In 1950, Chicago’s population peaked at about 3.6 million people. Since then, the city has lost nearly 1 million residents. Corruption, government bureaucracy, high taxes and a lack of a significant wealth-generating industry have all been cited as factors.

The city’s fastest growing industry is Business Products & Services according to a study conducted by city government.  Seaton Companies, a headhunter firm is their largest fast growing company.  While head hunting companies do create jobs, the numbers would be small compared to the more likely industries like finance and manufacturing.

 On Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills – Panasonic DMC FZ28, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 100, hand held 

Los   Angeles seems to be taking a page from the Chicago playbook.  Added taxes, added fines, and potential lost jobs are the consequence of surrendering to environmentalists.  The latest decision by the Los Angeles city council is to ban plastic shopping bags at all stores and require stores to charge 10¢ for every paper shopping bag.   

The Los Angeles County unemployment rate is 9.3%.  To drive that number even higher the city council should consider new taxes at restaurants, hotels, and amusement parks.  The reason would be we need more money to clean the streets or hire more police.

Of course this makes no sense.  But who said City Hall is sensible?

There is the issue.  The city councils of Chicago, Los Angeles, and many other cities are responding to pressure groups rather than doing the right thing.  Of course they say they are doing the right thing.  With high unemployment in Los Angeles and a falling population in Chicago, are they doing the right things?