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Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Happy Valentine’s Day, Illinois. The 1929 St. Valentine’s Day massacre remains a mystery, though Al Capone remains the prime suspect.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | WHO’s THE BOSS: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson bowed to the progressive supporters who put him in office and announced on Tuesday that he won’t renew the contract of the Chicago Police Department’s ShotSpotter program — a move that ignores Police Chief Larry Snelling’s support for the technology. Small accommodation: The gunfire detection system will stay in effect through the summer, a period when violence spikes. It means ShotSpotter will be in effect through the Democratic National Convention, which will put a spotlight on Chicago's crime problem. From the mayor’s office: “During the interim period, law enforcement and other community safety stakeholders will assess tools and programs that effectively increase both safety and trust and issue recommendations to that effect.” From the Sun-Times: “Johnson outlined the plan [to drop ShotSpotter] during a closed-door meeting Monday night with city officials and advocates, though Chicago police officials weren't invited. With ShotSpotter’s roughly $49 million contract now set to expire Friday, the city will apparently have to enter into a new deal with parent company SoundThinking to cover the additional months." From WTTW: “It is unclear how much the city will pay to use the ShotSpotter system for the next seven months, or whether the city will have to ink a new contract with the firm to provide those services. It is also unclear whether the Chicago City Council would have to approve that contract.” From the Tribune: “ShotSpotter gained special notoriety among Chicago activists in 2021, when a gunshot alert from a street in Little Village sent responding police running after 13-year-old Adam Toledo. An officer fatally shot Toledo during the chase.” Pushback from some aldermen: “We’re losing the ability of our police responders and our first responders to respond to scenes much quicker than our traditional call-in to 911,” said Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th), a former Chicago police sergeant and chair of the City Council’s Police and Fire Committee. Also criticizing the mayor’s move at a presser were Alds. David Moore, Anthony Beale and Silvana Tabares, via The Triibe’s Tonia Hill. Progressive praise: “Elections matter. Organizing matters,” Kennedy Bartley, executive director of United Working Families, said in a statement. “Today is a new day, where investments in evidence-based, holistic solutions that don’t just respond to violence but prevent it are driving our city’s public safety policy.”
| | THE BUZZ | | STRIKE A NOTE: Some Uber and Lyft drivers will be on strike today, part of a one-day call to action in Chicago and nine other cities. Their demand: better wages and more job security. It’s a gimmick, albeit an ominous one, ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this summer. Imagine those Democratic elites having to take traditional cabs to the United Center in the heat of August. Actually, there will be lots of options. The Chicago Host Committee for the convention just put out an RFP for transportation services that covers everything from cars and motor coach services to shuttles and buses. Getting around is easy anyway in Chicago, said Delmarie Cobb, a political consultant who worked on the 1996 convention in Chicago. “The city is condensed. The convention center and hotels are in the same vicinity — unlike Los Angeles and Boston, where you had to go to the suburbs to have enough hotels. If there had been a strike there, you would have been lost.” Besides, she adds: “You can get around by car, train, buses and we still have cabs,” Cobb said. “I’m sure the cab industry would be happy for rideshare to go on strike.” RELATED: Flight attendants picket outside O’Hare, joining thousands at airports across the country, by the Sun-Times’ Phyllis Cha If you are logistics expert Rich Guidice, 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. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (if you must) a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S GOVERNORS SUMMIT: Join POLITICO on Feb. 22 to dive into how Governors are wielding immense power. While Washington remains gridlocked, governors are at the center of landmark decisions in AI and tech, economic development, infrastructure, housing, reproductive health and energy. How are they setting the stage for the future of American politics, policies and priorities? How are they confronting major challenges? Explore these questions and more at the 2024 Governors Summit. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | 2024 WATCH | | — Trump’s Chicago lawyers allege ‘mudslinging’ in bid to freeze Illinois ballot challenge in appellate court: “This all comes as the U.S. Supreme Court considers whether the Colorado Supreme Court erred when it found that Trump is barred from the presidency under the 14th Amendment. The nation’s high court seems poised to rule in Trump’s favor,” by the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel. — In IL-04, Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia has been endorsed by Friends of the Earth Action in his reelection bid. — In IL-12, St. Louis Public Radio's Will Bauer and Jason Rosenbaum interviewed both candidates in the Republican primary: Congressman Mike Bost and Darren Bailey, — Liam Kelly who’s running for judge in the 10th Subcircuit has been endorsed by state Treasurer Michael Frerichs and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss. — State Sen. Willie Preston, who’s running for 17th Ward committeeman, has been endorsed by SEIU Local 73 and Chicago Firefighters Union/Local 2.
| | | THE STATEWIDES | | | — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Sen. Lakesia Collins, a Chicago Democrat, has introduced a bill that would codify into state law that fantasy sports games are a game of skill, not sports wagering. “The proposed legislation aims to not only protect the hundreds of thousands of fantasy sports fans across Illinois but also the integrity of the games they enjoy ... while promoting innovation and removing barriers to growth that threaten the fantasy sport industry.” according to a statement from Collins’ team.
| | CHICAGO | | — Chicago among top cities seeing rising foreclosures: “In January, among major metropolitan areas, Chicago had the second largest number of completed foreclosures at 194, ranking behind Detroit’s 609,” by the Sun-Times’ Amy Yee. — Number of migrants in Chicago shelters at lowest point in months: “The number of migrants in shelters has fallen below 13,000 from a peak of nearly 15,000 in January,” by the Sun-Times’ Michael Loria. — City's new top doc knows what she's up against: She must tackle funding and staffing shortfalls, establish the mayor’s “Treatment Not Trauma” plan to send therapists and social workers to some 911 calls instead of police officers and reopen city-run mental health clinics, reports Crain’s Katherine Davis. — With monarch butterfly population at near record low, Chicagoans have their marching orders: Every milkweed stem counts, by WTTW’s Patty Wetli — Honoring Ella French: The Chicago Police Foundation has launched the 2nd Annual Ella French Scholarship, named in honor of beloved fallen CPD Officer Ella French, who was murdered in 2021. Details here
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Expungements made easier: Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez is opening a new Expungement Department to help people trying to get convictions cleared from their records. Since 2020, thousands of convictions for possession of small amounts of weed have been expunged. But many more cases are still on the books. The new program is located at the Criminal Courts Building at 26th and California, where one-on-one consultations and workshops will be held. — Migrant arrivals in Illinois suburbs raise public finance questions, by Bond Buyer’s Jennifer Shea
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Spotted: Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia getting in the paczki spirit. Clip!
| | | | 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 about your favorite president. Kristopher Anderson: “LBJ for his personal commitment to civil rights." John Engle: “Calvin Coolidge for being honest and forthright — so much so that no one even thought to ask if he had had any involvement in any of the many scandals of the Harding administration (and history has proven that trust is justified).” Michael Gascoigne, Mike Kohr and Marilynn Miller all named Barack Obama for his “character: humility, confidence, good humor, dignity, integrity and accomplishment.” Lucas Hawley: “Abe Lincoln because he showed how Midwestern character and leadership can make a real difference in a world full of division and hate.” Charles Keller: “Washington, because he returned to Mount Vernon after the war instead of trying to be king.” Dave Lundy: “Joe Biden for being the single most effective president in my life, rallying the world for Ukraine and passing transformational legislation with a 50/50 Senate, all while being a really decent, empathetic human being.” Ed Mazur: “JFK asked what we could do for our country and not vice versa.” John McCabe: “Harry Truman was a bridge between eras that faced complex challenges despite growing up in a simpler time.” Jim Montgomery and Mike Regan like Franklin D. Roosevelt for leading the country through Great Depression and World War II and being “devoted to democracy.” NEXT QUESTION: Who’s the quirkiest politician that comes to mind?
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Democrats win back seat held by ousted Rep. George Santos, by POLITICO’s Emily Ngo and Jeff Coltin ... 6 takeaways, via POLITICO — House GOP impeaches Mayorkas after previous vote failure: It’s the first time in nearly 150 years that the House has voted to boot a Cabinet official, reports POLITICO’s Jordain Carney. Illinois members of Congress voted along party lines, with Republican Reps. Mike Bost, Mary Miller and Darin LaHood all voting to impeach. — After facing off with Senate ‘Freedom Caucus’, McConnell urges Johnson on Ukraine, by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — Christine Geovanis, the longtime communications director for the Chicago Teachers Union, has died. The CTU’s tribute is here.
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Erika Maldonado will lead Spanish-language outreach to taxpayers for the Office of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. Maldonado has been co-anchor of evening newscasts for Univision WGBO-TV for the past 10 years. — Mary Killough has been named director of the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) by Gov. JB Pritzker (pending Senate confirmation). Killough is VP of operations and government relations for AccentCare home health and hospice. She was deputy director of IDoA from 2011-2015. — Julie Hernandez-Tomlin has been named commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Fleet and Facility Management (2FM) by Mayor Brandon Johnson. She has worked for the Departments of Water Management and Streets and San.
| | | EVENTS | | | — Feb. 24: The National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum hosts its “Gentle Warrior Awards” black tie gala fundraiser. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | TUESDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Ed Epstein for correctly answering that Abraham Lincoln lost to Lyman Trumbull in a U.S. Senate race before losing again to Stephen Douglas. (No, Sean Tenner, he didn’t lose to George Santos.) TODAY's QUESTION: Who did Donald Rumsfeld succeed as congressman from the North Shore? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Former Chicago Ald. Sophia King, AARP Government Affairs Director Gidget Benitez, Southland Black Chamber of Commerce Chair Cornel Darden Jr., Social Finance Institute Managing Director Karen Anderson, nonprofits consultant Bill Beach, Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer’s Chief of Staff Hannah Fierle, comms pro Emerald-Jane Hunter, National Insurance Crime Bureau analyst Craig Sepich, National Insurance Crime Bureau Government Affairs Senior Director Howard Handler and political operative Roberto Caldero. -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 | | | | |  |
