Florida Exodus - from Time magazine

[ProjectMaximus]

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1919916,00.html

[heights unknown]

So, yeah we're having big problems in the sunshine state with unemployment, rising taxes, poor economy, just like the rest of the nation; oh well, the party's over so if you're not a "hard southerner" and was not born and bred here, I guess it's time for the YANKEES TO GO HOME.

Just joking.  But the exodus is from those Northerners that moved here before the economic downturn in "08; they and their fellow Northerners can't handle the heat so now they're flying out of the kitchen.  Same holds true for the tourists; they're not coming to their vacation houses anymore and are putting them up on the market for sale.

I hate to see them go because tourism and the Northerners flighting to regularly visit and live in Florida is what helped to make Florida a fun spot destination and economic powerhouse for over 5 or more decades, however, to tell you the hard truth, no love lost for me. 

Heights Unknown

[tufsu1]

Here's a similar article from the NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/us/30florida.html?_r=1

[Dog Walker]

I wonder how many of those leaving Florida were construction workers?  No work here right now so they left.  Maybe our cancerous growth is over?

[JaxNole]

I forgot my source, but it attributed a good percentage to the slowdown in construction. 

Florida is still a great place to live and maybe the next generation of development will concentrate on high-density projects a la New York, Boston and Chicago.

I'd mention some European cities, but that's just not a popular thing to do here.

[JaxNole]

Oh, I love them, but my experience has been there are many outspoken people who live south of the Mason-Dixon line who despise Yankees and especially those across the pond.

[heights unknown]

I don't think lack of construction jobs is the sole reason or even one of the biggest reasons.  I have heard many people I know who are from up North and have been here for years saying  they are moving out because of no jobs (and not necessarily constrution), inflation, crime, etc., but all of this is happening around the country and world-wide, so this type logic and thinking I really don't understand.

Moving somewhere else where the problem is the same or worse will not improve anything.

Heights Unknown

[DavidWilliams]

I would think crime is just as bad (if not worse) up north (any given metro area).

[buckethead]

I like Florida.

I like Northern states as well.

Europe is quite nice too. Let's party!

[mtraininjax]

The same article was on Yahoo this week, its slant was that it was mostly people in S FL, where the Real estate market tanked. Couple that with rising taxes for services, and fewer people, we could see a real problem with the state books over the next few years.

[Dog Walker]

I would think crime is just as bad (if not worse) up north (any given metro area).

Sure!  How about New York City or Minneapolis.  They both have lower crime rates than we do.

[stjr]

All these "Florida" articles are focused on South Florida.  South Florida is corrupt and mismanaged in many places starting with Miami.

Jacksonville's problems are somewhat different than those south of I-4.  Unfortunately, Tallahassee and the politicos are like the press, they won't discriminate.  As such, we have been hammered by the State for the sins of South Florida and are being unfairly penalized.  Whether its property tax "reform", education, or hurricane insurance, Jax residents are losing time after time in Tallahassee.

[reednavy]

Makes me wonder if the fact a lot of projects didn't get built here was actually a blessing.