Last week’s column was probably the most popular one I’ve written. My inbox was flooded with e-mails from all across the United States, everyone to a person agreeing with my analysis of how our state’s political climate makes it darn near impossible to live and work in the Empire State, in the end forcing our dear family and friends to greener pastures far away.
Most of the respondents highlighted the fact that the majority of those who leave New York aren’t snowbirds or seniors. Instead, those jumping ship are young people, throngs of individuals who traditionally would have represented New York’s tomorrow. Adding insult to this heartbreaking injury, it’s almost as if we’re investing in other states’ tomorrows: Day by day, the ranks of our 25-to-40-year-olds head out, even after we as a taxpaying society have invested everything that we can in their primary, secondary and college educations.
For as many of them who leave, countless numbers of their peers hold to their roots and suffer the slings and arrows of our brutal economy. They’ve chosen to remain here, forsaking higher wages and a higher quality of life (economically speaking) to eke out a living in New York, being true to their hearts and their families. To them, New York state is home and there’s no place like home.
There are certain expectations that come with a home, though. One would like to think most people prefer to keep their home in order. So, it’s really up to those of us who remain to tidy it up. Just as with those who have gone, society has invested in these young people and, quite frankly, it’s about time the investment paid off. These folks — my peers — must adopt some semblance of good citizenship and accept responsibility for the world in which they live. They obviously have a vested interest in the region (they stayed, didn’t they?). They need to apply that very same heart to civics, economics and community service. By doing so they can make their lives — and the lives of everyone around them — better. They can keep their friends and family here. In the long term, they can prevent their children from one day becoming just like our modern-day gypsies.
Locally, it’s difficult to find young people who take such stands and are engaged in the well-being of our community. Sadly, you can count such individuals on two hands. Why should WLVL’s Scott Leffler and I be the only 30-somethings to openly take the status quo to task? Why should North Tonawanda’s uncommonly philanthropic Rob Albert be an anomaly among young businessmen? Why should Niagara County legislators Andrea McNulty and Jason Cafarella be two of the very, very few 20-somethings in the local political scene?
These conundrums aren’t pondered across the United States. In many areas, youth rules. Some of the most high-profile leaders in successful cities and towns are those well under 40 years of age. Look south to Pittsburgh ... Luke Ravenstahl became its mayor in 2006 at 26 years of age, taking over for its deceased mayor. In 2007, he was elected to the role outright and is the youngest mayor of a major city in American history.
Across America such youthful devotion to the community is the norm, not the exception to the rule as it is here. It seems that far too many (most?) young people in Western New York are pathetically apathetic to a true sense of community. Yes, they may love their hometown, but actually applying that love and making the “relationship” work is completely foreign to them. They don’t understand, like our elders and baby boomers have, that getting involved is a way of life.
One can’t help but wonder, though, if the aforementioned oldsters have caused, if not forced, the disinterest. Local boards and councils are full of greybeards and their good ol’ boy networks which don’t take kindly to change or new blood. They seem to thrive on their power and relish the status quo. Some locals even partake in age discrimination and look at youth as a sign of ignorance. My God, many a man has said 29-year-old Jon Powers is not worthy of running for Congress because he’s “inexperienced.” Last I knew the “kid” has experienced more in his years at war than any of us will ever know in our entire lifetimes.
This has got to stop. New York is on a continued decline and it will take a concerted group effort, one involving the young and the old, to make things happen and return prosperity to our land. It’s high time that my peers took on this challenge and the elders accepted us into the fray with open arms.
Bob Confer is a Gasport resident and vice president of Confer Plastics Inc. in North Tonawanda. E-mail him at bobconfer@juno.com.
Bob Confer
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Discussion
April 22, 2008
CONFER: Young blood needed in community
- Bob Confer
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CONFER: Climate security and economic run
We live in an era of much unrest in which people fear for their security, be it socially (terror threats), economically (recession), or environmentally (global warming). Feeding off this, our elected officials have been quite successful in using fear-mongering to introduce endless amounts of legislation that do much more harm than good.
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CONFER: Downstate interests cause gas pains
Last week the New York Senate voted for a holiday on the state’s gas tax, calling for suspension of the government markup during the summer months (Memorial Day through Labor Day). Sure, it’s most definitely an election year tactic by the Republican Senate, a sort of sales gimmick for incumbency, but nonetheless it is still a welcomed and much-needed gesture.
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CONFER: Catholics and the almighty dollar
When I tell people I live in Gasport many of them respond with a resounding, “That’s God’s Country!”
That, it is. It’s a beautiful area and a great place to live. But, come June, it will be a little less godly. St. Mary’s Church, the sole Roman Catholic in our hamlet, is one of almost 90 Catholic churches that will be — or have been — closed or merged by the Buffalo Diocese. -
CONFER: Young blood needed in community
Last week’s column was probably the most popular one I’ve written. My inbox was flooded with e-mails from all across the United States, everyone to a person agreeing with my analysis of how our state’s political climate makes it darn near impossible to live and work in the Empire State, in the end forcing our dear family and friends to greener pastures far away.
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CONFER: Why your loved ones have left NY
The chances are very good that you know someone who has left New York. According to the US Census Bureau, from July 2006 to July 2007 the Buffalo-Niagara region lost 5,166 people and since 2000 the Rochester area has lost over 7,300 of its residents.
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CONFER: Values do matter in public service
Public officials and sex. They seem to go hand in hand. It’s probably because absolute power not only corrupts absolutely, it perverts absolutely, too. Throughout history those in power have abused it to satisfy their most carnal urges, either gaining praise for their actions (JFK and Marilyn) or having their reigns rocked by controversy (Bill Clinton and Monica).
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CONFER: The importance of Tom Christy
I’ll admit, at times my columns can be a little dry. When it comes to expounding on government it can be difficult to make the subject matter palatable to the average person. Government affects every one of us, but, boy, can it ever be boring. People can only hear so much about how government works, where it is broken and how it can be fixed.
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CONFER: The new governor's black eye
When Eliot Spitzer was elected to office in 2006 by a record-setting 69 percent of the vote, his massive victory was declared a mandate of the people. The voters wanted serious change, someone who would come into Albany and clean-up all the dirt. Here it is, not even a year and a half later, and the man who fed that incredible optimism has proven to be no better than the rest and, actually, dirtier than most. Spitzer has left office with a reign that will be recognized as the greatest political letdown in the history of the state.
- CONFER: No new taxes — just bigger ones Last week in the state capital the legislature and Governor Spitzer were arguing over what the budget deficit would be for fiscal year 2008-2009. This wasn’t quibbling over pennies; their differences were in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Spitzer believes the deficit will be $4.8 billion.
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CONFER: The candidates and American jobs
“It’s the economy, stupid.”
That phrase, made famous by James Carville for Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign 16 years ago, still rings true to this day. It always has and always will. - More Bob Confer Headlines
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