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Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Good Monday morning, Illinois. We start this week in a dark place.
|  | TOP TALKER | | BREAKING OVERNIGHT: President Joe Biden joined Gov. JB Pritzker to condemn what police called the hate-crime slaying of a 6-year-old boy in Plainfield, Ill., in wake of the war in the Middle East. “This horrific act of hate has no place in America and stands against our fundamental values: freedom from fear for how we pray, what we believe and who we are,” Biden said in a statement about the fatal stabbing of Wadea Al-Fayoume and the wounding of his 32-year-old mother, Hanan Shaheen. Full statement here Pritzker called the crime “nothing short of evil,” according to his statement. “Every single Illinoisan — including our Muslim, Jewish, and Palestinian neighbors — deserves to live free from the threat of such evil.” Because of their faith: “Detectives were able to determine that both victims in this brutal attack were targeted by the suspect due to them being Muslim and the on-going Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israelis,” according to a sheriff’s department, adding the boy had been stabbed dozens of times. The charges: The victims’ landlord, Joseph M. Czuba, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of hate crimes and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, according to the sheriff’s office. The Justice Department is also investigating, according to a statement. The Illinois stabbings occurred a week after the Hamas-led surprise attack on Israel that has escalated counter-attacks and war in the Middle East. Hate-crime alert: Police and federal authorities across the county have been on high alert for antisemitic- or Islamophobic-driven violence, and Jewish and Muslim groups have reported seeing an increase in hateful and threatening messages on social media. Also condemning the Plainfield attack: Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) called it “domestic terrorism,” Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (IL-03) said it is “a result of the rising islamophobia and hateful rhetoric” and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) said “islamophobia and hatred have no place here.”
| | THE BUZZ | | MIGRANT MOVES: Mayor Brandon Johnson is taking an entourage of City Hall officials to the Texas-Mexico border this week to see first-hand the conditions and how asylum seekers are sent to Chicago. The goal: To meet with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials to ask for more help in coordination. Specifically, Chicago wants to see a slow-down of buses being sent to Illinois, according to a person familiar with the planning. In the delegation: Along with the mayor, Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights Beatriz Ponce de León, Deputy Chief of Staff Cristina Pacione-Zayas, Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th), who chairs the council’s Immigrant and Refugee Rights Committee, and Alds. Pat Dowell (3rd), Lamont Robinson (4th), William Hall (6th) and Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th). The delegation is set to meet today to iron out details of the trip. If you are Beatriz Ponce de León, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | In City Hall at 9:45 a.m. to preside over a budget hearing.
| | Where's Toni | | No official public events. Pull up your big-boy pants and send me a line: 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. | | | | | | | SPOTTED | | |  Illinois first lady MK Pritzker, in purple, took questions about her new book in a program with Leslie Hindman in Chicago on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. | POLITICO's Shia Kapos | HISTORY BUFFS: Illinois first lady MK Pritzker gathered more than 150 friends for lunch at the Casino Club in Chicago to share how she wrote “A House That Made History: The Illinois Governor’s Mansion.” Spotted: Gov. JB Pritzker slipped in after the cocktail hour in time to hear his wife speak about the book in a Q&A moderated by Leslie Hindman, who sits on the Illinois Governor's Mansion board. Also in the room: Former first lady Brenda Edgar, Ald. Pat. Dowell, Water Board President Kari Steele, Deputy Secretary of State Hanah Jubeh, entrepreneur Trisha Rooney (also active on the mansion board), PNC Financial Service’s Carole Brown, SPAAN Tech CEO Smita Shah, After School Matters CEO Mary Ellen Caron, civic leader Linda Johnson Rice and green-space advocate Alexa Rice, Zeno Group’s Courtney Thompson, businessman Bill Brodsky and Joan Brodsky, business leaders Estelle Walgreen and Sue Leonis, civic leader Peg Lombardo, and JLD Consulting Group President John D’Alessandro who spent time in the mansion when he worked for former Gov. Pat Quinn.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Pricey booze, beads and art among unclaimed gifts lavished upon billionaire Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker: “The state’s 25-year-old Gift Ban Act prohibits public employees such as Pritzker from accepting presents, with broad exceptions. Therefore, the high-priced hooch delivered compliments of the Japanese embassy and three bottles of tequila valued at $450 have remained untapped,” by The Associated Press’ John O’Connor. Pic of original artwork — Governor and his wife report income dropped by more than $16M last year, by Tribune’s Dan Petrella — Schools trying to maximize on AI promise without falling prey to its pitfalls, by Margaret Rock for Center for Illinois Politics — Farmers seek more protections under new farm bill as climate change threatens livelihoods, health and crops, by Tribune’s Adriana Pérez
| | SPOTLIGHT | | | | 
Police clear out members of the public at the Chicago City Council meeting on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. | POLITICO's Shia Kapos | CHAOTIC COUNCIL: On Friday, the Chicago City Council voted to condemn the Hamas-led attack on Israel during a meeting that will go down as one of the most memorable in city history for its fraught subject matter as well as its unruliness and parliamentary gymnastics. The resolution proposed by Ald. Debra Silverstein had caused such inner-turmoil among alderpersons that some said they wouldn’t show up for the vote, prompting Mayor Brandon Johnson to call some members directly to make sure there was a quorum. They barely got it. Ald. Pat Dowell, one of Johnson’s top lieutenants on the council, was a no-show, telling Playbook. “I didn’t want to have to choose.” The crux of the issue: The resolution did not recognize that Palestinians have suffered during the Israel-Hamas conflicts. Alderpersons on the left, including the vocal Ald. Rossana Rodríguez-Sánchez, felt strongly that language recognizing Palestinians should have been part of the resolution. Silverstein’s view: Including such language would water down the point of the resolution, which at its core was recognizing a terrorist act. Though Silverstein did tweak some language, including swapping out a line about having the “deepest sorrow for the innocent Israelis’ murder” to “deepest sorrow for all innocent civilians.” Behind the scenes: Supporters from both sides lobbied alderpersons ahead of the vote. State. Sen. Sara Feigenholtz and state Rep. Bob Morgan attended the hearing and were both emotional as they got on the elevator after the hearing. The meeting turned chaotic when members of the public on both sides of the issue started yelling at the various public speakers, some who stood in the meeting and others who spoke remotely. The mayor ultimately had to clear the chamber. Down to the wire: Maneuvering to suspend the rules to avoid the vote failed. Like most resolutions — though this wasn't just any resolution — it was put it to a voice vote, which meant no one had to put their names on record as to how they voted. How it played out: About 20 aldermen forcefully cried out “aye” in support of the resolution and only one person, Rodríguez-Sánchez, voiced “nay.” The rest were silent or had left the building, hoping that no one noticed that they didn’t take a stand, including Alds. Angela Clay (46th), Jessie Fuentes (26th), Andre Vasquez (40th), Matt Martin (47th) and Maria Hadden (49th). SIDE NOTE: Ald. Jim Gardiner (45th), who leans right on the council and was seen as a likely supporter of the resolution, ultimately opposed it, saying he represents Palestinians in his ward who don't have a voice in council decision-making. Here’s your Playbook host’s play-by-play.
| | CHICAGO | | — Mayor Brandon Johnson begins playing defense after unveiling $16.6B budget: The mayor acknowledged that the $150 million in his budget plan won’t be enough to cover costs of managing the migrant situation. “The General Assembly budget process will begin in January,” he said. “When they pass their budget in May, we’ll have some very intentional asks about how we can align our levels of government to meet this demand.” Crain’s Justin Laurence reports. — City considers Brighton Park vacant lot as a possible site for migrant tent encampment, by Tribune’s Caroline Kubzansky
| | CORRUPTION CHRONICLES | | — Burke’s lawyers now say they plan to call Danny Solis to the stand as trial of ex-City Council dean nears: “Meanwhile, hints of Burke’s trial defense began to emerge during a hearing in federal court Friday. The judge, prosecutors and defense attorneys are hustling to prepare for a trial set to begin Nov. 6.,” by Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel and WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel.
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Four months later, DuPage County mass shooting puts spotlight on ‘lost community’: One person died and 22 were injured. “Some question why DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick has made no public comments about the investigation, which thus far has yielded only one arrest. Others wonder why they haven’t received the same outpouring of support typically seen after mass shootings,” by Tribune’s Jonathan Bullington. — First measles case in Illinois since 2019 identified in Cook County, state Public Health Department confirms, by WTTW’s Eunice Alpasan
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Chris Kennedy says family tensions have eased with RFK Jr.'s independent run — which is rattling Republicans: “We love our brother. We love our party. And we love our president. Ultimately, it’s better that he’s running as an independent and can impact President Trump,” he told your Playbook host.
| | | | PLAYBOOK IS GOING GLOBAL! We’re excited to introduce Global Playbook, POLITICO’s premier newsletter that brings you inside the most important conversations at the most influential events in the world. From the buzzy echoes emanating from the snowy peaks at the WEF in Davos to the discussions and personalities at Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to the heart of diplomacy at UNGA in New York City – author Suzanne Lynch brings it all to your fingertips. Experience the elite. Witness the influential. And never miss a global beat. BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked how you get back to nature. Randy Bukas: On the Jane Addams Trail where I walk, jog and bike.” Matthew Beaudet: “In the Native tradition we never leave nature. Just use your eyes to see the sky, your ears to hear the wind, your mouth and nose to breath the air and your body to feel the Earth moving.” Graham Grady: “Bike-ride along the Fox River trail.” Ridgley Knapp: “Camping — even for a day, and even this late in the year.” Dave Lundy: “Hiking, biking, walking. Nature's beauty is a spiritual tonic for the soul.” Jessica Catlin: “Walking breaks along the North Branch Trail.” Whitley Tee: “I step out onto my back steps, stare longingly across the alley over the neighbors' fence, and sigh ‘Nice yard’ before returning to whatever I'd been doing.” What’s your favorite egg dish? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Biden is ‘weighing’ a visit to Israel for show of solidarity, by POLITICO’s Alexander Ward and Jonathan Lemire — Who’s up, who’s down and who’s tanking in the 2024 money race, by Jessica Piper and Steven Shepard — Jordan to face a challenger in floor vote Tuesday, by POLITICO’s Olivia Beavers — Trump faces reckoning as D.C. judge mulls gag order, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney
| | TRIVIA | | FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Dale Sachtleben for correctly answering that comedian Dick Gregory once led a protest on school segregation in Mayor Richard J. Daley’s neighborhood. TODAY’s QUESTION: Who were the two Chicagoans who called for a boycott of the Columbian Exposition and why? Email skapos@politico.com
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