Because of six months of cold dark winter (followed by six months of hot muggy weather?)

So did everybody else.

The pay usually makes up for the high mortgages/rent. The commute is actually worse in Chicago. The real problem here is that companies are converting full-time employees to contract (so, no healthcare, paid vacations, stocks, job security, etc.)

Just reinforce that it’s all their fault, then they can deal with it unambiguously.