| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | | | Good Thursday morning, Illinois. And happy State of the Union Day. We’re at the Hideout tonight! Come for the smart talk, stay for the good vibes. Headliners: Alds. William Hall and Bennett Lawson. Hot topic: Bring Chicago home referendum. Details here
|  | TOP TALKER | | | | 
Chicago Police Chief Larry Snelling, at the podium, Mayor Brandon Johnson, center, and other city and pubic safety officials address the upcoming Democratic National Convention at a briefing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO | GEARING UP: A government spending package that passed the U.S. House on Wednesday includes funding to help handle public safety during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this August. The measure now heads to the Senate. “Everything is indicating that we are well positioned, both the city of Chicago and Milwaukee, to have those resources so that we can keep the convention secure, safe,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told reporters, referring to the Republican National Convention being held this July in neighboring Wisconsin. “Our number one priority is the safety of all of our residents and all of our visitors.” Chicago and Milwaukee would each receive $75 million for planning their respective conventions. That’s up from $50 million that host cities have for years received for handling conventions. Johnson addressed the federal funds during a press conference about public safety for the convention. He stood alongside top public safety officials, including from the U.S. Secret Service. What we learned: The U.S. Secret Service is leading the security planning, and the city is a partner in executing the work. Police Chief Larry Snelling is in charge of security during the convention. Also in the works: Officers are going through intense training to prepare for the onslaught of protesters. … And Secret Service, national security folks and Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management are mapping out where the secure zones will be during the convention — the boundaries surrounding the United Center and McCormick Place. From Snelling: “Everything we are doing is rooted in constitutional policing,” he said. “We want to make sure we maintain peace. We are not going to tolerate the violence.”
| | | THE BUZZ | | | BACK ON THE BALLOT: An Illinois appellate court ruled Wednesday that votes for the Bring Chicago Home referendum in Chicago should be counted in the March 19 primary. The ruling overturns a lower court decision that removed the referendum from the ballot, siding with real estate groups who oppose it. The measure calls for restructuring the transit tax on the sale of properties more than $1 million, with the extra funding going toward helping the city’s unhoused community. “A tartly worded opinion,” is how Crain’s Leigh Giangreco described it. Here's an example: “Nothing in this decision is intended to suggest that we have any opinion one way or the other on the merits of the referendum at issue. That is a question wisely entrusted not to judges but to the people of the city of Chicago," wrote Appellate Court Justice Raymond Mitchell. Here’s the full decision What’s next: The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Chicago could appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. A spokeswoman said in a statement that BOMA will “review the judge’s order carefully and consider next steps." News of the ruling broke during the public safety press conference mentioned above. And Johnson appeared taken by surprise when he heard the news. He was quick to add: “This has been a long time coming for the people of Chicago, where two other administrations were reticent or just, quite frankly, negligent,” Johnson said, taking digs at his predecessors. “It’s a different day for Chicago. That’s a good thing.” Delving into the decision, by WBEZ’s By Tessa Weinberg and Mariah Woelfel If you are BOMA’s Farzin Parang, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | A message from Amazon: Amazon fulfillment centers create 3,000 local jobs on average with comprehensive benefits and free on-the-job technical training opportunities in towns across the country. “Health care started on day one for me and my kids,” said MJ, who works in one of Amazon’s fulfillment centers. See the impact of Amazon's comprehensive benefits. | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | In Decatur at 10 a.m. to celebrate Primient’s investments in Illinois.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | At the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center at 10:30 a.m. for a site visit.
| | Where's Toni | | At Phalanx Family Services at 10 a.m. to announce the launch of Cook County's Mobile Overdose Prevention Outreach Van. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: The stakes are high as America's health care community strives to meet the evolving needs of patients and practitioners, adopt new technologies and navigate skeptical public attitudes toward science. Join POLITICO’s annual Health Care Summit on March 13 where we will discuss the future of medicine, including the latest in health tech, new drugs and brain treatments, diagnostics, health equity, workforce strains and more. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | 2024 WATCH | | — Cook County state’s attorney Dem primary has turned negative: Each campaign has released ads attacking the other’s record and views, reports the Block Club’s Quinn Myers — In IL-07, Congressman Danny Davis has been endorsed in his bid for re-election by the Illinois Democratic Chairs’ Association. — Justice Joy Cunningham’s campaign has been endorsed by five labor unions in her Illinois Supreme Court primary election: AFSCME Council 31, SEIU District Council, SEIU Local 1, SEIU Local 73 and SEIU-H. — Mike Lindell, the My Pillow CEO and Donald Trump ally, was spotted in Springfield Wednesday. He’s backing Darren Bailey in the 12 congressional district primary. Earlier in the week, Lindell headlined a Super Tuesday event in Bolingbrook to promote his Election Crime Bureau initiative, according to the Illinois Review.
| | TAKING NAMES | | — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Intersect Illinois has appointed Michael Fassnacht as a board member, a coup for the statewide business development organization whose board chair is John Atkinson, a noted Chicago businessman and ally to the governor. Fassnacht’s day job is chief growth officer at the Clayco building company, a position he just started after heading World Business Chicago — the city’s business development group. Also appointed to the board: Kristi Lafleur, CEO of the Skyway Concession Company, and Mark Denzler, CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. Said Atkinson: “It’s an exciting time to be in Illinois, and we’re calling on our greatest assets – our people — to help progress our mission to bring economic growth and jobs throughout the state.”
| | | | A message from Amazon:   | | | | | THE STATEWIDES | | — Ambitious plan unveiled to boost college spending in Illinois — and more fairly distribute money: “The plan would increase spending at Illinois four-year campuses by $1.4 billion over the next 10 or 15 years and drive money to schools with higher need students. [It’s backed by] State Senate Majority leader Kimberly Lightford,” reports WBEZ’s Lisa Kurian Philip. — There’s a move in Springfield to protect state wetlands: “The U.S. Supreme Court rolled back protections for wetlands last year, leaving states like Illinois vulnerable,” by WBEZ’s Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco. — State Sen. Seth Lewis, a Republican from Bartlett, has been appointed to the Senate Republicans’ Budget Negotiation Team just as discussions ramp up on the 2025 fiscal year budget proposal. — SPOTTED: Janice K. Jackson, the CEO of Hope Chicago and former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, was in Springfield on Wednesday advocating for public dollars for Hope’s two-generation scholarship program that serves CPS students and families. They gathered at the Lincoln statue on the Capitol steps, along with state Sen. Javier Cervantes and state Rep. Kam Buckner, who led the students in a chant directed at the General Assembly inside: "If you love us, show us."
| | | CORRUPTION CHRONICLES | | | — Ex-state Sen. Terry Link gets probation for campaign-cash tax conviction: “The relatively lenient outcome was a result of Link agreeing to wear a wire and help the FBI crack an elaborate bribery scheme that led to prison sentences for Rep. Luis Arroyo, D-Chicago, and businessman James Weiss, the son-in-law of former Cook County Democratic Chairman Joe Berrios,” by the Tribune’s Jason Meisner and Ray Long.
| | | | On the ground in Albany. Get critical policy news and analysis inside New York State. Track how power brokers are driving change across legislation and budget and impacting lobbying efforts. Learn more. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what your family thought of your career choice: Kristopher Anderson: “My parents weren’t surprised, but when I explained to my Uncle Robert that ‘government affairs’ means lobbying, he would have looked more proud if I had said I was going to jail.” Denise Barreto: “My family thinks I should have been a lawyer and, honestly, given the work I ended up doing (as a business consultant), they think I am.” Marilynn Miller: “I am a retired computer programmer. I started with first generation machines. My Dad beamed telling his customers (he had a gas station and auto repair shop) that I worked on ‘brain machines.’” Jim Montgomery, the former Taylorville mayor: “They were all incredibly supportive! Over the years, my wife, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, aunts & uncles, and even my grandparents were involved with knocking on doors, putting up signs, attending rallies and stuffing envelopes. I could have never done it without their diehard support.” David Prosperi, a former assistant White House press secretary: “My parents never really understood what I did for work, but in 1980 they voted Republican for the first time in the hope that Ronald Reagan would be elected and I would have a job in the White House.” Alison Pure-Slovin: “My family is proud of my Jewish communal service, especially in today’s climate with an increase in anti-Semitism.” Dan Vosnos: “Our family championed my decision to leave school administration in order to advocate for better educational opportunities for kids like my son, who has Down syndrome.” Samantha White: “My dad HATED it when I first started out, he is a big Republican, but he changed his tune and I got him to volunteer on every Democratic campaign I worked on. My mom loves talking to people, so she always loved it.” NEXT QUESTION: What’s the longest drive you’ve made for a job?
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | — Sen. Dick Durbin gave a Senate floor speech to announce SOTU guest, Dr. Zaher Sahloul, a critical care specialist at Advocate Christ Medical Center and Saint Anthony’s Hospital. “Dr. Sahloul has a long history of leading timely, and often dangerous, medical missions to some of the most desperate parts of the world, including recently a trip to Gaza,” Durbin said. — Rep. Mary Miller (IL-15) is giving her SOTU seat to the family of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old University of Georgia nursing student who was murdered last month. See her post
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Biden’s 2023 State of the Union report card: Success, progress and shortcomings a year later, by POLITICO’s Myah Ward — Haley flopped. But she exposed Trump’s weaknesses on her way out, by POLITICO’s Lisa Kashinsky and Jessica Piper — ‘Saving the Democratic Party from itself’: Blue cities get tough on crime, by POLITICO’s Paul Demko, Jeremy B. White and Jason Beeferman
| | | | A message from Amazon: Amazon has committed $1.2 billion to provide hourly employees across the country with access to prepaid tuition benefits and free on-the-job skills training programs. Amazon’s investments in towns across the country help employees and whole communities thrive.
Learn how Amazon supports employees and their communities. | | | | | EVENTS | | — Today: Clayton Harris III, who’s running for Cook County state’s attorney, headlines a City Club luncheon. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Ald. Jason Ervin for correctly answering that lovebirds and entertainers Common and Jennifer Hudson have each one an Oscar and a Grammy. TODAY's QUESTION: Who’s the Quad City native who’s performed in “The Social Network,” “Zodiac,” “Grace and Frankie,” “CSI,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Mad Men,” “Three’s Company” and “The West Wing”? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Former state Sen. Tim Bivins, C Strategies CEO Becky Carroll, JLC & Associates CEO Juan Calahorrano, Kivvit Managing Director Judy Erwin, property developer George Kalogeras, InvestBev Chair Brian Rosen, MELD strategic comms founder Katie McCormick Lelyveld, comms specialist Hugo Balta and Bloomberg editor Lydia Mulvany. -30- Correction: Wednesday’s Illinois Playbook misspelled the last name of Congresswoman Delia Ramirez. | | | | 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 | | | | |
