Vice President Joe Biden is in Chicago Monday for a busy day that includes a groundbreaking for the city's first new domestic violence shelter in more than a decade, fundraising for fellow Democrats and a stop at the president's old stomping grounds of the University of Chicago.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) join Biden for the 10:30 a.m. groundbreaking at the center on the Southwest Side. According to a statement from the White House, the new two-story, 40-bed shelter will provide "comprehensive services to domestic violence victims and their children."
As the Tribune notes, the White House did not disclose the exact location of the center though ABC Chicago identifies it as the WINGS Metro Facility in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood.
NBC Chicago reports nearly half the funds for the $4.2 million project will come from a settlement in the city's lawsuit against VIP Gentleman’s Club.
Following the groundbreaking, Biden heads to a downtown lunch at Mastro's -- stating at $2,500 a plate, per the Tribune -- for a fundraising event in support of Durbin.
Biden's last stop of the day will be the University of Chicago where he's set to speak off the record with about 80 students at the school's Institute of Politics (founded by former Obama strategist David Axelrod).
Attorney General Eric Holder is also in town Monday for the ceremonial swearing-in of new U.S. Attorney Zach Fardon. The Sun-Times reports Durbin -- who seems to have as busy a day as Biden on Monday -- and Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) will also attend.
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