City staffers call for cease-fire

Nov 21, 2023

Happy Tuesday, Illinois. We’ll be here again tomorrow before taking a few days off for the gobble gobble.

Breaking last night: Evanston approves deal with Northwestern for Ryan Field rebuild, with concerts. Mayor Daniel Biss broke the tie vote. Details from Sun-Times, Crain’s, Evanston Review.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: More than 30 progressive City Hall staffers have written a letter to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson urging him to support a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.

The staffers invoked the 2024 Democratic Convention, which is planned for Chicago next year, saying a ceasefire is “directly tied to showing that our city is united in support of human rights,” according to their letter, which was obtained by Playbook. “If we are planning to spend public dollars to support the convention, we cannot invest in programs that do not support calls for peace.” Here’s the letter.

The staffers did not sign their names but describe themselves as “a diverse coalition of 30+ staffers across aldermanic offices and the Mayor's Office.”

Why now: Their letter says a ceasefire is of “utmost urgency” as the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 12,000 “with the majority being children.”

The letter follows protest letters written by White House staffers calling on Biden to pursue a ceasefire and by Congressional staffers.

Progressives having a moment: They are feeling emboldened after seeing initiatives to fund homeless prevention and increase minimum wage for tipped workers pass through the council. They are both efforts supported by the mayor.

On the issue of the Middle East, however, Johnson has walked a careful line by attending vigils for Jewish and Palestinian communities.

Chicago staffers’ have another demand: They want the mayor to support a resolution being carried by Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez that urges President Joe Biden to push for “a de-escalation” of military action in the region. The resolution was presented earlier this month but has been stuck in the Rules Committee. Read the resolution here.

They’re on social, too: The staffers have also started the Chicago Progressive Staffers (@312Staffers) handle on X, formerly known as Twitter.

THE BUZZ

SENATE INTRIGUE: Illinois Senate President Don Harmon is at the center of a high-profile primary race between state Sen. Natalie Toro and challenger Graciela Guzman in the 20th District, which includes Chicago.

The battle lines: Harmon is backing Toro, a Chicago Public Schools teacher appointed to the seat previously held by Cristina Pacione-Zayas, who resigned to become Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s first deputy chief of staff.

On the other side: The Chicago Teachers Union isn’t backing a teacher but instead is supporting Guzman, who was behind the effort to get Johnson elected and also served as Pacione-Zayas’ district director.

Tension point: The race comes on the heels of Harmon and the CTU butting heads over how to craft a bill that would spell out how the Chicago Elected School Board members should be elected.

Don’t read into that too much: A Democrat will hold the 20th District seat no matter who comes out of the primary. So it’s a win for Harmon, who is showing his caucus members that he’ll stand behind them on the campaign trail.

An olive branch: Harmon attended the Friendsgiving fundraiser we told you about last week that was hosted by state Sen. Omar Aquino. It was a crowd of CTU allies, including the mayor.

If you are Natalie Toro, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com

GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.

WHERE'S JB

No official public event.

WHERE's BRANDON

No official public event.

Where's Toni

At the Union League Club at 12:15 p.m. to provide remarks at the Rotary Club of Chicago meeting.

Take a break from the Thanksgiving scramble and email at skapos@politico.com

THE STATEWIDES

— Illinois' 'Rainy Day Fund' reaches $2B milestone: “Part of the reason we got our 9th credit upgrade last week is because we are building up our Rainy Day Fund,” Comptroller Susana Mendoza said. WREX’s Kelsey Anderson reports.

— In Illinois, young, conservation-minded farmers race against climate change to save their soil: “Drought, dust storms and sediment piles the size of skyscrapers are wreaking havoc on central Illinois farms. Can the next generation innovate fast enough?”

Fun facts from the story: The Mormon Church and Microsoft founder Bill Gates are among the largest farmland owners in Illinois. Zachary Nauth reports for WBEZ with photography by WBEZ’s Manuel Martinez.

— Private schools lament end of state's Invest in Kids tax credit for scholarships, by Daily Herald’s Marni Pyke

TAKING NAMES

— State Sen. Sue Rezin, the deputy minority leader, has been named president of the non-partisan National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL), the nation’s oldest advocacy group for elected women. Rezin was inducted to the two-year position at an event in Florida. Her district includes the southwestern suburbs of Yorkville, Ottawa and Peru. Rezin made headlines recently for passage of her legislation allowing the state to build smaller, more advanced nuclear reactors in the state. It’s expected to be signed by the governor.

CHICAGO

— Asylum-seekers cleared from once-crowded Chicago police station as city begins to enact new policies: “The 18th District station at Division and Larrabee streets was “decompressed” Saturday as part of the city’s efforts to move the migrant population from police stations to brick-and-mortar shelters, Johnson’s spokesman Ronnie Reese said Monday,” by the Tribune’s Alice Yin and Nell Salzman.

— Hundreds attend funeral for firefighter Andrew ‘Drew’ Price: “Price, 39, died while battling a blaze at a Lincoln Park restaurant last week. He’s the fourth city firefighter killed in the line of duty this year,” by Block Club’s Mack Liederman and Colin Boyle.

— City goes after firms that owe $15M in rat-related tickets: “The debtor is a real estate empire that’s looking for a big payday by selling land for the Red Line expansion. But the city says not so fast,” by the Illinois Answers Project's Casey Toner.

— USDA’s new plant hardiness map puts Chicago-area in warmer company with Kentucky, by WTTW’s Patty Wetli

The Trial of Edward Burke

— ‘I perceived it as a threat.’ Field Museum worker testifies about phone call with then-Ald. Ed Burke: “Prosecutors say the former City Council dean was upset that he had failed to land an internship at the Field Museum for the daughter of a close friend,” by the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel.

More: from the Tribune, from WTTW.

SPOTTED

Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost was in Chicago on Monday for a joint fundraiser with Congresswoman Robin Kelly. Frost is the youngest member of the U.S. House, but he’s still old enough to get into Hubbard Inn, which is where the event was held. Frost is 26.

In the room: State Rep. Nabeela Syed, who is the youngest Democrat in the Illinois House Of Representatives, Board of Review Commissioner Larry Rogers Jr., Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, Judge Celia Gamrath, former state Rep. David Miller, attorney Tony Romanucci, DNA Strategies' cofounder Dom Rogers, nonprofit consultant Kevin Conlon, political consultant Ron Holmes, attorney Darren Collier, business consultant Reyahd Kazmi, attorney Jaylin McClinton, nonprofit leader Charise Williams and Arian Ahmadpour of the Will County Young Democrats. Pics!

GET A BACKSTAGE PASS TO COP28 WITH GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Get insider access to the conference that sets the tone of the global climate agenda with POLITICO's Global Playbook newsletter. Authored by Suzanne Lynch, Global Playbook delivers exclusive, daily insights and comprehensive coverage that will keep you informed about the most crucial climate summit of the year. Dive deep into the critical discussions and developments at COP28 from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.N. SUBSCRIBE NOW.

Reader Digest

We asked what political discussion blew up your Thanksgiving dinner:

Kevin Lamm summed it up for most of us: “The strength of feeling for our family is much stronger than any personal political thoughts we might have. Now, Packers and Bears get things going... but still with smiles.”

For tomorrow, which of the presidential candidates seems like the most fun to join your Thanksgiving dinner?

THE NATIONAL TAKE

— House GOP nears decision on Biden impeachment articles, by POLITICO’s Jordan Carney

— Biden urged to go big on Social Security as a way to beat Trump, by POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn

— Food aid for low-income mothers, babies becomes spending flashpoint, by POLITICO’s Marica Brown and Meredith Lee Hill

Transitions

— Justyna Regan is now a partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson in the firm’s business and commercial transactions practice. She was with Miller Canfield.

TRIVIA

MONDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Diana Turowski and Matthew Beaudet for correctly answering that the poo crew cleans up after horses in the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade.

TODAY's QUESTION: When did the Christman Caravan that morphed into the Chicago Thanksgiving Day parade start taking place on Thanksgiving Day? Email skapos@politico.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Senate Judiciary Chair and Illinois’ own Dick Durbin, Playbooker Loring Rocke , P2 Consulting project manager Gennifer Geer and JD candidate Jessica Lach.

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