The Wealthy Abandoning Chicago?

Millionaires are fleeing Chicago due to concerns over racial tensions and rising crime rates, according to research firm New World Wealth. The Chicago Tribune reports that about 3,000 individuals with net assets of $1 million or more moved from the city last year.

Many of the individuals cited rising racial tensions and worries about crime as factors in the decision. Chicago is third on the list of cities experiencing an exodus of millionaires, behind Paris and Rome.

Findings of the New World Wealth report are consistent with a Nielsen study released late last year that showed Chicago is losing large numbers of affluent blacks.

The Nielsen report found that the Chicago area has fallen out of the top echelon of U.S. cities when it comes to the percentage of black households earning more than $100,000.

In 2000, Chicago ranked seventh among the cities with the largest percentage of black households with income at that level or higher, but in 2015, Chicago had dropped out of the top 10.

Beside the high crime rate, the sales tax is 10.25%, hurting not only the wealthy, but the middle class and poor, as well. If this this trend continues, Chicago will just be another Detroit. Who didn't see this coming?

On A Sad Note: Country and western singer Merle Haggard passed away Wednesday, his birthday, of complications from pneumonia at his home in Northern California. He was 79 years old. Rest in peace Merle.

The News As I See It: While campaigning in New York today, Hillary Clinton rode the subway and had to swipe her metro card five times before getting through a turnstile. Though if you know Hillary Clinton, you know she'll keep trying until she gets in or some unknown Chicago second stringer starts singing some "Change" chant.

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have scheduled a debate for next Thursday in Brooklyn. It's close enough to Wall Street that Hillary can stop by for more campaign money, yet far enough away to keep Bernie Sanders from spontaneously combusting.

Spike Lee said that Bernie Sanders' campaign song should be "Brooklyn’s in the House." Today, Bernie Sanders said, "I don’t know who this 'Spike Lee' is, but I hope he can deliver the Asian vote."

A new study claims 1 in 50 men is unwittingly raising someone else’s child. I was shocked and so was my son, "Rodrigo Garcia."

Ted Cruz, while campaigning in Wisconsin, refused to wear the traditional Wisconsin "Cheesehead." Ted Cruz said the Cheesehead would compromise the dignity that he one day hopes to have.

This Date In History: 1513; Ponce de León claimed Florida for Spain. 1913; The 17th Amendment was ratified, requiring the direct election of U.S. senators by popular vote rather than by the state legislators. 1935; The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was approved by Congress to help alleviate joblessness during the Great Depression.

1946; The League of Nations assembled for the last time. 1973; Artist Pablo Picasso died. 1974; Henry "Hank" Aaron hit the 715th home run of his career, breaking Babe Ruth's record. 1986; Actor Clint Eastwood was elected mayor of Carmel, California. 1992; Tennis ace Arthur Ashe announced that he had AIDS.

Picture Of The Day: Profound adage for today.....

Printable Things I Never Told You: 1) I want to try "Chocolate Yoga." That's where you transform chocolate into a balanced meal by eating it standing on one leg without falling over. It's the next big thing. 2) I called the bank today for my account info and a voice whispered, "If you break the pack in half, Ramen noodles can last you two days." 3) I think Lady Gaga just puts glue on herself and rolls around on random things. 4) Winning an argument with your girlfriend is like winning a vacation to Detroit. Don't get too excited. 5) Stop editing your pics. What if you go missing? How can I find you if you look like Kaley Cuoco on Facebook but Yoda in real life?.....and that's five !

Today's Horoscope: Aries - April 8th: Today the world will become your oyster, flowers will bloom in your presence, children will miraculously stop crying in your arms and dogs will quite their yappin' after midnight. Do me a favor and stop that yappin' dog first. He's driving me nuts!

Birthdays: Harvey Williams Cushing, neurosurgeon 1869, Mary Pickford, actress 1893, Sonja Henie, skater 1912, Betty Ford, former First Lady 1918, John Havlicek, basketball 1940, Michael Bennett, choreographer 1943, Barbara Kingsolver, writer 1955, Patricia Arquette, actress 1968.

The AREA 51 Retirement Home Bar And Grill: Little Tony was staying with his grandmother for a few days. He'd been playing outside with the other kids for awhile when he came into the house and asked her, "Grandma, what is it called when 2 people are sleeping in the same room and one is on top of the other?"

She was a little taken aback, but decided to tell him the truth. "It's called sexual intercourse, darling." Little Tony just said, "Oh, Ok" and went back outside to the other kids.

A few minutes later he came back in and said angrily, "Grandma, it is not called sexual intercourse! It's called Bunk Beds! And Jerry's Mom wants to talk to you."

"Hand me the phillips screwdriver, Babe. No, the phillips. No.... Ok look, hand me the thing you stabbed me with on New Year's Eve. Thanks, Pumpkin."

The Hits Just Keep On Coming: Two Louisiana boys were given a special SAT test to meet their admission requirements to the Military Academy.

Soon after the test began the first guy turns to the second guy and asks, "Old MacDonald had a what?" The other replies, "He had a farm."

The first guy asks, "How do you spell it?" To which the second guy replied, "E-I-E-I-O."

Two alligators are sitting on the edge of a swamp. The small one turns to the big one and says, "I don’t understand how you can be so much bigger than me. We’re the same age, we were the same size as kids. I just don’t get it"

The big alligator says, "What have you been eating?" The little gator says, "Lawyers, same as you." The big alligator asks, "Well, where do you catch them?" The little gator answers, "Down by that law firm on the edge of the swamp."

The big alligator responds, "Hmmm...Same here. How do you catch them?" The little gator says, "Well, I crawl under a BMW and wait for someone to unlock the door. Then I jump out, bite them, shake the shit out of them and eat them!"

The big alligator says, "Ah, I think I see your problem. See, by the time you get done shaking the shit out of a lawyer, there’s nothing left but lips and a briefcase."

That's it for today, my little mushrooms. Remember, an apple a day will keep anyone away if you throw it far enough. I'm heading over to AREA 51 for happy hour.

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Have a great weekend and more on Monday.

Stay Tuned !