Why do people leave Jackson?

I'll start to get it going:

1. Fear of crime.
2. Belief that public officials are inept, etc.
3. Too many black people.
4. Don't like city living (too many people, too noisy, etc.)
5. Belief that public schools are unsuitable.
6. Can't find a fulfilling job.
7. Can't find a job, or one that pays enough.

8. Better infrastructure already exists in other cities.

9. Too many potholes.
10. City residents not tolerant enough of ___________ (gays, Republicans, crazy artists).
11. Want to live in a more creative, artsy city with those opportunities.
12. City too liberal/Democratic.

Come on, y'all. Add more. Nothing is too small, too large, right or wrong. Bring it.

13. Safer property values elsewhere.
14. Property taxes too high.

Good ones, Mark and Judah. Who's got No. 15 for us? (Remember, it can be anything you've heard people say whether you agree with it or not.)

15. Fear of flooding.
16. Going to school somewhere else.

17?

17. "I can't deal with going without water for a week, or wondering if I will have to."

18. Knowledge that quality of life and school is better elsewhere.

Way to go, all. Let's get No. 19 up. All, just turn around and ask someone to give you reasons they don't live in Jackson or that someone has said to them. Again, these are without judgment and whether or not you think they are accurate. We need an extensive list.

19. "Moved to Oxford to be closer to my boyfriend. 20. Change of scenery. 21. New start in a new town. But I still love Jackson and call it home." (Posted on my FB page.)

22?

22. Corrupt Politicians. Not all, but they know who they are.

The FEMA conspiracy That was confirmed in 2007 and the effect it will have on the financial future of the state/

Langstn, teehee on 24 and 25. But what do you mean by 26? "People leave because they believe fearful things aren't different" doesn't quite make sense to me? Edit?

38. A personal experience with crime that has not been experienced elsewhere.
39. Inadequately resourced public education system.
40. More value for tax investments in outlying communities (education, infrastructure, city services, etc.)
41. Lack of quality daycare/aftercare.

42. Lacking education system
43. Not enough to do (or not enough opportunities)

44. City will not cut back overgrowth around city-owned creek/ditch near house.
45. City will not clear storm drains on street, causing water to pool and cause erosion.
46. Streetlights do not work.
47. Car burglarized 3 times while parked in carport.
48. Wife's car burglarized while parked in carport.
49. Advised by police officer to not walk dog past 9:00 PM.
50. JPD officer refused to take fingerprints on 3 out of 4 auto burglaries.
51. Water bill increased dramatically.
52. Insurance rates are higher in Jackson zip code.
53. Having to pay for private security patrol just to provide minimum protection.
54. Kenneth Stokes.
55. Economic growth being choked by the levee board.
56. Aggressive panhandlers downtown.
57. Stabbing at King Edward bar.

59. To avoid all the urban hipster wannabes.

52. Kenneth Stokes

All, wow, you've been busy while I've been in meetings and workshops this afternoon. I went back and re-numbered them. I note that some of you are posting different versions of the same one (like fear of crime), but that's fine for now. We'll streamline the list later. Meantime, keep 'em coming!

And here's your weekend homework: Start thinking about why people move to/stay in Jackson. But DO NOT post on this thread. I will do that blog post on Monday.

BTW, what's with the time clock? It show's my last post at 5:08, though I just posted it a few minutes ago at 7:08? Pacific time, maybe?

Here are more posted on my Facebook page today:

53. They are afraid and don't give a damn about their neighbor, their neighbors children, their neighbors property, or their neighborhood! Or for anything else! It is all about ME and screw you attitudes"

54. taxes and public schools.

55. Jackson doesn't embrace its identity as a city (it tries to out suburb the suburbs)

56. Jackson falls short of civic projects (The ugly green lights downtown, semi-fixed fortification street, the painted 'sidewalk' on old canton)

57. Jackson doesn't look to other cities for inspiration (other than a trip or two to little rock, we don't need to reinvent the wheel)

58. The car is king

59. "One important thing to add to the discussion - The people leaving Jackson aren't just going to the suburbs - Nashville, New Orleans, Atlanta, and other cities are sucking up young residents looking for an urban lifestyle"

60. "Some people just need more. They should not be ridiculed by those who want less. A good education may be possible here, but you are limited in what you can do with it. And then there is:

Madison Square Garden
The Astrodome
The Riverwalk (Austin)
Cape May
The view from anywhere in the Shenandoah Valley and anywhere along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The ability to go out anywhere at anytime and get exactly what you want and not have to order it from somewhere else.
Baltimore Harbor
Celebration of diversity in taste and texture"

Who's got 61? If we're going to tackle this issue, we've got to get granular about the issues.

No idea, golden. Site seems to be wigging out a bit. Got Todd on it.

And Langston, I renumbered the reasons before I saw your question about No. 50. Which one were you actually referring to using the new numbers?

61. "Lost my job and had to move in with my parents." (via e-mail)

62. Better shopping.

I know specifically of a person who recently moved to Madison and cited better shopping as a reason for his move.

He moved from Belhaven and also mentioned crime as a reason.

76. Taxes are a huge problem. Auto tags, alone, are a reason I hear A LOT.

I've been contemplating a move for several years. It's not Jackson I want to leave... It's Mississippi.

Great work, all. Remember that on Monday, I start a new post: Why people move to/stay in Jackson. Be thinking of reasons over the weekend; it's a good chance to talk to others about. Let's make this a cyber-think tank. Cheers!

Now, No. 77?

77. Because I can sit on my back porch and listen to the birds and water of the reservoir... not police sirens and traffic.

83. If I could have studied what I wanted to study (Forest Ecology, Entomology) in Jackson I would have stayed. But i also realize that since I left I have grown a lot. I want to go home to Jackson when I'm done with school and share all I've learned! Also, being away from Jackson has helped me appreciate it even more.

I feel you, Lizzie. I certainly left for education I couldn't get here (institutionally and in life). And I'm glad I did. That's part of the reason I'm conflicted when people are wholesale attacked for leaving. Sometimes you gotta leave to want to be here. I see that constantly from people of all races.

Sometimes I think the folks who complain about it here all the time *need* to leave for a while. They would see how expensive, competitive and less tolerant of some of our Mississippi habits the world can be. They would also see that things aren't as bad here as they think -- and how it's wonderful to be among so many people who care about a place so much. Or they wouldn't. Either way, it's educational.

Can't wait to get you back. ;-)

83. Feelings that both sides go right to emotion and pass right over logical thought or facts in any political debate. Everyone seems to have a throwdown card in Jackson whether it be the race card, the "our neighborhoods will be ruined" card, the religion card, or the wild draw four card of socioeconomic discrimination that both sides play.