* Personal PAC goes for Brandon Johnson…

Today, Personal PAC, one of Illinois’ leading organizations dedicated to protecting reproductive rights, endorsed Brandon Johnson for mayor.

“Personal PAC is proud to stand with Brandon Johnson for mayor and to support his vision to ensure abortion remains safe, legal, and accessible to all in Chicago,” said Sarah Garza Resnick, CEO of Personal PAC. “In a post-Roe world, this race is too important. After meeting with both Mr. Vallas and Commissioner Johnson, it is clear to us that Brandon Johnson is the only candidate who will protect and champion reproductive rights in Chicago.”

“We were troubled by Paul Vallas’ failure to comment at all for months following the leaked Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade,” said Garza Resnick. “Further, we take him at his word—based on his own statement that he fundamentally opposes abortion—that we cannot trust him to protect our reproductive rights.”

Commissioner Johnson has committed publicly to maintaining and increasing, as needed, the current level of funding in the City budget for reproductive healthcare support and is committed to continuing to use City resources to ensure the security of abortion clinics.

* Paul Vallas brings out the receipts…

Brandon Johnson has carefully avoided discussing his radical political past during the campaign for Mayor, often dodging questions about his public support for defunding the police. But today he took it a step too far and was caught in a blatant lie. Johnson told ABC 7 that he “never said defund the police,” despite the clear fact that he has openly discussed his support for defunding numerous times.

“There’s nothing Brandon Johnson can do to change the fact that he has publicly embraced the radical “defund the police” movement that would put Chicago at risk of even higher crime,” said Vallas spokesperson Phil Swibinski. “Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas’ visions for public safety could not be any more different, and every Chicagoan who is concerned about rising crime should be aware of one thing — Brandon Johnson will defund the police, Paul Vallas will put crime reduction and public safety first.”

Johnson’s support for defunding the police is clear and absolute:

• In July 2020, Johnson was the Chief Sponsor of a Resolution calling for the Cook County Board of Commissioners to “Redirect Funds From Policing and Incarceration to Public Services Not Administered By Law Enforcement.”
• In July 2020, Johnson signed onto a statement with other elected officials that stated the officials were ready to “Work To Defund The Chicago Police Department Immediately”
• On WCPT Radio 780 in July 2020, Johnson said: “there are some folks who are offended by this idea of defunding the police. There are folks who are afraid of that terminology…we’re shipping money away from police and incarceration. What do people not understand about this demand? (Sunday Mornings, WCPT 780, 7/26/20, 38:10)
• On WCPT Radio 780 in December 2020, Johnson said that he viewed Defund the Police “not as a slogan, but as a real political goal” and that it was “not just an admirable effort, but a necessary one.” (Santita Jackson Show, WCPT 780, 12/4/20, 16:50 and 59:18)

* More from Vallas…

The Vallas for Mayor campaign will announce major endorsements from three City Council members, who will lend their support to the Vallas public safety plan as well as Paul’s commitment to equity for all Chicago communities.

WHO: Mayoral candidate Paul Vallas, Alderwoman Silvana Tabares (23rd), Alderman Felix Cardona, Jr. (31st), and Alderman Ariel Reboyras (30th)

* A little bit of history from political consultant Delmarie Cobb…

Nearly 40 years ago, mayor Harold Washington was elected Chicago’s first Black mayor. His grassroots campaign mobilized more than 100,000 new registered voters for the mayoral election in 1983, defeating Republican candidate Bernard Epton by a slim 51.7 percent to 48 percent majority. Washington’s win dealt a stunning blow to Chicago’s machine politics.

Though we’re 40 years removed from that moment, Cobb said this election is reminiscent of the 1983 election.

“When Harold Washington ran, you had Black elected officials who came out for him, but then you had an equal number of Black elected officials who came out for Jane Byrne and Richard M. Daley. So this is exactly a mirror of the same thing that happened 40 years ago,” Cobb said.

* Crain’s…

A new independent super PAC has been created in support of former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas that will likely allow a new wave of dark money to flow into the April 4 mayoral runoff campaign. […]

[Greg Goldner, founder and manager of Resolute Public Affairs] registered a not-for-profit, likely for that purpose, on March 7 named Priorities Chicago, according to a filing with the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office. […]

In recent days ahead of the creation of Goldner’s super PAC, the Vallas campaign fine-tuned the “media” portion of its campaign website, a process known as “redboxing” that campaigns use to publicly signal to outside groups how to spend money without crossing the loose legal definition of coordination.

On Monday, the Vallas campaign media page says “Frequent Chicago municipal voters urgently need to learn NOW that Brandon Johnson wants to defund the police and raise taxes, including a new city income tax on broadcast television and digital.”

Priorities Chicago has now also created an independent expenditure committee.

* Um…

If you are Bruce Rauner, Playbook would like to know your tips for working with Chicago’s mayor.

Do you then do the exact opposite?

* Press release…

Around 9 p.m. on Friday night, Chicago Police responded to an attempted burglary in the Mid-North district of Lincoln Park. While police were still gathering the facts, Brian Comer was sharing unverified, inaccurate information in a video he shared on his political campaign page.

“Several residents and police officers have expressed grave concern in my opponent’s behavior at a critical time for our community,” said Alderman Timmy Knudsen. “As always, I am in constant communication with CPD leadership in the ward, and when I heard about this incident, I offered my full support while allowing them to do their jobs. My focus will always be supporting our police and spreading facts, not fear.”

“Brian Comer touts his experience as a beat facilitator, but his decision to campaign at a crime scene clearly demonstrates that he lacks the sound judgment that residents expect from their alderman,” said Alex Hanns, Knudsen’s campaign manager. “Comer should know better than to rush to a crime scene and share misinformation while police are still conducting their investigation. Especially when residents are rightfully concerned about their safety, the last thing we need is for an uninformed civilian to stoke fears while police are trying to do their jobs.”

WATCH HERE

In his campaign video, Comer wears his campaign button while saying “an officer was shot” and was “in stable condition” on Friday night, despite the fact that no one was shot nor injured in the incident, according to vetted communications by the Chicago Police Department. “We just buried an officer who was killed in the line of duty earlier this week,” continued Comer, deepening the sense of fear that residents have since voiced.

As his campaign video concludes, Comer shifts to his campaign platform. “I have a plan to help public safety,” he says while the lights of three police vehicles illuminate the area and an officer walks behind him. The Chicago Board of Ethics has warned candidates of the “prohibited use of Chicago Police Department personnel and logo in electioneering communications.” Despite Comer’s claim, his website only lists five half-sentences of his “priorities” and is completely devoid of any plan on public safety that he references.

Comer’s inaccurate campaign video is still on his Facebook page five days after the incident despite several claims being debunked by police. The Knudsen campaign put Comer’s statements side by side with the facts in a new ad so residents can hear it for themselves.

* Isabel’s roundup…

* Crain’s | Pritzker promises Dem leaders that costs for a Chicago convention would be covered: Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants Chicago to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention so badly that he’s reportedly assuring the party he’ll line up funding to cover the entire cost of the event, according to a report from Politico. And he’s enlisting some of his deepest-pocketed allies to help him out, including sister Penny Pritzker, Cubs co-owner (and Lori Lightfoot supporter) Laura Ricketts and Grosvenor Capital CEO Michael Sacks, who’s been making waves in City Council races.

* NBC 5 | Chicago Mayoral Race, 14 City Council Contests Headed to April 4 Runoffs: Several incumbent members of the Chicago City Council, including Ald. Chris Taliaferro, Jim Gardiner and Monique Scott are among those facing runoffs, while open seats in numerous wards will also require a second round of voting.

* NBC Chicago | Vallas vs. Johnson: Here’s An Endorsement Guide to the 2023 Chicago Mayoral Election: Although more than half of the members of the Chicago City Council issued endorsements in the first round of this year’s mayoral election, many are now being courted by the race’s two remaining candidates as both aim to consolidate support. Those endorsements continued to roll in over the weekend, as third ward Ald. Pat Dowell endorsed Johnson. Meanwhile, Alds. Matthew O’Shea (19th) and Ray Lopez (15th) both endorsed Vallas.

* CBS Chicago | Little Village residents want to hear mayoral candidates’ safety plans for street vendors: For months, community members have been speaking out about recent robberies and assaults targeting street vendors in Little Village. On Tuesday, members of the Little Village Community Council and a coalition of street vendors are holding a news conference to ask Vallas and Johnson to come up with a permanent safety plan to help vendors and the neighborhood.

* NBC Chicago | Chicago Mayoral Election: How Paul Vallas, Brandon Johnson Would Address CTA, Transit Issues: Vallas: You’ve got to make sure that there are police officers on the platform, that there are police officers riding the trains like New York, that there are police officers at the station. […] Johnson: We’re going to increase the number of bus lanes and expand that. We’re going to make sure that there are traffic signals that can give preference to bus lanes, but we’re also going to make sure that we are expanding the workforce…and helping individuals with disabilities to make sure that the workforce is fully supported, and that we’re paying them a livable wage.

* Illinois Answers | Chicago Police’s Foot Pursuit Policy Explained: No longer would a person simply fleeing police be enough for an officer to pursue them, but cops would need a justification to do so, such as an unlawful use of weapon or domestic battery. The motivation for implementing the policy came following a series of fatal police shootings of young Latino men that were chased by police. Advocates argued the lack of a pursuit policy puts both the public and officers at risk.

* Triibe | Chicago FOP presidents’ turbulent relationship with race and police reform: Past and current FOP leaders have made headlines with incendiary comments inflaming already-fraught conversations around police violence, race, and reform—and Black officers have long complained of being ignored or represented poorly by union brass. Police union presidents have also used their platforms to fight calls to hold cops accountable and stand by officers who hurt or kill Chicago residents, from Fred Hampton to LaTanya Haggerty, Rekia Boyd, Laquan McDonald, Adam Toledo, and many more.

* CBS Chicago | Lightfoot mandates audit of city’s workforce to find gender, racial pay gaps: As part of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s executive order, there will be a bi-annual audit of the city workforce to identify inequities in employee compensation. Then, a report of the findings will be published on the Department of Human Resources website.

* WTTW | Measure Designed to Allow Nonprofit Employees to Unionize Set for Key Vote: After languishing in limbo for more than three years, the proposal — dubbed the Human Service Workforce Advancement Ordinance — could head to the Chicago City Council for a final vote on Wednesday, if a joint body made up of the committees on Health and Human Relations and Workforce Development endorse the plan on Tuesday. The proposal would require human service organizations that contract with the city to agree not to disrupt efforts by their employees to unionize as long as workers agree not disrupt the company’s operations while they organize.

* Energy News Network | ComEd offers $120M for equity programs as part of Chicago electricity deal: The agreement was crafted to try to gain approval for renewing ComEd’s larger franchise agreement with the city. There’s been significant opposition from activists and some City Council members to the proposed franchise agreement. The previous 30-year deal expired in 2021, just as a major bribery scandal involving the utility and state officials was unfolding.

* ABC Chicago | Owner of Chicago-based pop-up COVID testing site charged with fraud, got $83M in federal payments: On his public LinkedIn page, Zishan Alvi touted his lab’s ability to meet COVID-19 testing demand. But, in this 10-count indictment, federal prosecutors allege he submitted fraudulent testing claims that cost the federal government more than $83 million.

* Jesús ‘Chuy’ García | Chicago’s next mayor should make the elusive American Dream accessible to all: Unfortunately, Chicago continues to be defined by its legacy of redlining, racially based covenants and segregation, which is keeping the city from becoming a great, global city. We must remove barriers to economic mobility, education and job training opportunities. It’s beyond time we re-envision equitable access to basic services such as transportation, public safety, environmental justice, housing and health care, while investing in sustainable revenue sources.

* Sun-Times | As SNAP recipients see reduction in funds, Chicago residents make adjustments: ‘I make do’: Starting this month, recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will see a decrease in their benefits after a coronavirus pandemic-era funding boost ended.

* NBC Chicago | Where to Expect the First Lane Closures and For How Long as Kennedy Construction Begins Next Week: The first stage of the massive, years-long construction project, will begin with the inbound Kennedy, closing two main lanes of the expressway. The project will affect drivers from the Edens Expressway junction to Ohio Street in either direction, IDOT said.

* Block Club | Are Chicago’s Brutal Winters A Thing Of The Past?: Chicago saw just 16.8 inches of snow this winter, and climate science shows the city will likely see more rain than snow in winters ahead.

* Tribune | Pioneer Arcade affordable housing project in jeopardy as city support wavers: The proposed project for the site is in jeopardy as Chicago’s Department of Housing has twice rejected the Hispanic Housing Development Corp.’s request for a financial letter of support to receive $1.5 million in low-income housing tax credits from the Illinois Housing Development Authority to construct 61 rental units of affordable senior housing.