Austin: Growing Pains

Unlike places that have been thrown into a state of crisis by a disaster, Austin, Texas has been thrown into crisis by success.  It’s become a hot place to move to-- in the 1970s, Austin had 325,000 people… today it’s over a million. But, along with the economic advantages of that popularity, has come a considerable identity crisis. Austin has long prided itself on its funkiness, and many residents have grown worried new development and growth might jeopardize the city’s countercultural “feel”… So they’re doing all they can to make sure it survives. In this hour, SOTRU looks at the tension between “keeping Austin weird” and it’s growing success.