| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | TGIF, Illinois. The Cabinet picks keep coming. Catch up here.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | CITY HALL HOO-HA: In an extraordinary rebuke to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, even his allies joined in voting down his budget proposal — which included a $300 million property tax increase. The message: City Council members don’t want to put a property tax increase on their constituents, especially ahead of the 2027 municipal election. Taking it stride: The mayor said Thursday’s 50-0 vote against his budget proposal was just part of a “healthy process” of passing a budget. “This is something that my administration can handle. I’m not intimidated,” he told reporters. What it signals: The Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman, the most veteran City Hall reporter, said the vote was “perhaps the strongest sign yet that Johnson’s anemic public approval ratings have emboldened the Council to stop taking its marching orders from the mayor’s office.” Her full story is here. What aldermen are saying : “I don’t believe I’ve seen a 50-to-0 vote since I’ve been in government. That’s definitely a statement, much like the resignation of an entire school board,” Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) posted on Bluesky. Ald. Marty Quinn (13th) called it “a defeat of epic proportions,” via Spielman. Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) described the vote as a “devastating loss” for the mayor, via CBS 2’s Sabrina Franza. “Uncharted territory” is how Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) put it, via the Bock Club’s Melody Mercado. Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th), a strong ally of the mayor, told reporters the vote “showed that our communities are fed up with rising property taxes,” via Crain’s Justin Laurence. And “Rauner-esque,” is how one City Hall observer described the mayor’s budget impasse with the council, referring to the nearly three years that the state didn’t have a budget under former Gov. Bruce Rauner. Could that happen in Chicago? Maybe. But emboldened City Council members could also take control and come up with their own budget in time to meet the end-of-year deadline. History would describe that as a strong council and weak mayor. RELATED The big question: Will there be any property tax at all?, via ABC 7’s Craig Wall Mayor sticks with underbudgeting for police lawsuits as actual spending soars, by WBEZ’s Chip Mitchell Top mayoral aide Kennedy Bartley says 'worldview' has changed since she openly pushed to defund police, by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman
| | THE BUZZ | | TRANSITION TIME: Eileen O’Neill Burke. Is putting her transition team in place ahead of taking office as Cook County state’s attorney. Notable names: Chicago Ald. Pat Dowell, Chicago CRED Managing Director Arne Duncan and Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability President Anthony Driver. If you are Bruce Rauner, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | At 555 West Monroe in Chicago at 10 a.m. to announce new clean energy grant awards — At the Cannabis Research Institute at 1 p.m. for its launch event
| | | WHERE's BRANDON | | | No official public events
| | | Where's Toni | | No official public events Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com
| | | | The lame duck session could reshape major policies before year's end. Get Inside Congress delivered daily to follow the final sprint of dealmaking on defense funding, AI regulation and disaster aid. Subscribe now. | | | | | | | THE STATEWIDES | | — At the Capitol: Activists came out this week in support of the Illinois Cancer Patient Bill of Rights. The resolution introduced by state Rep. Marcus Evans, a cancer survivor, and state Sen. Mary Edly-Allen focuses on ensuring Illinois patients have access to the latest cancer treatments and clinical trials — regardless of their means or background. — Flags lowered to half staff to honor a Chicago police officer who was killed in the line of duty, via NBC 5 — State rests case against 2 former Cook County assistant state’s attorneys accused of wrongdoing, by the Tribune’s Madeline Buckley — On the road: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and first lady MK Pritzker just wrapped a bunch of visits to state-run facilities, including a tour of the Cook County Jail Women's Division.
| | | CHICAGO | | | — ‘Empire of neglected and hazardous vacant lots’ declares bankruptcy, but City Of Chicago cries fraud: “City attorneys point to transfer of troubled properties to South Dakota shell companies and siphoning money from bank accounts in a court filing,” by Illinois Answers Project’s Casey Toner. — Chicago Board of Education moves to reaffirm protections for immigrants, by Chalkbeat’s Becky Vevea and Reema Amin — Chicago Board of Education pushes Acero to find alternatives to planned charter school closures, by Chalkbeat’s Reema Amin — ComEd lured TikTok historian Sherman Dilla Thomas out of safe union job, then fired him, by the Sun-Times’ Neil Steinberg.
| | DAY IN COURT | | — Defense wants Highland Park shooting suspect’s statements to police barred from trial: “Attorneys for the man charged with fatally shooting seven people at Highland Park’s 2022 Independence Day parade argued Thursday that statements he made to police after his arrest should be barred from trial because he did not have a lawyer present,” by the Daily Herald’s Barbara Vitello. — Alleged Highland Park parade shooter denied access to attorney, defense lawyers argue; prosecutors counter that was ‘defendant’s decision,’ by the Lake County News-Sun’s Clifford Ward — Lawsuit claims misapplication of law is leaving people stuck in Illinois prisons, by WBEZ’s Charlotte West — Lil Durk pleads not guilty to murder-for-hire charges: “The rapper, whose real name is Durk Banks, released a song that 'sought to commercialize' the shooting that targeted Quando Rondo and killed his cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, according to an indictment filed last week,” by the Sun-Times’ Emmanuel Camarillo. — The star of ‘Blue,’ a new opera about police misconduct, says the role is personal: “Chicago-trained tenor Travon D. Walker steps into the spotlight of a Lyric production about the Black American experience,” by WBEZ’s Courtney Kueppers.
| | | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | | — In Cook County: 'Senior freeze' tax breaks to owners of 15 properties: “Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s review comes as the Sun-Times found that he continues to grant low-income senior assessment freezes to properties owned by businesses even though the tax break is available only to individuals. He also has given senior freezes to people who claimed the tax break on more than one property,” by the Sun-Times’ Tim Novak. — Geneva alderperson facing ethics complaint over Facebook post: “Progressive group’s pro-Trump business list stirs conservative ire,” by Shaw Local’s Brenda Schory. — Skokie far outpaces Evanston in new housing, by Evanston Now’s Matthew Eadie — Evanston ranked choice voting referendum struck down by county circuit court, by the Daily Northwestern’s Shreya Srinivasan — Tearing down Elgin building designed by Marina City architect is a bitter pill to swallow, by the Sun-Times’ Lee Bey
| | | TAKING NAMES | | | — Carlyle Group co-founder Bill Conway, whose son is an alderman, has a $1B plan to end the nursing shortage, by the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Maria Di Mento — Judith Allen , COO of Communities in Schools of Chicago, has been awarded a fellowship from Harvard's EdRedesign Lab. The fellowship brings together 22 community and nonprofit leaders to address inequities in education, health and economic mobility. One project is “Cradle-to-Career.”
| | | | Policy change is coming—be the pro who saw it first. Access POLITICO Pro’s Issue Analysis series on what the transition means for agriculture, defense, health care, tech, and more. Strengthen your strategy. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked who should run the Democratic National Committee. Matthew Beaudet: “Chicago businessman Jack Hartman. Nobody is better at assembling a team, rebuilding an agency, getting stakeholder buy-in and restoring trust.” Donna Gutman: “Wisconsin Democratic Party leader Ben Wikler.” Lucas Hawley: “Congressman and just-elected North Carolina Atty Gen. Jeff Jackson.” Jarod Hitchings: “Rahm Emanuel.” Carlton Hull: “Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm.” Patrick Keane: “Rahm Emmanuel. His resume of leadership and strategy in difficult times speaks for itself. (Passing ACA, Attaining U.S. House majority for the Democratic Party.” Jim Lyons: “Rahm Emanuel.” Joan Pederson: “The Rahmfather.” Enza Raineri: “Rahm Emanuel. Someone needs to wield the hammer.” James Scalzitti: “Gov. JB Pritzker.” Andy Shaw: “Rahm ‘Rambo’ Emanuel, an unrivaled political winner.” Timothy Thomas: “I would recommend fighting fire with fire in the no-holds barred personage of former Congressman and Mayor Rahm Emanuel.” Next question: Who's your all-time favorite Cub? Email skapos@politico.com
| | | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — The Biden economy is about to get a new salesman: Donald Trump, by POLITICO’s Sam Sutton — How RFK Jr. could cause an earthquake for American public health, via POLITICO — Durbin demands to see the Gaetz Ethics report, by POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna — Duckworth calls Trump’s secretary of defense pick ‘beyond ridiculous,’ via interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins
| | | IN MEMORIAM | | | — Theodore Olson, "a towering figure in the legal profession who argued 65 cases at the Supreme Court as solicitor general and as a private lawyer, died just after midnight on Wednesday, after suffering a massive stroke." The Chicago native was 84, by NPR’s Nina Totenberg.
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Andy Buchanan is now deputy director of comms at the Illinois Department of Public Health. He was director of public affairs for the Chicago Department of Public Health.
| | EVENTS | | — House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch sits down with N’DIGO Studios’ Hermene Hartman at 1 a.m. on NBC 5 (after SNL). The pre-taped discussion also airs Sunday at 3 p.m. on Peacock and Monday at 8 p.m. on City Hall TV Channel 25.
| | | TRIVIA | | | THURSDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Jeff Schoenberg for correctly answering that Cubs star Ernie Banks ran as a Republican in the 8th Ward aldermanic primary in 1963, losing to Democrat James Condon. TODAY’s QUESTION: Q: Who is the seven-time Grammy-winning musician from Chicago’s northern suburbs who collaborated with the late David Bowie? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Today: Deputy Gov. Andy Manar, state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, state Rep. Lindsay LaPointe, Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi , City of Chicago project coordinator Steve Niketopoulos, Dover Strategy Group’s New Media Director Aaron Hunter, congressional staffer Matt Fried, Illinois Capital Development Board Legislative Director Abby Dompke, political consultant Nancy Kohn and Playbookers John McGowan and Peter Behle. Saturday: Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Executive Director Jim Collins, CTA Chief Equity and Engagement Officer Denise Barreto, actor and theater-company builder Harry Lennix, UNITE HERE Local 1 Research Director Elliott Mallen, Alexander Hughes Senior Business Advisor Doug Seville, financial consultant Linda Shuman and Dayco Business Development Manager Beth Conlon. Sunday: Ald. Desmon Yancy, Chemical Industry Council of Illinois CEO Mark Biel, American Osteopathic Foundation CEO Rita Forden and Polk Bros. Foundation program officer Channing Lenert. -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 | | | | |
