Why would anybody in their right mind move here knowing that South Florida has the worst economy? (Orlando: spring break, apartment)

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by ksgator

I have not met many Floridians since I have been out here. Trust me though, the grass isnt always greener. Portland suffers from a bad economy, low wages, and high cost of living. There are a lot of young educated people working at coffee shops because many businesses are being driven out of the state. Plus, it's too f'ing cold here for me. Today our high is 54 with rain showers and overcast skies, no thanks. I will hopefully be out of here next year.

what is driving them out of the state (the businesses)?

[randian]

Originally Posted by Wild Style

what is driving them out of the state (the businesses)?

1) A stiff income tax that's about as high as California's, making it one of the highest in the nation.
2) Extremely expensive real estate (and thus, high commercial rents) caused by "smart growth" regulations
3) Expensive gas (full service is mandatory)
4) Everything else (food, clothing, etc) is expensive because commercial rents are high, which costs businesses must pass on to their customers
5) Business-unfriendly tax and regulatory environment. Governments really don't care if major employers leave or expand elsewhere.
6a) Portland itself is the worst city in Oregon for all these things.
6b) Portland is hard at work intentionally (yes, they've said so publicly) trying to create traffic congestion worse than LA's.
6c) Portland's politics run to the moonbat loony side of the left.

Pretty much the same reasons businesses are leaving California.

[Wild Style]

why in Gods name would they want to create bad traffic? Why wouldn't they just create compelling mass transit or something?

How is Portland for diversity (ethnic)

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by Wild Style

How is Portland for diversity (ethnic)

The city of Portland is about as diverse as Cooper City, literally no exaggeration.

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

The city of Portland is about as diverse as Cooper City, literally no exaggeration.

I dont know cooper city that well. Is it very diverse? I saw this internet show about public transportation and human powered commuting (bike and walking) in Portland.

Extremely impressive.

[tallrick]

I still believe that Western coastal states, Northeastern coastal and Florida are functionally obsolete due to the selfish attitudes and entrenched corruption. Overpriced real estate creates greedy, inefficient local governments. Florida is so bad that the whole state is overpriced by over 50% but there is hope for us. This is the south, not the northeast, we have no economic engine to sustain this. In a few years much of Florida will be priced like South Carolina, especially after Hurricane "X" devastates a major city. Your affordable Florida is being prepared and will be served to you in the coming years.

[goozer]

Even in a terrible economy, there is still opportunity, whether it is buying homes at foreclosure or catering to the casualties of the economy (credit counselors, bankruptcy law firms, etc). So it wouldn't suprise me if people were still moving to South Florida. Also, don't forget about the retirees. They are probably salivating at the lower home prices that are substantially discounted from what other retirees were paying a few years ago.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by Wild Style

I dont know cooper city that well. Is it very diverse? I saw this internet show about public transportation and human powered commuting (bike and walking) in Portland.

Extremely impressive.

Portland looks amazing in that way especially for it's size. I haven't really been out there. I have been to Oregon (Eugene) but not Portland.

Cooper City is known for being homogeneous...I just looked it up on city-data and they were both 75% white. All I know is the economy in the part of Oregon I was in is horrific, the scenery is indescribably beautiful once you get closer to the coast (especially when the sun is out!), and there are a lot of burnt out hippies that live off of the government lol.

[Journey2LS]

Originally Posted by Wild Style

How is Portland for diversity (ethnic)

Portland is not at all diverse. It is the whitest major city in the US and ,due to extensive gentrification, its already small minority population is being displaced even further. You will see a few Mexicans and Asians but as far as ethnic diversity goes, just about everybody is White American. It's pretty much the opposite of South Florida.

As as to why businesses are moving out, it's pretty much for the reasons the previous poster said. Portlanders are known for their anti-business mentality, especially for businesses that aren't local. Business here are taxed out the ying yang and subjected to heavy regulations. Also,due to urban growth boundaries creating an artificially high cost of living, smaller local businesses just can't afford to keep their businesses in Portland. Also, Portland does not work at attracting or retaining companies here; the state of Oregon only has 1 fortune 500 company. It's a weird situation because Portlanders are are all for local businesses but who can't afford to stay in the city but anti large corporations that pay well and can afford to do business here.

[randian]

Originally Posted by Wild Style

why in Gods name would they want to create bad traffic?

It's social engineering. Making traffic bad will (so they hope) induce people to ride their massively expensive, crime-ridden light rail system. That and cars are, you know, evil.