How much can you share about Chicago? (Oregon, Buffalo: 2015, crime rate)

[ole69]

Never been to SF. I found whatever "niceness" in L.A. to be totally fake. So I'll go out on a limb and say yes.

[Mephistopheles]

Originally Posted by ole69

Never been to SF. I found whatever "niceness" in L.A. to be totally fake. So I'll go out on a limb and say yes.

San Francisco is a nice city. It's very liberal and tolerant. The locals there weren't very hospitable, but they were accepting. You see, I also have a high-functioning form of autism known as Asperger's Syndrome. There are no laws in Texas that protect people like me. That's all the reason more why I'm ready to leave. I know they have mandates in California in favor of my kind, and I presume they exist in Illinois as well considering it's a blue state.

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Reading your posts and Yes the area is nice to outsiders
Yes Illinois is a blue state but without chicago i think it would turn red
Crime- still cant figure that one out - the areas you would go to no matter what city would be high in crime.
i must say i respect your intentions if your brave enough to battle the crime zones
the weather is cold in the winter but to me its tolerable you just need to dress for the conditions
long coat, hat ,gloves and layers
summers to me are worse with the humidity
i would talk to some other people who have been to the areas you are interested
they could give you better advice

[oakparkV]

Is Chicago a friendly city?
Yes. Of course you'll encounter some d-bags, but that's true of anywhere. I'm from the Midwest, and choose to stay in the Midwest because I like mindset and personality here. IMHO, Chicago is very typical Midwest ... friendly and laid-back ...

How bad is the crime rate?
Depends where you go. A little common sense goes a long way around here, and you'll catch on quickly once you live here. Working in a lower income area, you may encounter some issues (gangbangers, drug dealers, petty theft). Just keep your wits about you, avoid carrying valuables, stay in a group, mind your own business, etc. The vast majority of Chicago isn't a war-zone ... While there are a few low-income areas that are downright awful (Englewood, Roseland, etc.) there are far more that are "ok, not great" (Cragin, Little Village, South Shore, Hermosa, etc.) Again, just use common sense, regardless of where you are.

Are the locals there accepting towards outsiders?
I've lived here for almost 6 years and never had trouble making friends. I hang out with a great group, all types of people, and I'm with a guy who's a native Chicagoan. (I get some sh*t because I'm from Northeast Wisconsin and I'm a Packers fan, but it's all in good fun between my friends and I.) Lots of people move to Chicago because it's a big business and industrial hub, and the job market is better. I think overall, Chicago is used to and welcoming of outsiders.

I'm well aware it's an Alpha City, but does it have a "holier than thou" mindset, or is it more down-to-earth?
Definitely down-to-earth. Honestly, any "holier than thou" attitudes I've encountered have come from yuppie-types who aren't native Chicagoans to begin with. They moved here for college, work for some big corporation downtown, have a condo in a trendy 'hood and earn six figures. (Yes, I'm generalizing, but ...) In my estimation, "true" Chicagoans are more working/middle class people who work hard, take pride in their city, treat their neighbors with respect and just want to live comfortably. I'm sure I'll get some varying opinions on that one ... Just stating my views ...

The main thing that worries me about Chicago is the brutal winters.
Yeah, winter is brutal here. And I'm from Northern Wisconsin. I've actually found it feels colder here than up there. Needless to say, it'll be a big adjustment from Austin, TX.

I'm well aware Chicago is a liberal city which is a good thing. I'm a socialist.
You'll be fine here. There are more Democrats than Socialists, but Chicago's got a liberal mindset overall. You'll encounter your fair share of opinions, but again, that's true of anywhere. You'll definitely feel more comfortable here than in many parts of Missouri or Texas!

Basically, I'm trying to figure out why I should pick it over Los Angeles.
You already stated the biggest reasons: lower cost of living, and less shallow and fake people. Personally, I hate L.A., so I'm not going to give the most objective opinion here. I think in terms of people, Chicago has L.A. beat: we're nicer and more genuine. That's why I love it here.

I'm wanting to know if I'll feel more welcome among the locals in Chicago than I would in L.A.
Yes, definitely!

[Mephistopheles]

There's no doubt there'll be some snootiness there. That comes with the package with an Alpha city. Anytime, you live in a global city with more than 10 million people, there'll be lots of wealth. Overall, it sounds to me like Chicago is the most humble of America's three Alpha/global/world class cities. Some of you expressed your disdain towards L.A. Personally, I can't stand New York. So it looks like Chicago is gaining the high ground over L.A. now.

[nana053]

Originally Posted by Orpheus528

San Francisco is a nice city. It's very liberal and tolerant. The locals there weren't very hospitable, but they were accepting. You see, I also have a high-functioning form of autism known as Asperger's Syndrome. There are no laws in Texas that protect people like me. That's all the reason more why I'm ready to leave. I know they have mandates in California in favor of my kind, and I presume they exist in Illinois as well considering it's a blue state.

You would be mistaken about laws in Illinois. But you are an adult, not a child. What kinds of laws do you believe favor you in California?

There are very few supports for autistic adults anywhere in the US (and in fact anywhere in the world - though there are a few industries and companies that help)

The disheartening fact is that probably 70 to 80 percent of adults with asperger's are unemployed.

Nana
http://www.theautismexperience.com/
http://www.exislepublishing.com.au/T...xperience.html

[Mephistopheles]

Originally Posted by nana053

You would be mistaken about laws in Illinois. But you are an adult, not a child. What kinds of laws do you believe favor you in California?

There are very few supports for autistic adults anywhere in the US (and in fact anywhere in the world - though there are a few industries and companies that help)

The disheartening fact is that probably 70 to 80 percent of adults with asperger's are unemployed.

Nana
The Autism Experience - Login
The Autism Experience By Valerie Foley

What laws favor me in California? Well it's not a right-to-work state meaning they can't just fire you because they don't like you. They have to have a legitimate reason. Here in Texas, those laws are pretty thin. The geniuses on the hill here suck up to big businesses and shaft the working class. That's why I can't wait to leave this godforsaken place. I may have been born and raised in Texas, but I'm sure as hell not going to die here. I know for a fact that Illinois is a Union state. It doesn't want to secede from the country like Texas does.

Ironically, I went to college with a girl from Chicago. She thought the people here were all arrogant bastards, and I agree. One thing I've ascertained is I was born in the wrong place at the wrong time. That being said, I presume they have labor unions in Illinois like their neighbors in Wisconsin do. Last time I looked at the map of right-to-work states, Illinois was one that WAS NOT on that list.

[nana053]

Originally Posted by Orpheus528

What laws favor me in California? Well it's not a right-to-work state meaning they can't just fire you because they don't like you. They have to have a legitimate reason. Here in Texas, those laws are pretty thin. The geniuses on the hill here suck up to big businesses and shaft the working class. That's why I can't wait to leave this godforsaken place. I may have been born and raised in Texas, but I'm sure as hell not going to die here. I know for a fact that Illinois is a Union state. It doesn't want to secede from the country like Texas does.

Ironically, I went to college with a girl from Chicago. She thought the people here were all arrogant bastards, and I agree. One thing I've ascertained is I was born in the wrong place at the wrong time. That being said, I presume they have labor unions in Illinois like their neighbors in Wisconsin do. Last time I looked at the map of right-to-work states, Illinois was one that WAS NOT on that list.

Yes there are unions in Illinois, but they won't get you the job in the first place. And, they may or may not protect you depending upon the reason for firing or hiring.

The teachers union here is in bed with the administration. I worked in Pilsen and believe me, the unions protected those who had *connections* not necessarily the rank and file.

Are you planning to teach after Americorps? Just curious. Or do you have an industry and companies you intend to look into.

I entirely understand not wanting to stay in Texas. I moved here (Houston area) because my grandchildren are here, but I would much rather be back in Chicago even with the cold winters and snow.

Nana
http://www.theautismexperience.com/
http://www.exislepublishing.com.au/T...xperience.html

[Mephistopheles]

Originally Posted by nana053

Yes there are unions in Illinois, but they won't get you the job in the first place. And, they may or may not protect you depending upon the reason for firing or hiring.

The teachers union here is in bed with the administration. I worked in Pilsen and believe me, the unions protected those who had *connections* not necessarily the rank and file.

Are you planning to teach after Americorps? Just curious. Or do you have an industry and companies you intend to look into.

I entirely understand not wanting to stay in Texas. I moved here (Houston area) because my grandchildren are here, but I would much rather be back in Chicago even with the cold winters and snow.

Nana
The Autism Experience - Login
The Autism Experience By Valerie Foley

I don't plan on teaching after AmeriCorps, no. I was hoping to go into either some urban and regional planning or environmental work. Maybe a governmental or administrative position would suffice, but teaching doesn't do it for me.

[dewthedru]

i recently moved here from michigan and have had zero issues with people looking down on me because i'm not a native chicago resident. that could be because i live in a hispanic and polish neighborhood and nobody here is from here.

as far as the gun laws, i'm guessing handguns will be legalized soon as per the recent supreme court decision. of course, that only means that those that weren't willing to break the law to get one in the past can now do so. people like me.

btw, could you avoid the crazy blue font? it makes reading your posts....painful.

one more thing about chicago that outsiders don't realize...like any major metropolitan area, it does contain residents from all social and racial backgrounds, they don't seem to mix like they might elsewhere. there are invisible lines all over the city, beyond which certain groups do or don't live. that was one of the biggest surprises to me. blacks, hispanics, whites, polish, etc. all live in their own areas and long-time residents all seem to know where those lines are.