| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | | Presented by |  | | | Good Wednesday morning, Illinois. And Happy Birthday, Mayor!
|  | TOP TALKER | | | | 
The Democratic National Convention will be at the United Center in August. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO | SCOOP: A group of Illinois power players has created a new organization to manage events and organize Illinois' delegates and stakeholders during this summer's Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Tim Drea, head of the Illinois AFL-CIO, will serve as president. Called Illinois Delivers, the group is an independent non-profit stood up to organize Illinois’ delegates and local partners for convention week events — a structure that’s been set up by other states at past conventions. What it will do: The group's hospitality events — ranging from daily Illinois delegation breakfasts to evening receptions — will highlight the state’s “achievements in policy areas,” according to a person close to the planning. Watch for attention to legislative efforts to raise wages and create jobs, protect women’s rights and advance clean energy, education and gun-safety measures. Serving with Drea: Sterling Bay executive Suzet McKinney is VP, Equality Illinois' CEO Brian Johnson is secretary, and Jacqueline Gomez, executive director of the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association, is treasurer. RELATED Democrats have a post about welcoming delegates to Manny’s deli. Watch here
| | THE BUZZ | | BALL-BUSTER: Former Gov. Pat Quinn is pushing for a November citywide referendum asking whether state or local taxpayer monies should be spent to build a new stadium or to develop property for the Chicago Bears or White Sox. Hello, City Council: Quinn, who is a Chicago resident, has submitted his proposed ordinance to the City Clerk for consideration in upcoming committee hearings. In a statement, Quinn reminds that the city filed a lawsuit in 2001 to block a voter referendum he initiated on the Bears’ multimillion “spaceship” remodeling project at Soldier Field, “which was paid for by state and local taxpayers. The remake of Soldier Field went forward and 23 years later, Illinois and Chicago taxpayers remain on the hook for bond obligations, which will top $660 million by the time they are paid off in 2032. The former governor also has a poll showing overwhelming opposition to stadiums for the Bears and/or White Sox being subsidized by taxpayers. Read the poll here. Quinn urged Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago City Council to “trust the people of Chicago to have their voices heard” on whether the city should fund future sports-team projects. It could amount to a rebuke of public funding for a Bears or Sox stadium, if the referendum results mirror the poll, reports the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman RELATED Bears President Kevin Warren says Chicago lakefront is the ‘ideal location’ for a new stadium, but details on cost and funding are short, by the Tribune’s Colleen Kane If you are Tim Drea, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | A message from Amazon: With help from Amazon Career Choice, Abel turned a job at the Rockford, Illinois fulfillment center into a transportation career with Amazon. As the largest job creator in the U.S Amazon is committed to helping their employees thrive with benefits starting day one and free, on-the-job skills training. See how Amazon empowers employees. | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | In California to promote Illinois’ film industry.
| | | WHERE's BRANDON | | | No official public events.
| | | Where's Toni | | At Row 24 at 5:30 p.m., where she'll join Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx for the 2024 "Honoring a Phenomenal Woman" Awards reception. 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. | | | | | | | SPOTLIGHT | | — INVESTIGATION: Inside the historic lawsuit that the gun industry and Republicans are on the verge of killing: ProPublica examines the scope of the straw sale problem in the United States, including how it affects Chicago, and it looks at “the vigorous effort by the firearms industry to quash [lawsuits and] push back against stepped-up regulation and legal threats.” “Relentless legislative and legal efforts across the country have eliminated a flurry of lawsuits initiated by cities against the industry two decades ago. A bill approved by the Indiana legislature and signed into law this month by Gov. Eric Holcomb may be the final blow to a Gary suit, the last one standing from that original group of cases,” ProPublica’ Vernal Coleman and IndyStar’s Tony Cook report.
| | TRANSITIONS | | — BIG MOVES: Paris Schutz, the co-anchor for WTTW’s "Chicago Tonight" and anchor of “Week in Review” is leaving the station April 12, he announced on social media. "Nearly 20 years ago, I walked into WTTW as a college intern and instantly fell in love with 'Chicago Tonight,' a program unlike any other. My run here almost feels like a dream, to go from intern to producer to reporter to anchor in my hometown. … As George Harrison says, all things must pass, and I will be stepping down from my role at WTTW on April 12th to pursue an exciting new adventure.” Post here
| | 2024 WATCH | | — Cook County State's Attorney's race: Harris gains slightly on O'Neill Burke in new unofficial count: “According to the latest figures, Eileen O’Neill Burke has a lead of 1,598 votes over Clayton Harris III out of more than half a million cast, a reduction of 45 votes over previous counts released on Monday,” via NBC 5. Happening today: Elections officials will be counting votes cast in nursing homes, as well as the mail-in ballots that continue to trickle in. Harris’ campaign is keeping all its options on the table, including “a potential recount,” by the Tribune’s A.D. Quig and Claire Malon
| | | | A message from Amazon:   | | | | | THE STATEWIDES | | — New law would help Illinois families to convert leftover college savings into retirement funds: “Illinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs is pushing a new law to help families set money aside for their children,” via Fox 32. — Labor rights for migrants could expand in Illinois as lawmakers weigh spending options, by the State Journal Register’s Patrick M. Keck
| | CHICAGO | | — The flag-burning issue persists. Watch for more aldermen to speak out against fellow Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez for taking part in a rally that included the desecration of an American flag. Sigcho-Lopez said he wasn’t part of the act, but aldermen are fuming that he spoke at the event and stood in front of the burned flag. Holding a press conference today on the issue are Alds. Nick Sposato, Felix Cardona, Chris Taliaferro, Anthony Napolitano, Gilbert “Gil” Villegas, Bill Conway, Silvana Tabares, Raymond Lopez and Marty Quinn. — More Chicagoans lacked heat in January than any month since 2019 amid historic cold: “An analysis showed Chicagoans made more no-heat complaints during January’s historic cold snap than any other time in the last five years,” by the Sun-Times’ Violet Miller and WBEZ’s Amy Qin and Jessica Alvarado Gamez. — Wards held by Chicago's political dynasties have a common trait: lower crime, by Crain’s Leigh Giangreco — Blommer laying off more than 200 workers with plant closure, by Crain’s Corli Jay
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — ‘Punishment for being pregnant': Report details poor care for pregnant people in county jails: “The new report by ACLU of Illinois and Women’s Justice Institute shares stories from women who were pregnant while jailed across Illinois. Researchers also say a quarter of county jails don’t have written policies on how to care for people who are pregnant or postpartum,” by the Sun-Times’ Kaitlin Washburn. — Advocate proposes $52M outpatient center in Naperville, by Crain’s Katherine Davis — SPOTTED: Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele hosted a Women's History Month fundraiser Tuesday night. In attendance: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, state Rep. Theresa Mah, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, 40th Ward Committeewoman Maggie O’Keefe, MRWD Commissioner Precious Brady Davis and CTU organizer Graciela Guzmán. Pic!
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked of where you’d throw a party if you had an unlimited budget: Timothy Powell: “I’d celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary at the Park West in Chicago, where my beautiful wife Betty and I held our reception party. I’d hire Wilco, the Waco Brothers and the Chicago Mass Choir for some slammin’ tunes. And get ‘Hot Doug’ Sohn to cater the event with encased meats. And I promise not to sing any songs like I did at the original reception.” Marilynn Miller: “At the 95th Restaurant atop the John Hancock. You cannot beat the views of Lake Michigan!” John Straus: “Cortona, Italy, the site of the book and movie ‘Under the Tuscan Sun.’ During a vacation there, I met Frances Mayes, the author, who bears no resemblance to Diane Lane.” Timothy Thomas Jr.: “An evening affair at an outdoor campsite on the outskirts of Reykjavik, Iceland, during the height of the Aurora Borealis season. The backdrop of the Northern Lights has to be seen in person to be believed. It is breathtaking.” NEXT QUESTION: What book changed your life?
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Justices were skeptical of abortion pills arguments. Anti-abortion groups have backup plans, by POLITICO’s Alice Miranda Ollstein — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. picks tech entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan as his vice president, by POLITICO’s Brittany Gibson — The Baltimore bridge collapse is raising some big policy questions, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard and Peder Schaefer — Ronna McDaniel, NBC part ways after backlash over hiring, by POLITICO’s Kierra Frazier
| | | | A message from Amazon: Amazon is committed to helping their employees and the communities where they operate thrive with free on-the-job skills training and prepaid tuition benefits.
Abel completed a trucking program through Amazon Career Choice to start working in transportation. Now he’s using the tuition benefits. “Amazon is paying for me to go to the school,” he said.
Learn more. | | | | | IN MEMORIAM | | — Yong Wha Kim, who published The Korea Times-Chicago and headed Korean Broadcasting Incorporated Radio, has died. Obit here — Former New Trier Superintendent Hank Bangser has died. He was 84, by Pioneer Press’ Daniel Dorfman
| | TRIVIA | | TUESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Justin Kulovsek for correctly answering that Salem, Ill., is the birthplace of Miracle Whip salad dressing.. TODAY's QUESTION: What Chicago-based film was named a “Catholic Classic” by L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican’s official newspaper? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Mayor Brandon Johnson, former state Rep. Fran Hurley, civic leader Michelle Collins, Mag Mile Association CEO Kimberly Bares, Invenergy Government Affairs Senior Director Colleen Smith, Northwestern University Education and Social Policy School comms director Julie Deardorff, Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres government strategist Lisa Duarte, Kellogg School of Management’s Suzanne Muchin, Hy-Vee Government Affairs Director Tyler Power, strategic comms consultant Mara Vandlik and Tribune Digital News Editor Tina Akouris. -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 | | | | |
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