Will Orlando simply become another Miami? (Tampa, Miami Beach: 2015, hotel, neighborhood)

[83austin83]

Yes, I know, I'm posting a lot of topics today, but I had some free time and was in an inquisitive move. I wanted to build upon my previous topic about why the Orlando area seems to attract more Hispanics (particularly Puerto Ricans) than the Tampa Bay area. There can be a debate as to why but there is definitely no debate it is happening. My follow up question is this, with all the Puerto Rican and overall Hispanic growth in the Orlando area, is Orlando poised to simply become another Miami:

Think about Miami-Dade County for a minute. Miami-Dade County is a textbook example of white flight. As of 2017 Hispanics and Latinos make up 68.6% of the population in Miami-Dade County. Blacks make up 18.2% of the population. Whites are actually third at only 13.2% of the population.

I think we can all agree that the majority of that white population would be rich European whites who live on Miami Beach. Many people forget that Miami is a popular European destination as well as a popular Latin American destination. My point is if you take out the rich Europeans whites and even some of the rich American whites who live on Miami Beach, you probably have what is essentially no white people who live in Miami-Dade County. There are definitely entire suburban areas of Miami where there are probably next to no white people.

Now think about the culture of Miami-Dade County a little bit. There are absolutely many "no-go zones" for white people. A friend of mine who is a golf coach and white was staying at a hotel down there several years ago for a golf event and went 2 miles inland to find a laundromat he could use at the last minute. A local cop saw him and actually escorted him back to his hotel. The cop saw him at the laundromat and said "Son, this is not your neighborhood, the wrong gang members see you and you'll be an easy target. Get your clothes, I'm escorting you back to your hotel for your own safety. Just be a regular tourist and stay in the beach areas, for your own safety."

Now sure there are non white areas in many major cities in the U.S. The south side of Chicago, the south side and Compton in L.A., Chinatown in San Francisco, Central City in New Orleans, etc. But the point is they are just areas, not the entire city. Miami is pretty much the only metropolitan area where a white person would be a minority and potentially a target in the entire city. I still remember stopping at a McDonalds on U.S. 1 going towards the Florida Keys and having to leave because not a single employee could speak English and understand me enough to take my order.

Heck, I'm sure a lot of us even remember the joke "the last white person in Miami turn out the lights." Kind of a mean joke in hindsight but a lot of truth to the fact that Hispanics essentially took over Miami-Dade county.

The point to all of this is the following. The Hispanic growth here in Orlando has been pretty tremendous the last few years. Miami also gives us a good preview of what happens when whites are essentially forced out of an entire county, in this case Miami-Dade County.

Do you think Orlando and Orange County will essentially become the next Miami and Miami-Dade County? If not then why? If so then how long do you think it will be until it happens?

[Arcenal813]

Miami got an influx of actual immigrants, with many of them being asylum-seekers and illegals from Cuba and Haiti among other things. Puerto Ricans are US citizens. I don't think it's going to cause any sort of "white flight."

I personally don't see much issue with it. I like a diverse area. I like the fact that I can be in Thornton Park/Eola or Park Ave in WP and be in more traditional but modern "affluent white" areas, while just a little bit to the East, I can be in the Goldenrod area where the demographic changes drastically.

[83austin83]

Originally Posted by Arcenal352

Miami got an influx of actual immigrants, with many of them being asylum-seekers and illegals from Cuba and Haiti among other things. Puerto Ricans are US citizens. I don't think it's going to cause any sort of "white flight."

I personally don't see much issue with it. I like a diverse area. I like the fact that I can be in Thornton Park/Eola or Park Ave in WP and be in more traditional but modern "affluent white" areas, while just a little bit to the East, I can be in the Goldenrod area where the demographic changes drastically.

In many ways though it's the same thing here. We are getting an influx of Puerto Ricans evacuating the island after Hurricane Maria. Yes its a US territory and they are US citizens but you can't deny the fact that their culture is very different than the mainstream American culture.

Puerto Ricans overall have far more in common with Cubans in Miami than they do with white Americans in other parts of the US. Also, a lot of Puerto Ricans and even some Cubans are coming to Orlando from Miami because Miami has become so overcrowded.

I'm not saying I have an issue with it, but as we saw with Miami if whites become an extreme minority many areas then become "no go zones" for whites. Whites can sadly become easy targets of crime.

So in your opinion you don't think Orlando will become the next Miami? You don't think Orlando and Orange County will ever get down to 13.2% white or lower (the percentage in Miami and Miami-Dade County)?

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by 83austin83

In many ways though it's the same thing here. We are getting an influx of Puerto Ricans evacuating the island after Hurricane Maria. Yes its a US territory and they are US citizens but you can't deny the fact that their culture is very different than the mainstream American culture.

Puerto Ricans overall have far more in common with Cubans in Miami than they do with white Americans in other parts of the US. Also, a lot of Puerto Ricans and even some Cubans are coming to Orlando from Miami because Miami has become so overcrowded.

I'm not saying I have an issue with it, but as we saw with Miami if whites become an extreme minority many areas then become "no go zones" for whites. Whites can sadly become easy targets of crime.

So in your opinion you don't think Orlando will become the next Miami? You don't think Orlando and Orange County will ever get down to 13.2% white or lower (the percentage in Miami and Miami-Dade County)?

I doubt it... But hey, who knows.

Places like downtown/Eola/Thornton/Baldwin/Aubudon are not going to experience any white flight IMO. At least not anytime soon. Same with most of Winter Park. If anything, they might experience a growth in diversity of all ethnicity, but I don't think it will be anything like Miami.

[83austin83]

Originally Posted by Arcenal352

I doubt it... But hey, who knows.

Places like downtown/Eola/Thornton/Baldwin/Aubudon are not going to experience any white flight IMO. At least not anytime soon. Same with most of Winter Park. If anything, they might experience a growth in diversity of all ethnicity, but I don't think it will be anything like Miami.

I agree and disagree with that. I could see Downtown, Lake Eola and Baldwin Park go majority hispanic. Heck I was just downtown last week and walked around Lake Eola, I heard a lot of Spanish and saw a pretty big mix of people (probably 40% Hispanic, 20% Black, 20% White and 20% Other, just a rough estimate). I do agree that Thornton Park and Audubon Park would take a lot longer to go majority hispanic. Winter Park would definitely be the last area to go majority hispanic. In fact Winter Park would probably be like parts of Miami Beach, a little majority white area in an area that is predominately hispanic.

[Branal]

Yes. You can see what it will be like by looking at Osceola. Once folks like this are running Orange Cty government, what do you think will happen:

June Trzcinka was fired by Osceola County Clerk of Court Armando Ramirez after refusing to work weekend events - Orlando Sentinel

[sean1the1]

I think it's possible, but Orlando is one of the fastest growing metros over 2 million a lot will change with that growth. I don't see the white population shrinking it'll probably continue to grow, but the hispanic population will continue to grow faster.

I don't think it'll get as drastic as Miami Dade though as there hasn't been a single wave of people seeking asylum.

[kyle19125]

There are definitely similarities in terms of growth and the same pattern of an sizable influx of Hispanics into the area. While the intent of the OP is to focus on race, I see it more a matter of poor planning in terms of transportation and infrastructure which is very similar to what happened in South Florida during the construction boom of the 70s-80s-90s. In my opinion as many left the area due to the overbuilt congestion than did due to racism. Anyone can see that the growth here is irresponsible in terms of lack of proper planning so the end result (or continued evolution if you will) isn't promising if one can see past the end of their nose, and would guess many will choose to head out from here as this growth continues.

[Hammocks Bum]

People do not realize that a HIGH Percentile of the whites left in Miami (Or all over the States for that matter) are also latinos.Not ALL Latinos are BROWN....So don't get caught badmouthing latinos with someone you think he (she) is a gringo, because it backfires ALL THE TIME.

I see it daily and it's not a funny situation.

[walmill]

Never heard of the Miami area by and large being a no-go area for "whites". Of course there will be rough areas,as with any other city. But just becaise your friend went to a laundromat in the projects doesn't mean the entire county had a target over his head. IF the story is even true stories always get sensationalized when a buddy tells you what he did.
Not sure I believe a random cop escorted your friend out of a neighborhood simply becaise of his appearance.
And even IF the story is factual and not exaggerated, that's like saying whites cant go to San Antonio after the stolen MAGA hat incident. One event does not make thr born.