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Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | TGIF, Illinois. Temps may be down, but it feels summery with Taste of Chicago kicking off today.
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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, right, talks to the Economic Club's Sean Connolly at the Hilton Chicago on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. | ABC 7 screenshot | Mayor Brandon Johnson brought the folksy charm and humor from his campaign to Thursday's Economic Club of Chicago dinner — the line about his carpenter-pastor father being like Jesus always draws a laugh — but the black-tie business crowd of more than 1,200 left wanting a little more. On the menu: The mayor used broad strokes to address some of the city’s most pressing issues during his prepared remarks and in a Q&A with club chair and Conagra Brands CEO Sean Connolly. Johnson repeated campaign themes to beef up the detective ranks and hire young people. On how he'd grade the city’s education system, the school-teacher-turned-mayor said “based upon the investments that we make in the people who rely on it.” The line drew applause from the high-profile audience that included Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates, who had a front-row seat. On city pensions, Johnson said, “I'm going to lead to make sure that people who serve this city should be protected in their retirement. It's not an obligation. It's a responsibility.” Connolly asked what taxes might be “on or off the table?” And Johnson said: “It’s really about making sure that the priorities that we set position us to grow our economy in the budgets that come.” They wanted numbers: The audience, which over the past 12 years became accustomed to then-Mayors Rahm Emanuel and Lori Lightfoot nerding out on the budget, seemed disappointed. Johnson made only a passing remark about asylum seekers. It was in reference to them being part of the education system. He reassured executives about the business climate, saying, “Not only are we on our way back, we’re on our way back stronger." And the big question: Asked what the city's business community could do “to make Chicago a safe, prosperous and equitable city for all,” Johnson said, “I need your expertise.” The applause was polite. Some people left the room before the discussion wrapped up. And others said they hoped for more specifics. In other words, there was a lot of sizzle but not enough meat. Two head-turning moments. Along with goals to hire more detectives, pass “treatment not trauma” and address the “mental health crisis,” Johnson said he will consider his administration successful “when people are not living in tents.” It probably was a reference to the unhoused, but given a report just a few hours earlier about a plan to build tent cities for asylum seekers, his comment had us wondering. And get this: Johnson took credit for bringing the 2024 Democratic Convention to Chicago. The decision was announced after his election, though it was well-known to Thursday night’s crowd that for two-plus years Sen. Tammy Duckworth, governor’s chief of staff Anne Caprara, Lightfoot and political consultant Kaitlin Fahey worked to land the 2024 event. If Johnson was being funny, the joke didn’t land with the crowd. Also news: Johnson made an off-the-cuff remark that he’d be running for re-election. It’s early, but that’s probably no joke. RELATED Migrants would move from police stations to big tents in ‘winterized base camps’ under mayor’s new plan, by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman City Council members have yet to be briefed on plan for asylum seekers, by ABC 7’s Leah Hope and Liz Nagy
| | THE BUZZ | | Speaking of Stacy Davis Gates, the Chicago Teachers Union president is taking heat for sending her son to a private Catholic school. Conservative news outlets poked at the highly personal decision because the union leader has also criticized school choice. In an interview with WBEZ’s Sarah Karp, Gates defended her decision, saying, “There is not a lot to offer Black youth who are entering high school” in Chicago. She isn’t the first public official to draw scrutiny on where to send her children to school. Then-President Barack Obama and his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, were criticized for sending their kids to private schools while also pitching public-school reforms. The issue will come up again as the Illinois General Assembly considers a bill that would benefit students trying to go to private schools like the one her son attends. If you are Sean Connolly, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | In Manteno at 10 a.m. to discuss economic opportunities.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | | At 401 W. 111th Street at 10 a.m. with Sen. Dick Durbin, Congressmembers Mike Quigley and Robin Kelly and Ald. Anthony Beale to announce $2 billion in funding for the Red Line Extension project.
| | | Where's Toni | | | At Trickster Cultural Center in Schaumburg at 9 a.m. with Mayor Tom Dailly for the city’s farmers market. Before you crack open your weekend wine, send me a line: skapos@politico.com
| | | | DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO APP: Stay in the know with the 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. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS – DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID. | | | | | | | 2024 WATCH | | — POLL: Donald Trump was the favored presidential candidate in a straw poll held at the Northwest Suburban Lincoln Day Dinner on Thursday at the White Eagle Banquet and Convention Center in Niles. Trump received 47 percent to Ron DeSantis’ 22 percent. Also in the poll: Nikki Haley at 11 percent; Vivek Ramaswamy, 7 percent; Mike Pence, 4 percent; and Tim Scott, 3 percent.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — With historic bail reform measures set to take effect Sept. 18, Cook County officials detail court changes: “Though other jurisdictions have moved to eliminate or reduce money as a factor, Illinois was the first to pass it in the form of statewide legislation,” by Tribune’s Madeline Buckley. — POT POURRI: Miracle in Mundelein brings legal cannabis consumption to concerts in what could be part of an emerging trend, by Tribune’s Robert McCoppin — Memorial Health layoffs will save the Springfield-area health care system an estimated $40M a year, by Illinois Times’ Dean Olsen
| | CHICAGO | | — Mayor’s pick for top cop asks for collaboration from community at public forum: “Larry Snelling calls on the public to be partners with the Chicago Police Department in addressing deep-rooted community problems and fighting crime,” by Sun-Times’ Emmanuel Camarillo. — Aldermen consider allowing Chicago cops to work security at bars and liquor stores, by Tribune’s A.D. Quig and Sam Charles — Chicago Public Schools is becoming less low-income: It’s due to gentrification, population and enrollment shifts and a potential dissatisfaction with district schools, report Chalkbeat’s Reema Amin and Thomas Wilburn. — Black, Latino voters had ‘shocking low’ turnout in election that made Brandon Johnson mayor, report shows, by Block Club’s Madison Savedra — The 5 most conservative wards in the city, by Chicago magazine’s Ted McClelland
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Smita Shah has been appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson to co-chair the Workforce Innovation Board. The organization oversees the investment of the Chicago and Cook County region’s annual Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act allocation from the U.S. Labor Department, totaling more than $72 million for FY23-24. Shah is the founder and CEO of SPAAN Tech. — Mark Hoplamazian and Eric Smith will pick up where Jim Crown left off on the business community's public safety push. Hoplamazian is CEO of Hyatt Hotels, and Smith is vice chair of BMO Bank, via Crain’s — Halley Chambers, daughter of political insider Marilyn Katz, is bringing wines from her Brooklyn restaurant, Margot, to Chicago's Wieners Circle on Saturday night.
| | | | JOIN US ON 9/12 FOR A TALK ON THE NEW AGE OF TRAVELING: In this new era of American travel, trending preferences like wellness tourism, alternative lodging and work-from-anywhere culture provide new but challenging opportunities for industry and policy leaders alike. Join POLITICO on Sept. 12 for an expert discussion examining how the resilience of the tourism and travel industries is driving post-pandemic recovery. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked about being a delegate at a presidential convention. Matthew Beaudet was a delegate for Barack Obama at the 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver. “The best part was that the delegation from the nominee’s home state gets the front center section and seating was alphabetical so I literally had a front row seat to history.” Kent Gray: “I’ve been to six Republican National Conventions. It’s four days of booze, pool time, speeches and schwag!” Ashvin Lad was a delegate for Mitt Romney at the 2012 GOP Convention. “It's a great feeling of pride … but it's also pure exhaustion as you go on four hours of sleep per night having to be up for delegation breakfasts, meetings and events, and ending the day with the convention and after parties.” Porter McNeil was a delegate for John Kerry at the 2004 Democratic Convention in Boston. “Amid all the delegation breakfasts, policy briefings, receptions and nightly convention sessions, I watched Barack Obama deliver his inspiring red state-blue state speech that helped launch his White House bid a couple years later.” Steve Sheffey was a delegate for Barack Obama at the 2012 Democratic Convention. “It was like an AIPAC policy conference except Republicans were replaced with movie stars. The main responsibility of a delegate is to get invited to the best parties and events possible and not pay anything out of pocket for any meals.” What’s your prized political pin? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — ‘Bidenomics’ is going global. The world is skeptical, by POLITICO’s Gavin Bade — Kristi Noem is positioning herself for the veepstakes, by POLITICO’s Adam Wren — Peter Navarro convicted of contempt for defying Jan. 6 select committee, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney
| | MEDIA MATTERS | | — Philanthropies pledge $500M to address crisis in local news: “The effort, spearheaded by the MacArthur Foundation, will give grants to support newsrooms and start-ups as concern grows over the rapid disappearance of local news outlets,” by The New York Times’ Katie Robertson. — Big John Howell is out at WLS: “Radio stations have formats, whether it’s music or talk. And I didn’t fit the format. Simple as that,” he told Playbook about the station’s rightward leaning politics. “It’s not unexpected. I’m disappointed. I love WLS. I love the people I worked with. It was a privilege and pleasure to be there, and I enjoyed every minute. I’ll miss talking about the news.” Howell said, adding other stations have reached out to check on his availability.
| | TRIVIA | | THURSDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Charlie Corrigan and Illinois Senate President Don Harmon for correctly answering that although the Big 10 Conference has gained many schools over the years, only the University of Chicago has left. TODAY’s QUESTION: What’s the longest-running Little League baseball tournament after the Little League World Series? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Today: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, former state Rep. Elizabeth Coulson, political analyst James Nowlan, former Cinespace owner Alex Pissios, TimeZoneOne account director Alex Hanns, Dovetail Project founder Sheldon Smith and comms specialist Robert Flinn. Saturday: EXPO Chicago President Tony Karman, Latino Policy Forum CEO Sylvia Puente, Illinois Education Association Secretary-Treasurer Tom Tully, CME Group market regulation investigator Trenton Crawford and Washington Post reporter Kara Voght. Sunday: former Democratic state Rep. Brandon Phelps, senior adviser to Rep. Robin Kelly Rick Bryant, 1833 Group’s Nick Daggers, attorney Gerald Fishman, defense attorney Joe “The Shark” Lopez, MBA candidate and former Sen. Dick Durbin staffer Charlie Rotering and On Point Consultants’ Tim Mapes. -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 | | | | |  |
