I copied what appears below from the NYC board, regarding the city becoming a state.

If you accept the premise a true megametropolis would function best as a state of its own and would function better under one state jurisdiction....

how effective would a state of Chicago be, composed of Chicago and Cook County, the collar counties, at least Lake and Porter County in IN and at least Kenosha County in WI?

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Sry if repost...

NEW BID TO MAKE CITY 51ST STATE

By STEPHANIE GASKELL

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January 18, 2005 -- Should New York City become the 51st state?

A bill that would create a commission to study whether the city should secede from New York state will get another hearing soon — after sitting in the City Council for nearly two years

The bill was introduced on Feb. 26, 2003. A hearing was held shortly after, but no action has been taken on the bill since then.

"I expected delays and opposition when we got to the state level, but I never thought it would be held up for two years trying to get out of a City Council committee," said Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Queens), who introduced the bill.

But Councilman Bill Perkins (D-Manhattan) — the chair of the Government Operations committee, where the bill has been held up since May 2003 — told The Post that he plans to hold another hearing on the bill "sometime this year."

After a disappointing "State of the State" speech two weeks ago, Vallone said this was the perfect time to look at whether the city should secede.

"Ten years of long political speeches and empty promising while New York City residents pay for his mistakes, Gov. Pataki is slapping us on the back with one hand while lifting our wallets with the other," Vallone said. "We cannot raise taxes any more, nor can we make any further cuts. This may be our only viable option."

A spokesman for Mayor Bloomberg declined to comment.

Great concept and idea but in practicality????? I don't know how it will work out. There hasn't been a state separating from another since West Virginia, and look at the shape it's in. The intial cost would be staggering to have the state create new offices in Chicago, adminstrative costs, new elections etc. While in the long run this might benefit Chicago, the rest of Illinois will be bogged down in misery. You think things are bad now? Wait until they lose their tax base! :lol: Also, the people in the rest of Illinois would never vote for this, and the chances of it getting passed in congress are slim at best.

Where are we going to put the extra star on the flag anyway? ;)

When I read this on the NY forum I was thinking the exact same thing! I think it would be a great idea to seperate from Illinois. I think that perhaps they should divide the state into north and south like they did with the carolinas. The cultural and economic differences between northern and southern Illinois are great enough to justify that. With as smaller state centralized around Chicago, we could focus more money and effort on the specific needs of the Chicago area just as it would benefit downstate areas because they could focus more on their needs instead of Chicago. It could be mutually beneficial for both states.

As far as office space is concerned, there is already tons of government office space in Chicago not to mention tons of vacant office space so setting up a new government here would not really be problematic.

^ Personally, I would love to not be a part of Southern Illinois anymore. Quite frankly, I'm sure they'd like to be rid of Northern Illinois and Chicago. The political differences, interests, priorities are shocking.

^ Personally, I would love to not be a part of Southern Illinois anymore. Quite frankly, I'm sure they'd like to be rid of Northern Illinois and Chicago. The political differences, interests, priorities are shocking.

^I agree that northern Illinois would be thrilled to secede in a heartbeat.

But southern Illinois? I don't think so. Northern Illinois is the economic engine of the state, and all of the money for projects in southern Illinois would go bye-bye if they lost out on that.

chicago would make a great state! I would live there...

^I agree that northern Illinois would be thrilled to secede in a heartbeat.

But southern Illinois? I don't think so. Northern Illinois is the economic engine of the state, and all of the money for projects in southern Illinois would go bye-bye if they lost out on that.

Ask someone from Southern Illinois how they feel about Chicago dominating state politics and funding. Especially people in Southwestern Illinois...those belonging to the Metro East region of St. Louis. They consider themselves St. Louisans, and could care less about Chicago. I met quite a few people from Southern Illinois when I was in college. Believe you me, many of them do not care for Chicago or its economic engine much. They would far prefer to have their own dark red state where their votes actually matter and don't get washed out by the massive metropolis hundreds of miles removed from them.

^I agree that northern Illinois would be thrilled to secede in a heartbeat.

But southern Illinois? I don't think so. Northern Illinois is the economic engine of the state, and all of the money for projects in southern Illinois would go bye-bye if they lost out on that.

Southern Illinois would lose tons of tax money but perhaps by being free of the influence of Chicago, southern Illinois could develop it's own metropolis as a seperate economic engine. It might end up being richer in the long run by not depending on Chicago.

Southern Illinois would lose tons of tax money but perhaps by being free of the influence of Chicago, southern Illinois could develop it's own metropolis as a seperate economic engine. It might end up being richer in the long run by not depending on Chicago.

^Develop their own metropolis? Southern Illinoisans can't even develop a full set of teeth :lol:

Please no angry replies. Just joking around...

Ask someone from Southern Illinois how they feel about Chicago dominating state politics and funding. Especially people in Southwestern Illinois...those belonging to the Metro East region of St. Louis. They consider themselves St. Louisans, and could care less about Chicago. I met quite a few people from Southern Illinois when I was in college. Believe you me, many of them do not care for Chicago or its economic engine much. They would far prefer to have their own dark red state where their votes actually matter and don't get washed out by the massive metropolis hundreds of miles removed from them.

I appreciate your viewpoint, but FYI-- the MetroEast of St. Louis went blue in the past election, and historically that particular region of southwestern Illinois has always been Democratic due to the heavy blue-collar influence of East St. Louis and its neighboring suburbs. For what its worth, all the major counties in the St. Louis metro area went for Kerry, except a couple in the exurban ring, which is pretty much the case in major metros throughout the East and Midwest, Chicago included. Is it any surprise that people in the MetroEast don't have much to do with Chicago? They are in the sphere of influence of a much closer city. On a parallel note, would anyone in Kansas City give a shit about St. Louis?

As for Chicago becoming its own state, I don't really see what makes Chicago's relationship to the rest of its state so different than virtually every major urban area in the United States. What does Detroit have in common with rural Michigan? What do Cleveland, Columbus and Cleveland have in common with rural Ohio? Should all the big metros in the USA become city-states? Chicago is bigger, but the social dynamics of urban areas are pretty consistent no matter where you go (except maybe parts of the Sunbelt). The political dichotomy in this country exists because of a general urban/rural split, irregardless of urban area size.

As for Chicago becoming its own state, I don't really see what makes Chicago's relationship to the rest of its state so different than virtually every major urban area in the United States. What does Detroit have in common with rural Michigan? What do Cleveland, Columbus and Cleveland have in common with rural Ohio? Should all the big metros in the USA become city-states? Chicago is bigger, but the social dynamics of urban areas are pretty consistent no matter where you go (except maybe parts of the Sunbelt). The political dichotomy in this country exists because of a general urban/rural split, irregardless of urban area size.

The difference between Chicago and those other cities is that that the Chicago metro is large and powerful enough to function as a self-sufficient state, while the other ones cannot. Even Detroit has too many ills and is too dependent on 1 industry (ie automotive) to function on its own. The Chicago area, according to recent stats, is the 19th largest economy on earth (greater than the nation of Russia).

I guess I'm just having trouble understanding how being in the state of Illinois is any impediment to Chicago's might. I mean look at what Chicago has become. Are you really worried about it?

And personally, I don't think size automatically makes the case for Chicago becoming its own state any different than other metro areas. For example, metropolitan St. Louis has much greater population and economy than a number of states.

^ I understand that the Metro East St. Louis counties voted for Kerry, but the majority of Southern Illinois is very red, and who they voted for isn't really the point anyways.

I was basically trying to say that a) Southern Illinois is overwhelmingly red and b) those few counties that aren't red are generally in Metro East St. Louis and they don't care about Chicago anyways. Point of the story: From my point of view, Southern Illinois doesn't exactly sit back and say "gee, its so wonderful Chicago is in our state." I think it is the opposite.

I think that's yet another example of the urban/rural separation of America. Neither the cities nor the rural areas want to associate or acknowledge one another.

Let's all have a good laugh about this one.

The attitude that Chicagoans tend to have towards downstate Illinoisians is a very condescending one. All in all, Chicagoans often view the rest of Illinois as uncultured, unsophisticated, and uneducated, and downstaters view Chicagoans as rude and complacent. If, perhaps, the Chicagoans would risk the trip south of I-80, they would be able to better appreciate the rest of the state instead of being fashonable and making fun of it. Take a trip down to one of the nice college style towns such as Champaign/Urbana or Bloomington/Normal; smaller cities like this are growing and contributing to the state with their educational facilities and growing industries. Let's bridge the gap, not widen it!

That said, I really don't think this idea is necessary. Chicago already gets whatever it wants from the state government; why bother separating?
Besides, "Chicago, Northern Illinois" doesn't sound quite as nice as "Chicago, Illinois".

^Gets whatever it wants from the state? Yeah, right.

I'll agree to that when the CTA finally gets its well-deserved funding.

I'll agree to that when Chicago finally gets its casino (or gets enough money to not actually need a casino)

I'll also agree to that when that state pitches in to help Chicago balance its budget, instead of spending the Chicago metro's income towards supporting the rest of a state that is unable to support itself

^Gets whatever it wants from the state? Yeah, right.

I'll agree to that when the CTA finally gets its well-deserved funding.



No kidding, the state has really put our back to the wall with this one. The CTA is certainly messed up, but really, this CTA funding fiasco is bad, and embarrassing. I don't seem to understand what part of the 'if you don't rethink funding public transportation in chicago will be decimated, and that is very very bad' the state does not understand.

^Develop their own metropolis? Southern Illinoisans can't even develop a full set of teeth :lol:

Please no angry replies. Just joking around...

Yet West Virginians envy them and would kill to have their smiles. Go figure.

Angry replies accepted and greated appreciated....and I am damned serious.

Urban vs rural debates within one particular state seem to be most prominent when a state is dominated by just one urban area that's much larger than any others. Chicagoland, being home to 2/3 of all Illinoisans, is in this kind of relationship. The same goes for New York City and New York State. Arguably the third most prominent example of this would be Atlanta vs rural Georgia, and it's certainly the most prominent case in the Sunbelt. California and Texas, as decentralized as they are, don't experience this same kind of rural vs urban animosity. Nether does Florida. Instead you have different urban areas competing with each other, and that in turn, shapes in-state political debates.

Let's all have a good laugh about this one.

The attitude that Chicagoans tend to have towards downstate Illinoisians is a very condescending one. All in all, Chicagoans often view the rest of Illinois as uncultured, unsophisticated, and uneducated, and downstaters view Chicagoans as rude and complacent. If, perhaps, the Chicagoans would risk the trip south of I-80, they would be able to better appreciate the rest of the state instead of being fashonable and making fun of it. Take a trip down to one of the nice college style towns such as Champaign/Urbana or Bloomington/Normal; smaller cities like this are growing and contributing to the state with their educational facilities and growing industries. Let's bridge the gap, not widen it!

That said, I really don't think this idea is necessary. Chicago already gets whatever it wants from the state government; why bother separating?
Besides, "Chicago, Northern Illinois" doesn't sound quite as nice as "Chicago, Illinois".

all BS aside, I agree with airmale. we can be insufferable. we can also be every bit as condesending to other places as we have, at times, felt New Yorkers are to us.

We are delightfully blue, damn well cultured, and a lot of fun; but we are not warm and fuzzy.

all BS aside, I agree with airmale. we can be insufferable. we can also be every bit as condesending to other places as we have, at times, felt New Yorkers are to us.

We are delightfully blue, damn well cultured, and a lot of fun; but we are not warm and fuzzy.

The "friendly" Chicagoan is as much an exaggeration as the weather issue, i don't know where all the friendly Chicagoans live but they're not in my area.

I'm friendly damnit! ;)

Bullshit, Chicagoans are some of the friendliest people I've ever met. A lot the Chicago forumers put on a facade that just doesn't stand up in reality.

If Chicagoland withdrew from Illinois, it wouldn't be called Northern Illinois, but rather Calumet...

Chicago, Calumet :)

Bullshit, Chicagoans are some of the friendliest people I've ever met. A lot the Chicago forumers put on a facade that just doesn't stand up in reality.

^Hey bitch, you callin me friendly? I'll kick your ass right now!!

Why? Every major city needs its hinterland to survive. There is already too much beauracracy and too many levels of government as it is. If anything, we need to merge a whole lot of states together. Why not merge Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan into one massive state instead? Name it after the lake the 'superstate' surrounds. Chicago, Michigan. sounds good to me. And id be damn proud to have Milwaukee and Detroit in the same state. I dont know so much about Indiana though... maybe just NW Indiana :)

Why? Every major city needs its hinterland to survive. There is already too much beauracracy and too many levels of government as it is. If anything, we need to merge a whole lot of states together. Why not merge Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan into one massive state instead? Name it after the lake the 'superstate' surrounds. Chicago, Michigan. sounds good to me. And id be damn proud to have Milwaukee and Detroit in the same state. I dont know so much about Indiana though... maybe just NW Indiana :)

They'd love you up in Ontario :)

If such a state were established, it would probably be called Chicago and the city would be Chicago, CH

^just like new york,and new york city?

When I was in Chicago, the people were great. I'm definitely looking forward to going back up there at some point this year.

Bullshit, Chicagoans are some of the friendliest people I've ever met. A lot the Chicago forumers put on a facade that just doesn't stand up in reality.

As I was saying ;)

That large city=unfriendly is a fallacy, I have not found that the case here in the 18 years I grew up in the southern burbs and the 9 that I've lived in the city proper. But then again, I am also somewhat skeptical of the reputations of Boston and New York as being 'rude' either. I've visted both, have family from both, and haven't found that to be the case either. Granted there are jerks everywhere, but I've had more unpleasant experiences from locals in small towns than in larger cities.

As I was saying ;)

That large city=unfriendly is a fallacy, I have not found that the case here in the 18 years I grew up in the southern burbs

I lived 17 years in the southern burbs ;)

Let's all have a good laugh about this one.

The attitude that Chicagoans tend to have towards downstate Illinoisians is a very condescending one. All in all, Chicagoans often view the rest of Illinois as uncultured, unsophisticated, and uneducated, and downstaters view Chicagoans as rude and complacent. If, perhaps, the Chicagoans would risk the trip south of I-80, they would be able to better appreciate the rest of the state instead of being fashonable and making fun of it. Take a trip down to one of the nice college style towns such as Champaign/Urbana or Bloomington/Normal; smaller cities like this are growing and contributing to the state with their educational facilities and growing industries. Let's bridge the gap, not widen it!

That said, I really don't think this idea is necessary. Chicago already gets whatever it wants from the state government; why bother separating?
Besides, "Chicago, Northern Illinois" doesn't sound quite as nice as "Chicago, Illinois".


Ahh, Bloomington, the town I was born in. And Normal, the first town I lived in. That's as far south I've gone in Illinois, and those cities are really central IL.

It's as if people from Chicago forget that downstate Illinois exists. At least I do, and most everyone I know does. I know that it's all one state, but downstate Illinois feels so far away.

Maybe we could just become an isolated Province of Canda!!!

Besides, if we became a state that would mean 51 stars: and a whole re-org of the flag, which would mean billions of $$ to retrofit flags across America; poor urban children would need to learn to count higher than 50; Computers would need to be programed to list 51 states; our president would need to learn how to pronounce "Chicago" bein that it is a new state and all.....not to mention he would have to learn where it is on the map.

Mayhem I tell ya, Mayhem all around....

^^ :hahaha: Gotta love sarcasm.

airmale007 - I will admit to not knowing hardly anything about downstate IL. Growing up it just wasn't a place we'd go (although I did go to Springfield a couple of times). School field trips from what I recall were always to Chicago (I was born in Chicago Heights and over the course of my life, lived in a few burbs in that immediate area). I don't really have anything against all you guys down there, really, but I sadly don't know much about you either.

airmale007 - I will admit to not knowing hardly anything about downstate IL. Growing up it just wasn't a place we'd go (although I did go to Springfield a couple of times). School field trips from what I recall were always to Chicago (I was born in Chicago Heights and over the course of my life, lived in a few burbs in that immediate area). I don't really have anything against all you guys down there, really, but I sadly don't know much about you either.

Only time I ever went downstate was when my high school science team made the state finals...

Only time I ever went downstate was when my high school science team made the state finals...

so what was it like?

so what was it like?

I'm not sure...we never left the U of I campus. At least it got us out of Will County ;)

Plus, it's probably changed a bit since 1985 :)

As for myself... While I mean no offense to those downstaters, I have never been south of whatever interstate it is that takes you west across the IL/IN state line, and quite frankly, doubt I would ever have a reason to make the trip. But, then again, I lived in Seattle for 13 years, and didn't get to Spokane on the other side of the state until I was in a moving truck come here.

I really dont see this (if ever) happening. Hell would freeze over before Springfield left Chicago go out on its own (Chicago could survive though) because Chicago is really what rakes in the money for this state. If an Illinois without Chicago were to exist, they'd tax the bejesus out of agriculture just to try to make up the revenue lost without Chicago business. It's just way too political....

This reminds me of when I heard different areas of Los Angeles besides downtown (Hollywood, Beverly Hills, etc.) wanted to seperate from the city because they were sick of the politicans making there decisions for them. (As we all know, downtown L.A. and Beverly Hills are two VERY different places.) This would make Los Angeles the 4th largest city in the US.

As for Chicagoans not being friendly...psshh...I was nice of enough to show this Japanese couple around downtown for a few hours back during in the summer, and man, I was full of pride when I finally told them which one the Sears Tower was, and they replied (in very broken English) "My, a tower like that rivals the height of Mt. Fujiyama." I must admit though, we do have some bad apples in the bunch, but doesnt everywhere else too?

The only unpleasant people in Chicago are those opposite a cash register from you. (ie... fast food, drug stores, etc...)

InTheLoop -- that is true, I remember having the following conversation in a McDonalds in the loop when I was a teenager with a cashier.

them - "Welcome to McDonalds, what the f*ck do you want?"
me - "I want a f*cking cheeseburger, some fries, and a f*cking pop"
them - "$3.75"
me "f*ck you then"
them "kiss my a** b*tch"

ah ... youth.

Now Jewel employees, they really take the cake in surlyness. seriously, I'm surprised I've not heard about anyone being physically attacked by a Jewel cashier.

Ah, Jewel. A place to be avoided.

Hooray for Eagle and Dominicks!