Anyone who has left WNY and LIKES where they live??

[xnyer]

Originally Posted by londonbarcelona

I live in Scottsdale, Arizona. I love it here. But I miss my family so much back in Buffalo.

Console yourself with the knowledge that you had the foresight to bale, and do your family a favor by encouraging them to join you in Arizona rather than go down with the sinking ship.

[zanna vaida]

Originally Posted by xnyer

Console yourself with the knowledge that you had the foresight to bale, and do your family a favor by encouraging them to join you in Arizona rather than go down with the sinking ship.

The sinking ship hasn't sank, yet. It's strong and surviving. Why don't you visit your family and see it for yourself?
www.ci.buffalo.ny.us

[xnyer]

Originally Posted by zanna vaida

The sinking ship hasn't sank, yet. It's strong and surviving. Why don't you visit your family and see it for yourself?
www.ci.buffalo.ny.us

Interesting website, but I am not persuaded. All of the links on the left side of the page and ongoing "projects"- do you know how many proposals have been floated, studies conducted, meetings held (ala the "signature bridge" to Ft. Erie) over the years? What commonly happens?--Nothing!! As long as state government has the final say on anything, nothing will ever happen either, but continued decline. I appreciate your enthusiasm, you're wasting your time. When you finally get disillusioned, I would expect you to turn up someplace like N.C., where I am sure you could get a position with any Chamber of Commerce. The only respect you'll get in New York is fleeting while some politician picks your pocket (or perhaps I should say "fleecing")

[zanna vaida]

Originally Posted by xnyer

Interesting website, but I am not persuaded. All of the links on the left side of the page and ongoing "projects"- do you know how many proposals have been floated, studies conducted, meetings held (ala the "signature bridge" to Ft. Erie) over the years? What commonly happens?--Nothing!! As long as state government has the final say on anything, nothing will ever happen either, but continued decline. I appreciate your enthusiasm, you're wasting your time. When you finally get disillusioned, I would expect you to turn up someplace like N.C., where I am sure you could get a position with any Chamber of Commerce. The only respect you'll get in New York is fleeting while some politician picks your pocket (or perhaps I should say "fleecing")

Thank you for the offer, but I'm not interested. I play my own political game and don't ask anybody about what side to take.
Why do you care about Buffalo so much and stick to the Buffalo forum insted on N.C.?
I wonder what do say about N.C. and will check you out. See you soon.
Welcome to Western New York.

Originally Posted by xnyer

I grew up on the old East Side when shopping meant a trip to Sattlers'
department store and the Broadway Market had great food stands. I was 11 years old when the last horse drawn vegetable peddler retired from his route down Fillmore Ave. (I can still hear the clip-clop of his horses' hooves on the pavement). I left when the neighborhood became a "hood" and never looked back. Thanks to the tax and spend liberalism of NY government and the intentional de-industrialization of the region, all that's left is a welfare state. I've lived in: El Paso, Tx; Cincinnati, Ohio; Norfolk, Virginia; Batavia, NY, and now Springfield, Ohio (10 years). Springfield reminds me of Buffalo in the 1950's and early '60's, with the exception of lower taxes, less crime and milder winters. I vacation along the Carolina coast or Florida and will retire in a few years to the Sunbelt. I like where I am at and the life God has blessed me with. Other than an occasional visit (every couple of years) to see family, I will not live in Western New York again. Too blighted and too depressing.

You are a risk taker and not affraid of challenges. Good job! Way to go!

[xnyer]

Originally Posted by WILWRadio

This link lists unemployment rates for each state and DC.

Unemployment rates - Unemployment rates by state from CNNMoney

The following link lists unemployment rates in metropolitan areas.

Browse US MSA Civilian Labor Force Data

The following link lists unemployment rates in micropolitan areas.

Browse US Micropolitan Civilian Labor Force Data

There are pockets of lower unemployment rates in some cities in states listed with higher rates. Example: Columbus, Ohio.

Personally, I'd recommend Denver. Livecontent's assessment of the Denve-Boulder area is right on. In reality you cannot go wrong with most areas of the Front Range from Fort Collins to Denver. Jobs will be harder to come by Colorado Springs.

I'd also recommend Minneapolis. Culturally speaking it is similar to the Northeast. Winters are like those of central Maine but with a bit less snow on average.

If you want to stick closer to WNY then I'd recommend Columbus, Ohio or Indianapolis. Both have been seeing steady economic and population growth for decades and have economies that are fairly immune to mild to moderate economic downturns.

Another thing to consider is that you should seriously consider doing research on WHERE the jobs are located in your respective careers. Do some research to find out where job growth in your specific areas of expertise will occur in the next decade. If you have highly specialized careers then you may only find these occupations in a few cities in the country. If it is something generic for example like Retail Management then you simply need to see which metro areas will offer new retail construction or at least offer some job growth.

Avoid the following areas. Kansas City. St. Louis. Cleveland. Milwaukee.

I'd avoid Columbus, too boring, too much of a hick town mentality for a major metropolitan area. Yes, the economy is relatively good, but life revolves around endless overpriced lookalike suburbs and shopping malls and mind numbing chatter about the Buckeyes and college football. Six months here and you'll be 50 lbs. overweight from sitting in traffic and eating junk food. Try Cincinnati, the city has real personality and a high degree of cosmopolitan sophistication.

[xnyer]

Originally Posted by zanna vaida

Thank you for the offer, but I'm not interested. I play my own political game and don't ask anybody about what side to take.
Why do you care about Buffalo so much and stick to the Buffalo forum insted on N.C.?
I wonder what do say about N.C. and will check you out. See you soon.
Welcome to Western New York.



You are a risk taker and not affraid of challenges. Good job! Way to go!

I vacation in N.C., I live in Ohio. I post on City Forum occasionally looking for "kindred spirits" and bashing Buffalo is one pursuit many people enjoy, judging by what I read. Why do I (we) care? Perhaps those of us who were expected to foot the bill to perpetuate the welfare state from our meager wages would simply like to have a forum to be heard by somebody when no one in state/ local government gives a whit about anything except keeping their political power. For a state and area that has literally taxed their working class to penury, destroyed their work ethic and created a permanent class of entitlement, a jab now and then in City Forum is fair game

[rubygreta]

Originally Posted by xnyer

Console yourself with the knowledge that you had the foresight to bale, and do your family a favor by encouraging them to join you in Arizona rather than go down with the sinking ship.

I see the 7-day forecast calls for temps in Scottsdale to be in the 110-degree range. In fact, I'm sure the high temperature well into September will be in the 110-degree range.

Enjoy!

[dlo21]

Originally Posted by xnyer

Interesting website, but I am not persuaded. All of the links on the left side of the page and ongoing "projects"- do you know how many proposals have been floated, studies conducted, meetings held (ala the "signature bridge" to Ft. Erie) over the years? What commonly happens?--Nothing!! As long as state government has the final say on anything, nothing will ever happen either, but continued decline. I appreciate your enthusiasm, you're wasting your time. When you finally get disillusioned, I would expect you to turn up someplace like N.C., where I am sure you could get a position with any Chamber of Commerce. The only respect you'll get in New York is fleeting while some politician picks your pocket (or perhaps I should say "fleecing")

Right on. There are 3 things that made me move from BLo and they are the same 3 things that are keeping me from returning:

1. Taxes
2. Unions
3. Politicians

It is not rocket science to see these 3 things go hand in hand. In fact, each promotes the disgusting growth of the other. Let's take a look at why Buffalo, NY will never rebound as long as the aforementioned items exist:

1. Taxes

Taxes are killing WNY and NYS in general. NYS is one of, if not the highest taxed state in the Union. You cannot drive 5 miles on the thruway, buy food at the store, fill up your car, or invest in a new home without being slammed by taxes. To the politicians and lawmakers reading, allow me to let you in on a little secret: CEOs hate taxes. Companies that are thinking of moving to your area have not, are not, and will not ever go as long as you try to tax them to death. When I moved out and started my own business, this was one of the main proponents for it. Buffalo, NY, with a shrinking, aging, and society poorer by the day cannot afford the highest taxes in the country. Goverment continues to try to maintain the status quo with a smaller tax base, thereby raising everyone's taxes. The worst part is that on top of already high taxes, Buffalo also has been strangled by my next point, unions.

2. Unions

Unions may be the worst evil of the 3, and the one factor I could not overlook. Sure taxes are high, what else is new. Sure politicians suck, they have for years. Yet unions, we should be past them by now. Take them out to pasture. Unions successfully raise the cost of everything from public works (higher taxes) to reduced efficencies, to creating monopolies, and dragging down the city as well as the country. The business model is flawed by default; that the union has to demand higher wages instead of the natural design of supply and demand. PS - If you are a liberal pro-union hippie and are thinking to yourself right now "It's the damn CEO's with their million dollar boats and lavish penions and salaries that are causing the problem" you are absolutely right. So instead of whining go start your own company - the last good thing about America. How many times have you driven down the 90, only to see "construction" crews on a 30 minute coffee break, or read in the Buffalo News that another project has been halted, underfunded, or stopped? Thank the unions. Bashar Issa gave up on building in Buffalo when the union messed up his plans. I could go on for hours on the negative side of the union (read: Wicks Law) but I want to post on the last evil, politicians.

3. Politicians

Politicians may be the one "fixable" factor in Buffalo, in fact one that may even begin to correct the other two. Yet knowing Buffalo's past and seeing who is in office now, that outlook is grim. Every mayor, councilman/woman, governor, judge, etc etc. have all promised change and delivered on nothing. Why? Everyone has a do-whats-best-for-me mentality. Nobody will challenge the unions because they want their money and support, even though it is the right thing to do. Nobody will try to lower taxes, because they want more money for themselves, even though it is the right thing to do. Nobody will stand up for what's right, because they are selfish. Heck most politicians put their own friends and family into posts, which is part of the reason nobody works hard nor gets fired. The exception to this rule, that I have read, is Chris Collins. He wants to purge city hall, cut slackers, reduce unions, and promote new, out of county businesses to relocate. But what does he know? He's only a businessman that has saved companies from going under and turned them into profitable operations. Maybe once the baby boomers all retire and entreprenueral, capitalistic college grads begin running businesses and are elected we will see change.


In short, I have moved out of Buffalo and happy for it, granted where I live now (NYC) is not much better. Yeah it has tons of stuff to do, but will cost you your entire paycheck to enjoy most of them. Happy hour sucks here compared to Chippewa, but the amount of people out is awesome. It's great to see people out and spending their time and money in a city. I think someplace that promotes business, has low public spending and has capitalistic ideals will be the best place for me - and those that wish to prosper in life.

[nucemgd]

^^^Dude, the unions here in the city are the absolute WORST!!! there is no comparison to the rest of the state. Disgusting.

Born in california, lived in Buffalo (East Amherst), Binghamton, Rome/Utica, Fairfax, Va. and now Long Island/NYC.

I enjoyed living in buffalo and I enjoy living downstate. If you can put up with some of the craziness down here, i recommend it although it definitely is not for everyone.

It's funny...I'm an outdoorsy kind of guy and there are some of the most beautiful areas on long island that I've ever seen anywhere. I never knew that about the area and it's really grown on me because of it.

[Madewoman]

I was born and raised in Rochester, NY. Lived in Buffalo for 2 years and now I live in St. Louis, MO.(2 yrs) I LOVE IT HERE. There are so many things to do and so much culture here. I eat sushi now there is never a dull moment in St. Louis. The only thing that would make it better is if my family were here.