4 ms·

I've lived in Chicago for nearly 10 years and will continue preaching its advantages to anyone who will listen. Crime isn't as big a problem as people think it

by remyp 8y ago

I've lived in Chicago for nearly 10 years and will continue preaching its advantages to anyone who will listen. Crime isn't as big a problem as people think it is (it's isolated to a few long-disadvantaged neighborhoods), it's affordable, cars are optional, and we have two airports to escape the winter weather.

toomuchtodo 8y ago
Chicago native who fled for Central Florida. I love Chicago, but taxes will have to rise to eye watering levels [+] to pay back pensions that should’ve never shortfalled in the first place. [+] http://midwest.chicagofedblogs.org/?p=3096 http://midwest.chicagofedblogs.org/?p=3096 (How Should the State of Illinois Pay for its Unfunded Pension Liability? The Case for a Statewide Residential Property Tax)
- JumpCrisscross 8y ago
  > taxes will have to rise to eye watering levels [+] to pay back pensions If voter demographics keep rebalancing towards the young and un-pensioned, those pensions will probably be slashed quite a bit.
  - toomuchtodo 8y ago
    Not before they’re due, and it’s written into the state constitution (Article XIII, Section 5). Those obligations (~$105 billion) won’t be shed. “Benefits to public employees are protected under the Illinois Constitution, and a recent attempt to reduce the unfunded liability by reducing retirees’ benefits was struck down by the Illinois Supreme Court” http://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-illinois-pension-law-court-ruling-20150508-story.html http://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-illinois-pension-law-court-...
    - JumpCrisscross 8y ago
      > it’s written into the state constitution Which can be amended if there is popular will. I don’t think state pensions are enforceable under federal law.
      - SilasX 8y ago
        But isn't the population of Chicago (like the rest of the US) getting older? Aren't the demographics shifting against the political popularity of cutting pension payments?
        ac29 8y ago
        The US isn't aging, at least not significantly. The number of people in each 5 year bracket from 0 to 60 is roughly even: https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/newsroom/blogs/2016/06/americas-age-profile-told-through-population-pyramids/Chart-1.png https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/newsroom/blogs/201... The number of people over in the brackets over 60 is substantially less than the younger brackets. Median age of the US population is 37.9. Going back farther in history (like 1930 and before), the population pyramid did look quite different, though. There's a fun tool here to check it out (1900-2000): https://www.census.gov/dataviz/visualizations/055/ https://www.census.gov/dataviz/visualizations/055/
        klipt 8y ago
        If the tax burden makes young people leave, they'll have to raise taxes even more on the remaining young people, causing more to leave, in a vicious cycle.
        SilasX 8y ago
        Exactly. This is why I’m unreassured by blithe dismissals that “oh you can just raise taxes, what’s the problem”. The problem is that no one has to join the Ponzi scheme, and that’s exactly why many corporate PAYGO plans failed!
        toomuchtodo 8y ago
        They'll find an equilibrium where they raise taxes just enough to cover outstanding obligations while still keeping enough residents to cover the tax rise. Pretty similar to how the Bay Area operates (you get to stay if you're rich or continue to grind, otherwise you have to GTFO).
- vanadium 8y ago
  I live in an unincorporated area two blocks from the border of Chicago. By getting the whole "municipality" thing out of the way and falling under county jurisdiction, property taxes are reasonable (and we pay for emergency services from adjacent municipalities), lot sizes are bigger, more choice over who delivers our services (like, say, trash), and we have the benefits of both Chicago and the surrounding areas. Granted, Cook County and the State of Illinois all have their problems with unfunded pensions, but removing one layer definitely helps.
brian-armstrong 8y ago
Nah. The job opportunities for people newly graduating are piss poor in Chicago compared to elsewhere. A lot of old opinions on work prevail, compared to new flexibility in working that we're seeing. Also, having lived in the suburbs for a while, I was shocked how much casual racism is present there. Chicago is in many ways trapped in the past. It's corrupt and dirty. When I see billboards for strip clubs above sprawling concrete freeways, I know I'm in Chicago.
- core-questions 8y ago
  > I was shocked how much casual racism is present there. Why does this shock you in a city with such a ridiculously high crime rate for specific demographics? People are making conclusions - some of them less than ideal - based on observation. The only way that's going to stop is if the murder rate stops being similar to a sub-saharan african country.
- spamizbad 8y ago
  I think you're conflating the Chicago suburbs with the city of Chicago, because nothing you're saying is true. The city isn't exactly a strip bar destination due to laws that forbid serving alcohol at establishments that permit nudity. The suburbs around it are different story. It's quite well planned having burned down earlier. And generally imports recent college grads.
- debt 8y ago
  "I was shocked how much casual racism is present there." Don't move to California then as it's probably one of the most shockingly(it's California!) racist places I've ever lived. And I'm from Chicago!
halfxengineer 8y ago
I like to keep Chicago in my back pocket as a city to go and enjoy from time to time.
hellofunk 8y ago
I tried living in Chicago without a car… I wouldn’t say it is as optional as you suggest.
- snark42 8y ago
  > I tried living in Chicago without a car Really depends on where you live and want to be. This is true everywhere (NYC, SF, Seattle, etc.)
  - hellofunk 8y ago
    I would definitely not put NYC and Chicago in the same category for no-car friendliness. I spent many years in NYC and only knew 1 person who owned a car. By contrast, when I lived in Chicago, I was the only person without a car.
- phil21 8y ago
  I tried living in Chicago with a car and I had my parents drive it back home 9mo later after having never used it past the first 30 days. Chicago compared to anything not east coast is a life changing experience in terms of transit. Yes, it's getting harder and more expensive. When I first moved to Chicago in 2004 though, it was cheap ($1100/mo for a 2BR apartment) to live a few stops from the loop off the blue line. That is rapidly changing, but still plenty of cheap transit-friendly locations if you're not super picky.
- paulie_a 8y ago
  I live in Chicago and recently sold my car. I can't imagine living here with a car anymore. My car collected dust, and when I did drive on occasion it was an awful experience. Basically from what I learned driving in Chicago: don't ever use your turn signal and obnoxiously use your horn. I'll take the train instead.
AtlasBarfed 8y ago
Is crime key to keeping affordable housing for the poor available?

by remyp 8y ago

toomuchtodo 8y ago

Chicago native who fled for Central Florida. I love Chicago, but taxes will have to rise to eye watering levels [+] to pay back pensions that should’ve never shortfalled in the first place. [+] http://midwest.chicagofedblogs.org/?p=3096 http://midwest.chicagofedblogs.org/?p=3096 (How Should the State of Illinois Pay for its Unfunded Pension Liability? The Case for a Statewide Residential Property Tax)

JumpCrisscross 8y ago
> taxes will have to rise to eye watering levels [+] to pay back pensions If voter demographics keep rebalancing towards the young and un-pensioned, those pensions will probably be slashed quite a bit.
- toomuchtodo 8y ago
  Not before they’re due, and it’s written into the state constitution (Article XIII, Section 5). Those obligations (~$105 billion) won’t be shed. “Benefits to public employees are protected under the Illinois Constitution, and a recent attempt to reduce the unfunded liability by reducing retirees’ benefits was struck down by the Illinois Supreme Court” http://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-illinois-pension-law-court-ruling-20150508-story.html http://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-illinois-pension-law-court-...
  - JumpCrisscross 8y ago
    > it’s written into the state constitution Which can be amended if there is popular will. I don’t think state pensions are enforceable under federal law.
    - SilasX 8y ago
      But isn't the population of Chicago (like the rest of the US) getting older? Aren't the demographics shifting against the political popularity of cutting pension payments?
      - ac29 8y ago
        The US isn't aging, at least not significantly. The number of people in each 5 year bracket from 0 to 60 is roughly even: https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/newsroom/blogs/2016/06/americas-age-profile-told-through-population-pyramids/Chart-1.png https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/newsroom/blogs/201... The number of people over in the brackets over 60 is substantially less than the younger brackets. Median age of the US population is 37.9. Going back farther in history (like 1930 and before), the population pyramid did look quite different, though. There's a fun tool here to check it out (1900-2000): https://www.census.gov/dataviz/visualizations/055/ https://www.census.gov/dataviz/visualizations/055/
      - klipt 8y ago
        If the tax burden makes young people leave, they'll have to raise taxes even more on the remaining young people, causing more to leave, in a vicious cycle.
        SilasX 8y ago
        Exactly. This is why I’m unreassured by blithe dismissals that “oh you can just raise taxes, what’s the problem”. The problem is that no one has to join the Ponzi scheme, and that’s exactly why many corporate PAYGO plans failed!
        toomuchtodo 8y ago
        They'll find an equilibrium where they raise taxes just enough to cover outstanding obligations while still keeping enough residents to cover the tax rise. Pretty similar to how the Bay Area operates (you get to stay if you're rich or continue to grind, otherwise you have to GTFO).
vanadium 8y ago
I live in an unincorporated area two blocks from the border of Chicago. By getting the whole "municipality" thing out of the way and falling under county jurisdiction, property taxes are reasonable (and we pay for emergency services from adjacent municipalities), lot sizes are bigger, more choice over who delivers our services (like, say, trash), and we have the benefits of both Chicago and the surrounding areas. Granted, Cook County and the State of Illinois all have their problems with unfunded pensions, but removing one layer definitely helps.

brian-armstrong 8y ago

Nah. The job opportunities for people newly graduating are piss poor in Chicago compared to elsewhere. A lot of old opinions on work prevail, compared to new flexibility in working that we're seeing. Also, having lived in the suburbs for a while, I was shocked how much casual racism is present there. Chicago is in many ways trapped in the past. It's corrupt and dirty. When I see billboards for strip clubs above sprawling concrete freeways, I know I'm in Chicago.

core-questions 8y ago
> I was shocked how much casual racism is present there. Why does this shock you in a city with such a ridiculously high crime rate for specific demographics? People are making conclusions - some of them less than ideal - based on observation. The only way that's going to stop is if the murder rate stops being similar to a sub-saharan african country.
spamizbad 8y ago
I think you're conflating the Chicago suburbs with the city of Chicago, because nothing you're saying is true. The city isn't exactly a strip bar destination due to laws that forbid serving alcohol at establishments that permit nudity. The suburbs around it are different story. It's quite well planned having burned down earlier. And generally imports recent college grads.
debt 8y ago
"I was shocked how much casual racism is present there." Don't move to California then as it's probably one of the most shockingly(it's California!) racist places I've ever lived. And I'm from Chicago!

halfxengineer 8y ago

I like to keep Chicago in my back pocket as a city to go and enjoy from time to time.

hellofunk 8y ago

I tried living in Chicago without a car… I wouldn’t say it is as optional as you suggest.

snark42 8y ago
> I tried living in Chicago without a car Really depends on where you live and want to be. This is true everywhere (NYC, SF, Seattle, etc.)
- hellofunk 8y ago
  I would definitely not put NYC and Chicago in the same category for no-car friendliness. I spent many years in NYC and only knew 1 person who owned a car. By contrast, when I lived in Chicago, I was the only person without a car.
phil21 8y ago
I tried living in Chicago with a car and I had my parents drive it back home 9mo later after having never used it past the first 30 days. Chicago compared to anything not east coast is a life changing experience in terms of transit. Yes, it's getting harder and more expensive. When I first moved to Chicago in 2004 though, it was cheap ($1100/mo for a 2BR apartment) to live a few stops from the loop off the blue line. That is rapidly changing, but still plenty of cheap transit-friendly locations if you're not super picky.
paulie_a 8y ago
I live in Chicago and recently sold my car. I can't imagine living here with a car anymore. My car collected dust, and when I did drive on occasion it was an awful experience. Basically from what I learned driving in Chicago: don't ever use your turn signal and obnoxiously use your horn. I'll take the train instead.

AtlasBarfed 8y ago

Is crime key to keeping affordable housing for the poor available?