For many conservatives, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has become a scapegoat for Chicago crime. Whenever the media reports about the surge of carjackings, shootings, and robberies, Ms. Foxx is usually blamed on social media (along with Mayor Lori Lightfoot) for the dangerous state of our city. On the surface, it is a fair assessment when alleged criminals seem to go in and out the revolving door of Cook County Jail. Yet, there’s more to the story than meets the naked eye.

Tonight, CAN-TV’s Sylvia Snowden spoke with State’s Attorney Foxx about some major issues including her domestic incident, Jussie Smollett, and the media pitting her against Mayor Lightfoot. As I’ve written before, Sylvia Snowden is a long-time friend and high school classmate. However, I would have enjoyed the interview if I didn’t know her. She brings so much professionalism to this interview that it is worth the watch.

For many conservatives, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has become a scapegoat for Chicago crime. Whenever the media reports about the surge of carjackings, shootings, and robberies, Ms. Foxx is usually blamed on social media (along with Mayor Lori Lightfoot) for the dangerous state of our city. On the surface, it is a fair assessment when alleged criminals seem to go in and out the revolving door of Cook County Jail. Yet, there’s more to the story than meets the naked eye.

Tonight, CAN-TV’s Sylvia Snowden spoke with State’s Attorney Foxx about some major issues including her domestic incident, Jussie Smollett, and the media pitting her against Mayor Lightfoot. As I’ve written before, Sylvia Snowden is a long-time friend and high school classmate. However, I would have enjoyed the interview if I didn’t know her. She brings so much professionalism to this interview that it is worth the watch.

For many conservatives, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has become a scapegoat for Chicago crime. Whenever the media reports about the surge of carjackings, shootings, and robberies, Ms. Foxx is usually blamed on social media (along with Mayor Lori Lightfoot) for the dangerous state of our city. On the surface, it is a fair assessment when alleged criminals seem to go in and out the revolving door of Cook County Jail. Yet, there’s more to the story than meets the naked eye.

Tonight, CAN-TV’s Sylvia Snowden spoke with State’s Attorney Foxx about some major issues including her domestic incident, Jussie Smollett, and the media pitting her against Mayor Lightfoot. As I’ve written before, Sylvia Snowden is a long-time friend and high school classmate. However, I would have enjoyed the interview if I didn’t know her. She brings so much professionalism to this interview that it is worth the watch.

Perhaps this practical frock is available in the Kloset.

Just in case record inflation, sick gas prices and ever-morphing Covid variants aren’t enough to ruin your happy day, I have discovered a whole new portal to Hell. It’s called the Kardashian Kloset.

I categorically never click on anything Kardashian-related, having reached my saturation point in 2014, when Kimmy K. posed for the cover of some vapid rag naked, with a champagne glass balanced on her shelf-like arse, while popping some Dom and aiming it over her head into the glass. (This photo shoot wasn’t even an original idea. The very scary model/actor Grace Jones had been photographed performing the stunt in 1982.)

What a talented bunch the K’s are! But I digress.

So a few week ago, there I was online, dodging Kardashsian cyber landmines, when I stumbled across this site called Kardashian Kloset. (If it belonged only to Kim, it could be called the Kim Kardashian Kloset, or KKK, which probably wouldn’t have sat too well with ex-hubby Kanye.)

The website sells cast-off clothing allegedly worn by an actual Kardashian, from “momager”/ madam Kris to her stable of daughters – Kinky, Koko, Kooky, Klassy and of course, the center of the K-Universe, Kim. In case you are wondering, there also is garbaj from the brother, Skippy or whatever his name is, and even their children. The Skippy offerings are mostly size 2X shirts; the kids’ mainly high-end sports shoes.

So far, no used Pete Davidson duds, but it’s only a matter of time.

Each K-woman has her own “collection.” All designer, of course – everything from robes to bandage dresses to accessories. Even some bras and bodysuits (eeeeeew). There is nothing over size Miniscule and the stuff is pricey. There are no returns, exchanges, refunds or cancellations, no phone number to call or text to; you can’t even send an e-mail inquiry unless you first make a purchase. Call it upscale arrogance.

In spite of all the rules, the stuff sells like mad. I imagine the core buyer to be a self-christened “fashionista” in her teens or early 20s, who saves for months for a piece of this crap and thereafter considers herself an “influencer.” Sad.

I know we are a capitalist society, and that mondo-wealth stems best from branching out and leveraging (just ask Jay-Z), but how much is enough? Several of the K’s are bona-fide billionaires, and the net worth of even the lowliest Kardashian is in the hundreds of millions. The great-grandchildren of these people will never have to work. Must they add a comparatively few paltry shekels by selling their used underwear? It’s nauseating to know that we live in a society that gives cachet to the used frocks and undies of a family famous only for self-aggrandizing.

I am a major Barbra Streisand fan, but I’m sure not hankering after a pair of her used drawers.

I am unaware of if the K-Clan gives anything to charity. I suppose they might, but frankly, they don’t exactly seem the altruistic type. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the proceeds from the Kloset went to a Los Angeles battered-womens’ shelter or food bank? Alas, that’s probably as probable as Kim getting a butt reduction.

This is a family who got famous via ass-enhancing plastic surgery, specious marriages, sex tapes, a bazillion selfies, and being photographed in nothing but ugly, skin-tight clothing. Thereafter came their makeup and bodywear businesses, but always remember that their success is based upon sex, plastic surgery and no talent for anything else. They make the Gabors look like the Barrymores by comparison.

Old-time comic George Jessel once said, at the SRO funeral of some hated studio head, “Well, there you are, you see – give the people what they want!”

How sad to think that in a world filled with higher ground, that the avaricious Kardashians and their brothel-circus are what America wants. Truly, we are going to hell in an Hermes handbasket.

Perhaps this practical frock is available in the Kloset.

Just in case record inflation, sick gas prices and ever-morphing Covid variants aren’t enough to ruin your happy day, I have discovered a whole new portal to Hell. It’s called the Kardashian Kloset.

I categorically never click on anything Kardashian-related, having reached my saturation point in 2014, when Kimmy K. posed for the cover of some vapid rag naked, with a champagne glass balanced on her shelf-like arse, while popping some Dom and aiming it over her head into the glass. (This photo shoot wasn’t even an original idea. The very scary model/actor Grace Jones had been photographed performing the stunt in 1982.)

What a talented bunch the K’s are! But I digress.

So a few week ago, there I was online, dodging Kardashsian cyber landmines, when I stumbled across this site called Kardashian Kloset. (If it belonged only to Kim, it could be called the Kim Kardashian Kloset, or KKK, which probably wouldn’t have sat too well with ex-hubby Kanye.)

The website sells cast-off clothing allegedly worn by an actual Kardashian, from “momager”/ madam Kris to her stable of daughters – Kinky, Koko, Kooky, Klassy and of course, the center of the K-Universe, Kim. In case you are wondering, there also is garbaj from the brother, Skippy or whatever his name is, and even their children. The Skippy offerings are mostly size 2X shirts; the kids’ mainly high-end sports shoes.

So far, no used Pete Davidson duds, but it’s only a matter of time.

Each K-woman has her own “collection.” All designer, of course – everything from robes to bandage dresses to accessories. Even some bras and bodysuits (eeeeeew). There is nothing over size Miniscule and the stuff is pricey. There are no returns, exchanges, refunds or cancellations, no phone number to call or text to; you can’t even send an e-mail inquiry unless you first make a purchase. Call it upscale arrogance.

In spite of all the rules, the stuff sells like mad. I imagine the core buyer to be a self-christened “fashionista” in her teens or early 20s, who saves for months for a piece of this crap and thereafter considers herself an “influencer.” Sad.

I know we are a capitalist society, and that mondo-wealth stems best from branching out and leveraging (just ask Jay-Z), but how much is enough? Several of the K’s are bona-fide billionaires, and the net worth of even the lowliest Kardashian is in the hundreds of millions. The great-grandchildren of these people will never have to work. Must they add a comparatively few paltry shekels by selling their used underwear? It’s nauseating to know that we live in a society that gives cachet to the used frocks and undies of a family famous only for self-aggrandizing.

I am a major Barbra Streisand fan, but I’m sure not hankering after a pair of her used drawers.

I am unaware of if the K-Clan gives anything to charity. I suppose they might, but frankly, they don’t exactly seem the altruistic type. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the proceeds from the Kloset went to a Los Angeles battered-womens’ shelter or food bank? Alas, that’s probably as probable as Kim getting a butt reduction.

This is a family who got famous via ass-enhancing plastic surgery, specious marriages, sex tapes, a bazillion selfies, and being photographed in nothing but ugly, skin-tight clothing. Thereafter came their makeup and bodywear businesses, but always remember that their success is based upon sex, plastic surgery and no talent for anything else. They make the Gabors look like the Barrymores by comparison.

Old-time comic George Jessel once said, at the SRO funeral of some hated studio head, “Well, there you are, you see – give the people what they want!”

How sad to think that in a world filled with higher ground, that the avaricious Kardashians and their brothel-circus are what America wants. Truly, we are going to hell in an Hermes handbasket.

Chicago home prices are growing nicely but stilllag the rest of the country by a lot

Homes are currently a better investment than the stock market. At least that’s the way it still looks based on this morning’s S&P Dow Jones CoreLogic release of the May Case Shiller home price indices for the nation, including the Chicago area. The nation’s home prices advanced 19.7% for the 12 month period. Although that’s down slightly from April’s 20.6% that’s still very high considering that mortgage rates were already on the way up during that 3 month period for which the data is averaged. Craig J. Lazzara, Managing Director at S&P DJI, is still saying that higher mortgage rates will surely kill the party at some point. Maybe he’s right but we’re not seeing it yet.

Home prices in the Chicago area were up 12.9% for the same period, which is about where it was the last two times the data was released. Again we are towards the bottom of the ranking of the 20 largest metro areas – third from the bottom this time. But at least we’ve had 13 consecutive months of double digit price increases.

Interestingly, condo price appreciation is actually accelerating after lagging single family home appreciation for about 3 years. Well, it’s still lagging but May was the 7th month in a row with higher year over year appreciation – 7.3%. That’s also the highest rate in almost 8 years. You can see what’s going on in the graph below.

Case Shiller Chicago Area Home Price Index By Month

The graph below shows the Chicago Case Shiller numbers for both single family homes and condos going back to 1987. You can clearly see how single family home prices really started to take off in late 2020 with condo prices just now taking off. Single family homes rose 1.8% in May from April while condo prices were up 1.7%.

I also added a red single family trend line based on the pre-bubble values that we had been falling further behind from until the recent price surge when that gap started to close. Currently we are 15.9% below that line.

Single family home prices have risen 79.5% from their bottom while condo prices have risen 73.1%. Both indices have finally surpassed their bubble peak with single family homes exceeding it by 9.4% and condos exceeding it by 4.6%

#ChicagoHomePrices #CaseShiller #HomePrices

Gary Lucido is the President of Lucid Realty, the Chicago area’s full service real estate brokerage that offers home buyer rebates and discount commissions. If you want to keep up to date on the Chicago real estate market or get an insider’s view of the seamy underbelly of the real estate industry you can Subscribe to Getting Real by Email using the form below. Please be sure to verify your email address when you receive the verification notice.