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Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Happy Monday, Illinois. It’s the last week of Playbooks for the year, so get your tips in ASAP to skapos@politico.com.
|  | TOP TALKERS | | The Chicago City Council is set to vote on Wednesday on a proposed ordinance that would allow Chicago Police to better track hate crimes. Ald. Debra Silverstein’s measure calls for the city’s non-emergency 311 line to document calls of hate “incidents.” The goal is to keep track of where they’re coming from so Chicago Police can zero in on areas of concern — knowing that sometimes those same areas see hate crimes, from swastika graffiti to violence. The “Chi vs. Hate” ordinance allows officials to track everything from derogatory insults, name-calling or gestures to bullying. Callers can also report slurs or pejoratives or verbal or online harassment, according to the measure. The proposal comes at a time of increased antisemitism and Islamophobia. “It’s not about limiting free speech in rallies,” spokesman Yisrael Shapiro told Playbook. “It’s for someone who feels targeted based on race, religion or gender. We want to give them the ability to record it to get it tracked and for victims to ask for help.” The goal is to “mark trends and see where there is a spike of incidents,” whether it’s yelling at migrants or defaming synagogues or mosques, Dan Goldwin, public affairs director of the Jewish United Fund in Chicago, told Playbook. Taking action: The incidents would be referred to the Chicago Human Relations Committee and tracked by CPD, which could increase presence in the area of reported incidents. Who’s supporting it: The measure got unanimous support on Friday from the City Council's Public Safety Committee, including from council members who had pushed back at Silverstein’s last high-profile resolution condemning the Hamas attacks on Israel. RELATED Ceasefire resolution: Ald. Rosana Rodriguez-Sanchez’s resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East is supposed to come up for discussion during Tuesday’s Rules Committee meeting. Though Sunday evening, the committee list showed the Rules Committee as being canceled. The resolution is sure to create debate. So, what's up?
| | THE BUZZ | | WOMEN IN POLITICS: Rutgers University is out with a national study, “Rethinking Women’s Political Power,” about the status of women in the government and politics space — and Illinois voices play a key role in the research. The takeaway: There is frustration at the slow pace of change. The “toxicity of our politics” is “definitely a disincentive” for women to enter the field, State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a Chicago Democrat, said in the report. The challenge about running: “One of the biggest barriers, I think, for women to even step up is family, right?” said state Comptroller Susana Mendoza. And so we think about, ‘should I run? I have small children.’ That’s a really massive consideration. Whereas you think a guy for 10 seconds gives it more than that thought of whether or not they should run for office because of how it would impact their family? The expectation is, ‘My wife is going to pick up that slack’.” About the numbers: Democratic women serving in Illinois’ General Assembly increased by 58 percent from 2010 to 2021, the years that long-time House Speaker Michael Madigan resigned. The number of Republican women state legislators in Illinois dropped during the same period, from 23 percent to 19 percent, according to the research. In total: As of last month, women accounted for 41.8 percent of the Illinois General Assembly, including 53 percent of Democratic and 19 percent of Republican legislators, according to the research. Lobbyist numbers: The study found that in 2017, 33 percent of lobbyists in Illinois were women. By 2022, women’s representation as lobbyists increased to 36 percent. Taking part in the report: Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, state Sens. Sue Rezin and Terri Bryant, state Reps. Jehan Gordan-Booth and Theresa Mah, Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita, Ald. Rossana Rodríguez-Sanchez, Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia, Evanston City Clerk Stephanie Mendoza, Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates, Democratic lobbyist Heather Wier Vaught, former state Sens. Toi Hutchinson, Melinda Bush and Christine Radogno, former Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti, former Deputy Gov. Sol Flores, The Women’s PAC board chair Tiffany Elking, former aldermanic staffer Vicko Alvarez and former chief of staff to the House speaker Jessica Basham. If you are Rep. Lauren Underwood, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | | On Ogden Avenue at 1:30 p.m. for the groundbreaking of the Grace Manor affordable housing development — At Daley Plaza at 5:30 p.m. for the lighting of the Menorah with the Center for Jewish Life. — At Wal-Mart Garden Center on Doty Avenue at 7:15 p.m. for a “Christmas in the Wards” presser.
| | Where's Toni | | No official public events. Before you put on the ice skates, email at skapos@politico.com
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — New state ID program for Cook County Jail detainees aims to ‘help people reintegrate’: “A pilot program announced by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is thought to be the first in the nation offered to inmates at the county jail level,” by the Sun-Times’ Mitchell Armentrout. — Illinois requires road tests for seniors, but the 49 other states don't do it: “Democratic state Rep. Joyce Mason of Gurnee intends to spearhead legislation eliminating road tests for seniors,” by the Daily Herald’s Marni Pyke. — Gov. JB Pritzker signs measure allowing new small-scale nuclear technology in Illinois, by the Capitol News’ Jerry Nowicki and Andrew Adams — Dual credit courses growing in Illinois, but students of color less likely to take them, report says, by Chalkbeat’s Samantha Smylie and Kae Petrin — Illinois State University investigating claim fan used racial slur against Norfolk State player, by ESPN’s Myron Medcalf
| | Covid Update | | — As holidays approach, hospitalizations for Covid-19, flu are rising in Illinois. Public Health officials are asking residents to take precautions, by WTTW’s Eunice Alpasan — Covid-related bill: Republican state Rep. Jed Davis is out with legislation that calls for amending the Illinois Clinical Laboratory and Blood Bank Act to require testing of “donated blood for evidence of any Covid-19 vaccine.” Here’s the bill
| | CHICAGO | | — At a pivotal moment for Chicago’s left, Ald. Andre Vasquez tries to bridge socialism and pragmatism: “His North Side ward is marked by progressive voters but also wealthy homeowners who are upset over violence and property taxes. Vasquez’s endeavors to straddle those two constituencies have at times put him at odds with both ends of the spectrum. … He has been painted as an anti-law enforcement extremist by his social media critics on the right, yet the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America renounced him in 2020 for a budget vote that maintained Police Department funding,” by the Tribune’s Alice Yin. — City officials revise rules limiting access to council meetings after warning, by WTTW's Heather Cherone — 'Rogue' buses are trying to dump migrants in Cicero and leave to avoid Chicago fines, by ABC 7’s Craig Wall — Bronzeville Trail to receive $5M in funding in 2024, by the Sun-Times’ Phyllis Cha
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Burned by a “Bono”: Impersonator charms and fools crowd at Twin Anchors, by the Block Club’s Mack Liederman reports. — Sheila Jackson Lee lost her bid for Houston mayor to a tough-on-crime state senator. Lee is the mom of Jason Lee, the top adviser to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. Politico’s Andrew Zhang reports. — Juliana Stratton, the Illinois lieutenant governor, received the Jim Guilinger Legislative Award on Friday from the Illinois Leadership Council for Agricultural Education. If you follow her on social media, you can see why. — Alexi Giannoulias, the Illinois secretary of state, was honored by the Indo-American Democratic Organization for his work in public service and supporting the South Asian American community. — Juan Salgado, the chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago, received the 2023 Ohtli Award that honors those who empower the lives of Mexican nationals who live abroad. Consul General of Mexico in Chicago Reyna Torres presented the award.
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Queuing up for McDonald’s: Bolingbrook CosMc's opens to long lines, hours of waiting, by the Shaw Local News Network’s Gary Middendorf and Denise M. Baran-Unland
| | | The Trial of Edward Burke | | — Calling FBI mole Danny Solis to testify could be risky, ‘blow back’ on Ed Burke’s defense, experts say, by the Tribune’s Jason Meisner, Megan Crepeau and Ray Long — Feds play recording of call with Gery Chico as they allege Ed Burke used threats over permits ‘to extort benefits’ from businesses, by the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel and WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel
| | 2024 WATCH | | — Chicago police Sgt. John Poulos, whose fatal shootings of 2 men led to about $2M in City Hall payouts, now running for judge, by WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos and the Sun-times’ Tom Schuba
| | Reader Digest | | We asked what activities you attended that your local lawmaker put on: Matthew Beaudet: "Paper shredding put on by Rep. Jamie Andrade when he was my representative." Jon Delozano: “A TPS legal clinic hosted by Ald. Bill Conway (34th). It was a great way to volunteer and welcome our newest neighbors.” Joe Moore: “I sang at state Rep. Kelly Cassidy’s Kellyoke fundraiser.” For Tuesday, if you could be a character in a TV show, what show would it be?
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — The Patriots are so bad it’s finally OK to campaign in New Hampshire during games, by POLITICO’s Lisa Kashinsky — Why Joe Manchin might not care if he sinks Joe Biden, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard — FROM COP28: Building wind power, canceling coal — it’s all drowning under borrowing costs, by POLITICO’s Zack Colman
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — Susan Catania, a former state rep who advocated for the Equal Rights Amendment, has died. She was “a fearless champion of important but politically unpopular causes, writes her daughter, Sara Catania, in Medium.
| | | TRANSITIONS | | | — Joli Angel Robinson has been named CEO of the Center on Halsted, the LGBTQ+ community center, starting Jan. 8. She was CEO of Housing Forward in Dallas. Block Club's Jake Wittich has more. — Dan Lewis is now legislative affairs director at Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. He held the same post at Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
| | | EVENTS | | | — Friday and Saturday: An “Emergency Summit for Gaza: Ceasefire” will be held at Rainbow Push headquarters. Rev. Jesse Jackson and other activist groups are convening the event. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Mark McCombs for correctly answering that “Peoria Babylon” (1997) and “The Curse of Downers Grove” (2015) are Illinois municipalities that appear in movie titles. FYI, Chicago appears in the title of more than a dozen films. TODAY's QUESTION: Who was the former VP candidate who lived at 2430 N. Lakeview Ave. in Chicago? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, Appellate Judge Nathaniel Howse Jr., former state Rep. Elaine Nekritz, retired Illinois Transportation exec Doug House, election attorney Burt Odelson, Brown Strategy CEO Josh Brown, FOP political director Mike Cosentino and Nathan Cummings Fellow Anna Claussen. -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 | | | | |  |
