Illinois Insights: An Update from Cozen O’Connor (4/22)

April 22, 2024

ILLINOIS

| AROUND THE STATE

Ballot bypass? Illinois sees lowest presidential primary voter turnout in decades

“The statewide voter turnout of 19.07% is the lowest for a presidential primary election since at least 1960, according to Illinois State Board of Elections figures,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Toni Preckwinkle is unanimously re-elected head of the Cook County Democratic Party

“Preckwinkle said she expects the Democratic Party will be united behind President Joe Biden as he seeks reelection,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Cook County Democratic Party accepting County Clerk applications following death of Karen Yarbrough

“The Cook County Democratic Party has told interested candidates to email their resume by Wednesday. The party will then host a meeting on Friday to hear from the candidates and take two votes,” by ABC 7 Chicago.

House passes plans to criminalize AI child pornography, create new crime and outlaw certain animals as pets

“The House concluded their deadline week to pass bills to the Senate on Friday after passing 324 bills during the week. Measures advanced toward the end of the week included a bill to criminalize AI-generated child pornography, criminalizing sexual acts with an 18-year-old student and a ban on certain large cats and Australian animals as pets,” by The Daily Line.

CHICAGO

Mayor Johnson joins elected officials to break ground on Terminal 3 at O’Hare 

Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson joined U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, and other key federal and airline partners to break ground on the approximately $300 million plan to upgrade Terminal 3 at O’Hare International Airport.

The ElevateT3 project is a massive investment in the airport’s aging terminal facilities supported by $90 million in grant funding from President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The improvements include upgrades to security screening, baggage claim, more concession space, and gate hold space in Terminal 3.

Read the full press release here.

| MORE FROM CITY HALL

Chicago to have one unified system for homeless and migrants, city and state officials say

“The city and state are in the planning stages to combine Chicago’s legacy homeless shelter system with its system for migrants, according to government officials, and turn it into a unified shelter structure, an idea advocates for the homeless have long championed,” by the Chicago Tribune.

City Council Votes 30-18 to Spend $70M More to Care for Migrants in Chicago

“The Chicago City Council on Friday voted 30-18 to spend an additional $70 million to house, feed and care for the migrants sent to Chicago from the southern border after another impassioned debate that once again exposed the racial fault lines dividing Chicago,” by WTTW.

Mayor Appoints Politically Connected Pastor, Not A Transit Expert, To CTA’s Oversight Board

“Pastor Michael Eaddy of People’s Church of the Harvest Church of God in Christ on the West Side was confirmed at a City Council meeting Wednesday where he had the council’s full support with the exception of Ald. Julia Ramirez (12th), who was absent,” by Block Club Chicago.

City Council greenlights Johnson’s plan to pump $1.25B into housing and development

“The City Council approved a $1.25 billion bond funding plan today, providing Mayor Brandon Johnson the ability to pump money across Chicago neighborhoods through the rest of his term to build affordable housing and spur economic development,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

FEDERAL

Trump’s Criminal Trial: A “Stormy” Day in NYC, Beltway Briefing

As norms and institutions encounter scrutiny, the political pendulum remains in motion, illustrated by the foreign aid discussion on Capitol Hill, the contentious discourse surrounding the Middle East conflict on college campuses and in major urban centers, and the unfolding of Trump’s first criminal trial in New York City.

Listen to the Beltway Briefing here.

If you have any questions regarding this update or if you’re interested in ways to engage on these issues, please contact one of our team members here

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About Cozen O’Connor

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