Puerto Rican exodus could boost Small Town, USA

[IronLionZion]

http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/13/news/economy/puerto-rican-maria-migration-small-towns/index.html?iid=hp-stack-dom

They're already landing in Lorain, Ohio -- Puerto Rican families, with few possessions and bleak memories.
"We started to see it last week," says Victor Leandry, director of El Centro, a nonprofit social services agency based in this faded industrial town on the shores of Lake Erie. "Just today, we have at least four or five new families. When I walk into the building at nine in the morning, we are seeing already a migration."

This isn't the norm. In what's shaping up to be the second greatest exodus to the mainland since World War II, most Puerto Ricans fleeing the devastation of Hurricane Maria will end up in New York and Florida, where hundreds of thousands of islanders already live.

But as Puerto Rico's economy has deteriorated in recent years -- the country's diaspora has ballooned to 5.4 million people, far exceeding the 3.4 million who live on the island itself -- many have migrated to other parts of the U.S.

Some who leave the island as a result of Hurricane Maria will end up in lesser-known Puerto Rican communities in states like Ohio, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Illinois.

Many towns, like Lorain, could really use the newcomers.
"As tragic as this [situation] is, it could be helpful to the Northeast Ohio economy," says Jose Feliciano, a lawyer who chairs the Hispanic Roundtable of Cleveland. "Ohio needs bodies for work."

Here's an opportunity for our party to earn the votes of thousands of US citizens who have been screwed very badly by the other party and could use some help to get settled in the mainland of some big swing states. They need housing, jobs, school enrollment, and voter registration, among other stuff. Many on the other side still don't know Puerto Ricans can vote and will be in for a big surprise.

[msongs]

1. some well placed groups in some red states could have a big effect. NY is not the place nt

[IronLionZion]

2. Florida is the place, and PA, OH, maybe Texas

Puerto Ricans moving to NY are going there mainly if they have family there. The other states have more affordable housing for a new family who has lost everything and needs to start over.

[crazycatlady]

4. depends what parts of NY

There's several upstate districts that will be in play next year. A PR exodus could place new voters in those districts.

[IronLionZion]

6. It could make a different in rust belt cities: Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany. Binghampton

Formerly blue districts have been losing population and turning red lately.

[Dulcinea]

3. Come to Georgia!

Help us turn this state blue!

[coolsandy]

5. Helping turn America Blue again!

Unintended consequences of the 45's evilness.