| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | | Presented by |  | | | Happy solar eclipse day, Illinois! It’s nice to be back after a relaxing break. Kudos to Samantha Latson for keeping the wheels turning! Breaking overnight: Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough, 73, died Sunday after being treated for a serious medical condition. While a state lawmaker, Yarbrough championed legislation to ban the death penalty in Illinois. Statement from the clerk’s office. Stories from the Tribune, from the Sun-Times and from the Daily Herald. What’s next: the appointment process. Later today: President Joe Biden is coming to Chicago for a fundraiser.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | | 
Demonstrators try to stop a Chicago police officer from detaining a protester during the 2012 NATO summit in Chicago. | Seth Perlman/AP | PROTEST PROSPECTS: Protesters have been stonewalled trying to get a permit to march during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, so they’re taking some action. The Coalition to March on the DNC, a broad group of activists that includes pro-Palestinian supporters, has sent a letter to Mayor Brandon Johnson, hoping to appeal to his activist roots to help get a permit approved. Protesters will be at tonight’s Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability hearing with Police Superintendent Larry Snelling to speak during the public comment period. And they want a one-on-one meeting with Snelling, too. The protesters have also filed a lawsuit accusing the city of violating their First Amendment rights by repeatedly denying them a chance to march to the United Center during the convention. The Coalition to March on the DNC has been rejected three times by the city’s permit office in their effort to march from parks on the city’s West Side to the United Center. The city has offered an area on Michigan Avenue for protesters to demonstrate, but it’s more than three miles from where delegates will formally nominate President Joe Biden as their standard bearer in 2024. Permit or not: Protesters have said they’ll march without the proper paperwork, if they have to. “But we want permits in order to protect our democratic rights,” said Joe Iosbaker, an activist who helped lead the protests during the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago. Working through the process: “It’s not a surprise that the people we are protecting will obstruct us. It’s something that we have to work around,” said Kobi Guillory, co-chair of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, which is part of the protest coalition. Sounds like 1968: Mayor Richard J. Daley used a similar “strategy” in the lead-up to the infamous 1968 convention, according to Bill Ayers, the former anti-war activist who was arrested during the convention that year. Ayers told Playbook that activists similarly tried to get a permit to march. “Daley’s strategy was to keep the protest groups talking and negotiating, and then to deny, deny, deny. It was rope-a-dope plus delay, then deny.” It was meant to divert their attention and energy from the protest, Ayers recalled. The whole world watched: The 1968 protesters marched anyway, of course, and were confronted by police with nightsticks and tear gas on Michigan Avenue. Snelling doesn’t want a 1968. “Everything we are doing is rooted in constitutional policing,” Chicago’s top cop told reporters at a news conference last month. Snelling led training of officers ahead of the NATO summit. Prosecution policies: The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office is working with federal and local law enforcement officials to determine how demonstrators will be prosecuted if they break laws during the Democratic convention. In their appeal to the mayor, protesters asked him “to intervene in defense of his constituents' constitutional rights, and to stand on the right side of history regarding Palestinian liberation,” according to the letter obtained by Playbook. It’s a family affair: The group says it’s trying to get a permit “to hold a family friendly protest that is accessible and uplifts the voices of some of our most vulnerable community members.” Still, 1968 looms large: Social media messages from protest groups are already invoking 1968, with phrasing such as “Make 2024 As Great as 1968!” and “Make bruises from Chicago police batons the 2024 back to school fall fashion!” Starting to mobilize: Later this week protesters have planned a conference to talk about how to go about demonstrating at the convention.
| | | THE BUZZ | | | 
Congresswomen Delia Ramirez, speaking at a news conference in Washington, D.C. | Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/AP | MIGRATION MOVES: Congresswoman Delia Ramirez has just returned from a four-day fact-finding trip to Panama to better understand the immigration policies that are reverberating in Chicago. Why Panama: Ramirez is the vice ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, which is charged with addressing border issues. Panama’s Darién province is a key player in the immigration debate as it is the region that connects North and South America. Asylum seekers from Venezuela and Colombia must travel through the jungles of Darién before they reach the U.S. border and, eventually, Chicago. In a year, over 500,000 people, many of whom are asylum seekers, pass through Darién, Ramirez told Playbook. Her concern: Panama isn’t doing more to encourage asylum seekers to stay in that country. “What would it look like if Panama overhauled its own immigration and asylum system policies? Statistics shared suggest they currently accept 1 percent of asylum requests,” she said. First-hand reports: Ramirez said she was shaken by the stories she heard of “horrific conditions” experienced by families traveling through the jungles of Darién, and she called for a “coordinated regional and global approach," consistent with the Los Angeles Declaration, to address the crisis. If you are Larry Snelling, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | A message from Illinois Retail Merchants Association: Retail provides critical services we all rely on. Who is retail? Del-Kar Pharmacy, an independent pharmacy in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood, is retail. As one of the state’s only Black-owned pharmacies, owner Edwin Muldrow knows his story is worth sharing. In an area lacking services, Edwin is there to meet the community’s needs. The Illinois Retail Merchants Association supports retailers like Edwin. Watch the full story of Del Kar Pharmacy and other Illinois retailers here. | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | In Carbondale at 1 p.m. to celebrate the total solar eclipse.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | At the University Club of Chicago at 5:30 p.m. with DCASE Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth to address the state of arts and culture in Chicago.
| | Where's Toni | | At Soldier Field’s landing zone at 3:30 p.m. to greet the president. 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. | | | | | | | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | — State elections board asks AG’s office to look into publisher of fake newspapers for printing voter data: Websites connected to conservative radio host Dan Proft can be “construed as legitimate newspapers” but are really “far-right Republican campaign advocacy through mailers and websites,” reports Tribune’s Rick Pearson. — Johnson urges progressives to vote for Biden despite support for Israel: “Returning back to a Trump administration is just a nonstarter for me,” Johnson told Crain’s Justin Laurence. … The statement comes as The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board pokes at the mayor for “defending an alderman who spoke at a rally in favor of canceling the DNC.” The headline: Welcome to Chicago, Democrats. — How Eileen O’Neill Burke won and what it might mean for the office of Cook County’s top prosecutor going forward, by the Tribune’s A.D. Quig
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — TOTALLY: How Carbondale is preparing for its second total solar eclipse in 7 years, by St. Louis Public Radio’s Brian Munoz. …A 101 on the solar show from Downstate Illinois to Chicago, via WTTW’s Patty Wetli — Court upholds law limiting where child sex offenders can live, by Capitol News’ Peter Hancock. — Former chair of Prisoner Review Board pushes back against Pritzker’s criticism after 11-year-old's killing, by WTTW’s Brandis Friedman and Paul Caine — Illinois politics stranger than fiction: The real-life spy who stumbled into Glenn Poshard’s campaign for governor, by Abdon Pallasch, a former journalist and current comms director for the state comptroller. — TAKING NAMES: Lee Milner, a familiar photographer in Springfield, reflects on his life and career, by Illinois Times’ Dean Olsen
| | | | A message from Illinois Retail Merchants Association:   | | | | | CHICAGO | | — Gun cases in Chicago turned down by feds at higher rate than in most cities: “Federal prosecutors are less likely than those in most other places — including New York and Los Angeles — to approve gun charges. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is taking up some of those rejected cases,” by the Sun-Times’ Frank Main. — Migrants will move into Portage Park’s St. Bartholomew this month, by Block Club’s Molly DeVore — Bears in a hurry to build domed lakefront stadium, but Friends of the Parks says, ‘Not so fast,’ by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman — Johnson plans to ‘Cut the Tape’ for developers to speed up housing builds, by the Tribune’s Jake Sheridan — One year in: Chicago police district councils face discord amid slow steps toward community oversight, by the Tribune’s Caroline Kubzansky — Durbin wants Buttigieg to broker O'Hare expansion, by Crain’s John Pletz
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Dolton trustees set to hire former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to assist in probe of Tiffany Henyard: “The hiring of Lightfoot is on the agenda for a special Village Board meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday,” by the Daily Southtown’s Mike Nolan.
| | | HIGHER-ED | | | — NAACP national president urges Black athletes to boycott states that eliminate DEI, by the Chicago Defender’s Miss AJ Williams
| | SPOTTED | | — Northwestern Pritzker School of Law’s Student Funded Public Interest Fellowship Program honored “distinguished alumni” in public service Friday. The honorees included Cook County Public Guardian's Kass Plain, City of Chicago Inspector General Office’s Christopher Norberg and Jewish United Fund’s Amy Zimmerman. Attendees: former Gov. Pat Quinn, Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans, Deputy Gov. Grace Hou, Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert and former Deputy Gov. Sol Flores.
| | | | 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 how you get back into the groove after vacation: Graham Grady: “Start planning for the next vacation.” Lucas Hawley: “I go to my favorite restaurant, The Harvest Room, so it feels like home!” Chris Kolker: “Answer emails and review new snail mail the night before or early before work starts. It dulls the back to work anxiety at the start of work.” Ed Mazur: “I don’t unpack suitcases for two days.” La'Mont Williams, a state Senate candidate: “I try to tackle small projects and emails to get back in the groove. I won’t schedule anything major immediately following a vacation.” NEXT QUESTION: Where did you go to watch the eclipse?
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — BREAKING: Trump says abortion is up to the states, declines to endorse national limit, by POLITICO’s Megan Messerly — The lawmakers who will decide Mike Johnson’s fate as speaker, by Katherine Tully-McManus — Biden is struggling with young voters but performing better than most Democrats with older ones, by POLITICO’s Steve Shepard — Democrats fear Netanyahu may have undermined Biden’s image among voters, by POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn, Jonathan Lemire and Jennifer Haberkorn — Congressman Darin LaHood has a bone to pick on gerrymandering, but he still believes in bipartisanship, reports Illinois Times’ David Blanchette
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Kriti Korula is now a legislative fellow for Congressman Eric Sorensen, handling health care. She was a legislative correspondent for Texas Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. — Norma Fuentes has been named a partner at Fuentes Consulting. Fuentes was a senior associate at Stricklin & Associates and brings nearly half a decade of experience in the field.
| | | IN MEMORIAM | | | — Funeral services Friday for Dick Phelan, the former Cook County Board president whose successful 1990 campaign was run by Eric Adelstein, today a prominent national political consultant. Campaign staff included two future mayors, Rahm Emanuel and Lori Lightfoot, as well as political consultant Pete Giangreco. Phelan ran unsuccessfully for governor before returning to practice law. Details here — Robert Ryan, a former Park Ridge alderman, has died. Details here
| | | | A message from Illinois Retail Merchants Association: Illinois retailers anchor their communities, providing important services that their neighbors rely on. Who is retail? Del-Kar Pharmacy, an independent pharmacy in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood, is retail. Second-generation pharmacist Edwin Muldrow knows his business is special and his story is worth sharing. This historic business is one of Illinois’ only Black-owned pharmacies and was once frequented by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Founded by Edwin’s father in 1960, the pharmacy stands out as a beacon of hope and a hub of commerce in an area lacking many basic services. Despite the increasing difficulties of running a business, Edwin feels a duty to provide healthcare for his community and to encourage the young people in his neighborhood to never be afraid to chase their dreams.
The Illinois Retail Merchants Association is here to support retailers like Edwin. Watch the full story of Del-Kar Pharmacy and other Illinois retailers here. | | | | | EVENTS | | — Tuesday at 9 a.m.: Congressman Darin LaHood, chair of the Housse Ways and Means Subcommittee on Work and Welfare, will lead a subcommittee field hearing in Chicago on “The Dignity of Work: Lifting Individuals Out of Poverty.” Matt Paprocki of the Illinois Policy Institute is among those testifying. Details here — May 24-25: The Illinois Republican State Convention will be held at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | MARCH 29 ANSWER: Congrats to Patrick Cortesi for correctly answering that “Macho Man” Randy Savage, whose real name was Randy Mario Poffo, was the pro-wrestling star who protected classmates against bullies at Downers Grove North High School. TODAY’s QUESTION: What were the names of President Abraham Lincoln’s cats?
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Former Niles Mayor Andrew Przybylo, state Commerce Commission Government Affairs Director Sarah Ryan, state Executive Ethics Commission member Amalia Rioja, lobbyist and former Illinois GOP Chair Pat Brady, Senate Dems’ graphic designer Hayden Schumer, Playbooker Lisa Muller and Lee Enterprises’ political reporter Brenden Moore. -30- Correction: Friday's Illinois Playbook misspelled the last name of Block Club Chicago's Quinn Myers. | | | | 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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