CHICAGO | Economic & Business Development

[urbanpln]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

^ I do wonder if he is thinking about running for office.

If you look at the article now, a lot was added since I posted it about an hour ago.

He apparently is getting a lot of support from the Economic Club of Chicago:

Ken Griffin is full of shit. While I do agree with him about the crime issue this shit is happening around the entire country. I watch news feeds from most large cities (Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Philly, and NYC) and it's a horror show from coast to coast. I am fed up with local politicians not saying anything about this problem or coming together to fight it but I also don't believe deploying the NG on the streets of Chicago will resolve the problem in the short or long term.

[marothisu]

I think that part of what Griffin says has some truth to it and some of it seems to me like he's positioning himself in various political positions and is trying to make a point. I don't necessarily disagree with things because I find any amount of violent crime (or otherwise) is too much, anywhere. At the same time, there is a lot at play right now in media and social media. Unfortunately the US is in the middle of a "violence wave" across most cities in the country. We just moved from NYC to Chicago this weekend, and it was the same thing there to an extent. Our former neighborhood in Manhattan (not the one we just lived in but the one before), Upper West Side, had 2 shootings and multiple armed robberies in just a few hours one night last week. There were multiple restaurant shootings in NYC in the last month too - not talking about ones in the Bronx but trendier ones in areas like Upper East Side (https://www.fox5ny.com/news/philippe...oint-robberies)

I've found that things are way more nuanced and nobody in the "crime is down" and "cRiMe Is DoWn" party is really technically 100% correct. It really depends on which crime you're talking about and at that, it depends on a subtype of even a subtype of crime you're talking about sometimes.

So if you look in some of the core "green areas" like downtown (including all of Near West Side), Lincoln Park, Lakeview, North Center, Lincoln Square, and even West Town and Logan Square - for violent crimes (battery, assault, robbery, criminal sexual assault, and homicide). Thru 9/26 of each year:

2006: 12,633 incidents
2007: 12,299
2008: 11,718
2009: 10,873
2010: 10,426
2011: 9445
2012: 9491
2013: 8571
2014: 7940
2015: 7582
2016: 8825
2017: 9442
2018: 9559
2019: 9617
2020: 6911
2021: 7559

So statistically, 2021 so far in these areas is actually the 2nd lowest it's been since 2006. Actually 2020 was the lowest, but it's probably because most of the year was lockdown so it deserves an asterisk. But compared to even 2019 it's actually lower.

On the flip side, let's look at these crimes where a gun was used in the above crimes:
2006: 753
2007: 616
2008: 645
2009: 728
2010: 552
2011: 518
2012: 585
2013: 491
2014: 412
2015: 533
2016: 811
2017: 820
2018: 748
2019: 609
2020: 562
2021: 787

Here there's an uptick compared to 2019 and between 2010 and 2015, but compared to 2016-2018 or even 2006 or 2009, it's all very similar. In this case, I think there's a few things at place such as everyone knowing about everything via social media, even more than 2017 and recency bias. It's absolutely true that there's an uptick in certain crimes with a gun in the last few years in various areas. It's absolutely true that there's an uptick in shootings in various areas. But it's also true that some of these things (see above) aren't that different from even a handful of years ago.

Unacceptable no matter what, and I think that's what Griffin is going for. I don't disagree with him on that but it's also such a political thing for him to do to fall into the same "trap" as everyone else when it comes to believing that even 15 years ago wasn't full of more violent crime. There is a violence uptick absolutely but putting it into perspective is also important. The problems that Chicago, and other cities face with violence isn't necessarily a new thing.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by urbanpln

Ken Griffin is full of shit. While I do agree with him about the crime issue this shit is happening around the entire country. I watch news feeds from most large cities (Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Philly, and NYC) and it's a horror show from coast to coast. I am fed up with local politicians not saying anything about this problem or coming together to fight it but I also don't believe deploying the NG on the streets of Chicago will resolve the problem in the short or long term.

That's true, although each city has its own flavor of the larger, systemic problems.

NY Times did have an article recently though and more picked it up after the FBI came out with their 2020 data showing murders in the entire US went up 30% in 2020:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/27/u...20-cities.html

[ardecila]

As you’ve noted, the problem is with gun crime specifically and not other kinds of crime.

If Griffin really wants to address the shootings problem in Chicago, then he should put some of his considerable wealth towards countering the NRA and all the other gun nuts who would rather see children shot daily than accept any form of common-sense gun control.

It should be obvious to every citizen by now that policing is simply not an effective solution so long as criminals can buy or steal guns with impunity. It should be obvious that dealing with the gun problem requires a national solution passed thru Congress and with the support of the Supreme Court. Any state or local solution will simply get struck down.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by ardecila

As you’ve noted, the problem is with gun crime specifically and not other kinds of crime.

If Griffin really wants to address the shootings problem in Chicago, then he should put some of his considerable wealth towards countering the NRA and all the other gun nuts who would rather see children shot daily than accept any form of common-sense gun control.

It should be obvious to every citizen by now that policing is simply not an effective solution so long as criminals can buy or steal guns with impunity. It should be obvious that dealing with the gun problem requires a national solution passed thru Congress and with the support of the Supreme Court. Any state or local solution will simply get struck down.

But that's just it, he doesn't care. His grandstanding is just a way to deflect criticism for his own wrongdoings

[Handro]

Originally Posted by urbanpln

Ken Griffin is full of shit. While I do agree with him about the crime issue this shit is happening around the entire country. I watch news feeds from most large cities (Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Philly, and NYC) and it's a horror show from coast to coast. I am fed up with local politicians not saying anything about this problem or coming together to fight it but I also don't believe deploying the NG on the streets of Chicago will resolve the problem in the short or long term.

EXACTLY. It is absolutely a coast to coast problem, and Ken Griffin complaining about crises at CPS or whatever while also parking hundreds of millions of dollars in luxury homes that he will never visit is beyond grating. If he is really concerned about Chicago and its future, then do more. Otherwise, you're just talking shit for the sake of trolling your political enemies before the move you want to make anyway, to the detriment of average Chicagoans.

[Kngkyle]

Originally Posted by Handro

EXACTLY. It is absolutely a coast to coast problem, and Ken Griffin complaining about crises at CPS or whatever while also parking hundreds of millions of dollars in luxury homes that he will never visit is beyond grating. If he is really concerned about Chicago and its future, then do more. Otherwise, you're just talking shit for the sake of trolling your political enemies before the move you want to make anyway, to the detriment of average Chicagoans.

The recent increases are definitely a coast to coast problem but our big city rivals LA and NY would have to double their murder rate every year for a number of years to even equal Chicago. Lets not sugarcoat it too much. It's a major problem and blackeye for the city that our main rivals do not suffer from. I don't know what the answer is to solving the problem but something has to be done if our city is ever to reach its true potential.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Kngkyle

The recent increases are definitely a coast to coast problem but our big city rivals LA and NY would have to double their murder rate every year for a number of years to even equal Chicago. Lets not sugarcoat it too much. It's a major problem and blackeye for the city that our main rivals do not suffer from. I don't know what the answer is to solving the problem but something has to be done if our city is ever to reach its true potential.

Correct, but realizing that some crazy increases have happened around most US cities in 2020 and 2021 is important to understand that some of the issues might be more systemic and far reaching than just 1 city.

You state you don't know how to fix the problem - one of the first steps to identifying various solutions is understanding the issues. The 30% increase in the entire US from 2019 to 2020 in homicides, and further increasing in 2021, might actually be a key in understanding how to remedy the situation not just in Chicago but everywhere. If you just focus on 1 city, you might actually miss some of the further issues that could help you actually reduce these rates in any city.

[bnk]

Any other city installing bleeding control kits city wide even into tourist areas, libraries and city hall to international fanfare?

We we did just that and became another laughing stock for Chicago's [Lori's and Kim Foxx] way of controlling violent crime. Blame the guns not the criminals, and not keeping murder's locked up.


https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-b1930984.html


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[LouisVanDerWright]

Originally Posted by sentinel

But that's just it, he doesn't care. His grandstanding is just a way to deflect criticism for his own wrongdoings

He doesn't care, the fucker could buy several different impoverished neighborhoods and systematically eliminate the poverty. He could also make a killing doing so...

But that's just it, KG doesn't care if black people are mowing each other down in the ghetto, he's just annoyed that a couple jackers fucked with his security detail.

Pathetic really, a $1 billion infusion of investment in the West side would shatter the poverty trap there. He could call his family office tomorrow and make it happen. But he doesn't because he. Does. Not. Care...

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

But he doesn't because he. Does. Not. Care...

Yep.

The truth is the truth.

I mean, what else can be added?

[left of center]

He cares enough to publicly moan about it so that someone else can fix it. Because as a rich person, he can't do anything about it. Nor should he, since the rich don't have any obligation to the society that made them rich to begin with.

[Steely Dan]

^ but poor widdle Kenny has worked so fucking hard.

Every last penny is his, and only his alone.

Social contracts are for losers.




What a fucking clown.

I hope he leaves.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by left of center

He cares enough to publicly moan about it so that someone else can fix it. Because as a rich person, he can't do anything about it. Nor should he, since the rich don't have any obligation to the society that made them rich to begin with.

You are right. He has no obligation to do anything like anyone else. However, when he publicly makes comments about it and doesn't do shit about it except comment, he kind of gets a little less sympathy from me. He is a human like everyone else but he also has the power to help. There are organizations in this city with success in breaking the chain of violence, and success in getting those people on more solid footing as far as jobs go. The guy invests $50M on separating the running from the biking paths on the lakefront for a few miles. He spends about a half a billion dollars on real estate in NYC, Miami, London, and Chicago of late......but he can't do shit to infuse any cash into any program with current success. I made a donation of a few thousand dollars lately to these which seems to be more than KG. I like the guy, but he's acting like a lover because he actually does have the ability to help and at a small relative cost to his own net worth.

As the founder of a very successful business, he should understand that all of this is connected and helps or hurts his actual business. He even said it himself as he claimed it was harder to recruit people to Chicago now. Which by the way, he's probably referring to very senior executives because I'm sorry, KG is not personally getting involved with hiring more "normal" employees. They probably have a much easier time recruiting the majority of their "normal" positions to the Chicago area.

I think the guy likes/loves Chicago but if he wants to stay and complains about the violence without doing anything....while spending millions instead to separate bike paths from running paths....well, sorry to say but he's not very smart. All of this actually affects his recruiting, spending, etc but he just sits there and doesn't do shit even with existing orgs that have current success in helping to reduce violence among some people.

It's clear that all he wants to do is make political statements and is no different from politicians who use various groups of people as examples but doesn't actually take action.

Some of the points are more than valid, but I think these people need to start acting more like adults who realize they actually have some power to start changing some things.

[galleyfox]

Originally Posted by marothisu

I like the guy, but he's acting like a lover because he actually does have the ability to help and at a small relative cost to his own net worth.
…
Which by the way, he's probably referring to very senior executives because I'm sorry, KG is not personally getting involved with hiring more "normal" employees. They probably have a much easier time recruiting the majority of their "normal" positions to the Chicago area.

That’s why I referred to it as a mid-life crisis. Read any of the tabloids regarding his divorce and the supposed issues there.

Chicago ain’t a billionaire’s playground sort of city, never has been in its history. But it’s one of the last truly urban middle-class cities in America.

As for Citadel, companies are only worth as much as they invest into a city, especially with WFH.

When United Airlines is hiring 3,000 people locally without blackmail and threats and getting presidential visits, then I’d rather the city cater to United and other such companies.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by galleyfox

That’s why I referred to it as a mid-life crisis. Read any of the tabloids regarding his divorce and the supposed issues there.

Chicago ain’t a billionaire’s playground sort of city, never has been in its history. But it’s one of the last truly urban middle-class cities in America.

As for Citadel, companies are only worth as much as they invest into a city, especially with WFH.

When United Airlines is hiring 3,000 people locally without blackmail and threats and getting presidential visits, then I’d rather the city cater to United and other such companies.

Oops, I meant "loser" LOL.

Agree though. It would suck for Chicago to lose Citadel, but don't think it would as an office. Maybe a HQ but not an office. KG needs to step up to the plate and help offer some solutions in the city if he's that critical. Otherwise he's no better than anyone else.

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by marothisu

KG needs to step up to the plate and help offer some solutions in the city if he's that critical. Otherwise he's no better than anyone else.

He just got done threatening to move over the graduated income tax. Now he is using crime and next time it will be something else. This is political, period.

[the urban politician]

Why can't some of you guys hear a word of criticism about how Chicago operates without getting all butt hurt and launching worthless ad hominem attacks?

If Ken Griffin were some grouchy old guy on a porch I could understand, but he's been in Chicago his entire adult life, built a global financial behemoth here, and spent a lot of his money locally. He's not exactly Grampa Simpson yelling at a cloud

And no, just because he complains about crime doesn't mean he is automatically obliged to spend billions of dollars "fixing up" the West side. That's a preposterous expectation. I don't see other local billionaires doing that. Has Pritzker bought up boarded up homes in West Garfield Park and fixed them up with all of his inherited wealth?

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by moorhosj1

He just got done threatening to move over the graduated income tax. Now he is using crime and next time it will be something else. This is political, period.

Of course it's political. So what? We don't have a graduated income tax partly because of KG. He fought it with his own money. Kudos to him.

[the urban politician]

Chicago is a "middle class city" ?

Marothisu shows us data on a regular basis how quickly that is changing.

But sure, hang on to old ideas