2nd oldest (getting older). 2nd lowest share (decreasing) of native Floridians. It's why we're a low wage, bad education, high cost of living state. The "State of I-4" is the only hope for a future.
Billy Townsend, I found this essay and your blog as a whole through Jim Fallows’ Substack column. I’m a semi-native myself, having moved with my family to Gainesville in August 1960, when I was six. But for six or eight years in the Atlanta area, I’ve lived in Florida ever since.
I’m kind of an analysis and statistics guy myself, and I love graphical representations, too. This article was full of many eye-openers! The parts of Florida I’ve lived in, have always been the young parts: Gainesville, Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach. Those are the places where I feel most comfortable.
At 70, I have a 24-year-old daughter in graduate school in the University of Florida. here in Gainesville, we live in a beautiful blue sapphire in the midst of an overwhelmingly red sea. And, our elected representatives here have a special kind of hate for our city.
Like you, I am going to stay and fight on for my HOME, because I believe in it and want it to be everything it can be. I’ll share this article with our wonderful mayor, Harvey Ward, and will continue to stand up and advocate for my beliefs.
I appreciate what you’re doing here. Keep up the good work. I became an instant subscriber.
Wow I really appreciate this. Thanks so much. I would just add that it’s not just red/blue. I
make common cause often with conservative folks who care about home. Doing so is one of the most effective ways of cutting into the Seminoles v. Gators dynamic that often prevents people from acting in their own interest or common sense
You've paid attention and written this out so well. As a native mom of a young daughter who's an adult with no children. You're spot on. We are smart women who do not feel safe or appreciated here any more. We feel scared and taken advantage of with no rights for our own bodies In A sea of gross men who want to tell us what to do. We've been here and never felt this uncomfortable in our. Home state. Desatan is ruining so many lives on a daily basis. He's ruining our state for so many. A greedy gross few will have it all I guess. We want to leave. Many of our friends have already left. It sucks to lose our way of life and watch others that are ok with terrible things to others, celebrate their new "found " stolen from us way of life.
Fascinating read, Billy. Anecdotally, I know that my kids are unlikely to stick around after their education is done. I do worry about how well the State of I-4 will hold, given the state government's (governor's?) penchant for bringing blue/sanctuary/more liberal cities & businesses to heel, which seems politically more potent (in the short term) than actually legislating and solving problems.
Terrific piece, Bill. I live in Ohio, which gets older, poorer, unhealthier, and less educated every year. Many similarities between us, but the olds that live here are natives. Our youngs are leaving in droves, yet the state continues to weaken our once shinning education system . Thanks again.
Any "youngs" who believe women, LGBTQ+ people or people of color should be respected and have equal rights will continue to leave this hellhole Ohio until the nonpartisan redistricting bill we are GOING to pass in November produces a new, more balanced legislature in 2027 and gradually manages to rinse the taint of bigotry and suppression out of the statehouse in Columbus. Until then my friends are urging their kids to settle in Michigan, New York or Illinois — and many of their kids are making this decision themselves. I'm an "olds" and I completely understand. If I were a little younger I'd be moving back to my home state of Illinois which protects the human rights of everyone.
This is an important & insightful piece. Everyone in FL with kids should reflect on it.
Thanks, I appreciate you reading.
please share it with anybody who might be interested.
This is a mind blower. I knew it was bad, but not this bad.
Billy Townsend, I found this essay and your blog as a whole through Jim Fallows’ Substack column. I’m a semi-native myself, having moved with my family to Gainesville in August 1960, when I was six. But for six or eight years in the Atlanta area, I’ve lived in Florida ever since.
I’m kind of an analysis and statistics guy myself, and I love graphical representations, too. This article was full of many eye-openers! The parts of Florida I’ve lived in, have always been the young parts: Gainesville, Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach. Those are the places where I feel most comfortable.
At 70, I have a 24-year-old daughter in graduate school in the University of Florida. here in Gainesville, we live in a beautiful blue sapphire in the midst of an overwhelmingly red sea. And, our elected representatives here have a special kind of hate for our city.
Like you, I am going to stay and fight on for my HOME, because I believe in it and want it to be everything it can be. I’ll share this article with our wonderful mayor, Harvey Ward, and will continue to stand up and advocate for my beliefs.
I appreciate what you’re doing here. Keep up the good work. I became an instant subscriber.
Wow I really appreciate this. Thanks so much. I would just add that it’s not just red/blue. I
make common cause often with conservative folks who care about home. Doing so is one of the most effective ways of cutting into the Seminoles v. Gators dynamic that often prevents people from acting in their own interest or common sense
Incredible piece. Instant Subscribe
You've paid attention and written this out so well. As a native mom of a young daughter who's an adult with no children. You're spot on. We are smart women who do not feel safe or appreciated here any more. We feel scared and taken advantage of with no rights for our own bodies In A sea of gross men who want to tell us what to do. We've been here and never felt this uncomfortable in our. Home state. Desatan is ruining so many lives on a daily basis. He's ruining our state for so many. A greedy gross few will have it all I guess. We want to leave. Many of our friends have already left. It sucks to lose our way of life and watch others that are ok with terrible things to others, celebrate their new "found " stolen from us way of life.
Fascinating read, Billy. Anecdotally, I know that my kids are unlikely to stick around after their education is done. I do worry about how well the State of I-4 will hold, given the state government's (governor's?) penchant for bringing blue/sanctuary/more liberal cities & businesses to heel, which seems politically more potent (in the short term) than actually legislating and solving problems.
I don't think solving problems is this governors point it's power, control and domination
Terrific piece, Bill. I live in Ohio, which gets older, poorer, unhealthier, and less educated every year. Many similarities between us, but the olds that live here are natives. Our youngs are leaving in droves, yet the state continues to weaken our once shinning education system . Thanks again.
thanks very much for reading
Any "youngs" who believe women, LGBTQ+ people or people of color should be respected and have equal rights will continue to leave this hellhole Ohio until the nonpartisan redistricting bill we are GOING to pass in November produces a new, more balanced legislature in 2027 and gradually manages to rinse the taint of bigotry and suppression out of the statehouse in Columbus. Until then my friends are urging their kids to settle in Michigan, New York or Illinois — and many of their kids are making this decision themselves. I'm an "olds" and I completely understand. If I were a little younger I'd be moving back to my home state of Illinois which protects the human rights of everyone.
Really great piece — absolutely exemplary use of demographic data.