Record Number Of New Yorkers Flee To Florida In August

A new record was set last month for the number of New Yorkers fleeing to the freedom and sunny skies of Florida, according to an analysis by the New York Post.

The report indicated that 5,833 New York residents obtained new driver’s licenses in Florida in August. That new monthly record is added to more than 41,000 New Yorkers who have left for Florida so far in 2022. The study was based on information obtained from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Alvin Valley is one of the Empire State refugees who left for Florida during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fashion designer and new Palm Beach resident said, “First it was the billionaires. Then it was the rich following behind them. Now you have the middle class.”

He added that more and more families are unfortunately finding New York is “becoming unlivable.” Valley said that especially younger families with children see it as a safety and schools issue. He noted that the general fear of even getting on the subway makes city life in New York a dangerous prospect.

The combination of COVID lockdowns and surging crime has played a large part in the decision of many New Yorkers to see greater freedom and safety, as well as much lower taxes, elsewhere.

Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams made the almost laughable attempt to lure Floridians to move to his city earlier this year by buying billboard space in Florida with “woke” political messages. 

Several of Adams’ ads referred to the Parental Rights in Education law signed by the Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Adams said that he wanted to send a message to the LGBTQ community in the Sunshine State that they should come to New York, “where you can say and be whoever you want.”

Despite the billboard ad campaign, Florida’s population continues to grow daily, thanks in large part to people who have had enough of the life mandated by politicians like Adams and New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Florida’s population grew by 15.9% between April 2020 and June 2021 and has become one of four states with more than 20 million residents. 

Florida’s unemployment rate of 2.8% in June was far below the U.S. average rate, showing strong post-COVID rebounds in tourism, leisure, and hospitality sectors as well as manufacturing and professional services.