OMG. I just had a huge idea. I'm going to start running around with a red baseball cap that says "Make Chicago Great Again"!
No Chicago Rebrand Needed, Education and Public Safety Above Cheap PR
By Erin Geary, Kass News
March 8, 2024
In a February 26 article by Crain’s Chicago Business entitled “What does Chicago need next? A rebranding,” writer John Pletz argues that Chicago’s leaders are in defense mode rather than offense mode when describing Chicago. He claims that Chicago is still reeling from a post-Covid world but should focus on its positives— it’s “an affordable big city that attracts a deep pool of educated talent.”
As the article goes on, there are many who are quoted also praising Chicago’s affordability compared to other large cities, its world class universities, and its draw of college graduates moving here due to Fortune 500 companies. They believe Mayor Brandon Johnson should be touting these accomplishments more. In so doing, even more businesses will be encouraged to make Chicago their new home.
Wake up to reality, Mr Pletz! It’s going to take more than a commercial of a smiling Mayor Johnson showing off Millennium Park, our beautiful skyline, and the sailboats on the lake to change the perception of Chicago. Review all the companies that have already left Chicago as United Airlines currently has one foot out the door.
Here’s a CWB Chicago headline from earlier this week that is one of many explanations for the exodus: "2 teens shot, 1 fatally, as ‘large group’ floods the South Loop.” Rather than doing the work of a mayor by hiring more police officers, endorsing Shot Spotter, and having a functional justice system, Johnson gets himself into problems when he consistently couches language to describe rampant teen takeovers and crime. Showing that his ignorance knows no bounds, he conflated the word mob with Mafia and stated, “This is not to obfuscate what has taken place, but we have to be careful when we use language to describe certain behavior. There’s history in this city. To refer to children as ‘baby Al Capones’ is not appropriate” (CWB Chicago).
To say that Johnson is a clueless stooge is an understatement. Elgin’s school system must be as poor as the Chicago Public Schools to have molded our latest mayor.
The domino effect of educational failures and city mismanagement leads to only one thing: criminals at younger and younger ages. How do provide opportunities other than criminal behavior without a proper education? How do you rebrand Chicago’s ineptness at containing criminals regardless of age? You can’t.
Chicago’s domino run begins foremost with its horrible education system that graduates those with insufficient reading and math abilities. That, in turn, means they are undereducated for jobs that are becoming more and more technical. It makes no difference if we are gaining young college graduates moving here from outside the city limits to work at top companies because that doesn’t assist those in the midst of Chicago’s generational poverty who need an education to succeed.
It’s elementary that graduating students from CPS with no real skills creates criminals. And, instead of addressing crime, these same criminals get a slap on the wrist and are back out on the streets. If equity is the way forward, then Chicago is doing well. For there isn’t an area unaffected by crime, which, inevitably, leads to retailers closing their doors creating an even greater vacuum in a job market that affects those with rudimentary education.
Though Pletz pointed out Chicago’s connection with twenty-five Fortune 500 companies, he also emphasized that two major cities in Texas are becoming more attractive—Dallas and Houston.
It’s obvious that without jobs not only is crime higher, there is a larger drain on the welfare system. Johnson’s answer is “Bring Chicago Home” to help create more affordable housing by placing a special tax on properties sold for more than $1 million. The referendum was put on the ballots for this month’s primary, Cook County Judge Kathleen Burke ruled against the proposal, and it was ordered that votes on “Bring Chicago Home” could not be counted. But in an about face, the Appellate Court reversed Burke’s ruling.
The notion that putting a transfer tax on properties sold above $1 million is going to endear Chicago to commercial businesses or become a magnet for wealthier persons to move to Chicago’s higher end residential markets is beyond comprehension. As it stands, office buildings are being sold at significant losses. A recent example is the Clybourn Corridor, purchased in 2004 for $89 million and put up for auction for $20 million—a 75% decrease in value.
When office properties are sold at a loss not only are investors like pension groups and hedge funds losing money, but they will be expected to pay a tax increase on the sales. There’s nothing attractive about raising taxes on an already failing real estate market.
Just when things couldn’t get worse, the flood of pesky migrants were welcomed with open arms under the assumption that the federal government would give billions to stem the crisis. That never materialized. It’s increasingly difficult to believe that Governor Pritzker or Mayor Johnson cares about our most vulnerable citizens when tax dollars are being spent on foreigners who entered illegally. Case in point, it was just announced that an additional $250 million dollars would be spent for the care of those that shouldn’t be here in the first place.
Meanwhile, smelling blood in the water, Jerry Reinsdorf wants $1 billion to create a new stadium for the Chicago White Sox. Reinsdorf knows he won’t live forever. So, he’s hopeful he can sweeten the deal for potential buyers with a new stadium. As Jon Greenberg wrote at theathletic.com, “An agreed-upon deal for public money for a new stadium will add significant value to the franchise, which is already estimated to be worth around $2 billion. So it makes sense he’s trying to square that away now. Think of this as estate planning.” Chicago’s desperation for a rebrand becomes leverage for those whose sports teams are synonymous with Chicago and where we derive much of our tourism.
Moreover, the best advantage to shine a brighter light on Chicago may also be its Achille’s heel. The Democratic National Convention is coming. But there’s a great deal of work to do in order to hide Chicago’s homeless encampments, rat infestation, shootings, thefts, carjackings, teenage pandemonium, and the inevitable protesters. There will undoubtedly be a heightened police presence for such a momentous occasion—even though there aren’t enough CPD officers on the force to handle day-to-day situations. Besides, hot August days do not bring out the best in our offenders under normal circumstances. Add the growing rift between low-income Chicagoans and illegal migrants to the un-air conditioned streets, and we will most likely see an increase in violence. It’s a gamble for Chicago, but our mayor is desperate for the $75 million in federal cash for enhanced security.
For a moment, let’s give Crain’s the benefit of the doubt. It is possible for Chicago stave off its image as an emerging Detroit filled with crime, critters and corruption. It’s all about marketing. First, we could embrace our crime. Chicago tour companies like Chicago Gangster Tour and Untouchable Tours already earn money off of the legacy of Al Capone. A new, modern take would be to travel in bulletproof buses to various unseemly neighborhoods at night.
Of course, tour guides will be sanctioned from calling our silly kids “baby Al Capone’s,” but I’m sure the patrons will easily make the correlation themselves while reveling in the action movie atmosphere. For those who are risk takers, they can be left in the ‘hood to see if they could outrun criminals. It would be Chicago’s version of Pamplona’s Running Of The Bulls.
Next, since we have been named the rattiest city and the city of feral cats, a Rats and Cats Café could be a great opportunity for pet adoption. Who wouldn’t want the challenge of taming a wild cat or rat? Just like us, all they need is love. Additionally, some wise entrepreneur could create The Rat Race with small, indoor tracks and bookies. It could be put next to Bally’s. Mayors and governors love gambling. Our lottery system is all about the kids.
Lastly, of course, is the possibility for people living on the North Side or western suburbs to adopt an impoverished Chicago family and bring them into their home. This would allow the equitable housing and equitable educational opportunities our Liberals vote for every election cycle to come to fruition. The Chicago Housing Authority, the Chicago Teachers Union, and the Chicago Public Schools simply cannot handle the illegal migrants that they have prioritized and simultaneously help minority citizens to whom they have made unfulfilled promises for over a hundred years. Just think of how the one-percenters can be heroes instead of being demonized.
Yes, Crain’s Chicago Business, Chicago merely needs to waste more time and spend more money on creativity to take all flaws presently known and use them to its advantage. Which marketing company is in the mayor’s back pocket?
Whew! It’s a huge undertaking to rebrand a city.
Ultimately, simpler, consistent, and positive ideas should begin with educating our children properly and giving them the skills to be functional members of society. Then, incentivize corporations with tax cuts to choose Chicago over other metropolitan cities while creating an environment where small, community businesses can thrive. Surprisingly, it appears that Crain’s Chicago Business needs to learn how an educated citizenry leads to marketable skills, which will bring businesses to Chicago thus creating jobs while increasing the need for real estate and, thereby, reducing crime.
Instead of a gimmicky rebrand, it would behoove Mayor Johnson and his team to look at what Dallas and Houston are doing correctly and follow suit. Otherwise, we will continue our downward trajectory toward becoming another Detroit.
Erin Geary has thirty years of teaching experience in Chicago Public Schools, suburban public schools, and the Catholic Archdiocese. After retiring, Erin’s interest in writing led her start her own Substack in 2022. Her account– Common Folk 365– is where she writes unabashedly about politics, education, and culture. Her columns can be found at commonfolk365.substack.com, johnkassnews.com, and chicagocontrarian.com. Erin is proud to have had her work featured on Real Clear Politics and is grateful for the fabulous writers and podcasters she has met on this unexpected, exciting journey.
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