March 18, 2013
By Mayor Michael Bloomberg
New York NY – Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau released its latest estimate of our population – and two big facts stood out. The first is that today more people live in the five boroughs than ever before – close to 8.34 million people by the Census Bureau’s reckoning. And the second is that for the first time since before 1950, the flow of people into New York City is greater than the passage of people out.
What the Census Bureau found, in short, is that New Yorkers – and also people from across the country and around the world – are voting with their feet. And they’re voting to remain, or become, New Yorkers. That’s also a vote of confidence in the city’s future – one based on our record-setting achievements over the past 11 years in improving the quality of life and creating opportunity of all New Yorkers.
We’ve reduced crime to record lows – and so far this year, murders are down nearly 29 percent from last year’s already record-setting low levels. Under our Administration, New York hit a new record high in private sector jobs – most of them created outside Manhattan. And so far in 2013, we’re continuing to outpace the nation as a whole in new job creation. Our high school graduation rates are at an all-time high, and we’re offering more and better public school choices – good reason for families to stay in New York City instead of moving to the suburbs. Our investments in parks and cultural institutions also give people more good reasons to live here. We’ve made our streets cleaner and safer than ever for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. And because we’ve driven crime to record lows – including on our transit system – ridership on the subways has hit a 62-year high.
