Buffalo (or we can say WNY) has the potential to be great. But the problem is there are too many obstacles.
I’ve lived here all my life but I’ve travelled to about 13 different states and got a taste of what other areas offered.
Where can you find a house for $100,000 that is almost 2000 sq ft in other major metropolis areas? I watch TLC and Flip this House and see a house that is 1000 sq ft selling for 1.4 million $ and it needs renovation. Plus the architecture of many of the older houses around here is just amazing.
Buffalo is known for its food. We have so many mom and pop places around here that have been around for decades. If their food sucked, they wouldn’t have lasted this long. As for the Buffalo Wing, I honestly don’t care for Anchor Bar (I like Duffs, Brennans, and Buffalo Tap Room), but it’s not called a Buffalo Wing for nothing. We have such a diverse selection of foods to compliment that many cultures of people living here.
And I’ve had wings in almost every state I visited. They all suck compared to here, and they mostly use ranch dressing, not blue cheese :hang:
Schools - Why do you think so many businesses jump at the chance to hire a person that has a degree from a SUNY school? From working at UB for 5 years, and dealing with a lot of the professional staff, and talking with the students, UB is a top notch draw to employers. The number of students increases yearly.
Business - That can be a whole other subject. We shoot ourselves in the foot economically here. We have a waterfront. A Damn waterfront. What is there… NOTHING! Build on it. It seems like local politicians only will let a business come in after they get their pockets filled. I’ve been to (Northeastern)waterfronts in Chicago and Cleveland, we got a lot to learn. But you keep hearing the back and forth discussions and shit never happens.
People are all pissed about the Casino being built at the site of the rotting grain elevator. I’m glad they are building it there. Th grain elevator was only going to rot away since nothing was ever going to get done to it. Plus the city said they couldn’t pay for the cost of demolishing it. The Senecas are paying to demolish it. Maybe business will start growing around it. Or maybe by 2015 Bass Pro will seriously think about coming to Buffalo.
There is a lot of $$$ in WNY. Mostly old money. It’s called old money for a reason, it hardly gets recirculated back into the area. All the McMansions in Clarence, etc that are being built shows that there is money around here.
Buffalo is known for it’s frugal spending. People go out to buy something, they want a deal and are not willing to spend retail on things. I talk to people in other areas and they have no problem with paying a premium on top of the regular price just to get something. Not around here. They want 2 for the price of 1. And they might be happy.
The Peace Bridge - Are we ever going to build another one, and what design will they ever agree on?
But in general, I do like the area. I have a ton of friends in the area, my family and my wifes are both in this area.
The car show scene isn’t sparse at all. I can go to my choice of 2-5 different cruise nights on a different day and 5-15 different car shows on a weekend. So there is no lack for my hobby.
The food is great. I can walk to probably over 20 different restaurants near my house in Kenmore with a 10 minute walk.
Something has to change though. Taxes, lack of new businesses and the incentive for them to come here, and goverment that reaks of corruption is killing us. If I am going to spend the rest of my life here, I think I’m going to have to my part of the kicking and screaming for change until something good comes from it. Or I’ll get fed up enough with it and pack up and move.
(Holy crap, this is my longest reply on this site to date I think.)
