LIGHTFOOT JOINS IOWA FRAY — YANG IN CHICAGO — PRECKWINKLE's POST-SCANDAL RAISES Presented by Facebook

TGIF, Illinois! Bears win — actually keeping playoff hopes alive.

TOP TALKER

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot makes her first big foray into the Iowa election scene today when she joins Pete Buttigieg for a Q&A at a presidential forum. There won’t be an endorsement — but Lightfoot will pepper the South Bend, Ind., mayor with questions about issues facing Chicago and other cities.


It's all part of a gathering of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Along with Buttigieg, candidates Cory Booker, Julian Castro, Amy Klobuchar and Tom Steyer are scheduled to attend — and be quizzed by some of the other mayors in attendance.

Organizers say it’s the first time mayors have had a direct conversation with presidential candidates in a public forum.

For Lightfoot, the event elevates her status as a leader in building LGBTQ political power nationwide. And it can hardly be lost on anyone how far the country has moved when a lesbian mayor (of a major American city, by the way) is appearing on stage with an openly gay presidential candidate and no one will bat an eye.

Lightfoot — who’s taken heat in the past for how often she travels out of state — will balance her official work with the mayors conference along with politics. The goal in both areas is to advocate for Chicago, says her political director. “It’s about making sure the presidential contenders focus on the issues Chicago faces,” Dave Mellet told Playbook.

The mayor can’t avoid the national spotlight. As a reform candidate and former federal prosecutor, she isn’t afraid to speak out against President Trump, a point that will play well with Democrats as they gear up for the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses.

Separate from the presidential event in Waterloo, Iowa, the mayor will also speak at Drake University in Des Moines and Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa.

THE BUZZ

Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang hit Chicago for a rally Thursday and a one-on-one interview at University of Chicago with former political strategist David Axelrod, who now heads the school's Institute of Politics.

During his sit-down with Axelrod, Yang addressed the elephant in the room, saying he thinks it’s appropriate for House Democrats to move forward with the impeachment of President Donald Trump, though he worries it will make the nation more politically polarized.

“If the impeachment [and removal from office] is unsuccessful, you can already see Donald Trump crowing about it. You can see him saying, ‘Totally exonerated. It was a witch hunt just like I said all along,’” Yang said. The Tribune’s Rick Pearson reports.

WHERE'S LORI

In Iowa for the Local America Presidential Forum hosted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

At the West O’Hare to address the Illinois Judges Association luncheon. In the evening, he’ll give remarks at a service honoring Rev. Clay Evans.

Where's Toni

Delivering remarks at the Chicago Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Hilton Chicago.

TAKING NAMES

— Are billionaire politicians bad for government? Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker isn’t the only billionaire working in government. New York Magazine discusses whether these high net-worth leaders are making a difference.

— Lightfoot named lawyer of the year by Chicago Lawyer magazine. In an interview with Jordyn Reiland, Lightfoot reveals her passion for the law and how that experience plays into her job as mayor: “I really understand the necessity of total preparation,” she said, speaking to her effectiveness as an attorney. “There’s nobody who is going to outwork me, there’s not going to be an argument that I haven’t anticipated and am ready to respond to.”

— New United CEO Scott Kirby is known as a ‘details guy’ who spent years prepping for the role — including at rival American Airlines, writes the Tribune’s Lauren Zumbach.

EYE ON 2020

— Illinois GOP uses Trump impeachment effort to fuel fundraising: “The Illinois Republican Party has tied its fate to President Donald Trump, using Democratic efforts to impeach him in an effort to raise funds in an era without the party’s previous patron, former Gov. Bruce Rauner. In an email to supporters Thursday, state GOP Chairman Tim Schneider sought donations of between $10 and $100 for an “impeachment defense fund.” The email came the same day that Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the House would move forward in drafting articles of impeachment against Trump,” by Tribune’s Rick Pearson.

— Column: In the aftermath of Donald Trump, a black woman like Kamala Harris never had a chance at the presidency, writes Tribune’s Dahleen Glanton.

CHICAGO

— Tired of waiting for new contract, FOP puts demand for 18% pay raise over 3 years to arbitrator: Fraternal Order of Police President Kevin Graham said he recommended arbitration to the FOP board after trying and failing to end a cold war with Mayor Lori Lightfoot,” writes Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman.

— Lightfoot says inspector general will determine if there was a cover-up in the Eddie Johnson case: “[A]sked whether she’s concerned there was a cover-up or if Johnson received a pass from other police officers that night, [Lightfoot said]: ‘ I’m not going to get into that… Any of those issues fall within the province of the investigation the IG is conducting and I’ll see what the facts are once we get the final report from the IG,’” by Tribune’s Gregory Pratt.

— Police Board to host listening sessions for next police superintendent, reports Tribune’s Jessica Villagomez.

— Lightfoot slow to act on her environmental campaign promises, writes Better Government Association’s Brett Chase: “Chicago mayor says budget constraints have cooled her ambitious plans. Her 2020 budget includes no new funding for additional pollution inspectors.”

— CTA wants answers from Chinese L car manufacturer after NBC report on child labor: "CTA officials have asked the Chinese manufacturer of new L cars coming to Chicago for answers about the materials it’s using after NBC News reported children as young as 4 are mining minerals in Africa that might be used in their production," Sun-Times' Robert Herguth reports. "The TV network reported Nov. 18 that children from impoverished families in Madagascar are paid a pittance to burrow underground in dangerous conditions to find and claw out mica, a group of minerals used in electronics and numerous consumer products."

— Chicago drivers have 10 more days to get city sticker tickets dropped: "Indebted Chicago drivers have 10 more days to take advantage of a debt relief program for outstanding city sticker tickets. Only a fraction of drivers have applied so far, and city officials are urging residents not to wait," reminds WBEZ's Elliott Ramos.

— Chicago History Museum to add, expand Latino exhibit following Pilsen high schoolers' online protest: "Following a social media outcry spearheaded by disgruntled high schoolers, the Chicago History Museum has agreed to install a wide-ranging exhibit on the Latino experience by 2023. ... The museum has also committed to expanding its archive of Latino history in Chicago," Sun-Times' Carlos Ballesteros reports.

COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS

— AFTER SCANDAL, Preckwinkle shifted security detail to forest preserves police, with raises — again: “When Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle shifted her security detail to the forest preserves police after a scandal last year that cost the head of the unit his job, she gave pay raises to her three ‘security specialist operators,’ records obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times show. One of her officers got a pay boost of more than 9%, the records show.” Lauren FitzPatrick and Rachel Hinton

— Group charges Orland Park landlord with discrimination: “The South Suburban Housing Center (SSHC) alleges the owner refused to make appointments to show available apartments to prospective black tenants but welcomed white prospective tenants,” by WBEZ’s Natalie Moore.

DAY IN COURT

— TRIAL DATE SET for Sen. Tom Cullerton, charged with embezzling from the Teamsters: "A judge Thursday set a trial date for next summer for state Sen. Thomas Cullerton, one of three elected officials hit with federal charges so far this year," Sun-Times' Jon Seidel reports. "U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman set the trial for July 21, putting aside five days for prosecutors to put on their case that Cullerton embezzled from the Teamsters. ... Lawyers also told the judge there is a dispute over evidence Cullerton’s legal team hopes to access regarding a key witness."

— REVISED INDICTMENT: A day before R. Kelly married Aaliyah, he tried to buy ‘fraudulent’ ID documents, new bribery charges allege: “A revised indictment in federal court in Brooklyn accuses R. Kelly of scheming with others to pay for a “fraudulent identification document” for someone identified only as “Jane Doe” on Aug. 30, 1994,” via the AP.

— Mom pleads guilty to murder in beating death of A.J. Freund: ‘She knew there was all this evidence against her,’: by Tribune’s Amanda Marrazzo and Christy Gutowski.

— Sparta man sentence for looting funeral funds, by KVFS’ Ashley Smith.

FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

Pritzker back to square one after appointing former lobbyist to ethics panel: “Former state Rep. Steven Andersson stopped lobbying in June; appointees must not have lobbied for five years,” reports Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles.

THE STATEWIDES

— Up to 140K in Illinois will lose SNAP under new Trump rule: "Up to 140,000 residents of Illinois could lose their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits, according to multiple reports," Patch's Geoff Dempsey writes. "The change comes after President Donald Trump's administration announced a new rule that would remove able-bodied adults without dependents from the program."

— When a ComEd rate cut is actually a rate hike: "State regulators approved a $17 million cut in ComEd's delivery rate for next year. But only after greenlighting a $50 million rate hike less than two weeks before," writes Crain's Chicago's Steve Daniels.

— Lincoln Library items won’t be sold: “The foundation supporting the 16th president’s library and museum announced Wednesday it no longer needs to auction off a collection of more than 1,000 Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln artifacts,” reports Capitol News’ Rebecca Anzel.

— Lightfoot assures residents can smoke legal weed in their backyards or balconies without being ticketed: “While the state law prohibits cannabis consumption in a ‘public place,’ which is defined as anywhere you can be observed by others in the public, the Chicago Police Department recognizes that an individual using cannabis in their own backyard or balcony poses no direct threat to public safety, and no resident should be arrested or ticketed solely for such a scenario,” Lightfoot and Beck said in a joint statement. “Any characterization to the contrary is simply wrong.” Tribune’s Gregory Pratt reports.

— Chicago’s Austin community, hit hard by illegal drug dealing, looks for piece of recreational weed market: “I’ve been over here all my life, and I was kinda thinking we have a bunch of liquor stores and ... not one black(-owned)," said 59-year-old Jonathan Anderson, one of about 30 residents at the meeting organized by police in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. “My question is once they get cannabis here, will you be fighting for us, for a minority to get a shot?” Tribune’s Annie Sweeney reports.

MEDIA MATTERS

Tribune columnist Mary Schmich makes a plea to the paper's next owners: “All over the country, newspapers are being bought by people who show no evidence that they understand the nature of civic trust, or what it takes to run a real newsroom. Their relentless chase for money at the expense of essential journalism has made it harder for journalists to do the work required to keep communities healthy. Yet at the Tribune, even under enormous threats to our work, we remain optimistic.”

NATION

— Pelosi goes it alone on impeachment, by POLITICO's Sarah Ferris, John Bresnahan and Heather Caygle

— Vultures pick over remains of Harris campaign, by POLITICO's David Siders and Christopher Cadelago

— Booker and Castro accuse DNC of excluding minorities, by POLITICO's Nolan D. McCaskill

JOB CHANGES

Chrystian Woods, has been named campaign manager for Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s re-election campaign. Woods most recently was national director of outreach for the Beto O'Rourke presidential campaign. Woods, a native Georgian, was also senior field adviser for Stacey Abrams’ gubernatorial campaign in Georgia. Before 2016, she worked for the Hillary for America campaign and Everytown for Gun Safety.

Sylvia Ewing is communications director for Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s re-election campaign. She’s worked helping nonprofits with strategy, communication and event production. She has also worked in broadcasting and previously did comms for Chuy Garcias’ mayoral campaign.

Cristina Villarreal has joined Morreale Communications as director of strategic communications. She previously worked on former Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s media relations team and also worked in the comms department at the Chicago Department of Public Health. Villarreal recently graduated from the inaugural class of the Chicago Latino Caucus Foundation Leadership Academy.

EVENT HORIZON

Today: David Axelrod, political analyst and former adviser to President Barack Obama, headlines a luncheon fundraiser for J Street. Details here

Saturday: Rep. Joyce Mason holds a holiday party. Details here

Sunday: Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky holds her holiday reception and political discussion. Details here

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Playbooker Beth Argaman; University of Chicago economist and former chief economist with President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers Michael Greenstone; PR pro Noreen Heron; and former Transportation Secretary and congressman Ray LaHood, who’s celebrating in Peoria with family and friends (h/t Jill Zuckman)

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