* Freshman Rep. Nabeela Syed (D-Inverness) was asked recently by former Rep. Mike Zalewski whether she’d had any moments when she thought that maybe she shouldn’t have run for office…
I remember after the assault weapons ban passed. I didn’t vote on that. That was before I was inaugurated. And I got some messages, some letters that not only I got, but my future colleagues were getting, requesting me to burn my hijab, and they were related to the assault weapons ban. And I was looking at that, you know, they were, on one page, they were talking about how we shouldn’t support the assault weapons ban, and on the other page, they’re talking about how Nabeela Syed should burn her hijab. And that was a moment where I was like, you know, maybe I signed up for this too quickly in life. [Laughs.] But I think it comes with the job. And it was nice to get that early on because I’ve gotten some more stuff since and it’s been easier to kind of shrug it off because someone told me to burn my hijab even before I was here. [Laughs.]
She has a heckuva spirit.
* IDPH…
The department is reporting 10,772 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois in the week ending February 26, and 52 deaths. … As of last night, 921 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 113 patients were in the ICU and 41 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
Amazon.com Inc. is pausing construction on its sprawling second headquarters near Washington, a decision that coincides with the company’s deepest ever job cuts and a reassessment of office needs to account for remote work.
* Press release…
Vallas for Mayor is announcing its second key endorsement of the runoff campaign, this time earning the support of former Chicago School Board President, State Board of Education Chairman and mayoral candidate Gery Chico. Chico joins legendary former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White in endorsing Vallas and reflects the growing consensus that Paul Vallas is the right choice to be Mayor.
“Paul Vallas is unequivocally the most qualified candidate to be mayor,” said Chico. “Throughout his time in city government and leading our public schools he has taken on tough challenges and delivered real results for the people of Chicago. I know Chicagoans will make the right choice on April 4th.”
Vallas and Chico worked closely together during their years of collaboration as CEO and Board President of Chicago Public Schools. That collaboration resulted in increased student test scores, labor peace with no teacher strikes, expanded enrollment by over 33,000 students and almost $1 billion in surplus for the district.
“When Gery Chico and I worked together at Chicago Public Schools we raised test scores, built new schools in underserved neighborhoods and created what President Bill Clinton at the time called a national model for public education,” said Vallas. “We’re building a broad coalition in this campaign and with leaders like Jesse White, Gery Chico and more standing beside me, I feel very proud of the team we are putting together.”
Longtime Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) is backing Paul Vallas in the mayoral runoff.
The alderman told Block Club he plans on formally backing Vallas at a campaign event Saturday. The endorsement comes after Burnett’s mentor, former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, endorsed Vallas on Thursday.
When Frank Sinatra sang in Chicago, he’d often dine afterward at Gene & Georgetti, a white-tablecloth steakhouse in River North.
Sinatra would come to dinner after hours in search of privacy, said managing partner Michelle Durpetti, whose family has operated the restaurant since 1941. Though no plaque at the oxblood leather booth commemorates Sinatra’s years holding court there, the table is in demand from those in the know, Durpetti said. So is the booth next to it, which has hosted many famous diners, including Sting, Nat King Cole and members of Fleetwood Mac.
Now, Gene & Georgetti has found a way to capitalize on those starry legacies. Diners eager to guarantee a meal at either booth can pay to reserve their spot on a booking platform called Tablz, a Toronto-based startup that allows restaurants to charge fees for desirable tables.
Maybe Saputo’s could charge extra for a certain booth in their restaurant?
* Crain’s | After 2024 buzz, Pritzker reportedly named to Biden re-election advisory board: In addition to the three state executives, the Post reports that the group will also include other Dem politicians who, alongside Pritzker and his peers, will coordinate on a bevy of 2024 campaign issues and act as surrogates in the runup to what’s expected to be another raucous national race.
* Daily Herald | A flurry of filings as SAFE-T Act fight heads to state Supreme Court: Among those weighing in was Chicago Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #7, which called the SAFE-T Act “a recipe for increases in crime, recidivism, dysfunction in the criminal prosecution system, and danger to police officers and the communities they serve.”
* Politico | The 23-year-old ready to take on Illinois: Enter Nabeela Syed — the youngest Democrat in the Illinois state House — who broke barriers when voters overwhelmingly voted to send her to Springfield. At just 23 years old, Syed, the daughter of Indian immigrants, became the first Muslim woman to win a General Assembly seat and did so by flipping a district held by two-term GOP state Rep. Chris Bos. She’s one of two new youngest lawmakers in the Assembly.
* NPR Illinois | Illinois offers guide explaining reproductive rights under state law: The guidance covers scenarios and examples of discrimination in a variety of settings, including in the workplace, housing, health care, schools, retail and service establishments, and other public accommodations. It is intended to help Illinois residents, employers, housing providers, and the business and health care communities better understand their rights and responsibilities concerning reproductive autonomy and how to avoid engaging in discrimination.
* Tribune | Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s signature Invest South/West program is 3 years old. But some of its big projects were already planned when she took office.: Some of the largest investments were already on the launchpad when Lightfoot took office. Others were for standard repairs to existing buildings. And many of the projects are still in the conceptual phase and have not even begun to be built. Of the more than $750 million that the city counts as part of the public spend for Invest South/West, more than half has been allocated toward those kinds of expenditures rather than new or groundbreaking projects, the Tribune found.
* SJ-R | Windy, rainy conditions causing power outages in central Illinois: The outages have come about thanks to a large, dynamic storm system moving through much of the state, bringing with it severe weather. The National Weather Service in Lincoln said that 0.92 inches of rain have fallen in Springfield since the storm began, with 1.5-2 inches on the way once the storm ends.
* WGEM | Several local Illinois fire departments and EMS providers awarded grants: The program provides grants up to $26,000 for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment. 296 applications were received for this grant period and 64 fire departments and EMS providers were awarded across the state. Seven local departments were selected as recipients.
* The American Prospect | The Useful Idiots Fueling the Right-Wing Transphobia Panic: Many centrist and liberal journalists are doing the same thing, only in a passive-aggressive fashion. The repeated front-page investigations in The New York Times over the past year are, just like Reed’s article, based almost entirely on anecdotes—some of them from openly transphobic organizations that are not identified as such—rather than actual studies, which have overwhelmingly found that transition is quite rare, detransition relatively unlikely, the regret rate of gender affirmation surgery low, and treatment difficult and expensive to access.
* WREX | ‘House Hunters’ television show episode features Rockford: The IMDb synopsis of the episode reads: “A young couple looks to buy their first home together after relocating for work to Illinois. He’s looking for a newer ranch-style house with a big yard, but she’s hoping for an older Craftsman with unique details.”
* Herald-Whig | ‘You definitely can grow ginger in Illinois’: “It’s just another crop that farmers are adding to their palette of fruits and vegetables they sell and offer to their customers,” he said. “If we’re able to offer a local source, it’s going to become more a part of our diet.”
State Senator Doris Turner has introduced a measure that would create a commission to develop a new Illinois state flag.
“After more than 100 years of the same design, I think it’s time to rework it,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “I’d like to see us take a community approach to create a new design for Illinois’ official state flag.”
Senate Bill 1818 would create the Illinois Flag Commission to develop new state flag designs. The commission would make recommendations to the General Assembly deciding whether the current state flag should be replaced with a redesigned state flag by Sept. 1.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources explains Illinois’ state flag history. There have been two official state flags – the first was adopted in 1915. The second was adopted in 1969, which did not change the original design of the flag but added “Illinois.”
In 2021, Utah passed a similar law creating the Utah State Flag Task Force which provided design toolkits to libraries, schools and other institutions. The task force received around 7,000 flag designs and over 44,000 public comments. According to Utah’s Department of Cultural and Community Engagement, students, educators, families and more were invited to participate in the process of choosing Utah’s new state flag.
“This initiative would promote public involvement and embody civic pride for our communities and state,” Turner said. “For years, Illinois was seen as fiscally irresponsible. We have turned that around and returned Illinois to the great state it is and our flag should reflect that.”
Senate Bill 1818 is assigned to the Senate State Government Committee.
* Old Utah state flag…
New Utah state flag…
My family lived in Utah for a couple of years, so it has a special place in my heart. I do like that flag. More here.
* So, what do you think? Has the time come to set up a commission like Utah did and replace this flag?…
Today Governor JB Pritzker visited Streamwood High School in Elgin to highlight a new teacher pipeline initiative aimed at addressing chronic shortages in the state’s most understaffed districts. The proposed Teacher Pipeline Grant Program will direct $70 million per year over the next three years to the 170 school districts with the greatest need to fill teaching positions.
“When it comes to our kids, we can always do more. And when that comes to our schools, that means not just more funding, but more resources — and most crucially, more educators,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “All across the nation, school districts are fighting the impact of teacher shortages — as education professionals struggle to weigh their passion for their classrooms with their own mental, financial, and personal wellbeing. So as part of my education investment plan, I’m proposing an additional $70 million annually specifically targeted at addressing teacher shortages.”
Governor Pritzker was joined by, Dr. Tony Sanders, who began his tenure as state superintendent on Feb. 23. He previously served as the superintendent of School District U-46, which is based in Elgin and is the second largest school district in Illinois, for nearly a decade. […]
The Teacher Pipeline Grant Program will allow districts maximum flexibility to use the funds in innovative, creative, and evidenced-based ways, such as offering signing bonuses, housing stipends, down-payment assistance, or loan repayments; paying tuition and fees or providing residencies or apprenticeships; and sustaining current teachers by providing materials, supplies, coaching, and school culture supports.
ISBE will also utilize $6 million in federal funds to procure a multimedia advertising and marketing firm to develop and implement a statewide teacher recruitment campaign. […]
However, teacher shortage data recently released by ISBE show that Illinois schools reported 3,558 unfilled teaching positions as of October 2022; these unfilled teaching positions are concentrated in high-need subjects and in under-resourced schools. The vacancies in the 170 districts targeted for the Teacher Pipeline Grant Program account for 80 percent of all unfilled teaching positions and affect 870,000 students.
This announcement comes as the Illinois Education Association released a study showing concerning numbers of teacher and education employee shortages.
Additionally, 83% of Illinois schools are underfunded, and these concerns could potentially impact student performance.
“Persistent vacancies in under-resourced schools still exist, and we need to do something about it now,” said Tony Sanders, state superintendent of education.
The study also showed Illinois residents support policy changes to help turn things around, including changing the pension system, loan forgiveness for educators and higher pay. […]
Right now, there are 3,500 open teaching positions across the state.
* Last month, the governor signed four bills addressing the teacher shortage. SJ-R…
Pritzker announces new proposal to address shortage of teachers. […]
The four bills mostly deal with making it easier to hire and keep substitute teachers in classrooms. The first of the four, HB 4246, was sponsored by Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur. The bill lowers the fee for reinstating a lapsed teaching license from $500 to $50. […]
SB 3907, shifts the number of days a short-term substitute can teach in a row from five to 15. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, was passed unanimously and goes into effect immediately, though it does only apply in the event of a disaster declaration. […]
A third bill, HB 4798, removes a requirement that substitute teachers have a bachelor’s degree and instead requires that subs have 90 credit hours of college education. This is roughly equivalent to two years of a four-year degree or a completed associate’s degree. […]
SB 3988 lowers the minimum age for paraprofessionals from 19 to 18 years old.
* Pritzker during today’s press conference…
Before I take any questions, if we have any, I just wanted to acknowledge a group that hasn’t gotten a lot of acknowledgement yet today. And that’s the parents out there that support teachers. There are so many parents who really do care about the teachers and know how important the work is that you do.
I know there’s a loud minority out there of folks who want to attack teachers, frankly, with misinformation and other things. And I think it’s important for us just to acknowledge that parents want what’s best for their children, there’s no doubt about it. And I appreciate very much all the parents out there who know how important teachers are, and who are willing to stand with us in investing in the existing teachers, as well as our teacher pipeline.
* I think a big part of the answer to this Injustice Watch reporter’s observation is probably the “defund the police” topic…
Interesting how Gov Pritzker is still on the sidelines of the Chicago mayoral election. The state’s most powerful and most popular Democrat won’t say who he’d vote for, even though there’s a progressive choice — that’s how Pritzker describes himself too — and then there’s Vallas.
The issue polls horribly, and for good reason. There’s also Johnson’s various tax hike proposals and whatever else might be out there. Not to mention that Pritzker and Jesse White have been staunch political allies going back at least to Pritzker’s first bid for governor, and White, a CTU member himself, endorsed Vallas yesterday.
* On the other hand, Paul Vallas regularly and disturbingly cozies up to folks on the far right. “After listening to Shannon Adcock’s speech, I think she should run for governor,” Vallas says in this video. Awake Illinois has called the governor a “groomer” and the governor is currently battling against the group’s school and library board candidates…
In March 2021, @PaulVallas suggested Awake IL President @Shannon_A_IL run for Governor during a Reopen Schools Rally.
* And here Vallas is agreeing with the pointy wires guy that teaching Black kids about racism will push them into a life of crime…
A reminder of who Paul Vallas is. He will cut pensions, destroy schools, and hang with dangerous racists. In fact, he and his right wing friend here think being anti-racist is causing crime. Don’t believe me, just listen: pic.twitter.com/qduxPnIO8R
You may recall that a different Wirepoints official spoke at a Downstate secessionist convention last year, but Vallas regularly recommends Wirepoints as a good information source, even though quite a bit of their arguments have been debunked.
* Vallas also loves fellow Greek-American and Indiana resident John Kass, who regularly launches over the top attacks on Pritzker, and who Vallas vigorously defended against claims of antisemitism.
* The Question: Should Chicago resident JB Pritzker endorse either of the mayoral candidates or stay on the sidelines? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
A new bill in the Illinois House aims to stop schools from working with police to issue students tickets for minor misbehavior, a harmful and sometimes costly practice that many districts have continued despite pleas to stop from the state’s top education officials.
An investigation by ProPublica and the Chicago Tribune revealed last year that school-based ticketing was rampant across Illinois, with police writing citations that can result in a fine of up to $750 for conduct once handled by the principal’s office. […]
The new legislation, introduced last month, would amend the state’s school code to make it illegal for school personnel to involve police to issue students citations for incidents that can be addressed through a school’s disciplinary process. […]
Ford’s legislation deals only with school tickets, which are issued for civil violations of local laws and often are adjudicated in administrative hearings. The bill is not intended to stop police from arresting students for crimes. It would also not prevent schools from seeking restitution from students for lost, stolen or damaged property.
* The proposal was referred to Senate Assignments on February 28. From WICS…
The Illinois Constitution could be seeing some changes.
A proposed amendment would see all gender-specific language change to gender-neutral terms.
This Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment (SJRCA) would allow the State to be more inclusive.
Phrases such as “governments are instituted among men” have been included since as early as 1970.
Senate Bill 2211 would restrict grocery stores from providing or selling plastic or paper bags to customers. […]
Senator Mary Edley-Allen sponsors the bill and said that they have been working on this for quite some time.
“I don’t know, I just think, wouldn’t it be a lovely sight to not see these bags hanging from tree limbs after there’s a big storm and a big wind? It seems like they’re just everywhere after the fact,” said Senator Edler-Allen.
She also said that a big reason why it has not passed yet is because of the inclusion of paper bags.
Though paper bags are more of a rarity, citizens have told lawmakers that they want to keep at least one of the two.
* SB2193 was assigned to Senate Executive on Feb. 28. From WIFR…
Illinois brew pubs may soon have a new way to increase their business after a bill that would allow them to ship their suds to remote customers was filed Thursday.
Senate Bill 2193 creates the “Brewer Shipper’s License” that mirrors the permit that lets winemakers ship their products to customers in other states using third-party delivery services like DHL, FedEx, and UPS.
Reed Sjostrom, co-founder of Prairie Street Brewing Co. in Rockford, says says if the bill becomes law, it will mean more sales and an opportunity to promote the Forest City.
“I think it will be huge to be able to represent Rockford and our brewery outside of our area,” Sjostrom said. “And if we can ship beer to all the states that can legally accept alcohol shipping, we can start sending beer to so many more people. And so many more people will know about our brand and our wonderful city.”
State Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, has introduced a bill that would prohibit auto insurers in the state from considering consumer credit information in setting rates. After a Feb. 28 hearing, the bill was sent to a subcommittee, a signal that it may not be considered by the full House this term.
If the measure were to pass, Illinois would join five other states that ban or limit insurance companies’ use of credit scores in determining policy rates. Outside of those states the practice is common; Fair Isaac Corp. (FICO), which created the concept of credit-based insurance scoring, estimates that 95% of auto insurers use credit-based insurance scores as a factor in setting premiums.
* HB29 was assigned to the House Judiciary Criminal Committee Tuesday. Here’s KHQA…
Illinois State Rep. La Shawn Ford, a Chicago Democrat, filed a bill that would create the offense of parental bullying.
Under House Bill 0029, a parent or legal guardian of a minor commits parental bullying “when he or she knowingly and with the intent to discipline, embarrass, or alter the behavior of the minor, transmits any verbal or visual message that the parent or legal guardian reasonably believes would coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to the minor.”
The bill states parental bullying would be classified as a petty offense.
If convicted, a fine would be imposed and a portion of the fine would be placed in escrow for the purchase of a certificate of deposit for use by the victim when he or she attains 18.
Efforts are underway to help improve literacy and add classes to Illinois public schools.
State Representative Amy Elik of Alton says one way to help kids learn how to read is to go old school and teach phonics. She is supporting legislation that requires phonics to be taught to kids.
“In education when you look back over a number of decades, there are things that work and suddenly they change. And I think there is always these new methods of instruction out there and are worth trying, it’s also important to recognize what works and to go back to it if need be.”
There’s also a proposal requiring high school juniors and seniors to take a course on personal finance. Another bill mandates a course on recognizing the signs of anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses.
* Check out the politically diverse House sponsorship of HB3203…
Rep. Tony M. McCombie - Wayne A Rosenthal - La Shawn K. Ford, Will Guzzardi and Michael J. Coffey, Jr.
Amends the Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Act. Provides that a pharmacist may sell fentanyl test strips over-the-counter to the public to test for the presence of fentanyl, a fentanyl analogue, or a drug adulterant within a controlled substance. Provides that a county health department may distribute fentanyl test strips at the county health department facility for no fee. Amends the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act. Provides that “drug paraphernalia” does not include equipment, products, or materials to analyze or test for the presence of fentanyl, a fentanyl analogue, or a drug adulterant within a controlled substance.
Florida Sen. Jason Brodeur (R-Lake Mary) wants bloggers who write about Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, and other members of the Florida executive cabinet or legislature to register with the state or face fines.
Brodeur’s proposal, Senate Bill 1316: Information Dissemination, would require any blogger writing about government officials to register with the Florida Office of Legislative Services or the Commission on Ethics.
In the bill, Brodeur wrote that those who write “an article, a story, or a series of stories,” about “the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, a Cabinet officer, or any member of the Legislature,” and receives or will receive payment for doing so, must register with state offices within five days after the publication of an article that mentions an elected state official. […]
Failure to file these disclosures or register with state officials, if the bill passes, would lead to daily fines for the bloggers, with a maximum amount per report, not per writer, of $2,500. The per-day fine is $25 per report for each day it’s late.
The nation’s second-largest pharmacy chain confirmed Thursday that it will not dispense abortion pills in several states where they remain legal — acting out of an abundance of caution amid a shifting policy landscape, threats from state officials and pressure from anti-abortion activists.
Nearly two dozen Republican state attorneys general wrote to Walgreens in February, threatening legal action if the company began distributing the drugs, which have become the nation’s most popular method for ending a pregnancy.
The company told POLITICO that it has since responded to all the officials, assuring them that they will not dispense abortion pills either by mail or at their brick-and-mortar locations in those states.
The list includes several states where abortion in general, and the medications specifically, remain legal — including Alaska, Iowa, Kansas and Montana. For example, Kansas’ law that patients only obtain the pills directly from a physician is blocked in court.
I reached out to Walgreens this morning and found out that this decision does not apply to Illinois, where the company continues to seek certification to dispense the medication. “We have only indicated we won’t dispense in the 20 states that their AGs signed the letter to us on Feb 1,” texted Fraser Engerman, Walgreens’ Senior Director of External Relations.
* It will apply to these states, according to CBS News…
In addition to Missouri, the attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and West Virginia signed the letter.
* Gov. Pritzker sent a message to the company last night…
Women across the nation will be denied their right to access healthcare they are legally entitled to because of this awful corporate decision. @Walgreens must rethink this policy.
To all the other pharmacy providers, we’ll stand with you so you can provide this lifesaving care. https://t.co/8i65lRLxsT
Pritzker’s office reached out to Walgreens last night, asking to schedule a meeting for today to discuss the issue, though they are still nailing down the exact time, Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh told Crain’s. Walgreens declined to comment about the meeting.
*** UPDATE *** AG Raoul..
Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following statement regarding the availability of the medication abortion drug mifepristone at Walgreens stores throughout the United States.
“My office has advocated historically to ensure that Walgreens and other pharmacies dispense proven-safe medications for abortions. I understand that the legal landscape around abortion is uncertain and shifting every day. In fact, some states have laws on the books, have proposed legislation or pending litigation that create challenges for expanding medication abortion access. Today I had the opportunity to speak directly with the global chief legal officer at Walgreens, as a company headquartered in Illinois, and I was assured that where Walgreens can legally and operationally dispense mifepristone, its pharmacies will continue to do so. Their commitment included the state of Illinois, where more than half of abortions are medication abortions. I encourage the other major pharmacies and medication abortion distributors to make a similar commitment, and provide mifepristone everywhere it is legally allowed.
“I commend Walgreens for seeking certification to dispense mifepristone in stores, despite the FDA’s onerous and overly-burdensome process. Mifepristone has been used safely and effectively for decades more than 5 million times in the United States, which is why I and 11 other state attorneys general have filed a federal lawsuit in Washington to request the FDA lift the unnecessarily stringent restrictions that apply to mifepristone. We are pleased that more states will be joining our coalition. Ample evidence has shown that mifepristone is safe with fewer serious side effects than common drugs like Tylenol or Viagra, which are not subject to the same FDA restrictions. Mifespristone, a medication doctors recommend as the ‘gold standard’ for administering medication abortion, should not be classified the same way as fentanyl.
“My concern first and foremost is ensuring Illinois remains a reproductive health care oasis in the Midwest. As we are surrounded by states attempting to restrict access to abortion, including to mifepristone, I am committed to working beyond Illinois’ borders to protect access to safe abortion medication.”
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul on Thursday filed a brief defending Illinois’ assault weapon ban, arguing the weapons restricted by the newly enacted law aren’t commonly used for self-defense and that large capacity magazines are accessories — not “arms.”
It also argues the country’s founding fathers owned guns that could only fire a single shot before reloading — proving assault weapons and large capacity magazines weren’t in “common use” when the Constitution was ratified.
“The assault weapons restricted by the Act are not commonly used for self-defense; by design and in practice, they exist for offensive infliction of mass casualties,” the brief states.
It also argues the term “arms” refers to weapons and not “accessories,” and that large capacity magazines are therefore not protected under the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms.
Those are among the key arguments in a 72-page brief filed by Raoul, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly in the Southern District of Illinois — in response to challenges to the ban in four federal lawsuits that were consolidated on Feb. 24.
* What follows is the brief’s table of contents, which will give you the highlights. But click here for the whole thing…
Even if Plaintiffs meet their textual burden, history and tradition allow regulating these weapons and accessories
Large capacity magazines are not “arms”
Neither large capacity magazines nor assault weapons were in common use when the Second and Fourteenth Amendments were ratified
The Act restricts weapons and accessories not commonly used for self-defense today
1. The restricted weapons are for war—not individual self-defense
2. Sales and ownership numbers do not show commonality or use
The Act responds to dramatic technological changes and unprecedented societal concerns
There is a historical tradition of regulating dangerous and unusual weapons associated with increased criminality and violence
1. From the Founding Era through the 19th century, legislatures enacted categorical restrictions on dangerous and unusual weapons, including specific firearms 43
2. This tradition continued when 20th century legislatures regulated machine guns and assault weapons
The Act is relevantly similar to historical regulations
1. The Act’s minimal burden on the right to self-defense is equivalent to, or less than, comparable historical regulations
2. The Act’s justifications are the same as historical analogues, but even more compelling 58
3. Plaintiffs’ attempts to distinguish the Act from the historical tradition of regulating dangerous and unusual weapons will fail
Argue away, but do your utmost to keep the conversation civil. Thanks.
* Capitol News Illinois | One year after Madigan’s indictment, former House speaker’s allies prepare for trial: The anniversary comes roughly two years after Madigan’s fellow Democrats forced him to cede the title of longest-serving speaker of any legislature in U.S. history. His ouster in January 2021 was followed by his resignation from both the House seat he’d held since 1971 and as chair of the state Democratic Party he’d molded in order to further consolidate power.
* WAND | IEA: Retirement age forcing teachers out of Illinois: The General Assembly passed a measure a decade ago requiring teachers who were hired after 2011 to work until age 67 before they can collect full retirement benefits. IEA President Kathi Griffin says the age requirement forces teachers to either find another career or leave the state.
* Bloomberg | Chicago’s Next Mayor Must Have a Plan to Tackle the City’s $34 Billion in Pension Debt: The city has long struggled with pension debt and chronic structural deficits. With about one out of every five budget dollars going to pensions, there’s less money available for crucial services like policing. This comes as the city struggles with rising crime, a key issue that contributed to Lightfoot’s loss. Both Vallas and Johnson have promised to make the city safer and more equitable for residents but differ on how to fund their plans.
* Jim Dey | ‘It’s just politics’? Maybe that’s one of Illinois’ problems: Get ready to hear that defense raised as four alleged ringleaders of the Commonwealth Edison bribery conspiracy prepare for their mid-March trial while former House Speaker Michael Madigan seeks dismissal of charges against him.
* Michael Frerichs | Climate change poses financial risks. Why would officials want investors to ignore that fact?: That ongoing risk and reward analysis is what the investment industry is all about. That’s why there are whole subfields of analysts who study the short- and long-term horizon of the economy, the fluctuations of specific industries and the growth prospects of individual companies. And as part of that responsibility, institutional investors, such as large asset managers running mutual funds or state treasurers managing public funds, are legally required to identify risks that can pose material harm to returns.
* Tribune | Chicago police union President John Catanzara faces election challenge: Elected in 2020, former CPD officer and firebrand Catanzara helped secure a long-awaited raise for officers during his first term. But as a loud and often confrontational union figurehead who traded verbal jabs with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Catanzara has faced criticism for souring relationships with city leaders and making controversial statements.
* Press release | Rep. Ann Williams Selected as NCEL State Lead for Illinois : State Representative Ann Williams, D-Chicago, has been named the 2023-2024 Illinois State Lead for the National Conference of Environmental Legislators. In this role, Williams will serve as Illinois’ liaison to the leading national organization of state legislators focused on environmental issues, clean energy policy and growing the green economy.
* If you go to Tom DeVore’s law firm website and sign up to be a client in a new assault weapons ban case, you’ll eventually get to this information…
ATTORNEY’S FEES. The amount Attorney will receive for attorney’s fees for the legal services to be provided under this agreement will be:
(a) Non-refundable flat fee of $200.00.
Well, the Illinois Supreme Court issued some new rules this week. They take effect on July 1st and include this bit…
Nonrefundable fees and nonrefundable retainers are prohibited.
There is some debate over whether that rule would apply to DeVore. The court’s spokesperson referred me to the ARDC instead of answering my question.
* According to the Center for American Women and Politics, 2,414 women serve in state legislatures, which is 32.7 percent of 7,383 total seats. Of those, 1,583 are Democrats, 805 are Republicans, 20 are non-partisan and 6 are independents. Illinois’ General Assembly is 41.2 percent female (62 Democrats, 11 Republicans), but it’s not even in the top ten…
Nevada (60.3%)
Colorado (50.0%)
Arizona (47.8%)
Washington (46.3%)
Vermont (45.0%)
New Mexico (44.6%)
Rhode Island (44.2%)
Maine (44.1%)
Oregon (42.2%)
Maryland (42.0%)
West Virginia (11.9%)
Mississippi (14.4%)
Tennessee (14.4%)
South Carolina (14.7%)
Alabama (17.1%)
Louisiana (19.4%)
Oklahoma (19.5%)
Wyoming (22.2%)
Arkansas (23.7%)
North Dakota (24.1%)
Illinois is ranked 13th. And the House Republican Leader is a woman.
* Speaking of women, this is from the House Democrats…
On Thursday, the Illinois House of Representatives elected Nicole Hill to become the chamber’s first female chief doorkeeper. Hill, a Springfield resident, was selected from a pool of more than 80 applicants and comes to the House with an impressive resume. Prior to this role, Hill led security efforts at Springfield Public Schools for more than a decade, she’s currently a certified nursing assistant, and holds an associate degree in criminal justice.
“I’m honored to have been selected as the new doorkeeper for the Illinois House,” said Hill. “As someone who was responsible for keeping children safe in schools for 12 years, I understand the importance of maintaining security and I do not take this responsibility lightly. I look forward to getting to know members and staff and welcoming their friends and loved ones into the House chamber.”
As doorkeeper, Hill will oversee the enforcement of House Rules and decorum, ensure order in the chamber, work with the Secretary of State Police and other law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of members and guests, and more. In addition to her background in security, Ms. Hill is also certified in CPR/AED and Stop the Bleed FIRST AID, and she began her work as a CNA back in 2006.
“One year ago, I had a medical emergency on the House floor. Quick intervention made a serious situation more treatable. So, I’m very grateful to know Ms. Hill has the nursing training that could potentially save a life,” said state Rep. Barbara Hernandez. “We count on our doorkeepers to keep us safe, and Ms. Hill is extremely qualified to step into this role.”
This is the first new doorkeeper elected in more than two decades, after Lee Crawford retired from the position at the conclusion of the 2022 legislative session. After being elected by the chamber on Thursday, Hill will begin her official duties as doorkeeper next week.
“As the leader of this chamber, safety of all members, staff, and guests is my top priority,” said House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. “I frequently bring my young children and loved ones to the Capitol and many of our members do as well. This isn’t just a ‘job’ to Ms. Hill; protecting and caring for people truly is her calling. After a very thorough application and interview process, I can say with certainty she is the perfect fit to be our House doorkeeper.”
* Center Square | Madigan asks judge to toss out 14 of 23 corruption counts: “After years of investigation, thousands of hours of wiretaps and consensual recordings, wide-ranging searches of homes and offices, and countless witness interviews, the government’s case against Michael J. Madigan comes down principally to this: He recommended people for jobs with ComEd and AT&T while legislation of interest to those utilities was pending before the Illinois House of Representatives,” according to a motion to dismiss filed by his attorneys.
* Crain’s | New U of I NIL collective seeks big-money donors: “The collectives that are most effective are the ones that have some pretty narrow focuses, versus the ones who are there to sort of be all things to all people,” Knight said. “We are here to be excellent at what we do and compliment the other collective, which I think will benefit all student athletes.”
* KFVS | License plate reader technology coming to Sikeston, Carbondale: License plate reader (LPR) technology is coming to two more Heartland communities. The Sikeston Department of Public Safety and Carbondale Police Department will adding the technology in an effort to combat criminal activity.
* Tribune | Lake County Board Republicans say ‘patronage’ behind former state Sen. Melinda Bush’s Metra board appointment: Lake County Board Chair and District 13 member Sandy Hart, D-Lake Bluff, countered that Hunter’s statements were “extremely disappointing and offensive,” noting that he claimed incorrectly on the board floor that Bush still chairs the committee. … Hart said outgoing Metra board representative Norm Carlson, whose retirement created the vacancy, District 6 County Board member John Wasik, D-Grayslake, and herself agreed Bush was the right fit after interviewing all three applicants. “I don’t even understand the (criticism),” Hart said. “I don’t get it.”
* Crain’s | Walgreens cuts its stake in Option Care Health: The Deerfield-based pharmacy giant said it sold about 15.5 million Option Care shares for $30.75 per share. With the sale, Walgreens’ ownership stake in Bannockburn-based Option Care falls from 14% to 6%.
* Tribune | Mi Tocaya throwing birthday taco party with all-star lineup of top women chefs in Logan Square: “Each all-star chef will have a station serving two different tacos they’ve created based on their personal style of food or preferred cuisine,” according to a release. “Guests will also enjoy birthday sweets and an array of beverages provided by Casa Humilde Cerveceria, Madre Mezcal and San Pellegrino and Aqua Panna. DJ Tess, known for her vibrant energy on stage mixing old school into contemporary music, will create the ultimate dance party for in between bites.”
Lightfoot touted her record of investing in neighborhoods and supporting workers, such as by increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour. She also noted that the city had navigated unprecedented challenges such as the pandemic and its economic and public safety fallout to protests over policing.
Asked if she was treated unfairly because of her race and gender, Lightfoot said: “I’m a black woman in America. Of course.”
Feeling like she’d been treated unfairly because of her race and gender and directly attributing her election loss to race and gender are two very different things. So, the AP did not report that she blamed her loss on race and gender.
More importantly, Sarah Burnett of the Associated Press told me that the Lightfoot quote was from “a few days before the election.” And two people at the Lightfoot campaign told me the mayor did not say that on election night.
* Let’s move on to a NY Times columnist writing about Lightfoot’s loss…
It was a stunning rebuke.
Lightfoot’s job approval rating has been a nuclear dumpster fire for months and months.
* Speaking of which…
A longtime Lightfoot aide sums up her re-election loss: “Lessons: You can’t run on a platform and then completely abandon it. You can’t run against the status quo, and then fill your administration with the status quo. And you can’t be mean to everyone who tries to help you.”
* WBEZ | Three things to know about Chicago’s City Council races: Unlike incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot, nearly two-thirds of the City Council will remain unchanged as voters reelected their current incumbent aldermen — allowing them to avoid a runoff election and hold onto their seats.
* Triibe | Lightfoot won majority-Black wards, but it wasn’t enough to make the runoff: In all of the city’s Black wards, which are on the South and West sides, Lightfoot performed better than the seven other Black mayoral candidates. For example, Lightfoot won the 20th Ward with 1,832 votes, Johnson came in second with 1,386 votes, and Wilson in third place with 1,266 votes. And in the 37th Ward, Lightfoot received 2,977 votes over Johnson’s 1,134 votes and Wilson’s 1,573 votes.
* Politico | Chicago’s messy election will only get nasty in the runoff: “It’s going to be nasty,” Democratic state Rep. Kam Buckner, who also ran for mayor, said in an interview. “People will pick sides — people with a history when it comes to racial sensitivity. There will be a lot of talk about race and class and schools and crime.”
* WTTW | Incumbent Chicago City Council Members Hang On, as 14 Races Likely Headed to Runoffs : In fact, none of the City Council members appointed by Lightfoot, who lost her bid for a second term as mayor on Tuesday, won their seats outright. Instead, Ald. Nicole Lee will face Anthony Ciaravino to hang on to the 11th Ward seat; 24th Ward Ald. Monique Scott will face Creative Scott in a runoff to represent North Lawndale; and 43rd Ward Ald. Timmy Knudsen will face Brian Comer for the right to represent Lincoln Park on the City Council.
* Crain’s | How Johnson, Vallas answered 10 important education questions: Whoever wins will take office in late May and will get to appoint a school district CEO and seven school board members to oversee the nation’s fourth largest school district, its $9.5 billion budget, 635 schools, and the education of 322,000 children. They will also be the last mayor to have control of Chicago Public Schools before the district transitions to being governed by an elected school board.
* WGN | Chicago area law enforcement sees rise in machine gun conversion device recoveries: In early February, the ATF released a 700-page report, its first in 20 years, on gun crimes in the United States. In it, the agency said the number of illegal machine gun conversion devices recovered by law enforcement agencies jumped 570% during a period of 2017 to 2021, compared to the previous five years.
* Crain’s | Fritz Kaegi picks another assessment fight with Chicago landlords: After trying unsuccessfully to push through big commercial assessment hikes in Chicago last year, the Cook County assessor is trying again with more than 200 major downtown buildings, including the Aon Center, Prudential Plaza and the Old Post Office. If Kaegi succeeds, many downtown office landlords could face steep property tax hikes at an especially bad time, as they grapple with the worst office market in decades.
* The original post was accidentally deleted. Sorry about that. Not sure what the heck happened. Here’s Fran Spielman…
Newly-retired Jesse White, the first African-American elected as Illinois Secretary of State, is endorsing Paul Vallas, giving Vallas a leg up in his quest to claim the 20% share of the Black vote he needs to win the April 4 mayoral runoff against Brandon Johnson. […]
An African American elected official, who asked to remain anonymous, predicted White’s endorsement would have a domino effect on other establishment Black elected officials and, more importantly, on older, more conservative Black voters.
“It’s a huge first step toward Paul galvanizing support he needs desperately in the Black community,” the politician said.
“Jesse White is loved throughout the entire state. Senior citizens listen to him. The seniors who stuck with Lori Lightfoot or went with Willie Wilson are gonna start gravitating toward Paul because of his message on public safety, his expertise on budgeting and their fear that Brandon Johnson would defund the police and impose a head tax, a hotel tax a commuter tax — whatever tax. The city can’t take it.”
The hope is that White’s endorsement will lead to endorsements from Alds. Burnett, Harris, Dowell, Ervin and maybe even US Rep. Danny Davis.
*** UPDATE *** Here we go…
Vallas and Brandon Johnson are now able to accept unlimited contributions through the runoff.
— Reform for Illinois (@Reform4Illinois) March 2, 2023
…Adding… An aide confirms that Jesse White is a CTU member. That’s gotta sting.
* WCBU interview of Secretary of State Giannoulius…
Q: I was curious about your stance on House Bill 0867. It’s a “one license plate” bill, it’s something that’s been suggested a few times in the past. Would you support a single license plate bill in Illinois or not?
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulius: I’m going to have to take a look at it. But right now, we do not support it.
Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Changes the definition of “gambling device” to include any vending or other electronic machine or device, including, without limitation, a machine or device that awards credits and contains a circuit, meter, or switch capable of removing and recording the removal of credits that offers a person entry into any contest, competition, sweepstakes, scheme, plan, or other selection process that involves or is dependent upon an element of chance for which the person may receive a gift, award, or other item or service of value if that offer is incidental to or results from: (A) the purchase of an item or service of value; or (B) the purchase or gratuitous receipt of a coupon, voucher, certificate, or other similar credit that can be redeemed for or applied towards an item or service of value from such machine or device or elsewhere. Provides that participants in a game of skill or chance where money or other things of value can be won but no payment or purchase is required to participate shall not be convicted of gambling except where participation in such game of skill or chance is accomplished using a gambling device prohibited by these changes to the definition. Provides that a gambling offense involving such a gambling device is a Class 4 felony. Amends the Video Gaming Act. Removes a provision allowing for the use of a game device without a license if the game device is used in an activity that is not gambling under the Criminal Code of 2012. Effective immediately.
This bill would essentially criminalize “sweepstakes” machines, which have been operating in a gray area of the law for years. Sen. Cunningham told Rich today that the Senate has passed his bill before, but it stalled in the House. Some background from 2018…
Thanks to these machines — often referred to as “sweepstakes” — [Chicago] has become studded with what effectively are mini-casinos in gas stations, convenience stores and even a laundromat.
Unlike the video poker machines that the state has regulated and taxed since 2012, these other machines don’t pay state or local government taxes. And the state does not conduct background checks of sweepstakes machine operators or the businesses that install them, as is required for video poker licenses.
A WBEZ investigation found that some bars that were deemed unfit for video gambling have simply installed sweepstakes machines instead.
The owner of a video sweepstakes company has been indicted as part of a federal bribery case filed last year against former Illinois State Rep. Luis Arroyo, accusing the pair of bribing an Illinois state senator for his support on legislation beneficial to the video gambling industry.
James Weiss, 41, was added as a co-defendant in a superseding indictment unveiled against Arroyo on Friday. The indictment charges Weiss with bribery, wire fraud, mail fraud, and lying to the FBI. Arroyo is charged with bribery, wire fraud, and mail fraud.
* Illinois PIRG…
Bloomington-based State Farm finalized a $182 million Illinois car insurance rate hike on Friday, adding $58 to the average customers’ annual bill. The rate hike will impact more than 3 million Illinois drivers. Combined with $388 million in State Farm rate hikes in 2022, car insurance rates for Illinois State Farm customers have gone up by more than half a billion dollars in less than one year.
The rate hike follows a $63 million rate hike by Northbrook-based Allstate in January. Combined with $229 million in Allstate rate hikes in 2022, car insurance rates for Illinois Allstate customers have gone up by $292 million since the start of 2022. Earlier analysis by Illinois PIRG Education Fund and Consumer Federation of America found that combined, top car insurance companies raised Illinois drivers’ rates by more than $1.1 billion in 2022.
State Rep. Will Guzzardi, with the support of State Sen. Javier Cervantes and the Illinois Coalition for Fair Car Insurance Rates, recently introduced legislation to address unfair and excessive car insurance rates in February. Even though Illinois requires every car owner to buy insurance, it is one of only two states that doesn’t protect insurance customers from excessive or unfair rates. The legislation, HB2203, would empower the Illinois Department of Insurance to reject or modify excessive rate hikes, and end the use of non-driving factors, such as credit scores, to set rates.
State lawmakers want to require a personal finance course for high school students to help tackle this issue. Rep. Curtis Tarver II (D-Chicago) told the House School Curriculum & Policies Committee that all high school students should complete a course on financial literacy before they graduate. His proposal includes instruction of behavioral economics, banking, bills, investing, managing credit, and paying for college. Tarver would also like to see students learn about insurance, taxes, budgeting, home ownership, and financing for personal transportation.
“I think we’d have a lot less of the bills talking about predatory loans, payday loans, and things along those lines if children, or students I should say, knew earlier on about financial resources and had more financial literacy,” Tarver said Wednesday morning.
The Illinois State Board of Education would be in charge of approving the personal finance education standards for the course. House Bill 1375 also states the curriculum could be updated every five years. ISBE is currently concerned that the legislation would be an unfunded mandate for school districts. Government Relations Director Hector Rodriguez said the board is also trying to negotiate with Tarver to change the proposed semester course to lessons spread out from 9th-12th grade.
“Currently, statute gives districts the flexibility to incorporate the consumer education requirement into their course work,” Rodriguez said. “And, as drafted, House Bill 1375 would’ve created or would create a stand-alone course.”
Last month, state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford introduced House Bill 00001, the Compassionate Use and Research of Entheogenic (CURE) Act. The Illinois CURE Act would allow for regulated and supervised therapeutic use of entheogens, a class of psychoactive substances that produce an altered state of consciousness like psilocybin and LSD. The CURE Act would also decriminalize psilocybin in Illinois to protect providers and clients.
Research from respected institutions like John Hopkins Medicine and UCLA has demonstrated that psilocybin can be effective in treating mental disorders such as depression, end-of-life anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and addictions. […]
The Illinois CURE Act would allow individuals to try a new, alternative form of treatment that is safer and potentially more effective in treating their symptoms. For people with treatment-resistant mental health conditions, entheogenic care gives them hope that something will work for alleviating their condition.
Misconceptions and the lack of education surrounding entheogenic substances like psilocybin is what motivates the push-back on this kind of legislation. Education is imperative, especially when discussing the therapeutic effects of controlled substances. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already labeled psilocybin therapy a “breakthrough therapy,” which recognizes the therapeutic potential of this drug.
* Press release…
On Tuesday, House Bill 2963 was assigned to the Energy & Environment Committee. In response, Representative Bradley Fritts (R-Dixon) released the following statement:
“As a lifelong resident of Dixon, Illinois, I am dedicated to ensuring that the people of my hometown are given a voice. Years ago, Dixon Park District and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources made a deal regarding a plot of land in Dixon. The IDNR would give them the land, contingent on the fact that the land could not be developed.
“After numerous conversations with local elected officials and constituents, I learned that the people of my district want to add solar panels to this land but are restricted from doing so by this old agreement.
“All parties involved, including both of the departments who made this deal, are in favor of adding solar panels. The panels will also add a guaranteed revenue stream to the park district without raising property tax assessments.
“The only remaining obstacle is amending the previous law, which is why I introduced HB 2963. This committee assignment is a step forward for making this bi-partisan bill law.”
99th District State Representative Randy Frese is sponsoring legislation in the Illinois General Assembly this Spring that will appropriate $67.6 million to demolish and remediate buildings on the Jacksonville Developmental Center grounds.
Former Governor Pat Quinn announced the closure of the facility in September 2011 with the last of the facility’s residents moved out in late November 2012. The buildings have been sitting dormant since then.
The State of Illinois’ Central Management Services placed barriers up around the property in April 2020 after fires, vagrants, and vandalism plagued the property. Later in 2020, the buildings on the property were boarded up to prevent further issues with squatters. The City of Jacksonville had problems with CMS’ mowing schedule on the grounds last year after they became overgrown. Eventually CMS contracted with balers and heavy mowers for upkeep on the property.
Frese says the property is a health, life, and safety issue to Jacksonville: “For the City of Jacksonville, they’ve got these buildings that already are and have been for a number of years now, a threat to the safety of the people around there. You don’t want abandoned buildings. You don’t want half fallen-in buildings, especially in an area of Jacksonville where, if those were gone, some development could be done. I think it’s time for the state to take action. I know there is several other of my colleagues that are looking at some buildings that Illinois has kind of abandoned and should be doing something with. I’d say, let’s at least eliminate the possibility of someone getting hurt in these buildings by doing something to get them down.”
* Black Energy Justice…
A coalition of Chicago, statewide and national organizations focused on consumer rights, environmental justice, energy and the environment are joining forces to push for legislation to improve affordability of utility service in response to decades of Illinois utility rate increases with no end in sight. The People’s Utility Rate Relief Act (PURR Act, HB 2172) will protect the interests of Illinois consumers and keep families safe by minimizing disconnections of essential utility services and requiring the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to specifically assess affordability in all of its decisions. Its chief sponsor is State Rep. Will Davis, D-Hazel Crest. The Bill is the product of the Campaign to End Energy Poverty sponsored by Blacks in Green (BIG™) which held an inaugural campaign retreat at BIG’s Woodlawn headquarters in July 2022.
Opponents have worked with state legislators to introduce bills this month limiting carbon dioxide pipelines, which if passed could apply to Navigator’s proposal.
One, SB 1916/HB 3803, would create a moratorium on carbon dioxide pipeline construction for two years or until the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has adopted revised federal safety standards for the transportation of carbon dioxide. The safety administration announced new rulemaking around carbon dioxide pipelines in the wake of a 2020 pipeline rupture in Sartartia, Mississippi, that sickened many.
The other Illinois state bill, HB 3119/ SB2421, includes multiple curbs and safeguards including a ban on the use of eminent domain and the creation of a fund — paid into by companies — for problems with pipelines and sequestration and for training first responders.
That bill also holds pipeline companies fully liable for any carbon dioxide leaks from pipelines or sequestration sites, and it requires pipelines to be approved by 100% of surface landowners along the route. It also requires a life-cycle carbon emissions analysis of proposed pipelines, and requires that the Illinois Commerce Commission consider alternative project proposals that would result in similar greenhouse gas emissions reductions to what the pipeline companies promise.
Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by J.B. Pritzker and key civic and business leaders to announce MATTER - a new startup center for next-generation healthcare technology companies. A priority in the Governor’s 2014 State of the State address, the not-for-profit BioHub will drive entrepreneurship in the rapidly expanding medical and biotechnology fields. Supported by a $4 million state investment, MATTER is part of Governor Quinn’s agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois’ economy forward.
“We are committed to taking our medical technology industry to the next level,” Governor Quinn said. “MATTER will serve as a central location to empower entrepreneurs and spur economic growth, while advancing Illinois’ role as a national leader in life sciences and health innovation.”
As a not-for-profit organization, MATTER will be located in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. Its collaborative workspace will allow interaction among entrepreneurs, academics and investors in order to create and grow new companies in healthcare information technology, medical devices, medical diagnostics and biopharmaceuticals. 1871, the digital startup hub what will be MATTER’s neighbor in the Merchandise Mart, has followed that same recipe for success, resulting in more than 200 start-ups and creating more than 1,000 jobs since its launch in 2012.
A group founded by Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg and his wife will spend $250 million to create a new biomedical research hub in Chicago where scientists from Northwestern University, University of Chicago and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will study human disease.
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, named for Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, plans to invest $250 million in the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago over a decade. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has also committed $25 million in state dollars to support the project. […]
The biohub will also have its own dedicated staff of scientists and researchers. Leaders hope to start operations in April.
Northwestern, UChicago and UIUC beat out proposals from about 60 other teams across the country to win the funding. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative spent about a year narrowing down the applicants, until the Chicago universities emerged as the winner, said Steve Quake, head of science at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Pritzker committed the $25 million in state capital funds during that selection process.
To lead the Chicago Biohub, Chan and Zuckerberg selected Shana O. Kelley, a professor of chemistry and biomedical engineering at Northwestern who has focused on sensors and sensor technology, and has cofounded four companies based on technologies that have come out of her research. (One, Geneohm Sciences, was acquired by medical technology firm Becton Dickinson in 2006 for a reported $230 million.) Her expertise on sensors is tied to the groundbreaking work that the Chicago Biohub aims to tackle.
“The idea is to take human tissues and embed thousands of sensors into them, to make a completely new kind of measurement,” Kelley says via Zoom from Chicago. The experiments will use small samples of human tissue collected with consent during surgical procedures. Next, says Kelley, they will “watch what’s happening with cells and tissues–watch them communicating with one another to understand what happens when a tissue goes from being normal to being inflamed,” with the goal of comprehending how inflammation works and how it drives disease. More than 50% of deaths are attributed to diseases with some form of inflammation, she points out. The first experiments will start with skin tissue.
The three universities each contribute an area of expertise to the Biohub, says Kelley: Northwestern is strong in sensing, University of Chicago excels in inflammation and in quantum sensing, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers have developed microfabrication systems and the ability to make miniaturized devices, which will be needed for making the ultra-tiny sensors.
My goodness, @jkimpictures w/a simply superb photo of Patrick “Street Juice” Doherty, political operative and red light camera company consultant, leaving Chicago federal court after being sentenced to more than 5 years in prison for corruption. UPDATE:https://t.co/lM1Vv2Xswkpic.twitter.com/LfPTUtflVm
Longtime Chicago-area political operative Patrick Doherty didn’t mince words a few years ago when an associate brought up the prospect of doing business in the notoriously corrupt suburb of McCook.
“It’s all contingent on what you can give,” Doherty told the associate, Omar Maani, about the obligatory campaign donations to Doherty’s boss, then-McCook Mayor Jeffrey Tobolski, according to court records.
Maani, who was secretly recording the September 2019 conversation for the FBI, said, “It’s like you’re paying a little tax.”
“Right. Juice,” Doherty replied, according to court records. “Street juice….I hope we can get it before (Tobolski) goes to jail. I hope we can retire.”
Tobolski last year pleaded guilty to charges and agreed to cooperate with investigators, and is awaiting sentencing.
Across a half-dozen schemes between 2015 until his indictment in 2020, Doherty paid or coordinated a total of at least $148,000 in bribes. Payouts included $2,000 monthly payments routed to state Sen. Martin Sandoval, who sat on the Transportation Committee, as well as making payments on Sandoval’s mortgage.
Doherty also brokered a $25,000 payout to Sandoval from a trucking business owner to arrange the purchase of a parcel of state-owned land in McCook. Doherty also tried to arrange a no-show job for the son of a trustee in another village where he was seeking a camera deal, and paid dozens of people to do campaign work for suburban officials in exchange for village business.
In an emailed statement, a SafeSpeed spokesman said the bribes were paid out without the company’s knowledge, blaming them on a rogue shareholder.
“I feel sorry for what I’ve put my family through, what I’ve put the system through,” [Doherty] said. “We will lose our home, we will lose everything we had. I hope you’ll consider my family and what I’ve done to my family and my friends.”
Handing down his sentence, U.S. District Judge Ronald Guzman noted that Doherty’s schemes spanned years, and that often he was the one driving the outreach to public officials.
“This was not just a way of doing business, this was a way of life,” Guzman said.
“The defendant’s conduct in this case was not out of character, it was not a mistake, a bad judgment, a spontaneous event.”
* Crain’s | Pritzker’s not endorsing anyone for mayor. For now.: Gov. J.B. Pritzker is keeping his options open — wide open — about whether he’ll endorse someone for mayor of Chicago and, if so, whom. Asked at a press conference today if he’s finally ready to tip his hand now that voters have made former Chicago Public Schools chief Paul Vallas and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson the mayoral finalists, Pritzker, who enjoys high popularity in the city, said it’s too early to make up his mind. But he didn’t close the door on anything.
* Center Square | Lawmakers criticize DCFS hirings: State Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, said DCFS is losing good people because of the complicated hiring process. “Rethink whatever it is that you’re doing here, because this reminds me of a clogged sink, and when the stuff backs up, it stinks,” Flowers said.
* WGLT | Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulius says ‘modernization’ is key: Well, I think more broadly, we have to modernize the Secretary of State’s office. That’s why I’ve been traveling across the state visiting our facilities. We have to bring new technology and modernization into every element of the Secretary of State’s office. We want to eliminate the time tax that people are paying just to access government services. So one of the components of that, eventually will be digital IDs, digital driver’s license.
* WTTW | New Era of Police Oversight Dawns with Election of District Council Members: Starting in May, each of Chicago’s 22 police districts will be overseen by a three-person council as part of an effort to rebuild trust in the Police Department, which is governed by a court order requiring city leaders to change the way it trains, supervises and disciplines officers.
* Tribune | US Attorney John Lausch formally announces resignation, plans to step down March 11: Lausch’s last day in office will be March 11. His departure, which was first revealed by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland during an unrelated news conference in Washington in January, will officially kick off a search for a replacement that will be led by Illinois’ two Democratic senators, Dick Dubin and Tammy Duckworth.
* Patrick Joyce | We are better when we work together: There are many quotes from Mr. Lincoln that have resonated throughout history. But I think this one rings true in Springfield: “If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend.” As we begin the earnest work of the 103rd General Assembly in 2023, I am co-chairing one of two Senate committees where my fellow co-chair is a Republican.
* Vox | The Chicago mayor’s race shows Democrats still have a crime problem: The city has also seen high-profile shootings, increasing crime in downtown, constant media coverage about the violence, and heated rhetoric about how bad crime has become by the police union and Lightfoot herself. Those conditions have meant Chicago’s mayoral race has echoed local races in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC over the last two years.
* Sun-Times | 14 runoffs — maybe more — likely in City Council races: Things were only marginally better for the four City Council members Lightfoot appointed over the last year. Three apparently were unable to tally more than 50% of the vote and are likely headed for two-person runoff elections in April.
* Tribune | 34th Ward race: Billionaire’s son emerges as winner, set on addressing crime and development: Bill Conway — a former Cook County assistant state’s attorney, Navy veteran and son of the billionaire co-founder of the private equity firm The Carlyle Group — rebounded from his unsuccessful run for state’s attorney in 2020. According to unofficial returns, he won a commanding 67% over his opponent, Ascot Realty CEO James Ascot.
* Crain’s | What will happen to Invest South/West, LaSalle Street revival without Lightfoot?: Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s impending exit from City Hall raises big questions about the future of economic development and real estate-focused initiatives she championed over the past four years. Lightfoot’s wide-ranging Invest South/West program, her recent push to incentivize a LaSalle Street revival with affordable housing, the planned Bally’s riverfront casino she has pushed forward and even future city support for an annual NASCAR race around Grant Park that Lightfoot has touted are among the high-profile efforts that hang in the balance for the next mayor, with little clarity about what will continue, what won’t and who will be making those decisions.
* WBEZ | United Center food and beverage workers on brink of strike: Workers in the Unite Here Local 1 chapter authorized a strike in a 98% “yes” vote last month. Last Friday members signed up for the $300-per-week strike benefit from the union just before a Bulls game that night.
* AP | Legal fight over student debt a prelude to political battle: “The president still has the responsibility to ensure that we see this become a reality,” said Wisdom Cole, national director of the NAACP Youth and College Division. “There are folks that are still suffering, and we want to ensure that they have the opportunity to see relief.”
* Every mayoral candidate vowed to fire Police Superintendent Brown if elected, so he’s getting while the getting’s good…
STATEMENT FROM MAYOR LORI E. LIGHTFOOT
“Today, Superintendent David O. Brown informed me that he would be resigning as Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department effective March 16. I accepted his resignation and want to commend him for his accomplishments not just for the department but the entire city, including setting a record number of illegal gun recoveries for two consecutive years; leading a double digit reduction in violent crime in 2022; significant, consistent progress on the consent decree; standing up a full time recruitment team that yielded over 950 new hires last year; significantly expanding the resources for officer wellness; and promoting more women to the senior exempt ranks than ever before in the history of the department. I personally want to thank him for his service to our city. First Deputy Eric Carter will be appointed as interim superintendent until the new Mayor is sworn into office. We ask the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability to immediately begin the search for a new Superintendent so that the new Mayor will be able to make a selection as soon as possible.”
With four federal lawsuits consolidated and a schedule of responses and oral arguments set, the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association is officially taking sides in the case against the state’s gun ban. […]
“Many sheriffs across the state indicated their concern about this legislation passing and ultimately being signed into law and infringing upon the rights of those legal gun owners across the state,” Illinois Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director Jim Kaitschuk told The Center Square. “What the organization did is we filed an amicus brief in support of those efforts challenging House Bill 5471.”
The University of Illinois Flash Index for February 2023 increased to 103.4 from the 103.1 level in January, fueled by strong Illinois state revenues. The Illinois economy is still growing moderately after the surge of the recovery from the COVID recession.
“In what has become a repetitious summary over the last six months, the Illinois and national economies still provide no clear signals of whether a soft landing or modest recession is in store later this year.”
Giertz said in fact, a third possibility has been suggested, one of no landing at all with continued modest growth. The unemployment rate remains low, inflation is moderating although not as rapidly as the Federal Reserve would like, consumer spending continues at a rapid pace, and supply bottlenecks are easing. However, the housing market is extremely slow, interest rates may still rise faster than expected, and layoffs and retrenchments continue in the tech sector.
“Results for the three main components of the Index (individual income, corporate, and sales taxes) were all positive. The three were up in real terms from the same month last year which was also very strong.”
The Flash Index is a weighted average of Illinois growth rates in corporate earnings, consumer spending, and personal income as estimated from receipts for corporate income, individual income, and retail sales taxes. These revenues are adjusted for inflation before growth rates are calculated. The growth rate for each component is then calculated for the 12-month period using data through January 31, 2023. Nearly three years since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, ad hoc adjustments are still needed because of the timing of the tax receipts resulting from state and Federal changes in payment dates.
Illinois Department of Transportation officials are not sugarcoating the impact of a three-year, $150 million bridge structure rehabilitation project on the Kennedy Expressway.
“We anticipate there’s going to be some major traffic delays as more than 275,000 motorists use that expressway each day,” IDOT spokeswoman Maria Castaneda said Tuesday at a briefing.
As IDOT Bureau Chief of Construction Jon Schumacher noted, “the road is over 50 years old, and the last major rehabilitation was 30 years ago.” […]
A total of 36 bridges will be fixed between the Edens Expressway and Ohio Street, along with pavement patching as needed.
* Press release…
— Governor JB Pritzker along with state and local leaders and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced nearly $60 million in state grants are being awarded for 118 local park projects throughout Illinois to help communities acquire land and develop recreational opportunities. The grants represent the largest round of Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grants in the 36-year history of the program, which was designed to help communities fund land acquisition and development for parks and outdoor recreation projects
In addition, for the first time in the history of the program, funding will cover 100% of eligible projects located in economically distressed communities, resulting in 22 underserved locations receiving OSLAD grants.
“Today, I couldn’t be prouder to announce that IDNR’s OSLAD program is offering the largest round of grants in the history of the program — nearly $60 million,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The health and wellbeing of Illinoisans sits at the heart of the OSLAD program, and for the first time ever, we’ve been able to provide 100% of funding assistance to qualifying distressed recipients.”
Established by the Illinois General Assembly in 1986, OSLAD is a cost-sharing program between state and local governments that has become one of the most popular grant programs in Illinois. Since it was established, OSLAD has awarded more than $530 million for park projects throughout Illinois (including the awards announced today).
* All rise…
A touching tribute as Bob Vose’s funeral procession goes by the site of the family’s corn dog stand at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Wednesday. #SJRbreakingpic.twitter.com/TDe3sTIDmV
* STLPR | The federal government isn’t actually measuring how inflation is hurting rural America: The BLS uses a working definition from the U.S. Census Bureau, so counties that don’t have a metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area in them are not eligible for the CPI survey, Reed said. The economics professors used a definition from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget that was cited by U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2022. Rural, by this definition, includes counties with towns smaller than 2,500 people and stand-alone cities with populations less than 50,000.
* Telegraph | Six local projects win state park grants: Nearly $60 million in state grants are being awarded for 118 local park projects throughout Illinois to help communities acquire land and develop recreational opportunities.
* Crain’s | Carvana backs Illinois bill to codify home vehicle delivery, e-signatures: The online used-vehicle retailer said last week it is supporting Senate Bill 1896, which was introduced Feb. 9 by state Sen. Patrick Joyce, a Democrat whose district includes a small segment of south Chicago and the majority of Kankakee County. The bill, if passed, would amend the Illinois Vehicle Code to add text clearly stating that licensed vehicle dealers are permitted to conduct sales — including collecting electronic signatures — via the Internet.
* SJ-R | What to know about Navigator’s new, expanded C02 pipeline application: The new proposal includes more than 291 miles of pipeline and adds Montgomery County to the mix through what is called the “Montgomery Lateral.” The lateral pipeline diverts from the main line in southern Sangamon County and travels 42 miles to a new proposed sequestration site in Montgomery County.
* STL Today | Parents push back on allegations against St. Louis transgender center. ‘I’m baffled.’: Kim Hutton, among those confused by the reports, views the treatment her son, now 19, received from Washington University’s Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital as vital to making him the outgoing college freshman he is today. “The idea that nobody got information, that everybody was pushed toward treatment, is just not true. It’s devastating,” Hutton said. “I’m baffled by it.”
* Tribune | 33rd Ward race: Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez declares victory over political ‘machine’: ‘Their time is over’:Amid criticism over her handling of crime and ward services, Rodriguez faced two opponents, including a candidate she claimed was backed by the ward’s longtime leader, former Ald. Dick Mell. On Tuesday night, Rodriguez Sanchez declared victory outright, with unofficial returns showing she’d won 53% of the vote in the ward that now includes much of Albany Park.
* Daily Herald | What should Huntley 158’s school board do about test scores?: Nine of the 12 candidates running shared their thoughts as part of two forums hosted by the Daily Herald Editorial Board and attended by the Northwest Herald. The candidates discussed various topics during the forum, including bullying and property taxes.
* AP | Lilly plans to slash some insulin prices, expand cost cap: The moves announced Wednesday promise critical relief to some people with diabetes who can face annual costs of more than $1,000 for insulin they need in order to live. Lilly’s changes also come as lawmakers and patient advocates pressure drugmakers to do something about soaring prices.
* Reuters | EPA proposes expanded sales of higher ethanol blend gasoline in US Midwest: The proposal comes in response to a request from the governors of corn-producing Midwestern states including Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois, that the agency lift an effective ban on E15, or fuel containing 15% ethanol, to lower pump prices and help farmers.
* SJ-R | Who’s got the best horseshoe in Springfield?: Springfield resident Jim Peters said D’Arcy’s Pint is his go to place for the signature meal. “I’ve been eating them here since they opened up and I usually get the hamburger one but I’m trying the roast beef today,” Peter’s said. “They’re always good, It’s the only place I eat.”
* Gov. Pritzker was asked today about his reaction to yesterday’s Chicago election and if he was surprised by Mayor Lightfoot’s loss…
First of all, I watched, very interested to see how it would come out. It’s very close, as you know, and no candidate got 50 percent of the vote or even all that close to 50 percent.
Primaries are messy, and they don’t usually illustrate the candidates’ positions on the issues all that well. And so I think it’ll be important for the candidates that made it through that primary process, and now in the runoff, to articulate their positions and the contrast between their views. And honestly, the voters of Chicago, just like the voters of the rest of the state when they vote, deserve no less than understanding where the candidates really fit. And it allows the voters to make decisions about where they will end up. I’m a Chicago voter, so I’m going to be listening intently to what they have to say. And I look forward to watching and listening to the campaign play out.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
* Asked about his endorsement…
Yeah, I’ll be listening and watching. Again, I think they have to articulate more than just you know, in a messy primary with nine candidates. It’s a cacophony, I think, for most people.
And so I do think they’re gonna have to articulate and direct their message. What is their primary message? And it’s going to be, you know, focused on what are they going to do about education? What are they going to do about health care? What are they going to do about public safety? What are they going to do about creating jobs? Those are all important things that I don’t think have been fully fleshed out by either one of those candidates.
* Asked who he voted for yesterday…
[Laughs] As you know, it’s a private endeavor when you go into the voting booth.
…Adding… Agree that this would’ve been a better question…
Pritzker gets asked who he voted for today. A more fun question to ask, if you're tossing out Qs he's going to dodge: "Why do you think your precinct voted for Vallas?" https://t.co/7tHqHiIb0ypic.twitter.com/BJX3Ef1kRb
* Asked why Chicago is so important for his administration…
Oh, well, my goodness. First of all, it’s important to the people of Chicago who the mayor of Chicago is, just as a voter, I’ll say that’s important to me. But as governor, it’s very important. Chicago is an important part of our state. It’s an economic engine of the state, awful large population in Chicago, that that are constituents of mine, just as they are of the new mayor.
And I think very importantly, and this is something that I hope you’ll keep in mind. I, as you, ask questions, as you no doubt do, about endorsements. Look, the Governor and the Mayor of the City of Chicago have to be able to work together. We saw for years, I think, under Rahm Emanuel and Bruce Rauner, where they didn’t, and that wasn’t good for the state or for the city of Chicago. And so I think I keep that in mind every day when I think about what I say, what I do, who I endorse, you know, how is that relationship affected by the things that I do And I hope they’ll keep that in mind as well.
* “Where do you think did Mayor Lightfoot went wrong?”…
Oh, I, you know, there’s a lot of post mortem I’m sure to come. I would just say it is hard to hold a position like the mayor of Chicago. And it was four hard years, no doubt about it. And she put in great public service. Anybody that’s willing to sacrifice like that, I think I want to congratulate on their willingness to do so.
Two familiar faces appear on the cover of this issue, recognizing the states that won 2022’s corporate facilities race and their chief executives. Governors Laura Kelly of Kansas and Greg Abbott of Texas were last year’s winners of the Governor’s Cups, the former for total qualified capital investment projects per capita and the latter for total qualified projects. Site Selection’s Conway Projects Database tracks projects that meet one or more of these criteria: a minimum investment of $1 million, creation of 20 or more new jobs or 20,000 square feet or more of new construction.
Kansas claims the 2022 Cup for total projects per capita with 138 deals – one less than last year’s 139. Kansas is consistent, but more importantly, it’s making all the right moves to land key projects like Panasonic Energy’s $4 billion facility that broke ground in November 2022 in De Soto and Integra Technologies’ $1.8 billion large-scale semiconductor facility in Wichita that was announced earlier this year (and will count towards Kansas’ 2023 project numbers).
Kentucky ranks second in projects per capita with 212, up from ninth place last year when it was credited with winning 199 projects. Ohio places third with 479 deals; it was fourth last year with 507. Rounding out the top five are fourth-place finisher Illinois with 487, up from seventh last year with 480, and South Dakota in fifth place with 33 projects. It placed second in the 2021 facilities race with 41.
As for total qualified projects, Texas claims its 11th consecutive Governor’s Cup and is the only state to surpass the 1,000-project mark with 1,028, down from 1,123 last year. That’s more than twice the number of projects of second-place Illinois’ 487; it placed third last year with 480. The third-place finisher is Ohio with 479 (it was second last year with 507), followed by California with 375 (also fourth last year with 301) and Georgia with 312 (up from seventh place last year with 275).
The top five states recognized for the total number of qualified projects in 2022 attracted more than 2,600 deals. The top five states for per capita projects won more than 1,300. Some of those represent investments in the billions of dollars and involve bipartisan work on the part of state legislators to enact measures that make their locations competitive for these projects and create thousands of new jobs in communities large and small.
If winning back-to-back championships establishes dynasties, what do you call it when you win 10 years in a row?
In Chicagoland, they hand the ball to the ref and they act like they’ve been there before. Because they have.
The 2022 data on corporate facility investment nationwide indeed tell a familiar tale: The multi-state Chicago metro area is No. 1 (with 448 projects) and the next three metro areas in the rankings also repeat their rankings from last year: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington is No. 2 (426 projects); Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land is No. 3 (255 projects) and New York-Newark-New Jersey is No. 4 (246 projects). The biggest upward mover in the Top 10 is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California, with 150 projects, just ahead of repeat No. 6 metro Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia.
In the per capita category, this year’s rankings are topped by No. 1 Austin-Round Rock and No. 2 DFW in Texas, followed by three multi-state metro areas in a row: No. 3 Cincinnati, No. 4 Chicagoland and No. 5 Louisville/Jefferson County, which moves up from No. 7 last year.
All emphasis added.
* From the governor…
“Illinois is open for business and leading the way as one of the top 10 states for corporate investment, with Chicago named the number one metro for the 10th year in a row,” said Governor Pritzker. “Thanks to our nation-leading infrastructure revitalization, talented workforce, and growing economy, Illinois is the best place to do business.” […]
This follows a recent report from Moody’s stating, “Illinois has been one of the Midwest’s stronger performers during the past year. Led by the Chicago metro division, job growth has outpaced that of the Midwest and brought the pandemic jobs recovery in line with the region’s. Most major private-sector industries are moving in the right direction.”
The State of Illinois has created an environment where companies can thrive through unprecedented investments in our infrastructure and our workforce, while also developing cutting edge programs that bring economic growth and jobs to the state. Illinois recently launched a $400 million invest in Illinois fund to attract large businesses and stay competitive with other states, expanded incentives for the clean energy industry, and made it easier for companies to apply for EDGE – the state’s primary incentive program.
The state also announced $40 million in grants to supercharge the development of megasites - large, developed sites ready for occupancy for manufacturers, distribution centers, industrial centers, and more. These grants will increase the number of investment-ready sites in Illinois and increase the state’s competitiveness for large-scale projects.
Companies that located or expanded throughout Illinois in 2022 include:
• CyrusOne Data Center - $250 million facility located in Aurora
• Ferrero – Bloomington manufacturing facility; $214.4 million investment and 200 jobs
• GAF Commercial Roofing – Peru manufacturing plant; $80 million investment and 70 jobs
• LG Chem/ADM – two new joint ventures in Decatur; 125 jobs
• Ollie’s Bargain Outlet – Princeton distribution center; $68 million investment and 145 jobs
• Prime Data Centers – New $1 billion data center in Elk Grove Village
• T/CCI – Decatur retooling for EV component manufacturing; $20 million investment and 50 jobs
• Tyson Foods – Caseyville manufacturing facility expansion, $180 million investment and 400 jobs
Similarly, the State of Illinois – which was recently named the top state in the Midwest for Workforce development by Site Selection - has made unprecedented investments in training programs and workforce facilities, including Manufacturing Training Academies, Illinois Works pre-apprenticeship programs, and nearly $180 million annually for clean energy jobs training and community support efforts under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA).
…Adding… GOP Sen. Seth Lewis…
In its recent rankings of state-by-state corporate expansion and relocation projects, Site Selection Magazine has announced the State of Illinois had the second most qualified capital investment projects in the nation in 2022, and the fourth most projects per capita. Additionally, Chicago saw the most projects in metropolitan areas. Upon learning of the rankings, State Senator Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett) issued the following statement:
“The Legislature’s historic and bipartisan investment in infrastructure has provided a framework for new investment in Illinois. These rankings are encouraging, and I hope it is a sign of even better things to come. I look forward to collaborative policy discussions on how we can continue to make gains in capital investment in Illinois.
“Illinois has so much to offer. We have a talented and highly-educated workforce, and Illinois is home to an extensive transportation system that includes far-reaching highway routes, vast waterways, and a widespread rail system. Illinois is also the home of dozens of Fortune 500 companies. Just think of the greatness that could be achieved if we adopted more business-friendly policies that fully support job creation and economic development.
“These rankings provide a glimmer of hope. If we can work together on policies that unleash the entrepreneurial spirit, the economic possibilities are limitless.”
The EPA estimates that Americans throw away almost 70 million plastic foam cups every day. Twenty-two million pounds of plastic enter the Great Lakes each year and just over half of that ends up in Lake Michigan alone. Already, eight states and roughly 200 cities and municipalities have enacted bans on polystyrene foam containers.
The legislation is a priority for the Coalition for Plastic Reduction, a coalition of more than 35 organizations across Illinois.
In response to the favorable committee vote, advocates said:
“Lake Michigan is one of Illinois’ greatest assets. But plastic pollution puts Lake Michigan and all our waterways at risk, polluting our drinking water and harming wildlife. Phasing out single-use plastic polystyrene foam food ware is an important step forward in stopping plastic pollution at the source before it can pollute our waters. We applaud Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz for introducing HB 2376: EPA-Disposable Food Containers and urge her colleagues to support this bill,” said Andrea Densham with the Alliance for the Great Lakes.
“It’s important to me to run my business as sustainably as possible,” said Brent Schwoerer, owner of Engrained Brewing in Springfield. “That’s why we’ve never used foam containers for takeout. It is time to evolve to more responsible packaging. Removing foam containers from the market levels the playing field for everyone and drives down the costs of better alternatives.”
* Media advisory…
Leading Business, Technology and Healthcare Groups to Call for Changes to Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act Following Troubling State Supreme Court Decisions
WHO:
Tyler Diers, Executive Director of Illinois and the Midwest Region, TechNet
Mark Denzler, President and CEO, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
Karen Harris, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Illinois Health and Hospital Association
Matt Hart, Executive Director, Illinois Trucking Association
Matt Hartman, Executive Director, Illinois Health Care Association
Rob Karr, President and CEO, Illinois Retail Merchants Association
Brad Tietz, Vice President of Government Relations, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
WHAT: Leading business, technology and healthcare groups will join together to call on the General Assembly to enact reforms to the state’s outdated Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) following recent Illinois Supreme Court decisions that leave companies vulnerable to massive financial damages and have a chilling effect on security, innovation and economic growth.
WHEN: Thursday, March 2
10 a.m.
WHERE: Illinois State Capitol
Blue Room (Basement, Room 010)
* Press release…
A House Public Utilities committee meeting held today was the scene of the opening rounds of the next “nuclear war” in Illinois.
Committee members heard testimony and voted on HB1079, introduced by Rep. Mark Walker (D. 53rd, Arlington Heights) that would repeal a decades-old moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power reactors in Illinois, pending a final disposal solution for the dangerous high-level radioactive wastes (HLRW) that reactors produce.
The Committee voted 18 to 3 to advance the bill to the full House for consideration.
“Passage of this legislation is a “CEJA killer” and will have enormous negative effects on the plans to expand renewable energy and efficiency found in the 2016 FEJA and 2021 CEJA legislation,” warned David Kraft, director of Nuclear Energy Information Service, a 42-year old nuclear power watchdog and safe-energy advocacy organization based in Chicago.
“While it seems like an innocent minor change in State law, it opens the flood gates for the so-called ‘next-generation’ nuclear reactors – ‘small modular nuclear reactors’ (SMNRs) – which would then compete with renewables for market share and transmission access,” Kraft asserts.
NEIS testimony pointed out that the moratorium repeal found in HB1709 and a similar Senate bill – SB0076 – are necessary before any power reactors can be constructed. The Senate bill goes a step farther, calling for actual support for SMNRs.
…Adding… Rep. Walker…
Legislation brought by state Rep. Mark Walker, D-Arlington Heights, to eliminate the ban on new nuclear power construction passed out of the House Public Utilities Committee yesterday and advances to the House floor.
“If we’re going to win in our fight against global climate change, we must ensure we can use every zero-carbon tool available to meet those goals,” Walker said. “My bill to remove the nuclear moratorium gets us one step closer to meeting our clean energy goals while also developing new and unique opportunities for manufacturers and data centers.”
Walker’s legislation, House Bill 1079, would repeal a decades-old moratorium banning the construction of new nuclear power plants in Illinois. The moratorium, originally passed in 1987, means that Illinois cannot explore utilizing a reliable, safe, zero-carbon source of power as the state looks to decarbonize its energy grid by 2050. Advancements in nuclear reactor designs like small modular reactors are also proving attractive to manufacturers, data centers, and other large-scale industrial operations.
“The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act made Illinois a leader in fighting global climate change,” Walker added. “If we’re truly going to lead, we need every tool available. Renewable energy like wind and solar are critical for our grid. So is a strong foundation of nuclear energy. I’m thankful to my colleagues from both sides of the aisle voting for my bill and I look forward to a vote on the House floor.”
* From Comptroller Mendoza…
Today at 2pm. Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza will appear in-person at the Illinois House’s State Government Administration Committee Hearing to testify as a proponent of HB 2515, a measure to ensure more regular deposits from future budgets into the state’s Rainy Day Fund – the state’s emergency reserve account.
Currently, the $1.9 billion in the Rainy Day Fund only represents about 11-days’ worth of bills at the Comptroller’s office. Based on the most recent data from the National Association of State Budget Officers, the average number of days that states currently have in their rainy-day reserves is about 54 days.
Under HB 2515, deposits would trigger automatically when the state’s General Funds accounts payable is estimated to be less than $3 billion and the Governor has estimated growth in general revenues over 4%. Additionally, this legislation calls for a 6-month review by COGFA which could trigger savings if growth exceeds 4% in the middle of the fiscal year. The bill also calls for automatic deposits above statutory requirement into the Pension Stabilization Fund.
After withdrawing its initial application in January, Navigator CO2 Ventures has filed a new route for its Heartland Greenway carbon dioxide pipeline with the Illinois Commerce Commission. […]
Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, Navigator vice president of government and public affairs, said the project now impacts about 900 landowners in Illinois. The Nebraska-based company refiled the application, she said, to streamline the approval process instead of updating its original application submitted in July. […]
Senate Bill 2421 from state Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, co-listed under House Bill 3119 from state Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, would create the Carbon Dioxide Transport and Storage Protections Act to address several updates to pipeline construction and management.
Specifically, the bill eliminates a company’s ability to secure private land in the pore space - a small subsurface area that allows for the storage of carbon dioxide - at sequestration sites without the proper approval. Operators would have to receive a written grant from the landowner or a title permitting the use of the land.
* Press release…
House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (Savanna) has filed two bills that would increase protections for Department of Children and Family Services workers and those working to protect the state’s most vulnerable. This legislation comes at a time when front line workers throughout the state continue to face violence, something Leader McCombie has prioritized fixing through her bills.
The two bills are in direct response to the murder of two female DCFS workers: Pamela Knight, who was killed in 2017 in Dixon, Illinois, when attempting to take a child into protective custody and Deirdre Silas, who was murdered last year in Sangamon County during a home-visit. Leader McCombie has filed these pieces of legislation, the Knight-Silas Acts, to help prevent any future harm to employees at DCFS:
· HB1460 - Makes harming a DCFS worker or a Department on Aging Adult Protective Services or Ombudsman worker a Class 2 felony, except if the battery causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual, then a violation is a Class 1 felony.
· HB1461 - Makes harming a DCFS worker a Class 2 felony, except if the battery causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual, then a violation is a Class 1 felony.
These bills have been a priority for McCombie, who has been vocal about the necessary changes needed at the troubled state agency under Governor JB Pritzker’s lead—and has recently unveiled a Republican led working group to find viable solutions.
“There are no shortage of issues we must address at DCFS, but ensuring the safety of the employees who work day and night to protect our most vulnerable is the top priority—and my legislation will help make that a reality,” said Leader Tony McCombie. “Pam Knight and Deidre Silas were killed in the line of duty, and more must be done so that tragedies like this don’t continue to happen.”
* Press release…
Winemakers and wine experts from wineries across Illinois will convene in Springfield this week for their annual conference to discuss growth of the industry and their new legislative measure to obtain parity for wine production and self-distribution limits.
The Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Alliance’s annual conference will take place Thursday and Friday at the Statehouse Inn and Merchant House. The conference presenter lineup includes Jim Tresize, president of Wine America, which is the only national wine industry association in the country that encourages growth and development of wineries and winegrowing through advancement and advocacy of public policy.
While Illinois is one of the top wine-drinking states in the country, and the Illinois wine industry has grown in esteem, the state’s wineries are prohibited from producing and selling their wine at levels that compare with their peers in the beer and spirits industries. Wineries are urging the Illinois General Assembly to pass House Bill 2864 to provide a path for the wine industry to grow, serve their increasing customer base, continue providing good jobs, and continue contributing to state and local economies.
One year after she had a stroke, Illinois Rep. @barbara_isabel will introduce a bill that will improve health outcomes by recognizing medical centers that offer advanced stroke care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. https://t.co/iVQJpi3l37
— American Heart Illinois (@AmericanHeartIL) March 1, 2023
New legislation would designate the Chicago church where Emmett Till’s open-casket funeral was held in 1955 as a national monument.
The bill, introduced by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., would designate the Roberts Temple Church as a national monument to “preserve, protect, and interpret history for the benefit of present and future generations.”
Backed by different groups, three state legislators have introduced differing bills all designed to throw life rafts to homeowners who are behind on their property tax bills. They aim to revamp a system that gouges delinquent property owners in the best of cases and forces them from their homes at worst. […]
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago), would halve the penalty for late taxes from 1.5% to 0.75% for every month the bills go unpaid. It would also end the county’s practice of adding an instant 12% interest penalty for any homeowner whose property is entered into the annual tax sale and does not get a bid. […]
[Rep. Margaret] Croke introduced a trio of bills backed by the Chicago Bar Association, which is generally allied with tax buyers. In an interview on Monday, Croke said the bills “seem like no-brainers” that would “add clarification and transparency” to the convoluted tax sale process. […]
Leaders of the nonprofit Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago have joined the fray with their own idea to prevent struggling homeowners from sliding into tax delinquency. Their bill, sponsored by Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) and Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin (D-Olympia Fields), would require the Cook County treasurer to set up an installment plan to pay their tax obligations over time. Homeowners in “good standing” with the plan would not be allowed to be entered into the annual tax sale.
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan asked a federal judge Tuesday to toss secret recordings made by investigators and dismiss part of the bombshell racketeering indictment the feds spent years building against him. […]
They also offer new context to a secretly recorded August 2014 meeting between Madigan, then-Ald. Danny Solis, a hotel developer and a secret government informant. The Chicago Sun-Times exposed details of that recorded meeting in January 2019 in a report that first revealed the feds’ interest in the powerful Southwest Side Democrat.
Though Madigan did not appear to cross any legal lines in that meeting, Madigan’s attorneys painted it Tuesday as the starting point of the feds’ lengthy pursuit of Madigan — and wrongly so, they say.
They said the feds submitted an application the next month to the city’s chief federal judge. It allegedly theorized that Madigan and Solis had conspired to withhold Solis’ approval of a zoning change unless the developer hired Madigan’s law firm.
The government theorized that Madigan conspired with [Ald. Danny Solis] to threaten to withhold [Ald. Solis]’s approval of a zoning request unless the developer hired Madigan’s law firm. A full and fair review of the audio and video recording of the meeting, as well as analysis of the surrounding circumstances, demonstrates that the government’s inferences were not objectively reasonable. In fact, they were purposefully false.
The falsity of the government’s inferences and ultimate conclusion cannot be in dispute. The government confronted [Ald. Solis] almost two years later, on June 1, 2016. He decided to cooperate with the government, and on June 3, 2016, the government debriefed him about the August 18, 2014 meeting. [Ald. Solis] explained that the government’s theories were erroneous. [Ald. Solis] told the government that he asked the developer and CS to meet with Madigan and did so because he felt bad about an unrelated situation and “wanted [CS] to be successful in the attempt to get the hotel built,” knowing that the developer had been unsuccessful on two prior occasions. [Ald. Solis] informed agents that a “side meeting” with Madigan that day (which was not captured by the CS’s recording device) did not include any discussion about a zoning change or frankly anything that would support the government’s extortion theory. Further, [Ald. Solis] made clear that Madigan had never offered Alderman A anything for introducing him to developers. In short, various inferences advanced in the September 26, 2014 affidavit were flat wrong.
The falsity of the government’s inferences and ultimate conclusion cannot be in dispute. The government confronted [Ald. Solis] almost two years later, on June 1, 2016. He decided to cooperate with the government, and on June 3, 2016, the government debriefed him about the August 18, 2014 meeting. [Ald. Solis] explained that the government’s theories were erroneous. [Ald. Solis] told the government that he asked the developer and CS to meet with Madigan and did so because he felt bad about an unrelated situation and “wanted [CS] to be successful in the attempt to get the hotel built,” knowing that the develope r had been unsuccessful on two prior occasions. [Ald. Solis] informed agents that a “side meeting” with Madigan that day (which was not captured by the CS’s recording device) did not include any discussion about a zoning change or frankly anything that would support the government’s extortion theory. Further, [Ald. Solis] made clear that Madigan had never offered [Ald. Solis] anything for introducing him to developers. In short, various inferences advanced in the September 26, 2014 affidavit were flat wrong.
Four days later, on June 7, 2016, the government nonetheless submitted a Title III application directed at Madigan, mentioning nothing about the critical, exculpatory information that [Ald. Solis] provided on June 3, 2016. The government’s own cooperator ([Ald. Solis]) essentially explained that their theory about what happened in August 2014 was factually wrong, and the government failed to disclose that to the Chief Judge. The information from [Ald. Solis] did not just undercut any conspiracy to commit extortion theory against Madigan but demonstrated that the inferences presented in the original Title III application were objectively unreasonable.
Not until 674 days later, on April 6, 2018, after submitting numerous other Title III applications did the government finally tell the Acting Chief Judge about at least some of the exculpatory information offered by [Ald. Solis]. In doing so, the government buried its admission in the middle of a footnote and offered its spin that even though the government’s interpretation of what happened in August 2014 was factually wrong, it was still somehow permissible for the government to rely upon the August 2014 incident because the now-cooperating [Ald. Solis] “acknowledged” how “an independent observer” could have misinterpreted the events.
The inclusion of the footnote and the so-called acknowledgment by [Ald. Solis] followed a remarkable two days of pressing [Ald. Solis] about the August 2014 meeting. More specifically, on April 3, 2018, the government met with [Ald. Solis], who, according to the report, told the government at the start of the interview:
[Ald. Solis] stated that [the developer] was in the process of building a hotel in the 25th Ward of Chicago that would be a “big deal” for the ward. [Ald. Solis] stated [the developer] would have received any zoning changes [the developer] required to get the hotel built, regardless of [the developer’s] decision to enter into an agreement with Madigan’s law firm.
[…] In short, after two days of being pressed and despite desperately seeking cooperation credit, [Ald. Solis] told the government that its view of what took place in that August 18, 2014 meeting was factually wrong.
Needless to say, the August 2014 event involving CS was not charged in the original or superseding indictment in this case for one simple reason – Madigan had committed no crime. The government’s theory that Madigan conspired to commit extortion, put forth in the September 26, 2014 Affidavit as well as numerous other subsequent affidavits to support its Title III surveillance, was purposefully false.
The Court should suppress the contents of the communications intercepted as a result of the September 26, 2014 Title III application, and any evidence derived therefrom
In their motion to suppress, Madigan’s attorneys, Sheldon Zenner, Daniel Collins and Gil Soffer, have asked U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey for an evidentiary hearing to determine whether investigators made any misrepresentations in its wiretap applications.
Though rarely granted, the so-called “Franks hearing” could provide a fascinating glimpse into how the government built its investigation, first by gathering evidence on Solis’ own misdeeds, then pressuring him into cooperating against two of the state’s most powerful and longstanding politicians, Madigan and Chicago Ald. Edward Burke.
The agents who handled Solis’ stunning turn as an FBI mole could be required to testify should the judge order the hearing. Blakey has set a telephone status hearing for March 10 to discuss the schedule going forward.
After years of investigation, thousands of hours of wiretaps and consensual recordings, wide-ranging searches of homes and offices, and countless witness interviews, the government’s case against Michael J. Madigan comes down principally to this: He recommended people for jobs with ComEd and AT&T while legislation of interest to those utilities was pending before the Illinois House of Representatives. Roughly half of the sprawling Superseding Indictment charges Madigan with criminal conduct on that basis. It alleges that he had the capacity to and did promote or defeat legislation consistent with the interests of ComEd and AT&T; and that— after more than a decade of investigation, during which time Madigan made countless job recommendations for innumerable candidates to ComEd, AT&T, and elsewhere—four of those candidates (which do not reflect all, most, or even many of Madigan’s recommendations) did “little or no” work once hired.
What the Superseding Indictment does not allege, however, is a connection between the job hires or any other benefits that Madigan purportedly received and any legislative decision that Madigan made. In 117 pages, the Superseding Indictment does not allege a single word spoken to or by Madigan linking these simple job recommendations to any legislative act by him. Nor does it more generally allege that Madigan took or refrained from taking (or agreed to take, or refrain from taking) legislative action because of, in exchange for, or resulting from any hiring decisions made by ComEd and AT&T. The government carefully avoids any such factual allegation. Instead it asserts, in the most conclusory terms, that Madigan “accepted” job hires “intending to be influenced” in connection with legislation affecting the utilities, on which he voted “in furtherance” and to “effect [the] objects and purposes” of a conspiracy to influence him.
These allegations do not state a federal crime. Instead, what they describe is a commonplace practice in which public officials and party leaders make job recommendations for constituents and associates to employers within their jurisdictions. Those employers may (and often do) accept such recommendations, and they may well do so in an effort to curry favor with the officials in question. But currying favor with government officials—even those with the capacity to influence legislation of interest to the employers—is legal. “Accepting” job hires made by employers, even if they were made with the desire to curry favor, is legal. In contrast, corruptly soliciting something of value in return for official action is not. The Superseding Indictment blurs that distinction entirely, rendering its cornerstone allegations involving ComEd and AT&T deficient under the corruption statutes and constitutionally untenable.
The remaining counts of the Superseding Indictment target conduct unrelated to ComEd and AT&T, alleging behavior involving real estate projects and Madigan’s private law firm. Some of those counts fall short because of defects in the statutes the government invokes and the thinness of the allegations.
One overarching failure stands out, however: the government’s effort to allege a single, all-encompassing RICO charge in Count One. That count purports to graft together, into a RICO conspiracy, one half of the Superseding Indictment (alleging misconduct involving ComEd and AT&T) with the other half (alleging misconduct involving Madigan’s law firm). But the alleged facts, purposes, and major players at issue in the two halves of the Superseding Indictment are wholly distinct. A RICO enterprise requires a common purpose. On the face of the Superseding Indictment, no such common purpose is alleged. Whatever may have been the government’s reason for cobbling disparate claims together—whether to bolster its cornerstone ComEd/AT&T allegations, or otherwise—it has failed to allege a proper RICO conspiracy claim.
In short, this far-flung Superseding Indictment impermissibly treats lawful ingratiation as illegal bribery, and stitches together unrelated allegations of purported misconduct into a single scheme. The mismatch between the conduct alleged and the statutes invoked is a fatal defect that precludes this prosecution. For these reasons and others described below, Counts One through Seven, Eleven through Fourteen, and Twenty-One through Twenty-Three are fatally infirm, constitutionally and otherwise. Madigan respectfully requests their dismissal either in full or in part.
“[A] good will gift to an official to foster a favorable business climate, given simply with the ‘generalized hope or expectation of ultimate benefit on the part of the donor,’ does not constitute a bribe.” United States v. Jennings, 160 F.3d 1006, 1013 (4th Cir. 1998) (quoting United States v. Johnson, 621 F.2d 1073, 1076 (10th Cir. 1980)); cf. Sun–Diamond, 526 U.S. at 405–06 (18 U.S.C. § 201(c) does not criminalize acts taken “to build a reservoir of goodwill that might ultimately affect one or more of a multitude of unspecified acts, now and in the future”). Simply put, “ingratiation and access . . . are not corruption.” Citizens United v. Fed. Election Comm’n, 558 U.S. 310, 360 (2010). To avoid sweeping this innocent conduct into the ambit of federal anti-bribery statutes, the Supreme Court has required the government to identify a quid pro quo—that is, “a specific intent to give or receive something of value in exchange for an official act.”
The Illinois bribery statute sweeps much more broadly than the Constitution permits because of its wide and undifferentiated coverage of “any act related to the employment or function of any public officer.” 720 ILCS § 5/33-1(d)–(e). This statutory text covers conduct that lies within the protection of the First Amendment. That such all-encompassing coverage chills protected activity is shown most clearly by the comparison of Illinois law to the federal statute, 18 U.S.C. § 201(a)(3), at issue in McDonnell v. United States, 579 U.S. 550 (2016). […]
The Court in McDonnell narrowed the federal statute substantially, in large measure to avoid constitutional concerns that would arise from an expansive and unbounded interpretation of “official act” encompassing virtually any act an official might perform. Because the statutory narrowing approach in McDonnell is not available here for Illinois laws, those same constitutional concerns require a holding that the Illinois bribery statute is unconstitutionally overbroad. […]
The Illinois official misconduct statute similarly lacks the safeguards to avoid sweeping more broadly than the Constitution permits. […]
The Illinois bribery statute is impermissibly vague as applied because it did not provide Madigan with fair notice that his conduct was (even arguably) criminal, nor did it protect him from arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement. […]
Similarly, even if § 5/33-3(a)(4) of the Illinois official misconduct statute is not facially void for vagueness, it is unduly vague as applied. […]
The government cannot save the ComEd-related counts brought under § 666 by jettisoning its bribery theory in favor of an intent-to-reward (or gratuity) theory. As an initial matter, this Court should follow the thoughtful analyses of the First and Fifth Circuits and hold that § 666 only criminalizes bribes, not gratuities.
Arbitrary Enforcement. As applied here, the Illinois bribery statute also fails to protect against arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement. […]
The threat of arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement of the Illinois bribery statute is not merely hypothetical. Publicly available information shows that other Illinois politicians have recommended political allies and associates for private-sector jobs—at utility companies, no less—yet no one has suggested that their conduct violated the Illinois bribery statute. For example, Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin recommended former Illinois State Representative Thomas Walsh for employment with ComEd in November 2015, as the FEJA negotiations were ongoing. McClain told ComEd, “I really believe it is a wise move to respond favorably to Leader Durkin’s request.” In January 2016, McClain emailed ComEd again, asking: “Did we hire Tom Walsh?” ComEd engaged Walsh as a subcontracting lobbyist in February 2016. In December 2016, Leader Durkin voted in favor of FEJA.
Madigan has been using that very same argument for more than two years, so far to no avail.
As election results in the Chicago Mayor’s race are tallied, M3 Strategies’ Chief Pollster Matthew Podgorski is available to break down the election results, how the candidates’ performed, and what it means for the runoff.
Early election results show M3 Strategies’ was the best-performing polling firm in the Chicago Mayoral Election, with publicly released survey results that closely tracked the final outcomes.
M3 Strategies correctly predicted that Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson would make the runoff.
M3 Strategies was the first firm to show Paul Vallas leading and consistently showed the strength of his support. And the only firm to capture Vallas’ surge and show him receiving over 30% of the vote.
M3 Strategies was the first firm to capture Congressman Garcia’s slide, showing his support drop by 8% points from December to January, and to capture Brandon Johnson’s surge, showing his support jump from 3% in December to 12% in January and 18% in February.
“The early election returns demonstrate the accuracy of the polling numbers we released throughout this cycle,” said Chief Pollster Matt Podgorski. “By mid-January, we could see Paul Vallas’ support was solidifying and that he would likely make the runoff. At the same time, our surveys captured Garcia’s support plummeting and Johnson surging.”
From their last poll…
Credit where credit is due.
* Chicagoland Chamber…
The following statement can be attributed to Jack Lavin, president & CEO, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce:
“As the leading business organization in Chicago, our members have consistently stated their top priorities are public safety, skyrocketing property taxes, revitalizing tourism, and economic development that creates job opportunities in every neighborhood across Chicago. We strongly believe the next mayor should embrace these policies to help move Chicago forward. We cannot afford leadership that supports higher taxes and is not committed to keeping our businesses open and our streets safe.”
* IFT…
Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) President Dan Montgomery issued this statement today following Chicago’s mayoral election results.
“Brandon Johnson made history today as the first public school teacher and union organizer to run for mayor of the third largest city in the United States. I am so proud of our IFT brother and Cook County commissioner for running an inspiring campaign centered on progressive values and what our students, workers, and communities need to thrive.
“In five weeks, Chicagoans will make history too by electing a teacher and committed labor leader to the city’s highest office. The IFT is excited and proud to support Brandon in the runoff. He is the only candidate who has led multi-racial coalitions to defend neighborhood schools from privatization, reduce high-stakes standardized testing, and expand access to state funding. Brandon understands that every student – regardless of their race, income, or zip code – deserves a fully resourced, high-quality education, from PreK-16.
“Paul Vallas would be a disaster for public education, union workers, and Chicago residents. During Vallas’ tenure at CPS, he oversaw what would become a model for conservative education policy around the nation, which includes increased standardized testing and the privatization of public schools through charters and magnets. As CEO of the Philadelphia and New Orleans school districts, he decimated public education.
“Chicagoans now have a responsibility on April 4 to ensure that our city continues to move forward, not become governed by right-wing extremists. The choice is clear – progress and prosperity under Brandon Johnson or another devastating and divisive Bruce Rauner-like term under Paul Vallas.
“While Brandon Johnson inspires hope, Paul Vallas feeds into Chicagoans’ worst fears. Our city cannot afford another Bruce Rauner.
“Congratulations to Brandon Johnson and his team for running this successful campaign. And thank you to our members who worked to help Brandon in this historic race. We know they will redouble their efforts in the runoff to ensure Chicago elects Brandon Johnson, the transformative leader our city needs and deserves.”
* SEIU Healthcare…
Greg Kelley, President of SEIU Healthcare Illinois, issued the following statement responding to the election results in the Chicago Mayoral race:
Chicago needs a leader who brings us together and that leader is Brandon Johnson. Tonight voters made clear that they are ready for real change. Brandon Johnson represents a growing multiracial movement that wants a government that invests in people.
Brandon will tackle the challenges most important to Chicago. Brandon understands that investments in mental health services and good jobs are public safety investments. And that our communities need a working-family-friendly approach to inflation, affordable childcare, and housing families can afford to move into and stay in, without being priced out.
A vote for Brandon Johnson on April 4th is a vote for the voice of working families and for the resources our communities so desperately need to truly address the root causes of crime and economic instability and deliver lasting results. Brandon will fight for us all, no matter our race or what language we speak.
Brandon has been there with us through so many struggles, and we know he’ll keep fighting for us because he knows our communities and understands what we’re going through. Brandon doesn’t just talk about change. He delivers real policies and approaches that represent our best hope for a city in which we can all thrive.
We know that Brandon is better and he will deliver a safer, stronger Chicago.
* Get Stuff Done PAC…
The following statement can be attributed to Get Stuff Done PAC’s spokesman Ron Holmes:
“The voters of Chicago have sent a clear message that they want a city council that gets stuff done. Thanks to their efforts, 11 of Get Stuff Done PAC’s endorsed candidates will be sworn into the next city council but our work isn’t done. In the coming weeks, we’ll be partnering with neighbors in wards across the city to help them elect champions that will deliver on their behalf.”
Winning endorsed candidates:
Ald. Michelle Harris – 8th Ward
Ald. Anthony Beale – 9th Ward
Jeylu Gutierrez – 14th Ward
Ald. Stephanie Coleman – 16th Ward
Ald. Derrick Curtis – 18th Ward
Ald. Jason Ervin – 28th Ward
Ald. Chris Taliaferro - 29th Ward
Ald. Felix Cardona – 31st Ward
Ald. Emma Mitts – 37th Ward
Ald. Sam Nugent – 39th Ward
Ald. Deb Silverstein – 50th Ward
Endorsed candidates headed to a run-off (as of distribution):
Ald. Nicole Lee – 11th Ward
Ald. Monique Scott – 24th Ward
Ald. Gilbert Villegas – 36th Ward
Candidate for alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez released the following statement after beating opponent Aida Flores in the 25th Ward election:
“Once again the 25th Ward beat the political machine together,” said Alderman Sigcho Lopez. “Billionaires thought they could buy this election but the people cannot be bought. The largest Latino ward in the City cannot be bought.
“We won today’s election by coming together and leading with the people – and we did it all without accepting political contributions from developers, large corporations, public utilities, polluters, or dark money PACs.
“Although the 25th Ward is still recovering from the trauma of a corrupt former alderman, our community-driven zoning committee and our public safety committee have helped us preserve Pilsen. Our small businesses are here, and we don’t have blocks of empty storefronts that plague so many other neighborhoods throughout our city.
“Luxury developers aren’t swooping in en masse and pushing out our immigrant families who’ve called our home for generations like they were just 4 years ago. The work we’ve done together means that we have a fully functioning public safety committee that liaises with CPD and does block-by-block violence prevention throughout the ward.
“I’m a leader who is doing exactly what I promised to do four years ago, and it’s the path I’ll take the next four years with the community by my side. When the community rises up together, we win.”
* SEIU Local 1…
Today, working families showed up to the ballot box to elect labor-endorsed candidates to the Chicago City Council. SEIU Local 1 members and leaders from across the city volunteered hundreds of hours canvassing and making phone calls for candidates who are fighting for economic justice.
“Chicagoans - from the 1st to the 50th Ward - showed out in record numbers to elect candidates that will give working families a voice in our City,” said SEIU Local 1 President Genie Kastrup. “Working families are the backbone of this city keeping our buildings clean, our businesses safe, our students fed and our airports functioning - now, essential workers will have a voice at City Council.
Local 1 members knocked on doors, made phone calls, flyered the streets, and educated others to ensure we elected candidates who are ready to fight for all working people - regardless of what you look like, where you live, where you came from, or who you love. This new City Council is ready to build a Chicago that works for all of us, and I am so proud of the Local 1 members that made it happen.
I look forward to working with these candidates to continue to win for working families all across our city.”
SEIU Local 1 candidates who won their race:
Ward 3, Pat Dowell
Ward 7, Greg Mitchell
Ward 8, Michelle Harris
Ward 12, Julia Ramirez
Ward 14, Jeylu Gutierrez
Ward 16, Stephanie Coleman
Ward 17, David Moore
Ward 19, Matt O’Shea
Ward 20, Jeanette Taylor
Ward 22, Mike Rodriguez
Ward 23, Silvana Tabares
Ward 25, Byron Sigcho-Lopez
Ward 26, Jesse Fuentes
Ward 28, Jason Ervin
Ward 29, Chris Taliferro
Ward 31, Felix Cardona
Ward 32, Scott Waguespack
Ward 33, Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez
Ward 34, Bill Conway
Ward 35, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa
Ward 37, Emma Mitts
Ward 39, Samantha Nugent
Ward 40, Andre Vasquez
Ward 42, Brendan Reilly
Ward 47, Mathew Martin
Ward 49, Maria Hadden
Ward 50, Deb Silverstein
The following SEIU Local 1 endorsed candidates will be entering a run-off election that will take place on April 4, 2023:
Ward 1, Daniel La Spata
Ward 4, Lamont Robinson
Ward 5, Desmon Yancy
Ward 6, William Hall
Ward 10, Ana Guajardo
Ward 11, Nicole Lee
Ward 21, Ronnie Mosley
* Tribune | Paul Vallas will face Brandon Johnson to become Chicago’s next mayor: The final matchup was a stunning blow to Lightfoot, who became the first full-term incumbent to fail to win reelection since Jane Byrne lost to Harold Washington in 1983. It also clearly reflected that residents were clamoring for a new direction from City Hall. But what direction that is remains to be seen.
* Tribune | Former CPS CEO Paul Vallas secures spot in runoff election for Chicago mayor: Lightfoot was squeezed by opposition from both ends of the political spectrum as the more conservative Vallas pushed a law-and-order theme while progressive candidates such as Johnson and García tried to convince voters that Lightfoot brought incomplete answers to the city’s problems and divisiveness.
* Crain’s | Lightfoot era ends as city girds for mayoral war: Johnson, an organizer for the Chicago Teachers Union, is expected to come hard at Vallas as too conservative and too Republican-leaning for a mostly minority city — and he did just that in his acceptance speech, saying Vallas “is supported by the Jan. 6 insurrectionists,” “fundamentally opposes abortion” and “ran the teachers’ fund into the ground.”
* WGN | Chicago’s Mayoral Runoff: Paul Vallas vs. Brandon Johnson: Then there were two. With none of the nine candidates running for mayor hitting the 50.1% or more threshold for an outright victory, the election for Chicago mayor moves to a runoff. Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson will face off April 4
* WTTW | Vallas and Johnson Headed to Chicago Mayoral Runoff, Lightfoot Denied Second Term: Lightfoot conceded just before 9 p.m. Tuesday, acknowledging she had fallen short in her bid to add one more first to her resume: the first woman to be reelected as Chicago mayor. In 1983, Jane Byrne, the city’s first female mayor, was the last incumbent mayor to lose her bid for reelection.
* WBEZ | Lori Lightfoot is out. She leaves behind a complex legacy.: The cornerstone of Lightfoot’s legacy will largely be her signature Invest South/West program, which aims to attract private investment with public dollar incentives in 10 key areas that have been underserved for decades — although the program’s accomplishments weren’t immune from criticism.
* Sun-Times | How Lightfoot went from political rock star to rock bottom: Lightfoot was dealt a bad hand: the pandemic, civil unrest triggered by the murder of George Floyd and the violent crime wave after those demonstrations. But bad timing is too simple to explain her stunning political downfall.
* Sun-Times | Crime defines Chicago mayoral race: ‘The No. 1, 2 and 3 issue’: For the first time, voters are electing 66 police district members, three from each of the 22 police districts. These spots have provided something very rare in the city for people interested in politics: an entry-level elected position where every seat is open with no incumbent.
* Chalkbeat | Former schools chief, teachers union organizer headed to runoff: With 98% of precincts reporting as of 10 p.m., U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” García had just under 14% of the vote, businessman Willie Wilson had received 9%, and the remaining candidates each had less than 3% of the vote, according to unofficial results.
* Block Club | Johnson, Vallas Advance To Mayoral Runoff As Lightfoot Concedes Defeat: During his impassioned speech at his election-night party at the City Hall restaurant in the West Loop, Vallas praised the mayor for calling him. In his speech, he also pushed his law-and-order message while surrounded by friends, a family that included four police officers and a backdrop that interspersed his name with the words “public safety first.”
* Tribune | In City Council races, most incumbent Chicago aldermen are holding on to their seats or advancing to runoffs: At the same time, many incumbents who were thought to be in competitive races ended up winning outright or surviving to advance to an April 4 runoff. Citywide, about 175 candidates were running for four-year terms on the City Council and the $142,000 salaries that come with the responsibility of being perhaps the elected officials Chicagoans complain to the most.
* WTTW | Control of Chicago City Council Up for Grabs as Aldermanic Runoffs Loom: The most high-profile head-to-head race Tuesday took place in the 25th Ward, which includes Pilsen, one of the city’s hottest real estate markets. Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez’ bid for a second term faced a stiff challenge from Aida Flores, a Chicago Public Schools principal.
* Tribune | What is a runoff election and why does Chicago have one?: Chicago used to have municipal primaries and general elections just like we see every two years for either statewide (governor, attorney general, etc.) or national (president) campaigns for office. But that all changed in 1999 when a new state law went into effect that not only created the two-round structure for Chicago races, it also made municipal elections in Illinois nonpartisan. That’s right, even though every candidate running for mayor since has tried to wear their Democratic Party bona fides like a badge of honor, none of them were officially running as Democrats.
* Austin Talks | Incumbents in the 29th and 37th wards beat off challengers: In the newly created 15th Police District Council, candidates Karen Winters (22.6%) and Deondre Rutues (16.3%) appeared to have won seats on the new body, while just a few dozen votes separated Oddis “OJ” Johnson (14.3%) and Darius Newsome (14.2%). They were vying for the third and final seat on the Police District Council; all three members will serve a four-year term, earning $500 a month.
* Sun-Times | Chicago elections see sluggish turnout: When polls closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday, turnout stood at 32.1% with 507,852 ballots cast out of 1,581,564 registered voters. Early votes were driven by those 65 and older, but middle-aged voters closed with the highest turnout. People ages 18 to 34 only accounted for 17% of votes.
* Sun-Times | Mayor Lori Lightfoot was in a fight she couldn’t have won: Lightfoot needed the majority of Black voters who showed up at the polls to cast a ballot for her in Tuesday’s race. But with so many Black challengers in the race, that wouldn’t happen. A low voter turnout didn’t help.
* Sun-Times | Gardiner, Villegas headed to runoff as incumbents (mostly) cruise in Northwest Side wards: His first term also saw Gardiner read an apology from the City Council floor after leaked text messages showed him referring to some peers and constituents in crude, misogynistic terms. Texts that seemed to indicate he intended to withhold city services from ward residents he deemed enemies drew FBI attention, and his ward superintendent was indicted for allegedly selling a machine gun to an undercover ATF agent on city time.
* Sun-Times | 11th Ward Ald. Nicole Lee heads toward runoff: Early results showed both had attracted about 30% of the vote each. The next closest candidate was Chicago firefighter Don Don with 20%. Ambria Taylor, a teacher, had 13%. Chicago Public Schools civics teacher Froylan “Froy” Jiminez, business owner Elvira “Vida” Jiminez and attorney Steve Demitro had less than 3% each.
PSA: There are approx. 97,452 unreturned mail ballots, which will be counted if postmarked (or dropped off) on Tuesday and arrive by March 14. Should you wait for those ballots before drawing conclusions from a ward-by-ward or precinct-by-precinct analysis? Yes, yes you should.
Chuy Garcia ran a terrible campaign. Some bad strategic choices as team assumed he would walk into a runoff, failed to adequately respond to Lightfoot calling him a crook, and focused largely on platitudes. If you try not to offend anyone you often fail to inspire anyone.
Paul Vallas easily won the more affluent downtown/Lincoln Park wards, but Brandon Johnson got a decent chunk of Lakeview and narrowly beat him in Uptown and everything north. The never-ending saga of the lakefront liberal continues! https://t.co/YQjsVFhZtZhttps://t.co/MvkEVgFH5Upic.twitter.com/zAmVEkjCqU
One overlap between a Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson administration that we can say for certain? They both plan to fire CPD Supt. David Brown if he's still there come May. Johnson: “His days are numbered.” Vallas: “He’s going to probably be glad to be back in Dallas.” https://t.co/F4MKK6ssiu
* ABC Chicago | Ed Burke’s reign ends as 14th Ward elects Jeylú Gutiérrez 1st new alderman in 54 years: “It’s gonna be clear. We’re gonna serve every single resident the same. We’re bringing equity to this ward,” Gutiérrez said. “Every single resident is going to see the good type of quality service that they deserve. I migrated to this country full of dreams and I’m a mama, too. And a former educator.”
* Tribune | What is a runoff election and why does Chicago have one?: Chicago used to have municipal primaries and general elections just like we see every two years for either statewide (governor, attorney general, etc.) or national (president) campaigns for office. But that all changed in 1999 when a new state law went into effect that not only created the two-round structure for Chicago races, it also made municipal elections in Illinois nonpartisan.
* Tribune | Madigan attorneys allege feds misled court in wiretap filings, tried to criminalize legal lobbying: Madigan’s legal team also accused federal prosecutors of misleading the chief judge in applications to tap the phones of former Ald. Daniel Solis and later members of Madigan’s inner circle, saying they deliberately misconstrued an innocent 2014 meeting with Chinatown developers at the speaker’s law office as a possible shakedown, then later buried crucial “exculpatory” information in a footnote.
* Crain’s | Appeals court rejects Illinois attempt to revive Equal Rights Amendment: A federal appeals court on Tuesday rejected an effort pressed by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office seeking to revive the Equal Rights Amendment by forcing a federal official to recognize that the necessary 38 states had finally ratified it by 2020. “The states have not clearly and indisputably shown that the Archivist had a duty to certify and publish the ERA or that Congress lacked the authority to place a time limit in the proposing clause of the ERA,” said a unanimous opinion by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
* Pantagraph | Vilsack, Duckworth announce funding to expand biofuel presence at gas pumps: Vilsack, joined by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., characterized the announcement as an extension of the Biden Administration’s efforts to wean the country off its reliance on foreign oil while simultaneously reducing the nation’s carbon footprint and, perhaps, consumers’ pain at the pump.
* Capitol News Illinois | Court rulings supercharge Illinois’ strongest-in-nation biometric privacy law: Nearly 15 years after the law’s initial passage, legal interpretations of BIPA are still taking shape, as widespread use of the technology that collects biometric data such as fingerprint and facial scans has only recently caught up to the law’s forward-looking language. The wide adoption of such technology has led to the proliferation of class action lawsuits under BIPA, creating what opponents of the law have called a cottage industry for ambitious attorneys.
* Grist | Coal plant pollution can be deadly — even hundreds of miles downwind: But even as coal declines, it is still keeping a deadly grasp on communities across the country, according to a new report from the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. The coal sector is responsible for 3,800 premature deaths a year due to fine particle pollution, or PM2.5, from smokestacks.
