|
Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Good Wednesday morning, Illinois! President Joe Biden has made it official. He’s coming to Chicago on June 28. On his agenda: a big-money campaign fundraiser.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | 
DNC Chair Jaime Harrison, left, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, right, headlined the annual meeting of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, June 5, 2023. | POLITICO's Shia Kapos | Jaime Harrison’s biggest applause line during a visit to Chicago on Tuesday was an assurance he made to business leaders that they would see the economic benefits of the 2024 Democratic National Convention. “We want to make sure that you all are the vendors of the convention. There are so many services, so many things that we will need,” Harrison, chair of the Democratic National Committee, told some 800 members of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting at the Hyatt Regency. He knows us: Harrison said he wants the entire city, “all 77 neighborhoods.” to have a stake in the convention. “And I want all the businesses to feel that way as well. Not only the big corporations, but the small mom and pops and the diverse vendors.” Changing the narrative: The national party leader also wants to see the convention “change the narrative” of Chicago. Harrison didn’t say the word “violence.” But it was on everyone’s mind as the city just came off another bloody weekend of shootings and murders. It was Harrison’s first visit since Chicago won its bid to host the convention. Chicago will be familiar stomping grounds for Harrison over the next year as he brings donors and other stakeholders to the city to rev up excitement for the convention. Major donors will visit in the fall, he told the audience. For background: Donors will want to claim their suites in the United Center arena where President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are expected to accept the Democratic nominations. Mayor Brandon Johnson also spoke to the crowd, urging businesses to ramp up hiring of young people. “The best thing you can offer young people is a W-2,” he said. It’s what will change the economic trajectory of the city, he said. Johnson’s message to critics: "We're not going to allow the press or the media to dictate who our young people are. I'll say it again: If you don't live in Chicago and you're not offering up solutions, stop talking about us," he said. Tuesday’s business crowd came away hopeful. "When business labor, government and community organizations work together, great things happen and the business community is focused on jobs and public safety and part of that is employing our youth," said Jack Levin, president and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. Side note: It's still too early to report who will serve as the CEO of the Chicago convention. "We're working on that," Harrison told your Playbook host. More from ABC 7’s Craig Wall, Fox 32’s Mike Flannery and WGN 9’s Tahman Bradley,
| | THE BUZZ | | WHO KNEW? The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office serves as the state’s own version of the Securities and Exchange Commission, it turns out. The office oversees an effort to protect investors from financial fraud and “ensure the integrity of capital markets by regulating the offer and sale of securities,” according to the office. It’s a whole department: The Securities Department has some 30 employees and generates about $60 million each year in fees, fines and penalties for the state. Latest action: Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has joined the federal SEC in suing crypto Coinbase Global Inc., the largest crypto exchange in the country, claiming the financial exchange and its subsidiary, Coinbase Inc., illegally sold unregistered investments to more than 140,000 Illinois clients. Crain’s Greg Hinz has the full story. If you are Joe Biden, Playbook would like to know if you’ll be sleeping over in Chicago. Email skapos@politico.com.
| | WHERE'S JB | | At Christopher House in Chicago at 10 a.m. to sign the FY24 budget. — At the Marriott Downtown at 2 p.m. to give remarks at Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative's 20th Anniversary general meeting. — At the Geraghty at 6:30 p.m. to give remarks at the Equal Hope Celebrating Life Gala.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | | Also at the Marriott Downtown at 1:30 p.m. for a fireside chat at Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative's general meeting. — At the Offshore Rooftop at Navy Pier at 6:30 p.m. for the Federation of Women Contractors annual awards.
| | Where's Toni | | At Mount Olivet cemetery at 1:30 p.m. for a service with Catholic officials to bury indigent residents in the care of the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. Thank you for reading Illinois Playbook! Drop me a line sometime: 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. | | | | | | | THE STATEWIDES | | — Lawsuits against state can be filed in only two counties under measure signed by Gov. JB Pritzker: “Democrats who supported the legislation said it was necessary to prevent people with a grievance against the state from selecting the county in which to file a lawsuit based on where they think they can get a favorable ruling. ... Republicans called the measure a power grab by the Democratic majority,” by Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner. — INVESTIGATION: 53 percent of IDOC inmates serving life sentences are older than 55. Advocates call for giving some a second chance, by WTTW’s Brandis Friedman — Does the Mississippi River have rights? NPR Illinois’ Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco reports
| | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | — TAKE A SEAT: Six Northwest Side independent political organizations are hosting their own “people’s appointment” process ahead of Democratic officials naming a new state senator to fill the 20th District seat vacated by Cristina Pacione-Zayas. She's left the state Senate to become first deputy chief of staff in Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration. A candidate forum will take place June 15 via Zoom. RSVP here
| | CHICAGO | | — BEARS ANALYSIS: Mayor’s promise to make $1B worth of “investments in people” makes it tough to put stadium at top of his “to do” list, writes Sun-Times Fran Spielman — Meanwhile: Naperville mayor defends meeting with Bears about stadium possibilities, by Daily Herald’s Kevin Schmit — Reopening city’s mental health clinics will be an important early test for Mayor Brandon Johnson: Along with delivering on a campaign promise, it creates “ jobs at the clinics for members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees,” Tribune’s John Byrne reports. — Heartland Housing loses control of 14 affordable apartment properties due to financial woes, by Block Club’s Melody Mercado — Vienna Beef to invest $20M in Bucktown site for office, retail and outdoor plaza, by Sun-Times’ David Struett.
| | DAY IN COURT | | — Prosecutors say businessman James Weiss ‘had two sitting politicians’ on his payroll as federal bribery trial begins: His attorney said it’s “1,000 percent false” that Weiss ever tried to bribe anybody, saying “he agreed to pay then-state Rep. Luis Arroyo as a legitimate consultant,” reports Tribune’s Jason Meisner.
| | | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | | — Openlands group giving its preserve by Fort Sheridan to Lake County Forest Preserve, by Daily Herald’s Mick Zawislak — Plan to pay mayoral candidates tabled, by Evanston Now’s Bill Smith
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Chicago Sky’s new group of all-female investors — including Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts — raises WNBA team’s valuation to $85M: “Ricketts felt investing in the Sky aligned with the philanthropic goals of her and her wife, Brooke Skinner. She already was working in coordination with the Sky after facilitating the team’s multiyear broadcasting deal on the Cubs-owned Marquee Sports Network,” reports Tribune’s Julia Poe. — Ray Koenig III will be installed as president of the Chicago Bar Association later this month. He will become the first openly LGBTQ president in the bar association's history. He replaces Timothy Tomasik, whose term is wrapping up. Koenig is a managing member of Clark Hill and has served on the Chicago Human Relations Commission. — AM 560 radio host Mark Vargas has resigned after what he says was a ‘vile and disgusting rant’ by another host, via Illinois Review
| | SPOTLIGHT | | — EVERYTHING AND THE KITCHEN SINK: Landmarks Illinois is donating the iconic Ebony Test Kitchen from the former Johnson Publishing Co. building in Chicago to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. The test kitchen will be a part of the museum’s permanent collection. Landmarks Illinois purchased the kitchen for $1 from a developer in 2018.
| | | | 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 your favorite TV politician. Rev. Dr. William E. Crowder Jr., Jimmy Dean, Noelle Dupuis, Liz Heffernan and Christine Walker: “President Jed Bartlet of ‘West Wing,’ hands down!” Brian Bernardoni: “Kelsey Grammer as the mayor of Chicago in ‘Boss.’” Matthew Beaudet: “Andy Taylor, sheriff on ‘The Andy Griffith Show.’” Jim Bray: “Robert Terwilliger Jr. ('Sideshow Bob'), who won a rigged election for mayor of Springfield on ‘The Simpsons.'" David Carzoli: “Mayor Pike on ‘The Andy Griffith Show.’” JP Fyans: “Mayor Quimby on 'The Simpsons.'” Lucas Hawley: “Sen. Tom James on ‘Veep.’” Carol Hughes: “Elizabeth ‘Bess’ Adams McCord in ‘Madam Secretary.’” Ashvin Lad: “Pawnee Councilwoman Leslie Knope from ‘Parks and Recreation.’" David Melton: “Pat Paulsen as the president.” Brooke Shanley: “Mayor Martha Tinsdale on ‘The Good Witch.’” Mariyana Spyropoulos: “Selina Meyer on ‘Veep.’” Claude Walker: “State legislator James Slattery in ‘Slattery's People.'.” What do you hope the Democratic Convention brings to Chicago economics-wise? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Billionaire Harlan Crow's lawyer agrees to speak with Senate panel probing Clarence Thomas gifts: “Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin indicated he’s open to meeting, but also said “all options are on the table” for getting the information Democrats want from Crow,” via NBC News. — THE FIFTY: Democrats look to spend their way out of school culture wars, by POLITICO’s Liz Crampton — Got $1 to spare? RNC debate rules trigger a mad dash for very small donors, by POLITICO’s Jessica Piper — Conservatives surprise McCarthy with floor rebellion over debt deal anger, by POLITICO’s Sarah Ferris, Jordain Carney and Olivia Beavers — Chris Christie crashed and burned last time. He thinks 2024 will be different, by POLITICO’s Lisa Kashinsky
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Michael Crowley has been named president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago. He starts July 1. Crowley, who has been chief of staff for the organization, will succeed BGCC’s current president and CEO, Mimi LeClair, who is retiring after leading the organization since 2016. Politicos know Crowley for his work in the Chicago mayor’s office. He headed communications in the first year of Covid. Before that, he was chief of staff at After School Matters. — Bridget Altenburg has been named CEO of Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, a nonprofit that connects job seekers from disadvantaged neighborhoods with companies, by Sun-Times’ David Roeder.
| | TRIVIA | | MONDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Jarod Hitchings and Gene Reineke for correctly answering that Mary Harris “Mother” Jones was buried in the Union Miners Cemetery in Mt. Olive, Ill. TODAY’s QUESTION: Who’s the former county sheriff who was elected lieutenant governor but resigned out of boredom? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Former VP Mike Pence, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Peggy Chiampas, philanthropist and financier Lester Crown, government consultant Julie Currie, Seyfarth Shaw marketing exec Claudia Banks, social media wizard Tracy Schmidt, Monkey Creative lead writer Caitlin Briody, congressional staffer Chrissy Rabuse, journalist Rita Pyrillis and journalist David Mendell. -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 | | | | |  |
