By Shia Kapos

Presented by The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association

Good Monday morning, Illinois. Wishing all who celebrate a restful Yom Kippur because the rest of the week is busy.

Eric Thomas, who works at the Belvidere Assembly Plant, joins UAW members outside of the Chrysler Parts Distribution plant in Naperville on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. | Photo/Erin Hooley

CLOSE TO HOME: United Auto Workers employees in Bolingbrook and Naperville have joined the national walkout against the Big Three automakers, Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. Sen. Dick Durbin is scheduled to join workers in Bolingbrook today. Sen. Tammy Duckworth joined Naperville workers Friday.

In Chicago, workers at the Ford assembly plant on the city’s South Side stopped short of walking out and held a rally instead.

They see progress in negotiations, and they’re buoyed by President Joe Biden announcing he’ll join striking workers tomorrow on the picket line in Michigan on Tuesday — a day before former President Donald Trump is scheduled to be there.

History in the making: “I’m a history buff and I don’t think I know of any sitting president who’s ever joined a strike. This is historic,” Chris Pena, president of UAW Local 551, which represents assembly line workers at the Chicago Ford plant, told Playbook.

This is the first auto strike in years and came about because UAW workers are “fed up with the status quo,” according to UAW President Shawn Fain. Workers say they powered through the pandemic and now need cost of living adjustments because of inflation.

Fain has also singled out the plan to idle the Belvidere, Ill., assembly plant and complained that new workers at plants that also cater to battery cars are paying less than workers at older facilities.

The strike is forcing the White House to rewrite its labor playbook, report POLITICO’s Tanya Snyder, Holly Otterbein and Olivia Olander.

Mobilizing everywhere: Workers in a range of industries, from Hollywood to UPS to Starbucks, have organized. They are armed with a tight labor market and anger about how they were treated during the pandemic.

In Chicago, Wrigley Field concession workers just authorized a strike, reports Sun-Times’ Kade Heather

In the burbs, NBC 5’s Vi Nguyen talks to workers on strike

A BRIGHT SPOT: Writers Guild reaches tentative agreement with studios and streamers, union says, by Hollywood Reporter’s Katie Kilkenny

WHO’S ON CALL?: Tina Anderson, a deputy commissioner in the Chicago Department of Public Health, is leaving for Michigan, where she’ll be chief of staff for the Michigan Department of State, led by up-and-coming Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.

What she did for Chicago: Anderson, an expert on comms, budgeting and strategic planning, managed all of Chicago’s Covid-19 response operations, including leading the roll-out of mass testing and vaccination plans in Chicago.

Her quiet exit follows the very public firing of former Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady, who got the boot from Mayor Brandon Johnson,

Is there a doctor in the house? Yes. Fikirte Wagaw is the department’s acting commissioner. She’s on the job just as the flu, Covid-19 and RSV are expected to pick up along with the cold weather.

Revolving door: In addition to Anderson, others are leaving the Health Department, too — which isn’t a surprise. Whenever a high-profile commissioner comes in, they bring along acolytes. With Arwady out, her followers are looking elsewhere.

If you are Fikirte Wagaw, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email [email protected]

No official public events.

No official public events.

No official public events.

We’re five days away from a government shutdown, which is plenty of time to send a line: [email protected]

A message from The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association:

Hotel property values in Chicago have plummeted as much as 50% in the last five years and investors are already saying NO to purchasing Chicago hotels. The Bring Chicago Home Proposal would quadruple the real estate transfer tax, giving investors yet another reason to take their business elsewhere. Tell your alderperson to vote NO on the Real Estate Transfer Tax hike and instead focus on ways to grow the city’s tourism and hospitality industries.

— State lawmakers warn that a federal government shutdown would ripple through Illinois: “If Congress doesn’t pass a federal spending bill by Oct. 1, agency closures will disrupt numerous routine functions for Illinois residents,” by WBEZ’s Mawa Iqbal.

— There’s a shortage of volunteer firefighters, by Tribune’s Jonathan Bullington

— Week One without cash bail: Judges say hearings were slower than usual, marked by extensive arguments between prosecutors and defense attorneys, by Sun-Times’ Matthew Hendrickson.

— State Supreme Court opens new interactive learning center, by Capitol News’ Peter Hancock

— Health care industry argues it's exempt from biometric privacy liability, by Capitol News’ Andrew Adams

— POLITICAL INTRIGUE Toni Preckwinkle takes a dig at Brandon Johnson's predecessors during White House event: “I’ve been in this job for 13 years, and this is the first time that I’ve had someone who’s been willing to work with me” said the Cook County board president, referring to Chicago’s new mayor. Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet reports.

Join Lincoln Forum on Oct. 4 at 11:30 a.m., in partnership with the Union League Club & POLITICO, as we host Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse and Tollway Board Chairman Arnie Rivera. Be the first to hear the Tollway's vision to boost economic opportunities, advance equity, and meet the region’s needs in its next strategic and capital plan. Register here: https://bit.ly/44EebiC

— Suburban Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi balances Illinois’ more progressive politics as he looks to future: On whether he would run for Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat, Krishnamoorthi says, “I hope Sen. Durbin continues. I haven’t heard any indication he’s not. … There’s no vacancies. I’m not looking at it right now. I’m not ruling anything in or out,” by Tribune’s John Byrne.

— Use of 14th Amendment to keep Trump off 2024 ballot still under debate in Illinois: “We’re in a lot of uncharted territory here,” Matt Dietrich, spokesman for the state’s election board, tells Tribune’s Rick Pearson.

— Cohen Barnes, the mayor of DeKalb and a Democrat, is running for the Illinois House in the 76th District. The seat is currently held by Democratic state Rep. Lance Yednock, who isn’t seeking reelection, by Shaw Local’s Kelsey Rettke.

— Kyle Moore, the former Quincy mayor and current CEO of Great River Economic Development Foundation, has thrown his hat in the ring to succeed Randy Frese in the Illinois House. Moore and Frese are both Republicans, by Muddy River News’ J. Robert Gough.

— New census data finds 1 in every 5 Chicagoans identifies as Mexican: “Mexican Independence Day celebrations offer a glimpse of the size and growth of the community in the Chicago area,” by WBEZ’s Amy Qin.

— Mayor’s pick for top cop sails through first confirmation hearing, by Tribune’s Alice Yin and Sam Charles

— Mayor and all but 2 City Council members in line for raises: “Alds. Byron Sigcho-Lopez and Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez were the only alderpeople to reject the raise,” by Block Club’s Quinn Myers and Mick Dumke.

— Downtown dilemma: A new study shows Chicago is among cities taking hits as hybrid and remote work reduce the time spent downtown. Here’s the report.

— Architects dish on their most, least favorite Chicago buildings, by The Real Deal’s Rachel Herzog

— A historical look at the city’s black and tans: They were the nightclubs with a mixed-race clientele, by Tribune’s Ron Grossman

— Regarding migrants: ‘Chicago has done a lot wrong, but we’ve also done right’: “These families are here because we welcomed them when others would not,” writes school principal Seth Laven in the Sun-Times.

— SPORTS REPORT: The Cubs win and the Wrigley Field Grounds Crew sing during the 7th-inning stretch. … Megan Rapinoe gets a triumphant send-off in Chicago, via The Associated Press. … The Bears are battered, via Sports Illustrated. … And Jarrett Payton get the best clip: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce walk arm in arm.

A message from The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association:

— DUCKWORTH UNZIPPED: Sen. Tammy Duckworth headlined a City Club luncheon Friday, talking about her recent trips to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines and Thailand to bring business to Chicago. After she spoke, Duckworth was asked whether she’s a Cubs or Sox fan. The senator didn’t respond but instead unzipped her dress jacket to reveal a Cubs T-shirt. She was heading to the game for a fundraiser after lunch. The crowd hooted. … Over the weekend, Duckworth got cheesed in a Bears bet.

— Bulls diplomacy: State Rep. Kam Buckner hosted Macedonian President Steveo Pendarovski in Chicago over the weekend. The two met when Buckner attended a democracy panel in that country. Pendarovski traveled to Chicago after the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, and Buckner showed him around town — including the United Center. Pendarovski is a Bulls fan and follows Toni Kukoc, who is Croatian (Croatia and Macedonia were once part of the former Yugoslavia).

— Congressman Bill Foster is noodling around with AI and worries it will perpetrate financial fraud, by Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles

— Penny Pritzker, the U.S. special representative for Ukraine's economic recovery, met with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal over the weekend to talk about housing restoration, infrastructure and the economy, via The Kyiv Independent.

— Ken Griffin is among CEOs who met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy to talk about rebuilding war-torn Ukraine, via New York Post

— Manu Raju, chief congressional correspondent for CNN and a native of Downers Grove, is now anchor of the network’s “Inside Politics Sunday.”

— NOT ILLINOIS: U.S. attorney shows car, gold bars and cash in New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez indictment, via POLITICO

— Suspended: The Illinois Supreme Court disbarred 12 attorneys and suspended 11, including former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and lobbyist Michael McClain, who were found guilty in the recent ComEd corruption trial, via Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.

GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.

We asked what you think about airport food (New York Times columnist David Brooks made this a talking point.).

Janice Anderson: “Outrageous — we make our own sandwiches for trips.”

Matthew Beaudet: “If you’re a captive audience, be prepared to overpay. Credit to Chicago Department of Aviation’s Jamie Rhee, at least the food at O’Hare is very good quality.”

Eli Brottman: “Ridiculous. What about people traveling for work? Or to see a sick family member? Traveling doesn't equate to having unlimited cash to burn.”

Greg Goldner: “It's not the cost ... it's the lack of quality. Some airports are getting better.”

Peter Skosey: “Airport meals are runway robbery!”

Andy Shaw: “Almost as avaricious as ballpark refreshments: Enclosed captive audience with nowhere else to go. Infuriating.”

What kind of fan are you when your team is in the dumpster? Email [email protected]

— Some GOP donors give up on finding an alternative to Trump, by POLITICO’s Sally Goldenberg, Jessica Piper and your Playbook host

— McCarthy reverses on Ukraine aid as GOP scrambles on funding bills, by POLITICO’s Jordain Carney and Olivia Beavers

— Anti-vaxxers are now a modern political force, by POLITICO’s Jessica Piper

— Maggie Hickey is tapped to craft sexual harassment policies for the National Association of Realtors, by Sun-Times’ David Roeder

A message from The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association:

Hotels are a driving force for Chicago’s economy. But City Hall is putting their post-pandemic recovery at risk by proposing to quadruple the real estate transfer take. The proposal would give Chicago one of the highest transfer taxes compared to competitive cities and give investors another reason to take their business elsewhere. To sustainably increase revenues needed to support important programs, including reducing homelessness, we should instead focus on ways to ensure the long-term success of the city’s tourism and hospitality industries. Tell your alderperson to REJECT the proposal to increase the real estate transfer tax and instead focus on ways to grow the city’s tourism and hospitality industries.

— Oct. 3 at 5 p.m.: A hearing of the Illinois Senate Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board to gather public input on creating new school board districts. Details here

— Oct. 16: Democratic Central Committeeman Bill Houlihan holds his fall fundraiser. Details here

FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Jarod Hitchings for correctly answering that the first elected position held by now-Deputy Gov. Andy Manar was to the Bunker Hill City Council in 1997. He was 21.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Which Chicago street is designated north, south, east and west? Email [email protected]

Former Congressman Jerry Costello, former state Sen. Rick Winkel, U.S. Small Business Administration’s Deputy Associate Administrator Han Nguyen, Cornerstone Government Affairs’ Kirsten West, Culloton Bauer Luce’s Natalie Bauer Luce, AFL-CIO comms director Alyssa Goodstein, sportswriter Ed Sherman and jou