CHICAGO | Economic & Business Development

[marothisu]

Honestly I don't think anyone minds KG making comments about crime (minus "Afghanistan on a good day" which could be true in some areas but not true in most of the city).

I think where some have an issue is him only complaining. I actually have more patience with your typical old guy complaining on his porch than people like KG. KG is actually in a position to make some actual real change indirectly, whereas that old guy? Not too much, Honestly. I'll put up with the old complainer any day over KG complaining but not doing shit.

All KG can come up with is that schools need improvement. We'll I don't disagree with him there either, but that's the ONLY thing he can think of? Really? That's why this is political. He could have easily pointed to actual smaller community orgs and leaders making a small difference but he just chooses to ignore them. If he'd actually bothered to look into it, he could have even taken jabs at government by pointing to these peoples' ability to get some positive results and not throw barbs at each other. But he didn't, probably because he doesn't actually give a shit about change. He just wants to complain. There are multiple things that could have been pointed out instead of saying hea going to leave. It's kind of weird how he points out that government is part of the problem yet he asks the government to make changes as if they're the only ones who need to make changes for things to get better.

I have a right to agree with KG that shootings are an issue and still think the guy is a complete fucking idiot for choosing to spend $0 on any of this he's complaining about but cheer on his $17M gift to separate some lakefront biking and walking paths.

[the urban politician]

I recommend doing a bit of research before writing him off as some snob who has only given money to Universities and Museums. A bit of a mix of things (from Wikipedia):

Griffin has worked with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the promotion of charter schools in the U.S.[9] and to fund tutoring.[41]

In 2011, he worked with University of Chicago economics professor John A. List to test whether investment in teachers or in parents produces better student performance outcomes.[42]

At the beginning of 2014, Griffin made a $150 million donation to the financial aid program at Harvard University, his alma mater, the largest single donation ever made to the institution at the time.[43][44]

In 2014, he was elected to a five-year term on the University of Chicago's board of trustees. He is also a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and the civic committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago.[45] Griffin is the vice chairman of the Chicago Public Education Fund.[43]

In October 2017, Griffin's charitable fund donated $1 million to the Obama Foundation.[46][47]

In November 2017, Griffin's charitable fund made a $125 million gift to support the Department of Economics of the University of Chicago, renamed the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics.[48]

In April 2021, he donated $5 million to an initiative to provide Internet access to students in Miami.[49]

Griffin donated $21.5 million to the Field Museum of Natural History and its dinosaur exhibit is named the Griffin Dinosaur Experience.[50]

In October 2019, Griffin's charitable fund announced a $125 million gift to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, the largest gift in the museum's history. The museum will be renamed the Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.[51][52]

Poverty
In 2010, Griffin contributed to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's productions at Millennium Park.[6] He supported the University of Chicago's Center for Urban School Improvement, a program encouraging the construction of an inner-city charter high school,[6] and contributed to the Lurie Children's Hospital.[53]

In 2017, Griffin contributed $15 million to the Robin Hood Foundation.[54]

In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Griffin contributed $2.5 million to support food services for children in Chicago Public Schools.[55]

Arts
Griffin has been on the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago since 2000 and regularly supports its exhibitions.[56]

In July 2007, Griffin donated a $19 million addition to the Art Institute of Chicago that was designed by Renzo Piano and named Kenneth and Anne Griffin Court.[57] The Paul Cézanne paintings have also been loaned to the institute.[6]

Griffin has contributed to the Art Institute of Chicago.[9] He serves on the Board of Trustees at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, whose lobby bears his name: Kenneth C. Griffin Hall.[58] In February 2015, Griffin donated $10 million to the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago and used to create the Griffin Galleries of Contemporary Art.[56][59]

In December 2015, he donated an unrestricted $40 million to the Museum of Modern Art in New York.[58]

In 2018, he donated $20 million to the Norton Museum of Art.[60]

^ Here is what the Robin Hood Foundation is:

The Robin Hood Foundation is a charitable organization which attempts to alleviate problems caused by poverty in New York City.

But sure, KG is SUUUUUUUUUCH a brat!!!

[the urban politician]

Some things he did didn't even make it into Wikipedia. From the Sun Times (I was able to snag this before the paywall blocked me):

About two years ago, Griffin pledged $10 million for crime-fighting initiatives in Chicago. Some of that money boosted technology for detectives to process surveillance videos quickly.

The donation also supported the expansion of technology centers to every police district to combat gun crime. The University of Chicago Crime Lab has helped oversee and staff

Yep. He's a total brat

[the urban politician]

Another snippet from our "brat":

As remote learning became paramount and the digital divide widened during the pandemic last year, Griffin contributed $7.5 million to a program to bring high-speed broadband to more than 100,000 Chicago students and their families. He has given millions more to STEM programs, high-performing Chicago public schools and charter schools.

https://www.eagletribune.com/region/...27f2bf9a2.html

But sure, screw him and Citadel! Hope he leaves, just hope the door doesn't hit him on the way out!

[Kngkyle]

I take advantage of this one every week. Thanks Ken!

Chicago billionaire Ken Griffin, who gave $12 million in 2016 to create separate paths for pedestrian and bicycle traffic on the busy Lakefront Trail, is giving another almost $5 million to help repair storm and water damage along the route, the city announced Thursday.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/busin...pre-story.html

What are the other Chicago billionaires doing?

[Steely Dan]

^^ like most people, KG is a human being with both his strengths and flaws.

he's not the second coming of christ, nor is he the anti-christ.

we're all mixed bags, to one degree or another. yin & yang.

but his bratty little rant at the ECC has done him no favors.

he stuck himself out there in the public eye and he swung and missed, looking like a douche in the process.



these things happen.

[marothisu]

I know that KG is a philanthropist so I should have stated that more. I know about the guy- I am a partial fan of his. At the end of the day, he still hasn't done anything specifically to help address the violence plaguing some neighborhoods. Getting funding for something like spotshotter is important but also merely contributing to an ever growing band aid.

Some of us can agree that people kill others, "not guns". So why is it that some people can have a gun and never lash out violently but others always do? Why do some people rob others? These are systemic issues and there's a reason why some people have multiple violent felonies on their records. Arresting them 5 times hasn't helped. There is something deeper there and until people can stop looking the other way and pretending like there aren't some sort of systemic issues, we're going to keep having the same conversations over and over and over and over again even 25 years from now.

[Handro]

This seems pertinent: https://www.chicagobusiness.com/nonp...-anti-violence

A Crain’s review of the Citadel founder's giving—which exceeds $1 billion—shows that just a sliver of his donations support anti-violence and policing in Chicago...

By far, though, the biggest beneficiaries of Griffin’s wealth include museums, universities and political campaigns, including the $53.8 million he poured into defeating Gov. J.B. Pritzker's proposed graduated-income tax amendment. Griffin makes political contributions on both sides of the aisle, having given more than $36 million to former Gov. Bruce Rauner and at least $1.2 million to committees backing Rahm Emanuel for mayor, but overwhelmingly favors Illinois Republicans, according to records from the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Griffin has given even more to universities, and cultural institutions. Harvard University, the University of Chicago and Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry each received gifts exceeding $100 million.

As has already been stated, he's in the unique position to actually make a big difference if he really would prefer to stay in the city but feels driven out by crime... or he's full of shit and just likes posturing and is moving anyway. The numbers speak for themselves.

[marothisu]

^ well there you go. Even Crains is calling him out on some of his statements exactly the same as some people on here.

If he's going to complain about things, then his record is up for criticism. He has given away a lot of money, which is great, but only a small fraction of it is for anything related to this.

Violence has been an issue in Chicago for decades. KG talks about how government should fix it. I don't think he truly understands the issues, and also what makes him think government is going to fix shit when they haven't in decades?

That's just delusional. The changes involve government but they also don't need to be 100% government sources. Things like better mental health resources, economic opportunities closer to home in these neighborhoods, etc. Amazon, Discover, and Joe Mansueto are doing more for this with their left pinkies than KG has done in his life relative to actually contributing to economic development of some of these areas. Better late than never though.

I appreciate what KG has done truly but if he cares beyond making political statements then perhaps he can be the adult at the table and drive for some real solutions in some way.

[the urban politician]

^ Disagree. You are looking at this completely wrong.

KG is a business man. He is not tasked with the job of fixing crime and protecting Chicago’s citizenry. That is the job of Chicago’s elected officials, police, court system, etc as well as parents and families.

He is saying “Hey, crime is out of control here. You aren’t doing enough to address the problem. I have stuck it out here for decades with you guys, but I can be elsewhere. Fix this crap”.

What’s with this nonsense about how he somehow needs to do Government’s job for it. Also, this weak argument that just because he is rich he should be able to fix the problem, and since he isn’t diverting all of his wealth at this problem, that he has no right to talk.

He is talking. He is saying, “I can be anywhere. I’m wondering why I’m still here”.

Be mad, blame him. But he’s gonna say it. And when he leaves and you all say “good riddance”, we will have gained nothing.

Government’s fundamental job is to protect the public. They aren’t doing that. They are protecting special interest groups in return for votes. That’s your problem. Not KG. Don’t be confused.

[glowrock]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

Griffin is the bad guy? While Kim Foxx refuses to prosecute murder if it involves "mutual combatants".

https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2...orner-hustlers

Let's call a spade a spade: Kim Foxx is a complete schmuck unworthy of her position. She is a pandering asswipe without any sense of actually having a fucking clue as to how to do her goddamned job.

Let's also agree that Ken Griffin's comments are nothing more than political bluster, perhaps said with good intentions. If his threats of leaving actually get Lightfoot, CPD and the useless Police Unions to actually sit down and come to some agreements on how to deal with the obvious extreme criminal issues we're facing, that would be an excellent thing indeed.

I'll also say the graduated income tax plan should have been voted in. It was a ridiculous thing for the voters to nix, period.

Aaron (Glowrock)

[glowrock]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

While you are looking for the answer to how many states have a graduated income tax, let is know how many have a flat tax or NO income tax. Also, feel free to send as much additional money as you like to the pols in Springfield. I have no desire to give them an additional penny until they get their fiscal mismanagement in order

So how do you propose a constitutional amendment to remove the insanely ridiculous pension system to be passed? That's about the only thing that can relatively quickly restore some fiscal sanity in Springfield. Otherwise, things will eventually get better, but it's going to be a few decades until the pensioners, well, die off.

Aaron (Glowrock)

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

^ Disagree. You are looking at this completely wrong.

KG is a business man. He is not tasked with the job of fixing crime and protecting Chicago’s citizenry. That is the job of Chicago’s elected officials, police, court system, etc as well as parents and families.

He is saying “Hey, crime is out of control here. You aren’t doing enough to address the problem. I have stuck it out here for decades with you guys, but I can be elsewhere. Fix this crap”.

What’s with this nonsense about how he somehow needs to do Government’s job for it. Also, this weak argument that just because he is rich he should be able to fix the problem, and since he isn’t diverting all of his wealth at this problem, that he has no right to talk.

He is talking. He is saying, “I can be anywhere. I’m wondering why I’m still here”.

Be mad, blame him. But he’s gonna say it. And when he leaves and you all say “good riddance”, we will have gained nothing.

Government’s fundamental job is to protect the public. They aren’t doing that. They are protecting special interest groups in return for votes. That’s your problem. Not KG. Don’t be confused.

I think you are mostly not understanding my position. I've already stated numerous times that KG can do whatever he wants with his money and his life. If he wants to go without spending another single dime on it, that's his decision.

That's not even really the point. The point is that these things impact some part of his business (probably trying to recruit very senior people to Chicago, not others). It is obviously in part of his best interest to have it be better, which he's addressing. I'm glad he said because someone should.

The problem with your position is that you assume the government and the government alone can fix these issues. That is definitely not true and I think KG even knows it. Otherwise the one sizable donation he did give to the crime lab would probably have never happened if he didn't realize it.

The government should absolutely do what they need to do to make everyone feel safe and I agree. However, until you realize that the solutions to these problems are even beyond them (but do include them) you are just going to keep asking yourself the same question every year on why we still have various types of crimes in our cities. These things are deep rooted for decades and take an entire community involvement from government to citizens to corporate entities to actually come together to do their part in an overall solution. And while policing and all its tech are great and can make us feel safer, they're just one piece of the puzzle. Honestly ask yourself why people keep getting arrested and commit the same crimes many times once they're out. Some people don't, but a lot do and I do think you need police ..but it's obvious something isn't working 100% in this whole equation and hasn't for years. Actually getting people to not turn to crime is complex and takes more than only law enforcement to make long lasting changes.

The part about why companies should have this in their best interest to get involved is pretty simple. Making a place actually attractive to do business from is in everyone's best interest. If you have an office of hundreds of people and invest in an area, then it's probably in your best interest to make sure you can continue that going forward. There are many big companies who understand these notions not only in Chicago but around around country. Not only KG but the majority of businesses who can afford any bit of time or money should be invested in this across the whole damn country, not just Chicago. Some companies are definitely doing more and some of them (including their CEOs) just sit back and either watch, or complain but don't bother to actually ask the difficult questions.

Again, it's KG's money and he can do whatever he wants with it. It's totally not his obligation to do literally anything which wasn't something I ever said. My criticism of him is that he complains about things, rightfully, without much interaction with people who might actually have solutions that could help remedy what his pain points are.


But hey if you don't see these things then OK. Just don't be surprised that in 10 or 15 years when violent crime levels are still too high in most cities. I hope it's way better but the issues that are facing part of our country are deep rooted and ugly. And they will take more than just government to help get beyond. KG doesn't have to do shit - his choice - but it's still very much in his best interest (as well as many others) to at least have some honest conversations about what they can do with their influence to keep their businesses thriving in various locations.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by glowrock

I'll also say the graduated income tax plan should have been voted in. It was a ridiculous thing for the voters to nix, period.

Aaron (Glowrock)

Well thank God for Democracy, then, because that idea belongs in the shitcan (where the voters stuck it)

It is the responsibility of every citizen to freeze further payments to Springfield until they get their act together. In fact, being in defiance of that shitty place is an act of heroism in my book. Defy their attempts at raising taxes without reform, and I will put a poster of you on my wall

[the urban politician]

Boeing’s long term future in Chicago being called into question:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/finance...120435599.html

[marothisu]

In other news:

The Mom Project raises $80M to help more mothers find their next job

https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/...lands-80m.html

The Mom Project, a Chicago startup that's created a job board and other resources to help mothers re-enter the workforce, has landed a large round of funding to help more women find their next gig.

The Mom Project announced Wednesday that it raised an $80 million Series C round led by growth equity firm Leeds Illuminate. Other backers include 7GC, Initialized Capital, OCA Ventures, Citi, High Alpha, Grotech Ventures and Silicon Valley Bank.

The startup has now raised $116 million since it was founded in 2016.

..

The startup says it has worked with over 500,000 moms and 3,000 companies, including brands like Etsy, Nike, Facebook and Accenture.

There were also a few other $30M - $35M rounds lately. According to my data, the Chicago area is at nearly $5.4B in known VC funding for the year.

[aaron38]

Letting you guys in on some rumors.

For the first time in my 24 year engineering career, I have been told by sourcing NOT to go to China for parts.

Next, Milwaukee Tools, which just opened an engineering center in the Old Post Office, is building a new factory north of Milwaukee. Made in America.

Things are happening folks. Shipping is a mess, supply chain is a mess. No one can get parts out of China and production is shifting local.

[aaron38]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Boeing’s long term future in Chicago being called into question:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/finance...120435599.html

Frankly, it was garbage they ever left Seattle to begin with. I still don't know a single person who works for Boeing or what they do in Chicago. I get job offers all the time, not one word from Boeing. And given their current work ethic mess, I wouldn't want to work for them anyway.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by aaron38

Letting you guys in on some rumors.

For the first time in my 24 year engineering career, I have been told by sourcing NOT to go to China for parts.

Next, Milwaukee Tools, which just opened an engineering center in the Old Post Office, is building a new factory north of Milwaukee. Made in America.

Things are happening folks. Shipping is a mess, supply chain is a mess. No one can get parts out of China and production is shifting local.

THIS is really awesome news.

[F1 Tommy]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Boeing’s long term future in Chicago being called into question:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/finance...120435599.html

They just want more tax hand outs as they run out this year. Move a production facility to Chicago metro and let the tax incentives flow. Illinois needs more than just the headquarters from Boeing.

Or maybe start courting Airbus to come to Illinois with a production facility. That USAF tanker contract is coming up for bid and Airbus could assemble them in Illinois.

I have never seen such a clueless state when it comes to what to go after in high tech manufacturing. All they seem to be interested in is small or a corporate headquarters.