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Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Happy Monday, Illinois. Thanks for waking up with Illinois Playbook.
|  | TOP TALKER | | IT’S A HISTORIC DAY for Illinois as it becomes the first state to wipe out the cash bail system that has disproportionately kept poor people —especially Black and Latino defendants — in jail for months as they await trial. The change, signed into law earlier this year by Gov JB Pritzker, has been years in the works. “This is a new era for Illinois and, today, we stand on the right side of history,” Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx told Playbook. The effects of it won’t likely be immediately noticeable, but the long-term impact is expected to be huge and will be watched by states across the country. California, New York and New Jersey have made similar attempts at changing the system, but none as sweeping as Illinois. What the law says: Judges must determine whether defendants should be detained for trial based on the risk their release poses to the community and whether they will return to court. There might be hiccups: “There will be thorough detention hearings to determine who poses a genuine threat to public safety and thus deserves pretrial detention,” Foxx said. “While we have prepared extensively, it’s important to acknowledge that with such a monumental transition in a large jurisdiction, there might be some growing pains, which we will address immediately.” Simply put: “It’s a massive ship that needs to be turned. It doesn’t turn on a dime,” Judge Charles Beach of the pretrial division told Tribune’s Madeline Buckley and Robert McCoppin. The politics of it: The legislation for the change drove debate ahead of the 2022 elections, and, now, even after being signed into law, it’s a talking point among conservatives ahead of the 2024 elections. Point-counterpoint: Opponents to the law worry that crime will go up as a result of defendants not being detained. Supporters point out that defendants always were able to avoid being detained if they had the cash to pay bail. The law simply allows those who can’t afford to pay bail to be released and follow through on their court dates. THIS MORNING: Celebrating the new law at Leighton Criminal Courthouse will be Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, Cook County Board Chair Toni Preckwinkle, state Rep. Justin Slaughter, state Sens. Elgie Sims and Robert Peters, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and Cook County Public Defender Sharone Mitchell Jr. RELATED Public defenders, while supportive of reform, anticipate major workload increases, by Capitol News’ Hannah Meisel How suburban court officials have prepared for dramatic change, by Daily Herald’s Barbara Vitello, Susan Sarkauskas and Dough T. Graham New system will require more robust hearings when someone’s freedom is on the line, by Capitol News’ Jerry Nowicki and Hannah Meisel
| | THE BUZZ | | WHERE's JB: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is on vacation, and his office isn’t providing details about where he might be, citing security concerns. What we know: He’s out of pocket, floating on the seas on the Queen Mary 2 with first lady of Illinois MK Pritzker. The two are celebrating a belated 30th wedding anniversary, which was in June. Pritzker’s last public event was Sept. 8. His office is keeping mum about the trip since it’s not part of his official governor’s schedule. And besides, a spokeswoman said, “there are no taxpayer dollars involved.” Pritzker is no different than most governors who try to keep their private time private. Fellow Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has also been loath to share his vacation whereabouts over the years. Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas went so far as to sign a law last week restricting release of her travel and security records. Story on that here. SPOTLIGHT MK's HOUSE TOUR: Illinois' first lady gives a detailed tour for Homeworthy of the remodeled Governor’s Mansion in Springfield, complete with stories about the artwork, wall coverings and china that are all on display to bring Illinois history to life while also feeling a little modern, too. Our favorite: The flag artwork by Theaster Gates. The first lady purchased it for the governor for his 40th birthday, and the piece now hangs in the mansion. And did you know? The Illinois Governor’s Mansion is the largest governor’s mansion in the country? This is a must-watch video for Illinois history buffs. Video here via Homeworthy. If you are MK Pritzker, Playbook would like to hear your ideas for Illinois trivia. Email skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | No official public events.
| | Where's Toni | | In Leighton at 8 a.m. to mark the end of cash bail. — At Daley Plaza at noon for Peace Day Chicago. Just another manic Monday, so make it a fun day and email: skapos@politico.com
| | | | GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here. | | | | | | | TAKING NAMES | | — Rahm Emanuel takes the spotlight with snarky China tweets: The legendary Washington political fighter and former Chicago mayor created a stir by posted on social media “that the recent disappearances of top Chinese officials resembled Agatha Christie's best-selling crime novel ‘And Then There Were None,’ which follows the mysterious deaths of guests at a mansion in Britain,” by Reuters’ Humeyra Pamuk, Trevor Hunnicutt and Tim Kelly. — In memoriam of Newton ‘Newt’ Minnow: Friends and family will gather this week to celebrate the life of the former Federal Communications Commission chair who was a board member of WTTW-Ch. 11. PBS President Paula Keger writes: “When I became CEO of PBS, Newt summoned me to Chicago for a meeting. And he certainly didn’t mince words when he told me, ‘Don’t mess this up’ because ‘people across the country are counting on you.’” Read her column in the Tribune. — POT POURI: Jim McMahon to launch cannabis line in Illinois, by Crain’s John Pletz
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — UAW strike bypasses Illinois plants for now, but state’s auto industry has a lot riding on negotiations: “From Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant on the city’s Southeast Side to the small river town of Belvidere near Rockford, where the union and the state hope to restart the idled Stellantis Jeep plant, the course of negotiations could dramatically shape the auto industry in Illinois for years to come,” by Tribune’s Robert Channick. — After complaints Pritzker’s parole board was too lenient, critics now say panel’s members ‘acting as they should,’ by Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner — As state leaders fight to protect access to books, Chicago-area libraries keep getting threats, by WBEZ’s Adora Namigadde — How Illinois' new driver's license appointment system is frustrating seniors: "It is a fight every morning to find what facility has openings. And they disappear in seconds." Daily Herald’s Marni Pyke reports. — Cyber security CEO who’s been inside ransomware deals talks about Springfield hospital system’s issues, State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie reports
| | CHICAGO | | — Mayor’s floor leader rejects latest restaurant industry compromise on subminimum wage: “Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) said the restaurant industry’s latest proposal to raise the minimum wage for tipped workers to $20.54 an hour at Chicago restaurants with more than $3 million in annual revenue is ‘dead on arrival,’” by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman. — As he steps down, Chicago’s top planner reflects on neighborhood projects and an unfinished agenda: “Maurice Cox sometimes rankled developers by pushing for better architecture and community benefits,” reports Sun-Times’ David Roeder. — 'The Bear' Effect: How a TV hit is reviving Chicago's gastro-tourism economy, by Crain’s Ally Marotti
| | CORRUPTION CHRONICLES | | — Cook County official found pandemic’s upside — a chance to double dip: “John Sudduth was the full-time chief information officer for both the county Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and a nonprofit medical board,” by Sun-Times’ Tim Novak. — Markham’s ex-public library director charged with embezzling more than $770,000 from cash-strapped town, by Tribune’s Jason Meisner
| | 2024 WATCH | | — Chicago Ald. James Gardiner (45th) says he won’t seek re-election as ward committeeperson. “I am not seeking re-election as Democratic committeeman. To give my undivided attention toward surveying as alderman of the 45th Ward,” he told Playbook. Running for the seat so far are Joe Cook and Michael Rabbitt. — State Rep. Jenn Ladisch-Douglass (45th) has announced she won’t seek re-election in 2024. “I absolutely love this work, and though I have made the very difficult decision to not seek re-election so I can focus on my family, I will continue to serve the great people of my district and the state until the end of my term,” the freshman rep said. Full statement here. — Jackie Williamson has announced she's running for state representative in the 47th District. Williamson, a Democrat, ran against Republican Rep. Amy Grant in 2022, receiving nearly 47 percent of the vote to Grant’s 53 percent. — Tosi Ufodike has made it official: She’s running in the GOP primary for state representative in the 51st District. The seat is held by Democratic state Rep. Nabeela Syed.
| | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | — Candidate call: The Illinois Women's Institute for Leadership Training Academy is looking for Democratic women to run for public office. The academy has trained nearly 250 women over the years, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, former Congress members Cheri Bustos and Marie Newman and several state legislators, county board members, mayors, village clerks and others. Details here
| | SPOTTED | | — Tens of thousands of dollars was raised during the live auction to benefit the National Hellenic Museum on Saturday. But the sentimental favorite item was a “Fighter Pilot for a Day” experience at DuPage Airport followed by lunch with asset manager and museum leader John P. Calamos Sr., who served in the U.S. Air Force as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. Greek politicos in the crowd: Secretary of State Alexi Giannouias, Ald. Bill Conway, water board Commissioner Mariyana Spyropoulos, New Trier Township Committeeperson Dean Maragos and Illinois Supreme Court candidate Jesse Reyes (Hey, everyone was Greek at this event.). Also spotted: Chicago Consul General of Greece Emmanuel Koubarakis and Consul Georgia Tasiopoulou, Associate Judge Jeffery Chrones and Hellena Chrones, Calamos Investments CEO John Koudounis and Joanne Koudounis, Chicago attorney Bob Clifford, broadcasters Andrea Darlas and Anna Davlantes, philanthropists Jimmy and Eleni Bousis, Leadership 100 Chair Demetrios Logothetis, Transformer Manufacturers President Alex Gianaras and marketing pro Kathy Gianaras, Compass Real Estate’s Stephanie Poulakidas and Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos President Marilyn Tzakis.
| | | | Enter the “room where it happens”, where global power players shape policy and politics, with Power Play. POLITICO’s brand-new podcast will host conversations with the leaders and power players shaping the biggest ideas and driving the global conversations, moderated by award-winning journalist Anne McElvoy. Sign up today to be notified of the first episodes in September – click here. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked for your favorite all-time political book, and the response was huge. Lots of you picked Boss by Mike Royko. There were plenty of books about Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Lee Day picked King: A Life, just out by Jonathan Eig. Here’s the full list. What historical print do you hang in your house? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Trump moves to put the nail in DeSantis’ campaign coffin, by POLITICO’s Meridith McGraw and Sally Goldenberg — Republicans squeeze Democrats on labor as UAW strike explodes in Michigan, by POLITICO’s Myah Ward and Ally Mutnick — The House GOP unveiled a new spending plan. It still won’t avert a shutdown, by POLITICO’s Olivia Beavers, Sarah Ferris and Jordain Carney
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Mark McCombs is executive director of Kolbe House, the prison and jail ministry for the Archdiocese of Chicago. He was a public policy analyst and member of the lobbying team for Safer Foundation. — Adam Alstott is general counsel for the Illinois Office of Comptroller, replacing Debjani Desai, who was named to the Cook County Circuit Court. Jessica Velez takes Alstott's role as deputy general counsel. She had been a senior trial associate at Johnson & Bell.
| | | TRIVIA | | | FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Mary Kay Minaghan for correctly answering that “a smoke-filled room” refers to the Blackstone Hotel, where Republican bigwigs gathered in Room 915 to figure out who to nominate at the 1920 Republican National Convention held in Chicago. TODAY’s QUESTION: What Chicago structure is modeled after Paris' Arc de Triomphe and Opera House? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Lucas James Talent Partners’ Amy Dordek. And belated birthday greetings to and senior comms adviser to the governor Natalie Edelstein and Synapticure co-founder Sandra Abrevaya, who celebrated Sunday. -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 | | | | |  |
