Does Mayor Brown realize there probably won't be a ribbon to cut for this one? On the other hand, we all know he can shovel a mean pile of ceremonial dirt.
BRO: Beware posting anything about this story, the crazies are loose. I was blown away by the negative, racist, and over all mean spirited comments on Buffalo News. It was actually really embarrassing. It got so bad that they took down all the comments.
that is really unfortunate to hear...i really should not be surprised but i am, a bit. people really unleash the ugly with anonymous comments on the internet. pathetic.
Just about every story on the Buffalo News website seems to end up that way.
Love the pics. Not sure why this house couldn't be gut rehabbed, but looking forward to the new design that is being described as a model for new infill housing in Buffalo.
I HOPE the new model is NOT a plastic suburban wannabe like the other infill houses. I hope this one is a nice brick brownstone urban infill that is so needed in this city.
Mmmmmm...Brownstone! There are so few in the city left. There should be some sort of incentive to build "real" structures with this sort of material!
Brownstone? On a block that has no brownstones? Who has the desire and cash to build brownstones anyway? There are many more sensible and cost-sensitive choices for a modern urban environment that can be duplicated elsewhere in the city. I hope that's what this Buffalo episode will be all about.
As long as it's not the suburban plastic crap that have taken over so many city streets in the last 20 years. Can we finally do it right this time with an URBAN Friendly model?
There's only so much that can be done in one week. I am sure the Powells are getting much more than they have now, but I am not expecting any architectural marvels.
I think the Green aspect is really important. I can only imagine what kind of a sieve these homes are as far as heating goes. I would love to see geothermal used. The upfront cost is a lot but would make these houses affordable to heat in our climate. I am also anxious to see what the come up with for a design, but am not expecting a lot out of it. To me the old rowhouse was the best design with the brick element.
I think I'm going to just use Buffalo Rising for now on. The racist comments on the Buffalo News site is just incredible.
Any way to view, as in pictures of the plans for the building.
We took our kids down there on Sat afternoon (we are big fans of Extreme Make Over Home Edition). It was so wonderful to be surrounded by so many people (neighbors, families, students etc) from the immediate community plus all of the volunteers in blue. Despite the negative light the neighborhood is often portrayed in- it is a community of good neighbors. Many families- like my grandparents and aunt and uncle who live a few streets over- have been a part of that area for many many decades- they have devoted much of their days to working to preserve the sense of neighborhood and community that already exists there. We are happy that this area of Buffalo was chosen. But, it was so disheartening to read the overwhelmingly negative, ignorant and racist comments posted on both the Buffalo News website and wgrz.com
In regards to the comments...disgusting? yes. Surprising? sadly, not at all.
I agree, but it you looked at how those comments were worded, it seemed to almost sound like the same person or persons. It's very disturbing and makes me not want to read the comments on those sites at all and just stick to the actual story.
It strange that this story is bringing out such hostility and racism. I didnt read the BN comments but I tuned into the Tom Bauerle show today with the intention of listening to him cry about the healthcare bill. Instead I heard dozens of self righteous callers using racial code words and poor bashing.
Every call incuded:
A reference to "those people" and/or "that neighborhood".
A prediction that the owner would default on their new home.
An inaccurate, ignorant put down of the west side.
Finger pointing at the impoverished for choosing to be poor.
An unverifiable claim that they have have fallen on hard times but were too proud(superior) to accept any handouts.
Expressed disgust that the producers were promoting their good deed to TV viewers followed by a story bragging about how the caller held the door open for some old lady in 1982 to thousands of listeners.
I feel very sorry if the folks who will live in this home have to read or listen to this crap. I am also embarrassed that a hanful of high an mighty WNYrs feel they need to put other people down to give themselves a false sense of superiority.
They won't hear it from Disney World, and prolly aren't WBEN listeners, anyway. :)
No surprise, AM 930 is the station of hate and an embarrassment to our region. This radio station panders to the base instincts and lowest IQs, hard to believe WBEN was once one of the best.
I actually listened to him this morning, first time since i was a kid. I was driving someone else's car so I couldn't figure out how to change the channel as they were pre-programmed.
The guy is a major toolbox. My sentiment is so what on the whole thing. It is a private entity giving it away so it really it is none of my business or money. why he was making a big deal out of it and getting so heated is beyond comprehension. It had nothing to do with orthodoxy either.
It is sad to hear this kind of talk in what is suppost to be known as the 'City of GOOD Neighbors'. Kind of ironic, how much hate and ignorance comes out of most mouths in this region and in this city in the year 2009. No wonder many of our younger generation leave. I've left and came back a few times hopping that this area has grown to be more accepting of others, but I guess not. So sad. I hope this beautiful family is enjoying themselfs at Disney World and have no idea on what has been said about them and never hear it after they return. How horrible that would be because of a few ignorant behind the times A HOLES have never had a friend of another race or culture in thier lives think they are better than everyone else to give this area a bad rep. Sometimes, I am NOT proud to be associated with this area at all because of that type of hate.
Don't be too discouraged, Buffalo has come a long way in the past 50 years. I grew up during the days of integration and white flight and I can personally attest to the progress that has been made. Not saying we are there yet but we have become much more tolerant and accepting of diversity.
Good for you Karl, we may disagree on issues but can agree that AM 930 adds nothing to the debate and relies only on the ignorance and anger of their listeners.
Good for you Karl. We like you now because you agreed with our opinion for once. Yeh everybody come see this, Karl doesn't like WBEN either. I always knew he was a liberal.
I actually don't listen to it enough to have an opinion, but don't get me wrong, I'd generally like to see liberals be waterboarded on a monthly basis in a public forum, maybe one of the open lots on Middlesex. I think to whole concept would provided much needed stimulus as it would definitely be picked up by one of the networks, or MTV.
Thats exactly what the Nazis and Communist dictators did, torture and kill the liberals. Progressive thinkers are the enemy of all right wing fanatics because liberals advocate for freedom and human rights.
And lets not forget Jesus, he was a bleeding heart liberal, would you waterboard Jesus if he was here today?
We would probably nail him to a cross and let him hang in the public square for a couple of days to silence his opinions and keep him from inciting riots against the wealthy, the government, and organized religion.
That said, he would not be considered a left wing bleeding heart liberal as you have deemed yourself in other posts. You may be a lot of things, but being a far left wing liberal keeps you as distanced from the teachings of Jesus and the practices that he preached as a far right winger like Rush Limbaugh. Your ideology, envy, and hatred keep your heart and mind closed and your vision blinded. This is anything but the enlightenment and tolerance tha Jesus preached.
Is that a joke? Turn the other cheek? LIBERAL. Love your neighbor as yourself? LIBERAL. Give up your possessions and follow me? LIBERAL.
What is the one about serving "the least of my brothers?" LIBERAL. You can't hate the poor (i.e. "This woman doesnt deserve a new house!") and love Jesus because, by default, your actions toward the "least of my brothers" are also towards Jesus.
The Beatitudes? LIBERAL. (i.e. Blessed are the meek, the peacemakers, the poor).
Seriously. I don't remember any addendums about "except for the welfare queens and crackheads." Maybe they just censored that stuff from Sunday school. What did Mary Magalene do for a living again? Nevermind.
The big difference is the Nazis and communist/progressive liberals leaders didn't have MTV back then. They do now so it is night and day, black and white, salt and pepper, honey and milk, tea and soda, etc.
Byron and all in this picture look like they are channeling their early 90's R&B cd cover pose
Yeah the guy on the right just needs a line beard!
I wish they went with red shirts instead of blue. Why is it always blue. Blue is so suburban versus red which emulates the urban core and a legacy of fine central planning.
Isn't that dreadful black side saddle house on Bird an infill? OGM! What if?
I was there on Saturday and the house is in rougher shape than it looks. The back left side of the house was all covered in plastic and the gutters stopped at the roof.
It is disgusting to read some of the comments on other sites. I don't think some people will ever be satisfied as to who was picked for this opportunity. It's really a life-changing event for the Powell's. I can't wait to see the finished result.
I think the majority of the people against the Powells being selected may feel she doesn't deserve it. I know it sounds bad but I'm trying to view it from their pov. Her kids are fully raised, she has a job, she volunteers, Shes not sick, coming to this country for a better life makes for good tv. I personally don't mind if she deserves it or not. This will 100% improve this area of the west side.
I really like that stone porch, I wonder if they can put that back???
I, too was appalled at the comments on this story appearing in the BN and offered some contrary views.
It really points to me that in addition to the serious economic problems the City faces, another one looms larger: bigotry and race.
I hope the comments on the Buffalo News site are just coming from the same small group of ignorant people that make up the audience of WBEN 930. As in my previous reponse to lego1981 I have seen much progress in this city and believe it is only a minority of angry and bitter people that make such hateful comments.
I didn't read the comments on the Buffalo News, but I have read comments on other websites and on the radio. If you look beyond the ignorant racist comments made by a relatively few people, you will see and hear a common theme. The question that often comes up is: "why this family?" People are getting fed up with seeing their paychecks shrink due to increases in taxes, welfare deductions, social security deductions, and increased insurance premiums. They are not getting raises due to the economy. They are working more hours because jobs have been cut and they could use the extra money from overtime but that just increases the amount they lose from their paychecks.
Meanwhile, we hear about increases in the amount that the poor get in welfare, WIC, rent, free cell phones, $200 per student for school supplies, gas and electric paid for, water rates reduced, free college tuition, free job training, and money to buy a house. We hear about how bad the poor have it, but what about those of us who are in the lower middle class. Most of us could care less what the executive at some big business makes or how much he pays in taxes, it isn't real to us. What is real is the guy down the street who collects all the benefits, then works off the books at a bar. Or the mother of four who is pregnant again and now has one more mouth for the taxpayers to feed. It is the guy who is on disability at the end of my old street, the same guy who is too disabled to work is playing football for the Buffalo Gladiators. It is the single mother of three around the corner who spends $50.00 on cigarettes and another $50.00 on lottery tickets, but is always crying that she doesn't have "two nickels to rub together". This same woman who when we offered her to join us on a trip to the Salvation Army thrift store says that she won't put her kids in other people's rags. Meanwhile, that is what my kids have been wearing to school for years.
We look at the Powell family through this lens. We wonder what she has done to deserve a new house. We wonder why someone who has taken so much gets more why those who give and give and give keep getting less and less and less. It seems weird that this family was chosen for the show. An able bodied family with grown kids, who could work to bring home money for the family like we used to do.
I don't hold anything against the family, they have lived a hard life. I think that it just seems like we look out for those who contribute less than they take while we do nothing for those who continue to give and give and give. This is the message behind many of the comments. It is the frustration and helplessness that the lower middle class feel. It is the lack of a voice, the fact that no one cares about what the middle class think. Meanwhile there are all kinds of people out there championing the poor. In other words, when will it be our turn for the free tuition, the $200 per pupil, or the free house from ABC?
Ms. Powell may deserve that house, and the people leaving comments on the Buff News site, may very well be racist, but all I can say is AMEN!! Wanna run for some sort of office??
I think the examples of the poor you gave are stereotypes and not an accurate description of a distressed community. That is the problem I have with the Archie Bunker crowd crying about societys unfortunate catching all the breaks.
I respectfully disagree. The examples that I provided are people who live in the neighborhood that I called home and still visit daily. The problem is the liberal crowd who refuse to admit that sometimes stereotypes are based on reality and that reality can be very ugly. If you would like to meet the people I am talking about then grab a case of Budweiser and stop out some evening and I will introduce you to them. I really resent you referring to me as an Archie Bunker crowd and trying to show me as a racist like he was. Maybe if you left the Elmwood Village sometime you might see how the poor really live because it is obvious that your image of the poor is based more on NPR and CNN than real life. Stop out to visit and I'll show you what it is really like to be poor and just slightly above the poverty level. Sometimes it doesn't pay to work harder or longer because the benefits are better on the other side of the line.
I am still irritated by your ignorance and the stereotypes that you are using in your comment. The stereotype that anyone who says something that is not politically correct but based on real experiences is an ignorant racist. I can't think of what it is called when you say something bad about the person instead of what he has to say, but that is what you are doing and I resent that. Come out to my neighborhood, I have a great house to sell you if you want to see first hand how the poor live and what happens to a working class neighborhood when the neighbors stop working and have the government pay their bills. It would be enlightening for you.
No the EV is a little out of my price range.
I do know that the disability cheats, 50/50-lottery/smokes types and kid farms do exist in poor communities. However, by focusing on them you are doing a diservice to the others in that neighborhood who bust their ass and play by the rules.
I dont buy the argument that joe jackass on am930 has a right to go on racist rants because of an inaccurate belief that everybody who lives in a distressed area is some kind of deadbeat. Redneck radio hosts have been profiting off their listeners fear and ignorance for years based on inner city stereotypes like the "welfare queen". Where would Rush and the rest of the GOP be without exploiting fear of the poor and minorities?
Wait... so the examples I provided were an accurate assessment of the poor, but you don't think that we should use those examples because there are other poor people who may not be like that.
For the record, I don't really give a rats patoot about what someone says on WBEN. You compared me to Archie Bunker just because you didn't like me pointing out the fraud and laziness of my neighbors. Also what does this have to do with Rush Limbaugh?
At the very least I think you owe me an apology for stating that I am a racist like Archie Bunker just for talking about the poor. And also can you tell me why it is wrong to use examples of people who do welfare fraud and spend foolishly when we talk about poor people and it is ok to use Bernie Maddoff or some bank CEO as an example of all businessmen and rich people?
Similitude>"Wait... so the examples I provided were an accurate assessment of the poor, but you don't think that we should use those examples because there are other poor people who may not be like that"
By focusing on a few of the bad seeds you are insulting the poor that work hard but cant escape their predicament. It also perpetuates the stereotype that poor=criminal.
Similitude>"For the record, I don't really give a rats patoot about what someone says on WBEN. You compared me to Archie Bunker just because you didn't like me pointing out the fraud and laziness of my neighbors. Also what does this have to do with Rush Limbaugh?"
I didnt compare you with Archie. I thought your original post was well written and sincere but I took exception with your focusing on the seedy element of a distressed community as inaccurate. The Archie reference was towards the WBEN callers. Rush is relevant because he has made a killing off ignorance based fear of poor minorities and his show is on WBEN.
Similitude>"At the very least I think you owe me an apology for stating that I am a racist like Archie Bunker just for talking about the poor. And also can you tell me why it is wrong to use examples of people who do welfare fraud and spend foolishly when we talk about poor people and it is ok to use Bernie Maddoff or some bank CEO as an example of all businessmen and rich people?"
You have called yourself a racist not me so there will be no apology. You can talk about the poor and use examples of misdeeds but dont generalize an entire community as pickpockets and scamers. Be sure to include those who work their a$$es off but are not able to escape poverty.
I love your mentality that the poor are poor because the rich are rich and if you say anything different you are part of the Archie Bunker crowd and most likely a conservative and a racist. Is that how it is Iluvpitbulls? Maybe you do owe this guy an apology.
You are missing the big picture by focusing your anger on the poor. Your claim that "most of us could care less what the executive at some big business makes or how much he pays in taxes" says it all. Concentration of wealth in the hands of those at the top has produced a permanent underclass with little hope of upward mobility. As generation after generation are born into poverty any real chance of rising above further diminishes. These dependant poor are simply the end result of decades of union busting, downsizing, and outsourcing. Driving down labor costs has produced two separate and very unequal worlds. Your anger should be directed at those that profit from the present division and use our political system to aquire more wealth while avoiding their fair share of taxes. They are more responsible for the state of our city and region as they have reaped the benefits of our race to the bottom.
Poor people are an easy target and a favorite whipping boy for the far right because blaming them keeps the masses from seeing the real culprit, the greed and arrogance of those at the top.
Don't tell me where I should direct my outrage. I am directing at the welfare cheats, the very abled disabled, the mother machines, and the off the books welfare cheats. This has nothing to do with union busting, that is such an unsubstantiated and over used myth. My anger is directed at those that steal 40% of my paycheck every week without me being able to do anything about it. My anger is directed at the people who laughed at me for going to work everyday. My anger is directed at the people that I see every day who make my taxes go up and make me have to struggle to get by. This is where my anger is directed. Not at some businessman in NYC, he isn't taking anything from me. My anger is directed at the lazy SOB who lives three doors down from my old house. The guy who knows every possible way to cheat the system and has no shame in telling you that.
This is the real culprit. I hate the fact that we are not allowed to talk about this in the open. I hate the fact that it is too politically uncorrect to say anything about the poor for fear of the backlash.
You live in the neighborhood and I know you see the cheats and liars. Unless you never leave your house, you will see them every day. At the bodega by your house, at the lot down the street, and on the porches during the summer. You know they are there and you know they are capable of contributing. Then why do you give them a free pass to continue to leach off the system? Why do you blame someone else for their condition?
I don't know why I should even bother going to work anymore. It is easier to work off the books and collect welfare than to try to raise my family in a nicer neighborhood and send them to a better school. I feel my anger is directed in the right place. I am not letting the rich off the hook, but like I said I don't know them and feel that you are describing them with the same overgeneralized stereotypes that Iluvpitbulls blamed me for using to describe the poor.
There is no way you are paying 40% of your paycheck in taxes unless you are a millionaire. I am solidly in the middle class and pay a total 16% of my gross to federal and state. That is before my refund which takes this down further. The cost of the poor is always exaggerated for political reasons. In reality it is chump change estimated at about $400 a year for a taxpayer making about 50K. The poorest 40% of Americans share just 1% of the wealth, they are not living large on this pittance. You can continue to rail against them if it brings you satisfaction but doing so only diverts your attention from the real culprits, the 60% that hold 99% of the wealth in this nation.
If this group was less greedy you could support your familiy on one full time job and the working poor could begin to join the middle class.
You can't have a middle class without an upper and a lower class.
You need a majority middle class or things begin to fall apart. Concentration of wealth and the resulting increase in poverty causes societies to break down, see any history book for examples.
so what would make you happy? Eliminate the wealthy and spread their money around? How long will that last?
Of course not, just pay all those that work a fair wage. About 1/3 of the people of Buffalo live below the poverty level. That is $21,834 a year for a family of 4, or about $418 a week before deductions. Thats pathetic.
I feel your pain man, I feel your pain.
I like your point about it being ok to paint the rich with one broad brush but we need to consider the poor individually. Some people would like us to believe that our own personal experiences are wrong and they should be replaced with the standard political correct drivel.
Sorry similitude, but with all of your blah blah blah, you just come off like you're mad it wasn't your house they're redoing. That woman gave and kept giving to her community and beyond regardless of the fact that she came here with almost nothing to give and got scammed by an unscrupulous home owner, who probably lives in a "better" neighborhood. Sour puss.
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WOW! The Mayor was actually working?
LoL, it was ONLY a photo opp. He's just trying to look good for when this show airs on National TV.