Illinois Insights: An Update from Cozen O’Connor (11/13)

November 13, 2023

ILLINOIS

| AROUND THE STATE

An inside look at Biden’s role in the UAW-Stellantis agreement and the auto plant’s reopening in Belvidere

“President Joe Biden on Thursday showcased his work in helping the UAW win a favorable contract with automakers and his role in getting the shuttered auto plant in Belvidere reopened,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Lawmakers send Gov. J.B. Pritzker revised proposal to lift Illinois moratorium on new nuclear plants

“Illinois lawmakers are sending Gov. J.B. Pritzker a revised proposal to lift the state’s decades-old moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants that aims to address the issues the second-term Democrat had with a version he vetoed this summer,” by the Chicago Tribune.

Lawmakers kick Chicago school board issues to spring after struggling to find consensus

“The hottest topic of the second week of veto session was the implementation plan of Chicago’s elected school board, but despite throwing out numerous proposals, Democratic leaders in the House and Senate ultimately failed to come to an agreement and will have to revisit the issue in the spring,” by The Daily Line.

CHICAGO

Mayor Brandon Johnson names Dr. Olusimbo Ige to as new CDPH commissioner

Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the appointment of Dr. Olusimbo “Simbo” Ige, MD, MS, MPH to serve as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH).

Dr. Ige currently works as the Managing Director of Programs at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and has previously served as the Assistant Commissioner for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

“Dr. Ige is a tremendous addition to not just our administration, but to the City of Chicago,” said Mayor Johnson. “Dr. Ige is someone who understands the balance between hard data and community interaction when assessing public health problems and solutions, and with decades of experience in public health, she brings a clear-eyed understanding of both the challenges and the opportunities that CDPH and our city face, and how we will collectively overcome them.”

Ige officially starts her new role on December 4, according to Johnson’s office. She will become the first Black woman to serve as Chicago’s public health commissioner.

| MORE FROM CITY HALL

City ID card event cancellations frustrate migrants desperate for official identification

“The city clerk, Anna Valencia, has defended the move and her cancellation of similar future events by noting her office’s ongoing need for more staff and other resources, as well as safety concerns given the crowd size that day,” by the Chicago Tribune.

Brandon Johnson wasn’t supposed to take campaign money from city contractors, but he did

“A campaign aide calls it an ‘oversight’ and says $46,500 is being returned, agreeing that the ethics rule is ‘a sound and necessary policy to ensure a fair government,’” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Committees to hold hearing on pretextual traffic stops; vote on measure creating noise sensitive zone clinic that provides abortions

“A City Council committee on Monday will hold a hearing on police traffic stops in Chicago and their disproportionate impacts on Black and Latine drivers and pedestrians. Another council committee is set to vote on a measure that would establish a noise sensitive zone around a clinic that provides abortions where anti-abortion advocates protested over the summer,” by The Daily Line.

Following Sluggish Start and COVID Delay, Trial of Former Ald. Ed Burke to Resume This Week

“Proceedings were slow going last week, which was marked by the extensive questioning of dozens of potential jurors and at least one confirmed COVID-19 case that brought the case to a halt before it could truly get going,” by WTTW.

Clout-heavy contractor linked to federal investigations at City Hall and in the suburbs

“The first [federal criminal probe] concerns the south suburbs of Riverdale and Harvey where indictments in just the past few weeks involve Bracken and his companies, though he’s not charged in either case. The second is focused around possible fraud in the city of Chicago’s minority-owned business programs where federal authorities have sought scores of records for Bracken city contracts,” by the Chicago Tribune.

FEDERAL

Beltway Briefing: Is the Blue Wave Leaving Biden Behind?

On Tuesday, Democrats had major wins in Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, and New Jersey, centered on abortion access. Yet the blue wave appears to be leaving President Joe Biden behind – his low approval rating coupled with concerning polls has some Democrats questioning whether he is the party’s most viable candidate in 2024.

Listen to the Beltway Briefing here.

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About Cozen O’Connor

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