| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos and Samantha Latson | | Presented by |  | | | Happy Thursday, Illinois. We’ll be at the Hideout on April 4 talking about the state of progressive politics in Illinois. Special guest: State Sen. Robert Peters! Tickets here
|  | TOP TALKER | | The Chicago City Council is becoming more divisive than ever. On Wednesday, a group of aldermen called a press conference to demand that fellow Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez be censured and resign from his post as chair of the council’s Housing and Real Estate Committee. The reason: Sigcho-Lopez spoke at a pro-Palestinian rally last week that also called for the Democratic National Convention not to be held in Chicago — and he spoke while standing in front of a desecrated American flag. Sigcho-Lopez says he wasn’t at the rally when the flag was burned and wasn't aware at the time that the charred remains of the flag were right in front of him when he spoke. NBC 5's Mary Ann Ahern has the visuals. The demands: The aldermen gathered Wednesday want an apology, and they’ve called for a special council meeting to consider censure. Sigcho-Lopez isn’t apologizing. And his supporters are condemning the demand that he resign his committee post. In a statement obtained by Playbook, the Latino Caucus said the request is "cynical and politically motivated." And the statement adds: “We do not believe the call for an April 1 special meeting to remove Alderperson Sigcho Lopez from his leadership position is a good use of the council's time. The call for this meeting distracts from the critical issues in our communities.” Here’s the full statement. The mayor’s office told Playbook it had “no comment” on the flag-burning incident or on whether Sigcho-Lopez should be censured. Tensions have been brewing: The divisiveness within the council comes after contentious votes over the war in the Middle East. In January, the council narrowly approved a controversial resolution calling for a Gaza ceasefire. The mayor made the unusual move to break a tie on the issue. Before that, the friction was about a resolution condemning Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7. That resolution was approved on a voice vote with numerous aldermen absent or leaving early and Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez being the only one to vote no. On Wednesday, Rodriguez Sanchez called the request for Sigcho-Lopez to step down from his committee post “McCarthyism.” Point being: This isn’t the rubber stamp council made famous by mayors past. Expect fireworks Monday, when the special meeting of the City Council hears the request to bump Sigcho-Lopez from his leadership position. RELATED Flag burning is free speech — and so is sham patriotism, writes the Sun-Times’ Neil Steinberg
| | THE BUZZ | | SCOOP: Rapper and community advocate Che “Rhymefest” Smith is running for the school board in the 10th District, which includes a huge geographic chunk of the South Side from 83rd Street south to the city limit. Smith turned in his paperwork on the first day potential candidates could start collecting signatures to get on the ballot for the Nov. 5 election. Why he’s running: “I think my work in the community, talking about how art should be taught in schools and how we make creative thinkers” translates to work on the school board, Smith told Playbook. The longtime Chicagoan who grew up going to school in the district he wants to represent recently was a fellow at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics, where he focused on how to leverage cultural currency for social and political justice. “Who's going to be on that school board who understands the community the way that I have in, out and around and through it,” Smith said in our interview. Chicago voters will choose 10 of 21 members to serve on the Board of Education, starting Jan. 15. The mayor will appoint an additional 11 members. This isn’t Smith’s first run at politics. In 2010, he joined the race for the 20th Ward aldermanic seat, making it into the runoff. He lost to the incumbent at the time, Willie Cochran, who a few years later would plead guilty and serve time for wire fraud. WTTW’s Amanda Vinicky has more details on the school board races. If you are Willie Cochran, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | A message from Amazon: When Sylvia started expanding her small business beyond her hometown, she turned to Amazon to help with shipping. Fulfillment by Amazon costs 70% less on average than comparable two-day shipping options. Learn more. | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | In California to promote Illinois’ film industry.
| | | WHERE's BRANDON | | | At 2242 S. Princeton Ave. at 10 a.m. for the HUD Green and Resilient press conference.
| | | Where's Toni | | | No official public events. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | Access New York bill updates and Congressional activity in areas that matter to you, and use our exclusive insights to see what’s on the Albany agenda. Learn more. | | | | | | | CONVENTION ZONE | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Two local event planning groups have been selected to put on some of the largest hospitality events during the Democratic National Convention in August. Who they are: Chicago-based Juan and Only Events has partnered with local firms elemento L2 and All Terrain to produce events welcoming convention attendees. And Chicago’s Revel Global Events and 5423 Productions have also teamed to execute other official convention events that will showcase local enterprises. How it will work: The event management teams will work with the host committee and the Democratic National Convention Committee to create events with “accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability” in mind, according to organizers. “We are thrilled to add this all-star team of event management professionals to our diverse slate of convention contractors,” Chicago 2024 Host Committee Executive Director Christy George said in a statement. “By using the best local talent our city has to offer, we are offering delegates, visitors, volunteers and members of the media a look at how the City of Big Shoulders gets things done!” About the companies: Juan and Only is a Chicago-based minority-and-women-owned firm that is experienced in large-scale events, concerts and festivals. The Latino-owned elemento L2 specializes in “experiential marketing, branding and creative strategy.” All Terrain Collective is described as “the first female-founded experiential marketing agency in the U.S. Revel Global Events is a local, women and LGBTQ+-owned company specializing in event production and management. And 5423 Productions is a boutique, women and Black-owned event production company.
| | 2024 WATCH | | — Eileen O’Neill Burke keeps narrow lead in State’s Attorney primary as vote count slows: “About 2,250 mail ballots, mostly from Chicago, were added to the race’s unofficial results on Wednesday. O’Neill Burke is ahead of Clayton Harris III by 1,637 votes as of Wednesday,” by the Block Club’s Quinn Myers.
| | | THE STATEWIDES | | | — Pritzker eyes bigger piece of Illinois sports betting action after 4 booming years: “A hike from 15 percent to 35 percent of sportsbook revenue is a slam dunk to generate an extra $200 million for the cash-strapped state, according to the Illinois governor. But major gambling corporations say it will block growth in a market that has ballooned into one of the nation’s biggest,” by the Sun-Times’ Mitchell Armentrout. — Freed by governor, Gerald Reed now faces retrial in 1990 double murder: “Reed’s life sentence was commuted by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in 2021, but Reed’s lawyer says that doesn’t prevent prosecutors from retrying him,” by the Sun-Times’ Frank Main. — BOOK REVIEW: ‘Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry’ examines the most powerful families in the food system: “Author Austin Frerick exposes the system that has allowed seven families, including those behind Cargill, JBS, Driscoll’s, and Walmart, to build enormous power,” by Twilight Greenaway for Civil Eats.
| | | | A message from Amazon:   | | | | | TAKING NAMES | | — Arizona town lays down the law with never-before-seen sanctions on town councilman (who used to be an Illinois state rep): “With the sanctions Allen Skillicorn can no longer become vice-mayor, use taxpayer money to travel for events and meetings, or physically meet with workers,” by News 12’s Chase Golightly.
| | | CHICAGO | | | — Johnson now has two vacancies to fill on zoning board: In order to be approved by the board, applicants for large projects, such as homeless shelters, “must garner three votes regardless of how many commissioners are present for the meeting. With just four commissioners, a transitional men's shelter in Uptown was rejected in a 2-2 vote amid opposition from local businesses and residents,” by Crain’s Justin Laurence. — Cops in Schools: Tracking Nationwide Changes after George Floyd, by Anna Bryant for the Chicago Justice Project — Chicago Water Taxi to return to daily service for the first time since pandemic, by the Tribune’s by Sarah Freishtat — Advocates cry foul over forthcoming policy to make Chicago’s buildings safe for birds and say lack of mandatory requirements is ‘enraging,’ by WTTW’s Patty Wetli — Krispy Kreme doughnuts are coming to McDonald’s, by the Associated Press
| | DAY IN COURT | | — Illinois Supreme Court agrees to hear appeal from former ‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett, by the Sun-Times’ Matthew Hendrickson
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, the newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world, including WEF in Davos, Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to UNGA in NYC and many more. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what book changed your life — and lots of you had opinions: Geoff Tompkins, McLean County Board member: "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72" by Hunter S. Thompson. “The chapter on being an uncommitted delegate to the national convention was especially enlightening!” Zachary Brown: "Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness" by Joshua Wolf Shenk. “It took Lincoln a couple decades to figure out what he wanted his life to look like, which I find reassuring whenever I feel lost or stuck.” Mike Gascoigne: "The Great Believers" by Rebecca Makkai. “Because how could I as a gay man ever vote Republican when they let AIDS decimate us?” Kay Hatcher: "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell, “a connect-the-dots primer to life, and especially politics.” See the full list here NEXT QUESTION: Besides Covid, what made you sick as a dog?
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Biden campaign to bring in massive $25M haul at star-packed fundraiser, by POLITICO’s Elena Schneider — Joe Lieberman, 2000 vice presidential nominee, dies at 82, by POLITICO’s David Cohen — Biden expands window to try and keep millions more low-income Americans insured, by POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn — What Nicole Shanahan means for America’s ‘radical center,’ by POLITICO’s Derek Robertson — California is preparing to defend itself — and the nation — against Trump 2.0, by POLITICO’s Blanca Begert
| | Transitions | | — Lake Forest Police Chief to take new job as executive director of 19th Judicial Circuit, by Pioneer Press’ Daniel Dorfman
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Learn how Amazon supports independent sellers. | | | | | EVENTS | | — Tonight: House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch headlines the Rock County Democrats’ Unity Dinner. Details here — April 9: Joe Walsh, the former congressman, and Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was killed in the Parkland school shooting, headline “Two Dads Defending Democracy.” The conversation is sponsored by Growing Community Media, which publishes Wednesday Journal and other suburban papers. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Mark Swartz, executive director for the Law Center for Better Housing, for correctly answering that “The Blues Brothers” was named a “Catholic Classic” by L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican’s official newspaper. TODAY's QUESTION: Who was the Illinois native sportscaster who coined the term “slam dunk”? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Democratic Committeewoman Carol Ronen, former U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Ron Gidwitz, former Treasury Secretary and Paulson Institute Chair Hank Paulson, former House Rep. Marlow Colvin, government consultant Heather Wier Vaught, Pride Action Tank Executive Director Kim Hunt, Jenner & Block comms senior manager Samantha Budde, lobbyist Ben Whipple, Illinois Economic Policy Institute Executive Director Josh Weger and ABC News national correspondent Alex Perez. -30- Correction: Wednesday's Illinois Playbook misstated the age of the late Hank Bangser. He was 74. | | | | 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 | | | | |
