As if the city isn’t buzzing enough with legal weed this year, get ready for Chicago to test-drive once again an electric scooter program that seems sure to create the same debate — or anger — it did last year.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker today could just as well have been the nun who in second grade hammered home the Ten Commandments. The governor talked about the “scourge” of “greed and corruption” in government during his State of the State address today.
It comes a day after former state Sen. Martin Sandoval stood in a downtown Chicago federal courtroom and pleaded guilty to taking bribes in exchange for influencing legislation — and his cooperation with the feds suggests there’s more to come.
Meanwhile, political pundit Rahm Emanuel, Chicago’s former mayor, says the impeachment of President Donald Trump could tip the scales for Democrats looking to take control of the U.S. Senate.
And Chris Jones, the Tribune’s theater critic, takes us on a journey to a series of Chicago stages where Trump is showing up — in the narratives, of course. The sense of Trump’s “intrusion” in at least one play made Jones start “to see the whole thing as a metaphor for one of the central problems of the Democratic Party, which is combating Trump’s innate sense of how to exploit his own phenomenal celebrity.”
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During a noonhour speech in the Illinois House, Gov. Pritzker talked about the accomplishments of the past year and the tough road ahead to deliver a balanced budget and get voters this fall to approve his signature graduated income tax proposal.
But his strongest comments came when he told lawmakers it’s time to end pay-to-play politics in government. Here are his prepared remarks: “We have to work together to confront a scourge that has been plaguing our political system for far too long. We must root out the purveyors of greed and corruption — in both parties — whose presence infects the bloodstream of government. It’s no longer enough to sit idle while under-the-table deals, extortion, or bribery persist. Protecting that culture or tolerating it is no longer acceptable.”
Then he got specific about how he’d do it: “We must take urgent action to restore the public’s trust in our government. That’s why we need to pass real, lasting ethics reform this legislative session. It’s time to end the practice of legislators serving as paid lobbyists. In fact it’s time to end the for-profit influence peddling among all elected officials at every level of government in Illinois.
“Disclosure of conflicts of interest and punishment for breaching them must be included in any ethics package for us to truly clean up government. Most states have a revolving door provision for legislators, and it’s time for Illinois to join them. Elected officials shouldn’t be allowed to retire and immediately start lobbying their former colleagues. It’s wrong, and it’s got to stop.”
Timeline: “There are many more ethics reforms that must be addressed this spring, and I expect the legislature’s bipartisan ethics commission to issue its report in the next eight weeks.”
You don’t need a law to do the right thing: “Change needs to happen. And much of this change needs to happen outside of the scope of legislation. It’s about how we, as public officials, conduct ourselves in private that also matters. Common sense and basic decency need to prevail in the everyday interactions that make government work. People need to treat disgusting suggestions with disgust. The old patronage system needs to die … finally and completely. The input of women and people of color need to be treated as essential to decision making — not as some token show of diversity.”
Perspective: “The overwhelming majority of people involved with government and public policy and politics here in Illinois truly just want what is best for this state. From legislators to citizen activists to reporters — they chisel away at intractable problems and put their shoulders into making real, lasting institutional change.”
My colleagues Jamie Munks, Dan Petrella and Rick Pearson have the full story here.
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Sandoval’s plea and two key mysteries
We’re waiting for the next shoe to drop after ex-State Sen. Martin Sandoval pleaded guilty yesterday to taking $250,000 worth of bribes in exchange for using his influence as a state senator. It’s part of an agreement he struck with the federal government that includes his cooperation with investigators.
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While he’s acknowledged taking at least $70,000 from clout-heavy red-light camera company, SafeSpeed LLC, my Tribune colleagues note in a story today that: “The agreement did not divulge how Sandoval pocketed the other $180,000 other than saying he ‘engaged in corrupt activities with other public officials and accepted money from other people in return for using his position to benefit those people and their business interests.’ Sandoval’s criminal activity ‘involved more than five participants,’ prosecutors said.”
Jeffrey Cramer, a former federal prosecutor in Chicago, who now works as a managing director of global investigations firm Berkeley Research Group, took some time today to talk with The Spin about his perspective on the latest developments:
More dominoes will fall: The revelation that Sandoval is now cooperating with federal investigators suggests “there’s at least a few more dominoes that are going to fall,” Cramer says.
Did Sandoval chat you up? Get a lawyer: “If someone had a conversation with Sandoval about anything other than the weather, you’d better get a lawyer,” Cramer said of public officials who have to be jittery about what’s next, especially those who wore wires, as state Sen. Terry Link, a Waukegan Democrat, reportedly did. “If you talked to Link about anything other than the Cubs, grab yourself a lawyer, because sooner or later two FBI agents are going to come knocking.”
Is it in the water? “Chicago has been, historically, known for its corruption cases. Chicago and Illinois’ system — that patronage system — lends itself to corruption so much that the U.S. attorney’s office has become adept at prosecuting these cases,” Cramer notes.
But is there something that makes politicians think they won’t get caught? “The hubris of what’s involved in being a politician — you can’t become an elected official without it. By the same token, drug dealers think they’re not going to get caught, and you see the same thing with people caught up in insider trading. But when you’re looking just at the realm of political corruption, I think more so the opportunity presents of itself — the average plumber doesn’t have the opportunity to collect bribes and … influence or put forward legislation or stop legislation on behalf of companies … willing to pay the money.”
Are we seeing Illinois Democrats under heightened scrutiny because a Republican is in the White House? Cramer doesn’t think so. “Look at Blagojevich,” he said, referencing former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The Democrat was ousted from office and convicted and sent to prison under U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who was appointed first by Republican President George W. Bush and stayed on through the bulk of Democrat President Barack Obama’s first term. Fitzgerald also prosecuted the case of former Gov. George Ryan, a Republican.
Optimism for cynics: “One thing I should note with an eye towards optimism are the current occupants in City Hall and Springfield,” Cramer notes. “Mayor (Lori) Lightfoot, as a former federal prosecutor, knows better than most what needs to be done, as far as reforms, to constrain corruption as best we can. Likewise, but for a different reason, Gov. Pritzker understands the issues and isn’t someone looking to take bribes or squeeze companies for campaign money. The question is: Can they both institute the necessary reform? I am cautiously optimistic.”
He adds: “But first, a bunch of politicians will go through the Dirksen (federal court) building for their arraignment.”
State of the city: Hate crime up, e-scooters returning, police commander sidelined
Mayor Lightfoot announces ‘cannabis resource fair’ on Saturday to discuss legal marijuana issues: Click here to read Gregory Pratt’s story.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Obama Presidential Center: Under Rahm Emanuel, there was too much “whatever you want, you get”: It doesn’t sound like Mayor Lightfoot is going to upend any of the plans her predecessor Rahm Emanuel and his onetime boss Barack Obama made to eventually erect the Obama Presidential Center in a city park. She told the Chicago Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet: “Making any kind of material change in the plan at this stage would only delay things … let’s get the groundbreaking and let’s go.”
Hate crime reports up in Chicago last year, particularly among Jews and LGBT people: Click here to read Dan Hinkel’s story in the Tribune.
Chicago police commander relieved of powers, demoted following Indiana traffic stop investigation: It’s part of an investigation into his alleged refusal to stop when an Indiana State Police trooper tried to stop him for speeding last year, the Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner reports. Click here to read the story.
Chicago Fire Department cancels promotional tests this week due to technical issues: Click here to read Gregory Pratt’s Tribune story.
Beyond the city: Ousted Harvey police chief claims dismissal was political; mayor says he wasn’t “the right fit”: Click here to read Zak Koeske’s story in Tribune sister paper The Daily Southtown.
Adam Didech of Buffalo Grove to resign from Lake County Board, citing health: He was elected in 2018, unseating Republican incumbent Sidney Mathias as part of the Democratic surge that saw the party take control of the County Board for the first time in its history, Lake County News-Sun reporter Emily Coleman writes. Now, the board president — a Democrat — is tasked with finding his replacement.
DuPage health officials say several county residents exposed to Chicago woman with coronavirus: Click here to read Alicia Fabbre’s piece in Tribune sister paper The Naperville Sun.
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider endorses Joe Biden for president
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, of Deerfield, announced he’s endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden in the presidential race. Schneider said Biden is the only one in the crowded Democratic field who can unseat Trump and help Democrats win congressional and local seats.
Schneider says Biden helped him as he’s battled to keep his seat in a swing district — the then-vice president even headlined a rally.
Schneider narrowly won the seat in 2012, unseating first-term incumbent Robert Dold, a Kenilworth Republican. Dold won back the seat in 2014 only for Schneider to come back and win in 2016.
“I think he generates an enthusiasm. He has an appeal that I think … can unite the party,” Schneider tells The Spin.
“I think there’s (already) unity in the party, we want to beat Donald Trump. We want a different president in 2021,” Schneider said of the crowded race. “I think the reason Joe Biden stands out is he brings the experience (as former vice president) to immediately step in, start to unite the country,” Schneider said, adding that Biden has “credibility on the global stage to reestablish a leadership role on policies” including climate change.
In a prepared statement, Greg Schultz, Biden’s campaign manager, said: “We are grateful for Congressman Schneider’s support and for his leadership on key issues. He knows how to win in tough districts, a trusted champion for middle class families, a powerful voice on how to solve pressing global challenges. As we work to restore respected and dignified leadership on the world stage, we know that Congressman Schneider will be a valuable member of Team Joe with his foreign policy leadership and expertise.”
In addition to serving as congressman for the 10th Congressional District, Schneider co-chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Frontline program aimed at helping Democrats keep their seats in key districts.
Schneider’s endorsement comes days before the Democrats’ first-in-the-nation nominating contest in Iowa and little more than a week before early voting begins in Illinois.
Underwood gets endorsement: U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, a Democrat who in 2018 flipped Illinois’ 14th Congressional District in the western suburbs, one that’s been reliably Republican, landed the endorsement of Giffords, the gun violence-prevention organization founded by former Arizona U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot while meeting with constituents back in 2011.
Since then, she has stepped up advocacy for gun control laws and her organization is backing a line of candidates who share that philosophy.
In a statement she said of Underwood and the others: “The candidates, all women from suburban districts, vowed to take action on gun safety if elected to Congress. They followed through, helping the House majority to, among other things, pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019.”
Underwood won’t face a primary challenger, but several Republicans will duke it out March 17 for their party’s nomination so they can face the Naperville resident in the fall.
U.S. Rep. Garcia to bring one deported Army vet, who is now a U.S. citizen, to president’s State of the Union address
U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia announced today that his guest at President Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday in Washington will be Miguel Perez Jr., the Army veteran from Chicago who was deported to Mexico over a felony drug conviction only to return after Gov. J.B. Pritzker granted him clemency
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.Garcia, himself an immigrant who grew up in Chicago, is making yet another statement about what he calls President Trump’s misguided immigration policy.
In a statement Garcia, a Democrat who lives in Little Village and represents the 4th Congressional District, said: “Miguel’s story shows strength and perseverance, but it also represents a failure of our immigration system: deporting veterans who served their country. The Trump Administration doesn’t even know how many veterans have been deported. While the vets appeal their cases outside the United States, they don’t have access to their military benefits. Miguel’s presence in Washington will highlight the cruelty of our immigration system.”
Perez, who was raised in Chicago from the time he was 8 and had a green card, joined the Army before 9/11, served with a special forces unit in Afghanistan and would later be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder amid his legal troubles. He was deported to Mexico in 2018 after serving a 71/2-year prison sentence for a felony drug conviction.
Trump popping up in Chicago theater
“Trump suddenly seems to be popping up in plays, uninvited,” the Tribune’s Chris Jones writes.
“There he was on Sunday at the Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theatre in ‘The Adult in the Room.‘ The title of that show refers to Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House and the subject of this lively one-woman show.
“But I was most struck by how much Trump loomed over the show — every time he appeared in the narrative, even if just via an outraged Pelosi reading his tweets, audience members would move around in their seats, slumped bodies suddenly sitting more erect. Heck, the show not only started with Trump’s voice, but ended with Pelosi in full battle formation on impeachment eve, ready to vanquish her most infamous foe.
“And you know what were the most theatrically exciting parts of the show? The beginning and the end.” Click here to read the entire piece.
President Trump’s impeachment trial gets more pointed with John Bolton’s book at the center: Click here to read the latest.
Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel on how the impeachment could shift the balance of power in the U.S. Senate: In a Washington Post opinion piece, the former mayor, Democratic strategist and onetime chief of staff to President Barack Obama writes that some will argue Trump may be an outlier who is “immune to the laws of politics” and will come out of the trial unscathed. But “there’s one arena in which impeachment is likely to have an outsize impact: in the battle for control of Congress. The House looks to stay in Democratic hands,” he opines.
“But if the scandal is working to preserve the Democratic tilt in the House, it could upend things in the Senate, where Republicans hold a three-seat margin. Impeachment will likely decide the fate of a handful of Senate Republicans currently in cycle.” Click here to read his take.
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