Honey, Get My Shovel... I'm Heading Home
Any article in a hi-profile magazine that features a guy wielding a shovel attracts our attention here at BR. The article that was placed in front of me this morning just ran in Newsweek Magazine. It's about a young ex-pat who, after spending his life trying to get out of Buffalo, has only one thing on his mind... and that's getting back to the city that he (finally) loves. It's amazing - you would think that we would get used to hearing this sort of story, but reading about people who want to return after they were 100% convinced that Buffalo was the last city on the planet that they would ever see again? It's great to see the change of heart (and good publicity in the process).
It's not like the stories are all that different, because you always hear the 'small town/cold weather' beginning. The stories make Buffalo seem like some sort of ‘podunk backwoods hicktown’ or something. Then the star of the story hits the road in search of his or her destiny, which is fine, because if that's what it takes to develop an appreciation for Buffalo then go for it. The middle of the story involves some traveling, and a job in a big city where our adventurer meets up with some interesting (or not so interesting) characters who express shock that our wayfarer has actually come from such a low-ranking rust belt city. Then there is a twist. Call it separation anxiety. It doesn't happen to everyone of course, though we have witnessed time and time again people who realize that many of the reasons that they disdained the city are the same reasons they come to miss it. Next comes the big question: "Am I really thinking about heading back...?"
That's right. It happens. And when it does there is usually a good story to tell - a story that involves family, and friends, and seasons, and history, and hopefully a happy future. Check out Brian Castner's story this week in Newsweek Magazine.
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Morrison
I just got that issue in the mail today. I read the great article 15 mins. ago!
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SteveP
note to the people at City Hall...hop on this, make a billboard or publicize this. Start an ad campaign! This is the poster child and slogan we have been looking for.
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rex_willy
Buffalo needs stories like this if it's going to rise above the ineptitude that has ruled the region for way too long. Often, I too, get the urge to return, but I know that I couldn't make the kind of life I have become accustomed to here in New York.
Perhaps someday my children will clamor to move to Buffalo to escape provincial New York!
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scooter
Great article.
I lived this story a few years ago. I am so happy to live in buffalo again.
Philly and NC just didn't come close for me.
God bless Buffalo.
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UrbanBody
I swear to you, just this afternoon, while I was sitting on the porch of my TX house during lunch, l was longing for a departure from the pervasive 'sameness' of the many recent cities I've lived in TX and CA. Something other than persistent sunny/hot/humid days, a local flavor that goes well beyond the franchises, streets lined with uniquely charming structures...
The good news for me is that come May, I'll be back in Buffalo--after several decades of roaming around. With a great telecommute job, I can be anywhere. Wonderfully odd that it's Buffalo I've always wanted to hold me.
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sbrof
For those who left and are debating coming back I am curious to try and rack your brains. What is one of the most important aspects that we could do to make you return sooner. Try to be specific because generalizations like "a good job" or a place with more opportunities, don't always cut when trying to change things. What kind of jobs were missing? What opportunities? What aspects about the place you live now was the deal breaker to get you there?
Another question might be, how could we have kept you here to begin with? What was missing then that seems whole or at least more tolerable now? Was it a lack of sense of place growing up? Too much of it? Friends and relatives that always said you need to leave to get a job so you didn't bother looking? I might not have children but I do have siblings that I would like to keep in the area and I know what worked for me to keep me here but everyones different.
Or do you think it is the natural cycle of things in our modern globalized society in which everyone knows as much, if not more, about as Iraq, Europe and Japan as Buffalo so everyone needs to leave, stretch their legs and develop their tastes for what they really want out of life.
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Andrew
I love this post and the comments. Especially the aspect of marketing this. I really wish the city had the initiative and the money to run a commercial showing all the development going on in the city right now and show it in NC, Phoenix, Miami ect... The end should say "Its time to come home... We miss you."
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DJCramer
It's wonderful to see the positive national press Buffalo is starting to receive. Attitude formation and change is a complicated process. If Buffalo is to shed its rust-belt image, one of the best ways to change attitudes are through a carefully executed PR campaign. In the last few months, Buffalo has received national exposure through several high profile mediums:
- The New York Times article about "Signs of Better Times for Buffalo" - National TV Coverage of Buffalo Old Home Week - Newsweek Article Above
The City or CVB needs to keep innundating the media with press releases, news releases, and video releases about the positive things happening in Buffalo. The more positive press, the better.
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Lanny
sbrof,
As a 20 something who has moved to NC and back again, I can tell you that one of the biggest reasons young people leave is the feeling of needing to see "if the grass is really greener". I also think that the bad rap that many locales give to this town is another easy thing to feed into when you're reading some of the articles on local jobs leaving. Buffalo needs to promote itself and put a positive stamp on life in WNY. Our economy is starting to move in the right direction again and its important to give that hope to people on the verge of leaving.
I have to admit that leaving here was the only thing that made me appreciate and love the area so much. Now anytime I hear somebody talk about moving away I quickly respond with all of the good things going on in the region. Hopefully its contagious and Buffalo will rise again!
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snowman
Hey...another very positive piece on Buffalo in the April issue of the highly prestigious "Atlantic Monthly". It concerns the winners and losers in Global Warming....and...you guessed it...Buffalo came out a big winner. Whether you agree this is good or not...there are some fine comments on Buffalo's great Beaux-Arts architecture...Olmsted Parks...and a prediction of our city as "Summer Vacation Paradise of the Stars"! A great angle for an ad campaign..."worried about global Warming"? Come to Buffalo!
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georgethomasapfel
I’ve been away from Buffalo for 44 years and saw home for the first time as an adult one month ago; it reaffirmed my decision to move home. I believe the city is on the upswing and more and more people are realizing Buffalo is an undiscovered American treasure. Thank you, Buffalo, for the warm welcome…and it looks like you have two Las Vegas residents who are coming home.
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BuffedOut
Folks, if you read the story carefully, Brian Castner and his family is moving back primarily because of the presence of his family. After all, if we were to be totally honest,that is why people move back. I stress "move back". It would be more revealing to discover how many people move to Buffalo having never lived here before and not having family or friends here.
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HandMeThatPiano
I just met a couple 2 months ago who moved here to stay back in June. Born in California, they moved to NYC for work about 6 years ago. A couple years after their second son was born, they decided they'd rather raise their kids here. They have no family here. Oh, they bought an empty building here, & plan on opening a new restaurant in it. They love the city... mostly the people, & the building.
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Medina_Sandstone
BuffedOut is on to something. I'm here not because I was born or raised here but because I fell madly in love with a Buffalo native. And then I fell madly in love with Buffalo.
The implication is clear: all of you single Buffalonians have to go out and import your spouses and partners from other places! [smile]
Seriously, though, when I looked at the Newsweek article last night, no one had posted any comments on their page. Is that possible?
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DMD
I remember watching Buffalo shrink in my rearview mirror and thinking I would never be back. Not that I had globe trotted everywhere, but I certainly got a good taste of being away. There was a strange harmonic convergence that drew be back and I cannot be happier. It is a "grass is greener" syndrome. When you are in a strange city, where people are all transplants too, your apartment is the size of a kennel, and even your over-educated, but non-reflective paycheck evaporates faster than the wish to buy a house that's within a 60 mile radius of work, Buffalo looks quite nice. I love these articles and I love hearing about people coming back. It's about time we look for quality of life, instead of quanity of what is in another city.
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WilliamZabkaAllStars
This is a nice story coming on the heels of the news Erie County lost more residents than any other New York county between July 2005-July 2006.
Let's not let one nice little article cloud our judgment... there's a long, LONG way to go. Gotta keep the momentum rolling.
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RateMachine
the story WZAS refers to is more telling than this one. yeah, its great people come home and these fluff pieces are nice, but for every "hey, look at this couple that's moving back to buffalo" story, you could just as easily write a dozen "hey, look at this couple that's moving out to [insert destination here]" stories.
let's not get too worked up about some guy moving back to buffalo. many people do it every year, but unfortunately many more head the opposite direction. until people start paying attention to the region's real problems and stop spending so much time fawning over some "exciting" new restaurant/bar opening up in Allentown or the newest 30 unit, destined to be partially occupied apartment building downtown, nothing significant is going to change and the 6,000 that leave every year are always going to outweight the few who return.
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Quinn
I think the article refers to more than just returning to family.
I had a repat experience slightly in reverse. I moved away for a job opportunity and moved to a couple of cities. My NYC born and raised husband loved Buffalo when we visited my family here and it was his desire to return to Buffalo, not mine, that brought us here. He saw the potential in things, loves the people and the architecture. Now that we are here, I am rediscovering these aspects. His children love it here too and will eventually move here to live with him. Once people, even people who were not originally from here, see Buffalo and spend time here, they realize there is something here that is unlike many other places. It just feels different.
We need to earmark the bed tax for a well-crafted campaign to take the good press and run with it. Sometimes people just need a reason to look at Buffalo. Many folks I met moved from city to city just trying to find that sense of place. I think we have it.
P.S. - the weather is a red herring as I spent a lot of time indoors while I lived in the South because of the heat (and froze in overzealous air-conditioning!)
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bflover
My family left in 1986 but I returned in 2004. I came back for the people, affordable real estate, good suburban schools, and local and regional diversions. I brought my job with me as a telecommuter. No regrets whatsoever.
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david
Here's the link to the Newsweek article...easy sign in to leave comments... right here...
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fill
I find UrbanBody's immediate reason for being able to move back to Buffalo his telecommuting job to be fascinating. I am convinced that this is the emplyment future for many people, a future that makes it possible for people to live anywhere they want. With lack of employment opportunities in the Buffalo area being the most cited reason for people moving away from Buffalo, perhaps telecommuting job opportunities will become the most cited reason for their moving back (or for never leaving in the first place).
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Quinn
Fill - all the more reason we need to earmark that money and get the word out to those looking for a city with character. These type of advertising campaigns are not cheap and are not just created by themselves. They need trained folks who know where to find these people that have portable work and are looking for a home. Otherwise this good news will be just another isolated story that does not lead to momentum.
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livemusicgrl
We need a variety of promotional campaigns shifting from Raggin' on Buffalo, to Braggin on Buffalo :)
I swear we should send housing marketing brochures to Silicon Valley, Austin, Seattle, Boston and show them the difference between the $250,000 shacks they can buy there vs. our great character building homesteads we have here.
this guy need to write a 1 year follow-up, once he really discovers the jewels of buffalo. When ex-pats come back, it's a new adventure.
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JohnMartin
http://buffalonews.com/258/story/37671.html
"Erie County’s population has declined by 28,875 since 2000, a 3 percent drop, or an average loss of 4,800 people a year, according to estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
No other county in New York State lost more people than Erie County since the start of the decade. Niagara County lost about 3,700 people since 2000, a 1.7 percent decrease, estimates show.
In fact, there were losses in seven of the eight counties of Western New York over the same period.
But while Erie County has grown accustomed to the losses year after year, a drop of nearly 29,000 people in six years might raise some eyebrows.
That’s more than the combined 19,000 lost by Erie and Niagara counties during the entire decade of the 1990s."
They are estimated figures, but the bigger picture doesn't look so rosey. We can have all the cool sandwich shops up and down Elmwood that we desire, but until we rectify the larger tax, political, and economic issues in New York State...we're tilting at windmills.
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stephenjames716
I will be back.
I couldn't wait to leave when I was there, but 3 years on the west coast has shown me that a city with a neighborhood feel is more important than having nice weather all year long. It has also shown me that having seasons is not all that bad since I can't tell you what day of the year it is when I look outside (could be august, could be march).
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BOYBILLY
I came to Buffalo to attend UB and never left. That was 20 years ago. Best friends I ever had.
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SerenityNow
JohnMartin makes an important point about the population big picture.
Today's Census news and ongoing growth of vacant houses indicates we're still having a big population drain, likely all or mostly in the city while our burbs probably stay about steady. Meanwhile so many other metro areas of country have strong growth. Current methodology of census estimates sounds like a pretty good approach: birth/death counts adjusted by persons per county on IRS forms.
In what JM wrote, I'd make the "until" here an "until or unless", because we should face it, those issues probably will never change here:
Won't say it can never happen, but does anyone really expect any significant changes in NYS tax-spend-regulate policies over next few decades? I sure don't. Legislature already is over half from downstate, and after 2010 redistricting a greater portion, so expect even less help for upstate business climate. Not that there there's much now. So this is the hand we're dealt, and even if we hate it we should be realistic about how deeply entrenched it is.
Thankfully a few financial companies seem to not mind: Citicorp, M&T, etc. Hope this continues and they retain/grow jobs here. Maybe biotech can grow big here, but it's long shot. Many cities are trying to develop that industry the same way Buffalo is.
So we shouldn't expect our private sector job market as a whole to improve much if at all. Wonderful surprise if it does, but no reason to expect it. As we shrink, a bigger percent of jobs here will be public sector (as Newsweek couple is looking for, coincidentally or not - teacher and nurse). And jobs in cool sandwich shops too, can't forget those. Telecommuting? Ok, but only very small percent of career type jobs allow that, so won't be much help unfortunately.
But still many ways this is a nice place to live. People who really want to move back should come back (best to find a job first of course). But they shouldn't be under any impression that economy here is strengthening based on good news anecdotes they read. And nobody should be shocked as we continue to fall lower and lower on national lists (population, job market, etc.).
Nice people, nice architecture, low real estate prices, but for many fields not as good a place as so many others are for career growth. Not impossible here by any means, but for many people relatively more difficult.
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nicoleshoe
I'm amazed and excited about this article. Bravo Newsweek! and boo to all you naysayers.
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BuffedOut
I am wondering where people choose to live when they do move back to Buffalo. Is it the West Side? Riverside? Grant Street? the East Side? Do the chidlren of returning families go to public schools in the city of Buffalo or to the private schools?
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rex_willy
sbrof--you pose some very interesting questions in searching for a potential solution of WHAT could lure us Buffalo expats back. For me, it would be family and familiarity. However, that alone doesn't pay the bills or give me opportunity to grow myself professionally. My profession is not one that is available in Buffalo nor is it one that ever will be (I'm quite confident). In my opinion, Buffalo has to move beyond being the "low cost" dumping ground for call centers and collection agencies and invest in cutting-edge sciences and health (a la Roswell et al). Retail banking is of importance, and the potential exists to lure high tech to Buffalo due to an excellent engineering program at SUNY Buffalo. Honestly, the politicos who have mucked up Buffalo need to be shown the door and more progressive minds need to work with institutions like UB, Canisius, etc to cultivate and incubate new opportunities and new class of professionals who aren't ambulance-chasing lawyers. My two cents anyway.
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DJCramer
JohnMartin and RateMachine make good points. Buffalo is loosing population and NYS isn't business friendly. However, I think the point that many are making is that we (Buffalo) need to do a better job of imaging the city in a positive light by flaunting stories like Brian Castner's. You wouldn't go on a first-date and share all of your shortcomings with the person at the other side of the table, but that's exactly what many Buffaonians do the first chance they get.
When I tell people I'm from Buffalo, the first comment they make isn't about jobs or population loss, it's SNOW. Many of these people have never set foot in Buffalo, but they seem to think Buffalo isn't much different than the North Pole, a stereotype that the national media loves to propogate. Ask these same people what they think about Syracuse, and many have no preconceived notions (even though Syracuse receives substantially more snow than we do). Why isn't Syracuse stereotyped as a frozen tundra? Maybe because they don't have the same self-esteem problem that Buffalonians do.
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OuttaHere
Lack of public transit, violence and lack of education in the public schools, streets and sidewalks that are never cleared of snow and/or garbage, safe areas are a few in the city limits, a dead downtown (no retail, no theme restaurants, lack of DIVERSED Nightclubs, only 1 movie theatre with a horrible sound system and empty seats, empty storefronts one after another, homeless bums/panhandlers are the only sign of life during off hours, lack of police foot patrol, streets so quiet you can hear a pin drop- Think, the scene from Vanilla Sky with Tom Cruise running through Times Square- Buffalo's Main Street at ANYTIME)....With the thousands who leave this area every year, it's no wonder you make such a big deal over ONE Crazy person actually BACK...I knew of people who moved to your area who were not born and raised, but like it when they visited, BUT after a year or so, they got sick and tired of the same old, same old. All talk no actions, high taxes and nothing to show for it, job loss and limited high paying jobs available, streets that take over a week to get plowed and cars get towed and/or ticketed even when THEY can't move their cars because it's stuck in snow because noone can plow the streets (funny, how NYC was able to clean thier ENTIRE CITY after 1 day after last years big blizzard, yet Buffalo, WHO IS USED TO BLIZZARDS can NEVER get it right), not many options to do after 5pm or weekends besides bar hop, theatre's are seasonal, downtown streets lack any excitement, Elmwood takes blocks of boring residential to get back to any form of urban excitements, Allentown is not at all gay friendly with the hoodlums mocking you (which is probally why the gays here NEVER hold hands in public, hmmmm, how old school, victorian era...Just like everyone else in Buffalo). ... I guess your town is only fit for the elder's, dull, boring, hicks, and the so called "Believers" that some day Buffalo will be an actual city again.
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MRodgers
Outtahere: Bye!
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Reno
I have to agree with, Outtahere. Most are so convinced this place is the s@#*, yet we are losing thousands every year. It seems the only people actually moving here are either retired, already have family, or because of family. It doesn't seem to be because of jobs or because Buffalo is so hot. I too, knew a couple who went to school here at UB, decided to stay an extra year after graduation, lived near downtown, and then MOVED away. Reason? BORED, dis-trust in the public schools (they were planning to have kids, but not here), car break ins, lack of anything to do downtown besides looking into empty buildings, lack of GOOD PAYING JOBS, the mentality in this town about race, neighborhoods being seperate, and the list goes on.
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Reno
I wonder if this guy (who moved back, featured in Newsweek) REALLY wanted to come back on his own OR have no choice?
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Jefferson
Either there are a lot of people who comment under the name of "outtahere" or outtahere really gets around - saw an outtahere comment along the same tone (negative) at the newspaper site of a central NY city today. Funny.
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Andrew
Ottahere you are a moron. why do you waste you time commenting or for that matter even look at buffalorising.com if 1 you dont live here and 2 you dont like the city. i completely disagree with you on the themed restraunt thing. toro (spanish tapas bar), panos and many others (greek), Elmwood taco (fast mexican food), Chocolate bar (chocolate themed bar/ restaurant). Off the wall (completely off the wall) Buffalo Chop House (elegant steak house) and there are so much more. the snow comment i have no idea what the hell you are talking about. i live on a side street and its plowed every morning. the only time it wasnt was durring the OCTOBER (who has plows ready in october. i thought the city/ county did an amazing job w/ that storm) storm and i didnt get a ticket for not moving my car. i dont know what city's you've been to but the bum problem in buffalo is not bad at all. other than parts of boston i cant think of many neighborhoods that are completely open to gays. (maby they dont want to hold hands in public) you are entitled to your opinions but dont insult those of us who live here dick! (refering to your closing line)
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rex_willy
OUTTAHERE - you said, "funny, how NYC was able to clean thier ENTIRE CITY after 1 day after last years big blizzard."
I live and work in Manhattan and I can say that I've never seen a City--in the northeast nonetheless--so paralyzed by an inch of snow. Not sure where you get you info, but it's wrong.
If you have an issue with Buffalo, fine. However, don't make New York sound like Oz. It ain't.
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curmudgeon
OUTAHERE... you have never lived in NYC if you believe that they can recover from a snowstorm, especially a major one, in less time than Buffalo. We may have a few snowfilled sidewalks, but our DPW does a hell of a job on the streets. The parking lots, side streets, and even back alleys are usually cleared within 24 hours of even the most devastating snow storms. I would be hard pressed to find any city that could have recovered from the October ice storm as well as we did; I lived in Raleigh for 4 years and on 3 separate occasions we were without power for 3+ weeks due to ice storms.
I would like to know the magic land that you are moving to, because I am pretty sure that it only exists in your immature and somewhat delusional brain.
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