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| By Shia Kapos |
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Happy Thursday, Illinois. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is in town today to give a major policy speech, so behave.
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 | TOP TALKER | |
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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks to reporters after the City Council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 224, 2024. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO |
OUT IN THE OPEN: Mayor Brandon Johnson talks a lot about transparency. He often says how important it is to his administration. Just Wednesday, he said transparency is at the heart of negotiating a police arbitration deal (that was tabled because he couldn’t get enough votes) and that the city is funding services for migrants in full transparency. “There's an entire website dedicated to the spinning of this mission,” he said. Yet when it came time to consider a measure that would require greater transparency in how federal Covid dollars are spent, Johnson directed Vice Mayor Walter Burnett Jr. to send the ordinance to the Rules Committee to die on the vine. At issue: In late December, Johnson made a surprise announcement that his administration spent $95 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to help offset costs of caring for asylum seekers. Double-takes: The announcement took Ald. Bill Conway (34th) by surprise since there was no official council discussion on using the federal monies even though aldermen had debated and voted on much smaller allocations. He pulled together the proposed ordinance that calls for future oversight on such funding regardless of what it’s for. “It’s upsetting that they’re trying to bury it in the Rules Committee so the mayor can have a $400 million piggy bank,” Conway told Playbook. “The mayor should support it because it’s about collaboration and working together on a humanitarian crisis.” Johnson’s take: He has authority to make such decisions. “This is not about oversight,” the mayor said at his post-council Q&A with reporters. “This is about whether or not I get to fulfill my responsibility as an executive.” The gray area: Johnson’s taking cues from former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who was granted emergency powers during the pandemic to use federal funds of up to $1 million for emergencies. At the time, it was to pounce on PPP equipment that couldn’t wait for City Council approval. Conway’s ordinance allows for the mayor to continue making decisions on up to $1 million, and after that a City Council discussion would be required. His proposal may still have legs. It has 27 supporters, including allies of the mayor. Here’s the list More from Wednesday’s City Council meeting — Johnson calls for a cease-fire in Gaza: “We’re looking at 25,000 Palestinians that have been killed during this war and the killing has to stop. So, yes, we need a cease-fire,” Johnson said. WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel has more. — Tensions rise at City Council meeting during Holocaust Remembrance Day resolution, by ABC 7’s Craig Wall — Aldermen defer police arbitration deal, approve settlements, by the Tribune’s A.D. Quig, Jake Sheridan and Sam Charles. … Sun-Times’ headline: Johnson dodges embarrassing defeat, by Fran Spielman — Mayor likes idea of a Sox ballpark development at The 78, by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman — Council unanimously approves Ciere Boatright as planning commissioner, by Crain’s Justin Laurence — Dollar Store crackdown delayed, but fight to hold shops accountable isn’t over, by the Block Club’s Quinn Myers — Johnson calls on state to build migrant shelters outside Chicago, by the Tribune’s Alice Yin — BIG QUESTION: When was the last time the governor and mayor had a one-on-one? Johnson told reporters it was in December over breakfast and they talked about the migrant crisis, the upcoming Democratic National Convention and their kids.
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| | THE BUZZ | |
| Biden on Illinois shooting: A rampage shooting in Joliet this week that left eight people dead, including two teenagers, has drawn the attention of President Joe Biden. “Jill and I are praying for the family members of the eight victims killed in Joliet, Illinois, and for the broader community devastated by these tragic shootings,” the president said in a statement Wednesday. Biden emphasized the administration’s work on gun control, saying, “This tragedy underscores why I am doing everything in my power to keep guns off our streets and out of the hands of those who seek to harm themselves or others.” If you are Joe Biden, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
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| A message from Instagram: Parents should be able to decide which apps are right for their teens.
According to a new poll by Morning Consult conducted in November 2023, more than 75% of parents believe teens under 16 shouldn’t be able to download apps without parental permission.1
Instagram wants to work with Congress to pass federal legislation that gets it done.
Learn more. |
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| WHERE'S JB | |
At the Sweet Maple Café at 9:30 a.m. with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for a breakfast meeting.
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| WHERE's BRANDON | |
At the DFSS Command Center at 9:15 p.m. for the 2024 Point-In-Time Count, which counts people experiencing homelessness from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.
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| Where's Toni | |
At the Cook County Building at 10 a.m. to preside over the Board of Commissioners meeting. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (gasp!) a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
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| 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. |
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| BUSINESS OF POLITICS | |
— City Hall insiders gave campaign money to Jason Lee’s mother, when she was running for office: “Sheila Jackson Lee, a congresswoman from Texas, visited Chicago to raise money for her failed effort to become Houston’s mayor. Her son Jason Lee is a top adviser to Mayor Brandon Johnson,” by the Sun-Times’ Tim Novak and Robert Herguth. — Sean Casten violates federal financial disclosure law: The IL-06 congressman “failed to report investments” made through a family investment vehicle, reports Raw Story’s Alexandria Jacobson.
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| | 2024 WATCH | |
| — Congressman Darin LaHood has endorsed Tim Yager in his bid to represent the state Senate’s 37th District. Yager, a Republican, is a farmer, Henry County Board member and Henry County Farm Bureau Board member. The 37th is currently represented by Republican state Sen. Win Stoller, who isn’t seeking reelection. — Congressman Danny Davis (IL-07) has been endorsed by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and county commissioners Dennis Deer, Donna Miller, Bill Lowry, Tara Stamps and Stanley Moore. — Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) has been endorsed by the Illinois AFL-CIO in his reelection bid.
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| THE STATEWIDES | |
— Army Corps plans $1B barricade to deter invasive carp at Illinois and Des Plaines Rivers, by WBEZ’s Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco — Illinois OKs plan to revamp how reading is taught, by WBEZ’s Mawa Iqbal — Emotional plea for passage of ‘Karina’s Bill,’ which is aimed at seizing guns from those accused in domestic violences cases, by Sun-Times’ Sophie Sherry
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| HIGHER-ED | |
— Northwestern being investigated by U.S. Department of Education over accusations of antisemitism amid Israel-Hamas war: “A complaint against Northwestern was filed earlier this month by Zachary Marschall of Campus Reform, a Virginia-based organization that describes itself as a ‘conservative watchdog’ that ‘exposes liberal bias and abuse on the nation’s college campuses,’” by the Tribune’s Alysa Guffey and Angie Leventis Lourgos
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| A message from Instagram:   |
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| CHICAGO | |
— Council’s Budget Committee chair wants to fire head of financial analysis office: “Kenneth P. Williams Sr. wouldn’t leave his $123,000-a-year job before his four-year term was up June 1, so Ald. Jason Ervin put him on leave in mid-July. Since then, Williams has been paid to do nothing. The Council was to vote Wednesday to allow Williams’ immediate removal, but Ervin opted to put off a vote by holding the matter in committee,” reports the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman. — Obama Foundation gives $500K to Chicago groups supporting girls’ health, education and more, by Block Club’s Maxwell Evans — Skylark employees buy popular Pilsen dive bar, and they’re keeping it the same, by the Block Club’s Madison Savedra
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| COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | |
— Former Mount Prospect Mayor Arlene Juracek has medical scare at state of village address: “She later texted Mayor Paul Hoefert, telling him that doctors attributed the episode to dehydration.” And she has Covid, reports the Daily Herald’s Steve Zalusky. — ‘Night and Day’ transformation: Arnold Randall is leaving Cook County Forest Preserves in better shape than he found them, by WTTW’s Patty Wetli
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| TAKING NAMES | |
— Paul Vallas has declined to take part in the Chicago GOP fundraiser that we wrote about Wednesday. “In the last week I was asked to speak at a community forum. Unbeknownst to me it was a GOP fundraiser, and my name and likeness was used without my permission to promote the event,” he posted on social media. “I will not be attending the event." Different take from the GOP: “Mr. Vallas was invited as a policy expert who is affiliated with the Illinois Policy Institute, not a politician,” wrote Chicago Republican Party Chair Steve Boulton in a statement. “We have hosted other policy experts at past events. The nature of the event was fully explained to Mr. Vallas.”
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| | ...SWAMP THINGS... | |
| — Chicago police officer gets three months home detention for participating in Jan. 6 Capitol riot: “Karol and Agnieszka Chwiesiuk are among more than 40 Illinois residents to face federal criminal charges in connection with the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Karol Chwiesiuk is the only Chicago police officer among them,” by the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel.
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| 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. |
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| Reader Digest | |
We asked how for your favorite outdoor winter spot: Janice Anderson: “A golf course or hiking trail in the Phoenix area.” John Curry: “Fort Zachary Taylor Beach in Key West, Fla.” Chris Kolker: TopGolf Mike Matejka: “Watching eagles along the Illinois River at Starved Rock State Park or from the Starved Rock Lock & Dam.” Marilynn Miller: “In my own backyard! The snow accumulated on trees is gorgeous.” Nancy Rotering, the mayor of Highland Park: “The Heller Nature Center in Highland Park.” David Schwartz: “Watching the ice form on Lake Michigan.” Andy Shaw: “The woods and along the lake outside our Michigan beach house if it’s above freezing and wind is light.” La’Mont Williams: “In Chicago, it’s Steelworkers Park and in Illinois, it’s Chain O’Lakes State Park.” NEXT QUESTION: Besides a parking ticket, what’s the biggest city fine you’ve had to pay?
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| DELEGATION | |
— One-on-one with Nikki Budzinski: Act on immigration, protect abortion rights, the first-term congresswoman tells the State Journal-Register’s Patrick M. Keck
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| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | |
— Democrats fear economic fallout from Red Sea could hurt them in November, by POLITICO's Meredith Lee Hill, Ari Hawkins and Adam Cancryn — What history says about Biden’s power to strike back against the Houthis, by Joshua Zeitz for POLITICO — Why the Supreme Court could matter more than Iowa and New Hampshire, by POLITICO’s Erica Orden
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| TRANSITIONS | |
— Roche Schulfer to step down at the Goodman Theatre: He’s retiring as CEO at the end of the 2023-24 season but will continue as senior adviser through September 2025. COO and Managing Director John Collins will succeed him starting Sept. 1. Crain’s Brandon Dupré reports.
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| A message from Instagram: More than 75% of parents want to approve the apps teens under 16 download.
According to a new poll from Morning Consult, more than 75% of parents agree: Teens under 16 shouldn’t be able to download apps from app stores without parental permission.1
Instagram wants to work with Congress to pass federal legislation that gets it done.
Learn more.
1"US Parents Study on Teen App Downloads" by Morning Consult (Meta-commissioned survey of 2,019 parents), Nov. 2023. |
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| EVENTS | |
— Feb. 1: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is headlining a fundraiser for Clayton Harris III, who’s running for Cook County state’s attorney. Details here
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| TRIVIA | |
WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Matthew Beaudet and Jim Nowlan for correctly answering that Midway Plaisance originated at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. TODAY's QUESTION: What year did Chicago host two national political party conventions during the same week? Email skapos@politico.com
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| HAPPY BIRTHDAY | |
Obama Foundation Chief Strategy Officer Tina Tchen, Cleveland Avenue Managing Partner Andrea Zopp, GPG Strategies CEO Michael Axelrod, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Executive Director Erin Aleman, Fig Media President Michele Gustin and Laura Bagby, comms director at the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. -30- |
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