What if we acted like better was possible?

Just a thought experiment, but what if Chicago was known for something beyond corruption and logistics?

Chicago friends, we all have one job to do this week: Vote in the municipal elections. If you haven’t made a voting plan, stop right now and do that. Then, consider proactively filling out the form to get all future ballots delivered to you for vote by mail, truly the easiest way to participate. 

We would never tell you who to vote for — wait a minute yes we would, vote for Brandon!! For the first time in so, so long, it is actually looking possible for us to elect a government willing to make Chicago the city that it can and should be. Not only do you have a real-deal progressive mayoral candidate within reach of the runoff, but you have basically the entire city council up for grabs. It is a messy, never-ending tangle of attack ads and yard signs that will surely go into protracted runoffs every which way. And it is an opportunity to vote like you love this city and expect it to be better. 

Because what is the alternative, really? We treat microwave meals startup Tovala expanding into air fryers like it’s actual progress? We celebrate another blockchain funding round? Better to pack it all up and start over.

The rare logistics company not founded in Chicago, Indianapolis-based Spot is opening up an office in the former Marshall Field’s building and planning to hire 200 folks over the next two years.

Medical implant 3-D printing startup Dimension Inx (not a spelling error, just annoying) is also hanging up a shingle, converting some of its $12 million funding round into Fulton Market office space. And rechargeable battery startup NanoGraf is also planning to open a 30-person factory on the West Side this year, using some of the $65 million it’s taken in from investors. 

Just a friendly reminder though, that an open office doesn’t mean a full office, as Schaumburg is finding out. The suburb threw out huge tax breaks to Zurich, Motorola and other employers who promised large headquarters and plenty of foot (car) traffic. Now with offices nowhere near full — and many with no plans to ever fill again — Schaumburg is looking to renegotiate some of those tax breaks that seemed like such a good deal when it was anticipating a ton of people frequenting local businesses. It’s almost like maybe giving corporations huge tax breaks just to do something they already need to do is not, in fact, a great strategy. Who’s to say?

Now, we have never used the word “zaddy” before. In fact, we are pretty sure we should never use the word “zaddy.” And yet, when we saw J.B. Pritzer popping off about how Ken Griffin moved to Miami out of embarrassment after spending $50 million trying to get a Republican elected governor of Illinois, our immediate, unconscious thought was a whispered “zaddy.” And then to take swings at DeSantis? 

The only billionaire allowed to affect us like this is Rihanna.

Jobs, Glorious Jobs
Director of Marketing and Communications for Evergreen Climate Innovations
Formerly Clean Energy Trust, Evergreen Climate Innovations is essentially a VC fund invested entirely in companies that might stop climate change. Support both the fund, and its portfolio companies, with marketing and communications strategies that get their stories out there and encourage more investment. We can say, knowing past geniuses who have held this role, that it can lead to great things.

Director of Digital Solutions for Elevance Health
Another new name for a familiar company (Anthem Health), though this time the rebrand is motivated by a desire to distance Elevance from the negative associations of its predecessor. As Director of Digital Solutions, you would be tasked with growing the healthcare services business, now named Carelon (why?). Given that the website is an absolute salad of nonsense speak, you have some real room for improvement. 

Inspiration of the Week

“I love our people enough to invest in them and will do that as mayor of Chicago.”

—The simple, consistent promise from mayoral candidate Brandon Johnson. Imagine what it would look like if City Hall loved our people as much as it loves cops and chaotic Super Bowl spreads. Because we actually have a chance to find out. 

Forward this email to anyone who’s ready to see what happens when we put people first. They can sign up here for twice-a-month cheerleading.

Got a tip on an excellent job? Reply to this email, send us a new one at hey@gethustl.in, or reach out on Twitter.