Remembering Marilyn Katz

Presented by the Save My Scholarship Coalition: Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln

Oct 27, 2023 View in browser   By Shia Kapos Presented by the Save My Scholarship Coalition TGIF, Illinois. Enjoy the weekend. TOP TALKER Marilyn Katz, a longtime figure in political circles, has died. She was 78. | Family photo Marilyn Katz, an anti-war activist of the 1960s who would become a force in helping Mayor Harold Washington get elected and Mayor Richard M. Daley manage initiatives, has died. She was 78. Katz, who in recent years ran her own consulting firm advising political candidates on strategy and elected officials on policy, was known for having deep connections to every level of government. "Marily was the epicenter of Chicago politics for generations," Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement. Katz, who got her start organizing in the 1968 Democratic Convention, would go on to advise numerous lawmakers over the years, including former President Barack Obama. Valerie Jarrett, the CEO of the Obama Foundation, got to know Katz at City Hall during the Washington and Daley administrations. Katz contracted on a range of issues that required her to work with every department in the city, and Jarrett was planning commissioner. “Marilyn didn’t believe in boundaries, so she would think nothing of calling a mayor, a CEO or activist anytime day or night with what she would say was a ‘suggestion’ but was more of a command,” chuckled Jarrett, who remembered seeking Katz's advice when she considered pivoting to the private sector. Katz not only encouraged Jarrett to make the move, but she called The Habitat Company, where Jarrett was interviewing, and told company chair Daniel Levin to hire her. Jarrett took the job and later became CEO, a position she held until she joined the Obama administration. “She was indefatigable. She supported a wide range of causes that were all designed to make Chicago better, fair and more just,” Jarrett said. “Marilyn leaves a big hole in the heart of our city, but her legacy will be the example she set for us for how to be an engaged and active citizen.” Katz supported everything from fair wages to fair housing on the local front to bringing attention to injustices around the world that also affected Chicago. Katz got her start as an organizer. She led protests after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., protests against the Vietnam War and, years later, protests against the war in Iraq. Katz brought passion to whatever she did, say friends who have known her for years. “She would call me and tell me how to do my job,” mused Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who always took Katz’s calls. Preckwinkle says Katz first “made her mark” managing comms for Washington’s campaign. Preckwinkle was alderman for the 4th Ward when she really got to know her. They worked on redevelopment projects to build freight rail. Katz represented Union Pacific at the time. Katz had a broad career in comms. “Marilyn loved Chicago, but her eyes were wide open to the challenges that people and communities faced,” said Julia Stasch, the former MacArthur Foundation president. “She was the consummate organizer. She brought people together with her passion and persuasion, increasing the constituency for solving problems.” Along with founding MK Communications, Katz wrote, produced and directed films, co-authored books and penned dozens of op-eds over the years. She also trained a long list of comms professionals who operate today. Joanna Klonsky, a spokeswoman for former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Brian Berg, a spokesman for City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, and many others, including Bryant Payne, Samantha Nisenboim, Stefanie Stein and Bill Fuhry, all worked with Katz over the years. She is survived by her husband, Scott Chambers, and children Halley Chambers and Grady Chambers. Services have not yet been announced. THE BUZZ ORDER OF BUSINESS: Two high-profile shootings get to the heart of legislation that state Rep. Maura Hirschauer is carrying during the current fall legislative session in Springfield. “The country is reeling again by another mass shooting perpetrated by a man who should not have had access to weapons … and there was the woman allegedly shot by an ex-boyfriend who shouldn’t have had weapons,” said Hirschauer, referring to the mass shooting in Maine that saw at least 18 people killed and the slaying of a Chicago woman. “The key is keeping weapons out of the hands of dangerous people,” said Hirschauer, a Democrat from Batavia. She’s carrying Karina’s Bill, which would require a firearm to be removed from a home when a survivor is granted an order of protection that includes a remedy to temporarily remove firearms. The legislation is named in honor of Karina Gonzalez, who was shot and killed in July along with her 15-year-old daughter by Karina’s husband even though she was granted an order of protection. The bill’s success in the fall session is still up in the air. Lawmakers are focused primarily on vetoed bills. But Hirschauer remains hopeful. “We’re going to keep pushing,” she said. RELATED — Maine mass shooting reignites debate over 'Red Flag' gun control laws in Illinois, by ABC 7’s Craig Wall — Chicago man accused of shooting ISP trooper charged with two counts of attempted murder, by State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie If you are Dan Levin, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com   A message from the Save My Scholarship Coalition: Over 9,500 students are counting on the Illinois General Assembly to save the Tax Credit Scholarship Program. If they fail to act NOW, then students from low-income families will lose their scholarships, causing many to leave their best-fit schools. Most of these students are Black or Brown, and 100% are from households with demonstrated financial need. Additionally, 26,000 more students from low-income and working-class families sit anxiously on the waitlist. Do the right thing.   WHERE'S JB In Libertyville at 10:45 a.m. to join EVBox for the launch of the Illinois-made EV charger. WHERE's BRANDON At Parkway Garden Christian Church at 4 p.m. for an On the Block event. Where's Toni No official public events. Before you buy your Halloween costume, email me at skapos@politico.com   GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.     THE STATEWIDES — State lawmakers may offer tweaks to Chicago’s pension, plus a video on how the pension problem got to where it is, by WTTW’s Heather Cherone and Amanda Vinicky BURKE FALLOUT — GREAT READ | ‘Power and control’ frame Edward Burke’s legacy. A federal jury will soon decide that legacy’s coda: “He entered politics as one of the youngest Chicago City Council members in history and became its most powerful and longest-serving member. Now, he’s fighting to avoid prison, by Tribune’s Fran Spielman and Mitchell Armentrout. CHICAGO — Chicago officials are defending a contract extension with a Kansas-based company to staff migrant shelters: “The city pledged to hire Chicago agencies to staff shelters despite the $40 million, yearlong extension with Favorite Healthcare Staffing,” by WBEZ’s Tessa Weinberg. — UAW-Ford tentative agreement will bring thousands back to work at Chicago Assembly Plant in coming days, by Tribune’s Robert Channick — Historians push for recognition of Black Panther Party site In Chicago: “Activists hope to update the listing of the Church of the Epiphany in the National Register of Historic Places to commemorate the Black Panther Party’s history,” by Block Club’s Aviva Bechky. — West Side flooding prompts deluge of complaints at budget hearing, by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman — Brown Sugar Bakery opens new manufacturing facility, eyes nationwide expansion, by Sun-Times’ Mariah Rush   A message from the Save My Scholarship Coalition:   COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS — Suburban school district allows Hampshire students to perform musical featuring gay teens: by Tribune’s Rebecca Johnson DAY IN COURT — Highland Park massacre suspect’s father wants to call his son as a witness in his own trial next month: “Robert Crimo Jr. is set to go to trial Nov. 6 on counts of reckless conduct for signing his son’s FOID application in 2019 when the son was underage,” by Sun-Times’ David Struett. — Landlord indicted on murder, hate crime in fatal attack on Palestinian American boy and stabbing of mother, by Tribune’s Caroline Kubzansky   PLAYBOOK IS GOING GLOBAL! We’re excited to introduce Global Playbook, POLITICO’s premier newsletter that brings you inside the most important conversations at the most influential events in the world. From the buzzy echoes emanating from the snowy peaks at the WEF in Davos to the discussions and personalities at Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to the heart of diplomacy at UNGA in New York City – author Suzanne Lynch brings it all to your fingertips. Experience the elite. Witness the influential. And never miss a global beat. BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. SUBSCRIBE NOW.     Reader Digest We asked who you’ve seen taking Amtrak from Springfield. State Reps. Kam Buckner, Robyn Gabel, Will Guzzardi and Hoan Huynh have all been spotted on Amtrak going or coming from Springfield. What are your Halloween plans? Email skapos@politico.com FROM THE DELEGATION — NEW CAUCUS: Reps. Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Danny K. Davis (IL-07) are among members of Congress starting the Predominantly Black Institutions Caucus to educate policymakers and address the needs of colleges and universities that serve large percentages of low-income African American students. THE NATIONAL TAKE — Mike Johnson pushed the ‘Big Lie.’ But Biden world sees thornier issues ahead, by POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn and Jennifer Haberkorn — Rep. Dean Phillips files paperwork for presidential bid against Biden, by POLITICO’s Holly Otterbein and Elena Schneider — Newsom has an ambitious plan for gun violence. It isn’t going anywhere, by POLITICO’s Jeremy White and Lara Korte   A message from the Save My Scholarship Coalition: Voters are very clear: They support the Tax Credit Scholarship Program by an overwhelming margin of more than 2:1. What’s at stake is the best-fit education of thousands of low-income students who receive a Tax Credit Scholarship or are waiting for one. Over half of the recipients are Black or Brown, and all the recipients qualify based on financial need. We cannot fail these children and their families. The Illinois General Assembly needs to extend the Invest in Kids Act Tax Credit Scholarship Program during this fall veto session. In addition to the 9,500 students who currently receive the scholarships, 26,000 more students from low-income and working-class families sit anxiously on the waitlist hoping to receive the same opportunities as some of their peers. This commitment is an investment in poverty reduction and economic acceleration, so lawmakers should do the right thing: Extend the Tax Credit Scholarship Program.   TAKING NAMES — Michael Drai and Elizabeth Quinn are joining the Chicago Zoological Society’s Board of Trustees. In their day jobs, Drai is managing partner for the Chicago private investment firm Rising Point Capital, and Quinn is senior VP of administration for Northwestern Memorial Health Care. — Sharon Legenza, executive director of Housing Action Illinois, was awarded the National Community Development Leadership Award at a gathering of national community development organizations in Atlanta. w — Nov. 10: Anderson Clayton, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, headlines McLean County Democrats’ Obama Legacy Dinner. Joining her on stage: Congressman Eric Sorensen, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski, state Sen. Dave Koehler, state Rep. Maurice West and Illinois Democratic Chair Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez. Details here — Feb. 9: Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana keynotes the Illinois Republican Party’s "Bank Your Vote" gala. Details here TRIVIA THURSDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Will County Board member Jackie Traynere for correctly answering that Kalo Shop was the company that led the Arts and Crafts movement in silver. TODAY’s QUESTION: How many employees were asked to resign after the tunnel under the Chicago River was breached by construction work? Email skapos@politico.com HAPPY BIRTHDAY Today: State Sen. Sue Rezin, Stryker-Munley Group President Rosemaria DiBenedetto, Suburban Unity Alliance founder Anthony Clark and fundraiser Liz Nicholson. Saturday: Former Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, political strategist and Kivvit Director J.P. Valadez, Ancel Glink election attorney Keri-Lyn Krafthefer, attorney and government affairs pro Dartesia Pitts, Equality Illinois comms director Myles Brady-Davis, Birth to Five Illinois Director Cicely Fleming and former aldermanic candidate David Krupa. Sunday: Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore, businesswoman and former Chicago Heights Clerk Lori Wilcox, Yale research fellow Yangyang Cheng and WBEZ reporter Sarah Karp. -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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