Chicago Runs Ads Urging Texans Unhappy with Abortion Restrictions to Leave State

Madeline Leesman | September 24, 2021 11:30 AM

The city of Chicago has taken out full-page ads with a Dallas-based publication to encourage Texas residents unhappy with recent abortion restrictions to leave the state.

The Dallas Morning News took to Twitter to share the ads. “Dear Texas, there were always more than 100 reasons why Chicago is a great place for business,” the ad, run by World Business Chicago, reads. World Business Chicago is the City of Chicago’s public-private economic development industry.

Chicago takes out Dallas Morning News ad to bait businesses after new Texas abortion, voting laws https://t.co/hygwy4l1bk
— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) September 11, 2021

The ad touts the Windy City’s more liberal politics, stating “[i]n Chicago, we believe in every person’s right to vote, protecting reproductive rights and science to fight COVID-19.”

This past month, Texas enacted a new law, S.B. 8, which banned abortions statewide after fetal heartbeat detection, which occurs at roughly six weeks gestation. This week, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law another bill, S.B. 4, which puts restrictions on abortion-inducing drugs and telemedicine abortions. S.B. 4 is meant to take effect in December.

While several massive companies have facilities in the Lone Star State, many have remained silent on its recent abortion legislation. That is, with a few exceptions. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff offered to relocate Texas-based employees who are unhappy with S.B. 8. Dating apps Bumble and Match, based in Austin, have created relief funds for employees impacted by the legislation. “Bumble has created a relief fund supporting the reproductive rights of women and people across the gender spectrum who seek abortions in Texas,” Bumble wrote to Twitter.

“Though the full implications of the new laws are yet to be seen, Texas does one-up Connecticut and Illinois with welcoming tax policies,” an article by the Dallas Morning News regarding the ad states. “The state doesn’t have personal or corporate income taxes, qualities that businesses often favor.”