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Can Buffalo Ever Come Back?

Submitted by Orlando C. Monaco, Oct 21, 2007 04:06

Good morning Mr. Glaeser.

Thanks for a very informitive article on Buffalo's past and questionable future, I am a resident of WNY and live 30 minutes South of Buffalo in East Aurora but work downtown in Buffalo; I am the Director of Software Development/Seniro Programmer Analyst at downtown firm. As far as the economic state of Buffalo and it's reported resident poverty levels as of late your article rings true with the somber realty of much of Wester New York. Unless New York changes its Business Tax climate, business regulation, and makes changes to it's Workers Compensation Laws I do not see any Buffalo and Erie county for that matter making any quick rebound in the near future. I can tell you that your article does not touch upon any of the recent developments in downtown Buffalo and the surronding region which I feel does not present the whole picture of the current status of the city as a whole. As of late local area business leaders and politicians have helped remove the unfair NY Highway Public Authority I-190 tolls into Buffalo. Another great example of a NY public authority hampering business, pocketing money, and not doing business for the betterment of the people of NY. But not to digress as of the last 5 years the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) has expanded greatly and a joint partnership with the University of Buffalo ( >40K Student Population) is helping to bring an extension of the Universities Health and Life Sciences Departments to a new campus in downtown; this will reisde on the former Trico, and Mwile sites whch have just been purchased by BNMC. The Biomedical corridor is also creating spin off companies as well which also reside in and around this campus in downtown. HealthNow has just spent 10 million dollars of its own money to remediate the old Buffalo Gas Works site and build their new 105 million corperate headquarter building and campus within walking distance of Buffalo City Hall. The new Era Cap company ( clients include NFL, NHL, MLB) which is private firm whose revenue is over 550 Million/year has moved it's corperate offices to Delaware Avenue in downtown reusing the former Federal Reserve building. Buffalo in the last 3 years has seen a large increase in residential housing in the forms of new lofts, apartments, and condos; people as of late are now moving back into the city. That is not suprising due to the fact that Buffalo compared to some much larger Souther cities has an incredible variety of culture in the form of local area restaraunts, Theater, Art Museums, and music venues. These amentities just don't exist in the surronding sterile suburbs which surrond much of today's cities. Historical tourism in the form of the newly restored Frank Llyod Wright Darwin Martin House campus and the newly built Frank Llyod Wright Boathouse are bringing people to Buffalo again to take in it's diverse cultural, historical and architectural treasures. Their are many other development such as the Inner and Outer Waterfront development, new Casino, and the new Peace Bridge as well all of which are in progress but I will not detail them here but provide you a link for furtehr reading. Lastly the weather here is great; our summers are balmy but not stiffiling hot, we don't have rolling brown outs because electrical useage from air conditioning and we don't see any devasting weather such as Tornados and Hurricanes. Lake Erie is wonderful tempature and weather moderator and their is always a breeze in the air; thus the new Wind Turbine Farm on Lake Erie right ourtside of Buffalo. Our winters are a bit long but that is no different then other cities at our latitude and our winter temperatures are not anything close to as cold as the Michigan and Minnesota; -20 or -30 without wind chill not a chance in Buffalo or WNY winters. Also the alpine sking in WNY southertier is incredible,, when fresh Lake Effect comes in off of Lake Erie I head to the southern tier to take in some incredible snowboarding. I am writing this comment to your article to ensure you that alhtough Buffalo is viewed in one persective, second poorest city the region; as a whole this region is on a rebound and new forms of business will once again flourish; the primary hurtle is not Buffalo or WNY itself but actually Albany. Huge New York's taxes ( sales/gas/property), 700+ public authorties not acting in the best interest of the public, Workers Compenstation Laws, and an Assembly that can't make decesions to make ALL of the New York a friendly business climate. Thanks for a great historical article on Buffalo's demise and when you have a chance check out the following site for updates on what is going on in and around Buffalo and WNY in the now and present: www.buffalorising.com

Best Regards..

Orlando C. Monaco Web: www.monacos.us

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
Im a local real estate investor who over the last 2 years has acquired 14 apartment units in buffalo and... [MORE]	Michael	Mar 18, 2008 02:15
The only reason upstate continues to exist in the manner it does is so we can supply the five bouroughs... [MORE]	A voice of reason in this mess	Mar 9, 2008 12:15
In addition to the incredible cost and expense of living here its the weather folks. Forget all about well at... [MORE]	Voice of the People	Mar 6, 2008 15:25
Great article for the most part- Buffalo will never recover so long as the taxes on a 400K house are 15k... [MORE]	Recently moved here... soon to leave	Mar 4, 2008 00:57
I'm an urban photographer and work the camera all over the city. While Buffalo's problems are more than political it... [MORE]	Nathan W Farnsworth	Jan 20, 2008 01:03
While Mr. Gleaser's article was fairly informative his facts weren't all together true. The population of the city is not... [MORE]	Roy	Jan 11, 2008 01:03
I live in Buffalo, and yes we have many problems but truthfully in the past 3-4 years we have seen... [MORE]	Kyle	Jan 2, 2008 20:06
Comment is typical of those in Buffalo who can't face reality or think the place has finally bottomed out and... [MORE]	Jean claude	Feb 14, 2008 02:09
However the rats (politicians and authorities) are still fighting over the crumbs.I like the area and fortunately live in one... [MORE]	Bruce Roche	Dec 31, 2007 12:02
How much in Taxes has Buffalo and its citizens paid out over the years is the other component of the... [MORE]	RICHARD COLEY	Dec 21, 2007 15:12
The real name, funny people might say, of this city Buffalo is Cairo---because we live in a state of "de... [MORE]	Olivia Holmes	Nov 8, 2007 13:19
Ah. Olivia. I've encountered a few like you. Gratefully, not too many. I have been reading malcontent letters like yours... [MORE]	Michael Buckley	Nov 13, 2007 18:23
I think your missing the point here, Buffalo may be a place where the economy is drowning, and the population... [MORE]	Conner Welch	Dec 6, 2007 18:00
Obviously the distinguished professor Glaeser has not visited Buffalo recently. While the taxes are still high, the housing market is... [MORE]	Leah	Nov 1, 2007 12:16
Tell Mr Glaesar he should come and visit so he knows what he is talking/writing about. Has he seen the... [MORE]	Vincent S. tracy,jr	Nov 1, 2007 11:18
Now Now... Buffalo is not the ghost town you speak of! It is my home town and I Love it!... [MORE]	Renee	Nov 30, 2007 19:34
After having read Mr. Glaeser's article about Buffalo, one would think that there is not life or hope left in... [MORE]	John J. Gabner	Oct 28, 2007 22:45
I doubt you have ever lived in Buffalo Mr. Glaeser. I have, and I can tell you that I am... [MORE]	susan	Oct 28, 2007 16:27
A very accurate portrayal of Buffalo history. I couldn't agree more. Mark Grinder Orchard Park, NY (the burbs) [MORE]	Mark Grinder	Oct 27, 2007 09:48
Mr. Glaeser, your negative bias playing to a stereotyped imaged was evident starting with the winter/cropped photograph of downtown. Significant... [MORE]	Gary Licherelli	Oct 25, 2007 12:01
More Buffalo bashing and from some clown who has probably never visited the city in his entire, privileged, life and... [MORE]	Mark Williams	Oct 25, 2007 11:30
I suppose NYC has always known what is best for Buffalo. Funny, too, that this article should appear, along with... [MORE]	Dr. G. DiNezza	Oct 25, 2007 10:20
"Blizzards regularly shut the city down completely" - I don't know what your definition of "regularly" is but Buffalo has... [MORE]	Proud Buffalonian	Oct 25, 2007 09:06
This is basically a relevant article. Every year we hope that the state and local governments will make the changes... [MORE]	MJ Worthington	Oct 24, 2007 15:10
Mr. Glaser did a good job of chronicling Buffalo's rise and fall over the last 150 years. Perhaps not apparent... [MORE]	miles ignatius	Oct 23, 2007 22:11
The city tears down abandoned houses rather quickly and owners of adjascent houses can purchase the land from the city... [MORE]	Ari Gross	Oct 23, 2007 12:01
Great article and I agree that the only way to make people want to stay in Buffalo is to 'unshackle'... [MORE]	Brendan McIntyre	Oct 22, 2007 12:28
If big government and high taxes could save Buffalo, they would have done so already. I am a native Buffaloian, grew... [MORE]	Ron Robinson	Oct 22, 2007 10:07
If the warming period during the middle ages made it possible for the Vikings to travel the northern seas and... [MORE]	George French	Oct 21, 2007 21:10
Good morning Mr. Glaeser. Thanks for a very informitive article on Buffalo's past and questionable future, I am a...	Orlando C. Monaco	Oct 21, 2007 04:06
Professor Glaeser's comments are well researched and present an accurate historical background. However, his solution of encouraging a shrinking community... [MORE]	Paul M. Zatulove	Oct 20, 2007 18:08
Living in upstate New York, my entire life, it feels like we are living in economic wasteland. It feels like... [MORE]	Joseph L. Canino	Oct 20, 2007 17:50
After reading your article global warming seems to be a blessing for Buffalo ,and Central New York. We have had... [MORE]	Mark 'Cuse	Oct 20, 2007 10:02
As long as Albany legislators have guaranteed incumbency-for-life, nothing positive will ever happen for upstate New York. Bruno is a... [MORE]	Buffalopundit	Oct 20, 2007 08:47
Thanks Ed for the education. And thanks for demonstrating--through a factual, historical analysis--thevalue of a business-friendly, private-driven approach to prosperity. Victor [MORE]	Victor T	Oct 20, 2007 08:44
Your paper seems incapable of printing anything close to a balanced analysis of any situation,, whether it is politics or... [MORE]	Larry Green	Oct 19, 2007 14:08
It seems as though the reasons for the city to exist have come and gone. Spending taxes won't change anything... [MORE]	philip striegl	Oct 19, 2007 08:56

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