[Dr. Sivana]

I have NO idea why people stay in New York

Family responsibilities explains some of it. Inertia explains a bit more. This is an ongoing shift that has been going on for decades and will go on for more decades. NYC is also full of resources for immigrants both legal and illegal.

[Maelstorm]

I think as technology enables more decentralization and more ease at operating business and living conveniently almost any where that we will see even greater shifts. You are right about natural inertia and also “The big apple” has a certain appeal to it much like Hollywood on the West Coast and Chicago in Illinois but the reality is that it is getting extremely expensive to live in and near those places and the local and state governments are driving those costs up and as the population of these states shift out they will eventually reach a critical point where they will go the way of Detroit. Sadly people don’t learn. They almost always kill the golden goose.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Family responsibilities explains some of it. Inertia explains a bit more. This is an ongoing shift that has been going on for decades and will go on for more decades.

Migration south began with the invention of air conditioning. Democrap economic policies certainly contribute to the pattern. There's no reason to expect a change any time soon.