The New York Megalopolis (Part II)

 

Today's Blog is not political. I promise. But it is factual. 

Back in June of 2024, I wrote a Sunday Blog about the New York Megalopolis. I don't know if it has anything to do with the November 5th election, or with people Googling 'New York' or whatever, but that blog from 2024 has now become my most read blog post of the past 10 years. 

Earlier this year, we launched a marketing partnership with HVEDC.org to bring awareness to the economic and lifestyle opportunities of living in the Hudson Valley, NYS. If you live (or move to) one of the 7 counties that make up Hudson Valley there were many incentives to do so - one of which was FREE membership in the NYDLA.org  I don't know if it has anything to do with the election, or with people Googling "Are Americans Moving from Blue to Red States" but the links to our HVEDC pages are now blowing up. And organic traffic to the HVEDC.org site is also off the chart. 

In the last couple of years, large U.S. states where a majority of voters support Democrats – so-called Blue States – have been losing population, while some large red states, where there is majority support for Republicans, have gained residents. An analysis of Census Bureau data shows that there are in fact some big movements of people from states currently defined as blue to those currently defined as red. However, the situation is more accurately described as more people exiting certain blue states – for example New York and California – and heading to other states in general, may they be red or blue. The 'data' is in the books, if you will.

Now it will be VERY interesting to see if anything changes after the election. You can read up on the Northeast Megalopolis yourself. The Northeast tends to Vote Blue. Very Blue. 

The Northeast Megalopolis (often referred to as the BosWash Corridor) is a densely urbanized region in the northeastern United States, stretching from Boston, Massachusetts in the North, to Washington, D.C. in the South. This urban corridor is one of the most heavily populated and economically significant regions in the U.S., with a highly interconnected network of cities and metropolitan areas.

This region is known for its heavy population density, extensive infrastructure, and economic power, making it a central hub for commerce, finance, politics, education, and culture in the U.S.

Characteristics of the Northeast Megalopolis:

High Population Density: The region is home to more than 55 million people (about 1/6th of the U.S. population), making it one of the largest population centers in the world.

Economic Powerhouse: The region includes some of the wealthiest cities in the U.S., with major industries ranging from finance and technology to healthcare and education.

Transportation: The megalopolis is well-connected by an extensive network of highways, rail lines (including Amtrak), and airports, facilitating easy movement of goods and people.

Urbanization: There is little rural land between the major cities, with continuous urban development from Boston to Washington, D.C.

The Northeast Megalopolis plays a crucial role in shaping the social, cultural, and political landscape of the United States. Its cities are among the oldest and most historically significant in the country.

If you jump to the West Coast, California is the 5th largest economy in the world for the seventh consecutive year, with a nominal GDP of nearly $3.9 trillion in 2023 and a growth rate of 6.1% since the year prior, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. On a per capita basis, California is the second largest economy in the world among large economies.

Where are you going with this, Tom?

Well, you cannot ignore the math. You cannot ignore the facts. If you take the very 'Blue' Northeast Megalopolis and add it together with the very 'Blue' California Megalopolis you have the majority of the money and power of the entire country. And the leadership of the entire world knows this. 

It does not matter if you voted Red or Blue this month. Math is math, facts are facts, and the math and facts says that the money, the power, the economy, and the most highly educated people as of today's Sunday Blog, are living in Blue States. 

Govern yourselves accordingly. Plan your business, plan your lives, plan your family's futures accordingly. I truly do hope the best for everyone, no matter where you live, or how you vote. 

Be safe and be well. 

www.JoinNYDLA.org

https://www.hvedc.com/about-the-hudson-valley/

Just VOTE

This will be one of my shorter Sunday Blogs. Vote.

If you did not already vote (I did) then you should vote on November 5th. 

Born in 1960, I remember when we only had three major TV channels. I remember when the broadcast would 'end' sometime after midnight, and they would play the National Anthem, and then you would get a test pattern. 

Test Patterns were primarily used in television broadcasting to help with various technical aspects of signal quality and calibration. They served several purposes:

Calibration: Test patterns allowed technicians to adjust and calibrate the broadcast equipment, ensuring proper color balance, contrast, and brightness.

Signal Quality: They helped in assessing the quality of the television signal. By using standardized patterns, technicians could identify issues like distortion, interference, or incorrect aspect ratios.

Equipment Testing: Broadcasters used test patterns to evaluate the performance of cameras, monitors, and other equipment during setup and maintenance.

Color Accuracy: Patterns with different colors helped ensure that televisions displayed accurate colors and that the transmission process preserved those colors.

Overall, test patterns were essential for maintaining the technical standards of television broadcasting.

The combination of the national anthem and test patterns was a common sight on television, especially during the early days of broadcasting. When broadcasts ended for the day or during maintenance, stations would display a test pattern alongside the playing of the national anthem. 

This served several addition purposes:

Signaling Downtime: It indicated to viewers that the broadcast day was ending or that the station was temporarily off the air.

Cultural Significance: Playing the national anthem fostered a sense of patriotism and connected viewers to their country.

Visual and Audio Standard: The test pattern provided a visual and audio reference for the technical aspects of the broadcast, ensuring that equipment was functioning properly.

These practices (Test Pattern AND the National Anthem) have largely faded with the advent of 24-hour broadcasting, but they remain a nostalgic part of television history.

The practice of playing the national anthem on television at night began to decline in the 1980s and 1990s. Many stations transitioned to 24-hour broadcasting, eliminating the need for a sign-off period. By the early 2000s, it had become rare for broadcast networks in the U.S. to air the national anthem at night. While some local stations might still have done it, it was no longer a widespread practice. This change reflected broader shifts in media consumption habits, as audiences increasingly expected constant access to programming.

It's 2024. News is different. TV is different. Mass Media (and now Social Media) is very different. The world of Politics is very different as well. When I was growing up in the 60s and 70s if by some chance you were still up to see the TV Test Pattern, if you were still up to watch and listen to the National Anthem being played, you would know that in the morning - when you woke up - the TV would be back online, the world would restart, and everything was going to be 'OK' in your home, in your neighborhood. 

You felt safe, you felt protected. Your country was saying 'Good Night, sleep tight, we'll see you in the morning.' ALL OF US were to sleep well. The UNITED STATES of AMERICA. 

Vote On Tuesday. I'll see you in the morning on Wednesday. 

Speakers On