(The Center Square) — New York City saw a population decline of more than 300,000 people over a 12-month period ending July 1, 2021, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The city’s population fell by 305,665 people or 3.5%. As noted by The Empire Center, the metropolis accounted for nearly all of the state’s record one-year decline.
Losing that many people in a year, the nonpartisan, independent public policy think tank said, also nearly wiped out half of what the city gained in the previous decade.
The statement shows a pattern of internal migration in the months since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when New York had some of the most restrictive policies in place to control the spread of the virus.
The city’s four largest boroughs, which also serve as counties, ranked among the 10 worst declines in the nation, both numerically and in percentage terms.
According to Census Bureau data, in Manhattan, or New York County, the migration of 117,375 people was the second largest drop overall. The 6.9% drop was the worst of any county with at least 20,000 residents.
Brooklyn, or Kings County, saw a decline of 95,022 or 3.5% – fourth and sixth worst. Queens ranked fifth on the numerical decline, losing 74,321, and the 3.1% decline tied for ninth.
The Bronx lost 47,706, down 3.2%. Both characters came in eighth in their respective rankings.
While COVID-19 certainly had an impact on the New York Falls, it probably wasn’t the only factor.
Unite NY released survey results earlier this month, showing nearly 39% of New York State residents said they had thought about moving. The number rose to 41.1% for New York residents.
Of those considering leaving, 36.7% statewide and 23.2% in New York City cite taxes as the primary reason. The same percentage of respondents in New York also say they would leave to find a better job or economic opportunity.
There have also been concerns about public safety issues in New York, with Republicans hammering the city’s and Albany’s Democratic leaders over bail reforms and other issues the GOP says make residents less secure.
On Monday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a former cop, provided an update on changes he says would reduce violent crime while respecting people’s rights. In the first six days, the mayor said a Bronx neighborhood removed 10 guns from the street and made 31 arrests.
The plan was to expand the pilot program to five more neighborhoods in the city.
Adams promised there would be no “mixed message” about public safety in his administration.
“Do it right,” he said. “Don’t violate people’s freedoms, but go after these guns and those who pull the trigger and who are dangerous in our city. You don’t have to wonder what our position is. It is public safety and justice. You don’t have to compromise between the two.
