Chicago, a great place to be from (Wilmington, Alpha: sales, apartments)

[Tenzo]

A lot of the bitching on this board is about taxes in Chicago.

Let me tell you about other places. I lived in Philly, where you pay 4.5% of you income just for the priviledge of living there. At the same time I worked in Wilmington, where I paid 1.5% for the priviledge of working there. Meanwhile, property tax on a $525,000 home was over $10,000 a year. So for a person making $50,000; Local taxes alone (before state or federal) were 26%, Then they had a 6.5% sales tax.

So I'll take your new sales tax any day.

[noid_1985]

I'm glad I'm from Chicago......so what's your point? I don't think people are just mad that the sales tax is the highest in the country- they are also make that CTA fares are going up, gas prices in Chicago are some of the highest in the country, local politicians are crooks, parking cost downtown an arm and a leg, Chicago public schools suck, etc etc.... the list keeps getting longer my friend. I'm sure people in Chicago wouldn't be so upset if things were actually being done with their tax dollars instead of jagging the money off. If Chicago wants to continue to be an Alpha city it better get its act together

[Chi-town Native]

the question is, does your separate/additional income tax drive people away the same way the sales tax drives away business?

I can't even begin to tell you how many people I know who either leave the City for major purchases, or who buy primarily on the Internet.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by noid_1985

I'm glad I'm from Chicago......so what's your point?

He made his point clearly.

[At1WithNature]

Well you mentioned Philly...lol. That's like the worst city in America for everything. Just google "Ugliest City in the World" and you'll get Philadelphia. An average looking person in Chicago would be a 9 or a 10 in philly. They have the country's ugliest folks according to websites like these:

Gawker - Is Philadelphia Really The Ugliest? - how hard could it be?

Next time, you should mention San Diego or Miami or some other town other than Philadelphia.

[Chicago60614]

I guess I'm oblivious. I don't have kids and grew up elsewhere, so while I follow CPS activities (had teacher as roommate for 5 years), it doesn't really get into my personal life except for the product it produces on the west/south sides.

I don't have a car luckly, so I just sat back with a bag of popcorn and watch the traffic, parking meter rates, city stickers, and high gas prices.

CTA I'm actually fine with paying $84 or whatever for a monthly pass. I use it 2-4 times a day.

I guess I should pay more attention to sales taxes, but honestly I don't at all. I don't make large purchases though, but I don't think I'd really care that much. I'm normally out of state anyway visiting home when I get something big, and their taxes are like 5%.

Sometimes I get all doom and gloom additude when I come on here and think about the taxes, corruption, meter issues, crime rate, etc. Then I walk around though and realize I'm actually pretty lucky that a lot of it doesn't really hit me in "my" Chicago. Do others find that as well? Maybe I should just start paying more attention. I'm perfectly happy with my life here, I always feel like I'm suppose to be more "upset".

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

Well you mentioned Philly...lol. That's like the worst city in America for everything. Just google "Ugliest City in the World" and you'll get Philadelphia. An average looking person in Chicago would be a 9 or a 10 in philly. They have the country's ugliest folks according to websites like these:

Gawker - Is Philadelphia Really The Ugliest? - how hard could it be?

Next time, you should mention San Diego or Miami or some other town other than Philadelphia.

haha, ME-OW

[scarletneon]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

I guess I'm oblivious. I don't have kids and grew up elsewhere, so while I follow CPS activities (had teacher as roommate for 5 years), it doesn't really get into my personal life except for the product it produces on the west/south sides.

I don't have a car luckly, so I just sat back with a bag of popcorn and watch the traffic, parking meter rates, city stickers, and high gas prices.

CTA I'm actually fine with paying $84 or whatever for a monthly pass. I use it 2-4 times a day.

I guess I should pay more attention to sales taxes, but honestly I don't at all. I don't make large purchases though, but I don't think I'd really care that much. I'm normally out of state anyway visiting home when I get something big, and their taxes are like 5%.

Sometimes I get all doom and gloom additude when I come on here and think about the taxes, corruption, meter issues, crime rate, etc. Then I walk around though and realize I'm actually pretty lucky that a lot of it doesn't really hit me in "my" Chicago. Do others find that as well? Maybe I should just start paying more attention. I'm perfectly happy with my life here, I always feel like I'm suppose to be more "upset".

me too. i still refuse to complain about the sales tax because I also do not buy big expensive crap that i don't need, and I can't complain about 2.25% on groceries, not when I came from where it was 8.25%+ for basic food needs.

also, people that are vandalizing the parking meters are really classy. especially in Andersonville? come on. next thing you know the yuppsters will be tagging their starbux gang signs everywhere.

P.S. I tried to rep you but it wouldn't let me.

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

I guess I'm oblivious. I don't have kids and grew up elsewhere, so while I follow CPS activities (had teacher as roommate for 5 years), it doesn't really get into my personal life except for the product it produces on the west/south sides.

I don't have a car luckly, so I just sat back with a bag of popcorn and watch the traffic, parking meter rates, city stickers, and high gas prices.

CTA I'm actually fine with paying $84 or whatever for a monthly pass. I use it 2-4 times a day.

I guess I should pay more attention to sales taxes, but honestly I don't at all. I don't make large purchases though, but I don't think I'd really care that much. I'm normally out of state anyway visiting home when I get something big, and their taxes are like 5%.

Sometimes I get all doom and gloom additude when I come on here and think about the taxes, corruption, meter issues, crime rate, etc. Then I walk around though and realize I'm actually pretty lucky that a lot of it doesn't really hit me in "my" Chicago. Do others find that as well? Maybe I should just start paying more attention. I'm perfectly happy with my life here, I always feel like I'm suppose to be more "upset".

I'm with you.

[coldwine]

I don't like the idea of saying "Well it doesn't really affect ME, so it's not like I'm going to complain".

Lots of things don't affect me personally that would hit several posters on this board. Make the sales tax 20%; I wouldn't really notice. Raise property taxes; I can afford it.

However, that attitude is a prime example of the kind of ignorance and passiveness that leads to far greater problems. Sooner rather than later, it WILL affect you personally. No one lives in a bubble, and no one should know that more than city dwellers. The chain of give and take is especially tight around our necks.

Sooner or later, high taxes will affect you. Especially higher taxes from the corrupt, worthless sacks of suck that run Chicago. It's already evident, if you know what to look for. The chaotic, shambling neighborhoods, the schools that don't have a prayer of getting their **** in gear, parking meters that really do discourage shoppers and failed infrastructure. What more do we need to show us that we're part of a community, noy just a collection of apartments and individual interests?

We're supposed to be better than those suburban ideals.