[G.R.I.T.S.]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Wow what a dumb comparison. You're comparing problems with a very small city (geographically), in a small state (geographically) to the entirety of a somewhat large state (geographically).

NYC has approximately 9 million people in it, over around 306 square miles. The last count was approximately 29,000 people per square mile.

The State of Florida has approximately 22 million people in it, over around 66,000 square miles. Florida has only around 406 people per square mile as of last count.

Of course crime will be higher in one of the most densely-populated cities in the country, than in the entirety of a large state that is primarily rural, other than the coasts and very small sections of inland.

Manhattan is only 22 square miles, and has almost 2 million people in it, and at last count was approximately 74,000 people per square mile.

The Villages is around 6 square miles, has only 150,000 people in it, around 2800 people per square mile.

Why anyone would even think to compare the two is pretty insane. Taking such comparisons seriously is even more insane.

People are leaving the State of New York for a multitude of reasons.
1. High taxes, especially within NYC, which has borough taxes, county taxes, and state taxes, plus high sales tax and usage taxes.
2. Anyone renting within "the city" with multiple wage-earners - and losing one person's wage, likely has to move out due to no longer being able to afford the rent. But in the city, there is rent control - which means they are paying much less than whoever moves in to their old place - and what they can now afford, doesn't exist for new tenants anywhere in the city.
3. Winters - this isn't a new thing, people have moved south due to northern winters - ever since there've been people born and raised in the north.
4. Politics - this is actually not common. There are places in New York that have a very strong 'red' representation, so if that was the big reason, they could've just moved to a red pocket. Or a neighboring state, such as Ohio, which is controlled primarily by Republicans on every level of state government.
5. The expectation of career opportunities - many people come down here thinking they'll get a better job with more money. This isn't true, but it's a reason why they come.
6. Retirement - another "not a new thing." People have been flocking to Florida to retire from New York since the 1950's. The difference between the 1950's and now is - there are more people. More people = more people retiring = more people moving.

Keep telling yourself that. My guess is that you also don't subscribe to the FL "lifestyle" either, which, over time, will make FL more like NY minus the weather.