| | | | |  | | By Samantha Latson and Shia Kapos | | Presented by |  | | | TGIF, Illinois. Congrats to the Fighting Illini women’s basketball team for winning the WBIT title. I-L-L … !!!
|  | TOP TALKER | | Block Club Chicago’s Quinn Meyers snagged an exclusive sit-down with Mayor Brandon Johnson to reflect on one year since he was elected. During his time in office, the mayor has juggled unprecedented issues such as an influx of asylum seekers, a measles outbreak and floods destroying homes on the city’s West Side, as well as strong criticism from opponents. Despite these events, the mayor feels he’s held his end of the bargain with voters. “Name one thing that I said I was gonna do that I haven’t done. You won’t be able to,” Johnson told Meyers. During the interview, Johnson laid out a list of what he perceives as his successes — from tossing out subminimum wages for tipped workers, to providing mental health services, to ensuring Chicago employees have 10 days of paid time off, and not increasing property taxes. But Johnson’s list of gains didn’t include his Bring Chicago Home referendum targeting homelessness, which ultimately failed with 53 percent of Chicago voters checking no. Meyers reports the City Council’s Progressive Caucus admitted that the poor results “at least partially stemmed from distrust in city government.” Journalists and government watchdogs have also described a lack of direct answers and transparency, he writes. “The past 12 months have seen portions of Johnson’s agenda progress, while other parts have stalled or could potentially be clawed back in the coming months,” Meyers reports. Johnson acknowledged there’s still work ahead and said that he’s looking forward to the “next three or 23 years.” RELATED EARLIER IN THE WEEK the mayor eased some concerns from the business community by giving a thumbs-up to a plan to subsidize four proposals in Chicago’s Loop District. The revitalization efforts nearly mirror the project started by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Some aldermen had urged Johnson to pick up where Lightfoot left off. And Johnson followed suit with a nod to four projects that will benefit the financial district. The administration will pursue state legislation to create business improvement districts in the city, reports the Tribune’s A.D. Quig
| | THE BUZZ | | No slowing down for progressives: That was the message Thursday night from state Sen. Robert Peters, who headlined Illinois Playbook Live at the Hideout. Peters said the progressive movement in Chicago is as strong as ever. Don’t read into the losses of the Bring Chicago Home referendum and Clayton Harris’ bid for Cook County state’s attorney, he said. “If there was a presidential primary, whether on the Republican side or Democratic side,” the contest, especially for the state’s attorney race, would have been different, Peters suggested. “I take it as a positive that a progressive candidate who was outspent three to one came so close,” he said, referring to Harris’ campaign against Eileen O’Neill Burke, who ultimately won the Democratic state's attorney primary by about 1,500 votes. The Bring Chicago Home referendum, which would have allowed for a one-time tax on high-end properties to help address homelessness, was an issue about messaging, Peters said. “We need to figure out how we have a conversation about revenue and how to talk to people about that.”
| | | | A message from Archer Daniels Midland: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) can create thousands of jobs in downstate communities, helping to strengthen small towns and rural areas while creating corridors of opportunity throughout the state. These projects can provide Illinois a path to decarbonize without deindustrializing, meeting our climate goals while also drawing new investment to our state. Learn more. | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events.
| | | WHERE's BRANDON | | | At Quinn Fire Academy to attend the Chicago Fire Department Badge Ceremony at 7:55 a.m.
| | | 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 | | Democratic National Committee hires local sustainability firms for Chicago convention: “The Democratic National Convention Committee and Chicago 2024 Host Committee selected two Chicago-based firms, Bright Beat and Purpose, to help implement sustainability practices during the four-day, multimillion-dollar convention,” by WBEZ’s Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco. For the convention, Stephanie Katsaros and Marley Finnegan will focus on ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — New DCFS director in court to face questions on children stuck in emergency placements: Heidi Muller, director of Illinois DCFS, in court on Thursday assured a judge there would be improvement by the end of the year in reducing the number of children kept by DCFS in emergency or psychiatric facilities longer than necessary. Cook County Judge Patrick Murphy referenced a child who was held in an emergency room for a week, restrained and “pumped full of antipsychotics.” Murphy said, “We’re driving them crazy by keeping them hospitalized,” by the Tribune’s Olivia Olander and Jeremy Gorner. — Former chair of Prisoner Review Board pushes back against Pritzker’s criticism following killing of 11-year-old boy, by WTTW’s Paul Caine — Bill ending state’s tipped wage advances but prospects uncertain amid pushback, by Capitol News’ Cole Longcor
| | | | A message from Archer Daniels Midland:   | | | | | TAKING NAMES | | — TAKE A BOW: The Illinois Democratic County Chairs' Association is honoring three lawmakers with its Party Builder Award. Assistant Senate Majority Leader Linda Holmes, Assistant House Majority Leader Kam Buckner and Tom Balanoff, the emeritus president Emeritus of SEIU Local 1, will be recognized for their work on April 24 at the IDCCA Party Builder Awards Reception at the Mid America Regional Council of Carpenters Hall in Chicago. — Star power: The American Association for Justice is hosting the national finals for its Student Trial Advocacy Competition in Chicago this weekend. The Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and the University of Illinois College of Law are among the law school teams competing in the mock trial competition. Some of the notable judges: Tony Romanucci of Romanucci & Blandin, Jay Stefani of Levinson and Stefani, Brian LaCien of Smith LaCien, Heidi L. Wickstrom of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, and Keith Hebeisen of Clifford Law Offices.
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | CHICAGO | | — Johnson to Biden: Long-term undocumented immigrants deserve work permits, too: On the anniversary of the mayor’s election, Johnson “touted a letter he signed with leaders from other cities urging Biden to push harder for more work permits for immigrants,” by the Sun-Times’ David Struett. — What you need to know about next week’s total solar eclipse, by the Tribune’s Adriana Pérez — Bears sit down with agency that would subsidize their lakefront stadium, by Crain’s Justin Laurence
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — No Labels packs it up, won’t put forth a presidential ticket, by POLITICO's Daniel Lippman — How Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Could Doom Joe Biden, by POLITICO’s Adrian Carrasquillo — Reps. Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar subpoenaed in Arizona probe of Trump fake electors, by POLITICO’s Betsy Woodruff Swan and Kyle Cheney — Judge denies, for now, a Trump bid to dismiss charges that he hoarded classified documents, by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney
| | | | A message from Archer Daniels Midland: ADM’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) solutions can play a critical role in decarbonizing Illinois industries, including aviation, manufacturing, and agriculture. CCS can also boost the economies of downstate communities, providing thousands of jobs and new investment opportunities. Read more. | | | | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Attorney Michael Radzilowsky, Loyola University Chicago admissions exec Lindsy Fagerstrom Borneman, Georges & Synowiecki partner Michael Synowiecki,Noble Charter Schools Chief of Public Affairs Claudia Rodriguez and Susan Sher, who served as Michelle Obama’s chief of staff. Saturday: State Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, former state Rep. JoAnn Osmond, former state Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr. and civil rights attorney Jeanette Samuels. Sunday: Former Illinois first lady Jayne Thompson, Young Invincibles Midwest Engagement Manager Troy Alim, Project Shema co-founder Oren Jacobson, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning comms exec Mike Sobczak and POLITICO reporter Daniel Lippman. -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 | | | | |
