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Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Happy June, Illinois. The window air conditioners were installed without incident.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | The painful effect of immigration on Black communities was laid to bare Wednesday during a heated debate by the Chicago City Council, which ultimately voted in favor of transferring $51 million in city funds to help migrants. Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th) spoke through tears on the issue. Her ward has been the center of controversy after residents there criticized plans for a shuttered school to be used as a respite center for migrants. Residents worried migrants would only make access to food and transportation more difficult. Similar concerns fueled the City Council debate. “I’m so tired of, when it’s a crisis for everybody else, we go, ‘We gotta do something.’ But, when we’re having this violence in the Black community, nothing gets said or nothing gets done,” Taylor said. “It ain’t our responsibility to take care of everybody else, and we’re tired because we do just that. When we fought for civil rights — when we fought just to drink out of a damn fountain — it was just us.” Her powerful speech prompted a standing ovation from fellow council members. But when she voted in favor of the funding for migrants, the activists in the gallery called her a “sellout” and “traitor.” The crab theory: Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) described the Black v. migrant tension as “crabs in a barrel.” When one group gets ahead another pulls it back down. Voting no on the $51 million for migrants were Alds. Greg Mitchell (7th), Michelle Harris (8th), Anthony Beale (9th), Marty Quinn (13th), Raymond Lopez (15th), David Moore (17th), Derrick Curtis (18th), Monique Scott (24th), Nick Sposato (38th), Emma Mitts (37th), Anthony Napolitano (41st), Brendan Reilly (42nd) and Jim Gardiner (45th). Mayor Brandon Johnson tried to keep the calm throughout the 90-minute hearing, allowing activists to shout out from the gallery up to a point before asking the sergeant at arms to escort them from the chamber. Later, he told reporters he was heartened by the debate. “The vast majority of people recognize the challenge we have. Is anyone going to disagree that Black communities have been disinvested? No one’s going to disagree with that,” he said, adding the tone of the meeting “was a demonstration of how we move forward. … There really is enough for everyone.” Johnson’s challenge: The $51 million allocation is expected to care for migrants only through June. It will allow the city to find housing for 500 migrants who have been sleeping in police stations around town as well as provide other food and other necessities. Asked about his long-term plan on the issue: “It’s been two weeks,” he said, referring to his brief time in City Hall. — Twitter thread of the debate. — Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman has the ins and outs of the meeting. — From Woodlawn to West Ridge, migrants live in temporary shelters across Chicago, by WBEZ’s Indira Khera
| | THE BUZZ | | WHERE’s LORI | Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot to teach at Harvard’s School of Public Health: The eight-week course tentatively titled “Health Policy and Leadership” will draw “heavily on her experiences steering Chicago through the Covid-19 pandemic and grappling with health equity issues,” according to Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet who scooped the news. How it happened: Eric Andersen, director of the Senior Leadership Fellows Program and Studio Programming at the school, told Sweet, “we reached out” to Lightfoot because “as mayor and as a leader she faced many pressing public health issues, most notable navigating the pandemic.” Lightfoot told Sweet that teaching graduate students “gives me an opportunity to share my perceptions and experiences of the times that we’ve lived through with people who are very committed to the public sector.” The teaching gig is Lightfoot’s first page of her next chapter after leading the city for four years. She's expected to announce more on her post-mayoral professional career in the near future.
| | | WHERE'S JB | | | At the DoubleTree by Hilton Mt. Vernon to announce a new manufacturing facility. — At Southern Illinois University Carbondale at 12:45 p.m. to talk about the state budget. — At Kiddie Kollege of Fairfield at 3 p.m. to also talk about the budget.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | At the Salt Shed at 3:30 p.m. for Choose Chicago’s annual meeting.
| | Where's Toni | | At Daley Plaza at 10 a.m. for a flag raising ceremony kicking off Pride Month. Thank you for reading Illinois Playbook! Drop me a line sometime: skapos@politico.com
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: The Covid-19 pandemic helped spur innovation in health care, from the wide adoption of telemedicine, health apps and online pharmacies to mRNA vaccines. But what will the next health care innovations look like? Join POLITICO on Wednesday June 7 for our Health Care Summit to explore how tech and innovation are transforming care and the challenges ahead for access and delivery in the United States. REGISTER NOW. | | | | | | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | DEBT DEAL DIVIDE: It’s not often that Congresswoman Mary Miller will be aligned with Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia. But there they were last night, both voting no on the debt-ceiling agreement negotiated by President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The agreement passed and now heads to the Senate, via POLITICO. Everyone’s a critic: Conservatives criticized the bill for not going far enough in cutting spending, while progressives complained about the concessions to Republicans. “They want to make things easier for tax cheats and corporate polluters as they rip away life-saving social programs from people who need them,” Democrat Garcia said in a statement. And Republican Darin LaHood complained about “unlimited borrowing” and a failure to “take long-term steps to address our debt crisis. ”Voting no: Republican Reps. Mike Bost (IL-12), Mary Miller (IL-15) and Darin LaHood (IL-16); Democratic Reps. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (IL-04), Delia Ramirez (IL-03) and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09). Voting yes: Democratic Reps. Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Sean Casten (IL-06), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Bill Foster (IL-11), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Eric Sorensen (IL-17). Progressives face a no-win choice on debt deal, by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett, Holly Otterbein and Nicholas Wu Here’s the full roll call
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Gov. JB Pritzker touts higher education funding to kick off tour promoting state budget: “Pritzker said the budget allows for ‘nearly every student’ from a working-class family to attend community college for free and it sets aside an additional $100 million for Monetary Award Program grant funding for college scholarships,” by Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner. — ONE-ON-ONE: House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch on budget, bipartisanship and immigration, interview with WTTW’s Amanda Vinicky
| | CHICAGO | | — Johnson and the city's top cop respond to Memorial Day weekend violence: "I will continue to bring the full weight of my administration, including the Chicago Police Department, the Mayor's Office of Community Safety and our city departments and agencies directly to our communities to collaborate on public safety,” he said. Crain’s Justin Laurence reports. — Just in time for patio season, City Council backs Covid-era rules making outdoor dining easier, by Block Club’s Madison Savedra and Quinn Myers — Dale Earnhardt Jr. tests NASCAR Chicago Street Race track, assesses ‘challenges’ for drivers, by Sun-Times’ David Struett — Wrongly convicted brothers who spent 26 years in prison get certificate of innocence, apology, by Sun-Times’ Andy Grimm — $2,000 tickets at Soldier Field? Even the biggest Taylor Swift fans have their limits, by Daily Herald’s Kevin Schmit
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Arlington Park's property tax bill reduced by more than half: “The new bill is based on a value of $95 million. The reduction is only good for the tax bill due this year and owed by Churchill Downs, said Samantha Steele, the District 2 Board of Review commissioner. ‘We analyzed the assessments and the property independent of other appraisals, and we feel this is a fair settlement,’ Steele said. ‘The market value was perhaps overinflated because of the sale,’” by Daily Herald’s Jake Griffin. — Bright green water at Centennial Beach nothing to fear, Naperville Park District officials say: “The recent lack of rain and warm temperatures have led to an increase in algae growth in many bodies of water," reports Naperville Sun’s Suzanne Baker. — Cook County program touted as one of the ‘top eviction prevention innovations’ has drawn praise, pushback: It offers “free legal aid, mediation services and connections to rental assistance,” report Tribune’s Lizzie Kane and Adriana Pérez.
| | | | GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked for the best spot for outdoor dining. Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering: “Hackney’s on Harms — no question.” Brian Bernardoni: Erie Cafe Derek Brinkley: “Uvae Kitchen and Wine Bar in Andersonville!” Lisa Schneider Fabes and Bobby Martinez Olson: Moody’s Pub. Irene Fiorentinos: “The Perch on Division. Courtyard setting and great food.” Will Hogan: “Lakefront Restaurant at Theater on the Lake!” Bill Kresse: “The backyard at Kevin Hickey's Duck Inn in Bridgeport.” Douglas O'Brien: Sophia in Wilmette. Marc Schulman, Steve Smith and Daniel Goldwin: Piccolo Sogno. James Straus: Superdawg in Wheeling Did your political beliefs evolve from family, work or church (just a sentence, please)? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Trump’s latest policy pitch: A massive birthday for the nation, by POLITICO’s Meridith McGraw — Mike Pence to announce presidential campaign next week, by POLITICO’s Adam Wren — DeSantis talks up fast food, service stations in Iowa relatability tour, by POLITICO’s Natalie Allison
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — Alice Palmer, state senator who mentored Barack Obama, dies at 83: “She was an activist who organized Chicago’s Anti-Apartheid movement and held the first fundraiser for Harold Washington’s first campaign for mayor,” by Sun-Times’ Mitch Dudek.
| | | Transitions | | | — Claire Salzman is now VP of Digital Strategy at the strategic communications and public affairs firm C-Strategies. She was digital director for Gov. JB Pritzker’s campaign.
| | | MEDIA MATTERS | | | — ProPublica, Chicago Tribune win Driehaus award for “The Price Kids Pay”: ProPublica reporter Jodi S. Cohen and Tribune reporter Jennifer Smith Richards examined school-based ticketing in Illinois, “documenting nearly 12,000 tickets issued to students from 2019 to 2021, with fines as high as $750."
| | | EVENTS | | | — Saturday: Wisconsin Progressive Kirk Bangstad, owner of Minocqua Brewing Company, keynotes the Rose Fitzpatrick Legislative Brunch hosted by the Bloomingdale Township Democratic Organization. Details here — Monday: Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot hosts a breakfast fundraiser for Gabe Amo, who’s running for Congress in Rhode Island. Amo was deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and worked as President Joe Biden’s principal liaison to mayors around the country. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congratulations to Dale Sachtleben for correctly answering that Robert Todd Lincoln (Springfield-born) and John Louis, Jr (Evanston-born) were ambassadors to Great Britain. Lincoln from 1889 to 1893, and Louis from 1981 to 1983. TODAY’s QUESTION: Who were the three original Illinois General Assembly members to form the Kosher Nostra? Email skapos@politico.com
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