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"For now, I may just have to settle for memories of the city I so deeply love. The thing is, I shouldn’t have to settle. None of us should. As Americans, we shouldn’t have to think twice before visiting any town or city. That this sentiment exists is a sign that our country is broken - hopefully, just temporarily."
Summary and audio linked here.
Chicago’s political leadership is floating a pension buyout program as evidence it is seriously addressing the city’s thirty-six-billion-dollar unfunded pension liability, but Mark Glennon, founder of the Illinois policy research organization Wirepoints, said that the proposal moves debt from one column to another rather than reducing it, and that the broader fiscal picture facing the city continues to deteriorate across every measurable dimension. Audio here.
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.
Full interview and summary linked here.
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One thing I’ve noticed is it’s getting harder to get a restaurant reservation in the suburbs unless you book way in advance. I’m guessing that’s because the suburbanites are not going to the city restaurants like they used to.
The Democrats want to Chicago all of America.
Chicago is DOA. Greedy government has destroyed it for good. Kiss it goodbye and be lucky you have good memories. Memories is all that is left. Now the criminals and government lackies run the Shitty of Chicago.
Afraid to visit Chicago? Your white privilege is showing…..
No, Old Joe, common sense.
Stupid chickens.
So all the private security now at the major hotels on Michigan Ave is just theatrics?
I’m not afraid to go into the city. But I definitely go to Bucktown, WP, UV for dinner on the weekend much less than I used to. The chance of being carjacked or mugged – however small – is simply the final variable that has now begun to outweigh all other factors. Like I always say: perception. The places I go (Chicago/Western or Division/Damen) seem to be hotbeds of criminal activity (again: perception). Why should I drag my family out there and risk it when there are plenty of fine dining establishments near my hometown? Why force myself to go… Read more »
You’re not alone in your thinking. Many suburbanites now feel the same way. Contrary to what one commenter said, we’re not afraid of our own shadows; however, we’re very much afraid of being carjacked or mugged, as any rational person would be. We can wait to start revisiting Chicago when crime is under control, but that crime control may not happen in my lifetime. Because of the low probability of being carjacked or mugged in Chicago, some would say I’m overreacting to the situation. However, using the principle of expected value theory, I don’t think I’m overreacting. Yes, the probability… Read more »
Agreed. When the risk of being a victim is factored in, the cost greatly outweigh the benefits. The risk might be small, but the cost of being a victim is huge.
Carjackings with spree robberies has completely changed the risk profile. In the past, nobody would get mugged in frigid weather. Now, it’s an everyday occurrence.
It’s not just being carjacked, it’s just all the general riff-raff in the city right now. The drivers on the road are driving like crazy people because the cops hardly pull anyone over, so there’s an increased chance of an accident; even if you don’t get carjacked, there’s still the chance of getting mugged, or having your car broken into, or even just get stupid tickets at a red park or parking in a snow zone for 10 minutes. And on top of that, I know that virtually everyone I encounter is a Democrat. It’s just not worth the hassle… Read more »
Yep, and those silly +6 mph speed limits and extra-short yellow traffic lights make an unpleasant drive in Chicago even more so. Those Chicago pols sure know how to attract people to the city.