Pros & Cons of Living in CNY
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12/6/2009
I grew up in CNY, then moved away and stayed away for 33 years. I moved back with my family a few years ago. Having come from Washington, DC and abroad, we found the Midwest-style friendliness of people here refreshing. Also, you won't find more polite drivers; a traffic jam is a rarity. For nature-lovers and sports entusiasts, Upstate NY can hold its own with almost any other region. The air is clean; lakes and streams are abundant. Finally, CNY's proximity to Canadian cities as well as places like Boston and NYC makes for plenty of fun getaways.
The cons, however, are equally weighty, if not moreso. NY's long dysfunctional political system has given us the highest combined taxes in the country as well as very high energy costs. The punishing and rising property taxes alone are driving tens of thousands from the region. This and the lack of jobs (even in good economic times) cause Upstate NY and Syracuse to actually depopulate. At over 216,000 some 30-40 years ago, Syracuse is now at 139,500. The out-migration of people from the region, in fact, gives it somehting in common with N. Dakota. The very low housing prices must be seen in context with the onerous property taxes. Most cities and towns here have a rundown feel to them; and the more rural locales resemble any down-and-out holler in Appalachia.
While indeed friendly, people generally are very parochial and oblivious to the outside world. Politically, this is Red State America -- though still fairly centrist. The region does not attract immigrants, nor the "creative class," as defined by Richard Florida. Diversity is fairly lacking, though Syracuse does have a sizable, though quite poor, black population. Cultural outlets and good restaurants are very limited. Finally, the weather can be very depressing, with cloud cover and precipation matching those of the Pacific NW and snowfall being the heaviest in the lower 48.
The high taxes and related imposts and the perennially depressed economy are compelling us to seek to move to a more dynamic and affordable state.
Samdech | Cazenovia, NY