View Full Version : Living outside Chicago -the Sanctuary city ......people leaving means higher taxes...
I live 20 miles outside of Chicago the sanctuary city. Im not commenting on the politics right now- but the fact that there has been an exodus of Illinois residents leaving the state due to high taxes in the state (we pay 9.75% sales tax in cook county!). These are people who earn above $77,000.00 a year. However I read an article this week confirming my fears that Chicago being a sanctuary city, with "carnage", many residents are moving out of the city /state. It affects us since we live in Cook county same as Chicago- that our property taxes and personal state tax will go up to make up for the loss in revenue. A perfect storm is coming! We cant move as we live in a good community with good schools and job is here. I thank my lucky stars that I am frugal and live below our means and will try to off set the high cost for now-to add the "depression era mentality I have now".But this place will be a battleground of all levels.Any thoughts?
How much longer will good jobs and schools be in your community?
I can see at most 10 years , as our community is pretty solid for now. But who knows as many houses are going up for sale. The public schools are wonderful when the schools start cutting budgets or corners, then you know . I dont see any resolution to this region we are in. Chicago has turned to a big beast that everyone is feeding.Its a whirlwind of crappy depressing weather, bad politics, tragic fiscal disaster as we are 2 years without a state budget.The shootings are famous now worldwide. If Trump wants to intervene why stop him? At least someone is trying to do something instead of just talking.
The whole West Coast is studded with sanctuary cities. Seattle's sales tax is around 10%. I've been perusing real estate ads and hovels are going for 300 to 500K in the Portland and Seattle areas. It's insane, but nobody's leaving here (drat!) .
What is Trump going to do to stop the violence? Add more violence? A neutron bomb? Or maybe deploy his torture squad? One can only hope he reaps what he has sown.
I have relatives who moved just across the Wisconsin state line and still work in the Chicago area. They claim it saves them a lot of money, even though Wisconsin is not a particularly low tax state. My brother-in-law claims Illinois has ridiculously under-funded public pension plans that he's afraid he'll get stuck paying for, and I believe him.
For some years, and despite many real-world challenges, Chicago has jumped on the usual feel-good bandwagons like sanctuary cities and nuclear weapons free zones. I think they even banned foie gras for awhile.
Yes Chicago is a volatile city.I had immigrated with my parents to Chicago in the 80's from Europe. I grew up there but not every immigrant experience is created equal. Once you get settled into the American tapestry its a fight to sink or swim in this economy nowadays. My elder family members recall how in the 70's jobs were available for those who wanted to work. Now its opposite, good jobs scarce.Communities are dying a slow horrible death.But with everything you have to adjust to the change. Its a sad change.Yes many people live in Indiana and commute to Illinois for work.There is a huge difference across the state line.
Teacher Terry
1-28-17, 2:54pm
Ldahl: your relatives I would guess are living in Kenosha and if so there cost of living is much lower then it would be in Illinois. Housing is a lot less, the public schools are decent and Wi residents enjoy many services that are free if they need them. Of course the taxes are paying for that.
Yes Kenosha is a very nice place, most of Southern Wisconsin is. We enjoy buying a lot of nice things on craigslist usually out of the milwaukee area.
However I live closer to the Indiana state line. Our wonderful letter carrier was gone a few weeks to find out she transferred to Indiana and moved there too. Just tried of working and being overtaxed.
Ldahl: your relatives I would guess are living in Kenosha and if so there cost of living is much lower then it would be in Illinois. Housing is a lot less, the public schools are decent and Wi residents enjoy many services that are free if they need them. Of course the taxes are paying for that.
Southern Kenosha County, but I know of people living in Racine, Walworth and Milwaukee Counties as well who "vote with their feet" and commute into Illinois. I imagine that happens around a lot of high-tax, high-cost areas.
I live in NW suburban Cook County. There has actually been some talk over the years of my town seceding from Crook County. I buy gas in DuPage County, near work. I buy groceries and anything else possible in Lake or McHenry Counties, depending on where I am in the area (visiting friends, etc.). I'm right on the border, so the 10 minutes drive to go shopping in Lake County is nothing. I spend as little in Crook County as possible.
Some of the more puckish tax proposals percolating through the new congress are contemplating elimination of deductions for mortgage interest or State taxes, which are thought to disproportionately affect high-cost, high-tax areas.
I totally agree TRadd we do that because we are close to the Indian state line and whenever there is a chance we buy gas and food over there. I live 2 miles from Will county and they are 2% less on sales tax, thats a big difference. The trouble we have to go through to save a buck.
Sloeginfizz
1-31-17, 1:37am
What's with all the Chicago hate? It can be a wonderful city to live in with some of the best museums, not just in this country, but anywhere. We have a great library system. You could go see a live show any night of the week if you wanted. Wonderful parks. Some of the most amazing architecture in the world. In the city, the public transportation is great and getting better. We're able to live without owning a car but can get one from zip car any time we actually need one.
Complaining about the weather is just stupid. Moving to NW Indiana isn't going to get you better weather. It's the same weather but now you have 18 inches of lake effect snow on top of it.
I grew up just across the border and still have family in Indiana. I visit regularly. Sure, taxes are a little cheaper but I don't think overall cost of living is that much less. I sometimes grocery shop in Indiana, just because that's when we have the zip car already. I don't spend much less in Indiana for about the same amount of food. I've seen the small town I grew up in become choked with new development and traffic so it is indistinguishable in most ways from any other Chicago suburb. Honestly, Indiana isn't that great. Been there, done that.
I find it hard to make the 90 minute commute to Indiana once a month to see family. I can't imagine the torture it would be to do every single day of the week just to save a couple of thousand bucks a year in additional taxes and maybe have a bigger house. I'd have to drive everywhere (I hate driving). Every thing there is fifteen minutes by car- grocery shopping, one sister's house to the other's etc. Blech.
And calling it "Crook" county is dismissive and offensive to the millions of mostly law abiding citizens who live here.
Just call me happy to live in Chicago.
What's with all the Chicago hate?
I don't think its a love/hate thing. Most of the people I know who have left the area say it was either due to the high costs of living in the safer neighborhoods or concerns about the schools.
Teacher Terry
1-31-17, 3:40pm
Chicago has many great things to do and see. I grew up an hour away. We loved to go to see the stage shows, have lunch and shop for the day. Just a quick train ride away. However, people are ruder there but that may just be a big city thing where the more people are concentrated into an area the less tolerant they become.
Chicago has many great things to do and see. I grew up an hour away. We loved to go to see the stage shows, have lunch and shop for the day. Just a quick train ride away. However, people are ruder there but that may just be a big city thing where the more people are concentrated into an area the less tolerant they become.
I spend a lot of time there too. But I'd rather rent Chicago than own it.
There is no hate for Chicago. It's that those who remain here since so many people are getting up and leaving. We are sticking it out like the "Dust Bowl" and dealing with the challenges of living here. It is simply becoming more and more challenging to stay. Ive been here since 1981 and clearly it is getting more expensive and challenging like not getting shot on the expressway.DH works nights on the Bishop Ford and he first hand has seen these shootings, crime scenes, major accidents. YOu only have 12 weeks of summer and mostly crappy windy weekends overcast or unseasonable cold. We've had a sailboat two years in a row, trying to enjoy Lake Michigan for what it is by Navy Pier, we only used it 3 times. So no hate here, haters leave for something better.
I just wanted to update that my inlaws moved out to Florida (Sarasota) area 3 years ago and could not find similar jobs with similar pay. So they are selling and going back to Chicagoland. I told them that since people are moving out there will be many homes for sale to choose from but surely the taxes with deter them. However they are think of Indiana for lower taxes and cheaper homes. Parts of towns are resembling Detroit now especially Joliet closeby which is will county's seat, with all the courthouses and vacant office buildings. Howsad as I remember how vibrant it was even around 2000. This confirms my theory, stay where the jobs are.
I just wanted to update that my inlaws moved out to Florida (Sarasota) area 3 years ago and could not find similar jobs with similar pay. So they are selling and going back to Chicagoland. I told them that since people are moving out there will be many homes for sale to choose from but surely the taxes with deter them. However they are think of Indiana for lower taxes and cheaper homes. Parts of towns are resembling Detroit now especially Joliet closeby which is will county's seat, with all the courthouses and vacant office buildings. Howsad as I remember how vibrant it was even around 2000. This confirms my theory, stay where the jobs are.
Joliet has been hurting for a long time - back in the early 90's when we moved to Naperville, our drive in sent us through Joliet. To say my wife was dismayed would be an understatement. Of course Naperville looked quite different.
If it's gone downhill since then, that sounds pretty bad.
Sadly I got a job driving a bus at Pace, going through Joliet. The Green Garden neighborhood I had to memorize where to turn since there were no street signs, My trainer pointed to turn after the burnt down house and stripped car, or between the torn couch on the corner and two chairs. No one should have to live that way. I quit because the job was dangerous and depressing. Many towns and big cities are teetering towards becoming like Detroit.
Teacher Terry
2-16-17, 2:28pm
I am surprised your in-laws did not check out COL versus salaries in their fields and one of them having a decent paying job before they left. We have moved all over for work but always did our homework first. Even before computers we used the classified ads and library to obtain the information.
Lets just say that my in-laws are very special people.NO they don't do their homework ever. They moved there thinking they could escape Illinois taxes but didnt figure that Florida homeowners insurance , taxes, and being jobless. Frankly they burned through what they saved. Now they've been gone 3 years everything here has doubled by then especially food prices.They are in for a shock. On the other hand, my dad as goofy and thoughtless as he is, he found a job and worked there almost a year (in Florida) before we sold our family home in Chicago. Although my parents moved there I stayed to finish out my education. They've been there ever since 1993. Meanwhile, we here are enjoying buying a dozen donuts paying 9.75 %tax plus 2.75% sweet tooth/sugar tax.
Teacher Terry
2-24-17, 1:50pm
Have you told your inlaws about the price increases? Are they coming back jobless too? It would seem at their age there is one foolish decision after another.
Yes I warned them, but they go back to what they know, taxes and the unknown......
I was absolutely shocked at the scope of Chicago public schools scaling back on hiring school librarians. Parents are volunteering to run school libraries and keep them open. Many are now closed. Students don't have access to school libraries��
Chance the Rapper donated one million dollars to Chicago Public Schools. He set a great example because local city bakeries are chipping in with fundraising to help out.Yea its a drop in the bucket but it put the governor to shame.
flowerseverywhere
3-12-17, 8:09am
Can you who are around sanctuary cities give more details as to how it affects the economy? I read the news from several sources but it is hard to tell what is really fake. Is there more of a burden on social services, more crime?
florida has notorious low wages and not the best social safety net. If it weren't for all the retirees paying school taxes I could not imagine how bad the schools would be.
But it in the past we left an area that had decent schools but we could see the writing on the wall as taxes started to increase and industry started to scale back. I don't regret uprooting my kids and going to a new area as in the long run it paid off. Unfortunately no one has a crystal ball and because it worked in our favor it could likewise be a disaster.
San Francisco's economy is booming. Lots and lots of construction happening all over the city. The sanctuary city thing is not an especially big thing here. It's just a small part of an overall progressive agenda. Minimum wage went up to$13 last year. There's a city run health insurance program for restaurant workers that provides care via a 3% surcharge on restaurant checks if the restauarant doesn't provide insurance to their employees. All the big hotels have unionized workforces. A housekeeper earns upwards of $20/hour after six months on the job with excellent benefits. There are plenty of services to help people that need them, both public and charity. No homeless person is going hungry here.
The biggest problem we face is a lack of affordable housing.
Seattle and Portland don't seem to have suffered--job growth in Seattle is average but it's about double that in Portland, unemployment is under 5%, and--perhaps unfortunately--the real estate market is exploding.
3017 11th Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119 - 3 beds/1.75 baths
Chicken lady
3-12-17, 1:26pm
I live near Cincinnati.
dd is in the city and just got a new, commercial construction related job that came with a significant raise, meanwhile, her old company is laying off 20% of her old department because the grocery business is struggling. Fish went on sale as usual this lent, but cabbage doesn't seem to be taking it's usual st. Paddy's dip.
i also teach in the city limits. We charge tuition, and although we do have a scholarship program, this is the first year we haven't lost a student due to an unemployed parent.
i've been volunteering at the food bank, not long enough to tell if use is trending up or down, but the shelves are well stocked.
gas prices are hovering around 2.15, dd2 just got hired for a summer job at $12/hour. Her best friend just got a better part time job also.
dh job is almost one year into a three year wage freeze.
i got an increase in hours at work. I don't know yet if I will also get the usual cola, in 8 years they have only skipped it once.
feed prices are holding pretty steady.
Seattle and Portland don't seem to have suffered--job growth in Seattle is average but it's about double that in Portland, unemployment is under 5%, and--perhaps unfortunately--the real estate market is exploding.
3017 11th Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119 - 3 beds/1.75 baths
Boston is booming - huge amount of high end development in the city, including a huge amount of residential. The real estate market has gone crazy here as well. There's a just large amount of money moving into the city, I'm not sure what the impact is elsewhere.
Chance the Rapper donated one million dollars to Chicago Public Schools. He set a great example because local city bakeries are chipping in with fundraising to help out.Yea its a drop in the bucket but it put the governor to shame.
You have to feel for Bruce Rauner, or any Illinois Governor. How do you manage a State suffering from generations of financial idiocy? How do you deal with ludicrously unfunded pension liabilities, entrenched public service unions with massive clout, vicious legislative infighting, a fleeing middle class and junk credit?
Why anyone would want that job is beyond me.
Chicken lady
3-13-17, 1:44pm
So, today I discovered there is a poster at the food bank. We served about 1,000 fewer individuals in 2016 than in 2015. This is an indication of need, not capacity. It reflects a reduction in demand of about 7%. However, there is no indication of how many of those individuals came once and how many came every month, which makes the poster significantly less helpful as an economic indicator. (A family with two adults and six kids that came once in an emergency would count exactly the same as 8 single adults who came every month.)
We live in northern Lake county. I work in Lake, DH works in McHenry. Sales taxes are lower but property still inordinately high for the size house we are in. We don't plan on staying here for retirement but haven't yet decided where we will end up.
I live outside of Chicago in a cook county suburb,and from my experience it is imploding. There are rows of empty stores, people moving out houses for sale. Taxes are going up some ridiculous fees like $101.00 to renew car registration in the state.If you live in Chicago your city sticker is $110 or something like that.I grew up as an immigrant in the city. But we never had handouts or welfare. Sanctuary cities pretty much are becoming immigrant communities with first generation problems and now the ICE problems. Inner cities lack resources , our state is without a budget for the second year, so money is not going for proper resources. I call it imploding pretty much here city wise and state wise. Our property taxes for a 1964 built 1000 square foot home almost $7000.00. Almost at 10 percent sales tax on food and goods and the popular 2.75% sweet tax.
Teacher Terry
3-14-17, 7:44pm
That's terrible Sylwia and not sustainable. I have family in WIs and am shocked at their property taxes also.
Chicken lady
3-14-17, 8:24pm
Cincinnati is a sanctuary city. I don't see the challenges in Cincinnati being immigrant or "1st generation" based. I think many Cincinnati issues are issues of multigenerational poverty, racial division, and white flight. Now not really being solved by infill projects and gentrification.
my property taxes aren't too bad. Most of them are school taxes, which keep increasing primarily because people keep turning farms into subdivisions and then we have to build new schools. I think we need a really big subdivision tax.
I live outside of Chicago in a cook county suburb,and from my experience it is imploding. There are rows of empty stores, people moving out houses for sale. Taxes are going up some ridiculous fees like $101.00 to renew car registration in the state.If you live in Chicago your city sticker is $110 or something like that.I grew up as an immigrant in the city. But we never had handouts or welfare. Sanctuary cities pretty much are becoming immigrant communities with first generation problems and now the ICE problems. Inner cities lack resources , our state is without a budget for the second year, so money is not going for proper resources. I call it imploding pretty much here city wise and state wise. Our property taxes for a 1964 built 1000 square foot home almost $7000.00. Almost at 10 percent sales tax on food and goods and the popular 2.75% sweet tax.
It does indeed sound like your city is struggling. But honestly I wonder if it really has anything to do with the sanctuary city factor. Or even with the immigrant factor. People have studied Miami and what happened after the Mariel Boatlift happened and basically things reached equilibrium fairly quickly and the economy grew. Because when new people come to a city with nothing they need to buy things. Stuff as small as a toothbrush or as big as a car to get to work and everything in between. Your city's problems sound like the more general problem of just a struggling city that doesn't have enough business happening to bring in the revenue necessary to keep things afloat. Blaming it on being a sanctuary city is easy, and everyone likes to have someone to blame for problems, but that doesn't mean that those people really are to blame.
Yesterday I traveled to the local zoo (having mixed feelings about zoos but another story for another day.) I bought flip flops good price great selection ......but I paid 10% tax to buy the flip flops. Brookfield Illinois where the zoo is located, is an upscale suburb of Chicago a couple miles north of us but still in cook county plus their own local taxes on top of that. Oh my goodness.....
What areas of Indiana or Illinois have zero sales tax? So really you are only paying the difference in what it would cost for sales tax at home and sales tax in Chicago. Here the sales tax is 7% but restaurant meals and such have an additional amount added.
Not expecting zero sales tax but you get jealous of Texas and Florida with no food tax! I call this the triple tax state! High taxes with no benefit in return. Still staying here for the job and for the kids to finish school.Last week a proposal to turn extra lanes of highway going into the city as a toll road. The local tollway system is a beast of its own. DH hit a big pothole on the tollway. It was big enough to call the tollway itself, when he explained where the pothole was the agent transferred him to the "right" department. A 911 operator asked him what was his emergency! She said why are you calling in a pothole on an emergency number. He replied that he was transferred there by the Tollway authority. Now that's a special kind of beast!
I've been thinking about state and local and sales taxes for a while now as I've watched this thread progress. Then, over the weekend, I read a thread on the city-data forum that was started by a woman who was looking for a place with zero property taxes. She was of the mindset that if you can have your house taken away because you didn't pay the property tax you don't really own it, the government does and you're just paying rent to the government. Thinking bigger picture, the reality, to me anyway, is that the basic services that the state and local governments provide have to be paid for somehow. We're not talking military and foreign aid and whatever else that people may or may not want to be paying federal taxes for. I'm talking schools and roads and libraries and all those day to day things that people actually use. Different places use different combinations of taxes/user fees to pay for them but at the end of the day either people pay and get good services or they scrimp and get crappy level services. It's not rocket science to figure out why the south generally has crappy ass schools compared to the rest of the country. The only variable is whether there are tourists/outsiders that can be bilked into covering a significant portion through hotel taxes/toll roads/etc. or whether the residents actually have to pay themselves for the services they want.
I live in a high income tax state and high sales tax city but a low property tax state. I don't nearly get back in services what I"m paying in in taxes, especially since we rent our home. But damn, our city library is awesome. Every book I've ever wanted to read, they have. Amazon books doesn't make a penny off me because I check out hundreds of books per year from the library. Is it a good bargain? I don't know. But I like living here, I make a good living despite the taxes I pay, and I like living somewhere where most people actually believe that government using taxes to provide services to those less fortunate than themselves is not some evil conspiracy to rob from the deserving rich to give to the greedy poor.
And for the record, according to multiple posters on the city-data forum all the unincorporated chunks of alaska have no property taxes. These are places that are basically so unpopulated that the land isn't even broken out into counties, much less incorporated cities or towns. Kind of like how the western US was not all even broken into states 150 years ago. But, as with anything, you get what you pay for. The best you can hope for with any of this unincorporated land in Alaska is that the best of it is at least somewhat within driving distance of a dirt road that will eventually get you to civilization of some minimal sort. Most of it requires 100% self sufficiency from anyone who wants to live on it because your nearest neighbor/road are a long long way away.
...Thinking bigger picture, the reality, to me anyway, is that the basic services that the state and local governments provide have to be paid for somehow. We're not talking military and foreign aid and whatever else that people may or may not want to be paying federal taxes for. I'm talking schools and roads and libraries and all those day to day things that people actually use. Different places use different combinations of taxes/user fees to pay for them but at the end of the day either people pay and get good services or they scrimp and get crappy level services. It's not rocket science to figure out why the south generally has crappy ass schools compared to the rest of the country. The only variable is whether there are tourists/outsiders that can be bilked into covering a significant portion through hotel taxes/toll roads/etc. or whether the residents actually have to pay themselves for the services they want.
I live in a high income tax state and high sales tax city but a low property tax state. I don't nearly get back in services what I"m paying in in taxes, especially since we rent our home. But damn, our city library is awesome. Every book I've ever wanted to read, they have. Amazon books doesn't make a penny off me because I check out hundreds of books per year from the library. Is it a good bargain? I don't know. But I like living here, I make a good living despite the taxes I pay, and I like living somewhere where most people actually believe that government using taxes to provide services to those less fortunate than themselves is not some evil conspiracy to rob from the deserving rich to give to the greedy poor.
....
Agreed. The library system here is one of the best in the country; it's a treasure--and I don't begrudge it a penny of my taxes, which hit $6000 this year. One of the reasons I'll eventually move is that my tax burden is high, but in general I like living in a well-kept civilized part of the world, and I don't begrudge my state, county, or country a percentage of what I earn or own.
Well Im glad someone is happy with their library. We have an awesome one too. However our roads are filled with hundreds of potholes, you call it it they dont know where to start. Bridges have potholes, you avoid them and you end up swerving in the next lane. Illinois is ridiculous because you dont see any benefit to your taxes.We do have great public schools in our town all my boys went through the public school system. Other than that library and schools, its sh#t. No state budget second year running so its affecting the public colleges and universities with warnings to educate yourself out of state because there is no guarantee that they will stay open.
There is certainly a place for taxpayer funded services. I'm especially thinking of the homely local government functions like filling the potholes, hauling away the garbage and the criminals, etc. It doesn't follow from that, however, that more taxes are always better. It can be a tough balance between providing what people think they need with what other people need to pay for.
I don't think people really have a good understanding and appreciation for the difficult and delicate art of municipal finance. You have people demanding that "something needs to be done", but reacting negatively to the idea of paying for it. You have ridiculous unfunded mandates from other levels of government for whom no task is too difficult provided they're not the one that needs to do it. You have priorities set more by decibel level than rational evaluation. You have a plaintiffs bar eager to rifle what they think are deep pockets. You have dedicated staff and elected officials who think you can make two and two equal seven if only you would show "a little creativity and think outside the box". You need to atone for the sins of the past governments who made foolish pension promises or borrowed not wisely but too well. You get budget direction to "do more with less" for the thirtieth year in a row. You need to meet the needs of the reckless, the feckless, the lawless, the luckless and the insane with the means provided by people who like to tell the voters about how they held the line on spending. You have to serve a public who basically has no idea who their representatives are, except for the eccentrics, supplicants and unscrupulous looking to shake the money tree.
And all the while, you are accountable to regulators, race-baiters, and self-appointed, reality-challenged zealots, watchdogs and gadflies with various axes to grind. And literally everybody wants you to know that "You work for me."
Very well said (except the "race-baiter part has me scratching my head. But I quibble.) You really should write for a living.
Very well said (except the "race-baiter part has me scratching my head. But I quibble.)
Take your library, for instance. We were shocked to see you stock Huckleberry Finn on your shelves where any child could be exposed to and damaged by its deeply offensive language. We demand an investigation and some expensive remedial action. While we're at it, we will be requesting an EEO investigation of your staffing policies. We will also be looking into whether you are providing adequate non-English materials to the community at large. We will be demanding the construction of a new branch in a historically underserved neighborhood and will be wacthing with interest the contractors you choose to build it, and who you will choose to name it for.
ApatheticNoMore
3-31-17, 12:33pm
I'm probably paying at least that rate in taxes (ok I looked it up and I'm paying more sales tax) and the library system leaves much to be desired, Amazon can make money off me anytime they want (and then I pay the sales tax when they do). If some areas are doing better maybe it's not solely because they pay a larger % in taxes but because there are more rich people to tax there. Can't get blood from a stone no matter how high regressive taxes like the sales tax go. The South as well, may have low taxes which underfund things, but it is also pretty poor to start out with I think. There simply isn't the wealth there that exists in San Francisco period. And pretending there is is - why Trump won.
But, as with anything, you get what you pay for. The best you can hope for with any of this unincorporated land in Alaska is that the best of it is at least somewhat within driving distance of a dirt road that will eventually get you to civilization of some minimal sort. Most of it requires 100% self sufficiency from anyone who wants to live on it because your nearest neighbor/road are a long long way away.
but you do get free money from the government just for living in Alaska. That's got to be nice. Though no it wouldn't be my choice. For one thing: it's cold and dark!
It's been interesting moving from one state/city to another recently. In Austin, our property taxes had risen to $8200 on a modest house but we had no state income tax. They were beginning to toll all of the major highways around and through the city. Trash pickup included all kinds of options but recycling was required. I would rate the library system about a 7 out of 10 though they are adding a fancy pants high-tech, coffee/wine bar, restaurant, hangout kind of library downtown which I suppose will be wondrous for those who live downtown. Lots of small branches though. Parks were meh unless the ones you count that they could rent out for big mega events and then the citizens could not use them. Lots of silly talk about affordable housing but really just tradeoffs for developers to get mostly what they wanted. Some public schools excellent if you're in a pricey neighborhood. All the others, far below average ratings. Here in Colorado, our recent property tax bill was $783. There is a state income tax but in our case, being retired with much lower income, it is fair. Trash services are third partied so you can pick whatever option you like. IMO, not enough police and too many potholes but there are tradeoffs when you need to find a lower cost of living. However, I find the library system to be surprising good. At least, an 8. By the way, lots of folks from Chicago area were moving to Austin when I left. I guess we all just keep looking for perfect:)
iris lilies
3-31-17, 1:49pm
Take your library, for instance. We were shocked to see you stock Huckleberry Finn on your shelves where any child could be exposed to and damaged by its deeply offensive language. We demand an investigation and some expensive remedial action. While we're at it, we will be requesting an EEO investigation of your staffing policies. We will also be looking into whether you are providing adequate non-English materials to the community at large. We will be demanding the construction of a new branch in a historically underserved neighborhood and will be wacthing with interest the contractors you choose to build it, and who you will choose to name it for.
Or take your safety cameras in more affluent neighborhoods, for instance. Fodder for race baiting victimology. In fact the St. Louis Newspaper which loves its race stories decided to feature that statistic in a front page story. The fact that private funds bought these cameras doesn't figure, it is simpley unfair and racist that predominantly African American communities dont have these cameras.
...Alaska. ...wouldn't be my choice. For one thing: it's cold and dark!
I won't argue with you about the cold. With an average temperature year round of 37 it's significantly colder than even Billings MT. However, it's no more dark than anywhere else, with an annual average of 12 hours of night per day. It's just not spread out as evenly throughout the year as it is in many other places.
Take your library, for instance. We were shocked to see you stock Huckleberry Finn on your shelves where any child could be exposed to and damaged by its deeply offensive language. We demand an investigation and some expensive remedial action. While we're at it, we will be requesting an EEO investigation of your staffing policies. We will also be looking into whether you are providing adequate non-English materials to the community at large. We will be demanding the construction of a new branch in a historically underserved neighborhood and will be wacthing with interest the contractors you choose to build it, and who you will choose to name it for.
OK. I think we do most of that already. When I worked there, the staff was a multi-gendered UN, and we offered books in multiple languages. We have branches everywhere. But I take your point.
Take your library, for instance. We were shocked to see you stock Huckleberry Finn on your shelves where any child could be exposed to and damaged by its deeply offensive language. We demand an investigation and some expensive remedial action. While we're at it, we will be requesting an EEO investigation of your staffing policies. We will also be looking into whether you are providing adequate non-English materials to the community at large. We will be demanding the construction of a new branch in a historically underserved neighborhood and will be wacthing with interest the contractors you choose to build it, and who you will choose to name it for.
Well, everyone but trump knows that running a library is not as simple as healthcare. And if the library is going to do a good job of serving all of their community instead of just the majority demographic of their community, it shouldn't be easy.
I have to update that State of Illinois is opening a trust so that it can become a sanctuary state. Anyone know what that will mean for residents of the land of Lincoln?
iris lilies
4-4-17, 9:01pm
Well, everyone but trump knows that running a library is not as simple as healthcare. And if the library is going to do a good job of serving all of their community instead of just the majority demographic of their community, it shouldn't be easy.
Ahh, running a library is scads easier than running healthcare.
Ahh, running a library is scads easier than running healthcare.
But trump was surprised that healthcare was so difficult. Maybe he should've stuck to library reform...
And thinking about libraries and LDAHL's race baiters they apparently exerted their force at my neighborhood branch library. I noticed on sunday that the Chinese language fiction section is actually larger than the English language fiction section. But I suppose that's to be expected when my zip code has more ethnic Chinese (40%) than caucasian (39%) people, and a total Asian population of 55% according to the 2010 census.
But trump was surprised that healthcare was so difficult. Maybe he should've stuck to library reform...
And thinking about libraries and LDAHL's race baiters they apparently exerted their force at my neighborhood branch library. I noticed on sunday that the Chinese language fiction section is actually larger than the English language fiction section. But I suppose that's to be expected when my zip code has more ethnic Chinese (40%) than caucasian (39%) people, and a total Asian population of 55% according to the 2010 census.
Yeah--"race baiting" as in meeting the needs of your customers. What a novel idea! :)
Yeah--"race baiting" as in meeting the needs of your customers. What a novel idea! :)
If only if was always as reasonable as that. In my time at the business end of government I have seen the most innocuous things become racially charged. That's not to say that's the only source. I've seen emotional battles of Town vs Gown, preservationists vs developers, cyclists vs drivers, union vs management, the arts community vs the philistines, golfers vs ice skaters and of course taxpayers vs tax consumers.
There doesn't seem to be a correlation between the scope of a given issue and the level of viciousness
Teacher Terry
4-5-17, 1:31pm
Sanctuary states can lose a lot of federal funding because the funds can be tied to not being one. It is one way the FEds control the states.
I agree it is totally changing the financial dynamics of this state. Most likely resulting in more people moving out or next states over. That means most likely quadruple taxation for us.
iris lilies
4-5-17, 2:10pm
Oh you have no idea about innocuous things being racially charged. That's all I am going to say, and I am so glad I am out of the workplace and no longer have to deal with that professionally.
Teacher Terry
4-5-17, 4:02pm
I am surprised that IL is willing to risk losing Fed $ since financially they are in such poor shape.
I am surprised that IL is willing to risk losing Fed $ since financially they are in such poor shape.
Maybe they are counting on trump's short attention span, or inability to get anything substantive done, to prevent any real consequences from happening.
I think the majority of politicians in Illinois including the Mayor depend on immigrants and their support. Something for something. Apparently being a sanctuary city/county/state benefits outweigh the massive exodus that will be increasing when overburdened tax payers start leaving. I am an immigrant except I came through front door, so I am very lucky to not have those concerns.
Or maybe they realize that it's to everyone's benefit if undocumented immigrants aren't afraid to engage with law enforcement.
A recent study shows that the number of hit and run in accidents in CA has dropped 7-10% because undocumented immigrants are more willing to remain at the scene of an accident now that they can get a driver's license.
https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2017/04/04/how-offering-driver-licenses-to-the-immigrants-here-illegally-makes-roads-safer/
Today I heard on the radio that the city of Chicago proposes to issue illegal aliens special id cards that will identify them as that and provide them with services. This will cost an additional Three Million Dollars!Many alderman from the city are arguing that is the state and federal governments area in issuing ids. Since the Trump administration is deporting many people and dreamers too, the ball is back in the city's court. The only thing that will run out of this business are people leaving the city and money running out.This is not a sustainable situation.
Today I heard on the radio that the city of Chicago proposes to issue illegal aliens special id cards that will identify them as that and provide them with services. This will cost an additional Three Million Dollars!Many alderman from the city are arguing that is the state and federal governments area in issuing ids. Since the Trump administration is deporting many people and dreamers too, the ball is back in the city's court. The only thing that will run out of this business are people leaving the city and money running out.This is not a sustainable situation.
Yep. I can't tell you how many people I know who live in the city who are planning on getting out ASAP. I question anyone who lives in the city willingly. It's called Sh*tcago for a reason.
Teacher Terry
4-20-17, 12:01pm
I guess they just aren't broke enough so they have to try harder!thumbsup!. One stupid decision after another.
I am surprised that IL is willing to risk losing Fed $ since financially they are in such poor shape.
Judging from the court decision yesterday it sounds like they were right to ignore 45's bombast and blustery threats about sanctuary city funding.
Teacher Terry
4-26-17, 1:19pm
Yes I was pleasantly surprised to see that mainly they lost. Although, I guess the feds can still file to withhold 3 specific grants. I am not sure how much that will hurt the cities. They deported a young man that had papers as a DACA and now claimed that he left voluntarily and there is no record of deporting him. That is such garbage!
My county is about to vote to become a "sanctuary county". Which will fit in nicely with our "nuclear free zone" and "no plastic bags" badges of honor.
iris lilies
4-26-17, 8:12pm
My county is about to vote to become a "sanctuary county". Which will fit in nicely with our "nuclear free zone" and "no plastic bags" badges of honor.
But you are not a "sanctuary city for reproductive rights" like my city. We are very special. We are very full of ourselves.
But you are not a "sanctuary city for reproductive rights" like my city. We are very special. We are very full of ourselves.
Metropolitan virtue signalling, the new sexy.
Judging from the court decision yesterday it sounds like they were right to ignore 45's bombast and blustery threats about sanctuary city funding.
Trump is now saying he will "break up" the 9th circuit court because of the ruling. What does that mean? Can he do something like that? I would think it would put a serious ding in separation of powers if the President could nuke any court that disagrees with him.
Trump is now saying he will "break up" the 9th circuit court because of the ruling. What does that mean? Can he do something like that?
Perhaps he should read the instructions that came with his office...
Perhaps he should read the instructions that came with his office...
Since he doesn't read perhaps someone should suggest a reading of the constitution on fox and friends.
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