Rare sighting: GOOD news from Buffalo! (New York, Cheektowaga: coupon, houses, college)

[homeward bound]

City just posted its biggest budget SURPLUS in its history: $56.1 million.

Now all it needs is MORE JOBS--are you listening, new Gov./old Legislature???

I'm no ultra-capitalist, but it seems to me that a good use of a big chunk of this money would be to reduce business taxes as much as possible to keep businesses there and lure more to look into Buffalo. Hey, decades of job-loss should have reduced wages enough to make this a good labor-market for re-locating businesses too, right?

If the state could do it once it straightens out its own finances, it should match hard-pressed areas' tax-cutting efforts to double the tax-cut, double-coupon style....

[fish2026]

Dream on homeward bound. $56 million is a drop in the bucket for a city that size. I doubt there is much change in the tax rates if any. I love the old bldgs in Buffalo but the economy there is still hopeless.

[nymom]

It may be a drop in the bucket but you have to start somewhere. It's still good news. Here's a more important question...is there still snow in Buffalo???

[I'minformed2]

Buffalo is finally starting to get its act together after 40 years of steep decline. It's following in the footsteps of cities that have already undergone serious revivals like Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

[homeward bound]

fish2026:
Whatever your need to box on-line, please read what people actually say before you start goading for battle. I didn't say Buffalo's tax rates had changed. Just that a wise use of the surplus would be TO change the tax rates, if possible.

Also, I've noticed that in some of your other postings, you attack people's writing abilities, as well as, all-too-quickly, their intelligence. If you heeded the old glass houses principle a bit--your own writing has its flaws, after all--and kept the big picture in mind--communicating instead of jabbing--you might be surprised to find that that being civil is more satisfying than being hostile. Yes, I've got my "dreams." But sharing news that Buffalo has finally run a--for it--substantial surplus is hardly being deluded.

Wouldn't it be more useful to explore what, if anything, Buffalo can do with the surplus to help itself, and what, if anything, this surplus may indicate about Buffalo's best means of helping itself?

[livecontent]

Remember the budget surplus is a result of state oversite of the bad finances in Buffalo. It is not much money but Buffalo needs to upgrade the waterfront and structures without putting money in the pockets of sports teams(football, baseball) and sport stores (Bass). In addition, Casino Gambling is not a very good idea to fix to area; it just recycles money, in the area, and brings in no more revenue.

I grew up in Cheektowaga, near the Thruway Mall. I left in the 70's after the army and college. At that time the area was terrible for jobs. I think the area is in worse financial shape today. It suffers from a malaise due to severe poverty and aging city infrastructures. In addition overpaid and over-pensioned government workers have burdened the area with a high tax rate. I have heard the complaints that creative people draw other creative people and they do not come to Buffalo and the some of the best who called Western New York home have left. That is bad but it can also be good because it makes the area a simpler and less expensive area to live. Maybe we need to turn more of the area to a low populated peaceful rural area; many towns of Western New York already have those benefits which are attractive to many people.

The reputation of bad weather is not the cause of the decline of the area. Other areas have prospered with similar weather. Buffalo should stop trying to compete with other cities with gimmicks such as convention centers, sports team and gambling. I should be satisfied with a the wonderful comfortable feeling of a simple wants with good values; It should try to work with a smaller population with beautiful trees and water that makes it attractive to many people who find other "booming cities" too big, too fast and too ugly. Gee, I miss Buffalo, sometimes, but I am very happy in Denver, Colorado. Denver is booming, it is fast, and when you are brought up near the great lakes, it can lack the charm that real lakes give an area.

[bellafinzi]

Attracting GEICO with their 2,500 jobs didn't hurt either.

Buffalo does have an advantage over other Upstate Cities. New York State leadership from downstate usually tries to lure companies who are looking to build Upstate to Buffalo. The reason is downstaters often think Buffalo is the "big city" Upstate that needs the most help. Of course, I wish this wasn't the case, but I grown used to Senator Bruno building up the Capital District and all the other attention on creating jobs is for Western NY. I hope that Spitzer can change this and create an even playing field across the State.

[gfluneedit]

Originally Posted by homeward bound

City just posted its biggest budget SURPLUS in its history: $56.1 million.

Now all it needs is MORE JOBS--are you listening, new Gov./old Legislature???

I'm no ultra-capitalist, but it seems to me that a good use of a big chunk of this money would be to reduce business taxes as much as possible to keep businesses there and lure more to look into Buffalo. Hey, decades of job-loss should have reduced wages enough to make this a good labor-market for re-locating businesses too, right?

If the state could do it once it straightens out its own finances, it should match hard-pressed areas' tax-cutting efforts to double the tax-cut, double-coupon style....

Guess again.
You must not be aware of the politicians and government unions in Buffalo and Erie county.

This isn't the highest taxed area in the country for no reason.

That money will find it's way into the pockets of the government employees.