| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos and Samantha Latson | | Presented by |  | | | Happy Tuesday, Illinois. Today marks two weeks of spring, if you can believe it. Stop by the Hideout on Thursday to hear state Sen. Robert Peters talk about the state of progressive politics. Tickets here
|  | TOP TALKER | | Tensions within the Chicago City Council hit a new high on Monday, with moderate members drawing a line over the flag-burning issue and progressives embracing the First Amendment. After a two-hour debate that saw shouts, cheers and fiery speeches, a decision was finally made. The attempted ouster of Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez as Housing Committee chair failed on a 29-16 vote. Sigcho-Lopez said he met on Easter Sunday with Ald. Chris Taliaferro, a military veteran who spearheaded the call for his resignation, to issue a private apology, reports the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman. “When my colleague and I spoke, I forgave him for what I had in my heart,” Taliaferro said. The context: Sigcho-Lopez spoke at a pro-Palestinian rally earlier this month while standing in front of a desecrated American flag. He said 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. The City Council is a nonpartisan group, but it for decades it has been considered a mostly Democratic body because the Windy City is as blue a town as they come. There have been divisions recently, though, over some of the city’s most pressing issues: how to care for migrants, homelessness and if, or how, to respond to the Middle East war. RELATED — Alderman who spoke in front of burnt American flag avoids punishment: “Speaking first, Sigcho-Lopez blasted the attempt to push him out of the chairmanship as “pandering” that distracted the council from more important Chicago-focused work,” by the Tribune’s Jake Sheridan.
| | | THE BUZZ | | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Jim Durkin, the former House minority leader and guiding force for the Illinois Republican Party for years, has joined the well-connected law firm of Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres. Durkin is a partner in the firm’s public finance, government affairs and regulatory law practice groups. “Partnering with an accomplished legislator and lifelong public servant of Jim’s caliber is an honor for all of us,” CFDB partner and Management Committee Co-chair Lisa Duarte, a former Illinois first assistant deputy governor, said in a statement obtained by Playbook. “It's a great fit,” Durkin told Playbook. And in a statement, he called it “an opportunity to help the next generation of leaders apply business and legal solutions to the needs and challenges of our communities while also driving economic growth.” Durkin served as minority leader in the Illinois House from 2013 to 2023. He was a state legislator from 1995 to 2003, representing the west suburban 44th District, and, after redistricting, representing the 82nd District from 2006 to 2023. He had served as an assistant Illinois attorney general and as an assistant Cook County state's attorney. Last year, Durkin considered a run for Cook County state’s attorney but decided there wasn’t a path in the predominantly Democratic Cook County.
| | | | A message from Archer Daniels Midland: Growing demand for low-carbon fuels means carbon capture technologies are critical for our state's aviation, manufacturing, and agricultural industries. Learn how Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) can provide an economic boost for downstate communities, strengthen Illinois industry, and advance our state as a leader in America's decarbonization efforts. Read more. | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events.
| | | WHERE's BRANDON | | | No official public events.
| | | Where's Toni | | At the Greater Chicago Food Depository at 9:30 a.m. with Sen. Dick Durbin and other dignitaries to celebrate having three new cold-storage vans for suburban food pantries. 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. | | | | | | | 2024 WATCH | | — Progressive Congressman Jesus Chuy García tapped into the newly elected school board race on Monday, announcing his endorsement of Yesenia López for elected Board Member of the Chicago School Board of Education. In a school district where Latino students make up nearly half of the student population, García said he sees López’s candidacy as an opportunity to provide representation. In a press release, García addressed disparities within the immigrant community that result in some being “left behind.” The congressman said having López, a daughter of immigrants, on the board, is a “power” move that would give immigrants “a seat at the table.” “Receiving Congressman García's endorsement is not only a great honor but also a profound responsibility,” López said in a statement. “This role represents a critical opportunity to shape the future of education in Chicago, especially for our Latino students, who have long been underserved.” — State’s attorney primary victor O’Neill Burke says it’s wrong to paint her as the tough-on-crime choice: After a tight race for Cook County state’s attorney, Eileen O’Neill Burke “said she won’t change her positions in the run-up to the November election. She instead pinned the close race on “a question of messaging,” by the Sun-Times’ David Struett.
| | | | A message from Archer Daniels Midland:   | | | | | THE STATEWIDES | | — Illinoisans strongly favor tough ethics reforms that are stalled in Springfield, poll shows, by the Sun-Times’ Dave McKinney — Illinois House proposal could pave way for video gambling in Chicago, by the Tribune’s Dan Petrella — Smashing Pumpkins to headline Illinois State Fair on Aug. 16, by the Daily Herald’s Marni Pyke
| | CHICAGO | | — Chicago’s 1st chief homelessness officer will be Sendy Soto: At the grand opening of Lawson House’s affordable housing complex in the Gold Coast, Mayor Brandon Johnson debuted Chicago’s first chief homelessness officer, Sendy Soto. The announcement comes just months after the mayor said he’d create the position to mitigate homelessness, by the Block Club’s Kelly Bauer. — Aldermen seek control over ShotSpotter gunshot detection system’s future: The City Council is set to vote on an ordinance that would strike down Johnson’s decision to dismantle ShotSpotter in Chicago this fall, by the Tribune’s Jake Sheridan. — Illinois lawmakers propose allowing Chicago’s school board members to be paid, by Chalkbeat’s Samantha Smylie and Becky Vevea
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Florida’s abortion ruling puts Trump on the spot over DeSantis’ bans, by POLITICO’s Kimberly Leonard — U.S. weighs selling new fighter jets, missiles and guidance kits to Israel, by POLITICO’s Lara Seligman, Joe Gould and Paul McLeary — First human case of avian flu in Texas raises alarm, by POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn and David Lim
| | | | A message from Archer Daniels Midland: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a proven climate solution, and Illinois is a national leader in this technology. Investment in CCS means economic growth in downstate communities and rural areas across the state, providing funding for infrastructure, creating job opportunities and revitalizing towns across the state. Learn why policymakers should embrace CCS. | | | | | TRANSITIONS | | — Angelica Alfaro is now director of government and community affairs for the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She was with the University of Illinois system, serving as associate director of local and state relations.
| | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | | International Housewares Association CEO Derek Miller, Rise Strategy Group’s Jessica Ortiz, political consultant Leslie Dimas, CTU political staffer Hilario Dominguez and attorney Vicki Hood. | | | | 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 | | | | |
