-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
The corridor, one of America’s quintessential big-city shopping experiences, bolsters Chicago’s finances — the zip code where it’s located generated about $150 million from sales taxes in 2019. Last year, that plunged to around $60 million, according to local Alderman Brian Hopkins.
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Audio and summary Why the Holdup Using Artificial Intelligence to Cut Illinois Government Costs? – Wirepoints
May 19, 2026
10 Comments
A largely unasked question is becoming glaring: Is Illinois doing all it should to use artificial intelligence to make government cost less and work better? So far, the evidence says no.
Note to readers from Mark Glennon re: Ukraine
May 6, 2026
4 Comments
Everybody needs a side hustle these days, and mine is Ukraine, where I am now.
Wirepoints’ Mark Glennon on AM560’s Morning Answer – Chicago’s struggling commercial real estate and more
April 22, 2026
5 Comments
Summary and audio linked here.
Lower rents = lower property values = lower property taxes. Not just sales tax you lose out on.
“lower property values = lower property taxes”
Not true. When an entire area’s property value declines the tax rate just increases to make up for the decline in property value. The necessary taxes will be collected regardless of the property value. Did people see across the board property tax reductions following the real estate decline in 2007?
Bloomberg needs to read more “anti white privilege” screed to truly understand that for SJW hard-core advocates, Mag Mile must be destroyed for true “equity” to be achieved. Remember, “work ethic”, “well-groomed”, “well-educated and prior relevant work-experience” are all now classified as toxic white privilege markers that must be shunned. Fancy shopping districts, like Mag Mile and Oak Street, are viewed as “racist/white privileged”, so not high priority to many alderpersons and mayor.
Your city leaders are doing nothing more significant than crossing their fingers and hoping real hard. Allow the destruction of your revenue stream followed by head scratching. There’s nothing to attract people back. Nothing that won’t fail to attract rats too. Maybe Free Booze Friday, Yea that’s a great idea. No junk or lawn mower beer; bottles of Hennessy for everyone 10 and up!
Free ammunition for self-protection.
Sorry, I won’t be participating in the resurrection of the Mag Mile. My future time in chicago will amount to zero hours. My life is worth far more to me that the “joys” of high sales tax, high prices for chinese merchandise, muggings, carjackings, wildings, broken glass, and drive by murders. The Mag Mile is unsafe and dangerous to human life. BTW, I took one of those two offers for a new job in the burbs.
Congrats on the new job. I quit my job on Michigan Ave too late last year. I work in the suburbs now full time too.