Buffalo Rising Online

There are a lot of lessons learned in this series. We should refrain from our usual defensiveness and look at this as an opportunity to grow. I know at least a dozen friends who have moved to Charlotte from Buffalo, and probably a two dozen more in Washington, DC and Atlanta, GA.

We have serious issues to address in Buffalo. We need to stop making excuses and using enabling behaviors and phrases. It is time that we grew to accept who we are, what our faults, strengths, and opportunities are, and moved ahead with a new Buffalo. Too many in this city hide behind the victim mentality by blaming everyone else for where we are today.

The problems with Buffalo are not the loss of Auto Industry jobs in the seventies, the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway, or the unions. These all contribute to the problem and they do a great job of keeping us mired in our past and prevent us from moving forward. The problem is that we lack a collective sense of esteem, purpose, and vision to bring us to the next iteration of the city. We are still trying to define 1965 Buffalo or 1985 Buffalo instead of Buffalo 2010 and 2020.

Allfit- You claim "many in this city hide behind a victim mentality" and "lack collective sense of esteem. purpose, and vision." In my community I see strength, perseverance, and pragmatism. Those of us who are involved in working and investing to improve our neighborhood and city have a strong sense of pride, purpose and vision. I guess it just depends what type of circles you move in.

While I agree with allfit's first two paragraphs, this later part doesn't work for me at all: 'The problem is that we lack a collective sense of esteem, purpose, and vision to bring us to the next iteration of the city.'

I doubt anyone could convince me that collective E-P-V issues are anything more than annoyances. At most, maybe a decent argument could be made that those are some important problems among many. But I think to say collective E-P-V issues are "The problem" doesn't line up with reality I see around here.

Not that I'm saying esteem, purpose, and vision are good around here the way BRLifer seems to be saying. I just don't think those are big deals either way. Those aren't reasons that Charlotte has been attracting anyone from Buffalo.

meanoldman...Big Scary City? This city isnt big, but walk down Main st at night and it def is scary

Blackrocklifer - I am not taking anything away from the pride and perseverence of the Black Rock community, or many of the other smaller communities that make up the City of Buffalo. The esteem for 'Black Rock' or 'Riverside" or "Elmwood Village" or "First Ward" or any other micro-community is there, but it is lacking at the macro level of the City and the Region in general.

I have mentioned before that your comments tend to portray Buffalo and the people of Buffalo as victims of circumstances that our outside their control. You write alot about how the government has sponsored suburban sprawl to keep poverty in Buffalo. You have written about how the people of Amherst conspired to keep mass transit out of their town in an effort to keep poverty in the city. You talk about how the big corporations have worked to exploit all Americans and especially workers in an effort to keep them poor. You rarely talk about the role the people of Buffalo have played in the decline of the city, it is almost always something that is outside of their control causing all of the problems.

You cite the suburbs as the reason for most of the problems in the neighborhoods of the city, you blame them for the crime, the poor schools, the political corruption, the lack of jobs, the traffic, the thruway, and just about anything else. The things that you do not pin on the suburbs, you blame on republicans, corporations, and the weather. All large entities that are outside of your control. Do you think that there may be reasons that people don't want to live in the city beside racism and classism? Reading through your comments, I don't know that you do.

I am not saying that a lack of esteem, vision, and purpose are the primary things that are holding us back, but they do contribute to the bigger picture. One of the biggest reasons that people cite for leaving Buffalo is the lack of opportunity, another is the fact that nothing ever changes. They do not see a plan or direction for the City. We tend to do things at random, like the waterfront. It is a partial project, a partial vision, it lacks connection to other projects.

We have a master plan, but we don't follow it. We have grand schemes and ideas, but they rarely make it beyond the drawing board and media blitz. When I talk to people from Buffalo, both in Buffalo and in other areas of the country, they almost always say the same thing in the same tone. They almost always say that Buffalo is a nice place with great people, but nothing ever changes here. You can cite the specific projects that we see over and over on Buffalo Rising, you can talk about the Elmwood Village or Labbatt's headquarters, but in the grander scheme, these things are drops in the bucket when compared to development in other cities across the country.

Charlotte is happening, there are jobs and places to go. There are new houses, new buildings, and new jobs. There is a sense of hope and encouragement when you visit or live there, even when some of the environmental factors are detractors (like traffic, housing costs, etc). Even in places like Boston and Chicago, there is a sense of meaning and pride that people have about their city. I don't see that in Buffalo as much. It is there in pockets and corners, but not as a collective city the way that places like Austin, Chicago, Boston, NY, DC, and many other cities feel it.

Read the comments on BRO from an objective, outsider's perspective. Read the negativity without the defensiveness and you will see a lot of truth in the comments. Listen to the broadcasts about Charlotte and you will hear about some of the things that we can improve. These aren't difficult to improve, but it takes leadership and guidance to get it done.

All too often we spend more time arguing with ourselves, pointing fingers at the suburbs or the city, debating the same points ad nauseum and wishing for results instead of working for them.

allfit- I started out playing defense on this blog because of the endless streams of negative, uninformed, and downright mean comments about the city and the poor. Most of these comments came from people living in the suburbs of Buffalo. Pointing out the role outside forces played in creating the problems in the city is not "being a victim" as is your favorite claim. It is presenting a point of view that is not always heard and perhaps hard for many to accept. This view deserves to be part of the debate and in fact is necessary to find solutions to the problems that face this region.

Why oh why cant Buffalonians think like normal people?

Why this fascination with comparing as if there is some choice? Alot of the people would still be in Buffalo is there were jobs for its population but there arent so moving was a forced choice not a voluntary choice.

Buffalo does have depth and soul but not opportunity. However dig beneath the newness and the new south is just like the Great Lakes cities like Buffalo. They are very down to earth. They dont put on alot of airs and they are strongly rooted in family and friends and community. Plus once you get used to an extremely short winter where you can actually live 365 days a year....its wonderful.

But here is what makes Buffalonians and their constant self analysis and insecurity, Buffalo businesses do not reach out to expatriots and form business links and say "ok you live in Boston, NYC, DC, Virginia, NC, Atlanta, Dallas, wherever....if your expanding bring your business expansion to Buffalo!"

Develop those technology links! Develop those business links! Develop those networking and interpersonal links!

The predominant banking industry in Charlotte is a wonderful opportunity for Buffalo to market itself.

The predominant technology in Raleigh/Durham is a wonderful opportunity for Buffalo to market itself.

instead of worrying about whose p*nis is bigger...why not look at a bigger picture.

Buffalo has ALOT to offer....but its different and it takes some explaining but every city and region has a history and needs some explanation. Buffalo fails because whiners dont really have civic pride...life is hard and they always feel under assault from demolitions, stagnant property values, self centered politicians that have more loyalty to albany, business and unions than citizens and of course insecure jobs...but behind that...is alot to be proud!!!!!

Its why I hope that one day the Albright displays its classical collection. Its why I hope that one day they rebuild the Pan-Gateways and Fountains Its why I hope that one day they bring passenger rail and extend the light rail Its why I describe Buffalo State as the 4th State Campus! Its only Howard in her parochial attitude that doesnt understand she is a state school like UB and its role is to complement UB as well as its own historic charter as a teaching school.

We have potential....and we have roots...and we have a historic place in the world

heather- Thats the nicest think you ever said about Buffalo and I am not being sarcastic.

charlotte is going to have a lot of problems with the banking industry in the crapper...its not all roses and sunshine down there

allfit - Ok then I read your earlier comment too literally. I thought that's what you were saying. Sorry for confusion.

'I am not saying that a lack of esteem, vision, and purpose are the primary things that are holding us back

This part I agree with, and both of the following seem to have same reason - stagnant private sector economy compared to places most people move to: '...One of the biggest reasons that people cite for leaving Buffalo is the lack of opportunity, another is the fact that nothing ever changes ... you can talk about the Elmwood Village or Labbatt's..., but ...these things are drops in the bucket when compared to development in other cities across the country.'.

This part I don't agree is as important a factor as I think maybe you're (allfit) saying it is:

'...They do not see a plan or direction for the City. We tend to do things at random, like the waterfront. It is a partial project, a partial vision, it lacks connection to other projects. ...We have a master plan, but we don't follow it. We have grand schemes and ideas, but they rarely make it beyond the drawing board and media blitz. ...'

I really don't think more or better central planning, directions, visions, and big projects (even if carried out) would be much help to Buffalo or WNY's economy. "At random" is fine - even preferrable to centrally planned. Chippewa and Elmwood for small examples developed at random. City Hall-organized efforts over the years for Broadway-Fillmore, Grant-Ferry, Niagara Street, etc. were all failures. We'll see how Canal Side turns out, which is mostly a government-planned project. Even if it gets as many stores as they claim, it won't be much impact on local economy or job market. Mostly it will move some shopping and retail jobs from other spots of WNY to the waterfront. It might make waterfront a more interesting place when it's done, which is great - but for drawing people or businesses to move Buffalo or WNY (or not move away) it won't have much impact except local executives of the stores.

Dynamics and growth you mention in other cities mainly result from the states they're in being more attractive to business for various reasons we all know. To think it's mostly a matter of poor local planning and lack of direction or vision would imply that all the stagnant areas across Upstate NY have all had awful local planning the past few decades. That would be quite a coincidence.

I wonder - did Charlotte's politicians set out a big plan or vision years ago to attract the banking industry, or did they just have a good environment for business and it sort of just gradually happened? Ike is correct that they'll have problems due to current banking industry troubles - but would we bet against that city growing back the same number of good jobs they lose faster than Buffalo will grow that many? Say 5 or 10 years from now, will they have recovered those lost good jobs and more?

AtwaterLouse, it was both just as it was both in LA, SF, Dallas, Atlanta and Charlotte.

You have heard of something called the city fathers....well today it would be the city's fathers and mothers.

These are the businesses that want to grow their business.

These are businesses that take their sucessful business and invite their suppliers and their customers to their city.

These are businesses that sit with politicians and various local institutions and groups telling them....this is where we are going to be in 5 years...and this is where your downtown, your college, your transportation, etc.

No politician can build a city without an active citizenry and without a solid business community.

In Buffalo it took control boards to get CEOs out of Ford, Delphi, Richs, Delaware North, M&T, HSBC, Rand, etc.

In Buffalo, the local business community is less concerned about where they want the city to be in 5 years than they are with getting an inside government deal or a cheap building so they have the city pay to demolish it and turn it into a parking lot.

In Buffalo, its politics and regional institutions dont have a regional patriotism. Instead they report to and take direction from Albany.

In Buffalo, the laws all support civil servants unions so there is no room to experiment with say school vouchers and school choice or privatising water/sewar as a non-profit business instead of a patronage slot.

Sure other cities have their own good old boy/girl network but the growth cities (other than LA and SF) dont have a century of immigration, unions, socialism and communism.

Buffalo could attract major employers and it could attract people to stay and it could grow but in order to do that Buffalo must find a way to show independence from Albany without being punished with less state aid. Buffalo must find a way to put forward its own 5 year and 10 year plan apart from unions and albany and then get mass buy-in from the public so that Buffalonians and WNYers can decide their priorities rather than having them dictated.

Look at the facts: We have a new baseball and a new hockety stadium because it was a local priority. We have a rewatered commercial slip, Erie Canal plus Main&Hamburg canal WHARF DISTRICT because it was demanded locally. We have historically significant buildings downtown and within the historical district between Niagara & Main.....because it was demanded locally.

We lost the Southtowns Connector because our local demands came to late. We are losing the Peace Bridge Plaza because our local demands came to late

Basically Buffalo needs to put a 5 year plan with its 20 highest priority state and federal projects....we need to use our local institutions to act as city fathers and mothers...and give them so much power that the future of our city is decided at the local level rather than in Albany.

Let me leave Buffalonians with this example. Buffalonians and WNYers pay the highest water and sewar rates in the nation. Now if you want to judge a vibrant community and its business then Buffalo is dead just as it appears. The Water and Sewar Authorities do not publish rates compared to the statewide and national averages, nor do they publish efficiency, nor do they take leadership in major technology applications or infrastructure upgrades. Nor do you have a public that asks for it or a newspaper what questions it.

As an example, so what you have is a Water & Sewar Authority that does not strive for efficiency and productivity, does not strive for innovation and entrepreneurial activity, that does not stive for lower rates or improved service.

Now take that example and apply it to the dominant culture and you have the answer why Buffalo is stagnant, decrepid, fetid and filled with rot. Everywhere there is potential...there is apathy for an easy paycheck. If even the smallest area of Buffalos Authorities used their business with efficiency, innovation, productivity, entrepreneurship...things might change.

As an example....why not have a coffee and sandwich cart at each of the NFTA subway stations? That would be a nice business for the thousands that use it everyday but again...no innovation or entrepreneurship. So if your city doesnt have that ingrained in it, then its people dont have it either, then why would you want to risk your company on such people and in a high tax high buracracy state. Thats Buffalos issue in a nutshell!

Why is this stale discussion being dragged out of the freezer? Buffalo and Charlotte? Been talked about for a dozen dull years.

Great series.

It's infuriating. You know, Buffalo is rising in the sense that people are finally leaving the pity party and beginning to accept and appreciate the city for what it is. But we will never truly rise until the government realizes why people are leaving, and they're being very very clear, taxes and lack of jobs.

NYS is currently one of the worst states to do business in, if things are to truly turn around we need to be near the top. A true visionary needs to stand up, seriously fix the tax disadvantage, and explain that it'll be hell the first couple of years but in the long run it'll improve the economy. It's not a secret, businesses arent coming because it's not profitable to do business here. Fix that and eventually the jobs and ultimately the population will flourish. Taxing alot a little can be more lucrative than taxing few alot. Jeez, haven't they played SimCity.

The national economy provides a glorious opportunity to fix things right now. Times are bad, cut funding for everything and restructure now while people are more understanding. Waiting until times are good again to restructure will only create havoc. Sadly, I don't believe we've elected the right people to perform the necessary evil.

Another wise investment would be in entrepreneurship. Those people have the drive and motivation to take risks and create new things. Use the Artspace concept, subsidize housing for entrepreneurs in hopes that they create ventures which bring jobs and money into the local economy. Put hundreds of them together and you never know, maybe they'll create the next new thing and we won't need to aspire to be the 'next' silicon valley. Buffalo entrepreneurs revolutionized the milling industry - rather created it. If given the right tools, what could the current generation contribute to the world?

What an absolute joke. Once you leave Buffalo, you are not a Buffalonian anymore, you are member of whatever community you end up in. These aren't 'transplants' they are emmigrants who are no longer a part of our area. Why we focus on a group of people who have willingly left our area is beyond me. These people only want to remember or reference their Buffalo roots when it is useful to them in their lives. Forget em' and move on; they didn't want to stay here for a reason.

I have to laugh at how people attack other cities, but take offence when this one is put down. People have left Buffalo for many reasons, be it weather, jobs, whatever. At the end of the day all cities have problems of their own. Yes, Buffalo has great people, beautiful buildings and a feeling of belonging, but those attributes do not pay the bills for anyone. I chose to move back becouse Buffalo was home, but have decided to move back down South. My reasons have been well thought out and they are mine alone. The economy here is not all that, the fight against progress amazes me, taxes are beyond all hope, NYS is taking yet another dive financially, I am tired of living in a welfare driven city where more than half of our over the top taxes go to social services, the list goes on. In the 5 years I have lived here, I have seen 8 people that moved back to Buffalo leave again. As much as I will miss the friends I have made here I look forward to being in Atlanta again. Some info for the ignorant, Yes, like Buffalo, after the work day is over, downtown Atl is dead, way dead. But, Midtown and Buckhead thrive day and night.Yes, property taxes are high in Atl, but in exchange for that we got new sewers and roads. Piedmont park has been getting a muti million dollar facelift and is doubling in size, the street scapes are constantly being improved with lights, tree's and new sidewalks. Midtown [where my home is] is in many ways like Buffalo, a beautiful historic neighborhood mix of victorian and craftsman style homes, very, very walkable. The construction boom is still going on knowing full well that Atlanta will continue to grow and attract people. People can put down the South saying it will collapse with the banking industry, but once this country see's a turnaround Charlotte and Atlanta will come back stonger. You can't believe for a minute that those getting laid off are going to move back here do you? For what? No job growth? Buffalo now has it's highest unemployment figures in 16 years. Lets see what happens when the auto industry starts to effect this area, which it will. Plus, lets be honest here, the unions in this state are ridicules. I'll visit, and yes I'll miss the Mash Bash, boating on the river, Allentown Arts Festival and again the people I have met, but look forward to energy, synergy, growth and a subway that goes to the airport.

I've lived outside Buffalo and missed it all the time. For many (most) Buffalonians no matter where they live....they will always be Buffalonians regardless of where they live. No matter how vibrant Atlanta is...it doesnt replace Buffalo and things we love about Buffalo. I here ex-patriots say all the time "oh I wish we had a church, restaurant, neighborhood bar, neighborhood, festival, home, etc) like in Buffalo.

I keep harping on infrastructure and local institutions in Buffalo but we dont have a dominant major employer that could act as a steward of the city and region. Yet, Buffalo must get a reputation for innovation and dynamism.

Over and over people say on BuffaloRising, dont spend the money and waste taxes on this failed project or that failed project. LOOK, NYS IS A FAILED PROJECT! ALL OF UPSTATE NY IS A FAILED PROJECT! ALL OF BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY IS A FAILED PROJECT! You think cancelling a project is going to be refunded to the taxpayer! If so, then you win the crown for town idiot for putting ideology over common sense.

In NYS any fiscal responsibility and sacrifice results in that savings being redirected to Brown creating another deputy mayor patronage position or another plush union contract or its confiscated by reduced state aid and spent elsewhere in the state.

Sound familiar...we have an alotment of low cost power from Niagara Falls. The un-used share could be used for residential and kept in the area until a qualifying corporation could be found or it could be sold and the profit re-invested in the area. YET EVERYONE KNOWS THE RESULT....ITS REDIRECTED TO DOWNSTATE.

Thats why Buffalo needs projects like rebuilding our freight and passenger railroads, extending our light rail, building a new convention center, making the funds available to convert the Statler and Liberty to residential, funds to build a port authority to promote passenger and freight shipping, funds to build small business incubators at local colleges, funds to reconstruct historic sites like LaSalles Griffon or Pan Am Fountains, etc.

Heck, even local institutions like the water and sewar authority could be innovative in efficiency and productivity fixing infrastructure and lowering the cost of water and sewage.

The point is simple...Buffalo may be poor, political, ruled by unfunded albany mandates and state aid and unions, etc BUT IF WE USE WHAT WE HAVE THEN WE CAN CREATE A VIABLE CONVENTION, CONFERENCE AND TOURISM INDUSTRY, WE CAN GET A REPUTATION FOR INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WE CAN SHOW SIGNS OF DYNAMISM.

Even the average citizen in a Buffalo community can do alot. They can ask for cobblestone/brick streets instead of paved to slow traffic and increase property values, they can ask for speed bumps, they can report homes in need of inspections and citations, they can sue the city for failing to inspect said homes, etc.

As my father used to say....as he hosed down the driveway, swept the curb, cleaned the gutters, washed the windows, planted a tree....even the little things one person can do create the perception of a safe and stable community.

Instead of poo pooing infrastructure projects...Buffalonians should be jumping on projects and demanding it.

If we create the perception of change, innovation and dynamism then we will attract those companies and those people!

I agree Buffalo21st, in heart I will always be a Buffalonian.

Clown? Third most Fortune 500 company headquarters of any city, including HQ of Coca-Cola, Home Depot, and UPS. The metro area is also home to HQs of AT&T Mobile, Georgia-Pacific, Delta Airlines, Equifax, SunTrust Banks, CNN, EarthLink...

Over 75% of Fortune 1000 companies have a presence there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta,_Georgia#Economy

and 0 water, enjoy that. anyone that left either come back or forget about us we don't miss you

i draw the line at being a tattletale and reporting houses to the inspectors. First of all, its the inspectors job to do. Secondly, as the 3rd most impoverished city in the country I think we need to be a bit sympathetic and understand that people probably do want to fix their homes but simply dont have the money. I have a neighbor down the street with a roof thats in really rough shape... but he's elderly and recently became a widow. I don't plan on moving and could care less if it's 'bringing down the value of my house', actually if it is please reassess ;) In any case he does a great job with his garden in the summer and is always very pleasant so who cares about his roof. Even if he were a jerk I wouldnt report him, people need to mind their own business more often.

jamesbflo, well godbless your heart for your concern for your neighbor but do you really think your doing her a favor by not bringing it to her attention and maybe really being a good neighbor and offer assistance in trying to find a reputable roofer for her. A roof is a big ticket item for someone on social security and if she doesnt know and doesnt budget for it, then it could mean the difference between her ability to keep the house. If the house is abandoned or its a rental property or its being flipped and un-maintained then your actually doing your community a service....but if the property is owner occupied then obviously there are better ways to handle it.

You dont give the city of good neighbors respect by jumping to unreasonable conclusions.

sony - You're right. None of that can compete with the businesses in Buffalo, or anywhere really.

Here's a bigger list which is even more embarrassing for them than that page I linked last time -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_major_companies_in_Atlanta

Clown after clown. They really do have a pathetic tax base and lame boring job market down there. Headquarters to nothing but a bunch of played out zombies. Thanks for explaining. It's weird that Martin imagines his business will find any customers down there in The City of Totally Clown Companies.

Wow,I'm shocked, I hadn't checked this since yesterday but it appears 90% of Buffalo Rising readership comes from ex-pats. Here is a news flash to all of you: you left Buffalo for greener pastrues, life moves on, you are not Buffalonians anymore! The moment you leave a place you are no longer from that place, sorry. Embrace your new community and please, whatever you do, forget about Buffalo. It won't do you any good to remember it and truly, honestly, your fond memories of this place aren't doing the WNY areas any favors!

My words, I swear, cut the freaking cord!

Buffalonians must have the lowest self-esteem and the biggest insecurities. Why do they always play the "other city sucks because of this game?" Do you really think people in Atlanta, Charlotte, Phoenix, etc. give a damn about Buffalo?

Outside of the "rose-colored glasses" crowd, most Buffalonians constantly complain about how lame Buffalo is and how they would love top leave. Makes for a depressing place to live.

br_boy.....no clue why you have such negativety toward peeple leaving a city for possibly a better lifestyle. I hope that you are not expressing your frustrated inability to create that better lifestyle for yourself....Lets see...I can name a dozen reasons off of the top of my head why people from buffalo would enjoy charlotte ammenities, over buffalo....1) Huge melting pot, with an influx of people from all over the US. 2) a continuation, diversified people coming to the area brings more companies chasing the skills of those same people, 3) Always jobs available in Clt....The Clt Chamber of Commerce expects 50,000 new jobs paying $50000 plus, in the first half of 2009...ex...Merrill Lynch(20,000plus) 4) My taxes on my home are 1/2 of what they would be in the welfare State of NY, 5) what I paid for my home several years ago has doubled. 6) I can leave my house in March and April with a short sleave shirt and come home and go swimming at the end of the day, 7) you really don't have to winterize your boat, 8) 2.75 hours to Charleston or Myrtle Beach, 9)1.5 to a choice of several ski resorts in the Blue Ridge Mountains, 10) No rust on my car from salted hwys and no tolls on the hwys. 11) All the Buffalonians who have left Buffalo and started succesful businesses in CLT, especially the ones who opened restaurants that sell better wings than La Nova, Duffs or Coles and better pizza than La Nova ,Mr Pizza, Bocce and Jacobi's. And the 12th Reason why Clt may have been a better alternative for the transplants, all of us transplant Bills or Sabes fans can watch the December games on the patio of the MANY Buffalo Backers bars with no jacket and sipping a cold Blue....The beer tastes the same down here, only with palm trees as a background ambience. You should check it out sometime....wherever you go in this city, there are always Buffalonians and people from many other cities, so its not just a mass exodus from the Buff, but everywhere, for greener pastures...Go Bills!

Last year there was an article in the Charlotte Observer that tracked IRS data and relocations from here to there. Sort of fascinating - right here.

Jesus. Go out for a walk you guys, what do you refresh every 2 minutes and then insert comment. Life please. It's brisk but nice, check it out.

Charlotte is basically a big suburb with warmer weather. If a person is happy in that kind of environment than Charlotte is "better". For many others there is a yearning to live someplace with a history, with some soul and with the built environment only old cities can provide. The places that are walkable and built on a human scale bring a sense of community and shared purpose that is rarely found on a cul-de-sac. So for many Buffalo is better.

Sony- the former Wachovia (now Wells fargo) operation in Charlotte will still be a huge employer for threir city. Buffalo would kill to have that there. The picture is not as grim as you paint for them (or wish for them.)

heathersmiles-- Your caricature of Buffalo is a silly cartoon and it weakens your argument. Buffalo has or recerntly had the highest newspaper readership in the country. It has one of the best literary scenes in the country, and like ALL older Northern cities, it has high rates of poverty and illiteracy. I don't even know what you're talkign about when you mention haircuts. What are you talking about?

EricOak- Ani Difranco has a line in a song about a bar in Black Rock "where the kids still have feathered hair" . Maybe heather is Ani's evil twin.

live in charlotte but still root for our teams, sounds kinda pathetic to me