Reinsdorf’s apple pie a la mode

Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln

Sep 12, 2023 View in browser   By Shia Kapos Good Tuesday Morning, Illinois. Ice cream is involved in today’s scoop. TOP TALKER White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens were spotted dining at Gibsons. | AP file photo and Republican House member photo. SCOOP: Heads turned at Gibsons Steakhouse the other day when White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf sat down for lunch with Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens. The two were in deep conversation and, given Reinsdorf has talked about moving his baseball franchise out of Guaranteed Rate Field, nearby diners wondered what they were chatting about over their lunch, which included a shared apple pie a la mode. Everyone’s a comedian: Stephens told Playbook that Reinsdorf “was just looking for a clean-up hitter, but I told him my playing days were over.” Very funny. Really though. Stephens said Reinsdorf just wanted to pick his brain on how Rosemont has approached development projects over the years. “He wanted my thoughts,” said Stephens, who’s also serves as a state representative in Springfield. “Everyone thinks I know what I’m doing. But I’m just lucky in development.” Reinsdorf’s team has six years left on its lease at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Sox owner has been poking around at finding a better deal for the team, spurred by the Bears possibly moving to the burbs. Stephens, who described himself as a Sox fan, says their meeting came about when Reinsdorf’s top adviser, John Kelly, called about them getting together. It wasn’t all that unusual, since Stephens has met Reinsdorf over the years, and his father, the former Mayor Donald Stephens, sat down with Reinsdorf years ago for a similar meeting. It was to talk about the possibility of the Bulls, also owned by Reinsdorf, playing at the Rosemont Horizon, now called Allstate Arena. As it all played out, Reinsdorf stayed put in Chicago and built the United Center with Rocky Wirtz. THE BUZZ Greg Hinz has been reporting for half a century. | Fox 32 screenshot END OF AN ERA: Greg Hinz, the longtime political columnist for Crain’s is pulling back from the daily grind to contribute a once-a-month column and a special project now and again. He deserves the break. Hinz has been a journalist for half a century, mostly reporting on the ins and outs of government and politics in Illinois. I had the honor of sitting next to him for about five of those years — and I learned a lot. My favorite story: The time we were covering Barack Obama’s first inauguration in D.C. and didn’t have access to a private dinner. So Hinz led the way through the hotel kitchen to get to the dining room. He walked with such purpose, no one dared stop him. It's how Hinz approaches every story. His take-away about pols: “Politicians and government leaders in general [are] no better or worse than the rest of humanity. Their egos may need regular stroking — an offense that surely applies to journalists — but most are just people trying to do their job and look out for their future.” And to his media colleagues: “If you check out at 5 o’clock and don’t go the extra mile, your readers will be shortchanged. In other words, it’s personal.” Read his full exit column here If you are Robert Feder, Playbook would like to hear your take on the media landscape these days. Email skapos@politico.com WHERE'S JB No official public events. WHERE's BRANDON No official public events. Where's Toni In Washington, D.C., to meet with members of the Illinois congressional delegation. (Maybe the veteran at balancing budgets can offer tips to avoid a government shutdown.) If you’re worried about the Bears and the Sox, send me a line: skapos@politico.com   GO INSIDE THE WORLD’S BIGGEST DIPLOMATIC PLATFORM WITH UNGA PLAYBOOK: The 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly will jam some of the world's most influential leaders into four city blocks in Manhattan. POLITICO's special edition UNGA Playbook will take you inside this important gathering starting Sept. 17 — revealing newsy nuggets throughout the week and insights into the most pressing issues facing global decision-makers today. Sign up for UNGA Playbook.     THE STATEWIDES — DIGESTIBLE ANALYSIS: The challenge to erase Illinois’ $140B in pension debt: “Two viable but competing plans are on the table. A scramble is underway to earn support from taxpayers, labor and business groups, leaders in the legislature and rank-and-file lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats,” writes Better Government Association’s David Greising in this first-in-a-series piece in the Tribune. — What to expect now that cash bail in Illinois is ending: “Experts say the doomsday scenarios surrounding the controversial criminal justice reform aren’t likely to materialize. But big changes are coming,” by WBEZ’s Shannon Heffernan. — Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton met with U.S. Ambassador to Japan and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel as part of her trip this week to Japan. Stratton also attended a joint meeting with governors from the U.S. and Japan as well as leaders of the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association Conference. — 8 injured by explosion, fire at ADM soybean processing in Decatur, by The Associated Press — Illinois’ Underground Railroad: Stories of escaping enslavement, by Tribune’s Darcel Rockett CHICAGO — Comptroller candidate Chasse Rehwinkel grilled, then approved, by City Council committee: “I am personally concerned about an individual that doesn’t have a straight-up finance ... background being comptroller because that person is the city’s chief fiscal accounting officer. It’s like the corporation counsel not being a lawyer or the superintendent not being a police officer,” said Budget Chair Jason Ervin, Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman reports. — Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, who chairs the City Council’s Housing and Real Estate Committee, will be key to finding homes for migrants: “You see systemic racism when you have Ukrainian refugees getting different treatment than refugees coming from the global south,” he tells Ximena N. Beltran and Quan Kiu in Chicago magazine. — Chicago’s ‘Migrant Camps’ will be modeled after New NYC’s tent shelters, by Block Club’s Alex V. Hernandez, Mack Liederman, and Melody Mercado — Chicago City Council set to vote on $25M payout to 2 men wrongfully convicted in murder of Chicago basketball standout: “In 2016, Tyrone Hood and Wayne Washington independently of each other sued the city, alleging police, including then-Detectives Kenneth Boudreau and John Halloran, fabricated evidence and coerced testimony to win murder convictions in the May 1993 killing of Marshall Morgan Jr.,” by Tribune’s Alice Yin and Jason Meisner. — Is the worst behind us? What unemployment data means for metro Chicago: “For the first time since before the pandemic, metro Chicago posted unemployment rates below 4 percent across three consecutive months,” reports WBEZ’s Alden Loury. — Council update: The City Council’s Wednesday meeting will be adjourned and pushed to Thursday to allow attendance for the funeral of Chicago Fire Department Lt. Kevin Ward, per the mayor’s office. — Open House Chicago returning Oct. 13-15 with 170 locations, 2 kickoff parties, by Sun-Times’ David Struett — 2 of the most Instagram-famous streets in the U.S. are in Chicago, new list says, via NBC 5 DAY IN COURT — Two ex-DCFS workers go on trial for child endangerment in murder of 5-year-old AJ Freund in Crystal Lake: “Former child welfare investigator Carlos Acosta, who is also a former McHenry County board member, and his supervisor, Andrew Polovin, each face charges of endangering the life of a child and reckless conduct,” by Tribune’s Robert McCoppin. — Highland Park mass shooting suspect returns to court, but no trial date set, by Daily Herald’s Doug T. Graham — Glendale Heights president pleads 'not guilty' to disorderly conduct charges, by Daily Herald’s Susan Sarkauskas 2024 WATCH — Facing ethics questions, City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin postpones launch of Congress bid, by Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet and Fran Spielman Ethics Board defends handling of allegations against Conyears-Ervin, referred case to inspector general, by Tribune’s Gregory Royal Pratt TAKING NAMES — Rhymefest, the Chicago rapper and activist, has been named a fall fellow with the University of Chicago Institute of Politics, which was founded by former political consultant David Axelrod. Also among the latest fellows are former Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, former Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.), GOP political consultant Jeff Larson and trans-rights advocate and ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio. — Billionaire Justin Ishbia to donate $3M to Winnetka Park District for beach project, by Pioneer Press’ Alex Hulvalchick — Ben Riser, plant manager of ExxonMobil’s refinery in Joliet, has been named to the board of directors of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.   Enter the “room where it happens”, where global power players shape policy and politics, with Power Play. POLITICO’s brand-new podcast will host conversations with the leaders and power players shaping the biggest ideas and driving the global conversations, moderated by award-winning journalist Anne McElvoy. Sign up today to be notified of the first episodes in September – click here.     Reader Digest We asked about your views on polling. Elizabeth Grisanzio: “I watch for polls that report the margin of error, which shows how much the result of a poll could vary from reality.” Eli Brottman: “After working as a pollster and watching the Chicago mayor’s race polling, I saw the importance of demographics in the poll's pool of respondents." Dennis Johnson: “It’s clear that the only credible polls are those that reinforce our opinions.” Paul Kendrick: “At Rust Belt Rising, we pay attention to what voters say about issues rather than which candidates are leading or not in a poll.” Ed Mazur: “I find them interesting to read about but believe the only poll that counts is the poll on Election Day.” Jason Rosensweig: “I’ve become more skeptical about polls, relying more on trends and averages of related polls. ” What’s your favorite Greg Hinz moment? Email skapos@politico.com Covid-19 Update — FDA greenlights updated Covid vaccines: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet today "to discuss endorsing and deciding who should receive the updated shots. The panel will also hear from all three vaccine manufacturers, as well as updates on current Covid spread and data on vaccine effectiveness,” by POLITICO’s Katherine Ellen Foley. THE NATIONAL TAKE — GOP senators: Next move to avert shutdown is on McCarthy: “Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) predicted Monday night that the measure could be delayed until next week, thanks to uncertainty over amendments,” by POLITICO’s Caitlin Emma, Ursula Perano and Jennifer Scholtes. — ‘I just had another one’: How Mitch McConnell kept his grip, by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett — VA argues for limiting veterans’ GI Bill benefits in case before Supreme Court, by Sun-Times’ Stephanie Zimmermann TRANSITIONS — Steve Niketopoulos is now project coordinator at the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. He's been a top aide in the 2nd Ward office of Ald. Brian Hopkins. EVENTS — Today at 9 a.m.: Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias will testify at a Capitol Hill hearing on “Book Bans: How Censorship Limits Liberty and Literature. Live stream via Judiciary Committee, on X, formerly known as Twitter, and on Facebook. — Sept. 21: Congressman Darin LaHood will hold his “Windy City Reception.” Details here — Sept. 22, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan to visit Notre Dame, via the university — Oct. 12: Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch headlines the New Trier Democrats fundraiser. Details here TRIVIA MONDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Dale Sachtleben for correctly answering that Florence Fifer Bohrer, daughter of former Illinois Gov. Joseph Fifer, was the first female senator in the Illinois General Assembly. She served from 1924 to 1932. TODAY’s QUESTION: What was the first agricultural college established in Illinois by the Illinois General Assembly? Email skapos@politico.com HAPPY BIRTHDAY Former Cook County Judge Gloria Chevere, singer and actress Jennifer Hudson, Forbes senior contributor on health care Bruce Japsen, University of Chicago economist Richard Thaler and J.D. candidate Bobby Mannis. -30-   Follow us on Twitter Shia Kapos @shiakapos   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

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