Reply With QuoteThe preservationists are definitely part of the problem for the region, didn't some nut case just chain themselves to a dump of a house over in the garden Spot of Buffalo (east side) to keep it from being torn down ?
MOVEMENT TO START A NEW SOCIAL ACTIVIST GROUP: THE WNY PROGRESSIONISTS!
I am completely serious about this.
In light of the recent developments about how the Elmwood Hotel is now not going to happen and after all of the other "obstructionist" movements to stop development lately, I think we need to form a new WNY social activist group.
The "Preservationists," who I admit are not always the same as the "obstructionists," have such a LOUD VOICE and obviously a LOT OF CLOUT. They have successfully stopped certain developments from happening and they are now looking to stop more. (The upscale apartments near Gates Circle are an example.)
There needs to be another rallying organization to promote the other points of view.
Let's call ourselves The WNY Progressionists!
Our city is in dire straits. Population is declining at an astonishing rate and the poverty statistics within the city proper indicate that almost a quarter of the city's residents live below the poverty level.
The city of Buffalo’s economy is doing terribly but the suburbs, where “new” development is actually allowed, are doing much better.
This movement is not about backlash against the Preservationist Movement. The Preservationists are not terrible people and they often do have many good ideas. The other group is the so called “Obstructionist Movement,” comprised of people who are misguided and short sighted in regard to the social and economic realities of Western New York’s current state.
The WNY Progressionists will be comprised of a group of serious minded individuals, of all economic and educational backgrounds, who honesty want what is right for the city of Buffalo and its residents.
Progressionists may be those who live within the city or those who live within the outlying suburbs. Our group will not have an “us against them” mentality in regard to urban versus suburban residents. Progressionists will strive to create a sense of COOPERATION between the city and the suburbs.
Progressionists will do research to better inform themselves about what is going on in the city of Buffalo regarding the business climate, the economy, etc. We will check government statistics and data, newspaper and online source reports, etc. to determine what is REALLY going on. We will then determine what the best courses of action should be to economically and socially revive our city.
If our group picks up enough speed and gains enough of our own “clout,” we too can start rallying and communicating with the politicians and decision makers.
And last but not least, Progressionists will not take an elitist attitude. We will respect the views and opinions of all other local social activist groups, including the Preservations and those who subscribe to the “New Urbanist” mentality.
I'm just here to make people laugh. And to confuse people. Oh, and to irritate people.
The preservationists are definitely part of the problem for the region, didn't some nut case just chain themselves to a dump of a house over in the garden Spot of Buffalo (east side) to keep it from being torn down ?
I would like to add more points about The WNY Progressionist Movement:
--We will acknowledge that CHANGE IS NECESSARY for growth and that change should be welcomed in WNY.
--We will strive to create smart NEW development within the city of Buffalo and work hard to make others realize that new development will in fact have to be NEW. We will push acceptance of NEW buildings and, when necessary, the demolition of old buildings that are beyond repair and really are not as historic as some may think.
--We will encourage the development of national chains, retail or otherwise, within the city of Buffalo. When possible, we will encourage these chains to build in compliance with an "urban friendly" and walkable design. We will also make the public realize that allowing national chains into areas is not a threat to small, locally owned businesses but rather a way to complement those smaller businesses and to balance out the economy.
--We will encourage the development of NEW HOUSING within the city of Buffalo. This includes areas where the housing stock is simply OLD and not historic. We will encourage market rate housing development that allows middle class families to live in the city in homes that are newer and therefore more well insulated and structurally sound.
--We will use, when necessary, the rallying cry "OLD does not always mean HISTORIC."
--We will encourage companies to locate offices within the city of Buffalo so that city residents will not have to commute to the suburbs to work.
--We will look at other cities as examples to see how those cities are blending newer development with older development, namely how they are holding on to the truly historric while allowing new businesses or developments to thrive.
I'm just here to make people laugh. And to confuse people. Oh, and to irritate people.
Too many groups spoil the ....
check these dudes out first before reinventing the wheel. I'm sure they could use someone with your energy and passion
http://www.wnyprogress.org/About_Us.html
We will also promote the news that older, decaying housing is not always safe for families and individuals to live in. We will mention how older housing is often poorly insulated and sometimes structurally unsound. Plumbing and utilities in these houses may also be in disrepair.Originally Posted by forestfirefighter
Older stock housing that has not been properly maintained is often not safe housing.
We will also talk about how older buildings are not always conducive for the use of locating businesses also. Older buildings are harder to wire for computers, sprinkler systems, etc. They pose security issues. And older buildings are harder to convert so that they may comply with codes such as the ADA act, etc. Many older buildings are not wheelchair accessible and do not have elevators. Also the smaller dimensions of many older buildings are not conducive to the layout requirements for many newer businesses.
I'm just here to make people laugh. And to confuse people. Oh, and to irritate people.
More "ists" and "isms" fighting each other. Bad idea.
Interesting link, thanks
I think this group's mission may be more wide spread that the ideas I have for the Progressionists, but I'll check them out some more. They focus a lot more on actual politics rather than just the development issues.
I see the Progressionists as being a group that would push new DEVELOPMENT in general whether it be economic, retail, housing, etc.
The Progressionists will make people want to believe that "New is GOOD. New is NECESSARY."
I don't want Buffalo to become any more of a ghost town than it already is.
I'm just here to make people laugh. And to confuse people. Oh, and to irritate people.
But remember, part of our motto is that we are not elitists who have an "us against them" mentality with other groups
I'm just here to make people laugh. And to confuse people. Oh, and to irritate people.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No SSHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Surpise everyone!!!!!!!!!!
So then can I expect LHardy to join the Progs?
I'm serious about this... Like I said, If we gain political clout...
I'm just here to make people laugh. And to confuse people. Oh, and to irritate people.
Their power orginates in the wind.
They are the special interset group of WNY.
What other Non-for-Profit do you know of that carries as much clout as these piss ants?
Then let's rally together and gain more clout! Why let the piss ants win?
These piss ants refuse to believe that it's the year 2006, they want Buffalo to be stuck in 1896 forever!
I'm just here to make people laugh. And to confuse people. Oh, and to irritate people.
Achebek:
In the spirit of your comments about "checking government reports and data", here is a thumbnail sketch of Buffalo's current economic condition, as contained in the Annual Report of the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority:You were pretty close in the descriptions in your first post. Unfortunately, the reality is even worse than what you described.At the same time there have been some very negative economic trends which
will inevitably play into the City’s ability to recover from its ongoing fiscal crisis:
-- The City’s population continues to decline, down in 2005 to an estimated
279,745, a reduction of 4.4 percent from the 2000 Census.
-- In the 1990’s,18 percent of the population aged 18-44 left the area.
-- There has been little net job creation, with the job number virtually unchanged
from eight years ago.
-- More than 26 percent of residents live below the poverty line, sixth highest of
any city in the United States with more than 250,000 population.
-- More than 20,000 residential units lie vacant.
Truth springs from argument among friends.
Agreed.
To win you must fight it in the court of law, that is their only domain and way of enforcing their will.
Do you have any judges in your back pocket ready to jon and listen to the aurguements of the cause, unfettered by electoral realities of their district?
I don't.
" At the same time there have been some very negative economic trends which
will inevitably play into the City’s ability to recover from its ongoing fiscal crisis:"
Exactly! As much as people may not want to admit it, we cannot afford to be too picky right now in regard to development. While I don't mean that we should just let the city become full of WalMarts and casinos, we should do what we can to encourage new developments rather than picketing them.
"-- The City’s population continues to decline, down in 2005 to an estimated
279,745, a reduction of 4.4 percent from the 2000 Census."
Yep, we were just talking about that at work. People are leaving the area to go to cities that ARE actually on the upswing. Check out the population GROWTH statistics for these cities:
Las Vegas: http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet...rd=&_industry=
I hear that people are moving to Las Vegas just because the unemployment rate is so low... You may be working for Sigfried and Roy, but hey at least you'll be working.
Charlotte, North Carolina:
http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet...rd=&_industry=
I hear that people are moving to the Carolinas becasue the Carolinas are more welcoming to new businesses... Unlike how New York State chokes and taxes the businesses.
-- In the 1990’s,18 percent of the population aged 18-44 left the area.
It's the young and mobile who can afford to get out. The old or poor and the immoble are stuck here.
-- There has been little net job creation, with the job number virtually unchanged
from eight years ago.
That is because people are afraid to let new retail in and new retail is one of the few things that is actually trying to get in. Also, I'm sure the market researchers and developers are looking at the poverty and population statistica and saying, "We'd have to be crazy to locate there." Also, add in the high New York State taxes.
-- More than 26 percent of residents live below the poverty line, sixth highest of
any city in the United States with more than 250,000 population.
Yep! We talked about this at work too... The states with the lowest povety statistics are a lot of New England area and surrounding states such as Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, etc. Our poverty statistics were a few points higher than Detroit's a few years back. We are pretty darn close to New Orleans and a lot of other "poor" or "distressed" cities.
-- More than 20,000 residential units lie vacant.
It could be because they are FREAKIN' OLD AND FALLING APART AND UNLIVABLE! And they are in neighborhoods with no business or infastructure...
I'm just here to make people laugh. And to confuse people. Oh, and to irritate people.
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