Larry Myers

Daily Note

October 6, 2023

There seems to be a very rational opinion forming among people who are affected by the growing migrant crisis in this country. People want to help, and want to welcome the migrants, but not at the expense of having to pay more taxes while public services are reduced. Given the past 6 years or so in Chicago I expect this sentiment to be very strong. We’ve dealt with multiple rounds of skyrocketing property assessments, which turn into property taxes increasing by 20%-50% for a lot of people. These tax increases have not turned into better maintained streets, lead water lines are not being replaced, and our schools are still underfunded. Combine that with the very visible effect of park buildings and police stations turning into semi-permenent shelters, people are going to turn their frustration on migrants. I’m not sure how this situation resolves in a good way.