| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Presented by UPS | TGIF, Illinois. We’re taking off Monday for Memorial Day and will return to your inboxes bright and early Tuesday. Have a safe weekend, especially in Twitter Spaces.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | 
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson lays out his safety plan for the Memorial Day holiday during a press conference at 63rd Street Beach on Thursday, May 25, 2023. | Screen shot from Mayor's Office social media | It’s Memorial Day weekend, and Mayor Brandon Johnson would like to call attention to all the traditions that come with that, from reopening beaches along Lake Michigan to the fireworks at Navy Pier or a downtown parade. The most pressing tradition: Handling the violence that's expected to erupt with the first summer holiday weekend of the year. “It’s going to take all of us, not just the police, not just city government, to ensure that our communities can live and thrive in peace and safety,” Johnson said Thursday at a press conference in the summer sunshine at 63rd Street Beach. Like the mayors before him, Johnson has pulled together a plan he hopes will work to stop violence before it starts. He’s beefing up police presence across the city by requiring officers to give up a day off this weekend. It’s a familiar tool in handling holiday weekends, though it has been criticized for hurting police morale. Other tactics: Outreach workers will check bags in parks and on beaches. And there will be more officers on public transit and in business districts. Also, officers won’t be moved to one neighborhood at the expense of other neighborhoods. From the Sun-Times: “Like his predecessor, Johnson also highlighted the community groups and the extra law enforcement efforts to keep people safe over the historically violent weekend,” by Fran Spielman. Familiar tune: Johnson vows ‘whole of government’ approach, by Tribune’s Gregory Pratt and Sam Charles
| | THE BUZZ | | | | 
Phyllis Schlafly, left, of the conservative Eagle Forum, and feminist Betty Friedan debated the ERA in May of 1973 in Illinois. | Associated Press file photo and Library of Congress. | HISTORY LESSON: It’s been 50 years since one of the most consequential debates about women’s rights was held — and it happened at Illinois State University in Normal. In May 1973, feminist leader Betty Friedan faced off against conservative firebrand Phyllis Schlafly to debate the proposed Equal Rights Amendment. Their confrontation got ugly when Friedan called Schlafly “a traitor to your sex, an Aunt Tom. … You are a witch. God, I’d like to burn you at the stake!” The comments didn’t help the cause of the ERA, which has yet to become a constitutional amendment. Friedan died in 2006 and Schlafly in 2016. Made for TV drama: Their debate was one of the scenes played out in “Mrs. America” on Hulu. Since it took place in Illinois, we called Schlafly’s daughter to ask her to reflect on it 50 years later. “My mother loved to tell that story. She used those lines to say ‘See, the proponents of the Equal Right Amendment have no arguments. All they can do is personally attack’,’' said Anne Schlafly Cori, who described actress Cate Blanchett’s physical portrayal of her mother in the show as spot-on. Cori, who now heads the Eagle Forum, which her mother founded, quibbled with the show’s “psychological motivations,” saying several scenes were “flat wrong,” including the ending “which tried to portray her as defeated.” “There is no Eagle who turned against Phyllis Schlafly,” her daughter said. “The show had an agenda, which was against my mother’s position.” The 1973 debate went virtually unnoticed at the time, Cori said. “There is so much news media attention today on social issues. But in the early 1970s, there was no media attention to social issues. A debate between two women at Illinois State University would have been a non-starter. It’s the way it was,” she said, echoing what ERA supporters might say, too. “The ERA didn’t lead the news back then,” Cori added. “What was important then were gas lines, the war in Vietnam and Watergate.
| | | | A message from UPS: Full-time UPS delivery drivers receive an average of $95,000 per year. Plus, UPS contributes another $50,000 annually to health, welfare and pension benefits. After four years in the position, a full-time UPS driver makes on average $42 an hour in wages. Offering the best benefits in the industry may be why more than 50,000 drivers have been with the company for over 5 years. Learn more | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events.
| | | WHERE's BRANDON | | | No official public events.
| | | Where's Toni | | No official public events. Thank you for reading Illinois Playbook! Drop me a line sometime: skapos@politico.com
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: The Covid-19 pandemic helped spur innovation in health care, from the wide adoption of telemedicine, health apps and online pharmacies to mRNA vaccines. But what will the next health care innovations look like? Join POLITICO on Wednesday June 7 for our Health Care Summit to explore how tech and innovation are transforming care and the challenges ahead for access and delivery in the United States. REGISTER NOW. | | | | | | | 2024 WATCH | | — SCOOP: Congressman Danny K. Davis is making plans to run for re-election in 2024. The veteran Democrat is set to make it official June 10, saying he is “committed to serving the people over politics,” according to an invite for his announcement. Davis is among the most senior members of Congress, having served for 26 years. There’s been speculation that he might not run again, but his pending announcement indicates otherwise. Nipping at his heels: Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin has launched an exploratory committee to also run for the 7th Congressional District, which stretches from Chicago’s Loop to the western suburbs. — SCOOP: House Dems in No Labels-allied caucus are livid with No Labels: “No Labels texted people who live in the district of Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), criticizing the congressman for scoffing at their idea for a unity presidential ticket and claiming it could result in Donald Trump’s return to the presidency,” by POLITICO’s Daniel Lippman. — Arad Boxenbaum, a gun violence prevention activist, has announced he’s running for the 83rd District of the Illinois House in the 2024 Democratic primary. Boxenbaum, 22, will challenge state Rep. Matt Hanson, who defeated Boxenbaum in the 2022 primary before going on to beat Republican incumbent Keith Wheeler.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — 2 steps forward, 1 step back | Lawmakers trudge ahead on state budget, but move to give up on elected school board map this year: “The state Senate passed the budget late Thursday, sending it to the House. But completion of a final map of the districts of Chicago’s new elected school board could be pushed even further into the future, as the House voted to give themselves months more time to draw it up,” by Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles. — Senate Republicans all voted no: And they criticized Democrats for not addressing the January 2024 expiration of a $75 million annual state tax credit program that funds private school scholarships, by Capitol News’ Jerry Nowicki — Record-setting rate hike sought by ComEd is more than $914M too high, utility watchdog says: “ComEd’s requested $1.5 billion rate increase over the next four years would increase its profits more than improve its stated clean-energy priorities, the Citizens Utility Board says,” by Sun-Times’ Mitchell Armentrout. — Legislature sends bill reforming property tax sale system to Gov. JB Pritzker, by Tribune’s Lizzie Kane — Cupich urges Raoul's office to provide more info on abusers, by The Associated Press' Nicole Winfield
| | | | A message from UPS:   | | | | | CHICAGO | | — More than 100 Chicago police officials kept their jobs after making false statements, despite department’s ‘you lie, you die’ rule: “Dismissal is considered the “appropriate disciplinary penalty” for violating the rule, but the city’s watchdog said it is not consistently enforced, undermining police integrity,” by Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba. — Lots of breathlessness: FBI says Ald. Jim Gardiner may have given a developer who’d been ‘good to me’ a ticket to Lightfoot’s inauguration, Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel reports — Group hopes to restore Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, by Sun-Times’ Emmanuel Camarillo
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — If Bears' plan means widening Wilke Road, don't expect money from Rolling Meadows, alderman says, by Daily Herald’s Christopher Placek — Joliet commission considers landmark status for former Will County Courthouse, by Michelle Mullins for the Daily Southtown — Naperville legend pulls off stunning victory in ‘Jeopardy’ masters tournament, by Daily Herald’s Kevin Schmit
| | SPOTTED | | — Illinois Atty. Gen. Kwame Raoul hosted the Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA) this week in Chicago for a policy conference. Former White House chief of staff Ron Klain spoke with the 14 Democratic AGs in attendance. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson gave remarks at a fundraising event for the group. And attendees took a field trip to the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago on Wednesday for a discussion on “cognitive behavioral intervention techniques to reduce violence.”
| | | TAKING NAMES | | | — Barbara R. Barreno-Paschall, vice chair and commissioner of Illinois’ Human Rights Commission, has been elected to the Harvard Alumni Association board of directors for a three-year term. — Jorge Leon, an attorney at the Michael Best law firm, has been appointed to the board of trustees as Northeastern Illinois.
| | | | GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what your favorite flying pastime is. Janice Anderson: Sleeping. (Amen, sister.) Lucas Hawley: “Being on airplane mode and going through my phone storage, deleting photos, texts, downloads.” Robert Kieckhefer: “On long-haul flights — Hong Kong, Tokyo, South Africa — movie, meal, read, nap, movie, meal, chat up the flight attendants.” Ed Mazur: Crossword puzzles. Patricia Ann Watson: “Always earbuds and then books on tape, music or sleeping if it’s a long flight.” How will you kick off the summer? Email skapos@politico.com
| | DELEGATION | | — Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin and Congressman Bill Foster (D-11) led a bipartisan group of Illinois members of Congress in sending a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in support of the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen’s (MachH2) proposal for a regional clean hydrogen production and distribution hub. Also signing on: Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and U.S. Reps. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-04), Robin Kelly (D-02), Darin LaHood (R-16), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-08), Nikki Budzinski (D-13), Mike Quigley (D-05), Sean Casten (D-06), Eric Sorensen (D-17) and Brad Schneider (D-10).
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — LATE BREAKING: Inside the brewing debt limit deal, via POLITICO's Playbook — Are the anti-Trump GOP forces starting to implode? POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin reports — What top DeSantis lieutenants said in their private huddle with donors, by POLITICO’s Alex Isenstadt — Indiana doctor reprimanded for talking publicly about Ohio 10-year-old’s abortion, by The Associated Press
| | | | A message from UPS: Full-time UPS delivery drivers receive an average of $95,000 per year. Plus, UPS contributes another $50,000 annually to health, welfare and pension benefits. After four years in the position, a full-time UPS driver averages $42 an hour in wages.
Offering the best benefits in the industry is a big part of why so many UPSers stay at UPS. More than 50,000 drivers have been with the company for over 5 years. And 90,000 part-timers have been with us for over 2 years.
Learn how UPS delivers careers | | | | | EVENTS | | — Monday at 11 a.m.: The Wellington Oakdale Old Glory Marching Society (WOOGMS) will kick off its annual Memorial Day Parade in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood.
| | | TRIVIA | | THURSDAY’s ANSWER: Congratulations to Liam Kelly for correctly answering that Forgottonia was the name proposed for a new state under a 1970s effort to secede from Illinois. TODAY’s QUESTION: Who said "politics ain't beanbag" and newspapers should "comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable”? Email skapos@politico.com
| | BIRTHDAYS | | Today: Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Ald. Raymond Lopez, former state Treasurer Dan Rutherford, former state Rep. James Peyton “Pate” Philip, lieutenant governor’s office legislative project coordinator Eryn Jones, Sheridan Strategies founder Devon Spurgeon, Lake Forest College public policy studies coordinator Christine Walker and Peninsula Hotel PR director Susan Ellefson. Saturday: Today: State Rep. Bob Morgan, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Peter Michael Gonzalez, Lake County Zoning Board Chair Gregory Koeppen, political strategist David Plouffe, marketing author and professor Philip Kotler, senior adviser of external affairs in the governor’s office Sean Rapelyea and former political aide Kevin Quinn. Sunday: former Congressman Aaron Schock, political strategist Jayme Odom, entrepreneur Matthew Pritzker, MolsonCoors chief comms officer Adam Collins, 1833 Group senior VP Hannah Bartholf, trial attorney Shawn Kasserman, Access sales manager Jen Kramer and Young Invincibles Midwest policy manager Hannah Keller. Monday: Highland Park Councilmember Anthony Blumberg, Gilda’s Club Chicago CEO LauraJane Hyde, University of Chicago economist Steven Levitt and comms consultant Kevin Lampe. -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 | | | | |
