Playbook holiday gift guide!

Dec 15, 2023

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By Shia Kapos

TGIF, Illinois. What an honor to be part of your mornings this year. See you in 2024!

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Illinois Playbook is taking a holiday break. We’ll be back on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

TOP TALKER

White House snow globe.

White House snow globe. | White House Gift Shop

HO HO HO! We’re back with a gift list for Illinois public officials and personalities who made headlines this year, sometimes to a fault.

Gov. JB Pritzker: A White House snow globe to stay motivated while campaigning for President Joe Biden.

Mayor Brandon Johnson: A soil testing kit for City Hall's rooftop garden.

Couple’s gift for the governor and mayor: A gift certificate to the TalkSpace Couples Therapy platform work stuff out.

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton: Tall Muck Boots for all her visits to farms across the state.

Minyon Moore, chair of the 2024 Democratic Convention, an emotional support doll to handle all the personalities she’ll be dealing with.

Christy George, executive director of the Democratic convention's host committee: A “Make it Rain” money shooter.

Illinois Senate President Don Harmon: A guitar signed by Taylor Swift.

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch: A border collie because they’re good at herding sheep.

Republican leaders John Curran and Tony McCombie: “Underdog” T-shirts.

Melissa Conyears-Ervin: A Party City gift card to make it easier for staffers to shop.

Ald. Andre Vasquez: Tightrope board game “for balancing and blocking.”

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa: A puppy because it’s the most dependable friend a politician can ask for.

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky: A couch for her suburban office to accommodate protesters who keep dropping by.

Congressman Mike Quigley, who’s pushing for aid to Ukraine, “The Art of the Possible,” by Daniel Jacobs.

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi: A fundraising thermometer that can handle his big haul.

Congressman Darin LaHood: A copy of “Tip and the Gipper: When Politics Worked,” by Chris Matthews.

Congressman Mike Bost and challenger Darren Bailey: A “Tears of My Competition” mug to the winner of their March primary.

Former Ald. Ed “did we land the tuna” Burke: Fresh tuna from the Fishguy Market — wrapped in FBI-window covering brand butcher paper.

THE BUZZ

Sanctuary slam dunk: The City Council rejected a proposal for a ballot measure that would have asked voters what they think about Chicago’s “sanctuary city” status.

And with a parliamentary sleight of hand, Mayor Brandon Johnson and his progressive supporters will keep the proposed referendum from coming up again.

As Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman explains: “Johnson ruled that the proposed referendum championed by Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) needed a two-thirds vote, or 33 alderpersons, to suspend the rules so that it could be considered because it had not been approved by the Rules Committee.” The Council voted 31-16 not to suspend the rules.

The referendum would have asked voters: “Should the city of Chicago limit its designation as a sanctuary city by placing spending limits on its public funding?”

The vote was seen as a victory for immigrant rights advocates, including members of Congress Jesus "Chuy" Garcia and Delia Ramirez.

But Beale lashed out: “What are you scared of? To let the people have a voice? What are you scared of — the truth?”

— Johnson didn’t opine on the resolution Thursday, but he’s long brushed off Beale’s efforts as a political stunt, writes the Tribune’s Alice Yin

— The underlying political tensions driving the effort to repeal Chicago’s sanctuary status, by the Triibe’s Tonia Hill

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

WHERE'S JB

No official public events.

WHERE's BRANDON

No official public events.

Where's Toni

In Miami-Dade County, Fla., with the National Association of Counties.

I'll be around for the holidays, so email skapos@politico.com

THE STATEWIDES

— Supreme Court declines to put hold on Illinois gun ban: “It was the second court setback this week for opponents of the ban on high-powered guns and high-capacity magazines,” by Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner.

— State Senate shakeup: Jake Butcher, the chief of staff to Senate President Don Harmon, is stepping down to practice law. Moving up is Ashley Jenkins-Jordan, who’s been deputy chief of staff. She’ll be the first African American woman chief to hold the position in Illinois.

— Illinois NAACP President issues apology ‘to anyone who may have been hurt or offended:’ Teresa Haley called migrants "savages" and rapists. The State Journal Register’s Steven Spearie reports.

— Elimination of cash bail seems to be working: “Three months in, jail population is down but crime rates haven't spiked,” by the Illinois Times’ Dean Olsen.

— Illinois regulators reject record rate increase requests from ComEd and Peoples Gas, by the Tribune’s Robert Channick

— Four people convicted in ComEd bribery trial want their sentencing placed on hold, citing Supreme Court review of separate case, by the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel.

The Trial of Edward Burke

— Burke’s defense blasts FBI mole in closing arguments: ‘Why did we have to bring Danny Solis in here?’ The Tribune’s Jason Meisner, Ray Long and Megan Crepeau report.

CHICAGO

— Johnson’s campaign fund has taken millions from unions with City Hall contracts, by the Sun-Times’ Robert Herguth and Tim Novak

— Durbin takes beef about Union Station rehab funding to Buttigieg, by Crain’s Greg Hinz

— Thompson Center assessed at more than double 2022 sale price, by Crain’s Danny Ecker

— Nonprofits must register before lobbying Chicago officials under new rules, by WTTW’s Heather Cherone

DAY IN COURT

— ‘Home for the holidays’: Court vacates convictions for cousins in 1981 double homicide, Illinois’ longest-serving exonerees, by the Tribune’s Madeline Buckley

TAKING NAMES

— State Reps. Stephanie Kifowit and Anna Moeller are among lawmakers being honored by ACLU Illinois for legislation they’ve sponsored in recent years. Full list

— Grace Pai will serve as a member of the Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes. Pai’s day job is executive director for Asian Americans Advancing Justice.

— Dr. Colleen McNicholas attended the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought awards. Video

— Jesse White, the former secretary of state, will distribute 10,000 hams and turkeys to seniors and needy families today — it’s his 57th year doing it. Chicago Vice Mayor Walter Burnett Jr. will join.

SPOTTED

— THIRD HOUSE: More than 400 folks attended the Third House holiday luncheon Wednesday at the Palmer House Hilton. Third House is an organization of lobbyists who work in Springfield alongside the House and Senate. Third House Speaker Mark Denzler, who heads the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, handed out special boxes of “Capitol Crunch” made by IMA member Gilster Mary-Lee in downstate Chester. The cereal boxes included a list of Third House speakers and Illinois trivia (Hey, send it my way!).

News: DeShana Forney from People’s Gas was named the next Third House speaker.

— MLS Public Strategies’ Joe Moore, Fred Lebed and Rod Sawyer hosted a holiday open house at their new office across from City Hall. Sawyer’s uncle, Ernest Sawyer, co-hosted. Stopping by: Alds. Stephanie Coleman, Greg Mitchell, Deborah Silverstein, Nick Sposato and Silvana Tabares; County Commissioners Bridget Gainer, Donna Miller and Kevin Morrison; and Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin.

— The 50th anniversary of the Milan-Chicago Sister Cities Committee brought out notables to Gene & Georgetti’s on Wednesday, including Consul General of Italy Thomas Botzios, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Regional Director Michael Cabonargi and Deputy Mayor for Business and Neighborhood Development Kenya Merritt. Pics!

MEDIA MATTERS

— 'When are you going to resign?': Public blasts WTVP board's handling of financial crisis: “Former President and CEO Lesley Matuszak took her own life a day after stepping down in late September. A couple weeks later, it was announced the station would cut costs by $1.5 million,” by WCBU’s Tim Shelley.

Reader Digest

We asked what holiday task you’ve yet to finish:

Andrew Davis: “Shopping.”

Graham Grady: “Putting up the tree.”

Laura Kotelman: “Wrapping gifts.”

Ed Mazur: “Myrna and I will celebrate our 58th wedding anniversary Dec. 26. So I need to get her a gift, write a love note and flowers.”

Timothy Thomas Jr.: “Mailing Christmas cards.”

Next question: What’s a New Year’s resolution for an elected official?

THE NATIONAL TAKE

— Trump is accused of swiping from Archives, but the agency signs Melania to a photo op, by POLITICO’s Michael Schaffer

— Cornel West thinks Biden won’t make it to the general election, by POLITICO’s Brittany Gibson and Brakkton Booker

— US has collected intel it could use to judge Israel’s conduct of war, by POLITICO’s Erin Banco, Nahal Toosi and Alexander Ward

TRANSITIONS

— Kate LeFurgy, the former communications director for former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, is now head of communications and marketing at The Vistria Group, which is led by Kip Patrick and Marty Nesbitt. LeFurgy worked three years in the mayor's office and earlier was in the city clerk’s office. Interesting side note: Vistria's general counsel if former Deputy Gov. Jesse Ruiz.

— Noureen Hashim-Jiwani has been named director of gender based violence and health policy for the Chicago Mayor’s Office policy team. She was senior adviser for health and human services.

— Marvin Williams is director of government affairs for UCAN. He was assistant chief of intergovernmental relations for the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice.

— Paul Sznewajs has been named founding executive director of the Richard L. Duchossois Foundation, which was launched by Dick Duchossois before his death last year.

TRIVIA

WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Clem Balanoff and Bridget Hatch for correctly answering that after the Decatur Staleys played at Wrigley Field they decided to rebrand as the Bears. The logic: Football players are larger than baseball players, and Bears are larger than Cubs.

TODAY's QUESTION: What Chicago building was the model for the first White Castle restaurants? Email skapos@politico.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Today: Cook County Judge Perla Tirado, Aileron public affairs President Dave Lundy, Strategia Consulting CEO Lissa Druss, Cameo CEO Steven Galanis, Norwood Park’s Frank Avino, branding adviser Ben Counts, law professor Richard Kling, policy adviser Patrobas Wafula and PR pro Ron Culp.

Saturday: Former Gov. Pat Quinn, state Sen. Dave Koehler, former Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza, former Cicero President Betty Loren-Maltese, social scientist Jacy Reese Anthis, Dechert senior associate Elisa Beneze, PR pro Margaret O’Connor and journalist Aaron Gettinger.

Sunday: State Sen. Julie Morrison, state Sen. Chapin Rose, former state Rep. Dan Burke, journalist Don Wycliff and Wall Street Journal reporter Bob Tita.

Monday: New Trier Township Supervisor Gail Schnitzer Eisenberg and Playbooker Sarah Willson.

Tuesday: State Sen. Ram Villivalam, state Rep. Anna Moeller, Cook County Circuit Judge Beatriz Santiago, attorney and Air & Waste Management Association Chair Larry Falbe, lobbyist John Borovicka, Origin Investments content strategist Barbara Bohn and MBA candidate Haim Engelman.

Wednesday: State Appellate Judge Bertina Lampkin and Cook County Circuit Judge Andrea Webber.

Thursday: White House policy adviser Michael Negron, Illinois Senate Dems aide Ken Lowe, Cozen O’Connor lobbyist Patrick Carey, Illinois Human Rights Commissioner Barbara Barreno-Paschall and restaurateur Kevin Boehm.

Dec. 22: Former Rep. Bill Lipinski, U.S. House chief receptionist Shonna Smith Jackson, Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund Executive Director Carlton W. Lenoir Sr., political consultant Kitty Kruth, Zapwater Communications CEO David Zapata, fashion exec Ikram Goldman, former Chicago Woman Publisher Sherren Leigh, Playbooker Joseph (J.T.) Varallo, Ipsos What the Future Managing Editor Kate MacArthur, restaurateur Nick Kokonas and Oxford University master’s candidate Mara Kelly.

Dec. 23: State Rep. Randy Frese, former state Sen. Steven Landek, White House Correspondents’ Association Executive Director Steve Thomma and investment banking associate Tariq Kahn.

Dec. 24: Former Ald. Michael Scott Jr. and Rep. Darin LaHood legislative director Mary Ellen Richardson.

Dec. 25: State Rep. Natalie Manley, state Rep. Edgar Gonzalez, CTU President Stacy Davis Gates, AFSCME Council 31 lobbyist Adrienne Alexander, journalist Bill Zwecker and Northrop Grumman’s Nicki Kapos.

Dec. 26: Ald. Brendan Reilly, former Congresswoman Lynn Morley Martin, Res Publica Group Vice Chair Kristen McQueary, lieutenant governor’s external affairs leader Paris E McConnell, attorney and podcaster Exavier Pope, sports broadcaster Jarrett Payton, e-commerce specialist Katie Benshoof and Young Democrats’ KG Marten.

Dec. 27: State Sen. Chapin Rose, radio talk show host and former Congressman Joe Walsh and public policy expert Andy Knapp.

Dec. 28: Judge Margaret Stanton-McBride, former state Rep. Nathan Reitz, power player Leslie Fox, former Ald. Ed Vrdolyak, Jenner & Block Co-managing Partner Randy Mehrberg, Hagerty Consulting exec Kate Lewis-Lakin, education consultant Elaine Drikakis, SEIU Higher Education Director Melinda Bunnage, Brightpoint Chief of Staff Sean Soun, TV journalist Brandon Pope and Tribune star reporter Stacy St. Clair.

Dec. 29: State Rep. Martin McLaughlin, former Illinois Senate Majority Leader James Clayborne Jr., former state Sen. Dave Sullivan, former state Rep. Sandy Cole, former Ald. Ed Burke, William Blair’s Jim O’Connor.

Dec. 30: Congressman Michael Bost, CPA and former state Sen. Chris Lauzen, GSV Ventures’ Deborah Quazzo, Illinois Policy Institute comms VP Hilary Gowins and Microsoft exec Marlee McConnell.

Dec. 31: State’s Attorney Chief of Staff Alyson Miller, Hartwick College President Darren Reisberg, City of Peoria comms manager Stacy Peterson, photojournalist Pete Souza and CBS 2’s Vince Gerasole.

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