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How Stimulus Spending Ruined Buffalo


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Kind of like someone on unemployment earning $10k a year getting a job paying $40k bragging that in one year he increased his income 400%

Hey, if the report said income declined, many people here would have been all over it with the "Buffalo sucks" comments and how bad NYS is. It's almost as if some ex-pats enjoy (need?) negative news about WNY.

 

There are a lot of good things happening in the city. A great site to keep up is www.buffalorising.com

One spectacular change is the Lafayette Hotel. I'm really looking forward to it's opening in May. The old Tap Room will re-open, a brew pub is going in, and a steakhouse. Also, the rejuvenated Statler had 4,000 people for New Year's Eve. Now if we could only have a winning sports team...

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Hey, if the report said income declined, many people here would have been all over it with the "Buffalo sucks" comments and how bad NYS is. It's almost as if some ex-pats enjoy (need?) negative news about WNY.

 

That's because negative news justifies our decision to leave.

 

And there are quite a few good things happening in Buffalo right now (btw...try the beef-on-weck sushi at Sea Bar.) But every time I think of moving back, I reflect on how I would get absolutely killed by taxes up there. So hell with that. I actually get more and better services for less taxes in the People's Democratic Republic of Maryland.

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That's because negative news justifies our decision to leave.

 

And there are quite a few good things happening in Buffalo right now (btw...try the beef-on-weck sushi at Sea Bar.) But every time I think of moving back, I reflect on how I would get absolutely killed by taxes up there. So hell with that. I actually get more and better services for less taxes in the People's Democratic Republic of Maryland.

Having just come back from the west coast, I'm reminded of how high property taxes are in WNY. True. I think the wheels are slowly grinding in a positive way to finally rein things in, but it will take some time. Almost tried Mike A's b-o-w sushi last time there, but I'm really a traditionalist when it comes to sushi--tuna and octopus. Btw, he is the one opening up the steakhouse in the Lafayette.

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Almost tried Mike A's b-o-w sushi last time there, but I'm really a traditionalist when it comes to sushi--tuna and octopus. Btw, he is the one opening up the steakhouse in the Lafayette.

 

I dislike sushi. But went with my brother and sister (she was across the pond from London; the three of us only get together maybe once a year), saw it on the menu, and said "I have to try it." We split a plate...and while I won't say I liked it (I prefer my beef medium-well), it was an excellent creation by the chef. Very well done...he nailed the flavor of beef on weck, with the texture of sushi. I highly recommend at least trying it, just to sample the chef's creativity.

 

I do not know if he's opening the steakhouse...I didn't even know about the steakhouse. I'll ask my brother, he seems to know something about the downtown restaurant scene.

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Having just come back from the west coast, I'm reminded of how high property taxes are in WNY. True. I think the wheels are slowly grinding in a positive way to finally rein things in, but it will take some time. .

 

Interesting choice of words. Wheels typically don't grind in a positive way. They usually grind to a halt. So Buffalo has been a hell hole for most of my 50 years. How much time you want to give it?

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Hey, if the report said income declined, many people here would have been all over it with the "Buffalo sucks" comments and how bad NYS is. It's almost as if some ex-pats enjoy (need?) negative news about WNY.

 

There are a lot of good things happening in the city. A great site to keep up is www.buffalorising.com

One spectacular change is the Lafayette Hotel. I'm really looking forward to it's opening in May. The old Tap Room will re-open, a brew pub is going in, and a steakhouse. Also, the rejuvenated Statler had 4,000 people for New Year's Eve. Now if we could only have a winning sports team...

As a guy who moved back here....there are definitely 4 camps of people in Buffalo based on my extensive observations:

1. The positive, "let's have a IT show on CTG's lawn and talk about what we can do for once". These people are about 30% of the city. The Buffalo Rising people are cool as hell and part of this group. But, it seems that this group isn't getting any larger.

 

2. The people who just don't care, are gonna put in their 8 and go home, watch the game, and still not care. 20%

 

3. The pedantic, cynical, "I don't want to get to know anybody who isn't my friend from 2nd grade, and I hate every new idea, yet I can't conceive of why nobody wants to come here, bring business, or hang out with my miserable ass in general". They are completely delusional: they are their own biggest problem. See, having low expectations for yourself and your city works out great, because then you never have to do anything well.

 

Amazing how easy life is when you expect to suck or be mediocre, and then meet expectations.

 

Meanwhile, those that supposedly don't suck, "The Rich" people in this city, are a massive source of humor for me. They act as if owning a small business here makes you a celebrity and/or a business tycoon. I know tycoons, and these people....no. Since I've been here, it's like observing 100 Kings of Siam running around. "Et Cetera!" This attitude is pervasive throughout upstate. "Pretty good for (Insert Upstate City here)". If I've heard it once...:lol: People with these ridiculous attitudes are unfortunately about 40% of the city. This is problem #1, and it certainly won't be fixed by a billion dollars.

 

4. There is definitely an established wingnut population who thinks the only way to solve the city's problems is socialism. Make no mistake, these people are socialists. Yeah, nothing chases new business faster from this town than these nuts. I've seen it right in front of me. The disturbing part is that there seems to be more of these people every time I hit the usual "political" bars. 10% and it better not get bigger or I am outta here.

 

So being an optimist in Buffalo means you are outnumbered 2 to 1 by the oblivious, delusional, and preposterous, and occasionally have to deal with someone following you down the street, even after you've done the smart thing and walked away from crazy, still demanding that you agree that a "living wage" is what Buffalo needs.

 

Yeah, it's a great place for business, and Buffalo's problems are everybody else's fault but ours. :rolleyes:

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It's good to see progress, but nothing much will change until Buffalo's attitude towards success & successful people changes (as evidenced by many threads here). For that reason alone, you won't see a rebound if you continue to lose the top 10% of each graduating class to other regions. There are plenty of successful people from WNY. Too bad most of them achieve success outside.

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Throwing money into half-baked development ideas backed by corrupt politicians doesn't fix the systemic problems that cause many businesses to fail in WNY. No one wants to open a business in a state that has crushing taxes, onerous regulations and a state-legislated hostility to any business that operates north or west of Bear Mountain.

 

I agree, but wouldn't blame this one on unions and regulations, but on control issues of corrupt local politicians. Things could be done under the current deals except the amount of graft that has to be paid out to make things happen kills businesses especially upstate. It is disheartening and it isn't even a Democrat or Republican thing because they both are corrupt and the few that are not get villified and don't last long.

 

All I can say is crabs in a pot.

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I'm glad you have that little defense mechanism of yours of just declaring victory even though everything you said was total drool, but I don't want you feeling bad so that's cool with me.

Dave, Dave, Dave. No one here cares about what's "cool with you". In fact, there isn't a single person on this board that doesn't realize you're a complete dolt. This thread is yet another example of it. Let's recap:

 

1. I stated that without the world's financial sector, NYC would quickly decline into a Detroit-like cesspool.

2. You said that's unprovable.

3. I posted a NYS DoL study that says the recent economic decline has had DEVASTATING effects on NYC's economy. That's simply a DOWNTURN, not the complete removal of about 33% of the city's current revenue. Have any idea what that would lead to? In Detroit, it led to massive urban flight, further industry loss, and the continued downward spiral that we see today. It's an expected butterfly effect when something that's so "taken for granted" is quickly removed. Politicians redistribute money based on projections. The slightest change in the matrix has them scrambling like you when your mommy tells you to put away your blocks.

 

Is it really your contention that NYC, with it's firmly entrenched unions and massive liberal support system, would be able to quickly adapt to such an event? They're still digging out from 9/11, which is a blip in the radar compared to what Wall Street brings in on an annual basis.

 

NYC's true saving grace is getting massive chunks of money from Wall Street. Otherwise it would be JUST LIKE DETROIT.

You are so smart! :thumbsup:

You're not. <_<

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NYC's true saving grace is getting massive chunks of money from Wall Street.

Just like.....

 

Buffalo's saving grace was getting massive chunks of money from the steel/auto industry

Detroit's saving grace was getting massive chunks of money from the auto industry

Cleveland....Kucinich :lol:...etc. nuff said.

 

The fact is that these towns were managed terribly by either the corrupt or the idiotic. Whether they continue to be depends on the people who continue to live there.

 

Chicago is the exception that proves the rule: it's too big and diverse to be affected by a single industry, and agriculture cannot move it's means of production away.

 

The other exception is Pittsburgh, which is interesting because they largely have the same attitude problems as Buffalo. However, they have differences: they aren't as willing to feel sorry for themselves, or believe in socialist BS as much. It also "helps" that Pittsburgh is easily the most racist city, while at the same time being the most Democratic/pro-union, I have ever lived in. As such they don't struggle with questions as to whether social spending is "moral" or "honorable". They aren't going to spend money on "disproportional number of minorities" problems, because they just don't give a F. I am not exaggerating. Go there and see for yourself. However, if you ask if we should spend $180k on an operation to give a white, 90 year-old, union, steel worker 6 more months of life.... :wallbash:

 

Hey, I'm not defending or supporting....I tell the truth, and tough schit if you don't like it.

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