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I doubt the sales tax is something Chicago can really claim as a true problem. In California there are taxes like crazy. Los Angeles has to worry about taxes more than an average city for this country.
Well sales taxes are the same in LA and Chicago, so that really isn't something that's better between one or the other. LA has higher property taxes and income taxes though.
I actually hear people scream about Chicago taxes all the time, and I guess that must just be because of the high sales tax rate? Overall taxes in Chicago are very low comnpard to many big cities.
I think Chicago's two big problems are schools and violent crime.
Violent crime is down 66% from 1992, and murders are at their lowest levels in 50 years, and down over 50% from the early 1990's. It's going the right direction, and rates are middle of the pack for large cities - but it still needs work. I can't imagine this city in the 1990's!
Well sales taxes are the same in LA and Chicago, so that really isn't something that's better between one or the other. LA has higher property taxes and income taxes though.
I actually hear people scream about Chicago taxes all the time, and I guess that must just be because of the high sales tax rate? Overall taxes in Chicago are very low comnpard to many big cities.
I think Chicago's two big problems are schools and violent crime.
Violent crime is down 66% from 1992, and murders are at their lowest levels in 50 years, and down over 50% from the early 1990's. It's going the right direction, and rates are middle of the pack for large cities - but it still needs work. I can't imagine this city in the 1990's!
Chicago just nickels and dimes you... City stickers, dog stickers, parking meters, zone stickers, bottled water tax, alcohol/cig taxes, cost of incorporating, random bs tickets, lots of red tape doing business, taxes to fix never ending pot holes, public transportation crisis in order to up fares, constant battles with the rest of the state etc... In similar fashion CA does a lot of the same stuff, and both seem to have high levels of incompetence in high office. CA has just as irritating stuff like redoing smog certificates, horrible DMV's, higher state income tax, higher property tax, etc. Seem to have less battles with "rest of state" as there are several major cities. I think CA might have a lower barrier entry to get involved in stuff, but frankly a lot of people wanting to get involved shouldn't and just keep their mouth shut, too many special interest groups that think their cause is greater than another. While Chicago seems to have this old guard/cronyism thing going on, sleezeball, behind your back stuff is viewed as just part of the political game.
One thing you could definitely add to LA after reading that post is the gang problems. Los Angeles I think just has more work ahead of them.
Technically, Chhicago's gang problems are worse than LAs. Chicago has a higher gang per capita than LA. LA has around 120k gangsters, whereas Chicago has 100k gangsters.
people talk about the crime in chicago, but its nowhere near as bad as it was just a few years ago..plus, with the city being so segregated, the majority of violent crime is really confined to 5 of the 25 police districts in the city..not saying thats a good thing at all, but still..
Well sales taxes are the same in LA and Chicago, so that really isn't something that's better between one or the other. LA has higher property taxes and income taxes though.
I actually hear people scream about Chicago taxes all the time, and I guess that must just be because of the high sales tax rate? Overall taxes in Chicago are very low comnpard to many big cities.
Actually, property taxes in California (and Los Angeles) are VERY LOW....Prop. 13 sets the base rate at 1.0% of assessed value and restricts increases at 2.0% per year. The base rate of 1.0% is based on the year you purchased your home.
LA has no income tax but the state of California does levy a progressive income tax which is higher than Illinois.
I voted for Los Angeles. Both the local economy and getting much needed public transit projects funded and built are two major challenges facing LA going foward. The good news is these two areas will improve in the coming years (though there is a long way to go).
One very positive trend for the City of Los Angeles is the continuing DROP in violent crime with the current crime rate at 40 year lows. This trend has continued despite the sharp economic correction.
For 2009 (most recent full year of data available) the City of Los Angeles had 314 homicides and the City of Chicago had 458 homicides, and LA has approx. 1.0 million MORE residents than Chicago.
Actually, property taxes in California (and Los Angeles) are VERY LOW....Prop. 13 sets the base rate at 1.0% of assessed value and restricts increases at 2.0% per year. The base rate of 1.0% is based on the year you purchased your home.
LA has no income tax but the state of California does levy a progressive income tax which is higher than Illinois.
Don't forget special voter approved assessments and most new communities have MelloRoos in addition.
My California Tax rate in nearly 1.5% with out Mello.
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