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Is Houston Losing Prominence?


C2H

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Does it seem that Houston is losing headquarters and businesses rather rapidly? First Foleys in going to be leaving Houston as headquarters and we might lose Continential Airlines if the merger goes through with Delta in Atlanta. An addition to all this, even though these might not be headquartered businesses, alot of other department stores are fleeing the Houston area as well. And even Six flags has turned on us. What's next? Does the future of Houston look promising outside the blue collared oil business? What do you think?

Edited by C2H
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No what?

No, Houston is not losing prominence.

Department stores nationwide are closing and consolidating. The business model no longer fits today's economy. This is a reflection on department stores, not Houston.

Continental is not likely to merge, as Coog said. Delta is in Bankruptcy. Continental is not. Is Atlanta losing prominence?

Six Flags is for sale. It is a failure as an entertainment company. This is a reflection on it's poor business plan of expanding too rapidly, not on Houston.

"Blue collared oil business"? You don't own any oil company stock, do you? Houston's prominence is rising, not diminishing.

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What is with the stereotype of the "blue collared oil business"?? Last time I check, the energy labor pool consists of educated engineers, geologists, computer specialists, accountants, etc... Not much wild-catting activity takes place in Texas anymore. The brains and the money to access the resources (on a global scale) are here - but much of the production takes place in other regions. Energy is predominantly "white-collared"... period.

Houston is an undisputed leader in medical care (Texas Medical Center) and aerospace (NASA). It dominates the increasingly sophisticated energy sector. It has one of the largest ports in the world. The city's economy and population continue to grow at very healthy levels. Houston's prominence only continues to grow.

Just because Foley's is being merged into Macy's means nothing as far as Houston's prominence (Marshall Field's is losing jobs and its name, too... I don't think anyone is questioning whether that means Chicago is losing prominence). Its just part of a national trend.

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Also, didn't we have a thread that Houston was second in Fortune 500 companies second to New York City.

I think we are well off as a city. And our economy is diversified more from oil and oil services industry. This helps us maintain an overall balance.

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OK, granted, this was thread was probably a stupid question to begin with. But i just keep hearing strories that " This is pulling out of the Houston area and that is closing". It kind of made me question Houston's future. Someone on this forum said that Dallas is taking over Texas as far as headquarters and businesses go and i wonder if this is true. Maybe i'm wrong because i am still guilty sometimes of comparing Dallas's success with Houston's because these two cities are the two "big houses" of the state. Of course since Houston is where my family roots come from, i want Houston to be the first thing that people, including businesses think of when they think of TEXAS.

Edited by C2H
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No. Houston is the 4th largest city in the nation, and, as it were due to the cost of living here, perhaps the largest pool of low-cost labor in the country (blue and white collar). We have nothing to fear.

Exactly.

Capitalism is a process of creative destruction. Foley's and Six Flags were failures as businesses. Their assests will be sold and the capital, land, and labor will be used more efficiently by their new owners. That is a sign of stength, not weakness.

Houston needs to keep it cost of living (and labor) down and it will continue to be one of the most competetive cities in the country. Don't impose zoning, don't allow unions to cartelize labor, and streamline or eliminate unnecessary regulations.

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In the news today:

Profit projection sends Continental shares up - Airline among the few expecting third-quarter gains.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/3382587

and...

Delta Airlines Will Cut Flights to Save Fuel - One week after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

http://www.news10.net/storyfull2.aspx?storyid=13463

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I thought we were gaining a few companies here as well, like Citgo and a few others.

I think this is great question, by the way (about these companies and department stores moving rather rapidly)

The only deparment store that I care is leaving is Foley's. All of the other ones that are leaving or that have left already will get replaced with better retail anyways.

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