05/11/07 06:06 - 74ºF - ID#39242
NIMBY'S!!!!!
Permalink: NIMBY_S_.html
Words: 98
Location: Buffalo, NY
05/11/07 05:57 - 74ºF - ID#39241
Work & Tourists
Twice this week while working my first week in Buffalo, I have been approached by tourists who couldn't understand what was wrong. One was a pair of European tourists and the other were two women from Pennsylvania. The Europeans asked if there was a curfew because everything was closed and everyone seemed to be vacating the streets. The other two asked where the stores were and said how depressing it is downtown, saying "this could be such a cool place," specifically referencing Main St. I was working and couldn't spend the amount of time I'd have liked to with either group, but I mentioned Chippewa St. and Elmwood Village as places to head towards. The couple from Pennsylvania asked if anything was planned to reverse the fortunes of downtown and I quickly mentioned Bass Pro, returniing traffic to Main St., the waterfront redevelopment, etc.
I found this personally to be very embarrassing to myself and to the city. These people will very possibly leave with the negative stereotype of Buffalo in their heads and spread it - "we've been to Buffalo, it's all true, depressing and run down!" I know downtown has some newer buildings and in the past decade has made a pretty good swing in the right direction, but clearly more needs to be done fast. And people fighting and arguing about Bass Pro, a Casino, or any other development downtown is only further damaging our city's future. We're not exactly in the position to be picking and choosing what comes to our city. It's not like there's a shortage of abandoned buildings and locales for businesses. I understand the need to preserve the city's historic buildings, but MANY of them are in such a state of disrepair they need to go. The others can be retrofitted, getting an update while still maintaining it's historic shell and significance.
To end my rant, Buffalo needs to do more to reach out to our tourists because they ARE here even though we think they aren't!!!!
Permalink: Work_amp_Tourists.html
Words: 433
Location: Buffalo, NY
05/06/07 08:46 - 54ºF - ID#39186
I have arrived!
Permalink: I_have_arrived_.html
Words: 26
Location: Buffalo, NY
04/20/07 12:44 - 42ºF - ID#38969
Season Tix!
Permalink: Season_Tix_.html
Words: 59
Location: Buffalo, NY
04/14/07 07:41 - 42ºF - ID#38888
Population +2....make that 4?
Permalink: Population_2_make_that_4_.html
Words: 75
Location: Buffalo, NY
04/07/07 09:21 - 25ºF - ID#38791
Apartment
Permalink: Apartment.html
Words: 56
Location: Buffalo, NY
03/19/07 05:48 - 35ºF - ID#38521
Refreshing
Moreover, the man was extremely proud of Buffalo. Bills season ticket holder since 1972 he told me. Said "there's so much to do" there with the Lake, parks, sports, restaurants, etc. I found my conversation with this man to be very refreshing because he was proud of being from and living in Buffalo. I've been considering this move for over a year now and the response I get from others is always negative, but what's dissapointing is that the most negative reactions I get are from current and former Buffalonians. The first thing out of their mouths is always "good luck finding a job," "there's no jobs!" "have fun with the snow!" This upsets me greatly, so I was very happy to see someone happy for me.
I see lots of jobs posted for Buffalo on the various websites. Now how stiff the competition for these jobs is I can't vouch for. Luckily I'm getting a transfer with my current company so my job is lined up. My girlfriend and others I know had one hell of a hard time finding a job here in Orlando because, despite it's low unemployment rate of about 2%, the jobs are all near or at minimum wage service industry jobs where you're better off on welfare/unemployment. Personally I think the no jobs comments come from people who are used to being paid $20/hr to stand on an assembly line and can't deal with the fact that those days are over.
Permalink: Refreshing.html
Words: 335
Location: Buffalo, NY
03/17/07 02:40 - 23ºF - ID#38499
Moving to Buffalo
Permalink: Moving_to_Buffalo.html
Words: 70
Location: Buffalo, NY
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Historical arguments aside, there seems to be a culture in this city that the way it was should be the way it should be.
For example, (e:paul) thinks central terminal should be brought down. But people speak of how we can turn it into... well.. something.
Or people who don't want the skyway to come down because it is part of our heritage.
Buffalo, you have so many wonderful beautiful old homes. But make a little room for some new development or there will be no development and we can just wait until lake erie swallows us.
But large scale development is what you get when you live in a CITY in my opinion. If you don't want possible development like the Gates Circle tower, move to the suburbs. What if the people of New York City had the Buffalo NIMBY mentality? I supported the Elmwood Hotel because it wouldn't have been like it's a Days Inn or Motel 6 bringing in the trash, it was going to be a more upscale, small hotel bringing in civilized people with money who would discover this great part of Buffalo and return home telling their family and friends all about it. Oh well. As for the politicians, yes it's frustrating but ultimately it's the people of a city who run and determine the fate of the city, not the politicians - standing around and waiting for them to "fix" Buffalo won't solve anything. We all need to do our part and take it on as our responsibility.