If Illinois became as anti-gun as NY, would you still stay?

[JTHunter]

I browse listings in Missouri and Tennessee at least once a week, I have no iterest in urban living so all my searches start with 50+ acre lots, there isn't a week that goes by that I don't come across a listing that is at minimum double the acreage, about 1/10 the property taxes with a comparable house size for half or less than what it would cost me to buy the house I currently rent. Also due to the huge difference in property taxes, we can literally afford to spend twice as much so that opens up a lot more options.

 

Southern Missouri is "interesting" EXCEPT for the propensity for damaging windstorms. I've been checking out areas in northern AZ (Prescott Valley area, Oak Creek, Verde Valley) as their sales taxes are lower AND they are "Constitutional carry".

 

I think selling a house in this state is becoming harder to do. Mine has been on the market for almost 3 months and only 2 showings. I live out in the county and it nice and quite. My neighbor has a 100 yard range for target shooting.

 

And it gets worse 7/1/19. The "cost" of transferring the title is tripling from $0.50 per $500 assessed value (NOT sale price!!) to $1.50 per $500. And the gas tax is due to DOUBLE from $0.19 to $0.38 per gallon as soon as Jabba signs the legislation which he has said he would do. Vehicle registration goes up, cigarette tax goes up, property tax goes up, lawmaker's salaries go up, etc.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/6/3/18651159/illinois-gas-tax-19-cent-jb-pritzker-drivers-summer

https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/06/14/illinois-tax-hikes-fees-infrastructure-program-gas-vehicle-registration-tobacco-parking/

[domin8]

A March poll from the university found that two-thirds of Illinois residents think the state is going in the wrong direction.

 

Yet they voted for democrats.

 

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

Hopefully all of the Dems stay in the mess that they have voted for, instead of polluting other states

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Word from Utah is they've been polluting other states. It use to be you'd see a lot of California license plates in Salt Lake City. Now it's Illinois. This was unsolicited info from my mother a few weeks ago.

 

As for me, I bought 40 acres in northwest Utah for $8,000 while living in Illinois. I was never an Illinois resident, and knew the military would move us out in a few, but being in Illinois motivated me to do it. I've continued to lease it out to the rancher who was leasing from the seller just to make a little money until I decide to do something with it. Ironically, after Chicago we went to Philadelphia. My wife loved Philly so much that she wants to go back when she retires, more specifically Lancaster, PA.

 

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[TRJ]

@domin8

 

You're screwed. Time to start forwarding every crime story about Philly to your wife to let her know that it's not safe. She's got to find some other location that meets her needs that isn't NYC, Chi, Phil, Boston, Seattle, DC, SF or LA. Something you can both agree on.

 

As for me, the pre-approval of funding for my escape cleared the bank yesterday. Going house shopping in a new freer state next week.

[Jeffrey]

Unfortunately due to business I'll be here to turn out the lights. Maybe when we see the dem politicians head for the hills, I'll wake up and GTFO.

[vito]

A factor to consider when thinking about where to relocate to is the availability of quality healthcare services. You younger guys and gals might think that this is not a major issue, but I assure you that as you age it will become a major reality for you. An acquaintance of mine bought some really remote land and built a house on it in southern Montana when he first retired from flying for a major airline. He and his wife loved being where they were, about an hour's drive from the nearest supermarket, and about two hours from the nearest decent hospital. But as the years went on and medical issues started to arise they knew that they needed to be somewhere with quicker access for emergencies. For him it turned out it didn't matter, he died of a massive heart attack. His wife struggled to sell the ranch and finally did at a big loss, and moved to a suburb of Dallas to be near family and hospitals. Originally I had talked to my wife about rural Tennessee or Kentucky for the low cost of living, but with my own serious medical history I have to accept the reality that I can't be out in the country somewhere if I want to also be able to stay alive if I have some major episode of illness or injury. Right now I'm looking at the Janesville, WI area. Close to where I live in Rockford right now, close to a daughter living near Madison, it has a decent size hospital and medical community, and it seems the cost of housing is pretty moderate compared to actually moving to the Madison area. Now I just have to convince my wife that we need to sell while it is still possible to do so and not wait until literally no one wants to buy our house in Rockford.

[Olddude1970]

A factor to consider when thinking about where to relocate to is the availability of quality healthcare services. You younger guys and gals might think that this is not a major issue, but I assure you that as you age it will become a major reality for you. An acquaintance of mine bought some really remote land and built a house on it in southern Montana when he first retired from flying for a major airline. He and his wife loved being where they were, about an hour's drive from the nearest supermarket, and about two hours from the nearest decent hospital. But as the years went on and medical issues started to arise they knew that they needed to be somewhere with quicker access for emergencies. For him it turned out it didn't matter, he died of a massive heart attack. His wife struggled to sell the ranch and finally did at a big loss, and moved to a suburb of Dallas to be near family and hospitals. Originally I had talked to my wife about rural Tennessee or Kentucky for the low cost of living, but with my own serious medical history I have to accept the reality that I can't be out in the country somewhere if I want to also be able to stay alive if I have some major episode of illness or injury. Right now I'm looking at the Janesville, WI area. Close to where I live in Rockford right now, close to a daughter living near Madison, it has a decent size hospital and medical community, and it seems the cost of housing is pretty moderate compared to actually moving to the Madison area. Now I just have to convince my wife that we need to sell while it is still possible to do so and not wait until literally no one wants to buy our house in Rockford.

Healthcare is part of my search parameters....how far to the nearest grocery store and hospital

 

I'm personally looking at nirthern AZ (snowflake, show low, seligman). Great weather, low taxes, and cheap property. Water might be an issue but I'll work around that.

 

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

 

[jackinelgin]

We just retired the end of May. Even bringing up the mere mention of relocating brings up the fireworks with my wife. All 6 grandkids are in Illinois. One family is 25 minutes away,the other 4 hours. i even brought up the idea of Indiana,halfway between the two. More fireworks. Looks like I'm in it for the long haul.

[evilbrownrifle]

A factor to consider when thinking about where to relocate to is the availability of quality healthcare services. You younger guys and gals might think that this is not a major issue, but I assure you that as you age it will become a major reality for you. An acquaintance of mine bought some really remote land and built a house on it in southern Montana when he first retired from flying for a major airline. He and his wife loved being where they were, about an hour's drive from the nearest supermarket, and about two hours from the nearest decent hospital. But as the years went on and medical issues started to arise they knew that they needed to be somewhere with quicker access for emergencies. For him it turned out it didn't matter, he died of a massive heart attack. His wife struggled to sell the ranch and finally did at a big loss, and moved to a suburb of Dallas to be near family and hospitals. Originally I had talked to my wife about rural Tennessee or Kentucky for the low cost of living, but with my own serious medical history I have to accept the reality that I can't be out in the country somewhere if I want to also be able to stay alive if I have some major episode of illness or injury. Right now I'm looking at the Janesville, WI area. Close to where I live in Rockford right now, close to a daughter living near Madison, it has a decent size hospital and medical community, and it seems the cost of housing is pretty moderate compared to actually moving to the Madison area. Now I just have to convince my wife that we need to sell while it is still possible to do so and not wait until literally no one wants to buy our house in Rockford.

 

We got started a bit later in life with the kids so I have to consider both healthcare access (which is important as I move through he 50s and beyond) and schools. We currently live in an area that is excellent for both (at least on paper with the education). We can go from an "A" rated school system to a B+ rated system in the Silver Lake area and probably not lose much in the overall opportunity but improve on the values side in the community.

[domin8]

@domin8

You're screwed. Time to start forwarding every crime story about Philly to your wife to let her know that it's not safe. She's got to find some other location that meets her needs that isn't NYC, Chi, Phil, Boston, Seattle, DC, SF or LA. Something you can both agree on.

As for me, the pre-approval of funding for my escape cleared the bank yesterday. Going house shopping in a new freer state next week.

We're familiar with Philly. We spent 2 years out there while she was working on her masters degree at the University of Pennsylvania. We've been through northeast Philly. I've taught firearms courses in south Philly. She had a six figure job offer from a hospital in Lancaster, but had to turn it down because she owed the Navy a minimum of 4 years. That 6 figures was $40k more than the national average for her profession. Lancaster is far enough west from Philly, and fairly rural, that crime isn't an issue. She also wants to go back to Penn and teach. If she retires from the Navy at 20 years, teaching at Penn means the kids with have access to free college at an Ivy League school, and excellent healthcare via CHOP. Since she and I would both be veterans we're pretty much screwed with healthcare via the VA. It doesn't matter where we go. The other option is Salt Lake City. The University of Utah only does 1/2 price tuition for family of professors, but Penn sends medical residents to Primary Children's Hospital and there's the Huntsman Cancer Institute (which my mother was recently a patient at for lung cancer).

 

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

 

[SiliconSorcerer]

Laws are just deterrents

[heckler40]

Doesn't matter. We are leaving.

[DD123]

In my 40 years in this state, Iâve never seen so many for sale signs. Everywhere you look someone is selling.

 

The state could become more pro gun than Montana and that wouldnât be enough to make me stay.

 

A bunch of mouth breathers wanted solid majorities of democrats and one as governor, and now thatâs exactly what theyâre getting, good and hard.

 

Watch, when the progressive tax hits the ballot, people will overwhelmingly vote in favor. Then theyâll act surprised when a couple years down the road the democrats decide to lower the brackets so that taxes go up on the people who they sold the lie that taxes will only go up on the wealthy to.

 

If you vote for democrats in Illinois, you truly are developmentally disabled.

[BobPistol]

The disaster which is Illinois is what happens when the state government cares more about themselves and their cronies, than their constituents.

[Jaybird78]

Just jumped ship and my IL house is supposed to close by July 26th.

 

Better schools for my kid.

Better laws for me.

 

 

Will still work 50% of time in IL

 

Wife has been fighting me for 10 years NOT to move because of her family. We are still the same distance from them.

[Flynn]

Will still work 50% of time in IL

 

At least as a non-resident you won't be paying IL income tax any longer, make sure to update those tax forms

[vito]

Many years ago when I left New York State and became a Texas resident, the New York tax people refused to accept my change of residence for that year and if I recall, I lost the withholding that had been taken out of my pay during the time I worked there, but then I was never bothered again. I wonder if IL will give you any grief for tax year 2019.

[BigJim]

 

Will still work 50% of time in IL

 

 

 

At least as a non-resident you won't be paying IL income tax any longer, make sure to update those tax forms

If IL income tax is higher than the tax where you live you will have to pay the difference to Illinois. I have a coworker who moved to WI and pays both IL and WI income tax.

 

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

 

[JTHunter]

Will still work 50% of time in IL

At least as a non-resident you won't be paying IL income tax any longer, make sure to update those tax forms

If IL income tax is higher than the tax where you live you will have to pay the difference to Illinois. I have a coworker who moved to WI and pays both IL and WI income tax.

 

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

When I commuted to Missouri from Ill-ANNOY years ago, Missouri took their share but I still owed Ill-ANNOY. There were times that I worked inside St. Louis city limits which made things even worse. The City has an "earnings tax" and Ill-ANNOY didn't give any credit for that.

[evilbrownrifle]

Happy Gas Tax Day!

 

How are you going to celebrate? I think I'll grill a roll of $5 bills then blow the remains up with fireworks.

[Jeffrey]

Happy Gas Tax Day!

 

How are you going to celebrate? I think I'll grill a roll of $5 bills then blow the remains up with fireworks.

I celebrated by filling up yesterday.

[axel2078]

 

Will still work 50% of time in IL

At least as a non-resident you won't be paying IL income tax any longer, make sure to update those tax forms

If IL income tax is higher than the tax where you live you will have to pay the difference to Illinois. I have a coworker who moved to WI and pays both IL and WI income tax.

 

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

When I commuted to Missouri from Ill-ANNOY years ago, Missouri took their share but I still owed Ill-ANNOY. There were times that I worked inside St. Louis city limits which made things even worse. The City has an "earnings tax" and Ill-ANNOY didn't give any credit for that.

 

Yep, I'm still going through this. I live in IL and work in MO. I pay taxes to both states at tax time.

[papa]

 

Happy Gas Tax Day!

 

How are you going to celebrate? I think I'll grill a roll of $5 bills then blow the remains up with fireworks.

I celebrated by filling up yesterday.

 

 

You , me , and a whole lot of other people. That's $1.52 the state won't get from me. I just wish it could have been more.

[Flynn]

Happy Gas Tax Day!

 

How are you going to celebrate? I think I'll grill a roll of $5 bills then blow the remains up with fireworks.

 

I think the gas stations around me played a price fixing game this last week... About 5 days ago there was about a 25 cent jump in gas prices overnight at pretty much every gas station, seemed odd at the time knowing the tax wasn't here yet, but now that the new 19 cent tax hit today the price didn't budge up or down, not even a penny of shift in price since yesterday, hmm.

 

**From some local social media, it's not just me noticing this, apparently a handful of local gas stations have jumped up in price to over $3, but most are still holding yesterdays price of about $2.75-$2.80.

[evilbrownrifle]

 

Happy Gas Tax Day!

 

How are you going to celebrate? I think I'll grill a roll of $5 bills then blow the remains up with fireworks.

 

I think the gas stations around me played a price fixing game this last week... About 5 days ago there was about a 25 cent jump in gas prices overnight at pretty much every gas station, seemed odd at the time knowing the tax wasn't here yet, but now that the new 19 cent tax hit today the price didn't budge up or down, not even a penny of shift in price since yesterday, hmm.

 

**From some local social media, it's not just me noticing this, apparently a handful of local gas stations have jumped up in price to over $3, but most are still holding yesterdays price of about $2.75-$2.80.

 

 

I know that industry well. Price fixing is typically not a thing. There's too much competition with the big price sign on the corner and consumers' fixation on gas prices. They would be very happy to steal volume (customers) from someone priced significantly higher at the expense of margin. We are seeing some tightening in the market now over fairly typical supply and demand issues. It's not all that unusual for there to be a wholesale price swing in a market of that much, which tends to be fairly universal. Though volatility has dropped off a lot in the past 5 years or so.

 

Now, when prices drop they will try to maintain the previous higher price as long as they can, but, again someone fairly quickly starts to drop prices to steal volume and everyone has to follow.

[Flynn]

I know that industry well. Price fixing is typically not a thing. There's too much competition with the big price sign on the corner and consumers' fixation on gas prices. They would be very happy to steal volume (customers) from someone priced significantly higher at the expense of margin. We are seeing some tightening in the market now over fairly typical supply and demand issues. It's not all that unusual for there to be a wholesale price swing in a market of that much, which tends to be fairly universal. Though volatility has dropped off a lot in the past 5 years or so.

 

Now, when prices drop they will try to maintain the previous higher price as long as they can, but, again someone fairly quickly starts to drop prices to steal volume and everyone has to follow.

 

 

That doesn't explain why earlier today the price of gas today at many local stations apparently did not reflect the 19 cents a gallon tax that should have happened overnight while others did in such a competitive market

 

But, then again I'm aware that many times for corporate owned gas stations prices are only adjusted when corporate sends down the end of day market adjustment. Maybe the lower prices were just these corporate stations slow to react to the tax change and thus didnt adjust prices until the normally scheduled end of day adjustment, while the independent stations marked up at the start of the day, that could explain why now (within give or take the last hour) the prices seem to have all stabalized to reflect the new tax. Most of the gas stations are now within pennies as expected, not the huge differences I was seeing earlier.

 

Gas where I normally buy has went from $2.76 to $3.13 in the last hour, that seems reflective of the new tax not just a market increase as it's still only $2.72 in Kenosha, WI

[Flynn]

Jelly Belly is already taking his bows and spending the money!!!

 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-waukegan-pritzker-resigning-st-0702-20190701-sq5u2yara5afdczikp6jcvgfgm-story.html

 

 

 

Waukegan celebrates casino, investments in Lake County with Gov. Pritzker

By FRANK S. ABDERHOLDEN

| LAKE COUNTY NEWS-SUN |

JUL 01, 2019 | 6:43 PM

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, middle, talks about the casino bill and added revenue, on Monday, July 1, 2019, at Waukegan City Hall. (Mark Kodiak Ukena/Lake County News-Sun) (Mark Kodiak Ukena / Lake County News-Sun)

Gov. J.B. Pritzker received standing ovations and many thanks at Waukegan City Hall Monday as he tours the state highlighting his Rebuild Illinois Capital and Transportation programs that will benefit Lake County.

One of the bigger prizes was a casino license for Waukegan.

State Sen. Terry Link, D-Indian Creek, a former Waukegan resident, joked about how he has “in my spare time for the last 20 years, I’ve been working on a bill. I just kept misspelling some words and they’d cancel it. We’d do a few other things, and they’d cancel it,” he said, drawing laughter.

“Finally the governor came to me and said, ‘Spell it correctly so we can get it done,’ and we did. We have a bill and the people of Waukegan and the state of Illinois will benefit,” Link said to applause from politicians past and present, trade unions, business people and area residents.

“The casino is important. We worked years to get this here, and it’s an economic boom. But what this casino, along with the other things we passed in the Senate Bill 690, you’re going to see vertical and horizontal capital developments throughout the state of Illinois,” he said.

“You’re going to see a multitude of them in Lake County and Waukegan,” Link said.

Under the capital program, money is earmarked for the following Lake County projects: $61 million for interchange construction at Routes 176 and 41 in Lake Bluff and North Chicago; $58.7 million for reconstruction and widening of State Route 22 in Kildeer and Long Grove; $45 million for stabilization of the Adeline Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park shoreline; $26.7 million for a new classroom building at the College of Lake County; $1.7 million for dredging on the Chain O’Lakes; $3.5 million for capital improvements at Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago; and $1 million for renovations to North Chicago High School, according to the governor’s office.

Other transportation projects included $17.9 million for major work on turn lanes and culverts and resurfacing on Route 132 in Lindenhurst and Lake Villa; $2.8 million for turn lanes at Green Bay Road and Washington Street on Route 131 in Waukegan; $2.8 million for resurfacing and ADA compliant sidewalks on Route 137 in Waukegan and North Chicago; $2.3 million for resurfacing Grand Avenue and ADA compliant sidewalks in Waukegan; $2.2 million for resurfacing and ADA compliant sidewalks on Route 120 in Waukegan, and another $2 million for that roadway to resurface, add shoulders and install rumble strips from east of Interstate 94 to Route 43 in Waukegan, Gurnee and Park City; and $890,000 for resurfacing and ADA compliant sidewalks on Route 43 in Waukegan and Park City, the governor’s office said.

State Sen. Terry Link, middle, talks about the history of the casino bill at Waukegan City Hall, on Monday, July 1, 2019. (Mark Kodiak Ukena/Lake County News-Sun) (Mark Kodiak Ukena / Lake County News-Sun)

Link praised the governor saying, I have to tell you this governor far exceeds the other (six) governors in this one session,” he said.

The governor made some promises during the campaign, “and he filled them all,” Link said to applause.

“No one worked harder over all these years to get a gaming bill passed than Terry Link,” said Pritzker, recounting how when the bill passed two days later than expected Link was in Springfield on his wedding anniversary.

“That’s how hard this man works,” the governor said.

“One of the reasons we were able to finally reach a bipartisan agreement on the capital bill was because of Terry Link,” Pritzker said, adding that State Rep. Robert Rita was equal to Link in getting the capital bill passed.

“The two of these leaders are the reason we stand here today,” he said.

The governor said the casino in Waukegan will provide, “another important revenue source for vital services in the city.”

Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham and Park City Mayor Steve Pannell were both thankful for the projects.

“I was working on this for 18 years and I never gave up. Sam was same way,” Pannell said.

“Look at the jobs -- 1,600 full-time, good-paying jobs. It’s great for the whole county,” he said.

“It’s going to profitable for all of us,” Pannell said, “I’m looking forward to it.”

Cunningham said he was proud to be mayor of his hometown on such an occasion, and welcomed the governor and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.

“This is a very important story based on a solid foundation that history tells us ian optimistic and viable future is ahead for Waukegan, Ill.,” he said. “I’m thankful for the opportunities this legislation brings to our community, and I appreciate the steadfast leadership over many years to get us to this historic chapter.

“No one was more steadfast and had a vision for today than Sen. Link,” he said.

“I am committed to make sure this is a transparent and competitive process," Cunningham said.

Sandy Hart, chairman of the Lake County Board, said she wanted to thank the governor for the capital bill that, “brings much needed jobs, infrastructure, economic development and opportunity for the people of Lake County.

“We have a billion dollar need for state infrastructure here in Lake County, and for too long those needs were ignored. But, no more. You pledged to fight for Illinois and you are keeping that promise,” Hart said.

“We are grateful for you forward-thinking leadership and for our hard-working Lake County legislators, many of whom are up here for this investment in our long-term needs,” she said.

Tina Seller-Davis, an accountant and insurance company owner in downtown Waukegan, said the casino and other projects will revitalize downtown and boost the economy.

“It’s so promising to see Waukegan moving forward. I’ll take economic growth in any form. It’s a good thing,” she said.

[evilbrownrifle]

 

I know that industry well. Price fixing is typically not a thing. There's too much competition with the big price sign on the corner and consumers' fixation on gas prices. They would be very happy to steal volume (customers) from someone priced significantly higher at the expense of margin. We are seeing some tightening in the market now over fairly typical supply and demand issues. It's not all that unusual for there to be a wholesale price swing in a market of that much, which tends to be fairly universal. Though volatility has dropped off a lot in the past 5 years or so.

 

Now, when prices drop they will try to maintain the previous higher price as long as they can, but, again someone fairly quickly starts to drop prices to steal volume and everyone has to follow.

 

 

That doesn't explain why earlier today the price of gas today at many local stations apparently did not reflect the 19 cents a gallon tax that should have happened overnight while others did in such a competitive market

 

But, then again I'm aware that many times for corporate owned gas stations prices are only adjusted when corporate sends down the end of day market adjustment. Maybe the lower prices were just these corporate stations slow to react to the tax change and thus didnt adjust prices until the normally scheduled end of day adjustment, while the independent stations marked up at the start of the day, that could explain why now (within give or take the last hour) the prices seem to have all stabalized to reflect the new tax. Most of the gas stations are now within pennies as expected, not the huge differences I was seeing earlier.

 

Gas where I normally buy has went from $2.76 to $3.13 in the last hour, that seems reflective of the new tax not just a market increase as it's still only $2.72 in Kenosha, WI

 

 

Most, including those carrying a major oil brand, are not corporate owned. At least not anymore. Only a few oil companies like Chevron still have any number of company stores, and even there it tends to be fairly small numbers. For example, only about 300 out of 8000 branded sites. Of course operations like Racetrac and Kwiktrip are really now what the corporate stations were back in the day. A growing push now is to centralize pricing (setting and even changing at the sign) automatically from the central HQ because it can be challenging to get price changes rolled out in today's employment market. Just like it can be challenging to get a fast food order filled correctly. It doesn't help that many stores are leased and managed separately from the fuel so certain increases from the fuel side might be "slow" to make it to the street

 

In any case that tax bump is NOT going to be slight, and studies show people have a VERY intense reaction to fuel prices. The nimrods in CA seem to put up with it but I'm not so sure IL residents are all on board with the progressive dream. Aside from filling up myself, it will be fun to see the whole elections have consequences thing set in.

[evilbrownrifle]

 

Jelly Belly is already taking his bows and spending the money!!!

 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-waukegan-pritzker-resigning-st-0702-20190701-sq5u2yara5afdczikp6jcvgfgm-story.html

 

 

 

Waukegan celebrates casino, investments in Lake County with Gov. Pritzker

By FRANK S. ABDERHOLDEN

| LAKE COUNTY NEWS-SUN |

JUL 01, 2019 | 6:43 PM

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, middle, talks about the casino bill and added revenue, on Monday, July 1, 2019, at Waukegan City Hall. (Mark Kodiak Ukena/Lake County News-Sun) (Mark Kodiak Ukena / Lake County News-Sun)

Gov. J.B. Pritzker received standing ovations and many thanks at Waukegan City Hall Monday as he tours the state highlighting his Rebuild Illinois Capital and Transportation programs that will benefit Lake County.

One of the bigger prizes was a casino license for Waukegan.

State Sen. Terry Link, D-Indian Creek, a former Waukegan resident, joked about how he has “in my spare time for the last 20 years, I’ve been working on a bill. I just kept misspelling some words and they’d cancel it. We’d do a few other things, and they’d cancel it,” he said, drawing laughter.

“Finally the governor came to me and said, ‘Spell it correctly so we can get it done,’ and we did. We have a bill and the people of Waukegan and the state of Illinois will benefit,” Link said to applause from politicians past and present, trade unions, business people and area residents.

“The casino is important. We worked years to get this here, and it’s an economic boom. But what this casino, along with the other things we passed in the Senate Bill 690, you’re going to see vertical and horizontal capital developments throughout the state of Illinois,” he said.

“You’re going to see a multitude of them in Lake County and Waukegan,” Link said.

Under the capital program, money is earmarked for the following Lake County projects: $61 million for interchange construction at Routes 176 and 41 in Lake Bluff and North Chicago; $58.7 million for reconstruction and widening of State Route 22 in Kildeer and Long Grove; $45 million for stabilization of the Adeline Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park shoreline; $26.7 million for a new classroom building at the College of Lake County; $1.7 million for dredging on the Chain O’Lakes; $3.5 million for capital improvements at Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago; and $1 million for renovations to North Chicago High School, according to the governor’s office.

Other transportation projects included $17.9 million for major work on turn lanes and culverts and resurfacing on Route 132 in Lindenhurst and Lake Villa; $2.8 million for turn lanes at Green Bay Road and Washington Street on Route 131 in Waukegan; $2.8 million for resurfacing and ADA compliant sidewalks on Route 137 in Waukegan and North Chicago; $2.3 million for resurfacing Grand Avenue and ADA compliant sidewalks in Waukegan; $2.2 million for resurfacing and ADA compliant sidewalks on Route 120 in Waukegan, and another $2 million for that roadway to resurface, add shoulders and install rumble strips from east of Interstate 94 to Route 43 in Waukegan, Gurnee and Park City; and $890,000 for resurfacing and ADA compliant sidewalks on Route 43 in Waukegan and Park City, the governor’s office said.

State Sen. Terry Link, middle, talks about the history of the casino bill at Waukegan City Hall, on Monday, July 1, 2019. (Mark Kodiak Ukena/Lake County News-Sun) (Mark Kodiak Ukena / Lake County News-Sun)

Link praised the governor saying, I have to tell you this governor far exceeds the other (six) governors in this one session,” he said.

The governor made some promises during the campaign, “and he filled them all,” Link said to applause.

“No one worked harder over all these years to get a gaming bill passed than Terry Link,” said Pritzker, recounting how when the bill passed two days later than expected Link was in Springfield on his wedding anniversary.

“That’s how hard this man works,” the governor said.

“One of the reasons we were able to finally reach a bipartisan agreement on the capital bill was because of Terry Link,” Pritzker said, adding that State Rep. Robert Rita was equal to Link in getting the capital bill passed.

“The two of these leaders are the reason we stand here today,” he said.

The governor said the casino in Waukegan will provide, “another important revenue source for vital services in the city.”

Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham and Park City Mayor Steve Pannell were both thankful for the projects.

“I was working on this for 18 years and I never gave up. Sam was same way,” Pannell said.

“Look at the jobs -- 1,600 full-time, good-paying jobs. It’s great for the whole county,” he said.

“It’s going to profitable for all of us,” Pannell said, “I’m looking forward to it.”

Cunningham said he was proud to be mayor of his hometown on such an occasion, and welcomed the governor and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.

“This is a very important story based on a solid foundation that history tells us ian optimistic and viable future is ahead for Waukegan, Ill.,” he said. “I’m thankful for the opportunities this legislation brings to our community, and I appreciate the steadfast leadership over many years to get us to this historic chapter.

“No one was more steadfast and had a vision for today than Sen. Link,” he said.

“I am committed to make sure this is a transparent and competitive process," Cunningham said.

Sandy Hart, chairman of the Lake County Board, said she wanted to thank the governor for the capital bill that, “brings much needed jobs, infrastructure, economic development and opportunity for the people of Lake County.

“We have a billion dollar need for state infrastructure here in Lake County, and for too long those needs were ignored. But, no more. You pledged to fight for Illinois and you are keeping that promise,” Hart said.

“We are grateful for you forward-thinking leadership and for our hard-working Lake County legislators, many of whom are up here for this investment in our long-term needs,” she said.

Tina Seller-Davis, an accountant and insurance company owner in downtown Waukegan, said the casino and other projects will revitalize downtown and boost the economy.

“It’s so promising to see Waukegan moving forward. I’ll take economic growth in any form. It’s a good thing,” she said.

 

 

All of the frickin Casino and Marijuana money will be going to new spending, not attempting to fix the existing pension gash in the HMS Illinitanic. Even if they were applied 100% from what I've read they would come up short.

[BigJim]

Saturday my wife filled up all our cars before the tax increase hit.

 

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

 

[Flynn]

Most, including those carrying a major oil brand, are not corporate owned. At least not anymore. Only a few oil companies like Chevron still have any number of company stores, and even there it tends to be fairly small numbers.

 

I was refering to corporate owned stations like those found at Meijer, Walmart, Sams Clubs, Costco and Thortons to name a few...