Axios Chicago

May 04, 2022
It's Wednesday, May the 4th — be with you! So do your best Chewbacca impression.
⛅️ Today's weather: Partly sunny with a high of 55.
🎰 Situational awareness: Sources tell the Sun-Times that the city is choosing Bally's proposal in River West as the site for the new casino. A formal decision could be announced as soon as Thursday, although Mayor Lightfoot said reports were "not accurate" and no decision has been made.
Today's newsletter is 906 words — a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Pritzker takes the national stage
Photo illustration: Allie Carl/Axios; Photo: Joshua Lott /Getty Images
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is emerging as one of the main faces of abortion-rights states in the wake of the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade.
Why it matters: Illinois has one of the most liberal abortion laws in the Midwest, which could make the state a magnet for those seeking options.
What he's saying: "Let me be clear, no matter what atrocious opinion the Supreme Court rolls out this summer in regards to Roe v. Wade, abortion is safe and legal in Illinois," Pritzker said yesterday at the Thompson Center while touting Illinois' unrestricted abortion law.
Context: In 2019, Pritzker signed the Reproductive Health Act, which repealed prior restrictions on abortions.
- Last year, he repealed a 1995 requirement that parents be notified when a minor is seeking an abortion. It goes into effect in 2024.
Driving the news: In recent media appearances, Pritzker's new election strategy has been to point out key differences with opponents.
- "For a party that says they're all about individual freedom, [Republicans] are hellbent on taking away freedoms from so many women," Pritzker said on CNN Monday. "And remember, if they come after Roe, they'll come after everything."
- "Gay marriage is next. Then other protections for minority and marginalized communities."
Meanwhile, Mayor Lori Lightfoot has vowed to make Chicago a safe haven for reproductive care. That sentiment is echoed in the new audition video the city produced as part of its official bid for the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
- "Leading the battle on voting rights. Advocating to preserve all civil rights. Suppression. Oppression. We're fighting for equality," hip-hop star Common says in the video.
The other side: Several GOP candidates have gone public in support of the ruling. That includes Gary Rabine, Darren Bailey and Jesse Sullivan.
- Aurora mayor and GOP gubernatorial frontrunner Richard Irvin has declined to comment.
2. The Janes get the Hollywood treatment
"The Janes" documentary is scheduled to air on HBO on June 8. Photo courtesy of Martha Scott and HBO
At a time when abortion was illegal in most of the country, Chicago became the underground epicenter of a movement.
Driving the news: Two films that premiered at Sundance in January — documentary "The Janes" and feature film "Call Jane" — tell the story of the women involved in the abortion-rights collective.
Flashback: From 1969 to 1973, the Janes offered local abortion services to an estimated 11,000 women and trained others to perform them.
Context: "Chicago at that time was the epicenter of so much turmoil and organizing," documentary director Tia Lessin told "Democracy Now" in January.
- "And that's where these women came from — the women's movement, the anti-war movement, student movement, the civil rights movement."
What they're saying: Producer Emma Pildes told "Democracy Now" that while making the documentary, "[we were] losing the Supreme Court majority and losing Justice Ginsburg, so we just felt the urgency to make sure that the story gets out."
What's next: "The Janes" will air on HBO in June.
- "Call Jane," starring Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver, is scheduled for theaters in October.
3. Tips and hot links
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
💧 Chicago is canning its tap water. "Chicagwa" will be available for a limited time this summer. (Block Club)
🚗 A new study says that local carjackings are not being done by joyriding teens, but by adults looking to cash in. (WBEZ)
New sports website CHGO has dropped former Bears star Olin Kreutz after he reportedly physically assaulted a fellow employee in a staff meeting. (Sun-Times)
🎷 Tickets for Ravinia Festival's summer concert series go on sale today. Sheryl Crow, Pitbull and Stevie Nicks are just a few of the musicians performing from May to September. (NBC 5)
⚾ The Crosstown Classic before Memorial Day? Nah. The conditions were miserable as the Sox beat the Cubs 3-1 at Wrigley Field last night. They play again tonight at 6:40pm. (The Score)
Look who’s hiring
🌎 Find a job that’s out of this world with our Local Job Board.
- Director, Marketing Manager at Orix.
- Communications Manager at Combined Insurance.
- Project Manager at Rise Interactive.
Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.
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4. Chart of the day: U.S. city parks

Once this rainy week passes, we can enjoy the sixth best city park system in the nation, per a new report from the Trust for Public Land.
Methodology: The report ranks city parks on "access, investment, acreage, amenities and equity." Chicago scores high on all except acreage.
Yes, but: We fell from last year's No. 5 ranking, with Cincinnati sneaking ahead of us.
Of note: The analysis shows 98% of Chicagoans live within a 10-minute walk of a park, better than the national average of 75%.
- Like 85% of large cities, Chicago has taken at least one climate action for parks. Ours include trying to combat flood risk on the lakefront and reducing paved areas to improve drainage.
5. Where's Justin? The Haymarket Memorial
The Haymarket Memorial on Desplaines Street in the West Loop. Photo: Justin Kaufmann/Axios
As many of you correctly guessed, Justin was standing in front of the Haymarket Memorial at Randolph and Desplaines in the West Loop.
Backstory: This sculpture marks the location of the Haymarket Riot, which took place on May 4, 1886.
- It began as a peaceful rally for better labor conditions and an eight-hour workday, taking place a day after police killed one demonstrator and injured others while trying to disperse the crowd.
- As police clashed with protesters again on May 4, a dynamite bomb was lobbed into the crowd, killing seven officers and four civilians. Many others were injured.
- The ensuing trial sparked international news, as eight defendants faced charges of conspiracy to incite a riot, despite most of them not being in Haymarket Square at the time. Four were eventually hanged.
Of note: The site of the incident was given landmark status in 1992.
👏 Congrats to Christian B. and Amy G. for being randomly chosen from a union ballot box. Pick up your Axios swag at our next event this summer.
Our picks:
🎸 Monica is listening to the Waco Brothers' "Plenty Tough and Union Made" on the anniversary of the Haymarket Riots.
👕 Justin went to the dry cleaners for the first time in two years. He thinks they may have shrunk his shirts. It's the only plausible theory 🤣.
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