NEW ORLEANS — A recent survey by our partners at The Advocate found that just 43 percent of people in Louisiana feel positive about the state's quality of life, but still, nearly 80 percent say they plan to stay.
This is just one recent poll out of several others and they can have a big impact on people's actions.
When it comes to looking at Louisiana rankings from the outside, results are all over the map.
For example, take the downtown restaurant, Willa Jean, ranked third best U.S. breakfast spot by Travel and Leisure magazine.
The general manager says that news puts seats in chairs.
“I think a lot of people saw it, and that is one of the bigger magazines that we all look for, and it definitely brought in a bunch of people from out of town to come, and see, and try us out,” said Willa Jean General Manager, Lauren Tweedy.
Like visitors from Texas who dined there.
“So, we got in our Uber and said, ‘Take us to Willa Jean's. And so it's really good. Best gravy I've had in a long time,” said Rashonda Davis of Beaumont, Texas.
And then there's niche.com ranking the top five places to retire. Numbers two, four, and five, of course, are in Florida. Number one is Scottsdale, Arizona. And guess what, number three is right in Jefferson Parish. It’s Metairie.
“I think it's a fabulous place. I think it's very convenient now. We have groceries. We have movie theaters, and restaurants, nice clientele, nice folks,” said a retiree who lives in Metairie.
But then there’s the other side, with U.S. News and World Report again ranking Louisiana as the worst place to live.
“It's some truth, and also some exaggeration. So, I wouldn't say it's the worst place to live, but you know there are some problems,” said a retired man.
“Positive press, positive awards, can definitely help shape a visitor's opinion of the city, and choose them to come visit us, but the reverse is also true,” explained Kelly Schulz, Senior Vice-President of Communications at New Orleans and Company.
New Orleans and Company say a lot of strategies, and hard work go into competing for spots on the good lists, and getting those messages out over the bad, because it influences where visitors travel.
“And we know a lot of times people make their decision to retire here, or to move here, or to invest a business here, based on that first experience they have as a visitor,” added Schulz.
And the unique culture seems to be a tradeoff for some of the problems.
“It's a love-hate relationship, in New Orleans in particular. We have a fabulous city, but it's run down. New Orleans is like being kissed by a vampire, once it gets in your blood, you can't get it out of your system,” said a woman who is retired.
Crime, the economy, health care, education, and infrastructure were some of the categories used in the ranking of Louisiana coming in at 50.
“People tend to visit a place multiple times before they decide to relocate. This shows the importance of tourism. Visitors come to Louisiana and fall in love with our food, culture, and people,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.
Metairie is not a “certified” retirement community recognized by the Encore Commission. The website gives information as to why Louisiana, in general, is a good place to retire.
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