| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | TGIF, Illinois. The teenager in the house struggled to get out the door today and frankly I can relate (though he can't know that).
|  | TOP TALKER | | | 
Nicole Lee, named Thursday, March 24, 2022, to be alderman of Chicago's 11th Ward, would be the city's first Asian American woman to serve on the City Council. | Screen shot | After being named the first Chinese American to serve as alderperson for the City of Chicago, Nicole Lee paid homage in a quiet way to the family most associated with the ward: the Daleys. "The 11th Ward is Chicago. In the 11th Ward, we're grinders and winning ugly. We're proud of where we're raised — Bridgeport strong," she told friends, dignitaries and reporters gathered yesterday at the Zhou B Art Center. Lee's priority list — picking up trash, keeping streetlights on, neighborhood policing — was the same mantra for management under former Mayor Richard M. Daley and, at least in some neighborhoods, for the late Mayor Richard J. Daley, too. So it's no surprise that John Daley, the Cook County commissioner and 11th Ward committeeman, was on hand to congratulate Lee after Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced her appointment. "The mayor made a great selection," Daley told Playbook after the announcement. "Nicole has a very good understanding of what it is to live in the community. She's got common sense. She knows people want basic services: it's about garbage, lights, and better policing. That's a basic 101 understanding of what an alderperson should be. And she's got it." It was a bittersweet moment given Daley's nephew, Patrick Daley Thompson, lost the ward seat after a federal conviction. It's an experience Lee is familiar with, too, as her father, a former aide to Richard M. Daley, pleaded guilty in the 2000s to tax fraud. It's all part of the tapestry of life, and Lightfoot admonished those who would ask about it on a celebratory day. She said "Nicole is her own person," a director of social impact and community engagement at United Airlines and dedicated to serving her community. Lee will appear Monday in front of the City Council's Rules Committee before a confirmation vote by the full council. From Sun-Times' Fran Spielman: "An emotional Mayor Lori Lightfoot made political history on Thursday by appointing the first Asian American woman ever to serve on the City Council." From Tribune's Gregory Pratt and Alice Yin: "Bridgeport, long an Irish American enclave, has recently seen those of Asian descent surpass whites to make up the largest share of residents, according to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. That follows a trend of 2020 U.S. census figures showing Asian Americans as the fastest-growing racial group in Chicago."
| | THE BUZZ | | An unusual petition challenge could see two Democratic Illinois Supreme Court candidates kicked off the ballot. Lake County Judge Elizabeth Rochford is challenging the petitions of Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering and Kane County Judge Rene Cruz in the Democratic primary battle to fill the vacant 2nd District Supreme Court seat. A few candidates in other Supreme Court races are facing similar challenges. The challenges have nothing to do with authenticity, which is usually the beef in these cases. Instead, it's about how many signatures are actually required. According to Rochford's elections attorney, Michael Dorf, Rotering and Cruz used numbers from the State Board of Elections that "miscalculated the signature requirements. They read the law in a different way than it should be read," he told Playbook. Instead of the 334 they thought they needed, Dorf said 791 signatures should be required. Dorf is a high-profile election attorney who represented Lightfoot's campaign to get on the ballot in 2019. He says his team followed the statute, used county records that make up the 2nd District, and "did the multiplications and division by one-third" to come up with the numbers. Rotering's election attorney, Ed Mullen, says he's confident "the plain language of the statute" and "relevant legal precedent… support the minimum signature calculation." Cruz's attorney didn't immediately return a request for comment. On Tuesday, the challenges will be assigned to Election Board hearing officers who will rule on the challenge — which could be appealed by either side and then head to court. If Rochford's campaign is victorious in kicking her challengers off the ballot, she would bypass a primary and slide into the general election in November. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: skapos@politico.com
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO NATIONAL SECURITY DAILY : Keep up with the latest critical developments from Ukraine and across Europe in our daily newsletter, National Security Daily. The Russian invasion of Ukraine could disrupt the established world order and result in a refugee crisis, increased cyberattacks, rising energy costs and additional disruption to global supply chains. Go inside the top national security and foreign-policymaking shops for insight on the global threats faced by the U.S. and its allies and what actions world leaders are taking to address them. Subscribe today. | | | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | Having breakfast with Rep. Danny Davis and faith leaders on the campaign trail.
| | WHERE'S LORI | | Mayor Lightfoot will attend a press preview of the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall and Rotunda at the Chicago Cultural Center after a year-long restoration. At Daley Plaza at 1 p.m. for the Hellenic flag raising to commemorate this Greek Independence Day. Opa!
| | Where's Toni | | No official public events.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | Watchdog praises Pritzker budget, frowns on gas-tax freeze: "The nonpartisan Civic Federation's analysis fueled the celebration by Pritzker and Democratic lawmakers after the Legislature, over minority Republican objections, approved using $2.7 billion in federal pandemic-relief money to backfill the $4.5 billion hole in the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, battered by Covid-19 business closures," by The Associated Press' John O'Connor. Pritzker vows to sign plan to use $2.7B in federal relief to reduce unemployment fund debt, by Tribune's Dan Petrella and Jeremy Gorner
| | CHICAGO | | — Lightfoot is 'diligently' working on a plan to address the city's gas tax: "The move comes as gas prices exceed $5 per gallon in some parts of Chicago and on the same day one of Lightfoot's 2019 mayoral opponents, Willie Wilson, is giving away $1 million in gas at stations across the city. Lightfoot increased the city's gas tax from $.05 to $.08 per gallon at the start of 2021 as part of her pandemic budget. But in recent weeks, she's indicated she may roll that back," by WBEZ's Becky Vevea. … 'People need some relief,' Willie Wilson says of his second $1M gas giveaway after motorists pack pumps, by Tribune's Shanzeh Ahmad … Wilson may do a third gas-giveaway, by Sun-Times' Stefano Esposito and Mitch Dudek — CPS has lost 8% of schools' 'tech assets' during Covid, tens of thousands of computers, even air purifiers, defibrillators: "Police suspect that much of the property that CPS has listed as missing actually was stolen by people with access to school buildings during the pandemic," by Sun-Times' Frank Main. — Cubs owners make it to final phase of bidding war for Chelsea FC: "While more bidders may still make the next round, those that have done so now include the Ricketts family, who have teamed up with Chicago hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin," via Bloomberg. — Heaven on Seven, a longtime Loop lunch favorite, goes up for sale: "Owner Jimmy Bannos is selling his four-decade-old Cajun-themed Loop restaurant, recipes included," by Crain's Ally Marotti. — Chance the Rapper unveils new song, artwork collaboration for 'Child of God': "Standing before the crowd in the Museum of Contemporary Art's first-floor hall, Chance the Rapper and visual artist Naïla Opiangah introduced the project," by Sun-Times' Matt Moore. — Some Chicago birds are nesting nearly a month earlier than they did more than a century ago, Field study shows, by Tribune's Morgan Greene
| | DAY IN COURT | | — No overall ban on pols using campaign funds to pay criminal defense lawyers, state's top court rules: "The case involved former Ald. Danny Solis (25th), who was under federal investigation, but his successor, Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, had hoped state's top court would set a precedent that could have broader implications for other politicians, such as former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and Ald. Ed Burke (14th)," by Capitol News' Peter Hancock — CTU sues Lightfoot ally, accuses her of interfering in union's elections: "Lisa Schneider Fabes said she has not had an opportunity to review the lawsuit from CTU but believes she 'acted at all times consistent with applicable law,'" by Sun-Times' Manny Ramos. … Union suit claims group is a 'front' working for the 'benefit of Mayor Lori Lightfoot', by Tribune's Tracy Swartz. — State's Attorney Kim Foxx is doubling down on dozens of convictions tied to a corrupt ex-cop: "The 37 convictions that Foxx is backing resemble the 169 cases thrown out, making it difficult to see why the office is standing by those cases," by WBEZ's Chip Mitchell. — Ex-suburban highway boss pleads guilty to taking $282,000 in kickbacks from excavation company, by Tribune's Jason Meisner.
| | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | HONORING THE STRIKE: Gov. JB Pritzker, state Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Congressman Sean Casten, and the Democratic Party of Illinois announced yesterday they wouldn't participate in WTTW programming while technicians, graphic artists and floor crew members are striking. "I stand in solidarity with the men and women of IBEW Local 1220 and will honor their strike," Pritzker said in a statement. Party Chair Robin Kelly echoed that in a letter to WTTW, saying, "While we support the general mission of public television, the Democratic Party of Illinois stands in solidarity with IBEW Local 1220 in their fight for a fair contract." She also asked that campaigns be given an opportunity to participate in WTTW programming once the strike is resolved. Motivation: The announcements came after the Chicago Federation of Labor emailed folks, stating, "we trust that candidates, especially those seeking an endorsement from the Chicago Federation of Labor, will honor IBEW's strike." WTTW is pulling together its election coverage and has told candidates they have an April 18 deadline to participate.
| | | | DON'T MISS POLITICO'S INAUGURAL HEALTH CARE SUMMIT ON 3/31: Join POLITICO for a discussion with health care providers, policymakers, federal regulators, patient representatives, and industry leaders to better understand the latest policy and industry solutions in place as we enter year three of the pandemic. Panelists will discuss the latest proposals to overcome long-standing health care challenges in the U.S., such as expanding access to care, affordability, and prescription drug prices. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — Democratic Committeewoman Lauren Beth Gash is pulling out all the stops in her reelection campaign for the party seat. She's won endorsements from Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Robin Kelly, and Brad Schneider, as well as numerous elected officials. Here's the list — State Sen. Jacqueline Collins, who's running for Congress in the 1st District, is endorsing Chicago attorney La'Mont Williams in the Democratic primary to fill her seat. Williams currently is chief of staff and general counsel to Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry, who's also endorsing Williams for the General Assembly seat as are state Sens. Ram Villivalam and Robert Peters, and state Rep. Mary Flowers. — Candidates for 5th Congressional seat facing possible ballot ouster, by Daily Herald's Russell Lissau
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — TRAINS: Proposed railroad merger will 'degrade the safety and reliability' of service, Metra says: "Metra's filing was part of a merger application under review by the federal Surface Transportation Board, which would combine the Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern railroads in a $31 billion deal. In the Chicago area, Canadian Pacific shares tracks with Metra's Milwaukee District West and Milwaukee District North lines, and Metra and west suburban communities have raised concerns about the potential increase in freight trains the merger could bring," by Tribune's Sarah Freishtat. — School crossing guards are hard to find. In Barrington, Fred Welstead has been on the job 26 years — and just turned 89, by Tribune's Karen Ann Cullotta
| | Reader Digest | | We asked about your pet peeve in group meetings: Attorney Dennis Wendte gets bothered by "people wandering in late to meetings with no good excuse. It shows a complete lack of respect for other participants."... Media and comms adviser Joyce Winnecke is irked "when people wait until 2 minutes before a meeting's scheduled end time to bring up something crucial that they no doubt have been mulling for the previous 56 minutes." … City Club's Ed Mazur: "Members who remain silent and then outside the meeting have all sorts of opinions constructive and some not so." … NFP Consulting's Kelly Kleiman's pet peeve is when "people at the meeting aren't willing to commit to decisions." ... Illinois Playbook editor Darius Dixon: "Having that 2nd or 3rd meeting on a topic when you haven't addressed issues raised in the 1st. People repeat themselves but with less enthusiasm." ... And we can all relate to Eli's Cheesecake sales exec Brad Howard's pet peeve: "Sitting there waiting for a Zoom link to start a call." Do you have a personal Academy Awards story? Email skapos@politico.com SUBSCRIBE TO WOMEN RULE: A few of the most startling moments during the 24 hours of testimony in Ketanji Brown Jackson's Supreme Court confirmation hearings came when she was persistently interrupted by Republican senators. Worse, is knowing that it happens to women all the time. Your Playbook host talked to Rep. Robin Kelly and others about that familiar feeling when you're "interrupted, talked over or said something that isn't heard until a man says it later." Watch for the newsletter report later this morning.
| | SCOTUS WATCH | | | 
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson shares a moment with Sen. Tammy Duckworth after Supreme Court confirmation hearings in Washington, D.C., on March 24, 2022. | Francis Chung/E&E News/POLITICO | — 6 takeaways from Ketanji Brown Jackson's final Supreme Court confirmation hearing: "The Jackson hearing threw a spotlight on the national partisan divide and underscored how Republicans are trying to paint Democrats as soft on crime in the 2022 elections," by Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet — GOP frets over how hard to fight Jackson, by POLITICO's Burgess Everett and Marianne LeVine — The Supreme Court is turning into one big D.C. prep school, by POLITICO's Michael Schaffer — Mom goals in a photo: The story behind that photo of Ketanji Brown Jackson and her daughter, via The New York Times
| | RUSSIA-UKRAINE | | — Chicago prepares for Ukrainian refugees to ease burden on Warsaw: "Since Vladimir Putin's unprovoked war began, 300,000 Ukrainian refugees have poured into Warsaw alone, increasing the population of the Polish capital by 15 percent," by Sun-Times' Fran Spielman. — Band of others: Ukraine's legions of foreign soldiers are on the frontline, by POLITICO's Andy Blatchford — Ukraine war turns Poland into America's 'indispensable' ally, by POLITICO's Jan Cienski and Nahal Toosi — NATO vows to boost aid to Ukraine but Zelenskyy warns it's falling short, by POLITICO's David Herszenhorn and Lili Bayer
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Clarence Thomas' wife pressed Trump chief of staff to overturn 2020 vote, texts show, via The New York Times — GOP sets aside obstruction mentality, pivoting to 'save America' agenda, by POLITICO's Sarah Ferris and Olivia Beavers — Biden's game plan in Brussels: Punch Putin and hug the West, by POLITICO's Christopher Cadelago, Jonathan Lemire and Samuel Benson — GOP Rep. Jeff Fortenberry convicted of lying to FBI, by POLITICO's Josh Gerstein and Myah Ward | | SPOTTED | | NO FRIES. MADIGAN! Big names in politics and media stopped by the Billy Goat Tavern last night for the book launch of Tribune reporter Ray Long's "The House That Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois' Velvet Hammer." Spotted In the room: political PR maven Joanna Klonsky, Marj Halperin and Hanah Jubeh, CBS 2's Jim Williams, NBC 5's Mary Ann Ahern, WTTW's Amanda Vinicky and Heather Cherone, Sun-Times' Mark Brown, former Tribune editors Hanke Gratteau and Joyce Winnecke, Crain's Jim Kirk, Tribune's Rick Pearson, Rick Kogan, Gregory Pratt, and Alice Yin, New York Times' Bill Ruthhart, USA Today's Javonte Anderson, and ProPublica's Jodi Cohen. The long-distance awards: Loren Wassell from St. Louis, a former Peoria Journal Star colleague of Long's, and Long's Eastern Illinois University buddies Al Martinez and Greg Campos.
| | TAKING NAMES | | Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated $17 million to Planned Parenthood of Illinois. It's part of a larger gift of $275 million to Planned Parenthood Federation of America. This is the latest in a flurry of donations Scott has made to Illinois nonprofits, including $8.3 million to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago and $2 million to Community Organizing and Family Issues.
| | BABY NEWS | | Congrats to attorney Drew Beres and Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Mia Buntic on the birth of Louis H. Beres II. Pic!
| | TRIVIA | | THURSDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to John McCabe and Rina Ranalli for correctly answering that Park Forest was featured in William H. Whyte's 1956 bestselling classic, "The Organization Man." TODAY's QUESTION: What Chicago based film company produced the first feature length film by a Black filmmaker? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Today: State comptroller comms director Abdon Pallasch, Des Plaines Mayor Andrew Goczkowski, former Rep. Terry Bruce, comms specialist Sofia Kinzinger, Playbooker Haley Parker Miller, project manager Doug Kinney, and comms specialist Meredith Shiner. Saturday: Illinois Department of Revenue Director David Harris, former state Rep. Raymond Poe, energy consultant and former Quigley adviser Max Frankel, PR pro David Rosenberg, Macy's media relations VP Andrea Schwartz, maritime writer Mary Ann O'Rourke, journalist Michael Sean Comerford, and Rep. Karen Bass chief of staff Caren Street. Sunday: state Rep. Fran Hurley, Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, civic leader Michelle Collins, Mag Mile Association CEO Kimberly Bares, Invenergy government affairs Midwest director Colleen Smith, Northwestern U. Education & Social Policy School comms director Julie Deardorff, Northwestern U. clinical associate professor of comms Suzanne Muchin, Hy-Vee government relations director Tyler Power, and Tribune content editor Tina Akouris. -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 | | | | |
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