Aldermen scramble for post that would oversee Emanuel's massive O'Hare overhaul

2018年4月11日星期三

Aldermen scramble for post that would oversee Emanuel's massive O'Hare overhaul

Topspin

Let the jockeying begin for the plum chairmanship of the City Council Aviation Committee, the panel tasked with overseeing major projects like Mayor Rahm Emanuel's $8.5 billion O'Hare International Airport overhaul.

Ald. Michael Zalewski is stepping down May 31, leaving the committee post open. The day after he made the announcement, Southwest Side Ald. Ricardo Munoz said he reached out to the mayor to say he wants to be considered as the successor. So did Northwest Side Ald. Nick Sposato, the Aviation Committee's vice chairman.

Northwest Side Ald. Proco "Joe" Moreno is in the mix too, he said. He said he would focus on fair wages for workers and more access at the airport for Chicago-owned restaurants.

Zalewski has been the Aviation chairman since Emanuel took office in 2011. It's a position many members of the council would like, coming with the prestige of overseeing the O'Hare project and the possibility of scoring campaign contributions from businesses and labor groups with interests at the airports. The chairman also gets to hire committee staff.

Munoz is allied with onetime Emanuel opponent Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, and he is a member of the City Council Progressive Caucus that occasionally opposes the mayor's initiatives. So it's questionable whether Emanuel would put someone with such an independent streak atop a key committee.

"I would think the mayor would want someone who's willing to do the work, to work hard," Munoz said when asked if the mayor would consider him too much of a wild card.

Sposato has been on the council since 2011, and it could rankle some longer-tenured aldermen if Emanuel gives him such a powerful chairmanship. But Sposato pointed to his work as vice chairman on the committee and his proximity to O'Hare.

"Come over to my house. If someone's on a plane they can wave to you out the window," he said. (John Byrne)

What's on tap

*Mayor Rahm Emanuel will announce a $10 million grant from billionaire hedge fund founder Ken Griffin to fight city crime.

*Gov. Bruce Rauner will attend events in Springfield for Illinois Agriculture Legislative Day, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and an agriculture event in Springfield and the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce.

*The Illinois House and Senate are in session.

*A City Council committee will consider an anti-smoking plan from Emanuel.

From the notebook

*Would the Illinois National Guard go to the border? Gov. Rauner on Tuesday evening said the state has not been asked by President Donald Trump to send Illinois National Guard troops to the Mexican border.

But, he said, he'd honor the request if it was made.

"I've not spent any time thinking about it," Rauner told reporters. "But frankly, the president is the commander in chief of our military. President Obama sent troops — National Guard to the border. President Bush sent National Guard troops to the border. Illinois has not been requested to send troops. If we are requested, I believe we'll honor that request." (Bill Lukitsch)

*Pritzker wants a full-year budget: Democratic governor candidate J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday he would welcome the Democratic-led General Assembly and Republican Gov. Rauner agreeing on a full-year state budget and a public works bill in advance of the November election.

Pritzker made the comments in response to remarks from Rauner and top GOP lawmakers earlier this week expressing concern that Democratic lawmakers may do only a partial or half-year budget with a governor to be inaugurated in January.

"I haven't heard anything like that," Pritzker said after an Equal Pay Day rally for women at the Daley Center when asked by a reporter about a six-month state budget plan from Democrats.

Asked whether he wants to see a full-year budget passed, Pritzker said: "Oh for goodness sakes, for once, if Bruce Rauner would simply propose and work together with the legislature on a full-year budget and get one passed — wonderful."

Rauner on Monday said a full-year budget was a top priority. (Rick Pearson)

*Construction, too: The Democratic nominee for governor also said he would welcome a capital construction bill, something the state hasn't had since 2009, in advance of Election Day.

"I think there has to be full-on discussion about where the revenue is going to come from," he said. "I've not heard any leadership on the part of Gov. Rauner. I think he's failed over the last three and a half years to even approach trying to get a capital bill because he's failed at so many other things. So I'm doubtful that he'll lead, but it would be great if the Republican leader or the Democratic leader in the House would lead on the subject of getting a capital bill."

Illinois Senate Republican leader Bill Brady of Bloomington said earlier this week that there have been discussions on an infrastructure bill with expanded casino gaming a potential revenue source. An aide to Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan confirmed that talks on a capital bill had been underway.

But Illinois House Republican leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs has said he doubts Democrats want to move forward on a large-scale plan that could give Rauner some tangible projects to tout as successes in an election year.

One factor potentially driving a capital bill is the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy, where Legionnaires' disease outbreaks have been an annual occurrence since a 2015 outbreak led to 13 deaths and dozens of illnesses. A Rauner administration task force report has recommended a makeover of the 130-year-old veterans home, costing as much as $278 million.

"We have to solve the problem for those Quincy veterans," Pritzker said. "That is absolutely top of the list of things that need to get done, and it needs to happen right away. We cannot have any more deaths or sicknesses and so, if that drives a capital bill, wonderful." (Rick Pearson)

*Republicans push back on graduated tax: Durkin unveiled a resolution Tuesday in opposition of changing the state's constitution to allow for a graduated income tax, an idea being pushed by Democrats including Pritzker.

Durkin said the push to move away from the state's current flat tax structure would amount to a major tax increase and allow Democrats to continue a "tax and spend paradigm."

All but one of the 51 Republican members of the House have signed off on the resolution, an effort to show unity after several members sided with Democrats last year to override Rauner's veto of a tax hike and budget. Rauner backed Durkin's effort via a statement.

Rep. Grant Wehrli, R-Naperville, took particular aim at Prizker, saying it was "intellectually lazy" for the heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune to push for a graduated income tax rate given his family's use of offshore banking to avoid taxes.

A spokeswoman for Pritzker dismissed the resolution as a political stunt "carried out by Republicans pressured to distract from Bruce Rauner's utter failure as governor."

"This is what happens when you head into an election year with no accomplishments to point to," said Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. (Monique Garcia)

*Break into cars for animals? House lawmakers on Tuesday advanced a bill that would give legal protections to people who break into a car to save animals from dying.

The proposed law from Republican state Rep. David Olsen gives immunity from criminal and civil penalties if someone finds an animal left inside a car and must act immediately to save its life by breaking in. The person would be required to make sure there is no other way to get to the trapped animal, notify law enforcement of the situation and leave a note on the vehicle's windshield.

Republican state Rep. Peter Breen, of Lombard, said "some pretty significant concerns here that ought to be addressed." He asked whether the vehicle owner would be responsible if the pet attacks the concerned citizen and what would happen if the animal is injured or killed during the rescue.

Humane Society state Director Marc Ayers told lawmakers that several states have recently put so-called Good Samaritan laws on the books, saying it makes sense "when you start looking at the big picture."

"After you've called law enforcement under current law, you've got two choices: You can stay there and watch the dog die, or two, you can become a criminal by opening the car door to save the dog's life and then risk being sued in court," Ayers said. "And I don't think those are things that someone who's acting in good faith should really be facing." (Bill Lukitsch)

What we're writing

*Emanuel gets heat from community group over bid for Amazon's HQ2.

*Democrats face two-week deadline in trying to override Rauner veto of gun store bill.

*Lightfoot says she's considering mayoral run, but is "not there yet."

*Eddie Johnson touts continued drop in violence, credits data centers now in 12 districts.

*Some Illinois consumers won't have to pay Obamacare penalty this year.

*As privacy takes center stage, proposal in Springfield would gut law protecting biometric data, opponents say.

*Illinois' only national scenic river named one of the most threatened waterways in U.S.

*Did Cambridge Analytica get your Facebook data? Chicago-area users are starting to find out.

*Bill requiring specialized treatment of sexual assault patients moves on.

What we're reading

*Ex-CeaseFire violence interrupter given 27 months in prison for gun offense.