A Few Ideas

With Chicago on center stage, I was mulling over what the city could do to really start to distinguish itself from other metropolitan areas and emerge as one of (if not THE) greatest cities of the new American century. Quite simply, capitalize where others have not.

Without a doubt, Chicago is culturally diverse, with all creed and color calling our fair city their home. With that in mind, why not lead the way in immigration reform. Be the city that finds the acceptable solution. What I don't understand is why you hear so many people screaming about building a wall between us and Mexico, when it would be smart of us to find a way to bring people into the system, get them paying taxes and buying/owning land. More people equals more demand for services, food, housing, jobs you name it. No one has capitalized on this yet. Everyone just tries to push these hard working people somewhere else. It's time to think about this differently.

Even though its a state issue, Chicago should really push to pass marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples. Don't wait for the whole country to do it, lead the pack! By allowing same sex couples the right to get married, we will undoubtedly be increasing our tax base. Beyond our tax base, we will inherit a flood of cultural and scientific talent that would view a major metropolitan area like Chicago with same sex marriage rights as a safe haven. This will eventually happen, but Chicago should lead the way on this, by the time it's nation wide, the benefits of being early adaptors will be greatly diminished.

Citywide WiFi. This is a no brainer. Several other cities are pushing to make this a reality, but no one has been able to achieve it. Chicago should be the first. No doubt there are large obsitcals in the way, but this will happen and like I said above, we don't want to be behind the curve, we want to define the curve. If we can achieve this, coupled with my next point, will go a long way to establishing Chicago as a technologically advanced new metropolis.

Chicago is in a unique position, we have the ear of the president elect, and if we're smart, and I know we all are, we will use that to the fullest advantage. Barack Obama speaks about creating new jobs in renewable energy and almost just as importantly, opening the floodgates to genetic research. We can ill afford to let such big sectors of commerce pass us by, I don't know any Chicagoan who wouldn't want the next Silicon Vally not to be based very close by. The benefits to local job creation and the tax base would be overwhelming. With that in mind, we should consider lowering the taxes on large businesses as well as start ups, to entice them into moving here. In the past few years, high taxes have drove businesses to financially greener pastures like Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana. It's time to get that business back, to look at the future sectors and start making the necessary changes to ensure that we get them.

Last but not least, we have to do something about the advertising industry in this city. Last week, Avenue closed its doors after decades of quality work. Just the latest in a growing list of advertising and post production houses to close up shop. And while 'the biz' has always been a tough one to make it in, at least there was still a market to take that shot. Now with a lot of these houses going away, the talent will have less and less reason to stay here. We cannot forget that the advertising industry and the people it employs is vital to promoting a diverse market place. Talent is not always the top CEO or the highest payed ball-player. Chicago needs to keep an eye on its shrinking markets and make sure they don't dry up.