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* Martin Cabrera of Cabrera Capital speaking at the City Club yesterday…
In Illinois, the US Latino buying power is about $101 billion every year. And when you see the neighborhoods - Back of the Yards, Little Village, Pilsen and suburbs who are contracting in business - there are fewer dollars spent and fewer taxes being collected at the State level. This will cause more of a budget gap for the State and decisions will get harder. Where are we gonna cut services? That will be difficult. So we need to band together, even the bipartisan organizations in the red states, to find solutions on a shorter term and longer term basis. We will feel it at the City level, state level and across the country.
* I called Cabrera’s office to ask about the $101 billion number, which would be about ten percent of Illinois’ trillion-dollar GDP. I was referred to a Latino Donor Collaborative study about the ten largest US Latino state GDPs in 2024. It actually had Illinois in fifth place at $145 billion.
A 2023 Sun-Times op-ed by Sylvia Puente and Daniel Cooper had Latino spending power in Illinois at $68 billion.
* Whatever the real number is, it’s a huge impact. And keep this 2022 story in mind…
The Little Village Arch also ushers neighbors and visitors through the commercial corridor known as the second-highest revenue generator in the city after the Magnificent Mile.
That’s huge.
* Block Club Chicago two weeks ago…
Local officials and immigrant rights advocates are calling on neighbors to shop local and support immigrant-owned businesses as threats of raids and reports of ICE arrests have brought foot traffic down in predominantly Latino neighborhoods. […]
Along Little Village’s commercial corridor on West 26th Street, businesses were open and some shoppers were seen visiting local grocery stores, restaurants and shops or walking past street vendors Monday evening.
However, foot traffic was “significantly” down and sales have been down since Friday, when many expected immigration agents to be fully assembled in Chicago, said Michelle Macias, daughter of Carnicería and Taquería Aguascalientes’ owner. The Mexican grocery store has been open in Little Village for 49 years and the restaurant opened in 1980.
“Everyone’s really afraid to come out to buy groceries, take their kids to school and just do everyday tasks,” she said.
Discuss.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 24, 25 @ 9:42 am
Previous Post: RETAIL: Strengthening Communities Across Illinois
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Cabrera is right on point, no question about it.
Comment by low level Wednesday, Sep 24, 25 @ 10:09 am
Spot on. At the end of the day this isn’t about making our cities safer. It’s deamonizing people of different ethnicities while causing real social and economic damage.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Sep 24, 25 @ 10:26 am
Thinking people know the MAGA cleansing program comes at an economic cost. What is a surprise to me - and Rich dutifully followed up - is the Latino economic impact. WOW
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Sep 24, 25 @ 10:26 am
Every quantitative examination of immigration in the US shows it is a net financial benefit. Cracking down on visa holders and green card holders who have minor infractions in their past is soley based on racism, not on any meaningful expectation that it will improve anything for the country.
Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Sep 24, 25 @ 10:37 am
OK. Still no excuse to have people come into our nation illegally- and that goes for all no matter where they come from.
Nor should they be allowed to stay here when they come in illegally. Mr. Cabrera has his own agenda. I understand that.
The Immigration Reform Act of 1986 gave amnesty to 2.7 million illegal immigrants. It promised secure borders and employer/employee ID. The first promise was delivered and the rest ignored by both political parties.
This nation needs a rational immigration policy. This would be based upon those who have unique skills that can immediately productive without harming employment of our own citizens. Temporary labor through visas should be just that,
temporary. With good wages, health care and housing provided by those who employ them. Again, not an end around to depress wages.
Complicated issue with very few willing to engage in a truly rational and non self aggrandizing manner that does not benefit them politi9cally or economically.
Comment by Mason County Wednesday, Sep 24, 25 @ 10:37 am
This targeting of Latinos by the administration, aside from its clear racism, has always seemed counterintuitive just at a purely economic level. It seems designed to destroy the economy–and not just in blue states. Combined with the tariffs, this purge has really hurt the farm economy, especially (ironically) in states that voted red, where the harvest depends on workers who are now gone or in hiding.
I wish national-level reporters would start asking: Why does the administration appear to be trying to kill the U.S. economy? What is their true end game? Because it’s really looking like a deliberate program at this point.
Latinos make up ca. 20 percent of the U.S. population, making them the biggest ethnic group after non-Hispanic whites. Of course they have a huge economic impact.
Comment by Crispy Wednesday, Sep 24, 25 @ 10:37 am
Crain’s on Sept. 5 published a comprehensive look at the impact on the Latino business community. The gist: The economic effects go well beyond neighborhoods like Little Village and Pilsen. The stories are free to view — no paywall:
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/elevate/chicago-latino-businesses-hurt-immigration-policies
Comment by Ann Dwyer Wednesday, Sep 24, 25 @ 10:38 am
Latino doesn’t necessarily mean undocumented immigrant. A fact a lot of Dems ignored in the last election, weren’t prepared for the inevitable pulling the ladder up behind them that always happens.
I wonder how much of that $68b or $100 bn or $148 bn is related to undocumented immigrants to some extent.
Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Sep 24, 25 @ 10:52 am
Good points Mason County. Both parties have contributed to the mess we’re in now. However, the larger point about the overwhelmingly positive economic impact of immigration should not be lost on anyone in and around Havana.
Mason County saw it’s high point for population in 1980, at 19,000 residents. Today it is less than 13,000. When you are ready to retire and move to a warmer climate, who do you think is going to move to Mason County and buy your house?
The US birth rates are low, we are not replacing ourselves, and states and regions that are not growing in population are destined for big economic trouble. Immigration is one way to boost rural America.
I’d encourage you to give more thought to an amnesty program like President Reagan signed in 1986. For your own sake and for the sake of your neighbors. Highly skilled immigrants are not likely to move to Havana, so you should be thrilled if any immigrants wish to live in your community.
If you’re not growing, you’re dying. And Mason County is not growing.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Sep 24, 25 @ 11:24 am
=This nation needs a rational immigration policy.=
I absolutely agree. The current President does not. We had a bipartisan rational immigration policy up for vote in the last Congress. The current President put a stop to it. Not because it wasn’t in the country’s best interests but because it wasn’t in his own.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Sep 24, 25 @ 11:52 am