There are few other factors specific to our area (Old Irving Park)
- demographics is changing, our area is coming more and more Mexican displacing Polish who were settled there earlier. And prior to Polish it was Czech/Bohemian and prior to that it was German and prior to that it was ... - so it is normal and natural.. One part of that change is that our non-Mexican children are an exception , our elementary school is 95% Mexican , with heavy ratio of families where English is not spoken at home. as such , first 2 years of school are lost for the native English speakers as teachers first have to teach some English to the kids who come.
- because of changed demographics, my neighbors are picking each their own ways. a policeman across the street who has to live in Chicago is sending his son to private school in the north suburb, the friend/neighbor next to me is sending his to catholic schools, and that is the pattern, no one is going to assigned public schools.
for Chicago as a whole
- taxes (and fees) are going up, the 'largest property tax hike in history' is now passed in the budget and coming this year. how much would be lose when trying to sell after it is officially in the tax bills? how much time do we have to get out of here?
- crime is going up , from 'innocent' tagging of garage doors by various gangs to increased gang activity, police cameras on every major intersection to police presence whenever local high school (Shultz, Addison/Milwaukee intersection) gets out. Metal detectors, police cruisers, routine crime daily, baggy pants teens in groups 'hanging out' smoking - is this the school I want my daughters to go to? not to mention the lowest possible rating 1/10 (10 being the highest) rating from school ratings systems..
- high hostility to right to protect yourself from crime. I will take judge and jury in Lake county Indiana to Cook County Illinois any day of the week (and take any of the 6 counties in Illinois over Cook)
- Illinois is completely screwed by public unions and did not had its own Walker for right to work laws reform. as such , you are already familiar with lost bids by City of Chicago and the State to reform its pensions and response from Supreme Court of the state. Chicago already started to dip into our pocket, how soon until very bankrupt state would follow? Who do you think would pay for it if not us, the taxpayers?
Having said all of this, it is still hard to leave - Chicago in the summer is awesome, great weather moderated by the lake, wealth of options, amazing parks, lakeshore, museums. the variety, the options available, the cultural life, all that comes with 3rd
That is why we are not cutting all ties to the state and moving 35 miles from the loop allowing us to live in much better managed area but still come into the city if we want to for entertainment..