“It is fair, it is equitable. It’s progressive.”
http://fortune.com/2015/09/21/chicago-rahm-property-taxes/?xid=yahoo_fortune
http://fortune.com/2015/09/21/chicago-rahm-property-taxes/?xid=yahoo_fortune
Chicago debt: Rahm wants to raise property taxes
- Thread starter Banjo
- Start date
Of course he does.
"Take from the makers and give to the takers (in exchange for their vote, of course)".
That's the cornerstone of Progressive-ism.
"Take from the makers and give to the takers (in exchange for their vote, of course)".
That's the cornerstone of Progressive-ism.
I have no idea why so many people want to live in Chicago. I just don't understand it. Is it the wonderful weather?
Why do companies waste time in that state? The only thing I can fathom is that companies stay there for jobs and people stay there for the companies that offer them. Eventually, the cycle has to break (on tax burden) and migration has to ensue.
Why do companies waste time in that state? The only thing I can fathom is that companies stay there for jobs and people stay there for the companies that offer them. Eventually, the cycle has to break (on tax burden) and migration has to ensue.
The typical reason I'd guess. They're born there, grow up there, and by the time they realize there might be someplace better to live they're already got a network of family and friends and memories where they're at--so on balance it's better to stay.
As for business, it's access to resources and markets. Road, rail, marine, air, Chicago has 'em all. And tremendous infrastructure, including finance. If it weren't such a great place to do business then no one would contemplate raising taxes.
I don't agree with the last sentence, governments raise taxes when they need income. They don't look to see if it's a "great place to do business". I'm hearing some companies relocating to better tax climates (J&J was the last I've heard to relocate to Florida), just not as much as I'd expect. It's probably a lot to do with the sunk cost in sites that they have (PPE, etc), but there has to be a point where a company just says "that's it, we're done". I think that's when they can't pass the increase cost to the consumers - and that has to be close.
I worked in Chicago for a hf.
The inducement to move there was not just a large salary but they bought my home in LA and gave a very generous relocation package including guaranteeing a low rate jumbo mortgage with B of A, picking up the real estate broker commission on a home purchase in Chicago and transporting my old cars.
I paid over $12k per year in property taxes on a suburban home there. That was some time ago so they are probably even higher now. Its an expensive place to live but it does have its features. If you like the arts and entertainment thing its an amazing place due to the libraries, museums and theaters. There is also some pretty damned good food in Chicago.
Surprisingly I didn't mind the weather and I shoveled plenty of snow and walked twice daily during the week between LaSalle Street Station and the South Loop crossing the river. Brrrr.
What bugged me about Chicago is that it is too flat. I grew up with large objects in the distance, mountains lol. After awhile it felt a little oppressive to only ever be able to see out to the treeline about 500 meters away unless you were downtown or maybe see a water tank. Its hard to explain. I worked on the 33rd floor and that made me a bit uneasy as well, I never really got used to it lol.
The inducement to move there was not just a large salary but they bought my home in LA and gave a very generous relocation package including guaranteeing a low rate jumbo mortgage with B of A, picking up the real estate broker commission on a home purchase in Chicago and transporting my old cars.
I paid over $12k per year in property taxes on a suburban home there. That was some time ago so they are probably even higher now. Its an expensive place to live but it does have its features. If you like the arts and entertainment thing its an amazing place due to the libraries, museums and theaters. There is also some pretty damned good food in Chicago.
Surprisingly I didn't mind the weather and I shoveled plenty of snow and walked twice daily during the week between LaSalle Street Station and the South Loop crossing the river. Brrrr.
What bugged me about Chicago is that it is too flat. I grew up with large objects in the distance, mountains lol. After awhile it felt a little oppressive to only ever be able to see out to the treeline about 500 meters away unless you were downtown or maybe see a water tank. Its hard to explain. I worked on the 33rd floor and that made me a bit uneasy as well, I never really got used to it lol.
Last edited:
Yeah, I don't get it. There's plenty of culture if you look for it in all sorts of towns not "known for their culture". Besides, how often - in all honesty - did you go to the library or museums? Pleasant weather is also a nice thing, being able to be outside most of the year, etc. Food? Please there are great places to eat in every single town across the country, if you know where to look for them.
I can just imagine telling my wife - babe, we're moving back to New York City. The pizza here just doesn't cut it.
But if people want to pay more of their money to live in places that offer little in return, that is certainly their business.
I can just imagine telling my wife - babe, we're moving back to New York City. The pizza here just doesn't cut it.
But if people want to pay more of their money to live in places that offer little in return, that is certainly their business.
I was surprised by the constant stream of family and friends that came to visit while I was there as Chicago would not be a destination that would occur to me if I was going to take a pleasure trip but they came one after another.
The women all wanted to spend a week shopping up and down Michigan Ave and the men all wanted to party in the bars adjacent to Wrigley Field and then go to a game. I did drag a few people to the Art Institute because it is just so freaking cool and I knew where to go there because it was close to work and sometimes I walked over there at lunchtime.
My cousin lives in Chicago and got married at a museum while I was there, can't remember the name of that one though, it was on the north end of Lincoln Park.
Not saying Chicago is anything to shout about but honestly the city itself is well run. It is immediately evident when you are there why the city is well run and also why it is broke because they are one and the same reason. Everywhere you look there are people in uniforms. The city has more uniformed employees doing God knows what than anywhere I have ever seen.
Most of the crime you read about in Chicago isn't in the city but is in the "ring of death" that surrounds the city on 3 sides. You travel through it on trains coming into the city and it looks pretty rough.
Last edited:
Sounds like a dream. Maybe I should look into moving there.