Thursday, February 20, 2014

Leaving Cook County

If you're smart or you have a decent job, you aren't staying in Cook County according to a new study:
  • As the Great Recession churned job prospects for many, Cook County lost about 13,000 residents with six-figure household incomes to other places, despite the widely hyped revival of downtown housing and jobs.

    Between 2007 and 2011, Chicago and its immediate suburbs also ended up with about 10,000 fewer residents with a bachelor's degree or higher, even after accounting for new arrivals, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's first attempt to track population shifts by income and education at the county level.

    In recent years, local officials and real estate developers have touted a resurgence in young tech workers and affluent empty-nesters revitalizing the city's core. Yet those trends are seemingly being overshadowed by more powerful factors, as other parts of the city and close-in suburbs send even larger numbers of prosperous, college-educated people to DuPage County and beyond.
This "brain-and-affluence" drain shows no signs of abating and ought to be a wake-up call to the powers that be.

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41 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Powers that be don't care about folks leaving Cook County cause they are caught up in the moment. They don't look towards the future..they're more interested in me, me, me and gimme, gimme, gimme.

2/20/2014 12:33:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So again, when can we move the hell out of this cess pool? Lift residency!

2/20/2014 12:47:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good riddance!!! Those leaving probably vote republican. No big loss.

2/20/2014 01:00:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Brain drain? Well at least no democrats are leaving.

2/20/2014 01:00:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So we'll be left with dumb, broke, uneducated socialist voting assholes. That's just great.

2/20/2014 01:07:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'll tell you why.
Before I got on the job, I lived in villa park, du page. The 1st year I bought a city sticker for 35.00. '94. The next year the village sent me a letter telling me that the village had a surplus of taxes and they would advise me next time a city sticker purchase was necessary.
I lived there 4 more years and never got that notification.
It was a Republican town.
How many Republican alderman does Chicago have ?
Zero. They don't even pretend anymore.
We are fucked !

2/20/2014 01:12:00 AM  
Anonymous a Taxpayer said...

True trend and if politicians in both Chicago and Cook County can't figure it out, they deserve to go down to Detroit's level.

Too much attention paid to those who don't want to work, instead of those that do.

Get your priorities straight!!

2/20/2014 02:41:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

...so who are the trendies "discovering" Chicago neighborhood after neighborhood?

It's too weird.

2/20/2014 02:50:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wake up call = more taxes.

2/20/2014 04:10:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Chicago, Crook County and the State of Illinois are all dieing entities thanks to the politicians and the scum that they cater to. Anyone an ounce of brain will get out as soon as they can.

2/20/2014 04:21:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
...so who are the trendies "discovering" Chicago neighborhood after neighborhood?

It's too weird.

2/20/2014 02:50:00 AM


Young people without much money, they go where it is cheap.

2/20/2014 05:22:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Good riddance!!! Those leaving probably vote republican. No big loss.

2/20/2014 01:00:00 AM


Explain please what possible good it does to vote Republican here in Chicago only to be outvoted 98% to 2%.

2/20/2014 05:24:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

We are a Sanctuary City. Those smart workers will be replaced soon. Don't worry.

Wait! What?

2/20/2014 05:30:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm waiting my turn to leave too! I will Never, ever live in Chicago once I retire! In fact, I'm getting a new place and selling everything in this city before I retire just so that I will be gone as soon as I turn in the star! I will NOT be resident in my last few years on this job! Catch me if you can! KMA

2/20/2014 06:02:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...


Higher taxes, more working taxpayers leave.

County squeezes smaller group of remaining working taxpayers with even higher taxes to make up for loss of income from departing taxpayers. More taxpayers get fed up and leave.

Politicians continue to loot coffers and arrange deals for their rich friends with taxpayers' dollars.

County squeezes even smaller group of remaining working taxpayers with yet higher taxes to make up for loss of income from departing taxpayers. More taxpayers get fed up and leave.

....continue until Chicago becomes Detroit.


2/20/2014 07:29:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Brain drain? Well at least no democrats are leaving

Right. Look how well that worked for Detroit.

2/20/2014 07:48:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Life is so much better outside that shithole.

2/20/2014 08:04:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The mayor is planning on spending billions of dollars to build more affordable cost housing. The only problem is that these new residents will be takers not earners. They vote democrat though and that's all that matters.

2/20/2014 08:06:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

All I can say is put your trust in the Democrat Party. They will always take care of you. Never vote republican.

2/20/2014 08:23:00 AM  
Blogger Mr. SouthSide said...

They only want people who vote their way. No independent thoughts allowed.

2/20/2014 08:46:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

wake up call = send your families into the appropriate burbs. keep them safe and save your money too. always shop outside of this county.

2/20/2014 08:59:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Add me to the list. Master's Degree and me are out of here in a few months.

2/20/2014 09:19:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Cook county pols don't want well educated taxpayers because too many of them equals getting voted out of office. People are really pissed off at all levels of government and hopefully this will be reflected in upcoming elections. Everyone is getting a "no" vote from me this time around . Time to send a loud message.

2/20/2014 09:28:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...


when you read the real estate propaganda about thousands of young people flocking to an area of chicago within 'x' miles of city hall as if there is some sort of success story here with promises of great wealth and a bright future

ask yourself this.

how many of these young people are being crammed per downtown apartment. the average person may conclude that if 10,000 people moved next to city hall that it's 10,000 condo's or apartments being rented or sold.

however, what if it's 3, 4, 5 students that moved in sharing one residence.

what if the reason they moved there is because they can't afford a car, can't afford chicagos gas tax and parking on a service sector min-wage part-time waitress wage and that move puts them within walking distance of that stinking job because they can't even afford bus fare.

that 10,000 people move to a certain location is not necessarily a sign of prosperity as it's being presented.

given the recent numbers in this report they just may have all been students...on federal grants...borrowed money... waiting to graduate and blow this city.

2/20/2014 09:37:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i have to agree my relatives live in villa park not too expensive great city services and a very good police force

2/20/2014 09:54:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm not 6 figures, but, I have a M.A. degree and 15+ years of analytical experience. I couldn't leave Chicago fast enough. 12 years was plenty. "Beach closed due to heat". That was the final straw. I moved home to where that kind of ridiculous public display of "intellect" would be called out. Instantly. We don't put up with that nonsense here. Of course I dearly miss some parts of Chicago, but, not bad enough to stay. Good luck this summer.....

2/20/2014 10:02:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just A Citizen says: I lived in the city since the late 80's (before that Florida and before that the NW Suburbs and now mostly on the west coast)and BOY HAS IT CHANGED. I used to get off work late at night (second job, something these kids know nothing about these days) and I never worried walking to my car. I never worried about leaving my car parked on the street. I never worried about my neighbors. I never worried about getting raped, stabbed, beaten, mugged, harassed, shot at or whatever other little dangerous activities these maggots do to the rest of us. I walked home from work (in the loop) every single day, in the dark and never worried or was threatened. But now?? It's a hellhole. Dredges of society at every corner. Fake homeless people. Scary maggots swaggering around the streets loving the fact they scare the shit out of the rest of us. And that's just the politicians. I prefer to stay away as much as I can. And when I have to be in Chicago, I stay indoors as much as possible or else drive out to the suburbs where I feel safe. What does this tell you? The democrats have made it unsafe. The maggots are like a fire, spreading out, taking over and the democrats are standing over them with lighter fluid and a hundred boxes of matches.

2/20/2014 11:00:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've said this before in another post regarding Chicago economic issues... homes are appreciating like crazy everywhere besides the west and south sides. That isn't happening in the suburbs, where I live.

So if it's going south in Chicago, the economic outlook is even worse in the collar counties and suburbs.

2/20/2014 11:10:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Chicago will become what has happened in the DC metro area, people travel 50 miles each way by train to work in Washington DC area. Most live in Maryland where taxes and expenses are cheaper.The one problem that people have in the Chicago area taking the Metra to Chicago is the lack of parking spaces in the burbs. Waiting lists of years.

2/20/2014 11:16:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The political powers are seriously considering a city or county income tax. What do you think will happen then? If they can't get a "progressive state income tax" which will mean a tax increase for the majority of the middle class they will try for an income tax. Illinois is broke, raises income tax but never cuts spending. Quinn has increased spending dramatically each year in which he was governor.

2/20/2014 11:21:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Heard Toni. Perk winkle talking, she wants to redo forest preserves you know for the non taxpayers that use them cesspools, and says " the easiest way to do tag tis raise property taxes to get the money" yep that uneducated racist said that! Hey Toni close the jails so u can keep the black and brown who do the most crimes out to prey on anyone left in this corrupt county! Last one out please shut off the lights!

2/20/2014 11:43:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

These political asshole's will never wake up as long as they get their minority vote and put money in their pockets they could give a shit.

2/20/2014 12:26:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This sucks. I know Chicago sucks but I can't afford to leave(under water mortgage, family, friends, not enough money). I feel so stuck in Chicago like many but have to ride it out, basically gambling on the scumbag politicians.

2/20/2014 01:02:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The biggest reason is the school system. Notice that neither the young tech workers or the affluent older people use the school system (they pay for it, but they don't use it).

A lot of people with school aged kids are leaving for the suburbs. Thank you mayor for stealing the school money for TIFs for your buddies.

2/20/2014 02:40:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Go west and never return

2/20/2014 03:09:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Taxes are a good thing. Only through taxes is local government able to provide all the good things that it provides to people. The more taxes paid the more goodies local government can provide.

2/20/2014 03:56:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Liberals and Democrats.........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hhJ_49leBw

2/20/2014 05:15:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The only thing that is accelerating in this county are the illegals ( border jumpers or expired visas) and their anchored spawn. With that anchored spawn is the ticket for Link, ssi benefits for their ADD kids, HUD vouchers and the list goes on and on.

Hard working Americans get out while you can.

2/20/2014 11:53:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

the ultimate 025 district warriors corner man says: ask yourself this... does "x" problem exist in society due to conservatism, or liberalism??? Are jails filled with liberals or conservatives??? who lives in the ghetto, liberals or conservatives??? Time to come off the top rope , hit the ground running and head for a red state. let the government funded leaches piss and shit all over each other.

2/21/2014 08:45:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Won't be long before it's Detroit all over again.

2/21/2014 10:57:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have money. I work for my money. I enjoy spending my money on what I want to. I enjoy investing my money.

when the government takes and takes and wastes and wastes - I'm of the means to MOVE away from that insanity...

Fuck 'em...

2/22/2014 11:22:00 PM  

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