| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | TGIF, Illinois. Tree-trimming is starting already.
|  | TOP TALKER | | Alarm bells went up in Chicago after a protest late Wednesday turned violent at Democratic Party headquarters in Washington, D.C. The big concern: Is that what to expect at the Democratic National Convention next summer? We talked to the expert on big events: Rich Guidice, chief of staff to the mayor and the logistics man behind the convention, said the city will be ready. He’s coordinated every large scale event for the 2012 NATO Summit conference to Lollapalooza. "We have to anticipate that there's a lot of tension and very passionate positions," Guidice told Playbook. “There’s ongoing training already taking place, specifically in de-escalation training.” A protest leader says his group doesn’t want to pick a fight: Kobi Guillory, co-chair of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, has applied for a permit to protest at the convention over Israel’s actions in Gaza. And former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, now the U.S. ambassador to Japan, who was running the city during the NATO summit, has a take, too. “We did months of training for NATO, and it was a model for future big events everywhere,” he said in a text message. Read the full story on POLITICO’s home page
| | THE BUZZ | | BRINGING IN THE BIG GUNS: The state of Illinois is stepping in to bring more strategic thinking and efficiency to the process of getting asylum seekers off the floors of Chicago police stations and O’Hare airport ahead of winter. Pritzker gets to the heart of it: “The state that took my ancestors in when they were fleeing pogroms in Ukraine will not allow asylum seekers to freeze on our door steps,” Gov. JB Pritzker said at a news conference Thursday. He announced the state will prop up an intake center, a winterized tent and other services to the tune of $160 million — which was pulled from surplus funding from the state Human Services Department. Laying the groundwork: The governor’s office says it’s identifying three key areas of improvement, including an intake center to better document asylum seekers’ needs when they arrive. The state’s funding will also go toward creating a tent encampment and providing more legal and employment assistance. There’s a timeframe: The rental assistance will be cut off for those not in Chicago’s shelter system and there will be an effort to hep asylum seekers relocate if they wish to other parts of the country. The move comes as the city has announced it will start a 60-day limit on shelter stays. From the Tribune: The infusion comes after months of deflecting questions about additional state funding, by Tribune’s Dan Petrella and Jeremy Gorner If you are Gov. JB Pritzker, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | No official public event.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | | At the Garfield Community Service Center at 10 a.m. to give remarks at the public health vending machine ribbon-cutting — At Millennium Park at 5 p.m. for the tree-lighting ceremony.
| | Where's Toni | | Online at 3:30 p.m. to talk to reporters about the county budget — At the Geraghty at 6 p.m. for the CAN TV 40th anniversary celebration. Before you start the Thanksgiving grocery list, email at 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. | | | | | | | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stopped in Chicago on Thursday before heading to Iowa for campaign events. He greeted Illinois supporters, including state Sens. Sue Rezin, Win Stoller and Dave Syverson and state Rep. Bill Hauter. The afternoon event was hosted by Republican Committeeman Richard Porter. DeSantis riffed on a number of issues during the visit, including “baseball, the Navy, meeting Casey [DeSantis’ wife] and flying 700 Floridians home from Israel” after the attack by Hamas. On the menu: pizza. — State Rep. Maurice West is running for reelection in the 67th District, which includes parts of Rockford, Loves Park, New Milford and Cherry Valley. He announced Thursday with supporters by his side, including Illinois Democratic Party Chair Rep. Lisa Hernandez, state Rep. Dave Vella, former state Rep. Litesa Wallace and Winnebago County Board member Valerie Hanserd. — Resolute Public Affairs abruptly lays off staff: CEO Greg Goldner gathered employees earlier this week and told them “business development hasn’t gone the way we expected it” and that everyone on the call would be laid off — effective immediately, according to a person at the meeting. POLITICO’s Influence newsletter reports.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — GETTING BUTTERFLIES: Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias unveiled the Monarch butterfly license plate decal Thursday, seven years after Illinois lawmakers first passed legislation to make it happen. The Sierra Club had advocated for the plates, which will help fund the state's Monarch Habitat Fund. Pic! — Open letter: Five Illinois state lawmakers have signed on to a letter to President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and congressional leaders denouncing “antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hatred and bigotry, which have increased amid the bloodshed of war commenced by Hamas” and pledging to keep up educational efforts to “expose and reduce anti-Jewish prejudice.” Signing the letter: state Sens. Sara Feigenholtz and Laura Fine, and state Reps. Daniel Didech, Bob Morgan and Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz. — Advocates hail regulatory ‘earthquake’ as state slashes requested gas rate increases: “Company profits cut, low-income customers set to receive new discounts,” by Capitol News’ Andrew Adams.
| | | The Trial of Edward Burke | | | OPENING STATEMENTS: When a prosecutor Thursday called former Ald. Edward Burke the “most powerful member of the Chicago City Council,” it wasn’t meant as a compliment. The real Ed Burke: Prosecutors painted him as an elected official who abused power, describing him as “a bribe taker” and “extortionist.” Burke’s attorney pushed back, saying his client is “a good man.” The jury will have to decide which is true. From the Tribune: Fiery opening statements begin corruption trial, by Jason Meisner, Ray Long and Megan Crepeau From the Sun-Times and WBEZ: Danny Solis, who wore a wire to help the feds, is described by the defense as “corrupt” and “untruthful,” by Jon Seidel and Mariah Woelfel
| | CHICAGO | | — 38 injured, 3 critically in CTA Yellow Line train crash near Howard Station, CFD says, via ABC 7 — Tiny Chicago Hope Academy is in the state football semifinals, but its mission is bigger than sports, by Tribune’s Robert McCoppin — Police unit that reviews cops’ use of force ‘critically understaffed,’ says the Illinois attorney general’s office. Sun-Times’ Frank Main reports — Officer pleads not guilty to felony aggravated battery for a videotaped school incident, by Tribune’s Stacy St. Clair and Christy Gutowski
| | SPOTTED | | — Tableside: State Sen. Omar Aquino hosted a Friendsgiving fundraiser at Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar. Attendees included Mayor Brandon Johnson, Senate President Don Harmon, Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, state Sens. Karina Villa and Ram Villivalam, state Rep. Lilian Jiménez, Ald. Carlos Rosa-Ramírez, the mayor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Cristina Pacione-Zayas and lobbyists Tiffany Elking, Ben Jackson, Ben Lazare and Andrew Kretschmar. — Courtside: Former Chicago Bulls star Joakim Noah headlined a fundraiser at the United Center for his Noah’s Arc Foundation, which focuses on reducing violence and addressing trauma through art. Spotted: SPAAN Tech CEO and civic leader Smita Shah, developer Jeff Shapack, Rush Street Interactive’s Richard Schwartz, Walgreens Healthcare chief of staff Chidebelu Ufodike, anti-violence advocate Cobe Williams, marketing exec Justine Fedak, C Strategies CEO Becky Carroll, government consultant Liz Brown, restaurateurs Carmen Rossi and Grant DePorter, Chicago Sky Head Coach Teresa Weatherspoon and former Bears star Matt Forte.
| | HIGHER-ED | | — For the first time, prisoners graduate from a top university: “Northwestern University's Prison Education Program welcomed its inaugural graduating class of incarcerated students on Wednesday,” via Reuters.
| | | | 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 court trial you found most captivating: Robert Christie: Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s “for the extreme brazenness on his part and because he thought he could convince the jury ‘it’s just politics.’” Mike Driscoll: The Watergate trial of 1973. “It had more twists and turns than Perry Mason's ‘The Case of the Perjured Parrot.’” Graham Grady: The O.J. Simpson trial. “You knew he did it. You knew he was likely to beat it.” Lucas Hawley: The Whitey Bulger trial. “He was on the run for 16 years and on the FBI most wanted list.” Robert Kieckhefer: The John Wayne Gacy trial. “Media outlets wouldn’t print the most gruesome testimony.” Gracia Livie: The O.J. Simpson trial. John Straus: The Chicago 7 trial in 1969. Timothy Thomas Jr.: The trial of Miriam Santos, the former city treasurer who was found guilty of mail fraud in 2000. For Monday, what entrée item do you always prepare for Thanksgiving (send the recipe, too)?
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | — Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a combat veteran and member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, reiterated her call for Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) to end his hold on more than 450 military promotions. “We’ve offered him votes on the floor, he’s declined. We’ve offered him votes in committee, he’s declined. He’s really grinding our national security to a halt. I think this resolution [to bypass Tuberville’s hold] will allow us to bypass him,” Duckworth said on MSNBC.
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Generational divide over Israel and Palestine is widening, by POLITICO’s Brittany Gibson — Santos says he won’t run for reelection. GOP members want to expel him first, by POLITICO’s Olivia Beavers — Colleges banned groups over antisemitism. Then new ones formed, by POLITICO’ Medina Toure
| | TRANSITIONS | | — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Martin Oberman has announced he won’t seek reappointment to the federal Surface Transportation Board. A longtime figure on Chicago’s political scene, Oberman is board chair and was appointed by President Joe Biden. — Sydney Holman has been named deputy mayor of intergovernmental affairs by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. Holman had worked at Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, where she assisted clients with legislative strategy and policy advocacy. She also worked in Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration. h/t Crain’s Justin Laurence
| | EVENTS | | — Dec. 13: The Southwest Suburban Republicans are holding a holiday party. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | THURSDAY’s ANSWER: Bears owner Virginia McCaskey is known as the First Lady of Sports. TODAY's QUESTION: Who were the Singer Singers? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Today: Ald. Desmon Yancy, American Osteopathic Foundation CEO Rita Forden and Polk Bros. Foundation program officer Channing Lenert. Saturday: Lori Healey, manager of construction and operations of the Obama Presidential Center; former Illinois Attorney Gen. Ty Fahner; state Rep. Joyce Mason chief of staff Maggie Roche; author Ethan Michaeli; Tribune reporter Ron Grossman; software developer Brian Sayler and teaching fellow Seth Jenkins and his twin Miracle Jenkins. Sunday: House Foreign Affairs Committee senior staffer Robert Marcus, American Business Immigration Coalition Executive Director Rebecca Shi, Kivvit Managing Director Sarah Hamilton, Chicago Catholic Charities’ chief of staff Ann Grelecki Anderson, financial adviser Peter Riskind and Tribune reporter Michael Hawthorne. -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 | | | | |
