How do you respond when others say: "Houston sucks!!"

Yo mama sucks!



Seriously, who cares? Every big city dweller thinks their city has the worst traffic and that makes them cool, has the most culture and that makes them cool, has the prettiest women and that makes them cool, has the superlative this or the superlative that and these make them cool...

In the end, who gives a flip? If you like it, stay. If you don't, move. If you can't, tough.

 

"You're right."

 

Austin and their bleeding liberal caucasion activist rapping, spring water lapping, whole-dirt dreadlocks wearing, Live Oak saving, umbrella drink slamming, off-road bike riding, East of 35 dissing, we all stand in long lines for the same restaurants and clubs homogeniety needing college town makes me nauseous. I don't see how BrianKagy can stand it without puking.

That is what I say to Austinites who say "Houston sucks!!"

 

I ordinarily tell them to go to hell.

 

I wasn't "dis"ing the Austinites here. But if the shoe fits....lol.

 

Defenses for Houston:

1) Best restaurant city in the USA - New York may have more, but the percentage of great restaurants in Houston is mind-boggling. Great variety, unique cooking styles (Tex-mex, vietnamese and chinese hybrids) and great value.

2) Cheap housing - When I lived in DC last year, the Northeasterners and Californians were flabbergasted when I told them I rented a decent 2 bedroom house with central AC in Houston for $550. Of course that was a great deal, but overall, you can have a decent place in Houston for reasonable prices.

3) Diversity - And without the racial tensions that plague other big cities.

4) Open space - Go to most big cities and after awhile you feel like the buildings are going to close in on you. Its impossible to feel claustrophobic in Houston because you can drive a couple of miles and be in a totally open (though not necessarily uncluttered, unfortunately) area.

5) Cheap schools - Rice is one of the cheapest of the highly ranked smaller private colleges. UH is one of the cheapest, yet still well-regarded law schools in the country.

6) Good medical facilities - If you're going to be sick, Houston's the place to be.

7) The Houston Rockets - the only team that can claim to have had the Bulls number during Jordan's championship years. (You knew I wouldn't leave them out )

Now if only we had a decent local music scene . . . .

 

We have the second most theater seats in the country too.

 

You are kidding, right? Are you saying that there is no racial tension in Houston at all? What world are you living in?

 

You can add to that list...

Houston is #1 in job growth in 2001 and #2 in 2000.
Though we only represent 1 percent of the US population, we represent 11 percent of the US volunteer hours.
Houston has more theater (not movie theater, REAL theater) seats per capita than any city in America except New York.
Houston is ranked third behind LA and NYC for location film shooting.
Out of the biggest 25 cities in America, we rank #3 in fewest violent crimes.
Houston was rated the best place in America for African Americans to live.

There are more but I'll have to get back to it later.

 

I think the point is in comparison to other cities Houston's size.

Also its warm in the wintertime. Can you say THAT about Chicago or NYC?

 

Why was LHutz post deleted? Is there some kind of conspiracy.........................

 

Most people I've heard say "Houston Sucks" are from:

Dallas/Ft.Worth/Arlington
San Antonio
South Texas
uh....ok, those places are much more exciting than 'ol H-Town.


Oh yeah Jeff, you forgot Bikelanes!
Even though I almost get hit for being ignored by motorist everytime I go out to ride...but hey, we got the damn bike lanes!

 

For variety, yes. But for the best? Hmm... not too sure.

Their salaries are higher. I'd be making up to 30-50% more in the Northeast than I am here. But I'll take cheaper housing; you're right!

Compared to what? Manhattan? lol. Houston is a congested hulk of a land mass. Even the so-called suburbs have traffic. I don't equate "lack of big buildings around me" to "open space". This congested feeling is the thing I miss least about Houston.

 

I say thats Not True ... The whole State of Texas sucks .

 

But that growth is FAR too dependent on energy and oil. Barton Smith is predicting bad times in the near-future for that job growth rating :

http://www.uh.edu/irf/houston_update.htm

Here's another depicting Houston as arriving late to the economic downturn, but it's jumping in head-first it seems now :

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/011211/n10300291_2.html

Regarding job growth, here's an interesting graphic showing the entire state of Texas basically weathering the storm of the tech downturn. Houston boosted by the oil/energy industry (for now) and Dallas boosted by just about everything from Fritos to telecom survivors :

http://www.rreef.com/research/Wylie's Map September 2001.pdf

One of the most tragic stats about Houston : During the 80's to the late 90's, 2 cities experienced a child poverty growth of over 75%. One was Minneapolis - the other Houston. (Source)

Thanks for the numbers, Jeff... it made me want to learn more about these things.

 

Hey moe, are you still in high school? If so, where should we come to kick your ass? Lompoc High? Maple? Cabrillo? hmmm... ?

muhahahaha...

 

Dr. of Dunk:

Houston is consistently rated as one of the best restaurant cities in the countries. We have several chefs here who have international reputations and, as you mentioned, the variety is unsurpassed. Of course the "best" is pretty subjective, but I think it's safe to say that Houston has little or no competition.

Also, open space and bad traffic are not one and the same. I will agree that Houston needs to fix this, but the fact remains that you never feel like you're in a concrete jungle the way you do in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C. or of couse, New York.

Drew:

Houston was one of the only cities not to have race riots during the 1960s (and this was because of the cooperation between the white and African-American communities). Nor do we have long-standing animosities between our police department and minority communities (like in New York or Los Angeles). Houston isn't perfect, but we do remarkably well for a large city.

 

JayZ750 and Jeff,

But are those theater seats filled? Does anybody on this board go see live theater? What was the last show you saw?

Also as an actor, I find it disgusting that Houston (for being the 4th largest city in the US) has only THREE equity theaters where local actors can make a living. Sure you've got the big touring houses, but come on!

That's why I had to move!

Other than that, I love Houston and miss it terribly!