I think the idea of developing a RPIS is a great idea and has value but i thiink the strategy of having it built and maintained by UB and then bringing in a bunch of academics to use Buffalo as a laboratory is absurd. Why would we want to be subject to a bunch of people whose only objective is to compile a bunch of data and write research papers from it? No, the solution is to have the City build the system themselves and then use it to identify, forecast, and predict where patterns of vacant housing are occuring or are most likely to occur. It should also be made available to the public so that priospesctive buyers and interested citizens can become more involved.

Pretty sad that like everything in Buffalo, WNY and NYS, this project is not being championed with dollars from the City budget. But then again, the city is in this condition because it's always been reactive as opposed to proactive. The "we need a handout" mentality is what is killing WNY. Stop asking everyone for money and start taking your future into your own hands and stop blaming everyone for your problems and acting like a whiner. If the project is necessary and has value, then fund it. It's called being progressive. But then again, let's not forget that people like Byron "um, um, um" Brown are career politicians first, public servants second. They've all slowly and steadily planned for their own ascension and they can't step out of line in any way to champion anything that might have people ask any pointed questions.

This community as whole has the "grant" mentality: that is nothing is worth doing unless someone else funds it. That results in what we see today.

I think the idea of developing a RPIS is a great idea and has value but i thiink the strategy of having it built and maintained by UB and then bringing in a bunch of academics to use Buffalo as a laboratory is absurd. Why would we want to be subject to a bunch of people whose only objective is to compile a bunch of data and write research papers from it? No, the solution is to have the City build the system themselves and then use it to identify, forecast, and predict where patterns of vacant housing are occuring or are most likely to occur. It should also be made available to the public so that priospesctive buyers and interested citizens can become more involved.