Some Going, Some Coming

The Miami Herald published the results of a Census report which shows that, among other things, that lots of young minorities are leaving Miami-Dade County. Cost of living, traffic, crime, heat, and other factors were cited as the main reasons.

Crime is high in Miami-Dade, but it's actually higher in other big cities, even Orlando. And yes, it's hot in Miami 5 months out of the year. But it's been hotter here in Kansas City every single day this week (don't believe me? Look it up). The cost of living is valid and enough of a reason for most to leave, and the Herald doesn't have to overstate the other reasons. Also, many of them are moving all the way across the county line to Broward County, a place that is becoming more and more demographically and economically indistiguishable from Miami-Dade County. A move to Broward County is hardly considered as leaving the Miami area since many Broward residents work in Miami-Dade, just as many Washington D.C. workers live in the surrounding suburbs of Maryland and Virginia. In other words, many of them ain't goin' nowhere.

But that's really not the point of this post. The point here is that if you look at the Census numbers BEFORE reading the article, you would have noticed a bigger change: the number of 40-59 year old Hispanics moving TO Miami-Dade.

33, 27 and 29 percent increase in those between 40-44 years, 45-49 and 50 to 54 years of age, respectively. That a big jump folks. I'm surprised (well, OK, I'm not) that the Herald barely mentioned those numbers next to the 17 percent of 20-24 and 25-29 year olds that moved out. A brief sentence suggesting that "Hispanics and blacks who bought homes long ago or are nearing retirement age may be choosing to stay put for financial reasons" lacks depth. It's lame.

I want to know why so many early middle-aged Hispanics are moving IN. People still very much in the productive stage of their lives. Is it because more established professionals desire the cultural and entertainment options that Miami has to offer? Is it a shorter commute to their downtown Miami offices? Is it a mass influx of wealthy professionals from Latin America? Probably...but for the most part and with few exceptions, the Herald is not interested in that bit of potentially good news.

Let's face it, the Herald has been trying to promote the so-called Miami exodus-in-the-making since last year when they started writing stories about people getting the heck outta Miami. That's fine, they should. But they should also talk to the 40 and 50 year olds who are moving IN to provide the rest of the story. Isn't that what journalists should do?