As RedState has extensively documented, the blue-state exodus to red states is a very real thing, as confirmed by recently released figures from the Census Bureau.

New York, for instance, once again found itself in the unenviable position of being the state that saw the most people leave it for greener pastures:

New York’s population decreased by 101,984 residents—the largest loss of any state—during the 12-month period that ended last July 1, according to just-released Census Bureau estimates. The Empire State’s population as of mid-2023 was pegged at 19,571,216, a cumulative decline of 631,104 from the Census Bureau’s updated April 2020 base count.

The 12-month trend for the period ending last July 1 was driven by a net outflow of 216,778 New Yorkers to the rest of the country — meaning 216,778 more people moved out of the Empire State than moved in from other states during the previous 12 months.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) held a press conference Thursday in the Big Apple to highlight his administration's alleged accomplishments throughout the year, and to preview what was to come in 2024. After the speech he gave in which he bragged about things like how the city was working to combat the street rodent issue, one reporter asked him about the Census numbers and to what he attributed them.

Among other things, Adams brought up the COVID-19 outbreak and families who perhaps wanted bigger yards and the ability to see more animals. Though he left out other reasons why people would want to leave NYC in particular, like crime issues, and barely touched on cost of living concerns, one issue Adams again brought up as a possible factor was... the rats:

Hizzoner pointed the finger at the Big Apple’s notorious rodent population after sobering new United States Census Bureau statistics revealed nearly 102,000 people had high-tailed it out of the Empire State within the last year.

“Some people who have children and families decide they want to go to a place where their children can play outdoors, larger green spaces, you want to see animals — you don’t see animals except for rats in New York,” Adams said when asked about the plunging population data.

Asked about population loss in NYC, Adams says some families may have left for more outdoor space and animals. In NYC, the animals are rats, he says, before quickly adding that city is getting rid of them. pic.twitter.com/uudEeAKSdP

— Elizabeth Kim (@lizkimtweets) December 21, 2023

Watch (the question starts at around the 24:20 mark of the below video):

Jobs are up, crime is down, and we're delivering for working-class New Yorkers every day. Join us at City Hall for our end of the year press conference. https://t.co/i4FuRmzOdX

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) December 21, 2023

Some on social media quipped in response that they first thought Adams was referring to the NYC Council, which would make sense considering I know if I lived in a city like New York I'd consider getting the heck out, too, regardless of how nostalgic I might feel about it.

For the record, I do live in a blue city and it's got similar problems to what we see in New York. But for the most part, leadership here is nowhere near the level of woke you see up north, which provides for occasional forays into sanity.

In any event, thoughts and prayers to New Yorkers on the rat problems - both the ones on the streets and those elected to office. If any of you are conservative and contemplating getting out while you still can, I highly recommend North Carolina, where we're working hard to keep things from getting like they are in Adamsville...

Flashback-->> WATCH: Eric Adams Under Fire for Calling Elderly Constituent a 'Plantation Owner' in Heated Exchange

New York City Rat Problem so Bad Now They're a Tourist Attraction