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Presented by bp: Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Marissa Martinez and Shia Kapos | | | It’s Tuesday! This is Marissa Martinez, state policy and national politics reporter, taking over for Shia Kapos this week. (And how about this week’s nice spring weather, Illinois?)
|  | TOP TALKERS | | A CONVENTION BOOST: Three state Democratic Party chairs have joined up to emphasize the benefits of a Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 2024, according to a letter first provided to Playbook. Who’s involved: On Monday, Illinois Democratic Party Chair Lisa Hernandez wrote a letter with counterparts Ben Wikler (Wisconsin) and Lavora Barnes (Michigan) addressed to President Joe Biden and DNC Chair Jaime Harrison. What’s the pitch: The chairs make the case that no other region shows “greater Democratic potential than the Midwest,” citing a record number of Democrats elected to Illinois’ General Assembly, Judge Janet Protasiewicz’s state Supreme Court win in Wisconsin and Michigan’s earlier downvote of the decades-old abortion ban. In other words, the convention would be a win not just for Chicago — “a unique channel to the blue wave” — but for the whole region, they write. “From strengthening reproductive freedoms to passing lifesaving gun safety legislation to expanding voting rights and protecting workers’ rights, the Midwest has demonstrated what our party stands for,” the chairs argue. Timeline: President Joe Biden and other Democratic leaders could settle on a convention sited within a week or so. Chicago is up against New York and Atlanta. And Gov. JB Pritzker has been campaigning heavily for Chicago — further emboldened by Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson’s win. CALL IT DETENTE: Activists aligned with Johnson have called off a protest against the City Council after veteran members agreed to meet with new members about how the rules have been changed to organized committees. Council members voted to change the rules allowing them to decide who chairs committees — instead of the mayor deciding. The activists, including former state Sen. Rickey Hendon and former Democratic Ward Committeeman Dane Tucker, had planned a protest today about the issue, saying it wasn’t fair to change rules when the new council members couldn’t vote. In the past, Chicago’s mayors have decided who should chair committees. Now, the veteran council members are talking with new members. “If City Council has agreed to talk things through, there will be no need for us to protest. So, we won’t,” Hendon said in a statement. The negotiations follow Ald. Michelle Harris asking council members over the weekend to submit their committee assignment preferences. Here’s the background about activists’ concerns.
| | A message from bp: bp employees in Illinois are keeping energy moving to keep America moving, too. Our team provides fuel for O’Hare flights, helps people power their cars, trades energy to keep the lights on and more. See more ways bp is investing in Illinois. | | | | | THE BUZZ | | PRITZKER'S HARVARD TIME: During an hour-long forum at Harvard’s Institute of Politics Monday, the governor took the time to hammer home the state’s budgetary successes, review the 2022 election cycle and repeatedly differentiate himself from his predecessor — Republican Bruce Rauner, though Pritzker didn’t name him. Some highlights: — Johnson partnership: Pritzker didn’t endorse in the Chicago mayoral race because. he said, the governor’s job “is to work well with [a new mayor] … I may have opinions about things and share them privately with my family, but it was important to me that whoever wins, that I was going to be their ally in getting things done for the city.” — 2024? Not so fast: IOP Director Setti Warren teed up a question about the presidential election, joking he was “free to break news,” to which Pritzker promptly responded, “Joe Biden is running for reelection.” — But also: The federal government needs to step things up, Pritzker said. “We need a federal assault weapons ban — why isn’t that happening? ... When I think about the federal government, it’s stymied. It’s not getting done all the things that really protect people, and that is politics. In the end, how do you break through all of that? We have to win.” — Big money: One Naperville-hailing audience member asked about the amount of money dropped by Citadel CEO Ken Griffin and Pritzker during last year’s governor’s race: “I’m wondering if you’re worried about the rise of big money in politics in Illinois and across the U.S. as someone who arguably has benefited a lot from that money yourself?” “We need campaign finance reform both in Illinois and nationally,” Pritzker said. “Do I think self-funding campaigns are the answer to politics? No, absolutely not. … The Supreme Court essentially has said that it’s free speech to spend as much money as you want. I would like to change the way we fund campaigns.” And: “We just can’t sit back and let Ken Griffin, let Dick Uhlein... control the politics of America,” the Democratic governor said. SHOTSPOTTER NO LONGER: The California-based company known for gunfire surveillance technology has rebranded as SoundThinking, the company announced Monday (h/t Tom Schuba of the Chicago Sun-Times). They also named three new software technologies, including a law enforcement search engine. Remember: The company’s stock took a nosedive upon Johnson’s election, after his comments that the city would cease working with them. Lightfoot’s administration quietly re-upped the contract last October through this February, Schuba reported last Friday.
| | | | 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 | | Attending an INVEST South/West groundbreaking ceremony at Kennedy-King College Auditorium at 9:30 a.m.
| | Where's Toni | | At a mural unveiling at the Blue Island Health Center at 9:30am — Announcing the arrival of Violins of Hope - Chicago at 11:30 a.m. at the Florence G. Heller JCC. 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 or mmartinez@politico.com.
| | | | A message from bp:   | | | | | Transitions | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The University of Chicago Crime Lab's Policing Leadership Academy has recently made new hires. Former NYPD chief Kenneth Corey, former LAPD Assistant Chief Sandy Jo MacArthur, former LAPD Director of Police Training and Education Luann Pannell and former Chicago Deputy Corporation Counsel Tyeesha Dixon will join as executive advisers. Over the weekend, Pritzker announced Jaqueline Collins as an appointee to the Human Rights Commission, pending confirmation from the state Senate. She was a state senator for the 16th District and unsuccessfully ran in the 2022 Democratic primary to replace former U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush. Jessica Handy has been named Stand for Children Illinois’ next executive director after serving with the organization for over 12 years, most recently as policy director. The group plans to continue advocating this legislative session against court fines and fees for minors, as well as the creation of a comprehensive statewide literacy plan.
| | 2023 MUNICIPAL RACES | | — City Council to get new youngest member with Mosley’s win in South Side’s 21st Ward, by the Sun-Times' Tina Sfondeles
| | | | GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from April 30-May 3. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World, will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat. | | | | | | | THE STATEWIDES | | — What does Texas judge's abortion ruling mean for clinics in Illinois? by NBC5 Chicago’s Kate Chappell — Illinois seeks library pledge against ‘banning’ books, by The Associated Press’s John O’Connor — Illinois joins push to demand action from EPA, by the Tribune's Nell Salzman — Illinois lawmakers could take up new abortion-rights measure in wake of Texas ruling, by Crain’s Greg Hinz
| | DAY IN COURT | | — ‘ComEd Four’ trial delayed by scheduling issue, by the Tribune’s Ray Long and Jason Meisner — Hearings to determine whether to fire Chicago cop who fatally shot Adam Toledo begin next month, by the Sun-Times' Tom Schuba
| | CHICAGO | | — Former Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson believes the city needs an inside hire for the next CPD leader, he told ABC 7 Chicago. NBC Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern and Matt Stefanski put together a short list of contenders, too. — Johnson will have to thread needle with key decision on who will lead Chicago police, by the Tribune's Sam Charles and A.D. Quig — Two CPS principals removed due to ‘investigation’, by the Sun-Times' Mary Norkol — NorthShore agrees to pay $35M settlement in medical negligence case, by the Tribune’s Lisa Schencker — Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson shows support to striking Chicago State faculty, by WTTW’s Eunice Alpasan. — With enrollment in freefall, faculty at Northeastern Illinois are fighting to preserve their Chicago university, by WBEZ’s Lisa Philip — How Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson sold Chicago on ‘investing in people’ by Huffington Post's Daniel Marans — Downtown’s doldrums will soon land in Mayor-elect Johnson’s lap, from the Sun-Times’ David Roeder
| | | | A message from bp: The US is home to bp's largest workforce in the world, a team delivering the energy the world needs today, while increasing our investments in lower carbon alternatives for our future. See more ways bp is investing in America. | | | | | TAKING NAMES | | — Ken Griffin cuts another Chicago tie, by Crain’s Danny Ecker
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — College of DuPage board approves another tuition increase, by the Daily Herald’s Katlyn Smith — Affordable apartments near O’Hare on hold due to housing market changes, by Block Club Chicago’s Ariel Parrella-Aureli
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Dueling abortion pill rulings put Biden administration in legal pickle, by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein — Exiled Tennessee lawmaker returns to state legislature, by POLITICO’s Liz Crampton — As Trump dominates the airwaves, ‘it feels like f--king 2016’, by POLITICO’s Sally Goldenberg and Natale Allison — Gunman kills 5 co-workers at Louisville bank on livestream, police say, via The New York Times
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Illinois Policy government affairs VP Jim Long, comms consultant Jacob Marcos Peterson, AJ Capital Partners government affairs VP Pablo David, nonprofit exec and Gapers Block founder Andrew Huff, Vote Mama PAC Illinois State Chair Alexandra Eidenberg and Legal Action Chicago staff attorney Dan Schneider. -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 | | | | |  |
