Omaha's Brain Drain

[bigredmed1]

You may hate Ricketts, you have your opinions. But, please, live with a sense of history. What he and Reynolds are reacting to is historic reality. Obama wanted the world’s acclaim for bringing in refugees. He didn’t put them in Cali or NY. He put them here. Of course, no added resources were made available to support them. So Childrens, Bergan, and UNMC ate a huge translator bill ($100/hr for live interpreter service, and Medicaid won’t pay for it.). OPS got slammed. Again, no help.

The Dems got to crow about their compassion and the Great Plains states got the burdens. When we complained, deaf ears or allegations of racism was the response. So, the private resources are consumed, the fed isn’t offering any deals, and we can’t afford to get played like that again.

Bottom line, they want to dump the kids on one way tickets, then shame us into taking the parents “to keep the families together”, and do so on our dime so they can try to change red states into blue states and crow about how good they are.

[Omaha Cowboy]

The amount of ignorant things coming out of Rickett's mouth lately has been ridiculous and really embarrassing to the state. He just has to be on the wrong side of everything.

Luckily, we only have to put up with him for another year..
Ciao..LiO...Peace

I completely forgot about this fact. You, sir, have just made my day.

Very happy to oblige ...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[GrandpaaSmucker]

You may hate Ricketts, you have your opinions. But, please, live with a sense of history. What he and Reynolds are reacting to is historic reality. Obama wanted the world’s acclaim for bringing in refugees. He didn’t put them in Cali or NY. He put them here. Of course, no added resources were made available to support them. So Childrens, Bergan, and UNMC ate a huge translator bill ($100/hr for live interpreter service, and Medicaid won’t pay for it.). OPS got slammed. Again, no help.

The Dems got to crow about their compassion and the Great Plains states got the burdens. When we complained, deaf ears or allegations of racism was the response. So, the private resources are consumed, the fed isn’t offering any deals, and we can’t afford to get played like that again.

Bottom line, they want to dump the kids on one way tickets, then shame us into taking the parents “to keep the families together”, and do so on our dime so they can try to change red states into blue states and crow about how good they are.

Helping down and out refugee kids and women GOOD! Letting working age mostly males walk back and forth across an open border stealing jobs and driving down wages BAD! They are two completely different things even though racist love to group the two together. Sorry!

[Louie]

This was from 2019, latest figures available

New York received ~5000 refugees and $25MM in fed funding
Nebraska received ~1400 refugees and $6MM fed funding
California received ~8000 refugees and $51MM fed funding

Add in the cost of living differences and the resources were spread about the same.

[riceweb]

I don't have much of a side in this debate, but California has 20x our population... not sure how your numbers from 2019 seem fair to Nebraska.

[bigredmed1]

The $6million didn’t get to any of the hospitals. Maybe Medicaid and Welfare programs?

[bigredmed1]

You may hate Ricketts, you have your opinions. But, please, live with a sense of history. What he and Reynolds are reacting to is historic reality. Obama wanted the world’s acclaim for bringing in refugees. He didn’t put them in Cali or NY. He put them here. Of course, no added resources were made available to support them. So Childrens, Bergan, and UNMC ate a huge translator bill ($100/hr for live interpreter service, and Medicaid won’t pay for it.). OPS got slammed. Again, no help.

The Dems got to crow about their compassion and the Great Plains states got the burdens. When we complained, deaf ears or allegations of racism was the response. So, the private resources are consumed, the fed isn’t offering any deals, and we can’t afford to get played like that again.

Bottom line, they want to dump the kids on one way tickets, then shame us into taking the parents “to keep the families together”, and do so on our dime so they can try to change red states into blue states and crow about how good they are.

Helping down and out refugee kids and women GOOD! Letting working age mostly males walk back and forth across an open border stealing jobs and driving down wages BAD! They are two completely different things even though racist love to group the two together. Sorry!

So, the kids come here and then the working age adults who claim to be their parents show up. Are you going to ban them from entering? Or will you just let them come in and |expletive| about driving down wages?

Frankly, the governors are staying ahead of this. We got jobbed by the Obama administration and we should not feel bad about turning down a second round of this.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

Jeez. What has a refugee ever done to you people?

[Garrett]

Jeez. What has a refugee ever done to you people?

Probably spoken Spanish in their vicinity in a grocery store.

[Garrett]

You may hate Ricketts, you have your opinions. But, please, live with a sense of history. What he and Reynolds are reacting to is historic reality. Obama wanted the world’s acclaim for bringing in refugees. He didn’t put them in Cali or NY. He put them here. Of course, no added resources were made available to support them. So Childrens, Bergan, and UNMC ate a huge translator bill ($100/hr for live interpreter service, and Medicaid won’t pay for it.). OPS got slammed. Again, no help.

The Dems got to crow about their compassion and the Great Plains states got the burdens. When we complained, deaf ears or allegations of racism was the response. So, the private resources are consumed, the fed isn’t offering any deals, and we can’t afford to get played like that again.

Bottom line, they want to dump the kids on one way tickets, then shame us into taking the parents “to keep the families together”, and do so on our dime so they can try to change red states into blue states and crow about how good they are.

Helping down and out refugee kids and women GOOD! Letting working age mostly males walk back and forth across an open border stealing jobs and driving down wages BAD! They are two completely different things even though racist love to group the two together. Sorry!

So, the kids come here and then the working age adults who claim to be their parents show up. Are you going to ban them from entering? Or will you just let them come in and |expletive| about driving down wages?

Frankly, the governors are staying ahead of this. We got jobbed by the Obama administration and we should not feel bad about turning down a second round of this.

This is the same tired line of thinking that has been used to demonize immigrants for centuries, be they from China, Italy, Ireland or Mexico. Keep distorting history and the facts.

[bigredmed1]

You may hate Ricketts, you have your opinions. But, please, live with a sense of history. What he and Reynolds are reacting to is historic reality. Obama wanted the world’s acclaim for bringing in refugees. He didn’t put them in Cali or NY. He put them here. Of course, no added resources were made available to support them. So Childrens, Bergan, and UNMC ate a huge translator bill ($100/hr for live interpreter service, and Medicaid won’t pay for it.). OPS got slammed. Again, no help.

The Dems got to crow about their compassion and the Great Plains states got the burdens. When we complained, deaf ears or allegations of racism was the response. So, the private resources are consumed, the fed isn’t offering any deals, and we can’t afford to get played like that again.

Bottom line, they want to dump the kids on one way tickets, then shame us into taking the parents “to keep the families together”, and do so on our dime so they can try to change red states into blue states and crow about how good they are.

Helping down and out refugee kids and women GOOD! Letting working age mostly males walk back and forth across an open border stealing jobs and driving down wages BAD! They are two completely different things even though racist love to group the two together. Sorry!

So, the kids come here and then the working age adults who claim to be their parents show up. Are you going to ban them from entering? Or will you just let them come in and |expletive| about driving down wages?

Frankly, the governors are staying ahead of this. We got jobbed by the Obama administration and we should not feel bad about turning down a second round of this.

This is the same tired line of thinking that has been used to demonize immigrants for centuries, be they from China, Italy, Ireland or Mexico. Keep distorting history and the facts.

God your bigotry is ripe.

The problem we had with Obama admin wasn’t the people, it was the lack of support. Lots of financial burdens on area hospitals and OPS, but no help from the feds.

Glad you are on my foe list.

[Louie]

Foe list? People actually use that?

[Garrett]

Foe list? People actually use that?

Pahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahaha

[Garrett]

You may hate Ricketts, you have your opinions. But, please, live with a sense of history. What he and Reynolds are reacting to is historic reality. Obama wanted the world’s acclaim for bringing in refugees. He didn’t put them in Cali or NY. He put them here. Of course, no added resources were made available to support them. So Childrens, Bergan, and UNMC ate a huge translator bill ($100/hr for live interpreter service, and Medicaid won’t pay for it.). OPS got slammed. Again, no help.

The Dems got to crow about their compassion and the Great Plains states got the burdens. When we complained, deaf ears or allegations of racism was the response. So, the private resources are consumed, the fed isn’t offering any deals, and we can’t afford to get played like that again.

Bottom line, they want to dump the kids on one way tickets, then shame us into taking the parents “to keep the families together”, and do so on our dime so they can try to change red states into blue states and crow about how good they are.

Helping down and out refugee kids and women GOOD! Letting working age mostly males walk back and forth across an open border stealing jobs and driving down wages BAD! They are two completely different things even though racist love to group the two together. Sorry!

So, the kids come here and then the working age adults who claim to be their parents show up. Are you going to ban them from entering? Or will you just let them come in and |expletive| about driving down wages?

Frankly, the governors are staying ahead of this. We got jobbed by the Obama administration and we should not feel bad about turning down a second round of this.

This is the same tired line of thinking that has been used to demonize immigrants for centuries, be they from China, Italy, Ireland or Mexico. Keep distorting history and the facts.

God your bigotry is ripe.

The problem we had with Obama admin wasn’t the people, it was the lack of support. Lots of financial burdens on area hospitals and OPS, but no help from the feds.

Glad you are on my foe list.

I remember when I was in high school.

[BRoss]

Foe list? People actually use that?

Yeah, he did that to me too. Some people can't take being called out on their bs.

[Garrett]

Foe list? People actually use that?

Yeah, he did that to me too. Some people can't take being called out on their bs.

Let's form a club

[BRoss]

Foe list? People actually use that?

Yeah, he did that to me too. Some people can't take being called out on their bs.

Let's form a club

lol I'm in

[lisanstan]

My perspective is as someone who moved to Omaha at 40 with a son starting high school. I grew up in Los Angeles then moved to coastal North Carolina to finish high school. Joined the military and lived all over the country and the world. My husband's job brought us here from the Dallas area. I absolutely love it here. I love the neighborhood, love the changing seasons, love the size of the city, there is nothing I need that cannot be bought here, shipped here, or bought on a day trip to KC.

When was 18 I couldn't wait to see the world, no matter where I lived, I planned to leave. I think it's a good thing to leave where you grew up and see what the world has to offer. To me, what people call the brain drain is something that happens when young adults want to grow beyond themselves and what they know, and it's a good thing. You know what makes Omaha a great place? People come back to raise their kids.

[ricko]

My perspective is as someone who moved to Omaha at 40 with a son starting high school. I grew up in Los Angeles then moved to coastal North Carolina to finish high school. Joined the military and lived all over the country and the world. My husband's job brought us here from the Dallas area. I absolutely love it here. I love the neighborhood, love the changing seasons, love the size of the city, there is nothing I need that cannot be bought here, shipped here, or bought on a day trip to KC.

When was 18 I couldn't wait to see the world, no matter where I lived, I planned to leave. I think it's a good thing to leave where you grew up and see what the world has to offer. To me, what people call the brain drain is something that happens when young adults want to grow beyond themselves and what they know, and it's a good thing. You know what makes Omaha a great place? People come back to raise their kids.

Great post! Pretty much reflects my thinking, and my journey. I left Omaha for school in 1972. Grew up in South Omaha and didn't realize how small my world was until many years after moving away (heck, I don't think I'd even been north of Cuming St. more than a dozen times in my younger life). I was your typical sheltered young man who grew up in an Irish Catholic South O. bubble. Back then, South O. was 94% Catholic and your identity was tied to your particular ethnic Parrish. We were largely walled off from the outside world, and even from adjacent neighborhoods, and freely engaged in the ethnic stereotyping and casual racism that marked that era. Ironically, what changed much of my thinking was my Catholic education, and the challenges to our thinking that came from the nuns, monks and priests (actually was taught by nuns in elementary school who would spend their Summers registering Black voters in Mississippi and elsewhere in the South in the early and mid-60's). Keep in mind that this was an era when it was unusual to see a POC on the 3 television stations that existed back then. Thankfully, that era and those neighborhoods are largely gone, and all of my relatives have moved out of the old neighborhood (the last moved out in 2013, although there might be a stray Cavanaugh still around ) Some of you might have thought, from a previous post, that I didn't think moving away was worthwhile, but it all depends on your perspective. You can move away and stay in your fearful bubble, or you can embrace the world around you. I'm fortunate to have moved to a city that attracts people from around the world (and around the country), and I have/have had friends from every corner of the globe, every continent (except Antarctica---those people are really cold), and every major religion, and it has given me a completely different perspective on life (and the USA's role in it). Some of my relatives have moved to some of the racially homogenous Omaha suburbs and, while not faulting them for that, still live in their fearful bubbles, while some have embraced the world in those same suburbs. I understand that, for most of you, moving away is not practical, and I would never fault you for not having done it, but it's possible to expand your horizons/outlook, especially since Omaha is much more diverse than it was 50 years ago, and has done, along with Lincoln, an amazing job of resettling refugees from some pretty disparate (and desperate) parts of the world; ideas are not more than a keystroke away.

Regarding the continuing discussion on brain-drain, I don't think the trick is just to keep people from moving away (that happens everywhere), but to attract people from other parts of the country/world. Attracting better paying white and blue collar jobs, and other sources of revenue other than property taxes. I think Omaha's property taxes are too high, and I'd much rather see the city get its revenue from local user taxes and luxury taxes (local gas tax increase and luxury taxes on expensive vehicles, which is something we have where I live---if you own a Bentley, you pay a 10% annual auto tax), and "vice" taxes-----tax the he!l out of casinos, cigs, booze, dope (don't worry, it's going to be nationwide someday), and being a lot more circumspect when it comes to handing out TIF tax deferments like candy. Omaha just needs to be more creative with methods of taxation. These regressive taxes have got to go.

[S.O.Boy]

Watch what Senator Adam Morfeld says near the end

https://www.ketv.com/article/its-beyond ... t/36413621

[Louie]

Watch what Senator Adam Morfeld says near the end

https://www.ketv.com/article/its-beyond ... t/36413621

Legislature that thinks like this is a far more pressing issue for young people than property taxes. Morfeld is 100% right.

[riceweb]

Watch what Senator Adam Morfeld says near the end

https://www.ketv.com/article/its-beyond ... t/36413621

Legislature that thinks like this is a far more pressing issue for young people than property taxes. Morfeld is 100% right.

The reason property taxes is so often a focus is that in Nebraska, that's what's achievable. It's achievable minutiae that doesn't address any underlying issues. You can't really fault our elected officials for focusing on it, because they're not incentivized to take much risk. There are very few, if any, slam-dunk ideas that would help attract and retain young people, otherwise we would have already done them. Everything else involves some or considerable risk.

[buildomaha]

Watch what Senator Adam Morfeld says near the end

https://www.ketv.com/article/its-beyond ... t/36413621

Legislature that thinks like this is a far more pressing issue for young people than property taxes. Morfeld is 100% right.

Megan Hunt gave a great speech on the floor in debate of the medical marijuana bill, and she said something that perfectly illustrates the situation in the unicameral: we’re stuck on chapter one of a book and we keep reading it over and over instead of moving on and finding out what could happen in the rest of the book. We want to keep trying to recreate the same systems and ideas that are not working. I’ll try to find a clip of it because it’s worth the 4 minutes of time.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Watch what Senator Adam Morfeld says near the end

https://www.ketv.com/article/its-beyond ... t/36413621

Legislature that thinks like this is a far more pressing issue for young people than property taxes. Morfeld is 100% right.

Megan Hunt gave a great speech on the floor in debate of the medical marijuana bill, and she said something that perfectly illustrates the situation in the unicameral: we’re stuck on chapter one of a book and we keep reading it over and over instead of moving on and finding out what could happen in the rest of the book. We want to keep trying to recreate the same systems and ideas that are not working. I’ll try to find a clip of it because it’s worth the 4 minutes of time.

I completely agree...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[GrandpaaSmucker]

Today they added a new rule for the casinos stating that that could not take any bets on Nebraska games.
World Herald article- https://omaha.com/news/state-and-region ... op-story-1

For those that have not been following they also have banned Sportsbetting over the phone. Sportsbetting over the phone and betting on Nebraska games would be well over 50% of all the bets. In essence here they have took a baseball bat to the Casinos ability to run a profitable and popular Sportsbook.

[Taco]

Today they added a new rule for the casinos stating that that could not take any bets on Nebraska games.
World Herald article- https://omaha.com/news/state-and-region ... op-story-1

For those that have not been following they also have banned Sportsbetting over the phone. Sportsbetting over the phone and betting on Nebraska games would be well over 50% of all the bets. In essence here they have took a baseball bat to the Casinos ability to run a profitable and popular Sportsbook.

Grandpa, I think this is tangentially related to brain drain at best, but I completely agree. The casinos are going to lose out on big money from the Bubbas who have 6 busch lights and then think it's the 1990s again. I would love to see the numbers but I bet Ameristar has made a killing off of overconfident husker fans.

[buildomaha]

Ok this was the only place I could find to link the video of Senator Hunt:

https://www.instagram.com/tv/COySV7Rl4 ... cu2ijkpuer

[yard salad]

Adding my anecdotes to this discussion: my best friend in Omaha is moving to Denver with his girlfriend next week. He wasn't born in Omaha, but grew up in West Omaha, went to Prep, and went to Creighton for undergrad. He changed careers two years ago to become a programmer. He recently got a new fully remote job for a California company that pays about twice what most Omaha companies are willing to pay.

He's leaving Omaha primarily for the Colorado outdoors lifestyle, including skiing, mountain biking, hiking, camping, four-wheeling, etc. His other stated reasons are, like others mentioned, recreational marijuana, a more liberal local government, and an MLS team. He's moving from some lofts in north Downtown Omaha to a Denver neighborhood roughly similar to Blackstone, but bigger. Interestingly, he would prefer to live in the suburbs in the long run.

Personally, I've thought a lot about leaving Omaha for greener pastures, especially because Omaha tech salaries are significantly depressed compared to other markets. Pre-pandemic, the cost of living of other cities, especially commute times and housing costs made things roughly equivalent. But with so many fully remote jobs available, choosing which city to live in (at least for tech bros like myself and my friend) is becoming an aesthetic choice. The reason I've stayed is because Omaha is close to my family in Iowa and my wife's family, and my wife's career is much less mobile than mine.

I don't think cities should be built just to keep people like myself and my friend happy, and a lot of what my friend is looking for is outside of anyone's control; Omaha will never have mountains or anything remotely close to the extent of public outdoors spaces available in Colorado. But that being said, there are some things within the community's control that could help make Omaha more competitive to the demographic that people talk about when they say "brain drain". The obvious ones would include recreational marijuana laws, professional sports teams, and transit; notably things that benefit more than just people like me.

Property taxes never cross my mind as a reason to stay or leave Omaha.

[riceweb]

I went for a jog yesterday out by Westbury Farm. The old country roads around the city are pleasant, with plenty of old trees running right up against the road and gently sloping, pristine farmland beyond that.

I was shocked to see how many homes have been and built and are currently under construction in that area. Hundreds or maybe thousands of homes going up around Blue Sage Elementary. It's wild. Like a real estate bonanza. But there's almost nothing else out that way except homes and the new elementary school.

But that's the draw. We have affordable housing and great schools. Literally an entire neighborhood has sprung up around the construction of a new school. There are no shops, I'm not even sure there are parks, there are almost zero sidewalks on the major streets. It's just housing and schools.

I don't think we get a lot of representation from these folks on forums / twitter /etc. But they're an enormous group of stakeholders, and they really just want to build a community where they know their neighbors, where their kids can run over to their friends' houses, where the schools are nice, etc. That's what they're looking for, and that neighborhood must seem absolutely idyllic for their needs.

[ita]

I went for a jog yesterday out by Westbury Farm. The old country roads around the city are pleasant, with plenty of old trees running right up against the road and gently sloping, pristine farmland beyond that.

I was shocked to see how many homes have been and built and are currently under construction in that area. Hundreds or maybe thousands of homes going up around Blue Sage Elementary. It's wild. Like a real estate bonanza. But there's almost nothing else out that way except homes and the new elementary school.

But that's the draw. We have affordable housing and great schools. Literally an entire neighborhood has sprung up around the construction of a new school. There are no shops, I'm not even sure there are parks, there are almost zero sidewalks on the major streets. It's just housing and schools.

I don't think we get a lot of representation from these folks on forums / twitter /etc. But they're an enormous group of stakeholders, and they really just want to build a community where they know their neighbors, where their kids can run over to their friends' houses, where the schools are nice, etc. That's what they're looking for, and that neighborhood must seem absolutely idyllic for their needs.

My personal opinion is that what Omaha is struggling with and the brain drain the City and business leaders are concerned about is getting those 18-30 year olds to stay or return to the City after college. Those young people aren't living or wanting to live out in Blue Sage or similar neighborhoods. Many of them will not be able to afford those neighborhoods. That Blue Sage area is blowing up with $600k+ houses. Street of Dreams a couple of years ago was there. This isn't the place (and most suburban neighborhoods popping up in exurban Omaha aren't either) for the young people Omaha leaders want to retain and recruit.

There is definitely a place for those neighborhoods and the suburbs generally. Omaha has been and should be a great place for families. That is one of the reasons my wife and I stayed with our young kids and live in West-ish Omaha.

It's debatable what the City needs to do to help stop or even reverse brain drain for the age group I mentioned above, but there needs to be some change in many aspects.

[buildomaha]

It doesn’t take much to retain those that want the same exact suburban life that they can get on the edge of any city in the US…

[Omaha Cowboy]

My personal opinion is that what Omaha is struggling with and the brain drain the City and business leaders are concerned about is getting those 18-30 year olds to stay or return to the City after College. It's debatable what the City needs to do to help stop or even reverse brain drain for the age group I mentioned above, but there needs to be some change in many aspects.

The change is already in progress..

I believe this “Brain drain” issue circa 2021 is a bit overblown imo. Sure, it’s an absolute must and high priority to retain young people..I can tell you, this city/metro has come a LONG way in this regard. When I was a 20-something in the mid 80’s to early 1990’s, many people in my age group couldn’t wait to “get out” of Omaha. Sure, unfortunately, there is still some of that sentiment today..and I don’t think this can be removed 100%. Even young people who grow up in so called hip/trendy cities like Austin TX or Portland OR have an element of youth who can’t wait to “get out” of those cites either.. But as it relates to Omaha, today, that attitude is not close to being as prevalent as it was 25-30 years ago. Young people have turned around and I believe have a civic pride about this city..Their first thought isn’t how can I “get out” of Omaha..but rather what will it take for me to stay..I’ve talked to many young people who want to, and have stayed..and it’s because they’re seeing what we talk about on this forum on almost a daily basis- A huge commitment from our Philanthropy community and prominent Omahans who want to make our core area an attractive place to work, play and live. From Saddle Creek Rd to the Riverfront, if Omaha executes this correctly, with over ONE billion dollars invested in mixed use/residential/business/transportation and amenities development..This will go a LONG way in helping to retain our local 18-30 young adults..while at the same time, attracting young adults from outside the metropolitan area to look into moving here..

Hence my comment that this change is already in progress. It must be done from the inside out..Concentrate on changing the local youth perception of Omaha and build out from there. It’s not an easy processs. But it is currently happening and I can’t wait to see where we’ll end up 3-5 years from now..

I’m very optimistic in this regard…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[ita]

But as it relates to Omaha, today, that attitude is not close to being as prevalent as it was 25-30 years ago. Young people have turned around and I believe have a civic pride about this city..Their first thought isn’t how can I “get out” of Omaha..but rather what will it take for me to stay..I’ve talked to many young people who want to, and have stayed..and it’s because they’re seeing what we talk about on this forum on almost a daily basis- A huge commitment from our Philanthropy community and prominent Omahans who want to make our core area an attractive place to work, play and live. From Saddle Creek Rd to the Riverfront, if Omaha executes this correctly, with over ONE billion dollars invested in mixed use/residential/business/transportation and amenities development..This will go a LONG way in helping to retain our local 18-30 young adults..while at the same time, attracting young adults from outside the metropolitan area to look into moving here..

Hence my comment that this change is already in progress. It must be done from the inside out..Concentrate on changing the local youth perception of Omaha and build out from there. It’s not an easy processs. But it is currently happening and I can’t wait to see where we’ll end up 3-5 years from now..

I’m very optimistic in this regard…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

This applies to me as well. I am a thirty something that moved to Omaha in my mid twenties. We stayed because we wanted to start our family here. Now that I have been here for a bit, I have been more involved in the community and really feel that we can make some positive changes in the city. I still have open eyes to the politics and power structures of Omaha, but I have seen a lot of attitudes change regarding certain aspects of development, infrastructure, affordability, equity, and sustainability. I see these changes, as you do, as net positives when it comes to retaining young people. I think we have a lot of people steering us in the right direction and there is increasing community involvement across many demographics, so my outlook for the city overall is positive. But there is still a lot to work on.

[NEDodger]

I also think part of this is the general "I want to leave where I grew up to get away from my parents and be independent" mindset that's going to be present in every city. *shrugs* I was that way 15 years ago - it wasn't that I had anything against Omaha, per se, it was the thought of building a brand new life from scratch in a brand new place. I've got friends who grew up in Los Angeles, for example, and moved to Seattle after college just to live somewhere new for once.

[Louie]

It doesn’t take much to retain those that want the same exact suburban life that they can get on the edge of any city in the US…

Yes, this is a silly thing for civic leaders to focus on.

[Garrett]

A lot of times I think I’d love to come back to Omaha and help shape it’s growth in a more urban direction, especially given my education, but then I see stories like the one last week where a drag queen story hour was canceled in Lincoln because of threats of violence, and I see multiple commenters saying they were glad it was canceled, and I rapidly reconsider that thought as a gay man.

[Omaha Cowboy]

A lot of times I think I’d love to come back to Omaha and help shape it’s growth in a more urban direction, especially given my education, but then I see stories like the one last week where a drag queen story hour was canceled in Lincoln because of threats of violence, and I see multiple commenters saying they were glad it was canceled, and I rapidly reconsider that thought as a gay man.

Not that this sort of criminal, neanderthal action should happen anywhere..It’s deplorable..but the incident you reported did happen in Lincoln not Omaha..

Omaha has also come a LONG way in becoming a more welcoming and inviting place for people of any race, faith or orientation to visit and live..and we need and want our best and brightest who have moved away, to consider coming back at some point. We’re better as a city, metro and state with people like you, Garrett, living here, than not…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[riceweb]

A lot of times I think I’d love to come back to Omaha and help shape it’s growth in a more urban direction, especially given my education, but then I see stories like the one last week where a drag queen story hour was canceled in Lincoln because of threats of violence, and I see multiple commenters saying they were glad it was canceled, and I rapidly reconsider that thought as a gay man.

The threat of violence is never appropriate, but specifically speaking about pressure to cancel the event: it is ludicrous for posters here to want Omaha to be like other major cities, because we will never be "competitive" with other cities on cultural issues. Never. It is wasted effort to invest in making Omaha something that it isn't. I think we're closer to a smaller version of Salt Lake City than we are Denver. There's no sense in pretending we're not. It will never be a community for everyone.

[Garrett]

A lot of times I think I’d love to come back to Omaha and help shape it’s growth in a more urban direction, especially given my education, but then I see stories like the one last week where a drag queen story hour was canceled in Lincoln because of threats of violence, and I see multiple commenters saying they were glad it was canceled, and I rapidly reconsider that thought as a gay man.

The threat of violence is never appropriate, but specifically speaking about pressure to cancel the event: it is ludicrous for posters here to want Omaha to be like other major cities, because we will never be "competitive" with other cities on cultural issues. Never. It is wasted effort to invest in making Omaha something that it isn't. I think we're closer to a smaller version of Salt Lake City than we are Denver. There's no sense in pretending we're not. It will never be a community for everyone.

Yeah, ludicrous that we want Omaha to be mildly welcoming to gay people. Got it.

[riceweb]

Yeah, ludicrous that we want Omaha to be mildly welcoming to gay people. Got it.

It's ludicrous to think you can change that aspect of Omaha, yeah. Omaha will be "gay ok over there" but not "gay welcoming", you know? I don't think that's a fight worth the energy. You can spend as much energy on it as you want, I don't think you'll change anyone's opinions here. The people that want a "gay welcoming" move out to other cities.

I doubt Salt Lake City is a top destination for "alt" lifestyles. What advice would you give to Salt Lake City? You'd probably tell them not to waste their energy.

At the absolute minimum, Omaha will ALWAYS be a laggard on cultural issues.