LEASE HAVE FOUND A NEW LEASE ON LIFE.

NOW, TO OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT, AS PART OF A SPECIAL EDITION OF THIS WEEK'S IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE TOOK A TRIP TO MAYOR-ELECT BRANDON JOHNSON'S AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD.

HE IS THE FIRST MAYOR IN A CENTURY TO CALL THE WEST SIDE HOME.

ONE OF THE GROUPS IN THE AREA TRYING TO COUNTER THE VIOLENCE IN THE AREA IS CALLED BUILD.

BRANDIS JOINS US NOW.

>> Reporter: WE WILL GET TO MORE ON MAYOR-ELECT JOHNSON'S CONNECTION TO BUILD IN A MOMENT.

HE SHOWED US SOME OF HIS GO TOES ACROSS AUSTIN T RESTAURANT HE GOES TO WHEN THERE IS NO TIME TO COOK TO A FUTURE OF HEALING AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO GO TO SCHOOL ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS LOCATION AT MICHELLE CLARK HIGH SCHOOL.

>> YEAH.

WHAT'S UP, WEST SIDE?

>> Reporter: STUDENTS AT MICHELLE CLARK HIGH SCHOOL ARE NO STUDENTS TO GUN VIOLENCE.

EXPERIENCING TWO NEARBY SHOOTINGS LAST YEAR INCLUDING ONE IN DECEMBER WHERE 15-YEAR-OLD WAS KILLED.

>> I KNOW WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN THROUGH BECAUSE IT IS JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM ME.

SO WHEN MY 15-YEAR-OLD SON RIDES HIS BIKE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW YOU THINK ABOUT HIS SAFETY.

>> HOW DOES THE COMMUNITY HEAL?

>> MICHELLE CLARK HIGH SCHOOL IS A PLACE WHERE TRANSFORMATION IS STILL AVAILABLE.

I MEAN.

IT'S A REAL TESTAMENT OF WHY WE NEED TO HAVE FULL WRAP AROUND SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL DAY.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THAT ORGANIZATION ACROSS THE STREET.

BUILD.

AND THE IMPORTANCE.

IT'S THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SCHOOL.

AT THE SAME TIME, THESE INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE NEAR SCHOOL AND NEAR SCHOOL GROUNDS CAN STILL HAPPEN.

>> WHAT BUILD HAS DONE, IT HAS DEMONSTRATED THE VERY BEST OF COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS.

RIGHT?

BECAUSE, THEY PROVIDE THAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, NOT JUST DURING THE DAY, BUT AFTER SCHOOL.

THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

THE VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS.

BUT ALSO, THE ARTS.

RIGHT?

THE ABILITY AGAIN FOR STUDENTS TO FIND PURPOSE IS NOT JUST ABOUT FINDING SAFE HAVEN.

A DROP OFF CENTER.

WE ARE BETTER THAN THAT.

CHICAGO IS BETTER THAN THAT.

>> Reporter: LESS THAN TEN MINUTES AWAY, THE GREEN LINE.

WHICH JOHNSON USED TO GET DOWNTOWN FOR HIS WORK AS A COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

OFTEN TAKING THE CENTRAL OR AUSTIN STOP.

>> JOE, NICE TO MEET BOTH OF YOU.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

>> WHAT DID YOU TAKE WITH YOU ON THE TRAIN?

AND I MEAN THAT IN SEVERAL SENSES.

WHAT WAS ON YOUR MIND?

WHAT WAS ON YOUR HEART?

DID YOU TAKE A BOOK?

>> SO YOU KNOW, ONCE UPON A TIME, I WOULD SPEND MORE TIME READING.

BUT, A LOT OF TIMES BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME WHEN I WOULD TAKE THE TRAIN, I'M EITHER TAKING THE KIDS TO SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS, GARFIELD PARK.

OR I WAS HEADED DOWNTOWN FOR BOARD MEETINGS.

SO USUALLY, I'M LOOKING AT THE BOARD AGENDA.

WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, ITEM NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.

>> Reporter: DOWN THE TRACK, JOHNSON WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS CTA'S MANY PROBLEMS.

>> I HAVE SEEN REGULAR, BUS ONLY LANES.

HEAVY TRAFFIC SIGNALS.

THAT GIVE PREFERENCE OR DEFERENCE ESSENTIALLY TO OUR BUSES THAT WILL HELP ALLOW FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION TO MOVE MORE FLUIDLY.

SO ACCESSIBILITY, PARTICULARLY WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, BUT ALSO, INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN RELIED UPON THE GREEN LINE OR ALL F ORILLIONS FOR HOUSING ESSENTIALLY.

>> Reporter: ANOTHER ONE OF JOHNSON'S AUSTIN FAVES, COLUMBUS PARK.

A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK IN ITS ENTIRETY.

>> GATHERINGS.

I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LOCATIONS.

>> Reporter: WE ENDED OUR TOUR AT ONE OF HIS GO TO RESTAURANTS.

MACARTHURS.

A PLACE THAT GETS A LOT OF LOVE FOR ITS SOUTHERN CUISINE.

>> WHAT'S UP?

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

>> TO ME, IF YOU COME HERE.

GET THE STEAK.

>> THE GREENES ARE GREAT.

BUT YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH THE SWEET POTATO AND MARC AND CHEESE.

>> Reporter: YOU CAN BE HEALTHY TOMORROW, BUT IF YOU ARE AT MACARTHURS, GET WHAT YOU WANT WHILE YOU ARE THERE.

WE ALL MADE SURE TO PLACE AN ORDER THERE.

THE STAFF SAYS THEY HAVE ONLY BEEN OPEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

AND DOWN THE LINE, THEY ARE PLANNING ON BEING A LOT BUSIER AT NIGHT.

IT IS PRETTY QUIET NOW.

BUT THEY ARE PLANING TO BE OPEN LATE ON NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS OVER THE SUMMER INTRODUCING SOME PROGRAMMING LIKE MIDNIGHT BASKETBALL, MOVIES, SPOKEN WORD NIGHTS.

NOW WE WILL BE BACK WITH THAT SIT DOWN INTERVIEW, MORE OF IT IN JUST A BIT.

AT MACARTHUR'S RESTAURANT.

THE MAYOR-ELECT DISCUSSES HIS PLANS TO ADDRESS