Chicago is where I was born. This is where I live. I will die here. I worked for the city for almost thirty years. Like many, I love and hate my city. I am proud to call Chicago home and have every right to harshly criticize it.
Citadel CEO and financier, Ken Griffin, was born in Florida and relocated to Chicago to form and run his business enterprises. For over a year, Griffin has been complaining about issues in Chicago, including crime. It is apparent he does not know how things work.
Griffin kept blaming Governor J.B. Pritzker for not doing enough to keep Chicago safe. Unfortunately, Griffin was blaming the wrong elected official. The governor is not responsible for public safety in Chicago. The mayor is. Griffin should have been aiming his ire at Mayor Lori Lightfoot. He should have also aimed his anger at Cook County Board President, Toni Preckwinkle and State’s Attorney, Kim Foxx, for their failing criminal justice “reforms.”
Griffin threatened that if public safety did not improve, he would leave Chicago and take his business with him. He is making good on his threat. Griffin announced he is moving his headquarters and family to Florida. Griffin is originally from Florida, so he is going back to his real home. Griffin’s threat was hollow. His moving his headquarters out of Chicago will be a barely negative blip.
Ken Griffin wasted $45-$50 million dollars on GOP candidate Richard Irvin’s sinking primary campaign for governor. He should have held his powder and used his money to back challengers to Mayor Lightfoot and Cook County Board President, Toni Preckwinkle. And next year, Kim Foxx. They are responsible for driving criminality in Chicago.
Ken Griffin has used his billions to fund various non-profit cultural and educational institutions, as well as other charities. He should be lauded for that. But, if he wants to leave Chicago, it will be no great loss. Once he is finally gone, he will be a who. Ken Griffin who?
Griffin will be forgotten soon. His move will not harm businesses here and it will not impact local jobs. It is not like he is moving a major manufacturing plant and tossing workers to the street. He is keeping the Chicago office open. Florida can have his headquarters and Griffin. He proves you can go home again. Buh Bye. Don’t let the door hit you in the a$$ on the way out, Mr. Griffin.
Florida will welcome their prodigal son home, especially Governor Ron DeSantis, who received $5 million dollars in donations from Griffin. Griffin is moving to a state where he bought and owns the governor. If DeSantis runs for president, he will benefit from Griffin’s largesse.
Chicago will not be worse for Ken Griffin’s departure. We will plod on and do what we have always done throughout history. Face adversities and conquer them. Some take longer to conquer, but in the end, Chicago succeeds. We overcome challenges. Our stubborn civic pride pushes us forward.
The only people who will miss Griffin are the politicians, present and future, who rely on his money machine. The rest of us will slog on with our lives in our city with grudging pride.