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| By Shia Kapos |
Happy Thursday, Illinois. The assault weapons ban was signed into law a year ago and the world didn’t end.
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 | TOP TALKER | |
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Gov. JB Pritzker, flanked by Illinois business leaders, celebrates economic development milestones Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in Chicago. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO |
POINT OF VIEW: Gov. JB Pritzker stood with business leaders Wednesday overlooking Chicago’s skyline from the 57th floor of Salesforce Tower. The view was amazing. The point: To celebrate the dozens of economic development accomplishments his administration has achieved during his five years in office. But when it came time for questions, reporters zeroed in on the ongoing border crisis. Welcome to the politics of migrants: “This is a cheap political stunt perpetuated by [the] governor in Texas, who is simply trying to score points for himself and his party,” Pritzker said, reiterating what he’s said time and again. “And one other thing,” he added. It’s Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s party in Congress “that is unwilling to come to the table to actually reach an agreement on comprehensive immigration reform and border security.” The issue isn’t going away. During the Republican presidential debate last night between Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, Haley suggested deportation is the answer to border problems. Our takeaways are here. In Illinois, it’s the unpredictability that’s most vexing as Abbott continues to send asylum seekers at all hours and to different locations. But Pritzker has a plan: The governor said he talks “regularly” with the White House about the issue. And without giving details, Pritzker said he’s working to stop the surprise airline flights coming from Texas with plane loads of migrants. “We’re trying to prevent those companies from leasing their planes to the state of Texas,” he said. “You can’t tell a group of people, or an aircraft, that it can’t come somewhere. On the other hand, there are lots of things that would be a significant deterrent, and they already are working.” Does that mean we’ll see fewer planes landing with migrants aboard? There haven’t been any planes with migrants in the past few days, Pritzker noted. In the meantime, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus have invited regional municipal leaders to Chicago next week to talk about handling the crisis. The Daily Herald’s Alicia Fabbre has more. And another shelter has opened in Chicago to accommodate 220 asylum seekers, including families with children. WTTW’s Amanda Vinicky has more.
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| THE BUZZ | |
Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot is helping launch a new organization that will provide pro bono technical support to “community-based social impact organizations based in historically disinvested neighborhoods,” she said in a statement. The goal: “By providing technical support — such as budget and financing, grant writing, IT and data analytics — these organizations will be able to take their work to the next level,” Lightfoot said. She’ll talk more about it Jan. 18. Details here If you are Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
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| WHERE'S JB | |
At the Southern Illinois Health Care Center in Carterville at 10 a.m. to give remarks.
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| WHERE's BRANDON | |
No official public events.
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| Where's Toni | |
| At O’Hare airport at 11:45 a.m. to greet first lady Jill Biden on the tarmac. Then Preckwinkle, Biden and actress Halle Berry will head to the University of Illinois at Chicago to highlight the importance of advancing research on menopause and women’s health. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (gasp!) a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
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| 2024 WATCH | |
— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Eileen O'Neill Burke has been endorsed by Pat Dowell, the powerful 3rd Ward alderwoman and Democratic committeeperson, in her bid for Cook County state’s attorney. Also endorsing O’Neill Burke are state Rep. Margaret Croke (12th) and former 6th Ward Ald. Rod Sawyer. O’Neill Burke faces Clayton Harris III in the March 19 primary. O’Neill Burke and Harris will meet today for a candidates forum. — AD MAN: Congressman Jonathan Jackson is out with a TV ad for fellow Democratic Congressman David Trone of Maryland, by the Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet — How the primary election ballot in Chicago is shaping up so far, via the Chicago Board of Elections
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| THE STATEWIDES | |
— Illinois lawmakers quietly scaled back a popular tax credit. Former Gov. Pat Quinn wants it back: “11 million Illinois residents have gotten a tax break due to the exemption. No one is taking credit for untying it to the rate of inflation,” reports WBEZ’s Dave McKinney — BREAKING TODAY: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is announcing more changes in how the Department of Motor Vehicles operates. Think online. The new features include expanding eligibility for online driver’s licenses and state ID renewal, allowing for address changes on licenses and IDs, more appointment portals and a dedicated phone help line to assist with online questions — especially for seniors and teen drivers. That number is 800-252-8980. — Illinois abortions surged the year Roe fell, with nearly 17,000 patients traveling from other states — a 49% spike, by the Tribune’s Angie Leventis Lourgos — 8 ways Rockford will spend federal American Rescue Plan dollars in the next phase, by the Rock River Currant’s Kevin Haas — As Illinois officials push back against book bans, some advocates wonder about impact on prison libraries, by WTTW’s Blair Paddock
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| CHICAGO | |
— TSA intercepted 122 firearms at Chicago airports in 2023, including record number at Midway: “TSA officers stopped 72 handguns from making it through security checkpoints at O’Hare Airport, and 50 firearms were seized at Midway Airport,” by the Sun-Times’ Cindy Hernandez. — Meet Shameka Leach, the 2023 Bears fan of the year, by the Sun-Times’ Mohammad Samra — State Rep. Ann Williams is promoting Chicago’s latest internet phenom: the Chicago rat hole. Here’s the back story, via the Bock Club’s Leen Yassine.
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| COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | |
— DAY IN COURT | Accused Highland Park shooter’s trial postponed: Robert Crimo III, accused of killing seven people, had dumped his attorneys and sought a speedy trial. He’s since rehired his attorneys, and his February trial date was scrapped. the Daily Herald’s Barbara Vitello reports.
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| | TAKING NAMES | |
| — Sunil Harjani is nominated by President Joe Biden to fill a judicial vacancy for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division. Harjani is a former federal prosecutor, via Reuters’ Nate Raymond.
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| Reader Digest | |
We asked what’s your most irrational pet peeve? Robert Christie: “People who clip or file their nails in public places and those that pound the keys on their computer keyboard.” Lissa Druss: “Stupid people.” Ben Friend: “People who insist on backing into parking spots, especially in busy lots. You're inconveniencing everyone right now to save yourself five seconds later.” Mark Heffington: “The phrase ‘1st Annual’ instead of ‘Inaugural.’” LauraJane Hyde: “People who think backpacks are entitled to their own seat on the bus.” Chris Kolker: “The bills in my wallet have to face the same direction. Same for shirts in my closet.” Kathy Posner: “When people include today, tonight or tomorrow in email headings. Those modifiers only work if you’re reading the email at the precise day or time it was sent.” Chris Slusser: “Parents who don't follow protocol in the car line at my kids' school!” Patricia Ann Watson: “Clutter, crowding, things not placed neat and orderly.” Erika Weaver: “Bad grammar, long-winded conversations and burnt toast. I will use the entire loaf of bread to get perfect toast " Next question: What’s the most dramatic thing that happened in your hometown?
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| THE NATIONAL TAKE | |
— ‘Dumpster fire’ for Trump’s rivals as campaign sprints toward finish in Iowa, by POLITICO’s Natalie Allison, Kimberly Leonard, Adam Wren and Meridith McGraw — How Nikki Haley just might beat Donald Trump, by POLITICO’s Charlie Mahtesian — ‘This can’t happen again’: How the White House reacted to Austin’s stunning news, by POLITICO’s Eugene Daniels, Alexander Ward, Adam Cancryn and Sam Stein
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| | TRANSITIONS | |
— Sam Tatevosyan has been promoted to VP of federal government relations and global policy for McDonald’s. And Melissa Walsh has been named VP of U.S. state and local government relations and community and public affairs at McDonald’s. She was VP for state government affairs for AbbVie.
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| | EVENTS | |
| — Sunday: The 43rd Ward Democrats are supporting Lasagna Love, a program that has volunteers make lasagnas each January for people in need. They're accepting sign-ups. Details here — Feb. 3: Mike Pompeo, the former U.S. secretary of state and CIA director, headlines the Barrington Town-Warming discussion focusing on artificial, political and central intelligence. He'll make a special virtual appearance from overseas. Motorola Solutions CEO Greg Brown will speak on China. And humorist Chris Erskine will also entertain. Details here
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| TRIVIA | |
WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to John Mark Hansen for correctly answering that abolitionist John Jones was the first Black person elected to public office in Illinois. TODAY's QUESTION: Who is the only person to serve both as mayor of Chicago and governor of Illinois? Email skapos@politico.com
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| HAPPY BIRTHDAY | |
State Sen. Andrew Chesney and Chicago attorney Rebecca Ford. -30- |
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