Texas Driving Away Employers?

[BlueWavePsych]

Lurch to Right May Imperil Texas’s Attraction for Employers

In the past decade, Texas attracted almost 4 million people and a cavalcade of employers thanks to low taxes, lax regulation and thriving cities. But a defiant attitude toward Covid restrictions, new limits on voting access and now the nation’s strictest abortion law could undermine its appeal for future moves.

Companies including Apple Inc., Toyota Motor Corp. and Tesla Inc. have moved operations and college-educated, creative-class workers to Texas in recent years; enclaves like Austin and Houston’s Montrose neighborhood felt a little like San Francisco with withering humidity. Now, those workers find themselves in a state taking far-right stances in a culture war with national ramifications for women’s autonomy and presidential politics.

“Other states are competing for people,” said Tammi Wallace, chief executive officer of the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce. “If you look at what our state is doing, and then you see another state where they’re not doing some of those things, you might say, ‘Well, the money’s good, but where do I want to raise my family?’”

Several firms issued statements Wednesday condemning the Texas voting bill passed the evening before, which would prohibit many local policies established to aid voting during the pandemic. Critics say its aim is to depress the Democratic vote, particularly in heavily diverse cities such as Houston. Abbott has promised to sign the measure in the name of ballot security, and backers have said it actually makes voting easier.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-02/lurch-to-the-right-may-imperil-texas-s-attraction-for-employers

[DBoon]

1. "creative class" workers can write their own ticket in today's economy

They can do perfectly well without following their employer to Texas.

[C_U_L8R]

2. We're talking to you, Apple and Whole Foods and many more

Time to pull up stakes from Magatistan.

[TexasTowelie]

4. Considering that Whole Foods began in Austin and they are completing a new office tower,

I don't see them moving at all.

Apple built their offices downtown within the past twenty years. They aren't leaving either.

The new laws may be enough to persuade a corporation from locating their HQ in Texas, but I doubt that many of them are going to pack up and leave Texas. Their primary interest is to watch out for shareholders rather than to be concerned about the family and social life of their employees.

[C_U_L8R]

6. I don't expect them to move

But I hope they use their political strength for some good.

[TexasTowelie]

7. The former CEO of Whole Foods before they were bought by Amazon is a libertarian

and Jeff Bezos lead after that. I'm grateful that Whole Foods did not exercise their political views.

I'm not sure how much strength Apple has in Texas politics, but from my vantage point it isn't much.

[C_U_L8R]

8. Yeah that old WF CEO was pretty awful.

Definitely put a damper on our WF purchases.

Back to the issue, we'll see who stands up and who doesn't.
The majority of the country is not with the Republicans.

[catrose]

3. I hope so.

[2naSalit]

5. +1