Mass. exodus

The Boston Globe ^ | January 15, 2006 | Jeff Jacoby

[george76]

FOR THE second year in a row...the population of Massachusetts has shrunk.

It was one of only three states to end the year with fewer people than it had at the start -- New York and Rhode Island were the others -- and the only one to do so for the second year running.

[Jackson57]

Not without signing a statement foresaking the right to vote Democratic for the next 468 years. And promising to only vote once. HAHAHA ... fair enough. I'd be willing to sign under those circumstance. I've read a couple of posts in this thread exclaiming that people don't move for political reasons. That's not the ONLY reason my wife and I are moving, however, it does factor into the equation. We don't want to live in a state whose Supreme Court decides the definition of marriage and tries to block it coming to a legitimate vote of the people. Or a state that will inevitably give in-state student status to illegal immigrants. (it was voted down by the state legislature, but our court system hasn't reversed that YET).

[Fiddlstix]

Old news!!!! Get some new material.

I didn't post this thread. George76 did.

I just Bumped it....

Check again......

[Past Your Eyes]

"...there are some nice towns and nice people..."

You are absolutely right, Andy. I meet so many of them up here, especially at events like old engine meets, bluegrass festivals and tractor shows. And, so far, I've only ever met a couple who would admit to voting for the swimmer.

[popdonnelly]

Great, maybe Mass. will lose a Congressional seat.

[napscoordinator]

Ok. Sorry for the error. Have a great MLK Day...hope you have off. I thankfully do.

[ladyjane]

A lot of people in MA don't realize how stagnant their economy is. Yes, the students come in every year and spend money and the real estate is still pricey. However, people and business are moving out - not in. The rest of the country has been experiencing a boom and they haven't.

[Fiddlstix]

......hope you have off. I thankfully do.

I sure do. In fact I have a lot of days off. I'm an old geezer. Retired. LOL

[ark_girl]

What does a typical apartment run for in a decent area?

In Little Rock, $600/mo (give or take a little) is pretty typical for a typical 500-600sq ft apartment in a decent area.

[Snickersnee]

Mass, NY and Rhode Island - the bluest of the blues.

The only reason Connecticut didn't make this list is because our population supposedly remained level. However, my feeling is that that can be attributed to the influx of illegals, currently from Central and South America.

My kids got out of high school, went through the Army and now work and study, etc. in Red states, praise the Lord. I will join them soon. But no middle-class kid (or aspiring same) wants to stay here. There aren't enough good prospects.

[noblejones]

>>
. . . Carrie Bradshaw wannabes . . .
<<

I don't care what everybody else thinks: Carrie Bradshaw was the Steelers best quarterback -- EVER!

[ark_girl]

I guess that's the other catch...in Arkansas, my mortgage isn't much more than my rent was, and I went from a 1 bedroom apartment to a 3 bedroom house.

[Snickersnee]

The US Census Bureau numbers are refering to America citizens and tax payers.

Nope! If you can fog a mirror, you're counted in the census!

[Clemenza]

1. Depopulation of upstate. Places like Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo (and their suburbs) are losing population like crazy.

2. Low birth rates. Who the hell can afford to raise a young family in downstate New York?

[Clemenza]

Boston's not collapsing. It's doing very well, and they're putting up tons of housing. The problem is that middle class families are leaving, and being replaced by a) immigrants and b) empty nesters, 20-something Carrie Bradshaw wannabes, and DINKs (often homosexuals). That's actually a great combination for the city's tax base and for companies looking for workers, but it means the population declines without a change in housing occupancy and you lose the sense of being a real city and not a playground for the rich.

Sounds like New York. The days of Tony and Marie living in a rowhouse with four kids is long over. ;-)

[Clemenza]

One bedroom is a pre-WWII walk-up tenement in Manhattan is $1,800 per month. Interested?

[Clemenza]

Remember that folks born in New York are the largest group of people (per census data) in Broward and Palm Beach Counties in Florida, followed by folks born in New Jersey (hi mom and dad!). These are the most Democratic counties in Florida for that reason.

[oceanview]

indeed, and alot of them are retired civil service workers - which I think contributes to their politics. long island for example, had alot of republicans (at one time), I don't know where they all went.

I always felt I would move to Florida (especially today, chipping an inch of ice off my steps!) - but the more I read about what people post here about other parts of the country, the more those parts of the country seem to be moving towards what long island already is. so I might as well stay put.

[oceanview]

supposedly, the finger lakes is becoming a "hot spot" for people to move to.

[Clemenza]

For retirees and second homes, I'm sure. Nevertheless, the Lakes are thinly populated, and should remain so in the future. Plus you have the City of Evil as your main urban hub.

I remember going through Buffalo and Niagara Falls ten years ago, amazed at how old the malls were and what little new development there was. They announced the closing of two elementary schools while I was staying there.

By contrast, thanks to immigration, Fort Hamilton High School in Brooklyn has 5,100 students, the most in its history.

[OldFriend]

Lots of folks from Michigan in Florida too. Getting away from the winters.

Lots of Canadians too.