Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Wednesday, Mar 29, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This is what happens when your campaign only has enough money to run a single messaging track on broadcast TV…

Today, Brandon Johnson for Chicago released a new website, www.WrongForChicago.com, and digital ad detailing Paul Vallas’ long Republican history, his record of destruction and failure, his anti-working family policy platform, his questionable record on racism, and his concerning ties to right-wing extremists.

* CBS 2 had a lightning round during last night’s debate. Candidates were asked several questions and they could answer yes or no. Both candidates said they supported qualified immunity for police, both said they support reparations, both said they support the Anjanette Young Ordinance.

Vallas said the thing he loves about Chicago the most is its “diversity.” Johnson said it was, “the way the people of Chicago love one another.”

Asked what they hate about Chicago, Johnson said, “I don’t think there’s anything that I hate about the city of Chicago. There are some things that I wish would be better.” Vallas: “The same.”

What’s the first issue that you will fix in office? Vallas: “Public safety.” Johnson: “I want to restore confidence in government and the office of the mayor. I’m gonna fix that relationship.”

Cubs or Sox: Johnson, after a long pause: “Here’s the thing. We only had WGN growing up. How’s that?” Loud laughter ensued. Vallas wasn’t asked the question.

* Paul Vallas used an Illinois Policy Institute talking point during last night’s debate…

“He’s actually gonna retire with a teacher pension despite the fact that he’s only been a teacher for four years,” Vallas replied.

* Meanwhile, Brandon Johnson is a delegate to United Working Families, and when you click the “Volunteer” button on his campaign website, it takes you to a UWF page.

Johnson’s proposals to reinstate the city’s “Business Head Tax,” his hotel tax, his real estate transfer tax plan, his financial transaction tax, etc. all appear to have come from United Working Families’ Reimagine Chicago proposal.

Not to mention that the group really doesn’t like the police…

No justice, no peace! No funds for the police! pic.twitter.com/Rut5TdLSD6

— United Working Families (@UWFIllinois) September 14, 2021

And it took Johnson four tries to answer a simple question about his past statements and actions on the topic…

🚨NEW: Brandon Johnson repeatedly refused to answer a question about defunding the police.@cbschicago asked Johnson the same question three times in a row.

This is how he handled it. ⬇️

Cringe. 😬 pic.twitter.com/BKcAVG1BfK

— Illinois Policy (@illinoispolicy) March 29, 2023

* Tribune…

Vallas was again confronted about his connection to Awake Illinois, a right-wing organization that has espoused anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. The candidate said he appeared at a fundraiser with Awake last summer only because he was invited by a pro-school choice friend, Chicago pastor Corey Brooks, and was unaware of the group’s history.

He also said during the debate about that appearance: “I should have done a better job vetting. I did apologize for that. And I won’t make the same mistake twice.”

Except that was the second time he spoke at an Awake Illinois event. The first time, in 2021, he said the group’s founder should run for governor. It’s quite amazing that nobody has really called him out on that.

* Back to the Tribune…

Vallas was confronted a third time about associations with conservatives when moderators cited a 2021 interview he did with a radio show in which he said unspecific school curriculum inspired by critical race theory was harming families and taking emphasis off more important subjects.

The former CEO of Chicago Public Schools denied that and said, “I made no statements of the sort…”

Oh, please. To the audio…

Vallas: When you introduce a curriculum that is not only divisive, but a curriculum that further undermines the relationship of children with their parents, with their families, that’s a dangerous thing. And for White parents, I mean, how are you going to discipline your child when your child comes home and your child has basically been told, you know, that their generation, their race, their parents, their grandparents they have discriminated against others and they have somehow victimized another person’s race. Or for that matter, if you are a Black child, how do you go home and and listen to your parent when your parent has failed to be successful in addressing these historically racist institutional obstacles that have denied them a chance at equal opportunity. So I think it’s detracting from our need to focus on our core subject areas. It’s allowing us to avoid accountability in terms of the quality of our teaching the quality of our schools, and I think it’s not only divisive, but I think it does damage between the children and their own and their own parents, their own family and within their own families.

Wirepoints: Yeah, Paul, I often wonder if you’re a Black kid, why wouldn’t you become a criminal if you’re hearing this stuff in school? It’s everybody with white skin is an oppressor if you have black skin, you’re the oppressed. That makes it pretty easy to justify pretty bad conduct in my opinion.

Vallas: You’re absolutely right. But what you’re also doing, you know, you’re giving people an excuse for bad behavior.

* Isabel’s roundup…

Sun-Times | Johnson accuses Vallas of being ‘dismissive of a Black man’ in TV debate that features both vowing to unify Chicago:

* Tribune | In race for mayor, Paul Vallas’ and Brandon Johnson’s campaign donors are as different as the candidates: While well more than half of Johnson’s cash since March 1 has come from CTU, other teacher union organizations or progressive unions, Vallas has received millions of dollars from Chicago and suburban business leaders. Some have ties to groups that back a state-sponsored scholarship program for private schools as well as leaders with interests in charter schools.

* Tribune | Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas spar at last televised debate before Election Day: ‘I’m criticizing his leadership ability’: Vallas was again confronted about his connection to Awake Illinois, a right-wing organization that has espoused anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. The candidate said he appeared at a fundraiser with Awake last summer only because he was invited by a pro-school choice friend, Chicago pastor Corey Brooks, and was unaware of the group’s history. “I immediately denounced them, and I criticized them and obviously I condemned them,” Vallas said. “I’ve had a lifelong history. I’ve supported marriage equality when it was called gay marriage in 2000.”

* Sun-Times | Dollars vs. decentralization: Johnson’s and Vallas’ vastly different fixes for CPS: Paul Vallas plans drastic changes to CPS’ structure, bolstering principals and local leaders’ power over spending and programming — and even the ability to let a charter school take over their campus. He would prioritize standardized testing and make it easier to hold students back a grade so they don’t graduate without necessary reading and math skills. “We should be running districts of schools, not school districts,” Vallas said. “I really believe in radical decentralization.”

* Block Club | Johnson And Vallas Say They’ll ‘Phase Out’ Speed Cameras In Final Televised Debate Before Election: “I’m for phasing them out if the Constitution allows us to,” Johnson said. “And if we can’t, wherever a speed ticket has been accumulated, or acquired, that ZIP code should get the revenue.” […] Vallas agreed Tuesday speed cameras should be eliminated for the most part, but he said he believes they do serve a purpose near schools, at least during school hours.

* WGN | Vallas, Johnson faceoff in final debate ahead of Chicago mayoral election: Brandon Johnson, who this week pledged not cut a single penny from the Chicago Police budget, was pressed about his past statements that he supports redirecting police funds. […] The candidates were asked to react to comments made by Chicago Fraternal Order of Police Union President John Catanzara who told the New York Times 800 to 1,000 Chicago officers will leave the force if Johnson is elected mayor. Catanzara is also quoted predicting there would be “blood in the streets.”

* ABC Chicago | Chicago mayoral poll shows tie between Paul Vallas, Brandon Johnson 1 week away from Election Day: Vallas also accused Johnson of being “largely funded by the Chicago Teachers Union” as he responded to questions about controversial comments made by Chicago Fraternal Order of Police president John Catanzara in the New York Times. […] “This is a critical moment where the type of fear and trepidation that’s being pushed on the other side, our message has been centered around hopes, and our hopes are turning into votes,” Johnson countered.

* Sophia King | Chicago needs collaborative leadership that will comprehensively tackle public safety: As a leader of one of the most diverse communities in our city, it is clear to me that we need a mayor who will focus on collaboration. Paul has demonstrated a willingness to soundboard ideas and shift his approach with the counsel of those who have the best interests of our city’s most vulnerable people at heart.

* Crain’s | Chicago schools are at a crossroads. The new mayor will determine the district’s next steps.: The Chicago Teachers Union’s current contract expires in 2024. If history is any guide, negotiations will begin this winter under the leadership of the new mayor. Two of the last three contracts were settled only after teachers went on strike, and the next mayor will be under considerable pressure to avoid another one. It’s clear from Johnson’s education platform that he would approach the demands of the teachers union as an ally.

* Block Club | Chicago’s Big Spenders: Here’s Who Is Paying Serious Cash To Shape The Next City Council: The analysis found more than $21 million has poured into City Council races, including $18 million in direct donations to candidates’ campaign funds and $3 million more spent independently by outside groups. The money has paid for a series of proxy wars, pitting longtime City Hall insiders or pro-business candidates against independents and progressives.

* Crain’s | Vallas: Make ‘the city that works’ work again: In a speech to the City Club of Chicago, Vallas, like rival Brandon Johnson did yesterday, summarized his major campaign themes in a final pitch before an audience of movers and shakers. And, like Johnson, he not only explained his plans, but also ripped his opponent, saying the policies of the two “could not be more dissimilar.”

* NBC Chicago | Chicago City Council’s Progressive Reform Caucus Rebukes Ald. Sophia King For Vallas Endorsement: Though King’s endorsement has attracted criticism from fellow Progressive Reform Caucus members, three other members of the caucus, including fellow former mayoral candidate Roderick Sawyer, have endorsed Vallas.

* Press release | Brandon Johnson’s Public Schedule for Wednesday: Canvassing with Alderman Hall 12:00pm, Retail Visit: Englewood Branded 1:15pm, Bishop J Drew Sheard Endorsement 2:00pm…

* Press release | Martin Luther King III, AFT President Randi Weingarten, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, and Rep. Delia Ramirez to Join Bernie Sanders at Brandon Johnson Rally on Thursday: Civil rights leader Martin Luther King III, AFT President Randi Weingarten, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, and Rep. Delia Ramirez will join Sen. Bernie Sanders and Commissioner Brandon Johnson in speaking at the get out the vote rally at the UIC Forum on Thursday at 7:00 PM.

* Block Club | As Outside Groups Spend Big To Back Kim Walz In 46th Ward Election, Campaign Contribution Cap Lifted: The limit on contributions to the campaigns — by individuals and organizations — were lifted after outside groups spent more than $100,000 on the 46th Ward runoff race, the threshold by which contribution limits are removed. By March 21, outside groups had spent at least $102,000 in the runoff that started after the Feb. 28 election — with all of it either in support of Walz or opposing Clay.

* Block Club | Dunne, Villegas Campaigns Using Red Boxes As Apparent Signal To Outside Spenders: “Redboxing” is approved messaging and phrasing within a red-outlined box on a campaign website to indirectly suggest wording and dissemination methods to PACs. Some election experts have criticized the practice, but redboxing isn’t illegal in Illinois.

* Block Club | 46th Ward Candidates Will Debate Uptown, Lakeview Issues Thursday: The debate is being co-hosted by Uptown United, the Uptown Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters of Chicago. It will be recorded and posted to Uptown United’s website by Friday, barring any technical difficulties.

* Block Club | Ald. Leslie Hairston Hosts Her Last Ward Meeting Before Leaving City Council: ‘I Will Still Be Around The Neighborhood’: Hairston’s brief sendoff touted the Obama Center, Regal Mile Studios, Local Market in South Shore, the Greater Grand Crossing library and other projects in the 5th Ward during her 24-year tenure.

* Sun-Times | Some Discount Mall vendors say extension came too late: ‘The city did us wrong’: About 40 vendors got a six-week extension Monday afternoon, but most already had packed up. “They waited until the last moment to tell us,” said Griselda Estrada, standing in the store where she’s worked nearly 30 years.

* WGN | City of Chicago forces suburban couple to pay red light violation that isn’t theirs: The couple appealed the violation, but a judge ruled against them. After that, they sent the Department of Finance proof the car and plate isn’t theirs through the mail, but it was also refused and sent back.

* Crain’s | Big TIF requests challenge Lightfoot’s LaSalle Street plan: The scale of taxpayer dollars needed for Lightfoot’s LaSalle Street Reimagined initiative raises key questions about where public resources should be allocated to try to hasten the Loop’s post-pandemic recovery. Lightfoot and her successor must try to restore foot traffic in the central business district with no promise that office users will ever again be enough to keep it healthy. Taxpayers have an interest, too, and a financial role to play to ensure that the heart of downtown isn’t beset by white elephant properties generating little tax revenue and potentially keeping businesses away.

* CBS Chicago | More and more migrants are seeking shelter in Chicago Police station lobbies: Police sources tell us as of now, almost every police station across the city at one point has had migrants seeking shelter in its lobby – with no place to sleep. Meanwhile still, Chicago is receiving record numbers of arrivals of migrants – and community groups are bearing the burden of it all.

20 Comments

ComEd 4 trial coverage roundup

Wednesday, Mar 29, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* You can follow along with the trial all day by clicking here. Those ComEd folks would apparently do almost anything to keep Madigan happy…

Other requests illustrated the closeness of the McClain and Madigan’s family — as well as the pettiness of some of the requests made to Marquez. In one instance in 2012, Madigan’s daughter, Nicole, even emailed McClain about a power outage.

“F.Y.I. Dad asks that I send this email to you. Tiffany’s power went out,” she wrote.

McClain forwarded the email to Marquez. Later that day, he emailed Nicole back with good news:

“Power is back on. Fidel Marquez dropped and did… Enjoy.”

That’s quite a constituent service operation. /s

* Sun-Times…

Marquez spoke to Pramaggiore by phone on Feb. 18, 2019. During the call, Pramaggiore suggested that Marquez delay any change in the arrangement. She told Marquez “we do not want to get caught up in a, you know, disruptive battle where, you know, somebody gets their nose out of joint.”

Pramaggiore attorney Scott Lassar predicted during opening statements that the recording of the call would exonerate Pramaggiore, who could be heard saying “oh my God” in the background as Marquez tells her about the history of the deal.

But Marquez denied to Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu that Pramaggiore expressed shock or surprise during the call. Nor did she later call for an investigation, Marquez said. But he said he took the reference to a person who could get “their nose out of joint” to mean Madigan.

During another meeting with McClain and Hooker, Marquez asked how “our friend” — Madigan — might react to the end of the arrangement.

Hooker’s response: “You’re not gonna do it? You’re not going to do something for me, I don’t have to do anything for you.”

* Jay Doherty gives Fidel Marquez the history of his involvement with ComEd. It’s a really interesting video…

* Mike McClain and Marquez meet at Saputo’s…

* Isabel’s roundup…

Sun-Times | ‘How else can we help you?’ Jurors hear and see Madigan’s vast patronage system inside ComEd:

* Tribune | ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it with those guys’: Jurors see undercover videos of Michael Madigan associates in ‘ComEd Four’ trial: The FBI had instructed Marquez to ask Madigan’s associate, Michael McClain, what he should tell ComEd’s new CEO about their scheme to funnel payments to a roster of Madigan-approved allies through a consulting company owned by Jay Doherty, a longtime ComEd contract lobbyist. Marquez’s hidden recorder was rolling as McClain munched on pizza at Saputo’s, a popular restaurant in Springfield frequented by the political crowd — including Madigan himself.

* Crain’s | Government mole’s undercover videos star in ‘ComEd Four’ proceedings: In between large bites of pizza, McClain advised Marquez, “I would say to you, don’t do anything in writing.” McClain offered to meet with Dominguez himself to explain how these payments were important to keeping in Madigan’s good graces. Marquez said he’d prefer to do it himself. Last up was Doherty on Feb. 13 in a clip showing that, at the very least, Marquez had mastered the wire technology the FBI had given him. Doherty went through his long history with ComEd, saying at one point, “This is just you and me talking. This (approach with the no-work lobbying subcontractors) all came from McClain, Hooker and Frank.”

* ABC Chicago | Secret recordings of utility exec, Springfield operative played in court: “Do they do anything for me on a day-to-day basis? No,” Jay Doherty said during a February 13th meeting. “My bottom line advice would be ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ with those guys.”Doherty went on to tell Marquez to remind the new CEO that their money comes from Springfield. By March, the subcontractor budget had been approved.

* Hannah Meisel | ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’: Secretly recorded videos show ComEd lobbyists discussing alleged bribery scheme: “John Hooker calls and said, ‘Jay, I got a sub(contractor) for you…Olivo,” Doherty recalled. “‘We’re going to pay him every month and you just —’ Doherty held up four fingers to indicate the $4,000 monthly stipend Olivo would be paid out of what would eventually become Doherty’s $37,000 per month lobbying contract with ComEd. Doherty would eventually add two of Madigan’s top precinct captains from the speaker’s 13th Ward political base on Chicago’s southwest side: Ray Nice and Ed Moody, at $5,000 and $4,500 monthly, respectively. Zalewski was the last addition after his retirement from the Chicago City Council in the summer of 2018, at $4,000 per month.

* NBC Chicago | Jurors See Bodycam Video for State’s Star Witness in ‘ComEd 4′ Trial: As a new CEO was about to take over, government wiretaps played for the jury Monday showed a level of concern about the costs of the program even as Mike McClain and Anne Pramaggiore discussed the hiring for former Chicago Ald. Mike Zalewski. “We got a lot of people hanging out there,” Pramaggiore said. “Is there anybody who, you know, we could sort of take off the roster?” According to Marquez, the so-called “contract lobbyists” did little to no work but were requested by Madigan’s office.

* In-person conversation between Michael McClain and Fidel Marquez | ComEd Exhibit 123-T: Michael McClain speaks in-person with Fidel Marquez: “Don’t put anything in writing.”

34 Comments

Afternoon roundup

Tuesday, Mar 28, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From WAND TV’s coverage of the planned Danville abortion clinic…

The Sanctuary Cities For the Unborn initiative is also trying to help residents draft an ordinance to block the clinic from opening. Pastor and anti-abortion advocate Mark Lee Dickson of Texas said there are 65 cities and two counties across the country that have passed ordinances prohibiting abortion within their jurisdiction.

“Ladonna Prince in Indianapolis, Indiana wants to set up here in this city,” Dickson said. “Well, the voice of this city is loud and they’re saying, ‘Not on our watch.’”

The state’s Reproductive Health Act preempts more restrictive local ordinances, but there’s always the zoning process. Expect a legal fight if either happens…

Under the RHA, a person can sue the State of Illinois or local governments like cities and counties if they improperly deny, interfere with, or discriminate against the person’s fundamental rights to make their own reproductive health decisions.

* DPI…

Infamous grifter and Florida resident Dan Proft recently released a list of candidates to support in the April 4 Illinois municipal elections. Proft, known for distributing right-wing propaganda designed to mislead voters, once again thinks he can prop up his own radical agenda through deceit. Proft’s “newspapers,” distributed throughout Illinois, routinely spewed racist, homophobic rhetoric that his endorsed candidates will no doubt bring to local school boards if elected.

At a January training hosted by Awake Illinois and the Leadership Institute, candidates were offered access to Proft’s pink-slime papers by Brian Timpone. Timpone, who helps Proft operate his pay-to-play network, “told those in attendance his publications ‘can punch back for you,’ and added, ‘If somebody is giving you a hard time, we can fix that.’”

While the extreme views of candidates on the ballot in April are sometimes harder to spot than those of Proft’s once preferred gubernatorial nominee, Darren Bailey, the same network of external power players has banded together to impart regressive policies that will hurt Illinois’ students. Since voters already rejected their extreme vision for Illinois last November, Proft and his allies are now using a different strategy to effect the same backwards agenda.

Top donor to Proft’s People Who Play by the Rules PAC, Dick Uihlein, is also getting involved in municipal races via the New York-based 1776 Project PAC, which endorsed several candidates in Illinois who fit their definition of “un-woke school board members.”

Uihlein has thrown his money at races across the country for years, notoriously backing extreme conservative candidates; his donations commonly support “firebrand anti-establishment candidates who typically defend broad access to assault weapons and assail transgender rights.”

Uihlein’s Restoration PAC also contributed $13,000 to Awake Illinois in 2022, a group known for espousing anti-LGBTQ+ views who have actively recruited, trained, and supported fringe candidates in the upcoming election.

“Candidates who would align themselves with proven far-right zealots like Dan Proft and Dick Uihlein are unsuited to represent the interests of students, parents, and teachers in Illinois. Having tried and failed to influence the outcome of statewide elections in 2022, these bad faith actors have returned to seize power through supposedly nonpartisan candidates,” DPI Executive Director Ben Hardin said. “Now, they cower behind buzzwords like ‘parental rights’ and ‘pro-family,’ but they’re working from the same playbook, and voters deserve to know who’s really on their ballots.”

In response to organized efforts by these extreme organizations, the Democratic Party of Illinois has launched an unprecedented program to identify and prevent fringe candidates from being elected to local boards. DPI is opposing candidates backed by known far-right organizations as well as those who have embraced values and policies that contradict those of the Party including banning books, blocking full spectrum sex education, teaching revisionist history and ignoring public health. To identify candidates that DPI is recommending or opposing, voters can visit DefendOurSchoolsIL.com.

* Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel…

With a week before the election for the [Wisconsin] Supreme Court, liberal candidate Janet Protasiewicz continues to eclipse her conservative opponent Dan Kelly in fundraising — this time with the help of three billionaires who have each given $1 million to the state Democratic Party. […]

Billionaire financier George Soros donated $1 million the state Democrats on Feb. 22, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker gave $1 million on March 14 and Tulsa philanthropists Stacy and Lynn Schusterman made four donations in March totaling $1 million. […]

“George Soros and J.B. Pritzker’s million-dollar contributions underscore that Protasiewicz will simply be a progressive rubber stamp,” said Rachel Reisner, spokeswoman for the state Republican Party. “They’ll drop whatever cash needed to buy her a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat because her pro-criminal record aligns with their agenda.”

GOP megadonor Liz Uihlein, an Illinois resident who co-founded the Pleasant Prairie-based shipping supply giant Uline, donated $500,000 to the state Republican Party on March 10 — the most of any individual. Her husband, Dick Uihlein, is supporting Fair Courts America, a super PAC that has spent nearly $5 million in 2023 on ads to boost Kelly. Dick Uihlein has donated $4 million of that total.

* Press release…

Seizing the opportunity to capture the billions of dollars of federal and private investment in science, technology and climate initiatives, Governor JB Pritzker, in partnership with P33,the Civic Committee, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Chicago and Northwestern University, is launching Innovate Illinois, a diverse coalition of business leaders, higher education institutions, and elected officials to coordinate the state’s efforts to secure funding through the CHIPS and Science Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“With the formation of Innovate Illinois, we are launching a first of its kind effort to bring federal dollars to Illinois and strengthen the state’s long-term economic vitality for generations to come,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We are uniquely positioned to leverage our innovation hubs, public and private universities, and national laboratories to provide 21st century opportunities for our state’s workers, scientists, and businesses. With this effort, Illinois will accelerate an innovation-driven economic development plan and usher in a new era of scientific and technological progress.”

“Given the enormous capability and innovative nature of the companies and institutions within our state, this powerful coalition positions us to compete aggressively for Federal and private resources that will help us make critical technology advances and inclusively grow our economy,” said Jennifer F. Scanlon, President and CEO of UL Solutions Inc., board member of P33 and Chair of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago. […]

The coalition will be chaired by Governor Pritzker, and vice-chaired by Jenny Scanlon, Chief Executive Officer of UL Solutions and Civic Committee Chair, and Robert Jones, Chancellor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. US Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth will serve in advisory roles. In addition, Innovate Illinois will include a broad coalition of members representing state and local economic development partners, including the Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, World Business Chicago, and Intersect Illinois; higher education institutions including the University of Illinois system, the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and our state’s Community Colleges; as well as private sector representation through business CEOs, the Civic Committee, and P33. This collective effort will bring together the relevant expertise and capacity to pursue specific grant opportunities in a coordinated way with rigor and focus on priority areas, including science, transportation, innovation and technology where Illinois has a competitive advantage and is well positioned to win. The initiative will serve as the “front door” for businesses who would like to partner with the state and education system for research, technology, and workforce development for innovation-related federal grant opportunities.

* AG Raoul…

Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with 12 attorneys general, today called for nationwide restrictions on the use of sulfoxaflor, a chemical pesticide that is extremely toxic to bees and other pollinators. The coalition, comprised of some of the nation’s leading agricultural producers, depend on pollinators to sustain their crops and natural ecosystems.

In a letter to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Raoul and the coalition warned that the unrestricted use of sulfoxaflor could have devastating effects on pollinators, ultimately harming the economy and endangering the nation’s food security. Raoul urged the EPA to adopt reasonable restrictions on sulfoxaflor’s use and support further research into the pesticide’s potential impacts on human health and the environment.

“We must do what we can to protect pollinators, which are critical to Illinois agriculture,” Raoul said. “I am urging the EPA to ensure restrictions on the use of sulfoxaflor are in place to keep Illinois crops and natural ecosystems healthy.”

The EPA previously faced lawsuits challenging its attempts to lift needed restrictions on sulfoxaflor and allow the pesticide’s use in controversial ways — without consulting the public or considering the pesticide’s effects on endangered species. In December 2022, the lawsuits were successful, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ordered the EPA to immediately correct various legal violations. As a result, in February 2023, the EPA published a notice seeking public comment on the use of sulfoxaflor.

Raoul and the coalition’s letter provides important state input in response to that notice. It asserts that the represented states together produce 37% of the nation’s crops and play a key role in American food security and resilience. Illinois and the coalition states are the leading national producers of a wide variety of crops, such as pumpkins, apples, almonds, lettuce, hops, beets, tomatoes, coffee and oranges. The states also have extraordinary natural resources and ecosystems, and are home to a variety of threatened and endangered species and critical habitats. All of this relies on pollination by insects such as bees.

To prevent harm to these necessary pollinators, Raoul urges the EPA to:

• Restrict the use of sulfoxaflor when crops are blooming and pollinators are present.
• Reimpose a required buffer zone between sprayed sulfoxaflor and blooming
vegetation.
• Encourage field owner collaboration to ensure sulfoxaflor is not applied before or during a period when managed pollinators are nearby.
• Support further research into sulfoxaflor’s impacts on the environment and on humans; remain vigilant about its potential harms.

In issuing the letter to the EPA, Attorney General Raoul joined the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.

* Happy spring!…

@OzzieGuillen and @ChuckGarfien share their bold predictions for the 2023 #WhiteSox Pedro Grifol manager of the Year 2023. Let’s put action on it @BlackOutShowCHI https://t.co/i2blStYine

— Guillens Baseball (@GuillensWorld) March 28, 2023

* Isabel’s roundup…

Sun-Times | Highland Park shooting survivor — in Nashville when another massacre unfolded — rips lack of action on guns:

* Daily Herald | ‘A positive sign’: Community colleges see continued enrollment growth: For the first time since 2010, community colleges saw an average 7.2% increase in spring enrollments, according to a recent report from the Illinois Community College Board. In the fall, the ICCB reported an average year-over-year increase of 1.5% in student enrollment.

* Chicago Tribune | Evanston Police Department looks to restrict abortion investigations: The Evanston Police Department is looking to provide enhanced reproductive health protections by vowing to restrict outside agencies from investigating reproductive health issues within EPD’s jurisdiction, Commander Ryan Glew told City Council on March 27.

* SJ-R | Senate Democrats push bill calling for $35 monthly cap for insulin: While nearly identical to the House version, Murphy said her bill differs from Guzzardi’s since it creates a prescription insurance program administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health. This program, already administered in Utah, would permit individuals to purchase insulin at a discounted rate.

* Capitol News Illinois | Advocates urge regulators to reject natural gas rate increases: “I need the ICC to say no. Don’t raise these prices. Our paychecks are not going up, but our bills are,” Carroll said. “We can’t afford it. The reality of it is we can’t afford it. I have my granddaughters at home and when they go to bed, they have to put on their onesies with socks just so I can manage. Is that fair to them? No. But I can’t do anything about it. I can’t afford it.”

* Daily Herald | Why tax expert, former state rep says Arlington grandstand’s days could be numbered: Ed Sullivan, a former Republican state representative from Mundelein and former Fremont Township assessor, said it only makes financial sense that the Bears would tear down the six-story grandstand, as the NFL franchise seeks a massive property tax break from state legislators.

* Insha Rahman | Bail reform is the solution we need to bring about safety and justice: Why does support for bail reform remain high despite the relentless attacks? It’s not because people do not care about safety. Crime is a top concern for many Illinoisans. That’s true across the country, as both fear of crime and fearmongering about crime have increased in recent years, the Pew Research Center reported in October. Support remains strong because people know that we urgently need change. And they know that the Pretrial Fairness Act and other bail reform measures across the country align with common sense on what makes communities safe and brings more justice to a system that has for too long failed to deliver on it.

* Press release | Lawyers and Legal Workers for Brandon Johnson: We, the undersigned members of Chicago’s civil rights, labor, employment, and progressive legal community are proud to endorse Brandon Johnson for Mayor of Chicago. We have dedicated our lives to making Chicago a more just and equitable City. Brandon Johnson is the only candidate in this race with both the experience and the platforms that will move this entire city and particularly its Black, brown, and under-resourced communities, closer to the promise of justice for all.

* Crain’s | What the candidates told us about the real estate transfer tax: Vallas said he believes the solution lies in “streamlining the system” to facilitate development of large numbers of housing units not only for homeless people, but also for victims of domestic violence who often get returned to the homes where their abuse took place, and for people returning from incarceration.

* Daily Herald | Most — but not all — District 64 candidates supported COVID-19 orders for masking and more: Some parents and community members implored board members to end masking rules and other policies aimed to stop the spread of the disease in schools. In September 2021, two parents who were forced to pull their three children from school because the kids hadn’t quarantined after a trip abroad sued the district.

* Crain’s | NASCAR Chicago adds Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois as founding partner: Like McDonald’s, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois will have “official presenting, marketing and promotional rights” as well as branding all over the race’s footprint, according to a press release.

* Sun-Times | CTA worker accused of beating, tossing man down stairs of subway station who later died: Emmett Richardson, 39, is facing felony charges of aggravated battery in Saturday’s attack. The 54-year-old male victim has not been identified.

* Bloomberg | U.S. risks another baby formula crisis, ex-FDA official tells Congress: The industry has been under scrutiny since Abbott Laboratories, the biggest maker of infant formula for the US market, withdrew products including bestselling Similac last year after reports of illness and deaths among a few babies who had consumed it. The recall left parents across the country scrambling to find supplies and forced the US to expand its sources of the products.

* Daily Herald | Amazon truck strikes Long Grove bridge, marking 45th crash since 2020: The cover of the 116-year-old bridge was reinforced with a steel structure in 2020 so it can take a beating without requiring expensive repairs. The last time it was struck was about a month ago.

* Crain’s | Chicago home price growth tops national rate for the first time in years: The region’s new, better-than-average status is partly the result of West Coast real estate markets turning negative and pulling down the national figure. Nevertheless, it’s clear evidence the Chicago-area housing market remained more resilient than those in many other big cities, if only because it didn’t fizz into bubble territory along with them during the housing boom of the early 2020s.

* Tribune | Lollapalooza has daily lineup, with tickets on sale Wednesday: Billie Eilish headlines opening night Thursday, with Karol G. Then Kendrick Lamar and The 1975 are the big acts for Friday. ODESZA and the return of Tomorrow X Together are Saturday, and Red Hot Chili Peppers and Lana Del Ray close out the festival Sunday.

* WIFR | Illinois unclaimed property to be auctioned online: More than 500 unclaimed property items will be available to the highest bidder Monday, April 3 through Friday, April 7 through the Illinois State Treasurer’s office. Items considered for auction are surrendered to the office after remaining untouched and unclaimed for several years.

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Reader comments closed for the weekend

Friday, Mar 24, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* After so many House Democrats left Springfield tonight that the HDems could no longer pass bills on their own, the Republicans caused a ruckus and the HDems had no choice but to hoist the white flag by adjourning for the weekend. We’ll sort it all out here on Monday…

The way I always do

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Friday, Mar 24, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

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House celebrates historic first

Friday, Mar 24, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Yesterday was the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan…

A commemoration of Muhammad’s first revelation, the annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.

Fasting from dawn to sunset is fard (obligatory) for all adult Muslims who are not acutely or chronically ill, travelling, elderly, breastfeeding, diabetic, or menstruating. The predawn meal is referred to as suhur, and the nightly feast that breaks the fast is called iftar

* For the first time, the Illinois House has two Muslim freshmen. The House paused at sunset so the two members, Reps. Abdelnasser Rashid and Nabeela Syed, could speak. It’s definitely worth a look…

Speaker Welch catered the subsequent iftar.

* Rep. Syed’s speech was particularly touching…

I just wanted to add on that it is so cool to be here, to have the privilege to be on the House floor observing my fast. And even cooler is to have such kind and understanding colleagues who have checked in on me throughout the day, who have asked me questions about this important month, my favorite month of the year. And I’m just so, so grateful to live in a state that is so inclusive and so welcoming to religious minorities, to racial minorities, to women. So, thank you to my fellow legislators for making this state as inclusive as it is And Ramadan Mubarak. Thank you.

…Adding… From the meal…

When it was time for Iftar, we took a break from voting on bills for @reprashidil and I to speak about the importance of this month. Then, a few of us gathered in the back to eat a wonderful, halal meal that was catered by @SpeakerWelchIL. pic.twitter.com/HlfSgOg0Bz

— Rep. Nabeela Syed (@rep_nabeelasyed) March 24, 2023

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Afternoon roundup

Wednesday, Mar 22, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Illinois is apparently last in the nation for opportunity zones…

First, IRS data confirms the geographic reach of OZs is enormous. Nearly half of all OZs–roughly 3,800 communities–had received investment through 2020, less than three years after the policy took effect. For comparison, it took NMTC investment 18 years to achieve the same reach. pic.twitter.com/BwydW6Y3s5

— John W Lettieri (@LettieriDC) March 22, 2023

I’ve asked the administration for an explanation.

* A bit of good news for Decatur…

Tillamook Creamery plans to expand its operations in 2024 by opening a new ice cream manufacturing facility in Decatur, Illinois, the Tillamook County Creamery Association announced on Tuesday. […]

The proposed Decatur plant was previously owned and operated by Prairie Farms, which used the location for ice cream production prior to closing the facility in 2022. TCCA said that it will spend the next 18 to 24 months upgrading the facility and bringing it up to its manufacturing quality standards.

* Center Square on the ComEd 4 trial…

State Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-Chicago, said while he never felt intimidated by Madigan, he’s glad he’s not been asked to testify. He said the “ComEd Four” trial is on the top of mind of all legislators at the Illinois statehouse.

“And it’s a real life experience being played out to teach all of us a lesson,” Ford told WMAY.

Ford contends things have changed under new Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside.

“Speaker Welch is a collaborator. He works with his caucus and he does everything to get input and consensus on issues,” Ford said. “Madigan, he worked for consensus too, but … there were some things where he probably just persuaded and wanted it to happen because it was in his estimation time for it to happen.”

State Rep. Wayne Rosenthal, R-Litchfield, who is back in the legislature after eight years away, remembers Madigan always having somebody else being the messenger. He hopes the revelations from released tapes and the criminal cases bring changes to how the people’s business is handled in Springfield.

“When people look at that and they know that that gets highlighted, then maybe it changes their way of doing business,” Rosenthal told The Center Square. “We won’t know for sure for a while, but I think it’s got the opportunity to do that.”

* Crain’s…

Mayoral candidate Paul Vallas reported another big fundraising haul above $1 million just a few days after reporting a similarly big haul, extending his contribution domination in the runoff.

According to the latest A-1 report filed by Vallas For Mayor this morning, the campaign reported over $1.4 million in contributions from a long list of investors, unions, political action committees and individual contributors. It also further solidified Vallas as the choice of Chicago’s business leaders.

Dude can’t walk down the street without people throwing money at him these days.

* Brandon Johnson campaign…

Brandon Johnson, the real Democrat for mayor, today released a new TV ad –– “The Difference” –– highlighting the stark choice for Chicagoans this election. In the new spot, Johnson touts his public safety plan and how he will invest in a stronger Chicago without raising property taxes by making wealthy corporations pay their fair share.

Ad…

Script…

I’m Brandon Johnson, the real Democrat for mayor, and here’s the difference.

I’m the only candidate for mayor with a plan to make Chicago safer by finally going after the root causes of crime.

And I’m the only candidate for mayor who won’t raise your property taxes.

My plan invests in our neighborhoods by making wealthy corporations pay their fair share.

The difference is real.

I’m Brandon Johnson, asking you to vote for a better Chicago.

* Sierra Club Illinois…

Today, Sierra Club Illinois announced a lawsuit against Prairie State Generating Co. (PSGC) for operating the Prairie State Energy Campus (PSEC) without a permit. Sierra Club’s lawsuit urges PSGC to cease operations until it obtains a lawful CAAPP (also known as a Title V) permit required by the Clean Air Act. The Prairie State coal plant is one of the dirtiest and deadliest plants in the United States.

“No plant is above the law, especially one that is among the most polluting coal plants in the country,” said Christine Nannicelli, Senior Campaign Representative for the Beyond Coal Campaign of Sierra Club Illinois. “PSEC’s owners, like the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA) and the Northern Illinois Municipal Power Agency (NIMPA), are actively pursuing federal taxpayer subsidies and investors to install carbon capture technology at the plant. Prairie State should instead be focused on complying with basic environmental laws like the Clean Air Act, not pushing for more taxpayer subsidies for risky, expensive technologies.”

In 2021, Prairie State exceeded federal limits on mercury emissions for a month, prompting a Violation Notice from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), which was issued in January 2022. In 2022, Prairie State emitted almost twice as much carbon dioxide as the next biggest greenhouse gas polluter in the state, and has been the number one contributor in Illinois to ozone-forming nitrogen oxide pollution for the last six years. Soot pollution from the plant contributes to 76 premature deaths each year, making it one of the deadliest coal plants in the country, according to a recently released study on soot pollution from coal plants by the Sierra Club, which used triennial emissions inventory data.

“Prairie State is now on notice that it can no longer operate in violation of the Clean Air Act,” said Megan Wachspress, Staff Attorney with the Sierra Club Environmental Law Program. “A Title V permit is a fundamental operating requirement for major stationary sources under the Clean Air Act. These permits include limits on how much mercury, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide a plant is permitted to emit and impose monitoring and reporting requirements. The people of Illinois must also have the opportunity to comment on the terms of the Title V permit to ensure the IEPA protects their health from Prairie State. By filing this lawsuit, Sierra Club aims to protect Illinoisans and our environment from the Prairie State coal plant’s egregious, decade-long mismanagement and deadly pollution.”

The Prairie State coal plant is owned by nine utilities that serve 277 municipal utilities and rural electric cooperatives across eight states. The plant owners signed contracts directly or indirectly committing themselves to paying off the $5 billion price tag to build PSEC.

…Adding… From Prairie State…

The statement below should be attributed to Alyssa Harre, Vice President of External Affairs & Organizational Strategy for Prairie State Generating Company:

“Prairie State, a not-for-profit owned energy campus, is operating legally under a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). To comply with this permit, Prairie State installed and has maintained more than $1 billion in state-of-the-art emissions control technology and continuous emissions monitoring system.

This action by the Sierra Club’s California-based Environmental Law Program is a politically motivated attempt to circumvent the Illinois regulatory process, the consequences of which will bring instability to our electric grid to the detriment of the consumers we serve.

Prairie State remains committed to working with the IEPA to maintain compliance with environmental regulations and will not let this lawsuit distract from our mission of providing value to the communities served through the continued production of reliable and affordable power, all while providing jobs and maintaining economic prosperity for hardworking men and women across downstate Illinois.

As the lawsuit was filed today, March 22, Prairie State is currently reviewing the Sierra Club’s complaint and will respond through the appropriate channels.”

* Illinois State Board of Education press release…

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) has highlighted Illinois as a national leader in advancing students’ mental health using Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds set aside for state use. The national education organization featured the Resilience Education to Advance Community Healing (REACH) Statewide Initiative, which is a collaboration between the Illinois State Board of Education and the Center for Childhood Resilience at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and other key partners, at its legislative conference in Washington, D.C., on March 21. The annual conference convenes state education agency leaders from all 50 states and additional U.S. territories to highlight best practices.

* Press release…

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced $175 million in available grant funding through the Back to Business (B2B) program. Following state recovery for businesses totaling nearly $1.5 billion, the latest American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) -funded opportunity is designed to provide additional support for the hardest-hit sectors, including restaurants (B2B Restaurants), hotels (B2B Hotels), and businesses or organizations in the creative arts sector (B2B Arts). To provide hands-on support and raise awareness about the program, the State has mobilized a network of more than 100 community navigators across Illinois.

“In the three years since COVID-19 brought our state, our nation, and our world to a standstill, Illinois businesses have come back swinging—in part thanks to our Back to Business program,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “My administration is committed to helping small business owners move past survival and onto long-term success—and this latest investment of $175 million in B2B grants does exactly that.”

As outlined in statute, B2B Arts and B2B Restaurants grant award amounts will be determined by revenue declines, as reflected on tax returns, and funding for hotels will be allocated by number of rooms. Applications are open from April 5 through May 10, 2023 and awards are expected to be made several weeks after the deadline date. All eligible applicants will receive a grant as long as the business meets eligibility requirements and submits proper documentation and attestations.

The program design is based on legislation establishing the Restaurant Employment and Stabilization Grant Program ($50 million), Hotel Jobs Recovery Grant Program ($75 million) and the Illinois Creative Recovery Grant program ($50 million). The funding is designed to offset losses and support job retention in the hardest-hit industries. […]

DCEO has enlisted a robust network of more than 100 community navigators to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance in the hardest hit communities. Community Navigators will be conducting outreach, hosting webinars, and supporting prospective applicants to prepare before the application opens on April 5, 2023. This is in addition to available small business support available through Illinois’ network of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs).

In order to manage a high volume of applications in a timely manner, DCEO has enlisted a program administrator – the National Community Reinvestment Coalition Community Development Fund (NCRC CDF) – to support with application review, provide technical portal support for applicants, manage the development of the application portal and provide support in processing payments.

* Isabel’s roundup…

Fox 2 | Illinois strengthens regulations on health insurance companies following Blue Cross Blue Shield investigation:

* Fox 2 | 2nd Illinois prison guard sentenced: According to the release, the government presented further evidence that Sheffler, as the lieutenant and senior officer to co-defendants Hedden and Banta, not only participated in the assault but had a duty to intervene to prevent it. The assault resulted in serious bodily injury to Earvin, including multiple broken ribs, a punctured mesentery (tissue in the abdomen), and other serious internal injuries, and resulted in Earvin’s death in June 2018.

* HuffPost | Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker Takes Swipe At Chicago Mayoral Candidate Paul Vallas: Pritzker campaign spokesperson Natalie Edelstein replied with a statement that both defended Pritzker’s conduct and took a subtle jab at Vallas, homing in on his affinity for right-wing talk radio. “Throughout the pandemic, Governor Pritzker spent every day fighting to save people’s lives and livelihoods,” Edelstein said. “He did it by following the advice of the nation’s best virologists and epidemiologists, many of whom are at Illinois’s world-class research institutions and hospitals.” “Leadership requires making tough choices and not pandering to the loudest voices driven by politics,” she added. “The next mayor of Chicago may be called upon to lead in a similar type of emergency and residents deserve to know if their next Mayor will listen to experts or instead to right wing talk show hosts when making decisions about people’s lives.”

* Tribune | Naperville stopped ticketing students at school. But it’s still pushing a 3-year-old case about AirPods to trial.: Her attorneys asked the judge at the end of February to dismiss the case, noting that the original ticket accused her only of having the classmate’s AirPods, not of intentionally taking them, which is required to prove theft. In response, prosecutor Joseph Solon Jr. updated Naperville’s allegation to state that Harris had “knowingly” taken the classmate’s AirPods. Judge Monique O’Toole set a hearing for next month to give Harris’ attorneys time to formally respond.

* Crain’s | State Farm nearly matches last year’s record pay for CEO despite deep losses: Unlike most companies its size, State Farm doesn’t pay its executives in stock as well as cash. As a mutual insurer, it’s technically owned by its policyholders and doesn’t have publicly traded shares to distribute to execs. So in recent years, State Farm has dramatically increased cash payouts to execs. In 2019 Tipsord’s total compensation was $10 million. That soared to about $20 million in 2020 and then $24.5 million in 2021, a record-setting payday for a State Farm CEO.

* Bob Seidenberg | ‘Neither solicited, nor requested,’ candidate says, turning back two large donations: Second Ward City Council member Krissie Harris said earlier today she has already taken steps to return a pair of $6,000 donations — the most allowed individuals under election law— that critics have maintained were being used to buy influence in Northwestern University’s stadium project. … Harris said the donations came in at a time when she had gone to the hospital for medical treatment, with members of her campaign team holding off notifying her about the money.

* AP | Federal Reserve raises its key rate by a quarter-point: At the same time, the Fed warned that the financial upheaval stemming from the collapse of two major banks is “likely to result in tighter credit conditions” and “weigh on economic activity, hiring and inflation.”

* Tribune | Chicago’s runoff election: Everything you need to know about races for mayor and aldermen: April 4 is the date of the runoff election and the deadline for a mail-in ballot to be postmarked in order for it to be counted. April 18 is the last day that mail-in ballots (postmarked by April 4) may arrive at the offices of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners to be included in the count.

* WGEM | New initiative to reinvent grocery stores in rural, poor Illinois communities: Pritzker said the budget for 2024 includes $20 million to launch the initiative, with an additional $2 million going towards purchasing healthy, nutritious food from Illinois farmers.

* Tribune | Emergency injunction filed Tuesday to prevent imminent vendor lockout at Little Village Discount Mall: But for merchants, there’s a glimmer of hope, however temporary: They are now waiting on the Cook County Circuit Court to schedule an emergency hearing on their motion for a temporary restraining order. If vendors are locked out of the mall, the complaint filed Tuesday states, they would potentially face irreparable harm and suffer the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars of merchandise and goods, given that they operate on small margins and day-to-day sales.

* AP | 119K people hurt by riot-control weapons since 2015: The vast majority of the data comes from cases in which a person came to an emergency room with injuries from crowd control weapons and the attending doctor or hospital staff made the effort to document it, said the report’s lead author, Rohini Haar, an emergency room physician and researcher at the University of California School of Public Health in Berkeley.

* WSJ | Job Listings Abound, but Many Are Fake: Hiring managers acknowledge as much. In a survey of more than 1,000 hiring managers last summer, 27% reported having job postings up for more than four months. Among those who said they advertised job postings that they weren’t actively trying to fill, close to half said they kept the ads up to give the impression the company was growing, according to Clarify Capital, a small-business-loan provider behind the study. One-third of the managers who said they advertised jobs they weren’t trying to fill said they kept the listings up to placate overworked employees.

* Tribune | Fast-food giant McDonald’s named founding promotional partner of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race: The televised Cup Series event on July 2 will feature a 12-turn, 2.2-mile racecourse, with top NASCAR drivers navigating Grant Park on closed-off streets lined with temporary fences, grandstands and hospitality suites. McDonald’s will have branding on a section of the course, at the start/finish line in front of Buckingham Fountain and additional locations throughout the event’s footprint.

* Sun-Times | Dare I say it? The White Sox get more media attention in town than the Cubs do.: The Sox have been much more interesting than the Cubs for several years. Now, my definition of interesting and your definition of interesting might be completely different, especially if you fall heavily on the Cubs side of the Cubs-Sox demarcation in Chicago. Many Chicagoans do. But from a newspaper writer’s perspective, it’s not even close. The Sox are compelling. The Cubs aren’t.

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