Omaha's Brain Drain

[Omaha Cowboy]

The state of Nebraska is one of the most business friendly states for up and coming new/small businesses..you and your team would be smart to keep the Omaha area in your business plan…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[legato9]

It may be a great state “for the business.” But I’m not seeing it being great “for the owner.”

I’m seriously not trying to be a hater. There really is a lot to like about Omaha. But the past couple years, this property tax stuff has just put me in a foul mood. It’s almost laughable it’s so absurd.

My property taxes are literally double my car payment every month! They constitute 30-40% of my total monthly house payment.

To me, that’s just borderline intolerable.

It almost ruins all the good stuff about Omaha for me. I mean, it reaches a point where the juice just isn’t worth the squeeze.

[legato9]

I’m curious who is saying Nebraska is one of the best? I just googled “best states for small businesses,” and I didn’t see NE on any top tens.

Interestingly, I did see Georgia on many of them. (I admit I’m already biased being somewhat from there, and I love it.)

I also see North Carolina on many top 10 lists. Which is also interesting, because I was just checking out Raleigh as a potential place to relocate. (Just because it seems like a cool city. I don’t know anything about their taxes.)

[Omaha Cowboy]

There are several..here are some-

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/13/top-sta ... raska.html

https://sites.nppd.com/nebraska-cracks- ... -business/

https://www.omahachamber.org/economic-d ... /rankings/

And this has great information-

https://incparadise.net/nebraska/advant ... -nebraska/

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Coyote]

One of Omaha's problems is the state. I always laugh when a T-Mobile commercial comes on and they show this map.

This map of T-Mobile bugs the heck out of we when I see this commercial and all the Nebraska areas missing. As if we don’t use these areas.

[Omaha Cowboy]

One of Omaha's problems is the state. I always laugh when a T-Mobile commercial comes on and they show this map.

This map of T-Mobile bugs the heck out of we when I see this commercial and all the Nebraska areas missing. As if we don’t use these areas.

Yeah it’s a point of consternation for me as well..

I’ve just learned to ignore it…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[S.O.Boy]

One of Omaha's problems is the state. I always laugh when a T-Mobile commercial comes on and they show this map.

This map of T-Mobile bugs the heck out of we when I see this commercial and all the Nebraska areas missing. As if we don’t use these areas.

Nebraska is viewed as a fly over country and there are those in the state that don't help. I remember the "Beef State" and a covered wagon on license plates. At least ESPN gives good views of Omaha for the CWS, but I hear the networks just show corn fields for Husker football.

[Linkin5]

[Louie]

This is disgusting.

[ita]

This is disgusting.

Shows how much our state leaders know about young people. I don't care if your republican or democrat, or somewhere in between, this is not a good look for the state.

[bigredmed1]

It may be something that you don't like, but it is a vital constitutional issue. If the president can expand emergency powers infinitely, then there is no other branch of government. The founders set-up the power of the purse in the house which is the house with the greatest connection to the people.

Honestly, even though you may benefit from it, this is a serious breech and needs to stop. The precedent it sets is far too dangerous.

[ita]

It may be something that you don't like, but it is a vital constitutional issue. If the president can expand emergency powers infinitely, then there is no other branch of government. The founders set-up the power of the purse in the house which is the house with the greatest connection to the people.

Honestly, even though you may benefit from it, this is a serious breech and needs to stop. The precedent it sets is far too dangerous.

I understand what you're saying and this is not a new issue. Presidential executive orders have been utilized by all of the recent presidents with eyebrows raised by opposing parties. Whether, in this instance, President Biden's actions violate the constitution, remains to be seen. The final arbiter, the Supreme Court, would establish that, not pundits on the TV. We'll see how any of these cases challenging the program progress through the courts.

[Dundeemaha]

It may be something that you don't like, but it is a vital constitutional issue. If the president can expand emergency powers infinitely, then there is no other branch of government. The founders set-up the power of the purse in the house which is the house with the greatest connection to the people.

Honestly, even though you may benefit from it, this is a serious breech and needs to stop. The precedent it sets is far too dangerous.

The forgiveness of student debt owed to the Department of Education didn't invoke emergency powers. If anything your problem is with the legislative branch not the executive, the legislative branch gave the executive (Department of Education) the power to administrate the federal student loan program through the Higher Education Act, its subsequent re-authorizations and the Federal Direct Student Loan Program.

[ita]

Nebraska and five other states win national injunction against Biden student debt relief plan

ARIANA FIGUEROA
A federal appeals court on Monday issued a nationwide injunction indefinitely blocking the Biden administration’s student debt relief program in response to a challenge by six GOP-led states.

The unanimous ruling by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis came after the six states — Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas and South Carolina — argued that the loan relief program threatens those states’ future tax revenues and that the plan by the Biden administration overrode congressional authority.

“The injunction will remain in effect until further order of this court or the Supreme Court of the United States,” according to the order by a three-judge panel.
...
Nebraska Gov.-elect Jim Pillen praised Peterson’s efforts in challenging the debt relief program.

“The court’s decision today to halt Biden’s illegal executive order is a win for the rule of law,” Pillen said in a statement. “The federal government should not be bailing out college graduates on the backs of hardworking Nebraskans.”

[ricko]

I’m conflicted on this whole issue. I feel for parents who have to foot the bill for their kids’ college education, but I think this points up the larger issue of the cost of higher education, especially regarding public institutions. In the 1970’s, the University of Texas system charged $4 per credit hour. The University of California system charged $2 per credit hour, and their community colleges were free. The bill for my first semester tuition at a private university was $728, and I was very proud of the fact that I paid for it myself. The cost of higher education has gone up mainly because states don’t subsidize it like they did in the past. My current home state of Virginia provided 54% of the funding for their state’s system in 1980. It now contributes 17%. The costs were shifted to the students. This is messed up. How do middle class families expect to send their kids to college without going into serious debt? I think it’s criminal that we don’t subsidize our future generations, and by extension our future success as a nation. If you want to attend a private university, fine, but I think you should expect to shoulder the cost yourself.

[bigredmed1]

States still cough up a lot. Nebraska has three big cost centers out side of medicaid, roads, prisons, and the university and not in that order. The problem the university poses to society is that the leadership is graded on new programs and buildings rather than economic operations. Why we have 3 undergrad campuses with incompatible degree requirements such that a freshman year at UNL doesn't naturally convert when the second year is at UNO in the same major is bizarre. We spend millions to prop this up whilst the nursing school can train nurses all over the state with one college and one standard of pre-recs and requirements, but our English departments can't. Makes one wonder.

Look at UNL, did they expand their academics or did they just build fancier dorms and climbing walls?

[WorldStreet]

A major reason nationally for increased tuition is the number of administrators has increased significantly during the past 25 years.

[nebport5]

Top 20 Cities Where Millennials Are Leaving


Rank City..........................Moved In.........Moved Out........Net Migration in 2021
1 New York, NY......................55,374...............135,163...........................−79,789
2 Chicago, IL..........................23,209...............36,467...........................−13,258
3 Washington, DC...............21,776................31,626.............................−9,850
4 Boston, MA..........................12,471..................19,173..............................−6,702
5 Los Angeles, CA...............22,410.................28,916............................−6,506
6 San Francisco, CA..........9,945..................15,990............................−6,045
7 Lincoln, NE.........................1,497....................5,853.............................−4,356
8 Memphis, TN......................3,936..................6,683..............................−2,747
9 Fresno, CA...........................1,010....................3,651................................−2,641
10 Omaha, NE......................4,216....................6,759..............................−2,543



Where Millennials Are Moving

[almighty_tuna]

Darn those property taxes causing young people to leave the state. Couldn't imagine what else it could be.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Darn those property taxes causing young people to leave the state. Couldn't imagine what else it could be.

3 words on these type of reports-

Grain. Of. Salt….

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[ita]

Darn those property taxes causing young people to leave the state. Couldn't imagine what else it could be.

3 words on these type of reports-

Grain. Of. Salt….

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Data is supposedly based on census data. It's not 100% correct but it's the closest we have to knowing this type of migration. If anything this should prompt a discussion. Lincoln and Omaha show up on this list, both Nebraska cities. Out of the top 20 we two are probably in the 5 smallest cities on this list. I have a hard time taking this with a grain of salt when the numbers, no matter how you look at it, are not showing a positive. Maybe the millennials that stay have 3 kids each and the ones leaving don't have any, so net positive population gain?

[nebport5]

Darn those property taxes causing young people to leave the state. Couldn't imagine what else it could be.

3 words on these type of reports-

Grain. Of. Salt….

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Data is supposedly based on census data. It's not 100% correct but it's the closest we have to knowing this type of migration. If anything this should prompt a discussion. Lincoln and Omaha show up on this list, both Nebraska cities. Out of the top 20 we two are probably in the 5 smallest cities on this list. I have a hard time taking this with a grain of salt when the numbers, no matter how you look at it, are not showing a positive. Maybe the millennials that stay have 3 kids each and the ones leaving don't have any, so net positive population gain?

In which case it's not property taxes(as unfortunately high as they are) but something else. It's also plausible that many of the younger people leaving are likely renters.

Omaha no doubt continues to trend upward with overall quality of life. None the less, it still must overcome geography, climate and perceived entertainment. As many of the "it" cities continue to price more people out I think Omaha becomes more attractive. It'll be interesting to see what these numbers look like in 5 years with significant forthcoming urban core developments.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Darn those property taxes causing young people to leave the state. Couldn't imagine what else it could be.

3 words on these type of reports-

Grain. Of. Salt….

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Data is supposedly based on census data. It's not 100% correct but it's the closest we have to knowing this type of migration. If anything this should prompt a discussion. Lincoln and Omaha show up on this list, both Nebraska cities. Out of the top 20 we two are probably in the 5 smallest cities on this list. I have a hard time taking this with a grain of salt when the numbers, no matter how you look at it, are not showing a positive. Maybe the millennials that stay have 3 kids each and the ones leaving don't have any, so net positive population gain?

In which case it's not property taxes(as unfortunately high as they are) but something else. It's also plausible that many of the younger people leaving are likely renters.

Omaha no doubt continues to trend upward with overall quality of life. None the less, it still must overcome geography, climate and perceived entertainment. As many of the "it" cities continue to price more people out I think Omaha becomes more attractive. It'll be interesting to see what these numbers look like in 5 years with significant forthcoming urban core developments.

Dear God..

Folks, what does the “eye test” tell us.. Look at the BILLIONS of $$$$ of development going on not only within our urban core, but throughout the metropolitan area. Does this indicate to you a trend that Omaha is hemorrhaging “millennial population”? He!l no. I meet people, darn near every day, who just moved here- young and old.. Gosh, what a shock! Because if you believe the BS some of these “studies” tell you, it can’t possibly be true..

They’re Nonsense..

For every “study” one of these web sites makes, I can find another which indicates the Omaha Metropolitan area is among the best places millennials can move to for opportunities and quality of life etc.. I contend the “data” used for these web site “studies” can be manipulated depending upon what narrative these web sites choose as it relates to direction. Don”t be fooled..

Again-

Grain. Of. Salt…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[edsas2]

There might be a certain number of bright, young people born and raised in Omaha who desire to see what life is like elsewhere. It happens everywhere. When I lived in California (as a young 20-something drawn there by the entertainment industry) I was surprised by the number of native Angelenos my age who were "itching to get out of LA." Most stayed, but quite a number of them left to try something new. I suspect every city (no matter how dynamic and exciting) has a certain amount of that from people who grew up there.

What Omaha has that other big cities have (although maybe on a smaller scale) is a significant "brain gain" from outlying areas. I grew up in Grand Island. I know so many people from my graduating class (we had about 400) who ended up moving to either Lincoln or Omaha. When it's time for high school reunions and you see where most people are living, it would almost make more sense to have the reunion in Omaha or Lincoln instead of Grand Island so fewer people would have as far to drive -- LOL!

But Omaha is lucky that it is the big dog for both Nebraska and much of Iowa. So many talented and intelligent people from the rural parts of these states flock to metro Omaha for its dynamics and excitement. I think a city like Wichita is at a distinct disadvantage having to compete with Kansas City for the best and brightest of rural Kansas. My hunch is KC wins out for those people 9 times out of 10. Whereas Omaha gets the lion's share of brain gain from its surrounding area.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

Something to keep in mind, that article says it's looked at migration of "millennials," not "educated millennials." So from the information presented, we can't actually ascertain if a brain drain occurred. It's possible all the people that supposedly left had little education or skills and COULD have created a brain gain percentage-wise (as in the overall percentage of educated millennials increased even if the raw numbers didn't).

Furthermore, they gathered their data from the 1-year American Community Survey, which is not incredibly reliable. So I have my doubts that a net loss of 2,500 millennials occurred.

[ita]

I appreciate the discussion regarding the reliability of data. I think it is hard to say how accurate the data is when generally we are seeing population growth in the Metro. I thought there was a breakdown somewhere that we are seeing growth due to birth rates versus migration, but please correct me if I am misremembering.

I also like the thought about brain gain regionally. That's a good point. I have met many people who are from rural Iowa/Nebraska and in the Omaha area for better opportunities.

To add to the eye test, I can add an anecdotal reference. At my church, which has geographically defined congregations, we have seen a general out migration of millennials. I wouldn't say it's 3/2 (3 moving out versus 2 moving in), but it's pretty close, like 4/3. Even though most move outs have been for better employment opportunities, the same can be said for millennials moving in, though usually they are at the beginning of their careers while people moving out are more established. The other thing is our congregation is generally bounded by L and Center, between 50th and 168th. I would feel comfortable to say that while we have seen a general slow out migration of the millennials, our more western and southern congregations are growing because they have new housing and are located in Elkhorn/Gretna school districts.

I don't necessarily think we have to sound the alarms, but I think we have to always to moving forward, improving our community. We are on a good trajectory for sure. I like where we are going, particularly with the urban core; I am just hoping we can fulfill that promise while addressing current issues like taxes (not just property tax). I want my kids to at least consider sticking around or boomeranging back after school/training. They are all under 10, so hopefully by that time, the City is really on a roll with their urban core plans.

[Garrett]

This data only accounts for migrations to other states as well. It wouldn't count any moves from other Nebraska areas to Omaha, which is where a decent amount of our growth comes from. That being said, even if the data is a bit murky, it still comes from somewhere and is certainly not ideal.

[Omaha Cowboy]

As has been stated by myself and others, these studies are mainly flawed and the data manipulated to whatever narrative the site article wants to project..

The following lists paint an entirely different narrative on Omaha being attractive to Millennials/young professionals-

https://smartasset.com/data-studies/bes ... onals-2022

https://www.nebraskarealty.com/blog/pos ... to-live-in

https://www.gobankingrates.com/investin ... essionals/

There are others, but as we see, there are many recent list “studies” which point to Omaha as being a top city in attracting and maintaining young professionals..

I keep referencing the “eye test” and people interaction.. I get out quite frequently and make it a point to talk to a number of younger folks in the Millennial demographic.. People of ALL ages are moving here. The metropolitan area added 103,000 residents from 2010 and 2020 and that robust growth is continuing. The Chamber plan of adding 30,000 residents to our city core within the next 20 years points to ambitious and aspirational visionary goals; which the city is attempting to attain. The Riverfront Redevelopment plan, new Mutual skyscraper, the streetcar, Project NExt etc etc shows the momentum happening as we speak..

Omaha is coming in to its own right now..and it’s exciting to live here and see it happen before our eyes …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[nebport5]

I can appreciate that data can be misleading and indeed Omaha continues to improve in all it has to offer. I don't think anyone is particularly saying Omaha is hemorrhaging millennials, however, I'll offer my own eye test from experience working with educated millennials in Omaha, Chicago and Denver. I have witnessed migration from all of these cities, yet overwhelmingly more of them have left Omaha. It'll be interesting to see how many of them will return to Omaha in the coming years. Of course, no matter what the city, people move for all kinds of reasons whether jobs, furthering education, relationships, and etc. I do think there is a particular itch among many young people in Omaha to get out see and experience somewhere else. This is, of course, not unique to Omaha either. None the less, Omaha has and will continue to have a hard time competing with much larger cities with amenities that it continues to lack. Therefore, I have no reason to doubt a negative net migration still exists. Until Omaha has big city amenities(not in my lifetime)more young people will continue to leave then move here. That said, the next five years will be interesting to watch with significant urban core development.

[riceweb]

Some % of young folks wanting specific career and life opportunities will always leave the state. These numbers seem accurate but not alarming. I'd be curious to know what these numbers have looked like for young professionals over the past 20 years. Probably the same story.

[legato9]

As has been stated by myself and others, these studies are mainly flawed and the data manipulated to whatever narrative the site article wants to project..

The following lists paint an entirely different narrative on Omaha being attractive to Millennials/young professionals-

https://smartasset.com/data-studies/bes ... onals-2022

https://www.nebraskarealty.com/blog/pos ... to-live-in

https://www.gobankingrates.com/investin ... essionals/

There are others, but as we see, there are many recent list “studies” which point to Omaha as being a top city in attracting and maintaining young professionals..

I keep referencing the “eye test” and people interaction.. I get out quite frequently and make it a point to talk to a number of younger folks in the Millennial demographic.. People of ALL ages are moving here. The metropolitan area added 103,000 residents from 2010 and 2020 and that robust growth is continuing. The Chamber plan of adding 30,000 residents to our city core within the next 20 years points to ambitious and aspirational visionary goals; which the city is attempting to attain. The Riverfront Redevelopment plan, new Mutual skyscraper, the streetcar, Project NExt etc etc shows the momentum happening as we speak..

Omaha is coming in to its own right now..and it’s exciting to live here and see it happen before our eyes …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

I think those citations are a flawed comparison. Just because something might be the “best” doesn’t mean anyone *wants* it.

Beta was better than VHS. But nobody wanted it. CDs are better than vinyl. But vinyl outsells CDs.

Everyone has that friend. Let’s call him “Liam.” And everyone says, “Liam is such a great guy. Somebody really ought to snatch him up. He shouldn’t be single.”

Liam has a good job. He lives in a good neighborhood. He’s bright. He has a heart of gold. He’s got a decent sense of humor.

But he isn’t exactly lighting up Tinder. Why is that?

Liam’s house is beige AF. It’s furnished almost entirely from NFM. Liam buys all his clothes at Target, except for like one t-shirt he got at Ralph Lauren.

From the right angle and in the right light, he’s like a 5-5.5. But usually he’s like a 4-4.5.

Liam is a really good dude. But he has zero sexy and zero edge. He’s a guy to marry when you’re older. He’s not a guy to date when you’re young.

Liam is Omaha.

I like Liam. I’m totally rooting for Liam. When he does something cool, I’m genuinely super happy for him. But I’m not exactly surprised that he’s asleep at 9:30p on Friday.

[Big E]

Liam doesn't coast.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Part of this is the gravitational pull of “Human Nature”. And it is NOT unique to Omaha..as it can be a reality with “young people” living in any major city..

The gravitational pull of wanting to “get out” of the community which they grew up in..And experience another city in another region..

My “eye test” observation with this phenomenon, is 8 times out of 10, those “young folk” moving away from Omaha for greener pastures in another city- usually realize how nice they had it living in the Big O and move back within 2-4 years…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Garrett]

Liam doesn't coast.

Liam: He’s not for Everyone

[nebport5]

[Omaha Cowboy]

Liam is Omaha.

Native youth are restless EVERYWHERE..

Save a small handful of perceived celestial havens, “Liam” is also every city in America..

Clever, but not unique to Omaha by any means…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[legato9]

The “eye test” is completely irrelevant. It isn’t data. It’s the same thing Trump said: “I must’ve gotten more votes - look how many more people were at my rallies than Biden’s.”

See more young people at the park? It’s probably because there are fewer young people at other places. (They’ve moved from other locations to the park.) To say nothing of mountains of cognitive bias.

However, there IS objective, real data available. And it shows Omaha and some cities with a net loss of young people, and some cities with net gains of young people.

Why is this so hard to believe? It’s weird to me that this is even a debate.

There are simply cooler cities for young people. And they’re very well aware of that fact. That doesn’t mean Omaha is bad. It isn’t. It’s good and getting better. But, come on. Omaha isn’t vibey. It just isn’t.

[Omaha Cowboy]

The “eye test” is completely irrelevant. It isn’t data.

However, there IS objective, real data available. And it shows Omaha and some cities with a net loss of young people, and some cities with net gains of young people.

Oh baloney. That’s like saying “I can’t trust my eyes” to the reality of what I actually see..

Please..

And the data of these studies is NOT real, objective data either. It can and is manipulated to serve the specific narrative of the study..

‘Here is what’s real- Omaha is a growing and vibrant metropolitan area which added 103,000 people to it’s population over the past decade of 2010 to 2020. This trend belies any notion that Omaha isn’t any more hip than any other metropolitan area which experienced a 12% decade growth rate or better..

You’re entitled to your opinion of Omaha and I’m entitled to completely disagree with it .. “Liam” is Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, St Louis, Birmingham, Memphis, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Wichita, Des Moines, Tucson, Little Rock, Louisville, Milwaukee etc etc.. Pretty much every American city..save a small perceived “celestial” handful. Youth get restless and the gravitational pull of growing up is part of the process.. As it relates to Omaha specifically, my experience is the VAST majority of young folks moving out for greener pastures move back typically within 4 years, if not sooner..

Is Omaha Shangri-La? No. But we all can take solace in knowing it’s trying to become the best version of itself it can be. Many cities who play in Omaha’s peer neighborhood struggle with doing this..

Omaha is positioned to take a major leap forward this decade- the tea leaves indicate this as well. Choose to believe this- or not.. But time will bear the reality within the next 5-8 years..and I happen to like the direction Omaha is headed, and so do many folks both young and old who have contributed to Omaha’s robust growth the past decade or so…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[We Don’t Coast]

The “eye test” is completely irrelevant. It isn’t data.

However, there IS objective, real data available. And it shows Omaha and some cities with a net loss of young people, and some cities with net gains of young people.

Oh baloney. That’s like saying “I can’t trust my eyes” to the reality of what I actually see..

Please..

And the data of these studies is NOT real, objective data either. It can and is manipulated to serve the specific narrative of the study..

‘Here is what’s real- Omaha is a growing and vibrant metropolitan area which added 103,000 people to it’s population over the past decade of 2010 to 2020. This trend belies any notion that Omaha isn’t any more hip than any other metropolitan area which experienced a 12% decade growth rate or better..

You’re entitled to your opinion of Omaha and I’m entitled to completely disagree with it .. “Liam” is Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, St Louis, Birmingham, Memphis, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Wichita, Des Moines, Tucson, Little Rock, Louisville, Milwaukee etc etc.. Pretty much every American city..save a small perceived “celestial” handful. Youth get restless and the gravitational pull of growing up is part of the process.. As it relates to Omaha specifically, my experience is the VAST majority of young folks moving out for greener pastures move back typically within 4 years, if not sooner..

Is Omaha Shangri-La? No. But we all can take solace in knowing it’s trying to become the best version of itself it can be. Many cities who play in Omaha’s peer neighborhood struggle with doing this..

Omaha is positioned to take a major leap forward this decade- the tea leaves indicate this as well. Choose to believe this- or not.. But time will bear the reality within the next 5-8 years..and I happen to like the direction Omaha is headed, and so do many folks both young and old who have contributed to Omaha’s robust growth the past decade or so…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Just wanted to say I completely agree with what you’re saying here Cowboy. My eye test experience is Omaha as an obvious growing metropolitan area with people of all ages moving here. Sure there are folks who move away because they believe a larger city is better. But that definitely isn’t always the case; and the direction Omaha is moving shows vision and a willingness to improve itself in becoming a more appealing destination to live for citizens of all ages.

[legato9]

The “eye test” is completely irrelevant. It isn’t data.

However, there IS objective, real data available. And it shows Omaha and some cities with a net loss of young people, and some cities with net gains of young people.

Oh baloney. That’s like saying “I can’t trust my eyes” to the reality of what I actually see..

Please..

And the data of these studies is NOT real, objective data either. It can and is manipulated to serve the specific narrative of the study..

‘Here is what’s real- Omaha is a growing and vibrant metropolitan area which added 103,000 people to it’s population over the past decade of 2010 to 2020. This trend belies any notion that Omaha isn’t any more hip than any other metropolitan area which experienced a 12% decade growth rate or better..

You’re entitled to your opinion of Omaha and I’m entitled to completely disagree with it .. “Liam” is Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, St Louis, Birmingham, Memphis, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Wichita, Des Moines, Tucson, Little Rock, Louisville, Milwaukee etc etc.. Pretty much every American city..save a small perceived “celestial” handful. Youth get restless and the gravitational pull of growing up is part of the process.. As it relates to Omaha specifically, my experience is the VAST majority of young folks moving out for greener pastures move back typically within 4 years, if not sooner..

Is Omaha Shangri-La? No. But we all can take solace in knowing it’s trying to become the best version of itself it can be. Many cities who play in Omaha’s peer neighborhood struggle with doing this..

Omaha is positioned to take a major leap forward this decade- the tea leaves indicate this as well. Choose to believe this- or not.. But time will bear the reality within the next 5-8 years..and I happen to like the direction Omaha is headed, and so do many folks both young and old who have contributed to Omaha’s robust growth the past decade or so…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Okay, man. One guy lookin’ around is data science. The statisticians have thrown their lives away.

As for Omaha being “vibrant” or “hip.” I just…I mean…I don’t even know where to start with that statement.

Omaha is a good town. But it isn’t all that cool. (Yet. It’s working on it. Maybe it gets there. It just might. And I hope it does.)