Miami’s mayor said Sunday that he welcomes New Yorkers to the city — boasting of the city’s comparatively low taxes and “best quality of life.”
“Our arms are open in Miami. It's a two-hour flight (from New York). You are going to save a huge amount on the cost of living. It is going to save a huge amount in taxes, "said Suarez on Sunday.
"You will have the best quality of life and will be able to buy a property at a fraction of the price," he added. “You don't have to sacrifice or suffer, because all the financial companies are now moving to Miami, and all the venture capital companies that are in Silicon Valley (California) are also moving” there, he said.
The comments came when radio host John Catsimatidis, a billionaire businessman who left New York criticizing high taxes, asked the mayor about the many residents of the "Empire State" (NY) who have moved permanently or temporarily, in an exodus that had already begun before the pandemic, at least since 2016, and that has now cost her one less seat in the National Capitol.
Catsimatidis, a veteran Greek-born New York businessman, has rumored that he would participate next year in the Republican primaries for governor, in open criticism of the fiscal and security efforts of Andrew Cuomo and Bill de Blasio.
“We will be the most dynamic and attractive city to create a company, build a life and raise children”, the mayor of Miami reiterated. “Are a pro-capitalist city that welcomes immigrants ”, cited New York Post.
Suárez, a politician in favor of the police and low taxes, recalled that Miami has attracted people from abroad due to the "dysfunctions" in countries ruled by leftist leaders. His father, Xavier Suárez, was the first mayor of Miami born in Cuba, from where he emigrated from the communist dictatorship as a child.
Miami-Dade has been attracting particular interest from New Yorkers in recent years. A local analyst said as early as 2019 that New York's fiscal problems had been as "positive" for Florida as the socialist government of Venezuela, citing the thousands of emigrants from that country who have fled to that region. Since then, with the pandemic, the exodus has increased.
Many financial institutions have already left the Big Apple.
Earlier this year, Paul Singer announced he was moving his $41 billion hedge fund firm from Manhattan to Miami. He cited the coronavirus as the reason behind the move.
Carl Icahn, the founder of Icahn Enterprises, also relocated his firm from Manhattan to Sunny Isles Beach, in Miami-Dade County, in 2020.
A recent article in Forbes magazine documented the trend of businesses fleeing from New York.
The publication claims that a combination of high taxes, poor governance on the part of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, ever-increasing crime, capricious business, and school shutdowns, and a resurgence in Covid-19 cases are to blame.
What do you think about moving to Miami?