Buffalo Rising Online

Problem is, the state and local governments, who relaly have a stranglehold on the viability of the region, have placed too many obstacles in the way of growth and rebirth.

And, let's not let Joe Voter off the hook either. This being the day after an election, this region put back basically every imcumbent into office. It's time for the voters to take some accountability. People like Hoyt, Volker, and Schimminger have one thing to havg their hats on... they overseen the perpetual decline and detrioration of this region and this state. Sure, they have their feel good "pork" projects and initiatives that they use to control the voters. Voters see a new park, a grant for $10,000 and a public appearance and ribbon cutting and they falsely think these people are doing the right thing, that they're out for you.

Sorry, but those aren't the issues that matter. Fragmented govt is a killer (as noted in this story); union laws (Taylor law) a as deadly; the 200+ public authorities that have free access to money without accountability to the taxpayers (Peace Bridge Authority anyone?), etc.

NYS government at all levels is populated with self-serving disingenuous people who will do whatever it takes, and take contrubutions from whoever will back them, for the sole purpose of promoting themselves.

But when someone like Kevin Gaughan steps up, he's dismissed and marginalized by the establishment and never allowed to gain any traction (see the West Seneca Town Board's actions). If you're not part of the political machine, you have no saw.

Start voting on records and results and data and not how many times you saw Byron Brown getting his picture taken.

Look no further in Buffalo than the fire union turning down a 20% raise (which is a joke to being with since they're overpaid as it is) for some cost savings concession. The reason WNY and NY is so taxed and so over burdened with the size of its govt is that politicians can't right size. They are stuck contractually agreed upin staffing levels in a lot of contracts. So when the state of Virgina recently laid off 500 state employees to balance its budget and not have to increas etaxes again, we grow our government and add employees and benefits.

But the politicians can cry all they want about unions, they regularly take their campaign contributions and endorsements and vote in favor of their contracts. It just depends who their audience is. If it's a non-union, private sector taxpayer, the line is that we're handcuffed by labor laws. If it's a union rally, it's "we believe in what you do."

The vast majority of my high school and college friends who have degrees are gone. This isn't a place for young, motivated people who want a career and an environment of growth and propserity, low taxes, increased equity in your home, etc.

Quality of life, despite what the rose colored-glasses people on this board think, isn't foreign in other places. Leaving WNY for somewhere else doesn't mean giving up yopur quality of life. So many around here are stuck on geography as hope, when it's false hope.

You can leave today, buy a $200,000 house in NC, SC or GA and pay about $1400 a year in taxes and your home would appreciate in value, your region would grow and be properous, and your quality of life would be great. Here, for $200,000, you'd pay around $6000 minimum for your taxes on your house, your house will very slowly appreciate in value, if you're a private sector employee you have no job security; population will continue to decline I would argue that the quality of life will continue to erode (quality of life is more than trees and nice streetscapes).

well said

Right on MJWorthington

Nusch - Wow it sounds awful in Tennessee. With things so much worse there than WNY, I wonder how to explain so many more people choosing to locate there by comparison over the past decade or two. Maybe warmer climate is all there is to it.

atwater --

Maybe people moved south lured by the promise of a life that appeared better, but was built on a bubble and will prove to be unsustainable? Maybe the low tax, tiny government, every man for himself model will prove less successful in the long run?

I don't know the answers to these questions, but I have my suspicions.

Colin - I don't know either, but it seems the "tiny government" (haha) experiment as you call it has gone on quite a while so if it's all that bad wouldn't we have seen a turn around by now? Last year in 2007 19 of the 20 top 1-year growth metros were all in the south and west. Those 20 in total at that link are the 10 fastest growing in people count (9 of 10 are in south or west, Chicago the exception) and the 10 fastest growing by percent (all 10 of 10 are in south or west), all for the year ending July 1, 2007. If life is so awful, wouldn't that be well known by now and people moving back to WNY? What do your suspicions tell you?

atwater --

I'd say give it a few decades and we'll see. The growth of the west and south happened over a period of several decades, and was fueled in part by debt and the movement of jobs from the north and east. We'll see what happens when those debts come due, and those jobs leave Charlotte for Mumbai (or wherever). My guess is that areas with a more developed safety net will start to look more attractive.

I don't think any of you read the opening story.

Maybe most so far found Thinker's and Nusch's comments more worth a comment than the article's opening story. It happens. Nobody's stopping anyone from commenting on the opening story.

Colin - Ok fair enough - I'll give it a few more decades. It's been a few decades, but I'll give it a few more. If the 2037 trends are still like 2007, then I'll start to doubt your guess.

Right on THINKER...you said it right...ass backwards here

Sony-maybe your flawed theory speaks for some Florida retirement towns, but that is it. Cities like Atlanta, Raleigh, Charlotte, Memphis, Dallas, etc are teeming with young people in the mid-20s to 40. If you want to look at a region filled with seniors with no spending power look no furthur than WNY.

Yeah Colin, and then everyone will be flocking to Buffalo as the promised land. Please explain how the migration south and west was fueled by debt.

Is it time to revisit the County concept? The theme about the wealth moving steadily away from the core is the reality. Those with the least resources are the people that get left behind. First ring suburbs have been in decline for decades that is now increasingly more rapid. Slow at first, galloping now. I think it was seven years ago that I had an occasion to check the Ken-Ton Schools website where they mentioned that the system was not what it used to be even though more than half the sites were Distinguished Schools. They cited specifically that the social and economic problems from the city were finding their way into their atendance areas. True no doubt, but unexpected being that I read it in their Employment Oppotunities section. If it was publicly disclosed seven years ago, it must have been a considerable trend by then.

sony - Your idea for Buffalo aspiring to Hong Kong's business friendliness is the only suggestion I've ever heard that really would make it grow. It's not something that will happen considering NY state and the voters here and all that, but it's a good idea otherwise.

I don't think metro govt is realistic (even though I'd probably vote for it most other city voters wouldn't give up power), and even if it happened I don't think it would lead to growth because it won't much undo the reasons shrinking has happened.

The word "greatness" is subjective and almost always associated with growing places. The "shrink to greatness" slogan never seemed sensible to me. It implies cause and effect between the shrinking and becoming great, which isn't the point at all. Maybe no city ever shrunk to greatness, but many have shrunk and some of them probably ended up better than others in some important ways.

What could be hoped for about Buffalo is something like "improving despite shrinking". That's not inspirational either, but it's better than what's been happening ("worsening while shrinking") in most parts of the city outside of Buffalo Rising's few favorite neighborhoods.