Top Three Takeaways – May 18th, 2021
- Florida’s pulling in new people from literally the entire county with the growth remaining fastest from New York. The latest state records show a remarkable 32% increase in inflows from the already large relocations from New York year over year. In fact, nearly 105,000 New Yorkers have transplanted to our state over the past two years. That’s easily a record. And where are they settling? South Florida of course. Palm Beach County is first for New York transplants followed Broward and Miami-Dade. It’s often been said that the pandemic took trends that were already in place and advanced them by about a decade. Add the number of people relocating to Florida to that list. But it’s not just about New York – I mentioned the whole country coming to Florida. In fact, you’ll probably be surprised about one of the newcomers to the top five list. Over the past two years migrations into Florida have been fastest from these states in this order. 1. New York, 2. New Jersey, 3. Georgia, 4. Illinois 5. California. Northeast, Check. Midwest, Check. West Coast. Check. What we have going on here is literally being desired by people from all over the country and they’re coming in record numbers. It’s interesting to note that of the top five, the only “red-state” is one that borders Florida (and even then, it’s one that recently voted for Biden and placed two Democrats in the US Senate). Florida’s growth story isn’t just about the northeast any longer. It’s everywhere where people want low taxes, limited government and personal freedom. Welcome, but remember why you moved here and when it comes time to vote – don’t screw it up. Speaking of which...
- Over 80% of the world’s population isn’t truly free. Exhibit “A” for this exercise today is merry ole’ England where you can be jailed for speech found “inappropriate” by the government. Perhaps that’s why Prince Harry called our founding principal “bonkers”. Quoting Harry from a recent podcast I’ve got so much I want to say about the First Amendment as I sort of understand it, but it is bonkers. So, Florida’s importing people fleeing California for freedom while California is importing people who call it bonkers. Got it. Better still the irony that Harry is using the first amendment, to criticize it. I have a saying. Smart people know what they know, know what they don’t and speak to what they know while learning the rest. The inverse of that would be Harry admitting he “sort of” understands the First Amendment and then using it to criticize it. Forest Gump comes to mind. Also, zero risk of Harry & Megan moving to Florida which I’m personally grateful for.
- Impending Disaster. No this isn’t a Biden related story, it’s the alarming characterization of the toxic algae already at Lake Okeechobee by John Cassani of Calusa Waterkeeper. In April, record levels of toxics were measured in Lake O’. A month ago, the algae already contained contagions 107 times higher than is safe for marine or human life. Predictably it's only getting worse as the weather gets warmer and while Lake O’ is currently an environmental disaster, should the time come when the Army Corps attempts discharges, we’d be facing the gravest threat to Florida’s waterways on record. Notably, Representative Brian Mast identified Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried has failed to comply with Florida and federal law under the Clean Waterways Act. Under the law, quarterly reports with monitored levels of contagions are to be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency so potential problems are identified before they become emergencies. That could have happened had Fried complied with the law. She didn’t, she hasn’t and hasn’t responded to requests for comment. But she is busy readying a campaign for governor. Speaking of impending disasters.