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Presented by The Regional Transportation Authority Of Northeastern Illinois: Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Presented by The Regional Transportation Authority Of Northeastern Illinois | TGIF, Illinois. And happy birthday, governor!
|  | TOP TALKER | | A NEW CLASH over the war in the Middle East could have some big reverberations in the Chicago City Council. At issue: Ald. Debra Silverstein has asked Ald. Rossana Rodríguez-Sánchez to hold off on next week’s council vote on a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza because it would come three days ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Jan. 27. Silverstein has also entered a resolution commemorating Holocaust Remembrance Day. The request came in a letter: “In deference to this commemoration, and out of sensitivity to the Holocaust survivors who suffered so horribly, we do not believe the January meeting is the proper time to discuss this [cease-fire resolution,” according to the letter signed by Silverstein and 27 other aldermen. Read it here It’s a big ask: Rodríguez-Sánchez’s proposal is two months in the making. The 33rd Ward alderman told the Sun-Times she’s “taking their request very seriously.” State Rep. Robert Peters criticized the request, saying the Holocaust shouldn’t be used as a “wedge against a ceasefire,” via X. But the group asking Rodríguez-Sánchez to hold off is a powerful block that includes Vice Mayor Walter Burnett Jr., President Pro Tem Samantha Nugent and Black Caucus leaders Jason Ervin and Stephanie Coleman. Tearing apart the left: The Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,400 civilians Oct. 7 and the ensuing response by Israel that’s killed thousands of Palestinians is causing divisions across the Democratic Party, and the Chicago City Council is a microcosm of that. In October: Council members clashed over Silverstein’s resolution to condemn the Oct. 7 assault on Israel. That measure passed but with numerous council members leaving the chambers so they wouldn’t have to vote on it. More division: The current cease-fire proposal passed unanimously out of the Health and Human Relations Committee, which Rodríguez-Sánchez chairs, in December. Bringing it before the full council will create new tension and divisions.
| | | THE BUZZ | | | WHERE's LORI: Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot headlined a City Club of Chicago event Thursday, talking about the nonprofit she’s founded. The goal of Chicago Vibrant Neighborhoods Collective is to help “block level” nonprofits with the back office kind of work that needs to be done to help them succeed. On the issue of migrants: Lightfoot said offering work to asylum seekers could ease tensions within communities and help businesses that need to get jobs filled. It’s all about the jobs: “We have got to press our federal representatives to open up, much more quickly, opportunities for people in this country to have jobs,” Lightfoot said. “The answer is jobs, jobs, jobs.” The Tribune’s Jake Sheridan has more. ABC 7’s Leah Hope has a one-on-one. If you are Rossana Rodríguez-Sánchez, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | A message from The Regional Transportation Authority Of Northeastern Illinois: Transit is critical to growing the Chicago region’s economy and increasing access to education and jobs – but the system is facing a $730 million operating shortfall starting in 2026. The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) has developed a 2024 legislative agenda to increase support for sustainable transit funding that can foster regional collaboration, improve access to jobs, lower emissions, and grow ridership. | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events.
| | | WHERE's BRANDON | | | Back from Washington, D.C.
| | | Where's Toni | | No official public events. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (gasp!) a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | JOIN 1/31 FOR A TALK ON THE RACE TO SOLVE ALZHEIMER’S: Breakthrough drugs and treatments are giving new hope for slowing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and ALS. But if that progress slows, the societal and economic cost to the U.S. could be high. Join POLITICO, alongside lawmakers, official and experts, on Jan. 31 to discuss a path forward for better collaboration among health systems, industry and government. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | CONVENTION ZONE | | — DNC Chicago organizers unveil logo, strategy for 2024 convention: "In 2024, we're going to put a convention on with the blue wall that shows how Democrats are changing the lives of people in the heartland and all across America," Minyon Moore, convention chair, tells media folks in town to tour the United Center. ABC 7’s Craig Wall reports. — Christy George, executive director of the host committee for the Democratic National Convention, will headline a discussion at the Hideout with your Playbook host. Details here
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | — PROXY VOTING: A bipartisan group of House members urged leadership Thursday to allow proxy voting for new moms up to six weeks after giving birth. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, the first senator to give birth in office, told POLITICO’s Inside Congress she agreed with her House colleagues — but would go further. “I don’t think it should just be moms,” Duckworth said. “It’s new parents — so you can have adoptions, you can have fostering, but in that situation, you should be able to work from home.” — Congressman Eric Sorensen, a former meteorologist, had some thoughts about Congress rushing a vote on the spending stopgap just hours before a predicted one to three inches of snow hit the Capitol last week. “You wouldn’t believe how many members of Congress from both sides are asking me — not for advice on what we’re voting on, but how we’re going to get home or how we are going to get back to D.C. on Tuesday,” the Illinois Democrat told POLITICO’s Inside Congress, laughing. — Congressman Darin LaHood is among members of Congress introducing a bipartisan, bicameral concurrent resolution in support of the United States Soccer Federation's bid for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, which would be hosted jointly by the United States and Mexico. Read the resolution here.
| | | | A message from The Regional Transportation Authority Of Northeastern Illinois:   | | | | | THE STATEWIDES | | — HIGHER ED | University of Illinois system freezes in-state tuition at all 3 of its campuses for 2024-25 school year: “Base tuition for in-state undergrads will remain $12,712 a year at Urbana-Champaign campus; $11,178 a year in Chicago; and $321.50 per credit hour in Springfield,” by the Sun-Times’ Cindy Hernandez. — State Rep. Nabeela Syed, a Palatine Democrat, has introduced a measure that would create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board “to review prices of certain drugs and block price increases that would gouge patients,” according to her team. Last session, Syed championed the Generic Drug Pricing Fairness Act which has been signed into law. — Illinois Supreme Court to decide if police may search vehicles based on smell of marijuana or if it’s an ‘aroma of legality,’ by the Tribune’s Robert McCoppin — Two suburban Catholic schools to close months after scholarship tax credit program expires, archdiocese says, reports the Tribune’s Alysa Guffey — Smart Start preschool expansion ahead of schedule in first fiscal year, by the Capitol News’ Cole Longcor
| | CHICAGO | | — Even after Burke conviction, some on City Council still resist banning outside income: “Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly noted an outright ban would force his colleague, Ald. Anthony Napolitano, to stop coaching a youth hockey league, for which Napolitano is paid a stipend of roughly $6,500 a year,” by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman. — Chicago to consider an ordinance that would effectively ban natural gas in new buildings, by the Tribune’s Nara Schoenberg — Black parents are caught in the middle of Chicago’s school choice debate, writes WBEZ’s Sarah Karp
| | ...SWAMP THINGS... | | — Two downstate men accused of trying to break window with flag poles during Jan. 6 Capitol riot: “Justin LaGesse, 37, and Theodore Middendorf, 36, both of downstate McLeansboro, are also charged with several misdemeanors in the attack by Trump supporters in 2021,” by the Sun-Times’ Emmanuel Camarillo.
| | | TAKING NAMES | | | — Winnetka lawyer Patrick A. Salvi II, who filed the first Northwestern hazing lawsuit, is named Chicago Lawyer Magazine’s 2023 Person of the Year, by the Pioneer Press’ Brian L. Cox — Janice R. Thomas, deputy executive director for external affairs at Metra, has been honored by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials as “one of the 10 women who move the nation.” It recognizes “outstanding leadership and dedication.” — Gina Fortune-Harmon has been named board president of the Chicagoland Apartment Association, which represents apartment industry professionals including owners of buildings ranging from two-flats to the largest high rise apartments. Fortune-Harmon’s day job is VP of Market Rate Management for The Habitat Company.
| | | | YOUR GUIDE TO EMPIRE STATE POLITICS: From the newsroom that doesn’t sleep, POLITICO's New York Playbook is the ultimate guide for power players navigating the intricate landscape of Empire State politics. Stay ahead of the curve with the latest and most important stories from Albany, New York City and around the state, with in-depth, original reporting to stay ahead of policy trends and political developments. Subscribe now to keep up with the daily hustle and bustle of NY politics. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what political campaign of the past you’d want to work on: Eli Brottman: “Barack Obama’s campaigns.” Pamela Calvert: “Victoria Woodhull for president, 1872.” Robert Christie: “Gerald Ford’s 1976 campaign. Running as an unelected incumbent who had never run a national campaign.” Gail Purkey: “Jimmy Carter’s 1976 race.” Charles Keller: “Pat Paulsen’s campaigns.” Rod McCulloch and Edwin Reyes would work on John F. Kennedy’s campaign against Richard Nixon in 1960. Marilynn Miller: “Dwight Eisenhower's campaign. Even though I'm not GOP, I admired this man due to WWII remembrances.” David Prosperi: “I’d return to Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign.” Josh Witkowski: “Paul Simon's 1984 campaign for U.S. Senate. He saw Illinois as a whole state and worked to find common ground to make Illinois stronger.” Next question: If you were a wrestler, what would your entrance song be?
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — New Hampshire's primary is a bust, by POLITICO’s Lisa Kashinsky and Natalie Allison — Trump tells SCOTUS kicking him off ballot would ‘unleash chaos,’ by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein, Kyle Cheney and Zach Montellaro — RFK Jr. sees an opening as more Black voters sour on Biden, by POLITICO’s Brittany Gibson
| | MEDIA MATTERS | | — WTVP board members resign in wake of financial improprieties: The Peoria station cut it’s budget by $1.5 million last year and subsequently laid off nine employees after CEO Lesley Matuszak’s death, “which a local coroner has declared a suicide,” reports the Current’s Julian Wyllie.
| | | TRANSITIONS | | | — College of DuPage President Brian Caputo will retire when his contract expires at the end of June, by the Daily Herald’s Katlyn Smith — Joshua Drew and Edward Casmere are now co-heads of litigations and disputes for Norton Rose Fulbright’s Chicago office. They both join from Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila, a Chicago-based litigation firm they helped start.
| | A message from The Regional Transportation Authority Of Northeastern Illinois: The Chicago region’s transit system provides access to 80 colleges and universities, representing a majority of schools in the state. Our transit system also connects workers to 4.2 million jobs across six counties, delivering over $17 billion in regional benefits in 2022 alone. And for individuals, transit provides an affordable, accessible alternative to driving. Improving and expanding public transit is critical to increasing access to education and jobs – but the system is facing significant challenges brought on by decades of underfunding and made worse by the pandemic. The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) has a plan and clear legislative priorities that, if enacted, will improve service and grow ridership, supporting greater economic growth. Pledge your support for transit today. | | | | | EVENTS | | — Tuesday: A panel discussion about how hate crimes are handled by Cook County criminal and civil agencies. Sponsored by Cook County Commissioners Scott Britton, Dennis Deer and John Daley, state Rep. Theresa Mah and the Chinese American Service League. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | THURSDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Kristen DiCenso and Janet Mathis for correctly answering that Morris Day collaborated with — and fought with — Prince. TODAY's QUESTION: What Chicago music venue hosted the Republican National Convention? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Today: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Cook County Dems Executive Director Jacob Kaplan, Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz, policy analyst Adam Sege, retired legal secretary Linda Morris and AIPAC Midwest Regional Deputy Director Emily Berman Pevnick. Saturday: Ald. Maria Hadden, Planned Parenthood of Illinois comms chief Cristina Villarreal, grief support specialist Diane Kushnir Halivni and Chico & Nunes Senior Executive Assistant Caryn Berman. Sunday: Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz, community activist Mike Matejka, IDFPR Legislative Affairs Director Dan Lewis, SomerCor CEO Manny Flores, Cboe Global Markets Senior Manager Nahiomy Alvarez, public affairs consultant James Prescott, political fundraiser Bailey Romans and fashion designer Maria Pinto. -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 | | | | |  |
