| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | | | Good Tuesday morning, Illinois. Some Pride Parade antics that turned heads: Gov. JB Pritzker downing a Jell-O shot and Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ wet T-shirt going viral, via Block Club.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | |  Jim Crown, photographed in 2007, died in a crash while racing a car on a Colorado track on Sunday, June 25, 2023. He was 70. | Milbert O. Brown/Chicago Tribune via AP | Chicago businessman Jim Crown’s shocking death prompted tributes from across the country about his big life — though it’s his recent efforts battling Chicago’s crime problem that may be his true legacy. Crown died Sunday in a car crash while driving on a racetrack near Aspen, Colo., where he was celebrating his 70th birthday. President Joe Biden called attention to the Crown family story of coming from little means to turning a construction-supply company “into an empire.” Crown was chairman of Henry Crown and Co. He also was active on the civic and political scenes. “His commitment to Chicago was bone deep,” Biden added. Former President Barack Obama, in a separate statement, said he and Michelle Obama counted Crown and his wife, Paula, among their “closest friends.” When Obama “was still an unlikely candidate running for the U.S. Senate,” Crown became one of his “fiercest advocates and most perceptive advisers.” Gov. JB Pritzker tweeted that Crown’s “passion for caring was unending.” And Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called attention to Crown’s commitment to working “collaboratively” with the city to create a public-safety task force to grapple with crime. It’s that work that epitomized Crown’s passion for Chicago. In recent years, he had become frustrated with the city's struggle to overcome its crime problem. Crown became a student on the issue, studying evidence and data and talking to a range of experts and people who live in crime-ridden areas across the city. He didn’t just want to write a check. Crown wanted to make an impact. “He led by example. didn’t just talk the talk. He walked the walk,” said Roseanna Ander of the University of Chicago Crime Lab. With the Civic Committee, Crown worked to develop a business task force on the issue. Unlike previous efforts that saw businesses operate autonomously to examine crime, this project is working directly with the city. And Crown was leading it. Now, there'll be a search to find someone to carry on his legacy. They are big shoes to fill. RELATED “He was the leader of our family both intellectually and emotionally, and he looked out for everybody,” said his father, billionaire financier Lester Crown, by the Sun-Times’ Frank Main and Mitch Dudek. Crown also was active in Aspen’s ski community, via the Aspen Times, which was first to report on the accident.
| | THE BUZZ | | Chicago is buzzing, and not just because of NASCAR. White House advance team members are in town preparing for President Joe Biden’s visit to Chicago on Wednesday to make a speech focusing on the administration’s $40 billion investment in high-speed internet infrastructure. The White House is keeping mum on the location, but we hear there’s a lot of security along Van Buren Street in the Loop. On the campaign side: Advance team members are also preparing for a fundraiser (or two) for Biden’s re-election campaign. Gov. JB Pritzker and first lady MK Pritzker will be hosting. Convention zone: And some members of the Democratic National Committee are in Chicago doing their own advance work ahead of next year’s Democratic National Convention. If you are MK Pritzker, Playbook would like to know what’s on the menu for the president. Email skapos@politico.com.
| | WHERE'S JB | | At the Erikson Institute at 10:30 a.m. to discuss early childhood education investments — At 555 W. Monroe St. at 1 p.m. to sign bills protecting access to affordable healthcare.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | No official public events.
| | Where's Toni | | At the Cook County Building at 10 a.m. presiding over the Forest Preserves meeting. You rock for reading Illinois Playbook! Email sometime: skapos@politico.com
| | A message from Uber: What the City of Chicago uncovered about Uber. An independent study by the City of Chicago found that most Uber and Lyft drivers make $21-$30 per hour and earn over $1,000 a week* on average. Learn more about the City of Chicago’s study.*Full-time TNP driver avg hourly and weekly earnings, PPV Study April,'23 | | | | | THE STATEWIDES | | — S&P warning to Illinois on pension debt: You're still not doing enough: “Even with stepped-up funding under Gov. JB Pritzker, the state still has been contributing billions of dollars a year less than actuaries say is needed to bring Illinois’ government-worker pension funds into long-term fiscal balance,” by Crain’s Greg Hinz. — Life in Illinois gets more expensive on July 1 with multiple tax increases, new laws, by WGN 9’s Chip Brewster — New "Middle of Everything" Illinois summer ad campaign stars Illinois' own Jane Lynch. TV and print ads here. And Springfield will be featured in "Viewpoint Project" hosted by actor Dennis Quaid and aired on Public Television, reports State Journal Register’s Steven Spearie.
| | 2024 WATCH | | — Progressives launch their own campaign to flip school board seats nationwide: “A progressive group plans to funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars into an effort to elect hundreds of left-leaning school board members across the country,” including in Illinois. It underscores “how those local races are increasingly drawing the attention of noted advocacy groups and politicians,” reports ABC News’ Brittany Shepherd. — Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White has kicked off her election bid for a full term. A year ago, the Supreme Court appointed Holder White to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Rita B. Garman. — IL-07: Nikhil Bhatia has kicked off his bid for Congress. He’s a self-described “proud first generation Indian American” with experience as a teacher, middle-school principal and local school council member.
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | — In Chicago: Progressives hope to scare off challengers for Northwest Side state Senate seat: Though they don’t control the appointment process, progressives are pushing for the 20th District seat vacated by Cristina Pacione-Zayas (She’s now deputy chief of staff to the mayor in Chicago.) to go to her former chief of staff, Graciela Guzmán, reports Crain’s Justin Laurence. — The next generation of Latino leaders are being forged by the Chicago Latino Caucus Foundation, by Tribune’s Darcel Rockett
| | CHICAGO | | — Johnson launches summer jobs program: “The program will have 24,000 jobs and internships for young people ages of 16 to 24. And while that’s 2,000 more than last year, it is 8,000 fewer than the One Summer Chicago program provided in 2019,” by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman. ABC 7’s Craig Wall has video from the presser. — Tribune’s take: On the 19 aldermen who complained that a worthy candidate was iced out of the police search: It reveals “growing pains for the community-driven search process,” writes Alice Yin. — Police log 11,000 complaints since consent decree went into effect, as monitor cites ‘real concerns’ about analyzing use-of-force issues, by Tribune’s Sam Charles — South Shore neighbors push for law locking in protections for longtime residents near Obama library, by Block Club’s Noah Glasgow — DEEP DIVE: Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community ‘visible, vibrant’ — but concerned for transgender members’ ability to ‘live your life freely,’ reports Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles — City could open as many as 5 migrant shelters, by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman — NASCAR isn’t just sport — it’s America itself, and Chicago is about to enjoy a slice, by Sun-Times’ Rick Telander
| | | | A message from Uber:   | | | | | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Bears don't seek handout but tax 'fairness,' CEO Kevin Warren says in Arlington Heights, by Daily Herald’s Christopher Placek — Illinois' ‘largest' fireworks show is in Itasca, about 27 miles outside Chicago, via NBC 5
| | DAY IN COURT | | — GI Bill case filed by decorated Army veteran James Rudisill to be heard by the Supreme Court: “An estimated 1.7 million other vets who’ve qualified for benefits under both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill could get more college money if Rudisill, who’s now an FBI agent, wins,” by Sun-Times’ Stephanie Zimmermann. — Prosecutors drop charges against mom, 14-year-old son in killing of man at hot dog stand: “Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office dismissed the charges against Carlishia Hood and her son, citing ‘emerging evidence,’ less than a week after she was accused of ordering her son to kill a man who punched her,” by Sun-Times’ Matthew Hendrickson.
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don’t miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked for a team-building activity that works. Randy Bukas: “Staff meetings help build camaraderie and team spirit.” Mark Michaels: "In 1989, I developed 'The Chaos Game.' It simulated a factory by having teams of about eight players tossing tennis balls around their circle. Once a given tennis ball touched every player it became a 'product.' The team producing the most products won." Joseph Monack: “Singing in rounds — a choral technique where everyone sings the same lyrics but begin at different times to create harmonic layers. It drives home the importance of doing their individual task while being part of a collective that makes something greater than the sum of its parts.” Chris Ruys: “I’m in the middle of a real-life team-building activity. Four of us (“The Quad”) enthusiastically plan and promote monthly events with educational speakers for a high-profile nonprofit.” Steven Smith: “Axe-throwing.” Patricia Ann Watson: “Creating a community garden or playground.” What do you think an Illinois tourism ad needs to feature? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — ‘Ego, pure delusion and fantasy’: How the 2024 GOP field got so big, by POLITICO’s Adam Wren — No more sleepy Senate: Schumer seeks to jump-start agenda, by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett — Freedom Caucus takes key vote on Marjorie Taylor Greene’s future, by POLITICO’s Olivia Beavers — Allies agree they should remain “silent” and “neutral” about Russian mutiny, but see a “window” for Kyiv to strike, via POLITICO
| | A message from Uber: Going where taxis won’t go
The City of Chicago’s own study found that nearly 30% of Uber & Lyft rides start in underserved neighborhoods like Avalon Park and Pullman.*
Learn more about the City of Chicago’s study.
*PPV Study April,'23 | | | | | TAKING NAMES | | — Isabel (Izzy) Dobbel, government affairs deputy director with the Chicago Federation of Labor, has been elected treasurer of the Young Democrats of America’s Executive Committee. It’s a two-year term. The national group oversees young progressives.
| | | IN MEMORIAM | | | — Robert Lucas Jr., U. of C. economist who challenged previous views on government influence and won Nobel Prize, dies, by Bob Goldsborough for the Tribune — Frank L. Coconate, a behind-the-scenes political player in Chicago, has died. Info about services here. — Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired judge, has died. He was 68, according to his obituary.
| | TRIVIA | | MONDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Justin Kulovsek for correctly answering that Black Hawk statue is located in Lowden State Park and honors Native Americans. It’s inspired by the Black Hawk leader. TODAY’s QUESTION: What is “as fierce as a dog with tongue lapping for action”? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Former state Rep. David Welter, former U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter, The Inland Real Estate Group’s senior VP Dan Wagner, tech investor and political donor Howard Tulman, Sidley Austin attorney Daniel Epstein, Cook County 5th District Director Micaela Smith, Accountable Tech co-founder Jesse Lehrich, PR pro Karrie Leung, PR pro Melissa Skoog, economic development pro Sarah Habansky, Cor Strategies consultant Bill Pohlman and Young Democrats of Illinois' Ryan Hurley. -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 | | | | |
