*** UPDATED x1 *** FBI agent confirms that feds have been probing Madigan since at least 2014
Monday, Mar 20, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * They never give up….
* Meanwhile, this exchange is about TV ads that three of Cullerton’s candidates were running which touted their support for leadership term limits and specifically mentioned Madigan’s name. Madigan was furious…
From one of my reports to subscribers at the time…
In the end, organized labor put the arm on Cullerton. No more Madigan ads were produced. * And…
Prosecutors had earlier presented evidence showing Madigan used other peoples’ mobile phones to make calls. *** UPDATE *** Durbin and Duckworth forward Sergio Acosta and April Perry’s names to Biden for US Attorney…
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That toddlin’ town roundup
Monday, Mar 20, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * Chalkbeat…
That’s just a taste. Click here for more. * Wall Street Journal editorial board…
That is true. The fave/unfave split in January was 57-40. The most recent poll had it at 48-46. But Paul Vallas’ fave/unfave rating also took a hit with that same pollster. Vallas’ rating went from 46-31 in January to 47-47 in March. Brandon Johnson’s was 35-20 in January and 51-40 in March. Both saw increases in their unfavorable rating, but Johnson also saw a big spike in his favorability as more people came to know him. But we can expect lots more intense hits on Johnson in the coming weeks. * Here’s Greg Hinz…
Not mentioned in the piece is that, on Friday, INCS Action Independent Committee (charter schools) reported spending $258,000 on cable TV ads against Brandon Johnson. Two days earlier, INCS Action spent $359,000 on digital media against Johnson. More to come, I’m told. The group reported an $800,000 contribution from Wheels, Inc. executive chairman James Frank last week. Johnson has reported $723,879.56 in contributions since a week ago Sunday. Vallas has reported $1,668,050 in the same time period. …Adding… Greg Goldner’s Priorities Chicago PAC just reported spending $320,000 on TV ads against Johnson. * Meanwhile, here’s a press release…
* Two more alds for Johnson…
* Crain’s…
Your thoughts on that? * Isabel’s roundup… * Sun-Times | Chicago’s mayoral candidates have radically different approaches to fixing public schools. Here’s why.: Vallas built a long career on pledges he could give children a better education by reforming low-performing schools in dramatic and controversial ways. Johnson has spent his time organizing around better support for students and targeting the conditions around them in neighborhoods, decrying drastic reforms as disruptive to relationships kids need to succeed. * CBS Chicago | Vallas, Johnson keep busy on campaign trail ahead of early voting in mayoral race: South and West side community leaders met with both candidates for mayor on Sunday about their plans to rebuild neighborhoods. United Power for Action and Justice hosted a forum Sunday afternoon, asking Johnson and Vallas to commit to affordable housing and reclaim vacant lots. * Sun-Times | Chicago’s longtime chief labor negotiator sizes up Paul Vallas, Brandon Johnson: Jim Franczek, the city’s chief labor negotiator, doesn’t see it that way — and he’s in a unique position to know. Franczek called Vallas the “clear choice” and Johnson and his ties to the CTU a grave concern. * Block Club | Paul Vallas Endorsed By Slate Of Northwest Side Alderpeople: Alds. Samantha Nugent (39th), Nick Sposato (38th) and Ald. Felix Cardona (31st) have endorsed Vallas since he made the April 4 runoff. Ald. Jim Gardiner (45th) has not made a public endorsement but told attendees at a February 45th Ward candidate forum that people “should strongly consider Vallas.” * WTTW | Chances Lightfoot Will Convince Lame Duck City Council to Pass ComEd Deal Fade: Instead, alderpeople balked at the mayor’s demand and sent the proposal to the Rules Committee, where controversial legislative proposals frequently go to die. Lightfoot’s allies, led by Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward), the chair of the powerful Finance Committee, tried to schedule a hearing on the proposal, only to have that effort deluged by a wave of criticism. That last-ditch hearing never took place. * CBS Chicago | Pilsen and Little Village activists want mayoral candidates to make environmental issues a priority: The Southwest Environmental Alliance, which gathered at Lincoln United Methodist church on Sunday, called on mayoral candidates Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson to take more action against developers like Sims Metal Management, MAT Asphalt, and Hilco for what they call violence against the environment. * Block Club | Ald. Timmy Knudsen Nabs Endorsements From 5 Retired Alderpeople, Former Rival In 43rd Ward Runoff: Former Ald. Michele Smith and former candidate Wendi Taylor Nations previously blasted Knudsen but are now backing him over Brian Comer. Comer accused Knudsen of sending a “misleading” poll about him. * Crain’s | New questions for Uptown aldermanic candidate over IRS lien: Angela Clay, the 46th Ward aldermanic hopeful who failed to disclose she operated a company that received nearly $42,000 in federal COVID-relief funds, also has something else in her financial record she hasn’t talked about: an outstanding $18,450 IRS lien against her. * Sun-Times | Villegas fights to hold onto ward called both ‘snake’ and ‘noodle’ against challenge from CTU-backed Torres Whitt: The newly redrawn ward stretches from Sayre Avenue in the Northwest Side’s Montclare neighborhood across parts of the West Side to Wood Street in West Town. Along the way, the ward that was described as a “pool noodle” picks up parts of Ukrainian Village, Humboldt Park, Dunning and Belmont Cragin. * Tribune | The 11th Ward’s complex history is ever-present in latest campaign for alderman: Mayor Lori Lightfoot a year ago appointed Ald. Nicole Lee, a Chinese American with deep roots in the Asian community, to replace Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson after he was convicted on federal tax-related charges. The political shift was reaffirmed when the council OK’d new ward maps that brought both Chinatown and Bridgeport fully into the 11th to make it the first ward in city history with a majority Asian population. * Block Club | Ald. Nicole Lee Faces Police Officer Anthony Ciaravino For 11th Ward Seat — And Both Support Vallas For Mayor: The 11th Ward — which includes Chinatown, Bridgeport, Armour Square and Canaryville — has long been influential in city politics; five mayors have come from the community, including Richard M. Daley and his father, Richard J. Daley. Lee’s family has connections with the powerful Daleys, who backed her in the February election, while this is Ciaravino’s first bid for public office. * Sun-Times | Chicago’s next mayor has water problems to fix: Chicago has at least 387,000 lead service lines, the most of any city in the country. But to date, only 280 lines have been replaced. There is no argument anymore about whether they need to be replaced — we know there is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Replacement comes down to prioritization and leadership. State law gives the city a 50-year timeline to finish the job, which is a nonstarter. * WTTW | The Little-Known Social Worker and Writer Who Embodied Chicago’s Role as a “Cauldron” for Social Movements: Mary Field Parton was a “progressive crusader” and avant-garde writer who embodied the progressive politics and social values of the early 20th century in Chicago. She’s the subject of a book called Mary Field Parton and the Pursuit of a Progressive Society by historian Mark McGarvie, who also recently taught a class on her at the Newberry Library, where he is a scholar-in-residence. * Bloomberg | Chicago, Atlanta, NYC: Biden Faces Early Test on Convention Site: “It’s a close political call,” said David Axelrod who worked as a top strategist for former President Barack Obama. “They are not just looking for a great convention town. They are looking for a town that is also going to offer them the most political benefit.”
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A look ahead
Monday, Mar 20, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * There’s a lot more to this story, but here are a few highlights of Marni Pyke’s piece on what happens when the public health emergency declaration ends in May…
The Medicaid issue is probably the most dramatic. * From the Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans…
…Adding… Rep. Bob Morgan says he’s been working to broker a deal on temporary healthcare workers losing their licenses. He’ll be moving this bill this week, he said.
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