How would Miami be if there weren't any.... (Hialeah: construction, live)

[Cougar Beach]

The Cubans who have romantic ideas about going back are now too old to relocate. The younger generations aren't going anywhere, except for recent immigrants, who might go back if the economy really falls apart here, and Cuba starts booming.

Thomas Jefferson> but I think if the whole Cuban population leaves after Castro's death Miami will be an empty city

No, but the government will be gutted. The city and county buildings will be nearly empty, as will the police departments.

[compelled to reply]

See: Vero Beach.

[Thomas Jefferson]

Originally Posted by Cougar Beach

The Cubans who have romantic ideas about going back are now too old to relocate. The younger generations aren't going anywhere, except for recent immigrants, who might go back if the economy really falls apart here, and Cuba starts booming.

Thomas Jefferson> but I think if the whole Cuban population leaves after Castro's death Miami will be an empty city

No, but the government will be gutted. The city and county buildings will be nearly empty, as will the police departments.

LOL

[Bjorn_Ironside32]

Originally Posted by Cougar Beach

The Cubans who have romantic ideas about going back are now too old to relocate. The younger generations aren't going anywhere, except for recent immigrants, who might go back if the economy really falls apart here, and Cuba starts booming.

Thomas Jefferson> but I think if the whole Cuban population leaves after Castro's death Miami will be an empty city

No, but the government will be gutted. The city and county buildings will be nearly empty, as will the police departments.

The only ones that would stay are: Cubans (with citizenships) or Americans (Of Cuban Parents).

If the 50's cubans manage to stay alive a little more they could have a chance.

[Cougar Beach]

I said: The younger generations aren't going anywhere, except for recent immigrants, who might go back if the economy really falls apart here, and Cuba starts booming.

Another reason would be for health care. If you get sick here but have no insurance, you're pretty screwed. For most purposes, the health care system in Cuba is pretty good. Score 1 for Fidel.`

[Kathleen1971]

I posed this question via e-mail to both my mother and father's sides of the family and surprisingly most of them said they would consider moving back. The majority of them bailed out after the Dadeland shootings after being in Miami for decades while some gave up in the mid 1980's. Of all the family only one remains in Miami and even though he is incredibly well off and has a great job he has been at for years even he is now considering leaving. It still amazes me how many people left the city. Not only family but friends I grew up with and their families who also lived there for decades.


As for me? I will be back eventually no matter what.

[Cougar Beach]

Originally Posted by Kathleen1971

I posed this question via e-mail to both my mother and father's sides of the family and surprisingly most of them said they would consider moving back. The majority of them bailed out after the Dadeland shootings after being in Miami for decades while some gave up in the mid 1980's. Of all the family only one remains in Miami and even though he is incredibly well off and has a great job he has been at for years even he is now considering leaving. It still amazes me how many people left the city. Not only family but friends I grew up with and their families who also lived there for decades.


As for me? I will be back eventually no matter what.

Where did they all move?

People have romantic memories of old Cuba, or fantasies passed down through the generations. They have no real idea what it's like to live on a poor Caribbean island.

Hawaii is American, yet mainlanders who move out there face an enormous cultural shock. Go read the Hawaii forum and you'll see. (I have personal experience with Maui. For mainlanders living an ordinary suburban life, with a good job, the transition is difficult.)

[Kathleen1971]

Originally Posted by Cougar Beach

Where did they all move?

All over the place. There are some in NY & NJ. Some in Arkansas, Idaho & NC. And the rest of us are in the Tampa area. I was just surprised because I didn't realize that I was not the only one in the family who missed Miami. I do think a lot of my family is thinking of the Miami they grew up in and not thinking of how it would be today even without the Cubans. I was also a bit surprised that Cubans factored in at all. I always thought it was more the violence that had overtaken Miami and not necessarily the people. Guess you never stop learning about your own family.

[Migsly]

It would be paradise, like it was in the old days. Sorry if I offend, but it would be pretty neat.

[EnjoyTheSilence]

At a guess:

- Fewer "hit and runs" and DUI's
- Less traffic
- Less Medicare fraud
- Safer roads, i.e. better drivers
- Better customer service
- More diversity (you'd have different ethnic groups living here)
- English would be the most commonly spoken language again
- Hialeah wouldn't look like Tijuana (it would probably resemble Miami Springs more)
- More trees, greenery
- Fewer bars on windows
- Miami would be a "southern" city, complete with southern hospitality
- More peaceful (no all night parties for the sake of having a party)
- Politicians would be slightly less "slimy" and less corrupt
- Far less rampant over development and non-planning

I think I'd feel far more welcome in this version of Miami, as would a lot of people. Pandering to one group of immigrants has not been good for this city, IMO, nor is it good for the immigrants themselves who are given no incentive or reason to assimilate.

Many of the bad traits of Miami are actually very specific to Miami, when compared to the rest of the United States. All cities have problems, but Miami has a lot of Miami-only problems, many of which are caused by the sudden demographic shift.