tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post6588519894416140709..comments2023-10-27T03:16:03.213-04:00Comments on Burgh Diaspora: Rust Belt Geographic Arbitrage: BuffaloJim Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078184665418828961noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post-22828394266185033042010-06-06T08:53:48.792-04:002010-06-06T08:53:48.792-04:00I was raised in Pittsburgh and currently live in B...I was raised in Pittsburgh and currently live in Buffalo. I don't really think one can compare the two cities. Pittsburgh has reinvented itself into a modern city with new industries and thriving cultural scenes. Buffalo has not. Has not made an effort. It is a depressed city wallowing in its depression. Politicians in Pittsburgh might not be the best, but they are far from the corruption in Buffalo politics. Being Cheaper Than NYC (or many other cities) is probably Buffalo's only selling point, but how is that a selling point when you basically get what you pay for? No city pride (you can tell I'm from Pittsburgh!), huge and volatile class divides, a struggling cultural scene, horrendous urban sprawl (basically the entire population of Buffalo has relocated to the suburb of Amherst) and little community involvement. <br /><br />Despite this, I like Buffalo. The people have that no nonsense friendliness that is pervasive in Rust Belt cities. There are groups working towards making it a better city. I just feel that there needs to be civic pride in order for their efforts to work and all I see around me is apathy. It would be easy for Buffalo to go the way of Pittsburgh, but just as easy to go the way of Detroit. While Pittsburgh still has a ways to go, there's no question what direction the 'burgh is headed. We've been at the crossroads and found a path ahead that helped the city grow. Buffalo is now at a crossroads and seems to be dithering about which path to take.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com