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| By Shia Kapos |
Happy Thursday, Illinois. The mayor visited the press room in City Hall Wednesday and noticed we’re not the best housekeepers. PROGRAMMING NOTE: We’ll be off starting next week and through the holidays before returning to your inbox Tuesday, Jan. 2.
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 | TOP TALKER | |
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Mayor Brandon Johnson stopped by the City Hall press room after the City Council meeting Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO |
Washington lawmakers are getting nudged to beef up funding for Chicago and other cities to handle the migrant crisis. Numbers game: Mayor Brandon Johnson said he pushed the White House last week for $5 billion to go to states, including a large portion to Chicago. “We did not get necessarily a strong commitment for that number, but we did get a commitment that there will be a number. We just have to push for a larger number,” he told reporters Wednesday. All eyes on Congress: Much depends on how lawmakers address “conflicts that are happening around the globe,” Johnson said, referring to legislation tying border funding to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Congresswoman Delia Ramirez is pushing, too. The IL-03 representative is just back from a legislative trip to Guatemala to address economic and security issues and to underscore the importance of the rule of law at a time when that government is experiencing upheaval. Sen. Dick Durbin was also on the trip. They visit took the two Democrats to the border, where they talked to new arrivals from Venezuela. Ramirez said she’s even more firmly committed to seeing federal funds address border issues. Billion-dollar push: “We are going to be pushing for that money to come to Chicago,” she said of supplemental funding. “Money for shelter support has to be built into that budget. We think it should be as much as $10 billion” to help Chicago and other cities. A migrant milestone: Johnson told reporters Wednesday that only the 12th District police station on the city’s West Side is now sheltering migrants. A few months ago as many as 4,000 migrants were in police stations all over Chicago. The beefed up shelters are thanks to faith leaders stepping in. The city has also stood up 18 shelters, resettled 9,000 individuals and reunited 3,600 others with sponsors since Johnson took office, according to Deputy Chief of Staff Cristina Pacione-Zayas. So, were plans for the tents a mistake? “The goal was ultimately to decompress our police districts. I did that. We have one more left,” Johnson told reporters. Jason Lee weighs in: “At the time in which we made the decision, the flow was escalating,” the mayor’s top adviser said. “We were already at complete overcapacity in police districts so much so that thousands of people were sleeping on the streets. That's the political maelstrom that we were in,” he said, adding city officials worried someone would die if left on the streets. RELATED — BUS RULES: The City Council on Wednesday voted in favor of an ordinance that would allow Chicago to impound buses that drop off migrants at sites other than the designated landing zone at 8th Street and Des Plaines in the Loop, via ABC 7. — Shelved Brighton Park migrant camp cost city nearly $1M, by the Sun-Times’ Mitchell Armentrout and Fran Spielman — City paying more than typical rent for migrant shelter buildings — and keeping details secret, according to the Block Club’s Mick Dumke and Melody Mercado — Mayor defends handling of environmental report at now-scrapped migrant camp, by the Tribune’s Alice Yin — Oak Park, which has been providing shelter for migrants, will require them to move out of hotel, YMCA by Jan. 31, the Tribune’s Robert McCoppin reports — SPOTLIGHT | The harrowing journeys of migrants are revealed in the quiet spaces of Chicago: “Migrants who already struggle to talk about their trauma find a persistent shortage of mental health workers. Support groups are trying to fill the void,” by WBEZ’s Kristen Schorsch.
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| | THE BUZZ | |
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Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, second from left, joins officials Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, to announce quantum education plans. | U.S. Embassy in Japan |
QUANTUM MEETING: U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel presided over a new trilateral quantum partnership Wednesday in Tokyo among IBM, the University of Chicago, two Japanese universities and two Korean universities. Why they're collaborating: IBM and the universities want to train 40,000 students over the next 10 years to prepare them for the quantum workforce and promote the growth of a global quantum ecosystem. Big names in the room: Along with Emanuel, South Korean Ambassador to Japan Yun Duk-min, IBM Senior VP Dario Gil, Keio University President ITOH Kohei and University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos, who participated virtually along with leaders from Seoul National University, Yonsei University and University of Tokyo. By way of background, today’s trilateral agreement is the result of the $100 million IBM quantum partnership that Emanuel, the former may of Chicago, developed earlier this year between U. of C. and U. of Tokyo. If you are Rahm Emanuel, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
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| WHERE'S JB | |
At Parkland College in Champaign at 10 a.m. to celebrate a milestone in I-57 reconstruction – At the Governor’s Mansion at 12:30 p.m. to unveil and light the official state Hanukkah menorah.
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| WHERE's BRANDON | |
| In City Hall at 10 a.m. for a Chicago City Council meeting – At Kennedy King College at 1 p.m. for a Community Safety Strategy Council Kickoff meeting – At IIT at 5:30 p.m. for the Chicago Youth Services Corps Showcase.
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| Where's Toni | |
In Miami-Dade County, Fla., for the National Association of Counties’ Executives Roundtable. Have a tip, birthday, new job or, even, a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
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| THE STATEWIDES | |
— Injunction levied against the city of Springfield for "discriminatory" housing ordinance, by the State Journal-Register’s Zach Roth — For every holiday shopping thrill, a shopping threat may await: Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza encourages safe shopping for the holidays, by WREX’s Nathan Langley
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| BUSINESS OF POLITICS | |
— Board of Ethics finds probable cause four lobbyists improperly donated to Johnson: “Those donors include former 49th Ward Ald. Joe Moore, who now has his own lobbying business; John Dunn, former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s director of intergovernmental affairs who now works for Cozen O’Connor; Michael Cassidy with Zephyr Government Strategies; and Anthony B. Bruno, a politically connected business and government consultant in the west suburbs who was previously convicted for tax fraud,” by the Tribune’s A.D. Quig.
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| | 2024 WATCH | |
| — Clayton Harris III has been endorsed by Teamsters Local 705 in his bid for Cook County state's attorney. — Nadine Jean Wichern is running for the 20th Subcircuit judicial seat. Wichern is chief of the civil appeals division in the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.
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| | CHICAGO | |
| — City Council sides with mayor on Chicago police contract: More money for cops but disciplinary provision rebuffed: The council rejected the proposal to allow officers accused of serious misconduct to have their disciplinary cases heard behind closed doors. critics said it “subverted efforts to make police misconduct proceedings more transparent,” report the Tribune’s Sam Charles, A.D. Quig and Alice Yin. — The “Chi vs. Hate” ordinance passed the City Council unanimously. The ordinance calls for collecting reports about incidents in the city that might signal there are hate crimes in an area. Ald. Debra Silverstein carried the measure. — Heartland Alliance cuts 65 jobs and shuts affordable housing division, by the Sun-Times’ David Roeder and Mohammad Samra — Google provides first look at plans for Chicago’s Thompson Center, by CoStar’s Ryan Ori — CTA boss says Yellow Line crash conditions are isolated, not systemwide, by the Sun-Times’ David Struett
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| The Trial of Edward Burke | |
The closing arguments... — He wielded power to ‘satisfy his own greed,’ prosecutor alleges, by the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel and Mariah Woelfel — He used power ‘to punish and extort,’ via the Tribune’s Jason Meisner, Megan Crepeau and Ray Long — ‘This was his racket’ via WTTW’s Matt Masterson
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| COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | |
— Highland Park parade massacre suspect’s father released from jail early for good behavior, by the Sun-Times’ Mary Norkol — Public comment: Wilmette residents urged the village board to sue Evanston and Northwestern U. over the Ryan Field drama, via the village’s news feed
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| SPOTTED | |
— IN D.C.: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle at the White House, via social media. — Oscar S. Tatosian, the Republic of Armenia’s honorary consul in Chicago and owner of Oscar Isberian Rugs, hosted a holiday party. In the room: Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, state Sen. Willie Preston, Alds. Lamont Robinson (4th), Felix Cardona (31st), Bill Conway (34th) and Maria Hadden (49th) as well as Grammy nominated singer John Hill and political consultant Richard Streetman.
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| Reader Digest | |
We asked what Milwaukee does better than Chicago: Kristopher Anderson: “Pricing of tickets for their NBA team.” Ed Mazur: “Frozen Custard at Leon's can not be beat and is worth the 90 minute drive.” Luis Narvaez: “A retractable-roof baseball stadium (although we beat them at having an actual football team!).” Jessica Smith: “As a Marquette alumni, I’ve got to say college basketball.” Timothy Thomas Jr.: “Lakefront festivals, especially Summerfest.” Josh Witkowski: “Chicago has good tavern-style pizza, but Milwaukee’s done a great job preserving the original style of pizza. My favorite is Milwaukee’s Caradaro Club.” For Friday, what’s the holiday task you have yet to accomplish?
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| THE NATIONAL TAKE | |
— Kamala Harris pushes W.H. to be more sympathetic toward Palestinians, by POLITICO’s Eugene Daniels and Holly Otterbein — House GOP votes to formalize impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden, by POLITICO’s Jordain Carney — The 2 days that salvaged a climate deal, via POLITICO staff
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| IN MEMORIAM | |
— Pat O’Brien, Moline 6th ward alderman, has died, by Our Quad Cities’ Michael Frachalla and Sharon Wren. Obit here
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| TRANSITIONS | |
— Former Congresswoman Cheri Bustos has been promoted to partner at Mercury Public Affairs, where she leads the Midwest office. — Niketa Brar is stepping down as executive director of Chicago United for Equity at year’s end. She’s been with the nonprofit for six-plus years and will support the transition to new leadership.
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| | EVENTS | |
| — Tonight: Mayor Brandon Johnson headlines a fundraiser for state Rep. Kim Du Buclet and MWRD President Kari Steele. Event theme: Ugly Sweaters. Details here
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| TRIVIA | |
WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Kaskaskia and Crains islands are Illinois lands located west of the Mississippi. TODAY's QUESTION: How did the Chicago Bears get their name? Email skapos@politico.com
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| HAPPY BIRTHDAY | |
Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission Executive Director Orlando Mayorga, Resolute public affairs COO David Smolensky, UCAN CEO Tom Vanden Berk, former mayoral candidate John Kozlar, film director Matthew Cherry, U. of C. grad Fernando Elizondo Junco and WGN anchor and investigative reporter Lourdes Duarte. -30- |
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