| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | TGIF, Illinois. I’m hitting Taste of Chicago and Taste of Greektown this weekend — and don’t try to stop me.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | | 
CTU President Stacy Davis Gates talks about contract negotiations with Illinois Playbook's Shia Kapos at the Hideout on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. | Kwame Caldwell of the Hideout | SCHOOL DAZE: Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates is “disappointed” that Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez isn’t embracing the union’s requests for more funding for librarians and art teachers in schools, she said during a Playbook live discussion at the Hideout Thursday night. She’d also like to see the mayor step up and the school board speak up as contract talks continue between CTU and CPS. For the record, Davis Gates says: She’s not working behind the scenes to oust Martinez — she just wants him to “do his job.” Nor is she advising Mayor Brandon Johnson on how to fund public schools, as has been reported. It would be a process: The union would have to take a “no-confidence vote” on Martinez before pushing him out. “And that hasn’t happened,” Davis Gates said, adding, she’s only focused on working with “rank-and-file members, with our leadership at the union on how to land a contract.” About the mayor: Davis Gates, a Johnson ally, said she’d like to see the mayor speak up more about public education. “He has a bully pulpit, [and] he can take some role in public education in Chicago,” she said. “It’s not that he came from the Chicago Teachers Union exclusively. It is because he was a high school history teacher. It is because he was a middle school social studies teacher. It is because his children go to the Chicago Public Schools that he has deep investment and can say and do a little more.” About that mayor’s loan proposal: The CTU president says she's not talked to the mayor about his recommendation for a short-term loan to cover a $175 million pension payment that would help resolve the budget impasse. Martinez has rejected the loan idea. Davis Gates says it's "disingenuous" to oppose such a loan since similar loans were approved in the past "when [Martinez] was CFO of the district." The CTU president is also unhappy with the currently appointed school board for not speaking up on the issues. “I look at our Board of Education, and I am disappointed,” she said. What it comes down to: Davis Gates sees it as a moral obligation that the city — and state — step up to the plate for teachers’ contract requests. She hopes CPS comes to think so, too, in spite of budget concerns. Why CTU is more than a labor group: There’s a reason it’s invested in the housing issue, for example. “About 20,000 of our students that are documented are unhoused in the Chicago Public Schools. So I don't know how you don't talk about it,” Davis Gates said. About the upcoming school board races: It’s not about dollars going to campaigns. It’s about knocking on every door “three times,” Davis Gates said. RELATED: With CTU and school choice proponents investing in elected school board races, do ‘independent’ candidates stand a chance? by the Tribune’s Sarah Macaraeg
| | THE BUZZ | | | | 
Sylvia Puente, CEO of the Latino Policy Forum, announced plans Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, on stepping down. | Olga Lopez for Latino Policy Forum | NEW CHAPTER: Sylvia Puente, the longtime Latino Policy Forum president and CEO, is stepping down. In a letter to the forum’s followers, Puente said she'll become a senior adviser once her successor is chosen. “After nearly 16 years at the helm of the Forum, I am ready to hand off this unique and amazing institution to the next generation of leaders to usher in the next phase of growth and impact,” Puente wrote. Puente has been an outspoken advocate for immigrants. She praised the recent passage of the Works Permits for All resolution in Illinois and criticized the White House move to limit asylum seekers. Her quote: “It is frustrating that both migrants and long-term undocumented immigrants and their families must pay the price for Congress's inaction on immigration reform,” she said in a statement at the time. As leader of the influential Latino public policy and advocacy group, Puente has become a sounding board for governors and other elected and civic leaders over the years. What’s next: The Latino Policy Forum’s board will start its search for her successor. If you are Pedro Martinez, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | His schedule didn't land in our inbox as usual.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | | At 7000 South Merrill Avenue. at 4 p.m. for a Take Back the Block community safety activation with the Mayor's Office of Community Safety, the Chicago Police Department, City commissioners and officials and community partners.
| | Where's Toni | | No official public events. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com
| | 2024 WATCH | | — Pritzker to deliver keynote speech at annual Polk County Democrats Steak Fry, via KCCI in Iowa. The Sept. 14 event is a storied part of American political history as presidential candidates, or those who dream of being one, often speak at the event.
| | | THE STATEWIDES | | | — Coroner’s affidavit shows as many as 800 human remains could have been misidentified: “No criminal charges have been filed against former Carlinville funeral director,” by Capitol News’ Beth Hundsdorfer. — As Stateville Prison nears closure, advocates raise concerns about long-lasting impacts on workers and incarcerated men, by WTTW’ s Brandis Friedman and Abena Bediako
| | CHICAGO | | — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: City Council members give props for handling of the DNC. More than 40 aldermen have signed on to a resolution highlighting the work of Police Superintendent Larry Snelling and numerous city departments during the Democratic National Convention. Not signing on: some progressives on the Council, including those who marched with protesters during the DNC. — 'Everything is on the table' to eliminate $982.4M budget shortfall, top mayoral aide says: “Budget Director Annette Guzman said options range from layoffs and pay cuts on the expense side to a property tax increase, video gaming and volume-based garbage collection fees on the revenue end,” by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman. — Bears President/CEO Kevin Warren addresses Economic Club of Chicago: “Pressed Thursday night about whether there was a drop-dead date for his stadium deal downtown, Warren smiled. “When we cut that ribbon,” he said,” by the Sun-Times’ Patrick Finley. — Chicago murders down, but shootings up in August compared to last year, say police, by WTTW’s Patty Wetli — CPD deputy chief, another officer charged with criminal damage to property: “They allegedly slashed the tires of a vehicle in Humboldt Park during the neighborhood’s annual Puerto Rican Fest last June,” by the Tribune’s Sam Charles. — County assessor says downtown ‘doom loop’ fears are overblown, by the Tribune’s A.D. Quig — THE STRUGGLE BUS: Some Illinois state lawmakers are concerned that plans to close the downtown Greyhound bus terminal will make it impossible for people seeking abortion care to come to Illinois. “Many patients traveling to our city to access the legal health care they’ve been denied at home have struggled to find the resources to get here, and that often means relying on the least expensive means of transportation,” they said in a letter to Mayor Brandon Johnson. The full letter is here.
| | DAY IN COURT | | — Former prosecutor sues State's Attorney Kim Foxx, claiming age and race discrimination: “Nancy Adduci contends she was demoted as head of the wrongful conviction unit because Foxx wanted someone “more representative of the community” in the job,” by the Sun-Times’ Andy Grimm. — How right wing podcaster from Chicago landed at center of federal probe into Russian meddling, by the Sun-Times’ Frank Main and Tom Schuba
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Still for sale, 12 years later: Michael Jordan’s $15M mansion: “The 56,000-square-foot home, with personalized Jordan flags and his name painted on the basketball court, has languished on the market — but he hasn’t lost patience,” by The Wall Street Journal’s Sarah Paynter. — McHenry is the last red collar county around Chicago. The GOP aims to keep it that way as ‘margins get closer,’ by Shaw Local’s Claire O'Brien — Aurora Ald. Ted Mesiacos is running for mayor in the 2025 race, by the Daily Herald’s Susan Sarkauskas
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Applause, applause: The Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities handed out legislative champion awards last week in Bloomington to state Sen. and Assistant Majority Leader Dave Koehler, state Sen. Karina Villa and state Reps. Sharon Chung and Anna Moeller. — Thomas Leslie, author of “Chicago Skyscrapers 1934-1986: How Technology, Politics, Finance, & Race Reshaped the City,” will receive the Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award, which celebrates Chicago history and people. He’ll be honored Sept. 14 by the Newberry Library and the foundation. Details here — The Obama Foundation is out with the names of its 2024-25 scholars. List here
| | Reader Digest | | We asked when summer is over for you. Mike Gascoigne: “When the weather gets cool and stays that way. Exactly how I like it.” Elizabeth Grisanzio: “When I return to the states after a month-long holiday in Sicily, Italy, every August.” Lucas Hawley: “Not until after my birthday in late September!” Carlton Hull: “The summer is over after Labor Day!” Charles Keller: “When my golf league ends. So, two more weeks.” Jim Lyons: “When the Bears start the regular season.” Luis Narváez: “When Chicago Fire Soccer Club plays their last match of the season at home.” Andy Shaw: “When it’s too cold (under 50) and too windy (over 15 MPH) to golf.” Timothy Thomas Jr.: “With the extinguishment of the last briquette on the grill on Labor Day weekend.” Erika Weaver: “When the temperature drops below 60 degrees and I have to wear a jacket.” Next question: How do you juggle caring for your dog and going out of town? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Hunter Biden pleads guilty in tax case, avoiding trial after all, by POLITICO’s Betsy Woodruff Swan and Melanie Mason — Durbin says Biden's court reform will take time: 'These are largely constitutional questions,’ by the State Journal Register’s Patrick M. Keck — No hot mic moments: What else to know about the Harris v. Trump debate, by POLITICO’s Emmy Martin — ‘It’s disastrous’: White evangelicals waver after Trump’s shifts on abortion, by POLITICO’s Megan Messerly and Adam Wren
| | TRIVIA | | THURSDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Ashley Urisman for correctly answering Rantoul Village was named after former Massachusetts Congressman Robert Rantoul Jr., who served as director of the Illinois Central Railroad. TODAY’s QUESTION: Who's the 1943 Chicago Bears player who served in the Battle of Normandy? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Today: Congressman Danny Davis, Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen, Circuit Court Judge Susana Ortiz, former state Rep. Keith Sommer, former Cook County Judge Jessica Arong O’Brien, Conlon Public Strategies Senior Adviser Peggy Parfenoff, political data consultant Harold Moore, Walgreens Property Tax Director Brian Grossman, orchestra leader Stanley Paul, Mercy Home for Boys & Girls Comms Director Mark Schmeltzer, data and sales pro Andrew Irving, comms specialist Ben Hammer, Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Legislative Liaison Jacob Nelson, Orchestra leader Stanley Paul, JB and MK Pritzker Family Foundation Program Officer Luis Roman Garcia and Tom Hardy, retired U. of I. Systems comms director and former Tribune political reporter. Saturday: Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, former state Rep. Peter Breen, public relations exec Maureen Schulman, mathematician Efim Zelmanov and Catering Out The Box President Anthony Waller. Sunday: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Illinois Human Rights Commissioner Elizabeth Coulson, political analyst James Nowlan, former Cinespace owner Alex Pissios, Strategy A founder and public affairs consultant Alex Hanns, Dovetail Project founder Sheldon Smith and comms specialist Robert Flinn. -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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