| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | TGIF, Illinois, and happy Lunar New Year! Programming note: Illinois Playbook is off Monday for Presidents Day. We’ll be back in your inboxes Tuesday.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | 
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke during a press conference after a City Council meeting Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO | OFF THE RAILS: Mayor Brandon Johnson held an unusually heated press conference Thursday at which he repeatedly dodged reporters’ questions about the contract with ShotSpotter and a funding package for migrants, and punted on a police arbitration vote that’s now headed to court. Clear as mud: “I’ve been clear from the very beginning,” Johnson said 10 times during the Q&A, while talking in broad strokes and offering few details to his answers. It’s a practice that every politician tries to master — answering a question with a non-answer. Sometimes, though, a direct answer is a good way to go. “Does the ShotSpotter contract end Friday? It’s a yes or no question,” ABC 7’s Sarah Schulte pressed after the mayor talked in circles about public safety. Johnson’s answer: “It may be a yes or no question for you, but I will respectfully ask that you ask your question and allow me to answer the question in the way in which I want to.” Clarity from ShotSpotter’s parent company: Negotiations are ongoing. In a memo to Playbook, a spokesman with SoundThinking said instead of Johnson’s “decommission plan” to extend a contract through Sept. 22, Chicago would be better served if there was “a minimum 12-month extension and modifications to the city’s current data and reporting protocols," CEO Ralph Clark said in a statement to Playbook. The meeting become more animated, when reporters asked about an announcement from Gov. JB Pritzker's office that the governor, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the mayor had agreed last week to fund $321 million through the end of the year to care for asylum seekers. Seemed like a done deal: News broke ahead of the Q&A that the three top Democratic leaders left that meeting agreeing that the state would pay $181 million, and Cook County and the city would each chip in $70 million. A few days later, however, the mayor’s office told the county and state that it couldn’t commit to pitching in. Reporters wanted to know why he flipped. His answer went this way: “No one in the city of Chicago, the state of Illinois or this country is questioning my commitment to this mission.” Cough, cough: “Well, they are [questioning] because you didn't put in the $70 million that you promised you would give at that meeting,” said NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern. "Obfuscation," said another reporter. Is there a disconnect with the governor’s office? “There’s no disconnect,” Johnson said, though he did suggest concern about who should head efforts to care for asylum seekers. The Tribune has a full report here And Crain’s has this: “The mayor’s office is concerned over whether the City Council would approve additional funding through a mid-year budget amendment after previously allocating just $150 million in the 2024 budget.” The arbitration vote was easier for Johnson to address: Before the mayor’s presser, the City Council rejected a police union agreement that allows officers accused of serious wrongdoing to have their cases heard behind closed doors. The vote is seen as a win for transparency, but the Fraternal Order of Police is already taking the issue to court. Johnson dismissed them as “a handful” of critics: “In order to restore [and] build trust, having an open transparent process — that's what the people of Chicago deserve, and they want and they have a leader who's committed to that. I've enjoyed serving in this capacity for these first 10 months. It’s truly divine.” Looming ahead: FOP President John Catanzara said his union is ready for a court battle. And he issued a warning to Johnson: “He just made himself public enemy number one for 2027.” RELATED — City Council again rejects allowing police disciplinary hearings to be held in secret: “Thursday’s vote — after an emotional debate that forced Mayor Brandon Johnson to call for decorum four times — reaffirms the council’s symbolic commitment to police reform and accountability, but the victory for Johnson and his allies may be both short lived and Pyrrhic,” by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman. — To trace the origins of busing migrants to Chicago, start with Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson and Ted Cruz, by the Sun-Times’ Frank Main and Tina Sfondeles If you are Mayor Brandon Johnson, 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 (heaven forbid) 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 | | — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: In the Cook County state’s attorney race. Eileen O’Neill Burke is being endorsed by the Chicago Tribune, Democratic Committeeman and Ald. Anthony Beale, Evergreen Park Mayor and state Rep. Kelly Burke, Alsip Mayor John Ryan and Niles Mayor George Alpogianis. And her Democratic opponent, Clayton Harris III, is being endorsed by Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart. — Campaign cash and accusations fly in race for Cook County court clerk: Incumbent Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez “defended her first term at the helm of the office she described as a ‘wild, wild west’ when she took over in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 from Dorothy Brown, the controversial former clerk who ran the office for 20 years. … But Mariyana Spyropoulos, who is currently a commissioner on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago board, says Martinez’s modernization efforts have fallen short,” the Tribune's A.D. Quig reports. — Illinois SEIU has endorsed Congressmen Danny Davis and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia. Others endorsed by Illinois SEIU. Full list here — DUELING FUNDRAISERS for candidates in the Cook County Board of Review race. Incumbent Larry Rogers Jr.’s event drew Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, Mayor Brandon Johnson, city Treasurer Melissa Conyers-Ervin, Alds. Walter Burnett Jr., William Hall, Jason Ervin and Stephanie Coleman, county Commissioners Donna Miller and Bill Lowry, MWRD President Kari Steele, Supreme Court Justice Joy Cunningham and appellate judges Cynthia Cobbs and Carl Walker. Challenger Larecia Tucker’s fundraiser saw Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, Ald. Scott Waguespack, former Ald. Michele Smith, former state Rep. Sam Yingling, Oak Park Trustee Brian Straw, reform advocate and former Ald. Dick Simpson, attorney Jacob Meister, former Olympia Fields Trustee Arthur Bryd and LGBTQ activist Richard Streetman. — Luciano “Lou” Panici Jr. is out with a tally of Democratic endorsements in his run for Circuit Court judge. Here’s the list — Sun-Times-WBEZ Voter Guide here.
| | CORRUPTION CHRONICLES | | — Sam McCann pleads guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, tax evasion charges: The former state senator and gubernatorial candidate “put an end to his federal trial on wire fraud, money laundering and tax evasion Thursday, pleading guilty to all nine counts,” by the State Journal-Register’s Zach Roth. From Capitol News’ Hannah Meisel: “Prosecutors [had] played more than three hours of recordings made by federal agents who met with McCann on separate occasions in 2018.”
| | | TRANSITIONS | | | — Columbia College President Kwang-Wu Kim is stepping down: “Kim was the target of criticism during a six-week strike by adjunct faculty that upended the school’s fall semester and caused many students to question whether they would return in the spring,” by WBEZ’s Lisa Philip. — Metropolitan Planning Council leader Darlene Hightower to step down: “ Hightower became the group’s first Black president and CEO when she stepped into the role two years ago,” by the Sun-Times’ Emmanuel Camarillo. — Melanie Miles Chico has been named managing member of Dykema’s Chicago office. She's been at the firm more than 15 years in business litigation.
| | | | 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 for your favorite fictional president. Litesa Wallace and Elizabeth Grisanzio picked Fitzgerald "Fitz" Thomas Grant III, played by Tony Goldwyn, in “Scandal.” Jacob Hamilton: Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho, played by Terry Crews, in “Idiocracy.” Lucas Hawley: Selina Meyer on “VEEP.” Theodore Kemna, Hyman Riebman and Ashley Urisman picked Merkin Muffley from Stanley Kubrick’s “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb.” The character is based on former Illinois Gov. Adlai Stevenson. Alison Pure-Slovin and Ashvin Lad picked Andrew Shepherd, played by Michael Douglas, on “The American President.” Dave Lundy: Jordan Lyman, played by Fredric March, in “Seven Days in May” and Henry Fonda who simply played "The President" in “Fail Safe.” “Both demonstrated commitment to doing the right thing even when it was very hard and following the constitution.” Donovan: Frank Underwood, played by Kevin Spacey, in “House of Cards.” Mark Rosenberg: Jed Bartlet, played by Martin Sheen in “The West Wing.” John Straus: Jack Ryan of the Tom Clancy novels. Timothy Thomas Jr. Henry Fonda as "The President" in “Fail Safe.” Samantha White: Thomas J. Whitmore, played by Bill Pullman, in “Independence Day” “for his speech before sending pilots off, plus, how badass is it that he joins in the fight to stop aliens?!” NEXT QUESTION: Where would you relocate if you were forced to leave the country?
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Liberals dreamed of this recession-less economy for decades. What if voters don’t like it? POLITICO’s Victoria Guida writes in a new column — The futile ugliness of protesting at public officials’ homes, by POLITICO’s Michael Schaffer — Nearly half of voters think it’s likely Biden will be replaced as nominee, a new poll shows, by POLITICO’s Samantha Latson
| | TRIVIA | | THURSDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Josh Mogerman and Dale Sachtleben for correctly answering that Jay Manuel, a former host of America’s Next Top Model, is a Springfield native. TODAY's QUESTION: Who was the first African American in the United States to receive a PhD in chemistry? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Today: State Sen. Don DeWitte, Illinois Liquor Control Commission Associate Director Dana O’Leary, political campaign manager Quinne Welter, Dave Nayak campaign manager Shayna Jaskolka, University of Chicago Institute of Politics’ Jennifer Steinhauer, Chicago Ventures founding CEO Kevin Willer, Mission Plus Strategy Consulting founder Jean Butzen, former POLITICO Publisher Robert Allbritton, Block Club photographer Colin Boyle and restaurant guru Ina Pinkney. Saturday: State Rep. Margaret Croke, political adviser Jim Reis, Lightfoot Deputy Campaign Manager Madison Olinger, The Vistria Group’s general counsel and former deputy governor Jesse Ruiz, government relations consultant Dan Shomon and media and marketing pro Kim Vatis. Sunday: Former Gov. Bruce Rauner, Chicago Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, Board of Review Commissioner Larry R. Rogers Jr., attorney and former state Sen. Paul Schimpf, former state Rep. Jonathan Carroll, former state Sen. Tony Munoz, former state Rep. Don Moffitt and Prairie Group VP of comms and strategy Marissa Gaines. Monday: Attorney and former U.S. District Court Judge Gary Feinerman, former state Rep. Ron Stephens, Nevada Senate legislative director Alejandro Renteria and sportscaster and restaurateur Lou Canellis. -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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