The Astonishing Transformation of Austin

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Elon Musk is just one of the recent billionaire arrivals now hanging around Austin, Texas. There were two or three until not long ago,
@lawrence_wright
writes. “Now I hear there are 14.”

newyorker.com
The Astonishing Transformation of Austin
My town, once celebrated for its laid-back weirdness, is now a turbocharged tech megalopolis being shaped by exiles from places

Link to tweet

[Faux pas]

1. The

rich love effing everything up.

[jmbar2]

2. Great article

I graduated from UT, twice, and this took me back through many wonderful experiences. After the last time I visited Austin, I had no desire to return. The magic was gone.

[Paladin]

3. I grew up in Austin, back when it was wonderful.

I can't even stand visiting the place, now.

[Doc Sportello]

4. When you have a Chamber of Commerce slogan to keep Austin "weird"

You've lost any weirdness. It wasn't all that weird anyway. It wasn't as active politically in the 60s as other campuses.

[Paladin]

5. UT was DAMN active in the 60's, considering its national location.

No point in arguing with me---I was there and I saw it all go down.

[walkingman]

6. I live in a rural area near Austin and go there for healthcare, etc. Austin has become

Last edited Tue May 2, 2023, 06:08 PM - Edit history (1)

just another big city. On the plus side they do have a lot of good entertainment and for a young person I suspect it would be a great place to meet interesting people (if you can afford it). I personally wish they would push more towards moving people vs moving traffic. When they built just larger freeways it will mean just more vehicles and during the construction will be a mess. (They are about to start expanding I-35). I always say it must be Aggies designing their transportation needs. 😁

[Paladin]

7. I still have plenty of old school friends living in Austin.

They seem to spend most of their time griping about the traffic, the taxes, the ridiculous real estate prices, the constant influx of out-of-staters, crappy UT football, and assorted other things.

And none of them will ever live anywhere else.

[flying_wahini]

8. I have 2 sons and 4 nephews living in Austin. I go there often.

They all lament how everything is so crowded you can’t get in anywhere. Lines snake out of every restaurant. Just driving thru the city takes forever now. Traffic is abysmal and so many restaurants went under during Covid that many that are left are packed nonstop.
We still have our little hometown favorites and we don’t talk about them. Saving for ourselves.

Music scene is great and there is tons of natural beauty there. It’s the too many people that makes it kind of awful.