>>> WELCOME TO "AT ISSUE," I'M H WAYNE WILSON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

FOR THE PAST 16 YEARS WHEN I HAD THE MAYOR OF PEORIA ON "AT ISSUE," I WOULD SAY WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM, MAYOR ARTUS.

WE HAVE A NEW MAYOR IN THE CITY OF PEORIA.

YOU PROBABLY KNOW HER.

SHE IS RITA ALI.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, MAYOR ALI.

HOW'S THAT SOUND?

>> IT SOUNDS PRETTY DARNED GOOD.

THANK YOU, H. >> THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN A MINUTE.

>> SURE.

>> BUT FIRST YOU ARE THE 55th MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PEORIA.

AND YOU ARE THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND YOU ARE THE FIRST FEMALE.

DID IT TAKE TOO LONG TO GET TO THAT STATUS FOR THE CITY?

>> WELL, IT'S A HISTORICAL TIME.

I'M VERY PROUD OF PEORIA FOR ELECTING ME THE FIRST WOMAN AND THE FIRST PERSON OF COLOR.

I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED A WHILE BACK BUT IT HAPPENED NOW.

WE CAN'T LOOK BACK.

WE CAN'T GO BACK.

SO THAT GLASS CEILING HAS BEEN BROKEN, AND I'M JUST HONORED TO BE IN THIS ROLE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU FACE AS MAYOR.

OF COURSE, YOU DON'T HAVE THE FINAL SAY.

THERE ARE 11 VOTES ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

YOU ARE JUST ONE OF THOSE.

BUT DO YOU GIVE GUIDANCE TO WHERE THE COUNCIL IS GOING.

ON JUNE 2nd, AT DOZE ARE PARK YOU WILL BE GIVING YOUR VISION FOR THE CITY OF PEORIA.

IF I MIGHT ASK YOU TO TEASE US A LITTLE BIT AND SHARE SOME OF WHAT YOU MIGHT SAY ON JUNE 2nd, WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE CITY?

>> SURE.

AND THE MAYOR IS LEADER OF THE COUNCIL.

AND PROVIDES GUIDANCE AND SOME DIRECTION.

BUT WE HAVE TO WORK IN COLLABORATION.

WE'RE A TEAM.

AND I WANT TO BUILD EVEN A STRONGER TEAM AS THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL.

MY VISION WILL BE SHARED SOMEWHAT, I WOULD SAY, ON JUNE THE 2nd AT DOZER.

I WILL TALK ABOUT PEORIA'S PAST, HOW PEORIA HAS BEEN A BELLWETHER IN THE PAST, TYPE OF CITY.

WE'VE BEEN KNOWN ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR SOME VERY POSITIVE THINGS.

SORRY.

I HAVE A LITTLE DRY EYE HERE.

BUT YOU KNOW, LATELY, I WOULD SAY MORE RECENT YEARS WE HAVE BEEN KNOWN FOR SOME NEGATIVE THINGS.

AND SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS THAT ARE DISTRESSED, THOSE AREAS THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN A BLACK EYE FOR AND TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS THOSE PROBLEMS IN A SYSTEMIC WAY, LOOKING AT THE ROOT CAUSE OF PROBLEMS, NOT JUST PUTTING A BAND AID ON THEM.

I WILL TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

AND REALLY PEORIA COMING TOGETHER CREATING A NEW VISION.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST RITA'S VISION.

IT'S GOING TO BE THE VISION OF THE CITIZENS OF PEORIA.

>> SO YOU ARE OPEN TO FEEDBACK?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S BEEN MY STYLE ALWAYS AS A PROFESSIONAL.

THAT'S MY LEADERSHIP STYLE TO BE A GREAT LISTENER.

AGAIN, I HAVE THE DRY EYE SO SORRY ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

WHAT YOU SAY IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MIGHT BE ON THAT LIST.

AND THAT IS JOB CREATION.

PEORIA, OF COURSE, WAS KNOWN IN THE 1800S AS THE WHISKEY CAPITAL.

1910, MANUFACTURING, CATERPILLAR, ET CETERA.

NOW WE HAVE MOVED MORE INTO MEDICAL.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE NEW STRENGTH OF PEORIA IN THE COMING YEARS?

>> SURE.

WE MOVED TO PEORIA BECAUSE MY FATHER FOUND WORK AT CATERPILLAR AS A WELDER AND ULTIMATELY IN OTHER PRODUCTION AREAS.

MANUFACTURING IS STILL A BIG PLAYER IN PEORIA.

IT HAS NOT WENT AWAY JUST BECAUSE CATERPILLAR HAS A SMALLER FOOTPRINT IN PEORIA.

BUT, OF COURSE, THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY HAS GROWN.

THAT'S OUR LARGEST EMPLOYER.

THAT'S A GROWING INDUSTRY.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPLIERS THAT FEED INTO OSH AND UNITY POINT METHODIST AS WELL AS OTHER MEDICAL UNITS THAT WE HAVE HERE AND EMPLOYERS.

SO I SEE CATERPILLAR GROWING IN WE HAVE NATURAL FIBER WELDING WHICH IS A NEW COMPANY THAT IS GROWING E. EXPECTED TO I THINK HIRE AT LEAST 50 MORE PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

THERE'S ALSO OTHER EMPLOYERS THAT ARE PROVIDING APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES.

I KNOW MUCH OF THIS BECAUSE OF MY JOB AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF WORKFORCE AND DIVERSITY ILLINOIS CENTRAL COLLEGE.

WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH EMPLOYERS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE IN WORKFORCE.

SO THE JOBS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, MEDICAL, AND ANY MORE MANUFACTURING, MANUFACTURING ISN'T PUTTING BOLTS NECESSARILY INTO AN ENGINE.

THERE ARE SOME OF THOSE.

BUT IT REQUIRES A SKILL.

WE NEED TO DEVELOP A WORKFORCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND SOME OF THE WORKFORCE REQUIREMENTS HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.

TECHNOLOGY, EVEN ROBOTICS HAS REQUIRED INDIVIDUALS HAVING MORE SKILLS THAN MY FATHER HAD WHEN WE MOVED TO PEORIA.

SO WE HAVE TO BUILD A SKILLED WORKFORCE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE ROLES OF EDUCATION ENTITIES AND EVEN LABOR ENTITIES HERE.

>> SO THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS DOING SO IS -- >> IDENTIFYING THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE NEEDS.

WE HAVE JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE NOW THAT PEOPLE AREN'T READY TO TAKE.

SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF EQUITY INITIATIVES, NOT JUST AT ICC BUT THROUGHOUT THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING ENTITIES, TO PREPARE UPSKILL, UPSKILL OUR RESIDENTS SO THAT THEY'RE MORE PREPARED.

AND SOMETIMES CERTIFIED TO TAKE THE AVAILABLE JOBS.

>> LET ME MOVE TO THE ECONOMICS OF THE CITY FOR JUST A MOMENT.

AND LET'S TALK ABOUT IN A $208 MILLION BUDGET, THE CURRENT BUDGET FOR 2021, THE PAYMENTS FOR POLICE AND FIRE PENSIONS.

>> PENSION.

>> AND FOR THE AUDIENCE, THE FIVE PENSIONS THAT WE ALWAYS FAULK ABOUT ARE STATE PEPSI CENTERS.

WE ARE TALKING WITH WHAT THE CITY HAS TO PAY FOR FIRE AND POLICE.

$28 MILLION.

BY 2023, FOUR YEARS LATER THAT WILL JUMP FROM $21.8 TO $34 MILLION: $84 MILLION.

THE SOLUTION?

BECAUSE THE CITY CANNOT CONTINUE TO PAY AT THAT RATE.

>> IT'S JUST NOT SUSTAINABLE.

AGE, IT'S JUST NOT SUSTAINABLE.

IT'S NOT A PROBLEM THAT WE CAN IMMEDIATELY SOLVE.

AND WE CAN'T SOLVE IT.

THE CITY CANNOT SOLVE IT ON ITS OWN.

IT REALLY HAS TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP.

IT'S A STATE ISSUE AS MUCH AS IT IS A PEORIA ISSUE.

IT'S A ROCK FORWARD ISSUE.

IT'S A BLOOMING FONT ISSUE.

WE ARE ALL EXPERIENCING THE STRAIN THAT PENSIONS HAS ON OUR BUDGET.

AND HOW MUCH OF THE BUDGET IT CONSUMES.

SO WE HAVE TO WORK WITH STATE LEGISLATORS.

WE HAVE TO WORK WITH LABOR GROUPS BECAUSE THOSE ADVOCACY GROUPS ARE PLAYING A ROLE AS WELL.

AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES IN THE STRUCTURE.

IT'S A STRUCTURAL ISSUE.

>> HAVE YOU TALKED TO LEGISLATORS YET ABOUT THAT?

>> I HAVE.

WE HAVEN'T LIKE PULLED TOGETHER A MEETING YET.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT WITH THE PEORIA CITY COUNCIL.

WE WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A MEETING THAT INVITES THE LEGISLATORS TO THE TABLE.

>> LET'S STAY ON THE ISSUE OF MONEY WITH THE CITY.

THE CITY HAD LOSSES BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC OF LESS INCOME THAN HAD BEEN ANTICIPATED.

YOU DID RECEIVE OR WILL RECEIVE, IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED HALF SO FAR, $47 MILLION FROM THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT.

NEXT TUESDAY, YOU WILL BE HAVING A POLICY SESSION ON HOW TO HANDLE THAT MONEY.

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO THE COUNCIL?

>> SO WE ARE NOT ACTUALLY DEBATE DEBATING NEXT TUESDAY HOW TO HANDLE THE MONEY.

THERE'S TWO HOURS DEDICATED TO THE POLIC SESSION.

THE CITY MANAGER WHO HAS READ ALL 150-PLUS PAGES OF THE GUIDANCE DOCUMENT WILL HAVE A POWER POINT.

AND HE WILL ACTUALLY REVIEW THE CONTENTS OF THAT.

WE ALL HAVE COPIES.

WE'RE ALL BEGINNING TO GO THROUGH IT WITH A FINE-TOOTH COMB.

BUT THERE WILL BE A PRESENTATION OF THE GUIDANCE ON HOW WE CAN SPEND THAT MONEY, THE DIRECTION FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION.

THERE WILL BE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ASKED BY COUNCIL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FOUR YEARS TO SPEND THIS MONEY.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DECIDE RIGHT AWAY, EVEN THIS YEAR, HOW TO SPEND THAT $47 MILLION.

THEY'RE DIVIDING IT UP, OF COURSE, INTO A COUPLE SECTIONS.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS NOW.

WE DON'T HAVE TO RUSH.

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE US NOT TO RUSH THE DECISIONS AND NOT TO SPEND ALL THE MONEY IMMEDIATELY.

>> AND ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THAT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE, THERE'S THE POTENTIAL OF MORE FEDERAL AND/OR STATE DOLLARS THAT COULD COME TO THE CITY OF PEORIA THAT MIGHT INFLUENCE HOW 2 YOU DECIDE TO SPEND THE $47 MILLION.

>> WE FORESEE A LOT OF ADDITIONAL MONEY.

THEY ARE TALKING MULTIPLE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY THAT COULD COME TO PEORIA FROM WASHINGTON.

AND SO WE'RE LOOKING -- I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY ALMOST REMINDS ME OF THE FDR'S NEW DEAL.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN MONEY LIKE COME ABOUT THESE KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES.

IT'S A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE TYPE OF FUNDING THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO COME DOWN FROM WASHINGTON.

SO WE NEED TO POSITION OURSELVES TO TAP INTO THOSE FUNDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OUR FAIR SHARE IN THE CITY OF PEORIA.

SO I DON'T SEE ANY REASON TO RUSH.

THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF MORE IMMEDIATELY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL AND DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE IN TERMS OF HOW WE SPEND THATrd 47 MILLION.

>> ONE OF THOSE IMMEDIATE CONCERNS MIGHT BE THE $10 MILLION GLOBE THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, YEAH.

>> I WANT TO STAY ON MONEY FOR ONE MORE ISSUE.

AND THAT IS CSE.

THIS IS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE.

THERE IS A CONSENT DECREE WITH THE EPA.

>> FINALLY, YES.

THANK GOODNESS.

>> IN TODAY'S DOLLARS ABOUT $130 MILLION AS CONSTRUCTION COSTS RISE.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A GREEN SOLUTION.

EVERYONE ON THE COUNCIL AGREES IT'S BETTER THAN THE GRAY SOLUTION.

WHAT ABOUT FUNDING THIS?

I MEAN, THERE'S ALREADY SOME MONEY IN PLACE THROUGH THE FEES THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED.

>> RIGHT.

THAT'S PRIMARILY THE FUNDING SOURCE.

THERE'S A SCHEDULE, YOU KNOW.

TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HELP TO PAY THE COST OF THE CSO, COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW.

THIS IS ALSO GOING TO CREATE SOME JOBS.

SOME JOBS ARE GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE THIS UNFUNDED MANDATE.

WE HAVE TO PAY THE COSTS.

WE ALSO ARE GOING TO CREATE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO BE A MORE HEALTHY COMMUNITY, TO BE A MORE GREEN COMMUNITY AND TO PROVIDE SOME JOB OPPORTUNITIES ALONG THE WAY AND TO ADDRESS SOME ISSUES INTO SOME OF THE AREAS OF THE CITY THAT HAVE BEEN, I WOULD SAY, NOT INVESTED IN LIKE THEY SHOULD.

>> THE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED AN INCREMENTAL INCREASE IN THESE FEES.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE PUBLIC'S RESPONSE TO THAT IN THAT, YES, THE COUNCIL HAS HELD THE PROPERTY TAX RATE STEADY FOR YEARS.

BUT LET'S BE HONEST, PEOPLE ARE SAYING I'M BEING FEED TO DEED.

-- FEE'SED TO DEATH.

CAN YOU ADDRESS THESE AND BE A GOOD START FOR THE CITIZENS?

>> I'VE ALWAYS HELD A POSITION WE COULD NOT RAISE PROPERTY TAXES.

I HAVE NOT MOVED OFF OF THAT.

THE FEES, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY CAME ABOUT, WERE VOTED ABOUT BEFORE I CAME ON THE COUNCIL.

THEY'RE HERE.

FOR NOW CSO FEES NORTH GOING ABAY.

THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE DEALT WITH FOR MANY YEARS.

WE HAVE GOT 18 YEARS THAT WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO WORK THIS SOLUTION.

WE HAVE A SIGNED CONSENT DECREE, AN AGREEMENT.

WE HAVE TO LIVE UP TO THAT.

SO I DON'T SEE THOSE FEES AS FAR AS CSO GOING AWAY.

WE HAVE A SCHEDULE.

BUT I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF ADDING ADDITIONAL, ADDITIONAL FEES ON TO OUR CITIZENS.

I WANT TO FIND WAYS TO BRING, GENERATE ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

>> LET'S TURN FROM FINANCES TO THE DISCUSSION, AND THIS IS YOUR BACKGROUND AS AN EMPLOYEE OF ILLINOIS CENTRAL COLLEGE UNTIL JUNE 30th.

AND THEN YOU CAN BE MAYOR FULL TIME IF YOU LIKE.

>> YES.

>> BUT WHAT CHALLENGES MIGHT YOU FACE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIES THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO PUT INTO PLACE TO HELP THE DISADVANTAGED?

AND THAT INCLUDES MINORITIES.

>> UH-HUH.

WELL, YOU KNOW, 61605 IS ONE OF THE MOST DISTRESSED ZIP CODES IN AMERICA, NOT JUST IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

THE ECONOMIC INNOVATION GROUP IDENTIFIES IT, GIVES IT A DISTRESS SCORE OF 9.6 OUT OF 100.

100 IS THE WORST.

IT CAN'T GET TOO MUCH WORSE.

WE HAVE AN INITIATIVE THAT WE CALL PEORIA CCI.

PEORIA CRADLE TO CAREER INITIATIVE.

WE JUST PUT THINGS TOGETHER WITH ILLINOIS CENTRAL COLLEGE, THE INDUSTRY OF PEORIA, PEORIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND AT LEAST 32 COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND OVER 50 BUSINESSES THAT ARE READY TO REINVEST AND TRANSFORM PEORIA 61605 SO THE ADULTS IN THAT AREA ARE WORKING, THAT THEY'RE SKILLED, THEY ARE EDUCATED SO THAT THE CHILDREN IN THAT AREA ARE READY TO LEARN BY THE TIME THAT THEY ENTER KINDERGARTEN.

SO THAT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THAT AREA HAVE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES, HAVE ACCESS TO BROADBAND INTERNET.

THIS IS A DESIGN THAT WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER.

THERE'S BEEN $49,000 -- A MILLION DOLLARS FOR AN IN-KIND GRANT FOR A GRANT WE HAVE APLAYED FOR WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

THE COMMITMENT IS WHAT I'M SPEAKING TO, H. OUR COMMUNITY WANTS TO DO THINGS TO TRANSFORM AND CHANGE WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER MANY YEARS TO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF PEORIA.

>> IS PEORIA CCI RESTRICTED TO 61605?

>> IT IS.

PEORIA CCI HAS TARGETED 61605.

ALL THOSE THAT ARE PARTNERS DO NOT RESIDE IN 61605.

THOSE AREASS ARE NOT ALL IN 61605.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT AREA OF THE CITY AFFECTS ALL PARTS OF OUR CITY.

AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK IS BEING UNDERSTOOD ON A GREATER DEGREE.

THAT WHAT HAPPENS IN ONE PART OF OUR CITY CAN HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE OTHER PARTS.

>> WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU ANTICIPATE?

PEORIA CCI IS IN PLACE.

BUT IF YOU LIVE IN 06 OR 03 OR EVEN 14.

>> SURE.

SO LET ME SAY THIS.

PEORIA CCI IS NOT FULLY IN PLACE BECAUSE IT'S NOT FULLY FUNDED.

BUT WE DID GET SOME JUMP START MONEY FROM REPRESENTATIVE SHERRY BUST.

WE ARING A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO DO A FULL ASSESSMENT OF THE AREA.

WE HAVE BASE LINE.

BUT WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER.

YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH OUR NEW RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY COMMISSION.

155 PEOPLE HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE ON THIS COMMISSION AND FOCUS IN EIGHT DIFFERENT AREAS IN ADDRESSING ISSUES OF INEQUITY, DISPARITY BASED UPON RACE IN PEORIA CITY AND PEORIA COUNTY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE INEQUITIES IN THE CITY STAFF.

BECAUSE THE COUNCIL SEVERAL YEARS AGO SET A GOAL OF 40% MINORITIES AND US THAT FEMALE, LATINO, AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN, ET CETERA.

BUT 40% OF FIRE AND 40% OF POLICE ARE TO BE MINORITY BY 2025.

UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THE PANDEMIC, THERE WERE LAYOFFS AND THE BIGGEST INFLUX OF MINORITIES WAS IN THAT NEW CLASS AND THEY GOT LAID OFF.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY EMPLOYEES REFLECT THE COMMUNITY, AT LEAST ON A RACIAL BASIS?

AND A FEMALE BASIS.

>> AND THAT'S WHERE THAT 40% I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT 40% CAME FROM.

IT WAS A GOAL TO TRY TO ASSURE THAT POLICE AND FIRE MIRROR THE DEMOGRAPHICS, MIRROR THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE CITY OF PEORIA.

VERY AMBITIOUS GOAL THAT HAS BEEN INTERRUPTED BY THE PANDEMIC, BY BUDGET.

AND THAT GOAL IS GOING TO BE REVISITED.

THE DIVERSITY COMMITTEE THAT WAS MADE UP OF POLICE PERSONNEL, FIRE PERSONNEL, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS INCLUDING MYSELF, HAD PUT TOGETHER THOSE 10, BEFORE I CAME ON COUNCIL, THOSE 10 REPRESENTATIONS THAT BECAME AN ORDINANCE IN TERMS OF WORKING TO DIVERSIFY POLICE AND FIRE.

I THINK GREAT PROGRESS OR GOOD PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE.

MORE PROGRESS WILL BE MADE.

BUT THERE HAS BEEN SOME SET BACKS.

AND WE'LL JUST HAVE TO REVISIT, RESHUFFLE, AND REPLAN, SET, RESET OUR GOALS.

>> BUT YOU ARE STILL COMMITTED TO -- >> DIVERSITY.

>> TO DIVERSITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> YOU HAD A CHANCE RECENTLY ALONG WITH PATRICK, THE CITY MANAGER, TO TESTIFY ON THE SENATE BILL 157 WHICH IS PASSED THE SENATE.

IN THE SECOND READING IN THE HOWES LAST TIME I CHECKED.

IT IS THE REFER EDGE REDEVELOPMENT ZONE.

AND IT'S FOR FIVE CITIES IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS INCLUDING PEORIA.

AND PEORIA HAS BENEFITED FROM THAT BECAUSE IT OFFERS HISTORIC CREDITS, TAX CREDITS TO DEVELOPERS.

BUT IT'S ABOUT TO EXPIRE.

WHAT DID YOU HAVE TO SAY TO THE LEGISLATURE IN TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS TO DEVELOPMENT?

>> RIGHT.

I ASKED THEM TO EXTEND IT TO GIVE US MORE TIME.

IN ROCKFORD AND OTHER CITIES ARE RIVER CITIES AS WELL.

I THINK THAT IT HAS BENCH OFFICIAL IN SPURRING DEVELOPMENT WE'VE SEEN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DEVELOPMENT IN DOWNTOWN AND OUR WAREHOUSE DISTRICT.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO GET THAT KIND OF MOMENTUM.

WE DON'T WANT IT TO STOP BECAUSE OF A DATE, EXPIRATION DATE.

>> IS PART OF THIS ISSUE A DEVELOPER COMES IN AND SAYS, WELL, IF THE DATE IS THIS, I CAN'T BENEFIT ENOUGH FROM THE HISTORIC TAX CREDIT IN ORDER TO PLUNK DOWN ALL THIS MONEY ON MY OWN?

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHEN THEY JUMP IN.

IF THEY JUMP IN, IF IT EXPIRES IN, AT THIS YEAR AND THEY JUMP IN ON THE FOURTH YEAR, THEN THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE TIME TO GET THE BENEFIT.

SO THE EXTENSION WILL HELP PEOPLE KIND WHO COME IN THE MIDDLE OR COME IN LATER IN THE GAME.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT WITH REGARD TO WESTERN AVENUE.

THE CITY HAS MADE IMPROVEMENTS IN SEVERAL ROADS, SHERIDAN ROAD, ET CETERA.

BUT WESTERN AVENUE IS THE BIG PUSH ON THE SOUTH END, OVER A MILE OF IMPROVEMENTS.

BUT THE PLAN FROM THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT JUST THE CITY TO PUT IN NEW LIGHTS AND NEW CURBS AND PAVEMENT.

IT CALLS FOR PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN BUSINESSES ALONG THAT STRETCH.

WHAT CAN YOU DO AS MAYOR TO ENCOURAGE THAT?

HAVE YOU HAD ANY FEEDBACK YET?

>> I AM A BIG PROPOSAL FOR PRIVATE INVESTMENT, BOTH AT THE MacARTHUR CORRIDOR WHICH WAS APPROVED BEFORE WESTERN AS WELL AS THE WESTERN CORRIDOR.

WESTERN HAS ALL THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE UP THE HILL, EVEN SOME OF THE BUSINESSES THAT WERE DOWN THE HILL MOVED UP THE HILL.

BUT WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO, ONCE THE STREET REPAIRS ARE DONE AND IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE WE'VE HAD THOSE TYPES OF REPAIRS ON WESTERN AVENUE.

ONCE WE GET THOSE STREET REPAIRS DONE, I THINK THEN WE HAVE A NEW FIREHOUSE BEING BUILT RIGHT AT WESTERN AND MacARTHUR.

I THINK IT'S A NEW OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THIS IS AN AREA OF THE CITY WHERE YOU CAN INVEST LIKELY AT A LOWER COST WITH PERHAPS SOME INCENTIVE THAT WILL ATTRACT NEW DEVELOPERS.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO GET PEOPLE TO INVEST ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF PEORIA.

JUST TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU.

BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN MOVEMENT OUTSIDE.

SO WE HAVE WITHIN 61605, WESTERN AVENUE, THE AREA OF DEVELOPMENT, NOBODY IS COMPLAINING, BY THE WAY, ABOUT THE STREET BLOCKAGE, THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY'S JUST REALLY HAPPY THAT THEY'RE SEEING SOME PROGRESS.

AND SOME CONSTRUCTION TAKE PLACE THERE.

>> HOW ARE YOU GOING TO REACH OUT TO PRIVATE INVESTORS TO SAY, YES, THIS IS GOOD FOR YOU TO PUT DOWN YOUR BUSINESS ALONG WESTERN AVENUE?

>> THAT COMES FROM A WHOLE STRATEGY.

AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST WESTERN AVENUE.

IT'S ALSO MacARTHUR CORRIDOR THAT, YOU KNOW, WAS IN PLACE PRIOR TO WESTERN AVENUE.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME MOMENTUM WITH MacARTHUR.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN LEAVE THAT.

I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A PLAN AND A STRATEGY.

WE ARE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR PEORIA THAT WILL INCORPORATE THE WORKING WITH THE EDC, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, AND OTHER MAJOR PLAYERS IN HELPING TO DRIVE DEVELOPMENT TO BOTH THOSE AREAS.

>> THIS NEXT QUESTION, WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT TWO MINUTES LEFT.

SO WE, I'M SORRY TO SHORT CHANGE YOU.

>> THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

>> BUT THE PRE-CEPT -- PERCEPTION OF CRIME.

WE HAD ANOTHER HOMICIDE AS WE TAPE THIS SHOW.

YESTERDAY, WE HAD ANOTHER HOMICIDE IN PEORIA.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ADDRESS WHAT KIND OF GUIDANCE CAN YOU GIVE THE CITY TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE THIS PERCEPTION?

BECAUSE IN SOME AREAS CRIME RATE HAS GONE DOWN.

BUT MURDER KIND OF DEFINES IT.

>> WELL, VIOLENT CRIME HAS TO BE ADDRESSED.

WE'RE GOING TO SOON HAVE A NEW POLICE CHIEF.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL.

HAVING THE COMMUNITY WORK CLOSELY WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL.

AND SO THAT WE CAN PUT TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, NEW STRATEGIES.

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THEN IS, THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL MEETINGS.

THERE WAS A MEETING YESTERDAY.

AT CITY HALL WITH SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE OWNER OF A PROPERTY AT MacARTHUR, AT THE SHELL STATION.

THERE'S SOME OTHER BUSINESSES AND A PLAZA THERE.

THERE WAS A HOMICIDE THERE ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

AND THE COMMUNITY IS WORKING ON ADDRESSING MAYBE AN EARLIER CLOSURE, LOOK AT LOOKING AT TO CLOSING, SO WE DON'T HAVE LOITERING THAT MAY LEAD TO OTHER TROUBLE.

THOSE ARE THE KIND OF STRATEGIES THAT COME ABOUT FROM PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER, WORKING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS, WORKING WITH THE POLICE AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY.

>> BUT YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THAT IS A PRIVATE BUSINESS AND SO YOU HAVE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM.

BECAUSE IF YOU WANT TO RESTRICT HOURS -- >> EXACTLY.

THERE HAS TO BE COOPERATION.

AND SO I'M PLEASED THAT THERE'S SOME LEVEL OF COOPERATION THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE.

>> WITH THAT, OUR HALF HOUR IS OVER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR FIRST APPEARANCE ON "AT ISSUE."

I AM SURE THERE WILL BE SEVERAL MORE AS WE CONTINUE IN THE NEW MAYORALSHIP OF RITA ALI.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF "AT ISSUE."

THIS TIME WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT VIOLENCE.

GUN RIGHTS VERSUS GUN CONTROL.

ON THE NEXT "AT ISSUE."

WE WILL SEE YOU THEN.

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