“Austin is one of the largest cities in the country without a franchise in any of the four major sports leagues. “

I generally blame major league sports for everything anyway.

A quick example of non-forward thinking is cincy’s inability to get behind is surprisingly good music scene. 3 things that come to mind are midpoint, jammin on (main), and desdemona. If memory serves, midpoint is still going on, jammin on faded out, and desdemona was a once and done (i could have the order of the first two backwards, i don’t remember). All of these festivals have(had) the potential to become destination concerts, thereby reviving the city. With a little help and nurturing, it could possibly be another SXSW which would definitely help. But for a trying-to-be-white-collar-city like cincy, they seem to not want that kind of crowd in the area. I went to desdemona which was a great show, too bad i could probably name everyone else that went as well…

I’ve come to the conclusion that if the “scene” is to improve at all it won’t be with the aid of the businesses in this town or city council. It will improve through real people that actually give a shit about the “scene”. Those music festivals should also succeed or fail based on the quality of the perspective festivals. I didn’t go to desdemona. Only went to Jammin on main when the acts that were playing were good enough for me to actually put up with the drunk rednecks and the port-a-lets. Midpoint eh…. it was my dream to play that until I actually did. Now I consider it a pain in the ass that is likely necessary to those bands who feel they need exposure.

Cincypunkfest on the other hand has been fantastic and always getting bigger every year. I like it cuz that’s the kind of music I like. It’s not on the scale of MPMF at all, but for one dude organizing it. He does a fantastic job. And there’s where all your youth are going. Adam get’s no help from the city to put that on and he always exceeds his goals for what he contributes to charity every year because attendance keeps going up.

To me that’s the free market of ideas at work.

Anyway, I think that the majority of people who live in greater cincy feel the same about going into the city as they do about getting an anal probe… which IMO totally sucks. That shouldn’t be the norm for any major city. It should be a place that offers people education, arts, entertainment, and a rich cultural experience (and not the kind you get by driving down Vine st). Where else can you get this? The suburbs? Not really… the burbs are so segregated and conservative - it’s no wonder i’ve heard stories about young white kids in greater cincy never seeing a black person in real life until they’re in high school/college… i’m not kidding. Granted, this could happen in any city, but with the incidents/tension that have happened because of race in the past several years in cincy - it’s definitely an example of NOT being forward-thinking. IMO, Cincinnati has a rather backwards way of thinking that just doesn’t agree with me - which is why i moved.

One more thing(for now).. there has been a lot of talk about doing things in Cincy that would improve it, but no action is ever taken. The unfinished light rail, the banks project, the revitalized main st entertainment district… It seems like the city keeps grasping for straws but something always interferes. Why is that? Is it because it’s such a corporate/conservative town that people are afraid of change? It is because there is so much heat coming from minorities (read african americans) that city council is being too careful and trying to not piss anyone off? Is it because the general population could give a shit less? I don’t have an answer… but it’s something to think about…

1. property tax, on average in austin, is between 2-3%. and sales tax…

“Austin has 8.25% sales tax. It consists of 6.25% state sales tax plus an additional 1% levied by the city and 1% for Cap Metro. Cities and towns around Austin has the same or lower sales taxes including 8% up the road in Georgetown.”

that might seem high…but it’s offset by a couple of things. first of all, there is no state income tax. nor is there any tax on ‘unprepared food’ (same in cincy, though, i believe). so i think that answers your question for public trans.

2 and 3 don’t really apply to your question. that’s the way it is.

4. read more here about mueller: http://www.muelleraustin.com/livewire/oct06lw.html .. it’s an idea that essentially pays for itself.

5. los manitas: it’s being paid for through something called ‘the business retention program’, and i’m assuming that is being funded by tax dollars.

6. doesn’t apply.

7. 5-10ks: sponsored by corporate sponsors. i’m assuming any police presence is either paid for as extra or is just part of a fund for ’special events’. same with first thursdays.

8. musicians insurance is not paid for by the city. offered through an individual group. read more here: http://www.healthallianceforaustinmusicians.org/news_view.php?newsid=12

9. applies…but that’s a good thing. i don’t think i mind my tax dollars going to making the city better for me to hang out in.

10. tax breaks are provided to small businesses too: http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2004/11/08/story8.html

11. don’t know about this one. i’m assuming that its paid for through taxes. again, don’t mind. it’s nice to be able to walk around freely and not worry about cars.

so…what do you think, tom?

Taxes don’t seem too out of line which is good. But just imagine how much higher your taxes would be if you had to subsidize 2 major league sports teams. If I had my way honestly The Reds and the Bengals can go somewhere else, and I’d pull all funding for those shitbags and redirect the funds elsewhere.