Dear readers,
We may be pushing the boundaries a bit with this, but I think
you’ll agree it’s worth it in this case. We’re always amazed here at
Buffalo Rising by how we so often see our own city so much better through the
eyes of those who may not live here, but care.
One of those writers on our pages here is RaChaCha, a
Rochesterian who has fallen head over heels for Buffalo (“Great architecture
and great people–what’s not to love?” he says). After working on several
consulting gigs in Buffalo and diving headfirst into community activities
(putting many lifelong, and more jaded, Buffalonians to shame), he’s finally
looking to make the move and be one of us, full-time. As a volunteer for
Buffalo Homecoming from the very first year, he’s long signaled his intention
to join us in “Our Fair City,” but had figured he’d better have a long-term gig
in hand before making the move.
So, why now? Oddly enough, the recession had a part in
this. Our RaChaCha took a hit earlier this year, when a budget project
for Onondaga County, which looked like it would keep him busy for months
(plural), only lasted a month (singular) due to their fiscal crisis–so he had
to swallow his pride and go on unemployment. But that cloud had a silver
lining–realizing that the benefits are portable around the state, why not seize
the opportunity and make the move to Buffalo, and look for work in the city
where he really wants to be, anyway? “Recessions are tough on everyone
(that’s roughly the definition),” RaChaCha said, “and I know very few
people who haven’t been affected. If there’s any possible upside, it gets
people thinking outside the box and out of their comfort zone.”
So how can we help RaChaCha make the move? He’s looking
for someone with a small apartment or room to let, dirt-cheap. For
example, he’s thought that perhaps some empty nesters, who have some space they’d
like to turn into some supplemental income might like to have him around.
But who knows, without throwing this out there, what someone might have
available for the right tenant?
And what about this prospective tenant? Well, RaChaCha
likes to roll up his sleeves and make a difference wherever he is. Even
during his brief time in Onondaga County, he provided some coverage (here), (here) (and here) for Buffalo
Rising,
and even had an op-ed piece published in the Syracuse Post-Standard.
He’s the kind of person you’d want to have involved in your neighborhood and on
your block. Obviously well-raised by Mama RaChaCha, he won’t wake you up
at all hours of the night.
And
RaChaCha’s environmental footprint is about as small as anyone we know–he was
green before green was cool. “I tend to go light, and don’t accumulate
lots of ‘stuff’,” he said. While working on the update his city’s bicycle
and pedestrian plan, he decided to put his money where his mouth was and try
living car-free–and has been ever since. So a location in an area with
lots of walkable amenities would be ideal, and near transit opportunities–especially
MetroRail.
Neat
and tidy, quiet and conscientious, won’t take up a parking spot…what are you
waiting for? Email: