Thursday, February 26, 2026
Staggering one-third of New Yorkers want to flee NY, citing cost of living and quality of life, survey shows
Staggering one-third of New Yorkers want to flee NY, citing cost of living and quality of life, survey shows
One in three New York residents plan to flee the Empire State within the next five years — with most citing the cost of living and declining quality of life as their driving factors, according to a new poll.
In a landslide majority — more than eight in 10 New Yorkers (86%) who responded to the Marist poll — believe that the state is no longer affordable for an average family, up from 82% in 2025.
Those high prices fueled 40% of the New Yorkers lining up to leave for greener pastures, while 21% cited quality of life; 15% said taxes; and 10% said politics, according to a Marist Poll conducted this month.
Another 7% are fed up with the weather.
The number of New Yorkers wanting to jump the state line (33%) increased 1% from Marist’s April 2025 poll — but was up from 27% 15 years ago, when Gov. Andrew Cuomo was at the helm in Albany.
In 2024, 37% of respondents to the same pollster said they were ready to pack up and leave.
The willingness to get out of town was highlighted last year, when more residents moved out of New York and New Jersey than any other state — with most bound for the South and Pacific Northwest, according to United Van Lines’ 2025 National Movers Study.
In addition to the crippling cost of living, more than half of New Yorkers (51%) griped that the quality of life is getting worse — even as the city saw its safest January ever recorded last month, according to the survey.
After the recent winter storms, residents were outraged as piles of dog poop littered the sidewalks like landmines and massive mountains of uncollected garbage piled up on the city streets.
More than half of New Yorkers (51%) griped that the quality of life is getting worse, according to the survey.
The shocking new survey comes as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has proposed a controversial 9.5% property tax increase — which has been slammed by black homeowners in the city.
And experts have warned the measure could lead to rent increases for already struggling tenants.
Mamdani framed the proposal as a “last resort” for raising revenue for his mammoth $127 billion budget if Albany and Gov. Kathy Hochul refused to approve the income tax hike he wants on New Yorkers making $1 million or more.
While Hochul sports a 46% approval rating, her highest since Oct. 2021, 56% of registered voters still think Albany is taking the state in the wrong direction.
She currently holds a commanding 17% lead over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman — 50% to 33% — months ahead of November’s gubernatorial election.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saw his support plummet 34 points in his home state over the last year to an all-time low of 27%.
The Democrat, who has represented New York in the senate since 1999, is now viewed negatively by 50% of voters in his own party, the survey shows.
The arrogant leftists at the WaPo deflect from the reality they produce something nobody wants to buy
Washington Post losses soared past $100M in 2025, prompting mass layoffs: report
The Washington Post’s losses soared past $100 million in 2025 as the paper struggled to keep up with a changing news landscape — prompting colossal layoffs earlier this month, according to a Thursday report.
After bleeding $77 million in 2023 and about $100 million in 2024, losses continued to pile up at the Jeff Bezos-owned broadsheet last year — even with a still-well-staffed newsroom, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Like many other legacy papers, WaPo has struggled to stay afloat amid steep declines in web traffic and changes in how consumers get their news.
A massive round of layoffs impacting 30% of employees earlier this month still stunned a newsroom known for its historic coverage of the Watergate scandal and the Pentagon Papers, along with its esteemed sports desk.
Asked for comment Thursday, a Washington Post spokesperson pointed to a previous statement on the layoffs, saying they “are designed to strengthen our footing and sharpen our focus on delivering the distinctive journalism that sets The Post apart and, most importantly, engages our customers.”
The paper declined to comment on its revenue figures.
This should reduce their Congressional representation
Woke high-tax New England stronghold has lost 200K residents to other states over the past 5 years
A Democrat's version of transparency
Report: Jasmine Crockett Event Escorts Atlantic Reporter Out, Campaign Called Capitol Police on CNN Journalist
3:46
National media coverage of Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s Texas Senate campaign has led to direct confrontations with journalists, including the removal of an Atlantic reporter from a rally and a call to Capitol Police over a CNN reporter’s visit to a campaign office.
Semafor shared that security personnel directed Atlantic reporter Elaine Godfrey to leave a campaign rally for Rep. Jasmine Crockett in Texas on Monday. The outlet wrote that Godfrey has reported on Crockett in depth and that the coverage appeared to “frustrate” the congresswoman. Crockett had previously agreed to participate in a profile with the reporter last year, but later informed her that she was “shutting down the profile and revoking all provisions” before the story ran.
In a statement first shared with Semafor, Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg remarked, “In a democracy, elected officials answer questions from the press rather than hide from them. This is completely unacceptable behavior by Rep. Crockett and her team, and needs to be addressed immediately.”
Semafor further noted that earlier this month Crockett’s campaign contacted the U.S. Capitol Police regarding CNN reporter Edward-Isaac Dovere, asserting he may have trespassed while attempting to visit a campaign office location.
The developments raise broader questions about transparency and accountability given that Crockett is an elected official. In December, after launching her Senate campaign, Crockett dodged questions during a CNN interview about her 2024 comments comparing Latino Trump supporters to slaves. When asked whether she believed Latino Trump voters had a “slave mentality,” she said that was not what the remarks meant but did not directly answer whether she stood by the comparison, instead arguing that some voters did not believe they were getting the policies they expected.
The reported incidents also come as a recent poll found Crockett leading Talarico 56 percent to 44 percent, a 12-point advantage.
Justice in blue states is biased towards the criminal and not the victims
Blue State Justice: 'Monster' CA Child Predator to Be Released Because He's Not a Threat at Age 64
Another reason to decapitate the Iranian regime
As war looms, indicted al-Qaeda chief has been under Iranian regime's protection for years
Nukes, missiles, terrorist proxies — and al-Qaeda? The Iranian regime's seemingly unlikely partnership with the jihadist group has been largely unremarked upon in the lead up to possible war.
Nukes, missiles, terrorist proxies — and al-Qaeda? The Iranian regime's seemingly unlikely partnership with the jihadist group has been largely unremarked upon in the lead up to possible war.
More Epstein files fallout
World Economic Forum CEO resigns after DOJ files show meetings, emails with Epstein
"After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum," Borge Brende said
Iran waged decades-long revolutionary terror war against U.S. in Middle East — and here at home
Iran waged decades-long revolutionary terror war against U.S. in Middle East — and here at home
Iran killed hundreds of Americans across the Middle East, with its Hezbollah proxy being the most effective terrorist group against the U.S. prior to Al-Qaeda's terror attacks on 9/11.
The revolutionary Iranian regime — which may possibly find itself in a war with the United States in the coming days — has positioned itself as an adversary of the U.S. ever since it came into power decades ago in 1979.
President Donald Trump appears to be moving toward striking Iran, with the U.S. military moving significant military assets into the region, insisting he would prefer to strike a deal with the Iranian regime but that, if it comes to war, his top general has told him “it will be something easily won.”
Much of the discussion around possible conflict has focused on the Iranian regime’s nuclear program, its ballistic missiles, and its support of regional terrorist proxies — but not as much attention has been placed on a host of Iranian-directed terrorist attacks against U.S. troops, diplomats, and citizens which have killed hundreds of Americans. Iran has also sought to carry out a number of attempted plots on U.S. soil as well.
Minnesota fraud
Just 6 of 500 state autism providers have sought to comply with new licensure requirement
State officials also confirmed that all 338 site visits conducted at autism centers were announced in advance, typically about 24 hours.As Minnesota finally moves to rein in an autism services program beset by accusations of fraud, lawmakers learned that nearly no one is rushing to comply.
State officials testified this week that out of roughly 500 autism service providers billing Medicaid under the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) program, only six have applied for licensure — even as a statutory deadline looms and tougher oversight takes effect.
The disclosure came during a Monday hearing of the Minnesota House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee, where lawmakers pressed officials on years of minimal regulation, announced inspections and low qualification standards for those working with children with autism.
Licensure brings stricter requirements and little interest
Officials acknowledged that EIDBI was created by lawmakers as an unlicensed program, a structure that allowed providers to operate with “less barriers to entry and fewer standards for businesses.”
That is now changing. Under provisional licensure, providers must apply by May 31, disclose ownership, pass background checks, verify staff qualifications and demonstrate billing and documentation practices. Providers who fail to apply “will no longer be allowed to operate.”
“There’s 500 unlicensed providers, and only six applied for licensure, which is shocking,” said Vice Chair Patti Anderson.
Online training can qualify autism providers
The hearing also revealed how low the bar is for some autism service workers under current law.
At the lowest tier of providers, officials testified, “the qualifications are just not that much.”
“So we’re talking about, I think you need to be like, over the age of 18, maybe have a fluency, like in another language besides English, maybe some online training,” said Department of Human Services (DHS) Inspector General James Clark.
No medical degree, clinical license or formal healthcare education is required at that level — even though services may be delivered to children with severe autism.
Clark acknowledged the concern, telling lawmakers the issue is rooted in statute, not enforcement.
“I think the legislature should look at … seriously … the qualifications for providers that we allow to provide services in our Medicaid program,” Clark said.
Announced site visits and limited authority
State officials also confirmed that all 338 site visits conducted at autism centers were announced in advance, typically about 24 hours.
Because the program was unlicensed and not classified as high risk at the time, officials said the state lacked authority to conduct unannounced inspections unless fraud was already suspected.
That will change going forward.
“The providers that choose to be revalidated, choose to provide their ownership information, choose to provide documentation to show that they have the right credentials in place … There’s licensed professionals that need to be involved in each of these agencies,” Clark said. “We will do unannounced on-site visits to all of those providers.”
Prior Alpha News reporting highlights oversight concerns
Multiple people have been charged in recent months for defrauding the EIDBI program. Additionally, a recent review of billing data found that 90% of claims submitted to the program in the past four years were flagged for not matching clear state policies and procedures.
Alpha News has previously reported on autism providers operating under the EIDBI program.
Last year, Alpha News reported on Fountain Autism Center, a Burnsville-based autism therapy provider that has billed the state nearly $2 million in Medicaid reimbursements since October 2023.
Despite the public funding, a neighboring business owner told Alpha News the facility appeared “almost always empty.” Weeks of surveillance footage reviewed by Alpha News showed little activity during posted business hours, including after-school hours and weekends. When Alpha News visited the site, only one employee was present and no children were observed.
Alpha News also reported that the center’s Qualified Supervising Professional — the clinical authority responsible for treatment plans — had multiple felony drug convictions, a misdemeanor conviction for violating an order for protection and two DWIs, according to public records.
In a separate investigation, Alpha News reported on Ausome Development Center, an Edina-based autism services provider that has received $4.8 million in taxpayer funding.
After Alpha News visited the location following a tip that “no children are ever seen” on site, the company sent the outlet a no-trespass letter barring reporters from the property and warning police would be called if they returned. The letter did not dispute any facts reported by Alpha News.
During the visit, reporters observed no children on site, only adult staff. Subsequent review of Ausome’s website found multiple images that appeared to be stock photos and did not match the physical location. Alpha News has also received tips from members of the public who said they were unable to reach the business by phone.
Like Fountain Autism Center, Ausome Development Center was not required under Minnesota law to hold a state license at the time it billed millions in Medicaid funds.
Neither Fountain Autism Center or Ausome Development Center have been charged with a crime.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
