WBBM Channel 2 - Channel 2 News Special Report - "Blizzard '79: Public Questions, City Answers" (Part 2, 1979)

Here's Part 2 of a Channel 2 News Special Report, "Blizzard '79: Public Questions, City Answers," a call-in show hosted by Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson on WBBM Channel 2, with Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Chairman James McDonough, Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Francis Degnan, Fire Commissioner Richard Albrecht, and Police Superintendent James O'Grady taking questions from irate Chicagoans. Also featuring Steve Shepard at the 6200 block of South Archer in Southwest Chicago, and Bob Wallace at the A&P parking lot at Clark and Halsted on the North Side. Includes:

Bill Kurtis introducing a live mini-cam remote with Steve Shepard, who has people lined up to pose questions to any of the four guests. Steve starts off by mentioning that a crew from Rochester, NY has helped in clearing the streets of the area. He next talks to Bob Miller of Garfield Ridge who asks Degnan if the main bus routes will be cleared as well as Archer had been; Degnan says there may be more snow coming in Friday night, and he doesn't think his crews would be finished before then. Steve next goes to Laverne Stanley (sp)? from Archer and Mulligan, who asks Degnan why Snow Command didn't have enough men and equipment in preparation for the big snow; Degnan insists they did, dating back to the previous snowstorm on New Year's Eve. Steve then goes to Michael Quinoles (sp)? of Garfield Ridge, who asks how much the city plans to spend on cleanup; Degnan says they'll do it "whatever it costs," and that at least some of the cost will be borne by the Federal Government.

Walter Jacobson introduces another mini-cam remote with Bob Wallace, who likewise has people lined up with questions. First from this crowd to pose a question is Fred (sp?) from the area, who asks how cities like Montreal, Toronto and Minneapolis could clear 2-3 feet of snow in 24 hours, whereas Chicago "isn't organized enough to do that"; McDonough again brings up his experience during the '67 blizzard and the cleanup effort under Mayor Daley, and considered Montreal the most efficient in terms of snow cleanup; he mentions that Montreal's entire transportation system is underground, as opposed to the combination subway and "L" in Chicago. Degnan then answers a follow-up question posed by Kurtis about buying new snow removal equipment. Back at the parking lot, Sue asks Commissioner Albrecht about plowing side streets and a potential recurrence of the Briar Street fire; Albrecht explains how the Fire Department is working to prevent any unsafe conditions on the roads.

Walter next reads a question from Mrs. Chandler of the North Side about why the sidewalks aren't being cleared for pedestrians; Degnan stresses how "citizens have to participate in these programs" to get the sidewalks passable. Walter then goes to a question from Mr. Besoff (sp?) of the Southwest side near Midway, about garbage pickup; Degnan explains about refuse volume in winter vs. summer. Bill reads a police question from "an anonymous caller" (a woman in Galewood whose husband is a police officer) for O'Grady about policemen working overtime during the blizzard but not doing anything; O'Grady mentions how Special Operations tactical officers are working 12 hours a day with snow tows, recording locations of all towed cars. Walter reads a question from the head of the Patrolmen's Association, Joe Pecoraro, regarding why police and fire are getting time for putting in time and a half while other city workers are getting time and half; O'Grady mentions this is brought up every year for review, and mentions how police are compensated in times like this and suggests Pecoraro is bringing this up more for his own benefit. Walter mentions how the station is getting calls from anonymous people on the issue of city workers' overtime, including sewer workers as decreed by sewer system chief Ed Quigley; Degnan speaks again about the procedure for "expenditures on arterial streets" and payment for salt, but can't explain the compensatory procedure for sewer workers, before the next commercial break.

Commercial: WBBM-FM 96 - with morning man Al Mitchell - "Listen to the Music"

Commercial: Hills Brothers instant coffee - with Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows and a next-door neighbor - "Tastes As Good As It Smells"

Commercial: Jell-O Brand Gelatin - "Happy Endings" installment with guests for dinner - "Don't Say No, Say Jell-O Gelatin" (1978 copyright date)

Commercial: Venture - Save twice as much on brand coupons

This aired on local Chicago TV on Thursday, January 18th 1979.

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