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* A few quick observations about this: Lightfoot is an embattled, unpopular incumbent, so she needs to spend a ton of cash. Vallas is a surging challenger and he has the dollar momentum as well; Wilson’s ads are subpar at best and, in three elections (2015 and 2019 mayor and 2020 US Senate), he has never received more than 11 percent citywide, so I’m not even sure what he’s doing; Brandon Johnson is about to up his buy to take him to the finish line. Garcia is once again struggling to raise money and his ads aren’t the greatest…
#ILPol: The Chicago Mayor race has now seen $14.4M in total ad spending.
Top 5 spending advertisers:
Lori Lightfoot: $4.4M
Paul Vallas: $3.2M
Willie Wison: $3.1M
Brandon Johnson: $2.2M
Chuy Garcia: $1.3MElection day is only 19 days away!
— AdImpact Politics (@AdImpact_Pol) February 9, 2023
Latest new cable TV buys…
* I’ve been thinking lately that Chuy has been running Pat Quinn’s “You know who I am” campaign and this just confirms it. /s…
Former Gov. Pat Quinn endorses Jesùs “Chuy” García for mayor of Chicago, as state Rep. Theresa Mah looks on. García will ensure Chicagoans get real property tax relief, Quinn says. pic.twitter.com/xWPvOpEfm5
— Heather Cherone (@HeatherCherone) February 9, 2023
But Quinn did choose Vallas as his running mate during the ultimately disastrous 2014 campaign, so it’s news…
“Chuy García has an unrivaled record of delivering for Chicago, and he understands the urgency of now. I endorse Chuy because his plans to bring property tax relief and build a stronger economy are the best in the field and he has the experience to deliver,” Quinn said. “Trust me when I say, it is so important for the City of Chicago to have a worthy advocate in Springfield. And when Chuy says he has the best relationships of all the candidates with Springfield, he’s telling the truth.”
Most people despise Congress, but Chuy has been playing up his role in that tainted body. And most don’t love Springfield, either.
I do not understand this campaign.
* I understand this doubling down even less…
On 19 January, the Chicago Reader revealed that 36-year-old Pericles “Perry” Abbasi — a campaign attorney, who was running for office in Chicago’s 25th police district with the backing of the Fraternal Order of Police — had a history of posting bizarre and unseemly content on social media. He had, among other things, retweeted a photoshopped image of himself as the police officer Derek Chauvin, with one knee on George Floyd’s neck. In a leaked screenshot from a group chat, he had written that “the horrible black diet” was the reason for “13/50”, referencing a common internet meme about Black Americans’ percentage of the population (13%) and supposed share of violent crime they commit (50%).
Abbasi denied these accusations of bigotry. He claimed he didn’t remember everything he was alleged to have written (without necessarily denying his authorship, either), while also offering a second more general defence of his behaviour: this was the internet, he argued, and if he thought of something funny, he’d immediately post it. If this meant writing a tweet about how a relationship with a 36-year-old woman led him to conclude that child porn sentencing is far too long, then so be it. If it meant “making up insane things to stir shit up”, then it meant just that. Abbasi admitted he couldn’t even remember what he posted 48 hours ago; it was all just a blur of posting, retweets, engagement, and likes. He has posted nearly 104,000 times over the past four years, averaging roughly 70 tweets per day (one can also assume he retweeted hundreds of replies each day). In a sense, Abbasi was telling the truth: he was lost in the sauce, living from post to post.
Many of Abbasi’s clients were less than impressed by this. The original report in the Chicago Reader was quickly amended to insert various statements from political figures whose campaigns had him, each stating his comments were unacceptable. But Abbasi doubled down, posting a series of tweets about how being cancelled “was a choice”, that he was an “alpha male” and thus above apologising for things out of principle, and that Osama Bin Laden himself taught us that people will always prefer a “strong horse” to a “weak horse.” Then, he received a “like” on one of his tweets from Elon Musk and declared that the era of his cancellation had ended.
* Speaking of fruitless, Mayor Lightfoot’s YouTube video on Paul Vallas has garnered just 116 views in 22 hours…
* As we discussed the other day, a poll taken in late January and early February found that the Chicago Teachers Union had a 57% favorable rating from likely Chicago voters and a 40 percent unfavorable rating. Only Gov. JB Pritzker had a more favorable rating among people and groups tested (65-33). The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police’s rating came in at 35 percent favorable and 55 percent unfavorable. And Darren Bailey received 15.5 percent of the Chicago vote last year.
With all that in mind, here’s Eric Zorn…
The trailer for the Illinois Policy Institute’s documentary criticizing the Chicago Teachers Union is posted in advance of the YouTube release on Monday. I do not think it was wise of the IPI to trot out Charles Thomas — former respected TV political reporter turned paid Republican mouthpiece — to boost interest in the film.
* In the grand scheme of things, DoorDash is a relatively small player, contributing about $100K since mid-November…
Here’s the thing…it’s just so brazen. This delivery app isn’t donating $1k and sponsoring some charitable projects in wards too to generate goodwill & friendly ears. The DD tech bros are just dumping buckets of campaign cash to elected officials who can block local regulation.🙄 https://t.co/cJq0Znxoju
— Chicago Bars (@chicagobars) February 9, 2023
But every little bit helps.
* Shenanigans…
UPDATE: We received a statement from @ChicagoDOT.
"CDOT is aware of the issue and is in contact [with] the contractor to remove the signage. Chicago’s municipal code prohibits advertising messages on any construction canopy located within the public way." https://t.co/V0GTvFNpMi
— The People’s Fabric (@peoplesfabric) February 8, 2023
…Adding… Forgot to post this…
2/ These new schedules decimated blue line service even further. Rush hour service was cut by more than 50%, and weekends now see a 15 minute headway during the day - up from 6 minutes, making it the worst weekend L line (along with the yellow).
— Commuters Take Action (@ctaaction) February 9, 2023
* Isabel’s roundup…
* Tribune | Paul Vallas campaign defends his son, 1 of 3 police officers who fatally shot a man in Texas last year: Vallas often talks about his son, San Antonio cop Gus Vallas, on the campaign trail, noting that they are a family of public servants with close ties to police. But the family relation arose in a starker context after the Triibe, a news site focused on Black Chicago, published a story about Gus Vallas’ role in a 2022 incident where three San Antonio police officers shot and killed a Black man who police said was wanted on felony warrants.
* Tribune | CPS teachers: Student and family needs are the backbone of Chicago educators’ fight: Matt Paprocki, president of the IPI, asserts that CTU leadership cares only about politics and not students. He has conveniently divorced the union’s politics from the needs of our students and school communities. But in reality, they are the same. Our so-called “political positions” and “aggressive” bargaining positions are driven by what we know our students, their families and our staff need to be successful.
* Bloomberg | Chicago’s Population Shift Puts Latinos at Heart of Mayoral Race: Hispanics surpassed Chicago’s Black population in 2020.
* Chalkbeat | Mayoral hopeful Brandon Johnson promises students free transit, more staff: Johnson, a current Cook County commissioner, unveiled his vision for Chicago Public Schools Wednesday afternoon at a City Club of Chicago luncheon. His plan includes free bus and train rides for students on the Chicago Transit Authority, expanding opportunities for students through partnerships with City Colleges and trade schools, and having under-enrolled schools share space with child care and health clinics.
* Tribune | Want to vote early in Chicago? Here’s how and where to cast your ballot before Feb. 28.: Voters across Chicago will be making their picks for mayor, alderman, city treasurer, clerk and, for the first time, representatives on police district councils. Some voters also will be asked local referendum questions.
* Sun-Times | Watch: Sun-Times, WBEZ and U Chicago host Chicago mayoral forum: Watch the second of two mayoral forums hosted by the Sun-Times, WBEZ and University of Chicago, featuring mayoral candidates Roderick Sawyer and Ja’Mal Green.
[Headline explained here.]
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 12:12 pm
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Can anyone play this game?
That’s all I got on this race. Everyone seems to be playing to not lose.
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 12:15 pm
Is the IPI Paprocki related to the Springfield Catholic bishop by the same name?
Comment by Stormsw7706 Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 12:21 pm
“I do not understand this campaign.”
Seems to be doing just enough to keep any other candidate with whom he might agree on policy from winning.
“Abbasi doubled down, posting a series of tweets about how *** he was an ‘alpha male’”
In my experience, anyone who describes himself as an “alpha male” ain’t.
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 12:22 pm
Not sure if Pat Quinn moves the needle much for a guy who has run what can be charitably described as a lackluster campaign.
Comment by regular democrat Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 12:24 pm
I said this elsewhere but maybe Quinn got to know Vallas to0 well during that campaign.
Comment by Big Dipper Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 12:25 pm
I actually prefer a less strong smelling horse than a more strong smelling horse.
Comment by Betty Draper’s cigarette Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 12:25 pm
Alpha males are obvious…fakers too…they’re the (loud) ones trying to convince others…and themselves?
Take a look at what “alpha males” have created.
All Yang and no Yin create one big mess…no doubt.
Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 12:29 pm
That Blue Line schedule is just horrible. It’s packed during rush hour, and a great train for anyone to take weekends during the summer. What about people from O’Hare too? It’s a great example of why this City needs new leadership.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 12:36 pm
I am a “Alpha Male” and averaging roughly 70 tweets per day is the very definition of contradiction.
Get of twitter dude
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 12:46 pm
Brown line rider here. It’s been bad recently. Waiting for Kimball trains in the loop for 15 minutes during the evening rush is ridiculous. The entire Loop workforce is trying to jam into the cars between 5:00 and 6:00pm, which are almost full by the time they get to each stop downtown. It’s a mess.
Mondays and Fridays there are noticeably fewer riders. T-W-Th are packed.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 12:47 pm
Pat Quinn, bless his trouble-making heart, has always been a populist leftist. so it’s no surprise that he would endorse chuy.
I agree with “regular democrat,” who suggested Quinn’s endorsement is the equivalent of a non-event.
Comment by jim Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 12:48 pm
== Lightfoot’s YouTube video on Paul Vallas has garnered just 116 views in 22 hours…==
I watch a fair amount of Chicago TV news and I have yet to see an attack ad on Vallas. (Maybe they’re on digital platforms?) The abortion and “he’s-a-Republican” hits might be effective, but we’ll never know if averages voters don’t see it.
Comment by TNR Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 12:49 pm
===I do not understand this campaign.===
The Congressional campaign finally decided to return the tainted cash from Sam Bankman-Fried, extending the story for much much longer than necessary. In tennis, they call that an unforced error.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 12:50 pm
Hi! I’m Brandon Johnson’s policy agenda or the same five things CTU has been screaming about since 2011. Cheers!
Comment by Brandon Johnson’s Policy Agenda Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 12:51 pm
People do had politicians, but it is true that LL’s relationship with Springfield has been horrible so words that Chuy’s would be better hits with some people.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:01 pm
I don’t know who will win the Mayor’s race, but I know it won’t be Chuy.
Comment by You Can't Win With Pat Quinn Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:02 pm
Abbasi gives off incel vibes.
Comment by Big Dipper Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:03 pm
Chuy has put together an impressive political operation, mostly behind the scenes, that has a good record of winning aldermanic and legislative races. But he’s always been a less than electric campaigner and a lackluster legislator. That part of him has been exposed in this mayoral race. It was obscured eight years ago when he benefited from being the anti-Rahm underdog.
Comment by TNR Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:05 pm
Quinn sees himself in Chuy - a guy that has run for everything and still thinks folks see him as the firebrand lefty he was decades ago. It’s like Woody Allen casting Jesse Eisenberg as the lead.
Comment by Montrose Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:06 pm
If PQ had chosen Chuy over Vallas back in the day, we may not have had a Gov Rauner.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:10 pm
Alpha incel…makes my brain do the pinball machine…strange days indeed.
Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:28 pm
=I am a “Alpha Male” =
If you have to tell people, you ain’t.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:33 pm
How many people have noticed that one of Wilson’s ads about public safety includes a shot of a UK police officer? Were they just pulling photos off of the internet? (UK has a different checkerboard pattern on their hats.) I’m not saying it’s a game changer, but it certainly looks sloppy for those who noticed.
Comment by Leslie K Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:34 pm
- Abbasi gives off incel vibes. -
It’s all a bit, he’s just being funny. It’s extremely obvious to anyone that spends 5 minutes reading his posts.
Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:45 pm
==It’s all a bit, he’s just being funny.==
Is he, though.
Comment by Roadrager Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:47 pm
===Maybe they’re on digital platforms?===
So far, they’re just YouTube videos with no money behind them.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:58 pm
===he’s just being funny===
Funny how?
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 1:58 pm
PQ still has a following that can get a ton of signatures. He is also a tireless worker.
Hopefully he can get the signature folks into a get out the vote effort for Chuy. Thinking the turnout might be low and an effective get out the vote effort will be more important than usual in this crowded field.
Comment by Back to the Future Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 2:00 pm
I’d love to see Springfield take advantage of the covid-created Chicago transit crisis and blow the entire governing structure up. CTA is about to spend billions on a Red Line extension that only adds four or five stops, most of which run parallel to under-used, disinvested Metra electric stations. An effective regionally-coordinated transit strategy would not let this boondoggle happen.
Comment by Tammy Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 2:02 pm
He made me laugh…at him.
Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 2:04 pm
Leslie, it’s an ethical violation for a Chicago cop to appear in uniform in a political ad. So I bet Wilson’s people looked for a pic that would appear to voters to be CPD and still not bet in trouble.
https://news.wttw.com/2023/02/01/ethics-board-warns-candidates-don-t-use-uniformed-cops-your-ads
Comment by Big Dipper Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 2:10 pm
Get in trouble.
Comment by Big Dipper Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 2:16 pm
===Leslie, it’s an ethical violation for a Chicago cop to appear in uniform in a political ad. So I bet Wilson’s people looked for a pic that would appear to voters to be CPD and still not bet in trouble.===
Without getting into the nuance, the ethics issue is about police officers campaigning for a candidate and appearing in uniform. Which isn’t the case here. Random shots of a candidate walking or interacting with an officer are not automatically an ethics violation. And the ad includes ethically acceptable shots of actual CPD and the candidate.
Comment by Leslie K Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 2:20 pm
I’m always interested in the ethics of a candidate who served as police/fire/paramedic and shows photos of themself in uniform when the uniform is of the same city in which they are running.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 2:39 pm
See here: https://capitolfax.com/2019/09/05/paprocki-promoted-to-president-of-the-illinois-policy-institute/
Comment by Lurker Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 2:54 pm
I accidentally hit enter and that was in reply to:
- Stormsw7706 @ 12:21 pm:
Is the IPI Paprocki related to the Springfield Catholic bishop by the same name?
Comment by Lurker Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 2:56 pm
According to the actual Board of Ethics advisory, even if the cop may not be disciplined by the police department, the candidate can be disciplined for using city property or paraphernalia in campaign literature
Comment by Big Dipper Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 3:54 pm
Abassi told the Reader that he wrote those things as a twitter troll- I think that’s why the alpha male and bin laden stuff read so goofy. What he posted on twitter etc, is clearly wayyyy out there and fair game.
However, the Reader is obtaining “leaked” text messages. I’d love to know how that came about, for the most down ballot of down ballot races. I’m sure that precedent is going to really encourage more people to run for public office.
Comment by Boone's is Back Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 4:20 pm
I could see a comic being a Twitter troll. But an election-law attorney and campaign treasurer? Not too smart.
Comment by Big Dipper Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 4:59 pm
Ugh, talked to another in Chicago pal who is just so sad at the choices he has for Mayor. He is not hopeful that the runoff will be anything other than down in the mud.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Feb 9, 23 @ 8:33 pm