| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Presented by CVS Health | Happy Tuesday, Illinois. Whatever happened to February being a slow news period?
|  | TOP TALKER | | | 
Chicago Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson walks with family members and supporters out of a federal courthouse Monday, Feb. 14, 2022, after being found guilty of tax crimes and making false statements. | Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP | Yesterday's conviction of Chicago Alderman Patrick Daley Thompson signals a new chapter in the city's Irish ward political system that has controlled City Hall for generations. It's a chapter without a Daley, and one with an alderman appointed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Thompson, the grandson of the city's most powerful mayor, the late Richard J. Daley, and nephew of former Mayor Richard M. Daley, is automatically out as alderman. You can be charged with a crime and still serve in City Hall (as Ald. Edward Burke and Ald. Carrie Austin can attest), but you can't be convicted. Ald. Nick Sposato acknowledged the historic nature of Thompson's exit from City Hall, but said the message to the rest of the Council is to avoid playing fast and loose with the law. "It signals people need to be more careful about what they're doing and pay attention to detail," Sposato told Playbook. That's an understatement, but the alderman said, "I don't think anybody intentionally goes out and says they're going to do bad things." What's in a name: Sposato believes Thompson was singled out by the feds because of who he is. "If he had been a John Smith, he would have been called in and told 'You cheated on your taxes and you owe us X amount of dollars.' But he's a Daley. I told the Tribune he got 'the royal screw job' and I really think he did." (Though it's hard to imagine the bank allowing a John Smith to borrow $219,000 and only pay back $389. That's what a name gets you.) What's next: Lightfoot has 60 days to fill the vacancy left by Thompson, whose term is up in 2023. The mayor's office said it will release a timetable for the process later this week and, in a statement, Lightfoot said the process "will be open and transparent." Who can fill the seat: Thompson's successor must have lived in the 11th Ward for at least a year prior to the appointment. Asian American leaders are discussing who from their community might be a good fit. Members of the Coalition Map supported by the Latino Caucus are urging the mayor to name an Asian American alderman, too. "This will finally give Chicago's growing Asian-American population true representation in City Hall," Latino Caucus Chairman Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) said in a statement. Who won't be appointed: State Rep. Theresa Mah's name has come up, but she hasn't lived in the ward since she was mapped out of it in 2010. She resides in the 12th Ward. Speaking of the remap: With Thompson out, the redistricting process will be a little smoother, allowing for greater Asian representation in the 11th Ward. Thompson had claimed it was racist to redraw the boundaries to give Asian Americans a majority in the ward, which is one of the last predominantly white wards in the city. Thompson's punishment: Thompson was convicted of filing false tax returns and lying to bank regulators. "The most serious counts carry a maximum prison sentence of 30 years," according to the Sun-Times, which also notes: "His lawyers will surely ask for probation." Sentencing is set for July 6. Daley legacy: Though Thompson is out at City Hall, the Daley legacy continues in Cook County. His uncle, John Daley, still serves on the board of the county commission. RELATED — Conviction saddens City Council colleagues: Patrick Daley Thompson's fellow Council members call him an unassuming man of his word lacking the arrogance they might have expected from a scion of Chicago's most famous — and once, all-powerful — political family," by Sun-Times' Fran Spielman. — The juror who never heard of the Daleys: Kennetta Holden "never heard of the Daley family before the trial and, as she drove home Monday night, she still wasn't sure who they were. 'I might Google it,' said Holden, before adding that she also might not look it up because she has two kids, including an 11-month-old, and 'better things to do.'" Sun-Times' By Jon Seidel, Tim Novak, Mitch Dudek, and Fran Spielman report. | | THE BUZZ | | SCOOP: A candidate has emerged to fill the position of legislative inspector general, a position that was left vacant when Carol Pope resigned on Jan. 6. Michael McCuskey is described as a straight-down-the-middle bipartisan jurist who served on state circuit and appellate courts and was named to the U.S. District Court by Bill Clinton — and approved by former Republican stalwarts Sens. Orrin Hatch and Jeff Sessions. "He's a serious jurist who is needed for a serious job," a person close to the state House told Playbook. Members of the Legislative Ethics Commission are expected to start examining his candidacy today. Until now, the bipartisan joint commission assigned to name Pope's replacement has been at an impasse — in part because it's currently chaired by Republican Sen. Jil Tracy, whose team hasn't been warm to candidates proposed by Democrats. Then McCuskey put his name in the hat. Along with his judicial experience, which Pope also had before she was named IG, McCuskey advised the Illinois Supreme Court's Commission on Professionalism. Democratic lawmakers hope McCuskey will break the deadlock. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: skapos@politico.com
| | A message from CVS Health: Throughout the pandemic, in communities across the country, CVS Health has been there. We've opened more than 4,800 COVID-19 test sites, administered 41 million tests and given 59 million vaccines. We've expanded access to prenatal and postpartum care via telemedicine, increased remote access to mental health services and invested in affordable housing to help build healthier communities. We've been on the frontlines, making health care easier to access and afford. Learn more. | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | At Illinois Central College Peoria Campus at 9:30 a.m. to discuss the Illinois Workforce Equity Initiative and investments in higher education in the proposed FY 2023 budget.
| | WHERE'S LORI | | No official public events.
| | Where's Toni | | No official public events.
| | Covid Update | | — Metrics rivaling those of Thanksgiving show Illinois 'exiting the Omicron surge': "Just eight Covid-19 deaths were reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health on Monday, the state's lowest daily death toll since late November. Hospitals saw their lowest occupancy numbers since before Thanksgiving," by Sun-Times' Taylor Avery. — Chicago's mask mandate may not end when statewide restrictions are lifted Feb 28, Lightfoot says, by ABC 7's Rob Elgas
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Youth organizers pressure lawmakers to expand voting rights in Illinois prisons: "Chicago Votes will host a virtual event Tuesday to campaign for SB 828 through phone banking, text banking and tweetstorms," by WBEZ's Nereida Moreno — Gas companies push back against effort to repeal surcharge: "Natural gas utilities in Illinois warned of job losses and possible risks to public safety if state lawmakers repeal a law allowing them to add a surcharge on customer bills that consumer advocates say is being used to gouge customers," by Capitol News' Peter Hancock. — Lawmakers mull restoring death penalty to deter crime, but critics call it a 'proven failure': "Several Republican lawmakers have filed bills that would make the death penalty a possible sentence for people convicted in the first-degree murder of police officers, firefighters or case workers at the Department of Children and Family Services," by Daily Line's Ben Szalinski — Bill seeks pay raise for tipped workers: "Its passage may be a tall order, however, as the Illinois Restaurant Association successfully lobbied when lawmakers overhauled the minimum wage schedule in 2019 to allow businesses to continue to pay less than minimum wage to employees who earn tips," by Capitol News' Beth Hundsdorfer. — Concerns raised about inmate transfers from prisons in Pontiac and Vandalia, by WGLT's Charlie Schlenker — Lawmakers examine building codes, emergency alert protocols in wake of deadly Edwardsville tornado, by WCIA's Danny Connolly
| | | | BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we've got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don't miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now. | | | | | | | CHICAGO | | — Lightfoot highlights post-pandemic surge in domestic violence, city's commitment to stop it: "Last year, the mayor unveiled a plan to confront gender-based violence and human trafficking. It was designed with input from survivors and supported by $25 million in "new investments" made possible by federal relief funds," by Sun-Times' Fran Spielman. — WBEZ INVESTIGATION: Inside the sexual misconduct scandal involving workers at Evanston's beaches: A former Evanston beach worker is going public about why she helped organize a petition alleging sexual harassment, abuse and assault against female employees. "This is ridiculous, and it can't keep happening." WBEZ's Dan Mihalopoulos. — Indiana steel mill to pay $3M for dumping toxins into Lake Michigan tributary that led to fish kill and beach closures, by Tribune's Michael Hawthorne — Bluhm family gives Northwestern Medicine $45M, by Crain's Katherine Davis — CPS school that changed its name to honor Harriet Tubman makes it official with new sign, by Tribune's Tracy Swartz
| | COOK COUNTY | | Grimshaw and Orr call Cook County's property tax 'more transparent and fair' under Fritz Kaegi: "Kaegi took steps on behalf of struggling homeowners and small businesses who had previously suffered under well-documented unfairness, inequities, inaccuracy and unethical behavior during the Joe Berrios administration," writes Orr not only avoided the taint of criminal behavior attached to many in the Chicago City Council when he served as alderman but also managed to retain his reputation as a political reformer. As Cook County clerk," write Jacky Grimshaw, VP for governmental affairs at Center for Neighborhood Technology, and former Cook County Clerk David Orr.
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — EMAIL SCOOP VIA AHERN: Secretary of state candidate Anna Valencia is coming under scrutiny for her use of emails while in her position as clerk of the city of Chicago. NBC 5's Mary Ann Ahern reports that "hundreds of official emails to or about her husband" were sent by Valencia "from her taxpayer-funded city account." The issue, first raised by opponent Alexi Giannoulias' campaign, "concerns nearly 700 emails sent to or regarding her husband Reyahd Kazmi, who became a lobbyist for Monterrey Security in the fall of 2017," according to Ahern. In a statement to Playbook, Valencia's campaign accused Giannoulias of taking a page out of Donald Trump's playbook "by digging for dirt about his opponents through her emails." Valencia's team denounced what it called "a sexist implication that Valencia's husband dictates her decisions." Watch for emails to be a theme in the competitive race for secretary of state since that office oversees lobbyist filing, registration and disclosure. — Pritzker pushes back at Irvin: In a statement about billionaire Ken Griffin backing Republican Richard Irvin for governor, the Pritzker campaign pointed to Griffin's close ties to former Gov. Bruce Rauner: "Ken Griffin would conveniently like us all to forget he bankrolled the very governor that decimated the social services that prevent violence, caused our colleges and universities to nearly lose accreditation and devastated our state's finances in previously unseen ways," said Gov. JB Pritzker's campaign spokeswoman Natalie Edelstein. "Ken's chosen candidate is entirely unserious about addressing the issues facing Illinois and spent 15 years profiting off of the defense of violent criminals. The wounds left by Bruce Rauner's incompetence are still fresh and Illinoisans see Irvin's candidacy for exactly what it is: another empty suit for Ken Griffin to drag our state backwards." — Scott Preston, candidate for State Representative in the new 91st House District, announced endorsements from area lawmakers, including Reps. Rodney Davis and Darin LaHood, House Republican Leaders Jim Durkin, Ryan Spain, and Dan Brady, state Sens. Jason Barickman and Sally Turner, and state Reps. Tom Bennett, Mark Luft, and Keith Sommer.
| | | |   | | | | | DAY IN COURT | | — Meet the 'Crocodile of Wall Street' rapper accused of laundering billions of dollars in crypto: The husband-and-wife duo — she's an Illinois native — have been charged with "conspiring to launder 119,754 bitcoin, a cache worth about $4.5 billion, prompting the streaming service Netflix to enlist a 'Tiger King' executive producer to direct an upcoming series about them. Morgan and Ilya 'Dutch' Lichtenstein, 34, are accused of trying to launder the cryptocurrency stolen after a hacker breached the exchange Bitfinex in 2016 and initiated more than 2,000 unauthorized transactions. Prosecutors said the bitcoin was sent to a digital wallet controlled by Lichtenstein," by Washington Post's María Luisa Paúl. — AG petitions Supreme Court in sex assault case: "Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a petition on Thursday asking the Illinois Supreme Court to intervene in a controversial sexual assault case that ended with a circuit judge voiding his original guilty verdict and freeing the defendant early," by Capitol News' Beth Hundsdorfer. — Chicago not-for-profit leader pleads guilty to wire fraud: "Yesse Yehudah, president and CEO of Fulfilling Our Responsibilities Unto Mankind, admitted misusing more than $260,000 in state grants," by Sun-Times' Manny Ramos. — Two CPS parents say their kids were told to wear masks or leave school, want district held in contempt of court, by Tribune's Tracy Swartz and Karen Ann Cullotta
| | Reader Digest | | If Barack Obama was invited to dinner, the conversation wouldn't always be polite: Chicago election commissioner Bill Kresse would ask "Might you (or Michelle) consider being an election judge?" ... Playbooker Jim Strickler: "Did you want a third term?" ... NFP Consulting's Kelly Kleiman: "Can I have your baby, sir?"... Playbook Steve Hild: "Where do we go from here?" ... Veritas Strategies Bill Velazquez: "If not Biden, who would be your VP? ... Ken Dunkin: "Why didn't you nominate a Black woman to SCOTUS?" What's something from your childhood that people don't know about? Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Russia says some forces pulling back amid Ukraine crisis, by The Associated Press — These companies stopped campaign donations to election objectors. Their lobbyists did not, by POLITICO's Emily Birnbaum, Megan Wilson and Hailey Fuchs — Canada invokes unprecedented emergency measures — and triggers a political firestorm, by POLITICO's Zi-Ann Lum — What the GOP meant when it called Jan. 6 'legitimate political discourse,' by POLITICO's Kyle Cheney — Judge throws out Palin libel case against New York Times, by POLITICO's Josh Gerstein
| | MEDIA MATTERS | | There's a boardroom brouhaha at the Reader that's holding up the alternative weekly's plans to take the publication to nonprofit status: From the Sun-Times' David Roeder: "The Reader's two owners — criminal defense attorney Leonard Goodman and real estate investor Elzie Higginbottom — and their board members are split over the leadership of the Reader's co-publisher and president, Tracy Baim, after Goodman wrote a column in November for the Reader about his concerns over having his 6-year-old daughter vaccinated against Covid-19." After the column published, there was such an uproar that there was a discussion about taking the column down. According to Crain's Ally Marotti: "Two members of the Reader's board, which unanimously approved the plan to transition to a nonprofit in late 2019, said they were concerned over what they viewed as potential censorship of the column." Now there's a stalemate on moving forward with nonprofit status. Mark Jacob, a former Tribune editor who studies media, offers some advice: "Let's not make it personal. Let's do what's best for Chicago, which is a Reader led by Baim and supported by Goodman if he chooses."
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Elizabeth Manion is now chief of staff for Lisa Wagner at LW&CO. She previously was partner relations manager at DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau. Minion also is directing fundraising for Republican Greg Hart, who's running for DuPage County board chair. — Judy Frydland is returning to her roots as an attorney focusing on business law and government processes. Frydland previously was commissioner of buildings for the city of Chicago.
| | TRIVIA | | MONDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Monica Gordon and Wayne Williams for correctly answering that the St. Valentine's Day massacre occurred at SMC Cartage Company's garage at 2122 N. Clark, which is now a parking lot. TODAY's QUESTION: Which Illinois politician was captain of his college water polo team? Email skapos@politico.com
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Healthier Happens Together. Learn more. | | | | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Hyman Riebman, retired Cook County judge; Kim Muzeroll, deputy chief of staff to Jan Schakowsky; and GBA Strategies VP Jason McGrath. -30-
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