Sooo, what now? (Miami, Weston, University: renting, school districts, college)

[compelled to reply]

Casualobeserver, did you really just move here? I couldn't have put it any better.

[dk22]

Originally Posted by casualobserver

It's a very informative read in terms of the broad reach of the history presented, but disappointing in its skinny research into paths to solution.

I agree up-educating the younger workforce is one way to a solution, but I handicap that at long, long odds......not unless Huizenga bequeaths his fortune to retool the University of Miami into someplace where one could get a bluechip MBA or a pedigree PhD in science. And all the premier middle school and high school systems around the country (New Trier in Chicago, Weston/Wayland in Boston and Montgomery County in Maryland) don't evolve until you have the bluechip parents hanging around town for their own careers putting the screws to the school boards. No, at best, the hope can only be for minting some higher education niche like UAB cultivated with medical technology. I think the green industry could be an developable pathway in that regard, just as soon as someone explains to 85% of the Floridians what environmentally-conscious actually means.

While that might be a plausible pathway, I will actually put my money on the tourism and retirement juggernaut continuing to hold its prominent footprint. However, there will be a large transition from the defined benefit union pensioners to those who had professionally managed 401k's augmented by the affluent South Americans, rap stars and golden-parachuted baby boomers.

This is like reading a well crafted thought. Very good insight.

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by Wild Style

doggie

how long did it take them turn it around?

Not sure, the person that told me this story is traveling the next few months so I can't call him and ask.

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by casualobserver

It's a very informative read in terms of the broad reach of the history presented, but disappointing in its skinny research into paths to solution.

I agree up-educating the younger workforce is one way to a solution, but I handicap that at long, long odds......not unless Huizenga bequeaths his fortune to retool the University of Miami into someplace where one could get a bluechip MBA or a pedigree PhD in science. And all the premier middle school and high school systems around the country (New Trier in Chicago, Weston/Wayland in Boston and Montgomery County in Maryland) don't evolve until you have the bluechip parents hanging around town for their own careers putting the screws to the school boards. No, at best, the hope can only be for minting some higher education niche like UAB cultivated with medical technology. I think the green industry could be an developable pathway in that regard, just as soon as someone explains to 85% of the Floridians what environmentally-conscious actually means.

While that might be a plausible pathway, I will actually put my money on the tourism and retirement juggernaut continuing to hold its prominent footprint. However, there will be a large transition from the defined benefit union pensioners to those who had professionally managed 401k's augmented by the affluent South Americans, rap stars and golden-parachuted baby boomers.

I agree that Tourism and Retirement will probably remain the primary economic driving force here, which isn't good. Those are so heavily dependent on the economy and this means we are overly exposed to economic downturns, more so than places with well diversified economies.

[chisoxfan]

One step (a small one admittedly, but a maybe a start on the grass-roots level) would be to attract and retain good teachers by paying them what they're worth. It's distressing to hear that South Florida is losing teachers to Georgia because the pay is better (along with a lower cost of living). It's one of about a thousand things that have to happen for Florida to succeed and again, it's a small piece in a big puzzle -- but you've got to start somewhere.

I do like the UAB example cited in a previous, excellent post. I lived in Birmingham from 1984-86 and the presence of the medical school provided the impetus for a lot of spin-off, start-up companies, allowing the city to reinvent itself after the steel industry died.

[fauve]

Originally Posted by casualobserver

It's a very informative read in terms of the broad reach of the history presented, but disappointing in its skinny research into paths to solution.

I agree up-educating the younger workforce is one way to a solution, but I handicap that at long, long odds......not unless Huizenga bequeaths his fortune to retool the University of Miami into someplace where one could get a bluechip MBA or a pedigree PhD in science. And all the premier middle school and high school systems around the country (New Trier in Chicago, Weston/Wayland in Boston and Montgomery County in Maryland) don't evolve until you have the bluechip parents hanging around town for their own careers putting the screws to the school boards. No, at best, the hope can only be for minting some higher education niche like UAB cultivated with medical technology. I think the green industry could be an developable pathway in that regard, just as soon as someone explains to 85% of the Floridians what environmentally-conscious actually means.

While that might be a plausible pathway, I will actually put my money on the tourism and retirement juggernaut continuing to hold its prominent footprint. However, there will be a large transition from the defined benefit union pensioners to those who had professionally managed 401k's augmented by the affluent South Americans, rap stars and golden-parachuted baby boomers.

I wanted to add to the kudos on this post. You are an eloquent writer. I just wanted to add that I believe wealthy retirees will continue to come to Florida to hide their money in real estate and not pay state income tax or be forced to invest what money they have in low yield municipal bonds. With property taxes coming down and housing prices dropping, Florida will again look very attractive, however I believe cities like Sarasota will be the ones to benefit, not Broward and Dade.

[taylorsmom]

Originally Posted by chisoxfan

One step (a small one admittedly, but a maybe a start on the grass-roots level) would be to attract and retain good teachers by paying them what they're worth. It's distressing to hear that South Florida is losing teachers to Georgia because the pay is better (along with a lower cost of living). It's one of about a thousand things that have to happen for Florida to succeed and again, it's a small piece in a big puzzle -- but you've got to start somewhere.

I was at the Broward Teachers Job Fair this week. It was an invitation only event because there were so many teachers interested in applying and so few positions available. Still, there were over 1,000 qualified teachers who attended and about 160 were hired. (I was one of the lucky ones! )
I think the reason teachers are leaving is because they aren't getting hired. I hope and pray that I am not out of a job in a year.

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by taylorsmom

I was at the Broward Teachers Job Fair this week. It was an invitation only event because there were so many teachers interested in applying and so few positions available. Still, there were over 1,000 qualified teachers who attended and about 160 were hired. (I was one of the lucky ones! )
I think the reason teachers are leaving is because they aren't getting hired. I hope and pray that I am not out of a job in a year.

congrats!

If you are in a critical shortage area you should be fine.

[doggiebus]

The reason teachers are leaving is the pay and the bureaucracy of the public school system. My sister used to teach, when she got hired she was making more money than a woman that had been there for 10 years or something. Evidently pay raises are rare in the public school system, so you pretty much stay at your hiring salary for years. So many people leave the teaching field all together, in many cases to make more money. A few years later now out of the classroom and she is make almost three times what she was making teaching.

[casualobserver]

Thanks for the above compliments, folks.

It will be interesting to see how things develop out the next couple of years (and they will), but I don't see the public sector leading the way in any event. The governor's cabinet meetings seem to focus largely on the weather catastrophe exposure and the legislature seems so far to be incapable of moving any ball in any significant manner.

I've always felt the private sector can locate and develop the possibilities more adroitly.