Free ride on CTA & Metra for seniors proposal (Chicago: apartments, bankrupt) - Illinois (IL) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

Sailaway50 · 01-12-2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prairiestate

What a staggering level of incompetence and obstructionism combined with galling, self serving, publicity grabbing. I would like to make a suggestion for what should happen to Blago, but I don't want the Illinois State Police knocking on my door.

Do you think this also has to do with the spate of "senior" VERY high end condo buildings going up in Chgo and what I see as trying to attract seniors to Chicago? As if they are going to ride the bus and live in these places.

scarletneon · 01-12-2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prairiestate

What a staggering level of incompetence and obstructionism combined with galling, self serving, publicity grabbing. I would like to make a suggestion for what should happen to Blago, but I don't want the Illinois State Police knocking on my door.

i know, I just told my grandma tonight that i stopped watching the news because otherwise i was going to end up in jail. to which she responded with "yeah, let someone else do it."

Drover · 01-13-2008, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBurgess

Do you think this also has to do with the spate of "senior" VERY high end condo buildings going up in Chgo and what I see as trying to attract seniors to Chicago? As if they are going to ride the bus and live in these places.

Nobody who can afford the "very high-end condo buildings" is going to care a single whit about free rides on the CTA system. If you can afford to live in a "very high-end condo building" but choose not to live in one, free rides on the proletarian mass transit system is not going to be the final straw that makes you change your mind and say, "aw what the hell, I think I'll go for it now!"

Chicago60614 · 01-13-2008, 11:27 AM

Well just to clear things up, Chicago doesn't charge 9% or whatever on food.

People who live in Chicago pay 2% for groceries, drugs and medical supplies.

wickedripeplum · 01-13-2008, 12:17 PM

I have no problem with the idea of giving seniors a free ride on the CTA. I think it's a great idea actually. What I have a problem with Blago increasing the chances that one of the buses I take to work won't be there on Jan. 20th. There's a time and a place for these type of proposals and it's not at the last minute of a highly contested budget standoff when we FINALLY got a workable solution passed.

Sailaway50 · 01-13-2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drover

Nobody who can afford the "very high-end condo buildings" is going to care a single whit about free rides on the CTA system. If you can afford to live in a "very high-end condo building" but choose not to live in one, free rides on the proletarian mass transit system is not going to be the final straw that makes you change your mind and say, "aw what the hell, I think I'll go for it now!"

You sound like you have little to no exposure to the geriatric nation of today, no offense. Go to any totally upscale Fla community where the older couples (who have lost NO money over divorces, since they stayed married) living in their 2nd home worth five to seven hundred thou and up, that's SECOND HOME, the first one being their home (condo or townhome, usually) up here which is worth even more.....are lined up for the Early Bird specials, grabbing all the freebies they can......no, the concern with minutiae savings of several dollars on the part of "upscale" seniors is amazing. Ask anyone in the "sandwich generation"; we have all observed this. These people all cashed out on their super inflated upscale suburban homes, in which they'd lived and raised their famlies for years, and are quite well off as a result of this sell out. They could sit and wait for the best price -- there was no pressure for them to move, and they got top dollar. Their homes were usually paid off by that time, and they saw appreciation, in some cases, of HUNDREDS OF PERCENTS.

But they line up for the early bird specials.

SECONDLY:

Look around you (in certain neighborhoods). Take Chicago. ANY free "cultural" event....I am not talking a Blues Fest, I am talking classical music, drama, events at the Harris Theater/Grant Pk Orchestra type thing....are now CHOKED with older people....with $500 picnic baskets who, yes, will be walking or taking THE BUS back to the Gold Coast. These events have become more about "people-watching" (that's a verb) the seniors than the event itself; and they are invariably pushy, negative, andf obviously feel entitled whereas YOU DON'T, is the impression they MORE THAN RADIATE.

It's true. There is no village, Grandma is in Florida playing golf and flirting, Grandpa is looking for a trophy wife if Grandma is out of the picture....but they ARE riding the bus, taking every freebie, I assure you, from their "second home upscale condos" in town.

My parents are both gone, and believe me, if they were alive today, they would be so grossed out at what their "peers" are up to......including riding the bus for free, etc.

BlueFrog · 01-30-2008, 03:10 PM

For once I agree with Mayor Daley - this proposal, now a reality, to give seniors free rides is ridiculous. If its free for Seniors, guess who is going to be whacked with higher taxes to pay for the subsidy to seniors? You got it, everyone in the state. So in essence all of our taxes go up to support this protected and coddled portion of the population. This is just political pandering.

Avengerfire · 01-30-2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueFrog

For once I agree with Mayor Daley - this proposal, now a reality, to give seniors free rides is ridiculous. If its free for Seniors, guess who is going to be whacked with higher taxes to pay for the subsidy to seniors? You got it, everyone in the state. So in essence all of our taxes go up to support this protected and coddled portion of the population. This is just political pandering.

The sales tax passed for the RTA only affects the counties served by the RTA.

lenniel · 03-17-2008, 07:37 AM

I realize most Chicago politicians aren't too bright, but this is one of the dumbest ideas to come along in a while.

Tell me what other business is bleeding money, can't stick to a budget, has dilapidated facilities, is run by complete incompetents yet decides to give the product away for free?

If this idea succeeds, it will set a whole new definition of a market driven economy and the CTA will win the Nobel Prize for economics.

scarletneon · 03-17-2008, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lenniel

I realize most Chicago politicians aren't too bright, but this is one of the dumbest ideas to come along in a while.

Tell me what other business is bleeding money, can't stick to a budget, has dilapidated facilities, is run by complete incompetents yet decides to give the product away for free?

If this idea succeeds, it will set a whole new definition of a market driven economy and the CTA will win the Nobel Prize for economics.

You do realize this was our lovely governor's idea, right? and that he came up with it at the last minute to try to screw us over, yes? it wasn't the CTA's idea, or Daley's or anything else. It was Blago's way to try to say that he was the "hero" in the doomsday debacle, while still able to say that he "didn't raise taxes!!!!"