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How great Buffalo was is not always appreciated. And that greatness is still there in it's impressive architecture. It was there in its astonishing art collection that was sold off. Poor decisions like moving the campus and a subway to nowhere are the reason. Abandoning our own history in an effort to keep up with trends and the desires of developers like Ciminelli is the reason.

Dear Mr. Lehrer:
I understand that one of your callers just questioned Mrs. Spitzer about the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo and the deaccessioning project that took place here last year. I am writing to clarify two critical issues. Your caller's comment was ill informed. All money raised through deaccessioning is now in a restricted fund for the purchase of works of art only. In fact, any of the funds associated with deaccessioning would always be placed in these restricted endowment funds. I also assume the caller made a comment that somehow the funds made from the deaccessioning are being used to build a new facility. This is incorrect. We are currently exploring the possibility of expanding our facility, which is a long term project involving architect and design selection in addition to mounting a substantial capital campaign to raise funds for an expansion which is 6-8 years away. However, most importantly no funds for the restricted endowment for the purchase of works of art (i.e. the deaccession funds) would ever be used for capital improvements and/or operating costs for our Museum. The deaccession funds will be utilized for future generations to insure that our Museum will be able to continue to grow our internationally acclaimed collection of modern and contemporary art. Respectfully, Louis Grachos, Director Albright-Knox Art Gallery.

This "program" has a .0001% chance of doing anything for any New Yorker. I wonder how much money we're wasting on this one. Times change, places change -- we need to get over it. America is a nation of immigrants, and right now we are following our ancestors' examples and leaving an area that no longer offers enough opportunities.

I grew up in Buffalo, went to SUNY Buffalo for undergrad and almost began graduate school there to become a teacher. I purchased property and tried to establish myself as a twenty-something in Buffalo because I love the city there and my family and friends. However after a year of disappointments with the job market, an actual visible decline in people in their twenties, I saw the writing on the wall and moved to NYC where I attend Hunter for graduate school and have a great job in midtown. The reason that upstate is in decline has nothing to do with Senator Clinton or past promises, it has to do with consistent corruption in local government now headed by Mayor Brown in Buffalo and their inablity to see the need to draw new business to the area. The constant "old boys club" mentality is what has kept Buffalo and its surrounding communities in decline and until a better government is elected, we can't expect anything to change, even from the State Government or Ms. Spitzer's program.

the truth (and PC fact) some parts of the state (and the Nation) are unsustainable. they should be evacuated.

also places like long Is is nothing but sprawl

Francesco
See me @ 12. Had a similarly low opinion of Mrs. Sptizer. Wonder how much NYS is paying her for her non-efforts.

I visited Binghamton, NY last week and it has basically boarded up its downtown. It is so depressing. After IBM (the largest employer) downsized in the 1980's, the area nose-dived into a serious economic decline from which it has not recovered. The University is a shining gem and there is a good health care system, and the outdoors is wonderful for hiking, canoeing, skiing, etc, but the economy is very depressed. I lived in Binghamton from 1969- 1988. I moved back to LI and took a job in NYC. One can find good jobs at the University or the hospitals, but other than that, there are only low-paying service jobs.

Buffalo is best exemplified by arriving there by Amtrak: the train passes the decaying remains of a gorgeous train station on par with Grand Central, and stops at a pathetic siding near an overpass. Perhaps some citys should be left to fade away?

Man o man. The state's first lady went through a tirade of some 10 minutes and said absolutely nothing. She sounds like a political hack-for-hire. The giveaway was "there are never enough resources for everything". Not true. I am flat out middle class and in my home there are always the resources for everything my family needs. Culture is definitely one of those needs. Hacks for hire aren't.

I grew up in Rochester and now live in NYC and NJ. I am glad I grew up there but everyone I knew in High School went to college out of state and never returned. It's small, not cheaper and the weather is generally miserable, spend 4 years away in Boston, NJ or in the South and you won't go back especially since we see our parents struggling and we all lived through the lay offs of Kodak and the other industries.

I'm one of those who left Rochester for sunnier pastures (right here in NYC) right after college. My view at the time was that New York has a lot to offer in ways those smaller cities unfortunately don't. However, now that I'm married and looking to start a family, the affordability of my hometown is looking a lot better. I would move back if I could find a job, unless I find one in Raleigh first.

Where did Spitzer pick up this woman. "People in NYS have to start believing in themselves." Golly gee, that's a really innovative & likely to be successful economic program. /snark

Albright Knox bought some pretty questionable pieces to remain "relevant" at the expense of their antiquities - used to be a wonderful museum -

Buffalo has been making bad decisions for a long long time - too bad because they have WATER and so many other good assets. Did you know it was teh first electrified city in the world? Maybe too corrupt to reinvent itself.

It was a good place to be a kid - but that was a long long time ago too. It is true, the communities are amazing and we have nothing like them around here.

Why is this important???

Someone please explain why it is so important to get more young people to stay?

I suspect that a lot of the desire to stop the "brain drain" is driven by enployers who want cheaper labor. If employers raise salaries and reduce their profits, they can attract more employees. Employers should raise entry-level wages instead of whining to Ms. Spitzer for help.

Two friends of mine, life long upstate New Yorkers who spent their twenties in the City, moved back to upstate to start their married life. They had high hopes. They are now ready to flee! The main reason? Racial and political intolerance of their neighbors and lack of any sort of varied cultural experience.

I suggest that creating budgets to establish and support real multicultural experiences in upstate would be one place to start. In addition, while everyone is crying about immigrants, why don't we send a few to upstate to take over those jobs that no one will take?

Thanks for a good show.

Dorothy

I grew up outside of Buffalo and have been living in New York City for 10 years. I left Buffalo to go to college because there were no work opportunities. My parents raised me with the idea that one day I should leave because Buffalo is and was in a state of decline. I have thought about returning because of the amazing real estate deals there are to be had there, but the environment is toxic with depression from the lack of progressive thought and the grid lock of local politics. It is no longer a hospitable place to support a positive life.

Thanks.

Bryan

I grew up in Saratoga Springs, New York, and graduated from High School in 1999. I couldn't wait to leave and explore what else the world had to offer. So, I went to school in Boston, and most recently moved to Jersey City and work in Manhattan.

I love visiting my parents and friends who are still in Saratoga, but can't think of any reason to return. I always say "it's a great place to grow up, but not a great place to be young and 26"

What exactly should bring me back?

NY State needs to market itself more: print ads, TV commercials, etc. similar to the ILove NY campaign years ago. I live in NYC but we bought a home in Kingnston which is a wonderland of history, Catskills proximity, River proximity. Let's develop andpromote out historical heritage, outdoor sports, cultural locations, etc..

I feel it here in Brooklyn. I am a painter getting my MFA from Hunter College and the squeezing out of young artists and excited, creative people is unbelievable. Sooner then later New York will fail to be the greatest cultural spot in the world and will be marketed as an indulgence for the rich and famous; a luxury item for those who can afford it. Before long we will become a museum city producing no new and interesting ideas. We need affordable housing and more opportunities for young artists and professionals to thrive in this great state. My fiance and I are considering leaving New York in the next couple of years because its just a one sided love affair.

I am from Buffalo, and went to college in Syracuse. It is my belief that the decision to move the university and the football stadium to the suburbs did enormous damage, and is continuing to do so. Bring people back to the city's center, and things will start to improve.

Oh for crying out loud. There's a branch of SUNY in every part of NYS. It was part of the grand bargain that got the state legislature to establish it. Education is the ONLY industry in some parts of NYS but has been so for decades & hasn't stopped the brain drain.

I grew up in Buffalo & graduated from high school in 1962. Anyone with any get up & go in 1962, got up & left. We did not want to work in manufaccturing, even in executive positions. We mostly became professionals. I now live in NYC.

This program is a tall order. While not from upstate NY, as a young, small business owner and father of 3 pre-schoolers, NY has little to offer to us except high taxes, corrupt school districts, over priced real estate, congested roads and a poorly funded and not well regarded SUNY system -- especially compared to other large state university systems, i.e. VA, CA, and TX. In light of the current economic situation, I don't see any end to brain drain in sight. I'm taking my family (and my brain) to VA.