An unlikely pair at the Capitol rail

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TGIF, Illinois. Happy Cinco de Mayo. Celebrate accordingly.

TOP TALKER

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Heads turned Thursday at the second-floor rail of the state Capitol. There was Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates hanging out with Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez. The unlikely duo — they’re organizations have butted heads over the years — held joint meetings with lawmakers.

“Historic” show of collaboration is how their teams referred to the meeting of the minds, according to a press release.

“We’re showing a united front. It’s about securing more resources for our schools,” Martinez told Playbook.

It was Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson’s call. “He thought it would be a good idea. … so I’m happy to comply,” Davis Gates said. “The mayor-elect is very clear about convening Chicago. … If Pedro and I can lead together, figure out how to minimize our differences and amplify our shared needs, then I think that we can show other people that this convening is possible throughout the city.”

We asked: Does their joint appearance to Springfield mean Martinez will stay on with Johnson’s administration? The CPS CEO, whose job is dictated by the mayor, says he’s “optimistic.”

Dollars and sense: The state has increased funding to school districts statewide, with Chicago getting about $27 million new dollars. CPS would like to see that number increased, said Martinez.

Emerging issue: Martinez and Davis-Gates also talked about short-term and long-term needs, as well as “emerging” needs, a reference to the increasing number of migrant children that will be part of the CPS system.

RELATED

State Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford is carrying a bill to require Illinois schools to provide an option of full-day kindergarten. “Full-day kindergarten classes across the state will ensure equal access to early learning opportunities for all our families,” she said in a statement.

GOP education goals: Republican lawmakers hope to work with Democrats to get their bills passed. HB 1213 would create a scholarship program for teachers to get master’s degrees. HB 1589 establishes a language endorsement for those fluent in foreign language to teach foreign language courses. And HB 4070 addresses class size goals for kindergarten through sixth grade.

THE BUZZ

MIGRANT CRISIS: Chicago community members are growing frustrated that asylum seekers are being located in their neighborhoods. So, there’s now a move to relocate them into Park District field houses. One City Council member even suggested McCormick Place be considered as a landing spot for the new immigrants.

On Chicago’s South Side: “Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan to house some of the city’s surging population of migrants at a former high school in the South Shore neighborhood prompted shouts by frustrated residents who said they were left out of the planning process at a packed meeting Thursday night,” reports the Tribune.

In the Rogers Park neighborhood on the North Side, migrants who had been staying at a police station were moved to the neighborhood’s Leone Beach Park.

In the Sun-Times: “We need central locations. We need large spaces. We could better utilize our staffing time if we knew we had a large space,” said Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) of Rogers Park.

“McCormick Place has lots of different facilities. If we had a large space that could accommodate, like, thousands of people, then we wouldn’t have to spend as much time kind of playing whack-a-mole on a bunch of smaller facilities,” Hadden said in the Sun-Times.

WHERE'S JB

At CSL Behring in Bradley at 11:15 a.m. to celebrate Armour Road Rebuild Illinois improvements. — At Navy Pier’s Fifth Third Bank Family Pavilion at 4 p.m. to give remarks at the 2023 Mexico Fest Inauguration Ceremony.

WHERE'S LORI

On South Western Avenue at 11 a.m. to cut the ribbon on Park District headquarters, which is part of a new 17-acre park near an INVEST South/West corridor. — At Navy Pier’s Family Pavilion at 4 p.m. for Mexico Fest.

Where's Toni

On Roosevelt Road at 10 a.m. for the “Grand Re-Opening” of the Berwyn Shops: A Homegrown Project.

Thank you for reading Illinois Playbook! Drop me a line sometime: [email protected]

THE STATEWIDES

— Illinois’ assault weapons ban back in effect for now after ruling by federal appeals judge in Chicago: “Appellate Judge Frank Easterbrook put a hold on an injunction that had been issued against the law last week by a federal judge in southern Illinois,” by Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel and Tina Sfondeles.

— Illinois’ government has spent billions in federal pandemic aid. What do some programs do when the money runs out? “With the Illinois and federal Covid-19 emergency orders ending May 11, some new programs will now seek state dollars,” by WBEZ’s Camryn Cutinello.

— Amended Native American repatriation measure heads to full Senate: “House Bill 3413 would streamline the process in which Illinois returns Native American remains and materials to their communities. The bill passed unanimously in the House in March and an amended version cleared a Senate committee unanimously this week, sending it to the full Senate for consideration,” by Capitol News’ Nika Schoonover.

— Expected cost for Illinois’ noncitizen health care program grows to $1.1B: “The cost of providing care and the number of enrollees have far outpaced estimates,” writes Capitol News’ Jerry Nowicki.

— Drug price-gouging bill passes House and now heads to the Senate, by State-Journal Register’s Patrick Keck

— 2023 most endangered historic places in Illinois revealed by Landmarks Illinois, by Peoria Journal Star’s Chris Sims

DAY IN COURT

— Aurora man charged with threatening to kill Gov. JB Pritzker in voicemail: “For government to function properly, public officials must be allowed to perform their jobs without having to worry about retribution or fear for their personal safety,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement. WTTW’s Matt Masterson reports.

CORRUPTION CHRONICLES

— Illinois GOP quick to pounce on ‘ComEd Four’ verdicts, but even party insiders say outcome might not move the needle much in deeply blue state: “Former Speaker Madigan may be gone, but we can’t forget that Illinois Democrats across the state — from Gov. JB Pritzker on down — supported, enabled and kissed the ring of Speaker Madigan,” state GOP chair Don Tracy said in a statement. Tribune’s Rick Pearson reports

— Michael McClain’s Illinois pension is suspended after ComEd bribery conviction: “The suspension against McClain, a top confidant of former House Speaker Michael Madigan, may not hold, since his crimes occurred years after his time in office,” by WBEZ’s Dave McKinney

CHICAGO

— On the road with Brandon Johnson: The mayor-elect will meet with elite Democratic donors in North Carolina and then with Illinois and “other federal officials” in Washington, reports Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet.

— Brandon Johnson ran a pro-worker, tax-the-‘ultra-rich’ campaign. Can he and business leaders find common ground? Tribune’s A.D. Quig reports

COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS

— Where did the Arlington Park regulars go? Many ended up at a Prospect Heights OTB, by Daily Herald’s Christopher Placek

— Thousands of homeowners in north and northwest Cook County facing property tax sticker shock this fall: “Figures from Schaumburg, Hanover, Barrington, New Trier and Norwood Park townships make clear homeowners are in for higher property taxes while many commercial landlords will take less of a hit,” by Illinois Answers Project’s Alex Nitkin.

Reader Digest

We asked what issue should be protested at the state capitol.

Andy Shaw: The lack of tighter anti-corruption measures.

Stephen Yoshida: “Inaction by lawmakers to root out police officers who have been recruited by fascist paramilitaries like the Oath Keepers, Three Percenters, and Proud Boys.”

Where would be a good place to locate migrants who arrive in Chicago? Email [email protected]

TAKING NAMES

— LaShonda Hunt was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as a U.S. District Court judge in the in the Northern District of Illinois.

— Jennifer Pritzker’s Tawani Foundation has given more than $1.3 million to the SETI Institute and the Field Museum in honor of earth month, via Daily Herald.

— Quentin Fulks, the former adviser to Gov. JB Pritzker and now the deputy campaign manager for President Joe Biden, talks about getting his start, mentors and the ups and downs of political campaigns, via the Staffer podcast.

THE NATIONAL TAKE

— Sinema and Tillis pitch two-year border patch as Trump-era policy expires, by POLITICO’s Daniella Diaz and Jordain Carney

— Former Trump campaign staffer subpoenaed by DOJ is now working for House committee on elections, by POLITICO’s Heidi Przybyla and Zach Montellaro

— Jury in rape trial hears from Trump — but not in person, by POLITICO’s Erica Orden

— King Charles will be crowned Saturday. Here’s everything you need to know, via CNN

TRANSITIONS

— Dana O’Leary is the new associate director at the Illinois Liquor Control Commission. She was the chief of staff at the Illinois Department of Labor.

— Jeff Beswick is now president of Clean Earth. He had been the chief commercial officer at Valicor in Chicago.

— Scott McMillin is now a partner at Nelson Mullins in Chicago. He was a partner at Benesch Law.

EVENTS

— May 13: State Reps. Kam Buckner and Curtis Tarver, state Sen. Robert Peters and Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry host a Community Baby Shower to help new parents access free resources, such as child welfare services and post-partum support. There will be free giveaways of diapers and baby clothes. RSVP here

— May 20: Congressman Danny Davis is among community leaders feting Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson at New Life Holiness Church. RSVP here

TRIVIA

THURSDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Virginia McGathey for correctly answering the Chicago Board of Trade honored Marshall Field by shutting down for a day in 1906.

TODAY’s QUESTION: What museum is the exclusive repository of the work of Carlos Cortéz? Email [email protected]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Today: Federal Judge Robert Gettleman, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Joe Panarese, businessman and former state Rep. Dwight Kay, governor’s director of fiscal operations Bill House, Cook County Board of Review Public Policy Director Charise Williams, former congressional candidate Catalina Lauf (who turns the big 3-0), attorney Drew Beres, attorney Bryan Sugar and journalist Mark Caro.

Saturday: Political consultant Frank Calabrese, University of Chicago professor of law and ethics Martha Nussbaum and candymaker Susie Riskind Thompson.

Sunday: Chicago Ald. Jason Ervin, Champaign Mayor Deb Frank Feinen, East Aurora school board member Alex Arroyo, former state Sen. Calvin Schuneman (who turns 97!), state Rep. Kam Buckner Chief of Staff Dulana Reese, Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery and After School Matters CEO Mary Ellen Caron.

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