PRITZKER FOR PRESIDENT? — GETTING IN BUDGET BINDS — MISSION: PPE

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Happy Thursday, Illinois! A year ago, Tribune political reporter Gregory Pratt was lunching with mayor-to-be Lori Lightfoot at Superdawg. Now the mayor is a meme with the restaurant’s iconic image.

TOP TALKER

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has dismissed the suggestion in the past, saying he’s focused only on Illinois, but his recent jousts with President Donald Trump about handling the coronavirus have him in a new category: potential 2024 presidential candidate.

“The daily split screen” between Trump and the nation’s governors over the pandemic “is advancing the political fortunes of a handful of Democratic state leaders, by contrasting their management of a crisis with the president’s disjointed response to it,” writes POLITICO’s David Siders.

Resume-builder: Siders quotes Doug Herman, a Democratic strategist: “When you’ve got governors with stratospheric approval ratings for their handling of the crisis, and ratings that are 20 and 30 points higher than the president’s, and you have governors from states like California and New York and Illinois leading the crisis response — all big-name, major-league governors — you’re going to see that leadership reflected in polls for the presidency in future election years... This is the kind of stuff that gets forged and built into your resume.”

THE BUZZ

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot agree on most things, especially in criticizing the White House for not doing enough to help states fight the coronavirus.

But the Illinois Democrats went in different directions Wednesday when talking about the impact the pandemic will have on their respective budgets.

During Pritzker’s daily briefing about Covid-19, in which we heard there were 42 more deaths and 986 new reported cases, the governor said the state budget he presented in February needs to be overhauled.

“It will be a vastly different budget. There’s no doubt about that,” Pritzker said. “I don’t think I could list all the changes that would need to be made to the original budget,” he said, adding his team is working to figure out “what is the revenue shortfall” and “what are the challenges we’ll go through.”

Earlier in the day, Lightfoot dismissed a suggestion made by former mayoral candidate Paul Vallas, in a Tribune op-ed, that the city faced a budget “nightmare in 2021.”

“It’s too early to know what, if any impact” there would be on the budget, Lightfoot countered. And she threw shade at Vallas, calling his claims “foolish” and saying he’s two decades out of City Hall and doesn’t know the “nuances” of the current budget.

It seemed harsh, even for a mayor who doesn’t pull punches. Vallas did endorse her, after all, after losing to her in last year’s primary.

Maybe Lightfoot has had-it-up-to-here with folks thinking they know how to fix things but it’s natural to believe Chicago — like many other cities — will have to grapple with the fiscal fallout of a disease that has shuttered so much of the economy. Even when the stay-at-home orders are lifted, the societal and economic impacts of this crisis are certain to have a long tail.

Playbook followed up with the mayor, who elaborated on why she thinks the city will be OK post-Covid-19. As she’s done previously, she pointed to Chicago’s diverse revenue base: “no revenue is more than 13 percent of the total pot, and economically sensitive revenues are only 25 percent of our annual budget,” she said in a statement.

She added: “It is also important to recognize that we are only in the first month of this crisis, and 11 days into a statewide mandatory stay at home order. No one can know how long the crisis will last or how long it will take to keep Chicagoans safe and, as a result, how long it will take the economy to recover. But what we do know is that the faster we are able to recover from COVID-19, the better for the health of Chicagoans, the better for the City’s finances, and the better for the prospects of an economic recovery.”

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WHERE'S LORI

No official public events.

WHERE'S JB

At the Thompson Center for a 2:30 p.m. press briefing. Watch here

Where's Toni

At the County Building with other government and civic leaders to announce Cook County’s emergency relief efforts for small businesses, not-for-profits and independent contractors.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Members of the Chicago City Council’s Progressive Caucus and their staffs and volunteers have been on the phones to check in with senior citizens in their wards. The aldermen have called thousands of residents, many of whom live alone.

“They’re relatively safe and healthy. But they’re alone and bored,” so the calls are a welcome relief, Ald. Michael Rodriguez told Playbook. His team included more than 100 block club leaders and others who have a list of 3,000 seniors. They’ve left messages or talked to 2,000 so far.

The aldermen check on the seniors’ well-being, making sure they have meals and that a family member or neighbor is also checking up on them.

Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza’s team delivered food to a resident the other day. “People are afraid, and they want to know we’re here and that we’re not going to leave them high and dry,” the 10th Ward alderman told Playbook.

While her staffers may contact 40 or 50 residents a day, Garza talks to about 10 because the conversations are longer. Residents want to make good use of their one-on-one time with the alderman.

“People never miss a chance to tell me about a pothole, streetlight, crack in the sidewalk or the guy who doesn’t pick up after his dog,” she said. “But no one’s been mean and they’re all grateful we call.”

TALES FROM THE HOMEFRONT

HIS TOUGHEST ACCOUNT: J.P. Valadez, a director at public affairs and communications firm Kivvit, has had to brush up on his math skills during this time of sheltering in with the family. Valadez has been helping his second grader with math, reading and art in between all the video meetings, conference calls and Slack chats with colleagues and clients. “It’s one of my most difficult accounts,” Valadez jokes about the schoolwork. “I’m totally out of my element, but the kid keeps telling me I’m his favorite,” Valadez said. “So either I am doing a good job or he’s just trying to get out of work.” The biggest challenge, Valadez said: “Common Core is something that I’m not used to. I may or may not be carrying the one.”

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

— Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been so frustrated at the inability to get enough equipment from the federal stockpile that he’s resorted to calling CEOs of major airlines to airlift personal protective equipment, or PPE, from China to Illinois, his office confirmed with Playbook. Sen. Dick Durbin told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Wednesday that Pritzker feels like “a shipping clerk” as he’s having to go “begging” airline CEOs for help securing equipment. “I’ve got a very talented governor here, and he’s dealt with big business, but to think it’s his responsibility to airlift what should have been in our national stockpile is incredible at this moment.”

— Meanwhile, The New York Times is reporting that “the federal government has nearly emptied its emergency stockpile of protective medical supplies,” which includes masks, gowns and gloves needed to treat those with the coronavirus.

— Daily case count again nears 1,000; National Guard enlisted to fight spread at Stateville: “‘We believe that we have enough to staff the first 500 beds,’ Gov. J.B. Pritzker said at his Wednesday news briefing. … The state announced 986 additional coronavirus cases Wednesday, including 42 more deaths. The statewide total now stands at 6,980 known cases spread across 56 counties, including a total of 141 deaths, according to the state Department of Public Health,” by Tribune’s Jamie Munks, Gregory Pratt and John Byrne.

— ‘I tell my wife to get away.’ Facing coronavirus fears, Chicago nurses and doctors try to protect their own families, by Tribune’s Alison Bowen.

— When will the outbreak peak in Illinois? Here are some projections: “The Tribune has found at least two models that produced significantly different predictions on when the outbreak will peak: as soon as two weeks or as long as 1 ½ months from now,” by Tribune’s Joe Mahr, Jonathon Berlin and Lisa Schencker.

— City, state leaders launch multimillion-dollar fund to help artists: “Artists and cultural institutions are facing the same economic strain as other industries because of COVID-19. But, while many companies allow employees to telework — and still get paid — there are very limited options for performers and artists to get paid when performances are canceled and venues shuttered. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday a new, multimillion-dollar fund made up of public and private money to help provide relief to the cultural sector,” by WBEZ’s Carrie Shepherd.

— Officials mull allowing medical students to graduate early, join COVID-19 fight: “Chicago students say they would be willing to pitch in if they get the OK,” by Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba.

— 62 cases of coronavirus found in 11 Lake County nursing homes, via Sun-Times.

— 167 Cook County Jail detainees test positive; and 34 staff members, too, via NBC/5

SPOTLIGHT

In 1918 and 2020, race colors America’s response to epidemics: “When the flu epidemic of 1918 came to Chicago, black people were blamed, and that blame came directly from John Dill Robertson, the city’s commissioner of public health. It wasn’t just white medical officials who engaged in this sort of blame. Robertson had a tremendous influence on the way the Chicago Tribune covered migration, and there, the prejudice was plain. Even before the pandemic reached Chicago, the Tribune’s coverage of migration was alarmist,” by the Undefeated’s Soraya Nadia McDonald.

THE JUICE

The Vote Yes for Fair Tax, which supports the November ballot measure to replace the current flat-rate income tax with a graduated levy, just received $50,000 from the Illinois Federation of Teachers COPE. It’s the second big donation from the political action committee, which in December gave $50,000 to Vote Yes for Fair Tax. Last week, the National Education Association gave $250,000, and SEIU Healthcare Illinois gave $10,000.

CHICAGO

— CHA residents get rent reprieve until April 30; Lightfoot urges private landlords to do the same: “The mayor also discussed the possibility of a parade to celebrate first-responders, health care and grocery workers after the public health crisis of a lifetime abates,” by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman.

— Where do Chicago theaters stand now? As weight of the coronavirus shutdown sinks in, some might not make it: “Some have tried to maintain small staffs or pay contracted artists for at least a week or two, others have found that impossible or inadvisable. Some are fighting to pay rent, others own their buildings. Some operate with endowments, or deep-pocketed board members who can be tapped for this rainiest of days; most do not. But without any clear sense of an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chicago’s storied theaters all are stuck in the same bind: It is against the law to do shows. They cannot do what they are set up to do and they have no box office income. And they have no idea when any of this will end,” writse Tribune’s Chris Jones.

— Favorite for police superintendent emerges as search officially narrows to three: Sources tell the Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner: Former Dallas police Chief David Brown is the leading candidate, “and a decision was imminent. Lightfoot is expected to name her choice Thursday, the sources said.”

— Chicago gets 500 complaints about nonessential businesses — hair salons, yoga studios — staying open amid coronavirus, writes Tribune’s Abdel Jimenez.

— Column: Let’s face it. We’re a little afraid of Mayor Lori Lightfoot: “Even with her wealth of political power, she has made it clear that she cannot save us from the virus — unless we are committed to saving ourselves. Lightfoot is just the person we need at our city’s helm at this moment. When she speaks, we listen because frankly, we’re a little afraid not to,” writes Tribune’s Dahleen Glanton.

DAY IN COURT

— BILLY GOAT SUES its insurer to pay up in pandemic: “Ordinarily, business-interruption coverage for restaurants includes an exclusion for broad events like the pandemic. But the famed restaurant says the policy from its Wisconsin insurer doesn’t,” by Crain’s Steve Daniels.

— He was ordered to self-isolate. He didn’t. Now he faces criminal charges: “A man with coronavirus symptoms walked into a busy gas station store in southeastern Illinois. Prosecutors there charged him with reckless conduct, saying the man ‘showed a willful and wanton disregard for the safety of others,’” reports ProPublica’s Jodi S. Cohen.

COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS

McMeet the new boss: Will new McCook mayor kill the goose that lays the golden eggers? “The younger Carr came to McCook after his family bought and remodeled a local restaurant and added it to the long successful Steak-N-Egger chain started by his grandfather,” by Sun-Times’ Mark Brown.

TAKING NAMES

— KEN GRIFFIN’s virus plan includes emergency trading site in Florida: “Citadel Securities this week opened an office in Florida to help ensure billionaire Ken Griffin’s giant trading firm can continue at full capacity during the coronavirus pandemic -- and cope with the explosion in volume the illness has spurred. The firm opened a new, temporary trading floor in Palm Beach on Monday with 24 people, according to a memo from the firm to employees seen by Bloomberg.”

— Former Chicago Treasurer Kurt Summers helped explain the federal COVID-19 stimulus package during a discussion with WVON’s Perri Small. It’s the first time Summers has been in the public eye since he left office last year. While city treasurer, Summers managed Chicago’s investments, promoted financial literacy and talked about the city’s fiscal and economic strength. All that came together on WVON as Summers broke down what the stimulus package means for regular folks and how they could take advantage of funds set up to help them survive the resulting financial crisis.

THE STATEWIDES

— Census Day jump-start goes on despite COVID-19 concerns: ‘Stakes are too high’: “For over a year community organizers, Cook County and the U.S. Census Bureau’s regional office have relied on person-to-person interaction to promote the census, but coronavirus “social distancing” guidelines hindered those efforts at the census’ most pivotal time,” by Sun-Times’ Manny Ramos.

— Professors stumble through online teaching as classes resume: “For some students, Zoom classes can be difficult to attend at the same time now that they’re scattered across time zones. But recorded video lectures can also be tough, especially for hands-on classes, like nursing or science labs,” by WBEZ’s Kate McGee.

— How much is your Illinois school district slated to get from the federal stimulus bill? A county by county look: “Chicago, which is the state’s largest district with 355,100 students, is slated to receive $205.7 million, according to preliminary figures. Rockford School District 205, which has 28,700 students, will receive $11.7 million. Springfield School District 186 and Elgin U-46 will each receive about $7.8 million, and Peoria School District 150 will receive $6.3 million,” reports Chalkbeat’s Cassie Walker Burke and Gabrielle LaMarr LeMee.

NATION

— Behind the scenes, Kushner takes charge of coronavirus response, by POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn and Dan Diamond

— Russia sends plane with medical supplies to U.S. for coronavirus response, by POLITICO’s Lara Seligman

— D.C. leaders fear an outbreak that cripples the country, by POLITICO’s Christopher Cadelago and Nolan D. McCaskill

TRANSITIONS

Wendy Abrams, former comms chief for Metra and the Illinois Tollway and previous City Hall spokesperson, joins the government affairs team at Crown Castle, which owns, operates and leases more than 40,000 cell towers across the country.

Lolly Bowean has joined the Field Foundation as program officer for Media & Storytelling. An award-winning reporter, Bowean covered the machinations of the Obama Center, city and county government, and a range of issues around race and economic disparity.

EVENTS

Today: Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer cohosts a virtual town hall for small businesses and community businesses feeling the financial impact of the coronavirus. Details here

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Political organizer Leslie Dimas, educator and politico Hilario Dominguez, and attorney Vicki Hood.

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