Texas dominates Best Cities for Job Growth List 2012 (Tyler, Center: health, company)

[CarlB328]

I don't know if this is really something to be proud of. Rampant growth while running low on water doesn't seem to smart.

[sxrckr]

Originally Posted by CarlB328

I don't know if this is really something to be proud of. Rampant growth while running low on water doesn't seem to smart.

I am really concerned with this in Austin, especially after last summer.

[Texas Liberal]

Originally Posted by CarlB328

I don't know if this is really something to be proud of. Rampant growth while running low on water doesn't seem to smart.

Would you suggest that we should intentionally sabotage the economy because of the drought (which has already ended in much of Texas anyway)?

People need jobs so they can support their families. Yes, we should make better (and fairer) use of our water supplies, but to keep some people unemployed so that others can continue to waste water doesn't seem very smart to me.

[SVTRay]

Originally Posted by Texas Liberal

Would you suggest that we should intentionally sabotage the economy because of the drought (which has already ended in much of Texas anyway)?

People need jobs so they can support their families. Yes, we should make better (and fairer) use of our water supplies, but to keep some people unemployed so that others can continue to waste water doesn't seem very smart to me.

Agreed, it's as if their implying that Texas has some how engineered our economy and should tone it down a bit. The economy is out of our hands an the growth we're experiencing if people moving in from other states with not so good economies. As for water, most of the state has recovered from the drought and cities like Midland/Odessa has secured water rights to near by aquifers. Midland is set to drill 40 wells and lay 70 miles of pipe that will be completed by this time next year. This line will supply 10,000,000 gallons a day which will help supplement our water useage. In the mean time Midland/Odessa is currently receiving more right as I type than we saw last year. Our city water comes from OH Ivie which has also been receiving rain fall...the lake has actually risen for the first time since last year.

[sxrckr]

Job growth should never be sabotaged. Places like CA do that on their own already by indirect, likely unintentional means.

But water needs to be treated as a more precious resource than it currently is, and we need more solutions.

[SVTRay]

Originally Posted by sxrckr

But water needs to be treated as a more precious resource than it currently is, and we need more solutions.

Agreed

West Texans are big on growing their piece of green grass an oak trees etc where we should focus on more native and drought resestent plants. Cities like Midland/Odessa should offer tax breaks for people installing rock gardens and nativ plants. They should hav also started this new water pipeline ages ago. We've grown 20,000-30,000 people in the last 10yrs for example an neither city has lifted a finger to build water storage or city water wells.

[Texas Liberal]

Originally Posted by SVTRay

Agreed

West Texans are big on growing their piece of green grass an oak trees etc where we should focus on more native and drought resestent plants. Cities like Midland/Odessa should offer tax breaks for people installing rock gardens and nativ plants. They should hav also started this new water pipeline ages ago. We've grown 20,000-30,000 people in the last 10yrs for example an neither city has lifted a finger to build water storage or city water wells.

I think it is important to remember though that our water problems are not being caused by population growth, green grass, or a failure of the water district to build a new pipline. We have just endured the worst single year drought in recorded history, that alone is the reason for our water issues. Don't get me wrong, I agree that we can and should make better use of our water, but it is not really true to say that we have been irresponsible about it either. In a normal year, or even a year that is dry but not off the charts dry, we have enough water.

[laina1980]

Originally Posted by sxrckr

The only ones really worth noting here are Austin and Houston. The other TX cities below are too small and/or very limited in the types of jobs or industries.

Disagree. Midland/Odessa are worth noting due to the oil/gas boom.
With the exception of the headquarters, Austin or Houston aren't hopping with jobs in oil as Mid and Odessa are, also San Antonio amd Corpus Christi.

[sxrckr]

Originally Posted by laina1980

Disagree. Midland/Odessa are worth noting due to the oil/gas boom.
With the exception of the headquarters, Austin or Houston aren't hopping with jobs in oil as Mid and Odessa are, also San Antonio amd Corpus Christi.

You sort of just reinforced what I had said; that cities like Midland/Odessa are very limited in the industries (oil/gas), while cities like Austin and Houston have a much more diverse offering in types of jobs available.

[Mark Senior]

The Census Bureau has figures for the Counties Out now, latest available are For July 1, 2011. Growth more like 3,000 YEAR. Midland County 3,300 from July 1 2010 to July 1, 2011
Ector 3,000 " " " " "

Originally Posted by Texas Liberal

Yeah, I have heard that one of the local channels reported that Midland/Odessa was growing at 1000 people per week now. That's 52,000 in a year! I can't find a reliable source for that number but certainly the area has grown quickly. You're right about traffic, you can squint your eyes and pretend you're driving in Austin.