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* We posted this Bloomberg story yesterday…
Ron DeSantis has taken his feud with Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to the billboards of Chicago.
The Republican Governor is funding an advertising campaign in the Greater Chicago area to recruit Illinois law enforcement to his home state of Florida, offering a $5,000 signing bonus to relocate, according to a statement. The effort is part of a broader 2022 recruitment law signed by DeSantis that so far has lured 2,700 officers to Florida — though only about 37 from Illinois.
* Maybe the coppers aren’t rushing to flee Illinois because they don’t want to take a pay and pension cut. From Indeed.com…
And then there’s overtime pay, comp time and, of course, pensions.
* There are definite benefits to living in Florida. I personally love Southwest Florida in the late fall through early spring. I may even join dozens of my friends and end up down there half the year or so if I ever retire (if, that is, the area hasn’t already been consumed by the Gulf). Florida has no income tax, but the state and locals hit you pretty much everywhere else, and homeowners insurance is becoming much more difficult to find, if you can afford it.
But, hey, it’s a cheap and fun little stunt. Go for it.
* And as noted above, just 37 officers from Illinois have fled to Florida so far. Keep that in mind when reading this story from June…
The dream of owning a home seems out of reach for millions of Americans, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community. But in Peoria, Illinois, Alex Martin owns a home at age 30 — something she never thought would be possible.
“I’m black. I’m trans, and I’m visibly so, and so having a space that, like, I made that I can just come in and recharge, I’m ready to face the world again,” she said. […]
Angie Ostaszewski says she has almost single-handedly grown Peoria’s population by about 360 in three years thanks to TikTok.
“When I first started making TikToks about Peoria, it was about ‘improve your quality of life,’” she said. “But in the last six months especially, people are relocating here more for survival, and that’s such a different conversation.”
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
…Adding… Some commenters are making a decent point that the billboards, most of which are near the Loop and not where many cops live, are perhaps more about promoting the governor’s name in a presidential contest than actually luring police to Florida. Something to consider, anyway.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 9:47 am
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$5000? Why, that’ll pay one whole month of your home insurance. How can anyone refuse?
Comment by Arsenal Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 9:52 am
Chicago cops do even better than that after 18 months.
“Officers receive a competitive starting salary of $54,672 that increases to $82,458 annually after just 18 months.”
I just don’t see many taking that offer.
I agree SW FL is a great place to visit though.
Comment by DHS Drone Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 9:53 am
It’s only going to attract people to leave who are bad at math and long term decision making. This seems like a win-win situation.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 9:55 am
Florida is developing huge problems with home insurance. sure it looks nice to live in some places but the storm and flood threat is changing the landscape in another way….financial. not good.
Comment by Amalia Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 9:58 am
And now they offer malaria, dengue fever and leprosy.
Comment by very old soil Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 9:59 am
Florida is doing quite well attracting Illinois residents. Check out those census numbers on domestic net migration. You can’t get to number 3 in population by doing much wrong.
Comment by Bill From Rolling Meadows Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:02 am
There’s a harsh reality to thinking you are making things better by using things less inclusive.
The smaller the pool because of a narrowing of diversity, your society will become more angry at the differences that still remain.
I might stay in Illinois longer than I thought and just vacation longer periods in places that can “scratch an itch” than change my lifestyle… because that Florida lifestyle and the governing to it, as one example state, won’t work for me.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:04 am
Slight correction.
“mortgage insurance”
Should be, homeowners insurance. Mortgage insurance including PMI is insurance against the financial instrument of the mortgage itself, and not the property. To my knowledge there isn’t any issue in getting mortgage insurance in Florida. Contrasted with the huge issues with getting/keeping homeowners insurance.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:07 am
I guess if you want to move to a state where the guv’mint tells you when you can have children, who you can marry, and that Slavery was a Jobs Program.
And they call this “conservative” these days.
Comment by Jerry Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:08 am
To the poaching?
Overall? It’s trying to find “like-minded” souls to be your law enforcement.
Ok… what makes that any different than 1955-1965 “Southern Thinking”… I’ll give you one, the denying of rights to women and their health, legislatively… but, keep in mind what the MAGA folks, the law enforcement folks that embrace MAGA and DeSantis thinking have in common… it ain’t a welcoming of diversity… but it is the reimagining and re-engineering of “the war of northern aggression”, race, and “Woke”
Those cops can leave as far as that goes.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:08 am
Other states are trying to poach for cops as well. Dallas, Louisville, Milwaukee, Seattle, and some others. The key is with the supposed ‘anti-cop” laws, the pay for a cop is much better in Illinois as well as the pensions.
Atlanta is always looking for cops, their pension is terrible and they pay trash.
Comment by Frida's boss Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:14 am
I know an Illinois firefighter who moved his family to to his ideal state of Florida several years ago.
Turns out, the part of Florida where they relocated is not really big on paying for firefighters, working construction in the Florida heat was not a fun or lucrative alternative and the schools there were incapable of providing even basic services to their special needs kid.
Needless to say, they moved back to Illinois within 3 years.
Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:14 am
Oh come on, this is not actually intended to attract police officers to leave and move to Florida. This is DeSantis’s way of getting the state of Florida to pay for getting his name out in front of people all across the country.
Comment by Barbie Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:17 am
===You can’t get to number 3 in population by doing much wrong.===
Who are they attracting? Why are people going? What politics makes Florida attractive?
Florida is losing nearly a billion dollars in Disney development now.
It’s a great question, “does that bother you?”
Realize when the answer is they are “tired of Woke Disney and Bud Light”… the state is getting less by attracting more wrong.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:24 am
Like Titanic said, that $5K will pay half of the private school tuition. No way you’re enrolling your son/daughter in the public school.
Comment by Jocko Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:28 am
If your talking about math - include property taxes
https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/property-taxes-by-state
Comment by Donnie Elgin Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:31 am
===No way you’re enrolling your son/daughter in the public school.===
Next year? That $5K is one off.
Short sided thinking indeed, then they came back.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:31 am
===include property taxes ===
Except like half that state is in an HOA. And those are expensive.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:36 am
Property taxes aren’t a worry if you can’t get homeowners’ insurance.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:37 am
On an earlier post I mentioned how that $5k will pay for 25%-30% of the relocation cost so you can go down there and work for less with fewer rights. I am sure the far right minded folks will head that way and I am ok with that, this is America after all and you can live where you want.
Unfortunately in the Desantis brand of America, they can tell you what you can and cannot say as well as can and cannot do. Even in the privacy of your own bedroom or doctor’s office. Not the kind of Freedom Utopia I am looking for. I also like four seasons and hate humidity, and love walking on a sidewalk without the fear of an octogenarian driving a 78′ Lincoln onto the sidewalk and mowing me down.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:37 am
They will need to advertise for teachers too. Florida is short on those also.
Comment by Appears Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:43 am
If we are going to add Illinois property taxes to the mix, then we need to add “personal property” taxes to the Florida (and Louisiana and South Carolina and other southern states) to the equation.
Also car inspections fees, and as noted by Rich, local taxes, etc.
I have lived in the South and in Illinois. My taxes here do not seem any more oppressive than down South. Indeed, they feel less oppressive. In the South, everyone has their hand out.
Comment by H-W Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:47 am
=Florida is developing huge problems with home insurance=
National average homeowners premium - $1700
Florida average homeowners premium - $7700
https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/politics-issues/2023-07-19/politifact-fl-trump-right-florida-has-highest-home-insurance-rate-in-us
Income tax can only save you so much depending on what you make.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:54 am
-Barbie- is exactly right. The reality is that police officers are in short supply all over the country. Florida’s pay is not competitive in the police world. This is simply the Florida governor trying to get his name out and score political points. This is not a serious effort to recruit out of state police officers.
Comment by Lol Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:54 am
Florida is also short on construction workers.
Comment by Appears Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 10:55 am
What Barbie and Lol said. According to Politico the billboards are near the Loop. If he was really trying to attract police officers they would be in the Southwest and Northwest sides where coppers live.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 11:09 am
Come to Florida. Where bigotry is the in thing. Books are banned. And the government is weaponized against anyone who disagrees with it.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 11:10 am
==Florida is doing quite well attracting Illinois residents. Check out those census numbers on domestic net migration. You can’t get to number 3 in population by doing much wrong.==
Can we get a breakdown of those migration numbers by age group? Because the 65+ crowd, even the 50+ crowd, isn’t migrating to Florida for an exciting restart of a career in public service at a lower pay scale with fewer benefits.
Oh, and once they do migrate, they find themselves in a state with one of the higher rates of COVID-related death for seniors and a quack of a surgeon general who is actively dissuading people from getting vaccinated.
So as long as you like your odds against nature, science, and time as a linear concept, yes, Florida may be the place for you to put down roots.
Comment by Roadrager Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 11:39 am
Bill in Rolling Meadows: Did you read David Brooks’ column on this? Many of the red state moves consist of 1) 1%ers taking advantage of the income tax bans/low rates and 2) employees forced to follow. If you think a vulture/cannibalization tragedy of the commons is not “doing wrong” that’s fine, but also note that they locate their businesses in blue metro areas. They (FL/TX) also gerrymander like crazy but that’s only going to hold out against demographics for so long.
Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 11:40 am
I would like to know of the officers that moved to Florida, and how many are already taking a police pension in Illinois? and to home-owners insurance, Hurricane deductible can be a percentage-based format, meaning you might need to set aside a couple of grand to cover the first $5-10K of repairs.
Comment by Frustrated GOP Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 11:43 am
==You can’t get to number 3 in population by doing much wrong.==
Is the goal of a state government to increase population? I always thought it was more about improving quality of life for citizens.
Comment by supplied_demand Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 11:47 am
===Is the goal of a state government to increase population?===
It’s like horrendous group think, but at a state level?
Maybe
I put into evidence “The Villages” in Florida, with group think the “second” problem that they have at The Villages.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 11:50 am
==1955-1965 “Southern Thinking”==
OW, can you expand on this? I couldn’t find anything on google about that phrase. I’m familiar with the Southern Strategy, but this one is new to me, thanks.
Comment by supplied_demand Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 11:50 am
-Is the goal of a state government to increase population? I always thought it was more about improving quality of life for citizens.-
And with that attitude Illinois might lose another seat after the 2030 census.
Comment by JB's Sport Trophy Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 11:55 am
===And with that attitude Illinois might lose another seat===
While you pearl clutch, whatever you do, do NOT look at PA, MI, NY, OH… since 1980 and the seats they have lost.
You’ll pass out.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:01 pm
“You can’t get to number 3 in population by doing much wrong.”
Last demographic numbers I saw were that older people are moving there in far greater numbers than young people.
Sounds like you get to #3 in population by having good weather and modern medicine to extend lifespans.
Seems silly that the government was so anti-COVID when that disease really harms the elderly.
Unless…
Comment by Save Ferris Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:03 pm
-I always thought it was more about improving quality of life for citizens.-
How’s that working in Cook County?
Comment by Taco Ball Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:03 pm
==And with that attitude Illinois might lose another seat after the 2030 census. ==
I still don’t understand how Congressional seats are more important than citizen quality-of-life.
Do you honestly think population growth is more important than citizens having lower poverty rates, better education options, lower cost-of-living, and better healthcare? If so, please explain why.
Comment by supplied_demand Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:04 pm
Fair trade: we can have their teachers who believe Florida is too cruel and they can have our officers who believe Illinois isn’t cruel enough.
Comment by Proud Papa Bear Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:04 pm
“And with that attitude Illinois might lose another seat.”
Buh bye Mary Miller. How is that bad?
Comment by Save Ferris Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:05 pm
===How’s that working in Cook County?===
What does that mean in any measurable context to this post?
Thanks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:06 pm
Desantis is amassing a right wing police army?
Comment by Dotnonymous x Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:06 pm
- better education options-
CPS sure has test scores even JB didn’t want his kids to get. And of course the safety is just peachy.
Comment by Illinois' Got It Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:08 pm
==How’s that working in Cook County? ==
Nice try on changing the topic. We are talking about states.
Comment by supplied_demand Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:08 pm
===CPS sure has test scores even…===
… Bruce and Diana liked. They clouted their own daughter into a Chicago Public High School.
So, there’s that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:10 pm
If I was Ron DeSantis I’d be worried about the fact that my state’s going to be the first one to see its commercial property and homeowners insurance markets cease to exist.
Republicans have their priorities though. Ron and Casey obviously plan to be long gone by the time everyone else is watching the land around them turn into a fetid swamp.
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:12 pm
===can you expand on this?===
The mere contexts of MS, AL, GA, LA, even TX… starting there…
It’s not the politics of the “Southern Strategy”, it’s the culture and choices, legal and legislative choices, as mere history… that begat the “Southern Strategy”
Keep in mind too, after Dirksen put GOP votes on the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Dirksen openly courted former Dem senators to build on, a building to the GOP “Southern Strategy”
That window of 10 years changed the parties, in 1968 it became a strategy.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:19 pm
Nothing new here. Wisconsin used to post billboards calling upon Illinois business owners to “Escape to Wisconsin.” Some actually did.
As for Florida, the absence of state income taxes makes the starting salary go farther.
Comment by Gravitas Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:19 pm
-That window of 10 years changed the parties, in 1968 is became a strategy. -
It’s amazing that the South is now the biggest region in the country. Go figure.
Comment by Williams and Clark Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:25 pm
===the absence of state income taxes===
Now do a crisis in homeowners insurance…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:26 pm
=== Some actually did.===
With incentives, like Uline got, yes. But even Dick Uihlein decided to continue living in Illinois, because the personal income tax rate is lower here than Wisconsin.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:26 pm
===And with that attitude Illinois might lose another seat after the 2030 census. ==
Illinois actually gained population, trump census notwithstanding.
===How’s that working in Cook County? ===
Pretty good. Very safe. Ever been to Miami?
=CPS sure has test scores=
IO hate having to tooty CPS’ horn, but Jones College Prep is typically at the top of the states standing and among the nations best public schools. Whitney Young and Payton aren’t to shabby, just ask Bruce and Diana.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:30 pm
===South is now the biggest region in the country. Go figure.===
Weather and air conditioning.
They figured out how to make heat bearable.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:42 pm
“No way you’re enrolling your son/daughter in the public school”
Florida has a voucher program - $8000.00/year.
https://tinyurl.com/4×35h4uz
Comment by Donnie Elgin Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:43 pm
“Makes salary go farther”
See:taxes,pneumatic
Comment by Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:43 pm
- Donnie Elgin -
Your link is broken
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:48 pm
@Barbie that was my exact thought as I am sure this DeSantis advertising is being paid by Florida.
Comment by Lurker Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 12:58 pm
I’m just amazed that only 37 took the bait but a lot of good points by commenters why it is fools gold. I personally stopped even visiting the state due to a series of events starting with Trayvon Martin. Happy here in Illinois.
Comment by Original Rambler Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 1:05 pm
In the Chicago area, we have access to some of the best hospitals in the nation, access to public transportation, and walking access to grocery stores. Many people are carless as we have the CTA, Metra, taxis , and car services.
World class architecture and entertainment—-music, art, and theatre—are available. And, we have Lake Michigan views from our windows.
Of course, there are problems and challenges. Yet, the hair-on-fire political person in Florida makes an attempt to lure police officers to the state.
If only DeSantis would have a few slices of thin-crust followed by an Italian beef sandwich, this might improve his disposition. For good measure, a large slice of a Chicago original—Eli’s Cheesecake is in order.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 1:07 pm
===I’m just amazed that only 37 took the bait===
Remember during the campaign when the Vallas supporters were predicting a mass exodus of a thousand cops? That didn’t happen, either. Something is keeping them here. Family, friends, pay, pension, the important work, whatever, or all of it.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 1:11 pm
not sure $5k would cover moving expenses to florida…
Comment by snowbored Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 1:15 pm
This isn’t an ap[ple to apples comparison. They are comparing a Florida statewide average to one of the highest paying departments in Illinois. A more accurate comparison would be to compare Chicago police pay to what a major Florida department pays its officers. For example what is the average pay for an oficer in the Miami/Dade department? The comparison also fails to factor in the difference in taxes and cost of living. Pensacolla is a much more affordable community than Chicago. Florida has no income tax, Illinois taxes at 5%. Illinois property taxes are among the highest in the nation. This doesn’t graphic doesn’t convey meaningful information.
Comment by Farm Boy Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 1:21 pm
===They are comparing a Florida statewide average to one of the highest paying departments===
Um, there’s an Illinois statewide comparison, too. Did you miss that, genius?
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 1:26 pm
===Illinois property taxes are among the highest in the nation.===
Explain the homeowner insurance crisis.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 1:28 pm
====ove walking on a sidewalk without the fear of an octogenarian driving a 78′ Lincoln onto the sidewalk and mowing me down.
They cannot hit you on a sidewalk that usually doesn’t exist in Florida.
Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 1:36 pm
=Pensacolla=
Ok. $400,000 house; $2,000 in taxes.
Springfield
$400,000 house; $4200 in taxes
Now go and look what I posted about average home owners insurance. You make back the added taxes instantly.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 1:43 pm
My uncle took a job as a police officer in Florida.
After getting in enough years to max out his Illinois pension benefits.
But I don’t think the pay gap was as big back then.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 1:58 pm
===You can’t get to number 3 in population by doing much wrong.===
So, you’re saying that California (#1) is a better state than Florida (#3)?
Comment by duck duck goose Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 2:31 pm
What the anti-tax set doesn’t tell people is the lower incomes that come with lower taxes. People might pay less, but they’ll earn less, much less in many cases, like Indiana and Tennessee. That does not even include fewer work benefits and less retirement income.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 3:25 pm
Where the woke go to work
Comment by Rabid Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 3:30 pm
=They cannot hit you on a sidewalk that usually doesn’t exist in Florida.=
Touche sir.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Sep 15, 23 @ 3:54 pm