Austin Very Unfriendly and Unjust
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2/23/2010
Stereotypes are often incorrect. When people hear I am from NYC, they say, "ooh- a lot of crime happens there" and "people there are unfriendly." According to the 2009 City Crime Rate Rankings, more crime happens in Austin than other cities while in NYC, there is less crime than the national average. People here in Austin are very unfriendly. It is rare that people will ask you about your life or be interested/friendly unless they want something from you (or they are trying to sell you something). The management of the first apartment complex I lived in is trying to extort money from me for rent that I've already paid. Tenants are not protected here in Texas like in other states. If I want to maintain my excellent credit, I have to pay to bring THEM to court even though my rent checks cleared several months ago and I followed the lease exactly. Burglars knocked down the front door of my friend's home about a month ago while I was in it! And the police officer who got back to me said it is "low priority" compared to rapes and murders. I don't have a problem with the summer heat like most do but air conditioners are high everywhere and utility costs are very high. Teachers' salaries barely reach above 40k, even if you have a Master's Degree and over ten years of experience. Substitute teaching pays $9 an hour, as do most part-time jobs, and work is hard to find. Everyone says "the market is saturated with teachers" and there has been a teacher hiring freeze because of the economy. Unless you work in technology and your job is secure, you will probably find this city to be expensive, overrated and snobby. I have met some very racist and sexist individuals as well. The parks are nice though.
Karen | Austin, TX