Pictures can tell a story all on their own. In this case, shifting demographics reveal a true "flight" from California and New York while Florida and Texas gain population. We're not going to cast chicken entrails to determine why people are leaving - but, people are leaving. Living in the great state of New York, I can tell you the reason's I'd leave (taxes, a despotic governor, hostile business atmosphere, etc.), but coming from one person, it's anecdotal.
Almost half of NY's population lives in NY city and it's surrounding suburbs. NY's population is where all of the the electoral and national clout comes from. NY city is no longer the industrial production giant it was - in the 20th and 21st century, the city has shifted to a consumption-based profile. In that analysis, it's actual "product", what it is that NY city (and by proxy the state, due to the huge population imbalance) is people.
People vote. So, we have 10 million people living in "Great Vote Farm on The Hudson". The city's social programs and handouts are multitudinous. All you have to do is live there, and an existence can be eked out. It's not much of one, but you will survive. There's a vanishingly small chance you might even thrive! Just be sure to vote for the guy who is giving you those free meals!
Yes, there was tourism - but these are trying times in the new normal. It turns out couples from Duluth don't want to be mugged and have their skulls caved in or shot in broad daylight. New Yorkers spoke, and they wanted the NY of the 70's and 80's back!
Or so you'd be led to believe. Look at the graphs again, and re-evaluate.
TANSTAAFL.
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