Politics

Springfield is back in session this week debating congressional district maps, but it's never too early to start thinking about the gubernatorial election in 2022.

Why it matters: Democrat J.B. Pritzker is running for reelection with good poll numbers on his handling of COVID-19. That will make it harder for Republicans to push Illinois from blue to red.

Ever since Mayor Lightfoot announced late-August that all city workers had to be vaccinated by October 15th, there has been skepticism surrounding compliance. But today is the day and the skepticism was justified.

Why it matters: FOP President John Catanzara posted a video posted to Facebook encouraging officers not to comply.

• If officers follow that guidance, we could see half of the entire police force not on the job this weekend.

Justin interviewed several Illinois politicians and journalists to help tell the story of former Illinois speaker Michael Madigan, the longest serving state house speaker in U.S. history. The podcast comes out today in association with the Better Government Association.

• It includes stories from four governors, lawmakers and former staffers inside the Madigan organization.

Last week, Mayor Lori Lightfoot pledged to invest $188 million in the environment as part of her 2022 budget proposal.

• She called it "the largest one-time investment in climate mitigation, adaptation, and environmental justice priorities in the city's history."

Yes, but: When Axios asked her for specific climate action goals with deadlines, neither she nor her staff could produce them.

New Yorker writer Evan Osnos cut his journalistic teeth at the Chicago Tribune two decades ago.

• His new book "Wildland: The Making of America's Fury," uses that knowledge to spotlight trends in Chicago (along with Greenwich, Connecticut and Clarksburg, West Virginia) that led to the divided nation we confront today.

Why it matters: Osnos will kick off the Chicago Humanities Festival tomorrow in a conversation about the city's role with former Chicago Tribune editor-in-chief Colin McMahon (who is also Monica's partner).

Mayor Lori Lightfoot will not take the blame for Chicago Public School's COVID-19 problems. She told Axios Chicago she's "deeply disappointed" in CPS leadership for its botched rollout of COVID protocols so far this year.

Why it matters: Since Mayor Daley took over CPS from the state in 1995, Chicago mayors have effectively run Chicago Public Schools, appointing CEOs and board presidents.

Last September, Mayor Lori Lightfoot became the first Chicago mayor to launch a plan to remove Chicago's toxic lead service lines — pipes that connect most Chicago homes to the water main.

• The plan aimed to remove 650 lead lines from low-income homes in the first year using $15 million in federal block grants.

COVID hot spots have moved all over Chicago in the past 18 months, but in recent weeks, the highest rates have emerged in two ZIP codes on the far Southwest and Northwest Sides, according to city data.

• 60655 covers parts of Beverly, Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood.
• 60656 covers parts of Jefferson Park and Norwood Park.