| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Happy Wednesday, Illinois. Your playbook host is pulling together the annual holiday gift list for politicos. Got ideas? Whisper them to skapos@politico.com.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | 
Vice President Kamala Harris, left, walks with Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering a day after the July 4, 2022, mass shooting. | Charles Rex Arbogast/The AP | Vice President Kamala Harris is announcing a states-focused initiative that will be part of the recently created White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. The goal is to support cities and states trying to ward off violence before it happens — and the office is helping communities already hit by the scourge, too. That includes Highland Park, which suffered a mass shooting that saw seven people killed and 48 injured while gathered for the town’s July 4, 2022, parade. “There are dozens of federal programs that exist that can be used to support communities impacted by gun violence,” Stefanie Feldman, director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, told reporters Tuesday in a Zoom call. “[We] have to help local and state leaders identify which resources might make the most sense for them.” The office will work hand in hand with communities to connect them to federal agencies that can help create everything from community violence interventions to “extreme risk protection orders.” Holding the gun industry accountable is also part of the mission. State action: The initiative being announced today calls for states to take action, too, by establishing their own state offices of gun violence prevention. State Reps. Bob Morgan, Maura Hirschauer and Justin Slaughter are scheduled to attend the Veep’s announcement. Along with working to prevent violence, the White House wants to strengthen support for survivors of gun violence, too. That’s what it’s about for Highland Park. “When the cameras leave and the tally of victims is completed, the public moves on to the next shooting. But the communities and the people suffering loss or disabilities from the shootings feel it for a lifetime,” Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering told Playbook after meeting the other day with officials from the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention in D.C. Highland Park virtually shut down for weeks as it tried to recover from last year’s shooting. Along with the toll on individuals, businesses had to close during the investigation and city employees worked round the clock, Rotering said. The city hasn’t been reimbursed for the costs of investigating or handling the aftermath of the shooting, Rotering told Playbook. She wishes for a FEMA-like response, she said, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It’s what President Joe Biden talked about when he created the Office of Gun Violence Prevention. It will work hand in hand with communities to connect them to agencies that can offer help. The office doesn’t have the legislative authority to dole out financial assistance the way FEMA does — at least not yet. It’s only a few months old. POLITICO's Myah Ward has more. RELATED | As deadline looms, assault weapons registration rules still unresolved: “Lawmakers continue questioning rules as case appears headed to U.S. Supreme Court,” by Capitol News’ Peter Hancock.
| | | THE BUZZ | | | RACIAL DIVIDE: Illinois State Conference NAACP President Teresa Haley has been asked to resign after she was videotaped comparing migrants to “savages” and accusing them of rape, according to a startling story by the Chicago Tribune’s Robert McCoppin. Caught on video: “Black people have been on the streets forever and ever, and nobody cares, because they say that we’re drug addicts, we’ve got mental health issues,” Haley said according to the video. “But these immigrants who come over here, they’ve been raping people, they’ve been breaking into homes, they’re like savages as well. They don’t speak the language and they look at us like we’re crazy.” Haley denied the inflammatory language, blaming AI, according to the Tribune. “Reprehensible,” is how Gov. JB Pritzker described the remarks. The comments fuel ongoing racial tensions in Chicago as city officials grapple with the influx of asylum seekers, including children. Mayor Brandon Johnson has rejected such rhetoric. “In the face of divisive forces that continue to desperately work to tear our city apart, we will overcome this humanitarian crisis, and we will do it together,” the mayor said recently. He has compared the arrival of migrants to the Great Migration, when Black people moved to Chicago to escape the racism of the South. Sanctuary spotlight: On Thursday, a special meeting of the City Council (separate from today’s council meeting) will consider a resolution on whether Chicago should keep its “sanctuary city” status. Details here About 25,000 migrants have been sent to Chicago. Johnson’s administration has been working to find shelter for those who have been sleeping on police station floors and in O’Hare International Airport because shelters weren’t available. Big tent: The mayor’s office is partnering with churches to help house asylum seekers and though it's been slow to get a tented encampment up and running — one was canceled and another is on hold — that effort is still part of the mayor’s plan. “Land assessment is still underway,” according to First Deputy Chief of Staff Cristina Pacione-Zayas. If you are Teresa Haley, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | At Chicago’s Anti-Cruelty Society at 11:15 a.m. to encourage Illinoisans to adopt shelter animals.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | | In City Hall for the City Council meeting at 10 a.m. — At the DuSable Museum at 5:30 p.m. to celebrate the “One Fair Wage” measure.
| | | Where's Toni | | | In Miami-Dade County, Fla., for the National Association of Counties' Executives Roundtable. Enjoy the warm weather, Madam President! Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or, even, a complaint? Get in touch at: skapos@politico.com
| | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | — Republican National Committee backs effort to block mail-in ballots received after Election Day: “As the Republican National Committee embarks on a strategy to encourage mail-in-voting, it also is backing an appeal in a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn an Illinois law that allows mail-in ballots cast on or before Election Day to be counted up to 14 days afterward,” by the Tribune’s Rick Pearson. — 2024 WATCH: State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid facing two challengers in the March primary: And he’s challenging their petitions, reports The Landmark’s Bob Skolnik
| | | THE STATEWIDES | | — Unsealed records reveal new details about Illinois appellate judge’s alleged role in decades-old fraud scheme: “Judge Carl Walker was never charged and denied any wrongdoing in mortgage frauds perpetrated by a real estate client. But a controversial 2003 raid on his law offices has reemerged in an effort to remove him from hearing a case,” by Injustice Watch’s David Jackson. — Global warming concerns, generous incentives prompt Illinois homeowners to adopt solar power like never before, by the Tribune’s Nara Schoenberg
| | CHICAGO | | — City Council set to alter paid leave ordinance, but not enough to satisfy business leaders: “The proposed quick fixes include a six-month delay — until July 1 — in the requirement that businesses give Chicago employees five paid sick days and five paid vacation days per year,” by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman. — After backlash, City Council drops restrictive new rules to public seating at its meetings, by WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel — Civic Federation taps former city inspector general Joe Ferguson as president, by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman — Chicago Public Schools leaders want to move away from school choice, by Chalkbeat’s Reema Amin and Becky Vevea — CTA will reduce train speeds on Yellow Line in response to crash, federal investigators say, by the Sun-Times’ Mitchell Armentrout and David Struett
| | The Trial of Edward Burke | | — Calm and cool former alderman and FBI mole Daniel Solis heats up in corruption trial: His testimony “came with a twist: He was called not by prosecutors, who used the secret recordings he made of [formerm Ald. Ed] Burke, including their final conversation, to build their racketeering case, but instead as one of only two witnesses in Burke’s defense case,” by the Tribune’s Jason Meisner, Megan Crepeau and Ray Long.
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Evanston plans event to select descendants for reparations funds, by Pioneer Press’ Alex Hulvalchick — DuPage County Judge Kenneth Popejoy injured in explosion at Wheaton home, by the Daily Herald’s Susan Sarkauskas — Will County judge shares frustration with pace of criminal case against New Lenox gun shop owner, business partner, by the Daily Southtown’s Alexandra Kukulka
| | DAY IN COURT | | — In strip club extortion case, brother of ex-Harvey Mayor Eric Kellogg found guilty: “Rommell Kellogg was convicted of collecting payments from Arnie’s Idle Hour in Harvey in exchange for the city not closing the club, where prostitution flourished,” by the Sun-Times’ Frank Main
| | | SPOTTED | | | 
Former President Barack Obama reads to pupils at Parkside Academy in Chicago on Dec. 12, 2023. | The Obama Foundation | — HO, HO, HO-BAMA: Former President Barack Obama visited Parkside Academy in Chicago’s South Shore to read “Santa’s Gotta Go” to Pre-K students and deliver toys and classroom accessories. — Holiday cheer: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton hosted a holiday party with other Black women elected officials and the Higher Heights Leadership Fund organization. In the room: Illinois Senate Leader Kimberly Lightford, state Rep. Camille Lilly, Ald. Michelle Harris, County Clerk Karen Yarbrough, Commissioner Donna Miller and leaders from Rockford, Champaign, Peoria, East St. Louis and Lake, Will, McHenry and DuPage counties. Pic!
| | Reader Digest | | We asked how you’d change the way state government runs: Jimmy Dean: “Term limits.” Judy Erwin: “More civility and bipartisanship.” Adam Gypalo: “Fair maps would help limit extreme elements from winning, resulting in more centrist candidates.” Kevin Hall: “Moving municipal elections to the fall to avoid the quick turnaround from November generals to spring elections.” Bill Hogan: “Decision-making for the public good, rather than catering to public sector unions and special interests.” Charles Keller: “Outlaw gerrymandering.” Robert Kieckhefer: “Return to cumulative voting in Illinois House races” instead of winner take all. Jim Nowlan: “Develop a Future of Illinois Plan for where we want to be in, say, 10 years.” Brendan A. Power: “Special elections to fill legislative vacancies rather than an antiquated, anti-democratic appointment process.” Timothy Thomas Jr.: “Be more friendly and accessible with expanded hours in agencies with high-volume public interaction like Secretary of State, Department of Revenue, etc.” Patricia Ann Watson: “More remote workers.” Stephen Yoshida: “Get rid of laws and rules making exceptions ‘for communities larger than 250,000 people’ that unfairly target Chicago.” For tomorrow, what’s one thing Milwaukee does better than Chicago?
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | — Congressman Jonathan Jackson introduces bill to honor the country’s first Black cycling pro: Reps. Danny Davis and Robin Kelly are co-sponsors, by Block Club’s Jamie Nesbitt Golden
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Biden ‘not making promises’ US will further assist Ukraine, by POLITICO’s Alexander Ward and Adam Cancryn — Sununu’s Haley endorsement is a huge blow to Chris Christie, by POLITICO’s Lisa Kashinsky — Trump considers revamping his approach to North Korea if he wins in 2024, by POLITICO’s Alexander Ward
| | TRIVIA | | TUESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Dan Schneider for correctly answering that Morton Arboretum features 200,000-plus plants from 40 countries. TODAY's QUESTION: What two Illinois locations are located west of the Mississippi River? Email skapos@politico.com
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — Gloria Scoby, who helped launch and led Crain's, has died. She was 78, by Crain’s Stephen Strahler — Andre Braugher, ‘Homicide’ and ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ actor from Chicago, dies at 61, by Associated Press’ Andrew Dalton
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Ald. Michelle Harris, Democratic Committeeman Sean Tenner, former Park District Commissioner Mona Castillo, Indivisible Chicago’s Marj Halperin, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ Mae Hong, TV producer Donna LaPietra, counsel to Sen. Tammy Duckworth Stacey Berdejo and Sun-Times reporter Brett Chase. -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 | | | | |
