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Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Good Wednesday morning, Illinois. Tonight’s office holiday party includes a spin room to cover the Republican presidential debate. Hey, it’s POLITICO!
|  | TOP TALKER | | | POLITICAL DISCORD: Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration stopped work on the proposed tent encampment in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood, citing “serious environmental concerns.” The Tribune called it a “stunning rejection” of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan for housing migrants. But the real eye-raiser was the subsequent finger-pointing and public sparring between City Hall and the governor’s office after the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency said it had “concerns” about the land that Johnson’s team had designated for a shelter. Mercury and other toxins were found. The governor’s statement: “My administration remains committed to a data-driven plan to improve the asylum-seeker response, and we will continue to coordinate with the City of Chicago as we work to expand available shelter through winter.” Johnson pushed back, telling reporters at an unrelated press briefing that the state didn’t provide “guidelines” to set up the camp. His office doubled down on that message, issuing a statement saying the state “provided no additional guidance on its preferred methodology or assessment criteria.” The response was curt: “While the city might be comfortable placing asylum seekers on a site where toxins are present without a full understanding of whether it is safe, the state is not,” said Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. Takeaway: Disagreement doesn’t necessarily mean there’s more tension between the two Democrats, but it does put another spotlight on their relationship.
| | | THE BUZZ | | | SCOOP: Jerry Reinsdorf, the chair and majority owner of the Chicago White Sox, was spotted walking out of Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s office on Tuesday. Reinsdorf is in the Music City for the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings, where team owners meet to make trades and sign free agents. Why it’s curious: There’s been talk for months that Reinsdorf is looking to move the Sox from Guaranteed Rate Field when the team’s lease expires in six years. He’s refuted the idea … but: Reinsdorf recently acknowledged, “If we have six years left, we've got to decide what's the future going to be?” according to MLB.com. If you are Jerry Reinsdorf, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | No official public events.
| | Where's Toni | | No official public events. Before you challenge your opponent’s petitions, email me at skapos@politico.com
| | 2024 WATCH | | — Gov. JB Pritzker is endorsing Eric Rinehart in his reelection bid for Lake County state's attorney. Pritzker said Rinehart “embodies the values of Lake County and has proven that he will fight for those values with the passion, integrity and vision we need to ensure safer communities now and for years to come.” Rinehart is one of the few Illinois state’s attorneys who backed a ban on assault weapons. Pritzker backed the ban, too. — Robert Kennedy Jr.’s team is working to get on the Illinois ballot. American Values 2024, the super PAC supporting his presidential candidacy, says it’s pursuing ballot access in Illinois, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, New York and Texas. Kennedy is running as an independent. — 50th Ward harmony: State Sen. Ram Villivalam and state Rep. Kevin Olickal are both supporting Leon Bruce for the 50th Ward committeeman seat. Ald. Debra Silverstein, who currently holds the seat, won’t seek reelection. She supports Bruce, too. “We all want to increase voter education and turnout. Bruce is the person to lead that effort,” Villivalam told Playbook. Villivalam and Olickal are on Bruce’s campaign finance committee for the race. — Clayton Harris III, who’s running for Cook County state’s attorney, has been endorsed by Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, Illinois Senate Majority Leader Kim Lightford and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss. Here’s a full list.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — State partners with Dolly Parton Imagination Library for free books to children 5 and younger, by the State Journal-Register’s Patrick M. Keck — Jessica Basham, a former aide to Michael Madigan and Emanuel "Chris" Welch, will lobby for City of Springfield, by the State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie — What to know about Illinois’ assault weapons ban, by Capitol News’ Andrew Adams — Springfield woman receives prison time for threatening Pritzker, DCFS employees, by the State Journal-Register’s Zach Roth — Field trip: State Rep. Kam Buckner will be in Alabama today to support the family of Chicago native and former University of Illinois and NFL football star Glenn Foster Jr. Civil Rights attorney Ben Crump will announce a wrongful death lawsuit on the 2nd anniversary of Foster’s death while in sheriff's custody in Pickens County Jail in West Central Alabama on Dec. 6, 2021.
| | | CHICAGO | | | — Chicago taxpayers have paid nearly $700M since 2000 in lawsuits by people who claimed they were framed by police: “The tally of 300 cases includes nearly $140 million paid to lawyers for the city and $537 million paid to plaintiffs,” by the Sun-Times’ Andy Grimm. — Family members of incarcerated people call on State’s Attorney Kim Foxx to investigate convictions related to former CPD detective, by the Tribune’s Madeline Buckley — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: One Chicago Fund is closing its doors at the end of December, according to a statement from its top officers, President Sarah Pang and VP Lynn Lockwood. They are both former advisers to former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who founded the organization in 2011 with the goal of improving Chicago residents’ quality of life by partnering with government agencies, businesses and nonprofits and foundations. The group says it invested more than $200 million over the years in the community.
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Cook County treasurer urges property owners to pay late taxes to avoid annual tax sale list, by the Tribune’s Deanese Williams-Harris
| | The Trial of Edward Burke | | — Feds play recording of Burke seeming to link approval of Burger King permit with business for his law firm: “We were going to talk about the real estate tax representation, and you were going to have somebody get in touch with me so we can expedite your permits,” Burke was recorded saying during a call with an executive. the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel and WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel report.
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Juanita Irizarry is stepping down as executive director of Friends of the Parks. She’s held the position for eight years. Irizarry is resigning at the end of the month, and a search has begun for a successor. Under Irizarry's leadership, Friends of the Parks famously took on movie mogul George Lucas who wanted to build a museum on the lakefront. Lucas took the museum project to California instead. — Brian Duncan of Polo, Ill., was elected president of the Illinois Farm Bureau, and Evan Hultine of Princeton, Ill., will serve as vice president. Duncan ran unopposed until the 11th hour, when Seneca, Ill., farmer Philip Nelson threw his hat in the ring. Nelson served as president of the group from 2003 to 2013, by Farm Progress’ Betty Haynes. — Samantha Steele, the Cook County Board of Review commissioner, is making history after being appointed board chair. In her new role, Steele becomes the first LGBTQ individual to hold the post. As chair, she'll focus advancing “efficiency, transparency and inclusivity in property assessment.” — Lanetta Haynes Turner, chief of staff in the Office of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, will be honored Friday with the Motorola Solutions Foundation Excellence in Public Service Award. The award is presented and administered by the Civic Federation.
| | | Reader Digest | | | We asked what are your tips for giving a toast: James Castro: “Sincerity, from the heart.” William Kresse: “Keep it short, such as, ‘Here's to absent friends ... and to the ones who are here now.’” Dave Lundy: “‘Brevity is the soul of wit’ ain't just a saying. Too many people spend their toasts droning, like they're circling a cul-de-sac looking for an exit. Say what you wanna say, and then sit down.” Myk Snider: “Speak from the heart. People may sometimes recall a clever turn of phrase, but they will always remember the authentic expression of emotion.” For Thursday, what’s the company holiday party you’ll never forget?
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | — Sen. Tammy Duckworth on Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville ending his blockade of military promotions: “I’m relieved that he’s finally relented on most of these posts. It’s absurd that he’s still blocking some of the most senior four-star promotions.” More from POLITICO’s Congress team here
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — The debates mattered. They just didn’t knock out Trump, by POLITICO’s Steven Shepard — ‘Test case’ for America: Colorado’s top court poised to weigh Trump’s eligibility to run again, by POLITICO’s Erica Orden, Kyle Cheney and Zach Montellaro — Jack Smith wants to tell jury about Trump’s earlier attempts to sow doubt about elections, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney
| | EVENTS | | — Tuesday: Ciere Boatright, acting commissioner of the Chicago Department of Planning & Development, headlines a Chicago Central Area Committee holiday event. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | TUESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Kristin DiCenso for correctly answering that J. Edward Day worked for Illinois Gov. Adlai Stevenson before joining President John F. Kennedy’s administration as postmaster general. TODAY's QUESTION: Who’s the Springfield native who became CEO of Gucci in the Americas? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Former Transportation Secretary and Congressman Ray LaHood, McGuireWoods consultant Greg Bales, United Airlines Senior VP Robert Rivkin, Illinois Senate Democrats’ comms director Brandy Renfro, Susan G. Komen founder Nancy Brinker, University of Chicago economist Michael Greenstone, PR pro Noreen Heron, Air Current Editor-in-Chief Jon Ostrower, real estate pro Beth Argaman and Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo. -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 | | | | |  |
