About three years ago, just as we were recovering from the pandemic, everyone seemed convinced that New York had breathed its last breath. Residents left in droves for safer streets, sunnier skies, and lower taxes. But many of us who had seen our city navigate tough times knew she would bounce back and she has, with a vengeance!
If you have walked around New York recently or grabbed dinner out, you know exactly what I am talking about. That unmistakable New York energy, unique to our city, is vibrant again, and people have returned in droves. Here is the data to back it up:
Top 10 metro areas where net domestic migration fell most in 2024:
Tampa, FL: 24376
Dallas, TX: 22302
Atlanta, GA: 18466
Houston, TX: 18221
Miami, FL: 16781
Orlando, FL: 15578
Fort Lauderdale, FL: 11464
San Antonio, TX: 11122
Fort Worth, TX: 9557
Austin, TX: 8239
On the flip side, people are leaving the Sun Belt in significant numbers due to rising living costs, escalating natural disasters, skyrocketing insurance premiums, hefty HOA fees, and an overall fading allure.
These are the top 10 metro areas where net domestic migration improved most in 2024:
New York, NY: 33742 (Yes!)
Los Angeles, CA: 20673
Washington, DC: 20092
Chicago, IL: 19836
Anaheim, CA: 13668
Philadelphia, PA: 13654
Sacramento, CA: 12961
Seattle, WA: 11720
Nassau County, NY: 10579
Boston, MA: 10056
Predicting the future is easier when you look at our past.
About a year ago, there was a quirky TikTok trend asking men how often they thought about the Roman Empire. Surprisingly, quite often, it turns out!
Recently, my reading has led me unexpectedly deep into the Roman Empire. Amidst the chaos of modern life, I have found surprising comfort here.
Here are the books I have read recently and some reflections:
"Jerusalem: The Biography" by Simon Sebag Montefiore
This book should be required reading. It is one of the best books I have ever read, and if everyone read it, they would have a profound understanding and appreciation for Jerusalem and its global significance.
"Messalina: Empress, Adulteress, Libertine: The Story of the Most Notorious Woman of the Roman World" by Honor Cargill Martin
A captivating exploration of one of history's most influential women who, like many women throughout history, was often misunderstood and misrepresented.
"Papyrus: The Invention of Books in the Ancient World" by Irene Vallejo
Filled with compelling narratives that echo today's issues. One theme particularly resonated with me: Cordus' and Homer's books were banned because they were seen as threats but survived due to courageous preservation. I vividly remember reading Homer's The Odyssey in Latin class. Thanks to Caligula, this was unbanned. And the survival of Cordus' books was made possible by the bravery of his daughter Marcia. Seneca dedicated an essay to Marcia, stating, "Women have the same intellectual power as men and the same capacity for noble and general actions."
If books managed to survive before Gutenberg's printing press, public libraries, the internet, or BookTok, I cannot help but wonder what the endgame might be for today's book banning efforts.
Maybe Tacitus had it right when he wrote this about the people who try to ban books, "They are foolish, those who believe that they can, with their temporary power, extinguish the memory of events in those who come after them. On the contrary, talents that are punished only grow more revered, and those who act severely achieve nothing but their own dishonor and the glory of those they punished."
And then, there is Seneca, one of history's most significant real estate investors. He amassed enormous wealth by owning a bank, charging exorbitant interest rates, and expanding his real estate holdings throughout Egypt. His wealth represented a staggering tenth of the Roman Empire's annual tax revenue. Yet, instead of indulging in luxury, he passionately pursued stoic philosophy. His writings argued that true richness lies in simplicity, a powerful reminder that real wealth is found not in possessions but in the richness of our inner lives.
Let's do this!
Shaun