* Politico…

State Rep. Lakesia Collins beat out fellow state Rep. Jawaharial “Omar” Williams in a showdown Tuesday afternoon for the open state Senate seat in the 5th district.

The appointment had high interest among Democrats as it pitted progressives against the old-school pols. Collins was backed by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a union ally who called Democratic leaders urging them to support her.

Williams had his own cheer-leading section. It was led by his father, Ald. and Vice Mayor Walter Burnett Jr., who sat on the committee making the appointment and had the largest number of weighted votes on the panel.

Collins and her allies worked the phones to lock down support for the vote. It worked. When it came time to vote, it was clear Collins had it nailed, and she ultimately won by acclamation. Key players in her corner: Alds. Jason Ervin (28th), Emma Mitts (37th) and Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th), and Committeewoman Lucy Moog (43rd).

* From the Lift the Ban Coalition…

Today, the Lift The Ban Coalition held a news conference to announce the Let the People Lift the Ban Act (HB4104), new legislation that allows Illinois communities to opt out of the statewide ban on rent control via local referendum. The legislation also extends additional protections to renters across the state.

With pandemic-related rent relief funds drying up and eviction moratoriums sunsetting, Illinois is spiraling back into a housing affordability crisis. Evictions have reached pre-pandemic levels and are rising. Rent increases are skyrocketing across Illinois, with some counties seeing annual aggregate rent increases of more than 17%.

“Recent U.S. Census Data shows that 47% of Illinois renters are paying more than 30% of their monthly income on housing. This is not sustainable. All across Illinois, our working families are facing significant pressures every month to pay the rent,” said 13th District State Representative and HB4104 Chief Sponsor Hoan Huynh (D-Chicago). “We need to pass HB4104, by allowing local municipalities to be engaged in the democratic process and decide for themselves through a binding referendum whether or not to lift the ban on rent control. The power belongs to the people. Let’s have the people decide, not corporate special interest entities.”

“I know what it feels like to not have sustainable housing to rest my head,” said Springfield renter Quentora Dumas. “Lifting this ban will give Illinois renters the right to fight against rent gouging, limit rents, and help boost the economy.“

Illinois voters should have the right to decide the kinds of policies that can be enacted to address this issue, including rent control. In 1997 a bill was passed in the legislature that precludes the ability for Illinoisans to legislate on this issue. Our bill would put power in the hands of everyday Illinois residents who have been disenfranchised to lift the ban on rent control.

* Press release from Michael Mini, Executive Vice President, Chicagoland Apartment Association, on HB4104…

“We strongly oppose the idea of rent control. When market forces are artificially influenced by rent control policies, investment in the supply of new housing diminishes leaving renters with fewer quality housing options – we’ve this happen from San Francisco to St. Paul to New York. Consensus among housing policy experts remains that rent control policies actually work against affordable housing objectives because they discourage investment in new and existing rental housing, erode property values, and lead to an overall shortage of quality, affordable rental housing.

Our collective efforts need to be focused on developing more housing options, and specifically, more housing that is affordable to local residents in need. There are other policy alternatives to rent control that advocates, developers and affordable housing providers agree will help the housing issues impacting people throughout the state. The SHAPE coalition and our partners are committed to working with policymakers at all levels of government to explore and implement policies and programs to provide affordable housing solutions such as direct rental assistance to residents, tax incentives to keep rents affordable, and policies that streamline, incentivize, and reduce impediments to apartment development.”

* Isabel’s roundup…

* Daily Herald | IDNR to install EV charging, build solar installation as part of new climate plan: The “blueprint” is designed to help combat climate change and reach state greenhouse gas reduction goals, specifically Illinois’ ambition of reaching 100% clean energy by 2050. Organized into five key areas, strategies include utilities and buildings, sustainable site operations, climate-smart natural areas, equity, and learning and engagement.

* Chalkbeat | Chicago is seeing an influx of migrant students. Are schools ready to serve them?: Once a school enrolls 20 or more students with the same language background, state law requires the school to implement a Transitional Bilingual Education program. Full-time TBE programs require educators to teach core subjects in both English and the native language of those students. The school must also provide instruction of English as a second language.

* Crain’s | After a slow liftoff, this crucial O’Hare terminal revamp is years late: The big airport job has virtually vanished from the news. O’Hare traffic has been relatively slow to recover from COVID. There’s been jostling between the city and its airline partners over spiraling costs, and construction on the first of three promised new terminals is not even scheduled to begin until the last half of 2024.

* Block Club | City Sues Puerto Rican Museum, Park District Over Unsanctioned Expansion In Humboldt Park: The city is also calling for the museum to be fined $1,000 each day the project was in violation and a receiver to be appointed to oversee the property if the museum and the Park District don’t rectify the situation, according to the complaint.

* Daily Herald | ‘Done everything the right way’: Palatine mayor on why video gambling may stay put: But first, the village council decided Monday to cap the number of video gambling liquor licenses in town at 11. If that cap is raised in the future, the council decided, any new applicant would have to obtain at least half its revenues from liquor sales — a move that would block out businesses focused primarily on gambling.

* Crain’s | Illinois cannabis sales rose last year, but taxes fell. How come?: It’s one more example of the growing pains of a young industry that’s being buffeted by both broader economic headwinds as well as the unique forces within the cannabis business — from national politics and local market dynamics.

* SJ-R | Memorial cutbacks end valet service; patients lament the loss: Sherry Walters of Pawnee has been bringing her mother, Barbara, to Springfield Memorial Hospital’s radiology department for treatments five days a week. Walters’ mother uses a walker and Walters has a bad leg that also makes walking difficult. […] “The valet guys were just so great,” Walters said last week. “You couldn’t beat them. They were so nice, and they did whatever they had to do to help you.”

* Sun-Times | State Street revamp ideas aim to revitalize Downtown stretch: Revitalizing State Street should include improving streetscapes, adding more art and light displays, creating new programs tied to major city events and periodically closing the street to vehicle traffic, according to new recommendations from a city-commissioned panel.

* WCIA | Fairgoers react to renovations at Illinois State Fair : “There were many years that went on, under previous administrations, to where either not much or no work was done to a lot of the facilities here on the fairgrounds,” said IDOA Director Jerry Costello. “That has all changed.”

* CBS Chicago | Illinois State Fair butter cow has companion inspired by real-life farmer Lorilee Schultz: “I mean, who wouldn’t want to be sculpted in butter? It’s like the coolest, weirdest thing you could possibly think of. There’s definitely going to be that game, three truths and a lie. I can say. ‘Well, I was sculpted in butter,’ and nobody will believe it,” she said.