| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | | Presented by |  | | | Happy “Ohi Day,” Illinois. Today commemorates the day Greece said no, or “ohi,” to fascist Italian dictator Benito Mussolini’s call to allow troops access during WWII.
|  | TOP TALKER | | |  Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, both at left, post for pictures with attendees Saturday at the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus gala. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO | WHAT ELECTION? A lot of party chit-chat these days is about the presidential election — unless you were at the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus gala on Saturday. No one seemed to care a lick about the tight race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. What gives? Maybe it’s because Illinois isn’t a factor in a presidential race that’s come down to swing states. Or because the city and town leaders at the Wrigley Field event were more interested in running the bases and trying out the batting cages. Everyone we talked to said it was simply a case of non-partisan leaders caring more about issues affecting their cities and towns than about political posturing. “I haven’t had any conversations about politics,” said Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, a Democrat, who was chatting with RTA Board Chair Kirk Dillard, a Republican. “People are talking about their towns and their cities and the ways that we’re working together,” said Stratton, who was dressed to the nines, as directed by the invite, with comfortable tennis shoes (hers were pink Chuck Tayors). “The closer you get to the ground, the more likely it is that people will cooperate,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle told your Playbook host before taking the stage at the gala. Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering said she was having good conversations about community EV chargers. And Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones talked about a stormwater collaborative. Scintillating party talk indeed. Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, chair of the group, served as MC, for a program that also included comments by state Treasurer Michael Frerichs and the mayors’ caucus Executive Director Neil James. Video remarks were made Gov. JB Pritzker and Comptroller Susana Mendoza. The funniest moment: Frerichs, who’s been on a campaign to remind residents about checking for unclaimed property and cash, turned a check over for $282 to Burns for money owed to Geneva. There was a celebratory nature to the event , which was the first live gala the regional leaders have had in five years because of the pandemic. “A lot of us got to know each other by Zoom, so it was nice to see people in person,” said Rotering, who attended with her husband Rob Rotering. Mayor Rotering will take the reins as the group’s chair next year In the back of their minds: “Every conversation is about how to work with each other and how to work about Springfield,” said Burns, adding that the nonpartisan group is more interested in collaborating than politicking. “As long as whoever is elected remembers that municipalities are the key to any and every level of success, we’ll be fine. We do not want to be forgotten in regard to legislation in Springfield or in Washington.” ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN … Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker were on the other side of town at Cinespace Studios for an event honoring former Congressman Bobby Rush. The tribute brought together community leaders, activists and friends from Rush’s career including from his time in the Black Panther Party. Among the notables: former NBA star and Chicago native Isaiah Thomas, Rev. Wheeler Parker (a cousin of Emmett Till) and Fredrika Newton, the widow of Huey P. Newton (co-founder of the Black Panther Party).
| | THE BUZZ | | The government glut: Illinois has the most public bodies in the nation, multiplying opportunities for graft, reports the Tribune’s Rick Pearson in the paper’s latest in a series about corruption in Illinois. From the story: “Public corruption in Illinois knows no partisan or geographic bounds. That’s in part because there are just so many governments in Illinois in the first place — thousands of them, more than any other state in the nation. They range from counties, cities, villages, townships and schools to park districts, airport authorities, and agencies overseeing mosquito abatement, street lighting and even cemetery maintenance.” If you are Isaiah Thomas , Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@politico.com
| | | WHERE'S JB | | | At the Executive Mansion in Springfield to give remarks at an awards ceremony for Major Chase Wilhelm
| | | 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
| | | | A message from Amazon: Abel turned his entry-level job at Amazon’s Rockford, Illinois fulfillment center into a transportation career, through Amazon Career Choice. Since 2012 more than 200,000 employees have used Amazon Career Choice to learn and earn more. Find out more. | | | | | TAKING NAMES | | — Q&A: Rahm Emanuel is watching the presidential campaign he can’t run: The renowned political strategist is studying the election with the intensity of a DCCC chair — thought he’s doing it from Japan, he said in a conversation with POLITICO’s Alexander Burns. — Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot is among the more high-profile readers of The Washington Post to voice dismay about the paper's decision days before the presidential election not to endorse a candidate. The move was reportedly made at the urging of owner Jeff Bezos , who also owns Amazon. “Rather than hurt the Post journalists, I canceled my @amazonprimenow membership,” Lightfoot posted on X. Related: A spiked editorial puts the owner’s conflicts in a sharp light. And the uproars are only going to keep coming, writes POLITICO’s John F. Harris
| | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | | — RACE TO WATCH: Inside the one Illinois congressional race that could affect control of the U.S. House: “While national prognosticators say Congressman Eric Sorensen has a lead in a district Democrats in Springfield carved to their advantage, Republicans still see an opportunity in the state’s 17th Congressional District because Sorensen two years ago underperformed Joe Biden’s 2020 margin of victory over Donald Trump,” by the Tribune’s Dan Petrella. — ON THE TRAIL: Illinois elected officials deploy to swing states to get out the vote for Harris-Walz and Congress candidates: “Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have a lock on Illinois, freeing elected Democrats to hunt for electoral votes in key swing states and a crucial “blue dot” congressional district in Nebraska — where U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly campaigned this weekend,” by the Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet — ALSO SPOTTED: Mayor Brandon Johnson, Comptroller Susana Mendoza and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi were all in Pennsylvania over the weekend campaigning for the Harris-Walz ticket. — GOP hopeful Evans gets cash boost from U.S. House Speaker Johnson — but total lags behind Foster’s, by the Daily Herald’s Russell Lissau — Ukrainian Americans anxious about presidential election, but many remain unsold on either candidate, by the Tribune’s Olivia Olander — Highlighting Trump's support for 'stop-and-frisk' could help Harris among young Black men, Illinois PAC’s poll finds, via your Playbook host — CPS School Board: The race in the Loop, South Side's 6th District: “ The 6th District includes the Loop and also parts of Englewood — two of the most economically different neighborhoods in the city,” by WBEZ’s Sarah Karp.
| | | THE STATEWIDES | | | — Hazy world of Springfield politics at center of ex-Speaker Madigan’s trial: “Capitol denizens are watching closely — in the General Assembly, the governor’s office and the ranks of the so-called Third House, made up of the lobbyists who prowl in the Capitol rotunda for a chance to buttonhole a lawmaker or plead over the phone to pass or kill a bill,” by the Tribune’s Ray Long, Jason Meisner and Megan Crepeau. — Madigan trial week in review, via Capitol News Illinois
| | | | A message from Amazon:   | | | | | CHICAGO | | — IN MEMORIAM: Former Ald. William Beavers dies at 89: “He represented the 7th Ward on the Chicago City Council for 23 years and served as commissioner for Cook County’s 4th District for seven years. ... Mr. Beavers famously wasn’t shy about touting his power [once describing himself as] The hog with the big nuts,” by the Sun-Times’ Kaitlin Washburn — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The mayor has appointed five new members to the Regional Transportation Authority, according to an agenda for council’s Transportation Committee meeting today. — New CPS board president won't say if board will fire CEO, calls question 'silly,’ by Crain’s Justin Laurence — Comedian Bill Maher took a swipe at the Chicago Teachers Union in his latest TV monologue. That starts at about 4:20. Watch it here — Mayor Brandon Johnson won’t say if he will return $150,000 from rapper Lil Durk, arrested in alleged murder-for-hire plot, by the Tribune’s Jake Sheridan and Alice Yin — The late Edgewater Ald. Mary Ann Smith is honored with a street sign, by the Block Club’s Charles Thrush — Illinois Black Panthers heritage trail sets record straight about its history, by the Sun-Times’ Emmanuel Camarillo — Photos of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, via The Atlantic
| | | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Arlington Heights legislators open to Bears funding if the team comes back to town, by the Daily Herald’s Christopher Placek — Evanston City Council is holding a hearing on its budget today, by Evanston Now’s Bill Smith — Why Libertyville wants historical designation for its downtown, by the Daily Herald’s Mick Zawislak
| | Reader Digest | | We asked for the best fall foliage spots in Illinois. Janice Anderson: “The Naperville RiverWalk and Covered Bridge.” “Peter Creticos: “Skokie Lagoons.” Christopher Deutsch : “Just over the northern border in Lake Geneva in mid-October cruising on the lake you will find the most gorgeous 360 views of the surrounding shore-lined trees with miles upon miles of golden leaves.” Donna Gutman: “Chicago Botanic Garden.” Ed Mazur: “Crab Orchard in Southern Illinois, a long drive great color, ciders and donuts.” Frank Miles: “A drive along the great River Road between Alton and Grafton!” Jeff Nathan: “The north shore bike trail.” Donovan Pepper: “Galesburg, in Knox County.” Timothy Powell: “Des Plaines River Trail.” Jane Ruby: “Woodstock Historic Square. It’s not only the site for the Groundhog Day film, but also where I took my wedding pictures (got married on National Candy Corn Day & President John Adams's Birthday!)” John Straus : “The best fall foliage is the stretch of Sheridan Road through the ravines from Tower Road in Winnetka to South Street in Glencoe.” Next question: When do you stop wearing shorts? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Trump’s New York homecoming sparks backlash over racist and vulgar remarks, by POLITICO’s Meridith McGraw and Lisa Kashinsky — Harris presses for Black, Latino votes in Philadelphia, by POLITICO’s Meredith Hill — How fracking and EVs could swing election in Blue Wall states, by POLITICO’s Nirmal Mulaikal and Josh Siegel
| | | | A message from Amazon: Amazon raises wages for hourly employees to an average of over $22 an hour.
This includes employees like Abel who started out in one of Amazon’s fulfillment centers in Rockford, Illinois before using an Amazon skills training to launch a career in transportation.
See the impact. | | | | | EVENTS | | — Nov. 2: State Sen. Dan McConchie is hosting a free veteran appreciation luncheon and expo in Lake Zurich to honor veterans and their families in the 26th district. RSVP and questions to bomalleywest@sgop.ilga.gov — Nov. 19: Chronic absenteeism in schools and how to address it will be the subject of a panel discussion with experts from the University of Chicago Education Lab, Chicago Public Schools and Lion's Pride. A Better Chicago CEO Beth Swanson will moderate. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Timothy Thomas for correctly answering that Cecily Strong was the Saturday Night Live cast member born in Springfield. TODAY’s QUESTION: Who was the notable Chicago "connector" who provided comedian Lenny Bruce lodging when he was in town? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Former Illinois Senate President John Cullerton , Avoq Strategic Comms Senior Director J.P. Valadez, Ancel Glink election attorney Keri-Lyn Krafthefer, Hims & Hers Government Relations Manager Dartesia Pitts, Equality Illinois Comms Director Myles Brady-Davis, Birth to Five Illinois Director Cicely Fleming and former aldermanic candidate David Krupa. -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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