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Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Happy Monday, Illinois. We’re reporting today from the home office in D.C., where temps feel springy. Though 40s in Illinois are nice.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | BETWEEN THE LINES: The relationship between Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is frosty, report Sun-Times' Fran Spielman and Tina Sfondeles in a story out today. The lead-in: “Don’t be fooled by the mayor’s winning smile and soaring, preacher’s son rhetoric, nor by the governor’s make-nice statements from the podium. There is real frustration and tension behind the scenes on both sides.” The story cites what observers have noticed for months: “There is real frustration behind the scenes on both sides, stemming from the migrant crisis, Chicago’s crime wave, a tug of war over leadership of the Democratic National Convention and the parade of tax increases and costly mandates being imposed on Chicago’s business community.” That tension was noticeable Friday, when a Pritzker spokeswoman said publicly that the governor’s office was in the dark about an environmental report that was supposed to have been released by day's end about the Brighton Park migrant shelter. It was a sign that the usual intergovernmental communication system wasn’t working. The response: Johnson’s administration says it issued the environmental impact statement as soon as the city received it late Friday. “We could have waited until Monday [to go public with the report]. “But instead we began the process as soon as we had it. The time of the release had to do with a commitment to get it out ASAP,” Jason Lee, the mayor’s top adviser, told Playbook. The media (i.e. the public) saw it at about 8 p.m. Tension has affected Democratic Convention planning, too: The reason it took so long for organizers of the 2024 Democratic National convention to name a host committee leader is because Johnson wanted control of the pick — even though Pritzker and Sen. Tammy Duckworth led efforts to bring the convention to Chicago. In the end: Pritzker won the personnel battle, with a top aide, Christy George, named as DNC host committee executive director. Johnson’s pick, Keiana Barrett is senior adviser. Fueling the criticism: Last week, South Side Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th), a Johnson ally suggested progressives aren’t up to the task of managing City Hall. “We should not be on the Fifth Floor. And I'm speaking my whole heart," she told Ben Joravsky on his podcast. "We were not ready because we haven't been in government long enough to know how government really works. ... We're pretending like now we got the power, let us show you how it's supposed to be done. And we look real stupid, right now."
| | | THE BUZZ | | | 
Ald. Debra Silverstein, at the podium, is staying with the City Council but won't seek reelection for Democratic committeeperson. | Silverstein's Twitter feed | BIG MOVE: Chicago Ald. Debra Silverstein, whose resolution condemning Hamas’ attack in Israel passed after a fiery debate, has announced that she won’t seek reelection as Democratic committeeperson of the 50th Ward. She’s endorsing Bruce Leon. Silverstein will continue to lead in her role as alderwoman of the 50th Ward and plans to for “many years to come,” according to a statement from her political team. “I am excited to see what Mr. Leon can do to build the Democratic Party of the 50th Ward,” she said in a statement. “The 50th Ward is wonderfully diverse, and Mr. Leon will be a great steward for our community." Silverstein said she’ll assume “a leadership role” within Leon’s organization Leon praised Silverstein’s move, saying, “She has our support as a public servant and as a voice for unity and equity.” Silverstein is seeking Council approval of “CHI vs. Hate,” a rewrite of the City’s hate crime legislation. It would create a “hate incident” category and allow Chicagoans to report such incidents via 311. The legislation will be voted on by the Council’s Committee on Public Safety Committee on Friday before moving to the full council. If you are Bruce Leon, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | At the Peoria Riverfront Museum at 10:30 a.m. to celebrate work on the Bob Michel Bridge restoration — At the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum at 1 p.m. for a Christmas tree lighting with Gold Star families.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | At Central Park Avenue at 9 a.m. for a safety project ribbon cutting.
| | Where's Toni | | No official public event. While the holiday cookies are baking, email me at skapos@politico.com
| | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | — Local Dem's game of musical chairs didn't work out as planned: “Champaign County Democratic Party Chairman Mike Ingram wanted to remain party boss despite being forced by statute to give up the position. Other people had other ideas, including his new frenemies, Carol and Aaron Ammons,” by the News Gazette’s Jim Dey. — Why Illinois' primary election is moving back to March in 2024: “Illinois primaries traditionally are held in March. But the General Assembly delayed the 2022 primary until June to give officials more time to incorporate 2020 census data into mandatory redistricting plans.” And there was Covid, reports the Daily Herald’s Russell Lissau.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Factory reopening could save Belvidere, but many still bash the economy: “Autoworker strike and Biden administration secured return of more than 1,000 manufacturing jobs. But inflation still dominates public opinion,” by The Washington Post’s Jeanne Whalen. — 6 Illinois high school activists will give young people a voice at global climate summit in Dubai, by the Tribune’s Adriana Pérez
| | MIGRANT MOVES | | — State, food bank step in to keep migrants fed during December amid city contract delay, by the Tribune’s Dan Petrella and Nell Salzman — Union deal: Gov. JB Pritzker has announced the state has come to an agreement with Iron Workers Local 1 “to ensure skilled iron workers will be present at the build site for new shelter space for asylum seekers.” The union had threatened to picket if non-union labor performed iron workers’ duties. — A plea to Biden from longtime undocumented immigrants in Chicago: ‘Please don’t forget about us, we need job permits too,’ by the Tribune’s Laura Rodríguez Presa
| | CHICAGO | | — Mayor Brandon Johnson’s mental health plan in Chicago starts small but carries big political implications: The city faces challenges in opening up the first two clinics let alone expanding more broadly given nearly half of the budgeted positions at the Chicago Department of Public Health are already unfilled and “officials were unable to say how much money is being spent by different city departments on mental health care,” reports the Tribune’s Jake Sheridan. — Feds and city's inspector general eye Bally's casino deal: They’re looking into the process by which Bally's won the Chicago casino license, “according to people familiar with the matter.” Though no one’s subpoenaed the mayor’s office, and former Deputy Mayor Samir Mayekar expects it’s “some casino industry actors and their allies who lost out on the bid who have spent the following years planting false rumors and innuendo in the media.” Crain’s Greg Hinz reports. — More on American and United wanting out of a deal to modernize Chicago O’Hare, via the View from the Wing’s Gary Leff — Fire breaks out at historic Swift Mansion in Bronzeville, by the Tribune’s Rebecca Johnson — City tows 263 cars on first day of winter parking ban, by the un-Times’ Kade Heather
| | SPOTTED | | — Gov. JB Pritzker was in Washington, D.C., Sunday for the Kennedy Center Honors. He was in a crowd of big political names, including President Joe Biden. The ceremony honored Billy Crystal, Queen Latifah, Renée Fleming, Barry Gibb and Dionne Warwick. — Hoops weekend: Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot was spotted at the Loyola basketball game against Harvard on Saturday. Lightfoot said it was a big weekend of college and high school basketball. She attended the Chicago Elite Classic (boys high school) on Friday night, watched her daughter play high school ball Saturday morning, hit the Loyola game Saturday afternoon and went to the Elite Classic girls tournament Sunday. “This weekend shows how great basketball is in Chicago,” she told Playbook. — Irish eyes: More than 1,300 folks packed the annual Irish Fellowship Club’s holiday party at the Hilton on Michigan Avenue on Friday. It was the largest gathering ever for this annual affair. Missing from the fun was former Ald. Ed Burke, who’s attended every year for decades. He was, ahem, busy. In the room: Union leader Bob Reiter held court as the party host. Seated at the head table were Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, Senate President Don Harmon, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and City Clerk Anna Valencia. Also in the crowd: Ald. Walter Burnett Jr., former Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson, businessman Jack Hartman, nonprofit consultant Kevin Conlon and Buildings Commissioner Matthew Beaudet. Outgoing President Robert Flood was honored by club members. Local 130’s Jim Coyne was named president for the next year. And Kathy Taylor organized it all. — Who’s who fundraiser: Ald. Timmy Knudsen (43rd) was feted at a fundraiser last week hosted by arts entrepreneur Abby Pucker at the Lincoln Park home of her parents, film producer Gigi Pritzker and investor Michael Pucker. Attendees included: philanthropist Margot Pritzker, corporate attorney Langdon Neal, Blackhawks Chair Danny Wirtz, Invenergy CEO Michael Polsky, World Business Chicago CEO Michael Fassnacht, insurance exec Charles Smith, Corporate Cleaning Services window-washing company CEO Neal Zucker, Terminal Getaway Spas CEO Marko Iglendza, Democratic Committeewoman Lucy Moog, developer Dan McCaffery and Iris McCaffery, BPOC healthcare equity firm founder Ken O’Keefe, marketing pro Chloe Sacks and Personal PAC CEO Sarah Garza Resnick. — State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe headlined a Q&A with Rush Hospital President Omar Lateef at Larkin Hall for a discussion about the state of mental health in Illinois. Hosts: NAMI Chicago, which runs a mental health hotline, and the group’s CEO, Alexa James.
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Suburban shoppers haven't let rising costs slow their spending, by the Daily Herald’s Jake Griffin — Waukegan High junior Victor Hinojosa is active on state and local school boards, by the Lake County News-Sun’s Steve Sadin
| | DAY IN COURT | | — Father of slain Palestinian American boy files wrongful death lawsuit against landlord charged in attack, by The Associated Press — Appeals court affirms conviction, sentence in Jussie Smollett case, by the Tribune’s Madeline Buckley
| | ...SWAMP THINGS... | | — Two months in prison for retired Chicago firefighter who helped with ‘Tunnel’ siege at U.S. Capitol: “Joseph Pavlik spent 33 years as a firefighter before retiring in 2013, prosecutors said. He went to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with a tactical vest, helmet, goggles, a gas mask and a can of chemical spray,” by the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel.
| | Reader Digest | | We asked for your holiday shopping motto: Sara Acosta: “Try to be thoughtful, but when in doubt — Champagne!” Denise Barreto: “If I can’t buy something you want, I can likely make you something you’ll appreciate.” Randy Bukas: “Who do I write the check out to and for how much?" Robert Christie: “Get ‘er done and have some fun.” Graham Grady: “Shop early and often.” Kevin Hall: “Take advantage of deals during Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. And try to be done with everything before Braggin' Rights.” John Mark Hansen: “Everybody loves a good book (whether they know it or not).” William Kresse: “Don't confuse Christmas shopping with Christmas buying. Buying is all about acquiring gifts. Shopping is about acquiring joy." David Melton: “Wait for the clearance sales.” Gail Purkey: “Fuhgeddaboudit , because I really dislike Christmas shopping.” Patricia Ann Watson: “Wait until after Jan. 1.” For Tuesday, when did you barely make a deadline?
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Trump’s revenge? GOP braces for daily blasts from ‘orange Jesus,’ by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett, Olivia Beavers and Meridith McGraw — White House pushes to pass stalled Ukraine aid, by POLITICO’s Connor O’Brien — As the new chair of the Democratic Governors Association, Gov. Tim Walz has some tips for the party, by POLITICO’s Elena Schneider
| | TRIVIA | | FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Lawrence Falbe for correctly answering that the first self-sustaining, synthetic nuclear reaction occurred on a racquetball court at the University of Chicago in 1942. TODAY's QUESTION: What renowned rock band sang about going to Chicago on their untitled 1971 album? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Chicago commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities Rachel Arfa, first assistant Board of Review commissioner Dan Balanoff, political pollster and consultant Rod McCulloch, BDO senior counsel Sarah Schanz and restaurateur Alpana Singh. -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 | | | | |  |
