Are Texas cities bloated?

[jayden]

Cities like San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas have massive city limits which subsequently increase the city proper population. Would you consider these cities bloated?

[202_Cyclist]

I don't know about bloated... just gassy.

[goat314]

Originally Posted by jayden

Cities like San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas have massive city limits which subsequently increase the city proper population. Would you consider these cities bloated?

I don't think so. I honestly think that they are doing a better job administering services and attracting economic development than many legacy cities. Having too much local government can actually be very bad for a region. My hometown of St. Louis is prime example of what a disaster lack of regional cooperation can be.

[JManc]

No but Texans are. I'll see myself out...

[202_Cyclist]

Dad jokes are strong today.

[hauntedheadnc]

A certain young Texan was noted,
To go 'round in the heat thickly-coated;
He said, 'You may scoff,
But I shan't take it off;
Underneath I am horribly bloated.'

[Yuri]

They're just normal. It's the other US cities that are ridiculously small.

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by Yuri

They're just normal. It's the other US cities that are ridiculously small.

Nah, they're not normal. Houston is bigger than São Paulo.

[Yuri]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

Nah, they're not normal. Houston is bigger than São Paulo.

But Houston population is like 40% of their metro area. São Paulo is 55% or so. Boston about 10%, same for Washington. Miami even less.

[R1070]

SA, Houston and Fort Worth are more annex heavy areas than Dallas and Austin.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Yuri

But Houston population is like 40% of their metro area. São Paulo is 55% or so. Boston about 10%, same for Washington. Miami even less.

“90% of Metro Bostonians don’t live in Boston” is pretty crazy. I’d say Texas cities are normal, it’s the other cities that are way too fragmented.

[llamaorama]

Originally Posted by goat314

I don't think so. I honestly think that they are doing a better job administering services and attracting economic development than many legacy cities. Having too much local government can actually be very bad for a region. My hometown of St. Louis is prime example of what a disaster lack of regional cooperation can be.

Houston and Harris County are on the other extreme end of the spectrum though. I really do think Houston is "bloated".

Lots of neglected areas and dysfunctional or weak public services, partisanship in local elections, and a sense that regular people < power brokers.

DFW and Austin are closer to the right-size IMO. A city of about a million people, and then large suburban municipalities with 100,000 to 250,000 people. Big enough to have a diversified tax base and healthy budget, not too top heavy in administration, not too dominated by NIMBYs, but also small enough to be responsive to citizens and feel like a legit democracy.

San Antonio is drifting towards being too much like Houston, IMO.

[JManc]

I don't see how a city with large municipal boundaries is bloated. I would imagine many cities would like to eat up surrounding areas and add them into their tax base. Especially when those areas are mostly commuters who use city services on a regular basis.

[xzmattzx]

If you think those cities are bloated, look at Oklahoma City and Phoenix.

[KevinFromTexas]

It's the beans. It'll pass.

[mrnyc]

the fact is by having large areas instead of multiple suburbs for their metros texas is doing cities right in that regard. sure there are plenty of problems with texas state and its cities, but no question about that being a texas sized positive.

[dc_denizen]

no, other American cities have too restricted city limits

Boston-700,000 people, smaller than Calgary even though the core high density urban area is around 2.5-3 mm people

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bo...!4d-71.0588801

[The ATX]

Contrary to popular belief, the Texas State Legislature virtually stopped Texas cities from annexing populated areas along their borders in 2018. People living in areas to be annexed must vote in favor of being annexed. And that doesn't happen because people don't vote for higher taxes.

[llamaorama]

I believe that law only affects larger cities. I don’t agree with it because the real competition is not other cities but unincorporated areas with special districts and master planned communities. This creates a much more unfriendly and unequal landscape where there are weak public services and a wide gap between HOA subdivisions and unregulated low income areas.

The result is a place that is not a “place” at all like for example East Montgomery county outside Houston.

[MolsonExport]

Flatulence? Usually found where there are skyline dick measuring contests.