If you're planning to move to Austin (especially from a bigger city)... (Weir: fit in, 2009)

[mlassoff]

Is it just me, or is this "You can't compare Austin to NYC/LA/whatever" because the cities are not the same size a false argument? Or at least an argument that seems to be brought up only when you mention an Austin negative.

Example: Austin has lousy public transportation compared to New York.
Typical Response: Well you can't expect Austin to have what NY has in transportation, it's 20% the size of NY.

However, you never see the argument in reverse. When someone says something that is positive about Austin-- that is partly due to its size-- you never see someone bring up the comparing different sized cities argument.

Example: Austin is a clean city-- especially compared to LA and New York
What you Never See: Well you can't expect NY and LA to be clean-- They're 5x the size of Austin!

Also, there are many cities SMALLER than Austin that offer, for example, a better culinary scene... Ever been to Aspen? or Burlington, VT?

Austin has advantages and disadvantages that can't be explained away based on the size of the city.

[twange]

Originally Posted by mlassoff

Is it just me, or is this "You can't compare Austin to NYC/LA/whatever" because the cities are not the same size a false argument? Or at least an argument that seems to be brought up only when you mention an Austin negative.

Example: Austin has lousy public transportation compared to New York.
Typical Response: Well you can't expect Austin to have what NY has in transportation, it's 20% the size of NY.

However, you never see the argument in reverse. When someone says something that is positive about Austin-- that is partly due to its size-- you never see someone bring up the comparing different sized cities argument.

Example: Austin is a clean city-- especially compared to LA and New York
What you Never See: Well you can't expect NY and LA to be clean-- They're 5x the size of Austin!

Also, there are many cities SMALLER than Austin that offer, for example, a better culinary scene... Ever been to Aspen? or Burlington, VT?

Austin has advantages and disadvantages that can't be explained away based on the size of the city.

Good points.

Actually, I think that comparing by size can be misleading but not totally irrelevant. I think "age of a city" might be a better comparative point. Many of the things that people find missing here - lack of large museums, better road systems, public transportation, walk-ability, diverse food scene, professional theater, - are indeed present in cities as big, if not smaller than Austin....but much older.


For example, my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. The "city" of Cleveland has about 430K, mostly poor residents, (the region of NE Ohio has almost 3 million but it's very spread out). It's mainly a suburban city these days. But the city has a top-5 orchestra, a fantastic art museum that's just been expanded, a decent restaurant scene, 3 pro sports teams, 4 light rail lines (though limited mostly to the areas where nobody wants to live anymore) and the best live theater district next to NYC. But you know what? The city is over 200 years old and almost all of that stuff came to fruition during the end of the 19th century and early 20th century. And the city had several eras of European immigration: Germans, Czechs, Hungarians, Italians, Irish, Polish, Slovenians etc...But by 1950, Cleveland's population peaked and it's been declining ever since. Cities like Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Detroit all have similar amenities. But people aren't flocking to live there. And it's not just the weather keeping people away

I maintain that Austin is currently in a state of awkwardness due to its fast growth. Growth that past and current city leaders and residents failed to acknowledge or refused to accept. So the city has the population of a mid-size city(750K city- 1.5 mil region) with the infrastructure and amenities of a small city or large town. As the city redefines itself for the 21st century, it will gradually gain certain "staple city amenities" organically through need, desire and time or it will invent some new stuff to fit it's personality...whatever that may be.

In the meantime, find some things that are pleasing and enjoy them

[TexasGirl@Heart]

Originally Posted by twange

Good points.

Actually, I think that comparing by size can be misleading but not totally irrelevant. I think "age of a city" might be a better comparative point. Many of the things that people find missing here - lack of large museums, better road systems, public transportation, walk-ability, diverse food scene, professional theater, - are indeed present in cities as big, if not smaller than Austin....but much older.


For example, my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. The "city" of Cleveland has about 430K, mostly poor residents, (the region of NE Ohio has almost 3 million but it's very spread out). It's mainly a suburban city these days. But the city has a top-5 orchestra, a fantastic art museum that's just been expanded, a decent restaurant scene, 3 pro sports teams, 4 light rail lines (though limited mostly to the areas where nobody wants to live anymore) and the best live theater district next to NYC. But you know what? The city is over 200 years old and almost all of that stuff came to fruition during the end of the 19th century and early 20th century. And the city had several eras of European immigration: Germans, Czechs, Hungarians, Italians, Irish, Polish, Slovenians etc...But by 1950, Cleveland's population peaked and it's been declining ever since. Cities like Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Detroit all have similar amenities. But people aren't flocking to live there. And it's not just the weather keeping people away

I maintain that Austin is currently in a state of awkwardness due to its fast growth. Growth that past and current city leaders and residents failed to acknowledge or refused to accept. So the city has the population of a mid-size city(750K city- 1.5 mil region) with the infrastructure and amenities of a small city or large town. As the city redefines itself for the 21st century, it will gradually gain certain "staple city amenities" organically through need, desire and time or it will invent some new stuff to fit it's personality...whatever that may be.

In the meantime, find some things that are pleasing and enjoy them

Great post Twange!

[TVC15]

Originally Posted by Vector28

If I hadn't done it myself, I would think that strange, but it is fun isn't it?

It is a blast indeed!




The wife really misses this part, specially at the theater. I got where I liked seeing the hot women all dressed up enough that I didn't mind doing it myself.

That IS funny!

[traceyr13]

This was an interesting thread to read, as someone who has lived in Boston, just outside Providence, Washington DC, and Dublin, Ireland before moving to Austin almost 3 years ago.

I agree that a lot of it has to do with expectations and attitude. I hear all the time from Texans how liberal Austin is...as someone who spent 30 years in New England, do I think Austin is particularly liberal? No. Do I think it's liberal for Texas? Yes. Did I move here knowing I would be considered a liberal, left wing Yankee here in the suburbs? Yup. It's okay.

As someone with 2 Master's degrees in Education and 10 years experience in education in the Northeast, do I think Texas education is subpar? Yes. Did I know that moving here? Yes. I do miss (and worry for my 3 children) the level of education I know they could be receiving back East compared to here. My husband and I often talk about what we can do to address the situation.

But I also acknowledge that we are making the choice to stay here. I'm frustrated by it, but at the end of the day, the positives outweigh the negatives here.

There is a lot I love about Austin. I'm not a native Texan, I've lived in several places, including Europe, and I still love Austin. Yes, I am sometimes bemused by the pride and perceptions that native Texans have, but we all have a cross to bear. I'm one of those insufferable elitist Yankees.

[twange]

Originally Posted by traceyr13

As someone with 2 Master's degrees in Education and 10 years experience in education in the Northeast, do I think Texas education is subpar? Yes. Did I know that moving here? Yes. I do miss (and worry for my 3 children) the level of education I know they could be receiving back East compared to here. My husband and I often talk about what we can do to address the situation.

Sounds to me like you are in the position to contribute greatly in the education spectrum. What are solutions?

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by twange

Sounds to me like you are in the position to contribute greatly in the education spectrum. What are solutions?

Yes, this is an entire other thread that I would love to see - what are the specific problems that you see with the educational system here and what specific solutions do you think would work?

[sxrckr]

Originally Posted by truckin54321

<insert fake pic>

Originally Posted by AK123

Oh, and another thing - this isn't even a picture of Houston. At least not according to name page of the link, which implies it's some "ghetto" in Canada.

I didn't think it looked like anything I've seen in Houston. Nice try.

Wow. Second time in almost as many weeks that I've seen a "fake" (either altered or not actually in Houston) pic of Houston, claiming to be it's something in Houston. Why can't people just post a real pic? That's just sad, what is wrong with people, I think some people in other Texas cities feel a competition with Houston and just try to bring it down.

[mlassoff]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Yes, this is an entire other thread that I would love to see - what are the specific problems that you see with the educational system here and what specific solutions do you think would work?

Good grief? Isn't this obvious? The blindly pro-Austin/pro-Texas folks won't even ACKNOWLEDGE a problem exists. This "be specific" request is simply a rhetorical trap-- as if to say there are no issues, unless you are specific about them and can offer solutions. At least it sells houses, I guess.

Here are a couple problems facing Texas schools:

1) Teacher pay is subpar in many districts. A fifth year teacher with a masters on Long Island makes more than a 20 year teacher with a phD in AISD.
2) Average teacher tenure is half in Texas than what it is in Connecticut.
3) Book banning.
4) Intelligent design being taught as science instead of theology.

[readymade]

Originally Posted by mlassoff

3) Book banning.
4) Intelligent design being taught as science instead of theology.

I'm actually kinda worried about this. Is this true? I have found the people here to be MUCH more "pro-religion" than anywhere else I've lived. For the most part no one has tried to shove it in my face (except for the HR person at my company that led a COMPANY-WIDE PRAYER at Thanksgiving claiming it was "non-denominational" but still mentioned jesus a bunch of times). But a LOT of people go to church here and mention it often.

I'm not "anti-religion" per se (only when it impacts me), but definitely don't want it forced on me and ESPECIALLY not on my future kid. And it makes me nervous about, for example, my doctor. Would they refuse me birth control (or my future 16 year old kid) if I wanted it?

As for book banning. Really?