Beating Rockford a little more... (Chicago, Joliet: foreclosures, house, find a job)

[extexan]

Yes, Rockford has its problems, most of which are caused by the mass exodus of manufacturing companies to the south and to foreign countries. There are very few professional jobs because most of the commercial acitivity is at the retail level. Rockford really just serves as an oasis of shopping and restaurants between Wisconsin and Chicago and between Iowa and Chicago. We need more sustainable industry in Rockford. I have been commuting to the Chicago suburbs to have a good job since 1994. We need for the leaders in Rockford to stop refusing industries that try to locate here (e.g., wind energy, meat packing). If we continue to be so selective about the industries we allow to become established here, we will continue to be nothing more than a retail oasis on I-90.

[lpbandmjc]

Originally Posted by rocky12345

Okay, there are plenty of discussions bashing rockford. I would like to chime in. I moved to Rockford 1 year ago. I am a highly paid professional religious minority. Want to let out some steam. Dont want someone else to make the same mistake. This is obviously only my opinion. Here is my take:

- High property taxes
- bad public schools
- high crime in most parts
- Relatively little cultural diversity. Many rednecks. Many pickup trucks.
- Few professionals.
- The highest concentration of churches I have ever seen in my life. Cant go a block without finding several.
- Almost no high end retailers. Few fine dining options. Gap could not survive in this town!
- Tons of open fields, corn fields, rural surroundings. Not good for a city person.
- Few fine housing options. > 300k puts you in the top 2% of Rockford houses!! Sure you get cheap housing for a very good reason (see above and below).
- Not so close to Chicago as you would think- at least 1.5 hrs to Chicago loop. Not a reasonable daily commute.
- The art museum is horrible.
- 3 hospitals in the area without much choice for specialist physicians.
- Downtown is abandoned and decaying
- Their "business district" is a collection of big box stores and fast food chains. The only white collar business jobs are in banks if you can find them.

Ok Rocky, when I read your post I just couldn't resist "chiming in" as well.
In response to what you wrote,
-High property taxes...yep-what did you expect?
-Bad public schools- You were never a student here. You do not work in the school system. Don't complain about something you have NO knowledge on. Rockford's schools get a bad rap for a lawsuit that happened 20 years ago. Do some research before you open your mouth.
-Rednecks and pickup trucks. Well this is the Midwest, we are an agricultural state, and you are an idiot if you thought this was going to be a little Chicago.
-Few professionals? Everyone I know including myself have a higher education and most have masters degrees. I'm not sure who you are associating with...and again what small minded person thinks a city of almost 200,000 is going to be bursting with "professionals?" What is your definition of a professional? I hope you realize we depend on people who you consider "unprofessional" in this city.
-YOU have a PROBLEM with the churches we have here? I'm sorry people seem to like going to church in Rockford and I never thought that was a reason to DISLIKE a place. You should be ashamed of yourself bashing on the religious prevalence in this community when you say you are religious yourself. You and Jesus or (whoever your religious minority is) should have a talk about your anti-church feelings.
-Open fields and wide open spaces- Are you serious? THIS IS NOT CHICAGO. You must have known NOTHING about Illinois in general when you moved here. Our entire state south and west of Chicago is WIDE OPEN SPACE. Our state IS agriculture. Get used to it, its not going anywhere.
-Not as close to Chicago as you think. Oh, really? How close did you think we were? Did you just now figure out that we are NOT a suburb? Your ignorance about this area astounds me.
-Small city art museum....did you know its the largest one in the state outside of Chicago? Another reason for you to go away and not come back here.
-Our hospitals, especially Swedish American are some of the best in the region. Again, do some research before opening your mouth. Or better yet, move away.
-Downtown is trying to revitalize, but it's people like you who continue to be negative and just complain instead of doing something help change it around. It's getting better, but you're too busy counting the churches in the city to notice anything else.
OH AND PS- GAP is NOT fine retail. AND IT'S BEEN THRIVING IN THE MALL FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.
BOTTOM LINE- you have NO idea. And its people LIKE YOU who continue to give Rockford and undeserved bad name.
Get over yourself and go back to wherever you came from.

[Homesinrockford]

I couldn't put it better myself.

[cavewoman]

rocky..I am so sorry you hate it here. I am not fond of the area either.
I moved here from Bolingbrook and often sorry I did as well. Sometimes, it's tough to relocate. I happen to be in Northern Rockford., Roscoe actually, but your right. Much of what is in Riockford needs work. The convention bureau hired an out of state person who lacks the knowledge of the area and the players. There are things to do here though...and definately some great restaurants. Have you been to the Japense place on Perriville? There was great Italian place, but think they closed. some noce places downtown and in many of the surrounding areas. Good luck to you. The housing stock and resale has been rough on Rockford. perhaps you can find a way to get out.... I keep trying, but it's been 7 years.

[Lookout Kid]

I was just out in Loves Park this past weekend, and can say that it sucks more than Rockford ever could. At least Rockford has some character.

[rocky12345]

For me Rockford has become like one big bad nightmare. I feel like I am in a dumpy religious colony full of zealots and simple minded red necks. A paradise for the Walmart type. A place where the only opportunity for someone educated is to work in a "fine" retailer on the main boulevard (that is if you have connections). A dead end.

A local government that would rather see the "city" decay and impose the highest taxes on its citizens in the country. Thugs and gangsters rule the west side. Schools ruined by the kids of these people. The most religious brainwashing schools in the nation.

A train that will never connect this place to civilization. There is no demand for Rockford's citizens to ever leave because they have no skills to offer (spare me the anectodes of friends with masters degrees who are working as waiters at the local Steak and Sheak). Oh, and agricultural and construction skills are not too in demand in Chicago and Milwaukee.

Leisure acitivities consist of choosing amongst the 5000 churches and deciding which local chain to eat at afterwards. Oh, and dont forget about the wonderful art museum with about 80 pieces of art in the basement.

[Havasu]

Rocky, you really need to find a way to leave. It can be done. I lived there for a while and I am soooo glad I left. It is a go nowhere City, but for the ones who live there they seem to be ok with the way things are run. I do not understand why the Property Taxes are so high with so little to offer. I see why most people who live in Illinois visit Wisconsin, it is so much nicer up there with lots more to do and see. If I had to move back I would pick Wisconsin or Iowa. Illinois is on the bottom of my list for places to live. The Governer there has made it one of the worst places to live. If you make $250,000 or more in Chicago or elsewhere, Senator Obama would like to Tax you even more. I feel for the ones who work hard and make good money because very soon they will be Taxed about 65% after all of the Taxes that are paid. Sales Tax,Tolls(yes thats a Tax),Property Taxes,Pay Roll Taxes, the list goes on and on. But they want Obama in for some strange reason. If you think you will get a Tax cut from a Democrat you are fooling yourself. Democrats do not like to ever give a Tax cut.
Rant over!!!!!

[IlWesleyanGuy]

Originally Posted by BUalumni

I personally find Rockford, and the majority of big cities in northern Illinois, (excluding Chicago proper because it is just simply put, a different world, from the rest) to be major let downs with little to do, nothing unique, and offer very little to their residents, let alone in helping create a better image for Illinois. Joliet, Aurora, Elgin, Gary, and several smaller 'burbs, are not, IMO! and the majority of the state!, good places to live, and likewise, suffer from the exact same problems that Rockford does. The difference though is that cities like Aurora can mask their problems more, since Chicago has sprawled out to them, and as such, many can live a decent suburban life within pockets of them. Not to mention huge cities like Naperville help out in generating more jobs and better schools. Although, with that said, Bolingbrook is far from fantastic, and it is fairly large in its own right. Rockford takes a beating from both downtstaters, and suburbanites alike, because it doesn't fall into either category (well at least not suburbia as of today), and yet still has problems. Most people in Peoria/B-N/C-U/ and Springfield, may find Decatur to be a very undesirable location, but when confronted about it by those in Shaumburg, will more than likely defend it more than not, just because it is closer to home, and does represent a significant area in the greater central Illinois area. Of course I have seen it work both ways as downstaters snicker at Chicagoland's slums, and yet those same areas are defended by residents that live nearby (think relative). But for poor Rockford this is not the case. It is only that citizens that live in and around it, that might find it decent, and even then, most still do not enjoy living there. I personally believe that until Chicagoland extends that far out, (which would be sad beyond believe) Rockford will continue to be just another struggling, large, northern Illinois city.

I've lived in Joliet and have enjoyed the city; naturally I'm going to defend it. Sooner or later the eyes of the people of Illinois are going to be opened. No Joliet is not the most aesthetically pleasing city but it is a decent one. Everything that is said about Joliet is based on perception. Take a look at the statistics on this very site. Since we are comparing these Illinois towns, Joliet has a lower crime rate than Decatur, Springfield, Bloomington, Champaign, Rockford ect. Joliet also has a lower poverty rate than most of these towns. If you want to talk about entertainment -well there is no contest Joliet wins (Chicago is the exception). Joliet is progressing day by day. It is not the same town that it was in the late 80's/early 90's. Even the median household income in Joliet is higher than the Southern and Central Illinois towns that are mentioned. Yeah, I know it's because is in Chicagoland. OK, its also higher than Aurora and Elgin and Waukegan, near Evanston's and so on. Joliet is on the upswing contrary to what many Illinoisans believe. I can't wait until it reaches its potential. A lot of you will be surprised. People, please take the time to do your homework. A lot of you will say that you've been to the town before. That does not account for much. Live in the town and/or look at statistics. There are no better alternatives. Probably no person will respond to this post. That's fine.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Havasu

If you think you will get a Tax cut from a Democrat you are fooling yourself. Democrats do not like to ever give a Tax cut.
Rant over!!!!!

Um, yeah they do. Bill Clinton gave me a tax cut. And Obama will too, since I make less than $250K per year. And if you make more than $250K per year, your taxes would go back to where they were in 2003 according to the Obama plan...

Who was the last president to raise my taxes? That would be George H.W. Bush after his "read my lips" nonsense. You need to let go of your dated notions of the political parties. I'm a moderate who doesn't like high taxes, and I have no problem voting for Democrats who aren't named Stroger or Blagojevich!

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Havasu

RocI see why most people who live in Illinois visit Wisconsin, it is so much nicer up there with lots more to do and see. If I had to move back I would pick Wisconsin or Iowa. Illinois is on the bottom of my list for places to live. The Governer there has made it one of the worst places to live.

Taxes are higher in Wisconsin, by the way. They have lower user fees, but the income and property taxes are quite a bit higher.