The people disagreeing with these statements because this man is from Orland are clearly looking for reasons to not believe what is going on here. I am from Tinley, so another south suburb. If you want to void my opinion strictly based on that fact then fine. But let's not pretend everything does not begin with Chicago. Chicago is one of the largest cities in the county and effects the communities (and country) around it. Many state policies are heavily influenced by this city and I think it is fair to assess what is going on from 28 miles away and give this perspective. Our taxes have absolutely crippled this state. Property values have never recovered from the crash because you essentially pay a second mortgage on your house in taxes. Imagine owning a $250,000 home and having to pay $625 a month (~$7,500/year) just in tax. This is why housing costs appear to be lower than other major cities, but you pay for it on the back end and that money disappears. This means you're not gaining the same kind of equity as you would while paying the a higher principle with lower tax elsewhere. While the property tax is one of the worst things about here, it wouldn't kill the state on it's own. But couple this with a now 4.95% state income tax (tiered system voted down in November), a state sales tax of 6.25% (which is the base and counties impose more), gasoline that is just a bit higher than national average, a payroll tax of 4.95% and now a marijuana tax of 39% (depending on THC%). Some people in New York and other highly taxed states (which people are also fleeing) would argue these rates are not that bad. But once you look at average salary you will quickly see disparities. This has affected the state in several ways. For one, we are seeing tens of thousands of people leave (pre-covid) even though housing has been flat. Rent is high (compared to value) because the owner has to cover the high taxes in addition to everything else. Indiana has a "Grass is Greener" initiative to entice Illinois residents due to their lower taxes and cost of living. Businesses no longer see Illinois as an enticing option and are instead choosing other states (Texas, Nevada, Florida, Tennessee, Utah, Colorado just to name a few) to invest. The roads are not great. Also, the toll system in this state was supposed to only be temporary when it was installed, and was promised to be gone. Instead, it has been expanded. All of this tax money seems to disappear and many people inside the city AND outside wonder why they are not seeing any improvement in their communities after paying so much.
School performance has been on a downward trajectory for roughly 20 years. To be fair, Illinois still has one of the higher ranked K-12 systems in the country. Other states definitely have it worse. But just to comment on the current state of this particular state... Public schools can range from disaster to very nice. Many public schools in the suburbs are very good. The private schools are excellent but can cost as much as college. The public school I went to had a number of AP programs available, sports teams which a moderate athlete could participate in, was clean, in a safe neighborhood, offered auto mechanics and other trade skills, diverse and close to home. All of that being said. The school systems have since adopted a "just get them through" mentality in which the bare minimum is done to get everyone to standard, and when the standard is not met, it is lowered so the children can continue. I firmly believe this is not the only area in the country where this has happened, but this is where I have personally witnessed it. This is not universal across the state, where some pockets of actual learning and cultivation do exist, but it is the vast majority.
Illinois also does not believe you, as an American, have a Constitutional right to own a firearm. You need to receive their permission first. Even with this law, Chicago consistently has some of the highest rates of gun violence in the country. The crime and violence has trickled out of the city and into the suburbs a little over the last 20 years, but I'm not sure you can name a major city where this has not happened. There are still many safe cities to live.
The weather is wonderful if you like all 4 seasons. You will experience all of them here. It's a little too cold for my taste for I know many places that are way worse. The winter can be a bit gloomy, so not the 'sunny winter' others may experience coming from a place like Colorado. You will get snow. Some years more than others. The average is 36 inches over the winter and that can go all the way up into the 80-inch range at it's most extreme. When you're in the city you can expect it to be a few degrees cooler due to the lakefront. And yes, the city can be a bit windy. Though that's not why they call it the Windy City, which leads me to my next point.
Politically, you are probably going to be frustrated. I don't care who you are, these people are really going to frustrate you at some point. That being said, if you consider yourself moderate or lean right in 2020, you will be frustrated more frequently. It is no secret that people in other states are openly mocking Lori Lightfoot and her handling of the events of 2020. Kim Foxx and her handling of the Jussie Smollett case. I've spoken about how high property tax is. It is so high that Governor Pritzker had toilets removed from his mansion during his tax assessment to lower his personal tax bill. The politicians change here, but the corruption always remains. I would argue that the political corruption in this city is the worst in the country (outside of DC) and there are records and convictions spanning decades to prove it. This is why the tax situation is such a problem here. People slowly getting robbed.
The sports here are some of the best in the country. We have NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB x2, ,
I grew up here and this will always be my home. It is sad that I cannot justify staying, even though I would like that. There are some great areas to live here. A lot of hard-working people who really want what is best for their families and the people around them. Unfortunately I'm not sure how much longer the city can sustain with so many people leaving, the lowest credit rating of any state and a sky-high deficit that keeps climbing. There is no plan being put into place. The far-left is saying ridiculous things like "The North side needs to fund the South side". The left are trying to ride all of this out to get their pension money that is the largest cost the state has. The right are out in the suburbs and central areas wondering when taxes will stop increasing. And the far right are either keeping quiet, non-existent or are too busy in their meth labs down in the middle of the state to care about what is going on. But regardless of all of that, no one seems to have a viable path forward.
I grew up in Illinois and was in the military for 7 years working for the NSA in the DMV area as well as Florida and Georgia. Since I have lived in Austin and Vegas. Everywhere has their own set of problems. Chicago is absolutely beautiful to look at and has some of the best food you will ever eat. The suburbs offer a great mix of city-small town vibes. Unfortunately, policies that have been put into place have made it unwise to invest in.
Steve |
Austin, TX |
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