Illinois Insights: An update from Cozen O’Connor (10/2)

ILLINOIS

AROUND THE STATE

New Group, Database Designed to Help Combat Organized Retail Theft in Illinois

“The Illinois Organized Retail Crime Association (ILORCA), a new group under the retail association’s umbrella, was formed to coordinate police, prosecutors, stores’ theft prevention teams and other stakeholders, and will work to get the word out about Auror,” by WTTW.

Gov. Pritzker Celebrates New CyrusOne Data Center Groundbreaking

“Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined the CyrusOne team, ComEd, and local elected officials to break ground on the new data center in Aurora. The new campus, which consists of two buildings totaling 446,000 square feet, will serve local communities and national networks through the creation of state-of-the-art digital infrastructure solutions,” by River Bender.

State completes $73M project to ease erosion of Illinois’ only undeveloped shoreline

“On Monday, the state announced the completion of a roughly one-year, $73 million Rebuild Illinois project that is designed to ease the pace and effects of erosion of the lakeshore at the state park,” by The Daily Line.

Madigan trial on track as defense makes late bid to bar discussion of corrupt pols secretly taped by Ald. Solis

“A federal judge on Wednesday denied a motion to toss out key charges against former House Speaker Michael Madigan in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling tightening the federal bribery statute,” by the Chicago Tribune.

CHICAGO

MORE FROM CITY HALL

Budget Committee cancels Thursday hearing called to turn up heat on embattled CPS CEO Pedro Martinez

“Thursday is Rosh Hashanah, the first full day of the Jewish New Year and one of the holiest days on the Jewish calendar. The hearing was canceled shortly after Ald. Debra Silverstein, the City Council’s only Jewish member, complained to Budget Chair Jason Ervin about holding it when she couldn’t attend,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Housing committee approves ordinance to cut the number of items subject to Plan Commission, Community Development Commission review

“The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate approved an ordinance Tuesday in line with Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ‘Cut the Tape’ Initiative, which seeks to speed up housing and commercial development by eliminating some processes and reducing other bureaucracy and requirements,” by The Daily Line.

City allocates $75 million in bond funds to market rate housing initiative on South and West sides

“Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development is launching a $75 million program to build ‘missing middle housing’ in neighborhoods on the South and West sides in an effort to provide lower-cost, owner-occupied for-sale housing options and repopulate communities after a decadeslong population decline, the department announced Tuesday,” by the Chicago Tribune.

Chicago voted best big city in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler for 8th year in a row

“For an unprecedented 8 years straight, readers of luxury and lifestyle magazine Condé Nast Traveler have named Chicago the best big city in the U.S., by CBS News.

City Council hears strategies for preventing weather-related deaths

“Keeping libraries open and using CTA buses as temporary refuge from extreme weather were among the ideas speakers offered to Council members during a public safety hearing,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

FEDERAL

Cozen Cities: Staffing Up

Despite her relatively short time in Washington, Vice President Harris has developed an extensive network during her time in public service that she will be able to draw upon to staff her administration if elected president.

Former President Trump is likely to rely on a network of formal and informal advisors in a second term and particularly draw on a network of MAGA think tanks preparing for a second Trump administration.

If, as polling increasingly suggests, Republicans win a slim Senate majority next year, the razor thin margins could create an opening for moderate Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to take on the power broker role retiring Senators Joe Manchin (I-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) held this Congress.

Read the Cozen Currents here.

Beltway Briefing: A Local Pulse on the National Election 

State-level political commentary often functions as an echo chamber. As red pockets emerge in traditionally blue states like Illinois, New York, and Virginia, it becomes crucial to analyze and compare the local political dynamics, pressing issues, and recent events driving these shifts to build a meaningful national narrative. How will these local challenges shape federal outcomes? What factors are energizing voters at the grassroots level? And what predictions, if any, can be drawn from these local trends for the top of the ticket? Featuring Public Strategies’ John Dunn (Illinois), Rose Christ (New York), and Julia Hammond (Virginia).

Listen to the Beltway Briefing here.

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