| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | | Presented by |  | | | Good Tuesday morning. The General Election is one week away!
|  | TOP TALKER | | TRASH TALK: Racist jokes about Puerto Rico made by a comic at Donald Trump's Madison Square Garden rally in New York are reverberating in Illinois. What he said: Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe referred to Puerto Rico as “a floating island of garbage” and said Latinos "love making babies.” The remarks were outrageous enough that even the Trump campaign tried to distance itself from them, saying the garbage comment “does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign,” spokesperson Danielle Alvarez said in a statement. The backlash: Chicago City Council member Jessie Fuentes called the comments “hateful and derogatory.” Iris Martinez, the Cook County Circuit Court clerk, said they were “pathetic and sadly apropos” for anyone following Trump's campaign rhetoric. And former Congressman Luis Gutiérrez described it as “vile, ugly, ugly language.” All three are of Puerto Rican descent. Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, who represents Puerto Rican Americans who live in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, told the Tribune the comments were “despicable and disgusting.” Echoing Trump: “This comedian is simply reflecting Donald Trump's behavior,” Gutiérrez told Playbook. “A presidential campaign, there is vetting that goes on,” said Gutiérrez, whose parents immigrated from Puerto Rico. “They know what’s going to be said. And what he said is not much different than when Trump said Mexicans are murderers, criminals and drug dealers. It’s vile, ugly language." The big question is whether the inflammatory comments embolden voters. “I certainly hope so,” said Martinez, a former state senator. “Every Puerto Rican should be upset, should be up in arms about this and we should be taking this message to the polls. I'm hoping that the message resonates with Puerto Ricans across the country. We are U.S. citizens. Our little island is not garbage. He's garbage,” Martinez said. How it will play out: The Puerto Rican community in the Chicago metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the mainland United States, with 206,682 residents as of 2023, according to Census figures. So, outrage could send voters who have been on the fence toward Harris’ camp. Illinois isn't in play for the presidential election. But the bigger population of Puerto Rican Americans in the swing-state of Pennsylvania could matter. RELATED Trump’s Puerto Rico fallout is ‘spreading like wildfire’ in Pennsylvania, by POLITICO’s Meredith Lee Hill, Mia McCarthy and Holly Otterbein Trump allies bemoan Madison Square Garden rally racist and vulgar comments, via POLITICO
| | THE BUZZ | | THE MONEY GAME: It turns out candidates for these little Chicago Schools Board races have been financially supported by big donors. More than $1.3 million is how much the Chicago Teachers Union has poured into electing its slate of candidates. The union has put its money into four political action committees: CTU Local 1 PAC, CTU IFT PAC, Our Schools PAC and People’s 32nd PAC, with the two latter funding the controversial mailers that describe non-CTU endorsed candidates (who are Democrats) as "Trumpy." Our story is here. Not to be outdone: Candidates who aren’t getting CTU funding are being backed by notable names who have given big money, too, including Chicago businessman Craig Duchossois ($100,000), Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings ($100,000), philanthropist Hellen Zell ($500,000) and Walmart heir Jim Walton ($400,000). They are funding INCS Action, which has raised $3.2 million backing candidates who support keeping charter schools in play. And The Urban Center, which also supports charter schools, has raised about $600,000. The back story: When lawmakers approved the newly elected Chicago School Board, they didn’t add campaign spending limits to the process. Now progressives who are aligned with the CTU are pushing legislation in Springfield to limit contributions from people outside of Illinois. How convenient: Critics say limiting such spending would allow CTU to take control of the school board. — Fox 32’s Paris Schutz calls the School Board races the hottest in the city If you are Reed Hastings, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | In Monee at 1 p.m. to announce the expansion of a global machinery production company
| | 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: Miguel and Kathleen started selling Lucy's Juice’s out of their garage. Now they’ve moved their operations into a warehouse. “Amazon has helped us double the size of our company,” they said. Learn how Amazon tools help sellers grow. | | | | | From The Campaign Trail | | — Illinois Democrats already hold a supermajority of state House seats. They want more: “Democrats say they’re targeting six incumbent Illinois House Republicans as they seek to expand their power,” by WBEZ’s Mawa Iqba. — Statewide ballot question aims to generate $4.5B in property tax rebates by taxing income over $1M: “Voters should think of this as a poll that will help the General Assembly judge the support for this kind of reform in their district and around the state,” by WTTW’s Jared Rutecki. — Bob Grogan, Bill White in rematch for DuPage County auditor, by the Daily Herald’s Alicia Fabbre — CPS School Board: The race in the South Side’s District 10: “A Grammy Award–winning artist, a workforce expert, an activist pastor and a Harvard education consultant offer different views on charter schools and the fate of CPS’ CEO Pedro Martinez,” by WBEZ’s Sarah Karp. — SPOTTED: As the campaign winds down, Eileen O’Neill Burke held a fundraiser with notables, including Congressman Mike Quigley, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, who also took the stage, state Sen. Laura Murphy, state Reps. Kelly Burke, Ann Williams and Mike Kelly, Cook County Commissioners John Daley and Bridget Gainer, Chicago City Council members Felix Cardona, Bill Conway, Pat Dowell, Nicole Lee and Debra Silverstein, and Democratic Committee members Calvin Jordan, Lucy Moog and Paul Rosenfeld. — FOR THOUGHT: New play asks why America can’t elect a female leader. Will rewrites be needed after Nov. 5? by the Tribune’s Christopher Borrelli
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — MADIGAN TRIAL: ‘ I felt pressured,’ ex-ComEd top lawyer says on the stand: It was about giving Democratic operative Victor Reyes’ law firm a contract for legal work, by the Tribune’s Jason Meisner, Megan Crepeau and Ray Long. — A Midwestern supply firm beats Apple, Google on career growth: “Industrial-supply company Grainger tops an annual ranking of U.S. employers that invest the most in their workforces,” by Bloomberg’s Matthew Boyle and Mathieu Benhamou. — He attempted suicide. Peoria Jail restrained him in a chair for five days: “Peoria County Jail, in recent years, has restrained its charges for longer durations than other jails in Illinois and far past industry recommendations. There is evidence of a mental health issue in at least 70 percent of its restraint incidents,” by Illinois Answers Project’s Meredith Newman.
| | | | A message from Amazon:   | | | | | CHICAGO | | — Chicago aldermen expecting Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget plan to include property tax increase: “Three aldermen who spoke to the Tribune on background Monday said Johnson administration officials told them in one-on-one briefings that the mayor will recommend a property tax hike as part of his plan to balance the budget. The mayor’s team did not specify how large such a tax increase would be, the aldermen said. Johnson will introduce his 2025 spending plan Wednesday,” by the Tribune’s Jake Sheridan and A.D. Quig. The mayor’s challenge: He campaigned for mayor pledging not to raise property taxes. — Despite a hiring freeze, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration still made hundreds of new hires: “A WBEZ analysis shows the city of Chicago hired or promoted 490 people since a hiring freeze was put in place in September,” by Tessa Weinberg, Mariah Woelfel and Amy Qin. — Chicago Housing Authority CEO Tracey Scott is making her exit: “The chief executive has faced public pressure over her tenure from residents and advocates,” by the Tribune’s y Sylvan Lebrun, Lizzie Kane and Jake Sheridan. — Chicago alderwoman calls for hate crime charge against man accused of shooting victim walking to synagogue, by Fox 32’s Nate Rodgers and Maggie Duly — Column: Sunday’s devastating loss left Matt Eberflus and the Chicago Bears in a familiar state of doubt and dejection, by the Tribune’s Dan Wiederer
| | | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | | — Trial for former Cook County assistant state’s attorneys gets contentious as prosecutors allege wrongdoing, by the Tribune’s Madeline Buckley — Pedestrian deaths on train tracks are escalating, by the Daily Herald’s Marni Pyke — Midlothian Village President Gary L’ Heureux says he mistakenly took homeowner’s tax exemption on two properties, by the Daily Southtown’s Olivia Stevens
| | Reader Digest | | We asked when you stop wearing shorts. Christopher Deutsch: “LOL we’re gritty Chicagoans … we never stop wearing shorts.” Bill Hogan: “When I reach 90.” Charles Keller: “When the forecast is in the mid-60s for a high I wear slacks for golf. So now.” Jim Lyons: “When the temperature gets in the mid-50s.” Kathy Posner: “Adults should never wear shorts. I stopped wearing shorts once I reached 10 years of age.” Andy Shaw: “When the temps drop below 60.” Erika Weaver: “Preferably by 8:30 am, but absolutely by 10 a.m.” �� Next question: When did you throw caution to the wind? Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | A message from Amazon: Lucy’s Juices uses Fulfillment by Amazon, which costs 70% less on average than comparable two-day shipping options, to help fuel their growth.
“Amazon took the stress out of growing our family business,” said Edgar Diaz, the chief development officer.
Learn how Amazon supports small businesses. | | | | | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — This year’s vote count will be faster, but it still might take time to know who won, by POLITICO’s Zach Motellaro — Democracy or the economy? Harris will try to sell both in her closing message, by POLITICO’s Myah Ward — Bill Clinton has a solution for Harris to take down Trump, by POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin
| | Transitions | | — Harley Johnson will serve as director and CEO of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park in Chicago. He's a professor in mechanical science and engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. — Sydney Ellison is the inaugural COO at the Department of Early Childhood, a new state agency created by Gov. JB Pritzker. Ellison was the deputy director of arena operations for the Democratic National Convention and is a Pritzker alum. — Chicago Sinfonietta President Blake-Anthony Johnson will depart in 2025: He’ll become head of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation in January, by the Tribune’s Hannah Edgar. — Kerry Johnson is now a partner at Paul Hastings in Chicago. She joins from DLA Piper, where she’s focused on the real estate industry and publicly traded REITs.
| | | TRIVIA | | | MONDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Robert Christie for correctly answering that Lois Weisberg, Chicago former (and first) commissioner of cultural affairs, was known to host comedian Lenny Bruce when he was in town. TODAY’s QUESTION: What Illinois town is known as the pumpkin capital of the world? The fifth person to get it right will be heralded as the winner for this one. Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore, businesswoman and former Chicago Heights Clerk Lori Wilcox, Yale research fellow Yangyang Cheng and WBEZ reporter Sarah Karp. -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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