Staff Reports
The pandemic has reignited a pattern where Americans are leaving big cities and relocating to Republican-led states and suburbs. Recent analysis of census data by the Wall Street Journal shows that over 800,000 individuals have departed from major metropolitan areas in the country, marking a significant decrease from the 1.2 million who left cities the previous year.
Americans Continue To Flee Crime-Ridden Blue Cities For The Burbs And Red States, New Census Data Shows https://t.co/Hla5FgRHj7
— US Burning (@UsBurning) March 30, 2023
Cities such as New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Los Angeles underwent notable population declines, with each city losing approximately 0.8% of its inhabitants. On the other hand, cities such as Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Tampa, Orlando, Charlotte, and San Antonio, all situated in Republican states, saw the most significant increases in population.
Pillar #2: Safety
For too long, New Yorkers were asked to accept things that should be unacceptable: crime, rats, trash, traffic. New Yorkers can finally see safer days ahead after years of rising crime, and now we're going to push quality of life higher than ever. pic.twitter.com/E71vi3qr2u
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) January 26, 2023
The widespread departure from major cities in America is unsurprising, considering the escalating rates of violent crime in these areas. New York, for instance, witnessed a surge of 25.8% in violent crime from 2021 to 2022, which was attributed to ineffective leadership and misguided policies. Likewise, Los Angeles experienced an 8.6% increase in violent crime during the same period.
Additionally, individuals are being attracted to suburbs due to the availability of affordable housing options, a trend that is rapidly growing due to the increased flexibility offered by remote work. With the ability to work from any location, numerous Americans are seeking out smaller cities and suburbs to reside in, where they can live without financial constraints.
During this period, suburban counties and small- to mid-sized towns witnessed a rise of 0.7% in population; however, the suburbs of Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. experienced a decline. Despite this, tens of thousands of people continue to migrate to Republican states annually, hoping to secure jobs, freedom, and the American Dream.
The evidence indicates that people are weary of living in cities marred by crime, excessive taxes, and inadequate governance. They seek better prospects and, in this regard, it is Republicans who are fulfilling their aspirations.
