The Human Assets of a City

UGH I am soooo tired of the armchair urban planner vernacular on this site. Please think of another way to say silver bullet. There are so many planning catchphrases from the early '90's used on this site both by the bloggers themselves and the people commenting. Lets actually read some new material on the subject and inject some new thoughts into our heads and words into our vocabularies.

Better yet, think for ourselves, have our own ways of explaining our ideas and thoughts.

Watch Part Three 9:30 to the end

we buffalonians know that the pornography of decline gets really exploitive and pointless after a while. go, detroit!

Wow a video that really says nothing about why Detroit became a failed city, why it continues to be a failed city and why signs of life in Detroit are little more than using Elmwood to define a renaissance for all of Buffalo.

Detroit was killed by incompetent state governors (who allowed the state to become dependent on the auto industry as NYS is dependent on the financial industry), incompetent minority mayors (though Brown inspires more confidence than Masiello here in Buffalo...we have been spared) and both the unions (auto and civil service).

Basically the liberals, the democrats, the leftists, the socialists, the unions tried to bureaucratize and legislate so many union/government programs that there was no money left for the private sector.

All this happened while democrats and republicans rubber stamped free trade deal after free trade deal, dropping tarriffs and import taxes to support offshoring and outsourcing in the most massive de-industrialization of a nation in world history.

The industry first left for the south to escape the unions and then left the country.

A great deal of this is by the way Federal Policy. Other nations (China, Japan, Germany) have what is called a VALUE ADDED TAX which is allowed by our free trade agreements. As an example cars that are made in the US are on average 6,000 more expensive in Japan and Germany as an example because they are imported and must pay a VALUE ADDED TAX (imports add no national value). However, exports from say Japan and Germany into the US receive a $6,000 credit because they did create national value but arent consumed nationally. The US has no VALUE ADDED TAX to equalize the system and those import subsidies underprice our goods particularly if their from low wage countries like China. Now add in IRS tax subsidies for off shore corporations, offshoring and outsourcing and its both intentional and planned.

All this can be fixed but the people must understand government policy.

This is the lession Detroit taught the nation. You cannot have growing government (buracracy and civil service employment and union demands for benefits) and growing social services and and uncontrolled immigration AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE A DECLINING REVENUE BASE.

I don't think that Buffalo is this bad..there was a time when it was...I believe things are really on the upswing in Buffalo thanks to the "empire zone" and "tax credit development"

Buffalo has some good momentum...the problem here is the politics, climate, and slow decision making process...

Most importantly, NYC milks us dry...they have been taking advantage of our tax base for years...the people in NYC think we are all stupid farmers; we don't count. Our image needs to change; we need to market the city differently.

This is one of the reasons why you need a guy like Paladino for Gov. Like him or not...Buffalo will no longer be bullied by Albany and NYC.

The economics need to change upstate; when they do, I believe Buffalo can be like it was again...Corporations are looking for a reason to move back here...

Here are Buffalo's problems, fix these 3 and I guarantee you will see a revived, energized, growing, prosperous, and respected city:

1. Democratic politicians with status quo ideologies and anti business attitudes.
2. Choking taxes - need to cut the fat, lower taxes, and make people feel fairly taxed for the services they receive.
3. Unions - There is nothing good about Unions in Buffalo anymore. I challenge you to find one good thing that a Unionized company does better than a private sector one. Hold on, I'll wait.

I guarantee that if those 3 things are corrected, Buffalo will be a place that has (good) jobs, a tourist destination, and respected nationwide. If not, you will continue to see decline and slipping population numbers.

I found Tom Barlow's observation interesting. In some respects, Detroit and Buffalo are casualties of the American Dream. Immigrants came to America, took jobs that paid a middle class wage, which allowed them to move from the lower class neighborhoods, buy a boat and two cars, help their kids with college, then retire to the south. Since the early 1970s, the average income for middle class earners has risen more than 31%, even after factoring in inflation. Middle class family incomes have risen more than 44% since 1985, primarily due to the increase in dual income families. Middle class family net worth has more than quadrupled since 1980, primarily due to the increase in retirement plan enrollments, stock ownership, larger houses that appreciate in value, and company sponsored pension plans. The last few years have shown a reversal in this trend, but we are still far above where we have been in the past. With prosperity comes choices and opportunity, choices of where to live, what to drive, what to buy, and more options for increasing wealth. This same time period is marked by mass migration from city centers, and mass migrations away from failing cities like Buffalo and Detroit. Money and prosperity offer people the option to move from cities like Buffalo to growing cities like Atlanta and Chicago. There is no need to suffer in a declining city, when you have the means to uproot and seek out more money and opportunity elsewhere.

There is no denying that Buffalo has lost population, especially middle and upper class population, to other cities and to the suburbs. The poor are left behind because they do not have the options or opportunity to move elsewhere. The struggle of the poor increases as the gaps between lower and middle class increase. I wonder what increasing wages and welfare for the poor will really do to the city. Will it create increased investment, or a new wave of middle class earners who take the first road out?

What we just saw was a focus group of wealthy middle class college student sharing their views on how "hip" it is to be part of progress in a veiled attempt to sell boots by Palladium which are sold at Urban Outfitters. In my opinion Urban Outfitters and Palladium uses these focus groups to understand the hedonistic values of youth culture. IE: individuality defined by a conformity to current trends in art fashion and music. They are brilliant marketers. I ask have you bought into this bullshit? Johnny Knoxville interviews two "musicians" on the topic of progress? The Same Johnny Knoxville who shoots fireworks out of his ass. He resonates with the youth of today in his dress his attitude and his ability to entertain us by sacrificing his own dignity and safety. Is this how we wish to be seen? How was such progress spurred by these youth? The progress they speak of is dependent on the bank accounts of their parents and the money set aside for them to go to college which was obtained in an era or progress and growth of which we have not seen since the 1980's. Producing art space and music venues are great forms of entertainment for this quasi bohemian subculture, however few reach the level of true devotion and passion for change.
Dont talk about it be about it.

If you insist on going of topic and would like to speak of the downfall of Buffalo how it happened citing stats you found online. That is fine. But you miss the point which is that individuals have the power to create change however minute it maybe. If you want to lecture on what happened I suggest you first read the book Power Failure by Diana Dillaway. Her insights into the political and economic elites of Buffalo are eye opening.

My hope is that young people, coupled with the many ethnic groups left behind by suburban sprawl, will use the landscape to create opportunities of their own, much like the stories presented in that video. The one guy spoke of not having to compete with big-box retailers. The other guy spoke of a rallying effect of excitement and support. These are pretty unique things that happen in the rust belt; things that make Buffalo, Detroit, Cleveland, Rochester, etc. better, in some respects, than towns like Houston, Charlotte, Atlanta and Pheonix that have absorbed our population loss in the past. To these places, one's creative endeavors are a drop in the bucket (they have to be, by virtue of numbers). To Buffalo, you are valued and embraced.

I suddenly have a lust for flannel and Palladium boots. That will definitely make a difference! so epic! lets buy some clothes so everyone knows we mean change. Then we can go to concerts and parade around like the donks we are.

Heal me from my addiction fill my prescription. consume follow me the pills say swallow me.

cant you tell I am in another dimension?

Metaphors from a true Detroit Legend. if you dont understand then this was not for you. so F! you

A bunch of young hipsters working off their white guilt. I can't think of a better way for them to rebel against their parents than to reject the suburban lifestyle to try to move into the city to prove that they aren't conformists. So trite and so cliche.

http://www.copenhagenize.com/2010/09/loop-city.html

THIS IS A TAKE OVER!
Anyone who wants to watch a video that focuses on the problems created by sprawl and the some creative effective ways to combat it please enjoy. If you prefer to watch adds for boots this is not for you.

This video in from copenhagenize.com is inspirational and very visually appealing. IT focuses on attempts to combat urban sprawl in realistic and sustainable ways. This video goes way beyond the scope of college kids opening bars and restaurants and calling it progress. Brace yourself Steel!

Steel may I ask where you first saw the video you posted? Was it perhaps on a fashion blog? I think so..

I wonder what their reaction is to the demolition of all the residential properties. For every one done in Buffalo, they are proposing TEN in Detroit (1000 vs. 10000).

It would seem even tougher there to decide what to save and what to demolish. I wonder if there is a Detroit ReUse.

Interesting videos. I think Buffalos demographics are more closely related to Detroit, but they were interesting to watch.

If you voted against my comment suggesting you read a book called Power Failure. You are a damn fool and really dont give a F other than to hate on me.

That was a really cool video and article, Steel.

His last comment is funny, though, about how Detroit Central is one-of-a-kind. Funny from a Buffalo perspective, of course.

This documentary better explains the downfall of Detroit - "Requiem for Detroit" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReqG6qbx_c0

In either case, I believe there are plenty of good people in this city that are making a difference. You just don't see them, because they are working hard, and not blabbing about it.

The problem here is that once anyone tries to do anything some politician wraps themselves around them to get credit and then the activist becomes a political whore.

We are the second poorest city in the poorest country in the industrialized world,yes get over it look around you. Where an over paid union worker can get public assistance if you have a couple kids. No big box will save us. We have to help ourselves.

Moderator please approve my last comment so Jag and all the hipsters who are against jobs and prosperity can read and understand. That is all. Thank you.

Work your 50 hour a week job with out health insurance or retirement. Hop in your SUV on borrowed cash and sit in traffic to your over priced home in the zip code of the month.

I never thought I would hear Diana Dillaway's name invoked again!

What a lot of haters in this conversation (or at least a few vocal ones). Strange reactions to a very interesting video. I don't care who produced it or on what site it was discovered.

Anyone who believes Buffalo has fallen as far as Detroit is wearing blinders. Nice to see some energy and revitilization occurring. Hope it's the start of something transformative.

Most surprising information in video was the map showing San Francisco, Boston and Manhattan all fitting within the footprint of the city of Detroit. Amazing.