BRM Q&A with Jordan Levy

These BRO Q&A sessions rarely yield any interesting or useful information. This one is no exception and it was a wasted opportunity. Of course, if Mr. Levy is unable to think of at least one good thing that has happened to Buffalo in the past 20 years, maybe he's not mentally equipped for an interview. Sorry BRO.

Levy and the Erie Canal Development folks are doing good things. I just wish the process was more open.
We could do with fewer "unveilings" and more community participation. This is the best way to get something designed that all parties can agree on.

Thanks for the pointed questions. This was opportunity to hear what one of the most, perhaps the most, influential member of the waterfront committee has to say about Buffalo. Instead, it was a joke.

His answer to the question about most frustrating Buffalo thing is spot-on.

Fascinating as is it to learn that Levy prefers medium chicken wings, why no questions about why he wants taxpayers to subsidize TWO MORE HOTELS (one in former Donovan, one standalone) in latest installment of Canal Side? The recent Buffalo News article reviewed wastefulness of many downtown hotels funded by taxpayers, including the Hyatt, the Hampton Inn, and the Avant... not to mention proposed taxpayer funding for the Pitts-Savarino hotel near the marina which hopefully will be stopped.

http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/516746.html

Why does Levy say there should be yet more taxpayer funding for two more hotels? Isn't $65M of taxpayer subsidies to downtown Buffalo hotels the past 30 years (average $50K per room) enough to show it's a bad idea?

Another question could be what should make us think the Levy-proposed taxpayer funded office space in the former Donovan won't just be more musical chairs of luring tenants who would otherwise locate in existing non-subsidized buildings downtown?

Won't year-round restaurants have a very difficult time down there between October and April? After Sabres games there could be customers, drawing away from Pearl St Grill and the few bars already near HSBC Arena... but is that necessarily good to hurt those businesses? And will Sabres nights even be enough to keep new restaurants going? Does Levy advocate giving new restaurants taxpayer gifts (like money Gigi's recently was given), or does he envision them being self sufficient?

And why couldn't he be asked what animal most matches his personality? Oh wait, he was asked that one. Ok so we know it's a bear. But what kind of bear?

This interview was a waste of space. How do the questions give any insight to the man and his position? It sounds like one of those list of questions that high school kids love to answer. Is there anyone who has the necessary maturity to do a better interview? Come on, Buffalo Rising, surely someone on your staff could have come up with questions that would reveal some substance about Jordan Levy and his background plus what he and his development corporation are planning.

Levy must have really loved the questions because he didn't have to show anything about what he's doing which may be nothing.

Tim Russert's death was the worst thing to happen to Buffalo in 20 years? In a year or two no one will remember anything about Tim Russert outside of the broadcast media. By the way, where is he buried?

I can think of one amazing thing to happen to Buffalo just this year and that's the Great Lakes Diversion Ban.

whats the point of this posting...other than the obvious celebrity propaganda

Wow, I've seen some softball interviews, but this one is on it's own tier. Larry King and Entertainment Tonight seem downright hard-nosed compared to this fluff.

"Q: Worst thing to happen in Buffalo in past 20 years?

A: The passing of Buffalo's greatest ambassador, Tim Russert"

Either this guy is brutally stupid, or he's a pandering bull**** artist.

I am glad that he enjoys his million dollar view from the HSBC floor. I wish that someone would have commented on how we are subsidizing the million dollar views of the BMHA 's Marine Drive Apartments. Now we are going to build and subsidize a parking ramp for apartment complex and not one politician has the courage to complain about good money going after bad. Does anyone remember when the Riverside councilman was asking to privatize this development? Maybe that is the type of leadership that Levy is hoping for, a person who acts on his commitments and statements after he gets in office. Buffalo is a failure because rarely do the leaders actions match the words that they use. Several years ago we had a friend in from the west coast and while having dinner they saw the apartments at the foot of Hertel Ave. Their comment was that they had a great location and must be expensive and my reply was no they are not expensive as far as I know because they are subsidized by the taxpayer. Buffalo is the only city which uses it's asset with the most potential for the least return. Privatize these apartments and get a tax base.

This interview with a potentially influential Buffalonian reveals that Buffalo Rising is lacking as a serious journalistic presence in Buffalo. It is all puffery with few people on staff who have actual talent or ability to make an impact in communications in a city which needs all the help it can get to grasp success.