SperlingViews - San_Antonio, Texas

"Reverse discrimination" is rampant toward white women in San Antonio. The discrimination comes from a substantial number of Hispanic women. This is also the case in Austin. The discrimination is in regards to employment and is profound in central Texas. Discrimination of any type is stupid --- and it is truly sickening and unacceptable. I have read that careers come here to die and this is but one of several reasons.[read more...]

I have lived in San Antonio, Tx all my life and my beloved city to me is the best place to live. 95% of the people here are friendly and very helpful and for a city this size it is not too crowded, traffic is not bad at all, the cost of living is not high, it is actually very affordable here and we do not look down on others.The only thing I do not like about my city is the heat during the summer months, which is unbareable. [read more...]

San Antonio has been a very enjoyable city to live in. Has a small town feeling as far as friendly and very easy to get around in. Winters are very mild. My flowers usually come back every year. Very rarely do we have freezing weather for more that just one day. Summers will vary from 90s to 100 or 102 at most. Most days there is a wind that makes heat feel less. Our medical availability is great. Several large hospitals with excellent care. We have a very mixed culture because of so many military personnel living here at the bases. School systems are rated as some of the best in the US. Housing is probably a good average. A home in a very desirable upper middle class area, that is around 2200 sq ft, will be around $185k to $210k depending on what accessories have been added.[read more...]

I live in the Stone Oak area and hate the traffic here. The city planners need to address the traffic flow problems in a more timely manner. (The current construction that is long over-due is only making it worse) Having lived in Southern California, I can tell you in all honesty that traffic here is comparable to LA traffic during rush hour[read more...]

I was thinking very strongly of moving to San Antonio but am now having deep negative thoughts about it. I am white, single, 50 yrs old and gay. I am not a "flaming" gay, and do not act gay. I had read other reviews on other websites stating that San Antonio was more family oriented than Austin, and was more laid back. After reading the reviews here, I think it's quite the contrary. I was hoping to find a peaceful, Texas town with work, where I could simply live a quiet life and enjoy my surroundings. This sounds more like a bad black and white Western TV series. Ongoing hate, crime and corruption. I know there is No perfect city anymore. There is always going to be something in the soup you don't like, but with the items on this menu, I think I'll just pass on San Antonio. I would be open to suggestions for other parts of Texas that would be more suitable. Thanks to All.[read more...]

I grew up in San Antonio and in my opinion, it is the best place in Texas to live. It is almost exactly in the center of the state, and just a few hours' drive to Austin, Houston, or the beach, and just a few hours more to Dallas. Not that you will need those cities-San Antonio has anything you'd expect to find in a big city. The best thing about the city, though, is that it has all the amenities of a big city but still has the feel of a smaller town. I have lived in three other Texas cities, and none of them begin to compare. Houston is big, but it has all the problems of a big city, in a big way. It also smells bad, literally, and is almost uninhabitable in the summer (summer humidity and heat combine for a deadly mix. If you think I am exaggerating, consider that the city built a network of tunnels under its downtown office buildings, for pedestrian traffic in the summer. Nobody wants to go outside). I only lived in Houston for a summer, but that was more than enough for me. I also lived a summer in Corpus Christi, on the Texas Gulf Coast. Corpus is charming in many ways; my chief complaint is that it was just TOO small town. My time there was 15 years ago, and it has grown some, but I think that by comparison, it is just not as sophisticated as San Antonio. (I don't think the city had a bookstore when I lived there, something that may have changed since). There are plenty of outdoor activities, and cost of living is fairly low, so it is not at all a bad place to live. And, finally, I lived in Austin for two years while attending school. Many people moving to Texas seem to be under the impression that Austin is preferable to San Antonio, a view I most certainly do not share. The cost of living, particularly housing, is far higher in Austin, which alone was reason enough for me to not want to remain there. It is not as big as San Antonio, but IS admittedly more intellectual, with the University of Texas and several additional colleges influencing the culture. However, some people, such as myself, find Austin to be somewhat pretentious; there is a particularly liberal slant to the city's outlook. That in itself isn't so bad, but there is a pervasive pretentiousness about those who aren't liberal enough, or green enough, or active enough in whatever the cause de jour. It bothered me, and I am a fairly liberal, green person. San Antonio, in comparison, is a very laid back place. Speaking only from personal experience, it's my belief that San Antonio is one of the most integrated places in Texas. I say this being an Anglo, and realize I cannot give the minority experience. However, my ex husband is Mexican, and my children resemble him; I have never faced any kind of friction over this in San Antonio (but have in Austin and Houston, even on short visits). San Antonio hosts the largest MLK day march in the nation, but it isn't a self-rightous kind of city (Austin, for example, probably WISHES it hosted the biggest march). Overall, it's more of a live and let live kind of city. I am very happy to be raising my family here. [read more...]

wow, it can't be that bad;can it? I plan on relocating to San Antonio, Tx sometime next year. I only know what I have read;of course all readings are good till I started reading comments on this website lol. Other than driving through San Antonio to see a friend in Houston(gawd houston traffic sucked totally;I could never live in that suction seeping traffic hole to hell), I have never been there. I picked SA based on these categories...Not far from a beach(3+ hrs;not a bad drive & far enough to not worry about hurricanes)touristy,(remember the alamo?:-) for the most part, warm all year around (okay I may suffer in the summer, but I am willing to trade that for freezing in the winter(I am from Indiana)many military bases (just retired from the military and can get what I need off of a base. Also my bank, USAA is there. And last, but not least, I want to pursue my acting career. It is close to cali, so I can hop on a cheap plane to audition and be back by dinner:-)(cali is wayyy toooo expensive to move to.)I do believe I have picked the best place. I have not figured out where to live, because when I read the apt reviews at what appears to be great apartments, renters slam the places pretty bad.... places that had what I was looking for, but got dogged in reviews are Presidio@ the Landmark 14200 Vance Jackson,SA78249 reccomended by 10%, The Haven at Westover Hills 9914 W. Military Drive SA,78251 recommended by 74%(not bad) The Haven at Blanco 15150 Blanco Road, San Antonio, TX 78232 recommended by 58% The Retreat at Canyon Springs formerly Mansions at Canyon Springs24245 Wilderness Oaks,SA78258 I am in love with these but recommended by 32%? ****the overlook at westover hills 9850 Westover Hills BlvdSan Antonio, TX 78251 wish I could afford these but 1br starts at $1600. I don't want to spend more than $1200 for a 2br2ba attached garage, resort style pool, nice fitness center in a nice area with no drama(drugs,dog crap all over the place, nasty mgmt, loud college kids, racism;I am black cuban, etc) I don't think I am asking for too much for $1200 or less am I? North, south east or west? I haven't a clue, so tell me where I don't want to go. I am also willing to live in the country as long as it's no more than 30min away from SA. If you live or ever lived in SA and know a great apt/condo to live in,with reasonable prices or close nearby towns, please share thanks[read more...]

i have lived in san antonio for most of my life. its a black hole. high unemployment rates, high eviction rates, high debt rates, lower cost of living, but they hit you with hidden fees. people are not very nice but at the same time it just depends on the side of town you live on. [read more...]

San Antonio, TX is a great city. The three main sources of revenue are the military (several installations), medical community and tourism and recreation. [read more...]

San Antonio is a awful city to visit. Many werid and bad people around. Many illegals living in San Antonio. Bad traffic and many bad drivers. One time someone cut me off and was so close hitting my car and I honk at him and he wanted to slam his brake in front of me and get me to hit him and I manage to get away from him and he got out of his car wanting to fight with me, so there a lot of people that are like that there. The weather is so hot and humid all summer long making its so uncomfortable. The only thing I like about San Antonio is far west San Antonio where there is a nice houses around and nicer people. Six Flags and Sea World is neat to visit but other than that stay away from most of San Antonio mostly south, east and downtown. Its not perfect in far west San Antonio either but its just a little better than most part of town. I would never visit there again and a few times was enough.[read more...]

Preface by stating that I've lived in Indy, Denver, Dallas and Houston and traveled 5 continents. No place is entirely good or bad - it is really what a person wants. So, depending upon what you are looking for, SA might be the ticket or it might not. After 19 months here, here's how I see it. San Antonio - The Good: *Friendly people who will bend over backwards to help (I'm white, blond and speak enough Spanish to order a beer or ask where the restroom is and have rarely experienced the racism others complain of on this site) *Slower pace *Family centric attitude and family oriented entertainment *Easy to be a faithful, religious person with numerous places of worship *Proximity to Texas Hill Country and Gulf Coast beaches *Mild winters *Great for entertaining out-of-town visitors San Antonio - The Bad: *Filthy, filthy, filthy - trash, poorly maintained homes, infrastructure and business buildings, tagging, etc. *Uncomfortably hot from April - November *Regressive socioeconomically *1 trick pony - the River Walk - other than that, the city doesn't do much investing *High density of poor, uneducated residents *Too "small town" with disproportionately few art, culture and sports offerings for the population size *A workforce that employers complain lacks motivation and skill *Economically stratified which has created 2 San Antonios: the poor, people of color, 85% San Antonio (west, south and east) and the affluent, predominantly white, 15% San Antonio (north, northwest) *Illustrating the city government's poor decision making and short sightedness, in an effort to cut $100K from the annual budget, they recently decided to remove the fluoride from the city drinking water San Antonio - The Ugly: *Drug cartels' influence *As the commentary on this site indicates, LOTS of racial tension *Allergy inducers are so rampant and severe that many allergy drug manufacturers have established test labs here - Doctors have told me that even if you don't have allergies before you move here, you likely will acquire them *No industry, save for health care, and no city plan to to attract it, that brings educated, white collar workers, which would, in time, better balance the distribution of wealth and propel the city forward Hope this helps others to decide. To complete, though we've had our fair share of good times here and met some terrific folks, we have decided that SA is not for us. [read more...]

I joined this site solely to warn anyone interested in moving to San Antonio about how dangerous the driving experience will be. I was first on the scene when a woman with 5 DUIs (who still had a legal lisense)slammed into another woman. Not weird right? Except this happens all the time. Why? Everyone drives drunk. My bff is used to drunk drivers at her drive-thru. It's a nightly occurrence. People are so drunk that they can't order food at a restaurant. As soon as people get off work, they drink. All over the city you will see a high number of shatter car remnants where people have accidents. Half the people you know will have witnessed one. Every time I am on a freeway in traffic, I am afraid. People cut off 18 wheelers. 18 wheelers cut off drivers. I've seen a truck drive on it's rims because it's tire flew off while it was on a bridge on the freeway. I honked him down and he smiled at me. I've nearly been hit more times than I can count. I've nearly been merged onto more times than I can count. Slowing down to get onto a freeway? yes it's happens regularly. I never expect people to use their blinkers and usually expect people to jump onto the offramp and the very last second, rolling onto the solid white line. People will drive in the opposite direction of traffic top get to a parking lot. People will pull out of a parking lot that you are rapidly approaching then honk at you as if you were wrong. People drive on the freeway in the middle lane using their hazard lights. I've seen it at least 3 times. Dangerous driving is just a way of life here. I've mentioned how scary it is to a local and she proudly mentioned that she likes to speed and cut people off. I was shocked at how casual it was to her. I've never seen anyone pulled over after one of the crazy traffic violations I see daily, but they will pull you over just to see if you have warrants. (I never have.)Castle Hills and Leon Valley, however, seem to have cops everywhere. Work ethic is horrible. Professionalism is often not taken seriously, to non-existant. People in a medical assistant class joke all day, copy each others work, and still graduate. My mother an bff are both managers and fire someone regularly for insubordination. People here are raised top be prideful and full of themselves, therefore why should they listen to the boss? Speaking of pride, "mexicans" (they are actually american and of mexican descent)think they are better than you if you are black. It's that simple. From personal experience, if someone is rude to me it's a mexican. Considering the large number of mexicans in the area, it's not just a population thing. I was surprised and disappointed to have this experience again, and again. This is the 3rd fattest city in America and I understand why. Food is big here. Restaurants are everywhere, which is nice, but I guess the locals just don't know when to stop with food (or beer). There is a sad amount of overweight children. AT least 1/10. I've noticed this in each of my daughter's schools. Though there are several great colleges here, the majority of people are uneducated and enjoy gossip ALL THE TIME. Most people I've met gossip, and they gossip more often than people I've met anywhere else. Along with no work ethic, people don't seem to care about being educated or healthy in general, and though they love their kids, many parents here don't believe in disciplining children besides simply yelling. It's another disappointing thing to see. Teen pregnancy is huge here though. It's quite normal to see grandmothers in their 30s. I may sound like I'm exaggerating, But I wish I were. It's impossible for this city to grow and thrive because the people won't grow and don't seem to want to. There's no diversity of people or cultures here at all. In general people look the same, and speak the same, and have the same desires day to day in and life in general. There is no culture outside of mexican culture that I know of. And people are surprised when I haven't experienced the watered down things they call culture, such as the river walk, or some mexican dish from a drive-thru. I'd like to enjoy real mexican culture, but most people don't seem interested. The few I've met who are aren't even mexican. I'm not saying most everyone here is shitty, but their driving skills are. :P Overall, I haven't had a single terrible experience here, but the combination of things I see makes this a sad place to be if you weren't raised here, or are different from most people in any way at all. This ignorance people live in makes me sad, and the roadways combined with the worst driving I've ever seen (I've been to Los Angeles AND San Diego)will make you pray to you maker every time you get on the road (if you believe in such things). Someone WILL try to "run you off the road", and it will likely happen over and over again. [read more...]

LauMand, seriously? Are you just trying to get attention or are you really that stupid? San Antonio has problems just like any other city. The majority of the population are Hispanics, so naturally if the crime rates rises, it would be more likely to be a Hispanic, not because they are more violent than any other culture, but because they are the majority. The truth of the matter is that San Antonio is rated the 7th safest city in America, and Austin is the 5th. If you are constantly looking over your shoulders then perhaps you have either made some enemies, and based on your post and ideals, I can see how that is very possible. The other possibility is that you are very full of yourself, and think that every one wants you. Who or what makes you believe that being blonde and attractive(your opinion) automatically makes you a potential target? Saying really dumb shit like this is more likely to cause you problems than just being blonde, I mean really. Yes, being bilingual helps when it comes to employment, but we are 2 hours from the border. Hello, is anyone at home? Obesity is a problem in SA, but it also a problem all over the country and what does it matter to you anyway? How a person chooses to eat and live is none of your concern. Don't be so quick to judge. I am a black man and my wife is Mexican. My former spouse was white and blonde, and was a stuck on herself too, that is one of many reasons that she is my former spouse. I have been down that road and baby, you all are not all that. If you spent more time looking at yourself instead of over your shoulder, you might see that your feelings and ideas about people that are different, or cultures that are different, are very ugly and that blondie, negates any attractive features that you think you have. [read more...]

where is my ad?[read more...]

Responding to that guy that said san antonio is a racist town against mexicans. I had to laugh at that. I moved to san antonio in 2000, from austin,,(sigh),,I miss austin. Anyway, I didnt have a car at the time,so, obviously, buses were my only source for transportation. (Getting a car was in the making.) I almost didnt want one because of the traffic here. Its horrible among other things. The first thing I saw was graffiti written everywhere on bus stops. Some of that graffiti said " f u nig___! Before I move on, someone please look that up in the dictionary. It does not mean a black person! My kids ask me everytime they see something like that,"mommy whats that"? All I could say is," nothing baby", "just stupid people, writing stupid things". That comment about racism against mexicans here in satx is not true. People are hanging nooses now in colleges and schools. Swasticas are drawn everywhere under chairs, on tables, on walls, bathroom stalls. I was visiting a friend whom lives on the eastside one day, (whom happens to be mexican mind you), and this guy, (biker lookn old caucasian dude with a red tan, bandana and all) walks into a valero with swasticas tattooed really big on his arms. I was like", are you kidding me"?! You are on the eastside with this crap!?! It would seem to me that if your racist, the eastside is not a place for you to be in considering it is prodominately african americans that live on that side of town. People make comments about black people being racist? I havent seen any african americans going to white parts of town flashing racist crap. They dont even stay on their side of town flashing racist crap. (Their side is my side too, but I live northwest.) We are not walking around with racial emblems tattooed to us for the world to see, keeping the hate alive. Thats like going to vidor texas and holding up a flag that says I hate white people. (I would never go to vidor texas because sadly enough they would probably kill me and my children and noone there would care. They would probably have a party afterward, and the police in vidor texas would host.) I know where im not wanted. For the record, I love white people, my hubby is white and my kids are bi-racial. I was almost in my right mind to go up and shake the man's hand and just tell him hello. When is it gonna stop though? You would think that after everything we have been through, with terrorist attacks, with more terrorist attacks on the way, and the economy continuously spiraling into a down fall, we would all come together to get through these tough times. San antonio is one of the most racist cities out there against african americans. The hispanics or mexican americans are messing up their city more than we are. You see it on the news everyday, drugs, shootings, child molesters, people killing children because the child is crying too much, these grown mexican american men body slamming their kids and killing them, city officials stealing money. All mostly hispanics. I wish this town would wake up and start caring about eachother regardless of race. I find that white americans get along more with african americans here in san antonio than mexican americans and african americans. WE, meaning mexicans and blacks should be getting along more with eachother just for the simple fact that we are closer in color and are the minority. If God was standing right in front of you, you would not tell him how much you hate someone because of their race, because youd want to go to heaven. You would know that God is not hate, he is love, and if you can love at that precious moment when we do meet our maker, you can love now. We are suppose to love thy neighbor. I am not gonna be a hypocrite and lie and say I love my neighbors, because I cant stand my neighbors, and it has nothing to do with their race. They are mexican. They are loud, always let their pit bull run wild, always drinking beer in the front yard bar b queing, leaving beer cans outside in trash bags, sometimes theres trash laying around, paper cups etc. just being obnoxious, But,I do respect them as people. They always seem to want to offer my family food on those days. That is something san antonio lacks as a community. Togetherness. Noone respects anyone. Everything is about money and territory and who can benefit from it. Everyone is always talking down on someone, when they should be looking at themselves. Hate is learned. We are not born with it.If I knew it was going to be this way, I wouldve stayed in austin. Blacks, whites, mexicans, chinese, everyone gets along there. When someone was going to have a party, they would go door to door telling everyone. And everyone was invited, so then they would make it a block party. Everyone got along and brought food and drinks, stuff for the kids to have fun. There were games, dance and singing. If someone had a problem with you its only because you had a problem with them. People are color blind in austin. People judged you by the person YOU are and not your race. If there is anything I like about san antonio, it would have to be the food, six flags, and the river walk. About the fat people here, its ok, the food is so damn good here, its understandable. Krispy kreme is a donut shop. Since when is a donut ever nutritious? I love krispy kreme. Why the hell did they close the shop down on the access rd on bandera and 410?[read more...]

If you read the local chamber of commerce propaganda, the "River City" (more appropriate for a city with a real river) is a spectacular place, highly desired and steeped in history. Others might say the Alamo is nothing but a glorified attempt to rewrite history (which would indicate the "fight" was for anything but freedom because all that free land was useless without slavery) and other downtown tourist attractions are worse. The artificial river walk with it's "barges" of tourists and hawkers trying to grab customers, billions of colored lights at Christmas to attract even more tourists and their money, a pathetic wax museum. Wow! It's overwhelming. San Antonio is a "good ol' boy" kinda place where the good old boys have been running things into the ground for years. One of the fattest cities in the country is bicycle unfriendly (the entire state is thanks to a useless governor more wizened than wise), and has its arteries clogged with zillions of chain fast "food" places serving calories of junk food (Krispy Kreme isn't really very nutritious) restaurants, and places where you can eat like a pig (and look like one in the process) for very little money. The cops aren't to be trusted, the DA less, schools are a disaster, and apartment dwellers have virtually no rights. Local news is so bad it's at times hilarious (Marvin!!) and the skeleton of a poor newspaper needs to fold. Let's see, salaries are low because there are not scads of highly skilled jobs available like in Austin (plus retired military flood the job market), and traffic is a nightmare as are the forests of ugly outdoor advertising. The only worse art is at the Blue Star costume parties that attract people who want to dress up like what they think artists look like. Good points: the downtown public library, the Witte and the McNay museums. Ah! Schilo's. If you're going off your diet, it's the way to go in San Antonio (and on the West Side the tacos at Veronica's on West Commerce are the best).[read more...]

the hot summers really last much longer than the "summer season". Really May through October can be unbearably hot.[read more...]

Abandon hope, all ye who enter here. This is Hell. The city is filthy and crumbling. Not historical old, just old. Freeways and commercial corridors are ridiculously planned and were executed worse. Please don't ask about the drivers. I feel like I'm in a video game when we drive, and EVERYONE is trying to hit you. I can't remember the last intellegent conversation I've had with anyone other than my wife. Most of the natives we've met have never left the county... 'nuff said? And I have to warn you of this - customer service does not exist here. In our 30 months here, we've encountered more rude, lazy, ignorant clerks than we did in 50 years on the west coast. This little cowtown thinks it's world class and has no interest in learning otherwise. Hope your luck's better than ours. [read more...]

My family and I relocated here in 2009 from Southern California with modest expectations. If your expectations are like ours, you won’t be too disappointed. Just don’t expect a utopia of jobs, low priced homes, republicans and friendly people – San Antonio has catch. Despite the summer heat (which is really no worse than most of the Southern U.S.), the biggest "catch" in this city is the horrible traffic and terrible over-crowding. Keep in mind, I'm from California and I consider traffic a way of life - but San Antonio is ridiculous. Also, where do these drivers come from? Have you ever seen drivers slow down while merging UNTO a rapidly moving freeway? Visit here; you’ll know what I’m talking about. Worse drivers I’ve ever seen – which compounds the overcrowding and traffic issues. Not to mention the wacky freeway systems and “Turnaround” nonsense TEXDOT has designed. Are they joking? You’ll drive 10 miles to cross the street – that’s not an exaggeration. You also can’t escape the crowds anywhere within San Antonio or surrounding areas. I’m not just talking about downtown, I’m talking about the entire metro area. San Antionio is very much “big city” Texas. Forget the farms and cowboys, that’s’ reserved for other Texas cities with less than 10 Wallmarts. San Antonio has effectively crunched over 2 million residents within a 20 mile radius – ouch! Allergies? My kids developed Asthma from the Mountain Cedar pollen that chokes the air every winter. It’s the only tree IN THE WORLD that blooms in Winter and its only grows in this general area. Awesome! [read more...]

San Antonio is a good place to live, but the crime and traffic is getting out of hand. However, the real estate taxes are the biggest drawback. I own a 1250 square foot home valued at 117K and my taxes are close to $3000 per year. The poverty and municipal bonded indebtedness here is the highest of any major city in the nation (this is the reason for the high tax rates). However the Parks. missions and downtown area are great and the restaurants are incredible. I love the San Antonio River and the missions and visit then frequently even though I have lived here all my life [read more...]