Failing cities like Chicago should heed Ken Griffin’s warning: No tax base, no money

The Hill ^ | 10/18/25 12:00 PM ET | Douglas MacKinnon

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Every once in a while, a voice of reason cuts through the nonsense. Ken Griffin, the CEO of Citadel, is one of those voices.

While speaking at the Citadel Securities Future of Global Markets conference in New York City last week, Griffin explained why rising crime and high taxes in Chicago were the deciding factors in his decision to relocate his company headquarters to Miami.

For those fueled by partisan loyalties and ideological narratives who operate in the political arena, “reality” is often something to be avoided at all costs, or at least shaded. In the corporate arena, those who avoid reality regularly go out of business.

In far too many ways, America’s crime-ridden inner cities have been abandoned by both political parties. But guess what? Those inner cities are not empty. Human beings live in them — long suffering and long-forgotten human beings who, at best, are being moved around a political chess board like disposable pawns. 

None of this is an academic exercise for me. I grew up in abject poverty; I was homeless often, and regularly lived in housing projects where I was in the minority as a white person. Years ago, Simon and Schuster was kind enough to publish my memoir titled “Rolling Pennies in the Dark.” The opening words of that book being: “It really does hurt to get stabbed.” 

I have long advocated for the disenfranchised residents of our major inner cities, usually to no avail. These men, women and children have little or no voice in the decisions and policies that have made their lives a living hell. Rather, it is the leaders of their cities and states who make those decisions and enact those often punishing policies. 

Thanks to President Trump, and also to the...

[packagingguy]

The cities count on a Federal bail out, so they care not.

[MtnClimber]

The left is in a war against truth.

[Vigilanteman]

Any bail-out should come with the stipulation that the entity being bailed-out reverts to territorial status and loses their right to voting representation in congress (and the electoral college) accordingly.

They can get it back when they pay back the bail out money (inflation-indexed plus prime interest rate) and submit an approved reorganization plan.

[eyeamok]

Illinois should be turned into a Territory with the political class running that shithole exiled to Syria, put a couple retired Generals or Admirals in charge.

[Jeff Chandler]

America’s crime-ridden inner cities have been abandoned by both political parties

What a steaming pile of Obama.

[TalBlack]

“But guess what? Those inner cities are not empty. Human beings live in them — long suffering and long-forgotten human beings who, at best, are being moved around a political chess board like disposable pawns. “

Hey, pawns, VOTE FOR SOMEONE OTHER THAN WHO YOUVE VOTED FOR FOR THE LAST SIXTY YEARS!!!!!! Thank you for your attention to this important little detail. Of course there is always the possibility the demons have been stealing elections for some time.

[Bonemaker]

“These men, women and children have little or no voice in the decisions and policies that have made their lives a living hell.”

The hell they don’t! They are the ones who keep electing the filth who torment them and the rest of us!

[RetiredTexasVet]

In summary, he is stating that at some point all that will be left are the takers and no producers. Rule of Socialism, Fascism, and Communism ... drag everyone down to the lowest level with a ruling elite over them.

[Lockbox]

The left is in a war against truth.

and reality

[T Ruth]

They are the ones who keep electing the filth who torment them and the rest of us!

This might be true;

or it may be that election fraud is so entrenched in the cities that it doesn't matter how people vote;

or it may be that the public education system has brainwashed the people and deprived them of the ability to think so that they don't know what to do.