I just found myself reading a long, interesting New York Magazine article entitled Where the Urban Dream Life Is Going Cheap. Although it’s about Buffalo, it could – maybe – be about Syracuse. It’s worth a read, if for no other reason to get at the stories of people who lived in great places such as New York, San Francisco or Portland, only to find that they’re happiest in Buffalo (I know… you’ve just added “of all places!”). There really are people who find it preferable to all those superior cities. It’s good for us Syracusans, so famous for our whining and moaning about our city, to hear how positive people are about Buffalo. Because, when you read their reasons, you realize that we have much of the same that is attractive about Buffalo. I won’t enumerate them here. Read the article to see them.
There seen to be a few critical areas that need to be developed in any city if it’s to improve:
1. It needs a vibrant arts scene. Syracuse is steadily improving, especially of late.
2. It needs to be tolerant. We need to welcome diversity as it comes in many forms.
3. It needs to build on what it has that sets it apart from any other city, not tear down and build new.
4. It needs great restaurants. This, along with the arts, is a key factor in attracting the kind of people who will actively improve the city.
5. The nay-sayers, the perpetrators of cronyism, and the complainers need to just leave or cut it out.
Anyone out there who has been to Buffalo lately? Tell us what you saw that they’re doing right! We know what’s wrong with Buffalo (it’s so much like Syracuse). But we can’t go wrong if we are open to learning from them.
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