>> thanks for joining us on Chicago tonight on Brandis Friedman.

Here's we're looking at.

Is banking on revenue from video gambling.

A risky bet for the city.

What's at stake as valleys?

Hold some construction after Chicago's video gambling expansion.

And record ridership e-scooters in Chicago.

But with that comes safety concerns for riders and pedestrians.

>> First off tonight, Chicago mayoral hopeful's visit to several city fire departments has garnered the attention of the Chicago Board of Ethics as of this afternoon, John Kelly's campaign has removed 3 campaign videos of himself visiting with firefighters and paramedics, a different fire houses.

The Board of Ethics tells W T Tw News that they are aware of the videos and quote, will take appropriate action.

The city's governmental ethics ordinance bans candidates for city office from intentionally using any city property or resources of the city in connection with a prohibited political activity.

Kelly defended the videos here on Chicago tonight last night delivered.

>> Were there as a private citizen asking him questions.

We don't distribute any kind of campaign literature.

We don't ask them for signatures.

What we're doing is talking the Chicago fireman because elected officials are not We're talking the police officers and I'm prepared to take those kind of political hits where how dare you go to a firehouse and actually sit down and talk to Chicago from it.

>> Kelly today tells us the campaign removed the videos out of respect for the firefighters but will never apologize for having their backs.

The Chicago Fire Department says it will remind members that city law prohibits candidates for elected office from intentionally using city property or resources for campaigning.

More of this story and our full interview with John Kelly on our website.

NASCAR drivers won't be starting their engines in downtown Chicago next year, but they will be nearby.

NASCAR announces it will once again run 3 days of races at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, the organization's returned to the suburban track for the first time in 7 years with races over 4th of July weekend.

This summer, the announcement comes after negotiations with the state failed to reach an agreement to bring back NASCAR Chicago Street race which took over downtown streets during holiday weekends from 2023 to 2025. the joy of races will take place next.

June 25th 27th.

NASCAR says it's open to returning to Chicago's streets in the future.

Cook County property owners.

Your second installment tax bill is now available online and headed to your mailbox.

You'll have until October 1st to make that payment.

The second installment Bills are typically released in early July and 2 in early August, but an overhaul of the county's property tax system has been plagued with problems.

It has caused repeated delays, creating a cascade effect, according to Cook County Board.

President Toni Preckwinkle, the first installment this year was a month late back in 2020 for the second installment was 4 months late leaving the cities and school districts scrambling to pay bills.

The county is taking applications for its 300 million dollar, no interest loan program for taxing districts in need of immediate relief.

For Chicago.

Public high schools have been ranked among the best in the nation.

The annual top high school rankings from U.S.

News and World Report this year puts Northside College Prep as the number one high school in Illinois and the 30th best in the country.

That marks a 10 place jump for the selective enrollment school in the North Park neighborhood.

Also in the top 100 Walter Payton College Prep at number.

54 Lane Tech it 80 and Jones College prep at 99.

Whitney Young Magnet High came in just outside the top 100 at 100 and 4th place.

Also breaking into the top 100 Illinois math and Science Academy in Aurora.

That number 88.

Up next, a standoff over video gambling.

That's right after this.

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

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donors.

>> Rallies permanent casino in Chicago's River West neighborhood is slated to open early next year, but Valley says it's slowing construction on the surrounding entertainment complex, including its hotel concert venue and restaurant.

The move comes after the company says the city breached its development agreement by approving video gambling terminals, citywide a block of all people approve the plan over Mayor Brandon Johnson's objections.

They argue it would generate needed revenue to balance the city budget so far that money hasn't materialized.

Joining us now, our Jason Ervin, alderman of the 28th Ward on the city's West side.

That includes neighborhoods like Garfield Park Austin and North Lawndale.

Bill Conway, alderman of the 34th Ward representing downtown communities like the West and South Loop.

Gentlemen, welcome back.

Thanks for joining us.

happens.

So first, I want to start with the statement that we received.

W T Tw News received from Bally's.

It reads, quote, The potential for an uncontrolled proliferation of video gambling terminals Vgts is in breach of the city's commitment not to expand gaming in the host community agreement and creates uncertainty that could be harmful for Bally's Chicago prospects.

Alderman Urban first you what is your reaction to that justification from Bally's?

>> I'm a little disappointed in the fact that that brought a out about the way that it was my understanding.

They have some financial pressure based on video gaming.

I do not support video game.

is time based on the revenue split that city receives from it.

But again, understand their rationale, but they have some other challenges.

also facing.

But again, we look at the financial stability of the city, the pension funds.

This is something that we need to make.

>> Alderman Conway, you are part of a group of alderman who voted to approve video gambling terminals.

What's your reaction to the statement from Belize?

Well, I mean, big picture, we got to make sure we're doing everything we can to maximize jobs and tax revenue for and within the city.

Chicago.

>> And you read that host community agreement.

They have agreed to complete all the work and all the components, their end and they have to show that there is an adverse impact to them by this and that there is a mode of lawful gaming that is being being approved.

And if they are able to show those things, the remedy is a good faith renegotiation of the 4 million dollars for 4 million dollar payment on there.

It is not that they can stop construction.

So, you know, it is up to the city's law department to send them a default notice.

I would say it's a continue along this path.

It will be into fall to the agreement and under the host community agreement, the remedies at the city's disposal are draconian specific performance.

Liquidated damages.

Hopefully it doesn't come to that because as my colleague said, we need that tax revenue.

You know, we are pensions or need, but plus community green.

It's pretty clear.

do you think Bally's been should be either you know, renegotiate that agreement that you mentioned the 4 million dollar payment or do they need to show proof that the video gambling terminals would actually do damage?

They do have to show this adverse impact from that, which, you know, was probably some chance they can show that.

But the >> the remedy there is a good faith renegotiation of the 4 million dollars.

It's not it's not stopping construction because that's not what the agreement allows the the The construction is being stop is in the ground game in and again, our were.

>> issue was around game and making sure that those profits from the casino go to offset our public safety, pension funds and other things.

So I'm open to a conversation around the issue.

we need to be more careful in the moves we make because for every action, there's also reaction.

don't think anyone thought the valleys would have done what they did, but they did not.

We are in this pickle again over revenue did just won't Doesn't ease is where we're going to be ready to look a good cop, bad cop already already practicing it clearly.

>> Conway, a group of your fellow alderman you all day.

They sent a letter to Bally's accusing the company of the using the video game league approval as an excuse to slow construction as they look for other ways to finance the project because it is open secret that they've got some financial woes that they're considering.

Do you think they're just trying to buy more time here?

And you know, why would they want to invest in in Chicago if they believe that the city council members of the city council don't believe them, don't trust water lying.

Well, I think that's a conversation need to be have.

But >> as you said, it's no secret that they are having some significant financial difficulty in the sense that they're having problems with their development, Las Vegas.

Their credit was recently downgraded.

They've just issued a niche notice that they may not be able to come complete as a going concern anymore.

They're temporary casinos, underperforming.

So as a result of you don't.

It's a conversation we can have, but them slowing construction could be could certainly be a financing mechanism that they're that they're in point here other than urban.

Do you think that's the case here?

>> You know what?

I don't know.

We haven't had an opportunity to speak with the people from Bally's.

I'm sure they'll be before council hopefully in the next 30 to 45 days week.

A national specific questions.

But I do understand the plight of the revenue concerns that exist because if you look at other casinos across the state, they have taken some level of dies when the video game came about and their respective areas.

So there is concern And also, let's think about this.

We lose money.

>> As the city video game in comparison to the casino.

We get $0.22 on the dollar to casino.

Only $0.05 on the dollar to video gaming terminal.

That is the issue that I have.

Another members of council have released a video gaming.

I 1000% sure that with Alderman okay.

So the city is relying on 6 point or was rely on 6, 20.8 million dollars in revenue from these video gambling terminals, 8 months into this year.

None of that money has shown up over Minerva new warned that this would happen.

Did you not?

>> Well, I was more concerned about the debt sale that was going on as well as video gaming terminals.

At the time.

We knew that there was a long line >> of people trying to get a license in and how the city of Chicago is going to shoot to the top of line and trying to get license.

And we knew that this was all going to be a fallacy.

And we here we here we are live in now.

We've got a 90 million dollar deficit that we have to figure out next problem.

45 days otherwise been in the year and the red to the tune of about a billion dollars over Conway.

Should the city council approved a budget that relied on uncertain funding?

>> Well, I think there was a lot of moving parts and that what made the budget negotiations so difficult was >> Mayer's Slavic devotion to the head tax, which clearly the city council's not 4 and the city's people, the city, Chicago on for.

So that was the fight that was going on at that moment in time.

Fortunately, we were able to avert that.

But now we find ourselves in on the other side of that, we're going to have to work through it.

>> So should the city then Obama coming back to you?

Should the city's 2027 budget reimpose a ban on on video gambling outside the casino given that the city has made up for that 7 million dollars counting on.

>> Well, we have to make sure that we are doing what we can to maximize jobs and maximize tax revenue within the city, Chicago.

So we have to be looking this at a broader level than simply this 6.8 million dollars heroes a yes or no question that you know, I haven't been in this business is law no question you get over I do not believe that the money should be included in the 2027 budget.

>> Given the nature of probably litigation with the host community agreement.

It just doesn't make sense to include in the game is peanuts.

It is not real mind.

We're talking.

You're tripping over $100 bills to pick up Nichols.

That is what is happening.

Makes no sense for the city to The city's budget is what?

16 point that soak 6.8 million dollars.

>> Not that much in the grand scheme of things.

is nothing to sneeze a little fun.

it's 76, you give me 6 Mia ad dollars.

But nonetheless, though, I think that we have to make sure we have a balanced budget.

>> We need to have revenues that we're going to rely on.

I don't believe that lovely revenue.

>> From video game and in the police and a gallon in the city of Chicago's where residents want.

Okay.

Some of some of your colleagues aldermen, Irvine.

They have.

They say the Mayor Johnson's administration dragging its feet on improving license is necessary for bars and restaurants operate these machines.

The state has only approved 6 of these.

Then what somebody need to pick up the pace?

What needs to happen?

Well, it still grew into revenue changes not in the city's interest to move forward.

>> On video gaming again, we get $0.05 on the dollar.

That is lunacy with city of Chicago.

We should be able to leverage not only for the city of Chicago before other municipalities across the state.

Now, the real winner in all of this would be the state of Illinois because they will reap a huge benefit from gambling in the city of Chicago, not residents of the city of Chicago.

Seeing it's a benefit.

>> Yeah, that's exactly.

I mean, that's exactly right.

I agree with my my colleague on that in the sunset out out of a dollar of profit, the city gets 5 sets.

The state gets $0.30 and then the operator and the and the location they each get.

35 so we really got the short end of the stick when it comes to video game revenue.

Okay.

So before we let you both go, we've got about 45 seconds left.

Budget forecast is expected next week.

What do you have your eyes on older and you first, the bottom line need to understand what our deficit we anticipated, what it looks like and how we're going to saw forward a pray that calmer heads prevailed in this process.

>> That we get a budget that's real.

We get a budget that the city of Chicago can live with.

And that's something that's going to deliver services to residents of the Well, I would say that we need to show the people the city, Chicago that were being reasonable stewards with their money before we ask them for more.

Okay.

So not excite about asking for more.

What what I'm here?

like I'm not sure who is.

it's right.

That is where we'll leave it.

I'm sure we'll talk to you all again.

>> Alderman Jason Ervin, Bill Conway, thanks to both.

Thanks having Up next, safety concerns over e-bikes and scooters.

>> Summer >> months mean it's easier for some folks to get around on fewer wheels ridership on the city's e-scooters hit a record high last year.

But the convenient mode of transportation along with e-bikes isn't always the safest making state and local lawmakers push for new safety regulations joining us to talk more about this, our Dave Simmons, executive director of Ride, Illinois, a nonprofit that aims to promote safe and accessible right and Alderwoman 20 minute hop and worth of the 48th word on the city's north side which includes neighborhoods like Edgewater and Andersonville.

Thanks to both for joining us.

so there are a variety of e-bikes and scooters otherwise known as micromobility vehicles used nationwide.

What are some of the difference is that these devices, you know, will show and where some of them used?

Sure.

Yeah.

In Illinois and 45 other states recognize 3 classes of e-bikes.

>> And so a class one and class to e-bikes have a maximum speed of 20 miles an hour.

The difference a class.

One has pedal assist means a user has to be pedaling class 2 as a throttle so it it can go without the use of peddling a class.

3, a similar too, a class one.

It just has a higher maximum speed, which is 28 miles an hour.

where can we use them?

Bike lanes, sidewalks, streets, bike lanes for sure.

no.

I don't know if we'll talk about the legislation that that is in Springfield.

So currently they can be used in bike lanes.

They can use on bike trails, not on sidewalks, on sidewalks and we will get to that legislation shortly.

Other woman, the U.S.

Consumer Product Safety Commission released new data earlier this year stating that emergency room visits have nearly quadrupled since 2017.

>> Chicago has seen also, sadly, at least 3 e-scooter related deaths this year alone.

Given these numbers, do you believe these vehicles to be safe?

>> Firstly, I I'm a physical therapist who so I have seen in the emergency room MS its deaths and it's also permanent injuries that happen between motorized vehicles and pedestrians and what we're saying is that we want all of our streets to be organized so that no matter how you get around, whether you're in a car or on a bike or on a scooter, you understand where to go.

And so all of this is about safety at the end of the day, everybody is a pedestrian.

So that's our paramount for us.

>> Dave, many of these injuries and deaths caused by cars and trucks.

Is it a matter of, you know, drivers lacking awareness of these additional vehicles and their increased use or scooter and e-bike riders needing more guardrails.

>> I would say both right.

The popularity of these devices really increased over the last few years.

So there is still some getting used to like sharing the space with with motor vehicles and devices.

Certainly there's plenty of drivers are still distracted by devices on not.

So I think it does kind hit on both of those of the users need to be aware they need to be defensive.

You know, when when they're riding do certain things kind keep themselves safe.

And then motorists need to realize that they are sharing the bike lanes.

You know, that may be adjacent to the road with vulnerable road users who don't have the same protection that they have in their vehicles.

>> woman in Chicago, Department of Transportation launched a new e-scooter safety campaign this year as ridership reach that record high in 2025. is this campaign.

Do you think it's enough to promote e-scooters safety or is more needed?

>> More is needed because it's a change.

In culture, we have to start at youngest levels in our schools, for CDOT does have a safe streets.

Ambassador program that we are also engaging with, but it's everybody.

It's not just the users who use the scooters and bikes, but also.

The cars and our streets are made for speed.

And that's the way it So until we address the behavior of the people who are using the roads.

We we also have to address the policies that have we have in place and also the infrastructure because right now it is such that cars have.

They have the right away most of the time, the way that our streets are built.

And what we're saying is that every single intersection should be safe no matter where it is in the city of Chicago, you should feel like you you be you could be able to cross the road and not feel like you're going to get hit very much.

A car culture very much Dave right.

Illinois recently worked to help pass a bill and in the General Assembly.

As you mentioned, that works to set consistent safety measures and tools for micro mobility.

>> Vehicles, what with that legislation too?

>> Yeah, it's going to separate between one of the main things separate between e-bikes and what's known as a do, which are these kind they look like motorcycles very popular teens and preteens, boys in particular.

So it'll differentiate between those devices.

It will set a minimum age for users of legal e-bikes, the class.

1, 2, 3 that I mentioned earlier also require faster speed devices.

Those that can go faster than 20 miles an hour will be required to have used be kind of a driver's license insurance and registration.

So recognizing these as suitable means in practical ways to get around.

But also acknowledging there's some safety concerns and that maybe kids under 16 shouldn't be using these devices and specifically suitors.

The age lecture reduced from 18 to 16 for e-scooters.

But that still is a man with age of 16.

So those under that age really shouldn't be using those devices.

Why?

28 miles an hour, aligns with the classes of the e-bikes.

mentioned earlier and old which they can travel OK or says research at about accidents over 20 miles an hour.

Yeah, I think the bill is a big step in the right direction.

It's not perfect.

I think we're going to see a companion bills introduced in the General Assembly this year.

Maybe some right-sizing some fine tuning of this.

This this issue, this topic will not be going I'm Other woman, your ward, you recently enacted fencing along a section of Sheridan in Edgewater and blocks rental e-scooters from being used on the street and the sidewalks.

>> How does that work and hasn't been effective.

>> So there are parts of Sheridan.

Road is one of the densely populated road streets in Chicago.

And so what we're saying is that because it's the entrance to lakefront trail.

It's very, very busy.

There are already parts sharing road that is in no rides zone for for mobility devices and scooters.

What we're saying is all of Sheridan Road should not be subjected to.

To scooters on the sidewalks because it is a very pedestrian friendly ward.

We want people to be able to age in place and to be able to walk around no matter how they get around.

We have a lot of older folks that live on Sheridan Road.

Also.

and there have been complaints about high speed bicyclist and also scooters.

Right now we have the ability to G offense.

The area so that the scooters slow down as they approach Sheridan Road and eventually stop, right, right, because that the traffic along that section as well can be can be very congested.

And can't imagine scooter.

>> On the road right there.

yeah.

So so this is just one measure that we're talking about because all of Sheridan Road we need to think about safety generally.

This is stretch of Sheridan Road that had 2 pedestrian versus.

Cta buses and Loyola is just to the north of Sheridan Road.

We have a lot of students.

We have a lot of visitors.

So when you come into Edgewater on Sheridan Road, we want people to understand how to move around and we want also you to be able to walk around and feel safe walking and not feel like you're going to get hit because we have a lot of older adults that live in the area and those with disabilities a fall could be, you know, it could lead to permanent disability or or fatalities.

So we don't want that.

We don't want to end lives early.

This is all about safety.

Linemen does start.

Go ahead, David, you can add I do.

We've got a minute left but linemen Diddy, of course they are 2 of the popular e-bike and e-scooter.

>> Rental companies in Chicago.

Dave, what responsibility do you think these these companies should bear for safety?

>> I know the minimum age is one thing that they've they've tried to address some sort of age verification, some education for the users as well.

I think the assumption is that these things are phone and people just hop on and go.

But they do move You know, people bright with more than one person.

There are some kind of logical safety precautions could be taken.

And they really at the end of the day need to be looking out for the people that they're they're riding near by at back to the only ones point about safety that need to be looking after others.

And that's a good place to leave it.

Everybody be safe.

Wear helmet basics.

Dave Simmons Alderwoman Lenny Mina hop happen were thanks to you both for joining us.

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

Be sure to sign up for our free email newsletter is the Daily Chicago in and urban nature at W T Tw Dot Com Slash newsletter and join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10.

The Trump administration proposes overhauling the early child care program known as head start getting local reaction now for all of us here in Chicago Brandis Friedman, thanks for watching.

Stay healthy and Happening.

>> A closed captioning is made possible by Robert a cliff and Clifford law a Chicago personal injury and wrongful