Illinois Democrats were poised Tuesday to approve new legislative boundaries over objections from Republicans and some community groups that the process was unnecessarily rushed and maps were drawn behind closed doors to keep Democrats in power in the state Legislature.

Tuesday’s vote is a do-over of legislative maps that majority Democrats approved and Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed earlier this year. Those maps prompted lawsuits from top Illinois Republicans and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, a Latino civil rights organization, who argued that the maps were flawed and unconstitutional because they were based on population estimates from the American Community Survey rather than the 2020 census.

With the release of census data in August, Democratic leaders said the legislative maps would be adjusted and the Legislature would return to Springfield for another vote. That could ensure Democrats continue to control the map-making process, rather than risk having a judge throw out the maps or allow a bipartisan commission to take over the job — a process that could end with Republicans having the final say.

The new maps, which House and Senate Democrats posted online for the first time Monday afternoon, will be used in state legislative elections for the next decade. The state House passed the measure late Tuesday with no GOP “yes” votes. It now moves to the Illinois Senate, where Democrats also hold a supermajority.

Illinois Democrats have not yet voted on new congressional district boundaries, but with the state losing a congressional seat due to population loss, they are expected to eliminate a GOP-held district and try to make other districts more friendly to Democrats. Illinois is one of the few states where Democrats fully control the redistricting process, and it will play a key role in Democrats’ efforts to keep the U.S. House majority next year. The party’s approach to state legislative map-making — barreling ahead even amid opposition from typical allies — suggests they will be equally aggressive with congressional boundaries.

Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, a Democrat from Cicero who leads the House Redistricting Committee, said Monday that the new legislative boundaries “better reflect the data we recently received from the U.S. Census and ensure communities are represented by the people of their choice.”

Republicans have blasted Democrats, saying hastily called and sparsely attended public hearings held over the past week were a sham because boundaries were already being drawn in a secret, Democrat-controlled process.

Witnesses who testified at those hearings urged Democrats to post proposed maps and give the public as much as 30 days — or more — to weigh in before a vote is taken.

Ami Ghandi, senior counsel for the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, told members of the redistricting committees that it was “unreasonable” to expect voters to provide input without maps to react to. The Rev. Robin Hood, representing Black voters in Chicago, said people felt “disgust” at being left out of the process.

Jay Young, executive director of Common Cause Illinois, said the maps the Legislature will vote on Tuesday “will not be crafted of public input, but of pure politics.”

“At each opportunity in this redistricting process, it’s as if lawmakers went out of their way to ensure the creation of these maps had as little public input as possible,” Young said.

Legislators have historically used census data for redistricting, or the process of redrawing political maps every 10 years to reflect changes in population and ensure, among other things, that districts are roughly equal in population. But with the release of 2020 census data delayed this year because of the pandemic, Democrats opted to use the American Community Survey to meet a June 30 deadline set in the state constitution.

If the Legislature didn’t meet that deadline, an eight-member commission would be created with an equal number of Democrat and GOP lawmakers. If that group were unable to approve a map, a ninth member would be picked at random to break the tie.

Republicans are hoping that a federal judge will throw out Democrats’ maps and order that process begin.

The Illinois Constitution doesn’t set a deadline for congressional district maps to be approved, so legislators opted to wait for the census data before drawing those maps.

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CITY HALL — A massive mixed-use development that would bring Goose Island its first residential units in decades and a 300-key hotel is expected to get an initial OK from the city during Thursday’s Plan Commission meeting.

The proposal by the Vancouver-based Onni Group would bring 2,650 new residential units, 300 hotel rooms, commercial and retail space, 1,400 parking spaces and open space to 901 N. Halsted St. along the Chicago River in the 27th Ward.  

Related: Controversial O’Hare area apartments, Goose Island mega-site among new proposed developments  

Members of the Chicago Plan Commission during their 9 a.m. Thursday meeting are expected to consider the Goose Island development among proposals for thousands of new residential units in the city’s downtown area and a proposal to change development regulations in the Illinois Medical District for the first time since 1997.  

Onni’s multi-year Goose Island development would leave the southern portion of the largely industrial island looking starkly different than it does today, with a Greyhound Bus maintenance building currently on the site. Onni bought the maintenance facility for $38 million in February 2019, the Tribune reported at the time.  

The development, dubbed Halsted Pointe, is proposed to include five towers ranging from a 28-story hotel to a 65-story residential building. Three additional residential buildings would stand at 30, 45 and 46 stories. Four “activated mid-rise” buildings would be built next to the towers. 

Chicago’s North Branch Framework Plan, approved by city leaders in 2017, allows homes to be built on Goose Island for the first time in decades.   

Additionally, Halsted Pointe would offer 3.8 acres of “usable and thoughtfully designed open areas” including landscaping and new trees, according to the planning department presentation. Buildings in Halsted Pointe are designed to include landscaped decks, terraces and plazas to appeal to pedestrians.   

Onni is also planning to prioritize open space along the river and bring more than 1,300 linear feet of publicly accessible Riverwalk to the development.  

According to the proposal, Onni is planning to build on-site all of the 530 units of affordable housing required by the city’s Affordable Requirements Ordinance. The developer had previously cited the city’s Affordable Requirements Ordinance when they backed out of an initial deal to buy the bus facility for $50 million.  

Halsted Pointe will be privately funded and will not receive any tax-increment financing benefits. The development will contribute $19.3 million to the city’s Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, $4.1 million to the Local Impact Fund and $2.4 million to the Citywide Adopt-A-Landmark.  

Halsted Pointe is projected to bring with it 9,782 construction-related jobs.  

Nearly 2,000 Residential Units Proposed For 42nd Ward  

The plan commission is also set to consider a proposal (O2021-1954) by Jamal Properties to build a two-tower mixed-use development with 1,053 residential units and commercial space at 601 W. Monroe St. on the Near West Side in the 42nd Ward.  

The developer is planning to build the development in two phases, beginning with a 535-foot tower with 537 residential units, 400 parking spaces and commercial space on the ground floor, according to a planning department presentation. A 465-foot tower with 516 residential units, 30 parking spaces and ground-floor commercial space would be built in the development’s second phase.  

The site is currently used for surface parking, according to the presentation.  

Since filing their initial planned development application in May, Jamal Properties used public feedback to add a public dog park, widened sidewalks along Des Plaines Street and made adjustments to reduce construction disruptions on traffic, according to the presentation.  

Jamal Properties is proposing to build on-site 26 of the 105 affordable units required by the city’s Affordable Requirements Ordinance. The developer will pay a $14.8 million “in-lieu” fee for the remaining units.   

Separately, the commission will consider a proposal (O2020-6237) from Chicago Condo Collection (C3) to build a mixed-use residential, commercial and hotel development at 525 S. Wabash Ave. in the 42nd Ward.   

C3 is proposing the development to include a 24-story tower and a 36-story tower that will combine for 777 residential units, 405 hotel rooms, 41,000 square feet of amenity space and 151 parking spaces.   

The development began as a three-tower proposal in August 2019, but the developer has since shifted to two taller towers, according to a presentation from the city’s planning department.  

All 78 affordable housing units required under the city’s Affordable Requirements Ordinance would be built on site and would be affordable to householders earning up to 60 percent of the area median income, the presentation shows. The affordable units would comprise 39 studios, 26 one-bedrooms, six two-bedrooms and seven three-bedroom units, according to the presentation.   

The $350 million development is projected to generate 400 construction jobs and 200 permanent jobs.  

More Than 700 Housing Units Proposed For 2nd Ward  

Plan Commissioners are also set to consider three separate proposals that would bring a total of 785 new residential units to the 2nd Ward on the Near North Side.   

Quick’s LLC is proposing (O2021-2144) a two-phase development at 1120-1130 N. State St., beginning with a 345-foot-tall, 304-unit residential building, according to a presentation from the planning department. The residential tower would also include 10,000 square feet of commercial space and 132 parking spaces. The development’s second phase is set to include 21,700 square feet of commercial space.  

The development would replace a two story, single-use retail development, according to the presentation.  

Since the proposal was submitted in May, the developer has incorporated community feedback by lowering density, shortening the building and removing second-floor retail. The developer plans to build eight of the required 30 affordable units on-site and contribute a $4.1 million “in-lieu fee” for the remaining units.  

A separate proposal (​​O2021-1968) from FRC Reality would bring a 39-story residential tower with 303 units, 3,698 square feet of commercial space and 124 parking spaces at 125 W. Maple St. According to a presentation from the planning department. The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral and a six-unit apartment building and coach house will remain at 1015 N. LaSalle St.  

Since submitting its application in May, FRC Realty has incorporated public feedback by reducing density from 406 residential units to 303 units, dropped the building height by about 40 feet, increased setbacks and made safety improvements, according to the presentation.  

FRC Realty plans to build on-site eight of the required 30 affordable units and pay $4.1 million in-lieu fee for the remaining units.  

Vista Property Holdings is proposing (O2021-2001) to build a 21-story, 178-unit residential building with 7,530 square feet of ground floor commercial space and 53 parking spaces at 739-755 N. Wells St.  

The developer is planning to build five of the required 18 affordable units on-site and pay a $2.4 million fee-in-lieu for the remaining units, according to a planning department presentation.  

Illinois Medical District changes  

A proposal (O2019-1502) from Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) and Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) would amend development regulations for the Illinois Medical District planned development bound by Congress Parkway, Ashland Avenue, Palina Street, 15th Street, Wood Street, 14th Street and Damen Avenue.  

The change would mark the first time the Illinois Medical District planned development has been amended since 1997 and would “reflect current planning priorities and development patterns,” according to a presentation from the city’s planning department.  

Changes would rezone the planned development from a C1-2 to C2-5 district, which would increase the maximum floor-to-area ratio and expand the permitted uses, according to the presentation. Other amendments would make the city’s Affordable Requirements Ordinance and minority and women hiring standards applicable to the medical district.   

The 373-acre planned development area encompasses four major hospitals: Cook County, Rush, UIC and the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center. It also includes the University of Illinois Medical School and Hospital and several other institutional uses.  

Currently, the area faces challenges of land-use regulations that limit development to mostly medical, institutional and educational development which do not support the “trend towards mixed-use development,” according to the presentation.  

Additionally, officials said “vague development regulations” fail to address “specific development visions.” The current regulations support “suburban-style office development” with large setbacks and hefty parking requirements. And the area’s “outdated development regulations often require complex administrative relief processes,” according to the presentation.  

Plan Commissioners are also expected to consider the following agenda items on Thursday:  

• A proposal (O2021-1983) from The Michaels Development Company and DL3 Realty to build a 60-foot mixed-use multi-family residential building at 835-61 E. 63rd St. in Woodlawn in the 20th Ward. The development would include 56 residential units, two “live/work” units, retail space and 40 parking stalls, according to the agenda. Forty-one of the building’s units, or 70 percent, will be built as affordable with nine units each for households earning up to 30 percent and 50 percent of the area median income and 23 units for households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income, according to a planning department presentation. 
   
• A proposal (SO2016-4798) from CMK Companies to build a 305-foot-tall residential building with 299 units and ground-floor commercial space at 1354-1408 S. Wabash Ave. on the Near South Side in the 3rd Ward. The proposal includes an interior “pocket park” with multiple points of access “to tie the park into the surrounding neighborhood,” according to a planning department presentation. The developer is planning to build on-site eight of the required 30 affordable housing units and pay a $4.1 million fee in-lieu of the remaining 22 units, according to the presentation. 
   
• A proposal (O2021-2456) from DAC Development to build a 19-story building with 288 residential units and 4,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space at 1201 W. Washington Blvd. on the Near West Side in the 27th Ward. The developer plans to build on-site all 58 of the affordable units required by the site’s location in the Affordable Requirements Ordinance Near North Pilot Area, according to a planning department presentation. Half the units will be targeted to households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income, and half will be targeted to households earning up to 100 percent of the area median income, according to the presentation. 
   

• A proposal (O2020-4542) by Whitecap Lofts to rehab the vacant building at 1819 N. Major Ave. in the Armitage Industrial Corridor in the 29th Ward to make way for commercial and industrial tenants to move in. The developer is planning to do “significant” interior and exterior rehab work and add an interior 139-space ground-floor parking garage, according to a planning department presentation. The seven-story, 338,397-square-foot building was home to the White Cap Co. from 1932 to the early 2000s and has been vacant for more than 10 years, according to the presentation. The planning department recommends approval of the development which “will facilitate investment to increase the economic health and availability of jobs in the corridor” and “support occupancy trends showing growth in industrial office uses,” according to the presentation. 
   
• A proposal by Harold Hayes and Robert Gecht to build a 32-unit apartment building at 4901 N. Paulina St. in the 47th Ward. The developers separately filed an application (O2021-3111) to amend the surrounding planned development so their apartments plan can move forward. 
   
• A proposal from the Chicago Department of Transportation to rebuild and rehabilitate four bridges in the Montrose Harbor area in the 46th Ward. Two of the bridges are located on Simonds Drive, one is on Wilson Drive and one is on Montrose Avenue. According to a presentation from the city’s Department of Planning and Development, the “modernized” bridges will be accessible to people with disabilities.   
• A proposal from the Chicago Park District to restore the North Pond Nature Sanctuary at 2610 N. Canon Dr. in the 43rd Ward. The restoration project would include dredging, landscape restoration and new pathways, lighting and a new boardwalk, according to a presentation from the city’s planning department. As of July 21, the Lincoln Park Conservancy reported it had more than $6.8 million of the $7.3 million project donated or pledged. The Lincoln Park Conservancy in the same update projected dredging of the pond could begin “later in the fall.” 

Get more in-depth, daily coverage of Chicago politics at The Daily Line.

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TGIF, Illinois. Playbook will not publish Monday through Sept. 6. We’ll be back in your inbox Sept. 7. Stay safe and stay cool.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Republican Mark Curran, who lost the U.S. Senate race in 2020 to Sen. Dick Durbin, says God wants him to run for the Illinois Supreme Court, so he’s following the call.

“We are taking on the Establishment, the Party Hacks, the Freemasons and those that could care less that Individual Liberty and Conscience Protection are no longer cherished or protected,” he told supporters in an email that was forwarded to Playbook.

Mark Curran, a former Lake County sheriff who ran for Senate last year, is eyeing a run for the Illinois Supreme Court. | PBS screen shot

Curran served as Lake County sheriff for 12 years and before that was a prosecutor in the state attorney general’s Office. In 2020, Durbin won 55 percent of the vote to Curran’s 39 percent. Willie Wilson, a Republican who ran as an Independent, took 4 percent of the vote.

Curran, who hasn’t yet formally filed to run, would run for the the seat held by Justice Robert Thomas, who retired last year. The Second District encompasses Lake, McHenry, Kane, Kendall and Dekalb counties. Another Republican, Lake County Judge Daniel Shanes, also is running.

Democrats vying for the seat: Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, Kane County Judge René Cruz, and Lake County Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Rochford.

In his note to supporters, Curran wrote: “A Republican should win. There are only 7 spots on the Illinois Supreme Court. There is zero pressure if I/We carry out the plan.”

Claiming he’s “disliked equally by the insiders of both parties,” Curran added: “This is not my dream job nor is it something I ever contemplated running for. I always viewed a Judge as like a Referee and much less fun than a litigator. Yet, I worry about my Judgment and I believe God wants me to make this run.”

The two explosions in Afghanistan that killed 13 American troops and dozens of Afghan civilians in an attack by ISIS yesterday were a chilling reminder of what could be in store for the country.

Biden vowed retribution, saying, “To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: We will not forgive.” POLITICO’s Myah Ward reports.

Yesterday was “the darkest day” of his presidency, report POLITICO’s Natasha Korecki and Tina Sfondeles. “As the first reports came in about explosions around Kabul, officials were confronted with a deluge of information, prompting senior officials to remind staffers to ferret out facts from the speculation and chatter. During one staff meeting, sniffles could be heard as various staffers fought back tears when they learned of the U.S. deaths, according to a person close to the situation. One White House official described the pace of the day’s events as overwhelming.”

Illinois’ congressional delegation responded, too: Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin called the attacks “heinous” and said the U.S. should “continue to evacuate Americans and others from Afghanistan. Any delay from the timetable will open us up to more dangers,” he said in a statement.

Rep. Mike Quigley (D-5th), who sits on the influential House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, called the attack “devastating” and that the U.S. has a “moral obligation to welcome Afghans who assisted US forces over the past two decades and who now face significant risk,” he said in a statement.

Rep. Brad Schneider (D-10th) called on the U.S. “to expand its operational capabilities and capacities to evacuate all U.S. citizens and their families who desire to leave Afghanistan.”

Rep. Darin LaHood (R-18th), also a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said the “nightmare events” should be a “wake-up call” to Biden to reverse the “arbitrary deadline” to get Americans out by month’s end, according to a statement.

And Rep. Mary Miller (R-15) said “Pray that we get every American home as soon as possible.”

RELATED

Biden will meet with governors willing to help Afghan refugees, by the Associated Press.

Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: [email protected]

At SIU Student Services Building at 8:30 a.m. for the Carbondale Mixer hosted by Southern Illinois University and the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce. At 5:30 p.m. he’ll kick off the Du Quoin Illinois State Fair with an official ribbon cutting. And at 6 p.m. he’ll be at the fair for the Twilight Parade.

At John Hancock College Prep High School at 9:30 a.m. for a tour then joining Chicago Public School’s Interim CEO José Torres and 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn for a 9:45 a.m. ribbon-cutting at the school.

At Brookfield Zoo at 10:30 a.m. Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson for his Family Health Day Friday event that provides vaccines and raises awareness of county health and safety services.

— Face facts: Indoor mask mandate back because of those who refuse to get vaccinated, Pritzker says: “Pritzker laid out some grim statistics that led to his decision: From January through July, 98% of the state’s Covid-19 cases, 96 percent of the coronavirus hospitalizations and 95 percent of the deaths are among the unvaccinated,” by Sun-Times’ Rachel Hinton.

— Making it official: Pritzker mandates vaccines for teachers, college students and health care workers, and imposes indoor mask mandate for all, by Tribune’s Rick Pearson, Lisa Schencker and Joe Mahr.

— Column: The willfully unvaccinated are about to see their world shrink, by Tribune’s Rex Huppke.

— Northwestern Medicine acts; now all major Chicago-area hospital systems have vaccine mandates, reports Sun-Times’ Maudlyne Ihejirika.

— Durbin pushes Debra Shore for appointment over EPA chief’s pick, sources say: “The job overseeing about 1,000 workers at EPA’s Chicago branch does not even require Senate confirmation. But Sen. Dick Durbin’s (D-Ill.) lobbying of administration officials has heightened the drama around an otherwise relatively obscure appointment. EPA Administrator Michael Regan this summer recommended to the White House Micah Ragland, an Obama-era EPA official favored by environmental justice advocates, the officials said. But Durbin in recent weeks lobbied the White House instead to pick Debra Shore, a Chicago water official with whom he has long been allied, they said,” by POLITICO’s Alex Guillén and your Playbook host.

— A new bipartisan bill filed by House Ag member Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) and other lawmakers on Thursday aims to support higher blends of biofuels and reduce carbon emissions from vehicles by requiring high octane fuels. Farm and ethanol groups are backing the legislation, although the American Coalition for Ethanol took issue with “faulty carbon accounting” in the bill that would leave out some biofuel producers.

East Moline considering $49M in bonds to pay down pension liability: “City Administrator Doug Maxeiner said the new strategy could save the city $30 million over the next two decades and residents’ taxes would not be affected. The city will hold a public hearing to hear residents’ comments on the proposal at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at City Hall,” by Quad-City Times’ Sarah Watson.

— A future statue could honor Obama’s connection with Springfield: “State Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, a member of the task force, said he disagreed with Obama on many issues but would like to see Obama honored with a statue on the Capitol grounds,” by State Journal-Register’s Dean Olsen.

— Frerichs says pandemic has ‘forged creativity’: “The Covid-19 pandemic has helped locally-owned businesses learn to adapt — whether it be working from home or going to a more online environment, according to Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs,” by The Telegraph’s Dylan Suttles.

— Du Quoin State Fair ready to welcome guests; masks required in most settings, including Grandstand concerts, by The Southern’s Les O’Dell

— Police union boss slammed for comparing vaccine mandate to Holocaust: “After FOP president John Catanzara compared the vaccine mandate for city employees to Nazi Germany, the mayor, Jewish groups and even a Chicago cop called his comments offensive,” by Sun-Times’ Satchel Price and Tom Schuba.

The Illinois General Assembly’s Jewish Caucus is calling on Catanzara to apologize and resign: “In a long career of inappropriate comments, John Catanzara has truly outdone himself. Leave aside the fact that he’s wrong about vaccine mandates—they’re a vital public health instrument, especially for government workers with whom the public has no choice about interacting. But the comparison of vaccine mandates to the Nazi genocide is despicable,” the caucus said in a statement released this morning.

… Lightfoot rips police union head after he compared vaccine mandate to the Holocaust, by Tribune’s Gregory Pratt.

— Plan Commission backs downtown, Goose Island projects: “The panel also approves other proposals that would create multifamily buildings amid debate about affordability levels,” by Sun-Times’ David Roeder.

— Black Caucus mapmaker wants to preserve 18 majority African-American wards: “In the 2020 Census, Hispanics became Chicago’s largest minority. Their population increased to 819,518. Chicago’s Black population dropped by 86,413 — to 801,195. And the city’s white population dropped by by 226,578, to 986,280,” by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman.

— Supt. Brown moves to fire 4 cops implicated in alleged choking incident: “One of the officers, Louis Garcia, already faces a criminal charge of official misconduct for allegedly placing his hands over a detainee’s neck in the back of a squad car in 2019,” by Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba.

— Washington Park beautification project brings flower farm to South Side: “Southside Blooms has turned an empty lot in Washington Park as a flower farm with a solar-powered irrigation system,” by Sun-Times’ Cheyanne M. Daniels.

— Chicago shelters are full again — And struggling to save pets’ lives: “In April 2020, every animal was adopted from Chicago animal control for the first time. Now, shelters and rescue groups are struggling as they’re “inundated” with animals in need,” by Block Club’s Maia McDonald.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office has started its own story-telling project to call attention to the work being done in Chicago’s neighborhoods to curb violence. The first installment, a video that will be showcased on the city’s social media channels starting today, features Norman Kerr, the director of Violence Reduction in the mayor’s office.

Kerr tells his story of immigrating from Jamaica, growing up in Rogers Park and having adults through his youth that cared for him, something that’s missing from so many who are victims of violence today.

The video appears as a news feature with Cesar Rodriguez, a former broadcast journalist who is now the mayor’s press secretary, conducting an interview.

The project is designed to show behind-the-scenes work that Kerr is doing, Rodriguez told Playbook. “They’re the stories that don’t make it into the news about the nuts and bolts of what’s being done in the neighborhoods.” The first episode is in West Garfield Park and upcoming episodes will showcase North Lawndale, Little Village and Back of the Yards.

This isn’t a campaign video, but Kerr does give some props to his boss, saying, “Mayor Lightfoot has already shown that she’s different than any previous mayor. The way she’s talked about street outreach, we’ve never heard any elected official talk about that before. These are proven strategies.”

Judge rules Kim Foxx can’t be called to testify in the Smollett trial: Jussie Smollett’s attorneys “will be able to tell jurors about the guns, including an AR-15, that were found after police searched the home of key witnesses the Osundairo brothers — one of whom has a felony conviction,” reports Tribune’s Megan Crepeau.

— Cook County court website still down after breach caused visitors to be rerouted to an ‘NFL-related’ page: “In a statement, Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez said authorities were still investigating the Aug. 13 “unauthorized activity” … She added that there was no ransomware request suspected and no personal information or court records were affected because those are on a separate server,” by Tribune’s Alice Yin.

— Special prosecutor to take over cases involving alleged misconduct by ex-Chicago detective: “Cook County’s top criminal judge has already recused herself and her peers from the cases, in which a retired CPD detective — the spouse of another judge — is accused of framing defendants,” by Sun-Times’ Andy Grimm.

— Gunfight outside Kankakee courthouse leaves 2 dead, 1 seriously wounded. One man is charged with murder: “It’s shocking for us to see that,” Kankakee Police Chief Robin Passwater said of a shooting occurring so close to an area with a heavy police presence. “It just shows what’s going on nationwide … there’s no respect for others’ lives.” Tribune’s Mariah Rush, Stacy St. Clair and Paige Fry report.

— Illinois Supreme Court Rules Markham Mayor Roger Agpawa May Remain In Office Despite Felony Conviction: “Agpawa ran and won office in 2017 but spent half his time fighting to get sworn in. Then-Gov. Bruce Rauner stepped in and restored his citizen’s rights,” via CBS/2.

Illinois Republicans have reason for concern, optimism heading into 2022: “[D]efeat in 2022 isn’t inevitable, with some arguing that the right candidate with the right message and enough financial support can defeat a Democratic governor in a year where Republicans are poised to do well nationally,” writes Lee Enterprises’ Brenden Moore. WITH VIDEO FROM THE FAIR.

Time’s Up CEO Tina Tchen resigns in wake of Cuomo scandal: Tchen, an attorney in Chicago, was “target of ire from Time’s Up supporters” over the idea she had offered possible help to the former New York governor, who resigned Monday, three weeks after an investigation overseen by New York’s attorney general concluded he sexually harassed at least 11 women, by the Associated Press

— Supreme Court halts Biden eviction moratorium, by POLITICO’s- Katy O’Donnell and Josh Gerstein.

…The move comes a day after Pritzker extended an eviction moratorium to mid-September or later, reports the Sun-Times Rachel Hinton.

— Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd speaks out on fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt, by POLITICO’s Nicholas Wu Katherine Tully-McManus.

— ‘It nearly killed me:’ Michael Caputo’s Life After Years Fighting for Trump, by POLITICO’s Michael Kruse.

Tonantzin Carmona is joining the Brookings Institution as a David M. Rubenstein fellow. The two-year fellowship is awarded to 10 early-and mid-career scholars to study local, national, and global policy issues. Carmona recently graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and worked in the offices of Chicago’s Mayor and City Clerk, as well as in Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s office.

THURSDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Jimmy Dean, the former mayor of Johnston City, for correctly answering that William Rodriguez was the first Latino elected to the Chicago City Council. It was 1914.

TODAY’s QUESTION: How was Daniel Boone connected to Chicago politics? Email to [email protected]

Today: Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, DuPage County Board member Greg Hart, lobbyist John R. Daley, FDD’s Rich Goldberg, Illinois Health and Hospital Association Government Relations Director Amy Barry, and POLITICO Associate Editor for States and Editor of Illinois Playbook Darius DIxon.

Saturday: Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26th), and PR pro Marilyn Katz.

Sunday: state Sen. Dale Fowler (59th), former state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger (now Technology and Manufacturing Association president), women’s activist Hedy Ratner, Chuy Garcia campaign manager Roberto Sepulveda, and Mario Treto Jr. of the state Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Aug. 30: former Lake County Board member Adam Didech.

Aug 31: Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22nd), and Clayco Economic Development director Dan Gibbons.

Sept. 1: McDonald’s Global Impact Director Ashli Nelson, and Miramar Group president and CEO Juan Ochoa.

Sept. 2: state Rep. Curtis Tarver II (25th), Real Property Consultants president Stella Black, attorney Maura Georges, journalist Jim DeRogatis, and Block Club co-founder Shamus Toomey.

Sept. 3: SEIU Political Director Candis Castillo, former Lake County Clerk Willard Helander, Strategic Energy Management’s Marianne Lalonde, Jewish United Fund Chicago’s Jason Rothstein, and journalist and historian Rick Perlstein.

Sept. 4: Former Cook County Clerk Dorothy Brown, Chicago Plan Commission member Fran Grossman, and Diversity MBA CEO Pamela McElvane.

Sept. 5: former state Comptroller Leslie Munger, Development Specialists CEO William A. Brandt Jr., Chicago State University Government Relations Director Monica Gordon, M. Harris & Co. CEO and former Tribune columnist Melissa Harris, U.S. House press secretary/digital manager Courtney Neale, and Winston Strawn Co-Executive chairman Dan Webb.

Sept. 6: Congressman Danny Davis; Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen; political data consultant Harold Moore; former Cook County Judge Jessica Arong O’Brien, and orchestra leader Stanley Paul, and Mercy Home for Boys & Girls Comms Director Mark Schmeltzer.

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ean Howard-Chicago Area Publicist- is announcing the Memorial services of former Cook County Commissioner and Chicago Alderman Robert Shaw. The 83-year-old popular figure and true giant in Chicago politics succumbed to cancer on July 22nd, in South Holland, Illinois.

A Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, August 28th at 1:00 PM. The celebration of life will be held at the Holy Temple Cathedral Church located at 15912 S. Lincoln in Harvey, Illinois. Among confirmed speakers to assist in eulogizing Commissioner Shaw includes but not limited to:

Chicago Area Publicist Sean Howard

Former Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones Jr

Former U.S. Ambassador Carol Mosley-Braun

Illinois Appellate Court Justice Nathaniel Howse Jr

Illinois State Representative Mary Flowers

Chicago 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale

Bishop Larry D. Trotter

Former Harvey Mayor Eric J. Kellogg

Dr. Willie Wilson

Commissioner Shaw was one of the most charismatic and colorful personalities in Chicago politics. He was a staunch supporter and huge proponent of the upward mobility of African Americans in Cook County. During his combined 15 years as an Alderman of Chicago’s 9th ward he has been credited with sponsoring hundreds of ordinances creating more opportunities for black businesses to excel in Chicago city government. He paved the way for African Americans to set up businesses at both O’Hara and Midway airports.

But the most popular accomplishment in which he enjoyed was along with his late twin brother, former State Senator and Dolton Mayor William Shaw, they formed a political organization that led to over 6o African American lawyers to become Circuit Court and Appellate Judges in Cook County. They did this by pushing the Illinois State Legislature to create sub-Circuits throughout African American city wards. One of which was Illinois Appellate Court Justice Nathaniel Howse Jr.

Sean Howard served as the Shaw brothers long time spokesman ranging from the Cook County Commissioner’s Office to the Village of Dolton.

“Both Robert and William Shaw took me in when I had absolutely nothing and entrusted me to represent them as their Spokesman. From that more opportunities opened for me leading to now over 17 active clients throughout Cook County. “says Howard of STH Media LTD.

Howard adds, “For the last 20 year for six days per week Commissioner Shaw and I have eaten breakfast together. Literally every morning. This morning his chair is empty, but his spirit still reigns not only within me, but for the countless African American politicians throughout Illinois.

Commissioner Shaw’s impact on politics was long and credible. Through his powerful 9th ward Regular Democratic organization countless major elected officials were able to win office. He and his powerful army of campaign volunteers delivered huge successful outcomes for powerful figures such as Former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington, Former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, Former U.S. Senator Barack Obama, Former U.S. Senator Carol Mosley Braun, just to name a few.

Robert Shaw was born July 31st, 1937, in Hope, Arkansas where his neighbor was President Bill Clinton. His family moved to Chicago’s westside in the mid-1950s where he and his brother became powerful civil rights activists who led the charge to elect the first African American Alderman in the 24th ward, Alderman Ben Lewis.

The Shaw brothers would then go further to lead demonstrations throughout the westside promoting African American political empowerment all while leading the political charge against then Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley. The Shaws were instrumental in supporting Dr. Martin Luther King’s fair housing initiative on the westside.

Robert Shaw viewed the southside of Chicago as the best place to organize an African American LED Democratic organization. In the late 1970s he and his brother William moved to Chicago 9th Ward. (Roseland) Robert Shaw was elected Alderman of the 9th ward in a landslide victory over the white incumbent, Alexander Adduci. He would then successfully run for the coveted Democratic Committeeman‘s position. His brother William simultaneously ran for Illinois State Representative and won handily.

Then Alderman Shaw became a nemesis to former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. He and Daley often publicly argued on the council floor. On one occasion, Shaw screamed at Mayor Daley so loud that Daley shut off his microphone. However, it didn’t matter because people could hear Shaw still screaming on the 6th, 7th and 8th floors of City Hall.

In 1998 Robert Shaw went on to serve as Cook County Commissioner for the Board of Review. He retired in 2008.

Commissioner Shaw leaves to cherish his wife, Wilmer Shaw. Two daughters, Lolita Cleveland and Kristen Shaw. And one son, Chad Hill.  He also leaves his wonderful nephew Victor Shaw.

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Time’s Up President and Chief Executive Tina Tchen resigned Thursday, becoming the organization’s second prominent leader to depart amid a scandal over the organization’s involvement with former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The nearly 4-year-old organization has been engulfed in crisis since earlier this month when the New York attorney general released a report detailing allegations of nearly a dozen women who accused the then-governor of harassment.

The report noted that Cuomo’s office had consulted with Time’s Up leaders earlier this year as Cuomo formulated his strategy to combat an accuser’s allegations.

Since then, some sexual assault survivors have blasted Time’s Up, saying the nonprofit has strayed from its original mission of promoting workplace safety and equality for all. Critics have questioned whether the Los Angeles-based coalition that began as a sisterhood of powerful Hollywood women can survive.

Time’s Up board members met Thursday afternoon in an emergency Zoom session, in which Tchen tendered her resignation.

“Now is the time for Time’s Up to evolve and move forward as there is so much more work to do for women,” Tchen wrote in her resignation statement posted on Twitter. “It is clear that I am not the leader who can accomplish that in this moment.”

Beginning next week, the group’s chief operating officer, Monifa Bandele, will run the organization on an interim basis. Bandele has two decades of experience in social movements and helped launch two high-profile legal cases against police misconduct in New York City.

There are no plans to hire a permanent chief executive until an outside consultant completes a review of the group’s internal controls and handling of the Cuomo matter, according to one knowledgeable insider not authorized to comment.

The Time’s Up board said in a statement that its acceptance of Tchen’s resignation “is a demonstration of accountability and will allow our organization to move forward.”

“Tina Tchen has dedicated her life to making workplaces fair and equitable for workers and safer for women. That is why we asked her to lead Time’s Up in the first place and why she has accomplished enormous changes in the two years she has served as our president,” the board said. “Tina has made a difference in the lives of so many and we are grateful for her hard work and impact.”

Tchen is a longtime corporate lawyer and former chief of staff for former First Lady Michelle Obama. She has long been active in Chicago politics and took over Time’s Up in late 2019 after its first chief executive, Lisa Borders, was forced to resign.

“Leading Time’s Up has been a hugely rewarding experience and we have accomplished much together that has made work better for women across the country,” Tchen wrote on Twitter.

“I am especially aware that my position at the helm of Time’s Up has become a painful and divisive focal point, where those very women and other activists who should be working together to fight for change are instead battling each other in harmful ways,” Tchen added.

Tchen stepped down in the wake of a Washington Post report that said she blocked the release of a statement in December in support of Lindsey Boylan, the first woman to come forward to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment. The Post article contained text messages among top Time’s Up leaders as they debated whether to get involved.

The chair of Time’s Up at the time, Roberta Kaplan, had become the point person in communications with Cuomo’s office. Kaplan consulted with Tchen over Cuomo’s response strategy.

Kaplan resigned Aug. 9 after her involvement was revealed. Her private law firm also represents a key lieutenant of Cuomo’s.

“This group has to get rid of anyone who has ties to employers, enablers, excusers — or the harassers,” said Nancy Erika Smith, a New Jersey lawyer who represents victims. “If you can’t give up being friends with the very people who have protected this type of behavior forever, then you have no place on the board of Time’s Up.”

The crisis comes four years after the Harvey Weinstein scandal galvanized the #MeToo movement, prompting a parade of Hollywood elite led by Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Shonda Rhimes and Eva Longoria to proclaim their campaign at the 2018 Golden Globes awards show. Time’s Up raised $20 million to help sex abuse victims mount legal cases.

Former members of Time’s Up and some sexual abuse victims say the group has failed the women who needed its help the most and allowed itself to be corrupted by the very power it once pledged to harness. Survivors have complained that Time’s Up has lost sight of its core mission — to advocate for safe working spaces and survivors of sexual abuse.

“Time’s Up has prioritized its proximity to power over mission,” read a letter signed by more than 100 women earlier this month.

“People who have been abused feel so alone,” said Smith, the attorney. “And if you can’t trust Time’s Up, then who can you trust?”

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by Kent Sterling
August 25, 2021

Robin Miller was happiest writing and talking about racing.

Robin Miller was to Indianapolis Sports as Mike Royko was to Chicago politics.  If you didn’t read his column in the 1980s and 1990s, you couldn’t have a sports related conversation in Indy.

The hook was that Robin did not respect authority – not in sports and not in media.  He was highly critical of Indiana Basketball coach Bob Knight, Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony  George, and a variety of bosses he maligned throughout the years.

Somehow, that included me.  I was the assistant program director at WIBC when Robin was hired to co-host a sports talk show with Jim Barbar on the station.  The hire was a no-brainer.  Robin was funny and irreverent, and had an easy rapport with Jim.

Robin was convinced I was part of the enemy cartel who could only hamper his success.  There were restrictions the Star enforced as Robin was hired – he could only work three nights per week and was unable to endorse products.  That meant the show would be inconsistent and less profitable than it would have been otherwise.

It was worth the sacrifices to have Robin a part of the station.  He was THE polarizing figure in Indy sports media, and if a professional partnership with him required a couple of allowances, that was fine.

And it was fine until Robin took the side of CART in the split between that open wheel racing series and George’s Indy Racing League.  Without getting lost in the weeds about the feud between Roger Penske’s CART and George, many people locally viewed the split as an attack on the Indianapolis 500, and Miller aligning with CART was heresy.

As a result of his well-known and poorly received assessment of the state of open wheel racing, Robin was removed from WIBC.  Robin was allowed to continue on the show for the following two weeks, and on the last night, he went after me with a vengeance.  I’ve been insulted in many ways by many people, but this level of vitriol was peculiar.  Somehow, Robin got the idea that I was responsible for his ouster.  But as assistant program director, I wielded no such authority.

Because of his diatribe, Robin was less than my favorite human being for a significant period of time.  Every once in awhile, I would come across a former colleague of Robin’s from the Star, and I would ask for their thoughts about him.  Robin didn’t seem like a bad guy, so I wanted to find out how his peers perceived him.  To a man, they all swore by him.

Everyone I could find who worked with Robin showered him with praise and most had anecdotes of generosity that painted Robin as not just a good person, but a friend.

I never spoke about any of this with Robin, because what the hell would the point be of that?  I don’t need closure for a dispute I never really had with him, and he was clearly indifferent (at best) about me, so I didn’t approach him during the many instances our paths crossed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Once, while I waited for an elevator, he said hello.  I said hello back.  I was fairly certain he hadn’t recognized me prior to the greeting.

The point of the whole thing is that I spoke to a wide variety of Robin’s former co-workers and invited them to share their thoughts, and they glowed when discussing him – even the hardened and crusty old ink-stained wretches.

Never say anything about the departed you wouldn’t say to their face, is a well-known rule about honoring those who pass.  I had no relationship with Robin when he was here, but I have heard so many first hand stories from many about how positive an influence he was upon the Indianapolis Star’s sports department, I feel compelled to share that on the day we learn of his death.

Those are tough to win over folks, and they will miss Robin a great deal.

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SPRINGFIELD — Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday signed into law two pieces of legislation aimed at helping the state’s immigrant and refugee community know their rights and ensure they have legal representation when facing potential removal.

“Everyone should feel safe and secure in the place they call home, and I remain committed to ensuring that our efforts to protect immigrant communities define what it means to live, work and thrive in Illinois,” Pritzker said in a statement.

One of the bills requires the Illinois Department of Human Services to work with other state agencies to put together a public information campaign to help educate immigrants of their rights under the U.S. Constitution and Illinois law.

That campaign will include resources such as contact information for organizations that work to help protect the rights of immigrant communities.

The legislation applies to refugees, asylum seekers and other non-citizens in Illinois, regardless of their immigration status, according to a news release. The resources will be posted in train stations, airports, highway rest stops and other high-traffic areas.

That new law takes effect immediately.

The other piece of legislation creates a process for the Cook County public defender to represent immigrants in removal proceedings in the state’s most populous county.

The new law makes sure there are no jurisdictional conflicts, such as lawsuits against the county to prevent or prohibit public defenders from representing clients in federal immigration court.

Then House Democratic candidate Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz meets with the Sun-Times Editorial Board in 2018.Rich Hein/Sun-Times file

That legislation, which takes effect in January 2022, allows public defenders in Cook County to act as attorneys for immigrants, refugees and other non-citizens without being appointed.

State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview, sponsored both bills. She said in a statement the legislation is “very personal to me” because of her background as an immigration and human rights attorney.

“Every person deserves representation in a courtroom, regardless of immigration status or income level,” she said.

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DURAND, Ill. (WTVO) — Over 20 school districts in Illinois have been put on probation for not complying with Gov. JB Pritzker’s school mask mandate, including the Durand School District.

Durand School Board President Annette DeYoung says the district is taking the stand to be a voice for their community, and says they’re going to stand behind the decision to not require students and staff to wear masks in the classroom.

“We will not make decisions out of fear,” DeYoung said on Wednesday.

Illinois Board of Education responds to schools over mask mandate: ‘Noncompliance is not an option’

Durand was one of 21 school districts across the state who received the “On Probation” designation from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

“[For] us, we want to know, do they really have the legal authority to do what they’re doing?” DeYoung said.

ISBE says school districts must submit a “corrective action plan” or be faced with losing both state recognition and funding, and finding their athletic teams barred from competition in the Illinois High School Athletics Association.

Belvidere says students who don’t wear masks will face suspension

DeYoung says that’s something they plan to face.

“We would never, ever, jeopardize our district, where we would not be recognized and the kids would suffer,” she said. “We would, I guarantee, every single board member would flip if it was going to hurt the kids. Sports, they’ve had enough taken away from them in the last two years, we would never do anything to jeopardize that.”

Illinois strips private school of recognition for not following state’s mask mandate

DeYoung says the district is fighting the state for local control, to do what the community thinks is best.

“We are standing by our decision, for now,” she said. “We were all elected for a reason, to be the voice of our community. It’s very difficult when that voice gets stifled, and the people in our community [are] feeling like they’re not being heard. Because, again, Chicago politics, Springfield politics don’t work for Durand, Illinois, especially when you have lawmakers who’ve never even heard of us and couldn’t point to us on a map.”

The ISBE says the “corrective action plan” is due to the Regional Superintendent within the next two months.

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Illinois Senate President Don Harmon tested positive for a “mild breakthrough” case of COVID-19 and was recovering from symptoms, his office announced Monday.

The Democrat from Oak Park was vaccinated in the spring. He began experiencing symptoms late last week, self-isolated and tested positive, according to a statement. His office said “contact tracing was implemented.”

“I’m even more grateful to be vaccinated, given how mild my symptoms have been,” Harmon said in a statement. “I encourage everyone to get vaccinated and also to not let their guard down as we try to get back to normal.”

Harmon, an attorney, was elected senate president last year. He was first elected to the Illinois Senate in 2002.

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A new coalition composed of business leaders and residents are calling on local leaders to throw their support behind a $2 billion proposal to help improve public transit on the West Side.

That money, according to the Westside Infrastructure and Safety Coalition, should come from the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that passed the U.S. Senate earlier this month. That federal bill still faces hurdles in the House of Representatives before it can reach President Joe Biden’s desk, but under the latest iteration of the bill, Illinois is set to receive more than $15 billion for transit, roads, bridges and other projects.

The group on Tuesday demanded U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, D-Chicago, and Mayor Lori Lightfoot not only show their support but also secure the $2 billion needed to carry out their plan.

“There have been decades and decades and decades of government neglect, government indifference, and frankly, government disrespect to the West Side of Chicago,” said Roger Romanelli, executive director of the Fulton Market Association. “There has been tremendous disrespect and lack of investment.”

The biggest chunk from their proposal is a $1.8 billion project that re-envisions Lake Street, overhauling CTA service between Laramie and Talman avenues.

The group’s plan would expand the system’s girders from the middle of the street to the sidewalk, raise the rails for better truck clearance and, in places where it can’t be raised, place appropriate signage.

Romanelli said the structure’s center-lane columns are too narrow, too low and confusing to navigate.

“I’ve never seen a street more dangerous than Lake Street,” Romanelli said

The group’s proposal also calls for $70 million for a new CTA Green Line Western Avenue station, $60 million for improving West Side human services and family resources to help prevent crime and $55 million to revamp the Kedzie Avenue Metra station.

An additional $15 million would go toward restoring a Lake Street bus, and introducing express bus service to Madison Street and Cicero Avenue.

Davis said he stands behind the coalition’s efforts to revamp the failing infrastructure on the West Side.

“They are really talking about making Lake Street a safer environment for residents and widening the system,” Davis said. “We will keep working with them toward it and we are optimistic that we’ll ultimately get there.”

Davis acknowledged challenges remain as the infrastructure bill works through the House, but he said he’s actively trying to help get it done.

“We are going to have an infrastructure bill that we can get,” Davis said. “It will not only help the Lake Street corridor on the West Side but it will also be a boon for all of America. It will create thousands of jobs, and the bottom line is I support it.”

CTA spokesman Brian Steele said the agency strongly supports new federal funding for infrastructure improvements to help meet “$13 billion in unmet capital,” but he stopped short of backing the coalition’s demands.

“The bipartisan infrastructure package under consideration will help the CTA continue to modernize and improve infrastructure across the city, [and] to ensure that public transportation remains the backbone of the regional transportation network,” Steele said.

Steele said CTA is working on a list of prioritized projects, including the long-awaited Red Line extension to 130th Street, the conversion to an all-electric bus fleet and making all rail systems accessible for people living with disabilities.

“CTA prioritizes projects based on age and condition of infrastructure, as well as current and future ridership demand, and makes investments across the city,” Steele said.

The Green Line was rehabbed in the mid-1990s and is in good structural condition, according to the agency. The line’s Morgan Street station opened in 2012 and the Chicago Department of Transportation is now building a new station at Damen Avenue.

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