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NBC Nightly News presenter and editor-in-chief Lester Holt, which was broadcast live from Austin’s ubiquitous Long Center, set out to host the show live on Monday night from “one of America’s biggest boomtowns”.
Austin was featured on Nightly News’ Across America series, which highlights the impact of the pandemic in various American cities. Holt spoke about Austin’s busy tech scene, ongoing migration, polarizing legislation in the Lone Star State and spoke to a popular local company while he was here.
Here is a recap of Austin’s edition of Across America.
“Surge of Transplantations” and large technology companies arrive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cjhElSBFTY
Holt began his broadcast from the Long Center lawn with a striking skyline background and started the controversial Texas Abortion Act, which is currently being negotiated by the US Supreme Court, in front of the “Across America” segment.
The segment started with the oh-so-familiar sights of live music, colorful murals, busy pedestrian traffic in the South Congress, and of course, building as far as the eye can see.
“Austin is young, it’s hip,” and “a lot cheaper than California,” said new residents, who say the city has breathed new life into them.
With a boomtown status, Austin was the most popular place to pull up during the pandemic. Though locals have their own opinions about settling foreigners in Austin, new transplants said they are happier than ever with the move.
A California transplant family said Holt felt that Austin gave them a way out of the “rat race” on the west coast and allowed them to “buy back” time as a family. In addition, new residents find solidarity around them with the numerous families who have moved in the last year.
Of course, not all families move to Austin – large corporations like Tesla are relocating their headquarters here, Apple is planning to build a new campus and a new Samsung plant could be built nearby.
Growing pains in the big city
KXAN’s Tahera Rahman told Holt that Austin’s rapid growth was due to its comfortable climate, low taxes and entrepreneurial spirit. But it’s not all good news, and as Police Chief Joseph Chacon put it, boomtown status comes with a fair share of “big city problems.” Holt drew attention to Austin’s 80 percent increase in homicides, a nationwide phenomenon.
Holt said some of Austin’s biggest problems are housing shortages – the city has been grappling with a homelessness crisis for years, compounded by the skyrocketing cost of living. He said Austin’s plethora of jobs made the already hot housing market even hotter.
Holt spoke to a couple who felt “priced out” after finishing their search for a home for the past eight months. The couple said they found deals that were 15% above the asking price, but they still have no plans to leave. That’s the pull Austin has, the couple said.
Although the rapid growth is alarming, Rahman Holt said she believed city officials planned to make the most of it.
“I think the city and county leaders see it more as an opportunity to manage this growth fairly,” Rahman said.
“Best tacos … maybe in the whole country.”
Reyna and Maritza Vazquez brought a taste of their hometown of Veracruz, Mexico to Austin. (NBC / Youtube)
It wouldn’t be a segment of Austin without visiting one of the city’s most prized artifacts: the taco truck. Holt spoke to Veracruz All Natural founders Reyna and Maritza Vazquez, who have grown from a single truck to six locations in Austin and recently expanded to Los Angeles with a new truck called “Hot Tacos”.
Holt was taught how to make their signature migas breakfast taco from the sisters who grew up in the kitchen with their mother in Mexico, and heard from locals who said the Vazquez sisters make “the best tacos in town.” , maybe the country. “
“Funny, I never leave Texas hungry,” said Holt. “So long from Austin.”
Holt will be visiting St. Louis, Missouri for his next version of Across America.
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