Louisiana loses population in 2017 (New Orleans, Lafayette: health insurance, low crime, house prices)

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by Ddhanks

Hey, I agree. But you asked about the contributions of the influx of people to Colorado.

There's a lot of people that moved there with no jobs lined up and there's a number of homeless people in the cities there.

How do you know what they do for a living?

[bpollen]

Originally Posted by cBach

We lost a seat in 2010 and may lose another seat in 2020.

What I find perplexing is that Louisiana has just about the same natural resources as SE TX, yet it isn't booming.

Why is Houston growing so gangbusters but Louisiana isn't? We are both based on the same industry: oil.

Even Lafayette is not doing well. Lake Charles is basically the only successful city right now.

Houston is a large city with more business diversity. It has a booming medical care business in an age when boomers are getting old. It has financial business, clothing business, etc. Houston real estate also costs tens of thousands less than Louisiana's for comparable houses. Don't know why La real estate is so high...to make up for the low taxes? Or because the companies overpay for housing here for their workers who are only going to stay for a couple of years? Or because there is less housing here? (But Houston has HOAs everywhere, which adds to cost of housing.)

L.C. has big problems with crime and drugs and drainage. The added industrial business here is temporary, I believe. (I'm in the LC area.) There are the casinos, but I assume Lafayette has those, too.

[bpollen]

Originally Posted by cj0065

Texas has a more diverse economy and several major cities that can pick up the slack. Louisiana is trying to diversify its economy but it is going to take some time as the biggest problem are the people who don’t want change. They don’t wanna pay for education, transportation or medical care. Everything is cut cut cut. No investments in the kinda talent and areas that are going to be the future. Young people will continue to leave the state for better opportunities. I had hopes that this state would get it together but sadly slow to change. People won’t even give the governor credit for taking bold steps to cure the financial situation of this state because of the partisan climate and group think.

Just sad. Thank God for Mississippi or we would be at the bottom of everything.

The people are tired of taxes in La because the taxes are already so high. Calcasieu Parish has the highest sales tax in the nation. Then there's a state income tax, which some states don't have. Then there are added taxes because of drainage and disasters and storm protections (added to utilities and whatever). Then there are property taxes, which are lower than most other states, but the house prices are considerably higher so that makes the property taxes equal with many other states. Then there's homeowner's insurance, which is double over many other places because this is a disaster state. That's not a tax, but that's a huge hit to the average resident.

The state cut corporate taxes 80% under Jindal. Tha's what caused the financial problems. If the state needs more money, it needs to rectify that mistake. It can't expect the residents, most of whom have below-national level wages, to make up for that whopping tax cut they gave to corporations. Now, the federal tax cut bill will lower taxes considerably more for those corporations, while giving average people little relief, and even RAISING taxes on some.

I'd say the corporations could easily afford to pay a bit more in taxes, while the average resident would find it a hardship. There's the answer.

[swampbaby985]

Originally Posted by cBach

Seems Lafayette and Houma were biggest losers (oil patch). Lake Charles is booming with the LNG constructions.

Census estimate: Louisiana among 8 states to see population drop last year | State Politics | theadvocate.com

I'm from Houma, born and raised. Once the oil business started drying up there was no reason for anyone to stay in that town. I'm sorry but Houma has NOTHING going for it. There's nothing there to keep the younger population around.

[swampbaby985]

Originally Posted by hdwell

I had hopes too, CJ, but they are all but gone. I can't understand how the citizens of La can approve of this way of life.

The people who run this state are the good old boy network (thugs) who will come after those trying to raise too much stink about something.

I can't leave or I would. Texas, maybe the Southeast, but I would have to go it on my own. My wife won't go anywhere.

I was like your wife when my significant other first proposed the idea of us moving to Texas I didn't take him seriously. Once we started the actual process of finding jobs and a home in Texas I was still indecisive. Hell even on our last day in Louisiana I was still back and forth. Now that we've been in Texas for almost 2 years I don't regret the move. Yes I'm homesick but thats to be expected. I love the fact that Texas doesn't have a state income tax, and there is NO sales tax on food in grocery stores. We rent so we don't have to deal with those awfully high property taxes I've heard about.

[swampbaby985]

Originally Posted by cBach

I totally agree. They should also reopen Storyville in New Orleans. Second state to legalize prostitution would be a boon for taxes as well.

Legalize and tax it.

As well as a boon to the STD's

[cBach]

Originally Posted by swampbaby985

As well as a boon to the STD's

In NV the prostitutes are tested weekly and every customer goes through a medical exam first...

[DeanGuitarist]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

How do you know what they do for a living?

That's an irrelevant question. Why do you want to ask me that when I responded already.

[bpollen]

Originally Posted by swampbaby985

I was like your wife when my significant other first proposed the idea of us moving to Texas I didn't take him seriously. Once we started the actual process of finding jobs and a home in Texas I was still indecisive. Hell even on our last day in Louisiana I was still back and forth. Now that we've been in Texas for almost 2 years I don't regret the move. Yes I'm homesick but thats to be expected. I love the fact that Texas doesn't have a state income tax, and there is NO sales tax on food in grocery stores. We rent so we don't have to deal with those awfully high property taxes I've heard about.

Property taxes are reflected in the rent.

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by Ddhanks

That's an irrelevant question. Why do you want to ask me that when I responded already.

I'm just curious how you have the information about these people. Doesn't seem like you know them enough to make claims about them. I'm also moving to Colorado in a couple weeks.