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Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos and Olivia Olander | TGIF, Illinois. An investigation by the U.S. Supreme Court failed to determine who disclosed last year's abortion draft opinion to POLITICO.
|  | TOP TALKER | | |  Chicago mayoral candidates Ja'Mal Green, left, Sophia King, Kam Buckner, Willie Wilson, Brandon Johnson, Paul Vallas, incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Roderick Sawyer and Jesus "Chuy" Garcia get ready the ABC 7 debate on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, in Chicago. | Tyler Pasciak/Chicago Sun-Times via AP | Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot attacked businessman Willie Wilson after Thursday night’s televised mayoral debate for making explosive comments about how he’d direct Chicago police. When a suspect flees, police officers “should be able to chase them down and hunt them down like a rabbit,” Wilson said during his closing remarks. Lightfoot fumed: “For a candidate for mayor to say we have to take the handcuffs off the police and let them hunt down human beings like rabbits, is an extraordinary thing,” she told reporters after a debate that saw her take heat from all sides on public safety. The mayor invoked Chicago’s dark history of misconduct at the hands of police commander John Burge, who tortured people in custody. “I fully and utterly condemn it,” she said. Wilson doubled down. In a statement to Playbook, he said the issue is “personal.” Wilson lost a son to gun violence years ago. “If someone murders another person, police should hunt the perpetrators down at all cost,” he said in a text statement sent by a spokesman. Wilson’s take on public safety gives Lightfoot’s campaign an opening to attack the businessman who has a solid Black voter base, which the mayor needs going into the Feb. 28 election. The debate itself was fairly behaved, with candidates showing differences in how they’d manage. The debate will re-air on ABC 7's main channel Sunday at 10:30 p.m. Other big debate moments: Brandon Johnson, the Cook County commissioner who has the support of the powerful Chicago Teachers Union, took a hard swipe at Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, who’s seen as a frontrunner in the nine-person race. Johnson criticized Garcia’s public safety plan. “All due respect to Congressman Garcia. But he did not release a public safety plan,” Johnson said. “He released Lori Lightfoot’s public safety plan. As a teacher, I would call that plagiarism.” Both men are angling for progressive voters. In a report by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman, Johnson accused Garcia of ‘abandoning the progressive movement,’ Paul Vallas and Lightfoot poked at each other over migrants being sent to Chicago. Vallas said Lightfoot is grandstanding on the issue, while the mayor said it’s only right that she call out “racist, xenophobic practices of governors like Greg Abbott (of Texas), who are treating migrants like freight.” State Rep. Kam Buckner, Alds. Roderick Sawyer and Sophia King, and activist Ja’Mal Green weighed in on crime, kids and transit, as well. FULL ROUNDUPS — Different visions, different tactics: “They agreed that crime has become a huge problem, but disagreed over how huge and what the solution is. They all deplored high taxes and, in general, promised that they would not raise them further,” by Crain’s Greg Hinz. — Lightfoot often took the brunt of attacks as she sought to defend her record, report the Tribune’s Alice Yin, A.D. Quig and Gregory Pratt — In a lightning round question. all nine candidates took a stand on what should happen to the Bears, via Sun-Times’ Mitchell Armentrout
| | THE BUZZ | | | 
Bill Conway, left, and Jim Ascot are vying to represent Chicago's 34th Ward. | Conway file photo; Ascot campaign photo | ON THE TRAIL: Navy veteran and former Cook County State’s Attorney Bill Conway has more than $340,000 in the bank in his effort to lead the newly configured 34th Ward — a high-rise-heavy area that includes parts of the Loop and Greektown. “I’ll take that as a compliment,” Conway told Olivia when asked about the hefty fundraising numbers. “People recognize how important the 34th Ward is to our city’s future.” Among his top donors: philanthropist Liam Krehbiel, whose family started the Molex electronic-connector company, businesswoman and Democratic fundraiser Trisha Rooney, and Matthew Pritzker, a cousin to the governor. Conway is a familiar name to voters, having run unsuccessfully in 2020 for Kim Foxx’s seat as Cook County state’s attorney. His opponent, Jim Ascot, is a noted real estate executive who immigrated from Greece as a child. He has about $8,000 cash on hand after raising $20,000 in the last quarter. Ascot acknowledged his financial battle in a separate interview with POLITICO. “But I think that the most important thing is being out there and talking to people” — specifically about issues such as policing, government services and homelessness in the ward, he said. Street smarts: Whoever represents the ward will take part in downtown development including the revitalization of the Loop’s La Salle corridor, which Mayor Lori Lightfoot has prioritized. Earlier this week, the City Council approved a $5 million fund for storefronts in the corridor. “We need people to be able to shop and spend money, but at the same time be able to afford being downtown,” Ascot said. Conway’s take: “Like every central business district around the world, you know that it can't just be a place where people work,” he said. Residents also need a place to “live and eat” in the neighborhood. If you are ABC 7’s Craig Wall, we’d like to know if the Chicago mayoral candidates made any special requests ahead of last night's mayoral debate. Email skapos@politico.com.
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events.
| | WHERE'S LORI | | On 55th Street at 10 a.m. for the ribbon cutting of PODER headquarters, an immigrant integration center.
| | Where's Toni | | No official public events. Have a news tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? I’d like to hear from you: skapos@politico.com
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Congressional pushback: Members of Illinois congressional delegation sent a letter to DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick urging him to “rescind” his statement from last week that he wouldn’t enforce the new state law that bans assault weapons in Illinois. Reps. Sean Casten (IL-06), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) and Bill Foster (IL-11), whose districts all include parts of DuPage County, signed the letter along with Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05), who represented the area for 10 years before redistricting. The letter is here. Tense talk: Illinois Rifle Association Executive Director Richard Pearson apologized to WBEZ’s Sasha-Ann Simons after an interview on guns in which he told her to “shut up.” Simons immediately cut off the interview. A spokeswoman for WBEZ said Pearson emailed an apology. And he tweeted one, too, acknowledging he was “rude,” and adding “I’m sorry for my behavior.” Here’s the interview. — State officials sued for allowing foster children to anguish in juvenile detention, by Illinois Answers Project’s Rachel Hinton and David Jackson — New 988 hotline has expanded mental health services, by Illinois Times’ Dean Olsen — Taking time off: General Assembly passes bill requiring employers to offer paid leave, by Illinois Times’ Dean Olsen
| | 2023 MUNICIPAL RACES | | — Police district candidate’s social media full of racist and misogynistic posts: “Perry Abbasi, an FOP election attorney and candidate in the 25th police district, defended the posts as humorous trolling,” writes the Reader’s Jim Daley
| | CHICAGO | | — City offers relief to Chicagoans saddled with debt tied to administrative violations: “Two new programs offer ways to get out from under a pile of tickets for things like playing your radio too loud, littering or having an overflowing dumpster,” by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman. — Civilian oversight agency seeking video of off-duty CPD detective shooting at suspected thieves in Irving Park, by Sun-Times’ Sophie Sherry — City public health official defends decision to block metal shredder’s proposed move to Southeast Side, by Block Club’s Noah Asimow — Community activists want answers, hiring commitment as Amazon’s giant Humboldt park site remains dormant, by Sun-Times’ Mitch Dudek
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Des Plaines Theatre operator Ron Onesti cancels Awake Illinois event after outcry: On Wednesday, Onesti had defended leasing the venue to the far right political group. That changed Thursday. "People mailing bullets to me, asking their neighbors to fill my garbage cans with dog feces, countless hateful calls and outwardly targeting the Des Plaines Theatre, wishing its demise. And how would that have been good for the community?" via Daily Herald. — As book bans rise, Chicago-area libraries fight to protect access to reading materials, by WBEZ’s Adora Namigadde
| | DAY IN COURT | | — Split verdict in federal insider trading case involving Chicago attorney, friend: “The attorney, David Sargent, 38, of Glenview, was found guilty of six counts of securities fraud, but acquitted of conspiracy to commit securities fraud,” reports Tribune’s Jason Meisner.
| | TRAINS, PLANES AND AUTOMOBILES | | — Amtrak is eyeing new rail cars for long-distance trains through Chicago, by Tribune’s Sarah Freishtat
| | TAKING NAMES | | — What Pritzker said: Gov. JB Pritzker said a POLITICO report out of Davos, Switzerland, that he was overheard talking about his political future missed the point. He was actually answering a reporter’s question. "I have every intention to serve out four years that I just won as governor,” he said Thursday in a media phone call about what he had been talking about at Davos. “To the extent anybody overheard something, it was literally the answer that I was giving to that question that you all have asked me before.” — MacKenzie Scott reveals her Chicago donation spree: “Since 2020, billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated around $273.7 million to 30 Chicago nonprofits,” writes Crain’s Brandon Dupré. — Judy Woodruff, who just signed off from “PBS NewsHour,” will be honored with the Distinguished Journalist Award from DePaul University’s Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence on April 27. Sally Ramirez, a 1989 alumna and most recently executive producer of the CNBC show “The News with Shepard Smith,” will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award.
| | | | DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS– DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what your first bill would be if you were a state legislator: Gene Reineke of Hawthorne Strategy Group: “My first legislative bill would forbid public utilities, as monopolies, from spending money on advertising, marketing, and other promotional activities — especially while they are asking the ICC to approve rate increases that increase their profits.” Donovan Pepper, with tongue in cheek: “A bill to make it a federal crime for people who don’t signal lane changes when driving!” William Kresse, a Chicago Elections Board commissioner, would write a bill to change the election code so early voting sites in Chicago would always be open on Election Day. Those sites will be open in the upcoming municipal election, but it’s not a permanent thing. Kristopher Anderson: “A tax credit for adults who mentor teens and young adults and college credit at any public university for college students who mentor high school teens and younger kids.” Edwin Reyes would push for term limits and tougher limits on lobbyists. John Lopez: "To best implement Amendment 1, I would amend the Illinois Employee Classification Act and add language to include all workers not covered by the current law.” When was the last time you volunteered, and where? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Five takeaways from Supreme Court leak investigation, by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein — Early action electrifies 2024 Senate battle, by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett — One woman’s audacious quest to dignify politics, by Amanda Ripley for POLITICO Magazine — Neighbor news: Wisconsin Assembly put a bail amendment on the ballot: “The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Assembly gave a final, bipartisan push Thursday to a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it harder for violent criminals to get out of jail on bail,” writes The Associated Press’ Harm Venhuizen
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Sean Sullivan has been named senior partner at Berwyn-based Del Galdo Law Group. A former U.S. Marine lieutenant colonel, Sullivan was the Corps’ senior trial prosecutor in the war crimes trials arising from Iraq and Afghanistan wars and a senior judge advocate under the command of Gen. James Mattis, a former defense secretary. — Awisi Bustos has been appointed CEO of Boys & Girls Club Illinois Alliance. Bustos was senior policy adviser to Secretary Grace Hou of the Illinois Department of Human Services and before that worked as the Northwest Illinois coordinator for Sen. Dick Durbin.
| | IN MEMORIAM | | Joseph Kromelis, who died last month, is memorialized in an obituary out this week. Kromelis. Known as Chicago’s “Walking Man,” Kromelis died of burn injuries suffered while sleeping on Lower Wabash Avenue.
| | TRIVIA | | THURSDAY’s ANSWER: Congratulations to Matthew Beaudet for correctly answering that Walt Disney was raised in Chicago’s Hermosa neighborhood. TODAY’s QUESTION: Who was the Chicago police detective who appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Today: Ald. Maria Hadden, Planned Parenthood of Illinois comms chief Cristina Villarreal, JCFS education coordinator Diane Kushnir Halivni and Chico & Nunes senior executive assistant Caryn Berman. Saturday: Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz, former Bloomington Council Member Mike Matejka, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director of Legislative Affairs Dan Lewis, SomerCor CEO Manny Flores, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago analyst Nahiomy Alvarez, public affairs consultant James Prescott, political fundraiser Bailey Romans and fashion designer Maria Pinto. Sunday: Obama Foundation VP of DEI Marquis Miller, former Congresswoman Melissa Bean, United Airlines chief comms officer Josh Earnest, former state House candidate Jason Gonzales, Edelman Smithfield financial services exec Lisa Leiter, small-business expert Barry Moltz, Mayer Brown associate Matthew Lustbader and Chicago Public Square author Charlie Meyerson. -30- | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |  |
