Arizona nettles Chicago for tourists

Is it mean-spirited or just a great coincidence in timing? Illinois officials are probably smarting, while Arizona's tourism promoters are counting a coup.

photo: voices.suntimes.com

The bitterly cold weather that rambled through the Midwest has left a hefty price tag. When 15 degree polar air rolled into Illinois, the state wound up spending nearly $14 million picking up the pieces, when taking into account overtime pay for highway workers, the cost of salt for roads, and money to pay National Guard members to help care for stranded tourists and broken down snow plows.

And then there's that two-story tall billboard that Arizona put up in Chicago. On the billboard – a well-sculpted blonde female, aptly suited out in a red two-piece, inviting weary Chicagoans to "kick off their shoes," in Arizona. To add insult to sensuality, a pair of 400 pound flip-flop sandals rests on "prop" cars in the parking lot below the billboard.

There is something to it, although we can't say the locals are sitting around in bikinis. However, the Canadian snowbirds across the street are often seen sitting around outside their motorhome, wearing cutoffs and short-sleeve shirts.