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Happy Monday, Illinois. It’s gonna be one of those weeks.
Mayor Brandon Johnson appointed Larry Snelling as superintendent of the Chicago Police Department on Sunday. But the news is tempered by the mayor also firing Chicago Public Health Director Allison Arwady on Friday.
New beginnings: In a statement, Johnson said Snelling’s appointment marks “a new chapter in our journey to create a better, stronger and safer Chicago.”
Important pick: Snelling, who heads the department’s counterterrorism unit, was selected from three finalists. He still must be approved by the City Council. It’s likely the mayor’s most important hire and shows he wants someone from within CPD to help build officer morale.
“Larry Snelling is a strong choice,” said Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul in a statement. “He has decades of experience with the department and is well-versed in training officers.”
Echoing that: “He has to have the respect of the rank-and-file and trust of the community,” Roseanna Ander, head of the University of Chicago Crime Lab, told Playbook, pointing to Snelling’s work as commander of the Englewood District during the post-George Floyd unrest.
The mayor will introduce Snelling at a press event later today.
An ugly ending: Johnson sent his chief of staff, Rich Guidice, to fire Arwady, who became a household name in Chicago while guiding the city through the pandemic.
Not a complete surprise: Johnson had said during the mayoral campaign that he would not keep Arwady on board.
What caused double-takes was news that the mayor never even had a one-on-one with Arwady, and he didn’t let her say farewell to her staff before she was booted out the door. It didn’t sound very compassionate or collaborative — two words the mayor likes to use to describe his administration.
Playbook tried to get a comment from Johnson during Saturday’s Bud Billiken Parade festivities, but he ignored our requests. He did make time, however, to talk to a documentary reporter and ABC 7 about the parade.
His cabinet is his choice. That’s what Johnson’s top lieutenants say. “The mayor felt there was a need for a change,” Guidice told Playbook. Asked why he did the firing instead of the mayor, Guidice said, “It’s part of my job.” That Arwady didn’t get to say goodbye to her team, Guidice said, “That’s the way the process works.”
Ald. Walter Burnett Jr., also the vice mayor, praised Arwady for “bringing us through Covid. I know she wanted to stay, and I know other people wanted her to stay. But it doesn’t work like that.”
And Ald. Pat Dowell, the council’s powerful finance chair, reminded that “[Johnson] said during the campaign what he thought. And I would have heard that. … She did a terrific job guiding us through the pandemic. She’ll land on her feet.”
Arwady’s exit smells of retribution because she pushed to get Chicago Public Schools children back in class during the pandemic — while the Chicago Teachers Union fought the effort. Johnson is a close ally of CTU President Stacy Davis Gates.
“I hope people don’t hold grudges because of that,” Burnett said. “I would like to think that the mayor is doing it because he’s got another person that he feels would work better with him.”
Why it feels icky: Arwardy was planning to step down in the coming days, according to a person close to her. She had tried to talk to the mayor but was rebuffed. Arwady was told instead not to speak publicly — including when the bad air from the Canadian fires swept across the city.
Is there a doctor in the house? Jennifer Seo, the chief medical officer for the city’s Health Department, has resigned, too, according to Crain’s Katherine Davis.
And Maurice Cox is out of City Hall, too: The commissioner for Planning and Development has stepped down, by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman
RELATED
— Snelling has been the safe choice — and odds-on favorite — once finalists were announced, report Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman and Tom Schuba
— Snelling’s ascent through the ranks has been quick, and he’s gained admirers along the way, by Tribune’s Sam Charles and Gregory Royal Pratt
Shot in the arm: Efforts to tighten gun-control laws in Illinois got two big boosts.
On Friday, the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the state’s law banning high-powered guns and high-capacity magazines. The law still faces federal court challenges, reports The New York Times’ Julie Bosman.
On Saturday, Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation allowing civil action against gun dealers and manufacturers for improper marketing campaigns. “We hold opioid manufacturers accountable. We hold vaping companies accountable. We hold predatory lenders accountable. Gun manufacturers shouldn’t get to hide from the law, and now they won’t be able to,” Pritzker said. Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner reports.
RELATED
Over free speech objections from ACLU, Pritzker signs measure that targets doxxing, by Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner
If you are Stacy Davis Gates, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email [email protected].
At the Illinois State Fairgrounds at 10:30 a.m. to kick off Senior Day — At the Illinois Department of Ag Administrative Building at 11:30 a.m. to sign into law House Bill 3814, which allows students who participate in FFA and 4-H to be excused from school when attending their official events.
At McCormick Place at 9:45 a.m. for the Parliament of World Religions conference — At City Hall at 11:30 a.m. for “a media availability with Chief Larry Snelling.”
No official public events.
Before you head to Springfield for the State Fair, send me a line at [email protected]
— Pre-slating endorsements: U.S. Reps Chuy García and Delia Ramirez are endorsing Jesse Reyes for Illinois Supreme Court. The endorsements come ahead of slating this week by Cook County Democrats for the 2024 election. The county Dems will also consider Supreme Court Justice Joy Cunningham for the post. Cunningham, who is African American, was appointed to fill an empty seat in December and now must run outright. The Supreme Court and other judicial seats will be slated today. Here’s the schedule.
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Congressman Mike Quigley are endorsing Mariyana Spyropoulos for Cook County Clerk of the Court as are some union groups. Spyropoulos is running against incumbent Iris Martinez and Eira Corral-Sepulveda, who’s been endorsed by Garcia and Ramirez. Spyropoulos and Corral-Sepulveda are water board commissioners.
There’s tension in this race: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is also backing Corral-Sepulveda over incumbent Martinez, who’s seen as an independent voice within the party (meaning she doesn’t always fall in line). Slating is Tuesday for that position as well as Cook County state’s attorney and the water board. Here’s Tuesday’s schedule.
— In the state’s attorney race: The Democratic organizations of the 47th and 38th Wards have endorsed Clayton Harris.
— Congressman Mike Bost (IL-12) has lined up a nine-stop campaign “victory tour” that kicks off today with a rally in his hometown of Murphysboro. Of course, there’s no victory yet. Bost faces Darren Bailey in the 2024 primary. Details here
— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Chuck Erickson, the McLean County Board District 10 representative, is throwing his hat in the ring for the state representative seat now held by state Rep. Dan Culkins, who is not seeking re-election. Erickson is the former McLean County Republican Party chair. The race is going to be a must-watch as Erickson will face Regan Dearing, a former congressional candidate, who has announced for the state rep seat. Erickson is endorsed by former state Sen. Bill Brady, former state Rep. Dan Brady and McLean County Sheriff Matt Lane, among others.
— Hungry Heart: Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie was spotted in a tent on the field at Friday’s Bruce Springsteen concert at Wrigley Field. A well-known Springsteen fan, Christie stayed for most of the show and was seen leaving right after The Boss and the E Street Band performed, appropriately, “Born to Run.” Pic!
— Speaking of The Boss: Second gentleman Doug Emhoff headlined an out-of-the-box fundraiser in a high-rise overlooking Lake Michigan on Friday. Organizers held a Jeopardy quiz. Sample question: “Since Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have taken the reins of our nation, we are happy to say that real incomes have been following this trajectory.” Answer: “The Rising.” Ba-dum-tss.
— The number of Chicagoans living over a mile away from a grocery store has jumped by 63 percent in the past decade, report Sun-Times’ Mariah Rush and WBEZ’s Alden Loury
— City Hall wants to put a statue of labor activist Mother Jones in Jane Byrne Park. Jane Byrne’s daughter isn’t happy about it, by Tribune’s Gregory Royal Pratt.
— Public access to ‘The Bean’ to be limited while plaza undergoes construction, by Sun-Times’ Mary Norkol
— Walgreens exec says shoplifting threat was overstated, by The New York Times’ Amanda Holpuch.
— Bud Billiken Parade on Saturday brought out all the big political names. Check out my X feed.
— Governor signs legislation to sell mental health land to Tinley Park-Park District: “The Park District initially plans to redevelop 90 acres to include the soccer field, multipurpose sports field and an accessible playground. The property had once been considered as a site for a combination harness racing track and casino, but language in the legislation Pritzker signed would prevent the property from being used for gambling purposes.” State Rep. Bob Rita and state Sen. Michael Hastings ushered through the bill, Daily Southtown’s Mike Nolan reports.
— Wheaton Police Chief Bill Murphy to retire after 33 years in law enforcement, by Daily Herald’s Katlyn Smith
— Police challenged over Kansas newspaper raid in which computers, phones seized: “The publication’s 98-year-old co-owner collapsed and died the next day,” by The Associated Press
Stunning video: “It’s everything you’ve ever heard from the third world. It really is like living in Stalinist Russia, or Nazi Germany or Valdimir Putin’s Russia,” publisher Eric Meyer told ABC News, which has a video of the raid at the Marion County Record. Meyer previously spent 26 years teaching journalism at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
We asked lawmakers how they pursue legislation.
State Rep. Jonathan Carroll talks to constituents and approaches legislation with “with mindset of ‘Why aren’t we doing that now?’”
State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit talks to residents and advocates.
County Commissioner Donna Miller: “I utilize my background in healthcare to focus on issues such as CPR training and maternal morbidity.”
State Sen. Robert Peters works with grassroots or policy organizations. “I [also] have meetings to hear what people are concerned about and saying.”
Former Ald. Tom Tunney focused on small business and LGBT issues.
Have you ever seen a ghost? Email [email protected]
— Inside McConnell’s attempt to thwart Trump, by POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin
— Newsom vs. DeSantis debate stalling over Fox News audience, by POLITICO’s Christopher Cadelago
— Not just Chicago: Big-city mayors are getting kicked out of schools, by Governing’s Alan Greenblatt.
— Behind the scenes, Kamala Harris pushes to turn out the youth vote, by Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet
— Gilbert Bailon has been named executive editor of WBEZ. He was executive editor at Dallas public radio station KERA News. He starts WBEZ in October. Crain’s Corli Jay reports.
— State Rep. Margaret Croke and her husband, Patrick Croke, have welcomed their baby girl, Hattie Saoirse Croke. Pic!
FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Timothy Thomas Jr. for correctly answering that Wrigley Field was originally called Weeghman Park.
TODAY’s QUESTION: What event in 1959 precipitated the City of Chicago activating the Civil Defense Air Raid sirens — causing panic among residents? Email [email protected]
Former state Rep. Adam Brown, Nourishing Hope CEO Kellie O’Connell, JPMorgan Chase philanthropy leader Charlie Corrigan, Diversified Search Group’s Sonya Olds Som, Res Publica Group VP Kevin Owens, UBS financial adviser Jeremy Wynes and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois’ Nicole Stickel.
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