Posted 8/10/2010 10:58 AM EDT on wgrz.com
Recently, Bass Pro announced it would not be coming to Buffalo. It was just the latest in a long list of projects and promises that never came to be.
The question is why- why can't we get anything done, why can't we get out of our own way, why are we at times our own worst enemy?
I think there are two reasons:
The first is, it seems, just about anyone, or any entity can kill or delay any project.
Whether it's the unions, the preservationists, the environmentalists, the politicians, you name it and whatever it is, someone is against it.
The second reason I believe is the lack of strong leadership.
Back when Jimmy Griffin was mayor, no matter what you thought of him, through the sheer force of his personality, he got things done.
He wanted to bring baseball back to Buffalo and a new stadium was built.
He wanted to revive the waterfront and brought the old Hilton Hotel (now the Adams Mark) there.
Now, do I think people have the right to object to projects? Absolutely. But in Buffalo that is taken to the "nnth" degree.
Combine that with the community not having a dynamic, forceful leader and you wind up where we find ourselves: stuck in neutral with everyone else passing us by.
The question is why- why can't we get anything done, why can't we get out of our own way, why are we at times our own worst enemy?
I think there are two reasons:
The first is, it seems, just about anyone, or any entity can kill or delay any project.
Whether it's the unions, the preservationists, the environmentalists, the politicians, you name it and whatever it is, someone is against it.
The second reason I believe is the lack of strong leadership.
Back when Jimmy Griffin was mayor, no matter what you thought of him, through the sheer force of his personality, he got things done.
He wanted to bring baseball back to Buffalo and a new stadium was built.
He wanted to revive the waterfront and brought the old Hilton Hotel (now the Adams Mark) there.
Now, do I think people have the right to object to projects? Absolutely. But in Buffalo that is taken to the "nnth" degree.
Combine that with the community not having a dynamic, forceful leader and you wind up where we find ourselves: stuck in neutral with everyone else passing us by.
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 | danaboo wrote: God bless Jimmy Griffin, the best mayor Buffalo ever had. He called it as he saw it. Now we have to many $#^&* politicians lining up for the piece of the pie. They can all go to %#$@* in November!! 8/10/2010 12:17 PM EDT on wgrz.com
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| | Torbuff wrote: We have some forceful leaders(Higgins) and some very talented people working in a progressive manner to get things done. Bass Pro "cut bait" clear and simple. As I see it trolling the various websites the biggest problem has (and this is not just Buffalo)are negative people who are intent on seeing things very simplisticly and in a regressive manner. What is happening in broad general terms in Buffalo can be seen as turning the corner and making steady progress. Toronto recently lamented in the Toronto Star that Buffalo's waterfront development is more dynamic than its own but who in Buffalo could ever see it that way. Sometimes you need to step back from an endeavor to realize just how fortunate you are to have progressed to this level. Cincinnati for instance is still debating the merits of a street car downtown.Pittsburgh has done many things right but they still can't draw flys downtown for non-sporting events. "Familiarity breeds contempt" but Buffalonians have taken it to the next level. Sit back and count your accomplishments and move forward. Many of the same people that left are coming back home or wish they had never left. Just like any other relationship. We are certainly not "stuck in neutral." Watch everyone jump all over me as they always do for just being positive. 8/10/2010 1:22 PM EDT on wgrz.com
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| | maddim wrote: scott to manny hands in the pot & the group leading that part is all political get someone like croce & co. to be on that panal 8/10/2010 2:11 PM EDT on wgrz.com
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| | PaulH56 wrote: Scott, I think there are too many political entities involved. All the politicians want to claim credit for something when they should be making the area so attractive to business that they can't claim credit for any one business starting. Buffalo has the grandstanding Sam Hoyt in Albany. He shows up for photo ops even if he was against a project. Brian Higgins is another. He was a problem in Albany raising taxes, spending, increasing regulations and killing jobs. Then he had the nerve to say New York wasn't friendly to business. He was part of the problem. He shows up at the waterfront to claim credit for doing something to get the votes of the gullible while he raises taxes and spending in Washington. Development will happen when government gets out of the way and makes the area attractive to new business. 8/10/2010 9:36 PM EDT on wgrz.com |
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