leaving wny (New York, Buffalo, Cheektowaga: 2009, insurance, crime rate)

[choosing78]

anyone ever been to any of these towns? WNY has beat me down.Best Places to Live 2009 - from Money Magazine

[crittergal]

Originally Posted by choosing78

anyone ever been to any of these towns? WNY has beat me down.Best Places to Live 2009 - from Money Magazine

I moved from WNY to San Antonio TX and #39 on the list is Schertz TX which is outside of San Antonio. Don't know too much about Schertz, but that community along with New Braunfels share many of the advantages that San Antonio has. A lot of bang for your buck as far as housing and cost of livings goes, employment, diverse cultures, lots to do, and great weather! I love it here!

[livecontent]

I would not put too much emphasis on these lists. I have lived in Colorado for 31 years and left WNY 40 years ago. Louisville is on the top of the list this year. Fort Collins has been on the top in 2006. You will constantly see cities in Colorado on many "Best" list--Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Loveland etc.

I think it all means that it is the common "group think" obsessions over Colorado. One person says it; and next repeats it; and it goes on and on. Just like the bad reputation of all WNY is exaggerated, so is the good reputation of Colorado.

Yes, Colorado is a nice place to live but it is not the best; whatever "best" means. Louisville is a city in Boulder County and mostly is composed of nice suburban developments. It has a small old town area, but I would not say it has a small town feel. The big difference between the Denver Region and Western New York is Sun and Water. It is a semi-arid area with more sun and much less water.

Louisville, as well as Denver and most of the population of Colorado sits on the Great Plains. Yes, I know the Rockies get all the publicity but few live in the mountains; most people earn their living and spend their lives on the plains. Ah, but the boundless Rocky Mountains are there for recreation. Also the Denver Metro Area is noted for extensive parks, open space, trails and nature preserves. It is really astounding how many recreational areas exist in this area.

There are few natural trees on the plains and mostly reservoirs, small creeks and rivers--for water bodies. However with more sun and less water; there is low humidity, much less snow and rain than WNY. Also, less humidity makes it feel less cold in the winter and less hot in the summer. But, it is not green and lush like WNY. Remember Colorado is part of the Great Southwest and has a strong Hispanic Culture which I like and enjoy. If you cannot accept the weather, the topography and the ethnic differences, you will not be happy here.

All these cities make the list, in Colorado and other places, because they are prosperous and have the money to provide good services. They also get the advantages of being near good cities like Denver. Denver is certainly more prosperous, cleaner, safer and progressive than Buffalo and Denver influences the whole region. I have also felt that Western New York is a great place to live, but it needs a good core city; and sadly Buffalo has collapsed. Buffalo was bad when I left; it is much worse today.

I moved up to Colorado from Dallas/Ft.Worth. Texas was a the popular place that many people where moving from the Rust Belt Cities, like Buffalo, in the 1970s. Before that, after WWII, California was a big draw.

I would say to you that if you are unhappy, then pick a place and give it a try. It is a big country and there is much to see and there are many differences. I left when I went into the Army. I saw other places and I just could not see going back to Cheektowaga--it just did not measure up in quality of life. If I never left for the Army, maybe I would have settled in one of the nice small towns in WNY. Perhaps when you experience other places, you may come to the realization that "there is no place like home". However, be assured that most people do not return to WNY, contrary to the some wrong opinions on this forum. The population and talent decline shows the true facts.

Livecontent

[donbuy]

I would highly recommend #34 or #11 from this list if you have kids. This is a list of the best places in America to raise a family.



http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07...s/index_01.htm




Best Places To Raise Your Kids |

[Canerican]

Middleport? That seems out of place. It's really in the middle of nowhere.

I'm not a big fan of these lists. They seem to have an agenda, and not take into account what they should.

That being said, even though I think Middleport is a really weird choice because it's so small, I do like the town. I would prefer Clarence Center or Sanborn any day.

Better yet, any town outside of New York, like this town (not far for Buffalo) perhaps

[JustinH]

I really agree. Middleport always makes it on to these lists. Is it because they have to pick one place in New York State?

Middleport has a sign saying it is the best place to raise a family (or something to that effect).

Honestly, my girlfriend has some family that lives there, and its a pretty quiet town in the middle of nowhere.

No stores, no entertainment, nothing.

I guess everybody there is too busy raising their families!

Originally Posted by Canerican

Middleport? That seems out of place. It's really in the middle of nowhere.

I'm not a big fan of these lists. They seem to have an agenda, and not take into account what they should.

That being said, even though I think Middleport is a really weird choice because it's so small, I do like the town. I would prefer Clarence Center or Sanborn any day.

Better yet, any town outside of New York, like this town (not far for Buffalo) perhaps

[VegasRocks]

It doesn't get much worst then WNY.

Just about any place you go is million's & million's times better then WNY

That don't have a city control board
That don't have a county control board
Better weather
cheaper taxes
cheaper gasoline
cheaper utility bills
cheaper insurance
better jobs witn higher pay & benefits
better government that ain't corrupt(at all level's city, county, state)
better roads & bridges
better public transportation
better food and cheaper prices
better Doctor's & hospital's
better Fire protection that provide's Paramedic level care vs WNY 1960's level of basic level
better Police department that ain't corrupt
better court & judges that ain't corrupt
better schools & better teachers
better shopping & entertainment at lower prices
better parks
better air quaility
Area that has a future
Area that's growing
lower crime rate
better news paper
better television station

[Canerican]

One advantage that other cities have that you can't fault Buffalo for is that they are pretty much new. Even growing cities like Boston have worse infrastructure than cities in the west that only sprung up in 1970s and 80s and are now stagnating.

Obviously the winters play a role in that. But I would agree with you on most of those... Although right now, as much as I hate to say it, Nevada has some really lousy politicians. They have a horrible Republican governor who is a disgrace, the GOP Senator had an affair, and then there is Dingy Harry Reid, who is the worst of the bunch. Luckily polls have shown that he is going to lose by at least 10 points to whichever challenger wins the primary.

Nevadans throw out corrupt politicians, we just keep reelecting them. Look at the fact the people want Eliot Spitzer to run again, Hildebeast was our Senator, we have a former crack addict as a governor, and Byron Brown, the king of the crooks our mayor. Don't even forget the union bosses.

It's like the Sopranos in New York. If New Jersey is the worst, Illinois is the second worst, New York is in third for most corrupt... and we continue to reelect these fools, as long as it says "AFL-CIO endorsed" and has "D" next to its name, we are voting for it.

There are a couple of exceptions, but honestly, is Peter King much better than Louise Slaughter? Besides the fact that King doesn't mind roughing up feathers by blaming 9/11 on the people who did it, no.

[coppersink63]

Originally Posted by VegasRocks

It doesn't get much worst then WNY.

Just about any place you go is million's & million's times better then WNY

That don't have a city control board
That don't have a county control board
Better weather
cheaper taxes
cheaper gasoline
cheaper utility bills
cheaper insurance
better jobs witn higher pay & benefits
better government that ain't corrupt(at all level's city, county, state)
better roads & bridges
better public transportation
better food and cheaper prices
better Doctor's & hospital's
better Fire protection that provide's Paramedic level care vs WNY 1960's level of basic level
better Police department that ain't corrupt
better court & judges that ain't corrupt
better schools & better teachers
better shopping & entertainment at lower prices
better parks
better air quaility
Area that has a future
Area that's growing
lower crime rate
better news paper
better television station

Half of those I would be able to debate and most are subject to opinion.

[Canerican]

I agree copper, I actually do not comparisons that are purely opinion, that can't be backed up by data.

However, I do agree with about 75% of what VegasRocks said.