These days, living in San Antonio, it feels like the city is continuously growing and the population is increasing.

On the surface, it seems like things are improving. However, looking at the recent U.S. city rankings, it appears that is not the case.

Out of 250 cities, it ranks 151st. Within Texas, it is essentially at the bottom.

Austin is 30th, Dallas is 87th, and Houston is 124th.

San Antonio is 151st?

Honestly, that doesn't seem right. San Antonio feels completely separate from the rest of Texas.

The reason this feels tangible is that the first thing that catches your eye is the roads.

While driving, there are quite a few sections where the lanes are not visible.

At first, I thought it was due to construction. But as I continued to drive, I realized that this is the usual state.

The asphalt is bumpy, the paint is nearly worn off, and at night, the lanes are so faint that you sometimes have to drive by feel.

When traffic accidents come up, people often blame the drivers, but honestly, I see this as a structural issue.

The low score in "governance & foresight" mentioned in the report reflects this.

It's not that there are no plans, but it feels like the execution is lacking.

And this issue doesn't stop at the roads. Education is also a recurring topic. It's not that there are no universities.

The problem lies after graduation. There are not enough good companies, and the structure to retain talent in the area is weak.

Ultimately, graduates leave for other cities. This causes the city to remain stagnant at a mediocre level. It seems like this pattern keeps repeating.

The community is similar. People are friendly. I can genuinely acknowledge that.

However, the feeling of the entire city being connected is weak.

On a neighborhood level, things seem fine, but when looking at the city as a whole, it feels like it operates separately.

The low score in social cohesion in this report makes sense.

People are gathered, but there is a lack of collective momentum.

On the flip side, there are some surprisingly positive aspects. Climate resilience is one of them.

This may be due to Texas's characteristics and the city's sprawling structure.

However, my thought after seeing this is that while it may not fail, it feels unprepared for success.

So, this city definitely has potential. The land is vast, the cost of living is less burdensome than in other cities, and the people are decent.

There are also military-related industries and a healthcare base.

But the direction is unclear. What is needed is not a 10-year plan, but a 20 or 30-year strategy; right now, it feels like it's focused on short-term projects.

Building a park, fixing a few roads, hosting an event. These things won't change the city's standing.

San Antonio is closer to being a city that can improve. The question is how long this potential will remain just potential.

In my opinion, San Antonio is not a bad place, but with the current approach, it will be difficult to improve further.