| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | TGIF, Illinois. Today’s Reader Digest is a tribute to Dikembe Mutombo. NEW: Obama to campaign for Harris in battleground states
|  | TOP TALKER | | Arne Duncan has been campaigning for Kamala Harris. He’s “traveled a little bit” on the trail, done some Zoom calls and visited Florida for a “Haitians for Harris” organizing event that happened before Donald Trump made Haitians an issue in the campaign. Making his point: “This election is critically, critically, critically, critically important,” he said during our Playbook Live event at the Hideout on Thursday. Duncan acknowledged he's “worried” after seeing polling that shows Donald Trump making inroads among some suburban women and some men who had previously supported President Joe Biden. The numbers are “disheartening," he said. Duncan got stuck in traffic and was late to the event, so his spokesman, Peter Cunningham, got the crowd up to speed about how Duncan got to run Chicago CRED, which helps young men move from gang life to the mainstream world. He’s got the chops: Before Chicago CRED, Duncan was the U.S. education secretary under -then-President Barack Obama — and before that was the CEO of Chicago Public Schools. About his boss: The organization is backed by Laurene Powell Jobs, whose late husband was Steve Jobs. Powell Jobs is also one of Harris’ closest confidantes — so it’s no surprise Duncan has been splitting his time recently between Chicago CRED and going out on the campaign trail for Harris. On working for Harris: Duncan, who previously considered a run for mayor, didn’t exactly rule out working for a Harris administration. “I would do anything I could to help. I'm not looking to go back to D.C.,” he said. He also praised Miguel Cardona, the current education secretary, saying, “He's a good man. He's worked really, really hard. We talked a fair amount. I certainly think he would like to stay.” On local issues: Duncan would like to see the Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union find a way to compromise in their labor negotiations. Though CPS took out loans during his time with the city, Duncan says they weren’t the short-term loans that the mayor has pushed this time around. Point being, he supports CPS CEO Pedro Martinez (who worked with Duncan) in finding a better way to address the budget. About ShotSpotter: Because of his work with Chicago CRED, Duncan is keenly aware of violence on the streets and said more work needs to be done to bring down the murder rate. He supports keeping ShotSpotter, the crime-fighting tool that the mayor recently ended, saying it “saved lives.”
| | THE BUZZ | | ON THE GO: Gov. JB Pritzker will visit Japan next week for a trade mission, where he'll work to gin up interest in Illinois. “I’m leaving for Tokyo to talk to Japanese companies about coming to the state of Illinois,” he said Thursday in an unrelated news conference. From Crain’s John Pletz: “Expect the trip to include a lot of discussion about quantum computing and a meeting with Rahm Emanuel, former mayor of Chicago and current U.S. ambassador to Japan.”
| | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | No official public events
| | Where's Toni | | At the Sketchbook Brewing Company in Skokie at 1:30 p.m. to announce $1.4 million in grant awards for the Businesses Reducing Impact on the Environment (BRITE) program Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com
| | 2024 WATCH | | — Emboldened by CPS strife, CTU critics pour more cash into school board elections: “A month out from Election Day, business and charter school interests that have raised millions of dollars are now infusing cash and stepping up in school board races against the CTU — in three districts dishing out so much money that election officials have lifted contribution limits,” by the Sun-Times’ Nader Issa and WBEZ’s Sarah Karp. — 45th District Illinois House: “Democrat and Elmhurst Ward 1 Alderman Martha ‘Marti’ Deuter is running against Republican and Addison Township Supervisor Dennis M. Reboletti, also of Elmhurst, to succeed Democratic incumbent Jenn Ladisch Douglass, who chose not to seek a second term,” by the Daily Herald’s Eric Peterson. — Planned Parenthood of Illinois is out with its endorsement list. Read it here. — The Sierra Club’s Illinois chapter has made endorsements, too. Read them here. — Four candidates in the District 2 School Board race debate the issues, by the Tribune’s Ikram Mohamed
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — In an effort to address food deserts, Illinois doles out first round of state grocery funding: “The $20 million Illinois Grocery Initiative, signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker last year, was intended to help address food access issues in rural and urban areas,” by the Tribune’s Talia Soglin. — Full Massey Commission, working group members named, by the State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie — ADM stops carbon injection as its Decatur facility remains under federal scrutiny, by Capitol News’ Andre Adams — Macoupin County state’s attorney asks for special prosecutor in case of funeral home director accused of giving families the wrong ashes, by Capitol News’ Beth Hundsdorfer
| | DAY IN COURT | | — Mike Madigan, once Illinois' most influential powerbroker, now faces federal corruption trial: “The former Illinois house speaker quietly wielded power in Springfield for decades while developing a reputation as a reclusive political wizard, well-schooled in the playbook of the late Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley. His trial begins Tuesday at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse,” by the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel.
| | CHICAGO | | — NEW: Watch for The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans to announce a plan for Native Americans to march in the Oct. 14 Columbus Day Parade in Chicago. “We have been working together with tribal communities to dispel mistruths about Christopher Columbus, while at the same time promoting mutual respect, peace and unity between the two ethnic groups,” Ron Onesti, president of the Italian organization, said in a statement ahead of today’s announcement. — Pilsen TIF expansion plan delayed again: “The controversial proposal was expected to be voted on by City Council’s finance committee Wednesday, but it was not on the agenda,” by the Block Club’s Francia Garcia Hernandez. — Head of CPD drug investigations is finalist for Iowa police chief job — and is saddled with mountain of personal debt, by the Sun-Times’ Frank Main — On paying for stadiums: The nonpartisan Tax Foundation notes that state and local governments spend significant sums for the construction, operation and continued maintenance of sports stadiums and arenas. But when it comes to their costs, taxpayers were on the hook for "nearly three-quarters of the costs of each new sports venue that received public funding in the past 50 years," according to the foundation’s latest report.
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Former Congressman Bobby Rush is a teaching fellow for the Bard Prison Initiative, a college-in-prison program that provides incarcerated students with access to a Bard College liberal arts education. Announcement here — Evergreen Climate Innovations CEO Michelle Carr and Kirkland & Ellis partner Brian Wolfe have been appointed to Intersect Illinois’ board of directors.
| | Reader Digest | | We asked for your memories related to Dikembe Mutombo. Former Gov. Pat Quinn: “I met fellow Georgetown alum Dikembe Mutombo in Copenhagen at the Olympics venue in 2009. I was playing in a 3-on-3 basketball game for Team Illinois, and he came to watch. We won!” James Mendez: “As a child, playing basketball against my dad in the driveway, he would block my shot and call himself "Homewood Mutombo," referring to where we lived, and he’d wag his finger in my face. The bonding moment always made me appreciate the real Mutombo and his knack for shot blocking.” Gail Morse: “My friend named her teeny tiny Chihuahua after Dikembe, though that dog lacked a proper finger wag.” Omari Prince: “I remember attending the 1997 playoff game at the United Center, where Michael Jordan dunked on Mutombo. ... Dikembe Mutombo took pride that Jordan never dunked on him prior to that game. MJ gave him the finger wave while jogging back down court.” Wendell Robinson: “I watched Mutombo when he was at Georgetown playing in college. My dad went to Georgetown and was a big Hoya fan. As such, I was a fan of their basketball team in the 80’s. One of the best defensive players ever and a great person. When I was younger and played basketball regularly, I always got more satisfaction from a great block than from scoring. I like to think I was like him in that regard.” Raymond Sendejas: “Erika Poethig and I were in the stands for Game 5 of the 1997 Eastern Conference semifinals, when Michael Jordan dunked over Mutombo and then gave him his own finger wag. It was the only postseason game we went to during the Bulls playoff run and it was a memorable one!” Next question: What one key issue do you see determining the presidential election? Email skapos@politico.com
| | KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION | | — Congress members Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Eric Sorensen (IL-17) have introduced the bipartisan Hydrogen for Industry Act, which creates a program for hydrogen to be used to produce building materials such as steel, cement, glass, chemicals and fuel, according to a statement. — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) hosted a fireside chat with Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan on Thursday. The issues: grocery prices affected by mergers, market consolidation in health care and housing costs. The event was hosted by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 881 in Des Plaines.
| | | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | | — Port strike deal ends no-win dilemma for Democrats, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard, Nick Niedzwiadek and Lauren Egan
— Firefighters union declines to issue presidential endorsement, by POLITICO’s Nick Niedzwiadek
— Kamala Harris deploys Liz Cheney to woo anti-Trump Republicans, by POLITICO’s Holly Otterbein and Natalie Allison
— GREAT READ: The immigrant story of Harris’ mom and how it’s part of a political flashpoint, by POLITICO’s Michael Kruse
| | EVENTS | | — Oct. 8: “Teens, Social Media and Reducing Gun Violence: A Roadmap” is the subject of a luncheon discussion at the City Club. It’s part of a series put on by The Joyce Foundation in partnership with WTTW and Project Unloaded. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | THURSDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Joe Noonan for correctly answering that Richard Nixon in the 1972 presidential election was the last GOP presidential nominee to win Cook County. TODAY’s QUESTION: What are the most northern, southern, eastern and western streets in Chicago? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Today: Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, Ald. Debra Silverstein, former state Rep. Jeanne Ives, former Cook County Clerk David Orr, Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Margaret Hillmann, IDOT Federal Affairs Bureau Chief Timothy McMahon, 49th Ward Deputy Director Kyle Ryan, American Business Immigration Coalition co-founder Josh Hoyt, health tech exec (and Obama for America alum) Eliza Adelson, political fundraiser and operative Melanie Meyers, Block Club co-founder Jen Sabella and White Sox Special Adviser Tony La Russa. Saturday: Former state Rep. Dennis Reboletti, Lafayette Advisors partner and 2024 Democratic National Convention Host Committee fundraiser Leah Israel, Illinois Policy Institute Executive VP Amy Korte, Interfaith Housing Center’s Alicia De La Cruz, McDonald’s Global Chief Impact Officer Jon Banner, YMCA Chicago Comms Director Katy Broom and OneTrust Field Marketing Manager and former POLITICO Sloane Potter. Sunday: State Sen. Michael Hastings, South Side pastor and former congressional candidate Chris Butler, Cook County Department of Emergency Management PIO Caitlin McElroy, public policy advocate Susan Ogwal, Dem comms specialist Tracy Sefl, attorney Jamal Edwards and PR pro Mary Wagstaff. -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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