why are people not moving into kentucky? (Lexington, Louisville: 2010, hotels)

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by Sundance

People aren't moving into KY for one reason: the jobs are not here.
The economy of KY is not great. Probably not even good.
I live in a rural area and I do not see a lot of racism. There are mixed couples here and no one reacts.
So much ado about nothing...

You might see things differently if you were one of those "mixed couples". I certainly did!!! Before I ever dated a black man, I thought my area of KY was fairly open minded. Things change a lot when you are IN THE "MIXED" RELATIONSHIP. You start to see the true colors of an area when you are in such a relationship. You are correct when you said that the job market in KY is a little weak. Jobs however is not the only reason why people move. In this day and age, people move for retirement, change of scenary, and for change of climate. They also move to and from areas that do or do not tolerate their lifestyle. That is why homosexuals tend to move into places like San Fran and Atlanta. Blacks tend to move into large cities or the southern cities. Foreign born citizens tend to move to our larger cities in general. In KY, LOTS of people are turned off by the thought of moving to our state because of what they have experienced with KY or because of what they heard someone else experience. If you don't believe me, post this forum question in a "more progressive" area of the country and see what people say about KY. The perception is that much of KY is backwards. I do not totally agree with that perception, but it does have some truth to it in some areas of KY outside of Louisville and Lexington. "Backwards" does apply to my home area of EKY and they are proud of it too. Most people in the Ashland/Greenup area will tell you that "we seem to be 20 to 30 years behind the rest of the Nation here, and we like it that way". At least they are honest. I'll give them that.

[marmac]

urbancharlottee---------please put the shovel down.

You are digging your hole much too deep

[timelesschild]

Originally Posted by InLondon

There's obviously jobs here. Apparently you're not looking very hard.

It depends on your line of work. Trust me. We're in LA for a reason.

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by timelesschild

It depends on your line of work. Trust me. We're in LA for a reason.

I can respect that. I am just giving a little insight into why so many people are either moving out or passing up KY. Jobs and culture are the number 1 reasons. For you, it was your job. For myself and my friends, it was EKY's culture. I am an LPN. I am in school for my BSN and possibly my masters. My husband drives a gasoline tanker truck. We can live and find a job anywhere in this country including KY. Not everybody's job is location specific. Somebody asked the question "why are people not moving to KY?". There are no wrong answers to this question because everybody that has left KY had a reason. If I can believe that people like yourself left for employment reasons only, why can't you believe that there are people like myself leaving due to culture and lifestyle? As long as Kentucky ignores the racial problems, people seeking "progressive/liberal" lifestyles will either leave KY or not come at all.

Here is an example of what I am talking about. I will try to keep this short. When I worked as an LPN in an EKY hospital (I will not name this hospital so don't ask), many of the doctors were either black or foreign born (none of the black doctors were from KY). Some of the patients did not want these doctors to touch them because of their race. Some of the nurses from EKY would make jokes about these foreign and black doctors behind their backs (I know because they would exchange these jokes in front of me thinking that I was just as racist as them). The doctors at this hospital instantly became friends with me. They told me that I "treated them differently than most whites in the area". I asked them "how?" They said, "you talk to us just like you talk to other whites. We aren't used to that around here." Many of those doctors were in the process of leaving EKY when I left. They were waiting on a job opening elsewhere in the country. Opportunity and a nice sign-on bonus brought them to EKY. Culture is why these well paid doctors are trying to leave EKY.

[marmac]

-----"many of the doctors were either black or foreign born"---

Race is not a criteria when I choose a doctor.

Understanding them-(-"foreign born"--)--------is a necessity, however.

[timelesschild]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

I If I can believe that people like yourself left for employment reasons only, why can't you believe that there are people like myself leaving due to culture and lifestyle? As long as Kentucky ignores the racial problems, people seeking "progressive/liberal" lifestyles will either leave KY or not come at all..

Um, I wasn't talking to you. I was not addressing your issues of culture or lifestyle. I believe you have quite adequately covered those topics.

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by marmac

-----"many of the doctors were either black or foreign born"---

Race is not a criteria when I choose a doctor.

Understanding them-(-"foreign born"--)--------is a necessity, however.

I have no problems understanding our foreign born Americans. Maybe you should listen to them with you ears and heart; not your eyes.

[TheTransientTranny]

I know that I'm in the minority here, but many minorities make a big minority, oh wait.... a majority! (eh, something like that) Being transgendered the support for people like me is not 'there' here in Kentucky. In Lexington, alone, Club 141 was bought out numerous times and eventually demolished. The Bar Complex is where many of the GLBT (I still insist that the 'T' shouldn't be part of GLB) hang out now. If THAT leaves, then there just won't be anything left for them (and me) in this part of Kentucky. Except for Louisville, I can't imagine the rest of Kentucky is any different. Probably worse, am I wrong? There is a cross dressing (CD) meeting that occurs the first Saturday of each month in Lexington, but I've heard that the meetings aren't supportive (just a bunch of bragging and boasting, and some rather outlandish behavior and 'fashion sense').

[easydoesit]

Back to the topic, I think it has to do with weather, taxes and economy.

The weather isn't bad (I actually prefer the upper south weather) but probably not warm enough to attract the people leaving the colder climates.

The economy isn't bad but not great. I think there are enough opportunities here to make a living but it doesn't suit some types of professions at all. The flip side in my experience is that I have worked in a few places that really lack people with good technical skills which has added to my job security + ability to negotiate raises. Doubt I would get that in bigger cities where competition is more fierce

The map in a previous page shows a lot of the state losing population. That map depicts the movement of the entire US - leave rural areas for urban areas. It's not just happening here.

I doubt KY will ever be leading the population charge but I don't see the state suffering some of the negative side effects of that label. Growth is a double edged sword. Slow and steady growth is just fine.

They should make some changes to state taxes on retirement/pension withdrawls or distributions. Maybe an idea to attract some retirees.

[marmac]

-----"but probably not warm enough to attract the people leaving the colder climates"------

BINGO ( especially true for retirees from the North )