Disappointing, but not unexpected. However, I do think that there are positive changes happening in the city that are not reflected in the data. While it may be easy to deride amenities like new restaurants and parks as not creating good jobs, they do go a long way toward changing the perception of the city. Anecdotally, I have heard that 10 years ago it was difficult for employers to convince people to relocate to Buffalo. This is no longer the case. And I don't think this is purely a triumph of PR--many people perceive Buffalo to have turned a corner because there are numerous visible signs of positive change.

My point is that while the narrative that the city is booming is obviously false, the narrative that the city is still in free fall ignores real positive changes that are happening in the city (and to the perception of the city). Hopefully these changes will eventually lead to real economic progress. And I know we all have our preferred narratives, but relentlessly promoting the idea that the city is in the same death spiral it was in 10 years is tiresome and disingenuous.