Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) is looking to capitalize on the outrage over Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) signing a controversial religious freedom law and raid some jobs for his city and state.
Emanuel sent letters to a dozen Indiana based companies criticizing the law and urging them to move their headquarters to Illinois and Chicago in particular, according to Crain’s Chicago Business.
In the letter Emanuel writes that Pence’s move is “wrong for the people of Indiana, wrong for the individuals who face new discrimination, and wrong for a state seeking to grow its economy.”
“I am writing to urge you to consider Chicago as a place to move and grow your business,” Emanuel continued. “Our great city’s work force, infrastructure and customer base are unparalleled, which is why the Chicago region is home to more than 30 Fortune 500 companies and the city has been ranked the number one city for corporate relocations for two years running.”
CEOs of major national companies like Apple as well as businesses with large stakes in Indiana, like Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, have strongly criticized Pence’s decision to sign the law. The business reviews service Angie’s List most recently announced that it would halt its expansion into Indiana in protest.
Emanuel aides wouldn’t release the names of the companies that received the letter. Aides told Chicago Business that none of the dozen companies had responded yet.
Read the letter, via Crain’s Chicago Business, below:
Trolliing, government style.
As much as I dislike Rahm, this is pretty sweet. We’ve been putting up with these dickish ¨Illinnoyed?¨
billboards paid for by Indiana to lure businesses away. Revenge is a dish best served hot, in this case.
Suck it, Pence.
Of course, the baggers will claim that this is totally different from states trying to get businesses relocated by offering tax abatement.
Why not? Nothing to lose.
As much as I dislike Rahm, I have no problem with this at all. I would consider the move as not only political but a real quality of life issue.