| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Presented by CVS Health | Happy Thursday, Illinois. I hope you made it through the tundra. Also, special note about tomorrow: At 11:30 a.m., Gov. JB Pritzker will sit down with your Playbook host via Zoom to talk about the pandemic, climate change and, of course, politics. It's part of our event series, "The Fifty: America's Governors." The event starts at 9 a.m. and includes conversations with governors from Utah, Louisiana, Hawaii and New Hampshire. Register here — it's free.
|  | TOP TALKER | | An 8-year-old girl shot dead amid a gang-related battle over the weekend has caused a universal feeling of anguish in the Little Village neighborhood where the killing occurred and in Chicago's City Hall. As the family of little Melissa prepared for her burial, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Police Superintendent David Brown and Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx stood united Wednesday in announcing that arrests were made in the girl's death, including of a 16-year-old accused of firing the gun. He will be charged as an adult. That these three leaders figuratively linked arms after pointing fingers at each other during the past year of horrific violence may be a sign of a possible tipping point in the city's war on crime. Lightfoot called it "a unity of purpose." Let's hope it works. Hovering over yesterday's scene are the political ramifications that crime is having on the city. Before news of the arrests, Arne Duncan , anti-violence advocate and the former U.S. education secretary, spoke to Chicago business leaders and then a few dozen reporters about his take on curbing crime. Duncan also acknowledged he's "absolutely thinking" of challenging Lightfoot for mayor in 2023. Lightfoot hasn't announced her reelection plans, either. And she took issue Wednesday with Duncan's digs at her administration's efforts to curb violence, which includes ramping up anti-violence programs and changing how police officers do their jobs. Two important talking points of the day focused on how to fight gangs and how to fund police. An ordinance pushed by the mayor would seize the property of gang leaders known to lure young people in by flashing cash and cars. Brown says the ordinance would hit gangs "where it hurts," even comparing it to how the feds ultimately got Al Capone. But Duncan said the ordinance is flawed, telling reporters, gangs "don't have any assets to speak of." He and the mayor also disagree on how to budget police resources. Duncan says it's about "rethinking" the role of police. It's a phrase he's used before, including when he presented information calling for "fewer police, fewer arrests." Lightfoot sees that as a slippery slope to "defunding" the police. "We know that the long-term play to end violence, to bring peace to neighborhoods, is to invest," she told reporters. "And we've got billions of dollars in investments to prove just that." Worth noting: The 2022 Chicago Police Department budget for fiscal year 2022 is $1.75 billion, up from $1.68 billion in 2020. The mayor's office says it's the largest police budget in the history of the city. The Tribune dissects the debate further, in this story by Gregory Pratt and John Byrne. And a mother forgives 'the aggressor,' by Sun-Times' Tom Schuba and Clare Spaulding.
| | A message from CVS Health: Throughout the pandemic, in communities across the country, CVS Health has been there. We've opened more than 4,800 COVID-19 test sites, administered 41 million tests and given 50 million vaccines. We've expanded access to prenatal and postpartum care via telemedicine, increased remote access to mental health services and invested in affordable housing to help build healthier communities. We've been on the frontlines, making health care easier to access and afford. Learn more. | | | | | THE BUZZ | | A new study offers some sobering facts about how state budgets affect real people. A 2016 spike in Chicago youth homicides can be linked to the state's nasty spending fight of the time, according to Northwestern University research. "When the state came to its budget impasse in 2015, and budgets were really cut, the staffs were laid off and services were closed, it temporally correlates with the big uptick in youth homicides," said corresponding study author Maryann Mason, an associate professor of emergency medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "Then, when the budget was reinstated in 2017, you can see the big decline in homicides." She's referring to the two-year stalemate between 2015 and 2017 when former Gov. Bruce Rauner and former House Speaker Michael Madigan disagreed on how to implement a budget. Gov. JB Pritzker offers his budget proposal next week, and by all accounts, he says he'll have one that's balanced. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: skapos@politico.com | | WHERE'S JB | | At ReBuilding Exchange at 11 a.m. to announce the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program that ensures access to job opportunities in the trades. At UA Local 130 offices at 5:25 p.m. for the "Queen of the Court" announcement for the St. Patrick's Day Parade. | | WHERE'S LORI | |
At the Shedd Aquarium at 10 a.m. along with Sen. Dick Durbin to announce funding for the Chicago Shoreline and to protect Lake Michigan.
| | Where's Toni | | No official public events.
| | Covid-19 Update | | — Illinois, Chicago schools to change quarantine rules to align with CDC guidelines: "The new guidance should keep more kids in the classrooms and out of quarantine. The change comes for who is considered to be a close contact with a positive Covid-19 case," by WGN 9's Erik Runge. — IDPH investigating 2 more Covid-19 testing companies: "Northshore Clinical Laboratories and O'Hare Clinical Labs are being investigated amid complaints about long waits for test results among other problems," by Sun-Times' Madeline Kenney.
| | | | JOIN FRIDAY TO HEAR FROM GOVERNORS ACROSS AMERICA : As we head into the third year of the pandemic, state governors are taking varying approaches to public health measures including vaccine and mask mandates. "The Fifty: America's Governors" is a series of live conversations featuring various governors on the unique challenges they face as they take the lead and command the national spotlight in historic ways. Learn what is working and what is not from the governors on the front lines, REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | THE STATEWIDES | | — Covid-19 again hits Illinois prisons, exacerbating long-standing failures in medical and mental health care: "Despite dramatically reduced prison populations, officials continue to face problems containing the virus because of lagging vaccine rates of prison staff," by Daniel Vock for Better Government Association. — Final tally of firefighter measure: $700M. Martwick plans the same for police: "This validates people who said it was a huge mistake. There's no savings, no answer where we're going to come up with $700 million," says fiscal watchdog Laurence Msall. Crain's A.D. Quig reports. — Illinois agriculture continues to battle nutrient pollution: "Illinois lawmakers are considering how to best direct state resources to help reduce nutrient runoff, particularly in the agriculture sector and suburban sewage runoff. One goal is to incentivize farmers to adopt nutrient runoff reduction strategies through government incentives and other policy changes," by Capitol News' Beth Hundsdorfer. — Legislation calls for reinstating the death penalty for killing an officer: "This legislation comes after a long line of law enforcement officers were murdered or critically wounded in the line of duty, some by repeat violent offenders," said state Sen. Darren Bailey, via News 44. — Dispute between city and Springfield Airport Authority continues: "No lawsuit filed yet, but disagreement over aviation fuel sales taxes isn't resolved," Illinois Times' Dean Olsen — Federally-funded mortgage assistance program to launch this spring, by Capitol News' Grace Kinnicutt
| | CHICAGO | | — Lightfoot granted emergency contracting authority at wild City Council meeting: "Wednesday's meeting also featured a protracted floor fight over an attempt by Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) to force an immediate vote on his long-stalled plan to empower the City Council to hire its own legislative counsel," by Sun-Times' Fran Spielman. … Chicago settles Jon Burge-related false confession lawsuits for $14M: "That brings the amount of Burge-related settlements paid by the city to more than $100 million, not including millions in attorneys fees," by WBEZ's Mariah Woelfel and Hannah Faris. — Park District supervisor allegedly assaulted a patron, a new watchdog report reveals: "A new report from Interim Inspector General Alison Perona provided the most detailed accounting yet of a scandal that prompted the resignations last year of the park district's longtime chief executive and board president," by WBEZ's Dan Mihalopoulos. — CPS moves to fix process that led to principal's promotion while under investigation: "The CPS inspector general had reported allegations of sex abuse and cover-ups at Marine Leadership Academy, but a top official was promoted to district management anway," by Sun-Times' Nader Issa. — City could reroute buses from more schools to help its most vulnerable students, by Chalkbeat's Mauricio Pena — Charter school leaders press Board of Ed for longer contract terms, by Tribune's Tracy Swartz — Chicago schools see No. 2 administrator, chief medical officer depart, by Chalkbeat's Cassie Walker Burke — 'Jeopardy!' winning streak ends with loss to Chicago librarian Rhone Talsma, by Tribune's Nina Metz
| | | |   | | | | | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Cook County treasurer to make it easier for developers to snag abandoned properties in annual sale: "The scavenger sale is in the intensive care unit and we're trying to save it and what it needs is its own burial ground and totally new legislation on it," Maria Pappas said. "We're moving in that direction and I'd say within the year, we'll have the proper legislation on it." Tribune's Darcel Rockett reports. — Kane County tax increases back on the table in time for local elections: "Everything from a gas tax increase and a new county sales tax to a 10 perecent budget cut is on the table," by Daily Herald's James Fuller. — Odeum Expo Center in Villa Park sold, will close May 31, by Daily Herald's Scott Morgan
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — Regan Deering becomes second Republican to enter 13th Congressional District race: She's "a Decatur community activist and member of the family that ran Archer Daniels Midland for nearly 40 years," reports Lee Enterprises' Brenden Moore. — Passed over for GOP slate, Brady says 'tough primaries aren't new to me': "The first 'slate' candidate to be announced was former U.S. Attorney John Milhiser — for secretary of state. This despite Brady's declared candidacy and long record as a reliable member of House Minority Leader Jim Durkin's leadership team in the Illinois House," by Lee Enterprises' Brenden Moore. — Jim Durkin and Dan Cronin join Richard Irvin's law enforcement council, by Daily Herald's Marni Pyke — Alexi Giannoulias' bid for secretary of state hasa been endorsed by Boilermakers Local 1, IBEW Local 702, IBEW Local 364, Elevator Constructors Local 2, Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco workers, and Grain Millers Local 1. The five organizations represent a total of 12,000 members in Illinois, according to his campaign. — Anna Valencia has secured the endorsements of Ald. Derrick Curtis, Ald. Scott Waguespack and state Rep. Mark Walker in her bid for secretary of state. — State Sen. Cristina Castro, a Democrat from Elgin, has endorsed Nabeela Syed in the 51st state House District race. Castro's endorsement comes on the heels of Syed's campaign reporting having raised $100,000 in the race.
| | IN THE SPOTLIGHT | | — Ginger Lane, a Chicago Holocaust survivor urges, 'Never be a bystander': "International Holocaust Remembrance Day is Thursday. To escape the Nazis, Lane and her siblings were hidden in a fruit orchard near Berlin by non-Jews willing to risk their lives for them," by Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet. — Pope Francis to meet with college students in virtual event hosted by Loyola U. of Chicago: "Pope Francis is expected to virtually meet with some college students next month for a conversation on pressing issues facing the Catholic Church and world," by Sun-Times' Madeline Kenney.
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked when you made a voting decision based on an endorsement: Playbooker Timothy Thomas Jr. remembers switching his support from popular Black activist Lu Palmer to Charlie Hayes for Congress after Mayor Harold Washington endorsed Hayes. Washington had held the House seat before becoming mayor. If you had carte blanche, what cuts would you make to the state budget? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Conservatives unlikely to go scorched earth over Breyer replacement fight, by POLITICO's Meridith McGraw and Hailey Fuchs — Translating Powell's words: The Fed chair's real message on rate-hike plans, by POLITICO's Victoria Guida — Wisconsin Rep Introduces Resolution to 'Reclaim' 2020 Electoral Ballots, via Newsweek | | Transitions | | — Chicago Bears hire Ryan Poles as general manager , by The Associated Press — Bears head coach candidate tracker: "Now that the Bears have a GM in place, all eyes turn to the head coaching position," by Windy City Gridiron.
| | EVENTS | | — Tomorrow at noon: Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman joins leaders from around the country talking about "Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Infrastructure." Moderator is POLITICO's Alex Daugherty, author of our weekly Transportation newsletter. Register here. It's free. — Lincoln Day banquet, symposium shifted to June 21 because of Covid-19 concerns, by State Journal-Register's Steven Spearie
| | TRIVIA | | WEDNESDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Playbookers Bridget Hatch and Randy Bukas for correctly answering that Fort Massac State Park is Illinois' oldest state park, having been designated as such in 1908. TODAY's QUESTION: Which Illinois city has its own fire-breathing dragon? Email skapos@politico.com
| | A message from CVS Health: At CVS Health, we're more than 300,000 caring employees ensuring millions of Americans can access health care services.
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Nothing should stand in the way of mental health and well-being, so we're increasing remote access to mental health services.
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Recognizing the strong connection between housing and health, we're investing in affordable housing to support underserved populations and build healthier communities.
Every day, CVS Health works to bring quality, affordable health care into neighborhoods, homes and hands—so it's never out of reach for anyone.
Healthier Happens Together. Learn more. | | | | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, Edelman VP Matt McGrath, and Loyola U. Baumhart Center's Seth Green. -30-
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