* Press release…
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and World Business Chicago (WBC) today announced that for the fourth consecutive year, Chicago ranked as the “Top Metro” in the United States for corporate investment by Site Selection Magazine. In 2016, the Chicago metro area saw more new and expanding corporate locations than any other area in the country.
“This is the fourth straight year the city of Chicago has been America’s number one city for corporate investment, a testament to both our talent and the investments we are making in our future,” Mayor Emanuel said. “Leading the country in corporate investment means more jobs and opportunities throughout Chicago. The city of Chicago has a bright future, and it is clear that businesses from across the country and around the world want to be part of what we are building here.”
The progress is continuing in 2017 - this past week alone, KPMG and GE Healthcare announced they are adding more than 1,000 jobs to Chicago. Today Mayor Emanuel joined Hickory Farms to announce the company is relocating its corporate headquarters to Chicago from Ohio.
In 2016, WBC tracked a record 350 business expansions and relocations in the Chicago metro. These projects accounted for more than $2.8 billion in investment and nearly 14,000 new jobs. Major relocations and expansions last year included: Beam Suntory, Mars Wrigley, McDonald’s, Wilson Sporting Goods and Motorola Solutions.
“When corporations choose Chicago, they join a tightly knit corporate community in a global city of talent and innovation, a city with engaged business and civic leaders,” WBC President & CEO Jeff Malehorn said. “We have global markets; our economy is diverse; our talent is diverse and we have unmatched assets. All of this serves up Chicago to be top of mind for companies making location and expansion decisions.”
“The Chicago area is a frequent first place finisher in our ranking of metros according to new and expanding projects announced the previous year,” Mark Arend, editor of Site Selection said. “This means corporate facility planners seeking a large metro location are finding in Chicago the location assets they most require.”
A key source for the corporate relocation community, Site Selection Magazine focuses on new corporate facility projects with significant impact, such as headquarters, manufacturing plants, R&D and logistics sites. In order to be considered, new facilities and expansions must meet at least one of three Site Selection criteria: (a) capital investment of at least $1 million, (b) create at least 20 new jobs or (c) add at least 20,000 square feet of new floor area. Site Selection is published by Conway Inc., which is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga.
There’s no doubt that part of the city is doing very well. Other parts are doing horribly, however.
* Tribune…
President Donald Trump briefly returned to a favorite target during his first address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, assailing gun violence in Chicago while pressing support for law enforcement to ensure public safety.
Trump said it was essential to “break the cycle of poverty” by also breaking “the cycle of violence.”
“In Chicago, more than 4,000 people were shot last year alone — and the murder rate so far this year has been even higher. This is not acceptable in our society,” Trump said to applause.
“Every American child should be able to grow up in a safe community, to attend a great school, and to have access to a high-paying job. But to create this future, we must work with — not against, not against — the men and women of law enforcement,” he said.
* Meanwhile…
Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday publicly acknowledged he plans to build a high school in Englewood as part of his “holistic” strategy to fight crime by rebuilding long-neglected neighborhoods.
The mayor let the cat out of the bag during an appearance at the vacant site of the old Kennedy-King College.
The purpose of the news conference was to highlight a previously announced plan to sell 18 acres of city-owned land at North and Throop to private developers and rebuild the outdated vehicle maintenance facility on the Englewood site.
The project will bring 200 jobs to the impoverished Englewood community. In conjunction with the move by the city’s Department of Fleet and Facilities Management, the city is marketing a 4.9-acre property across the street for retail development.
* Related…
* Emanuel may go it alone — without feds — to push police reforms: Although the mayor has signed an “agreement in principle” to negotiate a consent decree that may never happen, he promised once again to implement the reforms without or without court oversight. “I don’t want to do what Ferguson, Cleveland or Baltimore have done. We’re not gonna do it to officers. We are gonna listen to what officers need and actually give them the support so they can be professional and pro-active,” the mayor said.
* 44 killed in Chicago in February; 94 murdered so far in 2017: Since Jan. 1, at least 515 people have been shot in Chicago, according to Chicago Sun-Times data.
* Guaranteed Rate hiring nearly 300 in Chicago this year
* Outcome Health plans huge new HQ in River North
- Echo The Bunnyman - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 9:45 am:
President Donald Trump briefly returned to a favorite target during his first address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, assailing gun violence in Chicago while pressing support for law enforcement to ensure public safety.
Is it a favorite “target” if it’s true? Or is it merely pointing out the fact there is a war zone in poor parts of a rich city? It’s a shame that it is taking a new president to try and fix the former’s hometown. It’s about time Rahm takes any help from anyone…
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 9:52 am:
Trump talks a lot about Chicago violence. Why doesn’t he call that top cop he talked to who he claimed could end the problem in a week?
He’s got the gig now. Times-a-wasting.
- Echo The Bunnyman - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 9:55 am:
Elevating the dialogue in 5 weeks of office is a good start. I hope he does call soon.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 10:11 am:
At the very least I credit Emanuel for rejecting RtW and saying Chicago should be competitive like other world-class cities and not like Mississippi (or any other low wage state, many of which are RtW).
We don’t need union-busting to attract businesses, whether in Chicago or elsewhere in the state. We should focus on education and infrastructure, as well as business reforms that don’t seek to cripple labor.
As far as Trump singling out Chicago, that’s just red meat for his base. Say the word Chicago and certain people get really riled up, even though Chicago doesn’t have the most homicides (If I remember correctly). I believe it’s going to take a lot more than just a pro-police approach and attitude to make real changes.
I, like many others, welcome any help that Washington can provide to help cut down on violence and death. It has to be more than just rhetoric. I believe from the law enforcement and judicial side, we need to fight the drug war less and focus more on violent crimes.
Why aren’t we as a country trying to reduce gun deaths? According to one story I read, there are more per capita gun deaths in states with fewer gun regulations than those with more regulations.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 10:13 am:
The police in Chicago and around the country support Trump overwhelmingly
Look for big changes from the Justice department
Takes more than 30 days to change things Wordslinger
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 10:15 am:
Echo, obviously the “top cop” who could solve the problem in a week was fiction.
If words about fictional simple solutions to a real, complex problem represent “trying to fix” urban violence to you, that’s a pretty low bar.
I think I’ll pay attention to actions, if they ever come.
- Henry Francis - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 10:15 am:
What is with all these job creators coming to Chicago? Don’t they know they don’t have term limits? Or right to work? Don’t they know it is run by Madigan’s mayor?
Where is DCEO? Or Intersect?
- Echo The Bunnyman - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 10:18 am:
Word… The point if you can get past party lines and focus on this issue. The murder rate was high under Obama. In 5 weeks, our President is causing debate and shining a light on the problem. The first step in a solution is defining and admitting there is one. The murder rates are a fact there is a problem in the small area of the city. Or is it okay that it’s “not in your neighborhood” because the lack of even stating the problem by his predecessor leaves no ambiguity on his stance.
- notbuyingit - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 10:23 am:
Will KPMG and and GE health be providing job opportunities to those living in the high-crime areas? If not, I am not sure how Rham’s announcement is a rebuttal to what Trump is saying. If lack of jobs is at the heart of the violence issue, big companies in downtown and wealthy burbs don’t help much.
- Payback - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 10:31 am:
“Emanuel may go it alone — without feds — to push police reforms:”
As if the Chicago administration would even be mentioning police reforms, if the United States Department of Justice had not swooped down from Washington, D.C. to squeeze the Police Dept.
“Although the mayor has signed an “agreement in principle” to negotiate a consent decree that may never happen, he promised once again to implement the reforms without or without court oversight.”
Emanuel and the unelected police bureaucracy will do whatever the federal court forces them to do and no more. Jon Burge evaded state and county authorities for twenty years. He’s in federal prison for perjury, not torture. Cops are cunning.
“I don’t want to do what Ferguson, Cleveland or Baltimore have done. We’re not gonna do it to officers. We are gonna listen to what officers need and actually give them the support so they can be professional and pro-active,” the mayor said.”
Translation: as soon as the feds leave, C.P.D. can go back to doing whatever they can get away with, and as Mayor I’ll cover up for you. Sick.
This type of entrenched ignorant mentality is why citizens and businessmen had to bring outsider Eliot Ness to Chicago to clean it up.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 10:31 am:
A good first step would be reversing it the ACLU accommodation that requires extensive paperwork for each police encounter with a citizen.
Stops dropped and crime skyrocketed
Clearly this change has hurt safety in these neighborhoods
- AlfondoGonz - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 10:40 am:
Echo The Bunnyman
Right, Echo, because no one knew about violence in Chicago until Trump started bloviating about it. He’s a true hero, alright.
- Echo The Bunnyman - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 10:44 am:
Alfondo… I did not say that. There is a huge difference between the President addressing the issue..Hence the light being out. Or the former President NOT addressing it… The most powerful man in the free world causes action and can cause inaction. It’s not that difficult of a concept to understand or agree with.
- AlfondoGonz - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 10:48 am:
If you think President Obama did not address (I use your word, because to you apparently “address” means “talk about,” seeing as Trump has done nothing but threaten to withhold federal funds from Chicago and send in “the Feds”) Chicago violence, you weren’t paying attention.
- Echo The Bunnyman - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 10:54 am:
Did he? What exactly did he “do”? The record murder rate was under his former Chief of staff and his presidency.Right? Exactly. It’s time for some action on this. I hope we can agree. The problem is in the open. I for one will give this President more than 5 weeks to solve this problem he inherited. He is off to a good start.
- AlfondoGonz - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 10:58 am:
Ok, Echo. I already explained this. YOU said Trump has “addressed” the issue. And what has he done? Nothing but talk. Well, Obama talked about it too. Don’t be dense. If Trump “addressed” it, Obama “addressed” it, assuming we’re using your childish understanding of what “addressing” something is.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:00 am:
Echo, even with the 2016 murder spike, it is not a “record” murder rate or for number of homicides in a year in Chicago.
Chicago is not in the top 10 among major cities as to murder rate.
For someone so concerned about the issue, you are remarkably ignorant on the subject.
- Echo The Bunnyman - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:04 am:
Thanks for the clarification. I take it all back… There is no problem…Geez.
- W Flag - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:05 am:
Trump has also stated there are two Chicagos: one of luxury and wealth and one riddled with poverty and crime. That is a fairer assessment and one that Emanuel frequently ignores in his press releases.
Emanuel dropped the ball when he failed to back the police department and he tried to save money by using overtime and short staffing the department.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:12 am:
Echo, you’re quite the delicate flower.
There is a major problem of violence among mostly young, poor black males in urban centers around the country.
It’s going to take a lot more than talk to address it. Making up ridiculous stories about fictional cops with solutions to end the problem in a week does nothing to advance the ball.
- Tone - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:31 am:
Echo, Chicago did not have a record murder rate. Trump is a liar and you believe him.
- Ron - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:38 am:
I am constantly amazed at all the trumpkins that think Donnie has done anything but act the fool.
- walker - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:42 am:
The call to stop speechifying and do something worthwhile on the violence issue, applies to everyone.
As for attracting large companies: they tell us both by survey and their choices, that coming here has little to do with term limits, or workers’ comp reform. Even corporate tax rate, while relevant, is not very high on their priorities — though they will take what credits they can get. Higher education, skilled employees, and access to key partners, suppliers, and customers are all top criteria.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:44 am:
==- Echo The Bunnyman - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 10:18 am:==
The murder rate was not high under President Obama in Chicago. In fact, the lowest murder rates on record in the FBI’s UCR occurred.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1A9W3CB76Xz9W8dMSLO9FogKhR3fsGvrX9yP1ccgL_Qg/edit?usp=sharing
https://www.ucrdatatool.gov/
- Echo The Bunnyman - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 11:54 am:
As a delicate flower. I prefer that the murder rate is lower. I am in support of the highest office holder in the free world drawing attention to an issue that has gone on too long. I look forward to some solutions from him, since Rahm has given none that have worked.
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 12:13 pm:
“I prefer that the murder rate is lower.”
Your preference has been noted. Now please educate yourself on the topic.
– MrJM
- Anon - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 12:35 pm:
Fourth year in a row as the nation’s Top Metro! Something must be going right in the Land of Lincoln, despite Democratic rule in the City and in the General Assembly.
- Payback - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 1:28 pm:
Lucky @ 10:31 a.m.- “A good first step would be reversing it the ACLU accommodation that requires extensive paperwork for each police encounter with a citizen.”
The reporting procedures were put in place to control plainclothes “tactical” teams in unmarked vehicles, with no badge or nameplate displayed.
If a guy jumps out of a car and demands I.D., questions what you’re doing around here, pats you down and searches your pockets, etc., all done with the threat of coercion, any citizen has a right to know the name of the officer. It’s basic accountability. Police are paid by taxpayers.
You would want to be treated the same in your neighborhood too, right? If the Trump DOJ unleashes Stop-and-Frisk policing in Chicago, you may be glad the safeguards are there.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Mar 1, 17 @ 4:58 pm:
The ACLU effect that resulted in 80% less stop and frisks in 2016 has had a devastating effect on shootings in Chicago.
It applied to all officers, not just plain clothes
The article says 72% of all stops were on black Chicagoans even though they only make up 32% of the population.
The Obama Justice Department and ACLU seem to discount that the vast majority of the shootings are in African American neighborhoods and it would not be racist to have more police stops there.
http://abc7chicago.com/news/cpd-stop-and-frisks-down-80-percent-in-2016/1182604/