| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Good Thursday morning, Illinois. Sending positive vibes to our Florida friends in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | 
Mayor Brandon Johnson and Ald. Gilbert "Gil" Villegas discuss the upcoming hearing focusing on the school board upheaval in City Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO | WE SPENT THE DAY in the Chicago City Council meeting, where there was a lot of drama. But in the end, most issues were shoved off for future meetings, including concerns about the school board upheaval, debate about ShotSpotter and a plan to refinance $1.5 billion in debt. Council war 2.0. “Maybe the acrimony didn’t rival the ‘Council Wars’ power struggle of the 1980s, when 29 aldermen, mostly white, thwarted Mayor Harold Washington’s every move. But it’s getting there,” writes the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman. Her full story is here. At issue: Aldermen fumed Wednesday over the Chicago School Board stepping down last week after refusing to fire Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez, who has rejected Mayor Brandon Johnson’s push for the schools to take out a short-term, high-interest loan to pay their bills. They want answers. The aldermen were set to hold a special meeting to address the upheaval at the school board but changed course when Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th), who chairs the Education Committee, called for a separate meeting Oct. 18. The goal is to hear from outgoing school board members as well as the new ones. But the mayor all but dismissed the idea. “They have been invited,” the mayor said, adding, “I don’t want anybody in this body to believe they are automatically going to attend.” Aldermen complained about the lack of transparency that the mayor often talks about. Ald. Gilbert “Gil” Villegas was spotted after the meeting in a heated discussion with the mayor. “All we’re saying is that a lot of people have concerns around CPS,” Villegas told reporters afterward about why council members want to hear from the board. There is talk of subpoenaing board members old and new, but Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry tamped down that idea, too, telling reporters that the council doesn’t have the power to subpoena other agencies. Next move: City Council members implore state lawmakers to limit mayoral authority in wake of CPS shakeup, by NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern Also causing friction: A few of Johnson’s opponents were able to delay the mayor’s plan to refinance $1.5 billion in city debt to help shore up budget shortfalls. The plan will return for the next council meeting. And regarding ShotSpotter: There was renewed debate over the gun-detection technology. Turns out the mayor never vetoed the ordinance approved by the council that would have given the police superintendent authority to contract with the gunshot detection company. Though the aldermen have enough votes to override any veto, the mayor says the ordinance can’t go into effect since the police superintendent works for the mayor. The move sets the council up for a potential legal battle, reports the Block Club’s Melody Mercado What it all means: The mayor has faced repeated pushback from aldermen, including some progressives, indicating his plan to get the next city budget passed could face an uphill battle.
| | | THE BUZZ | | | SCHOOL DAZE: The Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Teachers Union are still negotiating a contract. They’re both trying to find the money to meet the needs of both sides. The latest: CPS, teachers union set sights on special property tax districts to plug schools’ budget hole with different visions: “Both CPS CEO Pedro Martinez and CTU leadership urged city officials this week to use TIF revenue — property tax dollars collected to spur economic development projects — to help cover the district’s major budget stressors, including the cost of non-teacher pension payments and a still-under-negotiation contract with teachers,” by the Tribune’s Nell Salzman, A.D. Quig and Jake Sheridan. SCOOP: While CPS and CTU negotiate, the campaigns for the first elected school board are heating up. Watch for former Congressman Luis Gutiérrez to join the fray and endorse candidates backed by Urban Center Action — a group that bills itself as being independent of the CTU and Mayor Brandon Johnson. Gutiérrez is a progressive, so his aligning with Urban Center Action is interesting. Meanwhile, about charter schools: Acero charter school plans to close 7 schools, blindsiding parents, teachers, by the Sun-Times’ Emmanuel Camarillo — BROAD CAST: The upcoming Chicago school board election is the topic of this month’s The Broad Cast podcast with guest Ellen Rosenfeld, school board candidate for District 4. Listen here If you are Luis Gutiérrez, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | | In Japan, where he’s leading an economic delegation meeting with Japanese businesses and government officials “to foster economic cooperation and promote Illinois to a global audience.”
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | In London, where he’ll join World Business Chicago and Choose Chicago for meetings with business and government officials to “foster economic growth and international collaboration, and drive tourism.”
| | Where's Toni | | At the Cook County Building at 10 a.m. for a special meeting of the Cook County Board and to present the Executive Budget Address for Fiscal Year 2025 Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com
| | 2024 WATCH | | — Three candidates vie to replace the late Karen Yarbrough as Cook County clerk: “Democrat Monica Gordon has the backing of the Cook County Democratic Party and unions. She faces Republican Michelle Pennington and Libertarian Christopher Laurent,” by WBEZ’s Kristen Schorsch. — In IL-10, Republican Jim Carris announced he’s raised more than $150,000 in the third quarter in his effort to unseat Democratic incumbent Congressman Brad Schneider. — In IL-17, Republican Joe McGraw, has been endorsed by the Peoria Police Benevolent Association Unit 27. McGraw is running against incumbent Democratic Congressman Eric Sorensen. — Bob Fioretti, a Republican running for Cook County state’s attorney, is holding a meet-and-greet. Details here
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — 'A proud day for Springfield.' City celebrates race riot site as newest national monument: “The violence of that period perpetrated by white mobs claimed the lives of at least five people, caused millions of dollars of damage to Black-owned businesses and uprooted thousands of Blacks from the city,” by the State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie. — MADE IN JAPAN: Gov. JB Pritzker and his delegation met with Rahm Emanuel, the ambassador to Japan and former mayor of Chicago. Among other things, the governor talked about clean energy during Wednesday’s meetings. Pic — In the wake of Sonya Massey’s death, Springfield will test a new way to handle mental health calls, by WBEZ’s Mawa Iqbal. — MEDIA MATTERS: Capitol News Illinois sues Sangamon County for records of sheriff’s office pursuit, via Capitol News
| | CHICAGO | | — Bears CEO says lakefront ‘best’ stadium site, but leaves door open for Arlington Heights: Blueprints for an Arlington Heights site are being drawn up by David Manica, who designed Allegiant Stadium in Las Vega. They will “create an environment for our fans to really enjoy the Chicago Bears, and to be able to attract” mega events like the Super Bowl, Final Four, college football playoffs and concerts, CEO Kevin Warren said, via the Daily Herald’s Christopher Placek. — As Hurricane Milton advances, Florida runners registered for the Chicago Marathon have a big decision to make: “The Chicago Marathon has sent out emails to Florida runners offering them the chance to defer their entry in the race until 2025 free of charge. … About 1,500 Florida residents registered to run in this year’s race,” by the Tribune’s Sylvan Lebrun. — 2024 Chicago Marathon route map, start time and everything else you need to know, by the Sun-Times’ Davis Giangiulio
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Preckwinkle unveils $9.89B budget: The budget “closes a $218 million projected budget shortfall without tax or fee hikes, program cuts, or layoffs. ‘I think it’s fair to say this is a good news budget,’ Preckwinkle told reporters during a Wednesday afternoon briefing ahead of her official budget speech Thursday morning.” by the Tribune’s A.D. Quig. — Opinion: Clerk of the Courts Iris Martinez: Defendants are missing court appearances. It is time to fix the SAFE-T Act, via the Tribune
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Rev. Jesse Jackson celebrates 83rd birthday with City Hall party, via the Sun-Times — University of Chicago alum John Jumper was awarded a share of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry on Wednesday, becoming the 100th scholar associated with the University to receive a Nobel Prize.
| | Reader Digest | | We asked about the Electoral College — and it hit a nerve. Matthew Beaudet: “Stay. The clear intent of the Constitution is that as a union of states that the states elect the president.” Eli Brotman: “It should go because every American should have an equal voice in national elections.” William Crowder: “It is an insult to democracy. Just take 2016, where certified results show Hillary Clinton winning nearly 65,844,610 million votes — 48 percent — to Donald Trump’s 62,979,636 million votes — 46 percent, via AP.” Kevin Kious: “It should go because it makes a mockery of the concept of ‘one person, one vote.’” Fred Lebed: “Democracy should function on the will of people, allowing one vote per person. Swing states have too much power.” Jim Lyons: “It should go. One person , one vote. Like it is done for every other office.” David Melton: “It is an anti-democratic anachronism that should have been eliminated years ago.” Kirby Miller: “The founding fathers knew better than we did. I trust their judgment.” Marilynn Miller: “It should go, but even more important to GO is the Winner Take All of some states. Both disenfranchise many voters.” Joseph Monack: “We should keep it. Progressives want to eliminate the ‘states’ part of the Constitution and have us be a direct democracy, but we have known for thousands of years that democracy is bad — and it is still bad.” Dennis Rendleman: “Should go. It is an archaic relic that was intended by the founders as a failsafe to prevent direct democracy from straying too far from what the elites thought was best. It has resulted in electing presidents who did not win the popular vote.” Jane Ruby: “It's an outdated system that doesn't prioritize the power of the people.” Andy Shaw: “Like the composition of the Senate, the filibuster, and a few other anachronistic components of the Constitution, the Electoral College violates the sacred principle of ‘one man (or woman), one vote.’” John Straus: “It should be eliminated. Popular vote elections should be the standard." Timothy Thomas Jr.: “It needs to stay to avoid de Tocqueville's 'tyranny of the majority' as referenced in his book ‘Democracy in America.’” Patricia Ann Watson: “It was created to shield and strengthen evil, does not reflect the reality of modern USA voters and needs to go.” Next question: Aside from a massive bake sale, what’s a creative way to boost revenue for the largest school district in the state? Email skapos@politico.com
| | KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION | | — Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17), the only meteorologist in Congress, is calling on fellow lawmakers to return to D.C. to consider disaster relief as Hurricane Milton makes landfall.
| | | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | | — What Harris must do to seal the deal, by POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin — What Biden’s latest shot at Google signals for Big Tech, by POLITICO’s Brendan Bordelon and Mohar Chatterjee — 3 scenarios for the Supreme Court to intervene in the election, by Aziz Huq, who teaches law at the University of Chicago, for POLITICO Magazine
| | | IN MEMORIAM | | — Norm Peterson, Argonne’s longtime director of government relations, has died, via Argonne
| | TRIVIA | | WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Jim Leach for correctly answering that the horseshoe sandwich was created by Joe Schweska in the old Leland Hotel. TODAY’s QUESTION: What nationally televised children’s show featuring puppets had its origins in Chicago? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Cook County Judge Teresa Molina, attorney and former state Sen. Ira Silverstein, State Director for Sen. Dick Durbin Clarisol Duque, Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy Tonantzin Carmona, lieutenant governor’s Office Manager Leticia Romero, consultant and former congressional candidate Robert Emmons Jr., UnidosUS Latino Vote Initiative VP Clarissa Martinez, Goldman Sachs VP Avi Davidoff, digital strategist Justin Kulovsek, Glencore government relations head Seth Levey and journalist Carol Marin, who advises DePaul University’s Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence. -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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