By Shia Kapos

Happy Thursday, Illinois. Get out the popcorn. The U.S. House speaker contest is going to be wild.

Chicago Ald. William Hall, foreground, and Ald. Lamont Robinson, with sunglasses, on a bus in El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. | Ald. William Hall's photo.

UPDATE FROM TEXAS: An Illinois delegation visiting Texas border towns this week is getting a first-hand look at how migrants come to this country and, ultimately, end up in Chicago.

It’s a complicated process. Yet, the city of El Paso has figured out how to manage the 8,000 who have stayed there with the help of federal funding. That’s the key, Chicago Ald. William Hall (6th) told Playbook in an early morning phone call Wednesday.

“A federal disaster declaration has opened up federal funding that allows this city to survive in the midst of a crisis,” Hall said of the process that’s initiated by the president. “They're able to handle almost anything that comes across the border.”

What that includes: Hiring security, building up shelter operations and funding nonprofit organizations to help manage it all.

Why it matters: “Without a federal disaster declaration in Chicago, we're in trouble,” said Hall.

He spoke from El Paso, where the delegation toured shelters and talked to the folks to work in “intake,” which is where migrants are interviewed as they cross the border. It's there that migrants may say they want to move on to Chicago.

Illinois officials toured an intake center for migrants in El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. | Ald. William Hall photo

Welcome wagon: El Paso does a thorough job of getting information from migrants, including their names and where they want to go in the United States. Some choose to go on to Chicago because they’ve heard there are services or because they have family and friends in the area, Hall explained.

The challenge: Not everyone is greeted by an El Paso intake person. Some migrants end up connecting with officials from the state of Texas, which puts them on buses that automatically head to Chicago, Hall said.

“They don’t get options when they go through the Texas side. It feels like human trafficking,” he said.

Chicago’s big ask: If you’re going to send migrants to Chicago in the coming months, please send them with coats.

What’s next: The Illinois delegation left El Paso midday Wednesday and headed to San Antonio before going on to McAllen and Brownsville, which all send migrants to Illinois.

On the trip: Along with Hall, Illinois Department of Human Services’ Acting Secretary Dulce Quintero, Illinois chief homeless officer Christine Haley, and Andrea Vallejo and Isabella Hurtado, from the governor’s office.

Also there: Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights Beatriz Ponce de León, Deputy Chief of Staff Cristina Pacione-Zayas and Alds. Pat Dowell (3rd), Lamont Robinson (4th) and Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th).

RELATED

— Congressman Jonathan Jackson calls for federal investigation into Gov. Greg Abbott over migrant busing program, by NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern

— St. Louis groups seek to resettle Chicago migrants to boost workforce and population, by WBEZ’s Esther Yoon-Ji Kang

— This Chicago principal creates a sense of belonging for migrant students and their families, by Chalkbeat’s Becky Vevea

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is signing an executive order today to expand the office’s parental leave policy— from four weeks to 12 weeks.

Under the new policy, effectively immediately, employees will also have flexibility to use their time off intermittently in five-day increments for one year. It applies to those employees growing their family by birth or adoption, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

“No working parent should have to choose between paying their bills and the time necessary to bond with their new child and family,” Giannoulias, the father of three young daughters, said in a statement. “Allowing just four weeks of time off following the birth of a child is not only woefully insufficient, but criminal.”

RELATED

— Chicago might soon require 15 days off for all workers: “Ald. Mike Rodriguez (22nd) introduced an ordinance that would mandate employers in the city provide their full-time employees with 15 days off without differentiating between sick days and vacation time. The ordinance also allowed unlimited days to be carried over each year and did not require workers to provide documentation for medical issues to be excused from work,” by Crain’s Justin Laurence.

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

At the Chabad Center for Jewish Life and Living at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign at 1 p.m. to deliver remarks at the Chabad Center’s dedication.

No official public events.

No official public events.

I’ll tell you what I want — what I really, really want: To hear from you. Email at [email protected]

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.

— Assault weapon registration period remains open as Illinois State Police seeks further input: “The law prohibits the purchase, sale, possession or manufacture of a long list of firearms defined as “assault weapons” as well as large-capacity magazines and certain kinds of ammunition. But the law also says that people who already owned those items before it took effect are allowed to keep them, as long as they register them with the state police before Jan. 1, 2024. ... Many people have filed questions and comments, saying the rules are vague and hard to understand,” by Capitol News’ Peter Hancock.

— Johnson’s plan to declare record $434M TIF surplus threatens plans to transform LaSalle Street buildings into residential use, council members say: “Alderpersons Bill Conway (34th) and Brendan Reilly (42nd) sounded the alarm about the future of “LaSalle Street Reimagined” during Wednesday’s budget hearing, seeking assurances from city planning officials that developers now fronting huge costs can count on the city to be their partner,” by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman.

— New Chicago police boss wants cops to be more aggressive: “There are onlookers who believe you can talk these people into leaving. They’re not going to leave. So, it takes a little more aggressive behavior from our police officers to stop it,” Chief Larry Snelling tells WGN’s Ben Bradley.

— Hyde Park is named among the ‘coolest' neighborhoods in the world, via NBC 5

— CTA unveils $2B budget to draw back riders, address employee shortages: No fare hikes, but administrators won’t get raises either, reports Tribune’s Sarah Freishtat.

— Jurors in corruption trial of Ed Burke will not hear any mention of Donald Trump when they listen to secret recordings: “Burke’s defense team had asked that any mention of the former alderman’s work for Trump International Hotel & Tower be barred from the trial, arguing the former president was ‘despised by a significant percentage of the population,’” by WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel.

— Glitterati at Gibsons: Gov. JB Pritzker was a special guest at a meet-and-greet fundraiser for state Rep. Margaret Croke (12th), who also sits on the board of his national Think Big America organization. The event at Gibsons was hosted by friends and business execs Neal Zucker and Marko Iglendza.

Notables who also popped in: First lady MK Pritzker, the governor’s chief of Ssaff Anne Caprara, Secretary of State, Alexi Giannoulias, state Rep. Kam Buckner (26th), Ald. Bill Conway (34th), Ald. Timmy Knudsen (43rd), water board Commissioner Marcelino Garcia, Democratic Committeewoman Lucy Moog, Related Midwest in Chicago President Curt Bailey, Equity Commonwealth President David Helfand, Kirkland & Ellis Chair Jon Ballis, Booth School of Business’ Mark Tebbe and Robin Tebbe, Grosvenor Capital’s Sean Conroy, civic leader Linda Johnson Rice, R4 Services CEO Trisha Rooney, Benchmark Analytics CEO Ron Huberman, state's attorney candidate Eileen O'Neill Burke and Margaret’s husband and noted attorney Patrick Croke.

PLAYBOOK IS GOING GLOBAL! We’re excited to introduce Global Playbook, POLITICO’s premier newsletter that brings you inside the most important conversations at the most influential events in the world. From the buzzy echoes emanating from the snowy peaks at the WEF in Davos to the discussions and personalities at Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to the heart of diplomacy at UNGA in New York City – author Suzanne Lynch brings it all to your fingertips. Experience the elite. Witness the influential. And never miss a global beat. BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. SUBSCRIBE NOW.

We asked when history repeated itself.

Kristopher Anderson: “The Vietnam War and Afghanistan. The French couldn’t defeat the Vietnamese, neither could we. Afghanistan is a Graveyard of Empires as demonstrated by the British, Soviets and to a lesser extent America.”

Matthew Beaudet: “Illinois politicians going to prison.”

David Goldenberg: “A rise in antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate during a time of crisis and uncertainty.”

What’s an Illinois thing that should be taken national? Email [email protected]

— Brother of Evanston teen held hostage by Hamas speaks on hope for a safe return: ‘We are a peaceful family,’ by Tribune’s Ilana Arougheti

— Why the GOP can’t unite, by POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin

— What Poland’s Surprise Election Winner Means for the World, by POLITICO’s Matthew Kaminski

— THE FIFTY: Mayors to Biden: We’re not prepared for your electric vehicle boom, by POLITICO’s Liz Crampton

— Kristen Messersmith and Maggie Strahan have joined Mac Strategies Group in account executive roles, supporting the firm’s strategic communications practice in Springfield. Messersmith had served on the communications staff for the Illinois Senate. Strahan is a former Statehouse reporter and legislative coordinator for the Illinois House.

— Camile Lindsay will serve as acting [director of Professional Regulation Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, pending Illinois Senate confirmation. She’s been first assistant deputy governor for infrastructure, public safety, environment and energy. Lindsay replaces Cecilia Abundis, who is leaving the office.

— Karen Tamley, the president and CEO of Access Living, headlines The Broad Cast with co-hosts Becky Carroll and Eileen Dordek. The subject: Creating an equitable world for those living with disabilities. Listen here

— State Rep. Bob Morgan was selected as one of 19 leaders from across the country to join the NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), a national network of state and local elected officials with about 200 members.

— Tom Skilling, who's retiring as a meteorologist, will split time between Hawaii and Alaska “and make special climate change reports for WGN when he’s back home,” writes Block Club’s Mack Liederman.

— Oct. 29: Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs, as well as community leaders Betty Bogg, Omar Brown and Elizabeth Soete, will be honored at a Halloween fundraising brunch for the Democratic Party of Evanston. Special guest: Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. Details here

WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to John Mark Hansen for correctly answering that Tom Nash was the Chicago ward boss who also served as attorney for Al Capone’s gang.

TODAY’s QUESTION: What Chicago company's garment workers touched off the 1905 Teamsters strike? Email [email protected]

NRDC senior policy advocate Chakena Perry, business leader Joseph Neubauer, Hispanic Federation Midwest Policy Director Roberto Valdez, Amazon Senior Manager Brandon Webb, Hyde Park Day School Development Director Maureen McCarthy and comms strategist Elizabeth Austin.

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