IS CHICAGO CASINO ON ICE? — ‘HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS’ COST TO CHICAGO — FEDS SENDING $286M

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Happy Tuesday, Illinois! The president’s hydroxychloroquine cocktails are a toast to his base. We’re just thankful he’s not talking about bleach anymore.

TOP TALKER

Legislation concerned with renewable energy and ethics reform appear to be on ice this spring, according to lawmakers’ list of priorities obtained by Playbook. And a measure meant to tweak a 2019 bill authorizing a Chicago casino seems to share the same fate.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot remains optimistic. “Advancing the Chicago casino is still a top priority for the administration, and we continue to work diligently to ensure that legislation becomes a reality as quickly as possible,” a spokeswoman told Playbook Monday night in an email. “While the mayor does not have plans to travel to Springfield, we look forward to working with state lawmakers next week on not only the gaming bill but also additional revenue measures to bring resources to the city.”

The casino legislation isn’t mentioned among priorities for the legislative session happening this week. Neither is the Clean Energy Jobs Act, which would raise Illinois’ renewable energy target to 100 percent by 2050, or ethics legislation. High-profile legislation promoting data privacy, a cash bail ban, property tax reform and an independent redistricting commission also seem to be off the table for now.

“Legislating is now going to take creativity and resilience and the ability to put aside your own fears and anxieties and focus on the bigger picture,” Rep. Ann Williams, who has championed the Clean Energy Jobs bill, told Playbook.

Williams’ legislation had gained momentum in January and February, but it doesn’t fit the criteria for legislation during this abbreviated session.

It’s pretty simple: Along with the budget, lawmakers will focus on Covid-19 response issues such funding for remote learning days for students, speedy trial requirements in an emergency, telehealth access, a sales tax deferral program, delaying interest accrual on property taxes, delaying implementation of the hotel panic button legislation, and a measure supporting frontline health care and essential workers.

Lawmakers will also spend some time deciding the ballot language of the graduated income tax amendment voters will weigh in November. Democrats see it as the most important contest in the General Election while Republicans are trying to withdraw the measure outright.

The Democratic Caucus Zooms today to iron out the details.

Other bills crafted by lawmakers leading up to the session that won’t see the light of day this time around include a bill that would phase out the subminimum wage for people with disabilities, a measure that would require sexting to be part of high school sex-education classes, legislation banning puppy mills, and companion bills in the House and Senate that would ban solitary confinement as a form of punishment in schools.

“All the bills that were constituent-focused will be postponed. I’m disappointed but I understand,” said Rep. Maurice West, echoing lawmakers who talked about the work at hand in Springfield.

Lawmakers will be under siege from special interest groups to rescue their budget initiatives at a time when money will certainly be scarce and much will depend on how much funding comes from the federal government.

Legislators have compared the austerity measures to the Rauner years, though lives will likely be easier than the dysfunction and siege warfare that reigned during that period. There won’t be a deliberate, scorched earth policy executed by the executive branch. Expect cooperation between the Pritzker administration and the Democratic leadership, and civility with the Republican leadership (even though it has pushed back at Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s executive orders on the coronavirus).

RELATED

At least two lawmakers won’t be in Springfield for the legislative session. Recently appointed Rep. Edgar Gonzalez Jr. of Chicago tested positive for the coronavirus. “My neighborhood has been one of the hardest hit by this pandemic, and it angers me that people are not taking Covid-19 seriously,” he said in a Facebook post. And Rep. Jonathan Carroll of Northbrook is self-quarantining on doctor’s orders after coming in contact with someone with the disease.

Republican Rep. Darren Bailey says he won’t wear a mask: “These Chicago legislators are making more of a deal of wearing a mask in Springfield than they are about, you know, getting this $7.2 billion deficit that we’re staring at with our budget,” he said, according to Sun-Times’ Neal Earley. We’ll see how far he gets. In the rules sent out by House Speaker Michael Madigan, based on guidance from health officials, “face coverings must be worn at all times.”

THE BUZZ

The budget’s bleak in Chicago, too, reports Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman: “The stay-at-home shutdown of the Chicago economy triggered by the coronavirus will cost the city ‘hundreds of millions’ of dollars in revenue and ‘probably in excess of $500 million,’ a top mayoral aide said Monday. Chief Financial Officer Jennie Huang Bennett offered the first official estimate of Chicago’s budget shortfall under questioning by Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) at Monday’s Finance Committee meeting.“Huang Bennett was testifying about a bare-bones, $100 million capital plan. But Beale wanted an answer to the question that Mayor Lori Lightfoot has so far refused to answer. How big a hole has the pandemic blown in Lightfoot’s precariously-balanced, $11.6 billion budget? How much revenue will reluctant aldermen have to find — either by cutting the budget or raising taxes? ‘We know that it will be several hundreds of millions of dollars. Probably in excess of $500 million,’ Huang Bennett said.”

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WHERE'S LORI

No public events scheduled.

WHERE'S JB

Coronavirus videoconference briefing at 2:30 p.m. Watch here

Where's Toni

Presiding over a virtual board meeting of the Cook County Forest Preserves District at 9:30 a.m. Watch here

THE LATEST NUMBERS

— The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 59 fatalities and 2,294 new cases of the coronavirus Monday over a 24-hour period. That brings Illinois’ total to 4,234 deaths and 96,485 total cases. The statewide seven-day rolling positivity rate, May 9-15, 2020, is 14 percent.

— Third consecutive day of fewer than 100 Covid-19 deaths, as hospital metrics improve, notes Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

— Illinois getting over $286M in federal funding for testing, contact tracing: “In receiving Illinois’ $286 million in new funding, Gov. J.B. Pritzker must submit a testing plan to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that includes goals for the remainder of the year,” by Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba.

... Pritzker announces launch of Illinois’ contact tracing program, which will begin in two pilot counties, by Capitol News’ Jerry Nowicki and Ben Orner.

… Garcia urges Pritzker to hire Hispanics as contact tracers: “Rep. Chuy Garcia said, ‘Keep in mind, Governor, there is a body of these folks who are experienced, who people trust and they know how to knock on doors when it is safe to do so,’” reports Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet.

— Pritzker defends sanctions on businesses that flout Covid-19 closures: “Facing an outcry from Republicans and business groups, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker Monday defended his administration’s push to impose potential fines and even jail time against small businesses that flout his pandemic closure order and reopen without authority… Pritzker said the move, which he likened to a traffic citation, was designed to clarify his emergency powers to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and that it empowers local law enforcement with a new compliance option that is less severe than shutdowns or license revocations,” by WBEZ’s Dave McKinney and Tony Arnold.

— Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton headlines a new video campaign to address disparities in African American and Latino communities hit hard by Covid-19. The campaign addresses the need to practice social distancing and other protective measures, and to not fear getting tested — immigration status isn’t recorded. The campaign includes radio messages and also features performer Tania Cordova, Pastor Chris Harris, Springfield Community Relations Director Juan Huerta, performer J. Ivy, Rev. Otis Moss III, and Tiffany Mathis of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Illinois.

— As coronavirus spreads in Chicago nursing homes, fears grow among residents: “We’re completely alone in this… You know, we talk about “alone together. We are really alone together here. We’re like sitting ducks.” Reporting by WBEZ’s Esther Yoon-Ji Kang

... Lawsuit claims negligence in coronavirus-related death of resident at Bria of Geneva nursing home, by Tribune’s Robert McCoppin.

— Legionnaires’ Disease could breed en masse during pandemic, reports NPR Illinois’ Mike Smith.

— Restaurant lobby and chefs urge tweaks to Illinois reopening plan: “As Illinois lawmakers head to Springfield this week to discuss, among other things, the state’s reopening plan, restaurateurs want their voices heard at the table. Many were caught off guard earlier this month when Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Gov. JB Pritzker released five-stage plans that either leave restaurant opening dates unclear or delay them to the end of June — well behind businesses like nail and hair salons,” by WBEZ’s Monica Eng.

— University research on Covid-19’s community impacts: “A quantitative analysis reveals that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a greater impact on [Chicago and New York] communities with a lower Human Development Index,” which is a composite of income, education and life expectancy at birth for a community, according to University of Chicago MD-PhD doctoral fellow Suraj (Neil) Sheth and Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation Director Luis Bettencourt.

— Commentary: Hateful rhetoric isn’t just vile and unacceptable, it allows Pritzker to dismiss valid criticism, writes Patch’s Mark Konkol.

SPOTLIGHT

Pritzker finds running most-troubled U.S. state only gets harder: “The Covid-19 shutdowns have devastated the finances of nearly every state and city in the U.S…. But perhaps nowhere might be as fragile as Illinois, whose credit rating pre-pandemic was already the worst among all states in the U.S. Now, Pritzker and Illinois have become whipping boys in a heated and mostly partisan national debate over how much cash Washington should fork over to patch state budgets shredded by the plunge in tax revenue. A chorus of Republicans, from President Donald Trump to Senator Mitch McConnell, have questioned whether states like Illinois deserve a bailout,” reports Bloomberg’s Shruti Singh.

IN MEMORIAM

— ‘Our movement man,’ a fixture at Chicago protests, loses life to Covid-19:“[Donald Kuss] was active in the Black Lives Matter movement, voter registration drives, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Occupy Chicago, the Fight for $15 minimum wage protests and several other outreach organizations,” by Tribune’s Shannon Ryan.

— Remembering lives lost to coronavirus in Illinois, by Tribune staff.


CHICAGO

— ‘Unreal’ rains put Chicago on cusp of wettest May ever: “Since the beginning of the year, Chicago has received nearly double the average amount of rainfall for an entire year. And it’s only mid-May. Chicago is just 1/20th of an inch from setting a record for the entire month, beating out records set in 2018 (8.21 inches) and again in 2019 (8.25 inches),” by Tribune’s Patrick O’Connell, William Lee, Michael Hawthorne and Katherine Rosenberg-Douglas.

— Lightfoot’s first year in office filled with big moments, tough decisions. Then coronavirus ‘changed everything,’ report Tribune’s Gregory Pratt and John Byrne.

— Lightfoot says city will fine churches that violated social distancing rules: “[O]n Sunday, hundreds of people defied Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order to attend church anyway and the mayor’s office warned that violators may be cited after review. … Lightfoot said the city would be fining those churches that didn’t comply with her directives, though she didn’t specify which,” reports Tribune’s Gregory Pratt.

… Church leaders outline plan for holding services again in Chicago: “The plan includes: handing out hand sanitizer, gloves and masks; following social distancing guidelines; and temperature checks before each service,” by Sun-Times’ Manny Ramos.

— City orders shutdown of controversial shredding plant after explosion: “The immediate closure of a controversial North Side shredding plant [was ordered] after fire crews were called to two separate explosions there Monday morning, city officials said,” by Tribune’s Katherine Rosenberg-Douglas and Gregory Pratt.

— Covid-19 battle slows pace of preschool expansion: “Interrupted partly by the battle against Covid-19, Chicago will slow the pace of its free preschool expansion, spokespeople for the mayor’s office and Chicago Public Schools confirm. But Mayor Lori Lightfoot is not abandoning her predecessor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to ultimately offer free preschool to every 4-year-old. ‘We are on track for full universal pre-K implementation by 2022,’ school district spokeswoman Emily Bolton said,” by Chalkbeat’s Cassie Walker Burke.

— CPS CEO says Lightfoot’s goal of reopening schools in fall is ‘aspirational:’“Mayor Lightfoot previously said the timeline for reopening schools will be ‘guided by science,’” via NBC/5.

— Famed chef José Andrés delivers in Chicago: “World Central Kitchen, the non-profit founded by Andrés, will help provide meals for workers at new testing sites in the Hanson Park and Little Village neighborhoods. The chef created the non-governmental organization in response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake. He emerged as an outspoken leader during disaster relief efforts in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria in 2017,” reports Tribune’s Louisa Chu.

— Bob Mariano is getting back into groceries: “The Mariano’s founder, armed with a $10 million investment, plans to build a next-generation grocery store chain, with a debut in Lincoln Park,” by Crain’s Dalton Barker.

— Uber laying off another 3,000 workers, raising more questions about the company’s future in Chicago: “Uber Technologies is laying off another 3,000 workers and closing about 45 offices around the world as the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on its ride-share business, the company’s main source of profits…. Uncertainty about Uber’s commitment to Chicago already had surfaced, and Monday’s news followed reports last week that Uber is in negotiations to acquire Chicago-based food delivery platform Grubhub,” by Tribune’s Ally Marotti.

IN THE BLAGO-SPHERE

Rod Blagojevich is disbarred: “The Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission said last March the former governor should lose his law license,” by Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel.

THE STATEWIDES

— Lake Michigan is eroding Illinois’ only natural shoreline: “While other state parks quietly waited to reopen, [Illinois Beach State Park’s] hundreds of acres have struggled because of flooding and damage connected to erosion. Brad Semel, from Illinois Department of Natural Resources, puts it this way: ‘We’re just seeing the natural history of Illinois literally wash into Lake Michigan,’” by WBEZ’s Jerome McDonnell.

— 38 of 177 state lawmakers are also attorneys, reports the Daily Law Bulletin’s Timothy Eggert.

NATION

— ‘Crazy thing to do': Health experts alarmed by Trump’s use of unproven drug, by POLITICO’s David Lim and Zachary Brennan

— Trump railroads Republicans with new watchdog firing, by POLITICO’s Andrew Desiderio and Marianne Levine

— Government-backed coronavirus vaccine shows promise in first human trials, by POLITICO’s Sara Owermohle

MEDIA MATTERS

— The Illinois media community has a lot to cover these days but all the buzz Monday was about radio personality Amy Jacobson being shut out of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s press briefing because she participated as a speaker in a rally protesting the governor’s stay-at-home order. The event brought out demonstrators carrying signs with swastikas and images of Pritzker, who is Jewish, compared to Hitler. Jacobson tweeted the message she got from the governor’s office that said “An impartial journalist would not have attended that rally in that capacity and therefore you will no longer be invited to participate as an impartial journalist.”

— Jeff Reisman, regional VP and general manager of AM 560 The Answer, told Media Columnist Robert Feder he was “disappointed” by the decision. “Amy Jacobson has had a long career as a journalist in Chicago, and she has routinely been asking questions that AM 560’s listeners want to have answered.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Eric Herman, co-chair and comms director for Tenth Congressional District Democrats (Tenth Dems), and Playbooker Phil Smith.

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