Letter to the Editor: Quincy can’t enact ordinances unpopular with more than two-thirds of college graduates

The proposed “Sanctuary City for the Unborn” ordinance would make Quincy less competitive in the market for young, educated workers.

According to the Pew Research Center, 66 percent of Americans with a college degree or higher believe that abortion should be legal in most cases. I am willing to bet my next paycheck that number is even higher among individuals under the age of 50 with a college degree or higher. 

I don’t think I’m saying anything controversial when I say Quincy has a problem attracting, retaining and bringing back young educated workers. If we want our local economy to be strong, we have to address this problem. Ordinances like the “Sanctuary City of the Unborn” ordinance are no help in this regard. It is a surefire way of turning off young professionals who are considering Quincy. 

Throughout my life, I’ve heard some Quincyans say they want to leave Illinois because of the taxes or the liberal politics of our state government. This thinking cuts both ways: moderate and liberal professionals will think twice about moving to Quincy if we enact ordinances like the “Safehaven City of the Unborn” ordinance. 

I’m a born-and-raised, ride-or-die Quincyan now living in St. Louis, and even I sometimes question whether Quincy is the sort of place I want to move back to because of things like this proposed ordinance. I can only imagine what it’s like for some of our larger employers trying to attract candidates who are totally unfamiliar with Quincy. 

If we want Quincy to be competitive in the market for young, educated workers, we can’t enact ordinances that are unpopular with more than two-thirds of that demographic. Quincy is a place for everyone. The laws we enact, or not enact, should reflect that.

Nicholas A. Scholz, attorney
St. Louis, Missouri