by Simon 17 Replies latest social current
Will Chicago face the same fate?
Property taxes and added taxes on sales (an extra dollar on a case of water for example) and ridiculous fees (all cars have an $85 sticker for parking yearly, SUV and pick ups have $135 sticker) add to the already-higher cost of living in Chicago. City budgets are already way over slated amounts and the city has not planned properly for existing teachers, police, firefighters pensions.
Chicago is already on it's way to being the next Detroit.
I will never forget staying in Windsor Ontario a few years ago and looking across the river and hearing all the gunfire and seeing all the helecopters with huge spotlights buzzing around. It was sureal.
Detroit is caught in the perfect storm everything that can go wrong has. I don't see Chicago going that way:
Reasons for ChicagoVs Detroit: Significantly more inhabitants 2.707 million vs 0.707 million 2 million more inhabitants. Cities with bigger population usually offer better employment and entertainment opportunities. Big cities attract business, are trade and cultural centres and research hubs. Source: Wikipedia, 2013.
Explicitly more big sport facilities (stadiums, arenas, ect.) 7 vs 2 5 more big sport facilities (stadiums, arenas, ect.). The more big sport facilities the more important sporting events city is able to organize. Source: Wikipedia, 2013.
Vastly higher gross domestic product (GDP) 532 $ billion vs 68.5 $ billion 463.50 $ billion higher gross domestic product (GDP). The level of GDP shows how rich and productive the city is. Source: Wikipedia, 2013.
Vastly lower unemployment rate 9.4 % vs 10.7 % 1.30 % lower unemployment rate. Low unemployment rate indicates better career opportunities and economic growth.
Significantly faster population growth 13 % vs -4.24 % 17.24 % faster population growth. Population growth is the change in a population over time. The higher the growth the more dynamic society feels. Growth of population can be connected with economic, cultural and social development of the city, which attracts more and more people who want to live in it.
Distinctly lower murder rate 19.4 vs 48.2 28.80 lower murder rate. Murder rate expresses number of murders per 100,000 inhabitants. Lower murder rate indicates safer city and better quality of living.
Notably more universities 24 vs 5 19 more universities.
Considerably more airports 2 vs 1 1 more airports.
Considerably more international corporate headquarters 2 vs 1
Notably more billionaires residing within the city 16 vs 0 16 more billionaires residing within the city.
Has a stock exchange Yes Cities with stock exchanges are usually important financial centres influencing international or national’s financial markets.
Vastly more museums 55 vs 5 50 more museums.
Truly sad!! And what happens is that at some point, it spirals out of control into a miserable vicious circle.
Once companies leave, most qualified workers leave along with it. Then the perception that white people are mass-exiting the city, creates true max exodus. Very few jobs left = increased crime. Increase crimes rates make the city even less desirable for investors and workers. As people turn to crime to survive and build up criminal records, they become unemployable and further socially excluded.
I don't completely buy the concept that "black areas" are poor because the government doesn't care about these areas. This country despite all the racism that still exists, is still the country in the world that offers the most opportunity if you try hard. But this require effort.
I've seen people imigrating to this country from various places around the world (middle east, africa, asia) with barely nothing and within a few months/years are leading integrated and progressive lives - kids going to school, opening businesses, improving their communities.
Sitting around with your hand out waiting for someone to come give you something accomplishes nothing.
Giordano:
I don't think 9.4 % vs 10.7% unemployment rate can be described as "Vastly lower".
The # of billionaires is meaningless to normal people - it depends what they do with the money and also where the money came from.
Counts of airports, museums and universities are poor measurements (# of business trips, # of students attending etc... are better)
2 million inhabitants? Yes - Detroit had that too.
There will never be absolute identical attributes but Chicago seems to be on a similar trajectory and face similar issues. Maybe they can and will learn things from Detroit - there are other municipalities facing similar challenges that are no doubt watching things unfold with keen interest.
Detroit has a very rare and great opportunity. It can start over. It can do so be making itself a major urban center that embraces 21st century ideals. Co-ops, urban farming, green retrofitting, and anew culture and attitude based on the old. Some people love Detroit, but its the wild west out there. You are on your own, everyone is packing heat, and the police can't help you. In the real slums there is 50% unemployment. So people steal. Without some options, the place continues to go downhill. But Canada is right there, the Pistons just signed Josh Smith, and the state is attracting the movie industry, farming community, and some buisness interests here and in Canada. Its like a fire sale. You just have to do something to improve the city if you come here.
Detroit could really end up being fantastic 10 years or more from now. Considering you can buy a house for 10-15K, I might buy and sit. :)
And another thing........those building need to come down. Offer land to people willing to come and build, and build local unemployment in to labor and learn on the job type training. Build in the new way. Then the city can get some tax revenue. it just has to give away land to those willing to build. It could really change the face of things quickly!
So sad.....
