By Edward Kopek
Buffalo, NY – Buffalo News columnist Donn Esmonde suggested in his commentary back on December 11 that Buffalo was "just a slogan away" from success in attracting more conventions and visitors. I thought at first that he might be joking. However, after reading the article through several times, I saw no evidence that his tongue was in his cheek. This made me shake my head and chuckle in the same sad way I did when I read what the Kansas school board had decided about intelligent design. The Buffalo area needs way more than just a slogan to even hope to attract more conventions or tourists.
Don't get me wrong. I am one of the biggest Buffalo boosters you'll ever want to meet. I've defended our city's honor to outsiders, both at home and in rival cities on more occasions and for more years than I care to mention. I love this city's heritage and history (and know more about it that most Buffalonians, I might add). I want very badly to see us pull out of the economic doldrums that have afflicted us for oh, say the last half-century or so. But to suggest that all we need is a marketing slogan to put us over the top? Sheer foolishness.
Let's face facts: aside from Dunn Tire Park and HSBC Arena, not one of the major civic projects suggested or planned in the last three decades has actually come to fruition. We have no new Peace Bridge, a downsized zoo, an ugly convention center, laughable public transportation and no downtown shopping. The city's waterfront attractions are: The Naval and Serviceman's Park and Museum, the Erie Basin Marina and an overpriced restaurant. That's it. That's all we've been able to accomplish in more than thirty years.
Mr. Esmonde's article indicated that the city of Baltimore is also searching for a slogan, as it is trying to attract additional tourists and conventions. I had the pleasure of visiting Baltimore this past summer and I can tell you that perhaps a slogan IS all that Baltimore is lacking. What they do have is a highly developed waterfront with four-star hotels, world-class restaurants, shopping, water taxis, A Hard Rock Caf , an ESPN Zone, a large aquarium and luxury condos. They actually have something to market. Buffalo, as yet, does not.
Most recently, the Seneca Nation announced its intention to demolish the HO Oats grain elevator to make room for its casino and hotel. Suddenly, anti-gambling advocates by the busload (disguised as preservationists) are screaming that the demolition should be halted. They say the city is going to lose a valuable symbol of its heritage and that the elevator should be designated a historical site. Hogwash. I am no fan of gambling, but Buffalo's future lies in what is yet to be built, not what has been left rotting on the waterfront for decades. I see the HO elevator up close every day as I commute to my downtown job and I say that if you've seen one grain elevator, you've seen them all. Realizing full well that the shipping and storing of grain is what helped put Buffalo on the map, I still say it is long past time to remove this crumbling and worthless icon of yesteryear and concentrate on the future. It has been said that to make an omelet, you have to break a few eggs. As there is only so much property on the waterfront, you need to tear down the old to build up the new.
No matter how clever a slogan we come up with, it cannot overcome the severe lack of attractions in downtown Buffalo. Let's focus on getting our attractions up and running -- then we can start "Talking Proud" -- and mean it!
Listener-Commentator Ed Kopek is a technical support specialist and platelet donor at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
Click the "listen" icon above to hear the commentary now or use your podcasting software to download it to your computer or iPod.