Why are so many people leaving New York City ?

Covid is the big reason IMO. 

People are mentioning other things - but Covid sorta made everything bad with a trickle effect. 

I got to visit NYC for the first and only time in April 2019... ironically 7 months before Covid came about and about 10 months before it hit US shores.

I tell ya I expected to hate the place - but I loved it... 

Times Square was unreal and when I saw those photos of the place looking a ghost town it was pretty depressing - I'm glad to have seen NYC in its original splendor last-minute - although I do say that if we aren't looking at the end of the world yet NYC will bounce back.

I always expected something other than a virus to be the thing that puts us away - but we aren't out of the woods yet regardless. 

Funny thing is I drove past a dome/stadium in my area that has (probably) sat completely empty for the past year... and I saw advertisements for a Weeknd concert... for 2022. 

What a great way to admit how bad things are BUT also combine an optimistic outlook!

They really think that in a year's time everything will be back to normal as if it never happened?

To me I see crowds only gradually forming... and that's if we're smart... which we haven't really been. 

People are not just leaving New York City- people are fleeing the entire state of New York.  High taxation, political corruption, and single-Party control of the state are some of the reasons.

Probably because they want to live somewhere cheaper or more rural. 

The cost of living, and I am sure COVID hasn't helped. Many people are discovering that you don't necessarily have to live in NYC to have a good lifestyle--and Cali isn't the only alternative. Indeed, before COVID and Zoom were a thing, many were learning of other alternatives, but COVID (and Zoom) may have just expedited that search for greener pastures. 

Cost of living is the biggest factor.

Seriously misrepresented.  A small percentage with properties on Long Island or elsewhere have opted to stay outside the city during the pandemic, otherwise the population is level.  About 20% city-wide have been vaccinated so far, with numbers increasing rapidly and restrictions being relaxed.  NYC remains the national headquarters for finance, and the world capitol with the United Nations, thus the target for hate and false info by certain radical groups.

Because the current Mayor there is a f*cking idiot who keeps pissing everyone off (especially cops + jews lately), and the State Governor is even worse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwbm8oEf4yc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFOJDBJjMEc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usqK9XnMW3g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu0n05E6zUk

Seems the only thing politicians in charge there know how to do is Ban Stuff, Tax the sh*t out of stuff or introduce a new and interesting fine for something trivial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjs7HrkcjrE

Because the cost of living is very high and the economy has taken a real hit from Covid.

People are moving to the south where they can be free. They’re tired of being locked up.

maybe its got more crime now