Down in “Jungleland”

Guest blog by Christopher “Skippy” Miller, Senior Editor

Bruce Springsteen’s 1975 hit greatly details life in “South” Florida. Notice the word “South” in quotes? That’s because we reside in a completely different country. It’s as if this area, consisting of three counties, Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade, succeeded from the remaining Florida territory.

Let’s take a quick look at the dynamics of South Florida. As of 2007, the three counties had a combine population of more than 5.5 million people. The number constantly fluctuates, as we live in an extremely transient area.

In addition, South Florida boasts a highly diverse community with the population coming from a large portion of Latin America, especially South America, Central America and the Caribbean islands. To name a few places, residents hail from Brazil, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Peru, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela, and other countries across the world.

Another large factor includes the residents who were former snowbirds from the Northeast cities, such as Boston, New Jersey and New York. Many of them come from a variety of age-ranges, mostly retirees, and tend to be Jewish-American, Italian-American, Irish-American, Puerto Rican-American, and so forth.

To put it simply, there are a lot of freaking people living in a thin strip of land between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Everglades in the west.

For the past nearly three years, the City of Sunrise remains our temporary home. It’s only temporary because we rent an apartment. The price of housing has skyrocketed over the years. Here, the “American Dream” is owning a two-bedroom condominium or townhouse (otherwise known as glorified apartments) for no less than $250,000.

My wife and I laugh every time we drive past the four empty high-rise complexes, located by the BankAtlantic Center (home of the Florida Panthers). The word “empty” sticks out only because each suite starts at no less than $750,000. What a waste of money constructing these vacant residential towers!

Can you imagine the type of housing a single family can afford elsewhere for the same amount of money?

Luckily, property values are decreasing, but only thanks to continuing increase of foreclosed homes. However, as a middle class family, we still are unable to afford a “house,” featuring our own “yard” with “space” between the neighbors.

Fortunately, we are not considering South Florida as a permanent home. Besides, Broward County is frequently featured as a location for the hit show “Cops.”

Thanks to our faith, immense family values and through our church Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale, India Summer Jean Miller will never possess the “I won’t ever see you again, so why should I care?” attitude so many South Floridians consider as “normal” behavior toward all mankind.