING A LABOR PEACE AGREEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING GOES SMOOTHLY WHILE THE CITY IS IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT.

THIS WAS STRUCK BETWEEN UNIONS LIKE IBW UNION 134, THE CARPENTERS, AND MANY OTHERS.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE EVENT WILL BE A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING.

>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD SINCE DAY ONE TO PUT TOGETHER THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO PUT ON THE BEST CONVENTION EVER.

IT WILL BE A LARGER CONVENTION.

A LARGER ENDEAVOR THAN HAS EVER BEEN PUT ON BEFORE BY THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

THAT MEANS A LARGER FUNDRAISING EFFORT.

>>> DISTURBING NEW NUMBERS COMING OUT OF THE COOK COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE.

OVER 2000 OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS IN 2022, BREAKING THE RECORD SET THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

MORE THAN 90% OF THE OPIOID DEATHS WERE RELATED TO FENTANYL.

FENTANYL -RELATED OPIOID DEATHS HAVE SKYROCKETED SINCE 2019, WITH THE OFFICE REPORTED ONLY 676 DEATHS.

>>> CHICAGO AND MISSISSIPPI ARE HOME TO THE COUNTRY'S NEWEST NATIONAL MONUMENT, NAMED FOR EMMETT TILL, WHO HELPED TO SPARK THE NATION'S CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, AND HIS MOTHER, MAMIE TILL-MOBLEY.

THE MONUMENT ARRIVES AS THE COUNTRY IS FACING HOW TO TEACH PAINFUL FACTS ABOUT THE NATION'S HISTORY.

>> WE MUST REMEMBER AND WE MUST TEACH OUR FULL HISTORY.

EVEN WHEN IT IS PAINFUL.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS PAINFUL.

>> EMMETT TILL WAS 14 WHEN HE WAS ABDUCTED, TORTURED, AND KILLED AFTER A WHITE WOMAN ACCUSED HIM OF WHISTLING AT HER.

HIS MOTHER INSISTED ON AN OPEN CASKET FUNERAL TO SHOW HER SON MUTILATED BODY.

THE MONUMENT ALSO INCLUDES SITES IN MISSISSIPPI.

>>> A RUDE AWAKENING , WE WILL EXPLAIN THAT , AFTER THIS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> SUMMER IS A TIME TO LEAVE THE WINDOWS OPEN OVERNIGHT TO CATCH FRESH AIR WHEN YOU SLEEP.

FOR SOME CHICAGOANS, THE EARLY MORNING AIR IS FILLED WITH THE SOUNDS OF ILLEGAL TRASH PICKUPS.

NICK BLUMBERG HAS MORE ON THIS STORY, WHICH HE HAS BEEN COVERING CLOSELY.

>> Reporter: UNDER THE CITY'S ORDINANCE, PRIVATE WASTE HAULERS CANNOT MAKE NOISY PICKUPS BEFORE 7:00 A.M.

BUT WE REPORTED ON ONE COMPANY SKIRTING THE LAW, WE GOT MORE TIPS FROM VIEWERS ABOUT SCOFFLAWS.

WE WOKE UP VERY EARLY TO CATCH THEM IN THE ACT.

>> 5:31 A.M. >> Reporter: THIS REPUBLIC SERVICES TRUCK IS UP AND AT THEM A FULL 40 MINUTES BEFORE IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE MAKING PICKUPS.

AFTER OUR LAST STORY ABOUT A GROUP MAKING ILLEGAL PICKUPS IN ROGERS PARK, WE HEARD FROM LAKEVIEW RESIDENTS THAT PUBLIC SERVICES HAS BEEN WAKING THEM UP EARLY.

TOM HOPE HAS LIVED IN LAKEVIEW FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.

>> THE BLOCK TO THE SOUTH HAS NO ALLEYWAY, SO THEY DO IT ALL IN THE STREETS HERE.

THAT MAKES IT WORSE.

THEY HAVE BEEN HERE AS EARLY AS, LIKE, 5:30.

>> Reporter: WE SAW THEM MAKING MULTIPLE STOPS IN VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS BETWEEN 5:30 AT 6:00 A.M. AND THE DRIVER NEVER SEEMED PUT OFF WHEN OUR PHOTOGRAPHER GOT UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

THE PROBLEM IS EVEN WORSE IN THE SUMMER WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE THEIR WINDOWS OPEN.

>> IT GETS NOISY AND IT WAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE UP.

>> Reporter: AFTER FOLLOWING REPUBLIC FOR A WHILE, WE DROVE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER DUMPSTER DELINQUENTS IN THE STREETS.

LO AND BEHOLD, WE CAME ACROSS A LAKESHORE RECYCLING TRUCK IN MADISON, JUST MINUTES AFTER 6:00 A.M.

THIS DRIVER DID NOT SEEM BOTHERED BY US, EITHER.

LAKESHORE RECYCLING DID NOT RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR A COMMENT.

AS FOR REPUBLIC, THEY TOLD US IN AN EMAIL, QUOTE , WE WORK DILIGENTLY TO PLAN OUT OUR VOTES, WE TRY TO RESOLVE ANY COMPLAINTS THAT ARISE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

>> MY WIFE HAS CALLED 311 A NUMBER OF TIMES.

SHE HAS ALSO CALLED THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE A FEW TIMES.

AND THEY TRY TO HELP .

BUT THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH THAT THEY CAN DO.

>> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU HOPE MIGHT COME OF THIS?

>> WELL, IF THEY COULD DO SOMETHING TO WHERE THEY FIGURE THEY COULD NOT GET AWAY WITH IT ANYMORE.

THAT WOULD BE NICE.

>> BENNETT LAWSON TELLS US, IF WASTE HAULERS ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE NOISE ORDINANCE, CALL TO LET STAFF KNOW THAT THE 44th WARD SUPERINTENDENT PAYS THOSE DRIVERS A VISIT TO REMIND THEM ABOUT THE LAW OR RISK A TICKET.

LAWSON SAID HE HAS NOT HAD TO WRITE ONE OF THOSE TICKETS.

>> HE MAY HAVE TO WRITE ONE SOON.

>> Reporter: NO CITY DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY OVERALL INFORMATION ON HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE COME IN EACH YEAR OR HOW MANY FINES ARE ISSUED.

THE CITY APPEARS TO NOT HAVE ANY WAY OF TRACKING OR RESPONDING TO THE RUDE AWAKENINGS IN ANY SORT OF CENTRALIZED WAY.

YOU CAN CALL 311 OR YOUR ALDERPERSON 'S OFFICE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF STREETS AND SANITATION SUPERINTENDENT IS SUPPOSED TO REACH OUT TO THE COMPANIES TO REMIND THEM TO FOLLOW THE LAW, A LOCALIZED APPROACH.

A STREETS AND SANITATION PERSON SPOKESPERSON SAID THAT THEY TAKE THE COMPLAINTS VERY SERIOUSLY AND THAT THE POLICE ARE THE LEAD DEPARTMENT FOR ENFORCEMENT.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE LOOKOUT.

>>> UP NEXT, THE LATEST ON HAZING ALLEGATIONS AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

STAY WITH US.

>>> THE ALLEGATIONS ARE DISTURBING.

FORMER NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETES SAY THE HAZING THEY ENDURED DURING THEIR PLAYING DAYS WAS DRAMATIC.

ACCORDING TO ONE LAWSUIT, IT CAUSED PHYSICAL AS WELL AS PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM.

HERE IS FLOYD GATES.

>> NUDITY, PERFORMING ACTS WHILE BEING NUDE, SO NORMALIZED IN THE CULTURE.

COMING FROM HIGH SCHOOL, WE NEVER DID ANY OF THAT STUFF.

WE JUST THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, PART OF BEING, YOU KNOW, PLAYING COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

PLAYING BIG TEN.

WE WANTED TO BE ACCEPTED.

>> JOINING US NOW ARE TWO ATTORNEYS FOR FORMER NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETES.

STEPHEN IS REPRESENTING FORMER FOOTBALL PLAYERS, BEN CRUMP, AND JENNIFER , WHO REPRESENTS THE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS WHO FILED YESTERDAY.

WE INVITED UNIVERSITIES TO NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, BUT THEY DECLINED.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

STEVE, LET'S START WITH YOU.

THIS SCANDAL HAS BEEN CALLED THE ME TOO OF COLLETT HAZING.

HOW MANY ATHLETES ARE WE POTENTIALLY TALKING ABOUT ?

>> POTENTIALLY, HUNDREDS OF ATHLETES DID WHAT WAS BEING ALLEGED IN THE LAWSUIT, THIS ALL GOES BACK DECADES.

IN THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR IT WAS RITUALIZED AND IT HAD ITS OWN SICK TRADITIONS.

IT HAD ITS NAMES FOR THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE SEXUALLY-HUMILIATING ACTS THAT THE PLAYERS WERE FORCED TO GO THROUGH.

IT IS HARD TO TELL HOW MANY PEOPLE.

IT APPEARED TO OCCUR EVERY YEAR, IN EVERY CLASS , POTENTIALLY EVEN MORE.

>> IF IT GOES BACK THAT FAR, IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE HAPPENED UNDER PREVIOUS COACHES AND DIRECTORS AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

>> IT IS ALL BELIEVED THAT THIS IS AN INSTITUTIONAL PROBLEM.

THIS IS A NORTHWESTERN PROBLEM.

THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS, AND COACHES , THEY HAVE COACHED THESE ATHLETES OVER THE COURSE OF MANY YEARS.

WE ARE NOT FOCUSING ON ANY INDIVIDUAL, WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE INSTITUTION.

>> JENNIFER CASCIO, YOU ARE THE FIRST WOMAN TO REPRESENT THE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS AT NORTHWESTERN.

WHAT IS THIS ALL TELLING YOU ABOUT HOW SERIOUSLY THE UNIVERSITY WAS TAKING THE ALLEGATION THAT THE TIME ?

>> I THINK IT TELLS US THAT, OBVIOUSLY, THEY WERE NOT TAKING IT VERY SERIOUSLY.

THE COACH WITNESSED THE HAZING.

HE WAS SUSPENDED DID AFTER HE WAS SUSPENDED, THE CONTRACT WAS RENEWED AND THERE WAS GLOWING REMARKS ABOUT HIM WHEN THE CONTRACT WAS RENEWED.

THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE HAZING INCIDENT PUBLICLY.

THERE WAS NOTHING SHARED WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF OTHER ATHLETIC PROGRAMS.

WHAT THAT TELLS US, THERE WAS A REAL LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.

THAT IS WHAT IS EVIDENT.

THERE WAS NO TRANSPARENCY INTO THE INCIDENT STICK THAT OCCURRED, AS WELL AS OTHER PROGRAMS.

>> FORMER COACH FITZGERALD DECLINED TO JOIN US.

WE DID RECEIVE A STATEMENT FROM NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY THAT READS, SHORTLY AFTER LEARNING THE RESULT OF THE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE HAZING ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM, THE UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED A NUMBER OF STEPS INCLUDING THE MONITORING OF THE FOOTBALL LOCKER ROOM AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ONLINE REPORTING TOOL.

THESE STEPS, WHILE NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE, ARE JUST THE START.

THEY WANT TO PLACE APPROPRIATE ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN THEIR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT.

THEY WANT TO DETECT THREATS TO THE WELFARE OF THE STUDENT ATHLETES.

DO YOU THINK NORTHWESTERN IS DOING ENOUGH?

WHAT KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY WOULD YOUR CLIENTS LIKE TO SEE?

>> I THINK WE SHOULD START WITH THE FACT THAT THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR COULD'VE BEEN STOPPED INSTANTLY.

IF THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT TALKED TO EVERY GROUP OF STUDENT ATHLETES WHO CAME IN EVERY YEAR AND SAID HAZING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, IF YOU ARE HAZING, YOU WILL BE EXPELLED FROM THE PROGRAM, THAT WOULD HAVE PUT AN END TO IT.

AS WE KNOW, THAT NEVER HAPPENED.

IT IS GOOD THAT NORTHWESTERN IS TAKING ACTION.

HOPEFULLY, THEY HAVE INFORMED EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT, AGAIN, THAT HAZING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

BUT IT IS SAD IF YOU THINK THAT THE FACT IS, A MAJOR UNIVERSITY IS DEPENDENT UPON MONITORING LOCKER ROOMS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT ENGAGING IN BEHAVIOR THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE.

THEY HAVE AN ANTI-HAZING POLICY AT NORTHWESTERN THAT IS VERY STRICT.

ALL THEY NEEDED TO DO WAS ENFORCE IT.

AND TO CONSTANTLY PUT THIS ON THE STUDENT ATHLETES, WHO ARE THE VICTIMS, AND NOT THE COACHES.

ONE OF THE HEADS OF EACH DEPARTMENT SAID EVERY COACH, HAZING IS NOT TOLERATED, BE ON THE LOOKOUT.

IF YOU SEE IT, STOP IT.

THAT IS WHERE IT SHOULD START, ON THE FRONT END, NOT THE BAKKEN.

>> WE KNOW THAT MEMBERS OF THE NORTHWESTERN FOOTBALL TEAM THEMSELVES HAVE RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THEY DO NOT TOLERATE HAZING.

NOW , JENNIFER CASCIO, ONLY A FEW PLAYERS HAVE IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES PUBLICLY.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS?

>> WHAT THEIR REQUEST FOR ANONYMITY REALLY TELLS US IS HOW SERIOUS THE EFFECTS ARE ON THESE STUDENT ATHLETES AND THE CULTURE OF NORTHWESTERN AS AN INSTITUTION.

THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO SPEAK OUT BUT THEY ARE INCREDIBLY FEARFUL ABOUT THE REPERCUSSIONS THAT COULD BE HAD ON THEM.

AS WELL AS WITH THE FEMALE ATHLETES, THE SAME ISSUE.

SHE WAS RETALIATED AGAINST.

THAT WAS THE OFFICIAL CONCLUSION, THAT SHE WAS RETALIATED AGAINST.

ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS FOR COMING OUT.

THAT IS NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING THAT THEY HAD DONE.

IT IS BECAUSE OF THE CULTURE AND THE INSTITUTIONALIZED, SYSTEMIC FEAR AND HARASSMENT THAT OCCURRED WITH THESE ATHLETES.

>> THIS IS A STORY THAT WE WILL ALL BE FOLLOWING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

US .

>>> THE WATCHDOG IS UP NEXT.

STAY WITH US.

>>> SOME PROMINENT, CURRENT, AND FORMER CHICAGO ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE IN HOT WATER AFTER PROBABLE CAUSE WAS FOUND FOR VIOLATION, INCLUDING USING PUBLIC OFFICE TO SOLICIT CAMPAIGN FUNDING.

ANOTHER USED HIS OFFICE TO RETALIATE AGAINST A RESIDENT WHO WAS CRITICAL.

JOINING US NOW IS CHICAGO INSPECTOR GENERAL TO TALK ABOUT THESE CASES.

ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THE FIRST CASE, A FORMER ELECTION OFFICIAL HAS SENT CAMPAIGN EMAILS.

THOSE EMPLOYEES RECEIVED THEM AT THEIR OFFICIAL CITY EMAIL ACCOUNTS.

WE HAVE CONFIRMED THIS.

SHE IS, INDEED, A SUBJECT OF THIS PROBE.

WHY DID THIS SUBJECT VIOLATE THE ETHICS CODE?

>> THE ETHICAL VIOLATION IS THAT THE AUTHORITY OF A CITY OFFICE, THE POWER THAT BELONGS TO A CITY OFFICIAL, IT WAS NOT PROPERLY EXERCISED.

THESE POWERS BELONG TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

INDIVIDUALS SITTING IN THE OFFICES DO NOT GET TO USE THOSE THINGS FOR THEIR PERSONAL , POLITICAL BENEFIT >> THESE EMAILS WORK SOLICITING CAMPAIGN SUPPORT.

WHAT KIND OF RECOURSE IS THERE ?

WHAT KIND OF FINES IS THIS INDIVIDUAL PACING FROM THE ETHICS BOARD?

>> WE ASKED THAT THEY FIND PROBABLE CAUSE THAT THESE VIOLATIONS OCCURRED.

THEY DID SO.

THE SUBJECT OF THE INVESTIGATION HAS NOW BEEN SUMMONED BEFORE THE BOARD TO REFUTE THE FINDINGS.

>> IS INTENTION AN IMPORTANT THING TO PROVE?

YOU CAN SURMISE THAT THESE WORKERS SIGNED UP FOR CAMPAIGN EMAILS USING THEIR CITY EMAILS, PERHAPS.

>> I WILL SAY, GENERALLY, SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER WOULD BE THE SCALE OF THE PROBLEM.

HOW MANY EMAILS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

HOW LONG DID THAT GO ON FOR?

WHETHER THE OFFICIALS HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM AND THE CONTENT OF THOSE EMAILS.

IF WE HAVE SOMEONE USING THE AUTHORITY OF THEIR CITY OFFICE TO SOLICIT DONATIONS FROM PEOPLE OVER WHOM THEY HAD SUPERNATURAL AUTHORITY, THAT IS A REAL PROBLEM.

>> THERE WERE A LOT OF EMAILS THAT HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT, FOLKS CAN FIND THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

ANOTHER ONE WHO ABUSED HIS AUTHORITY, AN OLDER PERSON WHO WE HAVE CONFIRMED IS JIM GARDNER, ALLEGEDLY HATCHED A SCHEME TO ISSUE UNFOUNDED CITATIONS AGAINST A RESIDENT.

EXPLAIN THE CASE.

>> I AM NOT GOING TO CONFIRM THAT HE WAS THE SUBJECT.

BUT THEY FOUND PROBABLE CAUSE THAT A SITTING ALDERPERSON USED THE AUTHORITY OF THEIR OFFICE TO EFFECTIVELY RETALIATE AGAINST SOMEONE.

>> THIS IS ANOTHER CASE THAT WOULD GO BEFORE THE ETHICS BOARD TO BE ADJUDICATED.

AND HOW MUCH DO THEY FACE IN FINES?

>> UP TO $2000.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THE ETHICS BOARD HAS BEEN MORE AGGRESSIVE IN PROBING POTENTIAL ETHICS VIOLATIONS.

IS THIS A RESULT OF YOUR OFFICE EXPANDING THE SCOPE INTO THIS?

OR ARE MORE OFFICIALS PARTICIPATING IN THIS CONDUCT?

>> IS A MORE INTENTIONAL FOCUS ON RIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT OF THE ETHICS RULES.

THESE ARE THE RULES THAT STAND BETWEEN US AND GOVERNMENT ILLEGITIMACY.

WE TALK ABOUT PAYING DOWN THE DEFICIT OF ILLEGITIMACY , THESE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS WE ARE AFTER.

WE ARE PURSUING THEM MORE RIGOROUSLY, MORE CONSISTENTLY, AND MORE FREQUENTLY.

>> CLEARLY, YOU FEEL THIS IS IMPORTANT EVEN IF SOME OF THESE CASES MAY JUST RESULT IN FINES.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> YOU HAVE ALSO INVESTIGATED A PRIVATE CITIZEN, A BUILDING OWNER, WHO ALLEGEDLY ATTEMPTED TO BRIBE A BUILDING INSPECTOR BY STUFFING CASH INTO HIS SHIRT POCKET TO AVOID CITATIONS.

DOES THIS ALSO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF YOUR OFFICE?

THESE ARE PRIVATE CITIZENS WHO MIGHT BE ENGAGING IN A WAY THAT VIOLATES THE ETHICS CODE.

>> WE ARE FULLY OCCUPYING OUR MANDATE TO ENFORCE THESE ETHICS CODES.

THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE FOUND HAPPENING HERE.

SOMEONE ATTEMPTED TO BRIBE A BUILDING OFFICIAL.

WE ARE VERY CLEAR.

WE ALL NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR.

CITY HALL IS NOT FOR SALE.

RULES APPLY TO EVERYBODY.

>> THE MESHES MIGHT BE THAT PEOPLE CAN COME TO YOUR OFFICE IF THEY ARE FIGHTING THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPENING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU CAN REPORT THIS.

COMMITTEES WILL RESPOND TO >> AT LEAST SOME OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING TO REFORM.

THE CITY LAW WAS CHANGED TO LIMIT THE CITY INSPECTOR GENERAL TERM TO 24-YEAR TERMS.

YOUR PREDECESSOR SERVED 12 YEARS.

>> TERM LIMITS ARE IMPORTANT FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT PRINCIPLES.

I THINK THAT NEW PERSPECTIVES ARE IMPORTANT.

THEY SHOULD BE COUPLED WITH INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE.

TERM LIMITS ARE A GOOD IDEA FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE FBI.

IT ALSO APPLIES TO THE WORKERS WITHIN THIS OFFICE.

THE PERSON IN THE SEAT SHOULD NEITHER BE TOO CLOSE TO ELECTED OFFICIALS NOR TO THE ACRIMONIOUS SYSTEM.

THOSE OF US PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO SERVE IN THIS OFFICE SHOULD BE BUILDING STABLE CONDITIONS FOR PEOPLE LONG AFTER WE ARE GONE.

>> YOU ARE NOT ELECTED.

YOU ARE SELECTED BY THE MAYOR AND YOU ARE CONFIRMED BY CITY COUNCIL.

HOW DO YOU AVOID A SITUATION THAT THE CITY FOUND ITSELF IN, WHEN THEY WAITED ALMOST ONE YEAR BASICALLY, BEFORE THEY COULD FILL THE SEAT?

>> THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED IN AN ORDINANCE AS WELL.

THERE ARE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SELECTION PROCESS SO THAT THE SYSTEM MOVES MORE QUICKLY.

THE ORDINANCE SETS UP WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WITHIN THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DURING THAT TRANSITION FOR MORE STABILITY.

>> A LOT ON YOUR PLATE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND NOW, BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, BACK TO YOU.

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW AS WE GET DATA SUPPORT ON THE CAMPAIGN PROMISES FROM THE MAYOR.

AND THE SILVER ROOM PARTY PREPARES FOR ITS LAST DANCE.

FOR PARIS SCHUTZ , I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US AT CHICAGO TONIGHT.

STAY SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD FOR CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A PERSONAL INJURY AND UNLAWFUL DEATH FIRM.

THEY PROVIDE STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE THE