Tourists need not apply (New York, Buffalo: construction jobs, construction, living in)

[softmachine]

I've read a recent post on here on why people leave Buffalo. I would like to talk a little bit about why I stay. People say that Buffalo is a small city and that their tired of seeing everyone they know everywhere they go; this is called living in a community. I know alot of people that have cut and run to New York, Montreal, Charleston ect. Big Cities like these don't need you and don't care if your there or not. Your just another long-term tourist or another ant in the mound. When you live in a city of buffalo's size it means something. The fellow residents are grateful for each other and there willingness to support local bussiness and what local economy there might be. You must treat where you live like a marriage, to look at it in any other way is to be a tourist. You can either gut it out when things are rough and belong to something, or move to the next "up-and-coming" city whenever your current city stumbles a bit. These people may shop at the boutiques, and walk the "historic" districts, and drink coffee at the trendy coffee shops, secure in the fact that there "where its at" for the moment. But this is not real, there is no roots to this, this is a tourists way of life.

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by softmachine

I've read a recent post on here on why people leave Buffalo. I would like to talk a little bit about why I stay. People say that Buffalo is a small city and that their tired of seeing everyone they know everywhere they go; this is called living in a community. I know alot of people that have cut and run to New York, Montreal, Charleston ect. Big Cities like these don't need you and don't care if your there or not. Your just another long-term tourist or another ant in the mound. When you live in a city of buffalo's size it means something. The fellow residents are grateful for each other and there willingness to support local bussiness and what local economy there might be. You must treat where you live like a marriage, to look at it in any other way is to be a tourist. You can either gut it out when things are rough and belong to something, or move to the next "up-and-coming" city whenever your current city stumbles a bit. These people may shop at the boutiques, and walk the "historic" districts, and drink coffee at the trendy coffee shops, secure in the fact that there "where its at" for the moment. But this is not real, there is no roots to this, this is a tourists way of life.

What are you talking about?

[NYGirl1216]

Originally Posted by softmachine

I've read a recent post on here on why people leave Buffalo. I would like to talk a little bit about why I stay. People say that Buffalo is a small city and that their tired of seeing everyone they know everywhere they go; this is called living in a community. I know alot of people that have cut and run to New York, Montreal, Charleston ect. Big Cities like these don't need you and don't care if your there or not. Your just another long-term tourist or another ant in the mound. When you live in a city of buffalo's size it means something. The fellow residents are grateful for each other and there willingness to support local bussiness and what local economy there might be. You must treat where you live like a marriage, to look at it in any other way is to be a tourist. You can either gut it out when things are rough and belong to something, or move to the next "up-and-coming" city whenever your current city stumbles a bit. These people may shop at the boutiques, and walk the "historic" districts, and drink coffee at the trendy coffee shops, secure in the fact that there "where its at" for the moment. But this is not real, there is no roots to this, this is a tourists way of life.

I'm sure that if you asked most people why they left Buffalo and/or WNY they would say that their decision was based on economics not the size of the city or the desire to be in the next "hot spot". That was my main reason for moving. If I could have found my current employer in Buffalo, of course I would have stayed. I think it's unfair to criticize those who decided to leave. I know that for me it was an agonizing decision to leave my family and relocate almost 1000 miles away. But, I had to do it in order to secure my future financially. One day I hope that I can return to WNY, but for now I know that can't happen.

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by NYGirl1216

I'm sure that if you asked most people why they left Buffalo and/or WNY they would say that their decision was based on economics not the size of the city or the desire to be in the next "hot spot". That was my main reason for moving. If I could have found my current employer in Buffalo, of course I would have stayed. I think it's unfair to criticize those who decided to leave. I know that for me it was an agonizing decision to leave my family and relocate almost 1000 miles away. But, I had to do it in order to secure my future financially. One day I hope that I can return to WNY, but for now I know that can't happen.

I could not agree more. We left for the same reasons and wish we could live there full time.
Buffalo has EVERYTHING except -- jobs.... *sigh*

[softmachine]

This issue is a sore one for me and I was not lashing out at anyone on this site. I was actually speaking of the "Oregon Trail of the East" that is the path people have seemed to take in droves from Buffalo to North Carolina (and West Virginia) since I was little. These were my initial knee-jerk reactions. I am young and thus do not have the responsibilites and appendages that older people might have on this sight. I also consider myself part of a new breed of young people who realize that the traditional work place is becoming increasingly unpredictable
and unreliable; because of this uncertainty we have found the internet as a means of independent employment that is not burdened by location and politics. So although I commend those of you who still try to operate in the "tangible workplace", I've seen too much dirty union practices and friends giving friends construction jobs and political offices ect. to ever think that would be a viable option for me.


That is where I'm coming from and I do understand that Bohemians (a lifestyle I pretty much operate in) cannot really support a city and thank those who do. I'm sure Buffalo's legacy of political corruption has in some roundabout way made you leave and I am sorry for that, but I truly believe that the old guard (white, bald, fat, pompous, bigoted, sexist, ignorant...you know the guys that control Buffalo's infrastructure) is on the out someday soon.

[groove1]

Charleston isn't a big city...did you mean Charlotte? And after 7 years in Charlotte, I run into people I know all over the place.

[Tress]

Originally Posted by londonbarcelona

I could not agree more. We left for the same reasons and wish we could live there full time.
Buffalo has EVERYTHING except -- jobs.... *sigh*

Thirteen years ago my son (and my husband and I) were so happy when he was one of the few grads from his class who was able to land a job in Buffalo. Three years later the company moved its corporate offices to NV...and so it went. He's been there 10 years and would come back in NY minute if he could get as good a job here.

[BuffaloTransplant]

I guess I am blessed... both daughters and their spouses all found good jobs here. They are in late 20s early 30s. It all depends on what field you are in.