Where have all the People Gone?

Current census data is showing a mass exodus of New York residents from the State. Last year the Empire State led the country in declining population numbers. Governor Kathy Hochul attributes this loss to the rising costs of housing. No one cany deny that housing costs are spiraling out of control. However one must ask why our Governor neglects to mention other contributing factors.

Hochul conveniently ignores the fact that New Yorkers bear the highest tax burden in the country. She looks away from the deteriorating quality of education in our public schools. And she totally overlooks the impact of crime rampant on our streets, in our neighborhoods, and throughout public transportation.

During the last month there has been a spree of thieves on mopeds stealing expensive Apple headphones off the heads of pedestrians on Manhattan streets. According to police, 21 incidents have been reported with the average value of the headphones stolen $500.

I can not understand how Governor Hochul can be oblivious to the negative factors of taxes, education, and crime and why the only cause she can point to for New York’s population decline is the cost of housing.

It may be because she and the State Legislature have acerbated the problem of the exodus by easing the criminal justice laws and methodically raising taxes. As far as education is concerned, the State continues to funnel billions of our taxpayer dollars into the schools, while attendance and enrollment drop. Academic achievement steadily delves into mediocrity.

The Governor ignores the facts and adamantly clings to her flimsy contention. “There’s a housing crisis. It’s in New York City. It’s in the suburbs. There has to be some solution.” She added that, “ten years down the road New York and its suburbs are going to be a place where only millionaires and billionaires can live.”

I believe that although the population exodus affects all income levels, the biggest threat to the finances of New York and the localities lies in the loss of millionaires and billionaires. The loss of wealthy taxpayers keeps increasing to the detriment of New York’s tax base.

According to a survey taken in New York City, in the years leading up to 2020 the number of people filing taxes earning between $150,000. and $750,000. fell by 6% while the number of households earning more than $750,000 dropped dramatically by 9%. Obviously when wealthy people leave an area there is a loss of revenue from their taxes, their retail spending, and their spending in restaurants and on entertainment. Of course their charitable donations also leave with them.

It is apparent that for most of those leaving the Empire State the problem is not the rising cost of housing, especially in the cases of the high earners. If New York State is to ebb the flow of its citizenry, Governor Hochul and the State Legislature need to address the issues of outrageous taxation, violence and crime, and our failing public schools.