Illinois Insights: An Update from Cozen O’Connor (7/14)

ILLINOIS

AROUND THE STATE 

— Gov. Pritzker Announces Communications Staff Transitions: “Governor JB Pritzker announced the following staff transitions on his communications team,” from the Office of Gov. JB Pritzker.

— Pritzker Administration Announces Results of Social Equity Criteria Lottery to Award 55 Conditional Adult Use Cannabis Dispensing Organization Licenses: “Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (“IDFPR”) announced the results of the Social Equity Criteria Lottery (“SECL”) for 55 Conditional Adult Use Cannabis Dispensary Licenses,” from the Office of Gov. JB Pritzker.

— Former appellate court judge enters race to replace Kim Foxx as top Cook County prosecutor: “Eileen O’Neill Burke, who stepped down this month as a justice of the state appellate court, has announced her bid to replace Kim Foxx as Cook County state’s attorney,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

— Governor Pritzker Announces $10 Million for Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program: “Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) launched $10 million in funding for the third round of the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program,” from the Office of Gov. JB Pritzker.

CHICAGO

Three finalists named for CPD Superintendent 

On Thursday, the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) revealed the following three names as finalists for the next superintendent of the Chicago Police Department (CPD):

• Larry Snelling, CPD Chief of Counterterrorism
• Angel Novalez, CPD Chief of Constitutional Policing and Reform
• Shon Barnes, Chief of Police in Madison, Wisconsin

According to CCPSA, the decision came after a 120-day search process, involving community meetings and input from a consulting group.

Mayor Brandon Johnson now has 30 days to choose one of the three finalists. His pick must then be confirmed by the Chicago City Council.

Johnson said during his campaign that he would prefer to name a new superintendent from within CPD’s ranks, given their familiarity with how the department works. In a statement yesterday, he shared that he is confident that Chicago’s next superintendent will “inspire trust, foster collaboration, and lead with integrity.”

MORE FROM CITY HALL 

— Chicago Inspector General Would Be Limited to 2, 4-Year Terms Under Proposal Set for Final Vote: “The Chicago City Council’s Ethics and Government Operations Committee unanimously endorsed a proposal on Thursday to limit Chicago’s inspector general to two four-year terms, a change that will protect the watchdog’s independence, Inspector General Deborah Witzburg said,” by WTTW.

— City Council committee advances 2-term limit on city’s top watchdog: “The reforms championed by Ethics Chair Matt Martin (47th) would limit the inspector general to two four-year terms — with firm timelines for picking a replacement and a demand for written explanations if those deadlines are not met,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.  

— Chicago businesses face nation’s second-highest commercial property tax: “Chicago has the second-highest commercial property taxes in the nation at 3.78%, more than double the U.S. average for the largest cities in each state,” by the Center Square.

— Transportation committee refers ordinance to study fatal vehicle crashes to pedestrian committee, approves subdivision for affordable housing in Logan Square: “The City Council Committee on Transportation and the Public Way again referred to a new committee a measure that would require the city transportation department to study fatal traffic crashes and approved a proposed subdivision request to accommodate a Logan Square affordable housing development. During the Thursday meeting, alderpersons re-referred an ordinance (O2023-0001253) to the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety that would require the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to produce an analysis for every fatal traffic death that occurs in the city, study trends and recommend solutions,” by The Daily Line.

— Vice President Kamala Harris coming to Chicago three times in next month: “Vice President Kamala Harris plans three visits to Chicago over the next month for appearances with ‘key constituencies,’ including audiences of Black, Latino, women and young voters, the White House said Thursday,” by the Chicago Tribune.

FEDERAL

Cozen Currents: Congress’ Remaining Summer Agenda

• There remains high bipartisan interest in creating a regulatory framework for digital assets in the US as both the House Financial Services Committee and House Agriculture Committee intend to mark up a stablecoin bill and broader crypto market structure proposal next week.
• It’s “ESG month” in Washington as the House GOP demonstrates how it would regulate companies’ actions on environmental, social, and governance issues given the chance in 2025.
• The US has historically not regulated emerging technology as aggressively as Europe, instead taking a more cautious approach focused on supporting innovation and getting it right rather than being first.

Read the full Cozen Currents here.

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