Puerto Ricans Flock to Florida
 

I read in The Daily Sun that Puerto Rico has around 100 people PER DAY have been leaving Puerto Rico and Florida is the top destination. The article says the Puerto Ricans are bringing their "bilingual skills" to Florida. These people are leaving Puerto Rico because of high unemployment and crime there. Most of these have immigrated to the Orlando area as well as the South Florida area. Is this going to be a Social Security and/or a voting issue?

I never knew Puerto Rico had a crime problem. But then I don't get out much.
I alway thought that would be a nice place to go.

Why shouldn't they relocate to Florida. They are American citizens. The article quoted said the are leaving because of "high unemployment and crime there". It's doubtful anyone would move just for the purpose of voting in a presidential election.

"Puerto Ricans have been migrating by the thousands to the area — part of the largest exodus from their island territory to the mainland since World War II. They currently make up about 10 percent of Central Florida's population, and their numbers continue to grow."

How a surge in Puerto Rican voters is changing Florida politics

This article is strictly about the new politics of this migration.

They are flooding here for the same reason a Puerto Rican man told me he came here for, to work and raise his kids and send them to Belleview HS and all are doing well with degrees.

It's the terrible crime rate, which made even him, a native speaker of Spanish, afraid to go out of his hotel room in San Juan when he went to see relatives a couple of years ago. He left after one day and couldn't wait to get back to Florida.

The jihadists in Guantanamo are safer than many on the streets of the USA and its territories like P.R., where 30+ released Gitmo criminals are plotting with ISIS against us.

The "rights" of criminals often seem to matter more than the rights of citizens, which Puerto Ricans are.

I agree with Janmcn. These people are not immigrating they are simply moving from Puerto Rico to Florida, just like anyone who would move from New Jersey to Florida. They are US Citizens and can travel freely and choose wherever they might want to live. If their bilingual skills give them a leg up in the job market, more power to them, we can also use more tax paying residents in this state.

To me, you are implying that there is something wrong with Puerto Rican people coming here to their country of citizenship.

It seems to me that some people are just in denial of the reality that all countries' cultures are changing and will continue to change. Again a result of globilization through communication and travel. Not talking about illegal entry or criminals, but people like you and me. So?

I am not sure to whom you are posting, but allow me to be clear. I was not in anyway even implying anything wrong.

It does change the landscape politically and the OP did not seem to be aware of the situation in Puerto Rico and I simply posted some information on how it MAY affect the political landscape.

Actually, he made mention of a few things, and if I am correct, they pay into Social Security and are eligible to collect, although it might be a modifed version

Puerto Ricans have been considered citizens for some time.

"When your a jet your a jet all the way from your first born breathe to your last dying day ":D:D:D:D

If the "good folks" migrate here, get a job, work and all the other normal things, the more the merrier. Welcome aboard.

I think the concern is bringing toxic elements with them don't you think? Not saying that is the case but simply the topic people wonder about.

Another question is ... since PR is presumably a semi-socialist paradise anyway, why would anyone ever want to leave?

Interesting ... had not heard so thanks for posting.

You really can't blame people for wanting to flee and gain a better life.

A related question however is ...what caused the place they currently live to deteriorate into such an unlivable hell-hole in the first place? Maybe we can learn from their dysfunction and avoid it happening here?

Guess that would apply for anyone coming from another state.
The underlying thing you are avoiding by using "toxic" is race, why not just say it?

[QUOTE=TexaninVA;961338]Interesting ... had not heard so thanks for posting.
QUOTE]

Page A5 of today's Daily Sun.

Now that you have brought it up.............what do you think?

It is a VERY nice place to go. My husband used to have responsibility for a plant in Ponce, and we would go down every year. It has stunningly beautiful beaches, turquoise water, lovely weather, trade wind breezes, excellent restaurants, but like any other Caribbean place, there is crime and poverty. You have to stay in the safe areas.

They are already part of the Social Security program.

There are 20 million people in Florida. Somehow I don't think adding 100 people a day will have any impact at all. The birth rate in Florida is about 1 per 100 per year. So that would be 200,000 newborns a year. There are already 4 million immigrants living in Florida which would not even include Puerto ricans. I say, Welcome to Florida.

The reason I didn't say "race" is because that's not what I was referring to ... but apparently you are? Besides, PR is not a "race" anyway as far as I know.

I also think it's pretty obvious that any culture, race, group etc has "good folks" in it as well as "bad apples"... look no further than The Villages and the police reports in villagesnews online to see that.

Crime is bad in PR. The last time I was there, the hotel made a point of warning us to stay off of the beach at night. Some of the resorts have 24/7 armed security on the beach and most of these are in relatively decent areas.

Poverty feeds crime and 41% of Puerto Ricans live below the poverty line.

The OP simply stated that Puerto Ricans are flocking to Florida based on a Daily Sun article.

How this thread digressed to a racial topic is beyond me?

They aren't going to find much less crime and unemployment in Miami.

The OP's reference to "Puerto Ricans bringing their bringing their "bilingual skills" to Florida" sounds racist to me.

But maybe I read that wrong. Maybe they are thrilled and hope for more and better bilingual skills over time.

Rubicon - really? did you forget you're on TOTV - I'm surprised it hasn't somehow turned into a dog poop or round-a-bout thread!

Discussing race and acknowledging someone is of a different race is not, in and of itself, racist.

Someone is racist who: believes and expresses that the characteristics of a specific race make those of that race inferior. If it is not clear that a remark is intended to defame and/or degrade another due to a racial characteristic, then those remarks are not necessarily racist.

For instance the comment regarding "bilingual skills" is quite astute when you consider that so many Hispanic immigrants (regardless of legal status) speak little or no English. Puerto Ricans as bilingual Hispanics will have a decided edge in business and in employment.

I don't understand why you would say this sounds "racist" ??? Don't you think that might be somewhat overly sensitive?

Most people think it's an asset to be fluent in two languages (bilingual).

I suppose that statement of mine will be twisted to be "racist" too.

I'm gonna hurl.

I'm so happy to hear people on TOTV welcome and encourage bilingual skills in the US!

Actually that was a phrase directly from The Daily Sun, Oct. 31, page A5.

I'm not so sure about the bilingual skills. I've spent a lot of time in PR, and not everybody speaks English. I remember once having a hard time ordering a cheeseburger at a fast food place with a sign on the wall that was actually written in English, as well as Spanish. The young man couldn't understand either cheeseburger or my southern accent attempt at hamburguesa con queso.

"Puerto Ricans bringing their "bilingual skills" to Florida" does not sound racist in the least.

Folks, we need to be extremely careful when throwing accusations that one's comments sound racist and then throw in a "Maybe I read that wrong" to negate the inference. Libel is Libel. As it turns out it was not the OP's words in the quote.

In the court of public opinion once an accusation or inference is made, the targeted is typically guilty until proven innocent. How unfair is that?

It is however a very effective tool in quelling a debate.

I don't understand this post at all. What are you getting at? I met my first person born in Puerto Rico just the other day. He is a friend of one of the very loved posters on here. Nice man, nice family. Is there something that I don't know? How could you call any of this racist? He is just an ordinary person, I guess he is white? If he had been pink with yellow polka dots he would have been a nice person. Is their some hatred I am not aware of against people born in Puerto Rico?

No.

The voting issue the article referred to was that the majority of the Puerto Ricans are influencing the voting complexion in South Florida and the large Orlando area from "red" to "blue".

The Social Security issue was the Puerto Ricans are adding to the Social Security tax pot with the jobs and businesses they are creating.

It is a very positive thing that is happening.

Did you see West Side Story? [emoji6]

I was tempted to reply about the toxic elements coming from Texas, but that would be as wrong as your reply. I do not worry about toxic elements from Puerto Rico or Texas or Michigan or Ohio.....well you get my point. Nor do I wonder why anyone would leave a state that has a different tax system or offers more or less services to their citizens.
By the way, one thousand people move to Florida each day, so 90% of the people that move here daily are not from Puerto Rico.

Hi Chi-Town: Perhaps you didn't read my first post (#9) It read:
"when your a jet your a jet all the way from your first born breathe to your last dying day"

I wrote that because I saw the thread going the, are you a racist route. i thought perhaps we were going in a different direction such as what affect will this have on future voting in Florida, or something like that. gonoho knew better and rhetorically ask what did you expect?

WHAT is very revealing is the state of mind which not only permeates this forum but the nation and I blame it on a two word restrictive notion POLITICAL CORRECTNESS. POLITICAL CORRECTNESS IS MORE A MORE OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE barf THAN OBSCENE LANGUAGE:cus:

You are so right about missing your lyric reference. I can hear it my head now. Being followed by I Feel Pretty. Oh no.

BTW, I understand what you're saying about everyone having to be PC. I saw this coming years ago and it just gets more demanding.

Cool!!:coolsmiley:

I suspect that some of these threads are begun hoping the topic will route the way you mentioned !